Chris Young "A.M." Review

Chris Young has always had such a distinct sound from his heartfelt ballads to his deep, country twang that makes you feel like you're listening to Prime Country. So, it started to worry me (only a little) that he was branching out a bit more with his latest CD, A.M, released this past Tuesday.

His first single, Aw Naw is definitely more rough than his past hits, including, "The Man I Want To Be," "Voices", "Tomorrow", and even, "Neon." When he said the album was going to reflect more of the live show, I figured we would lose most of the ballads that I love so much. I say this time and time again, but to me, country music is so deep rooted in its ballads, that those are the ones I connect with the most, whether or not I've felt that way in a relationship.

Having said all of that, after streaming the album on amazon a week before the CD officially came out, I immediately fell in love with it. And each time I have listened to the album since then, I get a little something more out of it. Chris told Country Weekly that, "Nothing good happens after midnight," and I think this album really reflects that. It doesn't have much to do with how parties can get a bit out of a hand, but mainly those heavy subjects we all deal with at one point or another--forgiveness, sleepless nights, making a big decision based on how you feel at that moment, etc.

*****

Hold You To It  Reminds me of "Lost" from the last CD, Neon. It's one of those adorable romantic songs that you're into and love singing along to when you first start dating that special someone. You can't help but sway back and forth to the easy beats and the inflections in Chris' voice. Perfect as we transition from summer into fall weather, too, to make you feel like it's warm all year round.

Baby, do you feel that bass line pumpin'
Tell me, can you hear that kick drum thumpin' on the 2 and 4
Let's get on that floor
Love to hear the slide of the guitar ringin'
Melody's sayin' everything I'm thinking
And I'm startin' to think you think it too
I Love the way you're movin'
Feel the backbeat groovin' 
I'm gonna hold you to it

//

Lonely Eyes is the perfect classic country track! It's the promise of a guy to that girl he's crushing on, letting her know that he's in it for the long haul and could possibly be what she has been looking for. Chris also really stretches his vocals and hits high notes that he hasn't before. Boy has some pipes and should show those off more!

Lonely eyes,

Well, it sure looks like

You just might,

Be looking for something, 

For something, whoa!

Look at me, and I think you'll see

Those lonely eyes,

Don't have to be alone tonight

//

Goodbye Again, we get to hear his vocal range on this powerful ballad in a "Tomorrow" (like) way. It's a beautiful song of how the guy is going to fight for this relationship, because you don't just throw in the towel when things get a little rocky or something makes you want to change your mind. You work it out together and you stick out the storms. I love the way he runs some of the phrasing together for emphasis, as he starts to realize she wants out. As the 2nd verse starts up, he's naming off all of the reasons why they should stay together, and by the end of the song, the change in his voice is almost pleading and begging for her to stay. I'm crossing my fingers that this would be the next single. It would definitely switch things up a bit from some of the other songs he's had out recently.

Knock on my door,

You're on my porch,

It's about 11:30,

That only means 

One of two things

Either you're a little bit lonely

Or somethin' ain't right

And judgin' by

The tear in your eye,

You're about to say something crazy,

Like goodbye...

Stop right there

Don't say a word,

Just let me hold you

Girl, we can fix

Whatever it is 

So, whatever you do

Don't let us die

The love of a lifetime 

Is worth at least a million tries

Baby, what we've got 

Is too good for goodbye

//

A.M. Another bit of a roughed up party song, but doesn't have to be taken that way. I like to think of it as just a great weekend song, looking forward to cutting loose a little more than during the week and not having a care. It resembles the flavor of Aw Naw, with a catchy melody and is easy to sing along and rock out to.

Cause in the A.M, 
They go from gettin' buzzed into wasted 
Might not remember what they're sayin' 
Radio turned up and playin' loud a honky tonk station 
Spendin' what ya spent the week makin' 
Ask a little hottie what her name is 
The whole world's a-sleepin 
We're wide awake in the A.M. 

