CD Giveaway!

If you're driving near me on any given day, you will almost always find me belting out anything from Sandi Patty to Katy Perry.

You see, being a singer was always my dream.  Albeit a distant dream...a dream nonetheless.  But the fact that I'm a 6th grade science teacher tells you how well that dream turned out.

So I just live vicariously through all the singers that DID make it.  And one of those is Jessa Anderson.

When I got Jessa's CD "Not Myself Anymore", I put it in and listened to the whole thing at once.  She has an honestly raw sound not over powered by synthesized cords and notes.  Mom to adorable toddler, Lorelei, and a full time singer/songwriter, Jessa knows a little something about a hectic life.

I got the chance to ask Jessa a few questions and I just know that we would be friends.  Really, I just want to drink Starbucks and go shopping with her!

1. The one song I find myself humming around the house is "Everybody Has Those Days".  I'm a single girl who's a teacher, so when I come home from one of "those days" I usually take a long bath and read a book.  As a mom of a young one, I'm sure you have "those days" frequently.  What do you to get through "those days"? 

I definitely have enough of those days on my own, but having a curious toddler certainly increases my daily chances of having something go laughably off-course! I do my best to remember that the most important thing in life is the "life" part, not the things that get broken or messes that are made. Taking a moment to find perspective helps me pass by the frustrating moments and try to see the humor in them instead of letting them ruin my day (and me ruining everyone else's with my bad attitude).

2. How much was music/songwriting a part of your upbringing?  Did you always know this is what you wanted to do? 

My family is not very musical, however, it was obvious from a very young age that I was. I always gravitated toward music and drama and my parents supported that wholeheartedly and found opportunities for me to be involved. I always felt like music was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life, whether that was professionally or in service to my church or somewhere in between!

3. What is the one thing you want people to walk away from your music knowing? 

That Jesus Christ is at the core of love and that his love extends to all who believe in him. That the love of God covers our lowest moments and our finest ones, and although we won't have a pain-free life as a believer in Christ, our life is made complete in him. I aim to address and be honest about every facet of life and point people back to Christ as the ultimate answer in every scenario.

4. "Not Myself Anymore" seems to be a song out of the pages of my life!  I hit repeat on it often!  What encouragement/advice would you give to someone (ahem...me!) who's been through those relationships and waiting on the right one?  

"Not Myself Anymore" is almost a cautionary tale. I got married at 19, but I still had plenty of time to get my heart broken before I met my husband. I want people to value themselves (we find so many reasons we are valuable in scripture!) enough to be careful with their hearts. That looks different for different people, but at the end of the day, you give some of yourself away with relationships and those are times you can't recover. With women especially, I see so many who are strong and amazing but feel like not being in a relationship or waiting for the right one lessens their worth, which breaks my heart! Ladies (and gents!), you are a wonderful creation of God just how you are and HE has a plan for your life that is more amazing than you can imagine, even if it differs from the plan you might have.

5. I imagine your life is pretty hectic!  How do you balance your touring and performing with motherhood? 

I am so, so grateful that it all comes together in a unique way. My husband Jordan, who is beyond amazing, handles our booking and management and coordinates our travel, which is a job in itself. He also writes and performs with me, so we really work and raise Lorelei side by side. Having my family with me motivates me to continue on in a career that can be challenging, because there's nothing we love more, and we realize how truly blessed we are to enjoy this lifestyle as a family! I have grown quite used to having Jordan and Lorelei with me 98% of the time, although every so often I leave the house for a few hours to shop or meet up with a girlfriend and spend a little time alone! Aside from taking time individually and as a family to fill ourselves with God's word and keep our priorities in line spiritually, I love to relax and recharge by having something chocolate and browsing blogs or Pinterest (I'm addicted!) after Lorelei goes to bed. It's a busy time, but as a family we feel like we are exactly where God is using us best and we see his provision in every facet. I believe that working toward the dreams God has put in my heart, rather than for my own gain or against them out of fear, is a huge part in keeping things balanced and seeing God provide.

[Now for a few fun, mindless questions:]

6. Where do you like to shop for clothes? 

I am a serious bargain shopper, so I have the most fun checking out my favorite mall stores' sale racks and coming away with good deals. I love LOFT, Gap and J. Crew for pieces that are classic, but my favorite store is Anthropologie. The stores are so beautiful I always want to move in! I get super excited when I find a great deal at Anthropologie because it's a bit expensive.

7. If you had a whole day to yourself, what would you want to do? 

I literally can not picture that happening, haha! I would probably get a drink from Starbucks and do some shopping, spend some time at the piano (I find writing easiest when I'm completely alone), then do a bunch of sewing and craft projects at the house that I just don't have time for on a usual day. If I could, I would also arrange for my girlfriends back home in Michigan to also have a day to themselves so we could get together without feeling like we're leaving our kids and husbands to fend for themselves! I treasure the time I get with them because it's pretty infrequent, but they keep me sane.

8. You've been given the chance to perform with anyone you want to.  Who would it be? 

I love NeedtoBreathe and I think their lead singer is phenomenal, and they are so musically creative! That would be a dream collaboration, although I would be so nervous. I am not easily star struck or intimidated, but they are so cool! This isn't a performance, but I'd love to sit down and pick Jon Foreman's brain about songwriting and convince him to co-write with me, haha. He is a rare talent.


So now I want YOU to experience Jessa's music!  Her PR company provided me with a copy of her CD "Not Myself Anymore" to give away to you!  What a great stocking stuffer this would be for your best friend, young teen, or just anyone who enjoys good music!


It's simple to enter.  Just leave me a comment.  Yep, that's it!


It's not an extra entry, but I know she would appreciate you liking her Facebook page.


I'll draw a winner on Monday, November 14.

I was provided with a copy of Jessa's CD to give away, but the opinions are all mine.