But as cold as it has been, it does not compare to what we experienced stepping off the bus this morning.  Here in Des Moines, the heat wave has kicked in and brought the temp up to a healthy 10 degrees.  Yikes!  The fact that it was 6 degrees when we got up had us worried because Scott F. forgot to bring a coat this weekend.  But when we saw that heat wave kick in and get it up to a smoldering 10 we knew all would be fine!

We are expecting a great time tonight with IMC concerts and then on to Mountain Home Arkansas tomorrow night.  Make sure and join us if we are close to your neck of the woods.  This week has been busy on the studio front as tracks were cut on Monday for the new Jubilee 3 project.  Then on Tuesday L5 was in the studio cutting tracks for a new as of yet un-named project.  It’s always fun to get started on new material and we look forward to getting to share it with you sometime later this year.

This week I am including a segment that we have done in the past called “A Few of My Favorite Things”.  This time it features our baritone and resident funny man Scott Howard.  Howie, as we refer to him on the bus, is truly a wonderful man of God and I know you will get a kick out of some of the things in his answers.

Also, it’s time to continue our video questions, so my next victim, I mean participant is our wonderful piano player, Trey Ivey.  Please post any questions that you have for Trey and we will film his answers and post them on our video blog.  If you have never seen the video blog I encourage you to check it out at www.youtube.com/legacyfiveblog  There are some great things on there that I am sure you will enjoy.

So enjoy Howies answer and as always,

Until next time…..

A Few of My Favorite Things

My Favorite:

Color:  Red

Food:  Seafood

Vacation Spot:  Disney World

Way to spend a day off:   Fishing

Scripture:  Romans 8:28

TV Show:   Flying Wild Alaska

City to Visit: Ketchikan,Alaska

Childhood Memory:  Fishing with my Dad

Thing about Legacy Five:  Seeing the country while doing what I love and ministering to people all in one.

Thing about Singing or Playing:   I get paid to do something I am passionate about.

Thing to splurge on when buying:   Hunting/Fishing Gear

App for my phone:  Police Scanner

Restaurant:  Papa Deauxs

I’ve never been good at unplugging, so it was something that I even surprised myself with to be honest.  I even left my phone at home for several family outings, which caused my family to go into complete shock, and I’m not sure that they have recovered still!  So it was a little difficult for me to get back in the swing of things at the first of the year, so my apologies for the silence.

Our New Years Celebration was incredible once again.  What a great time of singing and ministry in one of the most incredible facilities there is.  We had a wonderful time and there simply is no better way to start the new year off.

Then it was on to Marrietta for our annual concert in the Atlanta area.  The concert was promoted by our friends at IMC and it was Mr. Landon Beene who delivered a very memorable introduction for L5 that evening.  He shared that 13 years ago he was there at the concert in Marrietta sitting in the middle section about half way back when Legacy Five took the stage for the very first time and he was so excited that 13 years later he was able to promote the concert and get to introduce the group!  What an incredible thing to hear!  Thanks to Landon and everyone in Marrietta for making that event so special for us.

We then traveled to Lakeland Florida for a concert that is unique in it’s own way as well.  You see, the venue is always standing room only in Lakeland, but they also broadcast the concert over the internet.  So it is a chance for our friends from all over the world to get a seat at the concert, and we had a blast.

This week we are in 4 states in 4 days!  Starting in Oklahoma, then Texas, Kansas, and Illinois.  So keep us, our driver, and Sunny in your prayers as we travel.  Be sure to come and see us if we are close to your neck of the woods.  We enjoy getting to see our friends and look forward to being with each of you in the near future.

Also, I would love to hear what your favorite thing was that you received for Christmas this year.  I received a gift that I absolutely loved.  It was a set of Predator cuff-links that I have been wanting for a couple of years now and they came from my wife.  So be sure to share what your favorite gift was and who it came from!

Until next time…..

