Songs that Help Me Through the Rough Times in LIfe

On April 7, 2001 my life was changed, my best friend died. My best friend was my Grandpa Jerry. Ever since that day I have found songs that I listen to that get me through the rough times. I recommend these songs to anyone who has lost someone close to them. They really bring me up when I’m down and I hope they do the same to you. These songs are a reminder that they are sill with you everyday and are your guardian angels.

I’m Already There- Lonestar
“I'm already there
Take a look around
I'm the sunshine in your hair
I'm the shadow on the ground

I'm the whisper in the wind
I'm your imaginary friend
And I know, I'm in your prayers
Oh I'm already there”

This song was played at my grandpa’s funeral. It reminds me that no matter where I am he is always with me. When I am feeling down, stressed, or just need encouragement I listen to this song. It reminds me that no matter what my grandpa will protect me and make every thing happen right.


If Heaven Wasn’t so Far Away- Justin Moore

“If heaven wasn't so far away
I'd pack up the kids and go for the day
Introduce them to their grandpa
Watch 'em laugh at the way he talks
I'd find my long lost cousin John
The one we left back in Vietnam
Show him a picture of his daughter now
She's a doctor and he'd be proud
Then tell him we'd be back in a couple of days
In the rear view mirror we'd all watch 'em wave
Yeah, and losing them wouldn't be so hard to take
If heaven wasn't so far away”

This song explains everything I wish I could do. If I could drive to heaven everyday to see my loved ones who have passed away I would. It is hard to do the same family activities that you have done for so many years with them  then one of your loved ones pass away as you go to do the family activities  the same way and they are gone it is so different. Life would be so much easier if we could still see them after there time has come to leave earth and become and angel in heaven.


The Impossible- Joe Nichols

“Unsinkable ships, sink
Unbreakable walls, break
Sometimes the things you think would never happen
Happen just like that
Unbendable steel, bends
If the fury of the wind is unstoppable
I've learned to never underestimate
The impossible”

This song explains the way I looked at my grandpa. Nothing could hurt him or break his kind spirit. I always believed as a child that my grandpa would never sick or die. I thought he was always going to be there for me when I needed him. He started to become sicker the cancer started to take over his body. I didn’t think cancer would affect him because of how he recovered from his open heart surgeries, hernia surgeries, and all the radiation he went through. I thought it was impossible for him to die. I was wrong this song explains not to underestimate things because of certain things say. After my grandpas heart surgery the doctor said that he would be fine. The doctor was wrong. The first doctor who took a x-ray of my grandpas head missed a very important piece to the puzzle. The doctor missed the brain tumor. It took a second doctor to catch it and by that time is was to late. The doctor’s always told me my grandpa was a strong man. The doctors were telling the truth. Then one day grandpa could not be strong anymore. It was his time to go, his time to take on a new life and be strong again up in heaven and take on new duties in life such as, watch over me. Recently my great grandpa passed away. He was 85. I didn’t think he would die either. He served our country for many years. He fought in World War II and the Korean War. When he retired from the military services he went on to being a highway portal man for 15 years. After hearing all the war stories he told us I thought he was invincible until his health started going down hill. The last time I saw him was Thanksgiving two weeks later I was at the side of his casket. I never thought that would to him because of what he accomplished in his life time. Never think the unthinkable because even if someone is as strong as my Grandpa Jerry and my Great Grandpa Sassenrath no one can be strong forever and eventually the impossible happens.


Wind Beneath my Wings- Bette Midler

“Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.”

This is a good song if you are upset and you want a reminder that they are always with you. My grandpa’s were my hero’s. They both served our country and kept us safe. They were always there to pick me back up when I was down and now that they are gone this song helps me get back on my feet because they are always watching over me.


Grandpa Told Me So- Kenny Chesney

“He said life is made for you to live
The best love is the love that you give
There'll be times when you wanna hold on but you gotta let go
And I live by those words 'cause Grandpa told me so”

This song helps me stay positive through out the year because when I get down I just think about what Grandpa Jerry told me. “Everything happens for a reason change what you can and what you can’t don’t waist your time trying.” When I get stressed or upset about something grandma always tells me to remember what grandpa told you. This saying helps me through a lot of problems and just because the loved ones who have passed are not physically here they are still here in spirit and can still help and guide you through life’s obstacles.

I don’t always listen to these songs to cry. I listen to them for inspiration and encouragement. I listen to them to remind me of all the good times I had with my grandpa’s. These songs bring me up when I down. I hope they help you the same way they help me whether it’s helping you get through a difficult situation or bringing you wonderful memories. R.I.P. Grandpa Jerry and Great Grandpa Sassenrath.

Being Bullied Kills!

