A Look Into Lexie

Merry Christmas To All, & To All... Lots of Love?

2011-12-22T08:29:00.000-06:00

(I'm not sure where I was going with that title. Moving on.)

This is an early Christmas gift to you all from myself and my friend, Mr. Scott Nichols and Guitar Pit Studios!

Remember the real reason for the season. It's too easy to get caught up in everything else!

Lots of love to you all!

In His Love,
Lex <3

Reasons It's Great to Be Single

2011-12-01T14:35:00.000-06:00

The real deal! Eiffel Tower, Paris (November 27, 2011)

It's been a while since I've posted. In fact, since my last entry, I've become a world-traveler. For almost two weeks in November, I was in Europe. And it was amazing. But this post isn't about that.

Since being back, with the Christmas season in full swing, I came to realize that this is the first Christmas season I'll be spending as a single woman in several years.

Therefore, I decided to make a list of reasons why it's super fabulous to be single. The following list is comprised of things I've thought up in the last 30 minutes.

I realize some of them sound completely ridiculous, but I thought it would be a fun way to get my brain feeling the joy of the season, rather than lonely or disappointed!

REASONS IT'S GREAT TO BE SINGLE

No gift purchasing worries/stresses or extra money spent for holidays or birthdays on a guy.
Not worrying about what time you'll see him.
Meeting new people and not having to throw out the obligatory, informational, "Well, my BOYFRIEND (hint, hint, cough, cough)..." sentence so they know you're off the market.
Always get to eat where YOU want to eat. And when.
Never waiting on his phone call.
Never being late because he just can't seem to make it to your place on time.
Not having to miss holiday time with your family to spend time with his.
Sleeping with a teddy bear that you proudly display on your bed.
You always get to pick the movie. And you don't have to watch that new action flick if you don't want.
Never have to worry about ways to bring up "the future" without scaring someone off.
Don't have to worry about splitting time between a guy and your friends.
No fighting!
No missing a boyfriend who is away.
Exciting trips and new adventures. That you plan.
The secret thrill that Mr. Right could be just around the corner.
Mind is open when doing things rather than being pre-occupied by thoughts of him.
Calling close friends instead of a guy to vent or when you're bored.
Never wondering if they're going to start hating you or becoming disinterested at any given time.
No worry about rushing things.
Not hearing or saying, "I love you" too soon.
No worrying if he secretly hates your dog.
No more ESPN (unless you turn it on yourself).
No one telling you what to say, do, listen to, eat OR how to dress, etc.
Girls' nights!
Family nights/time.
Chick flicks
Disney Channel!
Leaving a box of tampons (and/or other things guys pretend don't exist) in a visible place in your room/bathroom and not thinking twice about it.
Call/hang out with guy friends completely guilt/stress-free.
GOD TIME!!!
No in-law issues. FANTASTIC.
Not having the urge to check all sources of social media to see if that super flirty girl he talks to at _______ has written all over his profile.
Never waiting on his texts.
The freedom of spontaneous weekend plans.
No make-up.
Time for baby-sitting, dog-walking, etc. (a.k.a. EXTRA CASH!)
Flirting with the cute waiter at dinner.
Obsessing over the movie star in the movie you're watching. Out loud.
Freedom to travel.
Performing when/where you want to.
Belting Disney/Justin Bieber songs in your car.
Spontaneous road trips.
Turning your phone off. And being okay with it.
GLEE!
Flirting with the cute, single groomsman at your friend's wedding.
Not having to think about how you're going to afford a wedding.
Don't have to secretly look at bridal magazines and wish he'd bring up ring-shopping.
Eating the entire bag of Reese's Pieces. Ha. So there.
Going to Europe for two weeks on your own and only missing friends and family.
Letting a French stranger kiss you once on both cheeks.

This is where my list ends currently and where you come in! (Hey, I said this was a spontaneous, quick list of things I'd thought of THUS FAR!) What are great reasons for being single (especially around the holidays) that you can think of to encourage single individuals?

Ready... GO!!!

In His Love,

Lex <3

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

2011-10-10T08:43:00.000-05:00

So I was thinking this morning. Scary, I know.

I was thinking about the sunshine. I was thinking about the warmer weather. I was thinking about the future. And I was thinking about that verse. You know, "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it." (Also known as Psalm 118:24)

Let me take you back a few years... There was a time when I was going through something not very great. As I've mentioned in previous posts, there have been a few of those times for me, as I'm sure there has been for every single one of you reading this post.

Knowing I'd felt trapped and caged in my own situation, my aunt would call me every day- rain or shine, grouchy or no- to say the following:

"Good morning, Lexie! This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it! I love you!"

And each day, I felt a little less resentful toward hearing that verse. I had felt a bit like a caged bird. I felt trapped in the situation I found myself in, clinging to God and having hope that new and better things would come.

This aunt, the one who dutifully and faithfully called every morning for months, was the aunt who taught me to sing. Both figuratively and literally.

When I was very young, my aunt would sing to me, and then I would sing back to her. Occasionally, during the holidays, we'll sing together for the family. And how I cherish those times.

In this case, I was an adult, and she taught me to do the same thing. She sang to me God's praises. And I would sing them back to her. But it took a while to FEEL them. At first, it was just out of habit. Like a mockingbird. I would copy and regurgitate what I'd heard, though I didn't always feel it.

Then, one day, I woke up, and I called my aunt first. I left her a message:

"Good morning! This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it! I love you!"

The same message she'd left me for months. The same message I'd finally begun to feel and know, rather than just repeating.

I may have been that caged bird still, but I was singing something I believed.

It's like that in life, sometimes, isn't it? Some days we just have to make it through. We go through the motions when life is hard, knowing- someday- we'll FEEL again.

So, if you're in that spot now. You feel trapped- or caged- know that there is hope. There is a brighter day ahead. (Think Jeremiah 29:11- it's my favorite verse.)

Say the following until you believe it:

"This is the day that the Lord has made! I will rejoice and be glad in it! He loves me!"

It's super cheesy, and it may take you a while. But, one day, you'll wake up singing His praises. Not because it's habit, but because you FEEL again.

Today, sing His praises!

In His Love,
Lex <3

Seasons, Change, and Blissful Ignorance

2011-10-06T12:13:00.000-05:00

Not exactly politically correct. But still in a state of blissful ignorance with my cousins (circa 1990).

{From left: Ben Montgomery, Jason Hunt, Seneca (Hunt) Spindler, Sam Montgomery, myself}

The leaves are changing colors here in central Illinois, and- in some ways- I feel as if I'm changing colors too.

As it moves into a new season outside my window, I'm starting to move into a new season of my life. In less than three months, I'll be graduating with my Masters and moving my life to Nashville, Tennessee. Am I excited? Yes. Am I terrified? Absolutely.

Things are changing. It's a difficult economy with a lot of uncertainty. People are unemployed. Businesses are going under.

But I look outside my window, and I'm seeing that the world is still spinning.

In fact, from where I'm sitting currently, I can see past the multi-colored leaves on the trees into the daycare on campus. The children are running around the play area- screaming and laughing. And I can hear it through these heavy walls. They have no idea what's happening with the budget or the economy. They're blissfully ignorant to the trouble around them.

I want to be like those children, in a way. So often, I find myself worrying about what's going to happen in the next hour, the next week and the next year. I wonder when I'll find employment in Nashville and when my music will pick up again.

But we really don't need to worry about those things do we?

I mean, God makes sure the world spins every day. Therefore, I think I can trust Him enough to keep my world spinning.

That's my challenge to you today. Spend less time worrying and more time being blissfully ignorant. Scream and run and laugh. And look at the leaves. God has painted them a million different colors just for you.

Stop worrying about what you can't control and start focusing on change. It's a beautiful time of year, and it's a beautiful time in life.

Trust Him.

In His Love,
Lex <3

Dealing: Broken Hearts, Divorce and Life

2011-08-03T07:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I had the honor of joining Melody Miller for A Positive Start to Your Day on WIBI. I didn't expect to be so moved.

Let me back up... A few weeks ago, I joined both the Southern Illinois Miners and the Gateway Grizzlies (along with the staff at WIBI and Greenville College) to sing both the National Anthem and God Bless America at the games. As a baseball fan, this was right up my alley. Throughout the games, I was able to talk and joke with my new and old friends, as well as get to know the guys of Remedy Drive.

However, it was during that time that Melody (whom I'd known for quite some time being a listener of WIBI and the winner of Opening Act) really was given the chance to hear my story. And it's quite the story...

In previous posts, I've given you some raw, real emotions. Now, I'm going to give you a little more insight into my heart. I won't give you my whole testimony, but I will lead you down the path of my relationships over the last 10 years.

In the last five years, I have experienced:
-a marriage (a short one, at that)
-a divorce
-an abusive relationship
-a broken engagement
-and several confusing break-ups and non-starts to relationships

While that might not seem like much to you, it's made for several broken hearts and times of distress and confusion.

As a young woman in our world today, I could have chosen to become bitter. I could hate males and question God.

But that's not the path I'm choosing.

While I don't understand why some of these things have been apart of my life, I do understand that God has an AMAZING plan. It's so much bigger than anything I could ever imagine.

Please, listen to the conversation between Melody, my mom and myself from yesterday morning by clicking HERE.

If you have questions or would like to share you story/experiences, please e-mail me at lexiemontgomerymusic@hotmail.com. I would love to hear from you.

Being a single woman isn't easy in this world. But, I know that God has a purpose. And I'm trusting Him.

I hope you will too.

