Checking In

Your TV drama show comments were awesome. Thanks for commenting. Lots of you are watching Lost, 24, and House, to name a few. Hats off to those of you who actually admitted that Christy was one of your favorite dramas of all time. That took some guts. I've never even laid my eyes on one episode of that show. I wasn't even sure if it was ever on actual TV.

It's an AMAZING day here in Franklin, TN. It's currently 52 degrees. I'm about to have my quiet time on the back porch with a hoodie on. More happiness than I can stand.

I have a busy weekend ahead. I am at the International Mission Board on Thursday night and Friday morning in Richmond, VA. Then I'm heading to Clearwater for a Saturday worship conference and Sunday night concert at Calvary Baptist. I'm looking forward to both of those places.

I would be grateful for your prayers for my vocal and physical strength. I've been having some vocal issues lately, so yesterday I went to the Vanderbilt Voice Center to get checked out. Hallelujah, my vocals cords look healthy and are working well. My troubles are not fatigue (which is a huge THANK YOU, LORD)...just allergies. So this week I am starting to knock those bad boys down off their allergy high horse with all manner of vitamins and healthy blah blah blah and more water than I ever care to drink.

I must admit that I went to the doctor because I was really alarmed. I have been having this very painful pain (can you say that?) in one spot of my neck / throat. It is sore to the touch and certainly painful when I sing. I didn't know what it could be, or if it was tied to my vocal fatigue in any way. I had a few vain imaginings of worst-case scenarios, so that's why I finally went to the doctor. It turns out that I have a pulled or stressed muscle in my neck. Not tied to my voice at all. Woo hoo! A big relief and a huge answer to prayer. It will get better with time.

So in summary, my voice still does need prayer. But it's not damaged or unhealthy in any way. Just trying to work in the midst of a sea of allergies. Barley Green, here I come.

I was going to ask you to pray for the trouble I've been having with my knees. But I can't bring myself to talk about it on the heels of a post where I said the last drama I watched on TV was Dallas in 1983. What am I, 85? Don't answer that.

I gotta go. The Price Is Right will be on in an hour. And then I have to work on my post about Luby's and Matlock. Oh, and then there's lunch at 10:30.

Drama Free Since '83

I think the last drama I watched regularly on TV was Dallas, and I'm not kidding (and that is another thing that goes on the "What Were My Parents Thinking, Letting Me Watch That" list). TV dramas have never been really appealing to me. I never watched Lost. Or ER. Or Law and Order. Or CSI. Or Dr. Quinn. Or West Wing. The closest I've gotten is Chuck, but I really count that as an hour-long comedy. Monk, too...also a comedy. I think I would like 24, but I haven't had time to give it any emotional investment, or start from the very first season and watch all the way through. I probably will someday.

I don't really know when I stopped liking them. I remember loving to watch TV dramas with my dad when I was little. We watched Barnaby Jones, Hawaii Five-0, Cannon, Quincy, MD (I just accidentally typed in Quincy Jones, MD), among others. I even loved The Waltons growing up. But it's been a long time since I have been compelled to give a serious show an hour of my time.

I DVR'd the new show Flash Forward at the recommendation of a friend. I might try to watch it this weekend. It just seems like a commitment that I don't have time to make right now. And the premise stresses me out a little bit. Who wants to flash forward 6 months ahead in your life, see some heartache, and then flash back to real life, only to have live with the knowledge of that heartache for the next 6 months? I don't know. If I check it out, I'll let you know. Did anybody watch it?

Do you watch dramas? If you had to pick one all-time favorite TV drama, what would it be?

Am I really going to have to pick Dallas or The Waltons? Good grief. That makes me sound 97. Good night, John Boy.

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Obnoxious Dad was snapping pictures during breakfast this morning.









I'm trying to think of clever pirate-talk jokes here. But I'm too worn out. All I can come up with is a half-hearted reference to headin' to church in the good ol' gospel ship.



Brush yer teeth and get yer bibles and head to yer car, matey.

You're welcome.



That last picture is the moment when Levi asked us if he could change his name.

Me: Don't you like your name?

Levi: Not really.

Me: What would you like for your name to be?

Levi: Darth Vader. Or Yoda. Yeah. Definitely Yoda.


Happy Sabbath. May the force be with you.

Random and Unrelated Things

I just grabbed my computer as quickly as I could, and headed to the back porch. I had a wave of "I think I could blog right now" come over me. So I thought I'd better strike while the blogging iron is lukewarm. I don't have anything in particular to write about today. But I have some random randomness to get out of my brain.

- To say that I'm happy that fall is practically here is an understatement. Just looking at the word SEPTEMBER on the calendar on the fridge makes me want to jump or something.

- Week 3 of the NFL season this week. I have not had to sing the last two Sundays, and I am off this Sunday too. Yee ha for being able to couch potato it with my family on Sunday afternoons. I am in a fantasy football league for the first time this year. I'm trying not to obsess over it too much. Me? Obsess? NEVER.

- Speaking of obsessing, I was completely ready to obsess over the new show, GLEE. But doggone it if it didn't jump the shark in inappropriateness the very first episode this season. Seriously. I cannot imagine it being more vulgar or godless than it is. I'm so sad. The music is SO GOOD. I could have given myself to this show with complete loyalty if they would have kept it even PG-13 clean. But the vulgarity has made it impossible to embrace. They missed a great chance to make a fun show that so many people would resonate with. Dang it.

