The In Between.

As many of you know, I have been praying about my place on the Anthem Lights Street Team and I just want to update you on what my heart is feeling right now.

When Bailey and I started the ST, it was so exciting and we had conference calls and we were getting so much support from the guys. We were told we were an answer to prayer! That all just kind of…stopped. I feel like the street team has lost all of its meaning. And I really don’t want to do things that are left unnoticed.

But I also know that through the street team, God has used me to show some of you His love when it’s hardest to see it. Show you the Light in your Darkness. So, for this reason alone, I have decided to stay where I am for the time being and use the street team to reach out to you all. I will continue to pray over the street team and my place on it. But I’m here to stay, for now. Until God tells me it’s time to leave.

With all of that said, if you need any help or encouragement or someone to talk to, let me know. Just call me the Lightbulb Counselor. Or what you may. Or just Chelsie.

Three years ago today, November 7th, God re-revealed Himself to me and gave me some of the best friend-like-brothers a girl could ever ask for; David, Mac, Mark, and Tai; the guys in Third Day.

These last three years have been such an emotional roller coaster. God definitely knew what He was doing when he placed these amazing men in my life and engraved their names in my heart, where they will remain; forever and always. I am ever so grateful for these friendships. And I am so blessed to be able to say that and really, truly mean it.

I was invited to my first concert by my then-best friend. I had no idea who any of these guys were. I thought I was just simply going to a concert; but God had other plans for me that night. He brought me to my brokeness and spoke ever so plainly in my ear. I was heading down the wrong path.

I never really was a “bad kid,” per se. I didn’t cuss. I guess I did listen to some pretty bad music. But I got good grades. I was a great student and a great child. I only got grounded once, but that was only because I grounded myself. Which, let’s be honest, only lasted for like the ten minutes it took for me to cry it out and for my mom to talk some sense into myself. My parents divorced when I was eighteen months old. All-in-all, I was a good kid, given my circumstances. But- I was running. I was running and growing further and further from my Faith and my God. I grew up going to church with my babysitter. My mom, brother, and sister weren’t ones to be seen in the pews. But once my babysitter moved to Virginia, I was “in the church,” but I wasn’t really “IN church.” I sat there and spaced out. I stood there singing the old hymns, but not really. I never realized how disconnected I was with my faith until that night, November 7, 2008, that God showed up.

I found myself bawling with hands lifted high, yearning for my Father to hold me. It was one of the most powerful moments I have ever had. The beautiful plethora of instruments in a God-driven rock symphony: the heartbeat of the beautiful drum, the strum of that outstandingly sweet guitar, the ticklish ivories, the mind-boggling thump-thump of the bass, and the sweet, sweet, beautiful crooning of an angelic voice, Mac’s prayers and talks really ministered to me beyond words in existence. It was really something beautiful.

And here we are. Three years later. Twenty-one Third Day shows later. And these guys are my best friends; my brothers. I never DREAMED I could have such a life changing relationship with the guys who changed my life. I am SO GRATEFUL and unworthy. I don’t think I tell them often enough how truly grateful I am that they have so gracefully accepted such a broken soul like mine. I don’t think there are really any words to use to tell them. No words to explain how graciously they took me in and gave me want I need here on Earth.

Such amazing memories. I pray to God that He will never take them away and that He will continue to bless me. I can’t say it enough: I am blessed.

November 7, 2008. The birth of new friendships, the birth of a new me.

Three years in—here’s to many more!

The girl in the back pew. With the pencil in her hand. Writing thoughts on the Sunday morning service bulletin. Of the boy she loves and will marry. His name scripted in every corner, crease, and crevice. The girl no one understands. Her heart is heavy. No one seems to care. Her cheeks tear-stained. No one seems to notice. Her pride is bruised. She’s lonely. She cries out. No one hears. The girl with the hopes and dreams. Keeping them to herself because no one would understand. They’d all laugh in her face. The girl with the Bible. The faithful girl with a big heart. Yearning.

Be the one to care. The one to notice the tears. Be the one to hear her cry. Because if you don’t, no one will.

No one.

So, school is just around the corner and I just realized that pretty much all of my free time is gone. Yeeeah. Where’d it go? Could someone please tell me? From tomorrow on out, I am going to be SO busy. Between babysitting, Third Day, going to my dad’s, finishing up the Anthem Lights project, Anthem Lights, and school sign-up’s.. my last week of freedom is jam packed full. Stink.

But this summer has been great! So many great memories. Sleeping on a slightly aired up air mattress on a tree root in a leaky tent with nothing but a fleece throw in some intense storms for five days, concerts galore, love, friendships, lessons in trust, patience, aggrivation… so much more. Definitely a Summer for the books.

And to a successful Junior year. Here’s to Summer 2011.

Hey, hey! What is up?

Nothing much going on here. BUT- I have been writing this song called, “Falling For You.” It’s based on a guy whom… well, I’ve basically fallen for. Only a few people I really trust know who this person is. But anyways… it’s a love song, obviously. And it’s my first song and I’m SO PROUD of it! It’s about, but not limited to, this guy. So, it’ll just be open to assumptions. I’ve got most of the lyrics done. Just need to do verses and then chords. Stay tuned for a video. :)

Anywho- I just thought I would let you guys know what’s going on! Oh, and I’m getting ready for this crazy awesome four day festival called ALIVE. It’s going to be SO MUCH FUN!!!!!! Four days of amazing music, worship, and campfires. Third Day, Anthem Lights, Chasen, Skillet, tobyMac, Tenth Avenue North, Seabird, Switchfoot…. and tons of others! Check the line-up and be jealous. :P

Peace, grace, and love.

-Chelsie

I’ll leave you with the bridge of my new song.  

 ”Take my hand, hold it tight. Together we can conquer the Night. So take this hand and hold it tight. Together we can stand this fight.”