Free Song Download: I Will Follow & Story behind the song.

I posed the question to "fans" of my Facebook Music Page: Which song would you like to receive as a free download?  The winner, I Will Follow.  So, for a limited time you can get a free download of the song.  I hope you'll take this opportunity to upload the download.  :)  As, the free download will disappear soon.  :)

All you need to do is visit my Facebook Music Page, click on the "Like" button while on that page, and you can get the free download.  :)



 I wrote "I Will Follow" in the midst of some very difficult and dark circumstances.  It seemed as though there might be no end to the trouble and heartache.  However, I remembered a promise the Lord made to me in the quiet of my heart when I committed to following Him where ever He led me.  This song was THAT reminder to myself of His promise that if I honored Him with my gifts, he would take care of me in doing so.  I know I am being a bit vague, however, if you and I ever have the chance to speak on a one on one basis, I'd be so happy to share the story.

Danny Donnelly is singing background vocals here, Sean Holt is playing saxes, and of course, everything by piano, is Danny D.  :)  

Anyway, I hope you'll download the song and that it too, will remind you that if you TRUST God, no matter what the circumstances say... if you feel like you will never get out of this, remember, trusting in God means you will follow Him, and He may not always pull us OUT of pain or a painful situation, but He will guide us through it, and through all of it, we will learn to TRUST Him because He alone is truly trustworthy.  He's God, He knows the beginning and the end.  Nothing is a surprise to Him.  Don't fear.  This is not cliche', it's truth and you'll know it once you walk in it. 

CD's Are HERE!

They are shrink wrapped and beautiful!  Five O'Clock is here, but not officially released yet.  We're working on the Official Release Party.  You can check out the CD Artwork here!  You can get the Digital Version right now.  We are doing a Soft-Release at the concert this weekend outside Baltimore, MD.

9/11 Rememberance and Memorial

I was at work in downtown San Francisco. My husband called me to let me know that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I logged onto the internet. Then came the second phone call and news of the second tower hit. All I wanted to do was go home and be with my husband. My work, however, would insist we press on and continue to work. Then tower 2 collapsed. Then tower 1. "Oh God, save them."

The shock I felt, sadness...prayers lifted up... when the horror of the news and pictures on the internet reached my eyes was inexplicable. I prayed that every single person in those towers would be met by Jesus and comforted by Him. Then the news of the Pentagon and Pennsylvania plane crash.

Then the news of my mother on an airplane coming back from Florida to Arizona, where she was helping her sister, rerouted to Texas early in the day when the President ordered all aircraft out of the sky.

In Arizona, at my mother's home, 1130pm, my younger brother, Richard, slept. He heard frantic knocking and screaming at the front door. It was a man warning the household that the carport, car in the carport, and outdoor laundry room were on fire. My brother, unsure if this were true, neared the carport from inside when he felt the heat of the fire. In his pajamas, he hurriedly picked up his car keys and ran out the front door. Just seconds after that, the car in the carport exploded shooting flames through the attic and engulfing most of the house.

Then came the phone call from my little brother. Alarmed at the late night phone call, calmly and uncharacteristically monotone, "Elva, the house is burning down." "What?" I was confused. We were still reeling from events of the day. My mother's mom had just passed away. My parents were recently divorced. Terrorism struck us that day, and NOW? NOW? The house is on fire?

When I spoke to my mother early that morning, her response, in a shakey voice that carried the sound of sadness and loss, "Elva, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

My mother has always shown EXTREME strength in the Lord because of her TRUST in the Lord. Even in spite of all she had lost. Emotions in my family ran high for our family on 9/11. Even though we did not know ONE NAME of the people in that tower, we felt like we had lost over 3000 of our own family. And the fire on that day brought the tragedy home, even closer to us.

Then, in the days that followed, people who had never walked into a church, began walking into churches to find comfort and solice in God.
People who didn't pray, began to pray.
Then, most cars on the road donned the American Flag.
Then, time passed.
People woke up later and later and stopped seeking comfort and solice from God.
Flags didn't don cars anymore.
Politics divided the country.
People who didn't know anyone in the towers began to forget.
Then, 10 Years Later... here we are again. Commemorating the 10th Year After this tragedy.

The Bible says in Isaiah 55:
6Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.

I wrote a song when my friends, the Hasenbalgs, were met by their own tragedy in losing their child. My prayer is that this song will be one to remind you that in whatever sorrow or loss, trial or difficulty, there is ONE who is NEAR to you. I am posting it on my FACEbook Music Page Band Profile. There is healing in tears, when you allow the savior and Light of the world to comfort you.

Dedicating this song to all those today, who are remembering 9/11. Praying for comfort for all.
Love, e

Releasing a CD is easier than producing it? Uh, yeah, NO!

I've been in deep preparing for Five O'Clock CD release.

website content and going back and forth with that
messages to friends and supporters of DA music and me
blogs (hi, there) :)
marketing help
social website news
accounting
sales prep
scheduling opportunities to share the music
spending hours upon hours researching
meetings
traveling
praying for God's guidance and my surrender
AND so many other miscellaneous things!

Why go through all this? To garner personal attention? Lord, no. It's too much work.

But I have something to say in a song that was spoken to me in my walk with God-- through life, experiences, trials, and joys and I can't help but want others to experience the peace, help, and joy I experienced in writing the songs... then it is all worth it. If you're a songwriter or artist, you understand what I am saying. These songs are REAL, GENUINE lessons learned, tears cried, depression conquered (that's a constant battle on some days, but the battle is already always won), joy awakened --- all put to lyrics and melody. The hours and weeks - heart and soul poured out as God healed me, taught me, disciplined me, comforted me -- through the songs while allowing me... and yes, now YOU, to know that I can, I should, I MUST trust Him NO MATTER WHAT the circumstance is.

As long as we are not stumbling into trouble purposely and carelessly --- we can trust that good and bad circumstances are for (as James 1 says) testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.


We should consider whatever we walk through in this life (trial or joy) AS A JOY.

He wants us to RISE and awaken to the LIFE He has for us.

So, this is why I am working so hard to get this CD and the message of it out. Not everyone will like the style of music or the sound of my voice, but my prayer is that the message resonates with ears that long to hear, and eyes that long to see. If you hear HIS voice today, soften your hearts, and HEAR!

You can hear FIVE O'CLOCK the TITLE TRACK RIGHT NOW on my FACEBOOK Music Page

New WEBSITE! and.... Five O'Clock: NEW CD IS HERE! Finally. :)

... For Download ONLY, to you who "LIKE" my Facebook Page. If you download, please shoot me an email, and I will be SURE to send you a PDF copy of the CD ARTWORK by my amazing Artist of a cousin, Melissa Diaz.

She is an artist, costume designer, brand expert, and website builder extraordinaire. I am so honored to have her as my cousin, and hope you'll look her and her amazing work up.

So much NEW content on the website, and new songs, and new concerts and events coming up.

We're in the midst of trying to plan a CD Release Party, so it would be AWESOME if some of you want to help out, volunteer, donate a great "laid back, kick back" space that can fit about 125 people. We'll have to keep it manageable. A cafe anyone? A blessing for your cafe, and a place for me to open up and share some music from Five O'Clock and then enjoy some listening.

Just shoot me an email if you think your gifts, talents, and abilities can be hands and feet for Jesus for the CD Release! Love it! I know you're out there.

I already received a call from an Event Planner who wants to help out, so... HERE WE COME!

Off to send some mail out, and get a disc to KENYA, Africa by request so folks at the Radio Station can play some tunes. Pray for that please. :) We all need a little Wakin' up to do!

Love and prayers,
e