Baby Shea on the way!

Patience in the waiting

What a beautiful way to start a new day, waiting for baby McKayla to arrive. I frequently will start my days on biblegateway.com, reading their verse of the day and the chapter it is pulled from (I like being surprised). The last couple of days, the verses came from Proverbs 31, which has an acrostic on "A Woman of Great Character." (An acrostic is a list or poem where each verse starts with a different letter in the alphabet - in this case, the Hebrew Alphabet. It's written that way to help one memorize it because it is important information.) I've spent the last two days reflecting on the woman I am, the wife I am, and who I am becoming. It's one of my favorite set of verses.

I spent yesterday dancing to a playlist of some fun music by the Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce', Christina Aguilara, Outkast, Missy Elliot, and others, trying to help McKayla drop even more into place and maybe get things moving along. Looking back, that would have been a kind of raunchy and irreverent way to bring this baby into the world, so I'm glad she didn't come yesterday. I do love to dance, though, and it felt good for my sore hips.

Today, Biblegateway.com's verse of the day came from Psalms 139. I cried as soon as I read it, because it is a chapter that promises 1. God knows us and cares for us, 2. We are never alone, and 3. God created us. I've read this chapter many times throughout my pregnancy because it so specially focuses on the unborn child and their life ahead. Here is the chapter:

 ¹ O LORD, you have searched me 
       and you know me.

 ² You know when I sit and when I rise; 
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.

 ³ You discern my going out and my lying down; 
       you are familiar with all my ways.

 ⁴ Before a word is on my tongue 
       you know it completely, O LORD.

 ⁵ You hem me in—behind and before; 
       you have laid your hand upon me.

 ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, 
       too lofty for me to attain.

 ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit? 
       Where can I flee from your presence?

 ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 
       if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

 ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, 
       your right hand will hold me fast.

 ¹¹ If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me 
       and the light become night around me,"

 ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you; 
       the night will shine like the day, 
       for darkness is as light to you.

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being; 
       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

 ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
       your works are wonderful, 
       I know that full well.

 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you 
       when I was made in the secret place. 
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

 ¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body. 
       All the days ordained for me 
       were written in your book 
       before one of them came to be.

 ¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! 
       How vast is the sum of them!

 ¹⁸ Were I to count them, 
       they would outnumber the grains of sand. 
       When I awake, 
       I am still with you.

 ¹⁹ If only you would slay the wicked, O God! 
       Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

 ²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent; 
       your adversaries misuse your name.

 ²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, 
       and abhor those who rise up against you?

 ²² I have nothing but hatred for them; 
       I count them my enemies.

 ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart; 
       test me and know my anxious thoughts.

 ²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me, 
       and lead me in the way everlasting.

What a beautiful promise to start the day with! McKayla has been knit together by God's hands in my womb. He saw her unborn body before she was created and knows her days before one has begun. She will never be alone and all she does, thinks, and anywhere she goes will be known by the Lord. He cares for her! I also believe the same for myself - in the early mornings, sleepless nights, and in the great learning curve of parenting, I will never be alone and God knows my heart. I can rely on Him to be there. What a blessing!

I don't know if today is the day she'll come to us. How awesome would that be after a morning like this? I trust that she'll come when she's ready. It is the baby that releases Oxytocin to start the contractions (I think that's just amazing) and so I have to trust and be patient that she'll stay in as long as she needs to for her growth, safety, and development. I shouldn't rush that. 

I really am so excited about her birth. I'm not scared of the contractions or pain - I don't know how my body will handle them or what they'll feel like, so why should I fear them? My friend, Katherine, reminded me that women all over the world are giving birth naturally every day. They say that if you can see each contraction as one step closer to meeting your baby and go limp as if you're being tossed in a wave, then the pain will not be severe. Relax Relax Relax. Only in tension is there constriction (the oxygen and blood flow in the uterus is constricted when you tense up) so without tension, the uterus does a beautiful job of pushing the baby into position. I've also been told by many of my girlfriends that, in natural labor (no drugs), it feels so good to finally push out the baby. There is no pain there because it's such a relief and a joy to have reached the finish line!! I'm ready for that and so excited to finally meet this precious baby.

