Day OFF Wednesday was a day off for us -- Miles has just gone through his vocals really quickly this time around, so there was pretty well nothing to do until Thursday when Reggie and Ladye come to record their background vocals. So... the two of us just had a blast together. We headed to Mickey D's first of all, to get me some coffee (REALLY MISSING GOOD COFFEE about now!), and to look on the internet to see what's worth seein' in Nashville. Miles being the Civil War buff that he is, his ears perked up when I said "one of the biggest Civil War exhibits is at the Tennessee State Museum." The clincher was that there was also a Checkers fast food joint nearby. So we headed out to downtown Nashville, parked in a parking garage (feeling like such country folkses about then), and walked over to the museum. Museums have never been THAT interesting to me, but I had my own personal tour guide in Miles, and it was good fun. I now know more than I ever imagined there WAS to know about Civil War cannons, tactics, guns, knives, swords, generals ... you name it. I've been edumercated.  So after the museum, we headed to Checkers, got an unholy amount of burgers, and stopped in Centennial Park to eat 'em. The birds and squirrels were SO used to people... they'd come right up to Miles and I, stop a couple feet away, and basically beg for food. We were ooh-ing and ahh-ing over how cute they were, and I asked Miles what his Granddad would do if he were to come there. "BAM" was his answer, I think. :)  Back at the Irwins' house that afternoon, we heard Mr. Ed playin' the pinaner. Miles popped up saying, "Hey, that's the song we were listening to the Imperials sing this morning! I gotta go sing!" So we sang around the piano until they had to leave to go to church. We enjoyed it so much. Day SIX - background vocals with Stephen Hill Miles and I were met at AFAB studio this morning by a seemingly 7-ft tall burly man with a slow Carolina drawl. That would be Stephen Hill. Miles and I are listening to him now singing background vocals. Miles keeps tapping me on the arm, "Did you hear that?" "I've got goosebumps!" "Oh my GOSH!" He's right... I've got goosebumps too. It's that good.Donuts ... and PLAYGROUND! After finishing up at the studio yesterday, Miles and I took Tommy out for dinner. I've been telling Miles that we'd get some donuts for his birthday, so after dinner the two of us headed to Dunkin' Donuts for some sugary goodness. I think it's been years since I've had a donut. We took our loot to a park in Bellevue, and ate two or three bites of each on a old dilapidated picnic table there. Talk about a sugar rush! We worked off the excess energy playing on the playground. Time we got back to the car, we were a sweaty, smelly, happy mess.  Day Five - "October Harvest" and finishing up "Real Faith"
Miles and Tommy knocked out the first song of the day, "October Harvest" in short order this morning before starting on the parts for "Real Faith." Anticipating an early quittin' time, they just kept on and kept on and kept on working on "Real Faith," ... and just now finished up at 4:45. Lunch, anyone?
The good news: Miles is pretty well ALL DONE with his vocals. Now just to watch Stephen Hill lay his background vocals tomorrow; Reggie and Ladye lay their vocals on Thursday; and the steel guitar player lay his tracks on Friday. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Miles has concerts; Sunday morning in GA he'll do a concert, and then we're on our way to Loganville, GA. So, all that to say... it's pretty well a downhill slide from here - the work is just about done. I'm so proud of my baby -- he is an amazing singer among MANY other things. I consider myself the blessed-est girl in the world. Sunday = A Day OFF!
Miles and Tommy made so much headway on Saturday that they decided they could safely take the day off on Sunday. Of course, Miles and I did just that. Tommy? Take a day off? Hardly. Miles and I went to Mr. Ed and Mrs. Rebecca Irwin's church, River of Life in Smyrna Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon, we took a walk down memory lane...
