Courtney's Freedom and Independence

Dear Courtney,

Happy Fourth of July....a day to celebrate Freedom and Independence - Two things that mean more to you this July 4th than ever before! As the weeks melt away and we get closer to your new life in Atlanta I have begun to reflect on so many things. Music has been a huge part of your life and so I figured what better way to send you a message than through the music you listen to!

I confiscated your ipod and listened to all the wonderful songs you listen to on a daily basis. I wrote down some of the lyrics and I hope in the future when you listen to these words you'll think of me! Forgive me if they aren't exactly correct! Close counts!

Here's to good listening and the memories that I hope each of these songs will trigger!

Dixie Chicks, Wide Open Spaces - She needs wide open spaces. Room to make a big mistake. She needs new faces...

Taylor Swift - ....It's the morning of your very first day...
It's your freshman year and you're gonna be here for the next four years in this town....
Hopin one of those senior boys will wink at you and say you know I haven't seen you around before.
Cause when you're (15) 18 and somebody tells you they love you, you're gonna believe them
And when you're (15) 18 feeling like there's nothing to figure out, count to ten, take it in, this is life before you know who you're going to be (15) 18.....
Don't forget to look before you fall, I've found time can heal most anything, and you just might find who you're supposed to be.
I didn't know who I was supposed to be at (15) 18.

Court, Don't ever forget your faith! You're never alone.

Mark Schultz, Live Like You're Loved - She packed up her bags and she turned to them to tell them goodbye. She kissed her dad and promised her momma she'd write. For 18 years she'd been their baby but now she would learn how to fly. Live like you're loved by the Lord up above. Spread out your wings and never give up cause you can do anything, be who you're meant to be, always remember to dream and keep you're head up. Live like you're loved. Now she's out on her own making a way in this life. Some days are fair but somedays she barely gets by. When she feels alone she picks up the phone just to hear her daddy's voice, he says tell the whole world I'm proud of you girl and before she tells him goodbye he says, live like you're loved by the Lord up above. Spread out your wings and never give up cause you can do anything, be who you're meant to be, always remember to dream, and keep your head up and live like you're loved by the Lord of the whole universe, loved by the maker of heaven and earth, loved by the father again and again.


Court, Don't forget to dream....and dream big! Don't forget to love.....and love with reckless abandon!

Martina McBride, Anyway - You can spend your whole life building something from nothing, one storm can come and blow it all away, build it anyway. You can chase a dream that seems so out of reach and you know it might not ever come your way, dream it anyway. God is great but sometimes life ain't good and when I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should but I do it anyway. This world's gone crazy and it's hard to believe that tomorrow will be better than today, believe it anyway. You can love someone with all your heart for all the right reasons and in a moment they can choose to walk away, love them anyway.....

Savage Garden, Affirmation - I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands.......
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do.......
I believe in karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love til you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye...
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe family is worth more than money or gold
I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness

Court, Don't ever sit it out....always dance!

Lee Ann Womack, I Hope You Dance - I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance.....
Never settle for the path of least resistance......
Livin might mean taking chances but their worth taking
Loving might be a mistake but it's worth making
When you come close to selling out reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

Court, He has lots of plans for you....Just wait and see! Just wait and see!

Brandon Heath, Wait and See - There is hope for (me) you yet because God won't forget all the plans he's made for (me) you. He's not finished with (me) you yet.......(I) You have to wait and see. He's not finished with (me) you yet.....He's up to something.....(I'm) You're not here for nothing. He's up to something.

Bette Midler, The Rose -....I say love it is a flower and you it's only seed. It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance. It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance. It's the one who won't be taken who can not seem to give. And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live. When the night has been to lonely and the road has been to long And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong. Just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow, lies the seed that with the sun's love in the spring becomes the rose.

One Republic, Good Life - This has gotta be the good life, this has gotta be the good life, this could really be a good life, a good life.....

Court, you've heard the story so many times. This song was the first song I ever sang to you. I was told I might never be able to have children....you truly are a miracle and a masterpiece!!

Sandi Patty, Masterpiece - Before you had a name or opened up your eyes or anyone could recognize your face
You were being formed so delicate in size
With your little tiny hands and little tiny feet and little tiny eyes
He breathed in you a song and to make it all complete
He brought the masterpiece into the world
You are a masterpiece
A new creation he has formed
And you are as soft and fresh as a snowy winter morn
And I'm so glad that God has given you to me
Little lamb of God
You are a masterpiece
And now you're growing up
Your life's a miracle
Every time I look at you I stand in awe
Because I see in you a reflection of me
And you'll always be my little lamb from God
And as your life goes on each day
How I pray that you will see
Just how much Your life has meant to me
And I'm so proud of you
What else is there to say
Just be the masterpiece
He created you to be
You are a masterpiece

Five For Fighting, Hope - You gotta have hope. You gotta have something. There's always a reason to break. Hope, Cause nothing less will save the day.

Court, remember you're never ever alone!! I'll always be here for you!

Lady Antebellum, Never Alone -May the angels protect you, trouble neglect you and heaven accept you when it's time to go home
May you always have plenty your glass never empty and know in your belly you're never alone
May your tears come from laughin, you find friends worth havin' with every year passin' they mean more than gold
May you win but stay humble, smile more than grumble
A know when you stumble you're never alone
Never Alone
Never Alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart when you face the unknown
Wherever you fly this isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby, you're never alone
Well I have to be honest
As much as I wanted
I'm not gonna promise the cold winds won't blow
So when hard times have found you and your fear surrounds you
Wrap my love around you
Your'e never alone
Never alone
Never alone

OXOXOX