Here we go................

Well, this is new for me. I've never blogged before and I'm not sure that it will even be interesting - but I'll give it a try. I tried to post this long, in depth, intro under my profile and it was too long so I'll just have a do-over right here.

This is me...........

I'm 35 and live in Alabama. It's really the only place I've called 'home'. I'm currently a student and will graduate in May. I'm going to be an Elementary Teacher when I grow up. I love kids and can't wait to make a difference in their lives. Speaking of kids, I have one of my own - well my husband and I do! His name is Cole. He's AMAZING! He's 5, almost 6 and just wonderful. The sweetest thing I've ever seen. He's in Kindergarten and his brain is such a sponge! He is very smart and interested in so much. The most important thing about him is he is a survivor - a cancer survivor. If you are interested in more of his story you can check out his webpage which is listed in my links. On January 31st of this year he will be cancer for for TWO YEARS! Amazing, huh? That someone so little could fight such a hard battle. He is a patient at St Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) and it is the next best place to DisneyWorld. An amazing organization filled with people who have changed our lives in so many ways!

I mentioned a husband - he's a big deal in my life as well! Jason and I have been together for almost 10 years, 7 of those happily married. He just graduated from college and has his own business. He is a wonderful provider for our family and supports my every interest - well most of the time.

I have a slight obsession - Kenny Chesney!!! This is where the above mentioned 'most of the time' comes in. I don't look at it as an obsession, only because that makes me think of something I just have to do each and every day - like being alive, but maybe that's an addiction. Hmmmm OK so maybe I'm more obsessed that I have realized. Basically, this is how it is - I love his music and his voice (him being nice to look at is a bonus). I have always had a love for music - going back to my First Communion in second grade when I received a tape recorder! I love looking for the meaning in a song, the reasons behind it being written, and performed. I probably read more into songs than the artists themselves sometimes. This is when my Kenny-ness began: Cole had just been diagnosed with cancer and had been in the hospital undergoing tumor removal. There were a few times when I left the hospital to go home and shower, get clothes, toys, etc. During those lonely drives home I listened to Kenny's newest CD at the time. He sang a song about being 'Somewhere In The Sun'. He was stuck in the snow somewhere and there was just nothing worth doing. I was stuck in a hospital - with nothing 'worth' doing. No cancer-free things at least. That song gave me an image of where I would rather be - anywhere actually - with Cole and Jason. Somewhere in the sun...........what a thought. I could just see Cole running around on a beach in his swim trunks, playing in the sand, splashing in the water. Instead he was laying in a bed, hooked up to all kinds of medicine and could barely move the left side of his body. So 'Somewhere In The Sun' became my mantra - something I knew we would get to some day! We still aren't there, but only because Cole isn't crazy about the sand and splashing in the ocean! But he's still running around now and enjoying life. So while some may think I'm just 'in love' with Kenny because he's cute - they've got it all wrong. During such a sad and heartbreaking time in my life - his music, his words and they way he delivered them gave me something to look forward to, somethings to remember and best of all - an escape. I coudl easily think about something other than chemo and radiation if Kenny was singing to me.

Ok, so are you bored yet? I think this is enough for today! Please come back and check the blog again - I'm not sure you'll be interested, but maybe you will be!

Lisa