 For lunch after the service at River of Life, we went to the Ruby Tuesday in Murfreesboro at which we'd said goodbye in 2010 when we were finally "official." At that time, when we were finished eating, I had to go back to GA, and Miles had to go back to TX, and we didn't know when we'd see each other again. It was a MUCH happier meal this time. After lunch we headed to MTSU, where the 2010 Stamps-Baxter School of Music was held. This is the tree that we were standing under in July 2010 when I uttered the fateful words, "Well, I'm as ready as I'm gonna be" -- meaning that I was as ready as I was gonna be to be Miles' girlfriend. Not at all that I wasn't happy to be officially 'in a relationship' with Miles, but I'd settled in my mind a long time ago that I'd not date anybody unless I was planning on marrying on them. So in my mind, that "I'm as ready as I'm gonna be" was saying a LOT. I was pretty nervous, never having done the whole "in love," "dating," "belonging to someone else" thing.  
After visiting MTSU, we headed to the other really special place in Murfreesboro for us - Stone's River National Battlefield. On the way there, we saw the place that we'd eaten on our first date - "Gyros." I didn't know it at the time, but it was the first time Miles had EVER shared a plate with anyone. Somewhat of a germaphobe, apparently. Me being from a family of 8 kids, the whole concept of "germs" is somewhat foreign to me, at least with people I'm close to. So I suggested sharing a plate, not thinking anything of it. And Miles says it didn't phase him even a little bit. :)
 This is "our" bench at Stone's River Battlefield. In 2010, we must have sat in this very spot just talking and enjoying being together for 2-3 hours. We were, as Miles says, "plumb tickled" that we actually FOUND the same bench again! It's pretty well off the beaten path. It was so nice to go back and revisit the place that... well, I won't say "the place we fell in love," 'cause I know I fell in love with Miles months before that, and he says he fell in love with me the first time he saw me. I'll call it the place that we pretty well committed to a serious, "this is gonna lead to marriage" relationship. We both agree that it is SO much nicer being married and doing things together than it was when we were dating in 2010. Peter says marriage is the 'grace of life' (1 Peter 3:7), and I heartily agree. Day... 4? Fourth day, and Miles and Tommy have pretty well knocked out all but a couple of the songs. Today they recorded "One" in the morning, then "Real Faith," then "Church Homecoming" in about 30 minutes and now they're pretty well through with "It Takes Faith." Listed below in order are the songs for "Blood Kin." When I say 'done,' I'm referring to Miles' lead vocals, not to the background vocalists or any extra instrumentals Tommy and Miles decide to put on specific songs. 1. The Church Homecoming - done 2. October Harvest 3. I Made Time For You - done 4. It Takes Faith - almost done 5. Real Faith - lead vocal done, the other three parts not yet 6. I Can See Through You - done 7. One - done 8. That's What I Call Love - done 9. Safe In Daddy's Hands - done 10. Tell Me How To Get There - done 11. Redemption Complete - done 12. Ever New But Never Changing - done 13. His Blood Has Made Us One - done SO... they're doing pretty good! That's a wrap, folks! So we're at the end of the day! These last two songs were SO FUN -- "I Made Time For You" and "God Is Ever New But Never Changing." Tommy's getting sangin' out of Miles that I've never heard before. Can't wait to hear the finished stuff.Tell me how to get there, I really want to go To the land of promise where milk and honey flow I wanna be with loved ones and family everywhere I really wanna know how to get there. I’ve heard ‘em say, “Just go on straight Keep your eyes on the prize, it’ll lead to the gate.” But all the saints in heaven say there’s just one way they came They found salvation in Jesus’ name. Tell me how to get there, I really want to go To the land of promise where milk and honey flow I wanna be with loved ones and family everywhere I really wanna know how to get there. The way hasn’t changed since the Bible days Jesus is still the one and only way. Just believe and call upon His name And then when you get there, you can tell me how you came. Day Three: "Safe In Daddy's Hands" Izzy's got the right idea. This is definitely a nap/coffee day. And this despite getting up an hour later at 8 in order to start at Tommy's at the usual 10AM time instead of the last two days' 9AM. So, following Izzy's lead, I'm chilling on the sofa in the back room (Izzy's got the bed), listening to Miles and Tommy work on "Safe In Daddy's Hands." Daddy worked his life away at a saw mill, didn’t get to spend much time at home but it was his labor of love that made our