Leona Lewis

Okay, so it has been several weeks back that I was introduced to the new big star, Leona Lewis. For those who aren't familiar with the name or that don't know the story behind young Ms. Lewis, she was the 2006 winner of "The X Factor" (which is the British version of "American Idol"). I was introduced to Leona Lewis when she made her American debut with he friend, Simon Cowell, on none other than the all American show "Oprah" (HA HA!). Anyways, it was then that her single "Bleeding Love" began hitting radio waves in America and since then, well let's just say it's exploded on the American charts and I believe it is currently #1. Whatever the case, I've no doubt you've most likely heard it at some point in time, as it's being played like on every radio channel right now it seems.

So once I heard Ms. Lewis for that first time, I too, like Simon, fell in love with her...her voice is INCREDIBLE. She sounds a lot like Mrs. Cannon (AKA Mariah Carey...HA HA!). I've ALWAYS thought Mariah has had one of the best voices of all times (that doesn't mean I think she's the coolest artist of all times, because she DEFINATELY has some attitude/diva issues I don't think too highly of...HA!). Anyways, from what I hear, the 23-year old new artist is such a sweetheart and quite the humble young lady -- something that's respectful among big-names (let's see if it can last).

After hearing her on Oprah I wanted to get her cd as soon as it was released in America, but it turned out that I didn't purchase it until this past weekend. Nonetheless, it's A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, just as I had expected!

This woman has unbelievable vocals, but besides that, the words to her songs are ones that hit you. They make you listen to them and they tell the story; the story of our lives.

As I've been making my way through listening to all the tracks I got caught-up in the lyrics of the 9th track on the disc yesterday when driving to my second job. I found myself having to start it over and turn up the volume and pay close attention to the words...

...wow.

I was immediately reminded of the close friend I lost this past summer. I began playing it over and over. At points I got so wrapped up in the words and reflections on my friend that I found my eyes watering.

"Yesterday" (the 9th track) is one of those PERFECT songs for the background music in a slideshow that is played when someone passes away. [HA HA! I know I sound all morbid, but I've had soo much experience making picture slideshows that are accompanied with music that when I hear a song, I immediately think of how the lyrics are and if they'd go in a slideshow of any sort (i.e. weddings, parties, honors, funerals, etc.).] It's a beautiful song!

I immediately found myself calling one of my coworkers, who was also really close to the friend that we lost last year, and I told her I had to let her hear the song when I got back to work the next day. When I did share it with her today at work, it took a lot for her to hold back from crying, and she was like, "see, I wouldn't be able to listen to that song more than once because I'd just cry everytime." She thought I was kinda weird for saying I've listened to it over and over and over since discovering it on the cd. But I told her the way I look at it is, "yes, it's still sad that we lost our friend, but I like to think of the positive and look at how the song's point is to remember even death can't take away the great memories we have with that person. That I like to smile when I listen to the song and think of my friend because it makes me think of all the great times that of 'yesterday' that we'll always have."

It's a BEAUTIFUL song, and I'd recommend it to people who have lost people close to them. Don't be surprised if you find yourself crying, because it really is a touching song...the lyrics are so real. Here is some video that someone made to the song. This way you can hear the song...and below it I've pasted the lyrics (and actually, I don't know that I'd suggest watching the video clip the first time you listen to the song. I'd say start the clip so the song plays and then just follow along the lyrics so you focus on the words. Then if you want to go back and watch the video part the second time, do that).




I just can't believe your gone
Still waiting for morning to come
When I see if the sun will rise
Even without you by my side
Well we had so much in store
Tell me what is it I'm reaching for
When were through building memories
I'll hold yesterday in my heart
In my heart

They can take tomorrow
And the plans we made
They can take the music
That we'll never play
All the broken dreams take everything
Just take it away
But they can never have yesterday
They can take the future
That we'll never know
They can take the places
That we said we would go
All the broken dreams take everything
Just take it away
But they can never have yesterday

You always used to say
I should be thankful for everyday
Heaven knows what the future holds
Or at least how the story goes
(but I never believed them 'til now)
I know I'll see you again I'm sure
No it's not selfish to ask for more
One more night one more day
One more smile on your face
But they can't take yesterday

Chorus

I thought our days would last forever
(but it wasn't our destiny)
'Cause in my mind we had so much time
But I was so wrong
Now I can believe that I can still find
The strengh in the moments we made
I'm looking back on yesterday

Chorus

All the broken dreams take everything
But they can never have yesterday

Now, that isn't the only song I've fallen in love with from the cd. Like I said, it's an AMAZING cd. So here are some of my other favorites right now...

