Music has always had a special way of moving me. It is something that I have always felt a part of and something that my soul has always understood. Music is also something that I have enjoyed and been a part of in a variety of ways. I grew up listening to all types of music and singing and dancing a long to it throughout the house, the car, and the town. Dance and choir were consents in my life when nothing else was. I guess you could say that it has always been music that has saved me. Music has a way of helping me escape, heal, and a way of lifting me up onto higher ground. Music has a power to influence, and I for one, am grateful or the good.
This video is something I came across on a friends blog, and needless to say I thought it it was beautiful. Like I said, both music and dance have always had a special place in my heart. So when the two combine so perfectly and in a unique way it not only moves me, but it also moves my soul.
Thought of You - by Ryan Woodward
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Look Where We Are Now
IPod are great for many things. Playing music, working out, watching movies...pretty much they are there for your entertainment. And if you couldn't find enough to do with them before, here is one more thing you can do. Let them show you where you are in life right now and predict your future life with music. I hope you like the songs on your IPod.
1. Put your iPod or any music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Copy and paste, then send this to all the friends you think might enjoy it!
*What is your motto? Out of the Dark
I like that one. Moving into the light is a great way to go.
*What do your friends think of you? I Will Always Return
How Nice!
*What do you think about very often? Standing Outside the Fire
Mmmm....This could be deep.
*What does math mean to you? Hollywood
That pretty much sums it up..forget math and go to Hollywood
*What do you think of the person you like? Saturday in The Park
I would love to spend a Saturday in the park with the guy I like
*What do your parents think of you? You Can't Hurray Love
I guess this is fitting
*What will you dance to at your wedding? O'Come All Ye Faithful
haha..you better all come and dance
*What will they play at your funeral? Lovely Ladies
DO I die with other ladies?
*What is your hobby/interest? Destruction of The Grotto
Ahhh
*What is your biggest secret? SOS
It's true. My biggest secrets are always when I'm in trouble
*What do you think of your friends? Fairy Tale/Going Home
It's true as well. Hanging out with my friends is like a fairy tale and like going home
*What is one thing you regret? It Could Happen Again
Dang...I sure don't want it to
*How will you die? Way Back Into Love
Well, at least I know I'll be loved
*What's your biggest secret? Into Ya
hmmm....
*What makes you laugh? Sweetly Sleeps
Dreams do make me laugh
*What makes you cry? The Chronicles of Life and Death
I think I will leave it at that
*Will you ever get married? Get Ready
I am taking that as a yes
*What scares you the most? In Repair
Being broken and needed a repair is a scary thought
*Does anyone like you? Just Like Heaven
Smiles
*If you could go back in time, what would you change? Where the Story Ends
I hope it is just beginning
*What hurts right now? Track 02
Um...running track 2 can be painful
*What will you put as the title? Look Where We Are Now
Fitting.
1. Put your iPod or any music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Copy and paste, then send this to all the friends you think might enjoy it!
*What is your motto? Out of the Dark
I like that one. Moving into the light is a great way to go.
*What do your friends think of you? I Will Always Return
How Nice!
*What do you think about very often? Standing Outside the Fire
Mmmm....This could be deep.
*What does math mean to you? Hollywood
That pretty much sums it up..forget math and go to Hollywood
*What do you think of the person you like? Saturday in The Park
I would love to spend a Saturday in the park with the guy I like
*What do your parents think of you? You Can't Hurray Love
I guess this is fitting
*What will you dance to at your wedding? O'Come All Ye Faithful
haha..you better all come and dance
*What will they play at your funeral? Lovely Ladies
DO I die with other ladies?
*What is your hobby/interest? Destruction of The Grotto
Ahhh
*What is your biggest secret? SOS
It's true. My biggest secrets are always when I'm in trouble
*What do you think of your friends? Fairy Tale/Going Home
It's true as well. Hanging out with my friends is like a fairy tale and like going home
*What is one thing you regret? It Could Happen Again
Dang...I sure don't want it to
*How will you die? Way Back Into Love
Well, at least I know I'll be loved
*What's your biggest secret? Into Ya
hmmm....
