@allisonsankey can't wait to tell you all about it! :)

Time For A Makeover

NG_MAKEOVER

So… I don’t know a girl who doesn’t like a make-over. And i decided my site needed a little freshening-up! I hope you like it. We’ve worked hard to make the site very easy to navigate and as always, give you the information that you want.

Have you ever seen anyone with too much make-up on? Oooh, I will so NOT show my pictures from the 9th grade, but I was guilty of piling make-up on top of make-up, orange line under the chin and all. Through the years I’ve hopefully learned to peel some of that off and only highlight the “good stuff” (*wink*) but that’s often how I feel when I’m surfing the web. TOO much. I’m not sure about you, but I get annoyed at the busy, flashy, pop-up, long-intros on the many sites I visit. so, there’s not a whole lot of bells and whistles. just clean, fresh, simple. hopefully highlighting all of the “good stuff”! all of this courtesy of my friend, the web-king, Brody Harper from SkörInc.

I will continue to blog as often as i can, as this is the most important part of the site to me. I love the opportunity to connect with all of you. I often read your comments and smile, and some of your stories bring me to tears, as I whisper a prayer on your behalf. please comment and let me know what you think. tell me what you like and what you don’t like. tell me what’s missing. I promise, i can take it ;-) after all, this site is for you.

enjoy.

with love,
natalie

p.s. look for my all-new store to launch in the coming weeks. we’re designing new merchandise now :-)

  • Aubry

    AHHHH I LOVE IT!!!!!! I love the pic of tou and the colors!!!! ITS AMAZING! It;s very welcoming and warm (if that makes sence) and I cannot wait for the store!!!!!!!!!!!!! yaya :) !!!!! your amazing as well!!!!!

  • http://side3media.posterous.com Christopher

    The new site looks great. Congrats! You have quite a web team.

    You know now that you mention it… perhaps a section with pictures from the 9th grade would be cool. Look forward to seeing that added.

  • Jessica

    Beautiful! I love the blogs and hope they come more often. Also, mayb some responses would be cool!

  • Michelle

    It looks amazing!! I love it!! The colors are fantastic and your personality and joy shine through the pages!! Thank you for giving of yourself!!

  • http://www.thirtycanwait.blogspot.com Lindsey

    I LOVE the new design, Natalie! You’re right…so easy to navigate. My favorite!

  • http://lisamarcia.com Lisa M

    The site looks amazing. Is there a link to the home foundation somewhere…im guessing there is, I haven’t had time to browse!

  • http://NatalieGrant Lauren

    LOVE the new site!!:) love the colors and especially the blogs! Just love it all!!!!:)

  • Yvette

    The new site looks great! I agree with you on all the pop-ups and flashy intro’s. Simple is better (in my opinion, of course).

  • http://www.myspace.com/sonianv Sonianv

    Love the colors. So laid back, makes me want to go to the beach. lol.

  • Rachael

    Love it. Simple- but beautiful. The colors are perfect. Its so peaceful, and so you! This was definetly a change for the better! Its very “home-y”. Love love love it!

  • Caitlyn

    Hi Mrs.Grant I love your website! I am 14 years old and am I idenical triplet so I undertsand somethings about your twins! I can not wait to see you in october! You have inspired me in a lot of ways likw with your story about your eating disorder cause Ii too have had one so I would like to share my story with you! Praying for you and god bless!

    Anorexia and Me

    First off before I start this story of anorexia and me, I have to thank and give all the credit of defeating this thing to my Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ.

    So fist off I know a very large percentage of girls with anorexia do it because of looks. Being me I could care less about what I look like as long as I am half way decent. Now then saying that my whole decision to stop eating came from a desire to be extremely healthy. My dad is a huge health nut and I look up to my dad so I wanted to be a health nut to, but I took that an unhealthy level.

