Acctually, I did want to know!!! I do so love music….it has a way of moving folks unlike anything else can. I remember when Ben and I were having all those marriage issues I heard a country song called what’s Forever For it talked about how people just threw relationships away and how no one stayed together anymore! I remember hearing those words and just crying asking God to help me because right at that moment forever wasn’t something I could do! And you know what….He did help me……our relationship is so much different now. It’s not just that Ben can’t see much any more, nor that he goes to dialysis three times a week, but we just like being together. We talk about everything…football, baseball, politics, God, our life purpose, our kids, the weather…..and so on and so on…… Ben often grows weary of going to dialysis, he says he doesn’t have a use anymore. I can’t give him a purpose, a reason to want to be here. Today he asked me how long it might be before he died were he to stop doing dialysis? I said I didn’t know, but I wasn’t going to just sit here and watch him die slowly….I didn’t sign up for that one! Of course I am not going anywhere…..but I am concerned when he says such things! I know it’s a lot to get used to, loss of sight, loss of independence, no way to drive womewhere but always waiting for someone else to take you! I truly understand those things! If ou think of it…please do pray for Ben, and me that I’d know what to say and when to say nothing! That I’d remember that God is in control and I needn’t try and solve everything! I am glad you are still writing songs. I do believe that that is a calling for you. Songs can reach in to another’s heart and soul where many fear to even go. I’ll be praying for you and family and your music!! Blessings Rhonda _____ From: The Electronic Church [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brad D Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2007 3:47 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: light at the end of the tunnel Patience with persistence is sometimes difficult, but always prevails. Always, it is just a mattter of being reminded of that in time before one gives up. We have many biblical examples from Moses, Noah, Joseph, David, Abraham to all kinds of folks to show just hainging in there and what God said will happen. New songs lately? Umm yeah I just wrote one called "Without You" a jazzy feel song with an old style melody with a simple focus on a person spanning about a few seconds while he/she chickens out in wanting to talk to someone they want to get to know better :). Recently another one called Fields of North Dakota which is about being homesick for family and the plains. Still co-writing one called "A Man Worth Finding", which I suppose yawl women at times might think there isn't such a thing lol. But this guy in the song looks for his love and doesn't find her, but she finds him kind of thing :). Without You is on my web site HYPERLINK "http://www.braddunsemusic.com/"http://www.braddunsemusic.com along with some other tunes I've put up there, they are not great recordings, just me and me guitar recorded at various times with various equipment and need redoing along here sometime :) Fields of North Dakota is not up there as I'm pitching it to a artist in Nashville who is from the Dakotas but you can stream it at HYPERLINK "http://www.braddunsemusic.com/bits/dakota.mp3"http://www.braddunsemusic.com /bits/dakota.mp3 Working on a final mix of Windshield Time which I'm sending to the Car Talk guys for grins to see if it shows up on it. Got my son playing drums on that one, hopefully ought have it finito this week and send it off... a slow process getting that one done, the studio guy has been busy. So been somewhat busy but still behind in my writing goals. You just keep doing the classes and all and keep looking at the end of the tunnel there and you'll be there before you know it. I've been considering some on-line classes from Berkley School of Music but not sure yet. I have concerns for my job with our state having the longest budget impass in the country, they settled it now, but basically pushed all the financial problems off to the next budget in 2009 and I think that will drastically affect the vending program, wrongfully compared to how the money is generated and filtered but it is hard to fight an entire department head and their people, plus the colleges keep getting budget cuts and sooner or later I think guys like me will be eliminated in favor of the bottlers offering big commissions in turn to gain market share, and so I'm looking at music as my next thing I know best and exploring alternative markets from giggin to teaching, to maybe jingles, to whatever I can use to earn income at it. This is a time of preparation in that direction so yeah prayers would definitly be appreciated. If there is another direction I'm open but I believe this is where he is taking me. I've been blessed to have positibe feedback in the things I've written and encouragement from local writers in my NSAI group to a couple professional writers so that is reassuring too. I feel I need to improve on my musicianship and lyrical content to prepare for the next step in this venture. Now aren't you glad you asked for all that ahhaha. Brad At 12:11 PM 10/28/2007, you wrote: I am just glad to know there is indeed a light! I had almost gotten tired of waiting! I’m still not good at that one yet!! That patience lesson is a har one to learn! I appreciate your message! Praying for you as well, any more new songs lately? Blessings Rhonda _____ From: The Electronic Church [HYPERLINK "mailto:[log in to unmask]" mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brad D Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2007 12:11 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: light at the end of the tunnel Rhonda! Wow! Already? I mean, that probably seems like a stupid statement in your hearing, but it seems I've accomplished so little in the time you decided to return to school 'til now. You indeed ought be jazzed to sprint to the end. Wow you keep right on doing it, that's awesome. Brad At 03:45 PM 10/27/2007, you wrote: I spoke withmy academic advisor Thursday and I need 30 hours to graduate! That is about 10 classes, I usually take three or four per semester. I will be taking three classes in spring, not going summer, so I should graduate in spring of 2008. So, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I just didn’t see it!! I’d surely appreciate your prayers as I work on finishing, well, let’s say that more positively…..as I finish my degree. I truly appreciate all the support all of you give. Life is like one of those boxing matches Ben likes to watch…..and all of you are in my corner saying things like “Don’t quit! You can do it…..not much longer!!! You’re doing great!” Know I pray for each of you as our go through your own life match…..don’t quit…there is really a light at the end of the tunnel, I’ve seen it….rest if you need to, but don’t give up…the darkest hour is right before the sun comes in to view!!! Life is full of change…just take it one day at a time…..together we can do it…. Blessings Rhonda No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.12/1096 - Release Date: 10/27/2007 11:02 AM Brad Dunse HYPERLINK "http://www.braddunsemusic.com/"http://www.braddunsemusic.com Check out my site, take a look, have a listen to some sample tunes or contact me if you are interested in a calendar date. Comments are always encouraged and appreciated in the guest book area. Also feel free to sign up to the newsletter to receive an occasional performance update. Its easy as pie, your address stays with us, and we won't pound you with mail either I promise... no worry! No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.12/1096 - Release Date: 10/27/2007 11:02 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.12/1096 - Release Date: 10/27/2007 11:02 AM Brad Dunse HYPERLINK "http://www.braddunsemusic.com/"http://www.braddunsemusic.com Check out my site, take a look, have a listen to some sample tunes or contact me if you are interested in a calendar date. Comments are always encouraged and appreciated in the guest book area. Also feel free to sign up to the newsletter to receive an occasional performance update. Its easy as pie, your address stays with us, and we won't pound you with mail either I promise... no worry! No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.12/1096 - Release Date: 10/27/2007 11:02 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.12/1096 - Release Date: 10/27/2007 11:02 AM