Finally Home Countdown: 3,2,1...Today's the day!!!

Sooooo it’s an exciting day. Today you can here my new single, “Finally Home” on your local station! I appreciate your support!

Here are my final 3 things I miss about home to conclude my countdown to “Finally Home” starting to play on radio.

#3 Sunday mornings

Growing up, as a family we were at church Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wed night and most days in between just being with the parents as they get work done.

But there was something always so special about Sunday mornings. We were there early… a quiet sanctuary, empty pews, everything fresh and clean and ready for the people to arrive. The silence was quickly broken though by singing…warming up, last minute practicing and before you know it, the service has begun. Daddy ALWAYS starts ON TIME.

And Sunday morning rolls along with Mom at the piano, my sister and I singing and my brother playing an instrument. I can look out at the congregation and tell who is there and who isn’t by taken attendance by looking at the pews. There are no assigned seats, but everyone has picked their favorite spot that they occupy every week.

We sing. Dad preaches. It’s a family thing. We love each other. We love the church. We love our God. We love the people. And it’s a good day.

It’s amazing to have grown up that way. And now as I travel, I get to see congregations all over this country worshiping God. One of the biggest blessings of the Love Come to Life tour was the worship at the end of the night…getting to watch the people love and sing and surrender with smiles or tears on their faces. It’s a beautiful thing and just a glimpse I think of what heaven will be…lots of people from all over the world with very different cultures and ways of worship, all in one place for one purpose.

#2 Sunday afternoons

Now when I was younger, Sunday afternoon was the family at home, dinner and then nap time. Lovely!

Now with nephews and the family ever larger and louder, Sunday afternoons are a bit chaotic. My oldest nephew calls Sundays “Marmi’s house day” (the boys call my mom and dad Marmi and Pop).

Sundays are one of the hardest days for me to be away. I know everyone is all together and I’m missing church time, I’m missing the madness of  Marmi’s house time and missing laying on the couch with the family puppy, Bogie, curled up in the bend of my legs. Being away also makes you aware of how precious moments are when you are lucky enough to be there.

#1 EVERYTHING!!!!!!

What I miss the most about home, is everything… from my mom’s orchids, to the smell of my dad’s cologne, the sound of his footsteps coming done the stairs, the rugs on the floor, the piano in the living room, knowing my brother and sister are just a drive away with their incredibly loving spouses and irresistible boys that I love so much that it aches.

With life so good, honestly it’s hard to imagine what ultimate love will be in an eternal setting… until we’re finally home, let’s make the most of every moment and show his love, show his mercy, show his heart every chance we get.

Finally Home Countdown: #4 Heat!

Finally Home Countdown #4: Heat!

So as I left the studio tonight after starting to record a Christmas song, I complained that it felt like winter. I’m in constant need of a sweater. I started my suburban, aka “The Beast” and looked at the outside thermostat… 73 degrees. It doesn’t sound cold, but to a South Fl girl, that’s winter time weather. I miss super uber hot weather!!!!!!!!

I miss this:

 

And this:

 

Palm trees, water and the feeling of humidity wrapping me up from head to toe in a  warm comfortable blanket, are all synonymous with home for me. As far as our ultimate home goes, I know most of you are cringing at the thought of eternity being spent in high humidity, but for me, that thought puts a smile on my face. (I wanted to write “Bring on that soggy air Jesus!” but my roommate, Danielle, says that’s just weird.)

Anyway, writing these blogs are making me miss everything about home!!! And I’m getting more excited to go there and visit! And I’m getting excited about this single going to radio!!!

Haven’t heard it yet? Click here to listen to “Finally Home.”

And remember to listen for it on your local station on May 10^th, and tell them you love it if you hear it, and tell them you want to hear it if you don’t!

Finally Home Countdown: #6 Belonging and #5 Love

You know that moment when you break out into the weirdest dance moves ever while you sing things that aren’t even real words? And no one even notices because it’s just kind of something that they expect from you, and don’t even think is out of the ordinary?