In His Love,
Lex <3

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

2011-07-18T13:31:00.000-05:00

I have been a complete slacker this summer. My blog is lacking.

So, I promise it will get better!

I just spent an incredible weekend with WIBI, the Southern Illinois Miners, the Gateway Grizzlies, and my new friends- Remedy Drive. More details to come. But, for the time-being, enjoy my renditions of God Bless America and the National Anthem!

In His Love,
Lex <3

Someday I'll See Myself As Beautiful

2011-06-22T22:26:00.000-05:00

‎((i want to be beautiful. make you stand in awe. look inside my heart and be amazed. i want to hear you say who i am is quite enough. just want to be worthy of love and beautiful.))

This song has really been on my heart this week.

Sometimes, I get so bogged down and discouraged by all the things I'm not.

As women, we have an innate longing to be seen as beautiful. And I just haven't felt that way for a long time. I've wanted to. But I just haven't.

Want to know one of my deepest, darkest secrets? For years, when I would look in a mirror, I would cry. Not just a little, but a lot. I hated how I looked.

It started when I was in 9th grade. I remember walking into the concession stand with my cheerleading uniform on and a young man I attended school with decided to comment on my appearance. Two words that meant nothing to him- simply a thoughtless statement- cemented inside of me a thought that had been tumbling around my brain for some time.

YOU'RE. UGLY.

While the young man probably thought nothing of his comment, I found myself scarred. Everytime I looked in the mirror, all I saw was that label: UGLY. And I wanted to be anything but that.

We all walk around with labels. Words that were thrown at us, most of the time in a thoughtless manner, and those words stuck. They stuck and they stung. They still do.

Recently, I've been really struggling with this. (I told you all a long time ago that you were getting the real Lexie here. A little raw, and really difficult to admit most of the time, but the real me.)

And "Beautiful" by Bethany Dillon keeps popping into my mind. Listen to the words of the song. Think about what they mean to you.

I often forget that I need to be focusing on HIS kind of beautiful. Not my own ideas of what it means.

Tonight, I don't feel beautiful. But someday I will.

In His Love,
Lex <3

Q&A Time, Kids...

2011-05-22T16:53:00.001-05:00

How has He blessed you today?

Dancing In the Moonlight...

2011-05-12T11:56:00.000-05:00

Let's take a little journey down memory lane...

The warm weather turnaround here in central Illinois has had me thinking. As I walked out of my house this morning to head to my car on my way to work, I took in the humid, warm weather. It reminded me of a warm July day last summer.

My best friend and I decided to attend the 4th of July celebration in downtown Springfield. We sat on the lawn of the Capitol Building with our families and prayed for no rain. After all, rain would put a damper on our activities. As everything was held outside, the rain would have ruined all of our fun.

We walked around, from food stand to food stand, visiting with friends we bumped into along the way. We stopped to take pictures and to listen to the music, provided in part by WIBI!

However, a little later in the evening, the dreaded rain came. Not only did it rain- it POURED. Individuals were huddling under tents and running for cover in all directions.

Sporting a lovely white outfit with tiny red stripes, I decided to bolt for a tent. Unluckily for me, the side of the tent I was standing under decided to be the side that hosted to run-off from the rain.

I had two choices:
1) I could get upset that I was getting rained on. After all, I'd taken the time to get ready. I'd avoided the dirt and tried to stop the sweat forming on my brow throughout the afternoon. Then, the rain ended up ruining all the activity, and I was cold and sopping wet!
OR...
2) I could enjoy it. I could welcome the cool water as a break from the hot, humid weather I'd been in all day. I could take the chance to dance in the rain while other people stood under tents, not enjoying the moment.

I took one look at my best friend, and I could tell we were both thinking the same thing. "Let's go."

And we left the tent to dance in the rain.

Despite the stares and the unbelieving eyes, I found myself enjoying the rain that I'd so carefully avoided. I was completely soaked, and I didn't care.

It was such a freeing feeling. Just letting go.

Tristen (left) and myself (right with no face) dancing in the moonlight :)

How many times have you been able to do that? Just let go, I mean. Life's given us all some pretty not-great situations, but it's all about how you respond.

Instead of being upset, learn to dance in the rain and the darkness.

It's been said that life is 10% what happens to you, and it's 90% how you react to it.

I'm learning to dance in the moonlight and in the rain, rather than crying in the darkness.

How will YOU dance your way through the rain in your life today?

In His Love,
Lex <3

Video from AgapeFest 2011

2011-05-05T11:53:00.000-05:00

How about a little video footage that my dad was able to catch at AgapeFest 2011?
You'll notice my mom loses her phone, and my dad gives it back to her somewhere in the middle. Apparently, she was pretty excited. :)

Also, keep in mind that this is festival sound, so it is going to sound differently than it would've had we been performing indoors.

AgapeFest was such an amazing experience for me, and I'm so grateful that God blessed me with the opportunity!

Woohoo!

In His Love,
Lex <3

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

2011-05-04T09:35:00.001-05:00

So, after much thought… okay, not much thought at all really, but some discussion… I’ve decided that some of my dear girlfriends need to be reminded of some things.

*****

How about some excerpts from a little book called, “He’s Just Not That Into You: Your Daily Wake-Up Call” (2005)… Do I agree with everything this book is about? Absolutely not. However, I DO agree with the idea that you were made for MORE than wishing someone else would notice your worth.

14: Don’t waste the pretty
40: “Hey, let’s meet at so-and-so’s party/friend’s house” is not a date. Even if you live in New York.
45: if I were into you, you would be the bright spot in my horrible busy day. Which would be a day that I would never be too busy to call you.
56: Meeting someone you like and dating him is supposed to make you feel BETTER, not WORSE. That’s always a good rule to live by, no matter what the special circumstances (i.e., excuses) are.
65: He’s just not that into you if he’s not dating you. “Hanging out” is NOT dating.
101: Your lost self-esteem may take longer to find than a new boyfriend, so prioritize accordingly.
152: Don’t spend your time on and give your heart to any guy who makes you wonder about ANYTHING related to his feelings for you.
164: Don’t be flattered that he misses you. He SHOULD miss you. You’re deeply missable. However, he’s still the same person who just broke up with you. Remember, the only reason he can miss you is because he’s choosing, every day, not to be with you.
191: Don’t ask yourself what you did wrong or how you could have done it differently. Don’t waste your valuable heart and mind trying to figure out why he did what he did. Or thinking back on all thethings he said, and wondering what was the truth and what was the lie. The only thing you need to know is that it’s really good news: He’s gone. Hallelujah.
195: He might be lying in the hospital with amnesia, but more likely he’s just not that into you.
231: We are all tired of operating from a place of fear. You want to believe you are better than all the crap you’ve been taking from all these men all these years. Well, you are.
239: Freaks should remain at the circus, not in your apartment.
247: When you think about it, making all those excuses for someone and trying to “figure someone out” takes up a lot of energy. Think of all the time you’ve opened up for so many other more positive things besides obsessing over HIM.
251: A standard is setting a level for yourself of what you will or won’t tolerate. You get to decide how it’s going to be for you. You can now design the person you want to be in the future, and the standards you want to have. Make sure you know what you stand for and what you believe in.
258: I WILL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, SPEND MY PRECIOUS TIME WITH A MAN WHO HAS ALREADY REJECTED ME.

****

Okay, so now let’s talk about a guy who will never reject you. He’ll never keep you waiting by the phone. He won’t lie. He’s always wanting your attention and misses you when you don’t make time for him. He’s not clingy, and he’s not forceful. He’ll never yell at you, and he will NEVER leave you. He loves you more than anyone could ever fathom.

Guess who this guy is… Yep, you’ve got it.

Here’s what the bible says about us…

Psalm 139:14- “I will praise you because I am wonderfully and fearfully made.”

Psalm 45:11- “The King is enthralled by your beauty.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-…13- “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. … And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

****

Here’s the deal. He loves us with a love that we could never experience here on Earth. So, why in the world do we keep seeking it here? Why do we secretly look to men for our validation? Sorry, guys, but He’s the only one that can satisfy that longing- that hole that we all feel inside.

So, here’s what I have to say. It’s easier said than done, but… Put down the phone. If that guy wants you, he’ll call you. Just know that you have me and the rest of your girlfriends to show you a glimpse of the love and acceptance you’ll find in Him every single day.

I’m here, and I’m ready to love on you like Jesus loves on you. So, instead of calling that guy… Call me. I’ll remind you of what our awesome God thinks of you. And how you don’t need anybody’s else’s words but His.

In His Love,

Lex <3

Opening Act 2011... And The Winner Is...

2011-05-01T21:11:00.000-05:00

We did it!

More to come a little later on, but with YOUR help, this blogger is the winner of Opening Act 2011!

Here's a pic to hopefully tide you over until I can fill you all in on my experience at AgapeFest!

Singing my competition song, "Rain Down" with The Mark Roach Band

WIBI Staffer, Craig; Myself: 2010 Winner, 'Kayce Kraut; Finalist, Crystal; WIBI Promotions Director, G.W.

In His Love,

Lex <3

The Procrastination Queen

2011-04-29T06:50:00.001-05:00

I am a last-minute person. I work well under pressure.

But, sometimes, that can be a problem. I put myself in situations where I HAVE to work under pressure because I know I can do it (re: writing my 8 page paper on Monday morning. You know, the one that was due on Monday night in class. No, really. That was this week.)

Sometimes, it's a good thing. Over the last couple of weeks with online voting, I've procrastinated my, well, nerves. I would be fine all week, and then- right before the announcement- I would turn into a nervous wreck.

