A Year In Review
Well, let me start off by saying that almost a year ago, Stacey asked me if I wanted to do a weekly or semiweekly column for the website, and I said, 'Sure.' Clearly, I am not a man of
my word. Well, I wouldn't say that. Maybe I'm just not a very punctual man of my word. I mean, I did finally get to it. Eventually. Maybe I should just start off with, say, a yearly
column, and then see if I get around to making it biannual or semiannual, then perhaps monthly, and eventually, by the time I am sixty or so, I could be writing a weekly column.
But anyway, back to my year in review. My first concert was a nearly a year ago, August 25, in Owensboro, Kentucky. That is
where my old group, Firm Foundation, was based out of, and I was glad they were able to see my debut with the Journeymen. From then it was on to the Gospel Music Television
taping in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I was a little nervous considering it was my second concert ever, and it was going to be broadcast throughout the year. But I got through it all
right, and it was fun. But it was nothing compared to a few weeks later.A couple weeks later we came to the National Quartet Convention. Not only was it my first
Convention as a performer, it was my first Convention, period. It was all overwhelming, but we were so busy the first day that I didn't have time to work my stomach into knots over our
performance that night. I was nervous enough to sing in front of that many people, but when you add the fact that my parents were able to come down, needless to say, my heart was
beating through my chest. But it was truly one of the most awesome experiences I have ever had, and I'll never forget my first time on the big stage. I've always said that after that
night at convention, everything else has seemed easy. Well, everything after that has been pretty much a blur, so here we are almost a year later.
Just kidding. There have been other memorable moments. Like last winter when we traveled to points southward. And any time people have fed us. The quickest way to a
gospel singer's heart is through his stomach. No really, in all seriousness, I have met many great people, and right at the top of the list is
the people who make us food. If you know me, you know I love to eat, especially chocolate. Just this last weekend we were in Morristown, Tennessee, with our good
friends Jack and Carol Fleemon. Carol is well known in the area for being a great cook, and our stuffed bellies bore witness to that fact.
A few months ago, we had the chance to go back and sing in my hometown of Pella, Iowa. The guys had a chance to come out to the farm where I grew up and to spend some time
with my family. We had a great time singing with my dad's quartet Journeybound in front of a packed house that Sunday night. We ate well that trip too. That was also the weekend
Allison and I sprung our big news on our parents. We're going to be parents! I'm sure my mother was especially happy for us, but I think she's happier that she is going to be a grandma!
I've really done it all this last year. We just got the finished product of our new CD, entitled Great Reward. The new CD reflects many months of hard work, but I had a lot of fun doing.
I've never done anything quite like it, and I think that you will enjoy listening to it. One of the biggest adjustments has been getting used to life on the road. I've learned to
take military showers, survive on little chocolate donuts for breakfast, and adapted to sleeping while rocking back and forth, holding on for dear life (when Stacey is driving,
anyway). Actually, I tell people that I sleep better on the bus than anywhere else (don't tell my wife). The hardest part of life on the bus has been getting used to spending almost
every hour of every day with Brad, but we all have our burdens to bear. Anyway, I've already rambled on long enough. Look for my updates on a weekly
(hopefully) basis, and maybe after a few weeks, I'll learn how to get to the point in a few short paragraphs. . . . . Will
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