I was surprised how sad I was to hear of Michael Jackson's passing. The new playlist is in his honor. Despite all the weird stories that have circulated about him, his talent was undeniable and will probably be unmatched in our lifetime.

I'm a sucker for a good beat and have always loved to shake my groove thang. Upon hearing of his death, I spent some good time digging up videos of MJ's dance moves on YouTube. I was amazed at how many of today's hip hop moves were used YEARS even DECADES ago by MJ. He, of course, does them like no one else, but it's very interesting to see how many of them appeared in his videos and performances before anyone knew what to call them - popping, locking, waving, isolations, gliding, breaking, etc.

While watching the videos, I realized that the moonwalk was much more difficult than I had initially believed. I'll work on it and perhaps even break it out at the next dance party, only in honor of MJ, of course.

Here is one of my favorite tributes to MJ - the Jabbawockeez on ABDC...

Scattered, Smothered and Covered

The above is probably best known as the way to order hash browns at the Waffle House, but it's also the title of an album of cover songs done by Hootie and the Blowfish. I think the album name is genius. I wish I had come up with it myself. Instead I'll just use it here to introduce my new playlist. I've dedicated it (for now) to some of my favorite cover songs. If I have any readers out there, leave me a comment and let me know some of your favorite cover songs. They just might appear in my playlist for your listening pleasure.

As you probably already know, the name of my blog comes from the beginning of the Sesame Street theme song. I recently found this video and from the second it started I wanted this to be the theme song for my blog. Check it out...



And as long as we're on the Sesame Street theme, here's another one that I think is hilarious! Whoever thought this up and edited it is quite brilliant. Enjoy!

Yesterday was a long day filled with lots of driving, but the entire day was incredible. I set out early from Nashville because I knew it could potentially take an hour to get to my destination. It was a beautiful morning for a drive. I was headed to a rural part of Tennessee that lies beyond Gallatin and Hendersonville. I made good time and pulled down a long gravel driveway where I met my new friend. We'll call her Casey because I want to respect her privacy in these matters. Casey and I hit it off immediately. Conversation flowed easily. As we meandered down scenic highways, we began sharing our stories. She actually went first without any prompting. As her story concluding, bringing us to the present moment, she turned to look at me and simply asked, "Why are you doing this? It's such a long distance for you to drive. Why are you helping me?"

As I had prayed, God provided the perfect opportunity for me to share my story with her and answer her questions directly. I told her that I was just an adopted kid that figures someone did this for my birthmother at some point and that it was my honor to be able to do this for her. She was so sweet and very appreciative. She shared that the pregnancy had been difficult and that she will be relieved when the baby finally comes. Yet, she's nervous about it as well. She knows that what lies ahead of her will not be easy. She voiced some anxiety about having to give up the baby, but she is resolute in her decision. I told her that I couldn't imagine how difficult the decision must be and even more so the carrying out of it, but I assured her that an adopted child never forgets. I told her how I think of my birthmother often and pray that she is as blessed as her decision as allowed my life to be. I was so glad to have the opportunity to say to her the things that I would share with my own birthmother. I hope they helped her have even more peace about her decision.

When we arrived to the adoption agency, we were warmly greeted by the ladies that work there. Casey was nervous about meeting the family she's chosen for her child, but the ladies there calmed her fears and counseled her about the days schedule of events. I left in order to give them privacy, but prayed for them all from a distance.

When I returned to pick up Casey, she was grinning from ear-to-ear. She said she was incredibly nervous the first few minutes with the family and felt as though they were to, but she said it quickly wore off and they had a great visit together. She was really pleased with her decision and was happy that her child would be raised by this family.

Then came my favorite moment of the day. We were quietly riding along the rural highways with the sun shining in the windows. I thought Casey was dozing because she had mentioned that she tires so quickly as she nears her delivery date, but she turned to me and quite out of nowhere said that she had picked out a name for the baby. She shared the name and I agreed that it was a great name. Apparently that came up during her meeting with the family, and (hold on to your seats) the family had picked the exact same name for the baby! How amazing is that?!? I think we both choked back some emotion. I swallowed the lump in my throat and told her that I thought that was such an incredible sign of confirmation of her decision and her choice of a family for her baby. She grinned from ear-to-ear, turned to look out the window and we continued to ride a ways more in silence.

As we turned down Casey's gravel driveway, she graciously thanked me for the ride and the company during the trip. I wished her all the best and told her it had really been my pleasure and an honor to help her. I meant it more than my meager words could express in that moment.

"Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:1,2

Some time ago, there was a teenage girl in Memphis, TN. She was a good student, well-liked by her friends at school and loved to dance. But she got some unexpected news that threatened to change all of that. She found out she was pregnant. She was faced with a decision, and the effects of it's outcome would be incalculable regardless of what she choose.

She decided that she could not adequately provide for the tiny life growing inside of her. She wanted more for her unborn child than she could offer. She knew others would be able to give her baby everything she couldn't. She choose adoption.

There was a family of three in Alabama - a father, a mother and a daughter. The parents wanted to add to their family, but were having great difficulty doing so. They had so much love to give. They desperately wanted to share their lives with another. They choose adoption.

There was a baby girl born in Memphis that found an incredible family and a new home in Alabama. The little girl was given everything in life she could have ever wanted. The prayers of many were answered and lives were forever changed. It all started with the brave, selfless decision of a teenage girl in Memphis.

Tonight, there is a pregnant girl just outside of Nashville that has made this same brave, selfless decision. She has chosen adoption. She has chosen a family for her unborn child.

Tonight, the little girl born in Memphis and raised in Alabama is eagerly anticipating tomorrow. She will have the privilege of helping the pregnant girl make it to Nashville to meet the parents she's chosen for her unborn child. By doing so, that little adopted girl remembers the teenage girl and the decision made in Memphis. She remembers her family and the wonderful life she was given in Alabama. She hopes that tomorrow will be the beginning of the same type of beautiful journey for the birthmother and adoptive parents she'll meet.

Good Riddance, 2008!

I pride myself on being an optimistic person. I'm usually an open book with people, unless I have nothing positive to report. Then I prefer to stay quiet rather than share what's going on with me, for fear of bringing the other person down. I'm making an exception to that with this blog post (and maybe just a couple more.) I feel as though I need to purge these thoughts so I can move forward. I want to leave them here so I can look back and remember. I don't want to forget what I've been through and where I've been. As painful as this past year has been, I want to be sure I learn from it so I can move forward a better person for having survived.

I've never been so excited for a year to be over. I was ready to ring in 2009 in September, at least. The entire year was marked by loss...for me, and others around me. I lost two jobs. My family lost my brother-in-law. I lost a boyfriend to the Marine Corps. Needless to say, I lost a lot of tears over the course of the year as well.

In a year of loss, you become keenly aware of the things that remain. I really couldn't have made it through the year if it had not been for my family and friends. My friends were so great to reach out to me when I didn't have it in me to reach out for them. My family has always amazed me. We've always been close, but the loss of my brother-in-law brought a level of intimacy I never knew was possible. My church family remained my shelter. And while I declared to my girl friends that I didn't want to meet anyone, a handsome man came into my life and could not be ignored. God knew so much better than I did. He became such a rock and a refuge for me during these hard times. He was such a bright spot in such a dark time. Even though he's gone on to rejoin the Marines, and regardless of what may or may not happen with us in the future, I will always be grateful for what his presence in my life meant during the past year.

Losses also make you so very thankful for even the smallest of victories. While life brought lots of loss and disappointment, I found victory and temporary escape in football. The wins on the gridiron are in no way comparable to the losses I experienced. It was just nice to be a winner in some way, albeit a mere game. Alabama and the Titans both had phenominal winning seasons that were fun to watch and cheer on each weekend. Then came Monday nights, when I had the pleasure of taking the field with Hollywood, my co-ed flag football. I can't even begin to express how cathartic the football season was for me. It was an absolute joy to hit the field with such a great, fun team of folks. We found a great rhythm and balance of playing hard, playing to win and just having fun. I was actually glad that most week we had a shortage of girls to play because I enjoyed playing both sides of the ball. I wanted as much play time as I could get because I certainly had plenty of tension and stress that needed to be burned off. Football provided that outlet. I couldn't be more thankful. And I don't think Hollywood could have had much more fun than we did.

Then I also had the chance to reconnect with an old friend and with nature - another way in which God showed that He knew exactly what I needed. I was able to spend a few fall weekends surrounded by beautiful mountainsides ablaze with color, nights by campfires, and days exploring God's handiwork. I put more miles on my hiking boots, sat under a waterfall, swam in a cave, rappelled and ascended 200 feet into a pit with new friends. It reawakened a side of me that's been asleep for a while and will hopefully now provide a new drive and direction for the future.

So 2009 is finally here. To say that I'm thankful would be an understatement. It's going to be a good year. I'm determined to do whatever I can to make it such. I can't imagine how it could be any worse than 2008. I don't even want to think about it for fear of jinxing it. So, good riddance, 2008. Welcome, 2009. I look forward to all the wonderful things you will bring.