Huge News for the Family!

 Reagan Leigh Sharber has arrived!  Carly, Josh and Reagan are all doing well.  It was a very long day for Carly with approx. 11 hours of labor and then the Dr. decided to do a c-section to delivery Reagan.  She weighed in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. and was 19 inches long. 

 Josh, Carly and their families along with the Sonshiners Quartet family want to thank everyone for their prayers for this safe delivery.

HERE SHE IS!
The newest member of the Sonshiners Quartet family!  We love you already Reagan!

The Beginnings of Summer Fun!

July 3 Picnic at Jim Sichtings’ home was sponsored by the Poplar Grove United Methodist Church. The weather for the week proceeding Saturday, July 3 was hot and miserable! But, God put a special touch on Saturday, it was clear, much cooler and with a slight breeze, well, at least for the crowd, not so much so for the Quartet.

The events were scheduled to start at noon, and, guess what the guests of honor were not there yet! The SeaMist got a late start or something because they wanted to be there, set up, and they wanted to have already eaten also, so that they could be singing at noon. Well, no one was worried about it, because they were planning on just having fun the entire day. The bus finally arrived, got parked in Jim’s driveway, lots of help unloading and setting up equipment. We did a quick sound check and then we let everyone know we were ready to eat!

Jim had fried lots fish and lots of special dishes fixed by all of those attending! There was quite an array of food, something for everyone; from the pickiest of eaters to those that will eat anything. So, we ate fish, and fish, and more fish. It was so good! Thanks Jim!

Everyone took their time because there was no timeframe for today’s activities. Once the Quartet had eaten and visited for a little while it was decided it was time to have some fun singing; and, that is just what we did. We sang, and we joked, and we sang, and we shared, and we sang some more. We took a little break and everyone got more to eat. This gave the Quartet a bit of time to cool off some. While the Quartet took a break Pastor Jonie gave her testimony of pleading for her grandchildren and their safety, followed by her singing. She then asked one of the young people of their congregation, Natalie, to share a song with us. Natalie jumped up from her blanket on the ground and said “sure!” This young lady has shared a song each time we have been at the church and to see her growth in her vocal talent and to see her turning into a beautiful Christian teenager is a wonderful treat for us.

Break over! The Quartet continued on singing and sharing with everyone! No one was leaving so we just kept right on singing! It was a great day; a relaxed day; and so much fun! Thanks to all from Poplar Grove for making this such a special day and starting our holiday weekend off so well!

Pekin 4th of July festival

It had been about 2003 since we had performed at the Pekin 4th of July festival. Pekin is located on the southwest corner of Washington County, so this is right in Tim’s back yard. This festival is touted as the longest running festival in the nation at over 200 years in a row! Wow! That is dedication, but we all should be very proud to celebrate such an event as is this our Nations Birthday!

There was a nice crowd in attendance, with very nice facilities. It was a very hot afternoon. Good thing for the big shelter house and the cool lemonade. The Quartet sang their hearts out just as they always do and the crowd was very appreciative. Terry got really wound up on “Stand by Me” he could not find a way off the stage in the front so he had to stay on stage, he wanted to get out there. The Quartet sang “We’ll Live Forever More” and could not get off the stage, but they still just let her go! Now that we are use to roaming around having to stay on stage just does not feel right for us!

Good to see lots of good friends in and around the Pekin area. Mary and Ralph Pickerill were there; as well as the Thompsons too! It just happened to be Gary’s birthday on the 4th of July too! Mike started to sing Happy Birthday to him and he was in such a high key that he could not hardly sing it, nobody else could sing with Mike either, he was on his own on this one.

The Patriotic songs were a big hit; of course it was our Nations Birthday!

Friday, July 9 at Great Hope Separate Baptist Church

First time to worship at the Great Hope Separate Baptist Church located between Trafalgar and Bargersville on Highway 135. This church was actually a Franklin address. Mike Wilson and his lovely wife Kim were there to greet us and open the Church building. This is a fairly small Church building, but there was a near capacity crowd. Pastor John Purkhiser told us that they had been looking forward to the Sonshiners Quartet coming for some time, and they had advertised well!

This Church affiliate is the same as our Bass singer’s father, Charles Tichenor. He preaches at a Separate Baptist Camp about 20 to 25 miles from here. Terry was re-introduced to many old friends that he had been acquainted with when he was younger.

There were some old friends of the Sonshiners Quartet that were in attendance as well! Tom and Madelyn Harris were there and they had brought some friends too. They even got up and sang a song a cappella. After the sing they were waiting (well, they had already eaten), but were waiting to talk with us at the Dairy Queen in Trafalgar. Darrell and Sadie had made the trip north and even Josh had some friends from Elwood stop up, June and Mary!