Once the meal was over, the ladies spent about an hour getting all the leftovers divided up into containers so each family could take home some of the extra food and nothing would go to waste.  So in the past four days I have had more weird combinations of a traditional Thanksgiving meal than any one should ever have to endure.  Turkey in every form possible, like chicken at a Chinese Buffet, ways I never thought possible.  It’s been good but enough is enough.  Thus the title of the blog!  I have reached my limit, and thank goodness, the leftovers have run out!

Each morning if possible, after having breakfast with Tam and the kids I check my email and try to outline my day so I can effectively accomplish all the things that I need to.  Over the last few months I have received several emails from some of my L5 friends who are walking thru some tough times.  They are always so gracious and simply ask that we pray for their situation.  Friends, please know this, We Are Praying!  We do not take these requests lightly.  Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a job, or a tough situation in everyday life, We Are Praying!

It touches my heart each time I read one of these, not just because of the need, but also because I want to do everything that I can to reassure and comfort you in your time of need.  The one thing I know beyond everything is this. God Is Able!  I have experienced this first hand.  There is no place that you can walk that God cannot reach, and even though you may not see it right now, He is working on your behalf.  Sometimes it is so hard to stand in the middle of a storm and know that the sunshine is coming.  One thing that has helped me thru difficult times is hearing from others the things that God has brought them thru.

So this is what I would like for you to do.  If God has brought you thru something, take this opportunity to share it with those who are going thru something themselves.  How you ask?  By simply posting it in the responses of this blog.  So many of our friends stop by the table each night to share with us how they read the blog, and that it makes them laugh or encourages them.  So I am asking for your help in this.  I know there are many stories of encouragement out there, and it would do wonders for those who read this and really need to read something uplifting.

Just share your story in the responses, and let it be an encouragement to those who need it.  If you are touched by one of the stories, be sure to respond as well!  Let’s take the opportunity at this time of the year, to help each other with the great stories of what God has done in our lives!

Until next time…..

Most would see this as something that is minor at best, but I truly am beginning to believe that it is the very understanding of the concept of acceptance that causes most of the major pitfalls in my spiritual walk.  So many things that I have experienced over the last few years of my life have amplified this situation to the point that it has caused me to re-evaluate my thought process, and for me, that is a big thing.

I am by nature a process person.  I like to think that I can logically process a situation from point A to point B and come up with the proper action or solution.  But what if the very process I have depended on for years now is proven to be flawed?  I now wonder if this very process is the thing that keeps me from the goals I work so hard to achieve.

Trying to understand the way someone else thinks is extremely difficult at best.  But it is the only way to exist in relationships.  The simple truth is that everyone does not respond or think the same way.  Now before anyone gets worried, I’m not talking about theological issues here.  I’m talking about trying to exist and better the relationships we are in on a daily basis, starting at home with our families, then our friends, our co-workers, etc.  Wouldn’t it be incredible if these were all highly productive relationships in our lives.

Unfortunately, that’s not often the case.  Some conflicts are unavoidable.  But most are simply a lack of understanding or acceptance by one side of the other sides position.  There are times when both sides are right, and those are the times that I seem to need help with.  How much more productive could my relationships be if I could understand the concept of both sides being right.  I believe the shortfall comes because of my inability or unwillingness to understand the other “right”.

I do know this.  I can really tell when the relationships at all levels in my life are working how they are supposed to.  There is a harmony that creates a joyful approach to each day.  Life truly becomes an enjoyable series of challenges that are much easier to accomplish with a smile.

So the next time that life seems to be getting tough, do what I do.  Reevaluate the influential relationships in your life and make sure that you are doing your best to be accepting of views other than your own.  If you’re like me, you might just learn something in the process!

Until next time…..

It’s always easy for my son, because he likes being the man of the house in my absence, but it is never easy for my wife and daughter. Usually when we have these longer trips it gets a little solemn at my house the day and evening before, and it was no different this time.  Tamra and Kylie were both on the quiet side all thru dinner and throughout the evening.  We woke up early Friday morning and had breakfast together before we said our goodbyes.  Tam was off to work and I had to pack for the trip.

