Sunday, June 24, 2007

I'm Back!

Hey, friends! I am so glad to be talking to you again...even though I feel so embarrassed that it has been so long. Thanks for the grace-filled posts on my last entry, which was courtesy of my buddy Russ. I knew it had been a long time since I had posted, but I didn't realize quite how long. Dang. Since my last post, I have been to 2 Women of Faith conferences with Beth (Ft. Lauderdale, Cleveland), led worship at the Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio, taught at a worship conference in Ridgecrest, NC, led worship twice at my home church in Thompson Station, TN and once at Brentwood Baptist in Brentwood, TN. Oh yeah, and recorded a musical. That was the main time-taker. Whew...it was a doozy. It is the choir worship musical that goes along with a new Max Lucado book coming out in September...you all prayed for me when we began the tracks a couple of weeks ago. We did the choir vocals last week, and the prep time for that was KILLER. KILLER. KILLER. I am so thankful that the hard part is behind me. I will be working on recording orchestra, solos, worship leader parts and other extras this week. Then we will begin mixing it, and it should be done in the next week and a half. Woo hoo!

I have managed quite a few trips to the Y pool with my kids in the down times of the day. Loads of fun. They are having a great summer. And I am a walking sunscreen applier.

I have always been like a fish in water. Not a fish out of water. Well, I guess I have been that too, at times. But I have always loved being in the water, like a fish. When we would go to the beach when I was a kid, my parents could hardly get me out of the water at the end of the day. I still remember what my red chlorine-attacked eyes felt like. And my feet would be rubbed raw from the pool floor. My shoulders would always be blisteringly red. And I loved it. Now I am reliving those feelings with my kids. And now it's my kids who can hardly get me out of the water. : >) I'm going to blog another day about my memories of going to the beach with my family when I was a kid...the fun thoughts are flooding my mind as I write. Another day.

I must say, what I love about summer the most is that I don't have to drag the kids out of bed at the crack of dawn. Thank you, Jesus. Being the musician that I am, mornings can feel mean to me sometimes. So even when I have to get up to go to work, not having to get them up and at 'em is awesome.

Here is a pic of Beth and me, along with my friend and new road manager, Travis Jenkins:



Aside from having the coolest first name ever, Travis is also an amazing artist. You should go check out his cool paintings at his website. You can order prints of his originals for $50. You can order his originals, too.

And here is Travis and me with our new friend Debbie Petersen. Debbie emcees the pre-conference events for Women of Faith. Her testimony is AMAZING and so powerful. We have loved hearing her speak.



I could write on and on...but if I talk about myself for another second, I will punch myself in the face. I am going to go read a little and hit the sack. Thanks again for your patience during my unintentional hiatus. Have a great week!

14 comments:

Sweet Tea & Grits said...

Whew! It sounds like the last few weeks have been a whirlwind for you, Travis. So glad that you took a moment to catch us up on what's happening with you and your family. Summertime is grand!

I can hardly wait to hear your latest work! I've got a feeling it is going to knock our socks off!

Patty said...

Great to have you back and I am worn out just by reading how busy you have been! It's great isn't it?! I am with you about the pool. God saw fit to bless us with a beautiful pool with our new home. Now this can be good or bad. IT's hard to clean the house, prepare Sunday School lessons etc.. when you have a pool. My older sister has been coming over for a week and half to swim, EVERY single day. I am worn out! After church we celebrated my nephews birthday and spent 5 hours in the pool. For the 1st time I had swimmers ear! (yuk). Praise God, it's gone. We had bad storms last night and now my pool is a mess and I need to go clean it. Looking forward to hearing your post of past memories with your family and the beach vacations. Have a blessed week and fun at the pool!

Anonymous said...

Hey Travis, Just wanted to let you that your track at Ridgecrest was a real blessing - I really appreciated your answer to my question about bringing life to an early morning worship service. Looking for your new Christmas work and the portion of the Ridgecrest trak you didn't get the opportunity to share. Thanks Again - Many Blessings on you brother

Lisa Pierre said...

Double Trav and Debbie P! So exciting to see this trio. Debbie's so cool, isn't she? She will "honey pie" you to death. I don't know anybody who's met her to not want to know her and to love her (and that voice)!

AbbyLane said...

"I could write on and on...but if I talk about myself for another second, I will punch myself in the face."

Lol...I am starting to believe all those crazy stories your sister has told me over the years...

connorcolesmom said...

Oh you made me laugh!!
I love your sense of humor.
So glad you are back !!
Enjoy the time at the pool with the children!!
Summer is always so much fun!
God bless,
Kim

TammieFay said...

So good to hear from you! Will continue to pray as you finish up the musical. As a music teacher, I can't wait for the end result! Praying that God gives you fortified, holy energy to do all you need to do. Thanks so much for taking the time to share with us. Your music is such a joy and blessing to me!

Profbaugh said...

Hey Travis,

So glad you're back!! Loved reading your entry today. You're such a "hoot!"

The last couple of days I've been listening to "Unashamed Love" on my Ipod. Just can't seem to get enough of it. The LORD has really been speaking to me through your music. Thanks so much for being a vehicle for His communication!

Get some good rest, Travis. You deserve it.

From one waterbaby to another,
~Cheryl
St. Louis

Anonymous said...

Well, good grief, the LPL traveling show is becoming just a big ole bunch of my homeboys and homegirls! Congrats on having Travis join you!

Can't go to Gatlinburg and I'm bummed about that, but I think it's just gonna be a beautiful thing -- ahhhh Christmas in July... wink wink!

Blessings,
Dori

MC said...

Hey Trav, so glad that you are back. We are too! Graduation from med school was wonderful. But I am praising the Lord because I think your schedule makes mine look tame. We, too, spent our summers in the pool (free swim in the morning -- and that was all we could afford). Of course in Wyoming mornings are not usually warm. And weekends were spent at the lake where WARM water was 65 degrees and that didn't usually happen until the end of July. I suppose you could say that we are cold fish here with noses full of freckles from the sun.

I love this blog and the opportunity for others to share in praying for you and your precious family. Can't wait to hear the final fruit of your work on the next CD. The Lord Be With You. Mary C

holy chaos said...

no wonder you haven't been around!

and I thought that I was busy!

jennyhope said...

glad you are back and Beth is looking so cute as usual. who would know she is 50? your children are adorable!

Anonymous said...

I think I recognize Travis. If memory serves me right he played bass in Pillar (?) and then waited tables at J Alexanders in Franklin, TN. Right?

How'd he get hooked up with you guys? And will he be rockin' the bass with you anytime soon?

Laura said...

Hey Travis. Ridgecrest was awesome. Thank you for sharing with all of us. On opening night you and the group sang a song that I thought I had the title for. It was in the first "un-planned" set, beginning with "Open The Eyes Of My Heart Lord". I thought the title was "Holy, Holy, Holy" (not the Hymn :-)) Your soprano sang the solo. Would you please verify that title for me? I would love to use it in church very soon.
By the way, you said you felt God was moving you in a different direction for your first songs. Those songs are what my husband and I needed to hear and worship too. Our tired spirits were refreshed that night. God Bless.