house a home I remember many times he came in bleeding to the bone He’d wrap it up, go back to work, you wouldn’t hear him carry on. I saw it all as a little boy, but now I see the scars in his hands I realize with brand new eyes I’ve just begun to understand. Daddy’s hands helped me understand the Christ of Calvary To know that there’s a God Who loves and cares for me. I guess God and Jesus knew a child would need to understand. That’s why they left the Gospel safe in Daddy’s hands. Those same hands that taught me discipline and steadied my first step I know are waiting in the wings if I should need his help Oh what a blessing to know Christ, through those loving faithful hands What a vision of the Savior that helps me understand Now I see through grown up eyes, and I am grateful to the man May all see that same Christ in me -- I’ll show them if I can. Daddy’s hands helped me understand the Christ of Calvary To know that there’s a God Who loves and cares for me. I guess God and Jesus knew a child would need to understand. That’s why they left the Gospel safe in Daddy’s hands. When I sit and hold my baby, and I look down to see Are the hands that hold my child the same hands that cradled me? Will my children see in all I do the Christ of Calvary? Was God so wise when He gave the Gospel plow to me? I saw it all as a little boy, but now that I’m a man I realize with brand new eyes, I’ve just begun to understand. Daddy’s hands helped me understand the Christ of Calvary To know that there’s a God Who loves and cares for me. Now I see through brand new eyes and I’m grateful to the man Oh, I’ve just begun to understand...Daddy’s Hands Day Two, Song Two: "His Blood Has Made Us One" Boy oh boy was this song a booger. We all love it, and it really is a great song, so there was pressure to not just make it good, but great. And not just great, but perfect. As well, the song is really intense. Not really a 'bellerin' song, but absolutely a song that has to be sung intensely and passionately. Keeping up that kind of energy all the way through the necessary nitpicking process is really draining. Not that I would know, but I've observed. Like Tommy says, "If it was easy, everybody would be doing it." So by the time 3:30 came around, the song was finished up, and Tommy called it a day so he could go to a graduation ceremony, Miles was about wrung out, bless his heart. Really it was a God-thing that the day we recorded this song was the short day at AFAB. We got to go back to the Irwins, get in a good sized nap, and then enjoy an evening with Mr. Ed and Mrs. Rebecca at the Chop House. It was truly a joy to get to know them over a wonderful dinner. They are a beautiful couple. I love to watch Godly couples who have been through years of the bad and the good together and have come through loving each other and loving God. Back at the house, we laughed with Mr. Ed at Barney, Andy, Opie, and the new mayor before hitting the sack. The perfect end to a long day.From many different backgrounds With many varied interests Yet we were all so lost and undone But Jesus' love and mercy Has brought us together His blood has made us one. His blood has made us one; The blood of God's own Son. One in purpose, one in power. His blood has made us one. We have no cause to be here, together as a family, if there were not a common bond. But Jesus' blood has saved us. We're brothers and sisters. His blood has made us one. We may not all agree on The things that aren't important For we are all made different, you see. But we're members of His body And we're joined together In love and unity. His blood has made us one; The blood of God's own Son. One in purpose, one in power. His blood has made us one. Day Two: "I Made Time For You" Got back to the place we're staying at 10:30 last night, and were up and at 'em again at 7 in order to be at AFAB by 9AM. Miles' choice of which song to work on was kind of apt, now that I think of it -- "I Made Time For You." Cuz we... well, ok, I was wondering if enough time had been made for us when we left AFAB at 9:45 last night. :) But... God is faithful and coffee is one of His bestest creations, so we're good this morning. So... Miles just finished the vocals for that song. Contrary to what might easily be assumed, the expression he's wearing in the picture to the right is supposed to convey excitement and joy at finishing the song, not horror and disgust at the photographer's lack of coffee-fixing skills. Long story. So... now we're fixin' to choose which song to record next -- "His Blood Has Made Us One" or "Safe In Daddy's Hands." Don't fall off the edge of your seats while waiting to hear the final decision, folks.I see the moon and stars, all the planets in the sky
