A song that somehow stamped our lives

There's something about a song that can conjure up a memory with near exactness. As soon as you hear those first few notes or the first few lines, you remember some part of your life when that particular song was significant to you.

"We all have a song that somehow stamped our lives, takes us to another place and time"
                                                                     -Kenny Chesney

Like most people, I've always loved music. And for me there have always been those songs that take me back in time to some place that was fun and great and usually pretty carefree.
"Heartland" by George Strait takes me back to the days of road trips with my family when my parents would record everything with our video camera.
"Where The Green Grass Grows" by Tim McGraw takes me back to the days of horse shows and our horse trailer/camper that we lived in for days at a time.
Any song by Hillary Duff takes me back to the Disney Channel days with my sisters and cousin. And for some reason "I Don't Have To Be Me (Til Monday)" by Steve Azar reminds me of my little sister Haley and everything we used to do together.
"Dancing in the Moonlight" by Toploader, "Daylight" by Matt & Kim, pretty much any Taylor Swift song, "If It's Love" by Train, and tons of others sum up my high school days and the fun I had with friends driving around town usually looking for something to do.
If a song by Kings Of Leon were to start playing right now I would be thrown back to that last summer before college where every day seemed to be one more chance to be a kid one last time. Though I realized a few months later that there is still plenty of time for that.
And now, even though it has only been a couple of short months since I finished my first year of college, I'm taken back to those late nights and long days of nothing but constant fun when I hear "We Are Young" by..... Fun. No kidding.

I guess I could have made that list a lot longer and become even more nostalgic by the second. But what this post is really about is the weekend I just spent in Nashville with my dad. About four or five months ago I decided that I was going to persuade my dad into taking me to Music City to see two of my favorite artists of all time. Of course when I told him the concert was Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw for their Brothers Of The Sun summer tour, I didn't really need to do much persuading.

THE ticket. The one I waited for months to be able to use. 

We woke up at 5am Saturday morning and drove the seven or so hours to Nashville and the whole way up there we listened to our pre-concert music. Non-stop Kenny and Tim! We got there with a few hours to spare before the concert so we got a hotel room in Franklin (every room in Nashville was occupied.... it was a huge concert). Then we decided to tour the Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Ole Opry. This is hallowed ground for country music lovers. 

This historic auditorium has the second best acoustics in the country. Second to the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City :) 

Entrance to the Ryman 

We finally made it to LP Field (home of the Tennessee Titans) where the concert would be and fought the traffic and crowds. Our seats were pretty much in the nosebleed section. Upper Level west. That was perfectly fine with me though because we had a great view of the stage and I wasn't complaining as long as we were there. 

Tiny Tim and Faith singing "I Need You" 

Us being happy with our seats 

There's nothing like reliving parts of your childhood for a few hours in Music City. Out of every song, genre, band, artist I listened to growing up, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw were ever-present in my collection. They, along with George Strait, were probably the first singers I knew of, and I felt so lucky to be there seeing them live together. In my opinion, concerts are ten times better when you know every single song played. And this concert was especially great because it was music both my dad and I love. 

Kenny Chesney's tour bus! 

Tim McGraw on the screen

So my favorite part of the concert was a tie between the moment when Faith Hill walked out on the stage (a total surprise that she was going to perform) and sang the duet "I Need You" with Tim, and then the end of the show when Tim and Kenny sang their earliest hits together. 

I love that there can be that music that never gets old no matter how much you listen to it. And that at the same time it can take you back in time to a place when you also loved that music. I would call it timeless. 

Kenny performing 

The Nashville skyline from the top of LP Field 

Best summer trip with my dad :) 

"I go back to watching summer fade to fall, growing up too fast and I do recall wishing time would stop right in its tracks. And every time I hear that song, I go back." -KC 

Favorite Kenny Chesney songs of the night: "I Go Back", "Anything But Mine", "What I Need To Do"

Favorite Tim McGraw songs of the night: "I Need You", "The Cowboy In Me", "Last Dollar"  

-Caroline

"He didn't tell me how to live"

In honor of Father's Day I'm writing this post as a tribute to some of the fathers in my life. These guys are the dads in my own family and I have a reason to thank each one of them for living up to the title.

