Anderson Starts 3rd Grade!

I know. I know. EVERY kid starts school. But not with the tradition Anderson and I do!

You see, every year he started a new grade, we have this special thing we do. And I hope it continues through grade 12. I think he'll be kind enough to humor his 48 year old mother then.

It's his breakfast!

Each 1st day of school starts the same: with a Happy Pancake!

This year he wants it with a '1st Day' on it. THAT was challenging but I figured it out!

Below you can see the pictures through the years...from Kindergarten all the way up to now!

It's amazing how time flies. Now, he picks out his own school clothes. He has the routine down, too. First breakfast, then brushing teeth, then clothes, then shoes...all without asking. Mom's help no longer needed except when he can't find his socks.

Parents, be active in your child's school life. Ask questions about their day, contact the teacher BEFORE the parent/teacher conference happens to see if there's anything you can do to help your child with their learning. CHECK THEIR HOMEWORK! Nothing's better than a child's face that lights up with a 'GOOD JOB!". These years are what helps them grow into the person they become. Set a good example of how they should treat THEIR children when they have them. And most of all, LOVE THEM! And show it as much as you can!

And here is the link to that wonderful poem Randy McCoy reads every year on B98.5 that makes me cry:

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well.

 

 

Anderson Visited Me at Work Today!

It's not every day your child asks 'Mama, can I go to work with you?"  And when they do, you can't wait to bring them!

But first, you must ask permission. And Anderson did just that! He said he would write a letter to Bob and ask. I presented it to Bob the next day and he approved the request. (You must do things through the proper channels.)

Today was the big day! I woke up Anderson and told him to look his best so he put on his church clothes....tie and all! If he ever works in an actual office, I think he's got the attire down.

After stopping at McDonald's for some pancakes (because you can't work on an empty stomach), we stepped into Kennebec Behavioral Health. I work in the Billing Department as a Billing Specialist. I really love my job because 1 + 1 ALWAYS equals 2! Everything is black & white. There really are no gray areas. You either get paid or you don't. Very few times do I ever have to worry about not figuring things out. 99% of the time there is always an answer.

After his big breakfast, our boss, Bob, brought in doughnuts from Tim Hortons. He offered Anderson first choice! Of course, he chose the one with the most sprinkles!

After all the food, it was time to get down to business! I told him that if he ever wanted to work in Billing, Bob needed to make sure he knew his numbers. So I gave him the test EVERY employee must take before being able to work in Billing. (wink wink) A test of addition and subtraction. Could he do it?

You better believe he could! 100%!!

 

I asked him if he knew what insurance was. He shook his head no. So I explained it to him like this:

You know how you visit the doctor or the chiropractor? Well, each time you see them, you are charged money. Would you like to pay them ALL the money?

He said no. Smart boy!

I told him that insurance is something you can buy through your work so they pay for almost all of it!

After that, I put him to work! I made him add up the columns in our report to make sure the computer system was adding them correctly. Never can be too sure, right?

When he was all done, he received a certificate!

I tell you, this kid will be ready for corporate America soon enough! He liked it so much he wants to come back! Maybe when he's old enough he can be a temp and do data entry. All I know is that he said when he gets older he wants a convertible. I told him he could start looking for a job at 15. When it comes to his financial future, I'm not worried.

What A Little Girl Told Me Last Night...And What I Said Back

I am very lucky. Every weekend I get to go and do something I absolutely love: SING! And to be compensated for that is awesome! Heck, most of the time I will sing for food.

I have been in bands since I was 17. Each one has been a unique experience. I've learned what to and not to do. What to say and what not to say. But the most important thing I've learned is how to treat people. You really find out who your friends are when things happen.

And kids are the most important people you can talk to. They are brutally honest. They will tell you what they DO like and, without a filter, what they DON'T like. And I take what they say into consideration. Everyone has an opinion.

But what one little girl told me last night really hit home.

When Sharon Hood & Dixon Road finished our gig at Lake Pemaquid Campground, a young lady named Jackie came up to me and said "You have an amazing voice. I wish I could do what you do but I get stagefright. I could never do that...I look up to you."

Oh, be still my heart.

I am but a medium-sized fish in a big pond. The band has a wonderful following for which I am truly thankful for. Each gig brings exciting new people into our lives.

And this exciting new little person was a beautiful soul.

It shows that I have a very important job to do. With all the media that kids are watching (tv, YouTube, the internet in general), they are exposed to so much. Most children at that certain age (10-12) have never been to an actual concert so when they see me it's the first concert they've ever been to. (They are REALLY wanting Taylor Swift but they get me instead!) And I have a responsibility to give them a great performance.

