What’s up guys? Hope you’ve all been doing groovy. We’ve been hanging in there traveling allot and getting a rare weekend off. First I want to wish my boys Scott and Jess the happiest of birthdays. Scott is 29 and I think Jess is 28. Hard to believe Jess is 28….seems like yesterday when we were dealing with the fact that Jess couldn’t drive the rental vans we got for long trips because you had to be 25. Now he’s on the downside to 30….you think if we stay together long enough he’ll catch up to me?? Hope you both had a good one. My wife Lisa and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary this week as well…all of that combined made for a good weekend this past weekend to be home. Got to see a little of our home town Titans on TV pull off another victory to keep them at 9-0 as well….go Titans! Scott Godsey’s wife Ashley happens to be a Bears fan…please accept my sincerest apologies Ash for our boys beating up on your beloved Bears. You know I mean that from the bottom of my heart (yeah…right!).
A couple of weeks back we got the chance to go back to Victory where it all began with Called Out Quartet and sing at their Homecoming. Great day seeing so many friends and family for us all….even got to sing a song with our very dear friend and Called Out Quartet alumnus Marty Harris. Brought back some good memories and I’m happy to report Marty and all his crew are doing wonderfully well. Good to see everyone there and go back down memory lane remembering knees knocking and sweat rolling as we made our first feeble attempts to lift up the good Lord in song. Things have have changed over the years and some of the faces have changed as well on both sides of the deal, but it was good to feel the spirit at Victory still and good to share another Homecoming there with with all those good folks.
Weekend before this last one found us getting to see the big arch again as we glanced off of St. Louis on our way to Bethalto, IL to Bethalto Church of God for a fun filled Saturday night singing. Got there plenty early and enjoyed some good homemade chicken noodle soup and the best peanut brittle I have ever had bar none. Went through a good sound check and got things set right….only to step out onto the stage to discover (while standing in the bright lights in front of a few hundred people) that the sound somehow got messed up. Nothing like fixing all that stuff on the fly! Just a little nudge from the Lord I’m sure reminding us to be prayerful He’ll get us prayerful. After the slight hiccup, things went great and we got through the rest of the night with no more problems. Scott Godsey stepped out and started taking the verses on Campmeeting Medley and of course, made some fans. Can’t be having this Mr. Godsey!! Folks aren’t supposed to be liking you THAT much (just kidding boss). Missing Darrell of course, but really enjoying having Scott around…gonna miss him too when his fill-in time comes to a close. Oh…speaking of Darrell and Scott Godsey…did I mention to all you guys that Darrell (and is family) will be joining us for some singing in Gatlinburg?? How awesome is that? Coming back to see everyone at least one more time. Scott Godsey(and his wife) will of course be there too and we’ll just have a big ol’ singin’ with all kinds of favorites. Be sure and bring your requests (of songs we actually sing I might add) and be ready to throw them out to us….this Gatlinburg weekend coming up in a couple of weeks is all about you guys and thanking you for all your support.
Okay…where was I? Oh yeah…Bethalto! When we wrapped up Scott Russell stepped up and requested our dinner stop…which he rarely does. Almost 100% of the time he is good with wherever anyone else picks…but not this night…he had a hankerin’ for none other than…the Awful, I mean….Waffle House. That was fun and educational as always. I think I’m good for a while and won’t need to be going back soon.
Sunday before last we got to sing at Mayfield Nazarene on Sunday morning and Excel baptist on Sunday night. About an hour or two between them…so when we rolled up to Excel for Sunday night we were early and still had our suits on. Were pleasantly surprised to discover it was a casual affair and we quickly shed the suits and opted for jeans and dress shirts. They had the auditorium at the church all decked out for their Fall Festival and had lots of games and hot dogs going outside. When everyone came meandering in after fun in the sun we cut loose and had a great time inside. Appreciate them both inviting us and and look forward to getting back down the road.
As stated before…lots of celebrations going on this past weekend, so we hung around the home front. I think Jess got wrangled into more work on his “farm house”…it’s actually the home he grew up in and it’s fallen into disrepair. He and his lovely bride Lindy have been working feverishly to get it back into tip-top shape lately with the hope that sometime in the next few weeks/months/years they will be able to move into it and enjoy “land spreading out so far and wide…take Manhattan just give me the countryside”. For those not of the correct “vintage”…that would be part of the theme song to Green Acres…
Heading to one of my favorite areas of the world…the mountains of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee this weekend. Head over to our schedule to see the dates, but do yourself a favor and get out and see all the beautiful fall foliage in bright glory this weekend and come hear us sing while your out and about. The following weekend (November 21, 22, and 23) will be THE weekend….the Gatlinburg weekend! Already been busy planning this and that and making sure I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed. This year Jess and Lindy will be traveling up two days early to get everything set so I think we are assured all will be fun. Had just a small handful of rooms at the hotel that weren’t booked and we turned them back in to the hotel I think today. If you’re out there and thinking about coming or wandering if it is too late…I’m not sure where we stand. I think all double bed rooms are gone and the ones left only have one bed, but call to make sure if you are pondering on the weekend. Good gospel music, Christmas decorations everywhere, Shoney’s on Saturday morning, and a wonderful devotional to wrap up the weekend on Sunday before you go….peppered with shopping and eating with your family and friends in between…what’s not to like??
Have I mentioned yet that Jess has imparted his tremendous handyman skills on Clifford the big red van yet? You all know the story of me hitting an owl (of all things) several months back…well, we’ve been trying to accumulate enough money to replace the destroyed grill since that very weekend. About the time we had it saved, something more pressing always came along (like needing gas money for example….glad to see that finally come back to reality). The dealership quoted us right at $900….BIG pill to swallow. Well, when Darrell stepped down we moved the van from Darrell’s house to Jess’ house since he has the most room of the rest of us. About two weeks there and Jess started making a few calls…one day he calls me and says he has found a grill for about $300 and thinks he can do it himself and needs Scott and my blessing to try. “Absolutely!” we both said and jetted Jess off to see if he could accomplish what the rest of us had yet to be able to make happen. The next day I get a call that the grill came in and about 30 minutes after he picked it up, he had the old pieces out and the shiny new grill installed! Jess never ceases to amaze me…just when I think he’s done all he can, he pulls off some body work and makes it look good as new. Kudos Jessie!! When I grow up I want to be JUST like you man…
Hope you all have an awesome week. Working on our permanent replacement for Darrell as we speak, won’t be making any firm decisions for several more days. You guys be prayerful for us…it’s a tough thing. It’s almost like a spouse in many ways…we work together, play together, eat together, travel together…it’s not something we take lightly and desire much guidance from the good Lord.
To all our Veteran’s out there…God bless you all and thank you for your service to our country. We all owe you a debt we can never repay. Please go out tomorrow and enjoy the day dedicated to your service and sacrifice. And to our newly elected officials, we will be praying for you and for our country. No matter which side of the aisle your political views find you, we are all Americans and now is the time to come together and support or President elect, Senators, and Representatives…and pray that the Lord will give them divine guidance in all their decisions. We live in a great country and it’s my opinion that its greatness is founded squarely on “In God We Trust”…
Von and all the guys at Called Out Quartet
