Finally checking in

I am quite amazed that I haven't blogged in more than a year...nearly two. But, I guess I can catch you up.

Audrey was born on 7/28/10; she's now 18 months old as of Jan. 28, 2012. She is amazing and active and into everything!

Missy has decided to pursue a different career and is now into full time cosmetology school. She is working part time at Chick-fil-a and is enjoying every minute of it.

I'm inside the building now, teaching graphics, broadcast, and journalism. It has been busy, but really good. I'm getting the hang of it. :-)

We're in Columbus this weekend for the TIEGA winter conference (Trade & Industrial Educators of Georgia) and it has been really good so far. I probably should go to bed shortly because it will be time to get up soon.

I'm looking forward to the broadcast sessions tomorrow so I can see what others in the state are doing and I can borrow lots of ideas.

I'm enjoying the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer design/layout and it was nice to watch other newscasts on TV tonight. I'm getting ready to launch The Rebel newspaper online...I'm going to use Word Press or blogspot to do it...hoping to have a more up-to-date, technologically advanced news source for ECHS. We'll still print a paper several times a year, but we'll try to devote more time and energy to the online product.

Ok. Enough for now. Maybe I'll post again soon? lol. We'll see.

He wants holiness and fellowship from you

We started revival services at Elam Egypt Baptist on Monday, April 19, and Bucky Kennedy is our speaker. Bucky is the pastor at First Baptist Vidalia and the past president of the Georgia Baptist Convention.

He spoke on 1 John 1:5. I had never thought about some of the things he mentioned, but he emphasized God's holiness. God didn't save us because of love (i.e. He didn't save us to make us more loveable), He saved us to give us holiness so we could have true fellowship with Him.

Jesus spent time with sinners, but He wasn't with them. He fellowshipped with the twelve. When He needed to get away, He fellowshipped with three others (Peter, James, John).

Today, strive for holiness to develop the fellowship--the relationship--with God that HE wants. He loves us (John 3:16 says so), but He wants holiness for us.

Catching up to do

Wow. Can't believe it's been almost a year since I updated this thing...gotta do better!

Well, if you haven't heard by now, Missy and I are expecting a girl! Due date is Aug. 4 and we couldn't be more excited! We are registered at Babies-R-Us right now and eventually somewhere else, too. I'll let you know.

Things are flying by too quickly right now; school is nearly out...especially since we lopped off the last week because of budget constraints. Our last day is now May 14. Graduation will still be on May 21. Before we know it, little Caliope (kuh-lie-oh-pee) (my sister's nickname for the baby when she misunderstood what we said) will be here!

The wedding of Brian Holt and Melissa Patton

Wow...where has the last two weeks gone? lol Let me catch you up. During wedding week (June 8-12), I spent the week in Atlanta helping run errands and I spent time with Missy and her family. My folks came up on June 12 and I helped Dad, Blake, Clay, and Josh get their tuxes.

Missy dad and I went with her nephew Josiah and got our tuxes earlier on June 12. Missy's sister Melody was great with child and her due date was June 17. Melody was matron of honor and we were all worried if she would make it. Missy was praying hard that Melody would wait to have the baby until after the wedding.

The rehearsal went well at the church on June 12 at 6 p.m. Lots of folks were there and we practiced several times. Missy's brother Mark was in charge of running through everything. After he and Leah Ray (wedding coordinator) were satisfied, we went to the Olive Tree to eat (7:30). Everybody in the wedding party was there along with some extended family. We have a GREAT time and the food was amazing!

Missy had left her car at the church, so I took her back to get it. It was between 9:30 and 10 p.m. We noticed that the social hall lights were on, so we peeked in the door to see the beautiful five tier wedding cake already in place--Kim Smith and her family had done an AMAZING job on an outstanding cake. We also saw a guy buffing the floor, so we decided not to go in. I took a picture with my phone and posted it on my facebook for posterity. Missy went home; I went back to the hotel.

I got up the next morning and got ready. I got a call about 9:30 a.m. from Leah Ray asking about how to get in touch with Kim. I had just seen Kim and Derrell and Nikki at breakfast, so I gave Leah her phone number and went to check on Clay and Josh. I ran errands and went and got lunch around noon. When I got to the church, Mark and Don (Missy's dad) stopped me and said, "Well, I guess you've heard about the cake..."