Okay, so I realize I should be telling you that I'm always calm, cool and collected. I should be saying that I always feel the peace that only God can give. You should be hearing from me that I just go with the flow.

Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll... That's not always the case. It generally takes a whole lot of nervous conversation with my Jesus to make me STOP freaking out.

So, I'm just here to tell you that... I'M NOT PERFECT. Pretty sure I've blogged about that before, but wanted to throw it out there again- just in case you'd forgotten since then.

Sometimes, I have a really hard time trusting God to take care of things. I try to twist and turn and pull things into scenarios that I want. And I end up making a bigger mess. Imagine that.

Then, God picks up the pieces.

I'm not sure what the outcome of the voting will be this week. And that makes me nervous. I wish I didn't care as much as I do, but that's not the case.

Today, I want to thank you for following me through my Opening Act journey. Thanks for caring. And thanks for your support. It means so much to me when I receive words of encouragement. In fact, I generally print them out and hang them up to see on the days when I don't feel very positive!

Please know that, no matter the outcome tomorrow, this is NOT the end of my journey.

It's just the beginning.

So, hold on tight. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

But it will be fun.

In His (All-Knowing) Love,
Lex <3

Help!! Voting Ends TOMORROW!

2011-04-28T13:48:00.000-05:00

I really need your help!

Please vote for Lexie 20x per computer at www.wibi.org/contestants!

Your vote will help determine the WINNER, who will be announced on Saturday morning.

Voting ends TOMORROW morning at 8 a.m. Please, please, please vote 20x per computer and then share with anyone and everyone you know.

Sorry for the begging, but it's crunch time :/

In His Love,
Lex <3

Thoughts On Being A Princess... HIS Princess

2011-04-26T14:22:00.000-05:00

With one of my pageant friends, Lisa Sauter, after a Miss Indiana Pageant

A few days ago, I received some words of concern about my "princess-ness". I thought I'd post my response on my blog, as I've also posted it on my Facebook fan page.

One individual reported concern about my joking about crowns, tiaras and all-things princess. I wanted to tell you a little bit more about why I joke so much about being a princess. Here is my response to the concern:

"I noticed the comment you'd left, and I just wanted to let you know what that was all about.

I'm sure, at Mt. Vernon, you heard me talk about my time in the Miss America Organization when I was younger. Frequently, any time we could get our hands on a crown or tiara (plastic, paper, foam or whatever), my younger sister and I would do a "mock" crowning. The purpose of this crowning was to be as cheesy and silly as we possibly could be, all in fun, to emulate the silliness we'd seen in the pageants we'd attended and competed in.

The individual you saw holding the crown over my head in Mt. Vernon was, in fact, my younger sister. We were just being silly. And, we also did the "mock crownings" with the secretary of my work, my cousin who drove in from Kansas City, Missouri and little girls who came up for autographs and hugs after the performance.

Pageants were a big part of my life, but it wasn't about the pageants, crowns or fancy clothes. It was about God being able to use my experiences to touch and speak to other people. That's why I was involved in the pageant world. Not for me, but for Him. And He used it on multiple occasions. And I'm so thankful for those experiences and the individuals I was able to meet because of them.

In addition, I had severely low self-esteem as a young person that carried into my early adult years. At school I was made fun of and called ugly, and that left some pretty nasty emotional scars.

God has worked on my heart so much in the last several years. He has shown me that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made". That I am a work of art. A masterpiece. I am beautiful.

And I am HIS princess.

So, to me, the crown represents His light. I'm outgoing and loud and excitable. I've been told that I'm "sparkly". So, we use the crown to get the attention of individuals so that they can hear HIS message.

So, I apologize that the wrong impression was given. It was just my family and I having some fun and enjoying each others' company. We love each other, and we absolutely LOVE to laugh.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you continue to follow my fan page!
Have an amazing and blessed day :)

From one princess to another,
Lexie
Jeremiah 29:11"

I hope you'll understand that we are ALL children of God. He has created us each for a unique and special purpose.

One of the things He has created ME for is to show other girls that they, too, are His princesses.

As I mentioned in my response, I fell victim to severely low self-esteem. And I know I am not alone in this battle. Young women around the world are dealing with similar situations. Similar self-hatred.

I'd like to see that changed. And I'd like to be apart of that change.

I hope you'll join me in BEING the change we'd like to see. Please remind ALL of the young women in your life that they, too, are His princesses.

And they're beautiful.

In His (Royal) Love,
Lex <3

In The Final 2!

2011-04-25T19:18:00.000-05:00

On the way to Round 2 of eliminations for Opening Act 2011!

P.S. Don't forget to vote for Lexie at www.wibi.org/contestants! Your vote could help me WIN Opening Act this year! Please encourage your friends to vote!

Round 2 of Eliminations THIS MORNING!

2011-04-22T04:27:00.000-05:00

Well, it's that time again.

Online voting has been going on all week at www.wibi.org/contestants, and- this morning- someone is being eliminated from the competition.

Tune in at 90.5 in the Springfield area, 91.1 in the St. Louis area or ONLINE to listen to the elimination, which will take place between 8 and 9 a.m.

Here's my experience from last week. See if you can count how many times I say the word "nervous" in this video...

I hope to come back to you with some good news after the eliminations! If it's not good news, however, that's alright. I've had an awesome ride :)

I'll keep you posted. Check me out on Facebook/Twitter for immediate news after the elimination at www.facebook.com/lexiemusic and @singlexiesing.

In His Love,
Lex <3

I Wish I Were More (Fill-In-The-Blank)...

2011-04-21T14:15:00.001-05:00

Okay, I'll admit it. I've been on Facebook ENTIRELY too much in the last 2 weeks. I've been promoting Opening Act like a crazy person, and I'm fairly convinced that I'm not going to have any friends after this competition is over because of all the "Vote for Lexie" posts I've made.

(So, this is my apology to all of you who follow me on Facebook for the ridiculous amount of posting I've been doing lately. You'll only endure it for a short while longer!)

Anyway, I caught myself doing something really bad today.

I clicked on an acquaintance's profile picture when it came up in my NewsFeed, and- IMMEDIATELY- I started comparing myself to this young woman.

"She's so much prettier than I am. And skinnier too. I wish my eyes were blue like hers. I can't wait until my hair gets that long. Her dress is so gorgeous...," I thought to myself.

I had to snap myself out of it! Who am I to judge myself against others?! I'm certain that it says in the bible that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" by a Creator who thinks I am beautiful. So, why am I comparing myself to this young woman? I need to be proud of who I am and what I am.

It's time we stop wishing we were someone else.

Did you know that God created YOU to be exactly what He wanted YOU to be?

Ephesians 2:10 says this:

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Well, I'm convinced that those "good works" He created us for DO NOT involve wasting time comparing oneself to some other person who is just as flawed as YOU are!

Stop looking at others, and start looking within yourself.

What amazing things did God create you to do and to be? Start concentrating on THOSE things, not the things you believe you're lacking.

In fact, Philippians 4:8 says this:

"Finally, [awesome people reading Lexie's blog], whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Is comparing yourself to someone else considered thinking on these amazing things listed in Philippians? DON'T THINK SO.

So, I'm encouraging you to think about all the things that make you AMAZING. The things that make you absolutely PRECIOUS is God's eyes.

In His Love,
Lex <3

((You'll Find That Life Is Still Worthwhile If You Just Smile))

2011-04-19T12:12:00.000-05:00

During my time in the Miss America Organization (yes, I DO want world peace. You don't even need to ask.), I had the opportunity to speak with kids, educators and administrators all over central Illinois. One of the exercises I did with the students involved a mirror.

We talked about respecting yourself and respecting others, and with that- I mentioned the importance of smiling. I would have a student make a "mean" face (i.e., frowning, scowling, etc.), then I would have the student look in the mirror. "If you saw this face coming toward you in the hallway, how would you feel?" I would ask. In a chorus of voices, the kids would respond, "Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad." (That chorus is sort-of like when you ask a kid ANY question in Sunday school, and all the kids say together, "JEEEEEESSSSSSUUUUUUS!" Even if the answer you're looking for is bathtub or something equally boring.)

Then, I'd do the same exercise but I'd have the student smile. The kids would giggle and clap every time as I had the student look at him- or herself in the mirror. "So, how would you feel if THIS face was coming toward you in the hallway?" I'd ask. "Good/happy/nice," were the general thoughts voiced by the students.

Maybe, as adults, we should all be required to go through this exercise at the beginning of our day.

Last Friday, after the announcement of the Top3 at WIBI's Carlinville station, I was exhausted. I drove from Carlinville to Morrisonville High School, where my parents are educators. I sat down in my mom's classroom. I was worn out. I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes.

My mom quickly grabbed a chair and sat down next to me. "Lexie!" she exclaimed. "You need to smile at these kids! They voted for you, and they're so excited that you're here today!"

I sat up in my chair feeling embarrassed. I'd let my selfishness get in the way of shining my light. I made it a point to walk around the school, smiling at the students as I wandered around looking for my dad (yes, I'm a teacher's kid, so wandering around comes with the territory).

I guess I need to practice that exercise a little bit more. Frowning is so not as pretty as smiling. So, I need to step it up and smile! I've been told you'll never know whose day you might brighten just by smiling at them!

So, that's my challenge to you today. Smile.
You never know who you'll encourage :)

In His Love,
Lex <3

P.S. If you haven't voted yet, please visit www.wibi.org/contestants and vote for LEXIE! Also, please share this link with anyone and everyone you know! Help me NOT get voted off on Friday morning!