________________________________

McKayla,

You are a special creation, knit together by God himself. You will never be alone! I'm so excited to meet you, little girl. I want to hold you in my arms and sing to you. I want to kiss away your tears and comfort you. I want to feed you and watch you grow. 

Your Father and I are ready for your arrival whenever you are. Brandon is going to be such a loving and wonderful Daddy and I can't wait to see how he's going to fall head over heels for you! He has been reading a book called "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters" and realizes how important he is in your life. You two will have a special bond that will shape the rest of your life, the choices you make, and define who you will look for in a Husband. I feel confident you are going to be so well loved by your Father that you will be a confident and strong Woman.

We often wonder what you will look like - will you have red hair (like me), brown hair (like Daddy), or blonde hair? Brown eyes (like me), Hazel-green (like Daddy), or Blue? What features will you have? What will your personality be like - a witty leader, like Brandon, or a creative encourager, like me? Maybe both? Will you take more characteristics from your grandparents or great-grandparents? Brandon and I were both recessive gene mixes (the best way I can describe us). We do have certain characteristics and features from our parents, but we took our most recognizable features from earlier generations. 

My red hair was a total surprise! Brandon's dark hair and hazel eyes didn't match his parents' or brothers'. Certain interests of ours are also a bit of a throwback to those long gone. I expect you might have the same.

Whatever you look like, whatever you are interested in or dislike and who God has created you to be is going to be so special. We love you so much already and your individuality is for a purpose we don't know yet. You are one-of-a-kind and you should always feel confident in who you are. You are beautiful and capable of doing anything you want to do. 

We will do our best and trust the Lord for the rest. We won't be perfect parents and won't be able to protect you from everything. You will soon enter a world where there are scary things and where you will be lied to. We will do our best to be honest with you and help you understand things. We will protect you as much as we can while also letting you explore. We will teach you to love music, education, nature, food, art, and all that is enriching. We will learn from you and seek to understand your personality - what makes you thrive. We will pray for you and with you every night and teach you about this wonderful loving God who knows you and loves you better than we do and who created you in my womb!

Come soon, McKayla, when you are ready. We can't wait to meet you!

I love you so much!

Your Mommy, Elizabeth

Pregnancy Brain Excuse

So, I'm terrible at blogging and I'm going to use the pregnancy brain card on this one. I feel like there is so much to do in so little time - and time is flying by!!

I am now 22 weeks pregnant (5 1/2 months) and I'm having a little girl!! Yes, the dreams were correct! It's wonderful to know who this is moving around and kicking inside of me. It's a funny feeling, the kicking. It's like I have a pocket in my belly with someone dancing in it. She likes to kick whenever I sit or lie down. I suppose I rock her to sleep when I'm moving around. Soon, I'll be able to see her pushing outward and distinguish a hand from a foot and head from butt - or so they say. 

I've begun nesting - getting the house ready for baby. It seems a bit easier now to organize and prepare since I have a focus and purpose behind it. It also feels very instinctual, hence the term "nesting." I have set up a co-sleeper that my sweet friends, Rod and Jill, have let me borrow. I laid out a few layettes and shirts in it to remind me there will be a little baby girl sleeping there very soon. It's fun.

I'll be registering this week at Babies R Us with a dear friend of mine who has three children and knows her stuff! She'll be able to tell me what is necessary and what is cute but a waste of money. After looking over a budget plan for the first year of a baby's life, I realize how important it is to register! Diapers alone will be such a huge expense - I never realized we will be changing over 2,700 diapers in the first year alone! (I feel for my friends who are having triplets.) 

I have sweet friends in Nashville and LA that are excited to throw me a baby shower and are already planning the details. It's an exciting time!! I always love throwing baby showers for my friends and it's going to be a wild and humbling experience to be on the receiving end of that. I feel very blessed.