    It all started out with me eating about ¼ less than normal. Then I would weigh myself every morning and night. In between those times I discovered I gained about 0.4 of a pound. That was not acceptable in my mind so what did I do. I ate less and less till I ate barley anything at all. Then it was occupied with no more drinking. Why? Because I seemed to gain weight every time I drank something. So what did I do all day? I spent my days watching the food channel. I guess that is what satisfied my extreme hunger. So as you may be asking did your parents start noticing these insane trends? The answer is yes. They confronted me on it, my answer “I have not been feeling well lately” Of course that little response did not fly for long. So they took me to my regular doctor. They took my BMI (Body Mass Index) and I was about ten pounds under the previous weight they had already taken at my 11 year old well visit. Which is a cause for concern since I was originally under weight for my age? She referred me and my mom to an eating disorder specialist. Where I went basically kicking a screaming, because I thought what I was doing was a good thing and it would make my dad proud. So what did he tell my mom? He said “your daughter is going to die, either from being under weight or by refeeding.” Refeeding is when you give food to someone that has not eaten in a long time. If you do it to fast they will die.

    Your next question may be how in the world will this kid get through it? Here is our situation 1. I am very dehydrated. 2. I am 20-30 pounds under weight 3. Refeeding me could kill me. 4. I have barley any muscle left so I am very weak, and 5. My heart has moved to the center of my chest because all the other muscles’ in my body were eaten for strength and the Heart was basically all that was left. So what’s our solution, God. One of the scriptures of hope he gave me and my family was Isaiah 41:10 it says “Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady; keep a firm grip on you.” That is what was on my wall for the next year.

    The next year mainly consists of me having to at least drink 8 water bottles a day or be stuck with an IV in my arm. Also we had to slowly increase my calorie intake every day. We increased that number by about 100 once every week. Because I could only have a certain number of calories every day it could be no more no less, because of that my mom had to plan out every bite I took and every sip as well. If I refused to eat I would be stuck in a hospital for 6 months with a tube down my throat and no family for that entire time. Finally after about 8 months I was back to my normal weight and kind of out of the danger zone and all of that was done without going to the hospital. Since anorexia is not just eating problem it is also mental. Your brain clicks into this mode of no more eating and can not get out of it. So that was the next problem we had to fix. If we did not fix that then I would have lost weight all over again. Soon after that they diagnosed me with O.C.D which stands for obsessive compulsive disorder. The fix? I just have to take a little pill every morning. Being me I refused to take the pill because I did not want anything to alter me from who I am. After a few days of refusing to take it my parents finally had enough and said no matter what you think we are going to get you better. So the next morning when it came time to take the medicine for the first time my parents cried and begged me to take it. So I did. Mainly all I want to do in life 1. Please God 2. My parents. A few months after that I started not thinking about food but the things that really matter. Soon after that I began eating without worrying and not weighing myself anymore. So now a days I eat when I am hungry then till I am full and I do not worry about it. Even though I am still struggling with dehydration every thing else is 99% better. Because of that experience I will never look at calories or food the same again because this little experience is still in the back of my head and will never go away. Also from this experience my family and I now know how fast you can loose someone and how paresis our time on earth is. The only reason I lived through all this was God, and what made it even more amazing was I did it without having any extra help from a hospital. Only that can be done by God. So that is my story about anorexia and me. Remember this whole recovery was done by God. Not me or my family but God.

    Inspired by: God

    Written by: Caitlyn Cross

  • claudie brown

    Love the new site. it certainly has your touch on it. i enjoy all your pics & tweets. i can’t believe how fast the girls are growing. 95% sure i’m coming on the MWS alaska july 2010 cruise. looks like a super lineup. i love cruising and my family says alaska is unbelievable.

  • Katie

    Natalie,

    YOU ARE AWESOME! I am so grateful for your ministry. You are a true example of beauty in Christ. Thanks so much for all of your hard work to make your music available for people. I follow you on Twitter and you are hilarious but also have some great thoughts that always make my day. Your daughters are precious and your family is beautiful. Love and Blessing forever and always.

    Katie

  • http://www.LayingonGodsAnvil.com Kelly (race_12_1)

    Site looks really nice, crisp and clean, so easy to navigate. Only thing I noticed–are you sure you want the Home Foundation and Mercy Ministries links so far at the bottom? Many people never scroll that far down on the page, and thus will miss the links unless searching for them. I noticed they were missing and went looking.

