My New Theme Song...

I was searching out other people's playlists on Yahoo Music... trying to find some great workout songs. I work so much better with music but had the same songs. Well, one I found has become my new song... I love it which is funny because I have never been that crazy about the artist... Ms. J-Lo herself... Jennifer Lopez. The song is called, Let's Get Loud. When I first heard it, I knew it would be a great workout song... I dare you to listen to it and to NOT move your body.

But it was while exercising to the song that I began to listen to the words.

Let's get loud, let's get loud
Turn the music up, let's do it
C'mon people let's get loud
Let's get loud
Turn the music up to hear that sound
Let's get loud, let's get loud
Ain't nobody gotta tell ya
What you gotta do

If you wanna live your life
Live it all the way and don't waste it
Every feelin' every beat
Can be so very sweet and you gotta taste it
You gotta do it, you gotta do it your way
You gotta prove it
You gotta mean what you say
You gotta do it, you gotta do it your way
You gotta prove it
You gotta mean what you say

Life's a party, make it hot
Dance don't ever stop whatever rhythm
Every minute, every day
Take them all the way you gotta live 'em
('cause I'm going to live my life)
You gotta do it, you gotta do it your way
You gotta prove it
You gotta mean what you say
You gotta do it, you gotta do it your way
You gotta prove it
You gotta mean what you say

Let's get loud, let's get loud
Turn the music up, let's do it
C'mon people let's get loud
Let's get loud
Turn the music up to hear that sound
Let's get loud, let's get loud
Ain't nobody gotta tell ya
What you gotta do

Life is meant to be big fun
You're not hurtin' anyone
Nobody loses
Let the music make you free
Be what you wanna be
Make no excuses
You gotta do it, you gotta do it your way
You gotta prove it
You gotta mean what you say
You gotta do it, you gotta do it your way
You gotta prove it
You gotta mean what you say

Let's get loud, let's get loud
Turn the music up, let's do it
C'mon people let's get loud
Let's get loud
Turn the music up to hear that sound
Let's get loud, let's get loud
Ain't nobody gotta tell ya
What you gotta do

Let's get loud, let's get loud
Turn the music up, let's do it
C'mon people let's get loud
Let's get loud
Turn the music up to hear that sound
Let's get loud, let's get loud
Ain't nobody gotta tell ya
What you gotta do

I'm not sure exactly why this song is speaking to me now but I think it has to do with the changes in me this past year. I have become more adventurous... flying to Atlanta and Philadelphia to meet people I only knew from the internet. This would've been unheard of just a few years ago. There was so much I wouldn't do because I hated doing things alone. And I did not live close to my college friends. Then being a SAHM, I didn't get out and meet new people. I didn't know how... I was always too scared to take that first step. Not anymore...

Then there's the whole take charge of my health and fitness. I have always wanted a quick fix before... hard work, it definitely wasn't for me! Yet here I am exercising daily... counting calories... making better health choices. How can I live my life fully being overweight (obese according to the insurance company!)? I was tired... I couldn't fully participate in my kids lives. I wasn't fully enjoying my life.. I was wasting it. But by taking charge of my fitness goals, I am "getting loud"... I am livin' my life.

I am not the same person I was a year ago. I have changed... I am changing. I am not afraid... although I will admit to being wary. I am willing to try more... do more. I don't automatically sit down and say "I can't."

Next year I will turn 40... if I don't start living my life now... when will I start?

Here's a live in concert video of J-Lo singing my song, in case you don't know it. Take a listen...

My Little Girl

On the topic of songs and soundtracks for a life, this song is one that I have heard on the radio for awhile but it wasn't until I saw the movie Flicka that I knew that this Tim McGraw song was meant for K3. Sure, it’s a song that could pertain to both of my girls but I’ll tell you why it fits perfect for her. First, read the words…

Gotta hold on easy as I let you go.
Gonna tell you how much I love you, though you think you already know.
I remember I thought you looked like an angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm.
You've had me wrapped around your finger since the day you were born.

Beautiful baby from the outside in.
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again.
Go on, take on this whole world.
But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl.

