"More Boys I Meet"

"More Boys I Meet"

 Cheap date, bad taste, another night gone to waste

Talking about nothing in so many words
It's not like I'm not trying
'Cause I'll give anyone a shot once

And, I , I close my eyes
And, I kiss that frog
Each time finding
The more boys I meet the more I love my dog

                I think this is a cute song and I like the lyrics. It doesn’t exactly fit what I want to talk about, but it’s close enough. I absolutely love my dog and there is a special story behind how he became part of my family.

                It was late in November, 2008. I have grown up with having dogs in the house, but at this point in time we didn’t have one. My aunt had rescued a dog and needed to find it a home. She knew my family didn’t have one at the time and she asked my parents if she could bring him over. They agreed and my mom told me that Aunt Shirley was coming over soon with a puppy. I was so excited.

She came over and Little P (that is what my aunt named him) jumped out of her car and ran to me. We immediately had a connection. I fell in love with Little P. We started playing and I walked him up and down our driveway.  I was so happy to be playing with a puppy. I missed having a dog around my house. Well, Little P and I went inside, where my mom, dad, sister and aunt was. They were talking about Little P and my aunt was telling my parents that he really needs a loving home. I pleaded with my parents to keep him. I did what every child does, “I’ll take care of him, mom, I promise.” My mom said your dad and I will think about it. My aunt left with Little P and as they were leaving, I saw my mom walk outside with my aunt. They talked for a little bit. The next day I asked my mom if we were going to keep Little P. She smiled at me and said Little P will be an earlier Christmas present from your aunt. I was so, extremely happy.

                My mom told me that we were going to go over to Aunt Shirley’s and pick Little P up December 1^st. That was only a week away. Well, it was early in the morning on November 30^th. My dad got a phone call and when he got off the phone he looked shocked. He told us that Aunt Shirley passed away this morning. I was in totally shock. I knew she was sick, but I didn’t know she was that sick. We immediately went over to her house to see my uncle.

                We picked up Little P and now he was our dog. My mom said I could rename him and I named him Lucky. I named him that for a reason. My family was “lucky” that we got to keep him and spend time with my aunt before she passed away. We call lucky our guardian angel and we know a little piece of my Aunt Shirley is in Lucky.

               

               

"Jesus Take The Wheel"

"Jesus Take The Wheel"

She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
She was going way too fast
Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was so scared
She threw her hands up in the air

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel

This song has a special meaning to me. It reminds me to always keep my faith because that is one of the most important things in my life. I was baptized as a baby and I grew up Catholic. I’ve always had faith, but not as strong as what I have now. In the last year I’ve had a couple rough patches, and going through those times I have grown tremendously in my faith. I have put my trust in God to help me get through those rough patches.

                Last December I had surgery at U of M Children’s Hospital.  I had a heart procedure and I was scared out of my mind. Having any kind of surgery is scary, but this was my first one and I didn’t know what to except. The doctor told me it was going to be a pretty long surgery and that there are always risks, but that everything should be fine. I prayed to God that the surgery would go well and I know my family did too. In the end, the surgery went well and I completely believe it was because of my faith in God. I am so grateful for the outcome and this is one thing that strengthen my faith.

                I know I’ve talked about my friend who passed away in some of my other blogs, but I believe this is another situation where my faith became stronger. At my friend’s prayer service, at church, so many friends and community members attended the service. I needed a big support system and I definitely got that. So many people supported me and were there for me. I was truly blessed to have that and I still am. It’s the best feeling in the world to have a big support system and knowing that people are willing to do anything for you in a time of need.

                Sometimes I take for granted my faith and forget how blessed I am. Everyone goes through ups and downs, but it’s about having faith that everything will be okay. To trust God. The situation might seem hopeless at the time, but having faith can truly help you get through anything. I put my faith in God’s hands and I believe all the good and the bad days are a gift from God and each good or bad day strengthens me. Each day is a truly blessing.

                

"My Sister"

"My Sister"

I was thinking just today
About how we used to play
Barbie dolls and make-up
Tea parties dress up
I remember how we'd fight
We made up and laughed all night
Wish we were kids again
My sister my friend

Do you think you could come and see me sometime soon
We could just hang out like we used to
It's late and I should go
But I can't hang up the phone
Until I tell you
What I don't tell you enough
Even though at times it seemed
We were more like enemies
I'd do it all again
My sister my friend

This song reminds me of my sister Abby and I. I would do anything to go back to when we were little kids again. When we were little we didn’t fight nearly as much as we do now. We actually got along and not on each other’s nerves every second of the day. We use to share everything and not care if one of us took a toy or piece of clothing away from the other one.

