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Thanksgiving - a time of thanks, to be thankful, to give thanks. I believe Thanksgiving means all the above. I am thankful for many things. This month I will write about a few of the things that I am most thankful for and yes, one of them is…the turkey (no, not Saddam)…you know that great food on Thanksgiving Day. Okay seriously, I am thankful for God, his son Jesus, the Holy Spirit, salvation, America, my family, my pastor, my church, my friends, my health, Southern Gospel Music, my ministry, and the great life that I have here on earth. Oh and yes, the life that I will have up in Heaven someday. I am also thankful for many, many more things that I won't write about at this time. However, the one thing that I am most thankful for and the one thing that really never gets the thanks or the recognition she deserves is…my wife Renee. Renee Sparks, my beautiful wife of twenty years. Yes, I am so thankful for my wife and in this article I want to publicly give thanks for her. Renee's daily life consists of several different responsibilities. She not only takes care of me (Lord knows that is a great chore in itself), but she takes care of all the New Plainsmen's bills, orders, press kits and product mail-outs. She is also the sound tech for the New Plainsmen every time we sing. Now if you know anything at all about quartet office work, then you know it means very long hours on the computer. It means keeping accurate records and a lot of time on the phone. It also means that anything I (as the manager) needs done, then guess who gets to do it? You got it…Renee! Not only is she the secretary and treasurer for the New Plainsmen, she also goes on the road with us every time the bus pulls out. Renee travels every date that the quartet does. She is what the guys call our "bus mom". That means she tells everybody on the bus to pick up their trash, shoes, socks, etc.! Now in all reality she is really not that mean!! She just likes to keep a tidy bus as most women would. I am truly thankful for this, cause I can't stand messy stuff, especially our bus. But, one of the most important things that Renee does is run our sound. Let me say this is not an easy job. Yes, I know anyone can plug a system in and play a track. However, it takes a very devoted and very patient person to actually mix the sound. This involves not only mixing for the house but for each individual quartet member as well. We were recently at the East Texas Yamboree in Gilmer, Texas and because of a technical problem, Renee literally ran sound for everyone for a day and a half. Group after group, disc after disc, cassette after cassette! She had so many complaints (oops, I mean compliments)!! Fans who came to hear the groups would constantly go by the soundboard and tell her what a great job she was doing. I never heard one, not even one compliment (oops I did it again!!) I mean complaint on the sound. The host group Homeward Bound even presented her with Roses for taking on this awesome task. Every week, day in and day out, she is there…sitting behind a sixteen channel mixing console just doing her best to mix the sound accurately. Believe me, I know it is not easy to keep the New Plainsmen happy! Our bass, Billy "The Texan" Dotson only likes to hear himself and the music track. The baritone, Dwain "Mr. Smooth" Petty is just glad to hear anything!! Oh and our lead, Dale aka "Barney", "Elvis", "Carmen" and "He's so cute" Ozment…well, me being his hero, he likes to hear me sing! And me…well, Renee has to mix my sound so I hear myself with a lot of track and then a little each of the lead, baritone and bass. Keep in mind she also has a talk back microphone so that anytime, and I mean anytime, we are on stage she can talk to us individually through our in-ear monitors! Well I hope you get the picture on this sound deal. It is a ton of work keeping everyone happy. Oh I almost forgot she also helps Dale with our product table. This in itself is a major undertaking. Not the selling of product but keeping Dale lined out on what he has done that she doesn't like!! Ha, ha, ha! Well anyway this gives you the reader a small look into her life and the many things my wife Renee Sparks does. She is faithful and a very hard worker. She is committed to God and to the many ministries that I have been involved with over the years. And if I know "The Guys" they would also like to say a "BIG THANKS" to you…Mrs. Renee for all the hard work you unselfishly do for The New Plainsmen Quartet. Honey, let me say publicly that I appreciate ALL you do for The New Plainsmen and myself. I see you "behind the scenes" when you are tired…but you keep going. And as your husband and your best friend I do give thanks for you every day. I love you more than ever and I am glad your daddy let you date a long haired "Willie Nelson wanna be" twenty-five years ago! Thank you so much for all you do for me and my family and this ministry we call The New Plainsmen Quartet. P.S. I must say, "Thanks, Thanks, Thanks, Thanks" to all the DJ's for playing "God Made A Way". It debuted at #76 in the Singing News Top 80 for November. A big thanks also goes to Kim and Tony Hudgins and Debbie Whitehead for promoting it. And last but not least…you, the fans for calling and requesting it. We are thankful for you all. Happy Thanksgiving America!! Until next month, James Sparks The New Plainsmen Quartet NPQ website: www.thenewplainsmen.com NPQ e-mail: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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