Hi there!

I hope you have a fabulous Christmas! May your time be full of laughter, memories and rest, close to the ones you love most. Hope this little video makes you laugh too

I’m in the U.K. for Christmas – if you live here you’ll know how snowy and Christmassy it’s all been looking the past week with snow across most of England. Freezing but beautiful!

Praying for you this holiday season…that we’ll all be stirred to worship Jesus even more deeply, as we meditate on the miracle that He stepped out of heaven and came down to our tiny planet, for the sake of you and I. What a beautiful mystery.

Love,

Vicky

Hello from the studio!

It’s been an exciting month…lots of recording and the album is almost finished! There will be a 3 track “E.P.” release in February, then the full length album in April. Not long now!

The photo above is Stu G from Delirious recording guitars onto my album, over in the U.K. So it’s an album with contributions from across the globe!

Producer Jonny MacIntosh (below) is doing an excellent job here in San Diego. Here he is at the desk where it all happens! We are having a blast in the studio and coming up with really cool creative ideas. Can’t wait for you to hear the strings we’ve had recorded in New York… I was blown away when I heard them! The album has a great mix of huge rockin’ band songs, beautiful strings, and intimate piano moments. I think a great album should feel like a walk through hills and valleys, where you see light and shade, different horizons, and refreshing variety. I believe the album has that, yet all tied together with great cohesiveness. Thanks Jonny for doing such a great job!!!!!!!

We’ve been making a new yellow ‘post-it’ note for everything still left to do, and sticking them around the computer monitor. You can see them in the photo above. So each day we take the yellow ‘post-it’ notes down and cross stuff of our list. We don’t have many post-its left now.. almost there!!!!!!!!!!! Sam Gibson has already mixed three songs (the EP) and starts mixing the whole album between now and the first week of January….exciting

Here is Tim Devlin recording some bass guitar earlier this week…

Evan Wickham played piano on this incredible $100k Steinway piano! It is THE best recorded piano I’ve ever heard… the overtones and the nuances of it’s sound are amazing.

Mark Suhonen played some drums too this week…here he is (sorry it’s a bad quality photo… I snapped it on my iPhone!)

During the making of this album, these Tootsie Pops have been consumed in large quantities!

But these British sweets are still my favorite… “Percy Pig” candy…made from real fruit juice… Available at a “Marks and Spencers” near you!!

Here’s another poor quality but fun shot I snapped on my iPhone while Jonny and are were working yesterday!

I’ve been drinking LOADS of water, as it always helps me sing at my best and coffee messes up my voice.. so I’ve drunk more water this month than EVER in my life!

Here’s Jonny laying down some great guitars with his Gibson Firebird!

Stay tuned for news on the E.P. release… We are choosing the cover right now, and also planning a whole new website relaunch… so there will be lots of cool stuff happening in early 2010!

If you haven’t already, sign up for my “eNews” letter as the first one goes out tomorrow at 12 noon Pacific.. so sign up now and you’ll get the December edition tomorrow!

“What are your Christmas plans? What is your favorite part about Christmas – other than Jesus of course! Do you have favorite traditions or songs or things you always look forward to?”

Love,

Vicky

London…the last show… from stu garrard on Vimeo.

Here’s a cool video Stu G, guitarist from Delirious, made and posted on his website this week. It’s a great behind the scenes look at that final gig, played in London just over a week ago.

And if you liked that one, here’s the one from their penultimate show in Leeds…its great too..

Leeds Day 11 from stu garrard on Vimeo.

Delirious have been a real encouragement and an inspiration to me over the years – how about you guys? What is your favorite Delirious song and how has it impacted you?

Vicky

I had an amazing time over in the UK, leading worship at “Youthwork” conference, where youthworkers from across the UK and Europe gather to get training, encouragement and to share times of worship and hang out. The atmosphere was brilliant and God did some significant things in all of our hearts – mine included!

Jim Wallis spoke powerfully about justice and called us all to go deeper in our pursuit of changing the world! I was very inspired and challenged. Check out his organization “Sojourners” based in DC for more info on Jim’s ministry and work.

Ben Cantelon was leading worship there too – I loved sitting in on his sets and being led into God’s presence by him and his amazing songs (check out “Coming Back to You” and “Jericho” on iTunes if you aren’t familiar with his stuff!) Standing next to him is my favorite backing vocalist everrrrrr, Andreana Arganda. She rocks : )

We also had a resident DJ in the house.. creating a very cool atmosphere with his beats! Meet Mr Steve Leach!

It was a great weekend. I’ll be leading worship again in the UK in April, for 2 weeks at Spring Harvest – Europe’s largest Christian event. Can’t wait! Check out the event here:

http://www.springharvest.org/events/spring-harvest/worship/worship-leaders/

My new album is also ALMOST FINISHED! We go into the studio this week to finish it off, then it gets mixed in January by the amazing Mr Sam Gibson. So… hang in there… we’ll have it ready soon!

Just out of curiosity, comment below and let me know what country and city you live in… it’s always fun to know where you guys are!

Love,

Vicky