Aaron Matthew White

We humbly thank God for the healthy delivery of Aaron Matthew White.

8 lbs, 11 oz.
20 in.
11:45 pm.


Angela is doing well. She did a great job.

We're very tired and excited all at once. Abby gets to meet her new baby brother in the morning!

Induction Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the big day! We'll be going in to the hospital at 6:00 a.m. to induce this young lad. Any and all prayers are greatly appreciated. If you'd like to post your "pre-birth" guesses just head on over to Angela's Blog. I plan to post pictures and info on this blog tomorrow so stay tuned!

Joyful

Matt's memorial on Friday was beautiful. It was a time filled with weeping and laughing. Worship and reflection. Sorrow and joy. I'm quite certain that it was the most moving service of worship that I've ever been to. My soul has never ached so deeply, yet at the same time, I left feeling inspired. How is that possible? A loving husband and father gone at age 34?!?

Well, from the people that got up and shared about Matt's life. Reed, Douglas, Mundell, Steph. They all gave testimony to Matt's unending faith in His God, even when the trials were far beyond what most of us have faced in this world...Matt remained steadfast. He loved to serve others and he never stopped, even when he feel ill. He deeply shared God's love with his family, his friends, his church, and even the poorest of the poor at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission. I feel so honored to have been Matt's friend....and inspired to carry on his legacy of hope, faith and love.

Matt and Steph often READ THIS to inspire them when times were really tough. Without hope, what do we have? I am thankful for this reminder. This joyful hope was most evident in Syd's dancing during the worship. I was about to fall apart while trying to play, and then I noticed the unabashed joy from Sydney in the front row. She was so overtaken by the music that she couldn't help but get her groove on. A 3 year old gave me a glimpse of joy and hope.

You can visit THIS NEW BLOG to share memories of Matt.

Transition

"I think I will be a wreck for a while." - Chris Mundell

I hear ya Chris. Letting go is very tough. I've been in a fog the past few days. The reality of what has happened is slowly sinking in. I'm constantly seeing Matt in my mind's slideshow. (or I'm actually looking at Greg Lawler's amazing slideshow of Matt photos which you can see HERE). What I'm finding, the deeper I dig, is a boatload of great memories with Matt. If only they could have continued for about 50 more years...

The good news is, I actually feel very close to Matt's spirit. I know where he is, and the joy he is experiencing. I wonder what he's up to?

We found out today that if Angela doesn't go into labor naturally by next Thursday, we'll probably induce first thing that morning. Transitions are happening so fast right now. Matt's memorial is Friday. I'm honored to be asked to play. We're praying the baby stays put until then...

I've heard so many people mentioning Matt's infectious laugh...here's an old photo of it in full effect.

Matt Steele

My friend's suffering is over now. I feel relieved in the midst of my sadness. He's probably listening to some really good music right now. I miss Matt and I'm glad he was my friend.

Somehow, today was a great day. It started with a phone call from Dan Hislop, breaking the news. He and his family we're planning to come over so he could record the last bit of his album. We decided to not cancel, so that we could be together. It was a good call. I called my Mom and had an amazing talk about Matt. Dawn and her family also came over to comfort us. Soon thereafter, Scott Anderson showed up for some hugs.

I was supposed to play guitar today at church. Should I still do it? I decided it was best to still play. Playing music soothes my soul, and was one of the things that Matt & I shared so closely. Plus, I knew I had something to offer a mourning body. Brad McCarter called me and said that he had been looking for something to do "to help" for two years....playing in today's service was finally something tangible we could do. I'm so glad that we did. It was an annoited time of reflection, mourning and hope.

We needed some more time to gather as friends, and thankfully, many friends were up for spending more time together. I'm going to need a lot more times like that with friends. There are many I still need to catch up with. I had comforting talks with my Dad and sister when I got home. Chris Mundell and Greg Lawler had amazing posts about Matt. Gabe and I caught up on the phone and shared sorrow and encouragments. Each of today's events were significant to me. I'm very thankful I had this day to process a tremendous loss. Angela will be going into labor any day now, but God knew we needed this day.

