Three Hills was quiet this new years eve, and knowing our tendency not to make it until midnight to welcome in the coming year, we decided to follow suit and have a quiet night in.
… While we would be quick to admit that we aren’t necessarily the life of the party, we would scoff at the accusation of not being any fun just because we can’t make it to midnight. (Hence our turning our dining room into a dance floor and spinning vinyl to welcome in 2017!… even if it was at 10 o’clock )
In-between dancing to the musical brilliance of Ray Charles, Norah Jones, Emmy-Lou Harris, and Taylor Swift (yes – guilty pleasure for us both!) we, like many of you, took some time to reflect on the year past and dream about the one ahead.
It has been a very full 2016, and 2017 only seems to be gaining speed. This past year, Jalene graduated from Prairie College with her music & worship arts diploma after 2 intense years of writing, learning, growing, and healing. Adam is now entering his last semester of his undergraduate degree in Pastoral Ministry and beginning to start the journey of seeking out what is ahead for our family as we move towards vocational ministry.
2016 was also the beginning of ‘Elsa & Foster,’ the re-branding of our music & speaking ministry to which we have felt God calling us into. (Want to know more about the heart behind Elsa & Foster? click here) As we look back over the past few years, we have felt a continual call to be faithful with the gifting of music that God has given us. This birthed our first album, ‘Only One Thing is Needed,’ in 2013, and prompted Jalene to begin formal education in music & songwriting in 2014. In the past few years we have had few opportunities to share our music with others, and in the midst of a difficult season for us a few years ago we had little reserves and energy to try to ‘push’ making something happen with music. Yet, as we have continued to be faithful to God’s leading & stewarding our gifts in each season, this past year we have seen doors begin to open before us with music that we are excited to walk through.
In this past year, we have had the privilege of recording Jalene’s solo EP, ‘Still’, which has been playing on Shine FM in Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer AB, as well as having the opportunity to speak & share our music in various settings. Adam was able to spend a few weeks out at Camp Caroline this summer, teaching God’s word to Grade 4/5/6 campers, high school students, and staff, as well as preaching in multiple rural churches near our home in Three Hills and Steele Heights Church in Edmonton. Jalene was thrilled to be able share her heart and music from a difficult season with a group of women from Calgary, as well as with women recovering from addiction at Hope Mission in Edmonton. Elsa & Foster have been able to lead worship in camp & conference settings and meet some really amazing people this year.
As we look ahead to 2017 we are so excited for doors that have been opening with music & pray that we can continue to be diligent and faithful in stewarding music & writing well in this season as we anticipate the changes that will come with Adam finishing his schooling.
See some of our upcoming events in the new year here.
We want to thank all of you for your support and love as we have walked this journey in music & teaching. Our heart is that we would authentically be able to minister the hope and promise that we have in Jesus to hearts that need refreshing in this wilderness of life that we walk through. Christ has been our sustainer and our joy in the valley, and the glory that we bask in when our feet stand firmly atop the mountains in this life.
We pray that alongside all of you that we would know…
‘…the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ…For it is by grace [we] have been saved through faith, and that not of [ourselves]; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.’
— Ephesians 1:18-20,2:8-9 NKJV
All our love,
— Jalene Elsa & Adam Foster