Let's start off with the good news... Mark has been hard at work all week last week and all week this week mixing, and has let us know that things are sounding great! I am home in Bentonville right now, and am quite anxious to hear the progress.

Our initial estimates were that it would take a good 25 hours to mix the record. As of this writing, Mark has almost completed six songs, and has eight more to go. He has already spent 50 hours plus! Seeing as the mixing is not halfway done yet, it is not inconceivable to think that it will take well over 100 hours total. (As a side note, Thank you Mark for all of your hard work!!!)

This is yet another point during the project where I sit back and realize just how blessed we are. Sure, we could finish mixing everything in a day or two, but it would not reach its full potential. Mark wants to do everything he can to make it sound great, and we are so excited to hear the result!

Now for the sort of "bad news" (which really is good news...). This means that it will be another week and a half before the mixing is complete, maybe two. We have now been working on "The Sun Still Rises" for a year. 52 weeks! So a week and a half is not going to be an issue. This simply allows us more time for refinement. It is also letting me focus my attention on the cover design, as well as the duplication of the CDs.

The great thing is this will not in any way affect the actual release of the album. After this post, I will be getting ready to head back to Imagine Studios to lay down some of the final vocal work. After today, all of the main vocals will be done! Another session or two, and all of the final tracks will be laid. Lendell and I will be done with our part!

As excited as I am to be finishing this, I cannot help but be a bit sad. This last year has been an incredible time of growth for all of us involved, and I will deeply miss working each week. However, my desire to get this out to all of you far trumps any sadness I may feel. It has been fun to keep everyone updated through the site, and is very meaningful that so many of you have been supporting me since I was a young lad. (And yes, I was quite the handful... Hannah will tell you I still am!!!)

Please do pray that we can raise the final amounts needed to finish the replication process once the album is mixed. We have come so far, and we trust this will all come together. But your prayers are greatly appreciated. (And needed!) Make sure to stop by a few times over the next couple of weeks as we wrap up the final stages, I cannot wait to say "We're done". That day is quickly approaching!