Saturday, May 12, 2007

Thank You Lord!

On Thursday God provided me one of the most awesome gifts I have ever received!

We were visiting a group of Christian musicians called the “Forget Me Nots” that were mostly related to each other that all live in the same beautiful home about ½ hr. north of Toronto. We had met some of them after our concert in Newmarket, ON. and connected with them then. The next week they invited our entire family over for a BBQ. We arrived there at about 3:30 in the afternoon. They have an awesome yard and home! With over 20,000 square feet, they have 13 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms and what an incredible place. It is like a resort. They had over 100 instruments in their home! Several guitars (12-stringed, classical, acoustic), Mandolin, Banjo, Auto-harp, Upright Bass, Piano, Tambourine, Harmonicas, Violin, plus tons of others!

When everyone arrived for supper from their workplaces and such, I had the chance to talk to their bass player Manuel. He is a terrific older gentlemen who really has a heart for other people. He is a really great bass player as well. And it amazes me that he can sing tenor and play the bass at the same time. We had a very edifying conversation with each other.

After the BBQ they played us several songs. It was fabulous. They played “Man of Constant Sorrow”, “Apple Jack”, ”High on This Mountain”, “Wayfaring Stranger” and some other fantastic songs. It was a real treat to have them perform a concert on their patio. They had guitar, mandolin, violin, harmonica, banjo, auto-harp and of course the stand-up bass.

Afterwards, Manuel asked if I would like to try playing a stand-up bass. I was thrilled to have the chance to mess around on it. It is a different plucking technique from the electric but otherwise it is quite similar to play. The upright bass sounds so cool!

He then went back into the house and took out their family’s other stand-up bass and said it was mine! I couldn’t believe it!! The bass has a beautiful rich sound! I just about cried!

He said he felt God wanted him to give it to me. I was so blown away! It is worth thousands of dollars! I could have never afforded such an instrument! God has been SOOO good! It is so humbling to receive such a generous gift.

God bless you Manuel and the rest of the “Forget Me Nots” music group! I will never stop being grateful!

Praise the Lord!!!!!

(Pictured is Manuel and I with the bass)

2 comments:

Beebo said...

I didn't comment on the last one so I will combine them,

That is really amazing about the stand up bass!!!
although one geographical error (Sorry for pointing it out, but it seems like a sense of duty.)
It was at the Newmarket one, not Orillia.

That was fun being at the game!!!!
It would be awesome to do it again.
The paper airplanes were a BIG hit!!!

See you!!!

Sincerely,
Gabriel Josiah David Hounsome

Josiah J. said...

Oops, I guess it was in Newmarket. Thanks for the heads up! We miss you guys already! God bless!