A Tribute of Sorts

So this may be something that should really be done on Sophie’s next birthday (four!), but I’m doing it now because I’m into it now. My friend Doyle actually showed me the video she made her husband for his first father’s day: a video of them together, her growing belly, and their beautiful, chubby, red-headed twin girls. The video started out with the Hawaiian version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (by Israel Kamakawiwo Ole and is also on the soundtrack of one of my favorite movies – “50 First Dates”) and I think I was about 0.2 seconds in when I absolutely lost it (the song alone is enough but its impact was heightened with the pics and video). I continued to bawl (happy tears) through the entire video. And then I stole her idea, and decided to make a tribute to my family—my little family, but a family nonetheless: me, Sophie and my parents, in honor of my parents’ birthdays (Tom’s was the 26th – last Saturday, and my mom’s is Friday, Aug. 1). I feel this is appropriate because even though FB “stuck” us all here in the Lou, I am ever grateful for my parents, their support, their physical closeness, and the fact that my daughter is lucky enough to have the opportunity to know them. I know I am lucky to have them.

I am going to show my parents the video this weekend when we celebrate both birthdays: (Click the link to view the video; it's almost 10 minutes long but the songs are really pretty and the lyrics are listed below)

A Tribute, of Sorts

Song 1: “Amazing” by Janelle
The morning cold and raining,
dark before the dawn could come
How long in twilight waiting
longing for the rising sun
ohoh ohoh Oh ooh

You came like crashing thunder
breaking through these walls of stone
You came with wide eyed wonder
into all this great unknown
ohoh ohoh Ohoooh Oohh

Hush now don't you be afraid
I promise you I'll always stay
I'll never be that far away
I'm right here with you

**[Chorus]
You're so amazing you shine like the stars
You're so amazing the beauty you are
You came blazing right into my heart
You're so amazing you are...
You are

You came from heaven shining
Breath of God still flows from fresh on you
The beating heart inside me
Crumbled at this one so new once i knew
ohoh ohoh Oooh ooohhh

No matter where or how far you wander
For a thousand years or longer
I will always be there for you
Right here with you

[Chorus]
You're so amazing you shine like the stars
You're so amazing the beauty you are
You came blazing right into my heart
You're so amazing you are...

I hope your tears are few and fast
I hope your dreams come true *at* and last
I hope you find love that goes on and on and on and on and on
I hope you wish on every star
I hope you never fall too far
I hope this world can see how wonderful you are

**[Chorus]
You're so amazing you shine like the stars
You're so amazing the beauty you are
You came blazing right into my heart
You're so amazing...

You're so amazing you shine like the stars
You're so amazing the beauty you are
You came blazing right into my heart
You're so amazing you are...
You are………Ooooooo

Song 2: “Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
I see trees of green........ red roses too
I see em bloom..... for me and for you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue..... clouds of white
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky
Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do
Theyre really sayin......i love you.

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow
Theyll learn much more.....than Ill never know
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world

(instrumental break)

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky
Are there on the faces.....of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do
Theyre really sayin...*spoken*(I ....love....you).

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow
*spoken*(you know their gonna learn
A whole lot more than Ill never know)
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself .......what a wonderful world.

Song 3: “Always” by Robert Scheffler
Time abides no bottle
Dreams sustain no pain
Tears have all their reasons to blame

And there's no time like the present
No dreams surpass what's real
And I believe in the way you make me feel

And so before another minute fades
May I propose a trade

If you give me what you have
In your heart to give
I will love you all your days
Just give me everything, I'll give you always
Give me everything, I will give you always

Give in where you're standing
Give in where I'm from
The hardest part is over and done

Now baby there's no magic
No secret to reveal
Beyond the way your touch can make me feel

Though emotions may complicate the terms
I offer them the same

If you give me what you have
In your heart to give
I will love you all your days
Just give me everything, I'll give you always
Give me everything, I will give you always

Though the future hesitates to show signs
To help us on our way
It's moments like these that bring to mind
Unlikely word to say… yes

If you give me what you have
In your heart to give
I will love you all your days
Just give me everything, I'll give you always
Give me everything, I will give you always
Give me everything, I will give you always