//

Nothin' But The Cooler Left To tell you the truth, I didn't want to like this one, based on the title of the song, because I'm not too big on drinking songs. But, as I listened to this one, it was hard not to get into it. I could picture myself out on a boat, just hanging out with friends and family, without a care in the world. It reminds me of something Clay Walker might've released back in the day with a bit of a Caribbean flare in there.

Oh yeah, 

Everybody grab a cold beer,

Pop it open, raise it up in the air,

Bump cans with your neighbor, yeah,

Here's to good ole boys and country girls everywhere,

Livin' loud, rocking out to the sound of our favorite songs,

y'all sing along, 

This night ain't over yet,

We're gonna stay right here, 

Til' there's nothin' but the cooler left

//

Who I Am With You You would never know that Chris is single, judging by all of the incredible love songs he puts out that makes it sounds like he's in a pretty committed relationship, and this is one is no different. It starts off like a sweet ballad, but starts rocking towards the chorus, singing of how he finally got it right and has everything now that he has the right one to share it with. His vocals really soar on this one and take him to new heights. I think it's the kind of love we all desire someday...I kind of want to play it at my wedding in the future!

Who I am with you,

Is who I really want to be,

You're so good for me,

And when I'm holding you,

It feels like I've got the world in my hands, 

Yeah, a better man,

Is who I am with you

//

Text Me Texas There's a different kind of vibe in the intro, with just the simple sound of a guitar, with a couple beats in the background. The guy is asking for an explanation as to why she won't answer any of his text messages, just wanting to hear what's on from her end, because his heart is all over the place. Has that romantic, pining melody to it, and Chris' voice really makes you feel the longing/loneliness he's going through.

Text me, Texas,

Before you turn off your phone,

I'm a wreck and I'm restless

Got a feelin' that you're not alone,

It's breakin' my heart, and I'm starting to get the message,

C'mon and text me,Texas

//

We're Gonna Find It Tonight I can see this is as a great show opener as Chris runs out on stage! It's wild and fun, and sort of seems to set the tone for what the rest of the night will be like. Definitely one that would be fun to rock out to live! One of those songs that just lets you forget about the work week and allows you to have fun with your friends.

Whatever gets you moving
Gets you grooving
Gets you fired up
We're gonna get it
If you really want it bad enough
Yeah, we're gonna chase it
Get all crazy
Gonna lose our minds
Whatever's gonna get you feeling right
Girl, we're gonna find it tonight

//

Forgiveness Starts off with a pretty country twang, sounds a lot like someone is sitting on the front porch with a banjo. At least that's what I picture anyway. It's almost as if it's like a battle cry. Obviously, the title of the song is pretty self-explanatory. It's so relatable to so many people, whether it's in a romantic relationship or with a relative or a friend...You try to look for it in so many places, in order to heal, but in the end, it just has to come from the person that we hurt or weren't there for when we should have been. You can hear in his voice, what a complex situation

It ain't hidin' in no bottle on the shelf,

Or lying in the bed of someone else,

I can't feel it on some Sunday morning pew,

And one sleepless night, it dawned on me,

The piece I need so desperately,

Is buried in the one place I can't get to,

Girl, it's gotta come from you

Lighters In The Air To me, it makes a great summer theme song, like "Boys of Summer," or even "Summer of '69," as he relives all of the incredible moments that just made time stand still. As I drove by the fair with my parents the other night, listening to this song, I couldn't help but feel the same way. I looked back on this past summer with a great peace, knowing those memories will live on forever, even if just in my heart. But, at least they happened, and I'll always be able to look back and smile. That's what this song is all about. Raising your glass and making a toast to the moments that make life worthwhile.

