Never Growing Up Remember sneaking out a a quarter past ten? My jeans got caught on the fence. Nothing to do. It was Saturday night So we decided to take a chance. You were 13. I was 14 and we had all night to play. So we hitched a ride with some boys, turned the music up loud And we danced the night away. Remember meeting in California after you moved away? A full moon over the ocean. It was our weekend to play. You were 25. I was 26 and we toasted to our future. We promised eachother we would never grow up And then we ordered another pitcher. Here's to never growing up Here's to strutting in our jeans. Here's to laughing right out loud And when we're in a crowd always making a scene Here's to never growing up May the parties never end And may you always be my best crazy girlfriend. We made it through our 30's. Working hard to be good wives. It took a few times to find the right one Raising kids consumed our lives. But we always managed to get caught up And find a few hours to play And every time we'd get together We'd raise our glass and then we'd say Here's to never growing up Here's to strutting in our jeans. Here's to laughing right out loud And when we're in a crowd always making a scene Here's to never growing up May the parties never end And may you always be my best crazy girlfriend. Now we're in our forties and our jeans fit a little tighter Our kids have grown up and moved away Life seems a little quieter But together we can still light up a room Age hasn't caught up with us yet And every time we get together We toast to what we've always said Here's to never growing up Here's to strutting in our jeans. Here's to laughing right out loud And when we're in a crowd always making a scene Here's to never growing up May the parties never end And may you always be my best crazy girlfriend. And when we're old and gray We'll look back on this day And another 30 years will have flown by But we'll still be wearing jeans Reminiscing all our schemes And I bet I know exactly what we'll say Here's to never growing up Here's to strutting in our jeans. Here's to laughing right out loud And when we're in a crowd always making a scene Here's to never growing up May the parties never end And may you always be my best crazy girlfriend. And may you always be my best crazy girlfriend. Words and music by Lori Dawn Maximenko Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.	Mile of Sunflowers Her smile was like a mile of sunflowers to him She loved him for the hero that he was He promised that he'd love her every day--he did Sometimes they'd fuss and fight But they kept each other warm at night And before too long she blessed him with a daughter Her smile was like a mile of sunflowers to him As he held his daughter close and kissed her face He promised that he'd love her every day--he did But soon he'd have to say goodbye So he rocked the baby late at night And he came to know the true love of a father Sunflowers slightly faded the day he said goodbye But she took pride in what she knew he had to do He promised that he'd write her every day--he did While he fought for our country's pride She sang their daughter lullabies About a man that she be proud to call her father Sunflowers washed away when two men came to call To tell her that her husband died in battle He promised that he'd love her every day--he did But one fateful night in a desert storm Shots rang out. He went down That night he gave his own life to save a friend They handed her a journal where he wrote her every day And she read every word on every page He said, "I promised that I'd love you every day and I have. But sometimes a man has to fight. And if I lose my life tonight Won't you plant a mile of sunflowers on my grave." Her smile was like a mile of sunflowers... Words and Music by Lori Dawn Maximenko Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved
All My Dreams Wake up sleepy head. It’s five in the morning And I just have to tell you a dream I had We were walking on the beach, the sun was slowly setting And you asked me about a lifetime plan And I just need to know if I’m dreaming Cuz it was better than all my dreams Whisper in my ear and tell me you are really here Then you’ll go back to sleeping We’ll go back to loving And I’ll go back to living My dreams All I ever wanted was time with my dad And all I ever wanted was for my mom to love me All you ever wanted was the same thing (love) But from a lonely barstool their arms couldn’t reach And now I need to know if I’m dreaming Cuz you have loved me more than all my dreams Whisper in my ear and tell me you are really here Then you’ll go back to sleeping We’ll go back to loving And I’ll go back to living My dreams You joined the Navy, I chose motherhood And though we were apart somehow we understood That something wasn’t right and those we loved were wrong We both learned how to fight and how to be strong And now I need to know if I’m dreaming Cuz you have fulfilled all my dreams Whisper in my ear and tell me you are really here Then you’ll go back to sleeping We’ll go back to loving And I’ll go back to living My dreams All my dreams… You’ve fulfilled all my dreams. 2006 Lori Dawn Maximenko All Rights Reserved	I Just Wanted You to Know Yesterday I opened up my mailbox With my shiny, silver key And suddenly I felt so awfully special By a letter waiting there for me It was postmarked Phoenix, AZ Addressed to my California heart From a handsome cowboy in Arizona I was holding your letter And you were holding me I wondered should I open it up or wait? So I decided to get some space. I closed my bedroom door And I could not resist Reading your letter signed “I just wanted you to know…” Your letter etched itself right into time All of your words they rang so true You found a thousand ways to say, “Hey, I love you!” And you signed it with a kiss “I just wanted you to know…” Before you flew back to AZ You wrote “I love you” on a rock A skipping rock you stole from the Kings River And on the other side you wrote “I just wanted you to know…” Today you opened up my heart You didn’t need no shiny key All you needed was the combination Of your sincere words And all the ways you show me I can see our future etched in time And all the nights when you’ll make love with me I can’t wait to start living my life with you And I wrote this song because I just wanted you to know… That I love you A simple I love you 2004 Lori Dawn Maximenko All Rights Reserved