It is also my responsibility to be a role model. There are some stars out there who do things on stage that I would NEVER let MY children see (I think you know who I'm talking about). And I wouldn't be caught dead doing ANYTHING they do. Now is the time when kids soak up every picture, every song, every action of their favorite artists. It's that kind of time we live in.

So when this young, beautiful girl with big bright eyes says something like that to me, it's my responsibility to talk with her. To, hopefully, tell her the right things.

And this is what I told her:

I told her thank you very much and that I was glad she enjoyed the show. I also told her that she CAN do what I do. You see, every gig I have I'm a little nervous before the show starts. If I wasn't a little nervous, I wouldn't be human. Everyone wants to give a great performance. Who likes to mess up? After I get up on stage and that first song is over, I feel much better and the show goes on as usual.

I told her that if she likes to sing, STICK WITH IT! If it is something you love, why give it up? Why let something stop you? She could be the next winner of American Idol or The Voice! All it takes is practice. And lots of it. I've been singing since I could walk. Practice may not make perfect but it sure as heck makes you better.

I told her that next year, because her family are seasonal campers and hope to be back next year, that we would have her on stage with us. Her eyes got really big at that point! There are songs we do that she already knows. Why not? Someone let me take the stage for the first time. It's my turn to do that for someone else.

In 7th grade, I was told by my teacher that I was ugly and couldn't sing so why try out for the school musical? That hurt me so much. But it didn't stop me. I kept at it and joined chorus in high school. I was discovered to be a natural harmonizer which I love doing. I was cultivated by people who saw something in me and helped me get better. I surrounded myself with people like me who love music and everything about it.

I may never get to the level of Taylor, Carrie or Miranda but I CAN do what I love. I still have the same dream...it's just coming true in a different way. There is still time for my original dream to come true. All I can do is keep working towards it, surround myself with people with the same dream and be happy. Now, I am writing my own music and bringing it to life with 4 great friends and a husband and family that support my dream. Maybe my voice will never be heard across the country but maybe, just maybe, my songs will.

To Jackie at Lake Pemaquid Campground...NEVER give up on your dreams! NEVER let anyone say you're not good enough! NEVER let other people tear you down just to lift themselves back up. NEVER let yourself forget that YOU are an original. NEVER try to be someone you're not. YOU deserve to be happy. YOU have the right to dream any dream you like and strive to make it come true.

And I hope it does. I truly hope it does.

A Mother's Work is Never Done...Even When She's AT Work!

We moms have a lot to do. It begins in the morning with making the bed, making breakfast, laundry, dishes and so much more before heading off to work. For example, reminding the kids to brush their teeth in the morning. In Summertime, sometimes kids are forgetful. Wouldn't you be with 3 months off to play? But, the dutiful and sometimes overbearing moms we are, we don't let them forget.

We're just being moms.

Well, last night as we were all getting ready for bed, Anderson poked his head over the railing and he had a blue object in his hand.

Last week, Aunt Wendy was able to stay with the kids while we were away on our honeymoon. And Aunt Wendy is tons of fun! I had left her a few certificates to take the kids to The Fun Park in Benton as a way to get out and not have to be home all the time. While there, they played mini golf, the batting cages and rode the go-karts. Inside they have Teddy Mountain where you can make your own stuffed animals. That's where Anderson got his stuffed Pumpkin and Beanie, who look like our cats.

While at The Fun Park, they stopped at the claw machine. Wendy had just enough money for each of them to take a turn. Brad went first and, unfortunately, couldn't grab anything. Anderson got lucky, though. He won a light blue rhinoceros! And he has slept with it ever since.

Last night, that blue object in his hand was that rhinoceros. He asked me to fix him. You see, the rhino had a hole in the back where the stitching had come undone. I told him to toss it down and I would fix it for tomorrow.

This morning the rhino went to work with me. And with help from Kathy at the front desk and Barbara down the hall, we came up with a sewing kit and needle. While spending 1:32:08 on the phone (most of it on hold) with an insurance company trying to get claims paid, I took out the kit and sewed him back together. It was a great stress reliever. It can get very frustrating when you work so hard on a patient's behalf and the insurance company can't seem to see what you're seeing. Luckily, the rhino was fixed and the rep was able to help me in a big way.

I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees the little blue stuffed animal come through the door, all fixed, like new and waiting for a hug.

A mom's work at 4:45....shall be done. At least for a little while....

Best Out of Office Message Ever!!!

I had to do it....I just had to!!!

 

At least I have a sense of humor...and my coworkers do, too! Everyone have a fantastic week!

 

 

Our Wedding and Thompson Square....Part 1

A year of planning is finished and Saturday Chad and I became husband and wife when we took our vows at the Belgrade Community Center for All Seasons in front of our family and friends.

