You know those songs that you kinda grow up with and love and they reside in a special place in your heart?

I have a few of those tucked away in my heart and when I hear them on the radio just causes an emotional reaction long before I can even prepare myself.

Such as, but not limited to, Testify to Love.

I’m gonna put a lyric video here and let you have a moment.

[Hey subscribers- there's a video here. Click over if you can't see it!]

Right? RIGHT? CAN I GET AN AMEN FROM MY MID-90S CHRISTIAN MUSIC LOVERS!?!

I know. It just takes you back there.

Anyways.

Fast forward to Girls of Grace. At one of our fall events my pal Amber says, “Man, last season when Michael used to sing Testify to Love? That was awesome.”

And then a sound like a record screeching happened [not really but imagine it] as I whipped my head towards her and said, “WHAT.”

Unbeknownst to me, my friend Michael that plays piano for Point of Grace is also the exact same Michael from the group Avalon that sings Testify to Love. [This I did not know. Obviously.]

Well. As if being around Point of Grace wasn’t enough to make 1994 Annie melt into a pile of uncool super fan, that about did it.

So I tried to play it cool, which you know I am really good at [no I'm not], and just hope that at some point during this Girls of Grace season, Michael would hear my heart cry out for a little throw back moment.

And it happened. I can’t remember which city, but I heard it from backstage and ran like my life depended on it so that I could watch it myself.

He sang Testify to Love.

It was moving times a million.

A few shows later in Dallas? He did it again.

My gracious, people.

And last week in San Antonio? The key change just plain about brought a tear to my eye. I did a horrible job filming it but I did a great job feeling it if that counts for anything. [It doesn't.]

[Hey subscribers- there's a video here. Click over if you can't see it!]

I wish I’d have caught that key change on video. You’d be having a moment all over again right there on your side of the screen.

It is truly one of my favorite parts of the day. And I told him. EVERY TIME. Which just goes to prove that just because you are a speaker on a national conference tour, that DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE COOL.

In all seriousness, because you know I love a sentimental moment more than just about anybody, when Michael sang that song, it was such a full circle moment for me. Here I was, sharing the stage with these musicians that I have loved and adored from afar my whole life. I pictured little teen Annie, hanging out in her bedroom with 91.5FM playing on the radio in Atlanta, working on homework or reading a book when that song would come on. And y’all- I would sing every word like my life depended on it. Because I wanted my life to depend on those words. I wanted my life to look like that song.

For as long as I shall live
I will testify to love
I’ll be a witness in the silences
When words are not enough
With every breath I take
I will give thanks to God above
For as long as I shall live
I will testify to love

And it is still what I pray – that my life testifies to God’s love.

Also? I hope that someday I get to hear Steven Curtis Chapman sing Burn The Ships because then my life as a CCM super fan would be complete.

. . . . .

What’s your favorite 90s Christian song? Do you have one that just takes you back? 

You know, my blog-memory isn’t so good. I just tried to look back and find my recaps from each year, thinking “in 2007, I did a TOP 7 list and in 2008 I did a TOP 8 list but for 2012 I can do a TOP 12 list and do one thing from each month!”

And then I saw my 2007 recap.

And my 2008 recap.

And realized that I’m a dufus. I’ve been giving a monthly highlight for a lot of years.

But in 2009, I didn’t want to officially recap apparently, I barely survived the stress of 2010, and in 2011 I barely survived deportation.

So 2012 deserves a legit recap. So here we go!

Psalm 126:3

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

. . . . .

JANUARY: After returning from Scotland in November 2011, I lived with the Giver family here in Nash while looking for my own home. Our time co-habitating was a bigger gift to me than I can ever describe.

Here’s a post about it. Also, we did puzzles. Puzzles are good for my soul.

. . . . .

FEBRUARY: I met my small group. How we have been us for less than a year I will never understand because we fit like we’ve been forever.

Here’s a post about them. And here’s a pic from our small group snoozle earlier this month. I love them so much.

. . . . .

MARCH: I signed the book deal for Perfectly Unique. 

Here’s a post about that day. Here I am signing with my gals. So grateful for them.

. . . . .

APRIL: Me and the Vandy boyz made our sibling-hood offish. They are my brothers. Amen. I love these guys so much. Don’t even get me started.

Here’s a post about it. Here we are from left to right – Keenan, my rogue necklace, me, and Connor.

