In Memory

Grandpa passed away. Life-flighted to the hospital, his heart was weak, breath thin, but yet he hung on. 9 days in the ICU.  Meeting each morning with hope, we waited. Then suddenly it happened. How does such a bright light go out?

Oren was tall and broad, full to the brim of God and love and laughter. He worked the land, taught his children, preached the word, loved his wife. Ordinary made extraordinary.  How do you end such a life? How do you say goodbye?

I was away when Corey got the news. I drove home and thought about what I could say to my husband, the walking legacy of this great man. You could see Grandpa in his smile... the mischief... ornery - as the family would say... Grandpa lived life with joy and jest. I arrived in the drive, opened the worn wooden door, climbed the stairs to where the light spilled out of the studio and spoke no words. We held each other tight and asked God to be near as we wished for one more day, one more conversation, one more goofy grin.

Life happens and life goes on. We eat, sleep, work and rest. And wonder about it all. We need to think - or better yet, to not. To be still and know. So I wandered up the hill where the sun danced bright over the wide waters, glistening through the waves. My soul was thirsty. Why does water heal?

I walked and listened, the prairie grasses singing with color, swaying in the golden breeze. life buzzed all around. Who taught those seeds to grow? Who breathed into their lungs and grew them into glory? 

Rose colored light flooded the fields and the sun lowered into the waters. It went slowly at first, floating orange midair. Then, picking up speed, it burned red and violet and suddenly it slipped beneath the horizon, leaving behind the memory of its colors pale and soft in the sky.

I sat there and thought about how the world turns and the sun sets and it's colors blaze and cool and sink. How we breathe, life happens and God is in it all... When did the miraculous become so ordinary?

There is a God that shines brighter than the sun - who weaves the miraculous into the fabric of our days - who orchestrates flowers to bloom, the trees to bear fruit, the birds to take flight. The symphony of life is rarely heard until the end. But the melody remains in our ears, like pastel colors on the horizon, like the mischief in the grandson's smile.  And we know that it's not the end.

The earth spins and the sun slips from view, but its fire burns on.  Only our perspective has changed. After a time the color will rise on the other side of the sky, growing fierce and bold. Then suddenly it will happen.  A glorious new day. 

It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed....Then Scripture will be fulfilled: 
“Death is swallowed up in Life
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting? ”
(‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭52, 54-55‬)

Honeymoon Tour - Memphis, TN - Nashville, TN - St. Louis, MO - Eau Claire, WI

We rolled into Memphis around 1 o'clock in the morning.  It was strange driving into the city that had been our home for the past 5 years.  We had been away nearly 4 months and somehow in that span of time it was no longer ours.  It felt like bumping into an ex - remembering the things we liked about the city, but knowing all the reasons we left…  Kinda bittersweet.   Our good friend Matt and his wife Natalie were hosting us for the weekend and we were incredibly  grateful for the king size bed and our own private bathroom.  Having our own space had become a well appreciated luxury.  We got up early the next morning to spend some time with our hosts, then headed over to Corey's former place of employment - The Academy of The Percussive Arts - to participate in the 2nd Annual Drum Coalition.  Corey's brainchild, Drum Coalition is a weekend event in which The Academy brings in clinicians and brand reps to educate and inspire the drum community.  The weekend is filled with clinics, recitals and performances - not to mention some amazing sales and lots of free gear.  The first Drum Coalition was a huge success and it was great to see the legacy live on even in Corey's absence.  We spent most the day at the Academy - catching up with the community that had become family to us through the years. I snuck out for a few hours to visit my former employers as well…  I guess when you spend most of your waking hours at work - your co-workers become some of your closest friends...

The next day we headed out to Nashville to visit Corey's brother, (my new brother in-law!!!!) Shane.  Shane and Corey lived together for 3 years while we were in Memphis.  Their apartment, better known as the Wolf Den, was always decked out with antlers, wolves and furniture made from scrap wood.  Shane took most of the decor with him to Nashville when he moved, so his place felt more like Memphis than anything else.  We felt right at home.  Our Nashville show fell through last minute, so we ended up being able to spend some great quality time with Shane as well as my former roomie, Chrissy.  Having moved half way across the country - it was a true blessing to spend time together.  To top it off, our dear friends from Carolina Story were playing in Nashville that night, so we we able to catch up with Ben and Em and catch the last show of their Soul Stormin Tour.

After a day of catching up with family and old friends we headed back to Memphis to pack up Corey's "office" at The Academy - a 5' X 5' storage space that contained  the equivalent of 2 full drum sets.  I tell you what - i may have a lot of clothes... but this boy has a LOT of drums... And drums take up a LOT of room. Thanks to Corey's packing prowess however - a skill he attributes to playing a lot of Tetris back in the day - we were able to fit everything in our mobile home. The van was packed to the brim when we left Memphis... requiring a co-pilot at every turn. You don't realize how much you depend on your rear view mirror until you aren't able to use it... 

