Memorial Day

Memorial Day was a ton of fun. Blake didn't have any concerts, so we got to go to Carrollton TX (Dallas area) to see my folks and my brother and his girlfriend. We like Meagan! She's incredibly sweet and I felt like I got to talk to her more this weekend. I'm trying not to scare her off, she's a keeper :)


On Monday we had an hour or so to kill so we went to the mall. My dad even went to Express with me and Blake! We ended up picking out a couple of suits for Blake and then we had the obligatory and much anticipated coke break. There is nothing better than a good Dr. Pepper. Hands-down my favorite thing to do.



One really neat thing we got to do was on Saturday we went to see a play. Not just any play, but 2 one-acts put on by my wonderful theatre friends from high school. I had a really tight knit group all 4 years there and then they all went on to get their Bachelor's degrees in theatre and I chose English. Go figure. Not that I didn't want to major in theatre...I just viewed it as 'if I'm not willing to give this 100% and eat/live/breathe/sleep theatre, then I should not go into it'. So, I feel a little stifled not having my arts outlet as much, but that is my own fault. I do get to sing with Blake most concerts so that is fulfilling my performance need in my being. Anyway, we went to see my old friends do a wonderful production. They started their own production company called Sideman Productions and will continue to put on plays as they have funding. They did an awesome job. Afterward we went out to socialize and get caught up. It was so sweet to see the people who I had such deep bonds with. Very special weekend. And Blake went with me and he did so good talking with everyone!! I was so proud to show him off.

Me and Joe

Me and Jordan

Me and Duc (as in book, not duke and in puke, as he likes to say)

Me and Coit!

Me and Hailey. My safe haven in the theatre girls.

Me and Michael. My fellow Mexican.

The Sidemen! We did a one-act play in high school called "Sideman" We took it in competition to the State level in TX, 5A district, and won the whole competition. These are awesome actors.

Blake and Joe. They get along great.

Crawdad Festival

May 15-17 we were in Arkansas in Harrison, Clarksville, and Atkins. On that Friday Blake headlined for Gospel Night at the Crawdad Days Music Festival. It was so much fun! We drove in and it was so gorgeous on the drive...but mighty scary. Those backroads out there are tiny and curvy and have drop offs that are terrifying! But Blake did great with the trailer. We got to the festival no problem and when we did pull up it was awesome! We were treated so nicely and they had drinks for us and we could pull our trailer up to the stage to unload. We felt like royalty. So, they had 2 other gospel groups, and they went on at 6 and 7, then Blake was to go on at 8. It wasn't a huge turnout or anything, maybe 300 people? It's hard to tell when everyone is scattered, and people come and go. But, the other groups were good and we had a good time talking with them. Then Blake got up to sing, and he was fantastic!! Unfortunately, it got dark around 8:20...so everyone started leaving! So, Blake was lit up by the stage lights so he could tell there wasn't a big crowd but thankfully he didn't have to know he was singing to like eventually 10 people until the very end. But, people really liked him it just was dark and time to go home in their minds! I guess I'd do that...I'd go to a festival or fair and then leave when it turned dark. So, no biggie! Just unexpected.

Silliness before Blake went to sing.

Pictures of the audience

Stage during soundchecks

Here are some of Blake singing

This is our product table. They had us our very own tent and setup space next to the stage.

This is the view from the Clarksville church Sunday morning. The picture doesn't do it justice, like most pictures, but it was breathtaking and the weather was perfect.


We had a great time! We'd definitely go back, but I might ask for the 6 or 7pm slot :) haha

Apricot Chicken

Oh man this is good... you can add brown sugar to taste if it isn't sweet enough for you. Great as leftovers over rice or with mashed potatoes.

Apricot Chicken
3-5 frozen chicken breasts
1 Cup Russian Dressing
1 Cup Apricot Preserves
1 pack dry Onion soup mix

Mix all ingredients together and pour over chicken.

Crockpot: high for 4-6 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
Oven: 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

My Parents

My parents had their 30th wedding anniversary this past Tuesday! They are such wonderful parents and I love knowing that they are still in love and genuinely like each other. They both say they would totally marry each other again, and as their daughter I feel so blessed to have parents who have had such a successful and beautiful marriage and have been an example to me of how I want my marriage to be. Love you Mom and Dad!

My mom and Dad when they were 22 years old

Mothers Day

For Mother's Day we went over to see our niece be dedicated at church! Afterward Millie got lunch


Mmmm

Not a fan of sweet potatoes

Smile

Just to make your day a little brighter

We're going on a Cruise!!

Blake got asked to sing on a cruise! So we agreed and our goal is to sell 50 cruise tickets. :) You interested? It's $549 a person, leaving from Mobile, Alabama

Quick Update

I haven't really posted in a bit... so I wanted to write and say things are well! We've been really busy with concerts, we have had a full April and May schedule so I've not really been around. We don't have anything for June and only 1 concert in July. *eep!* But, I am not going to be like the Israelites and not learn from God's past fulfilled promises. He's always provided somehow. So I'm not going to worry about it.

We had great concerts this last weekend in AR and then yesterday in Mustang and OKC. Great turnouts and happy people :) Blake's voice continues to stay consistent and he is able to deliver the quality of concerts we've been striving for for over a year now since he lost his voice. God is good and we thank him for restoring Blake's voice!