[Also, to be noted, this was my first month as a full-time author and speaker, leaving my Mocha Club job on April 1 after two years. I'm so grateful to my boss, Barrett, for reminding me to be brave. I have been scared and worried and every other emotion, but I've never regretted it.]

. . . . .

MAY: The girls and I went to an Ingrid Michaelson show. While this may seem like a bizarro highlight, the truth is that this story, these girls, this history, they have all meant more to me in the last two years than I can express.

Here’s a post about it. And here we are.

[Also, I talked to John-Boy Walton on the phone. So. That made my life.]

. . . . .

JUNE: I traveled around the southeast meeting youth group gals in every corner of Dixie. 

Here’s a post about it. And here are some darling gals that I met in Birmingham with Sophie.

. . . . .

JULY: Not only did I turn 32 [with joy, I might add], but I got to return “home” to Edinburgh for a few weeks before the craziness of book release fall season began.

Here I am with three of my very best friends who live across the ocean- Esther, Leisa, and Donna.

Also, the last week of July was this year’s first Girls of Grace event in the lovely city of Phoenix. Here’s a post about it.

. . . . .

AUGUST: This began my crazy travel season, including weekends in Mississippi, North Carolina, and Oregon. 

Here’s a post about it. And here’s a shot during a Girls of Grace event!

. . . . .

SEPTEMBER: Perfectly Unique releases to the world!

Here’s a post about it. Truly, this month totally changed my life and I will never forget it. Thank you.

. . . . .

OCTOBER: I told lots of jokes.

Here’s the list. It was a hilarious month.

Also, I got to attend and speak at the Influence Conference and Allume Conference. It was mucho fun.

. . . . .

NOVEMBER: My best friend Betsy turned 30 and we celebrated Parenthood style in her hometown. 

It was a fun month with Girls of Grace and my travel season ended- my body and friends and dirty house rejoiced that I was home for a bit.

. . . . .

DECEMBER: I love the Christmas parties and concerts and time with friends that increases over the holiday season. Nashville is a hotbed for good times in December. It’s my favorite time of year.

Here’s me and some gals at the cooooooolest Christmas party in town.

Also this month, I got to spend time hanging out with Jennie Allen and we became quick besties. It was hopefully the first of many crazy brainstorming retreats.

. . . . .

It was a good year. It wasn’t pain free, disappointment free, fear free, heartbreak free, but I am sure glad it happened. There are things that happened that I will never forget- new friendships, dating relationships, new ministry opportunities, hard conversations, surprising moments, dreams coming true, all of it. Even through the hard, as the year comes to an end, my journal is almost as full as my heart.

I am grateful.

Thanks for being a part of my 2012.

. . . . .

What was the highlight of your 2012? If you write a recap post, link in the comments so we can read about your year!

[PS- I LOVE this recap of 2012 by Regi Campbell. Couldn't resist sharing it.]

TOP 5 FRIDAY is when we each list five of our favorite things, depending on the topic. Feel free to join in via the comments or by posting on your own blog and linking back here. Play along. It’s Friday.

. . . . .

I have some goals and dreams.

Currently, I want to be punnier.

You can pray into that if you so feel led.

It’s just that punny people are always cracking me up and I just keep thinking that if I was punnier, I could entertain myself more often.

But I’m also finding that there are a lot of things on this planet that distract me from writing. Things like painting my nails. And maybe taking my punny-ness up a level might actually make me write puns all the time instead of, you know, books?

This has nothing to do with today’s blog post.

You’re welcome.

. . . . .

Today’s Top 5 Friday is pretty simple and I link you’re gonna like it a lot.

[boom. pun.]

Here are the top 5 things I’ve found on the world wide web this week that I want to share with you!

1. Womanista’s Non-Date Essentials

I read Womanista every day and I love it every day. But this post? This is a masterpiece. For a married woman to know so much about the current world of dating is honorable… though I will take some credit because Cassie has heard my bemoaning a time or twelve. Also, that book she mentions is on hold for me at the library. I can’t wait to check it out. Literally. [Is THAT a pun? Not sure.]

2. I Will Wait by Mumford & Sons

If you’ve been here longer than a minute, you know that I have a thing for Mumford & Sons. I just plain love ‘em. So duh. They made the list with their new single.

