Chapter Two

july tenth

soundin' off - san diego to phoenix

well, last night kicked off our first headlining tour ever, and it was really amazing.

most nights, a local Christian act will start us off. we actually started our tour in san diego because the band who's going to be touring with us is from here in san diego. they're called 'cloud and fire' based on exodus 13:21, and have a really different sound than we do--they're definitely a metal band, and they have a male vocalist. although it's pretty cool that they'll maybe attract one sort of crowd and Redemption will attract another, and we'll all end up with the benefit in the long run.

there are four of them in the band--Charlie's the vocalist, and he's twenty eight . . . a huge contrast to Laura, Allie and I! Laura and I are nineteen, and Allie's eighteen. Paul is twenty six, and the bass player. on drums is Danny, who's also twenty six. At twenty seven years old is the guitar player from cloud and fire, Landon.

we met up with the guys our last night in LA and we all went to dinner to get to know each other, and it was really fun and casual. after Laura, Allie and i made the pact to put God first, redemption second and guys third in our lives, we basically are sure we're not going to get romantically involved with these guys like what almost messed us up when we were touring with iron cross.

last night after the show we were all really wired--it's cloud and fire's first tour since they've been signed with omega, and it was our first headlining show--talk about exciting! we all headed down to our practice room at the hotel after the show and ordered a bunch of junk food and jammed out for a few hours after the show. we knew we'd be driving today, so we didn't bother with the hotel rooms and at about three am we all just came back to the buses to sleep. (Paul and Landon, like me, also sleep better on the bus than in hotels. go figure, i guess i'm not the only one!)

it took me a long time to fall asleep, and i was in a half sleep when max and emmy boarded early this morning, and max pulled out of the hotel lot.

we've still got a few hours ahead of us until we get to phoenix--maybe i'll go check out what Allie and Laura are up to.

july eleventh

so, yesterday we hit our first bump on this tour--and no, i don't mean the road.

Allie was the first to notice, and told Laura and i what was on her mind. "i think something might be up with Caitlin."

i looked up from my laptop, and Laura took the earphones out of her ears. "what?"

"i think something might be up with Emmy." Allie repeated.

"what do you mean?" i asked.

"well, you know, she just seems a lot different than when we met up with her and Max back at home before we boarded for LA." Allie said.

"well, it could just be time on the road," Laura lamented. "i mean, we all got pretty weird when it was our first time on the road."

"yeah," i said. "it could be that--but, Emmy's been on the road before. but, i'll agree she does seem to be acting a little different."

Allie's stare went blank, and then she sort of jumped. "guys, let's just pray about it. put it in God's hands, you know?"

so, that's what we did. i feel a lot better now. and i'll admit, i'm still concerned about Emmy.

put my thoughts

into Your hands

i will listen

to Your plan

hold my hope

above this pride

i'm along

on this ride

hear my heart

as it screams

You hold my thoughts

my heart,

my dreams

amen.