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CGMA International Convention in Branson

The Haining Family accepting an award at the CGMA International Convention, October 24, 2009

We attended the Country Gospel Music Association International Convention in Branson, Missouri, October 22-24, 2009. We were there for "Nominee Night" for Bluegrass Artist, Vocal Group and Band.

On Saturday night, the 24th, we received Gold Heart awards for International Bluegrass Artist of the Year and International Vocal Group of the Year.

We were very happy for the opportunity to connect with many wonderful artists. We truly feel like a family with many of the other members of the association. We are thankful for the opportunity to be a part of an association that puts so much emphasis on ministry.

We were honored to receive these awards, and they provide us with a motivation to continue improving, so that we show that we were worthy of the high esteem bestowed on us by our peers.

We received multiple awards from the CGMA

The Hainings with Billy & Donna Hale, CMGA President & his wife

July 19-25 we attended the annual convention of the Central USA Division of the Country Gospel Music Association (CGMA), held at Agape Acres Christian Center, near Lake Park, Minnesota.

At the conclusion of the convention, we were pleased to receive awards for Bluegrass Artist of the Year, A Cappella Artist of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, and Band of the Year. Individually, Peggy was named Psalmist of the Year (putting Scripture to music), Pearl was named Teenage Performer of the Year, and Grace received Yodeler of the Year.

In a pre-convention concert for newcomers to the CGMA, we were awarded "People's Choice Award", as selected by those listeners in attendance.

As recipients of these awards, we are invited to play at the International Convention of the CGMA, held in Branson, Missouri, October 20-25, 2009. Please contact us if you need more details.

We launch into full-time ministry

Mid-April will be remembered by us for a long time. This is when God launched our full-time ministry. We had been praying for many months, and sensing God wanting us to do more with our music. "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4). It is not clear to me if this says the Lord will put His desires into your heart, or if He will give you the working out of the desires in your heart. In this case, it is probably safe to say that both of these are true. Of course, our responsibility is the same: to delight ourselves in the LORD!

Many things remain: our schedule needs to be fuller, we need to keep learning new music and improving our skills. We are reminded of this verse which has been a comfort to us: "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Our New Bass has arrived!

Dateline: April, 2009.

As many of you know, we have been saving for a new bass for some time. We had been borrowing a 1/4 size bass from a friend for about a year and a half, but he wanted it back so his own boys could start playing it. So, we put out a box at our concerts beginning summer of 2008 to give many of you the opportunity to help us in this project. In April, Peggy called the manufacturer of the bass we had been borrowing to ask some more questions, and he said he had one and would let us buy it from him at wholesale.

Wow!

We made those arrangements and have been playing our new 1/4 size bass since April.

We were truly amazed at the great sound it gives us, as we figured it would take a couple years for the wood to open up and give us this full sound that we got immediately.

If you hear us in concert, you will see us with our newest instrument. So check out our schedule page and come see us!