This is the BEST Day....

I have the house to myself, am listening/watching Keith Urban, eating grama's chocolate chip cookies and found $40 in purses I was going through. See, God DOES take care of things! Thank you God! :) Anyhow, I taste the love in Grama's cookies! LOL! Seriously, THANKS GRAMA!!! I love you too!

I'm transferring photos from Webshots.com to Shutterlfy.com, b/c it's easier to organize, sort and do albums and my family and friends can view them for FREE. I put all these photos from my trip on Webshots.com, and then they ended up trying to charge people to view them, that's BS, I DO want a password, but still, I mean, I want my family and friends to be able to view my photos for FREE! I have a serious obsession of taking pictures of myself, but none the less, I got beautiful pics of scenery from my road trip earlier this summer, and awesome pics of my family and friends! I am SO lucky and blessed and full of LOVE & JOY!

Thank you God for absolutely everything and everyone in my life, you are grand!

Well, I'm done writing for now, but hopefully, I'll feel like it more later! Right now, I wanna get back to my photos...bye for now!

Many Blessings,
SL

Happy Birthday to A Lot of People!

Happy Birthday to the following people, who today, each share a birthday:

LeAnn Womack, 39 (country singer, sings "I Hope You Dance,")

Clay Walker, 36 (country singer, sings "If I Could Make A Livin',")

John Stamos, 42 (gorgeous man, played "Uncle Jesse," on Full House)

AND...

most importantly to me, Happy Birthday to my friend, Karen, who turned 22 on August 17th!

I'm sorry I haven't written lately, I just didn't want to. Sometimes I'm in the mood and sometimes I'm not.....

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Anyway, today I realized that I've been reading nonstop, so I must be really into reading this thing. I finished "The Handmaid's Tale," really scary, but good. Scary, not like gothic or ghosts or anything, but about the future scary, but very good. Now, I'm starting three books, and not sure which one I'll pick to continue reading, I'm picky! But reading so fun, I mean, with all the CRAP on TV today and this computer does get old after a while, books are SUCH a great way to learn, travel the world, pass time and escape. I don't know what took me so long to enjoy one of the oldest privilages and pleasures around! I'm blessed that I have the books to read, ability and knowledge to do so, as well as the freedom to read whatever I choose. What a great thing.......

Today, I revisted the song I practically listened to all the way from here to Fernley on my trip in June, it's called "Some People," It's a really lovely song about being lucky in love, but also working at it and having faith. It reminded me of my Grandma and Henry-they found love when they were in their late 60s and they are so inspiring. I just had to share the lyrics with you all, and dedicate it to them!

Isn't it a gambleLayin' your heart out on the floorNothin' short of a miracleWhen you find the one you're looking forIt's another kind of trouble trying to hang on to who you areWhen all you wanna do is lose yourself in someone else's armsIsn't it a wonder (that) we got this farSome people aren't lucky like usSome people they just give upWhen the hard times fallThe thrill of it all is goneLeaves you in a cloud of dustIt's sad to think that some won't find itAnd others won't recognize it even when it comesWe're all at the mercy of the will of loveSome people yeahSome people aren't lucky like usTwo lonely souls that just stumbled into fateLook how much we've been given babeIn spite of all of our mistakesAnd I will never forget I've been blessed with the gift oflovin' youAnd when the going aint easy babeA little faith will pull us throughThank God we have eachother we can hang onto[repeat chorus][Bridge]To have someone you can laugh withSomeone you can cry withTell all your secrets toTo have someone who won't judge youSomeone who just loves youNo matter what, they stand beside you[repeat chorus]

But, I just turned off the music, I get tired of it now, after a while. I NEVER thought I'd say that about music, ever, but I'm really loving the quiet and silence. Maybe that's why I suddenly love reading, b/c it's peaceful and quiet!

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So, I was thinking last night about writing my life story. I know I'm only 21, but I've lived a lot for that short time. I've survived a lot, and while everyone is ultimately a survivor, I think that for 21, I've been through more than most. I wouldn't trade it though and I think the story of my life, SO FAR, would be great to write and would probably (hopefully) inspire people. Something to think about. I'd like to also write some more poetry, but nothing yet. Maybe this weekend, we'll see!

