I am beyond blessed.
How many people get to meet their favorite bands...nevermind get to actually know them? Not many. But my sister and I are in the second category. Wow. Downhere is one of the most wonderful bands I've ever seen. Freaking amazing live show...let me tell you. Marc, Jason, Glenn, and Jer are 4 of the nicest, sweetest, most considerate, not to mention HILARIOUS men ever. These last 5 1/2 or so years have been absolutely brilliant. I've met so many friends through downhere and recruited quite a few new fans as well. I guess I have to thank WOW 2001 and my dad for really introducing us to downhere. I listened to 'Protest to Praise' on the WOW cd and a couple of months later my dad bought us tickets to see Sonicflood and of course downhere was touring with them and Jason Ingram.
1. April 13, 2002: The first time I saw my boys. Like I said it was with sonicflood. After watching them play...I was in love. and we raced down to talk to them. I actually didn't really get to talk to them (plus I was kindof shy back then) all that much but I do remember saying hi to Jer, shaking Glenny's hand, Jay smirking at me and saying, "Thankyou so much...Monika." and Marc being pretty shy, and pretty much just standing there with red cheeks. Awww.
Basically the best night of my life.
2. December 8, 2004: We drove to Williamsburg (about an hour and 1/2 away) to see our boys again. We walked inside the church and immediately heard doors slamming and then people talking...I was like "Its Marc! I know it is!" and then we saw Jason standing in a room dancing around and playing his guitar. Cherylyn and I were pretty excited and we squealed. Jeremy walked past and I didn't recognize him at first because he cut his hair and got rid of his glasses. but then we called him back and said hi. He kindof remembered us from all of the downhere chats they used to have. I waved to Marc and he gave me his famous cheesy grin and waved. This concert was the first time we saw Sarah...but we didn't talk to her then because we didn't know her. haha. The follwing few pictures and videos are courtesy of the lovely Sarah.

^^Singing "Great Are You" <333
So afterward...we talked to them a little bit. Cherylyn tripped over Jay and he told her that "Sorry. I'm kindof long." and then Marc told me that "I've been dying to meet you and your friend alllll night!" We tried to take a picture with them but tragedy struck and the camera wouldn't take a picture. So no picture from that niiiight. :(
3. March 18, 2006: This time we drove 3 1/2 hours with Jooordan to see the boys. We saw that Sarah had written downhere and told them that she was setting up a concert in New Kent and we wrote her and asked her about it. and we've been friends ever since but anyway. We got to the school that they were playing at found Saraaaah and said hiii to her. We got our seats and watched YB (Young Beloved) perform. Then it was finally time for downhere to play. They played some of their new stuff which excited me of course. djfkioeudklfjeiojfl! Crazy rockstars. <333 Pictures again courtesy of the lovely Sarah.
After their set we hung out for a while. Marc came out and was like "So. How'd you like the show?" We were "it was brilliant" or whatever. and then he looked at Cherylyn and said "or electroluminescent as you would say." hahaha He remembered her! Then a few minutes later he looked at me and was like "Ohhh! Wide-eyed and Mystified. Thats YOU!" That pretty much made my night that he knew who we were. Glenn thought my downhere shoes were amazing and wanted a picture of them. Jason laughed at Jordan and I because we were poking our cheeks. Jer was pretty quiet that night. A little girl told Marc and Jason that they should try out for American Idol. Marc said "We were going to. but we're too old now." and Jason just laughedddd and laugheddd and told me, "She was a hoot and a half!" We also met Jess (their road manager) and Erin (Jeremy's gorgeous wife) So adorable!
Finally this time we took a picture without malfunction! Taken by Sarah of course!
4. September 16, 2006:
Awakening was pretty much the highlight of my life. For my birthday present we drove 3 1/2 hours or so to see downhere, Matthew West, Jeremy Camp, Seven Glory, Common Roy, and Barlow Girl. We checked in at the hotel we were staying at and then went to the park. We walked around for a little while and then decided to stand near the stage for a while. We saw Jason and Jer walking around backstage. Then Marc saw me and stuck his tongue out at me. Then he walked up to the barrier and hugged us and said "Hello Monika! Hello Cherylyn! Its great to see you!" then he said "Its a little loud here! I'll talk to you later!" His scruff rubbed against my cheek when he hugged me. <333 ha. So then Cherylyn and I were pretty hyper after that. During soundcheck Marc waved to us and we got it on video but it got deleted. :( Our mom got it on tape but it was farther away so you can't see it as well. And Glenny said "Is this going on youtube?" This little girl standing next to us was so amazed by us for some reason. and kept going "Do you know these guys? Do you know them? How'd you meet them?" and she kept staring at us the whole time. hahaha. The only unfortunate part of this show was that Sarah wasn't able to make it! So sad!
Pictures/videos taken by Cherylyn.
^^What a freaking rockstar! <33
^Sound check. Gosh. Those vocal cords make the most beautiful sounds everrrr.
Wild Canadian rockstars. mmhmm. After the set we went up to hill of their table where a line of people was already growing larger by the second. Amazing. As we waited in line we listened to Matthew West from afar. I love that man. He's phenomenol. Truly. We finally made it to the front and said hi to Jer. and Marc said hi to us again. Jason and GlennyG gave us high5's. A girl asked us to sign up for their mailing list and we told them that we were signed up already and the guys laughed at us. Marc was like "Have you been to our website yet???" and then Jason was like "I don't know if you two know that we have a message board. You should check it out." Silly boys! We hung out until they had to go eat and we talked about Sarah. and how "shes good. She's good eh?" according to Glenny. We got adorable pictures.