I turned the TV on to Fox news, getting geared up for being on the bus with Fowler, and was reminded that it was Veterans day.  Now you all know that I have a strange thought process, and somehow in my mind Veterans day was not until Monday.  I did know it was close because my daughter and I had watched the Vietnam in HD special on the History channel.  It was a great way for Kylie to learn about the war for her home schooling, and it was an incredibly good presentation that if you missed, you should be sure to catch.  In our house, we are very proud  and thankful for the many Veterans who have served this country, and made it what it is, the greatest nation on earth!

As I was packing there was an interview on Fox News that really got my attention.  It was a man whose son had wanted to join the military at the age of 17.  This man was career military himself, so he was both thrilled and proud that his son would choose to follow in his footsteps.  But being only 17, the young man could only join if his father signed for him.  The man continued to explain in the interview that he was proud to sign his son up at 17, and was thrilled and proud as he watched his son excel at an unbelievable pace thru the ranks.

It was at this point that the interview really gripped my heart, as the father explained how in 2006 his son was killed in action trying to help one of his buddies who had been shot and was still in the line of fire.  He explained that as his son was trying to reach his injured friend he was killed by enemy fire.  I was amazed at the strength of this man as he sat there talking about his son and the sacrifice his son had made.

Now I’ll be the first to tell you, it didn’t change the fact that I was struggling with having to walk out of my house and not seeing my family for almost 2 weeks, but there was one simple truth that made it a lot easier than before.  I would be coming home!  Yes, saying goodbye was difficult, but in no way was it the same as what that family had walked thru.

As I have stated before, if you look hard enough, you can always find someone who is walking thru something that makes your valley look like a mountain top.  It’s all perspective, and how we choose to look at the situation we are in, so I choose to thank God for the opportunity to do something that I love, with a wonderful group of men that I am privileged to have in my life.

We are quickly approaching Thanksgiving.  A time to reflect on the things in life that we are grateful to God for.  So I challenge you over the next few days to reexamine your perspective, and make sure that it is one of thanks for the many things God has done for us that we sometimes let slip thru the cracks.  Also, make it a point this week to thank all of the Veterans that you know for their wonderful gift of service to our country.  Without their service, this country would not be anything that it is today!

Until next time…..

They know that I travel and sing, though I am not convinced that they truly understand what it is that we do.  So I usually don’t talk a lot about my travels, and focus more on what is going on at home, because all of my family gets their hair done there, hair done there, that rhymes, ha, back to the task at hand, squirrel!, anyway, just saying they know all of us.  So it tends to be fun to give them things to bring up with other members of my family when they go in.  Now before you ask, or pass judgement, yes I am that mischievous!

I guess my answer was one that they just simply were not expecting, because I told them that the day before we had put up our outside Christmas lights.  There was a moment of silence, followed by a very poignant “Are You Kidding!”  To which I replied that I was not.  They immediately followed with, “Oh, so you just leave them off until later?”  At that point I turned in the chair to see if I was being pranked.  When I realized they were serious I told them no, we turned them on as soon as we were finished.

I couldn’t believe the looks I was getting.  It was as if I had broken some sort of home decorating rule!  I mean really!  Where is it written that you can’t get a jump on Christmas.  My family loves this time of year, and we always complain that it is over too soon.  So this year we decided to let it last a little longer.  I tried explaining that because of my travel schedule we did not get to enjoy our Christmas decorations as much as we would like to, so we did something about it.