Guitars on the Gulf breeze

Smoke rings 'round the neon

Moonlight in your blue eyes

'Neath that Georgia hat you had on

Just one night to hold you

No, that ain't what I call fair

But, the memories burn in my mind, 

Like those lighters in the air

//

If ever there was a CD to swoon over, this would be it. Chris continues to grow as an artist, which his fans already knew about him and have loved from the beginning. But, I think this is one that the industry will start to see as well. He already gets a ton of airplay, so maybe now, he'll start getting the recognition that he deserves from the awards, even though that's not what it's about for him.
As any Chris Young fan knows, his biggest idol was the late Keith Whitley, and I think Keith would be pretty proud of this album if he were still here. You can definitely hear and see where he pulled a lot of his songwriting inspiration from over the years.

(this is just a little bonus)

So, if you haven't picked up this album yet...Go do yourself a favor and get it! It's amazing!

Fave Tracks:

• Hold You To It
• Lonely Eyes
• Goodbye
• Text Me Texas

That's all for now,

Shelby :)

First week...DONE!

I have officially survived my first week of school at my new university! To tell you the truth, it's a little overwhelming right now. The classes haven't been too hard just yet, but I feel like I'm making them harder than they have to be. That way, it's not a complete shock if things do get a little more intense down the road.
There are clubs I need to choose from, I'm working on the paper, I need to get a job and am applying at a couple places, and in all honesty, I'm just really looking at everyone, like, "How in the world are you doing this and not completely drowning in life?" HA! I guess, sometimes, you just have to do what you've gotta do and get it done and not think about all the work and steps it's going to take to get there.

Currently, I'm taking:

• Newspaper production
• Intro to communications
• Intro to Mass Media
• Interpersonal communications
• Technical report writing (online)

I really love the campus, though, it's so different from everywhere else I've been that has basically had two main buildings and a few other scattered classrooms. Luckily, all of my classes are all in the same general area, which makes it nice. And I haven't gotten lost once. I've caught up with some old friends and familiar faces from high school, as well as being open and trying to talk (and introduce myself formally) to as many people as I can in my classes. It's all about connections now! Now, it's a matter of finding a balance between keeping busy and not taking on too much. In a way, it feels like I've been here forever. 

Monday: 

Tuesday:

I pulled a Rory Gilmore-eating lunch by myself and listening to the new Chris Young CD...Yes, I do look like a weirdo here. Oh well! 

Wednesday:

So far, I'm really enjoying my classes! I mean, after all, they're all about things I do and talk about on a normal basis, just a little more formal now. However, after talking about and dealing with media talk all day, I might be taking a break from Twitter, Instagram and other social media sites a little more, so I don't get too burnt out on it. It's a matter of not letting the media consume my life, but of finding ways to impact the media when I actually get into it professionally. My goal is to also not to freak myself out too much for things that are so far into the future that I don't even know what's going to happen, because it's just not worth it. It's all about taking it day by day, getting to know people, actually taking the time to read and learn the things that I'm being taught, get involved with whatever I can, and to truly make the most of this experience. The steps I'm taking now will absolutely show the outcome of what kind of job I get and how I can provide for my future and my family. It's time to get down to business and to stop coasting, like it's a far off dream that will happen someday. Because someday is now...And it's happening. 

"I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive

I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise

To fly, 

To fly..."

*Nicki Minaj and Rihanna*

That's all for now,

Shelby :)

Beat This Summer

This summer, and like most summer's, I wanted to make these few months the best I possibly could. Whether it was hanging out with friends, taking as many chances and opportunities as I could, or going on trips when possible. This Summer exceeded all of my expectations in ways I never could have imagined! 

I knew that this would be one of the last summer's I would have before true adulthood kicked in as I switch from a community college to the big league of a CSU this week! I want to get serious with my career and goals, and this was a summer to do some last minute stuff to get further ahead in those departments and to just enjoy being young and realizing I don't know it all. It was also a time of reflection on where I've been in my life and what I still have left to do. 

But, enough of that, let me go over some of the highlights! 

•The Lauren Graham Book Signing! 

•The American Idol finale and being able to meet some of the idols I had been chatting with on Twitter all season! They were seriously so sweet and I still get a chance to talk to them from time to time, which is fun! 

