Goodbye Maine... You're Not That Bad

It's amazing how fast the mental climate can change in our thought process when placed in different circumstances. I, for example, have grown up in the state of Maine and have lived there all of my 31 years. Ever since the age of 12, I have been waiting for my time to leave and move south. I have never been a winter person, I don't particularly find the cost of living feasible, I do not agree with the political mindset, and most of all as a performer the opportunities to do what you love are few and far between. Still though, on this last day in Maine, walking on Crescent Beach with my wife, I found myself shedding a tear. I felt the overwhelming change that was about to transpire in our lives as I watched the waves roll in and I realized that this was going to be the last time I saw the ocean for a long while. Now that I reside in Tennessee I am very excited about the new chapter in my life. This is my dream coming true. I'm not touring here anymore but rather I'm living here. That's a huge blessing. The ironic thing is that when I look at this picture of our last day in Maine my heart starts to bend just a little. I think of the ocean and the tranquility it can bring when you just sit back, close your eyes, and listen. I think of my wife and I having our traditional weekly picnic on Crescent Beach eating the Maine exclusive "Italian sandwich," made famous by Amato's Sandwich Shop. I think of our families left behind and the relatives that I haven't seen in a while that I wish I had gotten the chance to say goodbye to in person. I think of the many friends that I've been blessed with and my heart breaks that they are not here in Chattanooga with me. People may say that you can always make new friends. While I believe that to be true, I also know that the friends that I have are the kind of friends that I have been investing my heart into for years. Those kinds of friendships do not develop over night.

I think another reason why I miss Maine a little is because, while hating it growing up, I haven't minded it as much over the last several years and I owe that all to my wife Shanon. My relationship with my wife taught me to bring new association to the things of Maine. I think of Fall time in Maine when her and I first started dating and started our tradition of apple picking together each year.

It was because of Shanon that I stopped thinking of the county fairs as hokey and enjoyed walking around hand and hand with her looking at farm animals and riding a ferris wheel. The best Saturday in the world was spent in the summer time at Old Orchard Beach having a picnic with her and going wake boarding in the ocean, then sitting down with some pier fries and the best fried dough on the planet. It was a chilly night in November of 2003 when I proposed to her on that beach. We were the only ones there.

Could it be that we are in unfamiliar territory with very few people that we know and that is why I am reminiscing as much as I am? More than likely. I know that we are embarking on the adventure of our lives together. I was grateful that we were able to drive around and visit some of our favorite places in Maine before leaving the next day. I hope I have the same feelings for the northeast when we return in the summer next year.

It will take a while to adjust but we know that the Lord has led us here and we are trusting that He will help us settle. I feel like a child standing at the beginning of a long road and I'm not sure what is at the end of it. I can't see the obstacles and the gate is shut behind me. I also know that my Father has taken my hand and has lovingly said, "Let's go."

Andrew Peterson wrote these lyrics and my wife and I listened to this song as we drove away from our friends and left Maine in the still quiet of the night...

"Sarah, take me by my arm
Tomorrow we are Canaan bound
Where westward sails the golden sun
And Hebron's hills are amber crowned
So bid your troubled heart be still
The grass, they say, is soft and green
The trees are tall and honey-filled
So, Sarah, come and walk with me
Like the stars across the heavens flung
Like water in the desert sprung
Like the grains of sand, our many sons
Oh, Sarah, fair and barren one
Come to Canaan, come
I trembled at the voice of God
A voice of love and thunder deep
With love He means to save us all
And Love has chosen you and me
Long after we are dead and gone
A thousand years our tale be sung
How faith compelled and bore us on
How barren Sarah bore a son
So come to Canaan, come
Where westward sails the golden sun
And Hebron's hills are amber crowned
Oh, Sarah, take me by my arm
Tomorrow we are Canaan Bound"














Good Bye Maine....

A Big Storm, A Healthy Mouth, NC, And Upcoming Tours

Hey guys,

I hope everyone is doing okay. Right now I am writing this from my new place in Chattanooga where we are getting slammed right now by a huge thunder storm. It is a sheet of rain and hail outside with very loud thunder, very bright lightening, and winds up to 60 mph. In Maine we would be pretty impressed by this.

