My love of Music....WARNING....looooooong post!!

Music has always played a big role in my life. I love it!! Growing up I was ALWAYS singing, driving most of my family crazy! :) I have always had an uncanny "knack" for memorizing the words to a song as well. And if I, ahem, don't remember the words, I would always just make them up! (now I just google the lyrics!)

And wouldn't you know, God saw fit to match me with someone who loves music as much, if not more, than I do! In fact, that was one of the things that made me fall in love with Jason (and hearing him sing for the first time didn't hurt either! :)

I was thinking today that there were definitely certain songs that "defined" different times in my life. And since I use this blog as a sort of "journal", I thought I would post about some of the songs that I remember being a big part of my life from high school 'til now. (told you I had a good memory when it came to music!)

When I was in 10th grade, I went on a "Chrysalis flight" (it's a part of the United Methodist Church) and was totally moved by the song "Agnus Dei" by Michael W. Smith. This was the first time that I had heard that song and it really made me feel God's presence in my life. Whenever I hear it, I have sweet memories of that weekend at Blue Lake.

Now, when I was in 11th and grade, I was really good friends with 5 other girls; but 3 of us, Vanessa, Catie and I were the 3 that hung out the most. I can remember riding around in Vanessa's silver Rodeo blaring Eve 6's "Inside Out." Ha! That song is so annoying to me now! But we knew every word and sang them at the top of our lungs. Why? Who knows! But that was "our song."

My senior year at Gulf Breeze High (yes, for those of you who don't know me, that was really the name of my school...I lived in FL then!) was a nostalgic year for me. Our class song was Green Day's "Time of Your Life" and I can remember hearing it and sort of getting teary-eyed because I was leaving all my friends and the best time of my life behind. (well, that's what I thought then, anyway!)

The day that I moved to AL to go to Judson, my mom, my sister and I drove up together in my car. We listened to "Wide Open Spaces" by the Dixie Chicks like 100 times on the way there. I don't like the Dixie Chicks anymore, but whenever I hear that song, it makes my smile because that was my "freedom" song; I was moving away from my family and doing something all on my own (at the tender young age of 17!)

While I was at Judson, I met 3 really good friends (that I still try to keep in touch with!) Susan, Beth and Elizabeth. Susan was my silly friend. Our favorite songs were "My Love is Your Love" by Whitney Houston and Wyclef Jean (because the lyrics were so funny) and also "Summer Girls" by LFO... oh. my. goodness! We knew all the words and would escape the Judson "bubble" and ride around listening to them. Susan is also attributed with teaching me "Sweet Home Alabama," As a Florida girl, I never really listened to that song before then! :)

Whenever I hear Watermark's "More than you'll ever know" I think of Beth. She was my roommate my freshman year at Judson and was just the kind of friend that I needed when I was there. We learned a lot about life together. She was so patient and even listened to me when I was dating Jason and just needed to "vent."

And Elizabeth taught me to "Seize The Day" so whenever I hear that song from Carolyn Arends, I think of her. Biz was my RA my freshman year and we bonded pretty quickly! Even though she graduated that year, we stayed in touch and are still friends today!

When Jason and I got married, we both loved the song "In this Moment" by Wilshire. In fact, we had it sung at our wedding. Please don't confuse it with the Shania Twain one! (i really don't like that one!) And while we were dating, "Amazed" by Lone Star was sorta/kinda/not really Jason and I's song. (you know, unofficially!) :)

Then, when Lauren was born, Jason's mom was so excited to play "All American Girl" by Carrie Underwood at the hospital. It wasn't great timing; and produced a lot of tears; but whenever I hear that song (which I loved even before then!) I always think of the day Lauren was born!

Finally, (whew! looooooong post!) my favorite song right now is Francesca Battistelli's "Free to be Me" because even though I'm not 20( like she sings in the song),it does make me think of how I feel a lot of times when it comes to God. "....but perfection is my enemy;
on my own I'm so clumsy, but on your shoulders I can see, I'm free to be me!" Love that!

So.....What songs are special to you? What memories do they bring back when you hear them? I'd love to read what other people have to say!

*And if you're not familiar with some of these songs and want to hear them (you know, because you have a lot of time on your hands and nothing better to do....) then hop over to YouTube and just type them in. Most of them should be there!*