•Graduating from Taft! 

•Nashville

•Taylor Swift "Red tour" concert 

•L.A trips! 

•Chris Colfer book signing

•Bass Lake

There were so many other incredible memories of hanging out with friends and going to the movies or even just simple things like going for a bike ride or eating breakfast outside, while I'd read my devotion and Bible. But, if I went through each and every thing, we'd probably be here all day! Haha! 

All of that down time has helped me prepare for school, since I started today. It's kind of depressing to officially say goodbye to all the fun times and not having too many cares in the world. But I'm determined and ready to get the show on the road. After all, my end goal is Nashville after graduation... So, that'll keep me motivated when I feel like giving up.

"As long as I live, whatever I do, as great as it is, you know what's a bummer? I ain't ever gonna beat this summer with you..." 

Here's to a great new school year! I'll be updating about all of the fun along the way! :) 

That's all for now,

Shelby 

Keith Urban "Fuse" Album Review

Keith Urban released his 7th studio album, Fuse last week, on September 10, which is also the name of his current headlining tour. It's no secret that I'm a HUGE Keith fan and have been from the moment But, For the Grace of God was released to radio, even if I was a bit younger to truly express how much I liked him. He has proved over time that he is not only an artist and a musician, but that he is also an incredible songwriter at that.

With this album, you can tell he branched out a bit with styles and sounds. Keith described that as the fusing part of the record; deciding what sounded good together, whether it was beats or voices, and just trying something new. There are some songs that have a bit more of a rock edge and a pop flare here and there, with a country twist that only Keith can pull off. However, his catchy melodies and descriptive lyrics are all still there, and let's be honest those are what make a Keith song, aside from his gorgeous Aussie voice.

I would almost be as bold to call this a country/hip hop/pop/rock album, if that makes any sense? HA! The first time I listened to it, I wasn't quite sure of what to make of it. It was a little different than what we're used to with him, but as I listen to it more

Somewhere In My Car has that traditional catchy rhythm and beat to it and who can forget those famous, "Oooh-ooh's" we all love to hear Keith say in between a verse and chorus. Definitely makes me want to have a dance party or rock out with my air guitar. I also love the 80's vibe in the chorus. But, probably one of his most, uh, descriptive songs to date! ha!

But, in my mind we're somewhere in my car 

And it's raining hard on the streetlight glow

You got your lips on mine, it's gasoline on fire

I never will forget, you grabbed my shirt and pulled it over my head

And your fingertips slide up and down my back

Breathin' hard, steamin' up the glass

I'd give anything if I could bring you back home

Even The Stars Fall 4 U I think this is the perfect next single for Keith. It's like one of those daydream songs. You know, when you hear that song and think about that one special person? Or maybe you just dream of finding that person someday. As soon as I hear this song, I see a mini movie in my head that would make for the cutest music video.

Every star up in the sky, has got your name on it tonight

And they don't stand a chance like I know I don't

Girl, you can't tell me that you can't see, the kind of spell you put on me

You gotta know just what you do, 

Even the stars fall for you...

Cop Car This one deals with that innocent, puppy love, that maybe isn't so innocent after all. You can be so caught up in it and it's dangerous, because you're pushing new boundaries. But, in the end, it's worth every repercussion you're going to have to face. This is such a fresh take on the matter of "young love" and great metaphorically speaking, as well. Keith always has a way of making something so easy on the ears, while getting a bit deeper with the heart. 

You were thinking that

Running for it

Would make a good story

I was thinking you were crazy as hell

And you were so innocent

But, you were stealing my heart

I fell in love in the back of a cop car.

Shame This is one of the more repetitive tracks on the CD, but I think that's exactly what the tune needs. It gets the point across of learning from your mistakes and not being perfect. Sometimes that's a cycle that we go through in life, where we're constantly messing up, but each and every time you just get up again and dust yourself off. A great theme song for this point in my life.