Like the workings of a clock, it makes me wonder why Their majesty and grace make me feel so small In the wonder of the universe I can hear my Maker’s Call I made time for you to find out who I AM I made time for you to seek me while you can I’m not so far away that I can’t be found I made time for you when I made the worlds go ‘round He formed the universe, more than eye can see And still somehow He found, time for making me In every place I look are glimpses of His face In all the good and simple things are echoes of His grace. I made time for you to find out who I AM I made time for you to seek me while you can I’m not so far away that I can’t be found I made time for you when I made the worlds go ‘round The clock upon the wall (just) keeps a’tickin’ on. Life is slippin’ by so fast, don’t wait until it’s gone It’s borrowed breath we breathe; let’s give Him everything, and live our lives in such a way that makes our Maker sing! I made time for you to find out who I AM I made time for you to seek me while you can I’m not so far away that I can’t be found I made time for you when I made the worlds go ‘round I'm not so far away that I can't be found I made time for you when I made the worlds go round. Day One: "I Can See Through You," "That's What I Call Love," and "Redemption Complete" Here I am, back in the familiar black leather office chairs in Tommy's studio, listening once again to Miles singing the songs he loves, while Tommy sits in his corner, waving his hands like some musical magician, conjuring up the perfect vocals. I love my job. We started the day out with "I Can See Through You," a song written by Miles' Dad, aka "Unc." This song, I only just fell in love with on the way over here from Texarkana. Miles sang it in the car, and it was like I actually heard the song for the first time, and loved it.I've often wanted to look on the Savior's face Many times I've longed to see wonders of His grace Then at last I remember there's a likeness I can view He used Himself as a model when He created me and you And I can see through you the beauty of His grace And I can see in you just a little of His face And when I get to Heaven And take in the wondrous view I'll see the same Jesus that I can see in you In all life's circumstances I hope you will see Just a little bit of Jesus revealed through me I pray I can always show the world my part When we put it all together we'll have a holy work of art And I can see through you the beauty of His grace And I can see in you just a little of His face And when I get to Heaven And take in the wondrous view I'll see the same Jesus that I can see in you Then in the afternoon, Miles wanted to work on "That's What I Call Love," a song that he's been singing in concert for around a year now. He knocked most of that one out, saving the reeeeeally bass parts for an easy morning's work -- seems the burgers I brought Miles for lunch knocked out his BASS-bass range.  Speaking of bass... we had an unexpected pleasure when Jordan James stopped by on his way back to Louisiana from Pittsburgh. Bless his heart, he'd been travelling since 12 last night. And I thought my 8-hour trip yesterday was long. Yeesh. We sat around eating pizza and had a good time with him. After he left, Miles wanted to start laying vocals for "Redemption Complete." This is a song that we just added to the "Blood Kin" list a few months ago. I remember it just started playing randomly in the car -- may have been that the iPod was on shuffle -- and Miles and I listened to it about 5 times on the way to where we were going... and about 5 times on the way back. We must have been a sight, singing our hearts out on the way back to Pierce's Chapel and Pike's Peak. After that, Miles kinda wrestled with putting it on the CD -- we already had enough tracks on the CD, etc. But, end of the story, we ARE recording it, and I am so glad. For my salvation, Jesus died. Rising, my soul He justified. By His Spirit, each day sanctified. Raised in His likeness, glorified. And my feet shall stand within the gates My eyes shall see the glory that for me awaits. My hands will touch the wounds that redeemed fallen man. My tongue shall sing, "Glory, Hallelujah, Worthy is the Lamb." Oh blessed thought that thrills my soul: Someday the heavens will backward roll. Even if my body is decayed in the sod, Yet in my flesh, I shall see God. Those He did foreknow, He did predestinate To be conformed to the image of the Great Incarnate. Oh blessed hope, precious promise so sweet! Hasten the day of redemption complete! And my feet shall stand within the gates My eyes shall see the glory that for me awaits. My hands will touch the wounds that redeemed fallen man. My tongue shall sing, "Glory, Hallelujah, Worthy is the Lamb." Home Away From Home?Miles and I had to book a hotel in Missouri for an upcoming trip. We looked at online reviews of some hotels in the area and got a good laugh. Check these out.