Of course, #1 "Bleeding Love" but also, #2 "Better in Time", #3 "I Will Be", #11 "Take a Bow", #12 "Footprints in the Sand", and #13 "Here I Am".

"Here I Am" really touched me just tonight. It was actually what pushed me into going ahead and writing this blog entry tonight. I have thought yesterday how I wanted to write it because I was so touched by the song "Yesterday" but I didn't take the time to do it. But then tonight when I found myself stopping and replaying #13 to pay closer attention to the lyrics because I had heard something that was said in them and it made me think of one of my close friends right now. As I replayed and listened to the whole song I was struck with it..."yet again, another amazing song that represents a piece of my life!"

I recommend looking up this song and reading the lyrics and dedicating it to any close friend you have that is going through a tough time and you want them to know you are always there for them.

Sing on, Ms. Lewis!

Celebrating Some Anniversaries...

I just want to shoot out three quick birthday wishes...

First, my cousin, Johnny, and my close friend, Misty, are both celebrating their 25th birthday's today. Both of them were born on Friday the 13th...

...enough said. ;)

Finally, I want to wish Belinda a WONDERFUL 50th anniversary of her birth! I actually don't know Belinda personally (we've never met), but I've been honored to have her reading my blog for quite sometime now (I don't even know how long ago it was that you started reading, Belinda, but I do know it's been a while) and I've greatly appreciated all the comments she's left!

Whether you're celebrating a quarter of a century in life experiences or half, may your day be blessed and filled with many wonderful memories and smiles!

Some Quotes and Points

Okay, so I was cleaning off my desk today and came across some quotes and other points I had jotted down on post-it notes and left on my desk to put into blog entries at some point in time. And honestly, I can say some of them are pretty old...HA! So I'm going to just put them all here and share them now because I refuse to just discard them, because I really wanted to share them at whenever point in time it was that I originally jotted them down...HA!

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First, I saw the following on some Postsecret cards a while back that were in a Postsecret video clip that was posted on YouTube. I really "felt" these sayings...

"Sometimes we put up walls not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to knock them down."

"I like to stay up late on the computer and look for answers."

"I think God is just a big placebo."

"People don't realize how lucky they are to have friends who genuinely care about their well being. My secret is that I don't have any."

"I don't fear being touched... HUG ME... I fear being let go."

Each of these touched me for different reasons. Some made me think of people I know. Some made me say, "Hmmm..." Others made me feel for the person writing the card.

I love Postsecret!

Speaking of Postsecret. I actually printed off one of the cards (two weeks ago I guess it was) and mailed it with a note to someone. I couldn't help but think of that person IMMEDIATELY when I read the card. I immediately wished it had been sent in to Postsecret by the person I mailed it too, but I couldn't help but feel the hope slip away when I realized that wasn't that person's handwriting that was on the actual card. Nonetheless, I wanted that person to know I thought of them and desperately wished it had been from them.

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A couple of the other post-it notes I have have some stats written on them. They were actually from a gameshow that came out some MANY months ago, and the show was called "The Power of Ten." I'm not sure if it's on air anymore (I'm pretty sure it's not); however, it did seem like a pretty interesting gameshow to me.

Anyways, about the show...

The show had gone out and taken surveys of the general public and had them answer random questions and then the gameshow contestant had to guess and see how close to the correct percentage of people answered the survey questions a particular way. [Note: Okay, maybe I didn't explain that just right, but whatever.]

Below are some of the resulting percentage statistics from the surveys that I found interesting...

A.) 33% of Americans surveyed say they believe that September 11th should be a national holiday.

B.) 81% of the parents surveyed said that if they were asked by their child they would tell them the truth about how old they were when they lost their virginity.

C.) 19% of Americans surveyed said they think the world would be a better place if America ruled it.

I think if you go to the gameshow's website, you can see more questions and statistics from the show.


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Finally, I got this last quote off an Oprah episode I watched several weeks back. And honestly, I can't even remember what the show was about, but I do remember that this quote came from a mother. Her daughter was in jail and the mother was telling about how she had dedicated herself to being encouraging and motivating to her daughter through her sentence. The mother wrote the daughter a postcard everyday. The mother was saying how the daughter had always loved Winnie the Pooh as a child, so on one of the postcards to the daughter all she wrote was the following quote...

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe; stronger than you seem; and smarter than you think." Christopher Robyn to Winnie the Pooh.

What an encouraging quote! I can think of people right now I'd like to share that with based on where they stand in their current state of life.

Much love, my readers!

George W. Bush

Ladies and Gentlemen, our President...