Hey, I'm not tryin' to be perfect 

It's not like it's worth it

Everyone hurts the same

Hey, I'm not tryin' to be special

'Cause I ain't no angel

Everyone hurts the same

What a shame

Good Thing The intro to this song reminds me too much of a Luke Bryan song. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it's not my style. Definitely catchy, but it's not my favorite. 

Just give me one chance,

And you'll never be lonely no more.

We Were Us (Duet with Miranda Lambert) First off, I was extremely impressed with Miranda's vocals on this particular song. When I heard they were doing a song together, I wasn't quite sure what angle they'd be coming from. But, I am obsessed with this song! I think this will be a huge hit for both of them, since it's the latest single for Keith. It's not your typical breakup song; pining away for the love of your life, your heart breaking into a million pieces when those little reminders come back. Instead, you're relishing over the fact that the relationship happened and you can still smile about it. It takes you through those special times and how sometimes it just fades out.

Back when that song was a song

I could sing along without thinkin' bout you every time it came on

Every beat, every line, every word, every time

When a road was a road

I could roll on through without wishin' that empty seat was you

Money was gas, dreams were dust, 

Love was fast and we were us (Definitely my favorite lines)

Love's Poster Child The instruments in this one make it sound a bit more sultry and gritty than a lot of Keith's songs. I would almost even compare parts of it to a Jason Aldean song for that southern rock flare. I love the way he messes with the guitar more and truly shows what he can do with his talent in that area. He has such a way of making you feel something with just a few strings on the guitar and that's impressive!

Show me how it's done this side of Dixie

I'm a broke down truck, baby, won't you fix me

Just keep on dancin' til the break of dawn, come on, come on

Stars fall down, make the world stop, kiss me

Wherever I go, I want you with me

Somethin bout you makes my heart run wild

You're love's poster child

She's My 11 I think this track shows the versatility of Keith's voice; roller coaster at the beginning, "oooh's" and the Justin Timberlake falsetto as he slides into the chorus. Perfect for cruising around town with your sweetie with the top down and loving life. Another cute daydream song. 

Come Back To Me It sounds like one of his classic heartbreak songs, with a bit of a longing in the guitar strings he plays. Much slower than the rest of the album, but truly beautiful, just the same. What a beautiful premise for the story line, too. The idea that the girl has things she has to do, but that when she returns, that guy will still be there waiting for her. If you love something, let it go, really rings true here.

If there's pavement you ain't put your shoes on

If there's dance floors you ain't made a move on yet

If you're feelin' too safe here beside me 

And you wanna do somethin' you might regret

Try the whole world on if you feel the need

Then come back to me

Red Camaro Some interesting beats start off the song, adding in a bit of banjo keeps the theme of "fuse" going right along. It's fun to drum along to and groove a little bit. One of those songs that you'll be able to turn on in your car and make it feel like it's summer all year long. You also have to appreciate his "rap" style of getting out the words in the second verse.

Your lips around a Coca-Cola

My hand on the wheel and your head on my shoulder

Some things never go out of style

Like you and me together

Staring at your legs on the leather of my

Red camaro

Little Bit Of Everything was the perfect song to release as the first single as it best encompasses this new era for him, but isn't so far off from his old stuff that it throws people off. In fact, after listening to the rest of the record, that seems like the safe choice to continue seeking out the same audience, as well as others that might not be as familiar with the rest of his music. I wasn't crazy about it the first time I heard it, but like most songs, it grew on me very quickly and became one of the songs of my summer.

I don't need too much of nothin'

I just wanna sing a little chill song

Get my groove on

Pour somethin' strong down in my drink

Oh, I know

I don't need a whole lot of anything

I just want a little bit of everything

Na na na na, na na na na,

I just want a little bit of everything,

Na na na na, na na na na

Raise 'Em Up (featuring Eric Church) The beginning of this track probably sounds the most country with the soft strumming of the guitar, and Keith's voice sounds remarkably like Eric Church's at the beginning. There were parts where I got the two confused the first time I gave it a listen! It resembles "Somebody Like You" a lot in the chorus, which just seemed funny...I wonder, did he do that on purpose?

