Jennifer Lynn Smith: News

Hello friends and family,

We had a good turnout at the Homers Coffehouse show last week. Special guest Josh Hungate played with his bluegrass band and Tasha Umscheid opened with a few solo songs. They both rocked!!!

We had so much fun playing music. I especially enjoyed singing about God. It's not so common for a coffeehouse to be open to musicians singing worship songs about Jesus and praising God. I just wanted to tell you all that I am blessed and grateful for the time we've spent together--having fun with music and enjoying God's presence.

All that said, I am ready to take a break from giging out; mostly because I am too busy to practice my own songs. School is insane right now. I need to keep my head above water academically. I am still recording, and plan to have another CD next year, but until then I will be working hard finishing my music degree.

I would also like to add that Alex and I will be making some big decisions this year. Alex has decided to persue graduate studies in Ethnomusicology specializing in African and Afro-cuban drumming styles. So he is applying to several schools, but none of them are in Kansas City. If he is accepted, we will probably move...and that is cool, but also scary, and also sad (especially for family). So, we would appreciate your prayers.

Also, many of us are anxiously awaiting Josh's first CD which will be released soon, so check out Josh's myspace for updates:
myspace.com/joshhungate

Okay that was a long journal entry.

God bless!
jenni

Josh Hungate won the Kansas State Mandolin Championship contest and the Winfield Bluegrass Festival Mandolin contest!!! We are so happy for Josh and excited to hear his finished CD! Come hear him perform his mandolin originals at Homers Coffeehouse on Nov. 7, 2008.

Well...school starts in a week. I am still recording, which means that I won't have anything finished until next summer. Next week I'll become a hermit and tell my parents "see ya on Thanksgiving!" I might be changing my major from music tech to guitar performance---not that I'm good, because I'm not---but because I really would like to become a better guitar player before college is over. I still love recording, running live sound, etc., but I don't need a "degree" in recording if I only want to record myself. If I have to have a job someday, I'd rather teach than stay up all night recording rock bands. I love songwriting, performing, and teaching--that's were my passion is, not recording other people as a job. I've been really enjoying giving beginner guitar lessons in Warrensburg as well.

Alex is working on getting his master's degree in jazz performance. He also works at Christ Community Church in Leawood as the production person for Sunday morning (sound, lights, camera, action...). Josh is in school (high school) and working on finishing his own bluegrass albumn---go Josh! When Dylan isn't rocking out on his bass, he helps manage the Olathe public library.