Sisters=Mandatory Best Friend

2011-04-12T14:12:00.000-05:00

"KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRSTEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!! Can you (fill-in-the-blank, whatever it may be in that moment)?"

This is generally what can be heard ringing throughout the duplex I share with my younger sister.

Kirsten is one of the most genuine, selfless, caring individuals I've ever had the privilege of knowing. And I'm not sure what I'd do without her.

For years,we fought. A lot. About everything. So, the prospect of the two of us sharing a living space once again (I'd moved out of my parents home after undergrad), made a lot of people who knew us very nervous- and rightfully so.

However, with the occasionally yelling match about bathroom time, dirty dishes or SOMEONE wearing my shoes and not telling me (ahem, Kirsten Renee...), it's worked out remarkably well.

Especially lately. Kirsten has been my biggest cheerleader in the Opening Act competition. She's worked hard to constantly encourage and support. On days when I feel like throwing in the towel, I feel like she might as well have a pair of my old pom pons in her hands, shaking them in my face.

If you would have told me five years ago that my baby sister would turn out to be one of my very best and closest friends, I might have laughed at you. Now, I cherish our late-night heart-to-hearts and morning venting sessions, getting ready for work and school. They're moments I'll cherish. I wish everyone could know the heart of my little sister. It's beautiful.

It makes me think about all the girls out there who have someone watching them, like my little sister did with me while growing up. I wonder if those girls have some sort of role model.

As an artist, that's what I want to be for those young women. I want to them to see a Christian woman who is living life the right way.

Who has done that for you? Who has been YOUR role model?

Better yet, who has their eyes on YOU?

In His Love,
Lex <3

P.S. Online voting started YESTERDAY! Vote until it tells you that you can't vote anymore at www.wibi.org/contestants, and please pass the word along! The contestant with the least amount of votes gets kicked off at the end of the week! Help!

To Everything There Is A Season

2011-04-07T12:50:00.000-05:00

¹To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

²A time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

⁴A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

⁵A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

⁶A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

⁷A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

⁸A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace…

¹¹He hath made every thing beautiful in his time…

Ecclesiastes 3 (KJV)

Time.

I waste a lot of it. But, why?

Our Maker has only given us so much of it. So why do we spend that time doing things that aren't going to further His will, His plan, His kingdom...?

God has called me to sing. And, for so long, I've been just waiting- not doing anything about it- just waiting for Him to move me. Well, it's time for me to make a move.

By sitting, I'm not letting Him work.

He can't do everything. We have to be willing to do the work when He calls us to do so.

So, move me, God. I'm ready. I want to do Your will. I want Your plan.

You know who was also ready? Charlie Brittin, a good friend of mine and member of Hope Church (my home church). He knew that God's timing was perfect. He knew that God had a purpose and a plan for his life. He knew that, even though he was battling cancer again and again, God could use him. And God did.

Charlie lost his battle with cancer yesterday afternoon. And since then I've consistently found tears streaming down my face. What an amazing man! What an amazing testimony! I feel so blessed to have known such an incredible man who knew how to use the time God gave him.

Charlie

So, I've decided to be brave and courageous like Charlie. Brave and courageous in God's will for my life.

Will YOU hold me accountable to keeping that promise?

What kind of things is God calling YOU to do today? How can you have courage like my dear friend, Charlie?

This one's for you, Charlie. (I'll see you in heaven, and I'll be wearing my best shoes):

In His Love (and perfect timing),

Lex <3

P.S. Please pray for Charlie's wife, Sallie.

Pass It Along!

2011-04-06T15:04:00.000-05:00

Ask and You Still May Not Receive...

2011-04-05T09:48:00.005-05:00

Wow.

Feeling a little under-the-weather today, I decided it would be a great time to sit on my couch and click through pictures on Facebook. I mean, I can't do much else at this point, so why not stalk people on Facebook, right?

Actually, as I was furiously clicking through these photos, I came to a realization (other than the fact that I seemed like a complete creeper).

Are you ready for it?

I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR NOT GETTING SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE ASKED GOD FOR IN MY LIFE.

I know, I know... You're sitting there thinking, "Hello, Lexie! Duh! God always knows best!" But, for some reason, I forget that from time to time. I, being the silly human that I am, get this wild idea that I always know what's best for me. Then, I find myself frustrated with God because He's not doing things the way I think they should be done right at that particular moment.

Then, I wake up on a random day two months (or two years or two lifetimes) later and think, "WHOA! God really knows what He's doing. He definitely spared me in all of this!"

I think about how many mistakes we, as humans, make every single day of our lives. And somehow we seem to think that we have the answers to all of life's questions.

NEWSFLASH: We don't.

So, today I am thanking God that He always knows what is best for me. And you.

Have you every thought about the times in your life when He's spared you from heartache? Maybe today you should.

He loves us so much that He does the things we may not have the strength to do at the time.

That's REAL love :)

In His ((REAL)) Love,
Lex <3

I Need YOUR Help!

2011-03-31T14:46:00.000-05:00

I was hoping maybe you could pass this along to EVERY SINGLE PERSON that you know? Please?

I'm a FINALIST in WIBI's Opening Act competition, and I need help with online votes!

For more info on the competition, visit www.wibi.org/contestants. It's sort-of like a Christian version of American Idol. There were hundreds of auditionees at 8 locations, and it was narrowed down to EIGHT semi-finalists. Last Saturday night, I was voted into the TOP 4 FINALISTS for the competition by a live audience at our Semi-Final concert with Addison Road. This is huge!

I need your help! The next step is online voting, beginning April 11^th. In order to NOT be eliminated, I have to have the most votes. We need to get the word out. You can vote every day, maybe even multiple times a day. What I need is for you to pass this along to ANYONE AND EVERYONE you know. For the next month, a contestant gets voted off every week. So this starts over EVERY Monday. All you have to do is visit www.wibi.org/contestants, and click “Vote” by my name (Lexie Montgomery) starting April 11^th. Please help me spread the word. This is an incredible opportunity!

To listen to my demo, click “Listen Now!” by my name on the website (www.wibi.org/contestants). Literally, every vote is incredibly important, and you could help me achieve a dream by performing with bands such as NeedToBreathe, Tenth Avenue North, Remedy Drive, Third Day and more! I’ll be sending out reminders as time progresses. Also, you can become a fan on my Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/lexiemusic by clicking “Like” at the top of the page!

I need your help! Will YOU vote and spread the word?

THANK YOU!!!!!
Lexie :)

In His Love,

Lex <3

Humbled and Blessed (I Made the Top 4!)

2011-03-29T14:01:00.000-05:00

We did it!
I've made it to the final 4 contestants for WIBI's Opening Act competition this year.
And it was absolutely unexpected.
Let me tell you about my trip... ((But first, make your way over to my fan page by clicking HERE, and click "Like" to become a fan!!))

My little sister, Kirsten, and I left on Friday night to make our way down to Mt. Vernon, Illinois for the Semi-Final event the next evening. I needed to be to Central Christian Church by 9 a.m., so we made the decision to stay at a very lovely establishment (and by very lovely, I'm being completely sarcastic... But that's another story for another time...) the night prior to the competition. We chatted and held various dance parties on our road trip, arriving late in the evening Friday. After checking in, we spent the time before bed chatting, laughing and exchanging performing tips.

Saturday morning, I started to head to the church. And it started snowing. Needless to stay, I knew the day would be an interesting one! Upon arriving, I was able to spend time with the other 6 Semi-Finalists and G.W.'s (WIBI's Promotions Director) four super cute kids! We had a blast exploring the church and drawing pictures with the kids. At one point, we were involved in some pretty serious games of Tic-Tac-Toe (I lost, in case you're wondering. Apparently I am not, in fact, smarter than a fourth grader...).

I had such a great time with each of the contestants on Saturday. I had the opportunity to talk with each individually prior to that day, but it was so amazing getting to know each of them better as we found things to do around the church! Crystal and I had a pretty fabulous photo shoot with the kids at one point while the Mark Roach Band was doing sound check early in the day. Here are a few photos:

Semi-Finalist, Tim, realized he'd forgotten to trim his fingernails, so Semi-Finalist, Camee, filed them for him during The Mark Roach Band's sound check.

Semi-Finalist, Crystal, and I during our photo shoot with Miss Mackenzie

With Devin and Semi-Finalist, Crystal, during our photo shoot with the kids

When Addison Road arrived, I was so nervous! The other contestants knew I am a huge Addison Road fan and thought it was pretty funny to see me star-struck as I met the band's lead singer, Jenny! She was gorgeous in sweats and no make-up, and she laughed when I told her I was nervous to meet her. Addison Road's sound check had a few technical difficulties, but that gave us more time to bond as contestants and with the band members of The Mark Roach Band and the guys of Addison Road!

As it got closer to time for the competition to start, reality set in. By the end of the evening, we'd have to say good-bye to three contestants. We'd gotten so close through this experience that it was really difficult to think about that! But, we were able to laugh with and encourage each other before the competition- especially due to the show being delayed! I had fun goofing around backstage with the other contestants, Craig Norrenberns (G.W.'s assistant) and Melody and Jeremiah from A Positive Start to Your Morning with Melody and Jeremiah!

With Semi-Finalists Camee, Kaitlin and Crystal

Goofing around with Semi-Finalists Tabitha, Tim and Crystal

Semi-Finalist, Tim, decided he wanted to be a princess too. But then he changed his mind...

