Is it just me, or are the Olympics not mesmerizing? I find myself watching the oddest sports that I would never consider watching the other 3 years between Olympic celebrations….but throw up some curling on TV and have the American team competing for a medal, and I am there. My family and I have watched in amazement as they athletes dig way down deep for strength they never thought they had and perform beyond the commentators and their expectations….which I guess is the big draw and not really the actual sport they are competing in. This is the first year I can ever remember someone losing their life while competing…tragic story of someone living their dream and then ending suddenly without warning. You know last week I talked about “last times” and got a HUGE amount of feedback from folks. It does my heart good to know people are actually reading it…and the stories were awesome. A bunch of you folks out there are super talented story tellers…I need to start having “guest” bloggers sometime down the road. The guys are hoping we can talk Kent (Darrell’s brother) into making a guest appearance here and talk about what it is like on the road with us. Kent (as some might already know) went on our trip to Michigan and it was about all we could take having the equivalent of two Darrell’s around all the time. Truth be told it was too much fun….so much actually that we have invited him to go when he can…so be on the lookout for our bass player when time allows (like this weekend for instance).

Speaking of this weekend….heading up to our dear friend Jim Johnson’s church Fares Avenue on Saturday night. Already heard from some folks in nearby Madisonville, KY who might be coming over…hoping other nearby folks will come and support Pastor Johnson and his monthly singings. You know…I think (and I may be wrong) that he has been hosting these type of events for like 40 years. What a blessing that he gives folks like us a venue to sing our songs and share our testimonies of what the Lord has done for us and is doing today. He’s about as big a supporter as you would ever find…well, his wife Sue and nephew Donnie might give him a run for his money.

Sunday morning will find us at another dear friends church…Bob Pollard and all the dear folks at Marshall Ferry General Baptist (more affectionately known simply as Dogtown). I don’t know if I am more excited for Kent to experience Fares Avenue on Saturday night or Dogtown on Sunday morning…we’ve got a deep history of awesome services at both places….I’ll just call it an even match. Sunday night we’ll be in nearby McLeansboro, IL at New Life Assembly of God so Kent can put a wrap on another weekend with the group…that is if he lasts the full two days.

Not to ramble too much, but going back to the last time stuff…I friend of mine from high school passed away this week after a 10 year battle with cancer. He has a son who is a senior at my daughter’s school and one who is a freshman. He had tried desperately to hang on so he could be there last night (Tuesday February 16th) for his oldest boy Josh’s Senior night. Josh and Peyton (the younger son) both play varsity basketball and last night Tommy and his wife Audrey would have been escorted out on the court before the game so Josh could show his appreciation for all the sacrifices the family made to allow him to play for his entire middle and high school career. Tommy almost made it…one day short, but his family still honored his memory at the game where Tommy’s kids and wife got a standing ovation from both the home crowd and the visitors (Westmoreland High School). Josh and the boys lost, but at the end the Westmoreland players and coaches made a special effort to show their sympathy to Josh and Peyton. Usually you see those handshakes go so fast that most folks never even make eye contact…one team wants to celebrate and the other team wants to get away from the team that won. Last night they each stopped and looked Josh and Peyton in the eye and paid their respects. The coaches hugged them and had some kind words to say. Awesome display of sportsmanship…just when you think everything is going crazy you witness something like that. Did my heart good to see that….can’t even begin to share the number of last times that flooded my mind as I thought of Tommy and his family. Make the best use of your time today…one thing is certain…and it is that things will change.

Have an awesome week and let me be the first one to get an excuse out there for my performance this weekend. Just got back from the doctor…after 3 days of feeling cruddy my wife talked me into going. Well it seems I am blessed with a very mild case of pneumonia. So all the coughing and wheezing I have done has taken a severe toll on my voice. Hoping some rest and lots of fluids (not to mention some awesome meds…my doc has been a group supporter for years) will have me back to normal soon. If not…the Lord will know my heart even if my vocals shot. And anyway…with Kent Collier with us this weekend playing bass, we’ll actually have an over 12 year veteran quartet bass singer waiting in the wings. If it goes south real hard…we’ll just saddle up Kent and let the boys ride him for a while!

Von and all the guys at CO4