First, of course, is my own dad. I've been told I look "just like PJ" and it is pretty obvious that I am his daughter once you look past the obvious skin tone differences (though I'm trying my best to catch up with his tan). Let's just say for me it takes sitting in the sun fifty hours each week while he catches a few rays by the pool when he can. But despite the fact that I may not have inherited all of his Polynesian qualities, I love him and could not imagine having a different dad. I wouldn't trade a single day I've spent with him for anything, especially those special occasions we've shared. I can remember learning to ski while he steered me with one of those child leashes that look a bit inhumane. I love that I learned to ride a horse with him walking right beside me the whole time. I remember him cheering me on at whatever sport I happened to be playing- soccer, tee-ball, softball, volleyball. He encourages me to learn all that I can and chase ambitions. He sent me to "see the world" when I was eleven and didn't once question whether I was old enough. He was there for every talent show, parent night, playoff game, prom, and every other high school event that at one point or another seemed so important. And though I may not have shown it then, it was important to me that he be there. Any disappointment I have ever faced was never a result of my father letting me down. And for that I feel so lucky and so grateful. Happy Father's Day to the dad who showed me the right way.

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Uncle William is a great dad and one of the most fun-loving people I know. This is him with my dad (the babies are my cousin EA and my little sister Haley)

Father's Day 2012

There are those men in the lives of children who are never wrong no matter what they say or do. And for most people those men are grandfathers. Even Kenny Chesney sings, "As a kid I believed 'cause Grandpa told me so." My dad's father was such a grandpa to me. Honestly, a lot of the time I could be quite scared by him. He was a retired Navy Captain and never let you forget it. Everything had to be in order at all times. But beneath that stern military man was a loving and doting grandpa. I loved his stories and wisdom and I don't think I will ever meet another person as determined, loyal, and loving as he was. One thing I will never forget him telling me is "the world is huge, you can do whatever you want." He lived by that knowledge and expected his family to do the same. "And I lived by his words, 'cause Grandpa told me so." Happy Father's Day to Grandpa, whose fatherly kindness was never limited to his own children. 

Grandpa's 90th birthday in 2010

My mom's dad is a true Yankee Doodle Dandy, born on the 4th of July. That is his birthday but he's actually not a Yankee at all, as he is a southerner and an Ole Miss Rebel. My favorite memories growing up were the summers spent with Grandaddy. He's the grandfather who sits back and laughs at the humorous situations created by the grandchildren, or tells his own funny stories with enthusiasm while we stop and listen. He raised three daughters and then ended up with four granddaughters. I think being amongst so many girls all of the time contributed to his happy-go-lucky attitude. The man is just outnumbered. Grandaddy, like Grandpa, is a WWII veteran and is full of stories and wisdom that I love to hear. Happy Father's Day to Grandaddy, who loves unconditionally like any dad should. 

My mom and her dad (Grandaddy) 1989 

Two of my brothers are now dads and so I want to wish them a Happy Father's Day! 

Kris and Miley 2008

Nic and Ryder 2011

Last semester at BYU I was able to spend time with my cousin Jeff and his four kids. He's an awesome dad and definitely lives up to the title. 

Jeff, Kolby, Eliza, Carson, and Logan! And Brigham Young of course :) 

"A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child." The dads in my life have shown me that it isn't simply a job to be a father. It becomes his life and once it begins, it never ends. To me a dad is at his best when he exhibits Christlike qualities. When he bends down to tie his son's shoes, or picks him up when he falls off of his bike. I love my own dad for loving his Heavenly Father and trying each day to be a dad like Him. 