*What makes you laugh? Sweetly Sleeps
Dreams do make me laugh
*What makes you cry? The Chronicles of Life and Death
I think I will leave it at that
*Will you ever get married? Get Ready
I am taking that as a yes
*What scares you the most? In Repair
Being broken and needed a repair is a scary thought
*Does anyone like you? Just Like Heaven
Smiles
*If you could go back in time, what would you change? Where the Story Ends
I hope it is just beginning
*What hurts right now? Track 02
Um...running track 2 can be painful
*What will you put as the title? Look Where We Are Now
Fitting.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Defining Moments
Do you ever stop and think about who you are and how you got to be there? Do you ever wonder who you could have been instead? Or, do you ever wonder about who you will become and where you will end up?
I think that there comes certain times in everyone's life when they look back and realize either how far they have come or how far they didn't go. There seems to be moments when you truly think about who you are and how you came to be there. Looking back on ones life can bring both joy and pain. It can bring sorrow for things lost and regret for things never done. But it can also bring back laughter and love for those around you. One of the biggest things that I have learned about looking back on ones life is that it not only comes with joy or pain, but that it can also come with knowledge.
When one looks back on ones life they usually start too see how they have gotten to where they are today. They tend to start to realize how much they have gone through, whether it be good or bad. But they also tend to realize how much they have learned and how much they have grown in their life. And with that comes the knowledge. The knowledge of what you have learned and what you know to be true. The knowledge of how strong you actually are or what you are truly afraid of. The knowledge of knowing you did something right or knowing you never did what you wanted to do. No matter when you look back or what you look back upon, you seem to always gain a certain bit of knowledge about yourself and who you really are. And sometimes, if you are lucky, you can even gain a bit of knowledge about the person whom you should become.
A lot of these times where one gains knowledge are what some like to call defining moments. Moments in our lives where things irrevocably changed and would never change back. Moments where the choice that you made defined all of the ones that came after it. Moments that in essence define who you are and who you will yet become.
These defining moments that we have come in a variety of styles and forms. More often then not you don't even know that it will be a defining moment. Some of them tend to just come and go and when it is happening it is just part of your day and it is only when you look back that you realize that that moment changed you or your life forever more. However, on occasions there are defining moments that we know are happening right before our eyes. There are times when you realize that whatever choice you make in that moment will change your world forever. There are times when you recognize that you are at a crossroads and that you have to decide in that moment who it is that you want to become. You have to decide who it is that you are willing to be. And sometimes those are the hardest moments of all because when making that choice it means abandoning who you are at the moment and being ready to become someone else. It means being ready to become someone more. And that my friends, can be the scariest thing of all because it also means stepping into the great unknown and believing that you will have not only have the strength, but the courage, to survive and come out being better then who you are at that moment.
Defining moments come in a variety of styles and forms. They come in saying hello, submitting an application, saying yes or saying no, trying something new, taking a different route, and sometimes they come by just getting out of bed. No matter what style or form they come in though, they are always a moment that makes a change. A change in our world and a change in who we are. so as you look back on your life come to realize your defining moments. Come to realize what you have already gone through and how much you have changed over the years. Come to realize what you have learned and the strength that you have gained. For it is only by recognizing our past defining moments that we can come to prepare for the ones in the future. The ones yet to come that will again change a part of who we are and where we are headed. The ones that will define where we ultimately end up.
I think that there comes certain times in everyone's life when they look back and realize either how far they have come or how far they didn't go. There seems to be moments when you truly think about who you are and how you came to be there. Looking back on ones life can bring both joy and pain. It can bring sorrow for things lost and regret for things never done. But it can also bring back laughter and love for those around you. One of the biggest things that I have learned about looking back on ones life is that it not only comes with joy or pain, but that it can also come with knowledge.
When one looks back on ones life they usually start too see how they have gotten to where they are today. They tend to start to realize how much they have gone through, whether it be good or bad. But they also tend to realize how much they have learned and how much they have grown in their life. And with that comes the knowledge. The knowledge of what you have learned and what you know to be true. The knowledge of how strong you actually are or what you are truly afraid of. The knowledge of knowing you did something right or knowing you never did what you wanted to do. No matter when you look back or what you look back upon, you seem to always gain a certain bit of knowledge about yourself and who you really are. And sometimes, if you are lucky, you can even gain a bit of knowledge about the person whom you should become.
