Still Making My Dreams Come True

This is my favorite link-up I have come across! I couldn't wait until Tuesday came around so I could link up again! I LOVE looking through my pictures and remembering my happy moments! You should check Leigh out! Her blog is great. She's a funny chic! You should link-up! Even if it's just once! Doing this will make your heart smile! I promise! Seeing other people's Happiness Pictures will make you smile too!

I have been referring to my hubster as my Mr. Dream Come True in my posts, because he is. Maybe one day I will post about how we met and he stole my heart. But this post is how he is still making my dreams come true. He made my dream of marrying my best friend come true. He made my dream of becoming a mother come true. AND he made my dream of meeting Tim McGraw come true.

Anyone who knows me in real life, knows I have a somewhat unhealthy obsession with Tim. I love his music, but what started the obsession was seeing him in concert! He puts on a fun show! I have seen the man 12 times in concert now. A bit ridiculous really. If you think about the cost of concert tickets, and the cost of t-shirts etc...that man has too much of my money. BUT the memories made with my sister, friends and hubby at his concerts are priceless for sure.

Tim's Southern Voice Tour came to our area 3 days after my birthday. I had already seen it back in February with my oldest son, my dad, sis, cousins, Aunt & Uncle in Roanoke VA. My cousin was turning 16 and she wanted to go to her first concert for her birthday, a Tim McGraw concert, with us. So we happily obliged! So I wasn't planning on going to the show in July in our area. I was hoping that we would get chosen to put on the VIP event at the concert and possibly meet him, but I wasn't buying tickets. See my husband's company sponsored his tour this year and was responsible for the food at the VIP event. The VIP event is a private set Tim does for about 50 of his fan club members, contest winners etc. We weren't "the chosen ones" so I had come to grips with not going and not meeting Tim McGraw.

THEN Mr. Dream Come True surprised me with tickets for my birthday. He set up the babysitters, he had everything taken care of. I can't begin to explain how HUGE that was. Birthdays, Anniversaries, Mom's day, Valentine's Day, always has a tendency to be a let down. He works really hard, and typically doesn't take the time to do things like this. I have always told him I am happy with just a card, or an email, because that is when he takes the time to tell me how he feels about me, remind me why he loves me, he is a man of few words, so those cards mean more to me than anything...so this gift was so incredible for so many reasons!

How he got the tickets is a fun story too, but I am trying not to ramble. So, he got the tickets, 20th row, center stage! I have NEVER been that close ever. I was beside myself with excitement. Well, the surprise didn't end there. He took the time to make some phone calls, find out who was assigned to the VIP  event from his company and contacted that partner about getting us in. The partner was so gracious and got us two passes!

The VIP event was in a tent, no seats, just lots of food, and a stage. There was a rope that gave about a 5 foot cushion between the stage and the people. Thankfully we got there early enough, and because we knew the partner was able to go in the side entrance so we got in before anyone else and was able to get right on the rope(basically front row)! INCREDIBLE! Tim came out with half of his band The Dance Hall Doctors. They sang 3 songs, one of which was Don't Take the Girl. I have only ever heard him sing that live once, my very first concert. He doesn't sing it in concert anymore. I was thrilled. During his song Watch the Wind Blow By he made eye contact with me. I thought I was going to faint. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, Tim took the time to sign autographs for the people "on the rope"! BOY am I glad we got there early enough to get that spot! When he signed my pass I took the chance to touch his shoulder and say

" I have seen you in concert 12 times"
Tim: "and you aren't sick of us yet"
Me: laughs nervously and says "uh no, I could never get sick of you"
He walked passed me again, still using my sharpie and I say
"you stole my pen" *retarded right?!*
Tim *crooked grin*

Sigh...I was so nervous! He did a short Q&A and had I not been so nervous I would have remembered we share the same birthday(funny huh?) I could have told him that and said Happy Birthday. But I was trying to contain myself and not act like a dumb star struck girl. Yes, I did feel like I could cry because I was so happy. I have always thought the people who cry when they meet celebrities were so stupid, I don't anymore...I was SOOOOOOOO happy, I could have burst into tears at any moment!

What made me even happier was watching my husband watch me. I would turn to look at him, or hit his arm, and would catch him just watching me, not even watching Tim. He had this smile on his face, and "the look". The " i love her so much look" my heart melted! That look still makes my heart flutter! He was so happy he was able to surprise me and make this dream of mine, this item on my bucket list, come true!

I told him he never had to get me another present EVER! There is no way he will ever be able to top this!

This picture shows how close we were to Tim. This picture makes me very happy.

I love my hubby!

