I tell my husband of how much it means to me to touch the lives of children every day as a teacher of the visually impaired, and how seeing that when even the smallest changes happen, a community is stronger, and also our own lives become full of meaning. When I find myself focusing too heavily on the difficulties that our own family faces, the raising of our children, the financial and health decisions we make, the ability to stay focused on our happiness, then life seems harder. When our focus becomes the wellbeing of others, life gives back tenfold. The entire 'Give Back' event draws upon our desire to reach beyond our own struggles so that we may benefit in ways we may never fully understand.

Awesome job on Ellen D. today!!! Thank you Daughtry for inspiring us all to think of more than just our own trivialities, It feels good to know that even when I can't check in on ya'll as regularly as I'd like, you're still getting it right ....a breath of fresh air...aaahhhhhhhh. LOVE and HUGS, ~AmandaHug and KISSY!

and...PS. You could play the jug on stage and I'd come see ya'll.....17 more days!
and btw Chris, LOVE the new song with Sevendust, surely that was a surreal deal!
YUMMMMMMY!

HI again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't report on the latest concert (I don't know if I'm willing to admit that I am a groupie at 34 !) but Orlando was magnificent, completely a rush and rejuvenation from the daily mush....Jilly Bean, thanks for the girls night out! I still can't believe I drove to Orlando "THere and back again...." to Tampa in the same evening (bedtime 4 am), to wake up and make the day happen in the morning at work! WWOWWEEE, my inner college student still reigns!
I'll be back! I can't help it. again. and again. because the opportunities are too hard to pass up!
I just found out tonight, that I might get the chance for a 'TAKE 2!' in Tallahassee at The Moon with my dear Vanessa, and with VIP connections to beat....her Uncle OWNS the place ...OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG.
I think throwing on the 'staff' Tshirt and becoming the stage hand water girl will make my dreams come true April 25 is a month away, could I possibly be any more excited!

Sabotaged once more by the papparazzi GODS...... what is it with my camera issues?! My first concert up in Tallahassee, an overzealous groupie with snap happy fingers on a 5$ disposable leaves me photoless for the one on one photo ops post-concert, and second time around a zapped battery pack in my (not so) trusty Canon S3 by the time sweet Chris addresses his beloved followers outside for autographs.....so I've accepted the signs from above that all those fabulous memories of this concert must forever remain in my glowing thoughts of ya'll, my Daughtry boys......but I'm so thankful for the curb shot with sweet JP, thanks for the snuggle! I'm giddy once more, our seats were perfectly centered, (I could draw a line to Chris and his Mic) and I was thrilled by the venue, not once have I entertained with a Rock band at Ruth Eckerd (I believe the last show was Clifford the Big Red Dog, and oh yes, the wonderfully wonderful Fl Orchestra), and so I am very impressed with the acoustics that brought each and every song alive! I can't remember standing still, Daughtry lyrics bring out my inner pantomime of storytelling techniques I think the people around me might have been a tad annoyed..or feeling it too I hope! ...I LOVVVVED every second, Alice in Chains cover was hands down my fave so far, I'm still stuck in pre-2000 age rock, but Chris has this sassy way of putting in his twist of FREAKIN sexyness to each cover song he tackles. My heart just said GD!

Love ya'll, the 4 hour trip up from Tampa provided the 'down' time this bz momma needed to get in touch w/ her inner Daughtry! And simply put, with tickets I’d take a road trip any day to see the band, b/c the chance to feel reckless abandon is a gift from GOD! CANT WAIT till 4/30 - TAKE 2- snap!