3. Article by Anne Lamott

I know, she’s every cool Christian’s favorite author ever. But she’s not mine. I mean, I like her, but I don’t totally agree with her and sometimes I so much don’t agree that I can’t read her stuff. That doesn’t mean she’s not a fine person, I’m just explaining myself. BUT. This article is beautifully written and deserves to be read slowly.

4. Monaco Blue

I’ve never known the name, but when I saw this I was all, “OH MY YES THAT IS MY FAVORITE COLOR” and luckily it is going to be huge in Spring 2013 which, I don’t know about you, but I’m absolutely no where near planning my spring wardrobe so I’m all, “CAN I PLEASE WEAR THIS IN THE FALL WINTER AND SPRING?” Probably I shouldn’t. But I’m gonna. My friends at Loom Decor did an entire blog post about Monaco Blue and I will forever be grateful that they told me the name of my favorite color.

Also, this chair? I want it like whoa.

5. Fearless by Group 1 Crew

This album is crazy fun and each song is about Jesus and it’s awesome. Get it.

Bonus reminders:

I wrote a book.

Emily wrote a book.

They’re twin sisters.

. . . . .

YOUR TURN!

Share your favorite link from this week! I’m sure we’ll all get a click out of it! 

[I. Am. On. FIRE!]

. . . . .

PS- come back here on Monday for a huge awesomely cool thing…. like, a free thing. For you. And every girl you know. Seriously. 

TOP 5 FRIDAY is when we each list five of our favorite things, depending on the topic. Feel free to join in via the comments or by posting on your own blog and linking back here. Play along. It’s Friday.

. . . . .

JOG JAMS! Like Jock Jams… get it? My younger sister used to practice her Jock Jam routines at dinner in high school. It made me insane. She’s quit now, so we get along fine.

Earlier this week, Leanna popped over to my facebook page and asked me to list my favorite Christian songs to listen to while running.

I just plain didn’t have the heart to tell her that what I do looks way more like a fast walk / slow jog, so I just agreed to write the post.

Here are my top 5 favorite Christian jogging songs!

. . . . .

1. Mat Kearney – Count On Me. No, this isn’t a Christian album, but he’s a Christian dude and his lyrics are always Annie-friendly. [Meaning, I can sign the song outloud in a bus full of teen girls and not have to bleep myself at all. That scenario has never happened, but it could.]

2. Joy Williams – Golden Thread. This is my absolute FAVORITE Joy Williams song, and that’s saying a lot because I love The Civil Wars. This isn’t the fastest beat, but it never fails to make me smile.

3. Group 1 Crew – Live It Up. So fun. Like, whoa fun. I told y’all I love them. Tis true. You could run to this whole album and have a blast. I mean, as much as you can “have a blast” while, you know, running.

4. Switchfoot – Hello Hurricane. To go to the other extreme from the hip-hop sound of Group 1 Crew, this is more of a rock song. Again, another full album that is good for motivating me to move.

5. Hillsong United – Desert Song. Killer lyrics. If you aren’t pumping your fists by the end of this song, you aren’t listening to the words.

You are probably, at this point, thinking the same thing I am thinking. My song choices are a sundry bunch to be certain. The other truth? I don’t only run to Christian music. But, for today’s topics, we stuck to the Christian artists.

I believe in full disclosure on Fridays.

Fine, it’s Thursday night and I’m about to go get on the bus.

QUIT ASKING THE HARD QUESTIONS AND MAKING ME TELL YOU THINGS YOU KNOW YOU DON’T REALLY WANT TO KNOW.

Happy Friday.

. . . . .

YOUR TURN!

What are your favorite Christian songs to listen to while you are exercising?

Congrats to these three folks for winning the Hillsong Live album!

#13 : Katherine Boozer!

#28 : Tess!

Picked out of a ton of really legit reasons that you should get the album: TRAVIS! [You are right, Trav. You have suffered with my gal posts long enough to earn some free tunes.]

The rest of you had some AMAZING reasons and I wish that I could give away 30 copies of the CD. Sorry that I can’t. But I hope you’ll check out Hillsong Live’s new album and really love it. I totally do.

. . . . .

Stay tuned around the ol’ blog, people. Check back after dinner…. so exciting stuff happening today! [Hence the lack of a real informative and hilarious blog post.... we're doing some major behind the scenes work, y'all. Maj.]

First of all, the winner of Sarah Martin’s Stress Point is commenter #34: BEKAH! Congrats, Bekah! And wowsers, after reading all those comments, I’m thinking you 20-somethings just need to come over to my house and I’ll make lunch and let’s talk about some things, y’all. I’ll let you know when it is planned.

