30 hours of PERFECTION

Wednesday night Sara texted me... she said she won more free tickets to CMA Country Christmas (For those of you that don't know what that is.. it's a Christmas music program that's recorded in Nashville every year. Big stars. Like. Jennifer Nettles hosts it.). I got all jealous and called her lucky. All that stuff. She said I could have them if I got my butt down there and I told her that's impossible. It was impossible.
Well I went home and told my dad.


And he booked us a flight.

So here I am. 4 nights later. After spending around 30 hours with the most amazing person this world has ever seen. Yes. I finally met Sara Jean.

We landed in Memphis Wednesday night, stayed in a Courtyard (Marriott) outside of town. Then woke up the next morning and headed off to Nashville...

It was a three hour drive from where we were to our hotel. And Sara and I texted each other the whole way there. Every mile we would count down together. Sara was a little behind us due to the fact that she was still in school when my dad and I left, and it was about the same distance between her place and Nashville as it was from Memphis. So my dad and I stopped at Loretta Lynn's ranch and got some lunch... hit the road again and made it to Nashville. We went and checked into our hotel, then called Sara to see where she was at. They were pulling into downtown, so my dad and I got back in the car and drove to downtown to meet them at Bridgestone Arena. It took us FOREVER to get a parking spot... we finally found one about two blocks from the venue. We parked and headed to the arena, and if we're confessing here, every bone in my body was shaking. I don't know if it was excited or nervous shaking.. but I was shaking. Like. Earthquake in my body shaking. We turned the corner and I saw her. I practically ran across the street and tackled her in a hug. We hugged for well on a few good minutes. Then we went inside this little welcome center thing off of the Bridgestone and took a few pictures.

"Well that shrimp can't shake it very well for Luke Bryan..."

Sara, her mom and I then left Bridgestone to go check into there hotel... don't ask me where my dad went, let alone do I really care. I was with Sara for heavens sake. Jennifer Nettles could've been standing next to me and I wouldn't have cared. My dad picked us up from their hotel and then we went and parked before the place got crowded for the CMA Country Christmas program. We walked down Broadway a little bit and then stopped for dinner at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Sara and I had coconut shrimp. Yummy. After Margaritaville we went to Bridgestone to get in line for our seats. Doors opened and we filed up to the Club Level. The artists were still sound checking when we got up there. We got to listen to a little pre-concert, if you will.

The doors finally opened and we got front row seats on the 3rd level up. We were close enough that during the concert, if we shouted, the stars could hear us. Sara and I shouted "We love you Jennifer!" to Ms. Nettles and she replied "Love you too! Merry Christmas! Thanks yall!"

We kinda died.

After that we got a point, a salute, and a wave from Keith Urban. A wave from Jimi, Phillip, and Kimberly of Little Big Town, a little flip from Kellie Pickler, a wave from Faith Hill, another wave from Martina McBride, and a wave from Joe Don of Rascal Flatts.

"Pretend like you're playing guitar.."

BEST NIGHT EVER.

After the concert, we dropped Sara and her mom off at their hotel, and we headed back to our. Got to bed and woke early the next morning to go find a little something for Sara I've been looking for weeks on end. Still couldn't find it, so we headed back to the hotel and Sara came over. We went up to the lounge so I could played guitar for her while we sang together. We did Shut up Train and Fly Away, and a little bit of Cold as Stone but that didn't go terribly well. After that we headed out to the Grand Ole Opry, where Sara got a Thompson Square autographed CD, which we then listened to on our way to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. What an amazing thing to sing "I Got You" with Sara and actually have my arms around her... wow.

We then went exploring the Gaylord and took a boat tour... inside. It was pretty cool. We stayed there for a while waiting for my dad as he was taking a conference call. He met back up with us and then we headed to Bob Evans for lunch, where none other than Little Miss was playing.

After lunch we headed back into downtown. We went to the Country Music Walk of Fame (I think it's something like that..) and took pictures with all of the stars. There were tons. We got Keith, Rascal Flatts, Martina, Josh Turner... all of them (:

Then we headed back to Bridgestone to reenact the moment that we met. We ran all slow-mo to each other. Looked pretty cool if you ask me. People probably thought we were dorks crashing into each other like that but as for Sara and I, we enjoyed it. We also took pictures with the signs on the light poles for CMA awards and CMA Country Christmas. Jenn looks good on a light pole ladies and gentlemen.

We then headed down Broadway again and went shopping for matching shirts and souvenirs. When we were all finished up, we met up with my dad again and headed back to the Gaylord to drop Sara off at her car. We went inside for a bit while waiting for one of Sara's friends who was going to meet us there, stayed about 40 minutes and when her friend didn't show up Sara's mom said it was time to leave. We went out to the car to say goodbye.. and I completely lost it...

Now. Usually when I say lost it. I mean I cry. But this time. I bawled. I bawled like I've never bawled before.

This isn't just a friend. Sara isn't. She's way more then that to me.

And you never want to say goodbye.

So it wasn't pretty.

We hugged for a long time, then my dad made me get in the car and her mom for her. After they left I bawled for almost two hours straight.. ("My eyes are dehydrated..") while texting Sara the whole time. I know. I felt smart.

Once I finally stopped bawling I fell in bed exhausted. Woke up the next morning, went to breakfast and headed back over to the Opry again. Got a shirt and an autographed Justin Moore CD, then headed over to the Nashville Zoo. (My dad's a zoo guy.. personally. I think they're all the same.) We then went back into downtown and went to the Country Music Hall of Fame... impressive museum they have there. We went down to the Nashville temple... where were exactly 4 hours from Sara.

