Nephews And Papers... And Starch....

Well, I spent all day yesterday writing papers for finals. I started around 12:00...and at 12:03, my brain exploded. From there on, everything in my papers was pretty-much mush. If I get a bad grade on any of them it will be because none of my classes have to do with nails and starch. Anyway, our older brother Mark and his wife Andrea are singing in Scotland this week and we have their one-year-old Trevor and their four-year-old Tyler....the best is that they both want my undivided attention. That can be difficult while writing papers (one of the papers might have something in it about diapers and Batman...).

-Joshua

Road Signs And Animals (And Gravy....)

My brother and I did a concert in Beulah this past week and I saw a few signs that kind of scared me. I'm used to seeing pedestrian crossing, duck crossing, and deer crossing signs, but when I saw a BEAR CROSSING sign, I spent the rest of the ride in the trunk. If that wasn't bad enough, a little farther down the road I saw the scariest sign of all: TRUCK CROSSING.... "Whoa, man did you see that deer? That was close... Holy smoke, a bear! We almost hit that one!............SWEET MERCY AN EIGHTEEN-WHEELER!!!!" Anyway, I have resolved never to drive back there again. I may have to take a submarine next year....
However, all that got me thinking about how different animals cross the road differently. For instance, a deer will look and say, "I can make it..." then you feel BUMP. Then there's the squirrel: a squirrel will look both ways, get all the way to the center line, and THEN go back... Then you feel BUMP. Then there are cats. They wait until a car is coming and THEN go. Then you feel BUMP...then back up and feel BUMP..then go forward and feel BUMP...then go in reverse and feel BUMP...sorry, I'm not a cat person... Then the last of them all: then there's the old ladies that just don't care... they cross the street whether there's a car or not. They usually make you wait.... I don't like to wait....

-Joshua

MY FIRST RECORDING!!!

Hey everybody, I'm going to be singing on a CD! No, it's not my first solo album. The college choir is making a CD and I'm in the choir, ergo, I'm going to sing on a CD. Ergo....that's a cool word. I like letting the ergo out of a balloon. WOW that was dumb. Anyway, I'm waiting for a class that got moved and I'm not totally sure the teacher remembered. I guess I'll know if it's around eight-thirty and the class is an hour late. If I have to ride home on an empty stomach, I might have to stop off at a craft store for a snack.....seriously, don't ask.

-Joshua

Pair-Of-Somethings

So, I found out today that my pet germ has moved on to that great cold infestation in the sky. Oh well, on the bright side, the concert, as my brother said, went VERY well. I'm upset that Michael wasn't there, but it was still god in spite of that. we got our picture taken with a bunch of people who don't know who we are, and then we drove and drove and drove...and drove... and drove.... mater of fact, I'm pretty sure that the car is ready to sue us for abuse.
Anyway, the school year is more than half over and I'm looking forward to summer and dreading it at the same time. It's like another weird pair-of-oxen.....oh, kielbasa!If I can ever say right just paradox once, I'll be able to die happy. I just can't seem to say paradox without messing up some part of the word. Tricky word, paradox. Anyway, it's like a strange pair-of-...never mind. it's that I'm looking forward to summer and dreading it at the same time. I really enjoy college, but I'm looking forward to summer break; however, I am NOT looking forward to mosquitoes. Or platypuses. Those things scare me.

-Joshua

Going to concerts, and singing in concert

Last Saturday, Josh and I went to Grand Rapids to see the Gaither Vocal Band in concert. They sang in the Van Andel Arena with a few other groups and soloists, and it was one of the coolest concerts we've ever been to. The only bummer was that Michael English was not there to sing with them because he recently had gone through some surgery and couldn't make it. He had to have some back surgery on a bulging disk, but for some reason the doctors had to go in through his neck! The doctors didn't have to touch his vocal cords (praise the Lord!) but he still can't sing for a couple more weeks because he still feels like he's been hit by a truck! They had Reggie Smith sing in his place, and he did a pretty good job.
This weekend will be busy for us. Our college choir is recording a CD this Saturday. They hired our brother Mark to bring part of his studio stuff to the college and record them. The same day, Josh and I will be driving up to Beulah, Mi to set up for a morning service the next day.......this will be a lot better than getting up before the roosters crow!
I'll be adding more pictures to the website this week. If I don't get it done later today, I'll definitely get them up by Thursday!
Please pray for our travel safety, and Michael English's recovery.
-Stephen

Stomach Pain, Concerts, And Cheese....