When you were in trouble that crooked little smile could melt my heart of stone.
Now look at you, I've turned around and you've almost grown.
Sometimes you're asleep I whisper "I Love You!" in the moonlight at your door.
As I walk away, I hear you say, "Daddy Love You More!”

Beautiful baby from the outside in.
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again.
Go on, take on this whole world.
But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl.

Someday, some boy will come and ask me for your hand.
But I won't say, "yes" to him unless I know, he's the half
That makes you whole; he has a poet's soul, and the heart of a man's man.
I know he'll say that he's in love.
But between you and me. He won't be good enough!

In the movie, Flicka, Katy and her dad were so much alike yet butt heads continuously. This is exactly like K3 and her dad. While K1 will just shut down and K2 will usually end up crying when their dad yells at them, K3 will fight back. She will be in his face (just like he is in hers) telling him right back why she’s not wrong but he is. She can list the reasons why she is right. (Hmmm… maybe I hear future lawyer here.) Oh, the fights they can have! They don’t happen often, but when they do…look out! I dread the clashes headed our way as she heads into her teenage years (and those are still 5 years off!).

Then there’s the line in the song about the little girl saying, “Love you more”. For years, when I have tucked K3 into bed at night, she has always said, “I love you most.” I can count on this. It used to drive her sister nuts but I know what K3 is saying and it isn’t that she loves me more than her brother or sister, but that she loves me the most that she can. And just that simple phrase, makes me smile deep whenever I hear it.

I think there’s a special bond that develops between a parent and the youngest. Now this doesn’t mean that I love any of my children more than the others but this bond is there all the same. There would be no more babies to hold after the last… no more little first discoveries. And whether or not you know that your baby is truly your last at the time it is happening, at some point you come to realize that this is indeed your last child and there will be no more. And whether by choice or not, it still is just a little heartbreaking to realize this is it. With the older kids, it is fascinating to watch them grow and explore and it is with the youngest as well. It’s just that while you’re excited for them at the same time you’re thinking this is it, this is the last time we will do this.

I can’t wait to watch and see the person that K3 develops into. I just hope that she discovers who she is and what it is that makes her happy and then sets the course for going after her dreams. But no matter where her life takes her, whether it is across the street or across the country, she is stuck being our baby. And she always will be… my little girl.

Songs for My Life's Soundtrack

If there were a Soundtrack of your life made, what songs would be included? I have a friend in the Brigade who has this great talent for ending emails and bb posts with an identifying song (usually an obscure one that you don’t tend to think about) to match the topic or point of her post. She will simply say “Soundtrack – Flight of the Bumblebee”, etc. And then I re-read her post and I swear to God, I can hear that song in my head the whole time reading. She is usually dead on, too. After listening to quite a few songs in my head, courtesy of her, I began to think about the soundtrack of my life. What songs would I have?

I’m sure you all have them… At least one song that you hear that just touches you, or reminds you of someone or someplace or of a special day. Music does that for me. And even though I am far from musically inclined, music has always meant something special to me. In fact, a song played an important part in my first days of life. I was named after a song… CarrieAnne by The Hollies. Then there are other songs that remind me of people long gone… Jessie’s Girl by Rick Springfield always reminds me of my Grandma O. (she loved him as Noah Drake on General Hospital). And Hello, Darlin’ by Conway Twitty will always remind me of my Aunt Marion. Songs from occasions in my life… The Lady in Red makes me think of my wedding day. J wanted that to be our first dance song and I refused. The song was later played during the reception and we did dance to it. And for the birth of my children, I had a Nature cd with ocean waves and cello music playing during the birth of all three.

Then there are the songs that the words just seem like they were written for me, whether it be just a verse, the chorus or the entire song. For me, most of these songs tend to be country. Maybe it is the fact that I primarily listen to country music, but I really believe that country music is better at storytelling. And some of those stories just seem to hit home.

I have always wanted to do a scrapbook simply based on the songs for my life. But I can never seem to find the time to scrap at all. However, I am doing a lot of blogging these days. My plan is to periodically show how some of these songs that I would want included in my Soundtrack.

What about you? What songs would be played if your life were shown simply thru music?