I looked at them and listened. Don explained that Missy knew what had happened and that the 'cake lady' (Kim) was crying and distraught, but that they had gone to Publix and bought some more round cakes and fixed it back. I thought he was pulling my leg. I joked around and said, "Oooo, did they get the cakes with the pretty balloons on them?" Don laughed and said, "You're taking this pretty well."

I had to know for sure. I walked over to the social hall, saw the cake and walked up to Steven (Melody's husband) and said, "YOUR father-in-law is one of the meanest people; he just told me about the cake..." Steven picked up from there and told me the whole story about how the cake had fallen overnight somehow and that Kim had worked her magic and she and her family make it all happen. I couldn't believe it.

I got my tux on and got ready for pictures. Missy and I saw each other before the ceremony and she told me that Melody had gone into labor and was on the way to the hospital. Her brother Mike was going to have to do usher duties on his own. Missy had asked her mom Ruth to stand in as matron of honor.

Pictures went extremely well! Danielle McAdams of Pictureyoustudios.com is an amazing photographer and her work is excellent. The ceremony began on time at 2:30 and was beautiful! There were SO many great family members and friends there to witness my marriage to my best friend. :-)

Shortly in to the ceremony I realized that I had forgotten to set up a video camera and record the ceremony. I felt terrible...but thankfully, the sound guy had recorded the audio. :-) One day, we'll put some pictures to the audio. :-) Thanks, Mr. Rainwater!!

We took more pictures after the ceremony and ended up being some of the last people to leave the church...around 5 p.m. Missy and I headed to Fayetteville to see our new neice Ryleigh Janae Spencer who was born on 6/13 at 8:19 p.m. After seeing her, we headed to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg to our cabin for the honeymoon.

We came home on 6/18, washed clothes and packed again and headed back to Atlanta. We spent time over that weekend with Don, Ruth, Ryleigh, Steven, and Melody. We flew on 6/22 from Atlanta to Houston and rode to Galveston and boarded the Carnival cruise ship Ecstasy for a five day cruise to Progreso and Cozumel, Mexico.

We got back into Galveston on 6/27 about six hours late. We missed our 3:20 flight, but I got it changed to 5:20. Sadly, traffic was bad and we missed that flight. It was cheaper for me to book a later flight on a different airline that it was to book another flight for the next day on that airline. Yeah, go figure. So, we got back late to Atlanta and spent another night in ATL, but it was good.

So, that's a quick summation of the last two weeks. I and Missy will try to post honeymoon pix on facebook soon.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for us! :-)

Less than 30 days

Where has the time gone since my last post? lol

Hard to believe, but less than 30 days now until my wedding to Melissa Patton on June 13. It has FLOWN by. The planning has been pretty effortless and the showers have been a huge blessing! :)

We have numbers and numbers of people to thank--and we are trying to, one by one--and we can't wait to see everyone with us on June 13. We understand there are several folks with previous engagements and while we will miss you, we know you will have us in your prayers.

It has been quite humbling to see all the nice comments and posts on facebook. It's nice to be appreciated and loved the way we are! :)

Continue to pray for us up to and thru the wedding and on for years to come.

Remembering Mrs. Cynthia Perkins, 1912-2009

I found out today that Mrs. Cynthia passed away last night. I knew this day would come, but still have to process it.

Mrs. Cynthia was the piano player at Evergreen Baptist Church for years and years. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and taught kids to sing. I was her assistant pianist until I took over in 1998-1999.

I remember her most for watching my sister and me when we were in elementary school. Instead of going home by ourselves, Mom asked her if we could get off there each day until she could come pick us up.

Mrs. Cynthia always had a snack waiting on us when we got there. I always enjoyed the pink lemonade. I usually watched TV or worked on homework. Nancy and Mrs. Cynthia always liked to go outside and play whiffle ball. She used to always remind us of that when we saw her.

Although we all miss her dearly, she is now home. And we will see her again.

New Excelling Artist for 2009!

The Premier Quartet was named the New Excelling Artist for 2009 as voted by our fans! :-) We received this award during the Fan Awards show at the Southern Gospel Music Fan Fair in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., on March 19. We also sang a song during the awards.

It is quite an honor to be nominated and win such an award. :-) It is humbling and exciting all at the same time! We really believe that God has blessed our ministry and He is going to use this to open up more doors to expand our ministry.

It's not about us at all. We are careful to point to Him for all the honor and glory. This award will just help us expand our ministry and go to places we haven't been before.

THANK YOU to all our family, friends, and fans who have been so supportive these last 2.5 years! God bless you and thank you for everything!