Angels In Voice

I can't believe there are only three days until Christmas.  It seems like it creeps up on us every year.  Candice and I have been busy this week getting ready for Christmas.  We finished our Christmas shopping on Monday, we sent out Christmas cards to all our friends and we've also spent the majority of the week practicing.  We're singing Sandi Patti's arrangement of  "I Wonder as I Wander" on Sunday morning at our church.  It's a beautiful piece.  The song is done with an acappella choir.  Candice and I start off singing acappella before the choir comes in.  It's a really neat arrangement. We had to practice with dad because if he doesn't push play on the CD player at the right time, it throws the timing off a little.  So I'm hoping and praying it'll go well.  We also have a booking on Christmas Eve at a born again believing Arabic Baptist Church.  It's been a few years since we've sang there and Pastor Jamal invited us to sing for their candle light service that evening.  There is nothing like a candle light service on Christmas Eve, how beautiful it is to see everyone with their candles singing Christmas praises to Jesus Christ the King.  Its such a GREAT feeling to give Glory to our RISEN Savior.   

Last Friday we had some friends over for a get together  We had a good time of fellowship and food.  We also played the white elephant gift game which mom organized, that was so much fun.  It's wonderful spending time with those you love especially around the Christmas season.  On Saturday we had an early dress rehearsal for our church choir Christmas cantata.  The rehearsal didn't go as well as we'd hoped it would.  I know many of us prayed about it and put our trust in God, because Sunday night the performance went really well.  The name of the program was "The Heart of Christmas".   Candice and I sang a duet called "I Choose Jesus/ I Have Decided to Follow Jesus".  It's such a powerful and dynamic song, and one of my favorites from the program.  All the songs are so beautiful.  It was really awesome seeing the church packed out with people.  What a true blessing it was for all of us. 

One of the other things I enjoy about Christmas is seeing other churches Christmas programs.  We have packed in so much this year because last year with Candice being down we didn't get to do much of anything.  On Saturday afternoon our family went to see a Christmas program at Phoenix First  Assembly with some friends of ours Rodger and Ruthie.  The church puts on a huge production every Christmas, they have professional vocalists and the choir sounded awesome.  They also use real live animals in their show.  We saw a camel, elephant, and a tiger as well as a zebra and a horse and carriage.  It was quite something to see.  They also had six flying angels, flying over the audience.  Overall it was a neat program.

We are really excited to announce that we have started recording our third CD.  We are recording at Arrowhead Studio in Glendale.  A week ago Tuesday we recorded four songs in a four hour session and a week ago Thursday we recorded 3 songs in a three hour session.  It is such a great opportunity to be working on a brand new project.  We have been praying about this all year and the Lord has opened the door in that direction.  The recording engineers we are working with are Ryan who is twenty-one and Danny who is twenty-six.  Danny is the head engineer, the two are very intelligent and are both certified engineers.  They are a pleasure to work with and we thank God for allowing us to be in good health to record another CD.  

 Tomorrow we are driving up to Cottonwood for our family Christmas party.  Our family drew names this year, so it makes it easier just to buy for one person than for everyone.  It'll be exciting to see who has who.  We've tried to keep it a surprise this time.  Last year we tried to keep it a secret too, but we all ended up telling each other who we had.  We're also going to play the white elephant game.  It'll be a fun time with family. 

Wishing you all a blessed Christmas, may 2008 be a wonderful year filled with God's blessings.

Things are going well here.  Crystal is feeling better, we think she is starting to show some GI related issues from HPS.  We are concerned and will be addressing the issue right after Christmas. 

 We attended the Women's Christmas Banquet at our church on Friday evening.  There was a nice crowd, in spite of the rainy weather we were having that day.  With the help of our parents and Jody, the fireside room was decorated beautifully.  The food was good and we appreciate all the men who served us.  It was a wonderful and relaxed evening of good music and fellowship.  A few pictures of our wonderful evening.