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Whoa! Keith Urban is on CMT again and I missed it! Damn! Oh well, I did watch the WHOLE show the other night in my living room, clapping and whooping it up! So awesome! I was glad no one was home. As much as I love my peace and quiet and reading, I still do love music, although now a little goes a long way for me. Except of course, Keith, oh la la, he's SO cute! :) Speaking of which....

I've been posting a lot on the Trisha Yearwood board, and I'd like to share what I posted, the first one is about what's coming up in September for me...I'm SO EXCITED....

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Hey Y'all,

I just could NOT contain my excitement any longer! The countdown is on for me....September 2005 is going to be the BEST month because, I'll get NEW MUSIC from MISS TRISHA (YAY!!!) NEW MUSIC/BOOK from Wynonna (YAY!) AND, that would've been plenty, but nope, it doesn't stop there folks, I'm going to see BILLY DEAN (my all time FAVORITE guy musically) on September 4th! This will be my 4th time and I actually saw him on 9/4/1998 when I was a freshmen in HS, I had just started, and now, seven years later, I'm 21, and just as excited as I was then. It's been over six years, the last time I saw him was June of 1999 when he sang to me, so it's about dang time! I'm SO psyched!

This is incredibly awesome, because although I would be happy to add Reba, Garth, Martina, Phil Vassar, Keith Urban & Rascall Flatts to this group, I have to be honest and say......these 3 (Trisha, Billy & Wy) are my all time FAVES!!!

WYNONNA & THE JUDDS are the WHOLE REASON I started listening to and liking country music.....that was in 1988, have ALL The Judd's albums as well as Wynonna's and I've seen her in concert 9x's and would gladly go again! Such an inspiration that family is! then I heard and saw BILLY DEAN and fell in LOVE! Sort of! LOL! Y'all know what I mean, anyway, that was in 1991, been a HUGE fan ever since! Seen him 3x's in concert and have all of his albums and just generally adore the guy....in 1994, shortly before one of my grandpa's died, I heard "The Song Remembers When," by an incredible singer named TRISHA YEARWOOD. I had liked her earlier songs like "SILWTB," and "WSOM," and my mom was a HUGE fan of "WAJ," but I never really became fully interested in her until 1994. Since then, I've seen her 2x's, bought EVERY album she's ever done and find myself listening to her music pretty much weekly! She's an inspiration too, a great role model and a HECK of a fabulous singer!

These 3 are my ALL TIME FAVORITES in music!

So, for me to be able to see one of them, and get new music from the other two in the SAME MONTH, or any time for that matter, is a HUGE DEAL!!!

I'm SO EXCITED!!!

I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas! LOL!

I just had to share my joy!

SEPTEMBER:

4th: BILLY DEAN CONCERT! (2 weeks and 2 days away!! )

13th: TRISHA'S NEW ALBUM, "Jasper County," YAY!!! (26 days away! )

27th: WYNONNA'S NEW CD/DVD & BOOK! YAY!!! (40 days away! )

The only thing marring all of this excitement and celebration is of course the 4th Anniversary of September 11th. It is something I think about at least every few days and although I was very fortunate that I didn't know anyone personally back there, it still affects me to this day. The world as we knew it changed forever that day, and you can't help but think of that tragedy when you see all the security gaurds everywhere, the airports and of course, the war on Terroism.Every year on Sept. 11th I take a moment of silence and feel very mixed emotions; sadness for the lossed and their survivors, greif and pride for the heroes involved, and the grace, gratefulness and pride of being an American!Let us not forget, in all of this Trisha excitment, that September 11th was a day of great tragedy, but also a day of great victory. In the days following, we came together as a nation, and we were truly UNITED. I say, let's try and honor the fallen by keeping that spirit not just on Sept. 11th, but everyday. September 11th, 2001 is NOT a day to be forgotten, not now, not ever!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

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Now, back to Keith, I'm actually typing and listening to him singing, and the audience is singing his song back to him. Like I've said before, I used to want to be the singer, now my dream is to have best selling books of my life, poetry, and maybe some fiction. But, my even bigger dream is to have the audience sing a song back to a singer that I WROTE!!! That would just be totally AWESOME!!! Anyway.....

my second post on the Trisha Yearwood board was about "The Best Advice You Ever Got," here's what I said....

