I don't want to leave

We've been home for two nights and we had a concert in Nashville last night. We are getting ready to leave again and I really don't want to.

Number 1. I still have lots left to do here like dusting and straightening and cleaning the tub.

Number 2. It's the beginning of the end. I've made new friends and in two weeks we won't see them anymore. That is going to be so strange.

Number 3. I don't know what is next after the tour. I'll go back to that unknown waiting game where we just sit and wait for God to show us what is next. It will be nice to be home for a little bit, but I'm loving working for World Vision and I don't want to stop. *The Daniel Doss Band has a couple of summer camps planned, but after that it's pretty much wide open.

Well looks like my bellyaching won't stop the clock- We really do have to leave in a couple of hours, so here we go. I have packing to do and some quick straightening of the house then we're headed out!

My Beef with The Big Give

I just got home and was catching up on some TV time. I watched the last 3 episodes of Oprah's Big Give. I love love love to give, so shows like this spark my interest. I found that at the beginning the shows made me cry, but these last few shows disgusted me in a way. Maybe I've changed due to being on the road, maybe the show changed. Here's my issue with it: as they got closer to the finale the givers were trying to out-give each other and it seemed they were becoming even more selfish with every episode. They were trying to give yes, but trying to be in the spotlight saying that their giving was better than everyone else's. I am thinking about times that Daniel and I have been able to give and bless others, those were such blessings for us as well. Part of the blessing is being able to give without self promotion or recognition. Matthew 6:3 "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
Maybe a part of the show was to promote giving and help it become a trendy thing to do. Like going green has now become the cool thing to do. I just saw so many things that were such a turn off. Like that the winner received $500,000 for themselves and $500,000 to give away. Humm. Is that an oxymoron- the big giver was the big winner? The real question is what will they do with that money now that they won (top three winners received $100,000). Will they continue to give or will they delve even deeper into the selfish culture we live in? What about us? Are we doing our part?

Jacksonville, FL

Last week we attended a Jacksonville Sun's Baseball game. The concert was the post game show. They had a skybox reserved for us. This was the first time I'd ever been in a skybox and it was soooo cool. The view was great and they had popcorn and drinks there for us. We got to walk around the area around the hotel and it was really nice. I would love to go back to Jacksonville, FL and stay a little longer. Especially at night the city lights up. I should have taken a picture of that. The bridge was one color the building had other colors, very beautiful. Here are a couple of pics thanks to Bryan. One is the view from our hotel room and the other is of the field while the guys were warming up. Did I mention that I'm now a baseball fan? We've had two very fun experiences regarding baseball and I think I'm now a fan. We got to go to the Sun's office and everything was decked out baseball.

Suite Life

When we were in Charlotte, NC we had a day off. We got to stay in a hotel with suites. We talked Joe into cooking for us. He is an amazing cook and since we had a stove in our suite it worked out perfectly. The guys walked to the nearest Harris Teeter and got the groceries. He made Breaded Chicken with Alfredo sauce and Pasta and boy was it good. YUMMMM!!! We had to take the pots and pans from the three hotel rooms we were staying in to have enough to cook for 11 people, but we managed and we got them all back to their correct room by the time we left.

Shallotte, NC

We made some new friends in Shallotte, NC. They have a beach house they are renting and they allowed us to hang out there. It was a little cold, but nice to be able to see the ocean.

The beaches of North Carolina were where I first saw the ocean so that kinda took me back.
This was totally unexpected to be so close to the beach.

We are so grateful to the people who are there at the churches and provide so much for us. We are totally depending on them for food, lodging, showers, towels, rides, etc.



Thanks again for all you do- any of you promoters, volunteers out there- you are truly appreciated!!!

Dodgertown

We got to stay in Dodgertown a few days ago. It was so nice. There were at least 6 baseball fields. This is where the Dodgers practice in the winter/spring months. I'm now a baseball fan. It was the coolest thing. Even the lights on the lampposts looked like baseballs.

Today I miss these people....

I'm listening to a podcast from Grace Community Church right now. It has been three weeks since we've been home for church. So today I'm posting pics from our last small group because these are the people I miss today.




Our friends the Howards (Ryan is in the picture with Daniel.) had an extra copy of the curriculum that we are currently going through and let us bring it on the road with us. We are on the bus because we had a flat tire and haven't arrived yet so Daniel and I sat down to watch the current video. I really enjoy the iMarriage series and have to say that so far it's challenged our great marriage to take another step further into greatness. (That sounds funny, but I don't know how else to say it.) I love Daniel so much and am so glad God has called us on this adventure together. He's such a man of God and has such a heart to do what God has called him to. Thank you Lord for such a wonderful husband and for such a great small group!!!

