Greetings y'all. Have I ever mentioned that I hate shopping? Can't stand it. This is why professionals dress me. I don't do well in stores (other than Target). Target I can stand because they have a nice music section AND a Starbucks... because I can buy James Taylor's new CD AND diaper wipes there. I think you can buy everything at Target. They even have food there now. How amazing... American cheese, diaper wipes, and a James Taylor CD. And I only had to unbuckle the baby's car seat once! But seriously, get over it... right! It's Christmas time and I do all the Holiday shopping for my family and my husband's family. If he did the shopping everyone would get a gift certificate to Jiffy Lube. Which is nice, don't get me wrong - but strange. I wish we could bask a little longer in the Thanksgiving glory before we throw ourselves under the Christmas-shopping bus. Why does the crazy shopping have to start the NEXT morning? So there I am figuring I have a nice handle on my shopping when I realize I have basked enough- it's actually December! The last few weeks of November were a blur. A big-ole High School reunion: Mine, 20 years, hysterical. We had such a blast. Yes, we partied like it was 1999. It all started around 5pm and I was the first to go home at 4AM. I graduated with a great bunch of people. It was so nice to see them all. A few hours later I found myself in Nashville for a few days writing songs in Jessica Harp's beautiful living room. Jessica and I have very similar writing styles and she has such a gift of a voice. The following Saturday my band and I had the honor of playing at the Boston Music Awards. I've been to the award ceremonies a few times, even won a few awards, but I've never played them. It's really great to feel like part of a community, and Boston has an incredible live music scene. We played our little hearts out, and took home the honor of Record Of The Year (Major) for Unglamorous. I'm not very good at unprepared speeches, but I did manage to thank my husband and my babies in my very best Southern accent. I just have to again say my dearest thanks to the BMA's, to Tim McGraw and Byron Gallimore for producing this record that I am so very proud of. And to Warner Brothers for taking a chance on a housewife from Massachusetts. I'm not ready to look back on this year yet- I plan to thoroughly enjoy every last day of shopping I have before Christmas morning.

Big Love.lm