hold me covers… part two :)

because i was “discovered” on youtube i absolutely love checking out artists and musicians on youtube. i always have, actually but now, with people saying “i’m going to sing hold me by jamie grace” it sends this crazy chill through my body. it’s this element of excitement that i never truly imagined happening to me but enough of the words, ha! here are some of my favorite hold me covers… round two!

This is so great! Vox, beatboxin, the guitar and the ukulele in the background

Here’s a youth group’s tribute to their seniors. Very well done! Congrats 2011 kiddos.

I’m pretty sure I know which language this is in but I don’t know for sure… haha. Anyway i LOVE different cultures… languages… gives me chills.

These girls remind me so much of myself! This is totally what I did in my earlier youtube years. Love it

This girl is adorable!! If I’m ever lacking in personality I’m gonna call her haha.

Lastly… an engagement. An guy from London, England proposes to his lady… and… well… just watch this.

I hope you enjoyed each of these videos as I did! And if you have a youtube account, make sure you click the video and leave them a comment!

“Hold Me” ..performed by you :)

The road from bein a Youtube kid to my original single “Hold Me” (featuring one of my role models, tobyMac) being #2 on CHR (Christian Hit Radio) and #1 on Air 1 Radio has been CRAZY. I’ve totally honored and humbled and know I am so blessed to get to do this for a living. Ahh! It’s amazing.

So! In light of where I “got my start,” I feel like it only makes sense to share a few version of “Hold Me” I across on youtube.

This first one wasn’t to hard to find at all, ha! This guy is Matt Thien. My sister and I know he and his wife from years of playing the same local venus. Love it, Matt! Thanks.

If you know me you know I absolutely love harmonies. These girls hit up the 3 part and crazy world: they have the same guitar as me

Ok, this isn’t singing but my goodness this little girl couldn’t have on a better shirt.

And last one (for now!!!), this cute little kiddo dancin to “Hold Me!”

Thanks so much for everyone checkin out the song! I really do appreciate it

My Stutter Made His Point

As a musician and speaker, I’m currently on the line-up of a two day conference called The Revolve Tour. This year’s theme is “Dream On” and it’s wonderful how it worked out as it’s always been one of my dreams to be on Revolve. I have the wonderful opportunity to use my story as a way to encourage young people to trust God to give you big dreams even when stuff happens in our lives that we can’t control. Particularly with having a condition called Tourette Syndrome that is ironically a disorder causing uncontrollable movements and sounds.

Anyway… this weekend was Phoenix, AZ. I was pretty excited (I really just love my job haha) for Saturday when I would share my story. So, I got on stage… and I started. But then… I stopped.

About halfway through my story I started to say “uh uh” which is one of my twitches. It sounds something like a sneeze or like I’m trying to get someone’s attention but is much more annoying than those because I literally can’t stop it. I kept doing this which triggered my hands clenching and before I knew it I completely stopped, stared at the ground and said, “I’m sorry.”

This happened a few more times throughout my message and while I know it didn’t last too long it felt like a lifetime. I was humiliated, frustrated and confused. This had never happened on stage at Revolve before but the cat was out of the bag now and I had to sit through the rest of the weekend knowing my condition had showed up while I had a story to share.

Long story short… I believe this weekend was the best so far at Revolve for my story. It took me late Saturday night to realize it, but I heard it throughout the day… people shared with me that it isn’t how I hold myself together or whatever when I speak that speaks to the girls. It was when they actually saw who I am that made a large impact on their lives. It was when they saw that yes, I had this thing in my life that I couldn’t control but I still persevered, that proved that it’s a daily exercise toward trusting God. (Did I phrase that sentence right? …Probably not.)

I wanted to take this little blog post to just send some encouragement your way… Whether with school, family, illness, life, death… we’ve all got that stuff that shows up in our lives that we have no control over. Sometimes it even shows up/happens when we’re doing the right thing! It’s painful, it’s frustrating it’s annoying and random, but there’s is a constant: and that’s God. The things I had to say this weekend had nothing to do with me but everything to do with a God who had a message for me: No matter what He’s got my back and isn’t gonna let me go. Ironically, that’s exactly what I share on Saturdays.

So in the long run, don’t stray from God when the mess in our lives seems like to much. You never know when He’s using that to build, mold and develop your testimony…

Even though I didn’t understand it at first, in the end of it all God did a work in me that reminded me of the very thing I share with my peers. He taught me that I will have to go through things that I cannot stop but it’s all about my recovery and the trust that I put Him in. Ultimately, I’m grateful for this weekend. Partially because it technically felt better physically to not hold back my tics but ultimately because God’s word was the most important thing and I’m OK with the fact that my stutter made His point.

jamie-grace
(photo: katie)

“I Do” – Not “I Did.”