My Papa (NEW) There is nothing else I would rather do Than to run away And share the day with you Not a care in the world I just want to care for you My Papa   We’ll ride into town And buy an ice cream cone Then hang out at the pond And even though the North wind’s blowing We’ll cast a fishing line And all our cares away My Papa   And you didn’t give me life In the usual way You just walked through the door And my whole life was changed And when I looked into your eyes My heart saw the love Of Papa   I know your body’s weak I know your heart is down But look at that big sky And all the colors that surround you And draw upon the love That others have for you My Papa   I don’t think you know How brightly you shine Or all that you have done In so many people’s lives Your flame might be weak But it’s warm and it’s kind My Papa   And you didn’t give me life In the usual way You just walked through the door And my whole life was changed And when I looked into your eyes My heart saw the love Of Papa   And you’re Papa now in everything you do You’re my Papa now in everything you do 2007 Lori Dawn Maximenko All Rights Reserved	Danger Junkie He falls to his knees as he hides in the trees Concealment is the key or the Vietcong Might see him hiding there Then he begins to pray for his dream of the day When he can leave all this pain and find a way A way to smile again He sees once upon a time and the hills he would climb In his ’69 Chevy with the girl he wanted to marry But fate turned its hand when he heard from Uncle Sam He said, “You’re old enough to fight, son, and we need you In Vietnam.” Eight months later in a flying machine With a gun at his side he made his first drop into ‘Nam He killed to survive, but they always wanted more Now his comrades are dead and he’s going back To settle the score Some may say he’s wrong, oh and some may try to prove him right But it doesn’t matter anymore because he’s there and he’s programmed to fight He falls to his knees as he hides in the trees Concealment is the key or the Vietcong Might see him hiding there He shoulders his rifle, now he’s got them in his sights And with one pull of the trigger Five Vietcong lose their lives Then he begins to pray for his dream of the day When he can leave all this pain and find a way A way to smile again But he’s a danger junkie Now, he’s a danger junkie And he’ll always be a danger junkie 2006 Lori Dawn Maximenko Steven "Max" Maximenko All Rights Reserved
On the Sea He’s flying at midnight Sailing over cold hills From the one who loves him With destinations unknown to him But it begins in San Diego He is not quite a man Oh, and he is not a boy Life was cold and rough in Cheyenne Where he dreamed about a life out on the sea She’s sailing at midnight Out on the open ocean To the other side of the world She’s built for the waters To protect and to defend And she carries 5,000 men And he grew to love her He fought her fires and her enemies The days were long and rough And they made him tough As he lived his dream of life out on the sea He awakens at midnight And she is right beside him She’s the one who loves him Their destination’s unknown to him But it began with the Navy Where he learned to be a man And it’s what he’ll teach his boys He loves God and he loves his country And he owes it to a life out on the sea 2005 Lori Dawn Maximenko All Rights Reserved	Joshua I know it’s hard right now for momma’s boy to understand And those tears that you’re crying are because you hurt so bad I know you miss daddy and the fun times that we had And wonder why we cannot be a family once again And maybe you’re afraid since I left daddy That I just might leave you too But there’s some things that you need to know, son. Joshua, this I promise you… No one loves you more than I do Wherever I go, my boy you’ll be there It won’t always be that easy But the good and the bad together we will share I know you’re questioning what family is all about But son it’s sad to say, sometimes they don’t work out. So now your mom and daddy they must go their separate ways But honey, don’t you worry, momma’s boy is not to blame. And maybe you’re afraid since I left daddy That I just might leave you too But there’s some things that you need to know, son. Joshua, this I promise you… No one loves you more than I do Wherever I go, my boy you’ll be there It won’t always be that easy But the good and the bad together we will share I’ll be there to hug away the hurts and see you off to school And you know you won’t be rid of me when you break the rules Oh baby, no one loves you more than I do Wherever I go, my boy you’ll be there It won’t always be that easy But the good and the bad together we will share I said the good and the bad together we will share 2004 Lori Dawn Maximenko All Rights Reserved
