After over two thousand years of getting up every morning to check peoples names in the book of Life who may be interested in heaven being where the spend eternity, St. Peter started to question God’s wisdom in constructing the 2nd entrance. That is until one day when he saw a lone man standing there as he got to work. St. Peter instantly tucked the book of Life under an arm, lifted up his robe a bit and excitedly dashed over to meet this man. When he got there something seemed a little to “all too familiar.” He couldn’t shake the feeling so he bluntly asked the man standing there if he knew where he was. “Of course” replied the hopeful newbie, “I’m standing at the entrance to heaven, waiting to have my name checked off in the book of Life.” He then added, “And you are probably Peter, the apostle, and that there book under your arm must be the book of Life!” Before the gentleman could spit out his name, St. Peter jumped in with another question. “You have noticed, haven’t you, that we have TWO entrances for men wanting into heaven??” “Why yes” the man wanting in stated, “the other is over there, the place where all the other guys are standing, waiting to get in.” St. Peter still couldn’t shake the fact that he just didn’t seem to have that which would set him apart from all the others, so he bluntly, in a very straight-forward manner, asked, “Are you SURE you are standing in the right line!?!” “Why of course!” the other boldly responded. “My wife told me to wait her.”

Yes, busy.

Was massively interested in being a Marine when a teen. A friend of mine at the time was into the Army. I grew up around a lot of Air Force. Well, a few guys I knew ended up joining the Air Force, my friend and switched off, though. He ended up in the Marines, I went Army.

Yes, I seem to be up on my rock vocalists, especially good ones, which I find hard to find in the Christian, or gospel music scene. Or ones that work for me anyway. Actually, only three. Unfortunately, one took his own life, one has not recorded anything in years and that then leaves Russ.

Robert Plant wanted to get ahold of AK. Apparently in a bad way. He got her number and kept leaving messages on her phone. She FINALLY called back. They hooked up, she was interested, history has been made. This is all word of mouth, I haven’t checked anything on the net yet. Also, this is not such a far stretch for Mr. Plant. His band Led Zeppelin was very much Americana/roots/blues influenced.

Oh, and LindaB, that is probably why I am still single. I have a hard enough time keeping up with my own “to do” list, let alone have to help someone out with their’s all the time. By the way, wasn’t the woman created to be man’s helpmate, not the other way around?? Man, the fall really messed a good thing up in a big way! = )

Oh, and presently I envy any guy, or woman for that matter, who would have time enough on the weekend to go out somewhere for the day, or half the day. Oh heck, even a third or fourth of it!

I hope everyone’s doing well!

PS: LindaB, when your man sneaks off telling you he’s playing golf, or has been playing golf, in reality he’s probably off to some other place, or maybe the golf course, pretending he’s Roger Moore, AKA, James Bond!! I understand women play a somewhat different role in that world. They don’t seem to ever have chore lists for some reason = /

Actually, I think Russ is out singing somewhere for Jesus this weekend—-what a great excuse THAT IS! Poor Tori! I feel bad for her now.

ROBERT PLANT! THAT’S IT! Thanks, Jonny! Say, you know your rockers….or else you are a “Googler” too! I was never a fan of Mr.. Plant, but I like him and Allison together (that’s “Allison” with an “i”, as opposed to our Alyson with a “y”.).

We’re glad you joined us, Jonny! You’re a hoot and a half!

And Trish, WHAT? Your “butterless bottom” is laughed off? I’m calling 911! Just stay calm and help will come.

Alyson, I know you are going to really enjoy Gordon Mote tonight! He’s so incredible! Does he still play on Allison Krause’ CD’s? Ask him that for me, will ya? And what is the name of that old British rocker that she’s been recording with lately that won a bushel of awards??? I can’t think of his name now. I would Google it, but I’m afraid I’m gonna wear out my Google machine! It’s like a crutch for old people, like myself, who can’t remember crap! Pretty soon my brain is gonna just conk out and I’ll have to carry my laptop around with me everywhere!

Like, when she had her “Father’s Eyes”??

