traviswright

The past 2 weekends have been just about as good as it gets.

To start out, Ashley and I left Columbia on Christmas Eve and drove to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a Christmas vacation all by ourselves. After the crazy months we had in November and December, we needed some time to reconnect in a major way.

• We stayed at a cabin in Wears Valley right on the edge of Great Smoky Mountain National Park from Thursday to Sunday. We slept almost 12 hours each night, ate out at some incredible restaurants, read books, and basically did absolutely nothing.  We had planned on going hiking and doing a few other things, but each time we agreed that we would rather just stay in the cabin and not go anywhere. Here are a few pics from the weekend.
• One other fun thing we got to do before Christmas was to provide some bluegrass music for a Christmas party. Easily one of the highlights of December. Here are a few pics from that night.

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  Appalachain Trail at Newfound Gap

  

  downtown G-Burg

  
  

  

  nice hot fire

  

  our nice little cabin

  
  

  

  

  
  

  

  Please notice the awesome nativity scene in the background

  
  
• For New Years, we each worked a half day on New Years Eve, ate lunch together at Sandy’s Hot Dogs. We had a great party with some Midtown folks where we fortunately weren’t killed by any of the fireworks, and then once again did nothing Friday Saturday and Sunday. We slept, watched movies, read, ate some great chili, had lunch with Ashley’s family at Hudson’s, and watched more movies.

• *Funny story from lunch at Hudson’s* – A waitress comes up while both of us are sitting there, and asks Ashley, “Hey, don’t you sing at midtown? You have an awesome voice and I just wanted to tell you that.” Yup, not sure she even recognized me. I wish that you could have seen how hard Ashley was laughing while this girl was trying to talk to her. God knows how to keep me humble. This happens often in our relationship – and I agree 100%, her voice and looks are much more memorable than mine!

God is incredibly gracious to Ashley and I. I’m so thankful to have such a wonderful wife and I’m also incredibly thankful for the time of rest that he has provided for each of us. I’m ready to roll again!

You MUST watch this whole thing.

I was introduced to Peter Bradley Adams a few months ago by a guy named Trip I met at Midtown. Peter Bradley Adams is awesome, and was formerly a part of the group Eastmountainsouth. He just came out with a new album called Traces last week, and I think you should check out all 3 of his albums. Leavetaking is currently my favorite album, but this new one could easily become my new favorite.

Here is his MySpace page.

This is probably my favorite song off of Leavetaking. Beautiful but simple acoustic stuff. He knows how to write and definitely knows how to play. It’s called The Longer I Run.

This song, Los Angeles, is beautiful as well.

I hope you like it.

Our God Saves – Paul Baloche
Revelation Song – Jesus Culture/Kim Walker version
Hallelujah To My King – Paul Baloche
Lift High - Fee
King – Tree 63

Ashley and I went and saw the Works Progress Administration with Dan Gibbs and Amanda Lambert last Wednesday. As mentioned here before, I’ve always been a huge fan of Glen Phillips who used to sing with Toad The Wet Sprocket. I loved Toad but have really enjoyed Glen Phillips solo stuff a ton more. The concert was awesome and I’d highly encourage you to check out their music.

Sean Watkins and Luke Bulla

Say what you want to say, but this video is pretty amazing.

Don’t give up on it. Give it at least a minute before you give up. In the end I think you will be amazed.

You wish you had a dog as cool as Sandy who loves to hang out the window at 70 mph.

Sandy starts flapping those jowls good at about 16 seconds in this 2nd video…hilarious.