When the show finally started, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. I was so excited! I couldn't wait to get out on stage and see all the amazing individuals who had decided to come and cheer us on! My family had decided to wear tiaras and carry glow wands so that I would see them in the audience. And see them, I did! It was such a great experience chatting with Jeremiah on stage about being a princess and then having the opportunity to perform my song, Rain Down, LIVE with The Mark Roach Band! The audience was incredibly supportive and encouraging, and I'll never forget the feeling emotions I experienced while waving to the audience when I finished the last note. It was exhilarating!

Singing my song, Rain Down, with The Mark Roach Band

After finishing my song

The rest of the competition flew by, and the other contestants and I left backstage intermission to say hello to our friends, families and audience attendees! We had the chance to take pictures, sign autographs and mingle!

Miss Emma Carter came to be part of my cheering section! Her dad, Blake, is the pastor of Hope Church, my home church, in Springfield, Illinois! The Carter family is such a blessing to me!

Signing autographs in the lobby

Two of the awesome guys from Semi-Finalist Tim Sprinkle's youth group

Hanging with the little girl who was "Shaking it for Jesus" (her words) during the Addison Road concert!

After Addison Road gave their AMAZING performance, we, as contestants, were called backstage. We gathered together to pray, and then Jeremiah called us back on stage to announce the Top 4 Finalists moving on in WIBI's Opening Act: Made to Worship competition this year. We joined hands and smiled at each other, knowing very well that we had all done our very best and God had been given all glory. Jeremiah took forever (as usual) to announce the Top 4.

A fan captured the moment just before the first announcement!

First, Camee was called as a finalist! Camee is an amazing, strong, outgoing girl with a voice that is INSANE. She is a powerhouse! Camee is a vocal coach and a worship leader, and she's a senior at Greenville College (home of AgapeFest)! I was so excited!!! (Visit Camee's fan page by clicking HERE!)

Then, Crystal was called. Crystal and I are soul sisters. We have a love of hair accessories and our precious puppies. I was so encouraged by Crystal, her drive and her sense of humor all of Saturday. I was thrilled that Camee and Crystal were moving on! (Visit Crystal's fan page by clicking HERE!)

Next, Marc was called into the Top 4! He was standing next to me that night, so I practically strangled him with a hug. How exciting! Marc and I graduated from high school the same year, and we were both Homecoming royalty in our high schools. We've decided that we're going to be Opening Act's Homecoming King and Queen this year, reliving the high school days. Marc is so talented! (Visit Marc's fan page by clicking HERE!)

There were four of us left and only one spot remaining in the Top 4. I knew in my heart of hearts that I was not moving on. I looked at each of the contestants, beaming with pride at the talent on the stage. I didn't care if I'd moved on or not at that point. I was feeling so blessed to have been able to make it to that moment on that stage. Looking at my friends and family members who had driven the two and a half hours to see me perform that night, I smiled. What an experience!

So, when Jeremiah announce that I was moving on in the competition at a Top 4 Finalist, I was SHOCKED! Without thinking, I jumped up and down in my 6 inch heels, then turned to hug the other contestants. As excited as I was for Camee, Crystal, Marc and myself, I was equally as sad for the three remaining. Tim, Kaitlin and Tabitha have become dear friends. And it was hard to be excited, knowing there was disappointment on the stage. Each was incredibly gracious, and I am so proud of them- in character and in talent. They are amazing, and God has such incredible plans for them! (Visit their fan pages by clicking on their names: Tim Sprinkle, Kaitlin Cleven, Tabitha Cope!)

As individuals filtered out of the auditorium, I had the chance to talk with my family, friends, and other concert-goers! What an incredible opportunity!

With my daddy. He has a hard time keeping his eyes open in pictures :)

Then, the four of us met with G.W. and The Mark Roach Band for information on the next steps in competition. Craig took more pictures, and we had a great time congratulating each other and laughing.

2011 Opening Act Finalists (from left): Camee, Marc, Crystal and myself

With Finalist, Camee

With Finalist, Marc

As I walked back to the dressing room after the meeting, I ran into Jenny (the lead singer of Addison Road). I had the opportunity to chat with her a little. She is amazing, and if you ever have the opportunity to see Addison Road in concert... DO IT. They're incredible. I feel so blessed to have been able to share the same stage with such a phenomenal band.

With Jenny from Addison Road

When I finally got out of Central Christian Church that evening (and after I uncovered my car from the 3 inches of snow that had fallen that day), I had the pleasure of meeting my friends and family at Applebees near our hotel. Tim joined us too! I felt so blessed that so many individuals had driven all that way just to support me. We had an incredible time!

That night, laying in my bed at the hotel, my sister, Kirsten, my cousin, Nicky, and I talked about the day. I told them about laughing with the girls and drawing pictures with the kids. In addition, we talked about meeting Addison Road and the next steps of the competition. As I turned off the light near my bed, I closed my eyes and thanked my amazing Father for the opportunity.

It's for worship I was made. And it's worship that I'll continue to do.

For Him.

In His Love,

Lex <3

P.S. Online voting starts April 11th at www.wibi.org/contestants! Please tell everyone you know!

'Twas The Night Before The Concert... And I Lost My Shoe...

2011-03-25T18:37:00.000-05:00

Well, friends, here we are...

It's the night before Family Friendly WIBI's Opening Act Semi-Final Event in Mount Vernon, Illinois, and I'm relaxing at my parents lovely home for a few hours before driving down to my hotel!

What are my thoughts on the Semi-Final Eve (like Christmas Eve, but more fun...)?

EAGER. EXCITED. EXUBERANT. EXHILIRATED.

Okay, I'm out of fun E words. Actually, I've spent the last 24 hours or so a little stressed. Would you believe that a little shoe fairy came into my house and STOLE one of the shoes I was going to wear for tomorrow night's performance? I know, right?!

I spent a couple of hours tearing my house/car/life apart trying to find ONE SINGLE SHOE FOR ONE SINGLE NIGHT.

You know what it reminded me of...?

God.

Okay, so I'm in NO WAY comparing myself to God. Not at all. Don't even go there! However, I am thinking about how Jesus being a shepherd. No... Not to lost shoes... But to His lost sheep. He would leave his entire flock in search of just one lost sheep. I guess that's sort-of like giving up an entire evening trying to find a lost shoe?

Here's my point... If something's really important to us, we totally go out of our way to take care of it. We don't want it wandering off, and- in the event that it does- we search and search until it's home safe with us. That's how God is. Even in our darkest and unworthiest days (even buried under loads of clean laundry...), we are so precious to Him that He searches and searches until He can find us and bring us home.

While a lost shoes isn't necessarily comprable to a lost sheep/person, it was pretty important (however silly that may be) to me last night.

The good news is... I found my missing shoe, so I won't be going barefoot at the concert tomorrow night.

But, I'll tell you the better news. We'll never be lost because we have a Shepherd that would dig through mounds of laundry and piles of shoes to find us.

And that makes me feel all of those fun E words all over again.

We are blessed. We'll never be "lost" with our Jesus!

In other news: I hope you'll all make it out to the Semi-Final Event in Mt. Vernon, Illinois tomorrow. Tickets are only $10, and Addison Road is performing too! EEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!

The Top 4 Finalists are determined by AUDIENCE VOTES, so it's only by your attendance that you could vote me into the Top 4! What do you think? Can we do it?

For more information, visit www.wibi.org/contestants! While you're there, click on "Listen Now" by my name, and you'll hear my demo!

But really... This has been such an incredible opportunity and journey for me. I feel so very blessed that God has given me this opportunity! I'm so excited to be representing the station (WIBI) that's given so much encouragement and support to me.

In His Love,
Lex <3

Broken Fragments

2011-03-21T14:07:00.000-05:00

((What a tragedy to breathe your last breath and to discover that your life was not only unfinished, but also perhaps never really even began.))

-Erwin McManus-

Over the weekend, I was fortunate enough to worship at Willow Creek Church in South Barrington, Illinois while on a trip to the Chicago area. While another speaker had been scheduled for the weekend, that speaker had to cancel due to a family medical emergency, and the pastor of Mosaic Church in LA, Erwin McManus, was called in to take his place.

Willow Creek's South Barrington Campus

Driving onto Willow Creek's massive campus on Sunday morning, I felt as if the heavy rain outside seemed to parallel some of my thoughts on the inside. Recently, I've been very discouraged by certain events in my life. Although I've attempted to remain positive, doubts and insecurities have crept in, and on Sunday I was feeling as if the world was shedding the tears I hadn't let myself cry.

However, walking into the sanctuary, the burdens that were pressing so heavily seemed to dissolve. God was so present in this place. During worship, I felt that divine peace. It's the peace one encounters when they know God is near. And it was amazing.

After Bill Hybels' introduction, Erwin McManus took the platform. And he had quite the conversation with me. Okay, me and the other 10,000 people in attendance.

McManus' message was on God creating something beautiful out of a broken life.

My life feels that way often... Broken. I've messed up. I've hurt others. I've been hurt. Dreams have been abandoned. Tears have been cried. Sometimes, I feel as if my life has been shattered into a million pieces, and I wonder how God can use it.

But Erwin talked about how God uses those pieces to make a beautiful masterpiece, like a mosaic. He makes a gorgeous design out of those broken fragments, and then His light shines though. While I can't adequately portray the eloquence of his message, I can let you know that it touched my heart.

He said something really impactful when he stated: "Maybe being 'whole' doesn't look the way WE think it should."

I think he's right. God sees what a true wholeness looks like. God uses brokenness.

So, I'm offering these broken pieces of my life to use in His amazing masterpiece.

