Currently I am sitting on the hotel computer in Seattle, about to take off and meet up with a group of friends that I love dearly, to together embark on perhaps the most incredible week of our lives together. Israel.

There is such a story about Israel and why it means so much to me that I will have to write about later–maybe when I get home…but in short, I have relatives living there now, cousins to my grandma Starr. The beautiful woman that she is, she moved to the US as an 18 year old girl, and through doing that, left the majority of her immediate family and cousins back in her homeland (at the time, Casablanca..where later her family moved to Israel and throughout Europe).

I am hoping to meet some of my long lost cousins (Lord-willing), but if not now–maybe a time when my family can come too. Along with Grandma

So tomorrow morning at 7:30a.m. we will be flying out from the Seatac Airport to land in New York, followed by  a 7.5 hr lay over (yay…I’m sure lots of stupid videos will be made at this point), where we will then fly to Tel Av iv. I can hardly wait to go to the land that God loves..meet more people that he cherishes dearly, and learn about a culture that I have not learned of before.

Please pray that I go open-handed, not expecting much, but willing in all things. That I spend this time soaking in all that God puts before my eyes, so that for years I can meditate and learn from the experiences. I am sooo excited, and humbled that I am able to go on this trip..not only that, but get to lead worship in a land that is so beautiful because of the people AND the history.

Blessings, grace, and love.

Holly =)

Like I said earlier, words will not suffice for what happened on Sunday night in Kent. All I know, is that Jesus was there…and when Jesus shows up…the party always gets better.

So to be quite honest, I was not very excited about going to Kent for Valentines Day to do a concert for a bunch of single people (I am single too, so I am not bashing single people at all). I was just really tired mentally from all the hard core focusing I’ve been doing to start my new album, and would have loved and preferred to just stay home and hang out with family..maybe play board games or bake a cake…maybe spend a couple countless hours just talking about whatever. However, that was not the plan put in place.

Here’s a recap:

We got to the venue, met up with Jeremie (electric player) and his wife, Jill..sound-checked, met all the event staff (who are inCREDIBLE people!), ate dinner, hung out for a while, then the show began. Before anything started though…the funniest, most unfortunate event happened. I was backstage, waiting for my cue to hit the stage, when I realized I couldn’t get the door opened! I was freaking out! Somehow magically the door locked me back there, and the guys were about to start the first song! Without me! Great.. I could only imagine what would happen if I didn’t show up on cue. I was frantic. What was I to do? I was stuck! Would I have to knock!? Would I have to scream so someone could hear me? As soon as I started getting it through my head that this was going to be embarrasing…I realized that I had been pushing instead of pulling. Oops..lol. So with the ball of nerves going crazy in my stomach, I began to pray. I think I was two words in when I heard my cue to go on. “Here we go, Jesus… help me calm down!” was all I could think as I ran on–hoping that smiling and waving would hide how flustered I was…lol. =) Thankfully as soon as I got out there and in place, I felt like oxygen flooded my lungs and I was able to breathe. Before I knew it, an hour had passed and found myself crying in front of a bunch of people who couldn’t have blessed me more that night. I know I was the one delivering the music…but after I was done singing, they poured out Jesus’ love all over me by praying over me right there. Not only that, they promised to continue praying as God continues to move in my life. If there is one thing you should know about me, it is the fact that there is nothing more that I could ask for from anyone.. than prayer. To be standing there while they prayed, and then receive their promise to continue praying, absolutely broke me down. I was so humbled. After we said our formal goodbye from stage, I went back to my merch table, to yet again be blessed individually by the people and hearing how the message of “simply loving” that I spoke about that night, impacted their life. As well as hearing how “I Love You Anyway” is considered the single person’s anthem! =)

I still can’t believe what happened on Sunday…If I had followed my desire to stay home for Valentine’s day, I don’t know what would have happend. However, I am really thankful that I was in Kent…singing for a bunch of single people, talking about love… Love that changes my life. Jesus is so alive..and I’m very thankful that he doesn’t let my stubbornness keep him from showing me His GREAT LOVE.

IN GRACE,

holly

Here’s a couple pics from Sunday  night! Enjoy! (it was an acoustic set, about 100 single people gathered! Sry there aren’t any audience pictures..I am pretty sure we have some somewhere, but I am not exactly sure which camera has them..we had several cameras going that night. lol. These are just the pics I received.) =)

YESS!!! To be heard late spring/early summer. Keep an ear out. I cannot wait..the CD Release Party is gonna be off the wall! ;D We’re goin absolutely crazy this time… well, you get what i’m sayin a time of celebration for the last two years…and a time to get excited about what’s coming up. All I gotta say…is I don’t want you to miss this!! more details coming soon. No date yet, just wanted to letcha know what will be comin down the pike soon..and share my excitement!

well…

Have a super day!

-h*