Let's see, what else! I'm growing daily with a belly that is finally past the "beer gut" stage. At least now people can feel confident enough to ask me when I'm due and not have that "Is she pregnant or just fat?" look on their faces. I no longer fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans, which is a little sad but expected. At least that allows me to make room in my closet for baby items and maternity wear. I'm in stretchy pants now and I don't have to wear a rubber band on my top button anymore! Ha!

I really do love my pregnant belly because it's where my baby is being formed! It really is a powerful experience to be pregnant - knowing the hands of God are knitting my baby together in my womb (Job 10, Psalm 139, Jeremiah 1). I get to be the vessel that brings this child to life and I get to raise this child into the woman she is meant to be! Wow! I feel so honored and privileged to play such a huge role in this girl's life. I pray that I am a nurturing and loving mother who guides and teaches my child to be a light and a gift to this world. I pray that she loves God and knows Him well, she respects her elders and peers, discovers her strengths and talents and pursues them with passion, seeks wisdom and education, loves her family and the world, and lives life to the fullest with laughter and adventure. I want to be a part of it and set her free when it's my time to let her go. 

For now, I'm so excited to meet this special baby and see what she looks like and hold her near to my heart. I know Brandon is already in love with her and will be such an amazing father.

We are starting to form our birth plan - training for a natural birth, but flexible to the best route for the health of the baby. I'm taking Prenatal Yoga and will be taking Childbirth Education, Hypno-birthing, Baby CPR, Parenting Education, and Lactation classes. It's all so important for me to prepare as much as I can to birth and raise this child. Of course, most of all, I am gathering wisdom from my friends who all have wonderful birthing and mothering experiences and I'm praying daily for God to prepare my heart and mind for this little one.

So that about covers it for now. We still have 4 1/2 months, but it's right around the corner. My house and my life aren't quite in shape yet for a baby, but my heart is ready and longing to meet this child. The rest will catch up soon enough.

Baby Dreams

I've heard that dreams during pregnancy are a bit more vivid and crazy than normal, and I can attest to that! Last night I had my third dream that this baby is a girl! The first was of the birth. I dreamed I was pushing (in pain-free labor, of course. Don't we love that about dreams?) and I was in a birthing room with my husband and mother. The baby delivers with a full head of brown hair, brown eyes wide open and she's looking around the room. I see the name written on the clipboard is a name we are considering. Brandon leaves the room to announce to the rest of the family that "It's a girl!"

Second dream, I am traveling home to Nashville and bring the baby - a girl - to visit my parents and in-laws. My parents have a crib set up, toys, and baby clothes all waiting in the room for us. There are sweet pink and yellow dresses with bows and lace and duckies. I don't notice the features of the baby this time.

Third dream, last night, I've decided that I want to name the baby Elizabeth Anne Shea (my name) and call her "Betty." I believe this is far superior to all the name choices we've consider and I try persuading Brandon to think the same, saying "When it's a boy, we can name him after you and give him a nickname, too." I wake up this morning to realize that Betty is not a name we would consider for this baby, but it's funny that I was so determined to have that name for my little girl in the dream!

It will be interesting to see if the hunch is correct! Most of my friends say it's a girl - many saying it HAS to be a girl! :) My voice teacher touched his hands to my hands on my stomach, closed his eyes, and said he felt the energy of a boy. That's a first, so far! 

The baby is now the size of a kumquat (baby orange) and has fingers, toes, and fingernails! No cravings yet, besides my usual affinity to potatoes (I think it's more of a comfort food than a craving). I hate onions with a passion - I spent about 5 minutes the other day picking off every chopped onion I found on a chicken panini I had. I also still don't like beans, cottage cheese, and more recently rotisserie chicken. Ick! (All of which I enjoyed before)

I'll keep all the raw, real details for the preggo message boards I visit. Pregnancy is a joyful and completely bizarre experience!!! I'm loving it.