Not really. But maybe. Because I love you people.

On to the show….

. . . . .

TOP 5 FRIDAY is when we each list five of our favorite things, depending on the topic. Feel free to join in via the comments or by posting on your own blog and linking back here. Play along. It’s Friday.

. . . . .

One of the things I push my small group gals about is filling their mind with Godly music. You may recall I made them a little Lent Playlist this spring. And the Hillsong worship albums are some of my absolute favorite.

So I pulled a CLASSIC Annie and opened up the ol’ iTunes, put “Hillsong” in the search box, and then listed the songs by most played.

Because blogging should be the most riveting of entertainment media, here are my Top 5 Hillsong worship songs. [And I am going to kind of announce them like they are in a beauty pageant. Read it that way, okay?]

. . . . .

Coming in at #5, with 21 plays, most recently on May 20th in the middle of the afternoon, Bones from the Aftermath album!

Tied for #4, each with 23 plays, Point of Difference from All Of The Above [last played when I was in Scotland last July] and Hosanna [last played, well, on Monday].

The #3 position is held for a special song, played 30 times, lastly on February 19 [and you can keep your Valentine's Day comments to yourself thank you very much]- None But Jesus from United We Stand.

Just squeaking by with 31 listens, last played from this laptop in May of 2010 [indicating a serious song addiction in the 2009-2010 season of life], 2nd place goes to Made Me Glad from This Is Our God.

And our #1 Hillsong United song, with a commanding 40 plays, most recently in February [the 19th was apparently a worshipful / tough day, y'all], Lead Me To The Cross from All Of The Above.

. . . . .

Why this Top 5 Friday topic? Because the good people at Hillsong released a NEW album this week- a live album called Cornerstone. And I think you’ll love it.

The fine folks at Hillsong gave me a copy of this album earlier this week so I could give it a spin and see if a) I liked it and b) if I wanted to tell you about it because I liked it.

Yes and yes.

No joke, the songs from this album are creeping up my Hillsong most-played list and will crack the Top 5 in no time. #7- Grace Abounds? Yeah, it makes me cry. The album is full of songs that we’ll be singing in our churches in NO TIME, y’all. No time.

[And listen, free copy for me or not, if the music wasn't good and I didn't think you would genuinely like it, I wouldn't tell you about it. I promise.]

Those same good folks at Hillsong? They are giving away THREE copies of Cornerstone today!!! 

Cool, right? I KNOW.

TWO winners will be picked by random number generator.

The third album will go to the person who leaves the most convincing comment as to why you should get a free copy of this worship album.

So… to win, just leave a comment below telling us why YOU should get this free album!

[Buttering me up with happy birthday wishes won't help you, though I can totally see why you think it would, with me loving my birthday and all.]

You have until 5pm CST on Sunday, July 8th to enter.

Booyah, right? Totes booyah.

Have a great weekend!

I got to see one of my very favorite musicians play last night at Cannery Ballroom here in Nashville – Ingrid Michaelson. I have been a big fan since about ten of us girls went and saw her play the Belcourt in 2010.

I had a moment of crisis last night when she was playing my song [ok, not MY song, but, you know, my song] – do I experience the moment or do I video it so I can hear it over and over again? [And, of course, I wanted you to get to see it too.]

I went video. You’re welcome.

Such a fun night… but my mind couldn’t help but rewind to March of 2010, the last time I saw Ingrid in concert. About ten of the gals loaded up and headed to the show in Knoxville. A handful of our guy friends were with this tour and so we just went into total groupie mode and drove to see the show… and honestly, to see them.

The night was perfect. The weather, the gals, seeing our boys, seeing the show. All of it.

Since that picture two years ago, three have gotten married, the two that were already married have had babies, and we have all lived and grown and stayed connected.

Only five of us made it to the show last night. But in the pitch black dark, we took a picture together.

Because Ingrid reminds us that we have history together.

When I moved to Nashville, one of the losses that I mourned so deeply was the loss of people knowing me and having “remember when” moments. And it took time to build those, but they are here. I’ve lived here almost four years now. And we are full of remember when’s.

Ingrid sang a lot from her new album last night, which I love. But it tugs at the deepest place of my heartstrings to hear her old stuff. It reminds me of a really beautiful and challenging relationship from 2010. I can hear our conversations between the lines of the songs from that old album, I can see the girls walking down the street in Knoxville, I can almost feel the tears from that season coming back.

