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I knew this Columbus Homecoming was on the schedule, but I am not a big fan of the Homecoming scene, so we just chalked it up to a miss.  I knew I'd be working nights by then and Lindsey would be in school again.  We thought we could make it until January of 2009 when the guys were going to be in Knoxville, TN...well, that didn't happen!  We were desperate, so off to Columbus we went.  Tickets in hand (in the nosebleeds, so the guys looked like little ants dancing across the stage) we drove across the Alabama line and into Columbus.  We ran a little late due to some traffic issues directly outside the venue which caused us to miss seeing the guys before the show started We talked with Frank for a while and tried to find ways to keep from freezing to death.  It was SO COLD in the civic center.  Frank said it was about 63 degrees when they were unloading...uh, that's a little chilly to be an inside function!  Brrrr...my bare toes were turning blue and Lindsey just HAD to rub it in that she brought her hoodie in with her.  She's mean like that.  She's got everyone fooled....she really is a mean one

This Homecoming was a tribute to Jake Hess, so there were some singers there that do not normally travel with Gaither.  I had read on Wes Hampton's blog that he was recovering from a chest cold, so I knew he wouldn't be featured on many songs, but Guy Penrod wasn't there either, so Mark Lowry and Marsh sang his parts for him.  It was good to see Mark up there.  Gaither announced that Guy was taking some time off and that Mark Lowry and David Phelps would be joining him for a while.  I wish David Phelps had been there, but of course, my luck--he wasn't.  I was really impressed with Karen Peck and New River's songs.  Four Days Late is always a good song and I Shall Wear A Crown is a great song to get the crowd started. 

It always feels like an eternity sitting there...waiting for "you know who" to come out on stage, then their time is up in the blink of an eye!  Our guys sang My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me, Since Jesus Passed By, My Heart Is A Chapel, Swinging On The Golden Gate, Glory To God In The Highest, and Then Came The Morning.  Lindsey was suffering from the sore throat/cold bug so I was screaming alone...from WAY up in the rafters...no one around to help me cheer.  I didn't get any photos since we were so far away from the stage.  I tried, but they all looked like little GI Joe figures from way up there!! 

We rushed out after the guys sang to get something to drink.  Lindsey got a hamburger and fries that she practically swallowed whole!  She was a little hungry!!  I was almost embarrassed to be seen with her!  She parked herself right beside the ketchup pump to eat.  She'd take a bite, squirt ketchup, take a bite, squirt ketchup, etc...I know Frank got a kick out of her crazy antics.  She offered him fries, but they were swimming in a sea of ketchup by then  

We hung out around the table until the guys came up at intermission.  We got to see them long enough for 4 lightening fast hugs--busy guys!  Thanks for the time, Doug!  You are the best   The venue wasn't that big, so there was not a lot of space in the lobby.  We were lucky to even see them with all the chaos that was going on in there.  After intermission, we saw David and talked to him for a while.  It's always a treat to talk to David--he's the best!  Time flies when you are having fun!  Talking to David one minute, heading home the next 

It's tough getting Lindsey to act right sometimes, but I did get a laugh out of her trying to do a "Ryan face"...