Update Overload

It's been a while since I've blogged! A lot has been going on around our house. Luke has been unemployed for about the past 9 weeks , so the house has been full and busy and messy and un-structured and messy. He's finally back, and I actually have time to sit and write!
The March of Dimes was a success! We always have so many friends reach out and donate to this cause. They understand how much it means to us and how much the preemie world means to us. We had plenty of friends buy T-shirts, and we had some friends and family come walk with us! I'll dump some pictures now :

There was a special area in the family area call the Path of Hope. Families could donate $25 towards the walk & get a sign with their child(ren)'s name and picture and birth details. Some were in memory, some were in honor of the child itself, and some were pictures of their children in honor of family who had been in the NICU. It was a neat addition this year! Lucy and Landon loved to see Lucy's picture. We should have added Landon & Ella to it also, but it slipped our mind to even donate until after the deadline. We were able to still be included though =)

We got there early to help set up the family area, so we got to enjoy all the games before anyone really got there! No lines and a lot of fun!

She ran so fast to Elsa and Ana!

Princess crown, of course!

Our Team Lucy Loo picture ( minus 3). One day I hope that we can be one of the large teams! I think being able to see all the families, kids and babies, shirts in memory of babies, and people supporting others is AMAZING! I feel like crying the whole time we are there.

Landon & Jay. Their daddies played college baseball together and they have moved back from St Louis! They've actually been back a year but are moving SUPER CLOSE next weekend!

We loved the new location this year! We still have (all 3 years) ended up in the VERY BACK. It's way too crowded with all the people up front. Plus we walk and talk and take our time....and we had a lot of kids walking.

Lucy's friend Lexi ( and her mom and sister ) came too!

Landon said he was TIRED OUT!

Lucy passed out within minutes of getting into the car.

 

My individual goal for the walk was $325. Thanks to all our wonderful friends and family, we hit $453! Somehow the team goal was set at $600. Team Lucy Loo ended up raising $703!

We ended up doing 1 fundraiser with Funky Munky shaved ice.........and it was about 53 degrees that day! We were at a college campus in the middle of thousands of teens. So as soon as the truck pulled up , they wanted to spend their money. We are planning on teaming with them every year at the same event, hopefully next year it'll be in the 70's! We also had a big donation from a food truck here in Nashville-- Hoss' Loaded Burgers ! Check them out when you get a chance!

 

This year the MOD had a campaign called 'be your best for babies'. The family who had the greatest % increase from their best year is going to be featured on the MOD Christmas card. Team Lucy Loo did increase by 36%! Thank you for that. I don't think we will ever be a top fundraiser team, as you can see below the top team here has raised $53,115!!!!

 

Maybe next year I can have a little better success with business donations and sponsorships! And our goal will be to have at least 20 walkers come out and enjoy the day with us! The goal I sent in on our paper was 14 walkers, and we had 15 people out to support the March of Dimes.

If you know of a company that might be interested next year, let me know!

 

31 years (minus 16 months)

"The Grand Ole Opry, to a country singer, is what Yankee Stadium is to a baseball player. Broadway to an actor. It's the top of the ladder, the top of the mountain. You don't just play the Opry; you live it." -- Bill Anderson

31 years minus 16 months is how long Luke has lived in Nashville. I've only been here since 2002. But neither of us have been to the Grand Ole Opry--besides in high school when I had TNT with church. I heard a commercial the other day that mentioned some names. Oddly enough I missed the Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Ricky Scaggs part & only heard Lennon and Maisy and Kree Harrison and Kellie Pickler. COME ON, the most adorable sisters off of the show Nashville and the runner up on American Idol? And another fave from Idol. Yes, the girls really are sisters. Yes, they are amazing. Yes, I've been addicted to their Youtube for quite a while. I wasn't really sure about Kree Harrison. I know the judges raved about her on the show, but at the end I just never really thought she sounded that great. But I know she is bff with Kacey Musgraves--maybe she'd be around or even sing with her!

Once we decided to buy tickets, we saw who else was playing and we got super excited! It happened to be the night before my niece's 9th birthday, so I figured we'd call and see if they wanted to come down and go with us. We had a GREAT time! Apparently, from everyone else in line around us, they've always just walked up and walked into their seats. No one had ever seen the Opry like this. We had to stand outside in line a good 20-30 minutes ( we barely got a parking space about 9:10 & the show started at 9:30). There was definitely a lot of excitement in the air. We were all excited too.

When Luke called to get tickets, since he had never been in the building, he just asked what the best tickets left were. We were on the far right side on the lower level of the balcony. The seats were great--no complaints. But no one told us you can walk down to the stage if you're down there on the floor! We know for next time ;) Maybe we could have too, but that was too many steps.

Little Miss Dancing with the Stars winner kicked off the night. Oh my. I need to be on that show! One day I'll wear a dress like that again ;) LOVE HER. She sang her new single and of course Red High Heels and another.

A little bit of Diamond Rio.

Some Grand Ole Bill Anderson. Amazing shirt.

AHH! Yes, I squealed like a little girl. Enough so that the little girl in front of us turned to look at me =)

Lennon and Maisy! I forget what they sang first, but they did sing Ho Hey and Ring of Fire.

Ricky Scaggs

YAY Rascal Flatts! I know they sang What hurts the Most, but can't remember what else. It was getting late, and I was getting excited for the rest of the show! They were GREAT!

Keith Urban coming out to introduce Kree Harrison on her Opry Debut!

Singing her Idol single All Cried Out

She said she told my dad a long time ago if she ever made the Opry she'd sing his favorite hymn which was In the Gardens.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.



She also sang Help me Make it Through the Night with THIS GUY.

Standing ovation for her first time singing at the Opry! She is AMAZING! I absolutely love her voice. She did PHENOMENAL!

What an incredible ending to the night!

The crowd was on their feet.

Oh, he's my new favorite artist right now.

We had an amazing time. We love the atmosphere. We're not big concert goers, but this is something we can't BELIEVE we haven't done before! When we moved back I told Luke that we MUST do more Nashville things since we live here. This was #1.We will be back for sure!

Oh, and I ran into theses guys out front.

I won't comment on that interaction. But I got a sweet pic.