Listen to the lyrics

Oh wow, this week was crazy. Between being sick, and trying to catch up at work, and of course my calls...I haven't had a chance to breath!

I wanted to write tonight about something that is really important to me...music.

As I have been going through this crazy week (and let's be honest, they are all crazy no matter what) I have taken the time to reflect on parts of my life. As I was doing this (mostly while driving) I found a common factor that was part of all of the major parts of my life, music.

I have very fond memories that all involve this amazing gift that we have. For example:

The night before I turned 13 my dad and I drove around town with now where to go. We sang at the top of our lungs many songs. The one that I remember from that night is "If I had a Million Dollars" by BNL. It is a memory that I will have forever.

So many times during highschool my life revolved around music. I remember always having in my music player (whatever it was that decade) always in on my walks home. Small Town by TFK got me through some really tough times. In fact, that whole album by TFK was/is amazing and I still rock out to it.

For one of my birthday's my friend Kelsey bought me a microphone for my car so that we could sing into it while dancing wildly in our seats. My sister Tara refused to ride with my because my car did not have tinted windows and she was beyond embarrassed. I didn't care though - I'm sure I gave people lots of laughs :).

I took many road trips to visit camp friends and always loved rocking out to so many great cds, including the Spice Girls, BSB, Aqua, oh so many more.

One album that I also really liked was one that was made by my camp friend Andy. I can't think of the name of it off the top of my head, but I do know that my copy is so scratched from listening to it so much.

There is music that sets the mood, Christmas music, sad music, happy music, relaxing music, dancing music. Music that just pulls you out of your seat and makes you move - Stuck like glue by Sugarland, Christmas Eve by Celine Dion and I'm sure that there are many more, but those are the two that have recently had an affect on my life.

When I was in public school I was always in every music thing there was...all of the choirs, bands ect. If there was anything musical going on in our school you can bet that I was part of it. I played the flute most of the time - even did solo competitions - and then when my finger got broken (a story for another day) I had to switch to the trumpet. Which is much heavier to carry home! I even got the music aware at our public school. Oddly enough as involved as I was in music in public school, I did not carry on in highschool. I did try guitar for a while, and would like to learn to play someday, but I think you need to have rhythm for that...which just doesn't flow in our family!

Of course there is the very satisfying worship songs. Generations by Sarah Groves, Fall Apart by Josh Wilson, When the tears falls by the Newsboys, and so many more. Always great to move the soul and feel God's presence.

One of my best friends Kate always brings a tear to my eye when she sings, which is the reason why she sang at our wedding a song called Grace of my life by Brian Littrell (I love that entire album let's be honest!). Anyways back to Kate. Her mom was driving me home one night from youth group and Roch Voisine's With these eyes was playing. Kate was singing and I have NEVER heard her sing so well as that night. She sings amazing every time I hear here as I mentioned before, but that night was something different. We still talk about it to this day, which is why it is our song.

My favourite artist is Elton John. His music fills me with joy. I love every one of his songs. They all have meaning and purpose, which so many songs today lack. Not only do they have meaning they are all original and his own, he doesn't do covers. I have a DVD box set of some of his concerts that were filmed live and when Sean is working afternoons and not there when I am going to bed, Levi and I snuggle up and put on one of them and just listen as we drift off to sleep. It is my dream to see him live someday. He was not too far from us last year, however, we had already booked the trip to BC while he was here. Trust me I strongly considered cancelling the trip just to see him. Then when I was in Vegas he was there just two days before I got there...of course. But someday I will go. I just hope he doesn't die before I get the chance to see him perform.



That year for Christmas I asked Sean for the This Is It cd, and he really wishes he didn't get it for me. He is one of my new loves and Sean is so sick of the songs. I have a few favourites from that CD and they are as follows: They don't care about us, The way you make me feel, Black or White, and the winner is Man in the Mirror. What a great message. I know that he went through a lot back in the day - but let's be honest, people exploit celebrities all the time, and it's really not our business. As to what they say he did to those children, we really will never know, but if this person was accused of this once, why, please tell me WHY, would any parents let their child go there...unless they were looking to get money from him. So I don't know what really happened, but I do know that there are two sides to every story.

So as you can see, music has played a very large part in my life (which is kind of funny because I am not musically talented). And anyone who has been in the car with me knows that I never listen to a song for more than a minute. I am a chronic song flipper and as soon as my favourite part of the song is over I move on to something else. My ipod is filled with the most random music you could imagine! There is no screamo, and no opera but pretty much everything else!

I am going to close with my "calm song". What is a calm song you ask? It is the song that no matter how angry, upset, or stressed I am I play and it calms me down. Sometimes I have to play it on repeat a number of times before it works, but without fail it works every time. Why this song you may ask? If I figure it out I'll let you know because it beats me. I've posted it below so you can look it up for yourself.

Chicken Fried: By Zac Brown Band

You know I like my chicken fried
A cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up

Well, I was raised up
Beneath the shade of a Georgia pine
And that's home you know
Sweet tea, pecan pie and homemade wine
Where the peaches grow

And my house it's not much to talk about
But it's filled with love
That's grown in southern ground

And a little bit of chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up

Well, I've seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman's eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother's love

It's funny how it's the little things in life
That mean the most
Not where you live or what you drive
Or the price tag on your clothes
There's no dollar sign on a piece of mind
This I've come to know

So if you agree, have a drink with me
Raise your glasses for a toast

To a little bit of chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up

Well, I've seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman's eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother's love

I thank God for my life
And for the stars and stripes
May freedom forever fly
Let it ring

Salute the ones who died
The ones that give their lives
So we don't have to sacrifice
All the things we love

Like our chicken fried
And cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up

Well, I've seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman's eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother's love

Yes, a little chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up

Well, I've seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman's eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother's love

Well, that's all for now, thanks for joining me - it's time to have a hot bath and play my new relaxation cd I got this week!