So we started texting.

And we convinced our parents to let us see each other one more time before I got back on the plane to Utah.

We went to a steakhouse called Logans. Called Jess and took tons of pictures. I finally found her surprise and gave me a stuff squirrel... yes, a Heidy. We were there for about two hours until we had to say goodbye again. We hugged and stuck our earbuds up our noses together.. the thing that started it all.

Leaving was easier the second time. I didn't cry. So proud of myself.

I love my baby girl <3 more than anything in the world....

 




 

Little Miss Erika

Yeah, I guess you could say I got bored...

Pick 10 artists that you love before reading the questions:

1. Sugarland
2. Justin Moore
3. Chris Young
4. Jason Aldean
5. Thompson Square
6. Martina McBride
7. Little Big Town
8. Sara Evans
9. Lady Antebellum
10. Reba

What was the first song you ever heard by 1?
Little Miss <3 "It'll be alright again.. Little Miss you'll go far.." But that usually changes day to day, it's impossible to choose an all time favorite song from them.
What is your favorite song of 8?
Born to Fly
What kind of impact has 1 left on your life?
How am I supposed to answer a question like that? They have left an impact on me that will last forever. Because of them, I have real friends who treat me just like family, who are always there for me. Because of their music, they have stopped me from giving up when that's all I want to do. They comfort me, they make me laugh, I wouldn't be who I am without them. I wouldn't have met some of the most amazing people in my life. True, I wouldn't have had a lot of heartache without them, but the good times and memories are what keeps me going when the pain is too much to handle.
What are your favorite lyrics of 5?
"We are fragile, but we are human, and we are shaped by the light we let through us. We break fast, 'cause we are glass."
How many times have you seen 4 live?
Haven't yet. Plan to.
What is your favourite song by 7?
Bring it on Home
Is there any song by 3 that makes you sad?
The Man I Want to Be - For me, he brings out every point of the woman I want to be
What is your favorite song by 9?
Own the Night <3 or Dancing Away with my Heart. Beautiful songs they are.
When did you first get into 2?
Oh man. He's a dang sexy country boy ladies and gentlemen.
How did you get into 3?
First time I started hearing his songs on GAC last January, I've been hooked ever since.
What is your favourite song by 4?
Tattoos on This Town
How many times have you seen 9 live?
I will see them for the first time in February.
What is a good memory concerning 10?
Oh heavens, last April with Vivian. One of the most amazing concerts I've ever been to.
Is there a song by 8 that makes you sad?
My Heart Can't Tell You No...
What is your favorite song of 6?
I'm Gonna Love you Through It <3

Look who's back!

I'm sorry it's been so long since I last blogged... life is crazy! Especially with the new term starting, and all the other projects going on, I have had almost no extra time to sit down and crank this out. I'm excited to though now.


I hope you like the new look of my blog and the new title. I've never really experienced with a ton of format stuff, so I think it looks a ton better. A lot more of my personality comes through this with layout than with the last couple.


Life has been crazy! Since I last blogged, I have started teaching guitar lessons. I only have one official student right now, but I have a few more signing up after Christmas and another few that have come for a lesson or two and still are debating to sign up. If anyone is interested... I charge $7 for a half hour lesson ($28 a month). I've loved teaching. It's so fun to teach others a love for my passion.


I've also started work on my next CD. It will be a cover CD this time, featuring only my songs that I've written and should be finished around Christmas. I'm also recording a special CD for Sara, as we have so many songs that we relate to together, I figured I put them all in a CD so she can have them to play whenever she wants.


Both the Atlanta and the Indiana Sugarland concert were in the last two weeks or so. I was able to get a few concert calls from ATL and 14 from Indiana... my Sugarfamily sure knows how to heal me. Since then I've been coping with losing my girls a lot better. I got to speak with a friend I haven't gotten to speak with since the stage collapse almost three months ago today. She's been in the hospital since the fall and was allowed to go home today. It was amazing to hear her again. I still remember that night like it was last, and will never forget it. But that's what healing is. It's accepting your loss while hanging onto the memories. I don't know that it's a memory I want to remember, but I'll never forget it.

During the Indiana concert, instead of painting "love" on the flag that they parade around the arena during "Stand Up", she spray painted "heal". And yes, we are healing.


We had UEA Break a few weeks back. My family and I went to Disneyland. We spent a day in Disneyland and a day in DCA. It was a ton of fun and I was glad I could go with my mom and my brother since I usually just go with my dad.


We finally got all of our Alabama plans finalized. We are going to Birmingham on the 27th of December, spending a day and a half there, then driving to Nashville and flying back home New Years Eve. I'm all to excited. It's so weird saying to Sara "I'm going to meet you next month!" It's about the best feeling in the world, really. I am so excited.

Halloween was so fun. I went to my friends house and made cotton candy and ate donuts. It was a ton of fun. They really go all out for Halloween. I went trick or treating a little bit with Caroline. I was dressed as Jennifer Nettles... of course. It was way fun and everyone loved my costume. The hat is what really took it over the top. I made it myself, complete with heart with wings beads, feathers, and a zipper that goes around the entire length of the hat. I LOVE it. I stole it from Caroline and thought it was so cool how I dressed it up. I was pretty happy with it myself.


I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO SNOW. I am SO excited for winter. I don't know why, because usually I HATE the snow. But this year, I can't wait for it to start falling. Hoping that storm they're talking about tomorrow is going to dump on us.


Well, enjoy your weekend, much love!

Little Miss Erika