That’s just a small glimpse of what I meant when I wrote, “I miss the feeling that I belong, surrounded by the love that I know at home.”

A bigger picture, would be just the knowledge of being unconditionally loved. There is literally nothing I could do, decide, or mess up that would change the level of love and acceptance that I have experienced every day of my life. I know this is rare and there aren’t words to express how grateful I am for it. I also know that this is a result of a family operating under the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Here are the lyrics of the song… they describe my personal missing of home and how our ultimate home in heaven will be a place of love, rest and knowing our God in a more complete way than we ever have before.

Finally Home

I miss the feeling that I belong

 Surrounded by the love that I know at home

I never get to stay long

I might stop, but I then I gotta move on

When I’m not there, there’s a craving in me

An ache so strong that I can’t believe

There’s a place that’s better

Where I’ll spend forever

When I’m finally home

And I finally know

What it really means to praise his name

What it feels like to know amazing grace

And there’s no more road

Nowhere else to go

Nothing left to miss

Nothing left for this wandering soul

When I’m finally home

I’m reminded again and again

I live in this world as a stranger and

As good as it’s been

Or as bad as it gets, it all will end

I want to stand where hope and faith and love

All meet in one face

Oh, I wanna be where I can see

What I now believe

The ultimate healing

Where hurt can’t reach me

I won’t need to find every answer

All I need will be found within your presence

Listen to Finally Home! Click here

Finally Home Countdown: #7 My Brother

Finally Home Countdown: #7 My Brother

So if my brother sees this, I’m already prepared to get into “trouble” for writing about my sister first, but I’m ok with that. Big brothers are good at giving little sisters a hard time, except my relationship with my brother has been mostly sweet and not so much teasing. He’s 10 years older than me and I’ve always looked up to him. I remember him teaching me the formula for the speed of light when I was in elementary school. I prided myself in being able to recite it. (I can’t remember it anymore though.) When he moved an hour away to go to college, I would be so excited when he would come home for the weekends. (He would tell a different story of me immediately taking over his bedroom when he left.)

As I’ve grown up, my brother has always been a place to find wisdom and loooooong conversations. I love it when I’m home and I’m able to be at his house and we share our weird humor and no one else is laughing in the room and eventually everyone is asleep but us (both major night owls) and we just talk forever. He’s the type that only says something he thinks is worth saying, never just making noise to break the silence. And while he’s extremely supportive, there have been some pivotal moments in life when he’s told me to get my head out of the clouds and put my feet on the ground. There is no lack of reality checks with the Roberts men.

I love my brother. I miss him. I love the way he loves me and the honesty we’ve always shared. Maybe when I’m home this time, we’ll actually make it to the range, or to the lake, and enjoy some of his favorite things (besides being with me).

Recently, both my brother and my sis had new babies! Here are the 3 of us with the little ones.

 

It’s kind of interesting how these blogs have turned out. I didn’t plan ahead, just had a spur of the moment idea to count down to the single being released to radio, but I’m enjoying reminiscing, sharing with you, and also getting more and more excited about being home some this summer!!

Listen to Finally Home! Click Here.

Finally Home Countdown: #8 My Sissy

Finally Home Countdown #8: My Sissy

Right now I’m backstage at the Love Come to Life tour and I’m on the phone with my sister. She is the most amazing friend anyone could imagine having. I remember when I was younger, how I was literally attached to her at the hip. I would be so upset when she would go on dates, so I would just go with her! We would sing and dance in our room, outside…everywhere… that hasn’t changed much actually.

Through moves and her getting married and living in different places, we have always remained incredibly close. I can tell that girl anything and know she’ll laugh with me, cry with me and whatever I need her to do with me… my sister will show up, I never doubt that.

At the end of the month, I’m going home. I can’t wait to just be in the same room with her and feel the calm that’s there when you are certain you are known and fully loved. 

Listen to Finally Home! Click Here.