A lot of these times where one gains knowledge are what some like to call defining moments. Moments in our lives where things irrevocably changed and would never change back. Moments where the choice that you made defined all of the ones that came after it. Moments that in essence define who you are and who you will yet become.
These defining moments that we have come in a variety of styles and forms. More often then not you don't even know that it will be a defining moment. Some of them tend to just come and go and when it is happening it is just part of your day and it is only when you look back that you realize that that moment changed you or your life forever more. However, on occasions there are defining moments that we know are happening right before our eyes. There are times when you realize that whatever choice you make in that moment will change your world forever. There are times when you recognize that you are at a crossroads and that you have to decide in that moment who it is that you want to become. You have to decide who it is that you are willing to be. And sometimes those are the hardest moments of all because when making that choice it means abandoning who you are at the moment and being ready to become someone else. It means being ready to become someone more. And that my friends, can be the scariest thing of all because it also means stepping into the great unknown and believing that you will have not only have the strength, but the courage, to survive and come out being better then who you are at that moment.
Defining moments come in a variety of styles and forms. They come in saying hello, submitting an application, saying yes or saying no, trying something new, taking a different route, and sometimes they come by just getting out of bed. No matter what style or form they come in though, they are always a moment that makes a change. A change in our world and a change in who we are. so as you look back on your life come to realize your defining moments. Come to realize what you have already gone through and how much you have changed over the years. Come to realize what you have learned and the strength that you have gained. For it is only by recognizing our past defining moments that we can come to prepare for the ones in the future. The ones yet to come that will again change a part of who we are and where we are headed. The ones that will define where we ultimately end up.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Friends for Life
Today just happens to be the 29th of November. It also happens to be a Monday. What some of you might not know though is that it also happens to be one of my best friends birthday. And...it also happens to be that this best friend is my sister.
Now I have known my sister Wendi for my whole life (I know, shocking right?) But we have not always been the best of friends. In fact, growing up there was a point where I would have told you that I hated my sister. For you see, growing up together we fought pretty much every single day. And not just yelling or stealing toys, no, no. We would literally beat each other up. I am talking punching, kicking, pulling hair, and so forth. I am pretty sure that our mom thought we were going to kill each other one day. So it is a good thing that one day between my last year of junior high and first year of high school we decided that we were cool enough to hang out with each other. I am not sure when, but sometime during that fateful summer we decided that we didn't have to kill each other, but that we could be friends instead. And I have to say that I am glad we made that choice and we have been the best of friends ever since. Don't get me wrong,we still have had our arguments, but we have also learned to laugh and love along the way. Since that summer we have spent many days laughing and many nights talking through the hours. We have completed high school and even graduated from college together. But most of all we have spent our days being the best of friends.
So this is to you Wendi....Happy Birthday! Happy birthday to you as my sister and to you as one of my very best friends. You are amazing and wonderful and can accomplish anything that you set your mind too. It has been fun growing up with you, but even better learning to laugh with you. I hope that you have had a marvelous day my dear and thank you for being not only my sister, but for also being my friend.
Now I have known my sister Wendi for my whole life (I know, shocking right?) But we have not always been the best of friends. In fact, growing up there was a point where I would have told you that I hated my sister. For you see, growing up together we fought pretty much every single day. And not just yelling or stealing toys, no, no. We would literally beat each other up. I am talking punching, kicking, pulling hair, and so forth. I am pretty sure that our mom thought we were going to kill each other one day. So it is a good thing that one day between my last year of junior high and first year of high school we decided that we were cool enough to hang out with each other. I am not sure when, but sometime during that fateful summer we decided that we didn't have to kill each other, but that we could be friends instead. And I have to say that I am glad we made that choice and we have been the best of friends ever since. Don't get me wrong,we still have had our arguments, but we have also learned to laugh and love along the way. Since that summer we have spent many days laughing and many nights talking through the hours. We have completed high school and even graduated from college together. But most of all we have spent our days being the best of friends.