We headed north toward St Louis - a long flat drive through farm land.  Our show was in the small town of Columbia, IL, located 20 minutes outside of the city.  We had actually played in Columbia before -  two years prior on our Migration Tour.  Our very first attempt to get on the road, The Migration Tour was one week long, included 5 shows and 900 miles from Minneapolis to Memphis.....  That trip gave us our first taste of the road and opened up relationships that we still treasure to this day...   It was on the Migration Tour, that we met Dave, frontman of the bluegrass band,  Silverbacks.  And it was Dave who set up the show for us on this tour.  It's amazing to me that  two years later we are still reaping the benefits of those seeds sown.  The Lord truly has a plan far larger than we can comprehend. 

We played for an intimate crowd, mostly friends and family of the Silverbacks.  Our good friend Chris came out as well, and we had a great time reconnecting with yet another Visible Music College alum.  The Silverbacks opened the show with some old school and new school Bluegrass, and we all closed the show together with a group rendition of Amazing Grace.  The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. Lots of stories were shared.  It felt more like a family get together than a show.  Afterwards we went back to Dave's house and spent the rest of the night socializing with the Silverbacks crew.   A vibrant and loving community, they were a complete joy to get to know. 

We went to bed late and woke early to make our way to Eau Claire, WI.  9 hours away, Eau Claire would be our last night on the road.... Though we had one more show to close out the Honeymoon Tour, it was in Minneapolis.... home.  We drove into Wisconsin with mixed feelings.  Our travels had left us exhausted, but wanting more.  We were glad to be nearing the end, ready for a break, but sad to see it all come to a close.  So much planning and preparation.  So much work and effort.  So much adventure and blessing.  And it would soon be over....

We were playing at a benefit concert for a local charity called Feed The Need.  The organization was founded by our friend Sean Jones whose love of the arts and heart for service inspired him to host concerts to raise money for Feed My People Food Bank.  Corey met Sean two and a half years ago when he toured with the band Redefined in Red.  Sean's one man band Survive The Drive was one of the 5 acts that made up the Infection Tour.   With his quick wit and extroverted personality he became a quick friend to Corey and has been ever since.  The benefit concert was hosted at Pizza Plus, which despite the names, is a swanky, modern, artesian restaurant/bar.  We were headlining the show, playing with 4 other bands.  The place was surprisingly packed for a small college town and the acoustic/folk show was surprisingly diverse with styles ranging from Jason Mraz-y indie pop to eerie theatrical Glam folk.  Who knew Eau Claire had so much to offer?  All were amazing and we were happy to meet some great musicians near our neck of the woods.  We connected with one band, a husband and wife-to-be duo called Scrimbo, who had just completed a self booked European tour.   We were inspired and impressed... maybe we'll plan our text tour in France... Honeymoon Tour 2.0?  All in all the night was a sucess...  through ticket sales alone we raised nearly $2000 worth of food!  Corey and I may have eaten about as much in pizza.... Pizza Plus can make a mean chicken gorgonzola pizza... mmm. 

We spent the night at Sean's parents house - camping out on the same basement floor that Corey slept on 2 1/2 years ago on the Infection Tour.  We woke to the sound of a pug sniffing at our door and spent a good portion of our morning being entertained by the same strange creature.  Then Sean met us at the house for some chocolate chip waffles before we hit the road one final time.  The short 90 minute drive to home was filled with reflections on where the tour had brought us, and where the Lord would lead next.  One thing we were sure of, He was with us every step of the way and so He would continue.  The fields grew more and more familiar as we neared the Minnesota border, the sun shining crystal clear in the cool fall air... until finally we turned onto my dear gravel road.   Having built so much momentum, it seemed easier to just keep going, keep moving.  An object in motion, stays in motion after all.  But we had reached the end.  It was time to put on the brakes, to reflect, absorb. One show to go, but our travels completed.  The end of the road. 

Honeymoon Tour - Albuquerque, NM - Amarillo, TX - Tulsa, OK - Little Rock, AR

Endurance runners experience something called the "second wind"  When all their energy is spent , legs heavy as stone, lungs on fire, they feel they have nothing left to give…. All they can do is focus on putting one foot in front of the other.   Then by some miracle, they discover an untapped source - strength they didn't know they had.  Like a drawing from a new well - abundance overflowing.  Their feet move without thought, faster than ever before.  Almost flying.  The runner's "high." I find touring much like endurance running.   The final leg of our tour was set at a grueling pace.  We reached a point - I think at day 28  - when we were ready to be home.  We were tired and spent.  We still had a long road ahead of us, and every drive, every show, every song seemed to require more than we felt we could muster.  It was daunting.  But God's grace is sufficient.  His well runs deep. By drawing upon the Living Water, we discovered a "second wind,"  we developed endurance. 

Our eastbound endurance run began in Flagstaff.  We woke up in a Walmart parking lot that morning, washed up in a public restroom and drove through the Coconino Forest into painted deserts  Low mesas, brushed with color, spread across the horizon.  Craving an adventure, we pulled off to see the Meteor Crater National Monument - only to find the attraction incredibly overpriced.  We paid less to see the Grand Canyon - which I'm fairly certain is a larger and far more interesting hole in the ground…. 