History doesn’t always have to feel good to be appreciated. And last night was a reminder that the sweetest things in friendship are built by time.

. . . . .

Do you find that to be true? What else builds friendships?

. . . . .

This is an amazing cover by Ingrid. Enjoy.

So y’all. Getting new headshots done yesterday was super fun. I’m gonna tell you all about it soon. For now, here are two pictures that show you kinda what was going on.

But before I tell you about that, I gotta tell you about this.

Going shopping.

So my dear friend / stylist Amber Lehman and I popped down to the mall last week to find all the clothes for the photo shoot. We had, in the words of people other than me, a wicked good time. We laughed, we tried on outfits, we matched belts to dresses and earrings to tops.

And I bought red jeans. I AM SO TRENDY.

I can’t even get started on the discounts I got from Macy’s. Pretty much, I practically robbed them.

[The thing that will keep me out of jail after writing that sentence is "practically." I didn't really. I just got some serious sale prices.]

Amber and I high-fived and walked out of Macy’s and, as happens often in Nashville, Amber saw a friend.

As soon as said friend spoke in her cute southern drawl, I was like, “this girl is gonna be my friend.”

[Yep, that's how I make friends. I force them into it.]

Her name is Joanna Smith. She had been shopping. So had we. Amber loves her. I love Amber. That’s pretty much all I needed to suggest BFF tattoos.

She declined. Weird.

One of these things is not like the other…. meaning somebody [wearing green] doesn’t dress very fancy on a normal day. And she probably should. Also, same somebody [wearing green] has got to learn to curl her hair like everyone else does in this picture.

Amber started telling me about Joanna’s current single on country radio called “We Can’t Be Friends” and I was all, “Oh girl, I do not have time in my life for a song with that title.”

Obviously meaning that songs like that feel true x a million to me right now.

[Sigh... guy/girl friendships in your 30s in the 2010s are a complicated hot mess. At least, for me.]

So after Joanna and I decided that BFF tattoos were unnecessary but a friendship had definitely begun right there outside of the Macy’s, I came home and listened to her stuff.

Y’all.

Dang.

First of all, Amber styled this video for “Gettin’ Married” and when you watch it, you will say, “yep, that is a hilarious song and that Joanna is a doll and duh she and Annie were born to be friends.”

Then I listened to “We Can’t Be Friends” and sheesh. Her voice is supes beautiful and the lyrics are great and I could not like her sound more.

So what I’m saying is you should probably buy her EP and call your radio station and request her music and cheer for her forever.

Seriously. Isn’t Nashville the coolest town? I. Know.

[Also, I own red jeans. That needed to be stated again.]

You guys.

This album.

I can’t quit it. And it is brand new.

And I’ve got some serious dance moves going on when I listen to White Flag. It’s my favorite of the non make-me-cry variety on Stories To Tell.

If you’ve read From Head To Foot, you know that it was this yahoo who wrote the kindest preface an author could ever ask for. He’s a good dude.

BUT.

That’s not why I’m telling you about his music.

I’m telling you about this CD because it matches the weather and it is some of the best tunes that Dave has ever put out and I don’t know how he does it, but every single album is better than the one before. I think he uses magic. Seriously. The Potter kind.

[Kidding. He's just gifted. It's different than magic.]

This is literally the best way that you can use $10 today.

Also, Dave is about to tour it up for the next few weeks and you will be all shades of happy if you get to go. And he’ll give you a special high-five if you say, “I’m friends with AnnieBlogs” when you meet him after the show.

So.

Recap.

Buy the record.

Go to a show.

High-five.

Amen.

This video will totally get you stoked for the weekend.

If it doesn’t, please follow these steps:

1. Pull out a calendar – it can be physical or on your computer.

2. Put your finger on today, Friday, February 24th.

3. Say out loud, “TODAY IS FRIDAY.”

4. Then say, “Self, what part of the week is now upon us?”

5. Then say, “THE WEEKEND. LET’S DANCE!”

6. Then watch this again.

You can get all of Ben Rector’s music on iTunes and I heartily recommend it. Let him sing you all the way to Sunday and then let’s meet back up right here Monday.

Sound good?

[See what I did there? "SOUND good" when I'm talking about music? You're welcome.]