((I think a lot of us are not on a path; we’re in a rut. We have confused comfort with peace, belief with faith, safety with wisdom, wealth with blessing, and existence with life. And for many of us, our dreams will be buried under the epitaph, “I refused to let go of what I had."))

-Erwin McManus-

In His Love,

Lex <3

Mom and I at Willow Creek

My sister, Kirsten, and I at Willow Creek

Birthday Girl!

2011-03-17T17:14:00.000-05:00

Today is my 27th birthday.

I didn't wake up feeling older, so that may be a good thing.

Do you remember when you were younger, and waking up on your birthday was all about KNOWING that it was YOUR special day? Me too. As a St. Patrick's Day baby, my head-to-toe green outfit had been picked out weeks in advance. And going to sleep on March 16 was so difficult. March 17 was MY day!

Getting older, I was under the impression that would continue. I thought I'd wake up and think, "Great! Today is perfect!" I'm not sure what sort of delusional state I was in, but it wasn't that way. I'd end up going to bed at the end of the day feeling let down.

I think we have a tendency to do that with people in our lives as well. We'll build someone up so much and expect them to be PERFECT, so we end up completely disappointed when we realize that they're human. They're flawed, just like everyone else. Birthdays are important, but they're just one day. And they're not going to be flawless. And neither are those in our lives.

Once we take that view, birthdays get a lot better. We learn to expect less and appreciate more.

I think that it's the same way with people. We expect too much, sometimes, of those around us. And we expect too much of ourselves, at times, as well! We need to give ourselves and those around us a little room to be flawed. A little room to be human. A little room to be a regular day...

I think, once we do that, we'll find that those people and our birthdays will be full of unexpected surprises. They may not be perfect, but they'll be special. And I think that's the point.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

In His Love,
Lex <3

P.S. If you want to bring flowers and gifts to the Addison Road concert next week, I wouldn't be mad... Just kidding :)

Reasons to Smile... Even If You're Faking It.

2011-03-14T09:11:00.000-05:00

This morning, I woke up frowning.

I know, I know. Not exactly what you'd expect from a Disney princess-wannabe. I think I should be waking up to woodland creatures helping me clean or wishing me "good morning"! Nope. This morning, I woke up frowning, as my cute little dog was licking me on my NOSE. So, I rolled out of bed to spend my first morning of Spring Break figuring out how to wipe this silly frown off my face.

I decided to go straight to the all-knowing and smartest source I know for that answer: God.

Actually, that would be a good Sunday School answer, but it's not the truth. In reality, I decided to google "reasons to smile". I came across some pretty interesting (and completely ridiculous) results, but one stuck with me:

It said this: Smiling can make you happy (even when you're not).

Okay, okay. So it was basically telling me to FORCE myself to smile. That made me frown more at that point. "Excuse me," I thought to myself. "The whole point of me googling this stupid question was so that I would find something to MAKE me smile! Not so that I'd have to make myself and pretend everything was okay. I have to do that all the time!"

But, then I tried it. And all the memories of me having made myself smile in times that I didn't want to in the past came rushing back.

Standing on stage, being called first runner-up and watching someone win... Just smile, Lexie.
Seeing an ex-boyfriend walking down the street, knowing he's moved on... Just smile, Lexie.
Not getting the grade I wanted in class... Just smile, Lexie.

There have been a lot of opportunities to try this tactic out in the past, and I've taken them without even thinking about it! And it really does work.

The online article said this:

Remember that mind-body connection we were just talking about? Well, it turns out that the simple act of smiling sends a message to your brain that you're happy. And when you're happy, your body pumps out all kinds of feel-good endorphins. This reaction has been studied since the 1980s and has been proven a number of times. In 1984, an article in the journal Scienceshowed that when people mimic different emotional expressions, their bodies produce physiological changes that reflect the emotion, too, such as changes in heart and breathing rate. Another German study found that people felt happy just by holding a small pen clenched in their teeth, imitating a smile. Just remember that the research goes both ways. When the people in the first study frowned, they felt less happy, and in the German study, people who held a pen in their protruding lips, imitating a pout, felt unhappy. So the next time you feel sad or upset, try smiling. It just might make your body—and therefore you—feel better. (You can read the full article by clicking HERE.)

So, that's what I'm doing today. I'm making myself smile. Apparently, my mind will follow suit.

If you pass me today, and I'm smiling at myself in a mirror or my reflection in a window, don't think I'm a crazy person. I'm not (most of the time). And even if watching me look ridiculous doesn't make you want to try it out, I hope you'll smile at how silly I look.

In the meantime, I'm going to go try to get rid of this frown!

In His Love,
Lex <3

Ignite

2011-03-11T18:16:00.000-06:00

"Maybe your reason why all the doors are closed

So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road

Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow

And when it's time, you'll know."

-Firework, Katy Perry

If you're anywhere in the free world, you've probably heard this song. Some people hate it, some people love it. It's one of those songs that gets stuck in your head for days. And you can't figure out why you're singing "boom, boom, boom/even brighter than the moon, moon, moon" into a hairbrush in your bedroom at the top of your lungs. But you secretly like it.

Okay, so I think my writing that just let you in on a little secret. That happens to me all the time. This is one of those songs that just sticks in my head, and I find myself singing it all the time.

This is what I've discovered: I'M NOT NORMAL. Yes, you read that correctly. I'm not. And I love it. For years, I tried to hide that. I tried to tuck the person that I am inside and fit in (see the blog post: This Little... no, wait... BIG Light of Mine) with who I thought I needed to be. But, I'm not doing that anymore.

I am tired of letting the world dictate when I can, as Katy would say, "let [my] colors burst." This is me, world, and I'm okay with not being normal.

I'm a firework. I'm loud and exciting and bright and sparkly. I'd much rather be that then fit in with this world.

John 15:19 says this:

"...YOU were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because YOU are no part of the world, but I have chosen YOU out of the world..."

So, here's what I have to say... I am IN this world, but I am not OF this world. I'm not normal. I'm different.

I'm not perfect, and I've been tossed around and torn up during my short time here. But that's not going to stop me from being transparent. I'm here to love, to shine, and to share the light of Jesus. I'm ready to *ignite*.

Are YOU?

"Do you know that there's still a chance for you

Cause there's a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the light

And let it shine

Just own the night

Like the Fourth of July."

In His Love,

Lex <3

P.S. This is FIREWORK by Katy Perry :)

On Air with WIBI!

2011-03-10T11:20:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I was able to spend my day in Carlinville at WIBI's studios! So, I thought I'd fill you in on my day? Sound good? Okay great :)

I woke up before 5 a.m. I wasn't sure that 5 a.m. actually still existed, but guess what, folks?! I am here to tell you that it sure does. (And the only time that 5 a.m. is pretty is when you're listening to A Positive Start to Your Day with Melody and Jeremiah, because- other than that- 5 a.m. is pretty, well, groggy.)

I made my way to the WIBI studios in Carlinville, Illinois, getting there just before 7:30 in the morning. I know, I know. For a college student... That's EARLY! However, Angie (WIBI's Office Manager) and G.W. (WIBI's Promotions Director) greeted me with smiles and hugs when I walked in. And on top of that, they offered me coffee and breakfast food! I already liked this place!!

I'd made it!

Sitting down in G.W.'s office to wait for my time on air with Melody and Jeremiah, Angie brought me in a little gift. You see, Angie and her daughter, Faith, had heard that I was a self-proclaimed princess, and that I had a huge love of hair accessories. So, what did they do? They made me the CUTEST bow for my hair! How thoughtful!

With Angie, WIBI's Office Manager and co-creator of my awesome bow!

Wearing the bow that Angie and Faith made me!

After gushing about my new bow to Angie and G.W., it was time for my on air time with Melody and Jeremiah. We had a blast just talking and laughing about everything in my life from my driving my dad's "short bus" to my puppy, Truman, to my pink tutu skirt! It was so much fun being able to be apart of a show that I listen to every morning! I was getting texts and Facebook messages from friends and family telling me that they were hearing me on the air. It was really exciting! If you missed my time on air, you can hear our conversation via Melody's blog by clicking HERE!

With Miss Melody from A Positive Start to Your Day with Melody and Jeremiah!

After my super fun time with Melody and Jeremiah, I was able to spend some time hanging out around the studios with G.W.'s assistant, Craig. Craig and I had fun discussing upcoming events and the confusion of being in our twenties! :)

I was also fortunate enough to be at WIBI on a Wednesday, so I had the opportunity to attend a chapel service on Lake Williamson's campus. It was great!

After chapel, G.W., Craig, Melody and I went to Magnolia's in Carlinville! If you haven't been to Magnolia's, I suggest you drop whatever you're doing and head there IMMEDIATELY! Everyone at the station had recommended the Lobster Bisque soup, and I discovered it was for good reason. It was fantastic :) The four of us had a great time sharing stories (and, of course, laughing), and soon it was time to head back to the station!

With G.W. before my time with Joe and Julianne!

During the afternoon, I was able to spend time on air with Joe and Julianne from The Afternoon Jam with Joe and Julianne! We, again, had a wonderful time talking and laughing. They asked me a ton of really fun questions, and I was so excited to be able to open up about my own ministry and the calling God has put on my heart.

Pulling away from the studios, I felt such a peace. It's awesome to know that God has you EXACTLY where He wants you. The ministry of WIBI is far-reaching. And the staff and volunteers truly have a heart for God. What an amazing opportunity we've been given! I am so thankful to have this amazing Opening Act opportunity!

