"welcome to your life..everything you'll someday be"

You might wanna close your eyes
It will take some time adjustin’
Welcome to your life
You’re everything you’ll someday be

There’s a weight off my shoulder
There’s laughter in the air
You are the answer to every midnight prayer

You’re mine to love
We have all been waitin’ on you
You’re mine to love
Come into these open arms
It took some time to wait it out
But I see it now, you’re all I’ve been dreaming of
You’re mine to love
You’re mine to love

You might wanna take your time
Take in all this technicolor, oh yeah
We’re on your side
Let us be the one you need

There’s a life on my shoulder
Laughter in the air
You are the answer to every midnight prayer

You’re mine to love
We have all been waitin’ on you
You’re mine to love
Come into these open arms
It’ll took some time to wait it out
But I see it now, your words I’ve been dreaming of
You’re mine to love
You’re mine to love

Every time that my heart was broken
Every time I’ve lost my wings
I forget when I look into your face

You’re mine to love
We have all been waitin’ on you
You’re mine to love
Come into these open arms
‘Cause I’m right here
It’ll took some time to wait it out
But I see it now, your words I’ve been dreaming of
You’re mine to love
You’re mine to love

So you might wanna close your eyes

Many of you may know the Nashville Singer/Songwriter for this Yes, he’s officially a Grammy Nominee! (Best Country Song for Blake Shelton’s cover of “God Gave Me You”—which first appeared on Barnes’ April 2010 release, What We Want, What We Get.) As much as I love that tune, I’m here to write on Dave’s newest single, “Mine To Love”.

This song released January 24^th, just ten days following our move here. (I’m in Nashville, by the way.) Being a longtime lover of Dave’s music, I was super excited to hear the new tune. Little did I know the emotions that would hit me upon my first listen…

I opened my ears to this song as someone who is finally dreaming out loud. Someone who was entering a phase of her life where literally everything is new & fresh. Frightening & wonderful. Every moment is packed with something unexpected. As I sat back & experienced the song, Barnes sang those first few lines & I just about lost it.

Although I really do feel that I fit here in Tennessee, those lyrics really hit me. Speaking to the newness of all that was & is around me. Learning to slowly take it all in & move with a new rhythm of life (yeah, music joke.)

A few lines in Barnes sings, “Welcome to your life/Everything you’ll someday be” I couldn’t help but wonder, “How did you know?” This life is what I’ve hoped for as long as I can remember… One filled with music; living & working alongside people who are just as passionate about it as I am. As if that weren’t enough, I’m living in the city of my dreams, too! (this magical city of music that I fell in love with long before ever setting foot inside of it…)

Being here really is more than I ever could have dreamed up in my little mind. Next, he wrote: “There’s a weight off my shoulders/laughter in the air/you are the answer to every midnight prayer”. Again, creepily accurate. In (especially) the two weeks prior to arriving here, I was pretty much a mess on the inside. I will spare you the details, but I worried far more than I ever have or should about life. (why do I do that? So dumb.)

God has faithfully brought me to the other side of that, & I am more than pleased to be blessed so greatly with every opportunity, this semester. Through MUCH prayer, I went from being a clueless high school senior considering CMC (but it ended up in the back of my mind) to a college junior living this crazy music-saturated life! (I still have to pinch myself sometimes haha)

As it turns out, unfortunately, Dave did not write this song about me… Good news is it’s about his two-month-old firstborn, Ben! Makes sense now, doesn’t it? J He actually wrote it prior to the baby’s birth, which makes the song pretty special.

Many thanks to all who have lifted me up in prayer over the last month! It sure has been different from anything I’ve ever experienced, and definitely doesn’t feel like school…in the best way possible!!

Peace of Christ,

Xo-hm

Ps-grammys are about to start!! Barnes, for the win!