hanging in charlotte for the Fourth Of July

ALright! i'm gonna try and get back on this blog more regularly. Kissle is gonna let me use his computer so i can begin putting pictures up and everything.

lemme try to recap the past few weeks.

we stayed in florida with some of my great friends the Cliftons. Chris and i served together in Oakland. We had such a nice stay! the whole family was so kinda and made sure we were well fed, and had a washer and dryer. Great friends, and it was a nice break.

the show in miami got canceled so we took off to the beach on the gulf of mexico. really great day. we got a camp site to sleep at that night right on the water front. we went to a local diner for dinner and found out that they were having a karaoke night. so we had an amazing evening singing Sexyback, Cher, vanilla ice, MC hammer, Queen, Rick Astley, Coolio, Kansas, and Prince. Seriously, one of the most fun nights i've ever had. a bunch of the people eating were loving the sing along, and some even came to the show the next night in Tampa.

played the jacksonville then headed up to south carolina. the shows were cool, but the best part of south carolina was the beach! there was a storm in charlston so we went to the coast. the rain hadn't started yet, but the wind was blowing the clouds were so dark. the fine sand that sits on the top of the beach was being blown in the wind and looked like a fine moving mist around our ankles. 200 yards away was a lighthouse doing its thing. it was so incredible. then the rain started up before i had a chance to get a picture.

played ashville. cool city. fun little show. Will Dailey and his crew played great.

inbetween ashville and charlotte, we went up into the mountains and found this serious waterfall that was burried up in the hills. we had to hike into it, and then take a rope line down a rock face to get to the bottom of the fall. we swam for a bit, but then had to get back on the road.

we played charlotte last night, and the crowd was unbelievable! Will Dailey, the band we're on tour with, was ON! The past couple shows have had some awesome crowds, although small in numbers. Last night the crowd was great, AND there were a bunch of people there! It was electric!

We have a couple days of for the Fourth. i have some friends here in charlotte, and we're gonna go do some fireworks tonight. we're staying with some of the nicest friends, the kosters, at their beautiful place here in town. they have let us eat their food and swim in their pool and have given us such great company!

Happy fourth. I hope we can all remember the sacrifice of our forefathers. The heroes that founded this country laid everything on the line for the birth of our free nation. they were God-fearing men who were courageous and whom we owe everything we enjoy today. Through the years, many men and women have put their country above themselves, and have done unbelievable things to forward the freedom and greatness of the USA. Our country has never been perfect of without flaw, but the model of freedom we live under is inspired by God and is the greatest system and vehicle of freedom known to mankind.
the opportunities that we are provided here are like nowhere else. it seems it has become easy for us to complain about how terrible we think things are, but when we stop to look at everything we have, we'd be pretty ungreatful to think that we have it that bad here. we are so blessed and have so much!!!
since i've had all my things stolen, i've realized that even though it feels like i've lost so much, i also realize that i HAVE so much. A beautiful amazing wife whom i love dearly, loving family and friends, a good job, talents, and the opportunities to better myself and those around me.
finally, i hope that we can remember our troops today, and the freedom that they represent and fight for, (even for the freedom of those who smear them and won't ever appreciate their sacrifice.) they're heroes, and deserve our love and respect. we all pray that they can come hope safely soon.

when we look at the fireworks tonight, remember what they represent.
"...and the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE. Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE."

God bless America.