Professionals as Olympians

most of you know how much I love short track speed skating well today I wanted to share my opinion on professional athletes that are highly paid wanting to be in the Olympics.I have always loved the Olympics , the first Olympics I watched were the Winter games of 1984 I was 6.5 yrs old.I remember my heart swelling with pride as I watched the athletes proudly dressed to represent their countries march in.The other memory I have of those games was seeing Scott Hamilton win his Gold medal in figure skating.These memories shaped my love for the movement.Now I mostly follow short track speedskating but I will be watching the London games too.But as we ready for the games I wanted to note that I find it annoying that all these professional athletes want to be part of the movement but they also want to get paid. I feel they are taking away from the amateur athletes who have bled,sweated and cried to participate in their lifelong dream of being an Olympian.These athletes deserve to have their spotlight.So proud of all the Olympic athletes here's to you.

Little Hero

As I prepare to release Little Hero tonight I wanted to share a little bit about the inspiration.The song was written about our youngest child Joshua .He was born with a genetic syndrome called Goldenhar syndrome.We aren't really sure why he was born the way he was but we do know one thing our lives have been forever brightened by this little angel.Characteristics of Goldenhar are most notably children with microtia and aural atresia.In laymens terms he has a little malformed ear on his left side and most of his inner eat bones are missing or in Joshuas case out of place.Joshua will face 2 surgeries that we know of in the future. Thank you Joshua for being such a gift and for showing you mama the true meaning of perfect.

Happy Cloth Diapering Week

I love cloth diapering I love feeling like I am impacting my planet in a positive way .I do use sposies some but for the most part Josh boy is cloth diapered.So happy cloth diapering week.Next blog I am gonna talk about Mama cloth love yes there is such a thing and I have jumped on the bandwagon.

Til We see You Again 100 Monkeys

I need to blog about this too.Just adding my two cents.I fell head over heels in love with this band.
I needed their music at a time when my own music career was stagnate.I had been dealing with all these life events in the last 3 years and I was on this downward spiral.Losing my grandmother,having a very difficult pregnancy and then being blessed with the gift(yes it is a gift because I am learning new things) of raising a child with very specific needs,and finally almost losing someone very special to me last June all contributed to this.
I started falling in love last fall but I didn't really realize my passion for this band til January.
In March came the shock that Jerad Anderson and Jackson Rathbone were leaving and this last week we have come to know that the talented Uncle Larry had decided to move on too.We also learned that there were also no longer going to be 100 Monkeys.The shock might be wearing off just a little.I am still saddened by all the turn of events but what I really want to say is.
I don't think we need to blame the band.I think and I have thought for a long time that it is the people behind the band to blame.Before you go knocking Jackson Rathbone down as the one who caused it all remember that he is a person just like the rest of us and he has feelings as well.I was mad said some things I really regret on Twitter and now wish I could apologize for calling Jackson an asshole.He isn't he is simply walking thru some major hurt and had to make some decisions that he felt needed to be made.Regardless of what those reasons are I still massively love him for the talented ,quirky artist he is.For the artist he inspires me to be but mostly for being one of my musical influences.Keep on rocking dude and get ready for the ride of your life when that little boy makes his appearance soon.To the other members ~Jerad holy cow I greatly admire what you are doing with Watchbox.Thanks for putting a site up that I can watch good movies on.Ben J. for being quietly you and yet so talented many many great things are coming from you .Ben G.I have truely never heard a voice like yours and it inspires me so deeply I can't really say.Looking forward to more.To the talent that is Lawrence Abrams where do you begin your passion and your fire for creating run deep and I know we would be kindred spirits instantly if we sat down to talk.
Finally I want to say welcome to Rob Coonrod and Mat Black .I hope you know what you have gotten yourselves into this crazy ride is like no other .Peace out and Long Live 100 Monkeys and now the Band With No Name.

Being a Musician and Mom

I have had alot of people ask me what it is like being a musician and a mom or more specifically being a musician with a child that is hearing impaired.The fact is straight up all three of my kids inspire me in different ways.Right now my girls are being bullied alot for standing on their own two feet and being who they are as individuals.Larissa especially has gotten bullied because she has the guts to get up and sing an original song she wrote herself at 9 years old.She did so recently at a girl scout talent show and constantly sings on the playground she says she does her best writing there.So what if she sings girl has a love for country music she credits Jennette McCurdy of iCarly and her mama.I am one proud mama.She is going places look out you will probably see her name somewhere.
Natalie oh where to begin .The girl loves pop music or I should say all things Justin Bieber.One of the things I didn't care for growing up is that I wasn't allowed to listen to anything but Christian music.Thats all fine and good but I felt a little sheltered.As I grew up I would sneak the music in I knew what I had to do to be truely inspired as I learned my craft.Yes I was learning.I promise never to restrict your love of music Natalie Joy even if mama is not the biggest fan of Justin Bieber he has worked major hard to get where he is.
Josh oh Josh where to begin.That little boy has my heart and yes he is somewhat of a mama's boy.
Josh had a challenge from the moment he was born with having a rare genetic condition that was not diagnosed before birth.Joshua lives with Goldenhar and in particular one sided deafness everyday.I can't imagine a world where I could only hear a little but Josh has adapted.The kid has a gift for music at just 2 years old.He can drum a perfect beat I predict we will be the parents with a kid in a rock band and thats okay .To my beautiful inspirations keep rocking on.Mama loves you