I remember when we were younger, we shared a room. We had bunk beds and I had the top bunk. Abby was afraid she would fall off from the top so she made me have the top. I didn’t mind too much. I would wake up in the morning and poke my head down to see if Abby was awake. Even if she wasn’t I would climb down the stairs and jump in her bed. She would awake up and we would start playing with our baby dolls or another toy. I can’t imagine sharing a room with her now, but looking back it worked perfectly when we were younger.

Abby and I loved playing with Barbie’s or baby dolls. I swear, anywhere we went we would take our babies. We would name them and take care of them like they were our “babies.” We had a little stroller that we put our babies in and we would walk up and down our driveway. We had a playroom and we would play house all the time. It was our favorite thing to do. We also loved dance. We both danced for several years and bonded over that. I would help Abby with her dance routines and we would always practice at home. I remember little things like this and think about how simple life was back then. Abby is in high school and I’m in college now. It’s so different. I also have a job so I’m not home that much and Abby and I barely hangout or do fun things together. It’s hard to find time to do things together when we have such crazy schedules. I hope that as we get older, we’ll be close like we were as kids. 

"Smile"

Smile

You're better than the best
I'm lucky just to linger in your light
Cooler than the flip-side of my pillow (that's right)
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me
It lets me know that it's okay (yeah, it's okay)
And the moments when my good times start to fade

Even when you're gone
Somehow you come along
Just like a flower poking through the sidewalk crack
And just like that
You steal away the rain
And just like that

When I hear this song, I think of my friend who passed away. I hadn’t heard it in a while, but I heard it yesterday and it brought back lots of memories with my friend. Freshmen year when we were dating we went to homecoming together. It was our first dance together and I was extremely nervous and I know he was also. We both liked country music so we pretty much only danced when the DJ played a country song. We were standing in the hallway, by the gym where the dance was, talking to friends when the song Smile came on. I looked at Dakota and said, “I love this song.” He grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor. We danced and sang to it. I was the happiest girl there. Dakota definitely knew how to make me smile. It was a first love situation, so the lyrics just fit us perfectly. I look at the song differently now because Dakota passed away. I looked at the part when it says, “Even when you’re gone, somehow you come along just like a flower poking through the sidewalk crack,” and smile because I know he’s in heaven watching over me.

          Talking about homecoming reminds me of senior year homecoming. Dakota and I went to that together and I remember being in the middle of the dance floor when the fire alarms went off. At first I thought it was just a noise or part of the music because it was so loud. That was not the case. All the students had to evacuate the gym and go outside to the parking lot. I remember someone started their car and started blaring, Parking Lot Party. It obviously fit the situation pretty well. After we were told we could go back inside, they played a couple country songs but not Smile. I was really hoping the DJ would but he didn’t. I know Dakota and I danced to a couple slow songs, but I can’t remember what they were.    

          Back to talking about the song Smile. My dad wanted me to make him a mix CD and on the list was this song. I made it for him and now every time we’re in his truck, he blares the CD. That’s all we listen to, so I know the track numbers. Number three is Smile. When it comes on my dad and I sing our hearts out. For me, it’s one of those songs that never gets old and one that holds many memories for me.  

"Beat Of The Music"

"Beat Of The Music"

Well I just met you a couple hours ago
My last night in town, hey wouldn't you know
I get hooked on a girl with blue diamond eyes
Down here in Mexico, oh
Now you're walking up asking me to dance
Smiling that smile and reaching out your hand
Well there's a move or two, I'd like to show you
While I still got the chance

Well you got the soul and you know how to use it
Put your hand on my hip cause you know that I'll lose it
You got my heart racing like there's nothing to it
Falling in love to the beat of the music
Oh oh, why wouldn't I wanna stay?
Oh oh, and let that plane fly away, hey hey

Cause you got the soul and you know how to use it
Put your hand on my hip cause you know that I'll lose it
You got my heart racing like there's nothing to it
Falling in love to the beat of the music
The beat of the music

I usually pick a different country song every week and write about how the lyrics relate to my life, but this week I just want to appreciate how much country music means to me.  I chose this song because I love it and because it is upbeat. When I hear it, it makes me want to get up and sing and dance to it. It is one of those songs that are catchy and if you listen to it, it will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day.

Like I said in my first blog, I grew up listening to country music. It is basically in my blood. Other than older music, country is the only music my parents listen to, so I always have. Anytime we go on vacations or a long road trip, country music is always playing. The radio will be on or if we are out in the country where the station does not come in, my dad will dig out all of his CDs. We will listen to them over and over. They never get old to me. Most of the CDs are from the late 90’s and I honestly think those are my favorite because I have heard them over and over.