It's official!

That's our little peanut! Amazing that something so small will grow to be a living, breathing baby boy or girl! Even more amazing that this little one is being knit together in my tummy by the hands of God (Psalm 139) in His image (Genesis 9:6), as we all were. 

Brandon and I knew we wanted to start our family when our friend, Katherine Wolf, almost lost her life in April. We thought, "Life is too short. Tomorrow is not promised. Why are we putting off what we want most in life?" We chose September as the time to start trying... well it didn't take long!! We prayed for God's will and it looks like this is it!

Brandon was so shocked when I told him! He couldn't talk for about 5 minutes. We thought it could take anywhere from a few months to a few years - many of our friends have waited a long time for their pregnancies. We realize how blessed we are to have gotten pregnant so quickly.

Being realistic, it's early. We are at about 8 weeks - most people wait until 12 to tell people. I believe in the power of prayer and decided it was worth sharing to ask for prayer that this baby will survive the crazy first trimester and grow into a healthy girl or boy! 

Our first ultrasound appt. was successful and the ultrasound technician said the baby was developing normally and my cervix is closed! All the blood tests came back normal, as well. It was funny, because my OB would read each test and pause before the result. It made Brandon and I nervous, though we had no reason to be! haha

I had a cold this past week and because I can't take any meds it was pretty miserable! I'm amazed how quickly it's gone away, though. Still have a little congestion, but almost gone! I'm so thankful for that!!

My food aversions so far - Pinto Beans, Cottage Cheese, Meat with red centers or red in it, ham, bacon. 

Food I started to eat that I'm done with - Ginger snaps, taco bell, sodas

Food I can't believe I'm passing up - sweets! I passed a cookie and brownie tray! Why??

Foods I can't get enough of - Fruits, Potatoes, Raw veggies and water! Who knew? Not normal for me, but great for the baby!

So that's the first installment! More to come! 

Love,

Liz

Rise Up

The following is a song I wrote for Katherine Wolf, titled "Rise Up." $.60 of every $.99 download will go directly to Katherine and Jay Wolf to help with their medical bills. (Snocap charges a $.39 fee for each download) Thank you for listening and adding the song to your music collection!

The Story:

My dear friend, Katherine Wolf, is continuing to run a marathon of recovery from the AVM Rupture that almost took her life in April. She has been progressing miraculously and her Doctors are in awe of how she has beaten the odds! To read her story and keep up with her progress, go to her website: www.katherinewolf.info

I wanted to write a song for her. I could have told her story in a country song, but her heart belongs to the Lord and her faith is what's most important in her life. I knew I needed to write a song that expressed the many prayers being said on her behalf, her love for God's word, and the sincerity of my love for her as my sweet and ever-inspiring friend. I prayed for God's guidance on what to write and asked that it wouldn't be contrived, just real. In Psalms, King David prays for "A New Song." That's what I wanted to give Katherine and her family. I wanted it to Glorify God and encourage the Wolf's and Arnolds through song.

Katherine's family and friends have all been praying a specific bible verse on Katherine's behalf, Mark 5:41 -
He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" )
"Get Up" has also been translated to "Arise" and "Rise Up." I noticed that Katherine's family had charms on bracelets and necklaces that said "Little Girl, Rise up" and that phrase stayed in my mind.

As I was driving, I was praying for inspiration and I felt that God blessed me immediately with the melody and first verse and chorus lyrics of this song. When I got home, I studied some of the verses I knew were being quoted for Katherine's situation and finished the song quickly that evening. It flowed easily and I do believe God's hand was in that.

My friends, Andrew Jed and Benson Russell, helped me record this song. I have given it to the Wolfs and Arnolds and they recently posted it on the www.katherinewolf.info page. I felt it would be a wonderful gift to help offset some of the medical bills (which are continuing to pile up) by offering this song for purchase. Every little bit helps!