Ashlynn Conner, a 10 year-old girl from Ridge Farm, Illinois allegedly commits suicide because of bullying. Ashlynn Connor was attending fifth grade at Ridge Farm Elementary.  In the reports, her mother, Stacy Conner, told reporters that Ashlynn was called a slut, told she was fat, and was called ugly.  Ashlynn asked her mom to be home schooled. However, her mom denied her request and later, Ashlynn’s sister found her hanging dead in her closet from a scarf. Ashlynn’s mother told reporters that the taunting has been happening for years now and as a single mother she didn’t know what to do about the bullying. Stacy and Ashlynn did talk about bullying before the tragedy happened but Ashlynn didn’t tell her mother how bad the bullying was. Stacy Conner said, “I thought my kids were strong. That my words to them for guidance and advice would have more weight than what these kids were saying. I was wrong.”  In 2001 an Anti-Bullying Act was passed in Illinois, but sadly it was not enough to keep poor Ashlynn from committing suicide.  The Anti-Bullying act in Illinois prohibits bullying in the school environment on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, disabilities, sexual orientation, and many others you may read in the bullying laws in Illinois. It requires each school district to create and maintain a policy on bullying. The policy must be communicated to students and parent or guardian annually, updated every 2 years and filed with the State Board of Education. To better prevent bullying in schools, a representative should come in and speak to the kids and explain some scenarios that bullying victims experience. They should explain that suicide is never the answer and that there are other options, such as talking to a trusted adult or counselor. This way they can understand what is happening so it can be taken care of and stopped so it does not go to the extreme of Ashlynn’s case. Bullying is not just verbal abuse, it can also be physical. Ashley Billasano, 18, tweeted 144 times over six hours, of allegedly being molested by a family member and being forced into prostitution before taking her own life. Another young kid, Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14 year-old gay teenager, committed suicide because of alleged bullying. Bullying should not happen at all. It’s sad how many individuals commit suicide each year to get away from their problems.  I know what these families and friends went through with losing the victim. On March 31, 2011, a tragedy struck the West family along with many of his good friends. Late at night on March 31, 2011, Mike West decided he had enough with what he was going through and couldn’t take it anymore and took his own life. I do not know the reason he decided it was him time to go, but it was hard on all of us including his 8 year old daughter he left behind.  Mike left behind suicide notes, but no one knew the exact reason for him taking his own life. I don’t understand how and when things can escalate to the measures of committing suicide and leaving your entire life behind.

Is Mulan a Disney Princess or not?

In class the other day some kids in class were arguing with me over whether or not Mulan is a Disney Princess. From the argument it made me wonder why Mulan is really a Disney Princess. From many Disney resources I collected information pertaining why Mulan is in fact a Disney Princess. Although she was not born into royalty or married into royalty she is still considered a Disney Princess because of her brave actions. She is not a Princess but is a heroine for the Disney World. Like Mulan, Disney wished to honor Asian cultures by devoting an animated film to an Asian story.

Mulan is a brave 16 year old Chinese heroine who dresses up like a soldier and goes to war in place of her crippled father, risking death and dishonor. She is loosely based on the heroine from the anicent Chinese epic peom "The Legend of Hua Mulan" She puts herself in harm's way when she learns that her weak father is to be drafted into the army to fight the invading Huns. Knowing that he would never survive the rigors of war in his state, she decides to disguise herself as a man and join in his place. Unknown to her, her ancestors are aware of this, and to prevent it, they order a tiny disgraced dragon, Mushu, to join her and force her to abandon her plan. He agrees, but when he meets Mulan, he learns that she cannot be dissuaded and so decides to help her in the perilous times ahead. In the process, Mulan becomes Disney's most feminist protagonist to date. and she is the only Disney princess who is not royal by blood or marriage, but she is a princess by achieving honor from the Emperor himself by saving China. She comes close to marrying a prince in her second movie. During her stay in the army, she falls in love with the captain, Li Shang and they marry at the end of the second movie.

Traditionally a girl is a "princess" if:
* Her father / mother are King / Queen.
*** Not the case of Mulan's family. Her father was noble, but not a king.

* She marries a Prince
*** Again, not the case of Mulan, she married a General, not a Prince.

But to be considered a "Disney Princess" then Disney has to give that title to the character. That was already done and Mulan is officially considered a "Disney Princess" no matter if her father is not a king or her husband is not a prince. She is a Princess because Disney believes she is one.

Disney Princess is a Walt Disney Company franchise, based on fictional characters who have been featured as part of the Disney character line-up. The main eight are: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Mulan, and Pocahontas.

The characters were not chosen specifically for their royal titles, but rather for how well they fit into what Disney executives deemed “the Princess mythology." Mulan is an example of this concept; she has no familial ties to royalty, but is still included in the character list. Therefor Mulan is a true Disney Princess.