First Steps!!

So what if the kid was battling an unknown-at-the-time pneumonia, that sure wasn't going to keep him down!  Luke took four steps unassisted yesterday!

Song Connected Memories - My Country Playlist

I've been listening to so much music lately and for some reason I've been gravitating to a mix of current and old-timey 80's country.  These are the [very eclectic] "Top 10" songs on my playlist right now.  Weird mix, right?

10. Lettin' The Night Roll - Justin Moore
Aside from being super short, Justin Moore is basically awesome!  His music is just real and pays tribute to growing up in a small town... Good stuff!  I recently read that he moved him family back to his hometown and out of Nashville so his girls could go to the same school he grew up in - how cool is that?

9. Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton
It's Dolly... what else is there to say?  Aside from big hair and pegged pants, good 80's stuff is just good!

8. Like A Wreckin' Ball - Eric Church
So this song may be a bit "um, suggestive" *blushing* but it's one that I find myself playing over and over...

7. Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue - Crystal Gayle
So I have brown eyes and have always thought blue and green eyes were so beautiful, maybe I just like this one because sometimes the grass is just greener on the other side of the fence?

6. Swayin' - Cole Swindell
Yea.... so, Cole Swindell... He's opened for Luke Bryan the last two times I've had tickets but both times I missed him opening and now that he has finally released his debut album, I wish I would've seen him (...but have no fear, I have tickets for Luke Bryan - and Cole Swindell - both nights at Blossom next month :) I love that he's a great songwriter and actually pens his own music!  He has some serious talent!

5. She Get Me High - Luke Bryan
Aside from this being sung by my one-and-only, all-time-favorite "Country Man", Luke Bryan... this is just a fun, upbeat song!

4. Dirt - Florida Georgia Line
I love how this song just takes you to this place of appreciation for your roots and community and how there is a really special meaning attached to the dirt beneath your feet.  I've been thinking this is an anthem of sorts...

"You get your hands in it plant your roots in it/Dusty head lights dance with your boots in it (dirt)/You write her name on it spin your tires on it/Build your corn field, whiskey bonfires on it (dirt)/You bet your life on it (yeah)

It's that elm shade red rust clay you grew up on/That plowed up ground that your dad damned his luck on/That post game party field you circle up on and when it rains you get stuck on/Drift a cloud back behind county roads that you run up/The mud on her jeans that she peeled off and hung up/her blue eyed summer time smile/Looks so good that it hurts/Makes you wanna build A 10 percent down white picket fence house on this dirt

 

You've mixed some sweat with it taken a shovel to it/You've stuck some crosses and some painted goal posts through it (dirt)/You know you came from it (dirt)/And some day you'll return to it

This elm shade red rust clay you grew up on/That plowed up ground that your dad damned his luck on/That post game party field you circle up on/And when it rains you get stuck on/Drift a cloud back behind county roads that you run up/The mud on her jeans that she peeled off and hung up/Her blue eyed summer time smile looks so good that it hurts/Makes you wanna build A 10 percent down white picket fence house on this dirt (dirt, dirt, dirt)

 

You know you came from it (dirt) and some day you'll return to it/This elm shade red rust clay you grew up on/That plowed up ground that your dad damned his luck on/That post game party field you circle up on/And when it rains you get stuck on/Drift a cloud back behind county roads that you run up/The mud on her jeans that she peeled off and hung up/Her blue eyed summer time smile looks so good that it hurts/Makes you wanna build A 10 percent down white picket fence house on this dirt/You know you came from it and some day you'll return to it."

3. I Fell In Love Again Last Night - Forester Sisters
I remember singing along to this on the radio as a young girl....

2. Keep It To Yourself - Kacey Musgraves
I recently downloaded Kacey Musgraves' album, Same Trailer Different Park after watching an episode of CMT Crossroads that featured her and Katy Perry.. from the first time I listened to the album, I've been so in love with her! I don't know why I was such a late adopter of her music, but she's pretty great!

1. I Told You So - Randy Travis
His whole album "Always & Forever" actually has been on repeat for me lately.... there's something nostalgic about Randy Travis and particularly the songs on this album for me... reminds me of when in retrospect, I was really just a kid, but in many ways felt so "grown up" [which is odd since this really isn't music for a young'en] but nonetheless, it's true.  Eric Church actually reminds us of the concept of "song connected memories" in Springsteen and when I hear this music I think of when I used to listen to this album on cassette tape (remember that manual process of "eject","flip" and "re-insert"? ...And God forbid the tape would get stuck...) and I think about driving backroads with this on and I just feel good... and full... and happy about a time when I was "just a kid".  Did you know there is actually a science behind the music memory connection?  Cool stuff, but I digress...

I've also been listening to a lot of Dixie Chicks... hate their politics, love their music and stuff by newer artists Brett Eldredge and Thomas Rhett.  And The Judds... Mama He's Crazy and Why Not Me?  I could go on and on...

I LOVE music... it's such a shame that I can't carry a tune to save my life!

Please vote for Luke!

I entered Luke into a beautiful baby contest sponsored by one of our local television stations... please consider voting for him if you have a chance!  Vote for Luke!!