Memory

I'm thankful for memories and images that jar my memory of all the good times I shared with my good friend, Matt Steele. He's about to lose a valliant battle with cancer. As I wrestle with sadness, I'm trying to embrace the happy memories we shared. No one has ever made me laugh the way Matt has. His talent with goofiness and critical commentary often caused me to bust more guts than I knew I had. I will miss laughing with Matt. He wasn't all fluff and fun though. Matt is one of the deepest, most honest people I've ever met. He challenged me to become better--at music and at life. He called a spade a spade. I really appreciated that about him. He's very cautious with his compliments, so when he did, they became priceless treasures. I agree with what Chris Mundell said in his most recent post to his website....we got more time with him than we expected. I'm thankful for all the time we had with him. Since his diagnosis, I was blessed with the opportunity to record two albums with him, go on a week long camping trip with him and his family, and just plain hang out. As Matt prepares to stand in amazement before his loving creator, I will be left with these unforgettably good memories.

Abby's Book Nook

"Yeah for a new book nook!"


Abby's "Bopo" (loosely based on abuelito, Spanish for Grandpa), made her a "book nook" under our stairway. She absolutely loves having her own personal little play area that's just her size. She likes me to come pay her visits there too! Thanks Bopo for making this awesome space for Abby. It'll be a good place for her to retreat when her baby brother is crying too much!


Good times with a good book....



"Check out my fancy furniture!"

Nolan is Four!

Today is Nolan's 4th birthday! We went to San Jose over the weekend to help him celebrate! My parents and I chipped in to get him a drum set! He has been really wanting one for the longest time. You can watch his first concert by clicking RIGHT HERE .

Also, I just uploaded my favorite pictures from the weekend to my family flikr album which you can check out RIGHT HERE.

Summer's Almost Over (sniff)

Been working pretty steady on finishing up the Hislop album. We set out to finish the 10 song LP before school started. The tracking is finished (well, I think, there might still be a track on 2 we forgot about). but for the most part, we're in the mixing stage now. I have been trying to get mixes close as we've been going, so hopefully it won't take too long. (yeah, I always say that and then proceed to nit-pick over every element of every song...so we'll see!) In the meantime, please enjoy some really beautiful photos that Tad Wagner took at our house yesterday (while he was laying down some gorgeous layers of vocals, I might add!)







Photos by Tad Wagner.

Seven Years

Happy Anniversary Angela! I'm glad you said yes to this Velveeta classic! I found the original lyrics in an old journal. You can hear this deep cut right here.

Three Years of Pictures

Well, since Abby is three, and we've been snapping photos like crazy every since, I thought I'd compile some of my favorite shots from the past three years. There's a few in here that friends snapped...so, thanks to everyone who helped make these memories with us! We love you all. This is sorta big so it might take a minute to get going....I promise it's worth the wait!



As you'll see, I sort of focused on Abby picures. (She might have to share the spot light with baby brother come October!!)

Photos & Linkage

Quick update today....I've added some links to the left.

Link #1: BUZZNET FOTOS
This is where I casually post some more arty photos from time to time.



Link #2: HISLOPS
This is the home of Dan Hislop's family. I'm recording an album of some great adult alternative tunes this summer with Dan. Be on the look out for a Fall release of this 10-song LP featuring Dan's great song-writing...

Camping

That's right! We went to the 2nd Annual Ballard Country Campout. Ok, all this really is, is a bunch of people pitching tents in the Sieck's backyard. But hey, it's fun to hang out with the Siecks and other friends! Many thanks to Jeff, Kathleen and Vera for all the hard work they put into hosting all their friends. It was pure good times....Abby and I loved camp fire time!



How did Angela manage to sleep in a tent when she's almost 7 months pregnant? Good question. Well, she didn't. Jeff and Kathleen were nice enough to offer her their bed while the rest of us were "roughing" it. Abby and I set up our own tent and she even got to debut her new Princess Sleeping Bag! Needless to say, she was stoked about this sleeping situation. She went down without a fuss, and I have to say, she was pretty darn cute. I came to bed a while after her and half-awake she said, "Hi Daddy!"

