"Blessed"

Since today marks my 21st, I am making a promise to myself to track this next chapter of my life because God knows, it's gonna be a big one.  It feels like a lifetime ago that I've written one of these.
Reflecting back on my year, I have been so fortunate it's kind of nauseating.  Anyways, I had a great pre-birthday weekend in Boston seeing my songwriting idols, Music City Hitmakers, perform with the Boston Pops Orchestra.  Ahh what a 'moment.'  I know I can go on like a broken record how amazing Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, Troy Verges, and Brett James are, but, an experience like this has to be witnessed.  Words cannot describe seeing a MCHM show.  You've never experienced or felt a so-called 'concert' like this before.

Words + Music = A Song.  Lies.  Words + Music + Emotion = A Song.  Writing a song is the most emotionally draining and satisfying thing I've ever experienced.  Once you realize what true 'music' is, your eyes instantaneously open.  I couldn't imagine my life without music.  Being able to play and create is what I will spend the rest of my life chasing after.  At 21, I've learned to not care about what the ideal career would be.  I believe that if I could do this forever, I somehow have that ability to capture lightning.  Yeah, I probably sound like a nut right now but hey, this is my blog.  Haha!

Listen to this song and feel every emotion and beautifully done string arrangement.    
 

FM Radio:

Singer: Martina McBride/Hillary Lindsey

Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges, Brett James

Song: "Blessed"

I get kissed by the sun each morning
Put my feet on a hardwood floor
I get to hear my children laughing
Down the hall through the bedroom door
Sometimes I sit on my front porch swing
Just soaking up the day
I think to myself, I think to myself
This world is a beautiful place

I have been blessed
And I feel like I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones that love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

Across a crowded room
I know you know what I'm thinking
By the way I look at you
And when we're lying in the quiet
And no words have to be said
I think to myself, I think to myself
This love is a beautiful gift

I have been blessed
And I feel like I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones that love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

When I'm singing my kids to sleep
When I feel you holding me
I know

I have been blessed
And I feel like I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones that love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

"You Were Just Here"

Of course, the 'dream team' wrote this, of course...because no one else could.  Well, let me tell you I have witnessed in these past few days, the craziest stories and tragedies.  Every minute, every hour, every day, someone is taking their last breath while someone is taking their first.  Make your life count.  Life is too short.  Whatever you want to do, however crazy it may be...do it.   


FM Radio:
Singer: Jo Dee Messina
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges, Brett James
Song: "You Were Just Here"


I woke up at 5 a.m.
Hearing your voice again
But it was just the TV
Coming from the other room

Your half empty coffee cup
Is sitting right where it was
I almost moved it last night
But it didn't feel right
It's too soon, it's too soon
It still feels like

You were just here
You were just holding me
I was alright
I never would have believed
That you'd go away
That you could just disappear
When you were just here

The calendar on the wall
Doesn't miss you at all
It still says you'll be there
With us all on christmas eve

The picture you hung last week
Keeps staring back at me
There we are still laughin'
Like nothin' ever happened
I still feel you in the air
It's not fair, it's not fair

You were just here
You were just holding me
I was alright
I never would have believed
That you'd go away
That you could just disappear
When you were just here

I reach out and you're not there
But I still feel you everywhere
No matter how much I try
Or how hard I cry
It still feels like

You were just here
You were just holding me
I was alright
I never would have believed
That you'd go away
That you could just disappear
When you were just here

"Twisted"

Never did I think that this would be my first Carrie Underwood song I would write about but never that I ever forgot this song but magically no matter how many times I put my iPod on shuffle, this song always comes on!  No matter how hard you try, I don't think this crazy life is meant for us to fully understand.  And this song explains it best.  Not to mention the epic background vocals by Hillary Lindsey.  I think I could listen to a record just of her making vowel sounds, she's unreal.

Carrie Underwood was like a musical God to me when she won American Idol.  I just couldn't stop talking about her.  I knew she was going to come out of this show with a career from her audition..and then "ALONE" blew me away, I was sold.  I would buy Carrie Underwood sings the telephone book and it would undoubtedly rip my heart out.  Anyways, I'll talk about her a million times again but I couldn't resist.  I fell in love with Some Hearts, but Carnival Ride just exploded my heart.    

I would kill to hear Hillary's version, if anyone has ever heard it, let me know how incredible it is!

FM Radio:
Singer: Carrie Underwood
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Luke Laird, Brett James
Song: "Twisted"

Baby you're a wrecking ball crashing into me
Nothing I can do but fall piece by piece
You broke down every part of me that ever thought I'd never need you, baby

It's twisted
Messed up
And the more I think about it
It's crazy, but so what
I may never understand it
I'm caught up and I'm hanging on
I'm wanna love you even if it's wrong

Everybody's telling me I'm over my head
But they don't feel you lovin' me
They all say that I've gone crazy
Maybe, but it's too late now to save me
I'm too tangled

It's twisted
Messed up
And the more I think about it
It's crazy, but so what
I may never understand it
I'm caught up and I'm hanging on
I'm wanna love you even if it's wrong

Even if it's twisted

Maybe it's not right
But that's all right
Yeah, it's all right tonight

It's twisted
Messed up
And the more I think about it
It's crazy, but so what
I may never understand it

It's twisted
Messed up
And the more I think about it
It's crazy, but so what
I may never understand it
I'm caught up and I'm hanging on
I'm wanna love you even if it's wrong

Even if it's twisted
Even if it's just a little bit
Just a little bit
Just a little bit twisted
Yeah, it's twisted