June 27 2009 | Wow, where to start? Lots has happened in the past couple of months, so I will just start at the beginning. Hannah graduated in March and found a job at a local company called Cobb. Cobb is in charge of quality control for Tyson, a huge supplier of chicken. She is thoroughly enjoying the opportunity, and we are so thankful she found work in her field in such a difficult job market! (Plus the high honor of helping bring this fabulous food to plates across the country!)

I spent the first week in June helping my family move into their new house in Overland Park, Kansas. I also had the chance to reconnect with some old friends who moved away from STL years ago and just happened to end up in KC. What a wonderful week it was!

Unfortunately, the week did not fare so well for our 1990 Honda Civic. I felt it was time to have a mechanic look it over due to some sounds I had been hearing, and thank God I did! Turns out the entire steering system was shot and would come apart at any moment! It's amazing I made it safely to KC! Unfortunately, this was just one of many issues the car had been developing. The clutch is just about worn out, it leaks over, there are multiple problems with the brakes, a rear wheel bearing is going out, etc. Long story short, it is far from feasible to fix.

Fortunately, my lovely wife was able to come during the weekend to rescue me. This actually opened up a fun opportunity for us. My younger sister, Charis, has been working all summer on artwork for a film entitled Works in Progress. Turns out, they were shooting some major scenes, and they needed extras. Our moment of fame comes when Hannah and I, hand in hand, cross in front of the main actors. Hopefully, the scene will stay!

Anyway, we were a bit bummed as this was our only vehicle with functioning A/C. Then again, we payed only $580 for it (with a full tank of gas!), and drove it at least twenty thousand miles. We would have preferred this to happen at the end of summer when it would have been more affordable for us, but at least it wasn't when Hannah was still searching for work and needed a car throughout the day.

Fast forward to the next week: I was on my way to Fayetteville for a recording session with Lendell (yes, we are still working on it!), when the engine went out in our remaining car, our 1993 Sidekick! Two cars in one week… Ouch! Hannah's folks are letting us borrow one of their vehicles while we work something out. Really this is a blessing in a lot of ways because we need something more reliable. Ultimately, we do need two cars, but we can manage on one for the time being, so we could certainly use prayer for this minor setback. However, we are confident things will work out. The Lord will provide!

On the album side, Lendell and I are continuing to chip away at the remaining pieces. The vehicle situation has certainly slowed us down but will not stop our progress. We pretty much HAVE to have the rest of my vocal and guitar work done soon as Lendell will be moving to Oklahoma City to begin teaching at OCU as he was recently hired on as their Professor of Composition and Film Scoring! In the last two years, he has had the opportunity to score a couple of films as well as increase his exposure on television, both on the local and national level. This is a huge step for him, and I am so excited to see what opportunities will come as a result!

Let's see… I suppose I can also give an update about mixing. Several of the songs are now as close to final as I will be able to bring them. While I feel everything is sounding good, it is not yet sounding great. My limited experience only allows me to do so much. Because of this, I am seeking some professional help outside of those we have already worked with. Another reason for this is to bring fresh ears to the table. After two and a half years of constant work, I am finding myself unable to be as creative as I otherwise might be. I've listened to partially mixed versions of these songs countless times and need to be able to think outside the box more. I will be certain to post some updates when we have figured out who will be able to help us.

Thanks for continuing to follow our progress as slow as it may seem. I will be the first to admit that it has been a long, difficult journey — one that I certainly never imagined. There are many days when I feel burned out; I feel like quitting. I think, “There's no way this will ever sound good or even be done for that matter!” Then we have an incredible day in the studio, and all of my worries disappear. While I often find it hard to hold on to hope, I am not giving up. We've come way too far for that to be an option and are so close! I take much comfort in the words of the Psalm 139 that the Lord knows every single detail about me. He has lead us down this path and has yet to let us down. What excitement awaits us when it is finally finished!

March 17 2009 by Jeremiah
"Phew, it sure has been a busy couple of months for us here in Arkansas! Hannah just completed her final college exam, which means she is now done with her schooling! I am so proud of her diligence in finishing out her fi..." Read More

January 15 2009 by Jeremiah
"Welcome to 2009! I hope you all had a good Christmas and safe travel! Hannah and I spent Christmas in Siloam Springs with her family, who moved here from California in July. It was so nice to not have to travel. Her enti..." Read More

November 1 2008 by Jeremiah
"I mentioned several weeks ago that my Father had been let go from his position at First Free, Chicago due to financial constraints of the Church. I have been very proud of my parents with how they have graciously dealt w..." Read More

October 29 2008 by Jeremiah
"Life has certainly been a whirlwind for Hannah and I lately, but fortunately that's a wonderful thing! I've been busy working, which has included helping my boss, David Allen, in his campaign for Mayor of our wonderful l..." Read More

June 21, 2009 - 10:30am

Morning Service
Faith Journey Fellowship
Bentonville, AR