Keep Reaching For the Sky! The Glory's in the Climbing...

I can't believe it! I don't know how this happened so quickly but my baby brother just graduated from High School today!! 💓😭

Ugh! This is wild! Isn't he still only like 10?? How is he 18 and graduating!? My brother is seriously the sweetest, kindest, funniest, happiest, just all around greatest young man you will ever meet! He's special. The caboose of our family. We wouldn't be complete without him. He's definitely my parents favorite child 😉 and it's easy to see why. He's always happy and relaxed. He's willing to help out and participate in whatever's going on. He's loving and tender, always has a hug for his mama. He treats all the women in his life with the utmost love and respect! He's just good. There need to be more young men like him. I'm totally flexing that I have the coolest little brother, haha. But it's true! He and I have a very sweet and special bond. A couple months ago, due to busy schedules I hadn't seen him all day. That night when I came out of the bathroom after getting ready for bed he happened to be in the hall and he just came over and hugged me and was like "I haven't seen you all day!" It's making me tear up thinking about that. Or another time when I was watching my niece and nephew and after I finally got them in bed I came upstairs and he came and hugged me and was like "You deserve a break!" To make this even sweeter, his friends were in the kitchen! What teenager does something like that in front of their friends!? Speaking of our niece and nephew, he is by far their favorite uncle! My nephew told me that today actually, haha. And my niece ADORES him! She gets so smiley and giggly when he's around. It's adorable! I'm going to miss seeing him every day. I'm going to miss watching our shows together while eating popcorn (we're addicts! lol). Going on walks and bike rides. Playing games. Making treats in the kitchen. His sense of humor. Running errands while blasting our tunes. I hate change. 😞 But I'm so proud of him! Not only because of this milestone accomplishment in his young life but I'm proud of the person he is and is becoming. I love you so much baby bro!! 💖 Never change!!

I've got a whole bunch of, fittingly, Hanson songs I want to dedicate to him today because he means so much to me and his future is so bright! He's going to change the world!!

The first song is one I can't share but I thought of him instantly the very first time I heard it. It's from Hanson's latest members EP White Rabbit and it's entitled Climb 🌄🧗 Since I can't post the actual song, enjoy these beautiful lyrics.

I’ve been chasing down the future

And I’ve lived feels like, more than once or twice

I’ve been just trying to find the answers

Now I know that youth is lost to make us wise

The glory's in the climbing

The story's in your cold and steely eyes

It’s all about the climbing

Scratching and scraping just to face your fear of heights

Be careful not to climb too fast

I’ve seen, far too much to forget

And you’ve been right there through it all

To the outside your small, but you’ve been racing to get tall,

And I know one day you’ll reach, the peaks I never saw

But the glory's in the climbing

And the story's in your cold and steely eyes

It’s all about the climbing

Scratching and scraping just to face your fear of heights

I’ve been holding my roses

Hoping they won’t wilt away

But my garden seed’s growing

Meant to bloom another day

From the high seat, they are all breathtaking valleys

And I long for, the finer days down there

But I know the heights have taught me one thing

Every peak that you reach, it’s the climb that brings you there

The glory's in the climbing

The story's in your cold and steely eyes

It’s all about the climbing

Scratching and scraping just to face your fear of heights

Be careful not to climb too fast

Reaching for the Sky Part 1

I love how hopeful this song is. It reminds me of the child we all once were. Where nothing could deter us. I can remember my baby brother this way. As a baby without a care in the world. Now, I see him trying to make decisions for his future and the stress and confusion that comes along with that. I hope he keeps "reaching." That he doesn't get overwhelmed with the future, but he embraces it with the fearless heart and determination of a child. 🌟

There's a boy I used to know

He was always searching high and low

Others looked and wondered why

He said I am reaching for the sky

They say good will come to those who wait

Don't think too big, just know your place

People don't belong in clouds or space

It's just an empty quest for ego's sake

He said I am reaching for the sky

'Cause I have to know how high it goes

While others they won't even try

I'll be reaching for the sky

Do the stars shine brighter there?

Can you really walk on air?

If other men have touched the moon

Then Saturn's rings could be mine soon

He said I am reaching for the sky

'Cause I have to know how high it goes

While others they won't even try

I'll be reaching for the sky

Dream It, Do It

Such an empowering statement! Very similar to the Walt Disney quote: "If you can dream it, you can do it!" One line that especially sticks out to me in this song is "This is the line drawn in the sand that turns a boy into a man" 😌 I am seeing that happen right now. I am seeing the growth and maturity in this boy who has always been "my little brother." He's not so little anymore! He's a man now! It's hard to accept that reality honestly. I want him to stay "little" and happy and carefree forever. Go for you're dreams bro! If anyone can achieve them, it's you! 🤍

These are the days that turn into nights

And the heart and the hands

That won't give up the fight

This is the line drawn in the sand

That turns a boy into a man

These are the songs for the world to sing

And the stories that show you

What you've never seen

This is the search that will never stop

And the bridge that will take you far away

If you can dream it

Then you can do it

If you can dream it

Then you can do it

If you can dream it

Then you can do it

These are the songs for the world to sing

And the stories that show you

What you've never seen

This is the line drawn in the sand

That turns a boy into a man

If you can dream it

Then you can do it

You've got to hold on tight

Don't want to lose it

If you can dream it

Then you can do it

You've got to hold on tight

And you can do it

Chasing Down My Dreams

This song ties in nicely with Dream It, Do It. It's just a positive, feel-good type song that I think everyone needs to listen to once in a while. 😊