Soooooo COLD

Living on a bus is a little bit like being a guest in someone else's house. They know whether they like it hot or cold and they control the thermostat. You being the guest don't really get to choose....that's how it is on the bus. They keep the bus really really cold so that germs don't spread. (That I am grateful for.) We have two vents in each bunk and mine seem to blow continuously on my face. One of mine can close and one is broken so it stays 1/2 way open all the time. Last night I was soooooo cold. I usually keep some socks hands just in case my feet are about to freeze off, but I forgot this time and left them stored under the bus. Next week I'll have to bring my own blanket to supplement they one in the bunk. Burrrrrrr. We are headed to FL so my only hope is that during the day I'll thaw out!

Special Moments on the Road

A lady came to the World Vision table and said that she couldn't have children and wanted to sponsor this certain child. I was moved to tears and we just stood there and cried for a few minutes and hugged. She was a total stranger, but we instantly had a connection.

A lady came up the the World Vision table another night and said that God wanted her to give me a book. She was moved to tears because God had spoken to her and told her to go to the bookstore located in the church and buy Daniel a book about unanswered prayer. She then found out from her best friend who was working my table that I was Daniel's wife and she was moved to tears and gave us that book because of what Daniel had shared from the stage.

Each night I have new volunteers and I get to hear people's stories and find out what God is doing in their lives. It is an amazing job and I never anticipated getting to hear so much about what people are going through. This truly is an amazing job!

O Happy Day

My parents got to come to the concert last night. It was so good to see them and to share my new experiences with them. Daniel's brother Chuck and his Dad also got to come. Our good friend, Ben Lamb, who was a groomsman in our wedding came and brought 6 friends from his church near Chicago. It was a great day. Courtney from Cadia had a birthday and her family was there. Tori (also from Cadia) had a surprise visit from her boyfriend. It was so good to share this new adventure with our family. I got to give my parents a tour of the bus...shhh....don't tell the tour manager. We snuck on while no one else was around. :)

We are in Iowa today!

What day is it and where are we?

This morning I had to find out where we were before I exited the bus. I want to know where we are just to get some frame of reference. They told me St. Joseph's MO. So I know I'm in Missouri, but not exactly sure where St. Joseph's is in MO. I was hanging around waiting again and I called my friend Teresa. I forgot it was a Saturday. I was thinking that it was just another week day. She said that it's raining a lot in Clarksville, but here it's nice and sunny. I have to be ready to leave in about an hour so I thought I'd write a quick random blog.

Daniel scared me this morning saying that a bus wrecked in Minnesota last night and that it was on the news. I feel very safe on our bus and our bus driver Jim rocks! My dad always told me though that he worried about the other people more than he worried about me. But we are all safe and sound. :)

Daniel and I got to go to a mall today! A real live mall. Not the Mall of America that some of the group went to yesterday, but a mall none the less. I was glad to see a store to look around at and something besides cold cuts for lunch. It's rare for Daniel and I to get to hang out so some fun alone time at the mall did me some good.

The guys are doing great. Derek is struggling with a cold and is fiercely trying to fight if off before it gets bad. Everyone else is doing good. Bryan has a blog as well it is http://somethingstandardtime.blogspot.com. I think most of us have been able to sleep well, and I feel rested every day which I'm so thankful for.

We had 33 or 34 children sponsored last night which is really good. I'm so excited that World Vision is going well.
later,
Emily

Waiting

I find myself waiting a lot on tour. We get up and get rolling about 8:30 or 9am and then we don't crash until about 2am. That would make for an extremely long day. I've found that I have to pace myself. I can't go go go all day long and then be very effective at the concert that night. I have to save up some of energy for then. I've gotten everything set up this morning and am waiting to get ready. I have a few quiet moments and a really nice couch so I'm taking advantage of it.
We've heard that ticket sales aren't that good tonight, which is a bummer. I'm still hoping for a good response to World Vision though.
We are in Emporia, KS.
It's really flat here. And it's a dreary day.

Here are some pics from another venue where we was also waiting....





That's Derek who plays guitar and Bryan who plays bass guitar.



That's Joe the drummer.



That's me! :)



This is Joe's drawing of the Daniel Doss Band. I was impressed. This was one that he did when we were waiting at an old high school that is now used as a community center.

What do I do everyday?

Everyday I set up the tables and signs for World Vision. I make sure that the presentation looks good and then I train the volunteers that come to help run the table. Here are some pics of the table. :)







I also have another small sign that makes it more symmetrical, but this venue didn't have the space for it.


There is another guy that I share the lobby with. His name is Eric and he is the Merch Guy! Here is his display.