Sorry, just couldn’t resist = / And thanks Tori! Again, seriously, really good to read good things about her and Vince!! Not that it’s any of my business, but still appreciated!

Peace!

Nashville is actually a small town in a lot of ways, at least as far as the music business is concerned. Russ met Vince back in the mid 90’s when he made his Warner Bros. album. Vince and Amy are so well-loved in Nashville because they are so unbelievably charitable, and have used their time, money and influence to help so many good causes– including the Magdalene House that Russ and I have been so involved with over the years. The last time we were at their house was a couple of years ago when Bill Gaither was in town, as well as a minister that we all know and love named Dudley Hall. Amy and Vince invited some artists that used to go to Bill’s once a year artist retreats (he came down and held a private artist weekend at this state park right outside of Nashville for about 5 years during the 90’s) to come over and spend the evening with Dudley and his wife. Actually, we did Madi’s baby dedication at that little artist retreat, because the year before they had all had prayer for me because we were having trouble getting pregnant, and at the next year’s retreat I brought 2 month old Madi Rose to be christened and prayed over! Sweet, sweet memories…

So yeah, it wasn’t my legendary charisma and my huge bloggy world domination that got her attention– we just go so far back that we can remember what we looked like with 80’s hair and pre-Mom bodies!

Now I’m geting concerned that some of the ‘exciting’ 10% of my life might be reading this blog and the ‘say its’! I seriously need to figure out my own personal ‘blog-worthy’ 10%!

Are we anywhere near 100 Say it!s yet??

I went to a Vince Gill concert a couple years ago and it was fabulous! And I’ve been a fan of Amy’s for years and years! If Tori and her hubby get together with them, I am going to flip out……but carefully because of my age and all.

So……what are you doing talking to US????

See Jonny – our family is great – My Mum agreed with me (even if only once – although I’ve discovered that providing the grandchildren is helpful for that sort of thing) – and I like to give my brother’s career a plug even in the most unlikely of places!

Man, I almost couldn’t finish all that from laughmg so hard!! Hopefully it’s not just funny to me = / LindaB, got my back in case this one backfires??

And yes, D, I’ve believed LindaB and I would make a great team for sometime now. A shame about living half-way across the world from each other, her being old enough to be my grandmother, or was it mother? Oh yes, and that marriage thing she already has goin’ on! But, at least we get to cover each other’s backs over at Tori’s place, I mean this blog!!

Hello– the 10% I write about IS the interesting part! The other 90% is totally mundane! Nobody wants to read a blog about the laundry I just did, or the fact that I made a pork roast last night or had coffee with my friend this morning…

Although guess what? Amy Grant was at the coffee place too, and we hugged and caught up with each other and she put my cell phone # into her phone and she wants the 4 of us to get together… OMG! You are all totally right! My life is a glamorous whirlwind! I’m like, a movie star!! Why am I even talking to you, I should be busily trying to arrange a movie date with Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman… LATER!

Maybe all we have to do is look for those blog-worthy moments that are already there but which usually pass us by. Finding the humour in the day-to-day routine might make the ordinary far more extra-ordinary!

Sorry, just rambling …

Oh, and does that mean you really have 90% more doggies in that house?

And rockin’ robyn you are so right– they hand you a Grammy when you win, and then after your teary acceptance speech and press photos they whisk it right out of your hands! About 3 weeks later you get a box, and there carefully packed in styrofoam is your Grammy with your name engraved on the plaque. It’s in two pieces, and you actually screw the little horn part into the base– which is when I might or might not have once screwed it so tight I broke it…

A: Decaffeinated

Jonny, bless your heart for your concern. I’ll tell you though, I made clear decisions when I first started blogging for the Tennessean newspaper about exactly what areas I would draw the ‘privacy curtain’ around concerning my family and personal life. I discussed my boundaries with Russ and the girls to make sure we were all on the same page, so anything I put on here is definitely with their knowledge and approval. I heard a popular blogger once say that her blog represents about 10% of her life– she doesn’t write about the other 90% because it would either be too boring or too personal! I’d say that’s pretty accurate with me as well. So you guys can be very sure that what I write on here is always the truth, but it is not my whole story… I’m saving that for the movie! HA!

