Thankful: A House Concert with Christa Wells {CD Giveaway!}

 

The scene could have been any Saturday night. I’m in the kitchen with a stained dishtowel thrown over my shoulder arranging figs and grapes and softened Brie on the plain white serving platter I’ve used for nearly a dozen years. Music starts and my breath falters. The familiar melody was not new to these walls; I listen to the music of Christa Wells often as I cook, wash dishes, and sweep floors. Tunes like My Best Remedy and Image of God find their way through the speakers in the ceiling and minister to me as I prepare meals for my family.

But, tonight the music isn’t courtesy of iTunes and the scene is far from ordinary. Tonight Christa Wells is in my living room. For real. Doing a sound check with David Lutes, her music partner for the evening. I set the paring knife and unsliced fig on the cutting board, wipe my hands on the dishtowel still resting on my shoulder and go to hug her in the living room. I tell her it’s surreal to have her right here in my home and that the tears are already flowing. I always cry when I hear the gospel.

We laugh, make small talk, catching up as if we’ve known each other for years. Christa and David set up conga drums and speakers and make adjustments to sound. I nearly burn the hot onion soufflé, and sigh with gratitude that I can pass it off as caramelized, not burnt. Really, one should not try and cook, or do anything for that matter, when Christa Wells is sound-checking in the next room.

I met Christa at the Allume (then Relevant) conference last year in Harrisburg, PA where she performed with Nicole Witt for hundreds of bloggers and writers. Of course, I had no idea as I fell in love with her music that exactly one year later she would be in my living room for a house concert.

I’ve never had a house concert before. It sounds so very chic and cultural. But, what happened felt more cozy and intimate. And ordained. I cast a net and the Lord filled it—neighbors, teachers, carpool buddies, small group members, long-time soul mates—all friends and Mia. Good gracious, I couldn’t throw a party without Mia’s help. Forty-four years old and I still need my mother!

After conversation and ‘tizers (I’ll share the recipe for Mia’s pistachio covered grapes soon) we settle into sofas, chairs, benches and the floor. Christa begins telling a story and then sings one. Then another. . . and another. Stories and song and melody and harmony fill every corner of the room and the crevices of our hearts. Lyrics of friendships, relationships, loss, and hope ring true and every song, like a psalm, points to the only remedy.

It may have been called a concert, but it felt more like worship. An intimate group breaking bread, drinking wine, and enjoying each other’s company, all to the glorious music of new friends. For the record, Littlest did not have wine. But she did eat her weight in homemade peanut butter cups. She also made a card  for her new friend that rested on the piano during the entire concert.

Oh I wish you all could have been here cozied up in my living room listening to Christa and David. Truly they were amazing. I am honored and humbled, and so very thankful to have spent the evening with dear friends listening as they shared their talents. I can’t squeeze you all in to my living room, but I can give away the gift of their music.

Let’s have some fun! Go check out Christa’s website and David’s too. You can listen to tracks from both of their collections on their sites. To enter the giveaway, come back here and leave a comment sharing your favorite song and something you are thankful for this November. I’ll pick two winners on Friday, November 9th and give away one Christa Wells CD and one David Lutes CD.

Just so we are clear:

1) Go to Christa Wells Music – peek around, listen to her music, be friendly and say “hi”

2) Go to David Lutes Music – check out David’s site, be friendly, but since he’s from Texas say “howdy”

3) To enter the giveaway for a FREE CD, come back here and share your favorite song and something for which you are thankful

4) I’ll pick two winners from the comments on Friday, November 9th

I’ll go first. . . My favorite Christa Wells song (today) is A Thousand Things. And I am very thankful for each of you who continue to bless me by your presence here in this community.

Thanks and love,