About the Song Series: "First Snow" - *To Be Released Friday, November 25th*

It's a magical moment.  You wake up, cozy in your bed, and you sense a mysterious hush...even the morning quiet is muffled by something...but what?  A tinge of hope wells up inside and you wonder, "Is this what I think it is?"  You look out the window and low and behold, overnight, your world has become a fantastical winter wonderland!!! 
"It's snowing.  IT'S SNOWING!!" you say as you trip out of bed, and it doesn't matter a bit who's listening.  It may seem like just another day to some, but for you, this is YOUR day!  You smile a silly smile all day long and saying "Hi!" to people you've never met before.  Every store you walk into is met with a friendly conversation about the weather and it just seems like the world is on your side. 

......

It's a magical moment. You wake up to a mysterious sense of anticipation for the day...something different, quite wonderful...but what?  Then you picture their beautiful face and a surge of happiness runs through your body.  You wonder, "Is this what I think it is?"   You look out the window and the sky seems clear and bright, far as the eye can see.  It seems overnight, your world has become a fantastical wonderland!!!
"I'm in love....I'M IN LOVE!!" you say as you trip out of bed, and you don't care a bit who knows it!  It may seem like just another day to some, but for you, this is YOUR day!  You smile a silly smile all day long and say "Hi!" to people you've never met before!  You speak with giddy inflections to your voice you didn't have in you to convey before and it just seems the world is on your side.



Fellow snowbirds and lovebirds, "First Snow" is OUR song!  It's a fun and flirty comparison between being in love and the first snow and it's just cute as a button!  It's a happy attempt to put words and a tune to the feeling of being in love at Christmastime; though I venture to say, there's nothing quite like it, and there are no words or tunes sugary enough to describe it.  To put it most simply, what "First Snow" means to say is: Merry Christmastime to you, Lovebirds -- LOVE ON!

About the Song Series: "First Christmas Away From Home" *To Be Released Friday, November 25th*

Public Service Announcement: tsfSAD, a photo by zebra.paperclip on Flickr.

September 2001, I flew out to work at the Shelter City Youth Hostel in Amsterdam, Holland. It was something I'd wanted to do for some time - go and share the love of Jesus in practical ways smack-dab in the middle of "the red light district." (Why is another story.)
I was 19, and to put it simply, wasn't prepared for a lot of what I experienced there. I spent way more than my fair share of time in the tiny library on the landing, praying overwhelmed prayers.
The library was decorated with Christmas lights, which I took great comfort in from my first day on, because Christmas lights meant Christmas, and Christmas meant a time of peace, comfort, and safety in the arms of my dad, my mom, my family...


I spent my first Christmas season away from home at the Shelter. And I remember praying often leading-up-to and after Thanksgiving that Jesus would reveal to me how He could empathize with what I was feeling, being so far from all that was familiar - everything and everyone I knew at Christmastime.

This prayer got the sweetest answer. It changed the way I look at Christmas, and the great measure of Christ's love for us:Christmas Day was Jesus' very first day away from home. A place he would not return to for 33 years.
In the name of Love, Jesus stepped out from under the Perfect Light of heaven and all He ever knew. He left the safe arms of His Father and ever-glorious swelling songs of the angels...
And He was born into our dark world under a quiet sky, to people He did not know.
His sacrifice of love that first Christmas night was beyond measure. And, He did it perfectly...
....
For anyone spending a Christmas away from home: a soldier; a student; a missionary...or maybe, someone who is missing someone precious this Holiday season, Jesus empathizes with this heartache so intimately. He loves us. He is with us...we are never alone..."Immanuel."
He loves you.
He is with you.
You are never alone...
"Immanuel."

Grateful - November Newsletter

GRATEFUL

It's November, time to give thanks where thanks is due; it's time to write and thank all of YOU! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

We consider it an honor and privilege to sing along with you wherever you may be when you put in our CD. Whether you're driving somewhere and need a song of hope, laying in bed and need a song of comfort, or you're havin' a crumby day and you just need to sing a song at the top of your lungs, we can't think of a more awesome place to be than with you when you're at your "realest." Keep on keepin' on and singin' on! Thanks for letting us keep on and sing on with you!

GO TELL! - CHRISTMAS ALBUM

The last couple of months, we've been working on a Christmas album that we haven't named yet (if you know us, this comes as no surprise)! Jon Skaggs (Producer/Manager) called in August and asked if we were up for making a Christmas album, and after we exclaimed "I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!" and some other Elf quotes, he took it to mean, "yes."

We are beyond excited to share this homemade-as-apple-pie Christmas collection with you. There will be two originals on this record, along with six traditional favorites! Tyler Hilton of "One Tree Hill" and "Walk The Line" is the (amazing, gritty-voiced) featured vocalist you'll soon hear on our original duet, "First Christmas (Away From Home)". Our family is also featured in several tunes, creating a "home for Christmas" feel for you and yours all season long.

Pre-sales for our album start next week, so please share the news and check our facebook page regularly for special previews and details!

GRANDPA

You may not have met our Grandpa Ray, but if you had, he would have taken your hand in his and said, "I'm Ray, but you just call me Grandpa."

Grandpa lived a simple life, but he leaves with us memories of a larger-than-life man of faith. We owe him a debt of gratitude for inspiring so much of what we do as The Wicks. He exemplified in every way what it means to Light Up The Dark. Thank you, Grandpa. We love you, love you, love you, and we'll meet you at the river when we're home.

GOIN' THROUGH DOORS

Back in January, we made a simple decision to walk through the open doors. Some opportunities have taken us further along the journey than others; some seem to be more of a chance to smile and wave at the world on the other side.

Our Kickstarter campaign is just another one of those open doors. If you've felt lead to give and haven't gotten 'round to it, please do! There's still time! 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thewicks If not, we'd so appreciate your prayers for that next open door! Sincere thanks...

...Stay Warm and Keep Those Lamps Burnin' Bright!

With Love, -The Wicks