Happily Ever After

Yes, today is my 17th wedding anniversary. Wow, I never would have thought I'd be with someone even half that long. In my checked past I just couldn't stay committed to a woman very long at all. I was always on the move afraid of letting a woman too close to me. But Diana (my wife of course today) was different from all there rest. Very special in many ways. I knew of her for years before we even started dating. Even when I was still in my mess, I remember seeing her downtown where she used to work for the bank one day. She was so nice to me even though she knew I was struggling with substance abuse. We talked for a few minutes, and I recall feeling embarrassed because I was high on something, probably weed, and was uncomfortable talking to her like that. But I never forgot how nice it was to talk to her. We had originally met at Holly Park church, but I had left for about 6 1/2 yrs. When I returned we were both single, but I didn't think she'd be interested in me. How wrong I was. We finally began t date, but I still was unable to commit. I thought for sure I was going to blow my chance to be with the best woman I had ever met. But in time and with a solid spiritual trans formation in the Lord, I was able to pull it together enough to marry the woman of God. Amen.

I've learned over the years not to put my baby on a pedestal. That we both had, and still have, a lot of growth to experience. Praise God! That's a good thing. We both brought past experiences to the relationship and have had to learn how o understand one another in love. I thought I knew how much Diana loved me before I was diagnosed with cancer. But after we were told I had contracted cancer I really saw how powerful her love is for me. I know God will provide me with whatever I need, but I just can't imagine going through my health issues without Diana. Who else could do what she continues to do for me. It would have been too much for some to deal with. But Diana seemed to gather strength from the challengers before her. She goes most days, everyday, with little or no sleep. But doesn't complain. She has her moments where she seemingly runs out of gas, put she always reaches down and pulls it together to bless my family and I, every time. Praise the Lord.

The past couple of weeks I've continued to stay busy with ministry (volunteering at drug & alcohol recovery meetings) of different types. Music of course is a big part of that. Writing and recording the music the Lord imparts to me and my posse. What a blessing. Seems like the music and volunteer services mean so much more to me today. Makes sense, being told you're ill with a serious illness will make you straighten up right quick and look at everything in a different way. Ya know? Maybe you don't. Attending my cancer support group on Tuesdays for the past so many months has a big part to do with my outlook too. Some of the folks are waiting to die. That's a trip. But their attitudes don't reflect any despair at all. Makes me think a lot about living. Life just means a whole lot more today. Every moment is more precious than gold. Every breath .......................

Well, time to enjoy my wife's company. Am I blessed or what?

Love ya with the love of the Lord,

Freddy

Let's Groove To Da Right!

Oh yea, praise moves to take to church witcha. I'm in a 4/4 kinda beat tonight. Only at the middle of the week and I'm full on the Spirit of the Holy Ghost is sharing with me. Hope you can feel me on that one. All weekend and the past three days I've wrapped up the studio t home and in downtown Seattle. Devine Deliverance is moving ahead pretty smoothly in getting our tracks recorded. It can be a long process getting it just right, just the way you like it, but it's worth the time. Of course I'm busy at home too straightening up my little space and getting my gear hooked back-up just right. It's sounding beater everyday.

The music just runs through my head all day and night. I can't wait to get to my guitar and workout what keeps bouncing around in there. Even when I'm working out now, tunes are beatin' one groove after another in my head. I keep forgetting to bring my iPod a long so I can jam to some smokin' gospel music. But this is only my second week back into a workout plan. I've got to keep it going so I can feel better and improve my health. I'm really hoping to work on getting my balance straight soon.

Back to the music, I don't know if I mentioned a project my church, ECBF, is doing in the near future in refurbishing an old house on our propriety. One of the projects is a recording studio for young and old. Mostly the youth, so they can get inspired to get involved in all facets of producing music. From composing and playing to engineering to writing and production. I hope to help in any way I can. Right now I'm working with a number artists in my own studio to help them workout their musical ideas as well as helping myself learn more about using my gear and becoming better at writing and production myself. So as you can see I'm really in the race now a days. Feels good too.

Well amen, and amen then.

Please ........ be blessed,

Freddy

God Still Answers Prayer

Yep, yep! The Lord is better than good! It's official, my oncologist told my wife and I yesterday that my cancer is in remission. Praise the Lord for real. Thank all of you for all your prayers, love and encouragement the past three years. I always believed God would do it, but it still feels so .......... I don't quiet know how to say it. Almost unreal, to see how God operates. I'm feeling so much better, stronger both physically and spiritually. My balance and eyesight are still an issue but I believe God will heal me in those areas as well. I did have one fall last month witch was an unpleasant surprise, but other than that I really haven't had any falls in a longtime. With my eyes I have trouble focusing at times, and my glasses don't seem to help.

I've continued to do more music, Diana's and mine and the band Devine Deliverance. In both cases we're working on recording past and new material. In my little music recording space at home I have so much still to learn and a ton of stuff to familiarize myself with.

My church, ECBF, is to begin refurbishing a old house on the property and one of the projects is a recording studio specifically for the youth. I get to work on that project which is exciting, and hope in the future that people of all ages and music styles will be able to get involved in the recording process. Not just playing an instrument but other aspects of recording music like engineering, production.

So as you can see the Lord is restoring me in a special way. He's put it on my heart that I won't be restored to the way I was before I had cancer, but I will be brought to a place which will be better than where I was. Amen?
Amen!

If you dare.......be blessed,

Freddy