Most people sit down and plan their vacation months ahead and go to some place far from home to “Get Away”.  That’s understandable but it isn’t what Theresa and I did this week.  We took a vacation right here at home in northern Ohio.  Pictured here is Theresa riding one of our horses named Tucker.  We have had this horse for four years and it was the first time she road him.  Usually one of my friends like Kevin Washington, Wes Washington, or Larry Liebhart rides Tucker while I ride my black horse Flicka.  We road on this particular day with Theresa’s cousin Nancy.  Had a great ride.  

We also filmed a music video for the song “Long Black Train” while home this weekend.  Would you like to see some video clips from the videos we have done this summer?

Theresa and I travelled to Goodlettsville on Saturday for a photo shoot for my upcoming album with Nashville’s photgrapher Kim Lancaster.  She is great.  I will feature some of her work here in the future.  My new CD is on schedule to be released in September.  Kim has give so many unique shots that now the tough part is to figure out which ones to use on the CD!

You all know by now that Theresa and I had our friends from Ukraine visit us for three weeks.  We had a great time with them.  Part of our trip included the cowboy state of Oklahoma!  We spent two days with our friends Joe and Sandy Nemecek on their J&S Ranch.  What a great time we all had.  Joe, LeAnna, Raven, and I took a horseback ride across the “Fruited Plains”.  This was LeAnna’s first time on a horse and she was pretty nervous but I did manage to catch this picture of her with a “Smile”. LeAnna had many “First time” experiences including, first trip to the U.S.A., first roller coaster ride, first commercial airplane ride, first time to record in Nashville, TN,  first time to go fishing, first ride on a four wheeler, just to name a few.  She emailed us yesterday and said it was the happiest three weeks of her life.  Everyone loved LeAnna.  I’ll tell you more about Roma and Roza in the future!

My wife Theresa celebrates her birthday today.  I won’t tell her age here but I will admit she is quite a bit younger than I am.  Picture is of us last night when I took her out for dinner.  Everyone knows Theresa is a BIG part of my work and ministry.  By the way, how old do you think she is?

At church last Wednesday night, My friend from Ukraine and I are trying to see how far it is from Ohio to Kiev, Ukraine.  It is somewhere around 6,000 miles.  Maybe some of you can tell me how far it actually is.  We are guessing.  Anyway, it is a long way.  I have made this trip two different times to sing there in orphanages and prisons.  Many of you heard Roma play his guitar and sing while here in the states and you will agree that he is a talented guy.  I will miss Roma when they leave tomorrow, but I am thankful for the time we have had together.  I plan to return to Ukraine in 2009.