Long Way Down (NEW)   I wonder, can I talk with you? It’s early and there’s so much to do But there’s something I’ve gotta say   I love you, babe. I don’t want to fight I admit that you are right And I’m sorry my pride gets in the way   We moved here on this mountain top And we’ve taken on quite a lot It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done   I’m so afraid because I have stumbled Distrustful words, I know I’ve mumbled When you say you’ll catch me if I fall   But if I fall I know that you’ll fall too And if we fall I don’t trust That God will see us through   And oh it’s such a long way down To the place where I fell in love with you To the place where I fell in love with you   The ray of sunshine in the room Reminds me of that month of June When dreams were dreams and love was new   We felt strong. We make our plans. I leaned on you, my solid man Now we’re making all our dreams come true   Somewhere along this rugged trail I began to think that we might fail Because it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done   But you just kept pressing on When I felt weak, you stayed strong And you promised to catch me if I fall   But if I fall I know that you’ll fall too And if we fall I don’t trust That God will see us through   And oh it’s such a long way down To the place where I fell in love with you Back to the place where I fell in love with you   Last night I had a dream I was on a cliff and trembling But I took a leap and God gave me wings You were soaring next to me You said, “Trust in God, He’ll set you free.” Then I awoke and there you were Holding me and believing in me   Now if I fall, I know that you’ll fall too But from now on I’m gonna trust That God will see us through Even though it’s such a long way down To the place where I fell in love with you Because babe, I’m so in love with you   2007 Lori Dawn Maximenko All Rights Reserved	Logan’s Song (A Higher Place) I remember the day when I Found out you were inside of me I was so angry because I wasn’t ready For another child I would cry myself to sleep Hoping God would decide That it just wasn’t your time And I remember the day when I Watched you take your first breath I was so proud when they laid you upon my chest I held you in my arms and I Counted every inch of you And from that very day I knew That God had something more in store for you He’d lead you to a higher place And that you would fall in love with Him And He would offer you His Grace I remember the day when you asked me who Jesus is You were only nine when we prayed And He came into your life I fell to my knees that night Knowing the choice was never mine And I thanked God for your life And now here you are Standing right in front of me You are a miracle and I’m learning so much from you I am so proud of you And I thank God for His Grace As I watch Him come alive in you And God has so much more in store for you He’ll lead you to a higher place And I can see you’re so in love with Him You’re not afraid to share His Grace I remember the day when I found out you were inside of me And I remember the day when I watched you take your first breath I remember the day when you Asked me who Jesus is And I’ll remember this day, too The day I wrote this song for you 2005 Lori Dawn Maximenko All Rights Reserved
My Mustang Moving 90 miles an hour ‘round a freeway curve It was raining cats and dogs but you just had to feel that burn And then you laughed right out loud as we recovered from a spin And you don’t get to drive my mustang again Remember the last time I let you behind the wheel? You got two tickets in the same day cuz you like the way she feels Out on the open road doing 110 And you don’t get to drive my mustang again You don’t get to drive my mustang again Every time I let you drive we barely make it home alive And there’s always some trouble that we’re in No, you don’t get to drive my mustang again You light up like a candle when I hand you the keys And then your pedal’s to the metal. You can’t get enough speed And while I’m hangin’ on for life you’ve got a shit eatin’ grin No, you don’t get to drive my mustang again Is it the possi traction rear with the five-speed transmission Or the fuel injected V8 300 horse power engine That causes you to lose your mind And commit all these sins? No, you don’t get to drive my mustang again You don’t get to drive my mustang again Every time I let you drive we barely make it home alive And there’s always some trouble that we’re in No, you don’t get to drive my mustang again Over the mountains, along the coastline Increasing speeds and ignoring the signs You say, “no worries. I won’t wreck the car And in half the time we can go really far!” But, you don’t get to drive my mustang again Every time I let you drive we barely make it home alive And there’s always some trouble that we’re in No, you don’t get to drive my mustang again You don’t get to drive my mustang again So, don’t ask to drive my mustang again 2006 Lori Dawn Maximenko All Rights Reserved	I’ve Yet to See you Catch One With Me You eat lots of sushi You’ve fished a lot of holes You caught big salmon up in Canada You own a lot of poles I’ve heard your fishing stories And your buddies all agree But I’ve yet to see you catch one With me! The first time we went fishing Why, I was so impressed By the way you tied my flies And how skillfully you cast You fished for the big one But instead you snagged a tree And I’ve yet to see you catch one With me! We’ve fished a lot of lakes since then And we’ve hiked a lot of streams Got a pontoon boat and a fish finder But can’t catch a doggone thing! All them fish swam by your line I watched it on the screen And I’ve yet to see you catch one With me! I’ve yet to see you catch one Oh, I would really like to see you catch just one Oh, won’t you please just catch one With me? 2005 Lori Dawn Maximenko All Rights Reserved