We made it to Albuquerque as the sun was setting and found ourselves strangely reminded of Salt Lake City.  The city of Albuquerque rubs shoulders with the Sandia Mountains  which tower overhead much like the Wasatch Range of the Rockies near Salt Lake.  Beautiful red mountains, shadowing the city below.  Our thoughts flashed back to our time in Salt Lake - remembering how the Lord confirmed time and time again His will for us... Here we were, 21 days later seeing His providence in every day....  Our Albuquerque show fell through, so we were able to spend the evening getting to know our hosts.  Friends of a friend - Deb and James (along with 18 month old Edmond) graciously opened up their home to us and made an incredible dinner of homemade enchiladas - with New Mexico signature green chilies.  They invited their neighbors over to share the meal with us.     Deb being a lawyer, and James being an Episcopal priest we were surprised to meet their friends who came dressed in camo sweatshirts and jeans.  It made for a beautifully diverse group - a lawyer, a priest, a blue collar hunter and his wife and a couple of musicians.  A table you're sure to find Jesus sharing.  We talked late into the night, discussing faith, life and politics.   An unlikely meeting of hearts and minds that felt close to heaven. 

From Albuquerque we headed east for Amarillo.  We crossed out of desert into flat lands and rolling plains revealing ghost towns and abandoned train depots.  Entire cities sitting empty - silent.  As though the whole town was evacuated all at once.  Eery.  Forgetting the time zone chance, we got into Amarillo with barely enough time to set up for the show.  To tell you the truth… we didn't expect from much Amarillo -  the only city in all of Texas off of I-40.    From what we had heard there wasn't much going on in that town. Our venue was located off of old Route 66.  A historic district that had recently been recovered from gangs and vandals.  The 806 was empty when we arrived.  Things looked rather bleak.  But the owner told us to wait - people will probably show up at least a half hour late.  So we waited and sure enough - the place started to pack out.  We ended up playing to a full house and later found that many were musicians and artists themselves.  An encouraging and supportive community of creatives.  It was amazing.  Right as we were about to finish for the night, a man handed us a large amount of cash saying. "I just got here - would this be enough to convince you to play two more?"  We told him that would be enough to play the whole set again and happily played an encore. 

After the show we were approached by a guy who introduced himself as Starchild.  He was young, maybe 24 with long dreaded hair pulled into a Rastafarian style hat and a tie dye shirt.  A musician himself, he said he understood how it can be on the road and asked if we had a place to stay for the night.  We in fact did not.  So Startchild invited us to stay at his art studio.  His father we found was an accomplished artist with a gallery and workshop down the road.  Starchild lived there with several of his friends.  I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a little worried driving there that night.  But Starchild proved a quick friend and a generous host.  The studio was incredible.  Giant 8 foot landscapes painted in vibrant shades.  Deserts, lightning, and autumn treescapes.  Portraits in process - perfectly detailed. Then the avant-garde.  Degas Dancers painted amidst splashes of color and Native American petroglyphs.  The art was incredible to say the least.  The paintings would sell for $7,000 - $15,000.  The portraits - $30,000 - $50,000.  Crazy. 

The studio itself was more of a ware house.  A large sprawling building with twistst and turns that revealed room after room.  Two large band rehearsal spaces.  A kitchen, a bathroom that resembled an old locker room… I don't think we even saw half of it.  There were 8 people sleeping there that night and we never saw any of them.  Starchild showed us to our room for the night.  Empty save for a computer desk and piles of recording equipment.  He laid out a futon mattress for us and some linens.  Then we went down to the kitchen and shared stories and songs late into the night.  It was by far the most interesting and unexpected host we've ever had.  A true blessing.    

We were sad to say goodbye to our newfound friend, but Tulsa was calling our name so we continued west.   The ground grew trees around us as we travelled into Oklahoma, dirt peeking out red beneath yellow grass.  I finally understood why Emmy Lou Harris called herself a Red Dirt Girl.  For the first time since Utah, it looked like autumn.  Bright reds and golden yellows.  Lovely. That night we were booked to play at The Colony.  A small pub on the south east end of the city.  The show wasn't scheduled until 10pm, but we arrived early to catch up with our good friend Jaron who lived about an hour away.  We ate dinner and killed time in the parking lot - taking in some of Jaron's new tunes.  (His band, Hundred Year Dash has a live electronic dubstep vibe - gotta check it out!  We <3 him).  When 9 o'clock finally rolled around we went into The Colony to set up only to be informed that the venue had double booked.  Two other acts showed up gear in hand, planning to play for the night.  Not wanting to step on each-other's toes, we all agreed to split the time evenly - an hour each.  The Passerine closed the show which meant we didn't grace the stage until 12:30am and didn't leave until 2:30am with a full hour drive ahead of us.  Needless to say - it was a long night.  But we met some great folks - including Justin, the founder of fundraising company Change Clothing.  His business raises funds for non-profit organizations by selling T-Shirts.  Awesome ministry.  He felt led to bless us financially that night saying "You have a dream - I want to invest in that."  Wonderful soul.  We hit the road and followed Jaron out of the city to a farm community called Webbers Falls.  We finally got to our host home at 3:30 that morning.  Poor ole Jaron had to get up for work at 5am.  Talk about a faithful friend.  I know few people who would drive two hours to see us - let alone sacrifice all but 1.5 hours of sleep.  True blue. 