Yesterday I had my first ever surgery. It wasn't anything huge. I had to have a wisdom tooth removed. Still though, it was a little nerve wracking as I have never had to have a medical procedure done before. It went very well though, and I was surprised how quick it all went down. I laid back, they gave me an I.V. and I was asleep in minutes. I actually dreamt a little, and then before you knew it, they were waking me up and telling me that it was all over. I was surprised that they were done already and also at how alert I was afterwards. According to the nurse and the paperwork that they gave me, I was supposed to stay pretty knocked out for the remainder of the day. To be honest I felt great. I had no more pain and I was alert for the rest of the day until I went to bed regularly that night. I do have to remain on a soft food diet for the next few days and I'm already tired of yogurt. I need more soft food ideas. The good news is that there is no more pain! God is great. Now if I can avoid any more surgeries I will be a happy camper. Thanks for your prayers.

The storm is quieting down...

Now that the medical obstacle is out of the way I have started working on the whole reason I moved here; the music. I've been spending today networking with some other musicians in the area. Today I got to meet Chris Sorenson who himself was a New England performer who decided to move to Chattanooga a little over a week ago. He plays in a band called Even Song Rising who according to him just recently signed with the same label Phil Keaggy is on. He is also a pastor and is starting a church plant here in Chattanooga. Very nice guy.

I've also been booking some local shows in the area as well so keep in eye on the site for upcoming dates. I hope to see all on the road soon. For my folks in the northeast, don't worry, I won't be away forever. I've been given some invitations to come back and do some touring in the area so keep checking back for New England dates as well.

If you live in a place where you can buy a gallon of Mayfield Brewed Sweet Tea, DO IT! It's awesome!

Now it's sunny outside. Storms move fast here!

Love you guys!
SL

A Few Snags Along The Way

Through out this year I have made a few different trips to Chattanooga, TN. Usually I have been touring and using Chattanooga as a base camp when I wasn't playing. Each trip I have taken has always been uniquely different. The first time was filled with awe and wonder. I was seeing TN for the first time and I was taken by the state's beauty and the amount of opportunity this area brings for an artist. I will remember that time for the fun I had discovering the area with my road manager Ken and percussion player John. On the second trip I took my long time friend Jason with me and introduced him to the area as well. At that point I started becoming more aware of my surroundings and I became better at navigating around the area. This time has been vastly different. I came down here for the purpose of not only playing some shows but also finding a house for, my wife, Shanon and I to live in. I brought my father with me as he wanted to check the scene out as well. This trip has been very different when you look at some of the snags along the way. Along with the snags though you also need to see the blessings that have come with them. God has definitely shown his hand at work.

I won't take you through the long detailed story of this trip but I will give you a few key points and ask for prayer.

I have a place in Chattanooga and am now a resident. I'll be heading back to Maine in a week to drive a moving truck down here with Shanon. Pray for that trip.

For the first time in my life I have to get put under the knife tomorrow as I have to have a wisdom tooth that broke some time ago cut out of my mouth. For those of you who have ever had extreme tooth pain you can probably identify that one tooth can bring you down to the ground. Several days ago a dentist here in Chattanooga tried to extract the tooth but after 8 Novocain shots could still not numb the area enough where I didn't feel the pain of him tugging at the tooth. He finally sent me to an oral surgeon who took x-rays and said the only way the tooth was getting out was to cut it out. I realize that this is a pretty standard procedure for many. My problem is that I have never in my life ever needed anything done by a dentist or doctor like this. I received check ups as a kid growing up, but once I became an adult I never saw a doctor unless I had to. I never had to and therefore haven't seen any.

Something you may not know of me is that I'm also kind of a needle phobe. I hate needles almost to an irrational fault. Tomorrow I will be given an iv and put to sleep while they cut this tooth out. I ask you again to pray for me. Ask God to give me the strength I need to make it through the procedure. Yes I AM a wimp.

Lastly, my road manager, Ken, was recently burglarized. Someone broke into his home while he and his wife were gone and literally took everything they have. Almost nothing is left. Everything from Ken's music gear to his photography gear, to their lifetime collection of DVDs are gone. Nothing was left behind and they were not insured. Pray that God would give Ken and his wife Melissa strength at this time and direction on what the next move is.

I will tell you that through all that has transpired while I've been down here over the last few weeks, I have seen God work through everything and continue to see him working in all things. I thank you all for your prayerful support. Please continue to pray for my wife and I, and those who have been a part of my team.

I'll write more after my operation. Give me a few days to shake it off. Then I'll give you the 411 on some cool things happening with my music and we'll get this thing back on track.

Love you guys,
SL