This evening was the visitation for the Frazier family mentioned in my last entry. It was a very emotional time, but we were encouraged to see how many people came out. Their family and friends are coming around them to support them in this difficult time. Many of you wrote me after hearing about this, and for both Hannah and I, I would like to thank you all for caring so much and for your prayers. I will keep you updated on the situation.

Now onto music... We are closer than ever to finishing the CD. This extra time has allowed us to flesh out a few more things, and it is sounding absolutely phenomenal. While it has been difficult to experience so many delays, we truly are close.

We still have a few financial needs, so your prayers will continue to be appreciated. In the meantime I have been working a few different jobs. A local computer shop has hired me for part-time work, both in the shop, and for web design. This is keeping me quite busy, and I am even looking at picking up a couple other things here and there.

This is taking care of all of our needs, and we are so thankful! I look forward to soon sharing our finalized timeframe for completion, and deeply appreciate your patience. We are almost there!

First off, I have some wonderful music updates, but will save them for another day.

Around 1AM last night as I was finishing up some work, Hannah rushed into my office and told me that the neighbors house across the street was on fire. We rushed outside to find the mother and father of the family screaming for help. He was yelling that his 5 kids were upstairs. Apparently that is where the fire originated. He attempted to go back in, but there was no way through the smoke and flames.

As soon as Hannah and I heard there were children upstairs, my heart sank. We called 911 and began to pray, but there was nothing else we could really do yet. Seeing a father and mother in agony while their children are trapped in their burning house. There are just not words to describe how helpless we felt. So we cannot even imagine how painful it was for them. Fire trucks began arriving, and very soon there were 6, as well as 4 ambulances and countless police cars. By this time you could not even see the house through the smoke.

By 2:00 they had begun to get it under control. We saw them take away the parents, but didn't see any stretchers leaving. It was all just so very sad. We were able to give a blanket to the mother, who was not wearing much, but that is the extent of the help we could offer.

By 4:00 the coroner had arrived, so we knew what the outcome most likely was. This morning the news confirmed that all five of their children, daughters between 5-13 years of age, had been killed. I've witnessed a reasonable number of tragedies in my life, but this way maybe the most difficult to see. To KNOW there was nothing we could do...

The news crews have been combing the neighborhood all day, and they are setting up again for the 10 o'clock news. I was interviewed on the local stations, and will post up a link of the full newcasts when they are made available.

Having lived here for less than a year, we know them but not incredibly well, but we did see them a lot. The girls were often running around outside and having fun. They came over on Halloween all dressed up and we gave them candy.

We know the Lord is in control and will work through this, but at this point I don't know what else to say. Please keep the Fraziers in your prayers during this time, as understandably they are taking this very hard.

First off, sorry for not posting this update sooner! About a week and a half ago, we received the new mix of the record. After a bunch of thought, and listening, we have decided to take the mixing in a little different direction.

It may take a few weeks before I have something ready, however, as our other vehicle has now decided to bite the dust. Hannah can get to work and back, but that is what we are limited to at the moment. As soon as we figure something out, I will be able to travel daily down to Lendell's studio and finish up.

Fortunately we are going to be able to use almost all of what has been done thus far to finish it out. What we do have is sounding amazing, and I look forward to sharing it here on the site. We have been surprised by just how much adversity there has been along this journey, but we know this will make it even more exciting. Thank you for the prayer and support. We are almost there!

To those of you following this crazy journey, you won't be surprised by the next sentence. Things once again have taken a bit longer than expected. But here's the surprise: We are going to be done this week!!! Instead of a little over 100 hours, it looks like when we are done with this week, it will be over 150. There is just so much going on in a couple of the songs, that it really takes a lot of attention to detail to get just right.

So what is our timeframe? Lendell and I still have a couple of things to tie up this Wednesday or Thursday. Then on Friday if everything is ready, we will head down to Conway to finish the electric guitar work, and finalize the mix.

Okay, so for all of you pre-ordered, when can you expect your album? While we will have the final version in our hands, we are still waiting on a little bit more funding to come in so we can get it duplicated. I will keep you posted on the status of this as it develops.

In just 24 hours, Mark will be sending us a rough version of the record. This will be the first I've heard any of it, and am ecstatic. We will see how things go, but don't be surprised if a new song or two magically appears here on the site... Thanks for sticking with us. It's been a long haul, and we are so incredibly close. You guys rock!

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!

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.