i don't like having to pick a title...

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell...let's see. i'm up at this awful hour of the morning because our bodies have been conditioned to wake up at the crack of dawn and mine can't shake that. so, its time for an update.

leg 2 of the trip is going well. we are on a longer stretch of the home churches of people on the tour. we started out at Jeremy's, then proceeded to Church's, Noah's, tonight we are at Dan's, then Brad's and Pose's. good times. i like meeting people's families and seeing where they come from, so this is a cool part of the tour for me. sitting around dan's kitchen table yesterday with some of the wonderful women of his family made me miss home a little, though. i think this is really the first time that's happened.

so this is the section of the blog where i talk about jenn: a- because it's her 21st birthday today, and b-because she earned herself a battle wound two days ago while setting up. i guess we'll update later about what we do for her birthday (yes, we are still under the lifestyle agreement and no, we are not intending to break it...). about her injury though: she was setting down a chain link fence that we use on the fences and her belly button ring got snagged on it through her shirt and ripped it pretty well. its still hanging in there, it's just a little bigger of a hole now. she can gage it a little (ew...no jenn. don't do it).

speaking of family, i got some exciting news from back home: my brother is engaged! i guess they are thinking about may 4th of next year. its crazy because that doesn't seem too far off, and yet, i have so much before then; classes and shows.

after this we are off to chi-town for a day off. the possibilities are endless, but will ultimatly end in pizza and theatre (sorry dad, no cubs. i checked and they are in town playing the mets, but...)

ok...i should do something with my life so i can tell you about it later.

Posting Pics before the Road

So, this would be called the second half of my other post I think. It's mostly a bunch of (in my opinion) the best pictures taken during the tour from my camera. There are better pictures taken by other people, I don't deny, but these are the ones I have to post so there.














This was a rocking studio I got to stay at with Dan, Noah and Josh. Carriage House Studios, good stuff they produce by the way.



























This fun endevor was a loading into a host family's car. We fit in there like sardines but it was fun and we had a great time. We seem to be fitting lots of things into small spaces on this tour. Equipment into the truck, ourselves onto the bus, groups into host family cars. Small stages too, it's fun.














Now this place, I loved! Earl I just have to say that you are the man. Yes, this guy pulls into the cabin we'll be staying and sees an armadillo there. Because they are pests, he shoots it, without any qualms what-so-ever. I was surpised and amazed at the same time. After shooting the first one there is another one across the yard which Earl goes and executes as well.

That wasn't all though. Earl showed us out back of the lodge where there was a nice Georgia lake, and turned on the back porch light. Not too deep and nothing special, until he throws out some fish food and these massive catfish come and attack it. I'm talking like 2-3 ft. long catfish!














I am a crazy mountain man. Because it was so nice outside I slept on the porch that night on top of a bunch of floor mats, no sleeping bag needed.














This was driving to our last show in the first half. Titus the pastor gave a ride to 6 people in the back of his truck. I was riding in the truck with our equipment and took the picture. Our last show was outdoors and a blast. Ella posted on that earlier actually.














No wait I lie, I have to put this on here too. I thought I did in the other post but I was wrong. This was the Houge family we stayed at in New Hampshire at His Mansion. We stayed up late having a great talk about the emerging church culture and true discipleship. Jim and Linda I have to give a shout-out to you guys for being a a rocking camp that does amazing things for God.

And that ends this session of pictures with Blair. Ok, its late, i'm tired and I haven't showered yet. So good night and God Bless.

A little taste of the best...

This is sad, the fact that we seem to live in this rut of commenting on great happenings several days/weeks after they transpire. This follows in kind.

Where: Cochran, Georgia
When: The day we did the show in Cochran, Georgia

Throughout the evening, I feel like I'd developed some sort of stage relationship with this pretty little girl in the front row. I pointed her out during the first act because she seemed to relish everything happening onstage. At the intermission, we chatted a bit, and right before we were to resume, she walked up to the stage and loaded me up with a handful of change. Of course, the second act took off before I could even unload the booty, so I skibbled to the piano and dropped the jingly paydirt on the amp. Act 2 proceeds.

This little girl, no more than 9, stays with us for the whole of the show...until the crucifixion. I think the combo platter of loud rock paired with the writhing body of the recently acquainted guy playing Jesus, seasoned with dark lighting and the floor full of the wailers, just may have set her over the edge. All I saw was this little lady run from her seat in the absolute frontmost location to the end of the row to the protection only a mother can offer. Trying to keep composure, I had to fight for airtime because this little lady punched out a volume I almost couldn't match.

After the show, we stayed around the stage a little longer than usual. She had cried through the last five minutes of the show, the cast introductions, our closing prayer and song, and, lastly, our formal meeting on the stage. She and her brother came over, faces red and wet, and squeezed me as if that would dry their eyes. In her most perfect Georgian accent, she bubbled out, "You skeered me!"

It didn't feel like it was a moment I should enjoy, but it just seemed too great not to revel. The fear of God is supposed to prompt a conscious return to His grace and love. She may not know it, but that little miss did my heart good.