They're adapting pretty well
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Gospel Log March 2012
I have such a bad memory that the recording of important events along the way is going to be "a must" for me. I can easily remember what time my doctor's appointment next week, exactly where Blake placed his keys, and even the exact email address of a random pastor in Roanoke TX...but I can't remember life events as they come and go. Special words and stories will be lost for all time if I don't record them. So here is my attempt to start logging our lives as "Gospel Singers". If only just for myself. Since I am sure to forget it by tomorrow.
This month we traveled to churches we have been to before, and some we have not. This month (March 2012) is a miracle month. In January, I had not a single event scheduled and we braced ourselves for the impending 31 days of being "sticks in the mud", saying no to hanging out with friends, and eating popcorn for dinner. But low and behold, 6 events ended up being scheduled for which I can take no credit. The Lord provided and we were able to pay our necessary bills and even have frivolous fun. *Gasp!* This month was a month of sticky situations and unexpected blessings; words of gold and words of great discouragement; feelings of warmth toward children...and feelings of horror!
I will try to keep my recaps as anonymous as possible. Who knows who will ever discover my little writing pad here. I have to say, we have been mightily sheltered from the strangeness that populate the Gospel circuit. Just the other day I saw on Facebook a fellow soloist to his "stalker". I giggled as I read his post:
Things have been much better with my "stalker" this month. But today, she sent me an email with an attachment about Inflammatory Bowel Disease. "Because you travel so much.... Please take good care of yourself." How thoughtful.
This is especially entertaining to me as we continue to travel and have repeat events. We will have people come up to us who apparently follow us online and will comment about what we had for dinner two nights previous...it's pretty disconcerting until you realize they only know this since you, yourself, have divulged it.
Now, for some stories. The beginning of this month began with a big event: Blake sang with Greater Vision and the Mark Trammell Quartet in Decatur TX! He was just an opener, but it proved to be a wonderful opportunity. He gained many fans and also the respect from these groups as a valid performer. He sang flawlessly and delivered with sincerity and anointing. One friend, D, from the MTQ did comment though that he was frightened when Blake began to sing "Moses". As any singer should be when they see another stand full front, grab the microphone and hiss "Oh Mosessssss..." as their opening line.
But some wonderful things that happened this month were the kind words from the original tenor of The Kingsman, Johnny Parrack. He attended our concert in Van Buren at his home church. He and his wife after the concert told Blake, looking back over their years of travel and children and singing, that it was "all worth it, every bit of it." To hear a wife say that after living the "gospel singer wife life" was priceless for me. That was really neat. Especially when we are often told we must give up our itinerant lifestyle if/when we decide to have children. I can easily get caught up in the fact we can't put away as much savings as we'd like and that we can't contribute regularly to a 401k or the like...it can be daunting to look at the future. But her comment reminds me that the Lord's work is sweet and we are to do what He's told us to do. Right now, He's told us to travel and sing full time. Who knows how long it will last, but while it does I will be grateful that we get to do something we love.
I still have to document one event, the jewel of March, our spur of the moment, unadvertised and greatly regretful gospel sing I committed Blake to be a part of. But, that hopefully will be tomorrow. I'm sleepy and Jay Leno is calling my name. And the cats are wrestling in the back bedroom.
But one picture:
This was handed to us right before Blake sang at FBC Jolly TX, drawn by the Pastor's granddaughter I believe. Note that Blake is the one with the flowing locks of curls.
This month we traveled to churches we have been to before, and some we have not. This month (March 2012) is a miracle month. In January, I had not a single event scheduled and we braced ourselves for the impending 31 days of being "sticks in the mud", saying no to hanging out with friends, and eating popcorn for dinner. But low and behold, 6 events ended up being scheduled for which I can take no credit. The Lord provided and we were able to pay our necessary bills and even have frivolous fun. *Gasp!* This month was a month of sticky situations and unexpected blessings; words of gold and words of great discouragement; feelings of warmth toward children...and feelings of horror!
I will try to keep my recaps as anonymous as possible. Who knows who will ever discover my little writing pad here. I have to say, we have been mightily sheltered from the strangeness that populate the Gospel circuit. Just the other day I saw on Facebook a fellow soloist to his "stalker". I giggled as I read his post:
Things have been much better with my "stalker" this month. But today, she sent me an email with an attachment about Inflammatory Bowel Disease. "Because you travel so much.... Please take good care of yourself." How thoughtful.
This is especially entertaining to me as we continue to travel and have repeat events. We will have people come up to us who apparently follow us online and will comment about what we had for dinner two nights previous...it's pretty disconcerting until you realize they only know this since you, yourself, have divulged it.
Now, for some stories. The beginning of this month began with a big event: Blake sang with Greater Vision and the Mark Trammell Quartet in Decatur TX! He was just an opener, but it proved to be a wonderful opportunity. He gained many fans and also the respect from these groups as a valid performer. He sang flawlessly and delivered with sincerity and anointing. One friend, D, from the MTQ did comment though that he was frightened when Blake began to sing "Moses". As any singer should be when they see another stand full front, grab the microphone and hiss "Oh Mosessssss..." as their opening line.
But some wonderful things that happened this month were the kind words from the original tenor of The Kingsman, Johnny Parrack. He attended our concert in Van Buren at his home church. He and his wife after the concert told Blake, looking back over their years of travel and children and singing, that it was "all worth it, every bit of it." To hear a wife say that after living the "gospel singer wife life" was priceless for me. That was really neat. Especially when we are often told we must give up our itinerant lifestyle if/when we decide to have children. I can easily get caught up in the fact we can't put away as much savings as we'd like and that we can't contribute regularly to a 401k or the like...it can be daunting to look at the future. But her comment reminds me that the Lord's work is sweet and we are to do what He's told us to do. Right now, He's told us to travel and sing full time. Who knows how long it will last, but while it does I will be grateful that we get to do something we love.
I still have to document one event, the jewel of March, our spur of the moment, unadvertised and greatly regretful gospel sing I committed Blake to be a part of. But, that hopefully will be tomorrow. I'm sleepy and Jay Leno is calling my name. And the cats are wrestling in the back bedroom.
But one picture:
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