And we have truly been blessed.

I have never felt such an outpouring of love come our way. In the early days people were calling us 'Blake and Miranda' because of our love of music and how it brought us together. It kind of helped we were singing their songs, too.

Now, Thompson Square is a huge part of our lives. The country duo is married and each gets to make music every day with the one they love. Their song 'Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not' holds a special place in our hearts. We are both HUGE fans of David Lee Murphy and he co-wrote the song. It came out in February of 2011 and our relationship didn't start until December of 2011.

You see, I had traveled to Chad's workplace (a 45 minute drive) to have lunch with him a few days a week. We would either sit in my car or in his and talk for the hour while we ate. BOTH of us were wondering when THE kiss was going to happen. Well, I finally couldn't help myself and I kissed him.

 

"It was the best dang kiss that I ever had
Except for that long one after that"

Ever since then that song has reminded us of that day. And we've never looked back.

I was happy with the way our life was. Chad had made the permanent move to Clinton. I wasn't pushing for a ring. But he sent me a text on February 27, 2012, while he was at work that asked me "What are you doing 6/14/14?' I answered "I probably have a gig." He said "It's a good day to get married." He told me it wouldn't be official until there was a ring on my finger. So for a long time we kept it a secret.

"And I knew if I wanted this thing to last
Sooner or later I'd have to ask for your hand"

May 11, 2013, at the Clubhouse Tavern at the Maple Lane Golf Course, we sang our song together and he proposed. What a surprise. He told me we were singing it for his mom on Mother's Day which was the next day. But he had me totally in the dark about the entire thing. Video was taken, pictures were snapped and suddenly, I was engaged to Chad Hood.

 

"So I took a chance
Bought a wedding band and I got down on one knee
And you smiled and said to me
"Are you gonna kiss me or not?

Are we gonna do this or what?
I think you know I love you a lot
I think we've got a real good shot
Are you gonna kiss me or not?"

 

So, we planned it all out for the middle of June
From the wedding cake to the honeymoon"

And we did. Chad made all the decisions. I'm a Libra so I am not good at deciding on anything. He really is my other half. He picked out the colors, cake, flowers, cake topper, dress, suits, invitations and now the honeymoon: Nashville, Tennessee.

He is NOT a planner. He is more of a fly by the seat of your pants kind of guy. I'M a planner. So we did a little of both. We had the IDEAS of what we wanted to do, and we headed out!

We hit Hunter Mountain, New York, for the Taste of Country Music Festival. We got our wristbands and met up for the meet & greet. We were so nervous. It was crazy. We have met people before but it's life we knew them. Chad even downloaded their albums for us to listen to on the way down. 

We were waiting and we saw them upstairs and doing an interview. When it came time to meet them, we brought with us our wedding invitation for them to see. We shook hands with each of them. We told them we just got married yesterday and they congratulated us. And then Shawna said something that blew us away...."Ya'll were the ones that sent us the video!"

She remembered us!!

We couldn't believe it. They signed our invitation and we said thank you. Then we took the picture! 

We were given VIP seats, too! Shawna saw us in the crowd and waved to us. And their last song was our song. 

What an incredible day! What a fabulous weekend. Can't wait for our next adventure!!!

Sharon Buck & Dixon Road Record Album

Has it really happened? Is my dream of almost 20 years really coming true?

 

You bet it is!

The last few years of my life I have been writing songs. Not knowing if they were good enough. Not knowing if they even made sense. Wondering at all if anyone would want to give them a listen. After recording 'Good Ol' Country Boys' a few years ago and the response from the fans, I was inspired to do more. Now, with the encouragement from my wonderful husband-to-be, my songs are being given life.

 

Dixon Road is more than just a country band that does cover songs. The men of Dixon Road, Ed Nevins, Eddie Boudreau, Bruce Burpee and Craig Stutzman, have become my best friends that see potential in me, our band, the songs and where our band can go. They tell me when something doesn't sound right, they tell me when it's rockin' and they tell me they are happy.

 

Last night in the studio with Brad Truman of B & R Studios, we laid down the vocal tracks, including background vocals, for 2 out of 5 songs. So, it's not done YET...I have to go back next Thursday and finish laying down the vocals for the other 3. Things are coming together and we are hoping to have it ready for our concert with B98.5's Waterfront Wednesday on June 25th.

 

Here are some of the pics from last night.

 

Thank you all so much for believing in us.

 

You've been anxiously waiting for the album and it is becoming a reality. All thanks to you because, without you, we wouldn't be anywhere! You, who come out to all our shows, buy our tshirts and bumper stickers, tell new places about us and get us booked without our even knowing.... YOU are the amazing part of us.

 

This is for you an anyone who has ever wanted a dream to come true.