So this is to you Wendi....Happy Birthday! Happy birthday to you as my sister and to you as one of my very best friends. You are amazing and wonderful and can accomplish anything that you set your mind too. It has been fun growing up with you, but even better learning to laugh with you. I hope that you have had a marvelous day my dear and thank you for being not only my sister, but for also being my friend.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Cars
The good, the bad, and the ugly. I truly believe that a car is everyone of those things. The good because it is an amazing form of transportation that has the potential to gt you and passengers to other destinations. The bad because they can have their moments where they are not dependable and you always have to keep something up, whether that is paying for gas, oil changes, tires rotated, etc. And the Ugly because when your car happens to decide that it no longer wants to run while you are driving it you end up with a big hunk of metal that you have to look at the ugly bill in order to get it fixed.
Don't get me wrong. I truly do like my car. It works for me most of time and usually gets me to where I need to be. It has air conditioning for the summer and heat for the winter. It has automatic locks and a radio. All in all, it is really all that I need. But, in all honesty....it can be the biggest pain in the butt and the wallet. I am sure that any of you who own a car know what I am talking about. Sometimes they just suck.
Now I have had my far share of car problems over the years. I have had ruined brakes and roder wheels (and yes, it was my fault for driving on them as long as I did), a shattered window, a thermostat break, an antifreeze hose burst, a dead battery, a burned out and broken transmission, worn out tires, and I am sure that there are many more to come. No matter what you do, you always seem to be fixing something. Take this last week for me as an example.
On Monday I decided that I should go and get my brakes fixed because on my way to work I heard that dreaded noise of the squeaking and then the grind. I know that noise and knew that it was not one I wanted to hear. Therefore, on Tuesday morning I found my way over to Les Schawb Tire center and got my front brakes replaced. On Thursday I realized that I would not make it very far if I did not go spend some money and fill it up with gas. And then it happened today. You know that thing that you dread will happen. The thing you don't even think about because you would never want it to happen. Yeah, well that happened to me....my car decided to no longer run while I was driving it on the freeway on my way to work this morning.
It was about 7:40 and there I was running out the door to the car so I could be on my way to work. I needed to be there by 8:15 so that I could ready before my students showed up at 8:30. I smiled because it was a beautiful morning that was just a bit windy. I jumped in my car, started it up, and backed out the driveway. Now I don't know about you, but I like to jam out to songs while I drive and think about life in the process. I found my favorite station and proceeded to head off to work. Car problems where the furthest thing from my mind. Then,just as I was jamming away and getting ready to sing the next song I heard a snap and smelt something burning.
You know that burning plastic smell, that is what it was. I wondered what it could be and whose tires were burning, then I happened to look down and realized that my car was overheating. And not just by a little, but an awful lot and the gauge was climbing higher into the awful zone of problem. I knew then that it was me who had a problem and I needed to get off of the freeway and quick. I worked my way over and headed for the next exit. As I was getting off I noticed that the gauge was as high as it could go on the overheating and that my steering was starting go out as well. Plus, the burning smell was still around, which I new was not good. I followed the curve of the exit and then turned left onto the side road. I promptly pulled off the road and turned of the car. Then I had to decide what to do.
The first thing I decided to do was make some phone calls. The first, to my mom who didn't answer her phone so I left her a message about being stranded on some random road in north salt lake. The second call I made was to my step dad Dennis who did answer and quickly started to call to get me a tow truck. The third call was to my boss, who I woke up, and told that I would not be making it into work today so he would have to cover instead. With all of that taken care of I decided to go look under the hood. That's what people do when you break down so I figured I should give it a shoot. I popped the hood and went to look under it. Upon opening it I didn't notice a whole lot. It all looked the same to me...and then I saw it. My major discovery about what was wrong with my car. The fan belt was broken. The next few hours went something like this.
More phone calls to mom, Dennis and the boss. Waiting on the random street for the tow truck driver to come. The tow truck driver arriving, loading up my car and then me riding with the driver to Big O' Tires. The guys at work asking if I was ok and what I needed done. Then the guys checking out my car to find the problem. them telling me that the water pump had stopped turning causing the belt to get stuck causing the rotater to freeze and then start to melt causing the belt to tighten and then snap, thus causing my car to overheat and essentially stop running. The guys telling me that it would take two hours to fix and wondering if I needed a ride. The tow truck driver charging me for the bill and then offering to take me home. Me accepting the offer and then riding home with the driver. Then me waiting until I get the phone call that it is finished where upon I get a ride from my mom back to the shop, pay $400 and then get to drive my car back home where it now rests in the driveway. All in all, it was a pretty enventful morning that I had never planned on.