"Hi Abby. Goodnight," I replied. Then she rolled over and went right back to sleep! A few hours later, I heard her tossing and turning like a tumbleweed so I asked what was wrong. "I dunno," she replied. Funny...just like me! I had trouble getting comfortable and somersaulted all night. Obviously, we were all happy to be back in our beds.


OK, I think that was the most boring blog update of all time. I hope you enjoy the picture of Abby enjoying her first S'mores. (thanks Julie Anderson for the pictures!).

Spanish Rap at Fiesta?!?

Today was our family's turn to viva la fiesta. We ofcourse went on the night that featured "Spanish Rap" for the "musical" entertainment. Do you think Abby enjoyed it? You'll just have to watch the video below. Thankfully, the evening was redeemed by meeting up with the Sieck's for dinner. Jeff's summary was, "If I knew Spanish and liked rap, I think I would have REALLY enjoyed that." Well put Jefe.




Abby & Vera enjoying good company...


Cute girls and Cool Daddies...


Post "confetti egg head smash" picture...


Return of the Fiesta Cutie!

Clark Tour & Potty Wars '06

Clark is having a lovely time on it's first tour. Here's a recent pic Ange took at one of our shows! Being a part of the tour was a real treat for me. It was especially fun to play in San Francisco at The Make Out Room....a cool vibey place dedicated to good music. The Clark Tour continues up to the northwest so please check the website for more info.

I wish I could join up for the rest, but alas, the family needs me home. Abby is on the move and Angela is less and less on the move every day. It's exciting to think that we're only a couple months away from meeting Baby Brother, or "Magical Boy Pony", as Abby likes to call him. (No clue on that one). However, we now realize that I will need to step it up as Ange takes steps towards the couch. This was especially true today as Angela's back woke up on the wrong side of the bed. The few steps she took resembled a Granny's! Get all the info HERE AT ANGELA'S BLOG.

In other news, we have been at war lately. Not with Iraq. Not with Iran. Not even with Ipods. My new Video iPod , thanks to the generosity of a phenomenally kind parent from Elmo, is working like a charm! Who are we at war with!? None other than Abby!

It has been "Potty Wars '06" and she is more stubborn than Bin Laden and Saddam combined! If she's downed 3 milks, an OJ and a couple waters, we tend to think it's time to go. Not her. If it's our idea, she'd like to have NOTHING to do with the plan. She'll hit the jon when she is good and ready! A couple days ago I told Ange that we either need to fight harder to win or give up. Well, we of course fought harder. We're grown ups, right!?! Yes, there were owies on the bottom, loss of play time...all the heavy artilery! We won the battle that day, but alas, we've lost the war. After several hours of debate and hard fought battle, I was still losing and finally decided that it just wasn't worth it. Today, I've waved my white TP and surrendered to my more stubborn opponent.

Why? Well, she's a good kid. To be honest, an angel (almost all the time!). She also has a phenomenal track record. I think she's only wet her chonies 3 or 4 times. If she were in the Army, she'd be promotted to General or something! What was I thinking? I can't beat Captain Underpants! From now on, she can go to the potty whenever she feels it's go time. If she has tons of accidents, then I'll recalculate. But for now, what a relief (ahem, sorry) to be under the skilled leadership of Abby's bladder. Tommorrow will be a happy day and we won't spend 2 hours crying on the pot. phew.

Feel free to leave a comment....or shall I say a vote! Either vote "Good Move!" or "You loser!". I'm curious what you all think.

Steele Sunset

Steele Sunset
Originally uploaded by andy white.

As I'm about to embark out on the CLARK tour, I can't help but wish that Matt was going to be with us. He is in DC right now receiving treatment. Don't get me wrong, I love the Clark music, but I know that the Friley's and I really miss getting to hang with Matt and make some music with him.

Our prayers are with you buddy....we miss you and can't wait to see you soon!

Brushing Your Own Teeth

Abby earned a new "big girl" tooth brush and is learning the delicate art form on her own....although she's still working on finding the molars, she's got "being cute" down pat. I'm sure she eventually learn to get back and swipe at those sneaky ones that go unseen.

