Do people really buy this stuff?

Ok so I've been out on the road this week with my Sanctus brothers doing all sorts of promo stuff for the new record and it's been quite the journey to say the least. I'll probably write more about it later but for now, I'm going to ask a simple question; do people really buy this stuff!?!
You see due to the nature of our job, being on the road traveling, we tend to stop at a lot of truck stops and gas stations to fuel up, use the rest room and grab a snack or beverage. What never ceases to amaze me though are the extremely tacky and very strange "knick knacks" that are almost always for sale at these places. For example: The strange stuffed dog with his buddy the friendly Hill Billy. I guess if I was a Hill Billy myself and happened to own a dog that resembled this one then maybe I would consider picking up these lovely items, but I still kind of doubt it.
Then there is the Grim Reaper version of Skeletor, (everyone remember He-Man?), hanging out with a happy little Southern Frog gentleman. Somehow they just don't seem as likely friends, yet here they are, side by side. Rather unbelievable if you ask me. Finally we have Jesus and the Angels on the top shelf, which at first seems appropriate, but then you realize they're standing next to an old outhouse and then it all feels borderline blasphemous. Well like I said earlier; tacky, very tacky.
So what do you think? Do people really but this stuff!?! Would any of you buy this stuff? If you would, are you still willing to admit it now that I've completely made fun of it? I'd love to know your thoughts on this strange phenomenon!

We Need Each Other...

Well, our new cd came out today. It is truly one of the strangest experiences ever to release a cd out into the world and then wait to see how it will be be received. Especially with this one in particular as we've spent the last year writing and recording, re-writing and re-recording, to make sure that this will indeed be the best Sanctus Real record yet. I truly believe that we've accomplished that goal, but there's still that "test of time" to see wether or not those who go out and buy the cd love it as much as we hope they will. The "test of time" causes one to become anxious for reaction, but yet, also causes a sort of anti-climatic feeling as well. You go through this big countdown and then BOOM! The record drops, you're excited about this, but the fact of the matter is you still won't know if it is going to connect with more people than the last one did for a couple of years! So I guess my hope is that by 2010, we'll be able to look back at today and say wow, that record really had a huge affect on people and has completely changed everything in our little world. Truth be told I guess only Jesus can make that happen or not so I probably shouldn't even worry about it. It really doesn't matter as long as God does what He wants to do with it. Anyways, hope you dig the new cd.
Mark

Thanks K-LOVE for my family's first cruise!

So yea, we just got back a few days ago from the K-LOVE Friends & Family Cruise 2008! It was an amazing time I must say. I'd never been on a cruise before, nor had my wife Susan and of course our son Ben hadn't so it was quite the experience. It was Ben's first time ever seeing/swimming in the ocean as well so it was an extra cool trip for us. Not to mention Ole' Sanctus Real rocked it pretty good if I do say so myself. We had a great time playing for all the people on board, I think we all went home feeling like we made a lot of new friends. I'll post some pic's on here for you all to enjoy, there's one of Ben walking into the ocean water for the first time, one of him and Susan posing with some Red Macaws, (did I spell that right?). There's also a cute shot of Ben and I passed out in our state room. Hope you enjoy these and I hope you decide to save you pennies and go on this cruise next year because it's definitely worth it! Be blessed ya'll! Oh, also a quick reminder that the new record, We Need Each Other is in stores everywhere one week from today!

My Favorite Little Person In The World Is Sick...

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2008
So yea, about a week ago I was really sick. It hit me like a freight train. I felt great all morning and then at about 2 pm I started feeling a little weak and strange, like I was getting a cold, and then by 4 pm I felt like I was going to drop dead. Fever, cough, running nose, no energy, you name it I had it. The following day I was supposed to drive to Nashville to record some drums for a producer named Mark Townsend. Well by the time I got to Nashville I couldn't even talk because my throat was so sore. Mark and I communicated through sign language and the drums got tracked, I drove home and about two days later felt almost human again. Well I left this weekend to do some SR shows and the day after I leave my wife Susan calls me and she sounds horrible! She totally has what I had, but it's worse for her; she's pregnant and has to take care of a two year while I'm away. She is a super trooper though and pulls it off with style and grace. I get home yesterday at 3 am, we all get up around 9 am & guess what!?! Ben is totally sick now! This is why I'm writing this at 3 am. Ben's been sick all day and he just came into our room with his fever even worse than earlier. We just gave him some children's tylenol to break the fever and I gave him my spot on the bed so he can be near his Mommy. So I'm out on the couch praying that Jesus will heal my favorite little person in the world. If you you happen to read this any time soon, please say a prayer for the Graalman household too, that God would just touch us and make us all better. In this I'm going to attempt my first blog photo. It's a pic of Ben on a happier day playing with his "Thomas The Train" Set we got him for Christmas this year. Hope it makes you smile. He's such an awesome kid, I really pray he feels better tomorrow!