Music is the soundtrack to our lives!

I sit at my desk at work with my iPod playing a genius shuffle and I am always inspired to write, it just never what I should be writing at work.  When I was little I always thought that I wanted to write songs, not because someone famous would sing them, but because it is amazing how words in a song can touch your life.  For a short time in high school I took guitar lessons and tried to write music, that I am not very good at.  Although I do remember writing a song that my friends and I would sing in the basement bedroom of my house on Lindsey Ave.

It is just amazing how a song can take you back to a certain place and time.  Here are some of the ones that get me.
James Taylor or John Denver -- takes me back to the little blue house across the street from my grandparents on the farm.  We had a record player in a big entertainment center with two glass doors where the player set.
Locomotion -- a little red tape that Nanny Pam bought me that I would play in the brown tape player...can't remember the brand.
Mariah Carey -- my very first CD I got for Christmas.
New Kids on the Block -- I remember my twin cousins who lived up the hill from us.  They would come over and they knew the dances to all the songs.  I thought they were so cool, I would never dance in front of anyone.  HAHA
Texas Tornado by Tracy Lawrence -- this is the song that I feel in love with country music.  I remember listening to this song on the way to and from school when I would ride to Parkersburg Catholic with the Ts.  Also when I first met Billy I thought maybe this could be our song, because he loved it too.  Well then he said it reminded him of his old girlfriends, so NO it was not our song :).
Alanis Morrisett (her whole CD) -- also another one of Billy's favorites.  He told me that he used to listen to this on his walkman when he would get ready for basketball games.  Ok maybe I made that part up because I think that is hilarious that he even owned her CD.   But I remember riding out to a fishing tournament with Sara Colvin, I got so extremely sun burned that I had to miss school.
Kenny Chesney (All his songs) -- I would have to say he is my all time favorite artist.  His Be As You Are CD made me want to move to the Caribbean, but I was always too scared to take the leap.  Every CD has songs that hit my heart.

There are so many more songs that I could list, but frankly I can't remember them, but when I hear it on the radio or on my iPod it does take me back.

It is amazing how when a song is added to visuals it makes it so much better.  You think about movies and TV shows, the music helps set the mood.  When I prepare a slide show for a client I rack my brain looking for the perfect song to go with their images. 

Needless to say, I wouldn't want to think what this world would be like without music.

WISP!!!!

This past weekend I was reminded again just how lucky I am to have such an amazing family.  A family that loves you unconditionally, who love to laugh and have a good time, and care about your well-being. 

Billy, Cam, and I walked to see an amazing waterfall.  We went with my grandfather, mother, aunt, cousin and her husband.  The beauty of nature, with the snow on the tree branches, is just breath taking.  I have to say though that the most amazing sight was the half frozen waterfall.  The image will speak for itself.  

Taking deep breaths of the fresh cold air brings clarity to the brain.  We walked a trail where some pretty significant historical figures camped in the 1800s.  The little history lesson made me think, these trips are history in the making. 

As we sat in the hot tub that night talking about how many years we had been going on this trip every MLK weekend, I hoped that we would continue the tradition for many more years.  Now we are the first ones to have a great-grandchild, which I hope will change soon.  Hint, Hint, John and Rachel and Sarah and Dave!  It is fun to think that one day there will be many little ones running around and learning how to ski and snowboard and jumping from the hot tub to the snow and back in the hot tub again.  We are all too old and too smart for that J.  Heading down to the tube park for the last session of the night, because that is for sure when the lanes are the fastest, which means that you will probably get yelled at for hitting the barrier.  All the fond memories we have made and will make; all of us under one roof, meals big enough to feed 15 + people and no worries for three straight days. 

Life is not about the amount of money we have or the number of possession, it is about the experiences and the people who are part of them.  I couldn’t be more excited that I will get to teach Camryn about life and give her the experiences that will help mold her into a wonderful and respectful person.  I have great role models and teachers in my parents and extended family.  But with every person you cross in life there is a potential lesson to be learned, I have learned many lessons, the good and the bad. 

Looking forward to many more experiences in this crazzzy thing we call LIFE!