Well, we're just a few days away from the Bay Area leg of the CLARK TOUR. It should be a fun adventure to spread our music to the other end of the state. Good news is, Abby & Angela are going to get to join us for most of the time. The other really great news is that we'll be staying with my family in San Jose! This is especially good for us because we'll get to see our cousins Gwen & Nolan again. Go see how cool they are RIGHT HERE.

So, if you happen to live in the Bay Area, I hope to see you at one of our shows! We're hoping to book another gig in San Jose on Tuesday so let me know if you're aware of a good place.....but here's the plan as of now:

Saturday, July 22--> LOMPOC, 4pm @ "Our Festival"

Sunday, July 23--> SOQUEL, 7pm @ "The Ugly Mug"

Monday, July 24--> available!

Tuesday, July 25--> SAN FRANCISCO, 9pm @ "The Make Out Room"

Wednesday, July 26--> SEBASTOPOL, 6:30pm @ "Ace in the Hole"

After that, I'm going home, but check the CLARK WEBSITE for more gigs! There will be another leg in August which will venture into the Northwest!

Hangin' with Clark

Abby got to go to a CLARK gig this week! We played a gig at Buffalo Records in Ventura at a decent hour so she got to come listen to the tunes! Of course, there was plenty of time to be goofy with "B" (aka Gabe) at dinner afterwards! She was quite attentive during the music and had a great time being a part of the "scene" in Ventura.

We're glad she's getting used to doin' the "groupie" thing. She'll be joining us for part of our "mini-tour" this summer! Click HERE to check out all the dates. We hope you'll find a CLARK show near you!

Abby has also been pretty busy herself this summer. See the latest pictures HERE. Last week, she had an awesome time at her first Bible Camp here in Carp. She loved it! She met new friends....got to hang out with old ones....and she even learned some verses and songs. It was a bit of a stretch for her to be out on her own every morning for 4 hours, but once she got over being a 'Confused Kitty', she adjusted well. There were a few tears at some of the drop-offs...although her teachers said she was fine once I left. When I went to pick her up on the last day she said, "Just a minute Daddy....I'm still playing!"

Abby's swimming continues to rock! She's up to about 15 feet of dog-paddling and sideways kicking on her own. "You go far, far away Daddy and I'll swim to you." Turn around. Repeat. Good Times.

Videos, Music, Good Times...

Summer is in full swing. I've have been busy...busy being a Dad, mostly. Angela is teaching summer school this year while I stay home every morning with the Abster. It's been a fun switcheroo....well, at least for me! Actually, we don't really stay home much. We've been pretty busy with our outings. Every day we take a ride on the bike, get Daddy some coffee, and then head to a playground. Although we miss time with Ange, it's pretty special to have this intentional one-on-one time together. (Abby in Hat picture by Gabe Friley)

What else has been going on? Well, I AM working too...but it's a nice change--doing music, in several capacities.

I'm still teaching guitar. Good Times Guitar Camp is alive and well every Tues, Wed, & Thurs. It has been especially exciting to add Elie Morgan to the Good Times Team. She is rocking the guitar!

Also, I've been working a bunch on recording jobs. I recorded a quick demo of some cool "European Cafe' Strolling Musicians" music. The BIG project I've undertaken this summer is recording a full album for my friend Dan Hislop. The 10 song LP of Adult Alternative tunes is coming together well. The drums were recorded this week with utility drum wizard, Erik Herzog. This guy could make The Wiggles groove! It was a blast to hang out with him and create some good sounds together. The goal is to have the album finished by the end of summer.

Lastly, CLARK is gigging and preparing for a short tour this summer. Here's a recent video from one of our shows....

Headphone Day by Clark

It's a boy!

It's a boy!
Originally uploaded by andy white.

I put this sign up in my classroom window to announce that Abby's having a baby brother. Ange & I are so excited to have a son. It feels as if I am the world's most blessed man. To already have Abby, who is quite possibly the world's sweetest three-year-old, and now have the "other" kind of kid on the way....feels just too good to be true.

So sometime around October 23 we'll all get to meet this little guy. Something tells us he likes the World Cup because he's been kicking Ange's tummy like crazy! I thought about giving him a red card but then realized an "ejection" might be confusing for the lad--just stay put for now dude!