In case you haven't heard, my demo has been posted online! If you visit: www.wibi.org/contestants, you can scroll down to my picture, and click "Listen Now!". My song will play. I literally cried the first time I heard it on the air. What an amazing feeling!

In His Love,

Lex <3

My Ruby Slippers

2011-03-03T12:03:00.000-06:00

Okay, so we've all heard the story. A little girl from Kansas sets off with a bunch of odd-balls down a yellow road, made of rocks, and they get into some trouble. The whole time, they're worried about the things they don't have, and that makes things worse. When they finally get to the ONE person they think will fix everything, they figure out he's a big fake. Then, after solving the problems on their own, they realize that the things they were looking for, they had inside themselves all along.

Sorry if I just ruined The Wizard of Oz for you.

Here's the deal... I feel like I've been Dorothy at times. I've felt lost, confused, scared, hurt and alone. I've sought some things that seemed sparkly and powerful, and those things have lead me astray. But, with the help of the wonderful odd-balls (people who may have seemed to others like those without hearts, brains, or courage) God has blessed me with, I've adventured down a long, windy path only to find that the sparkles and power were gifts that God had already given me.

Now, I'm not saying that a pair of shoes can't change your life... I mean, just ask Cinderella. But, I am saying that sometimes we look to the wrong things to give us strength.

My Ruby Slippers have been on my feet the whole time. I was just too worried about how to find them to look down and realize God put them on for me a long time ago.

We get too wrapped up in the destination that sometimes we forget the journey.

How will you let go and let God help you find your own Ruby Slippers today?

In HIS Love,
Lex <3

Short and Sweet

2011-03-02T14:18:00.000-06:00

Temporary sadness is far better than a lifetime of unhappiness.

Thoughts from October 2008

2011-03-02T09:45:00.000-06:00

It's crazy how the years go by but our thoughts are still relevant. Here's an entry of mine from October of 2008.

"If you’ve spoken with me in any way in the last 48 hours, I’ve probably recommended a cd to you. The music and lyrics on this album have touched my heart like not many other things. Big deal- it’s just a cd, right?

I disagree. I believe God sends us gifts in our physical life. It could be a surprise phone conversation with a friend you haven’t heard from in a while that encourages you. Maybe a walk with someone close to you. It could be a sunrise or sunset or something in between. For myself, more often than not, God’s gifts to me are sent in the form of music. And I believe that’s exactly what this album was for me. A gift from God when I needed it.

Last night, I had the opportunity to finish a book I’ve been attempting to read since May. I’ve been picking it up and putting it down, not really ever getting into its truth. So, this weekend, I picked up ‘Captivating’ (authored by John and Stasi Eldredge) with the intent to finish it. Wow. I can’t express how much I needed this message exactly when it was handed to me. Had I read the book in May (or even any month since then), I wouldn’t have understood the full meaning.

I’m a perfectionist. I hate it when others see me fail. I hate feeling like I’ve failed. So, hopefully you’ll understand that it’s hard for me to say that I HAVE failed in the last season of my life. How? I closed myself off. I thought that if I didn’t let others in, I couldn’t be hurt. Trying to avoid the pain, I put a barricade around my heart. Little did I know that I wasn’t keeping the pain out- instead, I was locking it in by putting walls up around my heart. The very thing I was trying to avoid became my constant companion.

But it hit me this week. How in the world was God going to use me if I wouldn't let anyone in? How could I be a conduit of Him if I wouldn’t even let Him in?

I’ve always been told that I talk too much and that I needed to share less of myself. And while many of you know me on the surface level, I haven’t given you a true opportunity to get to know the real me. I’d been under the school of thought that I’ve had nothing of value or substance to offer the world. I'd been taught not to be completely open and vulnerable with others because I would only be hurt in return. But I’ve recently learned that being open and vulnerable is the only way to truly LOVE. Not just in the romantic sense, but the love that God intended us to have.

Vulnerability is terrifying. In being in such a state, we're risking everything inside of us. There is quite a possibility that the individual on the other end could rip up the fragile paper valentine heart we're holding out to them (see 'My Paper Heart' on the cd) and with it our very hopes and dreams. But God calls us to keep offering.

This frail paper heart that is beating inside of me has been ripped up. It's been walked on, tossed out the window and through many storms just lying on the ground. However, every time He picks up the pieces and binds them together, giving me the strength to offer it once again.

I've posted the lyrics to one of my favorite songs on this cd, "Behind The Scenes". I think we walk around every day with walls up around our hearts, focusing only on ourselves. On not letting any more rips or tears come to our delicate paper hearts. We’re not focusing on each other. How many times do you walk past someone each day without even giving them a second glance?

Behind The Scenes
Album: My Paper Heart
Artist: Francesca Battistelli

You may think
I’m just fine
How could anything
Ever be out of line?

I take my time
To set the stage
To make sure everything
Is all in place

Even though I’ve got the lines rehearsed
A picture only paints a thousand words

(Chorus)
Things aren’t always what they seem
You’re only seeing part of me
There’s more than you could ever know
Behind the scenes
I’m incomplete and I’m undone
But I suppose like everyone
There’s so much more that’s going on
Behind the scenes

Sometimes I can’t see
Anything
Through the dark
Surrounding me
And at times I’m unsure
About the ground
Beneath my feet
If it’s safe and sound

When it’s hard to find hope in the unseen
I have peace in knowing it will find me

(Chorus)

You may think I’m just fine
How could anything ever be out of line?

I know I’m guilty of not looking further into so many people, and I’ve felt so many times that others haven’t been trying to look past my shell and into my heart. Until recently, I haven’t given you the opportunity. That’s going to change.

I hope you’ll take the time to get to know my heart. I know that if you do, you’ll find an incredible individual with so much to offer the world. And at the center of this delicate, fragile paper heart of mine, you’ll find the love of God- He’s the glue holding me together."

Whew, past Lexie, you hit the nail on the head.

P.S. Miss Francesca released her newest album yesterday. I'm in love. Check it out by clicking HERE!

This Little... no, wait... BIG Light of Mine

2011-03-01T13:00:00.000-06:00

From the time we're small, we're taught to be humble. Don't brag. Don't boast. Don't stand out. Be like everyone else. Fit in.

For years, I made that my goal. I tried to hide the unique and super bright light that God has blessed me with inside myself. I pushed it down. I hid it. The more I pushed it down, the more I hurt on the inside. I was worth so much more than I was letting the world see or know. So, I decided to just let go one day.

And the result was terrifyingly freeing.

Guess what? Some people are frightened by the light you shine. They'll tell you that you're too "showy" or "needy" or whatever other lie Satan decides to bring about and speak it onto your life. Here's what I've decided to say: I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God created this person, and I can't be anyone else. And who can tell me who I can be, other than God?

The following is a quote used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech. It's hanging on my office door, and it's been encouraging me in a time of need in my life:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

I need to believe and trust in my God and what He has in store for me. I can't be afraid to let my own God-given light shine because it makes someone else uncomfortable.

I refuse to let this world snuff my light. I was born to shine.
I'm no longer afraid to let my light shine.
Are you?
Be honest with yourself.

In HIS Love,
Lex <3

Fear is Stupid.

2011-02-28T10:27:00.000-06:00

"We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets."

Want to know who said that? Marilyn Monroe. I'm not saying that Marilyn Monroe is perfect, by any means, but I think she hit the nail on the head with this one, kids.

Fear IS stupid. Why? Because it's not what God created us to do. He created us to trust and have faith and believe and hope and persevere. So, letting our fears get in the way of what God has called us to be and do and live for is- just that- stupid.

I know a lot of people don't like that word. I wasn't allowed to say it at my house when I was younger. It's not a very nice word. But, in this case, I feel it fits perfectly.

How are we supposed to love if we have fear? I'm refusing to let fear in today. How about you?

In HIS Love,
Lex <3

The Real Me.

2011-02-26T07:23:00.000-06:00

I started this blog so that you could get to know the real Lexie. The one behind the smiles and the stage. With that being said... This might be a tough one to post.

I'm scared. Yep, and I don't think I'm the only one. It's really hard when we've made plans, especially with someone, and those plans just completely fall through. They shatter, and we're left picking up the pieces. We're left to wonder what went wrong.

I just experienced (yet another) break-up [told you- you're getting the real Lexie here]. A marriage was in the making, and- just like that- he decided he had doubts. After two heart-breaking weeks, I sit here without my best friend. And nothing I could say or do would change his decision. Am I crying? No. I'm trying to be stronger. I'm letting my Jesus hold me together. It's really hard though.

When someone ends a relationship because they're scared of the calling that God has placed on your life, there's only one thing you can do. Pray and press on with God's plan.

Satan likes to prey on our insecurities. There are days where I've wondered if God has someone for me, who will love me as I am- flaws and all, because the devil fills my head with those doubts. But, I'm trusting and hoping and praying...

Today, I'm going to have a tough day. And I'll probably have tough days for a while. But... I do know this: I'm going to keep trusting my God, and I'm going to keep singing for Him. In the meantime, will you pray for me and for all of those who feel hurt, confused or broken right now?

In HIS Love,
Lex <3

Ready... Set... RECORD!!!

2011-02-24T11:35:00.000-06:00

So, last night, I was given the opportunity to record my demo for WIBI's Opening Act competition at The Stage (part of Mozingo Music) in O'Fallon, Missouri.

Have you ever had a moment in your life when you knew you were in EXACTLY the right place at EXACTLY the right time? I literally get that every time I'm able to sing. And last night was no exception... Here's how it went down:

I left directly after work to head to Morrisonville (my hometown and where my parents live and teach currently). From there, my mom, Della, and I started our journey to the St. Louis area.