Aside from the fact that my pet germ hasn't been seen or heard from since yesterday, I have a MAJOR stomachache right now. If you want to know how much it hurts, take your bottom lip and pull it over your head; now staple it there and stick potatoes in your ears. Okay, maybe that's a slightly huge exaggeration, but I don't think I'm going to sleep at all tonight.
Anyway, my brother and I are excited because we're going to a concert tomorrow night (Michael, you better be there to sing!). It's in Grand Rapids so we get to drive a long ways, stay for several hours, then drive a long ways back home really late...... I CAN'T WAIT!!!! Seriously, it's gonna be fun.

-Joshua

P.S.- If you're wondering what relation cheese has from the title to this blog....never mind, don't try to figure it out. It gives me nightmares just thinking about it. (And I'm not even asleep!)

Website news + more!

Hey everyone! Well, If you haven't checked our schedule yet, you really should. God has been really good lately and has helped to fill our schedule with a bucket full of new dates!
May is going to be a crazy month for us. During the week that we are supposed to be studying for finals, we are booked for a four-day revival from Sunday through Wednesday, one day off (at school), then singing in Cole,Mi. for a Mother/Daughter banquet on Friday, then singing for a Ladies' luncheon on Saturday! If I fail my tests.......I'll know why!
Keep watching our website. I've been adding more stuff to it, including some new pictures this week, see if you can spot the new ones!
Mark and Andrea have finally arrived home from Florida this week. I'll be in the studio tomorrow for some track fixes from our new instrumental CD, then we'll be singing again in Clifford, Mi this Sunday!

-Stephen

What IS Schnitzel???

Well, it's like my brother said on his last post: we are on spring break. Unfortunately, that ends for us when we go back to classes this Tuesday! I'm kind of looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time. It's kind of like a weird pair-of-ducks.... wait, I mean paradox. Part of me is saying "Yes, I can go back now!" Meanwhile, the other part wants to stick my head in a vice. "Crank 'er down, Charlie!" Anyway, enough about a pair-of-boxes.... Schnitzel, I did it again!
Oh well, in other news....other news...hmmm...other.... news..... Ah, yes! I've discovered that there's nothing poetic about sardines.

-Joshua

Spring Break!

Well, Josh and I have the week off from college this week for our spring break. A lot of people do a lot of wild/foolish thing on their school break, but not me. Probably the craziest thing that I've ever done for my school break is dive into a pool without first checking for water! Some of my friends who go to a Bible college down in Florida have told me that they do not get a spring break. To these poor souls, and all who share their unfortunate situation I say.......NANANANANANANANA!!!!!
Just kidding, but I had to get that one in! While I'm off from college, I'll be doing a little spring cleaning. It's amazing what can take root and start growing in your bedroom if you don't clean it once in a while! I'll also be taking extra time to work on filling our schedule with new concert booking. That kind of work can be very tricky. On more than one occasion we have been called for five new dates in one week, while at other times, trying to fill our schedule can be like trying to make Niagara Falls dry up!
We're also hoping that we'll finally be getting hi-speed internet this week. I'm glad, because while waiting for my dial-up to load to write this blog......I had to go shave again! (Which is bad, because I usually only shave once a week!)
Keep checking our website. I have been adding new things a lot lately (from my college, with real internet). The newest feature is a page dedicated to advertising special events. We consider them all special, but the concerts listed there are unique with events that feature us singing with multiple groups, along with other great surprises that don't normally happen in our concerts! Be sure that you also watch our regular schedule page as well.
I've also added a page dedicated a page to advertising the Christian Music School conference that Josh and I have gone to in the past to learn about Gospel music.Practically everything we know about our ministry today we learned there. I'll try to add some pictures to it later.
Check it all out!
-Stephen

EXCUSE ME!!!!

I just wanted to say my piece about all the hits my brother got on his blog, "Stephen and Girls". Apparently, he said something about only being able to get a girl on another planet, and then he received a bunch of comments on it, denying the FACT and even countering his comments. To me, this proves only one thing... there IS life on Mars!!! No offense if you left a comment, but...OK, I mean a lot of offense. Deal with it.

P.S. If you wrote about me....you must be in tune with God.

-Joshua