So school is out. It's official. I'm really going to miss this great class that I had. Last week was quite a whirlwind of emotion. Two of the third graders from my class are moving to Texas. We sang a little parody song to send them off...you know, lots of goofy lyrics interspersed with lines like "we love you" and "we're sure gonna miss you in Texas." I had no idea that by the end of the song, I'd have 18 sobbing nine-year-olds on my hands. It turned out to be a very tender, healing time. If you're looking for a spiritual boost, I recommend hanging out with kids crying and praying for each other.

Nolan & Abby Movie Up!

yo, whassup people? hey, can you believe that summer is almost here? needless to say, as a teacher, I AM PUMPED! The summer has many exciting things in store! I'll be working on recording an album of Dan Hislop's original music this summer. Also, this Saturday is Abby's birthday! Can you believe she'll be three? Also, lots of CLARK gigs this summer. Keep an eye on his WEBSITE for a show near you! In a couple weeks, Angela and I will be heading out to Minnesota for my buddy Brad's wedding! Plus, we have Nolan's birthday in August. Good Times indeed. Which reminds me, I will be teaching Guitar Camp this summer.

Ok, as promised in the header, there is a new Nolan and Abby movie!! Click here to watch 'Nolan & Abby HavingFun' You'll hear a little Coldplay in there since they both dig CP.

We Love Our Growing Family!

Just a quick update...we had a great time in San Jose! We're back home now after four jam-packed days of playing with family and welcoming Gwen into the world. We were thankful to get some great family time. I've got some more fun pix from our trip RIGHT HERE on my FLIKR page. Go check 'em out and see how goofy Abby & Nolan are...and how beautiful Gwenyth is!

Baby Gwenyth is Here!!

Dreamy Gwenyth
Originally uploaded by andy white.

We're proud to announce the arrival of Gwenyth Marie Lundgaard! My adorable little niece was born today at 1:36 p.m. Gwenyth was 7 pounds, 10 ounces and 20.5 inches long. It could not have been an easier delivery. In fact, the first thing Roxanne said after giving birth was, "Wow, that was easy!" Rox opted in for the epidural this time around and Matt said, "Man, what a difference from last time!" Rox started pushing at 1:30 and Gwenyth arrived a mere six minutes later! Our entire family is so thankful for the blessing of this cute little bundle. Be sure to click RIGHT HERE on my FLIKR page to see all the photos of Gwenyth!

Picnic with Tbone & Bekahmae

Tbone, Bekahmae, Abby
Originally uploaded by andy white.

Well, the past couple days have been just soooo gorgeous, that we called up local Carp buddies, Tbone & Bekahmae for an impromtu picnic.

Abby was thrilled and we had a great time soaking up some rays while we caught up with our pals. Ofcourse, we let Tad snap some pix with our little "point and shoot" and the results were incredible. Besides the one sample here, you can see more picnic pix RIGHT HERE on my FLIKR page.

gooD TiMEs guiTAR

Jordan & Hannah
Originally uploaded by andy white.

Last night was the school talent show. I always look forward to this, not only because there's so many fun acts, but especially because it's an opportunity for my guitar students to showcase their hard work. Well, this year was no exception. It always amazes me how well they do in front of a large crowd! It certainly is fulfilling for me to see how far each student has come...this keeps me going for another year. There's nothing that quite compares to seeing a child's face light up after their performance! You can see their satisfaction, knowing that they put in soooo much hard work, and it paid off! Sharing the gift of music is a one of life's most important treasures. It's a privilege for me to be a part of it.




Check out a 2 minute "gooD TiMEs guiTAR" movie from the talent show excitement...

Seriously...Goofing Off

Silly Faces #1
Originally uploaded by andy white.

Sometimes Abby and I just love to be super silly. Here's a recent sample. There's some more examples RIGHT HERE on my FLIKR page. She is really great at playing and good fun lately. One of her favorite games right now is hide-n-seek. I'm trying to teach her to not always hide in the same place or pick the spot that I JUST hid in. I'm not sure were getting anywhere, but she loves it so that's all that matters.