We spent the night at the homestead of our friend Bobby.  Bobby, Jaron and two other Visible guys moved out to Webbers Falls for the summer to work on Bobby's family's farm.  All summer long the guys harvested corn, potatoes and watermelon by day and worked on their music by night.  Livin the dream….  Bobby greeted us in the morning and stuffed our faces with a farm fresh breakfast.  We spent some time catching up with our old friend before going on our way. Bobby sent off with two economy boxes of pop tarts and an open invitation.  "Come back whenever you want - you don't have to call - just let yourself in."  I couldn't help but marvel at the hospitality of this little family farm.  Opening their doors to musicians and college kids alike. 

The last show of our endurance week was in Little Rock. AR.  The drive through Arkansas was beautiful.  The Ozarks developed before us…  thick forests of pine, woodsy towns nestled snug between rolling mountains and hidden lakes..  Then erupting on the scene was Little Rock.  Much larger than I expected, Little Rock was a sudden bought of civilization amidst the wilderness.  We were playing at Vino's a popular pizza joint/music venue/bar that attracts a mix of families and college students.  The staff were amazing and the pizza was out of this world.  We played to a rowdy crowd - so rowdy the staff had to ask some to leave.  A new experience for our little acoustic folk band.  After the show we packed up quick and headed for our old stomping grounds… Memphis TN - As we drove the 3 hours drive to Memphis, we reflected on the Lord's faithfulness yet once again.  Every-time we felt spent - He was there - to fill us and give us strength for the journey.

Honeymoon Tour - Grand Canyon - Flagstaff, AZ.

It was one of those days.  One of those days when anything that could go wrong - did in fact go wrong.  Or so It seemed.  One disappointment after another.  Just a bad day.  We woke up that morning anticipating another amazing day.  We were going to see the Grand Canyon.  We planned to arrive early afternoon, giving us plenty of time to set up camp and then catch the sunset over the canyon.  However, we desperately needed to do some laundry, so we set out for Flagstaff and found the laundromat.  Of course on a weekend, the place was packed.  We were lucky enough to find an empty machine.  We started on our task….  Hours later we were still working on our task.  Frustrating.  When we finally finished - we discovered the machines had ruined several pieces of clothing.  Treasured vintage pieces that were irreplaceable.  Disappointing.  Frustrating.  We repacked our luggage quick as we could and loaded up the van.  By the time we left,  we knew we'd have to race the sun to catch the sunset.  Then….. we got stuck behind a slow moving camper on a one lane highway - no passing allowed.  Arg.  The sun was long gone before we got to the park.  We raced to Mather Point hoping to catch the last rays of light, but the canyon was barely visible in the dusk.  Disappointing.  Frustrating.  Sad.  Then….. because we were so late getting to the park,  the camp ground was full.  We were going to have to sleep in a parking lot somewhere in town.  Disappointing. Frustrating. Sad. Upset.  Our trip to the Grand Canyon was turning out to be a wash.   We found ourselves getting ready for bed in a McDonald's restroom and sleeping in a Holiday Inn Express parking lot.  Not exactly what we had anticipated when we got up that morning. 

When things go wrong its easy to let my mind submit to a downward spiral.  Believe the worst, lose hope.  Having had an incredible tour thus far, we were caught off guard by this unfortunate turn of events. It was easy to let despair set it.  This is it.  The Lord has left us.  We are on our own.  The remainder of the tour was looking bleak and scary.  A new city everyday.  Not many host homes along the way.  Several nights sleeping in the van.  I was left to dread it all.  We got ready for bed and crawled into the back of the van.  Fustrated, tired, disappointed - I opened up our devotional for the day.  The first line read:

"Every time something thwarts your plans or desires, use that as a reminder to communicate with Me… When you reframe setbacks as opportunities, you find that you gain much more than you have lost."  "

You cant make this stuff up.  Ha.  I heard Him loud and clear.  The Lord was calling to us.  He knew the condition of our hearts.  After 4 weeks on the road, we were getting weary and He knew we needed Him… He knew He needed to get our attention.   We spent the rest of the evening in devotional to Him.  Listening for His voice and being refreshed by His spirit. 

He reminded us that He was with us…
Exodus: 33: 14 "My Presences will go with you and I will give you rest."

That He would give us strength for the journey…
Psalm 29:11  "The Lord gives strength to his people, the Lord blesses his people with peace."

He reminded us that He will equip us to do what He's called us to…
Hebrews 13:20 "May the God of peace… equip you with everything good for doing His will.

We reframed our disappointing day into an opportunity…. an opportunity to reconnect with the Lord and one another. …  and found that we did indeed gain far more than we lost. 