Get those white sails sailing down in Mexico

It's just a whiskey glass if you ain't makin' a toast

Life your tear-filled eyes up to the sky

A comin' home, you've been gone too long

Tonight we're gonna

Raise 'em up

Heart Like Mine Another ballad of sorts that follows the story of a man who is hard to love and knows he could be a better man, but has a hard time getting to that place, because of the heart he has and the things he has seen in his life. If I'm not mistaken, this might be the track that was like a "pre-quel" to his hit, "Stupid Boy," like a glance at that crossroads before he lost the one thing that ever really mattered in his life.

I'm doing the same things 

I saw my father do

'Cause I was just a kid in the corner

Watching the words as they turned black and blue

Black Leather Jacket Another one of those songs reliving the glory days, just by putting on that leather jacket you wore in high school. It's almost like a catchier, more modern day version of "Unanswered Prayers" in the sense that both high school sweethearts have moved on, but the memories still come back with that one object and time stands still.

And if I put it back on, I'm sixteen sittin' next to you,

Down by the river you got the shivers, so I put it around you

We're countin' down the memories in the moonlight and red wine, vinyl static

Three polaroids, two young hearts, and one real cool, black leather jacket

Gonna B Good Such a perfect song for this time of year! I feel like fall is the time when we all start to reflect a little more and can be content with our lives and the stages that we're in. This is going to be a motto of mine for the quarter at school I'm heading into right now. It's a feel good song, and will be one of those anthems that I rock out to when I just need a pick-me-up.

Oh, it's all starting to come together

Stars are lining up like they should

Yeah, like I pictured, but even better

It's gonna be you and me

And it's gonna be, yeah, it's gonna be good!

Lucky Charm Has a bit of a rock edge as it starts out in the beginning of the intro, but it eases back into a groove that only Keith Urban can do! He sure does love to sing about those shooting star analogies ;).

Sunlight shinin', baby, roll the dice

Now that I got you by my side

We can't lose

No more waitin' on a shooting star

I'm betting it all on your pretty heart

Baby, you're my lucky charm

I think it's a fantastic album, with so much thought process behind all of the instruments and songwriting. But, I still have to say Defying Gravity will always be my favorite album of his, but I love the fact that he isn't complacent and is bold enough to try new things from time to time. He knows who he is, and I think that's why the fans trust him enough to go a little outside of his comfort zone when he needs to.

Listening to this album has me even more excited to see him at The Hollywood Bowl in just a couple weeks. These songs will be EPIC live, I can already tell.

That's all for now,
Shelby :)

I said goodbye to the last weekend of Summer 2013 yesterday, and I couldn't have imagined a better time.

Saturday:
Saturday, I woke up sick (again) and watched Parenthood in my pj's for awhile with my mom, because I was feeling pretty lousy. I love that I've gotten her hooked on the show, just like I did with Gilmore Girls many years ago. Anyway, I had breakfast and some hot tea, and eventually I started feeling better. Which was great, because I had plans with my dad that we'd been talking about for the last couple months.

When my dad came home, we were off to LA for some good 'ole fashioned father/daughter bonding time. We stopped for lunch at Chipotle, and hit the open road! I really need to work on the cliche's, I think, but that's to work on another time. We got to L.A. and still had a couple hours to kill around town. But, I didn't really know of where to go this time (since my mom wasn't with us and most of what I had in mind, she might have wanted to do). So, my dad ends up driving up to the Warner Brothers Ranch lot, which is closed to the public. And let's just say...He, uh, had connections. So, we're driving into the lot, park and get out just to see the Friends water fountain from the show's opener. I have been joking about getting to see that for the longest time and actually put it on my bucket list to get my picture in front of it. Well, thanks to my dad, it actually happened! I was freaking out, and it all happened so fast, I didn't have much time to think about what I wanted to do, I was just snapping pictures and taking it all in. I mean, that might be the closest I actually get to meeting any of the "Friends" cast, just standing where they stood (and sat), other than seeing Matthew Perry at a Dodger game. My dad and I made a video, so I sent it to my mom to show her where we were, and I guess I made her cry in the middle of JCPenney, because she knew how excited I was. AH! She's the sweetest :).

