Sharon: I checked your blog and you haven't updated it lately.
Michael: Okay - you're right. I need to do that today.

A few days later... after mowing my lawn... which, by the way, is prettier and greener than ever... HALLELUJAH!!!... and coming in for some down time while Sharon is out shopping... I remember... UPDATE YOUR BLOG!!!

I apologize for not updating during the tour as I had planned. It got so busy that I couldn' t. So, here is the update... day by day.

Day 2 - Friday...
Sharon and I got up early that morning to go to the radio station for an 8AM interview. The radio personality was wonderful and made us feel very welcome. We had a great time with him. Thanks WVGB!! After leaving there we went to find a bank... which required us going to Parris Island. It was very cool driving through and seeing the sights of this legendary base. Then we went back to the hotel and checked out. We went to our hotel in Summerville, checked in, then shortly thereafter left for the music store to pick up the sound system that we rented for that evening's concert. Then we went to the church.

While in route, I got a call from a radio station in Charleston to do a phone interview before the concert for additional publicity. Now, this gets funny... I needed to call the station at a certain time on a particular phone line for the live phone interview. A little before we arrived at the church it was time to call the station. I called the station and was waiting for them to put me on the air. As we approached the church, I started losing the signal. And as much as I complain about my cellphone service, I couldn't even blame it on my service... nobody else could even get a signal at all. I had to let them unload the sound system and the other items from the vehicle so I could drive back down the road far enough to get a signal and call the station. None the less... it was a great interview! Thanks WXTC!!

That night's concert was in my hometown... Huger, SC. I had cousins, classmates, schoolmates, one of my school teachers and others that worked at my school when I was attending Cainhoy High School (Class of '82!!). It was a homecoming. The concert was amazing! It was, again, as if God put His face in the building. After singing, "Look Where You Brought Me From," we had to stop and take a praise break. People were dancing and shouting all over the building. Then I turned around and all of my background singers were dancing. I just had to wait until everyone got that praise out before we could move on and finish the last song. It was so awesome!!

After the concert they fed us well!! Oh my God... the food was so good! Thank you Stewart Chapel!! I love you!!

Day 3 - Saturday...
We didn't have to get up as early - thank God!! We went to one of the local record stores for a CD Signing. It was very cool - thank you Rev. Heyward!! Then we dropped off the sound system and I took the group on a drive-thru tour of the beautiful city of Charleston, SC. They all loved the gorgeous new Cooper River Bridge. We went through The Battery. I took them through the neighborhood where I grew up. It was a quick 40 minute drive through because I didn't have time to give them the full and complete package. Charleston ROCKS!!

We stopped for lunch, then it was off to Eutawville. We got there and did the sound check... then went and checked into the hotel... got dressed... and went to the church for the final concert. Now, this one was really special. I had forgotten that I sang and preached in Eutawville the week the CD was released and that I sold lots of CDs there. I was pleasantly surprised to have the audience singing every song with us... word for word... lead parts included. It was such a cool feeling. These people know how to have a Holy Ghost Party!! We danced up a storm in there. It was so awesome. There was an awesome band there for one of the choirs that opened for us. "Fight For Me" was our last song. I did a reprise to the song with the band and the audience. They ROCKED IT!! Then they wouldn't let it go... it was so much fun. The minister of music started singing it again. Then the bishop started singing it. It was so cool!! I believe they got the message of the song.

So, that night we rested well in our hotel rooms. We all took our time waking up the next morning. We took out time driving home that day. We stopped and shopped at the Tanger Outlet in North Carolina. I even picked up a few items myself.

Once we were back we had to immediately start preparing for the "Spread A Little Sunshine" TV Show appearance on this Sunday. We taped for it on Thursday. That was an interesting experience. I am used to singing to a crowd - but singing on a closed set to a camera? That was different. I'll see how I did in the morning when the show comes on - at 5:00 AM. Well, I guess I'll really see how I did when I watch the video recording of the 5AM show. I really don't think I'm going to be awake to see it. Then, again, who knows.