We talked to Jess again a little bit. and we found Erin at the World Vision table. Those two are absolutely adorable! I love them so freaking much! Marc told me "I was just singing 'Friends are Friends Forever' by Michael W. Smith. I don't why." Marc and Jay took a video for us on their bikes.
Then they were "Out." according to Jay.
5. October 14, 2006:
We spent the whole weekend with Sarah making posters and laughing...just generally being freaks. This time we went to Carowinds Amusement park which "straddles the Carolinas". We drove 6 hours. Sweet. Matthew West, tobyMac!, Chris Tomlin, and Barlowgirl were playing too. :) When we got to the park we called Jess who told us that the boys were running late. and the park who scheduled them to play at 5:00 now told them that they were going to play at 3:00 instead. so they were trying to arrive on time so they could play and not just come and sign autographs. The guy at the ticket window gave us our reserved tickets but it turned out that there was only two tickets in the envelope so Sarah and I went inside while Cherylyn waited with our posters and tried to find out what was going on. We were pretty much freaking out. and they gave us new tickets. So we got gold circle seats (13th row). Sweet. So we finally got in and found Jess. We found our seats and watched soundcheck. I can't even believe Marc sang 'How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria' to warm up. He sounded so beautiful even then.
Sarah and I pretty much screamed the whole time. Exciting. Exhilirating.
We talked afterwards. Of course. Duh. Glenn stared at me when we were in line and waved vigorously. Cute. Sarah slapped Jason on the leg. and Marc shook my hand and I said "I'm Monika. Its nice to meet you." and he said "I'm Marc. What did you say your name was? Monika? Thats such a pretty name!" and Jason just laughed and laughed. haha For some reason Marc seems to like pretending he doesn't know who we are. and he also seems to enjoy saying my name. Jeremy was happy. (like cherylyn said..."He just has his glasses back. He just has his glasses back.") Glenn is freaking hilarious. He told us that he "just might need a lift" to the airport. but alas we didn't get to give him a ride. So unfortunate. We were devestated. We FINALLY found Mr. Dave Lewis (production manager) and said hi. Such a cute man. Jess asked us to hand out free download cards which we diiiid and we talked to gorgeous Erin in between. I love that girl. Shonlock (one of tobys diverse city people) threw the download card Cherylyn gave him on the ground and said "I hate downhere!" but then he saw our faces and was like "I was just kidding! I was kidding! I'm so sorry!" we didn't realize it was him at first. ha. Funny. I asked Glenny if he wanted a download card and he said "No! Go!" I said "okay. fine. Bye." and I walked away. ha. He was like "Thanks for the heeeeelp." I love my GlennyG! Later I asked marc if he wanted one and he said "No. That doesn't sound good to me." and he acted like he was disgusted and he threw it back in the box.
Pictures:


6. November 16, 2006:
We were originally supposed to go to Ocean City, Md. with Sarah but she had something come up and she couldn't make it. Jess called and asked if we could come. and told us to convince our mom to take us. (She loves downhere too but she wasn't sure about driving home at night) So we convinced her and we left around 1:00 and arrived at the place around 4:00 or 4:30. The place looked absolutely empty so Cherylyn and I went inside the building and we asked some of the workers inside the building if it was the right place. It was but everybody was supposedly off eating dinner or something. So we went to grab something to eat really quick. Cherylyn was in the bathroom, my mom was ordering and I was staring off into space. All of a sudden I saw 3 people running and I realized it was Jason, Jer,and Erin. I was like "JASON!" and everybody in mcdonalds kindof stared at me. hahaha Good thing it was kindof empty. Then we went back to the convention center and called Jess. She came and got us and we went upstairs with her. We found Glenn and got hugs. Marc came over and said "Hi Monika. Hi Cherylyn." We delivered the birthday package from the message board to Marc and asked how his birthday was. "It was good. It was a day on the road. I ate carrot cake." Yummy. We talked for a few more minutes and then he disappeared. We helped Jess set up the merch, got our guest list passes thrown at me by Glenn, and talked about Sarah again. Then we watched soundcheck. Their soundcheck is the most amazing thing everrrr. I love it. I could sit for hours and watch them. After soundcheck they left and went to eat dinner. We walked around for about 3 hours and tried to entertain ourselves.
We Watched part of the kids conference from up above. We realized that Jeff Deyo was leading worship. Exciting. It was pleasing.
Cherylyn and my mom went to get a drink or something and I ran into Jason, and Davey. Jason told us that they ran 3.5 miles. Then he told us that his hair was getting way too long and that he was eating his hair alot lately. The next time we see him he might be bald. Eek! Scary thought! We watched Glenn, Davey, and Jess playing ultimate frisbee. Sprightly young whippersnappers if I ever saw one! Dave asked me to play but I decided it was funner just watching them do handstands, cartwheels, push ups and running up the wall. The security guards were having trouble controlling all of the crazy middle schoolers. They rushed in and we blended in with them. Wow. downheres set was only 19 minutes long. Marc told me that it was supposed to be 25 mintues but it got shortened. Disapointing but still amazing nonetheless.
Pictures:
Marc gave us some groovy Martellioni dance moves!
He also hissed at me and tried to attack me after I karate chopped him. He told me that he would have laughed if he really hit me. :( hahahahaha Eviiiil. We found Erin and said hi to her and hung out for a little while. <333 Talked to the guys for a few more minutes and had to leaveee.
We didn't get to say goodbye to our Glennyg or dave but We got our Marcatel and Jer hugs. Jason said bye and zooooomed past. Jess gave us huge hugs and Erin told me that she was going to kidnap me and put me in one of the merch boxes. I wish. I told her she could take me anytime. I love her.
The end...for noooow.
I can't wait till we see them again in May. I wouldn't trade my boys for anything. <333
IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO EVER SEE THEM...DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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