Hey Everyone!

I hope you are having a wonderful Advent and Christmas season. I can’t believe that 2012 is just around the corner. In many ways this has been a fantastic year filled with many new things. But this past year has also had its share of sorrow and stress. Nevertheless, I am thankful for all of my experiences whether good or bad because they are all part of the journey.

This month started out with a Christmas tour. Christian artist Scott Riggan and I performed several concerts throughout northern California and parts of Oregon. We had an absolute blast sharing our music with everyone. A great big THANK YOU to all those that came out and supported us. I loved traveling with a live band. You can’t imagine how much craziness occurs when you send 5 musicians and 2 lead singers off on a road trip. I want to send out a great big THANK YOU to Scott Riggan and all the band members. I also want to say thank you to Portland’s FISH radio for interviewing us and featuring our Christmas music on their station.

Upon returning to Salt Lake, I had a few local concerts at area Churches and events. I was blessed to be able to share my music with the good people at Calvary Chapel and everyone at St.Vincent de Paul Church. I must admit that making new friends is the thing I enjoy most about my ministry.

I promised myself that once I finished up the Christmas concerts I would take some time to relax. The very next day I broke my promise. It’s funny how busy I manage to make myself during the holiday season. Yesterday, we loaded up the car (along with our two dogs and Pete’s brother) and headed to Idaho to spend time with family. During the process of “loading and leaving”, I was frantically stomping around the house, with a permanent scowl on my face, while I checked things off the packing list. We were “running behind schedule” and I was frustrated and trying to speed things up. Later I realized we are on vacation so there really isn’t a “schedule”. Hmmmmmm. Well, amidst all my “Thank Yous” I guess I need to say “I’m Sorry” to Pete and his brother, Flint. Now all I have to worry about are the wrinkles that are caused by a permanent scowl…moving on.

In light of yesterday’s events, I have promised myself (ignore earlier reference to the other promise I made to myself) to take advantage of this Christmas vacation and season by putting the focus on others. I am going to do all I can over the holidays to bring joy to others even if it means setting my own needs aside (I sincerely hope my husband isn’t reading this). As we approach Christmas, I think it is important that all of us remember the reason for the season. We hear it all the time but do we really stop and think about what it means. I’m the first to admit that trees, lights and presents are a lot of fun, but remembering the humble birth of a baby on a quiet countryside 2000 years ago can never be emphasized enough.

Finally, for those that have been asking; YES! The new record is on the way!. We are working hard to keep the promise we made to have it available for purchase by mid January. The good news is that the company promises generally work out better than the promises I make to myself. Of course now that I’ve said it, we’ll probably have some last minute problems but should that happen, we will do our best to get it released as soon as possible.

Thank you to all of you that have stood beside me through the years. May God grant you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
-The Gospel according to St. Luke

Love,
Jaime