Our Soundtrack

On November 21st John and I celebrated our 11th year of marriage. With the craziness of my job, his unemployment, battling the flu, Thanksgiving, etc, we really didn't do much to celebrate. That is OK with me because we celebrate us all the time, whenever we can, not just one day a year, and that is actually the way I prefer it.

November 21st, 1998, we signed up to a life devoted life to one another, we declared we would beat the odds, prove people wrong, grow together, start a family, laugh, live and share. We have done that all these years and I look forward to continuing it. Him and I, Mr. and Mrs. Lara, and I like the sound of that. (so much so, that maybe I will finally make that my official name in the 12th year)

One thing that I did do for our anniversary, on my own, was take a tour of us in my mind, just personally reminiscing. Funny how every memory can be set to a song almost, if you pay close attention. Whether it be a song on the radio, a download on the Ipod or part of our CD collection, it dawned on me that without meaning to, we have set our entire lives to music. After so many years together a song will come on and it will take me back to when John and I ........... or we heard that when we went to..........etc. Funny how you may not notice that your mind captured that note, but it does, and it uses those notes to take you back every time.

There are many, many, that I can add to this list, but these are some of my highlights. It was so hard to just pick one for each year, so sometimes there are more. They may not hold too much meaning here in writing, but each one makes me smile or shed a tear. Each song takes me back to a place I want to be able to revisit whenever I wish. Most of these stick out in my mind because I relate them to something. Though not my favorite thing to listen to, a lot of these are country songs. Country songs contain great stories and lyrics and somehow apply really well. Each song different, each a part of our personal soundtrack.

1998 From This Moment- Shania Twain
Our wedding song. We had just left Miami and move with my family to the mountains of NC, so we opted for a country song, with PERFECT lyrics.

1999 Miami- Wil Smith
We missed home, A LOT, when this song was released. We were determined to make NC our new home anyway though. In 98 we moved from Miami, FL to the mountains of NC. We then relocated from the mountains of NC to Cary, NC. We still miss Miami, but love where we now call home.

2000 Steal My Kisses- Ben Harper
Though one of his "poppier" tunes, this is the song that introduced us to Ben Harper. We went to his concert in 2000 by chance and Harper had so much more to offer. It was a great show, and we became big fans on that night. The second line of the song says:
"And since your headin' up to Carolina, You know I'm gonna be right there behind you" I hold that line so near to my heart, because had John not decided to drop and leave everything behind for me, we would not be where we are today. I did head to Carolina, and he was right there behind me. I wonder if he knows that is why I actually love this song?

2001 Bring on the Rain- Jo Dee Messina (with Tim Mcgraw)
An amazing and powerful song. Can't rain be so therapeutic and cleansing? 2001 was probably our bumpiest year and this quickly became my anthem. Great song to let out some tears to, wipe them off your face, and get back up feeling empowered. Some of 2000 and 2001 are years I thought I would always want to soon forget, but now I realize it is part of who we are today. Much to my surprise, I don't think I would trade it.

2002 Amazed- Lonestar
After a year and a half of hard emotional times things were definitely getting better. John sang this song to me once, and I melted. He sings this one well at karaoke and such. Always gives me the butterflies in the stomach feeling. Never thought I could feel that special and that is what this song is, special! Speaking of special, this year gets 2 songs. My cousin got married in June of 2002 and his wedding song was Its Your Love- Tim Mcgraw and Faith Hill. John and I gave each other a look when it came on because it is another "special" one. Another one that reminds me of us. It was a great night and a beautiful sea side Miami wedding.