Obviously I’m not very succesful with keeping my mouth shut…or keeping my fingers from the keyboard.

Peace!

Sorry to be a party pooper here, but the haircut, and anything involving Tori’s family, is really none of business. I’m grateful she shares so much, that her family allows her to, but I believe we do need to respect their privacy and space at the same time. Maybe that’s just me, though.

To my understanding Lyle Lovett probably didn’t break “his” Grammy. I believe those are “stunt” awards and the original was given to him after it was properly engraved after the award show. I had the honor of having the great Al Schlesinger as an instructor of one of my Music Business courses years back and we had some great conversation.

I too vote for #2.

Now, Tori, Russ has one more “tropy that is an award from a fan that says so much about Russ and what he has meant to people over the years. Show the native American carving from William Hernandez, and tell the story about it.

My poor furbaby is deceased so I’d be glad to take one off your hands but, for the record, that “disorder” is common. I googled it during the Tweets and found a reason but won’t take the space or time here to recap. Actually, my baby was more interested in the cat’s poop than her own so I had to keep the litter box in the bathroom closet with the door propped only wide enough for the cat to get in. I loved my doggie more than myself EXCEPT for that disgusting craving of hers and I still miss her terribly. No longer have cat either. Okay, now I’ve gone & got myself depressed…must read Tori posts & comments again to get back on the happy side….

I agree with #2 above…on videotape.

Tori, thanks so much for the video and the insight into the Taff trophy case, the narration was great.

About the contest, I too like #2, if you decide to do this one, would you do a video of the process, would like to hear the thoughts of your family about the picture and the caption. This could start a whole new blog.

I heard years ago that when Michael J. Fox returned to Canada to visit his family, he casually left his newly won Emmy on a table in the living room. When the whole fam got up the next morning various other awards had appeared beside it–his brothers bowling and hockey trophies and sisters music and cheerleading awards. Sort of their way of saying “Yeah, you may be a famous actor but you still have to take your turn with the dishes.” –or something like that.
Love that the camp plaques and the cheerleading trophies can live slam up against the Doves and Grammys.But you can always move things around for the blog awards.

Well, not able to view video on phone. It’ll have to wait.

I seriously think we could skip the whole contest part. Maybe just have people share the ones that worked for them the best, as we’ve been doing. Maybe read them to your dogs, I’m assuming it’s easier for you to read to them than it is for them to read them themselves, and make note of which ones keep their interest best. I guess your family members could share their personal faves as well, if they are interested enough = /

When I was a teenager me and my cousin did a imitation of Russ and Tori singing “We Will Stand”. Thank goodness as far as I know it was never put on video. But seriously y’alls music has been a big part of my life. A VERY BIG HEARTFELT “THANKS”!

About the contest I choose option 2.

Now, when you win the “Bloggy” award for the best, most entertaining blog in cyberspace, you will need another bookshelf to “showcase” it……..make a little shrine to yourself. Why not?

I vote for method number 2 for chosing the contest winner……mostly because I can’t wait to see if you can get your family to sit still for it! Or if you can keep Russ AWAKE for it! LOL

I reckon getting a dog to pick out a name would work well – you could even video that too – we’d love to see how its done!

And .. what we all want to know – what time is the big hair appointment? Madi is so pretty she’d look good with nearly any style.

I don’t mean to diminish Russ’ awards – I’d never seen any of those things up close before – but it’s nice to know that they’re just “over there on the book shelf” as opposed to…well, in front of the picture window in a display that says to the world “famous-award-winning-gospel-singer-lives-right-here-with-the-wife-and-kids-and-dog-and-fish”.

Oh, and I think you need to add to the bookshelf the picture of Russ sleeping on the plane…right next to those megaphone thingys and the heavy, pointy birds!

I guess what I’m trying to say is…you guys seem pretty normal to me (gospel-singer-mansion and all) *tongue in cheek* *wink-wink*