The Lyrics:

Rise Up

V1
I Know I wasn’t there
When God Created the Sun, the Heavens, and Earth
When He formed each life with His hands -
Made man and woman.
Only He knows our futures
But I believe you can be healed
And I believe you will be well again
You’re in the hands of the Father, my friend
Rise Up

V2
Lazarus laid in a tomb
But when Jesus called, he walked out
The bleeding woman’s life was restored
By just touching His hem
Cause she believed in His power
And when Jairus’ daughter was dying
Her mother and family were crying
But Jesus said, “Talitha Koum -
Little girl, rise up!”

Chorus
That’s our prayer, don’t be scared
Your life isn’t over, yet
If faith can move mountains
And prayers are powerful
Then God can hear us
He’ll make you a miracle
Rise up! Rise up!

V3
You’re a child of God
You are precious to Him
He knows your pain
And He works all for the good
Turns our suffering to Glory
That will never change
His spirit lives inside of you
And with Him there’s nothing that you can’t do
So keep on fighting and win, my friend
Rise up!

Chorus
That’s our prayer, don’t be scared
Your life isn’t over yet
If faith can move mountains
And prayers are powerful
Then God can hear us
He’ll make you a miracle
Rise Up! Rise Up, Katherine!
Rise Up! Rise Up!

A good day!

It's amazing what exercise can do! I have so much energy and positive emotion right now. I was able to enjoy today for what it was and appreciate the moments I had with friends, think with more clarity and I even had a cool song idea! It's a feeling of euphoria that I often forget when I just don't feel like working out...but I never regret working out. Funny, huh?

I did Yoga X today and it was so much harder than I ever expected. Of all the dvds, I thought Yoga would be the one I could enjoy and get through with more ease... but um...not so much. I realized how inflexible and clumsy I am right now. Tony Horton, the trainer and creator of P90X, says that I shouldn't expect or push myself to do more than I can safely at the beginning and over time my body will adjust, get stronger, and be able to do so much more.

Beyond that, I spent time at the Hospital today with my friend, Katherine. I walked in while she was finishing up her daily physical therapy. Her therapists said frequently "You are doing so well!...Slow down, Katherine, you're going too fast.....Do you remember when you couldn't do this? Look how far you've come!" Finally, they told her she needed to rest. "I know you're willing, Katherine, but your body needs to rest now. You've worked so hard today and we'll do more tomorrow. Be proud of what you've accomplished today." It was wonderful to watch." She was tired and got into bed, but still wanted to visit and catch up. Our friend, Anna, who is 7 months pregnant came in and we talked about her baby registry and preparations. Katherine's little sister, Grace, brought baby James in to see Katherine and he was so precious and sweet. Now that he's crawling, he's all over the place, but he loved looking at a picture of him and Katherine, his mommy, together. It was sweet to watch her stroke his back and chunky little thighs.

She is doing so well and advancing so much more than her Doctors ever imagined! Praise God!! They believe she will make a full recovery in 2 years and soon the trach will be removed so she can get closer to speaking and drinking/eating. Her doctor explained that her entire right side is weak right now, though improving, and therefore her right vocal chord has weakened. He said vocal chords are not only for speaking or singing, but also to protect your lungs from saliva, food/drink, and stomach fluids. In her case, she is not protected while it is weak, so she's unable to drink any water (has not had a drink or ice chips for 70 days!) and if her stomach refluxes, it will go into her lungs - they suction all fluids from her lungs several times a day. It's a humbling process to watch. Her chords are healing slowly and will soon be strong enough to protect her again - and allow her beautiful voice to be heard again! She is cognitively all there - making jokes frequently today and talking as much as she could through sign language, mouthing words, and typing on an alphabet board. She does get frustrated not being able to say all she really wants to say. Her family always called her, "Chatty Kathy." No doubt when she can talk, she'll have such a reserve that we'll have to tell her to slow down so she doesn't hurt her chords.