As an RA for freshmen girls at my school, I started a monthly newsletter. I debated whether I would post it here or not but I figure the world broadcasts what they’re doin so why I shouldn’t I say that I’m not? …Happy readin!

—-start

I could use words like “purity” and “patience” – they’re wonderful words but I’ll take this time to blunt. It’s not popular to wait until you’re married to have sex. So it’s quite obvious it’s even less popular to sing about waiting for the guy God has for you.

Nonetheless, multi-award winning singer-songwriter Rebecca St. James didn’t necessarily care about what was “in” and sang about it anyway. She made her way into the hearts and tape players of many families in 2000 with her hit song, “Wait For Me.” The lyrics quickly became somewhat of an anthem for girls who were also waiting. It also inspired more songs of purity like Barlow Girl’s “Average Girl” and has swooned along with “movements” like “True Love Waits.”

“…If we cheat in this whole situation, we’re sacrificing something incredibly beautiful in marriage. You pay now or you pay later. If you sacrifice for some of the physical enjoyment on the front end, you pay incredible dividends on the other end.

I’ve waited so long for my prince and then to have found the man of my dreams. He’s literally the perfect man for me. So while it feels somewhat surreal, it feels very real on another level and very right and peaceful…”

-Rebecca St. James

On the other end of the spectrum many people looked down on St. James as she approached 30. Blogs and conversations said… “Will she ever get married?” and “Is she still waiting?” And the answer… yes. She is getting married and is proud to say in every interview that she waited and is glad she did.

—-end

Another reason I hesitated to share that is because it may come across as “Oh, there’s that preacher’s kid talkin about purity…” but let’s take a stand, yo! As I said, movies, music, TV shows and 4-word punch lines broadcast sex. The world is tellin us they’re doin it but barely anybody is saying they’re not…

…Maybe we’re afraid of being perceived as outsiders or too radical? I mean I’m not saying you have to shout it from a rooftop haha but waiting is not popular these days and it’s not going to get any more popular if those of us who are waiting continue to sit back and not take a stand for what’s important.

Important to know… Even if you’ve been in a situation in your past where the relationship went to an intimacy level that you wish you could take back? Know that God is a forgiving God and is right there ready to forgive you and give you a new life in Him.

I guess the best way to close is by sharing one of my favorite stories ever! It’s from the Oprah Winfrey Show (barely watch it…) and I actually shared it in a video when I was 17, two years back. You can click here to watch if you want or you can read my paraphrase below…

“I don’t know much background on what kind of people they were and I don’t want to say the wrong thing. So I’ll be really stereotypical and hopfully you get it. They were accused of being polygamists, the kids were put into foster care in Texas and stuff. A lot of people notice them because of the long dresses, the boots, no make-up, no earrings, they don’t watch TV. All that stuff. My Faith isn’t the same as theirs and I disagree with a lot of the things they practice but there was this one girl Oprah was interviewing. She was 17 and Oprah was asking her things about dating.

It’s kind of weird because I’m currently wearing jeans I have on make-up and earrings and a neck tie haha so obviously I’m not on the same level of morals and standards as these girls. However, I loved what they had to say.

It came down to a 17 year old girl… a girl my age… saying, ‘When I stand at the alter, I want to be able to say ‘I do’ and not ‘I did.”

Peace, love and Jamie-Grace

PS – one of my favorite songs right now is along the same lines. It’s by Group 1 Crew, a hip hop trio that I’m so blessed to be on the road with right now. (We’re touring 12 cities on The Revolve Tour. Check it?

Well, It’s About Time, Verizon.

Do I even have to elaborate from the title? We’ve all been waiting… and we all know that it’s so. so. close.

Yes.

The iPhone on Verizon.

My dad and I have been hovering over every possible Geek/Nerd website for almost 2 years trying to find some hope in our red check mark and were getting so close for Fall 2010!!! But alas… it fell. Until the day. Yes… THE day!

It was January 8th when a certain tweet was made and the screen shot of it began to circulate around the internet.

Now, incase you’re not super nerdy… or even a lil bit… you may not notice that the tweet made was made from an iPhone… it’s Verizon’s account!! So either some Verizon kid wasn’t smart enough to get off At&T before going to work or they’re getting the iPhone… latter, please.

So now, it’s official. February 10th in stores, February 3rd online for pre-orders. Verizon and Apple have finally seen the light and are merging for this wonderful occurrence!!

…Will this kill At&T? Will you buy the iPhone? How many people will switch to Verizon now?

The answers are simple… Yes… You should… hopefully everyone…

Peace, Love & Jamie-Grace.com

||Why Blog About This?
I’m taking an online English class this semester and one of the things I need to do is to write lil blogs that include current news stuff. Bare with me! ::hugs:: SCHOOL POST #3

Movie of My Life

Before you read, you may wanna listen while you read? Here’s my new single featuring tobyMac

Someone recently sent me this Formspring question:

If there was a movie based on your life, who would you pick to play you? How about your love interest? What about you as a kid?? (famous people only)

Holla! I couldn’t just answer this… I had to write an entire blog about it. I love this stuff!