Click on image to enlarge

I've been feeling a little under the weather the past two days.  Yesterday I was achy, had a horrible headache, cold and tired.  I didn't feel like doing very much.  Today I am feeling a little better, my stomach is still bothering me though.  We haven't figured out if it's a stomach bug or if it's the beginning of HPS stomach issues.  We thought we would just watch it, if I have another flare up I will then need to go see my Gastroenterologist to get started on some medication.  I have severe acid reflux, but have never had the stomach and bowel issues like Candice has had to deal with.  Though they can occur at any age.

The concert on Sunday went very well.  The people were so warm and friendly.  We saw quite a few familiar faces from the last time we sang there a few years ago.  We are so thankful the Lord is using us to be a blessing to many people.  Next Sunday our church choir will be putting on a Christmas contada. The title of the contada is called "The Heart Of Christmas."  Some of the songs are just beautiful, Candice and I are singing a duet called "I Choose Jesus".  Its such a powerful, dynamic song with a great message.  It really ministers to both of us.  We are really looking forward to the concert.  This Friday is the Womens Christmas banquet at our church.  Our mom has had a big part in decorating for it.  Candice and I will be singing at the banquet as well.  It'll be an evening of good Christmas music and fellowship.  It is definitely a busy time for all of us, but we are enjoying every minute of it.  We just about have all our Christmas shopping done.  We spent four hours at the mall with our parents and our brother on Monday.  It was such a blast looking through all the clothes shops and seeing all the Christmas scenery.  I really can't believe that we are in December.  I just doesn't seem possible.  I hope you all are having an enjoyable Christmas season.  Well, it's time for me to get ready for bed.  Goodnight!

We are enjoying the beautiful rainy weather we are having.  I think it's rained more in the past two days than it has in a long time.  I enjoy days like this, it's so refreshing and it definitely makes it feel more like the Christmas season.  I'm sitting here listening to the new Josh Groban Christmas CD that we picked up at Borders earlier today.  I love every song, his voice is just amazing!!  Christmas is my favorite time of the year, I love Christmas music, it brings me such happiness and joy.  Candice and I are feeling pretty good. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our family.  It was a quiet and relaxing day. We have been busy this week practicing for our booking tomorrow.  We're ministering at Sunnyslope Presbyterian, it has been a few years since we've last sang there.  We are planning a few Christmas songs.  Joy, You Raise Me Up, Jesus What a Wonderful Child, O Holy Night, which is one of my favorites and we're going to end with the Prayer.  We are so thankful that we are feeling well and able to do these concerts. Last year we had to cancel all of our bookings because of Candice having chemo and her lung surgery.  We didn't get to go out much, but this year we have a lot of fun things planned that we're looking forward to.  This past Wednesday our dad celebrated his birthday, we spent the day shopping at the mall, he picked out a watch he really liked.  Candice and I treated our family to lunch that day at InNOut Burger.  It's the only place we'll go when we want to treat ourselves to a hamburger.  Our niece Jasmine turned 14 today. It's amazing how fast she's grown up, I can't believe how quickly time is going.  I still remember our 14th birthday and how that was such a rough year health wise for Candice.  She was on TPN and wasn't even able to enjoy a piece of birthday cake.  Tonight we celebrated Jasmine's birthday at our sister Anjel's home.  We had sub sandwiches, ice cream and cake.  Jasmine got some really nice gifts as well.  Candice and I got her some cute black patten shoes with an ankle strap, as well as a black and white top that says MUSIC.  She loved them both.  Anjeli also has the Wii game, so we all took turns bowling.  What a blast that was!!  It was our first time playing, and Candice and I played against each other.  Candice won me, the score was 81 to 110.  I've never been good at bowling, but I still really enjoy it.  Mom and Anjeli played against each other, and mom won.   It was so much fun to see mom getting into the game.  We all jokingly agreed to start our own bowling league.  Well, its getting late here and we have a busy day tomorrow.  So its off to bed for the night and we'll post again soon.