I sang Katherine a few of my new songs and also a song I wrote for her, called "Rise Up." I plan to record it soon so she can have a copy to listen to. She cried and thanked me for the song and signed "I love you." It's the most moving moment I've had in a long time. She inspires me to no end.

If you want to know more about Katherine, check out her website: www.katherinewolf.info
There are frequent updates, videos, audio of her speaking, and pictures. It's a moving site! I'm thankful it's there when I'm in Nashville and can't visit her. Her family is so positive and encouraging and Katherine is fighting this fight and keeping the faith. God is doing amazing things and I can't doubt His hand in this!

It was a good day.

The next 90 days...

Last week, Brandon and I were spending time with the Shea family in Kiawah, SC. It's a beautiful place to visit or live! We lounged at the beach, by the pool, played with our niece and nephew, rode bikes everywhere, and ate lots of yummy food without a care for calories. Ahhh, the good life.

Well, now that I'm back, I've begun a new phase - kicking my butt into the best shape of my life! I've never been a structured person - artists typically are go-with-the-flow types - and going to a gym is a chore for me. BUT, I'm willing to try something new to see where I can push my body and enjoy the results when it's through.

You may have stayed up late at night and watched the endless info-mercials about gadgets and fitness equipment that you have no idea where to put in your house. There's one info-mercial that caught my eye and was recently proven to be a success by a few friends who've succumbed and made the 1-800 call.

P90X (x for extreme) is a serious workout program that pushes you for 90 days until you are ripped. It's not something to start unless you already have a good level of athleticism. My cousin, Valerie, who is already a very fit person (Doing a half-ironam soon), came to Kiawah after training with P90X for a few weeks and already her arms, abs, and legs made me jealous! Brandon, my hubby, is an Ironman triathlete and he is excited to do the program with me to take his training to a different level. (I totally feel like I'm talking like Hulk Hogan here. I promise I'm the girliest girl you'll meet.)

I started yesterday with the fitness test - which I passed (yay!) - and the before pictures and measurements (worst part of it all, but necessary). Every day you do a video routine that lasts 1-2 hours (12 videos in all). You are encouraged to have bands, dumbbells, a pull up bar, yoga mat, and follow a diet plan. Today, I did the Cardio X routine and loved it! Southern girls don't sweat, they "glisten" - but this routine will leave you soaked! It starts with warm up, yoga, then Kempo karate, then plyometrics, core work, and cool down. My heart rate skyrocketed through the routine. I'm a runner, but this was tough. I felt great afterward and can't wait for tomorrow!

I figure by confessing my new routine to the world by blog, it will keep me accountable to finish it. It will involve a structured schedule and strict diet, but I feel it's worth it. So, for the next 90 days I'm committed to "Bring It" (P90X talk) and get my booty - and abs, arms, back, legs - into fighting shape!

Money and Love

It's exciting to finally load this online for you to see! My publishing company, Green Hills Music Group, produced this video in the fall of last year. We've been using it to promote me to the Record Labels.
I co-wrote this song with Steve Williams, Bob Regan produced the song, Woody Bomar was the creative mastermind behind the video, and Joe Loesch filmed and edited. The location is Don King's studio. Thanks to all these talented men for their help!
Enjoy!

Call back for Nashville Star...

Hey Guys!

I had my callback for Nashville Star today in Burbank, CA, and I wanted to tell you about it! Thank you to all who have wished me luck!

To give you a little background, I sang at an NSAI writers' round last month and was introduced to two of the casting directors for Nashville star who attended the round. They asked me to send in a video of myself, including a 5-minute segment on My Life and a 2 songs (1 original and 1 cover). They called and invited me to the call back last week!

Today I walked in - guitar in hand, hair curled, ready to go! The room was pretty full of other singers, groups and novelty acts. There was a definite energy of excitement all around!