I’m guessing it would be my life when I’m my 20s/now? So, here’s my family…

Right to left, Me, Mom, Dad, Morgan (sister, two years older) & her husband, Patrick.

Morgan and I as kids: McClain sisters …Duh! Haha. I’m pretty sure these girls sing and play instruments so it makes since. And there’s three of them so when we got older they could just switch roles, haha.

Parents: Audra McDonald & Taye Diggs
Hahahha ok. My parents look nothing like them. Thing is I want this to be a musical (why am I actually planning this…) and they are both musical! Plus since I saw “Annie” I’ve wanted to hang out with Audra McDonald and I couldn’t find a picture of her and another black guy (beside that rapper guy) so viola! Haha.

Morgan and I now: Brooklyn & Amanda Sudano
Duh we don’t really look like them either… but here’s how I came up with them. Brooklyn was in the movie “Rain” so she’s musical then I saw she had a sister and it just made since! Plus I think one of them laid vocals on a demo I have in my iTunes haha.

Patrick: Harry Shum
Hahaha so Patrick’s Hawaiin and Harry’s Asian but it fits! Neither one of them sings, but they both dance and have very similar hair. So there we have it.

Love Interest: Two options… ha!
Taeyang or

Zac Efron. They’re both musical so it would make since!

Lastly, I have a great crew of lovely friends but I’m only adding one to the cast (for now, lol) for the sake of time… I have homework.

Me and my best friend Hana,

And to play Hana…(she’s gonna kill me)
Jenna Ushkowitz

Oprah & Pat… Yeah, I Said It.

“Sound of Music” exclusive package.

Full college scholarship.

A new car.

Trip to Australia… Oprah, “Queen of Day Time Talk Show,” is always giving something away. Her phrase “My favorite thingssssss” has been coined and parodied numerous times and people wait for hours, days and even years to be a member of her audience. Her latest surprise, however, had nothing for the audience. While a secret from her life is a huge gift to some, this latest announcement was more about Winfrey herself.

This past Thanksgiving (aka my 19th birthday…) was the first day Oprah met her half sister, Patricia. Patricia was secretly given up for adoption as a baby in 1963 and Oprah never ever knew about her. Patricia had been looking for her birth mother for years and finally found her last year which was just before she was put in contact with her sister, Oprah.

Apparently Ms. Winfrey has some pretty brilliant staff members and security as no one (no one) found out what January 24th’s “big announcement” would be. Not a leaked photo, not a premature interview – not even a tweet! Their family information stayed within the family until this past Monday when Oprah let it all out.

The reactions were so random!!

Some people believed it was a publicity stunt and of course others feel that Patricia is seeking fame and/or money. Some people were filled with joy and others and just interested to creep more and more into the talk show host’s life. For me, I don’t know what to think. To be completely honest I don’t find it much of my business to be concerned about their personal lives from here out but as Oprah made the decision to go public, I am kind of interested to see how it goes.

Are we going to be seeing little pictures from Oprah, Gayle and Patricia camping trips? Does her sister have a hidden talent? Is she going to be signed to Ellen’s record deal? Is she going to have her OWN show?

I’m not typically concerned with celebrities and honestly, I didn’t find out about this until about 30 hours after the fact. But it’s some pretty nifty news! And I pray for the best for their family.

Peace, Love & Jamie-Grace.com

||Why Blog About This?
I’m taking an online English class this semester and one of the things I need to do is to write lil blogs that include current news stuff. Bare with me! ::hugs:: SCHOOL POST #2

Really, Taco Bell?

“Taco Bell officials on Tuesday rejected claims made in a lawsuit that the meat in their tacos, burritos and other products is not all beef.”

Really, guys??

Basically, the entire article has the Taco Bell guys defending their beef saying it’s just like what we buy at the the grocery stores. 100% beef. *sigh* I have an issue with this!

See, I’m not going to say that they have disgusting food and it’s bad for you (though it is). Instead, I must be honest. I love Taco Bell. Straight up love the place. But they should be honest… We all know that they are not serving real beef and while I know this should make me uneasy about eating there, I guess in my mind I know that the amount of McDonalds, Wendys and Taco Bell I have put into my body (which honestly isn’t that much) has not always been what I would buy at the grocery store. Thing is, I don’t expect it to be.

Now, this may be getting confusing… I’m not sayin I’m OK with eating dirt or something else weird but I am saying that I’m pretty sure I’ve never thought Taco Bell was serving me real beef but for some reason… I’m OK with that?