Then we had an idea… we decided that since we missed the sunset, we'd get up for the sunrise instead.  It was late by the time we made this decision.  We knew we'd have very little sleep - but it would be worth it.  Our alarms went off at 5:30am.  We crawled into the front of the van and drove through the sleeping town back into the park - to Yavapai Point.  With a full view of the east and west end of the Canyon, Yavapai Point was the perfect place to watch the world wake up.  The morning was cold and quiet.  We were alone in the park save for one other couple who had braved the early hours to watch the show. No one said a word.  The sky descended from black to sapphire as we bundled up against the wind… We made our way down to the lookout…  The sun, still hidden from view, was making its slow ascent from below the horizon, evidenced by deep ribbons of color peeking out behind the canyon crest.  The canyons were barely visible in the low light.  Folds of fog weaved through the peaks and hid the valley below.  We huddled together on a boulder and listened to the wind whistle through the pines.  As the sky began to brighten - the wind grew stronger and howled up the canyon walls.  Slowly  the canyon turned color, reflecting the sky's light.  Saturated reds turned icy pink.  Sapphire turned cerulean blue.  The canyons took shape, revealing more of their beauty by the moment.  Anticipation building,  we rose to our feet, waiting.  Then finally… in a sudden flash -  dawn's first light.  The first rays shot across the sky, illuminating Point Imperial, the canyon's highest peak.  Like a beckon of hope, Point Imperial stood tall, lit above the shadowed valley.  As the sun climbed higher, the rays of light slid across the horizon, lighting up mesa after mesa.  Light dipped down toward the canyon floor, breaking through the stubborn fog and revealing the valleys far below.  Warmth settled on our skin as the earth came to life around us.  The canyon glowed red orange in the morning sun. We forgot the day before, we left all our disappointments behind us.  We were restored.  I have truly never experienced anything like it before. 

Much like the Grand Canyon, our hearts often lie in fog and shadows.  The disappointments of life settle around us.  Doubts and fears cloud our minds and hide the light of hope and truth.  But if we would turn our eyes to the horizon - and wait upon the Lord with anticipation, He will burst forth with glorious light and illuminate the dark places of our souls. 

After soaking in a sufficient view of the canyon, we went back to the van and got ready for the day.  In the parking lot we met our van twins, a retired couple that had been traveling since Labor Day, putting over 7000 miles on their little red mini van.  They also equipped their mobile home with a lofted bed, making room to store their kayak and porta-potty among other things.  Great minds think alike.  We took some time to explore the canyon rim, fighting the crowds of people who flock to the canyon every day.  Then… after a short 2 hour hike to Ooh Aah Point (a totally different thing to hike down a canyon rather than up… ) we headed back into Flagstaff to set up for our show.

We were booked at Marcy's European Coffeehouse, which surprisingly enough, has a large european cliental.  Located down the block from a youth hostel, a large portion of Macy's patrons are travelers.  It made for an interesting crowd.  After the show we drove to the local Walmart where we set up camp.  Night #2 in a public parking lot.  However this night was different.  Rather than feeling discouraged and overwhelmed - we were filled with peace and joy knowing the Lord was with us - that He would give us strength for the rest of our journey and equip us for the work He called us to.  What a difference a day makes.  Or rather a sunrise. 

Honeymoon Tour - San Diego, CA - Phoenix, AZ

Whatever you do - don't drive through LA during rush hour.  I can't tell you how many times we were given this piece of advice.  Yet somehow we managed to find ourselves just outside Beverly Hills at 3 o'clock in the afternoon - in a grid lock…. wondering if we would make it to our show.  We had left wine country mid morning believing we had plenty of time.  We traveled down Interstate 1, hugging the coast - a beautiful drive that provided view after view of the ocean.  I think we went wrong when we decided to stop outside Santa Barbara for lunch.  There was a state park right off the freeway - the perfect spot for a seaside picnic.  We took our time, eating a lazy lunch which set us back at least an hour.  Hence sitting in stop and go traffic in the middle of LA.  It took us 2 hours to drive 30 miles. 

Somehow, by the grace of God, we managed to make it to our venue in Escondido right before we were supposed to go on.  Our friend Eric met us outside and helped us load in as the first act finished up.  We were completely out of breath when we started the show - but we made it.  Our show took place at Escondido Joe's, a cafe/coffeeshop operated by a local church. Eric - a friend from our Visible days - had set the show up for us, and did an amazing job. The place was packed out with friends, family and fans of the local acts - Bethany Jordan Jackson, and husband and wife led band called Serenade & Strum - all were incredible.  We felt honored to share the stage with them and were completely inspired by their music.  After the show we got to talking with Benji and Jen Horning, the founding members of Serenade & Strum.  The duo has been married for 6 years, work full time as youth pastors and have two kids, yet somehow they've found time to pursue their passion for music.  "Yea we got rid of our cable and whenever we used to watch TV we started to write."  They just recently finished their sophomore album.  "Yea we'd work all day, spend time with the kids in the evening, and then record from 10pm-2am every night."  Talk about dedication.  Makes you wonder what you could accomplish if you made the best of every day …. What they've accomplished is some of the most beautiful God honoring music I've ever heard.  Seriously check them out.  Serenade & Strum. 

