Yesterday Lendell and I began working again on the project. We have decided to go down to Lifeword Studios next week to finish the mixing, as opposed to the following week. That means that in less than two weeks the album will be completed! Of course we still have to complete the album art, will need to get it mastered, and then will need to get it replicated. But this will be the biggest milestone in the project.

We do need your prayer, as we still need a little bit more money to complete this final step. We are confident it will come together, but this is still a factor. Thanks for your support this last year. There is absolutely no way we would be at this point without all of you! We are so excited to see what 2008 brings.

This last week has been one of the most amazing weeks of the project, if not THE most amazing. Lendell and I spent a good portion of our time working on the orchestral arrangements, and they are absolutely breathtaking. We also finished the final guitar recordings and have everything prepared to take down to Conway.

We will leave tomorrow evening for Lifeword after doing a few final things at Lendell's studio. Tuesday through Saturday we will be overhauling all of the vocals, adding electric guitar, and mixing everything. This means that in less than a week, the album will be completed!

It just seems so unreal that we are finally at this stage of the game. When Lendell and I began this about a year ago, neither of us figured it would turn into such a huge project. I can honestly say that I never imagined I would get to work with such talented individuals for my first major record! Maybe down the line, but definitely not now. I am just so excited to share with all of you the final recording.

I will be posting regular updates about our progress next week, so make sure to stop by.

Just thought I would post a quick little update. Lendell and I just arrived at the "Days Inn" where we will be seeking much needed rest over the next few days. In just 7 hours, we will be back at Lifeword recording. We finished most of the string work tonight at Lendell's, all the while keeping an eye on the weather. Hannah called me from home to let me know a tornado had touched down within a few miles of our house. Fortunately things calmed down (after the house lost power for a couple of hours) and all seems to be well. Thankfully after a bit of rain, the drive was uneventful. Now for some rest for the big day(s).

We had a great day in the studio yesterday. This being my first time making a "real" record, I was blown away by all that is really done in the mixing process. When we initially worked out the deal to mix down at Lifeword, we had only 12 songs, and many of those did not have a full band behind them. At lunch Mark (doing the mixing) asked me how quickly I thought we could get everything done. I realized just how short sighted I had been in my original estimate, as it became apparent very quickly that to get everything done by Saturday, we would all pretty much have to kill ourselves with a ridiculous work load.

If there is anything I have learned during all of this, it is that you come up with your best work in a calm environment and when you are in a good frame of mind. So we decided to extend our timeframe out to next week. This is not a bad thing in any means, as it will allow Mark more time to be creative. It will also let us bring in two more electric guitarists to really solidify things. (Not to mention this was our original plan).

Another positive is that I will be able to spend a few more days with Lendell fine tuning the strings work, as well as my vocals. So I am very pleased with easier pace to finish this all. Lendell is being so helpful in working his schedule around the completion of the project. I am so thankful for this, as well as everyone else who is helping make this the best thing we have ever done! You all rock!

I am writing this as we are finishing up a great day of recording at Imagine Studios. We have been tweaking the vocals, and solidifying things that needed work. We will spend some time over the next few days working on some harmonies and orchestral parts, but we are nearly there!

It is so funny to me how things seem to break down at the most in-opportune times. I was driving over to Siloam this morning to meet with a friend, and was just thinking about how reliable my Honda Civic had been for the last 2 weeks. No sooner had I thought this, when the engine died! Talk about irony... We are really not sure what is wrong, but it is pretty clear to us that we will need to be looking for another vehicle. Fortunately we are being loaned a car for the next week, so we are taken care of.

This all will just make such a great story about the project.... Anyways, look forward to more exciting updates over the next few days.

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!