I have this very beautiful memory of music being that I would always write but I just thought that damaged and they needed a place to be while
a calling and a gift, but also of family being a it was going to be for me and my friends. I was other parents were cleaning up. So they walked
calling and a gift. Holding those two things in like a bad version of Taylor Swift in college, in and saw the balloons and the book sitting
tandem and intention, and I am beyond grateful writing heartbreak songs and singing them in out in our living room, and we had obviously
for that. stairwells. I got my Master in Education and canned all of the social media talking about
thought I was going to teach, never thought I the book. They all call me Lele, and they were
[WM] I think Amy Grant is one of the kindest was going to be a musician. God has a sense like, “Lele, your book! Can we read it?!” So I
artists. It’s obvious she truly loves her audience. of humor. As a kid, I was just not enamored had the privilege, the day after a really scary
I can see a lot of her in you as a performer. with fame, I knew there was a cost to doing the and devastating storm, of having ten kids in my
What lessons did you learn from Amy about music thing on the stage and being a public living room reading the book. One of the little
being an artist? person, and I wasn’t into that. I thought I’d sing girls was reading it and there’s a line in the new
in my middle school classroom and write raps book that says, “On bad days and sad days
[Ellie] She is one of my heroes, I just love her about verbs, you know what I mean? (laughs) God is near, and He knows that He can use
and that is the kindest thing you could ever say When I sensed this call into music it felt really any storm to make good things grow.” So,
to me. I remember being a kid and walking into scary for me. Even though people dream about man, these kids are grieving and they are sad,
an arena, and she was singing “Thy Word”, and doing that, I just knew there was going to and we talked about how storms can be really
everyone’s hands were raised. That was one be a cost. I think for me success has been a scary and really sad, and I asked, “Have you
of my earliest memories as a kid. I remember surrendered ‘Yes’ to wherever God is leading. guys seen any good things begin to grow even
thinking and knowing as a little kid, maybe five, And that has been crazy for me. though we’re right after a really scary and sad
that this is not about her. What she’s doing is
storm?” And they just started listing off thing
inviting, she’s an invitation and she is inviting I was with my husband touring with his band after thing, like, “Look at this time we have to
people and that is who she is. The privilege of for years and I felt like the Lord told me to go spend together with friends”, and “There are
watching her interact with fans. My Mom sang home. So I went home and I started writing all of all of these strangers in my house helping to
at Amy’s first concert, that’s how she and my these songs that I felt like He asked me to lead. pick up all of the glass and things that were
Dad met. One night we were just hanging out Every single one of those decisions felt scary, I ruined”, and, “I had like ten people who I don’t
after the show, my Mom made a huge point quit my teaching job to join his band in the first even know hug me and love me today”, and I
in saying to me, “Watch her in the signing line. place, but every single one of them has been was just weeping. it has been the craziest and
Every single person that comes up to Amy, a surrendered ‘Yes’. So I feel that measuring most beautiful gift. It was not the release day
they’re going to want to talk about her and her success has been about where He wants me to I thought we were going to have, but in some
music. Amy knows that when people have an be, and that’s been different places in different ways, that is exactly my hope for these books,
experience with music it is just a part of the seasons. That’s when my soul is at peace. I can that they are like a balm for kids and adults
story that God is writing in their life. And you’re say I may not look like this person over here, hearts. It was the truth that I needed to hear
going to watch her, every single person that she but I’m where I need to be. It hasn’t always and listen to the day after the storm, too. So I
talks to, they’re going to tell her how amazing been easy but it has been a beautiful journey. guess I would just end with saying, if you pick
she is and she’s going to turn it right back
up the record or the book, my prayer is that,
around on them.” I am so grateful for this idea [WM] Anything else you want to share with God’s words that are woven into those songs
that I really did learn through her. I say this to our readers? and that story, that it would cause flourishing
my kids all the time the purpose of a stage, is to
and nourishment in your own heart and in the
bring other people joy and to help them know [Ellie] We were set to release the book this that they are not alone. It’s not really about you past week, and it was the craziest day because at all, it is a place to wash feet, and that is what the night before the book release is when the [WM] Thanks Ellie. That sure sounds like a
I have been able to see Amy do, not just from tornado hit Nashville. It came right behind our “for such a time as this” moment. Thank you
the stage but with her life, and her resources, house, I woke up in the middle of the night for sharing your heart with us as well as the
and her time as well. with our house shaking, so that was really words and melodies that fill your book and EP.
scary. The next day, we live in a really tight knit I know it will bless families so much. Thank you
[WM] What definition do you attach to neighborhood and have been raising our kids for helping us to remember the truth that we are
success? alongside a lot of other people, so I ended dearly loved!
hearts of the kids in your life.
up with about ten kids at my house because
[Ellie] I am a very reluctant musician, I knew
they couldn’t be in other houses that were
April 2020
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