After some much appreciated fellowship we said our goodbyes and made our way to our host home in San Diego.  We stayed with Tyler - a friend of Corey's from Garret Co.  Tyler had just moved out to California 4 months ago - a big move for a recent college grad and a small town guy.  California isn't exactly a cheap place to live and being clear across the country from family and friends, it was a risky move.  But he was ready to do something with his life.  After months of free lancing he finally found a job in his field of graphic design.  He just started this week.  It was awesome to see him take a risk and be rewarded.   It got us thinking about the risk we took and how it's been rewarded.  It was terrifying at first… without the security of a regular pay check I worried that we wouldn't be able to pay our bills.  Being in Memphis for 5 years, we knew how hard it is to be away from friends and family.  And you never know what can happen on the freeway….  But the longer we're on the road, the more we peace we feel.  Traveling the country has freed us.  Freed us to pursue the Lord's call on our lives no matter where He sends us.  Freed us to take more risks, to trust more, and fear less.  Freed us to consider a life on the road.

We went out for breakfast  with Tyler and his girlfriend Carly early the next morning.  We walked through the heart of downtown San Diego to the infamous Crest Cafe where we ate a hearty meal of omelets and creme brulee french toast…. mmm.  After our delicious meal we said goodbye to our gracious hosts and made a trip out to Coronado Island to visit the ocean one last time.  Having grown up in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, my soul craves water.  There is no beauty that can compare.  I'm a fan of the ocean.  We walked down the beach, watching the waves tumble toward shore.  With a long drive through the desert ahead of us, I appreciated a chance to say goodbye to that large body of water.

A little before noon we left the coast behind us and began our long journey home - eastbound.  The drive through southern California is almost other worldly.  Giant crumbling mountains laid out across the countryside, like piles of boulders dumped from the sky.   Traveling parallel with the Mexican border on Interstate 8, we watched the mountains give way to a long stretch of desert.   We passed through several border control check points  before we turned north for Phoenix.  As we closed in on our destination, the rocks turned red and sprouted forests of saguaro cacti.  Like something from a painting - or a cartoon - the landscape was so foreign is hardly seemed real.  Phoenix is a world of its own.

I think the Lord knew we'd need a date night by this point in the tour.  Despite our best efforts, we were unable to confirm a show in Phoenix.  Then our host (family of a family friend) informed us last minute that she would be out of town….. so… she booked us a hotel room - at the "Best Boutique Hotel in Phoenix."  Talk about a blessing.   This was exactly what we were craving.  A chance to have some quality time - no show to prepare for, no host to get to know, no campsite to set up.  A place of our own and a night to ourselves.  Not to mention at the coolest swanky hotel I've ever experienced.  I felt like I walked straight into a 60's hotel - perfectly preserved.  We were beyond stoked.  After checking in to our room we went up to the rooftop and watched the sun set over the desert.  Then we relaxed in the mod hot tub before grabbing some fish tacos for dinner. 

The whole experience was an amazing gift - something we never would have allowed for ourselves, but was given to us - out of the blue, by a near stranger.  We never even met our host face to face, and yet she gave to us extravagantly.  That kind of generosity is nothing short of Christlike.  I am constantly overwhelmed by the goodness of our God.  He gives to us generously. extravagantly.  He cares deeply for us - not only on a grand scale - but in the details.  Allowing a couple of newlyweds a moment for romance….  I am reminded that our God is a God of romance.  He ordained marriage as a living portrayal of His love for His bride, the Church.  He passionately pursues us, lovingly provides for us.  He creatively woos our hearts.  The stars, the ocean, the desert to inspire us, made by his Hand to speak to us.   What a passionate, romantic, epic God we serve.  May He capture our hearts more and more every day.

Honeymoon Tour - San Luis Obispo, CA

Honeymoon Tour - San Luis Obispo, CA

There's a whole lot of open space between Vegas and California.  We set out from Vegas midday and saw desert for 4 hours straight.  We also saw our first oil field - drills lines up like cavalry - an army of machines.  We passed orchards, crop farms and fields of flowers. Then we hit the Sierra Nevadas.  Beautiful rolling mountains dotted with livestock from the surrounding ranches.  Just as the sun set as we crossed into wine country.  Like something out of a painting, the rolling hills are lined with row after row of grape vines.  We felt like we were back in France on our honeymoon.  Just gorgeous.  It wasn't always like this.. Ideal for vineyards, the dry crumbly soil of the central coast was just recently "discovered." What once was miles and miles of open farm land has now been developed into wineries.  And sitting amongst them, are small farm houses, standing firm against the change of times. 

One such farm house was our destination.  My dear friend Crystal just moved back to California from Memphis with her husband Bryan and twin girls, Kady and Zoe.  Much to their surprise, when they arrived in California, Bryan's parents offered to give them their inheritance early - the family farm.  Over 100 years old, the farm has been handed down from generation to generation - and the tradition lives on.  The place is truly magical… and comes complete with 4 dogs, 3 goats, 8 wild turkeys, a flock of pigeons, a donkey and a horse.  Quite the change from urban Memphis…. 

We arrived at the house after dark, welcomed by the two dogs, two toddlers and 2 grandparents that share the estate with Bryan and Crystal.  We stayed up late into the night catching up with our old friends and touring the beautiful old farmhouse.  The next day we explored the farm as Crystal explained her vision for the property.   Their home in Paso Robles, CA sits midway between LA and San Francisco and would serve as a perfect stopping point for touring artists.  She hopes to renovate the barn and make it into a venue and rehearsal space for road weary musicians.  The field adjacent to the barn could also serve as a natural amphitheater for an autumn music festival.  In the meantime Crystal is looking to developing the music scene in the area - starting with hosting house concerts.  I am honored to say that we were officially the first artists on the Artist Farhm. 