We both love all types of music, but my husband is mainly a heavy metal guy! So, him going to a country music show was definitely a bit of a sacrifice. Over the years, because of my obsession, Tim has started to grow on him. So he doesn't hate him...he just isn't his first choice. When I took my son to the concert back in Feb. after the concert he told me "mom, I liked Tim McGraw just OK before, but now, after seeing him in concert, I LOVE him. A Tim McGraw concert changes you" So I teased my husband that after seeing this concert with me he would be changed. Guess what? He has my Southern Voice CD in his car right now. He has listened to it almost every day since the concert. He goes around singing Tim songs and one day he says

"I hate to admit it, but the concert did change me"

I am a VERY happy girl!

I am "LINKING UP" because it's the cool thing to do!

As I navigate this bloggy world, I have discovered a lot of cool blogs because they have linked up with blogs I read. I have really enjoyed myself these last few days poking around other people's blogs, even though I am doing it anonymously! I am trying to follow my favorites because I find it is easier to logon to Google Reader and keep up with all of them in one spot than it is to go to each one off my favorites list! I am such a people person that it is just natural for me to want to know about other people's lives! Even if they are strangers. Sounds weird, but I know most of you know how I feel!  I am finding that the time I usually spend unwinding in front of the TV, I am choosing to read blogs instead and it is so much more fun! I am such a reality show junkie...and that isn't always good...so this is like reality TV but better, less drama, more substance!

I found Leigh and she is doing a Happiness Project! How cool is that, you should check it out!

 I know that after my last two posts, I need a change of perspective and this is a great way to start...find a picture that make me happy and post it!

This picture makes me HAP - PY!!!!! For OH so many reasons! And these reasons are in NO particular order of importance!

1) I REALLY like my hair! :-) Come on ladies, you all know what a good hair day can do for your mood! And I was digging my hair!
2) Someone else did my  make-up that day...and I LOVED it! *i loved that someone else did my make-up and I loved how it turned out!*
3) It's a great picture of me and my Mr. Dream Come True! Even though that day was a crazy day, we were together as a family and those days are few and far between! (and we danced together that day, again a rare occurrence, but I LOVE dancing with him, after almost 10 years of marriage when we dance together and I have to lean my head all the way back just to look in his eyes *he's 6'7* I still get butterflies in my stomach! There is something about the way he looks at me, holds me and always kisses my nose at the end of the dance...sigh)
5) I danced with my eldest son *he's 7* and it was fun & scary all at the same time.  I flashed forward 20 years and saw myself dancing with him at his wedding! My heart can't handle that thought!
6) My big sister got married the day this picture was taken!(the reason we were all dolled up and dancing!) WAHOO! She has been waiting for her dream to come true for a very long time. She's 40 and has waited for her true love, never compromised her beliefs and values, dealt with intense loneliness and questioning when would it be her turn for happiness and finally when it was time God brought her the love of her life! Their love story is fun and incredible and my heart is so happy that she has found someone who adores her, respects her and that she can share her life with! She will be an awesome wife and Lord willing, she will become a mother, her heart's desire for so long!
7) I got to hear my mother sing The Lord's Prayer! She has an incredible voice and I don't get to hear her sing too often anymore, she always sends chills down my spine when she does! She's amazing!
8) I got to spend time with friends and family, particularly my brother and his two boys. They live in MO and we don't get to see them very often. We miss them. It was GREAT to have them here! It was even better that his 2yro son LOVED me and was choosing me over him:~) He is my buddy! I didn't want them to go home!
9) I got to witness my dad marry my sister! About 3 years ago, he became an ordained minister after a full career as a contract painter. When he should be retiring, he found his calling. He LOVES what he does, and who is to say that my sister didn't meet her man before because my dad was supposed to marry her?! I LOVE hearing my dad preach! He married my cousin a few months ago and it was incredible, but seeing my dad walk my sister down the aisle, making her laugh the entire way, then marrying his oldest, my sister, was incredible. He didn't get choked up until the end when he said his benediction. As he was reading it he looked into my eyes(my dad is my best friend) and knowing all we had been through in the planning of the wedding, all the prayers we have prayed for my sister, it was like he was speaking directly to me through his eyes. His eyes saying how proud he was of me, of my sister, how happy he was and how much he loved us. Weird I got all that in a look huh? But his benediction was from Numbers and it gets me every time. And the fact that is what he chose to bless them with before he introduced them as husband and wife...I was done for! It was all I could do not to ugly cry!!!!

So looking at this picture brings so many many happy thoughts & memories! This day was full of family, fun and love love love! I love weddings! It literally makes my heart smile and realize how truly blessed I am!

The benediction that my dad read at my sister's wedding seems a perfect way to end this post! I pray that you my bloggy friends take a moment, look through your pictures, remember the memories and let your heart smile! I pray this benediction for all of you...

Numbers 6:24-26
"The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift His countenance on you, and give you peace."