You guys... it was incredible. Amazing. Fun. Encouraging. AWESOME.
This was actually the very last pic we took of our time at the studios. |
I keep going back and forth if I should do a play by play of the weekend... and I suppose that's what I will do. It's more fun. At least I hope so! I will have 2 parts:
#NASBoston: being on TV (this one!)
#NASBoston: exploring the city (tomorrow!)
So... grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up and let's get started. :)
It's how I do. |
I was tweeting up a storm because besides talking my mom's ear off over and over and over again... it's all I really could do to contain my excitement and nerves. I AM FLYING TO BOSTON TO BE ON TV... I wanted to run up to everyone and talk about it. But... that would be weird, and no one really cares.

We got to the Brighton area around 1am... and Shae stayed up. {Let me just stop for a sec and dote on Miss Shaelena. SHE IS THE BEST HOST IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! She (and her roomies) let us crash on her air mattress, use the ONE bathroom, offered all of her food, listened to A LOT of God talk allll weekend, was excited to hear about our TV debut, made a Google map of all her fave things, played tour guide, hung out with us, laughed with us... and just made the entire weekend that much sweeter. Seriously, Shae... if you read this, THANK YOU! I am so grateful for everything that you did for us. The weekend wouldn't have been the same if you were not part of it. Looooove youuuu!}
Ok... so, we got in. Chatted with Shae. And, then... tried to sleep. Amongst the nerves... sleeping in the same bed with a friend that you have now just met for the SECOND time... and knowing we had to get up early... "sleep" was not what really happened. I think we just closed our eyes and tried really hard not to move and make the bed noisy. ;)
THE DAY HAS COME!!!

Anyway... check out Morgan's if selfies are yo' thing. :)
Bonnie (the wonderful Director of Marketing and Programming) finally picked us up... and sh*t got real, people. I like to talk a lot when I am nervous... and I was in the back by myself, and I felt like I couldn't really do that. So, I was just nervously twitching back there.
Maybe I wasn't, but that's what it felt like. The ride was pretty short and we got to the studios.

After mass, we chatted with a few people. And everyone was so nice and so welcoming. I mean, we felt like we belonged there just after stepping in the doors. CatholicTV, you have some amazing people working for you! Bonnie, then, took us on a tour of the actual studios. It was neat to see behind the scenes. I know very little about the world of TV, so it was quite fun!
But, I wish I could say that I was really paying attention... I was so nervous. Morgan and I had no idea when we would be interviewed on the show. We didn't know where that was supposed to happen. We hadn't even met the people that would be interviewing us!
Freeeeaking out over here!
At 10:19, Bonnie finally asks what time it was! Morgan and I were VERY quick to let her know... and she was all, "oh! 10 minutes is like a million hours in TV time!"
Ha. Oh. Well, us newbies here don't know any of that! Can you please just take us to the place we are getting interviewed?!?!!?
No... into the sound room we went. Oh man. Heart pounding, y'all. But, huge smile still on my face!
Ok, so... FINALLY into Studio A... where This is the Day is filmed. We are not on until the second interview. Ok.
Breathe.
And tweet. And text people. And take pics.
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News Break with Kate Andrews |
Jay Fadden waiting for Kevin Nelson, who walked in riiiiight before the show started! |
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Behind the scenes. |
Allllll the crazy... and nerves... and excitement... and the OH MY GOSH IS THIS REALLY HAPPENINGs.... led to THIS:
(And, I can honestly tell you... this is what is going on in my head right at the beginning: my MOM is watching. Niki is watching. Alreen is watching. Beth Anne is watching. It was terrifying and exciting all at the same time. People I know were actually watching. I really hoped I could make you all proud. I wanted to look at the camera and say HIIIIIIIII! But, just couldn't.)
Ahhhhh!!!! IT WAS INCREDIBLE! Jay and Kevin are THEE best. :) They made us feel so comfortable and were hilarious. They were ribbing each other before the show started, and I knew we would have a great time.
Here are some during the show shots... all taken by Bonnie, with permission to post here. :)
Annnnnnd, this! This pic is probably my absolute favorite! :) This was taken right after the show was done. We were all just chatting and the guys were telling us how guys get the ladies' attention in Boston: instead of buying them a drink, they walk up to them and say, "I bought you a nice bowl a chowda" with a wide grin, holding a steaming cup of clam chowder. Ha, it was hilarious! ;)
Ooooor maybe we were asking about a Catholic dating show. Hmm, that could have been it!
Morgan was up first! |
Then me! |
A good looking group! Thanks for the photo, Bonnie! |
And this one. :) |
I would like to say thank you so very much to to all of the people at CatholicTV for such an amazing experience. As I said earlier, they made us feel right at home. We were welcomed with open arms and everyone was so pleasant and happy. We left there so encouraged and so on fire for what we were doing with the Not Alone Series.
The hosts and everyone we chatted with spoke to us as if we had something important to say. In a world where young people so often get looked down upon or people are just awkward around us, the people at CatholicTV spoke to us... just like the human beings that we are. Another member of the body of Christ. They wanted to hear about the struggles of Catholic singlehood, and even if they didn't know what to say our couldn't offer advice, they listened. And encouraged our ministry through the Not Alone Series.
So, all you ladies that we have gotten to know... thank YOU. Without you, there would be no series to talk about. Without your prayers and love and support and understanding of where I am in life... none of this would be possible. I am so grateful and thankful to God for this amazing community of women.
And thanks to Morgan for saying yes. Yes to the idea to start an online "something" for us single ladies. It's crazy to look back on those emails and realize that we really did have "high hopes and low expectations." And we mean it from the bottom of our hearts... if we continue to reach one other person, then we have done what we sought to do. If one other person feels encouraged and reminded that they are not alone, then God is continuing to do his thang with this ministry.
I wonder where He will take it next?!
(Don't forget to come back tomorrow to see how the rest of our weekend went! I promise, more pics, less writing! :) )
Thanks for sharing the play by play of your trip! I'm so happy things went well, and heck yes for spreading the word of the Not Alone Series!!! :)
ReplyDeleteYou guys were awesome! I look forward to seeing you guys on Encounter.
ReplyDeleteSo so wonderful!!! I live-streamed your portion and was geeking out like a weirdo, ha! Thank you, Jen and Morgan, for following God on this crazy adventure and for spreading the word about us chicas. You guys are awesome!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the play by play. You guys did make us proud, you guys were awesome. Like Bek I was geeking out a little (or a lot). I can't wait to see y'all on encounter or be watching CatholicTv and just randomly see one of you guys' station IDs. Thank you for all the work you guys have done through all of this, you said yes to God and let Him lead you on this great journey. Can't wait to see what else He has in store.
ReplyDeleteI love all the photos but the one of you and Morgan with your animated hands is awesome! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to the next post!. Love, Cindy
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