"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." -Clarence Budington Kelland 

Freshman Year: Declassified (what I learned)

I recently finished my first year at Brigham Young University and it was more fun and rewarding than I could have ever imagined. And I definitely imagined. I always wanted to go to BYU, from the time I learned what college was, and I anticipated the day when I would finally be able to apply. By senior year I faced the reality that I should probably consider other schools as well. I really got into the application process and applied to tons of schools that I could see myself attending. But in the end I stayed true to the wishes of my ten-year-old self and chose to make my way out west in August of 2011. There was no way I could have guessed what life at the Y would actually be like.

Helaman Halls 

Brigham Square 

So here I've decided to highlight some of the things I learned over the course of my freshman year. These are in no way the things I expected to learn or the things I thought would be important. But oh are they important....

1: There is no such thing as "going hungry" in college. Well at least this is true if you live in Helaman Halls. When I pictured college life, I pictured myself with a bowl of canned soup in hand, heated in the microwave. Maybe even the Ramen that everyone counsels you to invest in. What I didn't expect is what my actual food situation was. As long as I had my student ID equipped with my magical "Dining Plus"meal plan it was never possible to worry over food. It was all swipe and go. Whether it was at the Cannon Center, the Cougareat, or the hundreds of vending machines around campus, I always had food. Which is obviously important right?

A little trip to the "vendies" was a nightly occurrence. 

2: It's possible to fall asleep anywhere. The fact is, this is probably true only because sleep was on the bottom of the list of things to do. There always seemed to be something more important (more fun) to do and if there was time left over at the end of the night I would find somewhere to curl up- usually in my bed, or sometimes the floor or the end of a roommate's bed. So the result of this constant sleep deprivation was the uncontrollable urge to slouch in those ridiculously comfortable lecture hall chairs and nap through class. And then of course falling asleep while studying was inevitable. 

Falling asleep makes for perfect picture opportunities.

Physical Science reviews. 

3: Leaving our door unlocked made life easier. It also made it easier for others to pull pranks. Pranks can be creative or not. Either way, somehow it was always funny. Maybe it was the lack of sleep that added humor to every situation. 

McCall, my roommate, and I came home probably around 3AM to find this.

We still aren't very sure what type of prank this was... Fun nonetheless 

4: You can never take too many photo booth pictures. Heather and I discovered the free photo booth every Tuesday and became what we like to think of as the owner's best customers. I am definitely grateful to have learned that such a thing as "unlimited photo booth access" exists. 

One of the many faces of photo boothers. 

A Prints Charming original 

5: There is no way I could have gone to school anywhere else. If I had I would never have met my two favorite people! Hanging out with Hope and Charity once a week was the highlight of my freshman year. Our days included pretending Jonathan was a monster, flying kites, dying eggs, riding bikes, sidewalk chalk, planting flowers, and even falling in the duck pond. 

Jonathan and I loved every minute with these twins. (that's Hope)

Last Sunday dinner at the Hung's  

6: Venturing off campus can be complicated. I learned something the day some friends and I decided to drive to another city: five people squeezed into one Bug can be cramped, hot, and frustrating (especially when traffic is backed up for miles). I also learned that a simple solution to any problem is to walk into a mob of thousands of people and allow them to throw colored dust on you. The ride home was much less tense. 

Festival of Colors

7: Friends become family. Living on a hall with 39 other girls sounds crazy. But when we all became friends, and eventually more like sisters, the craziness factor didn't really matter. When else would I ever get the chance to spend every minute with my friends? Simply spending every day with the same people- going to classes together, eating all meals together, going to church together, studying together, hanging out on the weekends- turned us into a family. 

109th Ward

Jeff, Caroline (me), Heather, and Connor at the last bonfire of the year

Legends for dinner!

8: There is no such thing as too many pictures. I came to accept the fact that we had to take pictures of each and every event. I'm glad we did for obvious reasons! 

Night skiing with a few great people

McCall's surprise birthday part- a Fiesta! 

iPod dance party anyone??