I first met with a group of about 10 producers and casting crew to sing and answer questions - Sell Why I should be the next Nashville Star. It went well, I think! I had butterflies, for sure, so I had a couple flubbed chords. I think my voice stayed strong though. They invited 5 more people in the room to hear me sing my songs again - I sang an original of mine, called "Trophy Wife" and the Trisha/Leann song "How Do I Live." Everyone was very nice and laid back.

Next, I was invited into a room set up for interviews and answered more personal questions - Why am I Living in LA when I'm a country music singer? Where do I get inspiration as a songwriter? etc. I felt really good about my answers and I sang a little bit of "Trophy Wife" again. They loved it!

Later on, I had a camera man film me playing guitar and before I left a cute girl came up to me and said "Hey, I was in the casting room and you did a great job!" That was so very encouraging to hear!

By the way, I figured I'd answer some of these questions for you, since you might wonder what I said:

Why should I be the next Nashville Star?
I grew up in Nashville and I've known since I was 6 years old that I wanted to be a Country Music singer for the rest of my life. I've been performing for over 20 years, writing since I was 15, and have been so close to "making it" many times before. My dream is to be a Grand Ole Opry Member and I want to sing on that stage until I'm too old to drive! I'm going to make that happen and I believe America will see that and vote for me!

Why am I living in LA instead of Nashville?
Nashville is my home, but I moved here 3 years ago in pursuit of a recording contract - which soon fell apart. My husband has a great job managing the West Coast Territory and we thought we'd spend a little time living near the ocean before any kiddos arrive. We will transition back to Nashville ASAP and I hope Nashville Star will help me to do that!

Where do I get my inspiration for writing songs?
I wrote my first song at 15 after a breakup. Since then, I've written about my own life experiences, my friends struggles and stories, and I also get inspiration from Movies and books. Many of my songs - Money and Love, Miracles and Mistakes, Trophy Wife, etc. - are from true experiences. I am an empathetic person and find a way to put emotions others have - especially women's emotions - into my lyrics, giving them a voice.

If my life were a song title, what would it be?
Thank God for Miracles and Mistakes! I wrote this song with Georgia Middleman. It defines perfectly the way the ups and downs in my life have made me who I am today.

I'll let you wait and see the answers to the rest of the questions when the show airs! I'm thinking positively and praying this is God's will for me. I'll let you know as soon as I hear!!

Going for a looooong run now! It's a beautiful day here in Sunny California! Soakin' it up!
Love,

Elizabeth

Performing Live in 2008

I had a blast performing on January 19th at Genghis Cohen in Los Angeles! We had a great turnout - Thank you to all who came and cheered me on! You were a fun crowd!

I'll be performing at Genghis Cohen again on February 16th at 7:30 PM. I hope you'll come!

It feels so good to be back on the stage. I get such a rush and a peace performing. It's like Chariot's of Fire - "When I Run, I Feel God's Pleasure" - When I sing, I feel God's Pleasure. I have purpose in it and it's what I want to do for the rest of my life!!

I love connecting with people by telling stories through song and watching them smile, laugh, cheer, or cry. Many people resonated with my song "Nails and Wood," which I wrote with Scott Bomar about the burning of Johnny Cash's house. We had no idea that a few months later, fires would consume hundreds of homes in LA and throughout Southern California. A few families attended my show who almost lost their homes in the fire. They said the song made them cry. I was so touched to know it meant that much to them!

Garth Brooks performed 5 shows Friday and Saturday night (1/25 and 1/26) to raise money for the Firefighters. He is such a humble man and a master at his craft. Brandon, my husband, took me to the Friday night show and we were floored by his performance, professionalism, and magnetism. He could say one word and the crowd went nuts! He made our crowd feel special, found a way to connect with us, and we left so inspired and excited! His songs are epic, classic hits that will forever be remembered and loved. He also invited Trisha Yearwood and Hughey Lewis to sing one extra song than they did on the taped show - AND he gave us a 30 minute encore, singing songs by his influences and the songs he wrote that each influenced. WOW! That's what I want to do - and will someday. Thank you, Garth, for continuing to inspire the dreamers like me.