We didn't stay too long, but I didn't mind, because I got to see it, and that's what mattered! It was one of the coolest moments ever! After that, I didn't care what else we did...That moment trumped all. So, we drove around the Toluca Lake area, went by the studios (Universal and Warner Brothers), and near The Grove. After a little while, we headed up to Dodger Stadium for the game that night.
The Dodgers took a really bad defeat, and lost to the Giants, with a score of 19-3. Yeah, it was bad. But, my dad and I had fun chatting and joking around. We didn't see any celebrities, but I wasn't really counting on that either. I haven't been to a game in at least a month or so, so it was good to be back!

After the game, we stopped at Krispy Kreme and Jack-in-the-Box...More healthy choices, right? HAHA! But, we had to get home, so we never usually stop for anything else! On the way home, we played this random radio game we came up with one time, of guessing which artist or song we thought was going to come up next. Let's just say it wasn't as predictable as we thought it would be, listening to The Highway on XM radio...But, we were having fun and laughing about our choices, so it seemed to keep us entertained.
We made it home around 12:15, talked to my mom for a few minutes and I fell asleep pretty quickly, after checking Twitter one last time, of course.

Sunday:

I woke up feeling so tired and groggy yesterday morning, but got up earlier than usual, and even had time to eat a donut from Krispy Kreme! We went to church, which was a great message about family, as the new series is focusing on that. We were also celebrating 50 years for our Pastor's wife (and also a pastor herself), since it was her birthday, which was a lot of fun seeing her testimony in new ways and in pictures/interviews with her parents.
After church, my parents and I had lunch at Chilli's, then came home for a little while.
At 3:00, I had a coffee date with one of my best friends, as we celebrated for her birthday (since I had to miss her dinner the night before) and caught up on life. We're both getting ready to start universities this week, so we talked about that and some of our ministry positions at the moment, and she told me all about work. But, the biggest thing I took away from our conversation, and as simple as it sounds, is that...We're young. We don't have to have everything together. We don't have to know where this road we're on is going to take us. Sure, it's great to plan, but it's better to be open to what God might have up His sleeve. I'm trying to remind myself not to rush, because Nashville and all of the things that I want will always be out there. But, I'm not always going to be living at home, being able to spend quality time with my parents, and having home-cooked meals with no bills to pay. I won't always be able to call my closest friends up to see if they want to run to Starbucks or hang out at my house for a marathon of The Office or Glee. And I won't always be able to get involved with church activities or things at school to meet new people or get to know what else is out there, while still "learning."These are the moments that I don't want to take for granted. Besides that, I just really love my heart to hearts with Viviyan. I always come out feeling much better about whatever situation I'm in and usually she helps me see things from another perspective.

After that, I came home and later on, my uncle and grandparents came over for dinner-my grandma made Manicotti, along with salad and breadsticks that we picked up from Olive Garden! YUM! We talked for a little while, then watched the testimony of a former mob guy who spoke to my grandpa's church a few weeks ago. His message is so powerful about how God can transform any heart! If you're interested to find out more about him, google Michael Franzese and see what he's all about! They're even making a movie about his life.

When that finished, we had cake and ice cream for dessert and visited with everyone for awhile, while the guys finished watching the football game. Pretty soon, the house was empty again and nerves were setting in for school, as my imagination played tricks on me and tried to freak me out. It was the last remaining moments of summer and freedom. I watched the Million Second gameshow quiz with my parents and wrote a little more (as if I don't do that enough).

I tried to go to bed a little earlier, and managed...But, let's face it. I am always going to be a night owl.

That's all for now,
Shelby :)

Stay tuned for highlights from my summer!!