The Bus is Clean! Thanks to ME!

I would like to give a very special thank you to Donald Talent & The Masters Quartet for allowing me the opportunity of such a great honor in singing the Star Spangled Banner to kick off their homecoming concert.  What an awesome privilege this was for me.  Many of you have no idea of the battle that Shay and I fought for my citizenship within the last 9 years, from deportation, to a permit, & then a permanent resident w/a green card, &  last but most certainly not the least in Dec. of 2008 

I was finally granted permission to become a naturalized US citizen.  During this whole process, many of my rights had been taken away.  What hurt me the most was the ability to sing any patriotic song.  I had been prohibited to sing any of these types of songs until I became legal.  I sang so many patriotic songs growing up for festivals, special events, & services.  I was always told by family, "If you're gonna sing a patriotic song, don't just sing it, but put all you have into it because this country you're singing about gave the very best to die for, & shed his or her blood  so that you could have the liberty in order for you to sing this patriotic song.  I always seem to get emotional when singing the Star Spangled Banner but yet afraid that I can't vocally give this song my utmost ability from thinking about the many men & women fighting for this nation.  I've been a part of many concerts before in the past, but the way that the Master's Quartet led the people to focus & turn to face the flag w/dimmed lighting was so heart melting.  Way to go guys!!  Keep this up by all means!!  There's no doubt God truly honors this!!  Thank you so much for this opportunity & we (Southern Image Quartet) are looking forward to the upcoming year of being able to sing w/you guys some.  Can't wait!!Below is a video we shot in 2009. It is the first time I got to sing the National Anthem as a Citizen!

I have to show off my favorite football player #62 Noa Guess received an award Friday night for best defensive linemen!!  I am sooo proud of him!!  I taught him how to be strong, tough, & how to tackle!!!  Yeah!!  I just told you all a big lie..... Let me correct myself now before God strikes lightening @ me.  Actually, he is Shay made over other than the “squinty” eyes and dark skin & hair.  Shay taught him all that stuff.  He never got his athletic abilities from me....no sirree!!  My Noa weighs more than me & we are able to look eye to eye.  He is 8 years old.  Needless to say, I have my very own body guard!!!  Ha!! Ha!!

News Flash!!!  Guess what??  Southern Image is now remodeling the bus!!  Yes...Ladies & gentlemen that's right!!  I think after the last singing around home mine & Shay's youngest child which is 2 year old little "Nemo" Nehemia really put the fear of God in Buddy & Troy.  Ha!! Ha!! ;)  I have to pray for God's grace & mercy daily when it comes to Nemo.  he loves to test the waters.  By the way, if you ever see me carrying around a wooden spoon please don't be offended, I promise I'm not trying to convince people for food (although I love to eat!).  It's for Nemo, he knows when I have the wooden spoon that I mean business!!  Anyway, I asked shay what shall we do w/him while we sing??  Understand, Noa is 8 & as long as he has a play station & games, he's set & won't move.  Nemo is a very busy little body & very curious.  Sometimes he will sit still if there's a good dvd movie!   We thought let's just put him in a dvd movie & this should occupy him for a good 45 minutes or so.  It worked for a little while.  He got bored quickly!!  Noa said mom, Nemo climbed into the driver's seat of the bus & he got button happy.  Blinkers were blinking left and right.  He managed to climb down out of the driver's seat & and wanted to play w/the black stick w/the ball on top (gear shif) "Nemo" called it.  By this time, Noa decided to get off the bus & get some help w/his little brother.  We were almost finished singing and I saw Brenda (Buddy's wife) walk to the door because Noa had been motioning for her to come there.  I saw Brenda, Noa, & Nemo walk inside & then they walked to the back of the church.  After service, I was informed of the news of our 2 year old attempting to drive the bus.  He's already trying to replace buddy's driving position!!  Ha!!! Ha!!  It! was then it dawned on me that I forgot to bring the wooden spoon...  I think this has promoted the decision to remodel the bus in order to be more kid friendly.  My idea is to be able to have them in the back of the bus & then lock it down w/a baby gate to keep my 2 year old from escaping. :)  Poor Buddy & Troy they've already raised their kids & now have grandchildren during the holidays and reunions & other special occasions.  Now they have to endure Shay’s children & mine on the weekends.  Bless their hearts!!  And.....our little tornado "Nemo" will cause them to have to get pace makers next!!  Bless their hearts!!  They just thought their child rearing days were over....Ha!! Ha!!  I try to go easy on them & only take our children on close to home singings instead of long road trips.

I had suggested that since the outside of the bus was grey, that we needed to add pink paint to the grey.  I think pink and grey goes great together.  I had informed them all that they needed to put in pink lettering this title on the outside..."South Korea's Princess Expressway,"  Shay just looked @ me like I was crazy, but I think he's just jealous because I came up w/this neat title & idea before he did!!

All that hard work I did for nothing since they will be working on the remodeling.  Folks, I tell ya that bus smelt like nasty socks, & feet smell, & musty scent.  I had a major overhaul work to do in order to get this thing cleaned & smelling better!!  Buddy was so gracious to get the carpet steamed cleaned.  I asked Shay before my 1st weekend road trip out when was the last time those bed linens been washed, cuz I aint gonna go to sleep in a bunk w/o clean linen.  His response was "I don't know'.  Well....bed linens got washed & put back on.  The carpet smelt sooo good like clean laundry.  I mopped the floors, dusted, disinfected the seats & walls & knobs & everything in sight, vacuumed & cleaned the windows.  The smell of clean @ last!!  Mr. Clean would be sooo proud!!  My goal was accomplished!!  These boys even smell better by far now!!!  No doubt about it!!  They clean up really good now!! 

Well, I'll do my best to keep yall posted on the remodeling as it goes by.  Be encouraged & know God loves you & continue to be praying for us!!  See you all in God's plan!!  I'm signing off for now!!!  God bless!!