Okay, those are just a few things I learned in college. I realized as I was listing everything that none of this actually had anything to do with the academic life I had at BYU (unless you count the sleeping/studying). I definitely learned a lot in each of my classes but I couldn't think of anyone who would want to read about my struggles with PS100 or the many papers on literary criticism that I had to write this year. Even more so than that, I guess it's almost a given that one would learn in the classroom. What I learned from my friends and from living in the dorms seems more unique to the freshman experience that I'm so grateful to have had. 

- Caroline

Seven Reasons to Love

I've found that the more something makes me smile, the more likely I am to love it. There are many things that make me smile. Here are a few:


- Books. I absolutely love to read and I especially love those books that can literally cause me to laugh out loud. Growing up, J.K. Rowling and Carolyn Keene were my primary storytellers. 


- Music. My favorite sound comes from the piano. I love having the piano in my life as something that doesn't ever have to be serious. I have hundreds of one-page samples of some of my favorite songs that I play over and over, never having to worry about whether I'm playing it correctly. 


- Volleyball. I started playing seven years ago and it has been a big part of my life ever since. I can't honestly claim to be especially great at the sport but there was never anything more refreshing to me than a good game with my best friends. We could goof around and double over in laughter at nothing in particular while simultaneously keeping the game going. 

State Championships 2010. My senior year and favorite team!

There are many more little things that I love and that make me happy. But the most important contributors to my daily smiles are the people in my life. I have seven great reasons to smile every minute and seven amazing reasons to love.


Number 1:


My mom :) The hardest working and most loving person I know. It seems the majority of our everyday conversations revolve around good books we've been reading or new recipes we want to try. She's my everyday hero.

2011- Graduation 

Number 2:


My dad is the most supportive person I know. I've seen him take on new and sometimes difficult tasks in order to make sure my brothers and sisters and I can do what we love. He is also addicted to serving others and is the best example to me of a loving neighbor and friend to everyone. 

My dad leaving me for the first time on my first day of college- 2011.

Number 3-5: 


Brothers are the best! Having three older brothers has always been fun and my favorite memories include them "babysitting" my sisters and me while our parents were out. They knew how to get into trouble and always made sure to include the girls. Sword fights, accidentally setting a couch on fire, jumping off the roof onto the trampoline, interactive ghost stories, tackle football, makeshift electric bull riding, night games, and eating a few questionable dinners are all things I loved doing with my brothers. I owe them so much for all the great stories. Now I love seeing them as adults and still being a part of their lives :) 

High School graduation night with Marcus- 2011

Kris and us girls back in the day- 1998

Nic- youngest of my older brothers. 

Kris and Nic :)

Numbers 6&7


I've always been grateful for my sisters and for having two best friends no matter what. Sara and I can quote the TV series Gilmore Girls like nothing else. Our favorite pastime is watching episodes on DVD with a carton of ice cream in hand (we never use bowls to mom's dismay). Haley can make me laugh quicker and more easily than anyone I know and can quote movies she has seen once (never Gilmore Girls) off the top of her head.

Meet Haley, my favorite little sister. "Best buddies" since 1994. 

Meet Sara, greatest big sis anyone could ask for. "If I had a nickel for every time you’ve used the ‘Girls always go to the bathroom together, Mom’ line, I’d be a very rich woman." 

My favorite quote is by former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley:
      "Let there be something of a light tone in your life. Let there be fun and happiness, a sense of humor, the capacity to laugh occasionally at the things that are funny.” 


The things and people in my life that give me a reason to smile or laugh on a daily basis are the things I love. I can be carefree and find the little things funny, because they are. I love my family and how different each of us are. They make things interesting and give me seven reasons to love. 


We break things, spill food, back the car into mailboxes, cause a scene in a grocery store, get parking tickets, burn dinner, and do many things that can be considered mistakes. And so then we find the capacity to laugh and life goes on :) 


-Caroline