Since the lyrics to country music are so relatable it can change your mood any day. It can describe your feelings when you cannot explain them. I remember when I was in middle school, my mom would ask me what was wrong or my feelings about something and I would tell her to listen to a certain song. It was easier for me to just tell my mom to listen to a song rather than talk about my feelings. That helped me a lot and I began to realize how important music was to me.

I fell in love with, “Beat of the music” when it first came out. It is an upbeat song and no matter how you are feeling, it can cheer you up. I like how country music artists are so diverse. They can sing about serious things and then sing something fun or uplifting.

 

“Laughed Until We Cried”

“Laughed Until We Cried”

This past year my family
Was sittin cross-legged 'round the Christmas tree
Listenin to granddad, we all knew it would probably be his last
He was crackin jokes and we were takin turns
Tellin stories bout fishing or lessons learned
Out on the porch with him we all felt like kids again

Oh man we were livin, sittin' there reminiscin'
Yeah, we sang and talked and traveled back in time
We laughed until we cried

It's like the best days under the sun
Every emotion rolled into one
A little of this, A little of that
Kinda happy, Kinda sad

This is another one of my favorite songs. I love Jason Aldean’s music. He is a true country artist and there’s always a story behind every one of his songs. His music definitely speaks to me.

            When I hear this song I immediately think of all the memories I have with my family and friends. A couple years ago I remember my family and I were sitting in the living room. I was getting bored so I started looking up jokes. I started reading them and everyone was laughing. My sister started telling jokes and it became a laughing fest. My sister and I were literally rolling on the floor laughing. We did ended up laughing so hard we cried. It’s moments like that, that I’ll never forget because it was time I spent with my family. We were all getting along and just laughing and having a good time.

            We go to my aunt and uncles house a lot. My uncle is a veteran and talks about his time fighting for our country often. My sister and I will sit on the couch and listen to him talk. He reminisces about being overseas and his childhood. He also talks about his fishing and hunting stories. Those are entertaining to listen to. Some of the stories might not be always fun to listen to, but I know how much my uncle enjoys telling them so I sit and listen.

            My friends and I recently went to a Jason Aldean concert together. The concert was a blast and the four of us did have a lot of laughs. At the same time it was kind of sad. Even though we had a lot of fun together, it made me think of the future. This concert might have been one of the last times we are all together and hanging out. We all have jobs and go to school. We are going in different directions and knowing that makes me kind of sad. 

“Good Ol’ Boys Like Us”

“Good Ol’ Boys Like Us”

Sittin' on the toolbox
In this short bed chevrolet
I come out here to the county line
When I need some time to think

And lately I've been thinking
'Bout a boy I used to know
He was taken from this world
At twenty-one years old

When I look up at that photograph
See the smile there on his face
Well man it sure is hard to grasp
But I know he's in a better place

Cause gods got a spot in heaven
For good ol' boys like us
Yea he knows wings just ain't our thing
So up there they drive pick up trucks

And as we speak they're probably
Spending tires and slinging mud
Yea gods got a place
Yea gods got a place
For good ol' boys like us

This song reminds me exactly of my close friend who recently passed away. It just fits to what happened perfectly. Dakota was only 18 when he was killed in a car accident. I know he is up in heaven spinning tires and slinging mud. He drove a black truck and it was a ’98 Chevy. His truck was literally like his best friend. He was so careful with it, but then again at the same time crazy with it. He would go mudding and keep the mud on it for a few days to show everyone that he went mudding and then wash it off. I mean not just a quick wash, but a wash that would take a couple hours. That truck couldn’t have a spot of mud on it when he was done washing it. I remember one morning I was getting into his truck and it was raining outside. I had the door open and I can remember him saying hurry up so the rain doesn’t make the inside of my truck wet. He loved his truck.

Dakota was definitely a country boy. He loved doing anything that involved being outside. He loved going hunting and fishing. A couple summers ago he went up north with one of his friends and I remember him telling me how much fun it was. They went out on the boat every day and I’m sure they stayed out on the boat the whole day. He loved being with his friends. He was an only child so his friends were like his brothers. They would always be doing crazy things and messing around with their trucks or other toys. He was such a goof ball and made everyone laugh. His laugh was very contagious.

I think about him every day and I have a picture of us that sits on my night stand. I look at his smile, just like the song says and I know he’s in a better place. God does have a place in heaven for a “good ol’ boys like him.”