The Fahrm is absolutely amazingl and will serve as a wonderful place of rest for many musicians to come.  As the halfway point of our very long tour - I can say we were glad to be there.  Rather than itching to get out and explore the area (as we did in the cities we visited), we were happy to simply take in the beauty that surrounded us.  We spent one afternoon sitting on the crest of the hill - wine country unfolding before us - napping in the breeze and lazily working out harmonies for a new song.  If only you could pause time. 

Of course we had to explore the coast a little while we were there, so we drove down  to Montana De Oro State Park.  The park spans down the shore line.  The view is breathtaking with cliffs that jut out into the ocean, waves crashing below.  We intended to watch the sunset but the fog came in thick and hid it from us.  We enjoyed the scenery anyway and made a few friends on the beach - including Brett, a 4th  year med student who was traveling the country to interview for different residency programs.  Came to find Brett followed much of the same route that we did visiting Zion National Park, Vegas and the Hoover Dam etc. Small World.  We also spent a day visiting a few local wineries and an olive oil maker - if you ever get a chance to do an olive oil tasting - i highly recommend it!  Nothing quite like it - and its free!. 

On Tuesday we played a house concert at Bryan's sister's home - located up the hill from the farm.  House concerts are a new concept for a lot of people, but they are our favorite venue hands down.  There's not much to it really - invite your friends and family over for a party and we'll provide the tunes.  House concerts provide an intimate laid back atmosphere that allow the artist to be more engaged with the audience (and allow the audience to engage more the with the artist).  We had a diverse crowd that night, ranging from 2 years old to 80 years old and everywhere in between. Family concerts - or all ages shows - are a fun dynamic.  Between the kids dancing and playing around and the elderly sitting back and appreciating the show - there's a lot of good energy. We've discovered that some of our biggest fans are senior citizens - perhaps because our music is a bit of a throwback to their generation's music.  Johnny Cash can bring the house down with the 70+ crowd. It was a great night and the whole experience got everyone excited for the future of Artist Fahrm. 

On Thursday we provided Lunchtime Music  for Treasure's Antique Mall in Morro Bay, CA.  The store is owned and operated by Crystal's mom and is an eclectic gem.  With 78 vendors each possessing their own flare - it is a beautiful array of vintage, antique and boutique.  In hopes to generate the music scene, Treasures has started hosting Lunchtime Music, inviting musicians to set up show amidst the merchandise and put on a show.  It was a new kind of venue for us - shoppers applauding  from all corners of the store, hidden from view.  We thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere - being the thrift store queen that I am.  And of course i did a little browsing myself…  After the show we went down to San Luis Obispo for their open air Farmer's Market.  Unlike most markets which take place in the morning, San Luis' market is an evening ordeal.  Every Thursday night the city comes to life with vendors lining the streets and live music on every corner.  Epic and amazing and the best California style pizza. ever. 

Of all the places we visited, I think I had the hardest time leaving the central coast.  Inspired and excited for the future of Artist Farhm, we were tempted to start renovating the barn ourselves.   It was a place of rejuvenation, a home away from home.  It was also a place of huge financial blessing.  Looking back, I see it as further evidence of the Lord's faithfulness.  In Vegas, we felt led to tithe to Advance church.  With what little money we make - especially on the road - tithing can be a challenge.  On Sunday though, the message was about money.  The pastor, Ryan's main point was this: The way you view your money will determine the way you use your money.  If you view your money as yours - you will use it to buy things for yourself.  A new car, a bigger house, better clothes.  You will use your money to expand your kingdom.  However, if you view your money for what it really is - a gift from God - given to you out of His providence - you will use it to expand His kingdom. Having raised support to go on this tour - we are very aware that our money is a gift - quite literally.  Our funds were given to us by God through His people - straight out of their pocket books.  It makes us incredibly thankful for every dollar that comes across our path.  It also makes us think very carefully about how we spend it.  We were moved to expand the Lord's kingdom through Advance church and tithed what we could....  Then the Lord totally blessed it. . From the 55 cents given to us by a special needs customer at Treasures  (talk about a sacred gift) to the $100 bill slipped to us by a stranger after a short 5 minute conversation, every time we turned around the good people of California were coming out of the woodwork to bless us.  It was amazing and humbling to see the Lord honor our small gift and provide for us on the road...  Truly the more you walk in obedience, the more the Lord reveals himself to you.  This time He revealed His provision to us.  And for that we are incredibly thankful... it allows us to walk in peace on this crazy road, knowing the Lord will guide and provide. 