- Happiness: the new espnradio.com iPhone app. After losing our espnradio station here in Nashville, my carpool hour in the morning was sad without Mike and Mike in the Morning. Thanks to the new app, they're back.

- I love Shaun's new website / blog design. It makes me want a user-friendly and esthetically pleasing one just like it. I think it would totally make sense to spend lots of money on a blog design for my 2 blog entries a month. Don't you?? :-)

- Age-old question...not looking for an actual answer, just throwing it out there: why is there homework in elementary school? Is 7 hours of my child's time a day not enough? It is definitely one of the biggest down-sides of not home-schooling. Sigh.

They will be home in two hours, and the homework wrestling match will begin.

WAIT A MINUTE! IT'S FRIDAY! Woo hoo! I...er, I mean THEY won't have homework!

- Happiness: no homework on Fridays.

- I'm already thinking about my Christmas tour with Shaun, Cindy and Compassion. Can't wait. I am resisting the urge to listen to Christmas music right now. I always make myself wait until Thanksgiving week. But I'm feeling weak this year. Somebody tell me to NOT DO IT. I need someone to tell me to NOT DO IT.

If your church would like to host the tour, I think there are a couple of spots still available. Give us a shout at info@traviscottrell.com if you are interested.

- Have you tried the espresso roast coffee at Starbucks?

- Happiness: the espresso roast coffee at Starbucks.

- I LOVE my job. Love it so much. But I am very excited and grateful to be home this weekend with nothing to do but be with my family. We have a homecoming parade, a football game, a birthday party taxi cab to run, a volcano to build, and a lunch date with friends after church. I might even pull a weed or two.

Happiness: home.

Deeper Still Orlando

Deeper Still - Orlando from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

There is also a fun video that Bigmama made over at the LifeWay Women All Access blog. Check it out.

My Niece's Wedding

Two weekends ago, my niece Betsy got married. Incidentally, her wedding was the same weekend as the Living Proof simulcast in Green Bay. So after getting home late that Saturday night, Ang and the three kids and I hopped in the car Sunday morning and drove 7 hours to Boone, NC, went to the wedding, and drove home that same night. Insane. But worth it. We always love to be with family, even if it's just for a short time. Sweet Betsy married a great guy named Matt Krause. Well, I guess he's pretty great. Not deserving of my beautiful and wonderful niece, but still. :-)

She had her wedding outside at my brother and sister-in-law's home...the home she grew up in and lived at until this great day. It was a beautiful day. I gave the camera to Jack for most of our time there. It was a gamble, I know. But Ang and I had to sing and I didn't want to spend the day messing with the camera. He did a good job, although there were lots of pictures of things like these...







I was hoping upon hope that of all the beautiful things and people of the day, we would have a great picture of the port-a-john. Whew. I'm so relieved.

No, really. He did a great job. This is my dad and his friend Sadie:



The big moment:



Here are the kids with the beautiful bride:



The happy couple:



My brother and my sister-in-law...they threw a great party:



Andrea and Celine (with a southern twist):



This is Levi and his cousin Trathen. Levi has re-named his biceps. They used to be Strong and Buddy. Now they are Mario and Luigi. Ladies and gentlemen, Mario and Luigi:



Some family pics:




It was a fun day. Congratulations Matt and Betsy!

Going To The Chapel

Remember this? Well, the big wedding is this weekend. Our drummer Kevin and our dear life-long friend Ashley are tying the knot. The Cottrells - a flower girl, a bridesmaid, a groomsman, a couple of wedding singers and a couple of little boys looking for trouble - are heading into the festivities today, and we can't wait. It's gonna be a great celebration. The praise team is leading worship at the wedding (can't wait). Pray for Kevin and Ashley, their big day, and their God-ordained union!

Kirk Franklin is cranked throughout the house right now, and I gotta go. I have to iron shirts for a couple of little boys who will be wrinkled and untucked before you can say "Where's the shaving cream for the car?"

Full Steam Ahead (A Blog by Angela)

I opened my microwave this morning to reheat my Starbucks pumpkin spice latte that my sweetie brought me back after his early morning carpool and…shrieked in horror at the dried cheese, grease, and approximately four varieties of tomato-based leftovers that had been re-heated in there. I didn’t even want to put my coffee mug near it.

I almost had a breakdown because it’s been one of those mornings, no-weeks, no-months trying to keep all the plates spinning. And a mere dirty little microwave was on the verge of taking me down. But then I had a flash of inspiration.

I grabbed a glass mixing bowl, filled it halfway with water, threw it inside and hit start on the microwave. After about 6 minutes, the water was boiling and the inside of the microwave was hot and steamy. I left it there to sit another two minutes to cool down and think about what had happened—how sinful behavior affects those around you, and to have a friend you have to be a friend, and how obedience brings blessing, but disobedience brings consequence.…Oh, wait! That was a totally different cool down period this morning involving a certain 6-year-old.

When I opened the door to the microwave, water was trickling down the walls and cheese was waving a white flag of surrender. I removed the bowl with potholders, and used only 2 dry paper towels to wipe down the whole thing! No power tools. No harsh cleaners. No vicious threats under my breath to those forgetting to cover their nachos with paper towels.

And my pumpkin spiced latte was heated without any cheese stalactites falling in! It’s the small victories that keep the chin up isn’t it? Had to share my joy! Now, if I could come up with a way to wipe my desk clean just as quickly.

Have you had any brilliant moments this week?