The worship service was a very good one. God’s anointing was very evident in the songs that were sung and testimonies given. It was a beautiful worship service ending with a beautiful sundown at Dairy Queen!

Saturday, July 10, at Cloverdale United Methodist Church

Our great friends Pat and Bette Ireland were there to meet us. The SeaMist had taken Tim to a meeting of the IGMF in south Indianapolis on Saturday morning and we arrived at the Cloverdale United Methodist Church about 11:30 a.m. (of course after a nourishing breakfast at Denny’s.)

This was a first time visit for the Sonshiners Quartet and it was the first time the Church had planned a picnic/Saturday night Concert. Attendance was sparse, but a great time was had by all. The Quartet themselves loosened up on this night; if you can imagine they sang in a Church without suit jackets!

Hamburgers and hotdogs were on the grille and ready to be eaten by 5 p.m., of course, they had to twist the arms of the Quartet just to eat! By 6 p.m. the guys were dressed and ready to sing! Pat went downstairs to pry everyone away from the fellowship table and the last one to leave was Pastor Paul Fulp. Pastor was making sure he got blackberry cobbler!

When the service began Pastor Paul was determined to make sure he made fun of the Quartet; well, these guys are always ready for a challenge and tonight was extremely fun. Everyone relaxed and just had fun worshiping. When the concert was over the folks at Cloverdale UM really accepted and embraced the Ministry of the Sonshiners Quartet; and, we are already booked back for next year! It was a super night!

We want to thank the Cloverdale United Methodist Daycare for letting us play on their playground equipment!  It was a great time also!

Sunday morning, July 11 at Red Quarry Christian Church

The SeaMist drove down after Cloverdale about two hours and arrived at French Lick at about 11 p.m. She just parked in the lower parking lot of Springs Valley High School because there is not a level spot of ground at Red Quarry Christian Church.

The Quartet arrived for set up at 8 a.m.; Ronnie Garrison and, newly named, Pastor Dave Moss were there to unlock and help carry in. Ronnie had just returned from vacation in Virginia and was not much help! Ronnie, just kidding!

The Quartet made good use of their time and was set up and ready to attend Sunday school class at 9:30 a.m. and it was a great class. Most of the time when we are out singing the guys in the Quartet never really get time to listen to others teach or preach very often. It was good to just study together with friends!

This Church is another one of those churches that has supported the Sonshiners for many, many years. We have been coming to Red Quarry for over 30 years. The worship service was again just incredible and very moving. Josh, our baritone, has been giving a heartfelt testimony before we sing the Perry’s hit “If You Knew Him”. The Quartet has been told on many occasions and this morning as well; this testimony is really what this body of people (Church) needed to hear! The Quartet feels very Blessed that the Lord continues to use the efforts and the talents of the Sonshiners Quartet. Great things are happening in the name of the Lord through the Quartet and great things are happening to the Quartet with the leading of the Lord!

Sunday, July 11 afternoon at the Wheat-fest

Our journey took us on a two hour Sunday afternoon drive to Wheatland, Indiana about 15 miles east of Vincennes. The SeaMist arrived right before the parade and was parked in the alley behind the entertainment tent. This was the first time the Quartet had been to or performed at the Wheat-fest. Wheatland is a nice town with a very nice festival!

Quick set up and ready to go on a hot and humid Sunday afternoon. The guys were fortunate to get set up and done before a newly acquired friend, Evan Twitty, came on the stage and performed. This young 9 year old country and gospel singer and just an outstanding, I mean outstanding guitar picker! It was quite refreshing hearing such a young man singing the old country songs. He did Johnny Cash songs, Hank Williams songs and just an impressive portfolio of Country selections. With the name Twitty how could he sing anything else? Evan also included many Gospel songs as entertainers do. He is a very talented young individual!

The Sonshiners Quartet hit the stage about 5 p.m. and sang until about 6:10 p.m. This crowd just did not know what to expect and they sure were receptive of the performance of the Sonshiners Quartet. We had the Thompsons from the Brownstown area there and some friends from “For Heaven’s Sake” in attendance, but most had never heard the Sonshiners Quartet before. The guys pulled out all the stops and really sang with power and enthusiasm.

What a weekend four sings in less than 48 hours traveling about 350 miles all just in Indiana! God is Good!

Next weekend we will be traveling around in Kentucky. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel around spreading God’s word and His love.