day 6 & 7, driving (late, I know)

I left Mississippi ready to get back home. I really don't miss it anymore. There's nothing there for me to go back to. I have such a great life here and so many things going on.
Driving was one of the worst ordeals of my life. We started the 4th at 6:30 am and drove till i couldn't drive anymore, which was about 8:30 that night. We only stopped for gas and bathroom breaks. That night we stayed in an over priced best western about 2 hours before Amarillo, TX.
The next day we started at about the same time. We didn't get in Bullhead till about 9ish that night and it was a grueling ordeal to make it. I was so physically and mentally tired at that point, it was unbelievable.
The jeep did very well. It had really good gas mileage and didn't have any malfunctions or anything.
I've been home for almost a week and I'm really glad to be back. I'm really glad to have a vehicle again after so long.

After 27 years of life, I feel like I'm starting to get to where I've wanted to be in life for a long time. I have a vehicle, a steady job that I've stuck with, a worship ministry that i'm working on, a wonderful girl who wants to marry me, and I'm looking into getting an apartment soon. There's still alot of uncertainty but I know I'm in a good place.

Music:

Before the venture back I bought 2 cd's because I knew my fm transmitter for my ipod wouldn't last. I purchased Stick To Your Guns, Comes From The Heart cd, and also the new A Day To Remember, Homesick.
I had originally wrote off STYG but their new cd is very good. Very heavy but a little too much melody in places kinda throws off the balance. It was very much hardcore, in the vein of Terror (guest vocals from Scott Vogel helped I'm sure), but the singing parts made it sound like a metalcore/screamo cd. Good cd, but won't be in my constant rotation.
If you liked ADTR before, this new cd will make you loved them. Its very much the same formula, pop-punk/hardcore/heavy breakdowns, but their are alot more poppy singing parts and less heavy parts, but the heavy parts are much heavier. Choruses are very catchy and memorable and the breakdowns sound much like Recon. This cd helped make my trip back a little more pleasant.
When I got back I also purchased David Crowder's live Remedy cd/dvd. I love David Crowder's stuff. His passion and originality are things that I really love and I look up to him, being a worship leader myself. This cd has been in pretty constant rotation for the last week. I'd really love to be able to do alot of the stuff he does with electric guitar and synths in my church.


Anyways I hope you maybe check out David Crowder's new cd, and the A Day To Remember also. Stick To Your Guns, not so much

day 3

Well today was a bit rough.
I have come to realize that my mother isn't the same. She's changed a lot since I've been gone and I am pretty sure that's not a good thing. We've ended up butting heads but I didn't lose my cool.
My old church has grown and all the people I grew up with have grown up, got married, and are having kids. Its a little surreal. Its hard to think of us as all grown up. I remember going on easter egg hunts on easter with some of them when I was 3 or 4, I went to youth group and school with them. To see them as adults is a little odd.
The worship team at my old church is insane. Its almost like watching hillsong united. They are so professional, organized, and talented. I don't want to become envious but its a little hard. I wish I could have worship like that with my team but it can happen with time. I do remember when they didn't even have a worship team.

Anyways, I am sort of missing this place; not enough to leave arizona, that is my home. I am ready to come home though.
The thought of driving back is wearing on my mind but I'm trusting that it will be ok. This is the first time I've ever done anything like this. Its exciting and nerve racking all at the same time.

In the meantime, I'm reading Blue Like Jazz and enjoying it very much.

In Irons

I did an interview with In Irons for hxcchristian.com

Check it out

http://hxcchristian.com/47/yarrr-in-irons-matey