Thank You

I know I'm a few days late, but last week was Thanksgiving and I don't even know where to begin with everything that I am thankful for.  I am so blessed to have such an amazing family, group of friends, a job that I really enjoy, my health, food and shelter, happiness, love, and everything else.

Therefore, the song of the week is Daryl Black's, "Thank You."

I am also thankful for the year ahead.  Perhaps the most exciting and most challenging part of the next year will be SCHOOL!  I have applied for a master's program that I am really excited about.  I'll find out in the next month or so if I have been accepted and then will start in January.  It all came about pretty quickly, but it is something that I have been thinking about for awhile - it finally just happened that everything fell into place and I found a school and program that both fit me really well.

I saw two quotes the other day and it's something that I am going to try to strive to do each day -

"Dear God, I wanna take a minute, not to ask for anything from you, but simply to say thank you for all I have."

"Don't forget to pray today, because God didn't forget to wake you up this morning."

Have to remember that every day should be thanksgiving and not just one day a year!

I Was Here

Beyonce.  What can I say, that woman is an absolutely incredible talent and performer.  I heard her new song this morning, "I was Here," and I love the lyrics.  I think about the legacy that I am leaving and the legacy that I want to leave pretty regularily and this song puts my thoughts and hopes into words.
Check out the lyrics - 
I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of timeKnow there was something that, and something that I left behindWhen I leave this world, I'll leave no regretsLeave something to remember, so they won't forget
I was hereI lived, I lovedI was hereI did, I've done, everything that I wantedAnd it was more than I thought it would beI will leave my mark so everyone will knowI was here
I want to say I lived each day, until I dieAnd know that I meant something in, somebody's lifeThe hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leaveThat I made a difference, and this world will see
I was hereI lived, I lovedI was hereI did, I've done, everything that I wantedAnd it was more than I thought it would beI will leave my mark so everyone will know
I was hereI lived, I lovedI was hereI did, I've done, everything that I wantedAnd it was more than I thought it would beI will leave my mark so everyone will knowI was here
I just want them to knowThat I gave my all, did my bestBrought someone to happinessLeft this world a little better just because
I was here
I was hereI lived, I lovedI was hereI did, I've done, everything that I wantedAnd it was more than I thought it would beI will leave my mark so everyone will know
Copied from MetroLyrics.com 


Even the music video is pretty cool, take a look at it on Vevo - http://www.vevo.com/watch/beyonce/i-was-here-live-at-roseland/USSM21102003

God Of This City

I first heard the song, "God Of This City," sung by Chris Tomlin at a conference when I was a junior in college.  The song comes to me at strange times- when I'm driving in the city, when I'm sitting on the train, when I'm at work, or even when I'm just with friends.  


Last week I became aware of an organization, one that I had heard of before, but had never really considered before.  The group is called Big Brothers, Big Sisters and it is something that I am really interested in becoming a part of.  Whether I decide that I want to become a mentor or just volunteer at one of the clubs in the city, I am excited.  I am excited to know that while I help people at work, now I will be helping someone out of my own volition, not just because I am at work.  


The reason that the song "God Of This City" is prevalent is because there are clubs all over Chicago and from what I can see through my research is that they are doing great things.  There is so much that needs to be done, people need to remember that they are not going about their own daily lives separate from everyone else, but that they are a part of a larger society that needs to do more to help those around them.    


As the song says, "greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done here."

Thriller

Tomorrow is Halloween.  Definitely not one of my favorite holidays, but it's a fun day none the less.  I remember being little and being so excited to run around with all of my neighborhood friends amassing as much candy as we could carry.


This year, while I won't be trick-or-treating or even handing out candy (how do kids trick-or-treat in the city?), I was able to make a costume and go out with some friends down in Springfield.  We had some fun arts-and-crafts time making our costumes and once at the bar we were told by many people that our costumes were their favorites!  Yay!  My roommate was the ABCs while my other friends and I were a game of beer pong.  Here's a picture - 

In honor of tomorrow being October 31st, the song of the day is 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson.  It's the perfect creepy, great song for Halloween!

Sleepwell Chicago

A few years ago I heard a Christmas song by an artist named Trent Dabbs.  Other than that one song, I had never heard any of his other songs until just recently.

I was watching tv a few weeks ago and heard a song that I immediately thought "wow, that sounds like that guy who sings my favorite Christmas song."  I googled the lyrics and low and behold, it was a Trent Dabbs song!  I have now you-tubed him and listened to a number of his songs and am itching to go to the library and see if they have any of his CDs.

One of his songs, "Sleepwell Chicago," is the song of my day.  The tone of his voice is so simple and just because he sings about Chicago, I automatically like the song :-).

I highly suggest finding some of his songs online!

I Love College

It's been two and a half years since I graduated college and this weekend is homecoming at my alma mater.  While I cannot go this year, I am reminded of all of my incredible friends and memories from my four years of college.

One song that my friends and I repeatedly sang our senior year was called "I Love College" by Asher Roth.  We heard it on our spring break trip and for the rest of the year we played it constantly.

I love the life that I've been living since college and am so grateful for all of the opportunities that I have been given, but I still miss the feeling of being on a college campus walking across the quad in my jeans and jacket marveling at the changing leaves and saying hello to so many people on a daily basis.  I miss having such a big part of my group just a few steps from me and always available for a chat or hangout.

I suppose a better song would be "I Miss College."  However, then I would be wanting a song about loving my post-college life :-).  Can't have the best of both worlds!

Days Go By

The first Keith Urban song I remember hearing was "Days Go By."  From that day on I knew that I would be a fan of his.


Last night I went to the second to last concert of Keith Urban's Get Closer World Tour with my good friend from high school.  We got a head start and had dinner at a little whole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant in Des Plaines and then headed over to Allstate Arena for the show.  I was pleasantly surprised by the opening act, Jake Wilson, and look forward to hearing more of him because I think he has a lot of potential.  

Me and V before the show! 

Jake Owen 

Smiling and playing

The main attraction, Keith Urban, was fantastic!  He seemed so genuinely happy to be playing for us and was very personable and funny with the crowd.  His banter came naturally as did his smile which made him seem just like a normal person who happens to have an amazing talent and 'day job.'  Overall he put on a great show and the whole crowd had a ton of fun!