  • Kelli

    Hey girl, I just love the new website..its a nice touch :) I want a hair cut so bad lol..it would nice to have a makeover–but hey..God gave me my quirks..
    :)

  • Jo

    Love the site and your music! from KY

  • Mandy

    Yes I love it! You are so right! Some people and their makeup is a little silly.
    But yes the new look is great!

  • http://quintessentialfeline.wordpress.com Lisa S

    Oh I absolutely LOVE the new look, Natalie! It’s feminine yet strong at the same time, if that makes sense.

    Just a quick thanks for allowing your fans and “followers” (on Twitter) a glimpse into your life. You are a “shining star in the universe as you hold out the Word of life”. Know that.

    May God continue to bless you always. :)

  • haley hudson

    love it!;)

  • Brooke

    Hey Natalie,
    I love the website and i hope you can come to westgate soon! I had a blast when you came!!!!!!!!! Remember The elevator kicking LOL. Hope to see you soon!
    Love,
    Brooke L.

  • Jessa Hendricker

    dear natalie,
    i love the new website layout. it has beautiful colors and is relly easy to navigate. well, i read thar you sometimes read testimonials and decided to tell you what i have been going through. well, first im a 14 year old girl that has gone through two deaths already in my family. the first was my mother when i was 12 and my great grandmother at 13. i know that death is hard and every thing, but i can truely say that with got and your songs, in better hands and held, have helped me be the fun loving girl i am today. i have used your music to help me cope and get through my struggle. the worst part of it is that my mom was only 42 and died odf breast cancer that had spread all throughout her body. well, i a. truely grateful for your music and oassion for jesus christ our savior. i will be seeing you tonite at your decatur celebration concert tonite. you are my inspiration!

    Jessa Hendricker

  • Bekah

    Hi Natalie!

    I like your new site! It’s simple and easy.

    I’m 14 and I turn to your music for influence and inspiration. I’m a HUGE fan!!! I wanted to go to your concert in Decatur sooooooooooooooooooo bad, but being on a Sunday, I just couldn’t. Could you come to southern Illinois again soon? And preferably not on a Sunday? I really hope to see you soon.

    Thank you for all that you do for God’s Glory. I seriously don’t know what I’d listen to if you weren’t part of the Christian ministry.

    Thanks again!

    Bekah

  • Cassie Nelson

    I love to new look! Its so pretty! I cant wait for the all-new store! i am excited for it! Your amazing.Come back to minnesota soon!!!! Have a great day!

  • Mandy

    well i’ve already said something about this post. but i wanted to add something. my family and i drove through nashville yesterday on our way home to wisconsin from florida. ( vacation )
    i was born in tennessee, near memphis, so it was kind of neat. but i just wanted to tell you that i was thinking about you.
    the site looks great but i think it would be hilarious to see some of those ninth grade pics. hehe!

  • ??

    You have a great websit and I really like your music, but I read on your makeover blog that you asked what could you do to make things better or something like that. Well here is a suggestion. First of all you really need to dress like a Christian singer. Your clothes are basically what a celebrity would wear and worse. So I encourage you if you read this that you would please try just a little to cover yourself more modestly. Thank you so much for your ministry and reaching out to others in such a good way. Hope you think about what I said…and read 1 Timothy if you need encouragment.

  • http://www.myspace.com/starsskissyour__prettyface Ashlie

    Looking much forward to your book, “The Real Me.” It is my hope and assurance that recovery is possible. I look up to you, so much. I see God’s Glory in your life. Thank you, for being so open. God is so good. He knows what we need, and the best part is, H

  • http://www.myspace.com/starsskissyour__prettyface Ashlie

    **The best rt is, HE GIVES IT TO US!

    I cannot say thank you enough, but, thank you.

    I love you, girl!

    Ashlie.

  • http://www.myspace.com/starsskissyour__prettyface Ashlie

    (My fingers get excited when I am declaring my love to you, ha ha!)

    **The best part…

  • http://www.thebeenefamily.com Brandon Beene

    I just wanted you to know how much your music is ministering in my life this week. Thank you. Your lyrics have pointed to Christ and been just what I needed to hear. God is using your music in an amazing way.