Honeymoon Tour - Las Vegas, NV

After three days in the wilderness we were happy to head to Vegas to clean up (ironically enough…).  We traded in God's Country for Sin City.  A short 3 hour drive through the Mojave had us at our host's door - dirty, greasy and smelling like a campfire.  What a way to make an impression…  Luckily our hosts, Jordan and Kristen were old friends who passed no judgment.  Instead they kindly let us into their beautiful home and (after some catching up) directed us straight to the bathroom.  They understood our needs. :)  As fellow adventurers (Jordan and Kristen recently quit their jobs, sold their home and moved to Vegas to plant a church), it was wonderful to connect with them on the joys and challenges of ministry.  I often find myself wondering what would happen if more people took the risk to follow the Lord - in whatever way He directed them.  I think the world would have a whole lot more satisfied people in it.  

Being the incredibly hostess that she is, Kristen took the time to gather together a welcome packet - full of brochures, maps and information on how to best experience Vegas.  One brochure in particular caught Corey's eye - Red Rocks Canyon. After our climb to Angels Landing, Corey was itching for more, so with our one day off we decided to head out to the wilderness yet once again.  This was a different kind of wilderness however, the desert posses its own set of challenges.  Water and sunscreen are essential.  We read several warnings  "Inform a friend or family member before you enter the desert and tell them when you plan to return….There is no cellular service in the state park."    We were eager for a new adventure though,  we picked our destination - The Keystone Thrust - and set off. 

You really should check your gas gauge before driving 20 miles into the desert.

We had already made it to the state park before we noticed it… On a one way only loop through Red Rock Canyon.  A 13 mile one-way loop. "Hmmm - we might need gas"  Corey said nonchalantly as I was looking for our trail head on the map.  "What?"  "We might need gas."  "Are you serious?"  "Yea"  "Corey we are in the middle of the desert this is not a good time to need gas."  "Well the light hasn't come on yet…" 

In the commotion - we passed our trail head.  On the 13 mile - one way loop. "Why didn't you tell me to turn?"  "I did! I told you it should be the next turn - if you saw a turn you should have turned!"  "Well I can't turn now - we're on a one way!"  Being the stubborn twosome that we are, we insisted on circling through the canyon again - on the 13 miles loop - and this time… the gas light came on.  "The gas light came on." "Are you serious?"  "Yea"  "Aaagh"  2 miles in to a 13 mile loop, 20 miles outside of civilization with no cell service - you do the math.  We would come seriously close to running out of gas.  Still we insisted on finding the Keystone Thrust so we turned off on the trail head only to find we had to drive 2 miles up a rocky hill to the parking area.  "Are we gonna make it?" "I don't know but we don't have a choice now!" 

We parked the car in a parking lot in what seemed like the middle of the desert.  Despite the circumstances we were intent upon completing our hike.  We went to load up our back pack with the essentials only to realize that we had left the pack back at the host home.  "Did you bring it inside?"  "No did you bring it inside? "No, did we leave it at the campsite?" "I don't know!"  "Well I guess we'll just have to carry what we need."  We then proceeded to hike to the most uninteresting feature of the whole canyon.  Called the "most significant geological feature," the Keystone Thrust ended up being a pile of rocks pushing through the dirt.  Not exactly what we were hoping for after hiking 2 miles into the desert.  The whole experience felt like a wash.  All along knowing that we had to hike back to a car and hope that it would make it to a gas station.  We were totally allowing our circumstances  to ruin our attitudes.

We started wandering through the "thrust," and came across a stack of rocks set up on a sandy red boulder.  Three or four small stones, stacked on top of each other.  Then we came across another.  And another.  Rock piles stacked up by persons long gone - like altars.  In the old testament,  the Lord often instructs his people to gather stones and create an altar of remembrance.  For example, after the Israelites crossed the Jordan river on dry land, they were instructed to take 12 stones and construct an altar. So that...

"In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' The Lord your God did to the Jordan what He had done to the Red Sea…. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful." 

Seeing the altars - I knew.  I knew that the Lord was with us.  I knew that everything would work itself out.  If we ran out of gas - we'd find someone to help us.  It might take some time out of our day - but we knew weren't going to DIE out in the desert.  Sometimes we need to take time to remember.  Remember that the hand of the Lord is powerful.  That He goes before us.  So much of our lives are wasted by worry and stress.  We miss out of the joy and peace of the Lord.  Being reminded, we each added a rock to the altar and headed back to the car.  We coasted down the desert road to the 13 mile loop.  We hopped back on the highway and made it the 20 miles back into town.  Gassed up and breathed a sigh of relief.  The Lord was with us all along.

We finished up our time in Vegas by exploring the city - seeing the sights.  Among them… the "Strip" (of course), my favorite part being the Bellagio Fountains.  And Hoover Dam (much cooler than I expected - a modern marvel… its amazing to me what man can accomplish).  And we had to get a photo by the Vegas sign!  On Saturday we played at the swanky Sambalatte Coffehouse.  Met some great people and had some ah-mazing coffee.  Our last day in Vegas - before we set out for California, we had the opportunity check out Jordan and Kristen's church plant.  It was so amazing to see the Lord's faithfulness.  More and more confirmation that as you walk in obedience to His calling, He will bless it.  The church just launched 7 months prior and they already had a thriving congregation of 75 people and their own building….  Pretty amazing.  We left with the realization that even in the desert, the Lord is with us.