It is after weeks like this where you wonder if you should have just bought a new car instead of trying to fix the old one. to bad you only ever realize this after you have spent the money fixing it. Like I said, cars are the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Don't get me wrong. I truly do like my car. It works for me most of time and usually gets me to where I need to be. It has air conditioning for the summer and heat for the winter. It has automatic locks and a radio. All in all, it is really all that I need. But, in all honesty....it can be the biggest pain in the butt and the wallet. I am sure that any of you who own a car know what I am talking about. Sometimes they just suck.
Now I have had my far share of car problems over the years. I have had ruined brakes and roder wheels (and yes, it was my fault for driving on them as long as I did), a shattered window, a thermostat break, an antifreeze hose burst, a dead battery, a burned out and broken transmission, worn out tires, and I am sure that there are many more to come. No matter what you do, you always seem to be fixing something. Take this last week for me as an example.
On Monday I decided that I should go and get my brakes fixed because on my way to work I heard that dreaded noise of the squeaking and then the grind. I know that noise and knew that it was not one I wanted to hear. Therefore, on Tuesday morning I found my way over to Les Schawb Tire center and got my front brakes replaced. On Thursday I realized that I would not make it very far if I did not go spend some money and fill it up with gas. And then it happened today. You know that thing that you dread will happen. The thing you don't even think about because you would never want it to happen. Yeah, well that happened to me....my car decided to no longer run while I was driving it on the freeway on my way to work this morning.
It was about 7:40 and there I was running out the door to the car so I could be on my way to work. I needed to be there by 8:15 so that I could ready before my students showed up at 8:30. I smiled because it was a beautiful morning that was just a bit windy. I jumped in my car, started it up, and backed out the driveway. Now I don't know about you, but I like to jam out to songs while I drive and think about life in the process. I found my favorite station and proceeded to head off to work. Car problems where the furthest thing from my mind. Then,just as I was jamming away and getting ready to sing the next song I heard a snap and smelt something burning.
You know that burning plastic smell, that is what it was. I wondered what it could be and whose tires were burning, then I happened to look down and realized that my car was overheating. And not just by a little, but an awful lot and the gauge was climbing higher into the awful zone of problem. I knew then that it was me who had a problem and I needed to get off of the freeway and quick. I worked my way over and headed for the next exit. As I was getting off I noticed that the gauge was as high as it could go on the overheating and that my steering was starting go out as well. Plus, the burning smell was still around, which I new was not good. I followed the curve of the exit and then turned left onto the side road. I promptly pulled off the road and turned of the car. Then I had to decide what to do.
The first thing I decided to do was make some phone calls. The first, to my mom who didn't answer her phone so I left her a message about being stranded on some random road in north salt lake. The second call I made was to my step dad Dennis who did answer and quickly started to call to get me a tow truck. The third call was to my boss, who I woke up, and told that I would not be making it into work today so he would have to cover instead. With all of that taken care of I decided to go look under the hood. That's what people do when you break down so I figured I should give it a shoot. I popped the hood and went to look under it. Upon opening it I didn't notice a whole lot. It all looked the same to me...and then I saw it. My major discovery about what was wrong with my car. The fan belt was broken. The next few hours went something like this.
More phone calls to mom, Dennis and the boss. Waiting on the random street for the tow truck driver to come. The tow truck driver arriving, loading up my car and then me riding with the driver to Big O' Tires. The guys at work asking if I was ok and what I needed done. Then the guys checking out my car to find the problem. them telling me that the water pump had stopped turning causing the belt to get stuck causing the rotater to freeze and then start to melt causing the belt to tighten and then snap, thus causing my car to overheat and essentially stop running. The guys telling me that it would take two hours to fix and wondering if I needed a ride. The tow truck driver charging me for the bill and then offering to take me home. Me accepting the offer and then riding home with the driver. Then me waiting until I get the phone call that it is finished where upon I get a ride from my mom back to the shop, pay $400 and then get to drive my car back home where it now rests in the driveway. All in all, it was a pretty enventful morning that I had never planned on.
It is after weeks like this where you wonder if you should have just bought a new car instead of trying to fix the old one. to bad you only ever realize this after you have spent the money fixing it. Like I said, cars are the good, the bad, and the ugly.
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