Music touches my soul.  I listen to new songs and am instantly transported to a different place.  I listen to the words and every now and again a song touches my soul.  My sister always was the same way.  There were countless times when she would call me and say... HEY listen to THIS song.  :) Or she would email me the words to a song.

In fact, I remember sitting in front of the radio with my pink boom box (I know, I know) waiting for a song to come on so that I could record it.  Then I/we would sit with a pen and paper and the pause button and sit and write those words.  I am sure it was to send to a boyfriend at the time.  :-)

Well, yesterday I was at work and I always have my pandora going.  An acapella rendition of the below song came on and I fell in love.  I shazam'd it so that I could buy it off of Itunes.  

Then I listened to the words.  And I listened again.  And I sent it to my best friend.  And I let the words seep into my soul where they're going to hibernate. 

You can be amazing

You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug

You can be the outcast

Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love

Or you can start speaking up

Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do

When they settle ‘neath your skin

Kept on the inside and no sunlight

Sometimes a shadow wins

But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there,

Everybody’s been stared down by the enemy

Fallen for the fear

And done some disappearing,

Bow down to the mighty

Don’t run, stop holding your tongue

Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live

Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

Show me how big your brave is

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

And since your history of silence

Won’t do you any good,

Did you think it would?

Let your words be anything but empty

Why don’t you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

Maybe one day I can be brave.  Really and truly BRAVE.  

Port Aransas 2013 part 2

I have a few fishing pictures of Cam and Emilie... for some reason I don't have any of Joe.  I'll add those later.  

We woke up the next morning and had our coffee on the balcony and then started our clean up.  While we cleaned up, the kids watched television.  

 

The Wilson's didn't want to go to the beach, so they headed on home.  I wanted to get some feet pictures with me and the kids in the water, so we went to the beach.  

 Emi was such a fish... jumping into the waves and tumbling over them.  Joe followed right behind.  Jocelyn... well she didn't quite care for it.  But she warmed up to the shore.  :)  

After a quick dip in the pool and a change of clothes, our wonderful Port Aransas 

vacation came to a close. 

 Port Aransas holds such wonderful memories for me.  Memories of boat trips,  boat friends, my sister, the beach, the pink "occopus".  In many ways simpler times... and in others much much more complicated.  Going back was bittersweet because it made me face the fact that I'm missing my sister.

But, I got to forge the new memories with amazing friends that touch my heart in so many ways. 

Thank you Randy and Angie, for sharing your 4th with us.  :)

Port Aransas 2013

So last minute, my friend Angie asked if my parents and I, (and the kids of course) wanted to join them in their 2 bedroom condo for the fourth of July.  Being that we used to do this every year, I jumped at the chance.  I love this sleepy little beachy town! 

We decided to drive down on Thursday morning.  We loaded up in the Acadia, three adults and three children and more stuff than we needed, and we headed South.  I should have gotten a picture... but alas, I did not. 

Joe was whiny but we survived the trip with a couple of stops and some McDonalds later.  We arrived, unpacked, poured a cocktail and settled in.  Angie and I went into town to get some groceries and the kids and grandparents and Randy went swimming. 

When we got back, we all went to a hamburger/hotdog barbeque in a party room and then watched the kids bash a pinata. 

We then made our way up to the condo and had a front row seat to watch the most spectacular fireworks.  Port Aransas always puts on a great show! 

Angie and Randy got the master with their two kids.  Mom and dad got the two twin beds with the bathroom and I had a pull out couch with Emilie and then Joe was in a sleeping bag until he woke up and asked if there was room for him.  :) 

Friday morning dawned early, as it usually does for Joe.  :)  We hung out and sat on the balcony watching the boats go by.  Dad cooked his world class eggs.  Emi wanted to buy some art supplies so the girls packed up and went shopping.  I wanted to get a toe ring but the owner was rude rude rude, so we walked out.  We did some shopping, had a pina colada, went to the grocery store and headed back. 

Emi and Cam had a visitor on the balcony while they colored.  :)

We went to the pool and came back up to rest.  Mom and dad went for a drive to decide what to do for dinner.  By the time they got back, they had decided to send Angie, Randy and myself to dinner instead.  They stayed with the kids so that we could have a nice dinner out.  How special is that? 

We tried to go to Lisabella's but they were full full full.  So we went to Island Moorings and had a very nice dinner.  When we got home, Cam had missed his parents so was glad to see them.  As a prize for them staying home, Randy and Angie took the kids fishing.  I took pictures.  :) 

Emi had beginners luck and caught FIVE fish.  Joe and Cam both caught two.  Emi wouldn't touch one of them but had fun anyway! 


We made it to bed around 1:00 am but morning tapped me on the shoulder bright and early anyway.  :)  Dad made eggs again and then we packed up and headed to the beach.  Well most of us did.  Mom stayed home with Evie because she was a bit young for the sun and beach. 

Jocelyn was a little underwhelmed but warmed up to building sandcastles. 

 

Emi was a little fish in the ocean... and Joe jumped right in.  After about an hour we headed back to the pool and then for a nap.  We tried for an early dinner but best laid plans.  We went to fins and listened to some music while we waited to be seated. 

Of course after dinner we had to do fishing again.  :)  I think everyone caught two fish and headed to bed.  Sunday would be there early and we had to pack up and head home. 

.... more to come.  :)