  • sammy

    Wow hits 2009 disc 2

  • mercedez thill

    hay u rock natalie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3

  • ymmas

    wow hits 2009 disc 2 !!! you rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • natalie grant fans 12348

    —— you rock natalie grant —————— WOW HITS 2009 DISC 2 —- from ymmas & zeidas

  • Jill

    Hi Natalie,

    I saw you in H’ville last night (I attend church there and I’m joining on sunday), and the worship was awesome! Great show!!! I’m sorry to say that I hadn’t ever heard of you until a couple of months ago….ouch! Another lady that I had come in contact with on Mom’s Cafe told me to listen to one of your songs; and from then on I have been hooked! You have the most awesome voice and your songs have been helping me through a bad time. My husband was/is having an affair and left me and our kids (9&5). I don’t want a divorce, but only God can change his heart and mind. Last night the main reason why I attended the concert was to see you if nothing else (and I went alone if that tells you how much I wanted to see and hear you sing), but God and Everyone on stage touched my heart. I can’t tell you how much I needed last night and to have my faith in God renewed, because I was in a funk.

    I wanted you to know how you have touched me with your songs. Everyone needs to know that the work they are doing is appreciated and they are loved, and I wanted you to know that! I listen to held, The real me, and I am not alone over and over; and I feel God is there holding me and I am not alone. Iwaited for a few minutes after the show to talk to you, but I didn’t have the nerve to express my feelings to you in person, and I’m sorry for that. But I wanted you to know anyway. Please keep up the good work and thank you for the gift that you (&God) have given me…….your songs.

    Hugs,
    Jill

  • Lacy Wise

    Natalie, I love your sight! I think you have an awesome testimony for Jesus and a good inspiration for young girls. Your music has blessed me so much. I especially like your song Held. It seems like that’s the only thing I long for: to be held. I have been fighting with different forms of eating disorders since 1991, when I was thirteen. I fought with anorexia from 1991-1996, bulimia from 1996- 2004 and also with “diabulimia” from 2005 to the present. “Diabulimia” is when type 1 diabetics, or any diabetic, quit giving themselves their insulin in order to lose weight. I’ve been a type 1 diabetic for 10 years now and fighting the diabulimia for half of those years. I didn’t even know that what I was doing had a name until I saw a story about it on the Dr.Phil Show. The diabulimia has gotten better and I have a little bit of control over it, but it’s still there and the habit is hard to break. I now know why I started my eating disorders: I wanted my father’s love and approval because it seems I can never have it. I wanted him to be proud of his daughter who had a nice figure and not overweight like his side of the family.

  • http://www.myspace.com/danilolucarelli Danilo

    Hi Dear Natalie!
    It’s perfect your new site! I must say I was a depressed boy and when I put your songs in my heart JESUS CHRIST has been speaking in my heart every day! I love you singing I can feel power in my Heart. It’s truth! And You’re very important in my life NOW! I gonna pray always for You! Dear Friend, GOD bless always you and your family. You’re a GOD’s Woman! I’m a young boy I’m 22 years old and I’m very happy for you! Thank you very much for the opportunity and Thank you very much for the add on the myspace! Congratulations on the work done!

  • RACHEL

    hey natalie. i have never been on your site before, so i didn’t see how it was but i like it now anyway. i LOVE your music. i was at borders one day and my mom picked up a CD of yours i decided to buy it and I’m so glad i did. i have two of your albums and on my ipod i have about 200 songs but rarely do i listen to anything but your songs. i wish i could sing like you.

  • http://abitucker-theabishow.blogspot.com Abi Tucker

    Hey there!
    Just wanted to say that I appriciate you, your music and your love for Jesus!
    I am from a family of 10 (eight children). My Dad pastors the church we go to, and my Mama homeschools us all! My Best friend, Sarah and I love to dance (ballet) to your songs.. “Perfect People” is our FAVORTIE! And our family has some of your songs on our i-pods. Thanks again! Love, Abi <3

  • http://cassidyrobinson.com Cassidy

    Hi Natalie! I just wanted to leave a quick comment to let you know how much I enjoy your site and blog. I come here frequently to read your thoughts. Thanks for being real and vulnerable, it’s inspiring! God bless you as you travel on tour! :)

    Cassidy Robinson