How about this little gem: "Infested! :("
The customer service displayed by the hotel staff was excellent. However, I have killed three spiders, two of them brown recluse, and it has only been thirty minutes! This was the best one: "Nothing Sweet about the ************* Plaza Inn & Suites!"
The hotel is outdated, which on its own isn’t a problem, however the front desk staff was unhelpful and joked of drinking prior to coming in to work her shift that day. My stay was for 2 nights. On the first night, there was an incident involving a room and someone breaking a full pane of glass in front of the room, not to mention the drunken obscenities being shouted. The second day, there were local residents at the pool indicating that for $5.00 the front desk attendant allowed them to swim in the hotel pool. There were occupants, whom I firmly believe to be residents of this hotel, grilling out on charcoal grills in front the entry way to their rooms. Additionally, after returning from lunch on Saturday, we were greeted by an angry mob of shirtless, caucasion men, in the parking lot armed with wrenches and other tools chasing after a lone African American male… not to mention the gang of onlookers cheering the men on. The entire scene was completely ridiculous and dangerous! Needless to say, we booked our stay in a different hotel than that one. But we have resolved to check online reviews before we book any hotels in the future. It would be a shame to miss out on a laugh that good! CD design for "Walk Through The Pages"
We are getting more and more excited about "Walk Through The Pages". We were excited even before we ever went to Nashville to get the tracks cut, when all we had was the words, some rough demos, and a rudimentary idea of what the album would sound like.
Then in December when the tracks were recorded and we'd heard the music and kinda knew what the album was going to sound like, we were really excited. Then in January, when we got all the vocals recorded and got to hear the rough version of the CD without any fine-tuning, we were ... oh my... I don't think excited is the right word. To tell the truth, for me, the excitement for that stage hit after we'd been home from Nashville about a week and I'd caught up on some sleep. :) After we were home from Nashville and we had to come up with the CD insert material, we got even more excited. We spent days poring over Bible verses, trying to pick just the right ones for each song. We edited our edited edits on our introduction to the CD, going back to rudimentary English and trying to remember the proper usage of colons (Miles would SO have a joke here), semicolons, commas, possessive, apostrophes, quotation marks, spelling numbers versus using numerals... it was a blast. We had to do a photoshoot for the CD... you can tell we were excited about that phase too, cuz we took about 1200 pictures. And today, when the finished CD cover was emailed to us, we ... well, really, I mainly feel like dancing. Don't have time do that, because company's coming over this evening and there's work to be done, so I vacuumed instead. :)  Those are the actual Temple steps... Miles took pictures when he went to Israel, and McClearen Design Studios, our graphics design agency, took those pics and photoshopped Miles in. Cool, huh? We're also very excited about debuting this album at Miles' fifth annual homecoming. And we're not the only ones -- we've had two churches tell us they're bringing a bus, strangers calling (from as far away as Kentucky) asking for directions, and more people than ever before telling us that they're coming for sure. We may have to seat people in the choir loft! I can't wait to see what God does with the homecoming concert and the album. CDs
One part of the recording process that I hadn't ever really thought of was CDs. Where do CDs come from? Where do they live? Don't they just magically appear on artists tables? I discovered the truth yesterday.
 They live in our house. And this is literally only a fraction of what we'll have before the year's out. This is 3000 CDs. They're going to be joined by another 2500 when we reproduce "Walk Through The Pages". And those 2500 will be joined by another 2500 when we reproduce "Blood Kin". In Miles' words... "So when you come to the house, just pull up a box and sit down!" 
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