Hm. A crazy world we live in… where’s that organic grocery store place? Think I need to rethink some eating habits… gonna get me a Gordita on the way…

Peace, Love & Jamie-Grace.com

||Why Blog About This?
I’m taking an online English class this semester and one of the things I need to do is to write lil blogs that include current news stuff. Bare with me! ::hugs:: SCHOOL POST #1

Things I Don’t Eat.

I can’t sleep, so I decided to compile a list of foods I don’t eat.. yes. That pointless.

jalapenos
sushi
cinnamon
mushrooms*
squash
eggplant
fried things that shouldn’t be (i.e. twinkies… oreos…)
corn
mustard*
olives
things that shouldn’t exist (i.e. McRib)
anchovies
ice cream (i’ll eat it sure… not too enjoyable though)
brussel sprouts (then again…who does?)
potato chips
cookies
caramel
crackers (i love saltines though)
ritz crackers (they get their own line…)
ritz crackers (unless i have 2 cheese cubes per bite)
ice cubes (i love water, though)
(most) cakes
chewing gum
(most) candy
squid
carpet
scones
snacks (i’f ima eat… ima eat…)
tea (except for most warm throat stuff)
coffee
iced tea
sweet tea

…i think that’s all.

*i can eat in moderation. i.e. mushrooms on pizza or a little mustard on a sandwich.

….goodnight!!
Love, Peace & Jamie-Grace

I Don’t Know If I Like You, California.

I moved here – to Atlanta – when I was 10 1/2 months old. So, technically, my parents moved here and I happened to come along. Oh, and my older sister.

We have visited Los Angeles many times and I couldn’t love it more. We were even going to move back at one point and while I knew I would miss Georgia, I couldn’t get over the urge to move back to LA.

I truly don’t feel at home anywhere like I do when I’m in Cali.

It could be because I’m not there often and I want what I can’t have, or maybe it’s that my daddy was born and raised there. My parents met there. My mom got a start in the radio/news industry there. My sister was born there. I was born there. My papa (dad’s dad) is there. My only aunt on my dad’s side is there. My little cousins TJ and Jonathan are there and I don’t know them like I want to. I don’t spend the time with them that I want to. I don’t spend the time in Cali that I want to… I don’t spend much time there at all.

…………..my papa is sick.

He’s been sick for a little while and wasn’t able to come to my graduation… Morgan (sister)’s wedding… things I know he wanted to come for but was unable to travel. I’ve been bummed for a while not being able to see him as much as I see my other grandparents, but fortunately this weekend I get to “go home” and see my Papa. My dad’s been there for a few days but I’m soon be hopping on a plane with my mom, my sister (Morgan) and her husband (Patrick).

It’s very much a bittersweet (who came up with that phrase? what a g.) situation. My Papa is sick, and though I know that no matter how this turns out he has a wonderful relationship with Jesus, it makes my heart hurt. I want him here for forever. I want to make it a regular to see him. I don’t care what it takes, I want someone to either teach him how to use Skype or I’ll fly my butt out there every Summer. I want my Papa here to meet my husband… my kids… I don’t want him to go anywhere.

Here’s the thing, though…. even through all of that… California? You will be sweet.

After 3 years of occasional phone calls, I get to see my Papa. I get to see my Auntie Shanell and her boys. I get to hug my cousin TJ who’s 2 years younger than me and gets taller every five minutes. I get to wrap my arms around little Jonathan who’s 5 and thinks he’s grown, haha. I get to hug my 2nd cousins that don’t even need that “2nd” because I love them just the same. I get to go to church with my daddy’s aunts and uncles and be with all the West Coast people I love.

I get to eat greasy burgers at a stand up burger place in LA and pastrami sandwiches at the most unhealthy restaurant known to man. I get to travel with my big sister (rarity these days), harass my big brother (we don’t do that in-law stuff. he’s family now, i get to harass him…), hang out with my mom and my dad – something that only happens on the weekends when I see them at church.

In the end, no matter what, I will get to spend three days with people that I love SO much. I truly hate how the unfortunate things in life are what bring us together, but you know what? We’re being brought together.

My video camera will not be turning off this weekend. I will capture the moments that I will hold on to as long as I can. I may cry and my heart may cramp but I will live, I will laugh and I will (come on, you know the cliche…) love.

So, West Coast? I’m frustrated as to why I have to go and be with you this weekend. Yet, I am glad you are bringing my family together. I am glad you are giving my Papa the chance to meet the man that stole his oldest grandaughter’s heart and has been a wonderful big brother to your youngest grandaughter. I am glad my Papa can hear me practice my first sermon as he was a preacher and I can’t wait to share my “Intro to Preaching” message with him. I am glad you’re letting me see my boys (Tj and Jon Jon!!!) and as I said a million times, just bringing us together.

I love so much. I really do. But as I can’t stop thinking about the bitter of the bittersweet? I don’t know if I like you, California.