Now that I've started, ooh, there's nothing standing in my way

Leaving Omaha, with my grey guitar just to play

After I have departed, tell them I just wanna sing like Elvis

He changed the whole world, before twenty three

And I hear it in the morning, and I see it in my dreams

I'm not waiting any longer, I'm not waiting to begin

Ooh, I'll be chasing down my dreams

Give your friends my regards, cause I'm not gonna stick around anymore

I am off to find my fortune and my fame

Oh, my only regret, is that you're not going my way

When I change the world you're the perfect girl for the man I'm gonna be

Ooh, I'll be chasing down my dreams

I'm not waiting (I'm not waiting)

I'm not waiting (I'll be chasing)

I'm not waiting (I'm not waiting)

I'm not waiting anymore

Ooh, I'll be chasing down my dreams

Reaching For the Sky Part 2

The drama at the beginning of this song! 🤩 It's so epic! A beautiful reminder to keep dreaming, keep chasing, keep reaching. Keep climbing those ladders; one rung at a time. You'll make it. You definitley get a sense of growth that has come with being worn down and beaten up a bit. But then there's that hope. That light. "I'll still be reaching on my dying day." Never give up!

As the boy grew to a man

He built tall ladders to ascend

And those around him said with spite

Risk of failure isn't worth the fight

But he never gave up power

To the sound of fear or twist of fate

He didn't care how long it took

I'll still be reaching on my dying day

'Cause I can't tell my heart don't try

I'll keep reaching for the sky

I am reaching for the sky

I Was Born

The most uplifting and inspiring song to dedicate to someone who is just beginning! And to remind yourself of for the rest of your life when you feel like you're blending in and have nothing of value. To my little brother, you were born to do GREAT things! There is truly no one like you. As cliche' as it sounds, it's the honest truth. I'm so proud of you and can't wait to see what you're future holds!! 💗

A slice of the moon is my patch of green

I don't want a ticket to the same routine

I want to see the sights unseen

I want the extra-ordinary

Everybody's waking to the same clock

I could never be another chip off the block

'Cause I was born to do something

No one's ever done, no one's ever done before

I was born to go somewhere

No one's ever gone, no one's ever gone before

I was born to be someone

No one's ever been, no one's ever been before, oh

Don't need a map, I can't be directed

I've got a madness, don't need the method

My heart is a weapon and my mind's electric

I'll shock the world when you least expect it

Everybody's betting on the big guy

But don't underestimate the sting of the butterfly, oh

'Cause I was born to do something

No one's ever done, no one's ever done before

I was born to go somewhere

No one's ever gone, no one's ever gone before

I was born to be someone

No one's ever been, no one's ever been before

Before

There's a road out in front of me

Nobody can see

I'm paving it as I go

Gonna take it wherever it leads

'Cause I want to be somewhere no one has been before

I was born to do

I was born to go

I was born to be

Someone, oh

And I was born to do something

No one's ever done, no one's ever done before

I was born to go somewhere

No one's ever gone, no one's ever gone before

I was born to be someone

No one's ever been

I was born to do

I was born to go

I was born to be someone

No one's ever been, no one's ever been before

Tonight

Full circle moment here. I dedicated this song to my sister on her graduation day (7 years ago!). And now, here I am dedicating it to my last and final sibling. It's bittersweet. This song has been a go-to for me when it comes to "new beginnings" and "fresh starts." "Tonight is the first night, tonight is the last night. Don't care what has come before, tomorrow's an open door." The rest of your life starts now little brother! Chase down your dreams and "don't give up without a fight!" I believe in you! Thank you for inspiring me for so many years! Here's to many, many more!! Let's head into the future, together.

Tonight is the first night

Tonight is the last night

Don’t care what has come before

Tomorrow’s an open door

So box to the ropes and jump in the crowd

Throw up your hands and sing it out loud

Oh, tonight

Well it might be a shame and you might be disheartened

To be back on the rocks this time around

I’ve seen the sunshine and I’ve seen the rain

When you walk the line brilliance can sound insane

But tonight is the first night

Tonight is the last night

Don’t care what has come before

Tomorrow’s an open door

So box to the ropes and jump in the crowd

Throw up your hands and sing it out loud

And say what you mean and mean what you say

And tonight

Chase down the dream and don’t give up without a fight

And don’t wait for tomorrow’s daylight

‘Cause it just might be tonight

When you’re too tired to walk and too scared to run

And your heavyweight knees buckle under a ton

Blue sky visions turn into a storm

I’ve got suspicions you won’t make it one more

Well there’s no silver lining, there’s nothing to lose

So don’t wait for tomorrow

Don’t wait for tomorrow

‘Cause tonight is the first night

Tonight is the last night

Don’t care what has come before

Tomorrow’s an open door

So box to the ropes and jump in the crowd

Throw up your hands and sing it out loud

Oh, tonight

Say what you mean and mean what you say

And tonight

Chase down the dream and don’t give up without a fight

And don’t wait for tomorrow’s daylight

‘Cause it just might be tonight

Don’t wait for tomorrow