11 hours? That ain't right!

Yup. You read right. I actually slept for 11 hours last night. Wouldn't have even gotten up if life hadn't required it. Vicki reports that her "Rain Gauge O' Sleep" (as in, my humidifier tank) was bone dry this morning.

I'm just not sure that all this increased sleep is a good thing, since it never seems to be enough. I always seem to want more than I got, even after 11 hours. So, while I am thankful for the rest, I am still wondering if more sleep required is pointing at something else...

Busy week this week. A number of children's radio program producers are in town for a couple of days, and we're doing the host thing. Which is an honor and pleasure. :-D We had dinner with some of the folks last night, and there was much fellowship and laughter involved. I also finally met face-to-face with one of my role models in this whole kids radio gig, Mr. Nick from We Kids. His style and his open heart with the kiddos (which is a word I stole from him, btw...) have always been something that I pattern my air work after. What a joy to meet these people, and to have some time to share together in our common mission of reaching kids for Christ. Busy week, but fun!!! :-D

Oh - and a quick shout out and a big ol' HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Ironbutt. The beautiful thing about a blog is that I'm too far away for you to throw your little toy thingie at me. :-D But never far away enough for other kinds of torment... Hmmm.... Never mind. Forget I even mentioned anything. In fact, don't even tell Ironbutt that I said that, 'k? :-D

The power of a song

I mentioned a bit ago that I've actually had some creative things going on... and I owe it all to Reason.

Reason?

Yup. Reason (from Propellerheads software) is a self-contained MIDI instrument. It has a number of synths in it, samplers, loop players, and other doo-dads that work together in blissful harmony. And I've discovered that Reason and I get along really well. I have other instrument and sequencing programs, but Reason and I seem to communicate well.

Which brings me to the song. My favorite hymn is Oh The Deep Deep Love Of Jesus. First heard it at a memorial service for a friend at college. David Chase died of a heart attack the night before our freshmen year at CU, in Quincer hall. At his memorial service, I heard the song for the first time, and never forgot it.

Unfortunately, it has two things that make it not on the most-heard-hymns list. First, it's in a minor key... Don't get me started on the issues people have with songs in minor keys. Second, when it does actually see the light of day, for some reason organists see it, see 6/8 or 6/4, and think, "swashbuckling drinking song." So it flies along and you lose all the thoughts in the great lyrics.

That song stayed with me throughout college, prompted me to arrange it for organ, as well as tuba quartet (actually quintet - I also used a flugelhorn), and finally has been arranged in Reason. I'm actually quite pleased with the result, although it's only 97% finished. Still some tweaking and polishing to do before it's ready for the CD.

A song can do that to us. It can stay with us over a long time (in my case, since January of 1978), and bring back memories, teach us things, or encourage us. Rest well in the presence of your Savior, Dave - see you someday. :-D

And, if you'd like to hear the end result, let us know.

Oh The Deep Deep Love Of Jesus
Written By: Samuel Trevor Francis
Music By: Thomas J. Williams

Oh the deep deep love of Jesus
vast unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
in its fullness over me,
underneath me, all around me,
is the current of thy love -
leading onward, leading homeward,
to my glorious rest above

Oh the deep deep love of Jesus
spread his praise from shore to shore!
How he loveth, ever loveth,
changeth never, never more.
How he watches o'er his loved ones,
died to call them all his own;
how for them he intercedeth,
watches o'er them from the throne

Oh the deep deep love of Jesus
love of every love the best
still an ocean vast of blessing
still a haven sweet of rest
Oh the deep deep love of Jesus
'tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me;
and it lifts me up to glory
for it lifts me up to thee

Too much sleep?

It's never good when I have too much sleep... I get way too perky. :-D

Sleep has been going well as of late... Being off one of my medications seems to be having a good effect. Actually the last few nights, I've been asleep before Vicki. That's Hannah's fault - the book she has her nose buried in is the one she passed along and is keeping Vicki up until 1:30am or so reading. :-D Speaking of sleeping, here's another picture from our UP trip - with Ezri dozing on Hannah's lap as Hannah is reading the aforementioned book. Ezri loves Hannah! :-D

The moral of the story, kids? If Hannah offers to lend you a book, run away. Unless you don't want to sleep, that is...

A wonderful time was had by all

Finally have some pictures from our UP trip at the beginning of October... Suffice it to say that an amazing time was had by all. At least I assume we all had an amazing time... Hannah was so buried in her book, that I'm not really sure if she realized she was in the UP...

Just kidding. Really.

If you'd like to see more of the trip, including some great scenery, just let us know.

Life rolls along...

Still alive and well in the world... well, alive at any rate. Good times in the UP - I'll post some details and pics soon. Spent this afternoon in Grand Haven, walking along the channel and taking pictures.

More info soon... gotta get ready for rehearsal right now. :-D