This brought a little understanding to everyone involved in the conversation, with the exception of one woman across the way who proceeded to share her thoughts on the subject.  According to her, I had diminished one of the very important holidays that takes place a month before Christmas, and that is Thanksgiving.  She felt that by decorating early we were not able to give Thanksgiving the attention it needed.  “That’s the problem with our society today” she said.  “People want the gifts, but they don’t want to take the time to be thankful for what they have.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing!  I do agree that there are many who do not appreciate what they are blessed with, but trust me, that is not me or anyone in my family.  We have always celebrated Thanksgiving!  It has always been the start of the Christmas season for us.  I mean really, what better way to celebrate the birth of our Saviour than with a time of thankfulness for all that He has blessed us with.  I just didn’t see, and still don’t see, how decorations and lights can diminish the meaning of Thanksgiving in our home.

I shared with them that Christmas for our family was not about the gifts we get from each other, but about the gift of a Saviour that was given to us by God, and that’s something that we are extremely thankful for.  So truly, the  two holidays go hand in hand at our house.  We can’t have Christmas without Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving doesn’t exist without the true meaning of Christmas.

So what are your beliefs regarding this?  Do you decorate early or not, and why?

Until next time…..

I want to say a big THANKYOU for all of the answers you have taken the time to give in the last blog.  They are a great help to us.  We sometimes are caught up in songs that are new and forget the ones that you our friends identify as Legacy Five songs, so hearing from you has been a great help.

The end of the year is quickly approaching, and if you haven’t made your reservations for our New Years Celebration, now is the time.  It is the best of our Celebration events!  This years line-up of artists is spectacular, and there is no better place than the Opryland Hotel at this time of year.  Over 2 million lights, 12 nativity scenes, and 3 days full of great gospel music.  It’s incredible, and the price cannot be beat!  Just go to our website, www.legacyfive.com  and click on events and make your reservation today.

If you have been waiting for the video blog answers from Cuz, the first series will be posted shortly.  So be sure to check them out at our video blog at www.youtube.com/legacyfiveblog

Frank Lloyd Wright once said “I’m all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools.  Let’s start with typewriters.”  Though I am not a fan of him personally, I have to say that I agree with that statement.  You see, I am forever amazed each night at the table when you step up and say “I really enjoy the blog.”  I have never, and still don’t consider myself a writer, so I am humbled that you enjoy reading my ramblings.  I am definitely a process person.  I like to understand things from point A to B, and struggle with the things that I can’t figure out within that process.  So to have people read and actually like some of those things is forever humbling, and I wanted each of you to know it is appreciated.

We have some exciting things in the works for next year, and I will be sharing about those in the next few weeks, so stay strong in the Faith and be blessed.

Until next time…..

When you come to a Legacy Five concert, what are three songs you expect to hear?  Now please understand, these are not necessarily your favorite three songs, but the three songs you feel L5 is best known for.  For example, if you were trying to see if a friend knew who Legacy Five was, what are the three most popular L5 songs that they might recognize.

Two great things are happening this weekend.  First, it’s great having Cuz back on the bus.  We made it thru in his absence, but it’s a whole lot better with him!  I mean really.  Can you call yourself a group with out a Bass singer?  I think not!  Apologies to GV and BB, but one day maybe you can get a Bass and be a real group!

Second, it’s Treys first weekend back on the bus since he got married!  He and Kayla had a beautiful ceremony in Cleveland GA last weekend, just ask Scott Fowler how nice it was, and we are so happy for them both.  Treys hometown is a beautiful place.  You go to the middle of nowhere, and take a left!  (rim shot – kick)  But seriously folks, it was great to see so many great friends at the wedding, and to get to share in Trey and Kaylas wonderful day.

Another great thing this weekend will be that we are making a rare appearance in Tennessee.  I have heard thru the grapevine that one of my all time favorite song writers will be at the concert, none other than Dianne Wilkinson.  Some may not recognize her name, but trust me, we all know her songs.  Boundless Love, We Shall See Jesus, Homeland, Master Builder, Goin’ In Style, Strike Up The Band, Old White Flag, and What Salvations Done For Me, just to name a few.  It’s always great to see her, and an honor to get to sing for her!

That’s it for now, but don’t forget to give your answer to the question.  I’m looking forward to hearing from each of you.

Until next time…..