In a couple weeks, I'll be heading to Sea World with my 3rd graders. Good news is, Ange and Abby get to go down with us this year! We can't wait to take Abby on the train! There's no doubt that the choo-choo has long been one of her favorite things in the entire world. Lately, she's been suggesting that a train ride be one of her rewards for cooperation. "Hmmm, good idea Abby. Maybe some day." If she only knew!

Music stuff continues to go well. SBCC album has almost sold out of all 500 copies! Wow! Didn't see that coming but it's satisfying to know that all the hard work that went into the production is actually getting plugged into people's ears. Also, CLARK has a gig this Friday at Legends this Friday night. Hope to see you there for some good music and good times.


Lastly, I just want to wish a Happy Mommy's Day to all the great moms out there. You all amaze me...I have been loved beyond measure by my own Mom and I see her amazing legacy being passed along now when I observe my wife and my sister tirelessly give of themselves the way my own mom always has and continues to do. Thank you wonderful moms in my life. You bless me. :)

Abby & Friends

Abby & Sydney
Originally uploaded by andy white.

I'm sorry for the lack of updates. Life has been going full tilt lately. I'll get back to it...

We were gone on our annual church retreat last weekend...good times. Over 300 albums sold. Yay for IJM! Yay for SBCC. It feels great to know that the album is being put to use...

Before that, we had a great Easter. Be sure to check out the latest photos of Abby & friends RIGHT HERE . See ya soon!

"We Have a Hope" CD Release!

I'm pleased to announce another album release from Good Times Studio!

Santa Barbara Community Church musicians have recorded a CD of original recordings and arrangements. All proceeds from this album are to be donated to International Justice Mission. Learn more about this organization at www.IJM.org. You can listen to a "mp3 sampler collage" of the album RIGHT HERE.

One of the songs, "Rejoice", was penned by my lovely wife, Angela White. If you'd like to hear it, click on REJOICE and take a listen at the good times studio myspace page. Remember, 100% of the money goes to charity! You can buy the album in the lobby at SBCC or by clicking the "Buy Now" symbol below. I'm not sure why, but you'll have to scroll down a little to get to the "buy now" button...

Big News! Big News!

We didn't buy a new car. Nope. And no, we're not going on a trip to Europe, although that would be pretty fun.

If you want to know all about the big news, you'll just have to click on over to ANGELA'S NEW BLOG. Once you get there, you can read our latest news and even click your way to a new video related to our BIG news. Don't worry, I have a link on the left to Angela's blog...you can keep tabs on how well she keeps up with me on updates!

Photo at right by Tad Wagner .

We're Back from San Jose

Goofball Cousins
Originally uploaded by andy white.

We just got home from a fun Spring Break trip to San Jose! I posted new pictures from the trip RIGHT HERE. It's late and there was tons of highlights, so I'll try to just jot down a few here:

--> We celebrated Angela's 35th birthday with lots of food, gifts and fun! She's the proud owner of new outer and under garmets, and the Apple Airport Express

--> Abby & Nolan had tons of fun cousin play time together.

--> We had a great visit with Abby & Nolan's "Great Grandma Bridge" who was up from Hemet, CA.

--> I enjoyed some great backyard fun with Matt and my Dad. While the kids played outside for what seemed like an eternity, we wisely took advantage of the outdoor time...we played mini-ball HORSE, drank some Fat Tire and BBQ-ed some steaks.

--> My birthday was extended from 2 weeks ago with some sweet gifts! (new stylin' clothes and some music gear moola...thanks guys!!)

There was so much more so I'll just wrap up by saying we love our family and the good times together!

One last note...check out a recent Clark review HERE.

Abby Loves to Sing

It's official...Abby is a full blown recording artist. She stepped up to the mic and delivered the goods. Ok, so she doesn't exactly have a tour lined up or any major label interest yet, but she sure loves to belt it!

I've been waiting for her to say, "I wanna sing in the microphone Daddy." Well, today, my wish came true. Sure, it was nap time, but we postponed it for a quick recording sesh...I mean, with me on Spring Break and all (oh yes,!), it was a perfect time.

Well, you can download her 6 minute medley HERE.