A Day at a Child Abuse Prevention Workshop

Yes, I know -- I haven't posted in FOREVER. Anyways, this is just going to be a short piece to share a couple videos I got to see today at a workshop I went to today on Child Abuse Prevention. The workshop started off with one of the speakers showing the first of the videos I'm going to share with you, and then they concluded the entire day with the second video I'm about to show you. Honestly, I don't know that I would have ended the workshop on such a sad note, but they did it in hopes that it would make our day really hit home as to how real child abuse is. Whatever the case, I can tell you that the first video will probably leave you with your guy hurting from laughing, and the second video will leave your heart hurting.

This was a humorous way to start the day by talking about how relationships in our lives are important and that they really do have a big impact on our lives:



Now, this video is the one that they ended the workshop on. I will tell you know, in a room of several hundred attendees, most left crying and just about all the rest of us had least had tears in our eyes:



And for anyone doubting the truth behind this video, I did snopes.com the story JUST to make sure it wasn't something made up to try to pull at people's heart-strings. Unfortunately, it's very true and that's the saddest part...

Social Workers...

...we are not a profession that just "takes away your babies"...

People Come Into Our Lives

I haven't blogged in over a month. I haven't put off blogging because I didn't want or know how to "continue" with the series I was on -- that is not the case at all. Matter of fact, on February 25th, I began writing the next piece to the series I was in the middle of (the continuation to the previous post); however, I found it to not be a good writing night, as the words didn't seem to be flowing out of me as I like them normally to do, so I set the blog aside and decided there's always tomorrow. Little did I know that later that night my mind/body would wig out on me and leave me in state of anxiety, which would keep me from the blogging realm for quite some time.

For nearly a month I haven't felt "right." Stressed I suppose, but it left me feeling in ways I've never felt before, thus I was scared many times and it wasn't till the past week or so that I've been feeling pretty good again. Thankfully, I've gotten to where I'm feeling calm again the majority of the time and I'm able to sleep, breath, smile, joke, and enjoy life almost back to "normal."

So, though I have the "continuation" of the previous blog series started and that is REALLY what blog post should be appearing here, I'd like to briefly comment on something else I'm seeing right now in my life...

I think it's so cool how people seem to have people come into their life when they really need them most. Have you ever noticed that new friends or "important people" in you life seem to show up just when you need them? I think sometimes we don't noticed just how much BOTH of the individuals actually need one another at the time. Sure, maybe one individual might seem more vulnerable or needy at the time, but most of the time, there are needs that are being met for both individuals.

The dynamics of relationships are so fascinating!

I've recently found myself getting close to a new individual in my life. It's been an honor for me to be able to be there for this person, as she is handling at lot in her life at this time; yet, I don't think she knows how much it's meant to me to have her there right now too. How could she not know she's actually being there for me so much right now you might ask?

One of the interesting things about friendships and support is just how sometimes all we need is someone that we can just feel they care. That they are there. It's someone to spend time with, even if you don't really have anything you feel you need to talk to them about. It's someone you enjoy everytime you get to see them. It's someone that you find yourself having reminders of them throughout your day, even if you aren't around the person at the time. You find yourself seeing a car that resembles theirs and it makes you smile and think of them. You find yourself randomly thinking about something they told you two days before it and makes you laugh out loud when no one is around.

...that is how my friend has been there for me, and it's really not something that people find them self being aware that they are actually doing it. Does that make sense? Anyways...

And then when you're with them, you can forget that other things are bothering you because you're focused on your time with them. Sure, sometimes you let yourself get focused and involved with what you want to help and support them with based on what they are dealing with, but sometimes it's even more than that. You welcome the break from worrying or dealing with your own life circumstances simply so you can feel free from your own life for a moment.

As I've gotten to know this individual I've continued to be fascinated by how she works and what makes her "tick." HA! [Note: That's how I am with just about everyone I meet....I try to figure them out and how they interact with others and the world.]

What's been so fascinating and interesting to me recently is how much this individual reminds me of a cross between one of my best friends and myself...HA! Tonight I was sitting and talking with this individual for a couple hours, and over and over again I found myself just sitting there listening to her and just smiling and almost beginning to laugh. Sometimes she'd ask me what I was laughing about and I would say, "you." HA! I'd then proceed to tell her how funny I found it that she and I were so much alike. And if it wasn't that I had her figured out because I knew what she was thinking due to the fact that she was thinking in a way similar to me, I'd have her figured out because she would be thinking in a way so similar to my best friend. HA!

I don't know. I just think it's interesting how people seem to come into our lives when we need them....and THAT is such a blessing!