2003 The Day (You Gave Me a Son)- Babyface
Tyler Jon Lara was born 06/18/2003, so this year gets several songs. First child, big year! The Babyface one above, if you have a son yourself, this one may make you tear up. There is no greater gift than a child, when I hear this I am reminded that I had a part in his making, well I know, a BIG part, but the thing is I am just so thankful for him (all my kids) that I don't really think of it that way. I love that I was able to give Mr. Lara a son. John always makes us video collages, and he made one of Tyler for his first year. It was from the day he was born throughout that first awesome year, and it was set to When I See You Smile- Bad English, and that disc makes us both cry, every time. John says this song is how he felt about Tyler that entire first year, and this oldie is so meaningful now. Really, if you don't take the time to read any of these lyrics, do look back at this one. Last but not least, Danny's Song- Kenny Loggins. Yes, weird, I know, but this is what I sang to Tyler when he was a baby, for whatever reason, mainly the part that says: "In the mornin' when I rise Bring a tear of joy to my eyes And tell me everything's gonna be all right". While John sang mainly the Winnie the Pooh song, ha.

2004 No Women No Cry- Bob Marley
Genesis Nicole Lara was born 08/06/2004. Another BIG year! Gen was a big cry baby, really big, always mad about something. I think she cried that entire first year. Naturally, John would sing some Marley to her at 3AM, whatever worked, but seeing him rock and sing this to her was the best part of my day sometimes; even through the tears and sleepless nights. In 2004, John, Tyler and I moved into our first home three months before Gen was born. Of course, I have a song that in a twisted way reminds me of that too. It is a silly song that I used to like because I thought it was so funny, it is Itty Bitty- Alan Jackson, but for this year, that song seemed appropriate, 2004 was a great year!

2005 You and Me- Lifehouse This is right about when life started to go really, really fast for us. A blur almost. Lifehouse I really enjoy, and this song brings me back to what mattered. Nothing can make time sit still for me and restore my being like John can. This song is a good reminder of my safe place. There is actually one more Lifehouse song that John and I like, and this one too helps me keep my head in a great place, Hanging by a Moment- Lifehouse. When Tyler was a toddler he loved the movie Shark Tale, and the Bob Marley song, Three Little Birds , you know the one that says "every little thing is gonna be allright", nice simple song, and it makes all of us feel good!

2006 100 Years- Five for Fighting, Talk about a whirl wind, John turned 30 in 06. He didn't really take that so well. He never mentions, but I see the wheels turning when he hears this song. He really likes it and I feel like he relates to it. We both love this one, and it is just a reminder to cherish every moment. John also loves the song Its a Great Day to Be Alive- Travis Trit, everyone needs a feel good song or two, more so when you are turning 30 I suppose.

2007 In My Daughters Eyes- Martina McBride Isabella Grace Lara made her debut into our lives on 11/29/07. We now had two daughters! It was some kind of awakening! 2007 was all about daughters, and the shock that somehow we now had TWO, and that now it was my turn to be 30! When I was pregnant with Bella, and I was about to have my birthday, we went to go see Knocked Up, this movie hit home with everything going on in it, kind of like I was there, and at the end of the movie, the song was Loudon Wainwright's - Daughter, I loved it. The "daughter" songs were everywhere! This Martina McBride one I loved even before I met Bells, but wow, it is incredible. Every single line of this song TRUE and applicable for me, pretty wonderful lyrics. Then there is Daughters- John Mayer, My Little Girl, Tim McGraw, (which is also on the soundtrack to one of Gen's favorite movies Flicka), Cinderella- Steven Curtis Chapman, (such a sweet and true song).

2008 Somewhere Over the Rainbow- Iz and Everything- Michael Buble Nothing is better than belting out some tunes while in the car with the kids! Gen is quite the singer. It melts my heart to hear her sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow at the top of her lungs, especially this version, and when Tyler jumps in to join her, it is so cute! We also sing Everything together a lot. John came home one day in 2008, so eager to play a song for me, you can read the details here, and the song was Everything, it made him tear up, I will never forget that, and all of the Lara's love this song.

2009 Remember When- Alan Jackson That's what I did this past week...I remembered when. This song tells a lot of our story, with the exception of one thing it is all accurate, and true. There is not much to it but it leaves me kind of speechless. It is amazing when a song can do that. We have lived every verse of this song, and we are currently working on the last verse. I guess we will always be working on that. In the mean time, the sound of little feet is still the music we dance to week to week. The best part is that we get to dance together.

I love you Mr. Lara, Thanks for always playing our song. Happy Anniversary!