FROM MY MOM:
The motto around my house growing up was "Always be loyal and fair and live by the Golden Rule." It's amazing how many people do NOT know what loyalty and or fairness is, and these words still ring true for me today.

Always follow your heart, NEVER FEEL GUILTY, enjoy life and LIVE IN THE MOMENT.

A lot of my positivity I get from my mother!

There's always someone out there who has it worse than you, and you are no better than anyone else.

FROM MY GRANDMA E.:
Always remember, you are what you think. I AM THAT I AM, and don't let the demons get you.

Paitence pays off and nothing is EVER out of perfection.

First and foremost, Sarah, you are a child of God and you are an extension of His Light, someday mom and I won't be here, but God is always there and always listening.

FROM MY DAD:
"Always be grateful for the things you don't want and don't have, instead of the things you want, but don't have." I'm blessed, I have a lot of wonderful family and friends in my life who are always there for me with tons of great advice, but more than that, lots of love, encouragement and more love!

Great advice hunh? I think so, I'm so blessed!

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Yeah, Keith, I wouldn't mind wearing your shirt at all. LOL! Me and like a million other women, I'm sure. He's singing "You Look Good In My Shirt," LOL! What a babe!

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Anyhow, last night my mom and Ricky (yes Ricky) and I had the most delicious meal! We (mom and I) roasted a chicken out on the grill. It was absolutely scumptious! We stuffed it with apples and onions and garlic and rosemary and put chicken broth in the bottom of the pan, ohhh, not even describable! Some of the BEST chicken I've ever had in my entire life! Seriously, so moist and tender and just like buttah....YUM! We also had mashed potatoes (which I can't eat b/c they give me heartburn), and gravy, that I made...with the drippings from the pan and a little white wine-to die for. So YUMMY! Mama made Grandma J's Butter Letuce Orange Salad, with Butter Lettuce, Red Onions, Brown Sugar, Mandrin Oranges, Melted Butter, Lemon Juice and a whole lotta love! So, so GREAT!!! Thanks MAMA!

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Let's see what else is new, oh I cleaned the house for my mom on Wed. and I also cleaned my room and bathroom too! Including dusting, vacuming, sweeping and mopping. And let me just say I HATE sweeping; I'd rather clean a toliet than sweep a floor. LOL! I'm not kidding. But, since I hadn't been doing much of anything here at home I figured I'd better hop to it, after all, my mom works her ass off at work and here at home and at 21, I can totally pitch in. Today, I'm feeling pretty good, last weekend I was really, really tired. My energy comes and goes these days! But, today is a good day! :)

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I was gonnna go back to school this fall, but I'm glad I'm not. They wanted $700 at the COMMUNITY colelge, which I hate that school anyway, so you know what, I can't afford that, and it's not worth it even if I could. I'm SO happy I don't have to stress about going back to school in a few weeks-what a stress relief that IS! It's always so stressful going back to school and I don't think I need that right now, someday yes, but not today! Not this semester....I'm goin got concentrate on getting it 2gether to move to Oregon and taking care of my mom!

Speaking of which, she wants to move to Costa Rica now, why I don't know, but grama and Henry are considering moving up to the Coast of Oregon, which would be totally wonderful b/c then I'd only be about six hours from them if I live in Salem, Oregon. I hope they do that! I will do it, but I really don't want to jet all over the West (and esp. outside of the country) to see those I love! I will if I have to, and I don't mind, but it'd be SO nice to have my mom, grama and Henry and my sisters and I all within like a 300 miles radius! How AWESOME! That is acutally my ideal situation and my dream!

Oh, shuit, I gotta go get the cookies....grama sent me the cookies, more Chocolate Chip ones. They are SO yummy, better than sex! I can make 'em, but not like she can, it must be grama's love in there or somethin', cause man, they are just the BEST EVER! Mama and I are going to start donating to the Grama Cookie Club, cuz it costs $8 to send' em down here, that grama must really love us!!! WE LOVE HER AND MISS HER MORE THAN IS EXPRESSABLE!

Anyway, I'll be RIGHT back.....

Many Blessings,
SL