We encountered a lot of rush hour traffic, but we spent our time talking, laughing and praying about God's will. Upon arriving at our destination, we decided we needed to get a little food in our stomachs. That being said, I wasn't even sure I could eat! My stomach was full of butterflies. I was so excited to record!

I manage to sqeak by with a little salad and spaghetti from a nearby Italian restaurant, where the waitress was super helpful in making sure we got in and out quickly enough to get to the studio! Mom and I went over the notes and ideas for the song that I'd written down the night before. I was lucky enough to spend some time with my good friends, Morgan and Damien, who helped me make the song "mine". They're amazing, and I'm so appreciative of them!

Walking into Mozingo Music, my stomach was flip-flopping. This is what I've dreamed of doing for so long! And not only did I get to record, but knew while singing that it was going to be played on WIBI starting in March!

With WIBI Promotions Director, G.W. before recording!

I spent an hour in the studio, recording and re-recording. We did different pieces of the song, and I played with each line and the melody to see how I liked it best. Jeff, Mark and the guys were so helpful and encouraging every step of the way. WIBI has hooked us up with some of the most talented and supportive people during this process, and I'm so thankful. It makes everything such a great experience!

With Mark Roach and G.W. talking about the recording process and how excited I was to be there!

I think one of the coolest parts of the experience was getting to meet a few of the other contestants! I was able to see Tabitha again, as she recorded directly before me. And meeting Crystal when I was finished recording was a blast! We were instant friends, and we share a love of hair accessories! Can you say 'soul sister'? As I was walking back to the car with my mom, chatting about the recording process, I saw Marc in HIS car, and I was able to meet him too! I was so excited to finally be able to meet the amazingly talented people I'll be working with!

With my new friend and fellow Semi-Finalist, Crystal! We love accessories :)

So... I think I could record every day for the rest of my life and be completely happy. It was an amazing and fun process. And I really can't wait for you all to hear the finished product! They'll start playing our demos on WIBI (check out www.wibi.org for more information) on March 7th, so be sure to listen in on your frequency or online!

And don't forget to tune in on March 9th! I'll be in the WIBI studios all day. I'm so excited!

Awesome!

In HIS Love,
Lex <3

A Dream Coming True...

2011-02-23T13:54:00.000-06:00

Okay, so it's always been my dream to record. And tonight, in O'Fallon, Missouri, I'm doing just that.

As semi-finalists, we are able to record demos that will be played on WIBI starting on March 7th. We've had our songs for a couple of weeks. The song that I'm recording is one I was not familiar with before the competition. But, I liked the vocalist's voice quality, and I knew I could do something with that. I spent last night working with a friend of mine to make the song "mine".

Let me in on a little secret: I get nervous about some things. Generally not about singing, but occasionally I do when it comes to things like this. I think it's partly the uncertainty and newness of the situation. But... it's also because I beat myself up inside my own head sometimes.

How many of you have done that? Mentally beaten yourself up, I mean. I used to do it all the time when I was competing in the Miss America Organization.

Well, that's not what God calls us to do. Nope. He says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. He thinks we're amazing. And super talented. How am I so sure of that? Well, He's the one who made us and put the talents and gifts we have inside of us, so...

You know what I mean?

I hope you'll pray for this evening. Our job as artists is to be a vessel from which to let God's light shine. I want listeners to hear this song of worship and feel God's presence.

In HIS Love,
Lex <3

Love is patient. Love is kind. Blah, blah, blah...

2011-02-20T20:32:00.000-06:00

This week, I learned that love is hard. I know, I know... With the experiences I've had in the last several years, I should've known that by now, right? Well, apparently I forgot.

1 Corinithians 13 talks all about love. It says what love should be. We've all heard it a million times. However, this week, I really thought hard about what love shouldn't be. In verses 7-8 of that particular chapter, it says this, "...love always protects, always hopes, always trust, always perseveres. Love never fails." And as I was tempted to give in my my anxiety, fears and insecurity about my own relationships this past week, God revealed the following to me...

He made sure that I knew that those verses didn't say: "Love is anxious. Love fears. Love doubts. Love gives up when it gets hard." And it most definitely didn't say, "Love means just deciding to not keep showing someone how much you care because they're not the most deserving of it at that particular moment in time." Nope, that's not at all what it says.

At times, it's easier for us to give up, isn't it? It's easier to just throw in the towel and to cut our losses and just move on. While I'm not saying that, in some situations, that isn't the best idea, I AM saying that love is WORK. Hard work. While that may seem like a "DUH!" moment for you, it was a poignant lesson for me.

Believe it or not, I am human! Crazy, right?! And being human means that we are flawed. Though I attempt to make myself appear the least flawed that I possibly can on a daily basis, it's quite obvious. I'm not perfect. [To those of you who are shocked, I'm sorry... :) ]

So... Here's what I have to say... Love isn't always easy. And it's not necessarily always fun. But, it IS worth it.

How will YOU make love an action instead of a feeling in your own life today?

In HIS (perfect and unfailing) Love,
Lex <3

Life Unexpected

2011-02-16T12:39:00.000-06:00

Sometimes hard times hit like a ton of bricks. Sometimes you see it coming. Sometimes you're blind-sided. But, EVERY TIME, it hurts.

Are you hurting today? Here's a little encouragement from one of my musical inspirations, BarlowGirl.

Never Alone- BarlowGirl

Life is hard, isn't it? But what a blessing it is to be able to rest in the truth that we have a caring and powerful God, who is holding our hand the whole way through.

In HIS Love,
Lex <3

Valentines Year 2011

2011-02-15T10:43:00.000-06:00

Okay, so raise your hand if you hate Valentines Day? Yep, for the last 25 years of good old St. Valentine, my hand has been so far up in the air, you'd think it would never come down.

However, this year was different... Not only did I have a wonderful, Godly man to celebrate the day with (especially since it's his BIRTHDAY!), but God's been teaching me about love- REAL LOVE. What love actually means. We've all heard that it's not a feeling. It's not the butterflies in your stomach or the first date jitters. It's not the hugs or the hand-holding. It's the action.

My devotion yesterday started with the following verse:
"[Let your] love be sincere-a real thing" (Romans 12:9, AMP)

That's what I want. The real thing. At times, it's hard, but it's so worth it. So, I'm thanking my amazing God that this year, I'm determined to have a "Valentines Year", instead of just one day. I want those around me to know that I'm thinking of them. And that I care about them.

I hope you'll do the same. We only get one chance at this. Let's LOVE :)

In HIS Love,
Lex <3

Blast from the past...

2011-02-10T14:25:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine found my 2010 audition video, so I thought I'd share that too!

And, yes, this is the infamous tutu...

2011 WIBI Opening Act Audition Video

2011-02-10T13:39:00.000-06:00

The audition I attended this year was held in Litchfield, Illinois on Saturday, February 5, 2011.

Watch my audition by clicking on the arrow above!

And the adventure begins...

2011-02-10T13:36:00.000-06:00

Well, here we go! My first post!

This blog was started to document my journey through Family Friendly WIBI's 2011 Opening Act competition. I've never had a blog before, so I thought this might be a good time to start one. Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you...

I was thinking about what I like to see in an artist. When I'm browsing the websites of my favorite artists (individuals like Natalie Grant, Franscesca Battistelli, Addison Road and so many more), one of the first things I click on is the "About" section. I love knowing where an artist comes from, where they've been, and what led them to where they are in the present. I want to get to know them- and I want it to be personal. While I am a big fan of professional PR, I also like getting down to the nitty-gritty.

So, I guess the purpose of this blog is to help you get to know the real Lexie. The Lexie that is goofy and outgoing and loud. I want you to get a look into my life.

So, thanks for taking the time to stop by. I'm so looking forward to this adventure! Thank you so much for traveling this road with me!

Check back soon for more entries :)

In HIS Love,

Lexie <3

A Look Into Lexie

Merry Christmas To All, & To All... Lots of Love?

Reasons It's Great to Be Single

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Seasons, Change, and Blissful Ignorance

Dealing: Broken Hearts, Divorce and Life

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Someday I'll See Myself As Beautiful

Q&A Time, Kids...

Dancing In the Moonlight...

Video from AgapeFest 2011

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Opening Act 2011... And The Winner Is...

The Procrastination Queen

Help!! Voting Ends TOMORROW!

Thoughts On Being A Princess... HIS Princess

In The Final 2!

Round 2 of Eliminations THIS MORNING!

I Wish I Were More (Fill-In-The-Blank)...

((You'll Find That Life Is Still Worthwhile If You Just Smile))

Sisters=Mandatory Best Friend

To Everything There Is A Season

Pass It Along!

Ask and You Still May Not Receive...

I Need YOUR Help!

Humbled and Blessed (I Made the Top 4!)

'Twas The Night Before The Concert... And I Lost My Shoe...

Broken Fragments

Birthday Girl!

Reasons to Smile... Even If You're Faking It.

*Ignite*

On Air with WIBI!

My Ruby Slippers

Short and Sweet

Temporary sadness is far better than a lifetime of unhappiness.

Thoughts from October 2008

This Little... no, wait... BIG Light of Mine

Fear is Stupid.

The Real Me.

Ready... Set... RECORD!!!

A Dream Coming True...

Love is patient. Love is kind. Blah, blah, blah...

Life Unexpected

Valentines Year 2011

Blast from the past...

2011 WIBI Opening Act Audition Video

And the adventure begins...

Ignite