A few of my favorite videos...

Jason Aldean and Bryan Adams "Heaven"

Taylor Swift "You Belong With Me"

This is by far my favorite show in a while! The Secret Life of an American Teenager

I would love to learn this dance one day!!!

This Fires Embrace "Love is a Battlefield"

I love this group! They are great guys to get to know :)

And then I saved the best for last.... I love this video and this skit

A video you really must see

My mom e-mailed this to me and I thought it was the cutest thing ever! I might do something like this whenever I get married :)

A Much Needed Vacation

Last week my family and I went to Gulf Shores, AL for our summer family vacation. In the days leading up to our vacation I was so stressed with work, nothing was going the way I wanted/planned and I just needed a break!

This year was the first year that I really needed a vacation and it was AMAZING!!! I did nothing but lay out on the beach all day long and soak up the sun. The weather was perfect and I couldn't have asked for a better time with my family. We were able to relax and just cut up with each other.

While I was at the beach I got to think about a lot of things that were going on in my life and I have decided to make some changes. After Tyler and I broke up I was heartbroken and didn't think that I would ever find someone so amazing as him. God showed me this past week that I just need to calm down and be patient. He has someone for me but we just aren't ment to meet yet. I have been reading a book called I Kissed Dating Goodbye and this is what I have decided to do. I need to focus on my schooling and other things in my life. I don't need a guy in my life to make me happy. I just need to be myself and enjoy life! So this hot pink ferrari is parking in the garage for a while.

Even though this didn't happen on vacation it is still something AMAZING!!! So after Ichthus we got started brainstorming of a way to reach out to the teens in out area who need it the most. Well things had kinda of fallen apart with it all and we were getting really sad and thinking that it might now happen. Well as of last night we have a date and a location!! Praise GOD! We now for sure that two bands are going to be coming and we are hoping that they third can come if we can get the money raised. All together we are going to need to raise $1,500, that's $500 per band. The location is free, I have connections for advertising, and we have other things coming together. So please just pray that everything is going to work out and that its what God wants for this area. Michael told me last night and I got so excited about it all. I'm just really hoping that it all comes together.

My Pop

With everything that has been going on in my life right now I have forgotten to remember the little things in life. There was a time in my life where I planned on being single and free for a while but God had a different plan for me at the time. I don't know why yet he put that person in my life at the time He did but one I hope to realize it.

The other day I was looking at some old blogs I had written on facebook and came across one I had written about my grandfather, Grady Franklin "Frank" Eads, or as I know him... Pop.

I took this picture at Christmas before Pop got really sick in February.

Pop had Melanoma, a type of skin cancer. It started on the back of his neck with a little mole, spread to his lungs I don't know how many time, his brain 3 times and then to his stomach. Pop lived with cancer for 16 years before he passed away on November 24, 2005, Thanksgiving Day.

Because Pop lived with this cancer for so long he became a test patient at The National Institute of Health in Maryland. Him and Nana would fly up there and Pop would go through his treatments then fly back home. The doctors would tell him to stay in bed to get rest. Well here is the thing, Nana and Pop owned a 144+ acre farm in Alabama with cows and 2 chicken houses. Pop being the stubborn one didn't follow the doctors orders and would be out on the farm the next day.

Everyone in the family truly believes that this is what kept Pop going. He loved the farm and loved being on the tractor moving things or tearing things up. I can remember spending summers down there after we moved and going on the tractor with him. There was one time that my brother and I spent time down there one summer and Pop took us a ride on the four wheeler. We went to the back of the farm and Pop told us that he was clearing this land out so that all the grand kids could build houses on it one day. Even though we sold the farm and land after Pop passed away this memory will always last with me.

Pop loved Dr. Pepper! He would take Dr. Pepper over any other kind of drink. Whenever I drink a Dr. Pepper it makes me think of him. When we barred him, my brother placed a Dr. Pepper can in the casket with him. The funeral home guys tried taking it out but we told them that if they did they would be dead. I can remember spending hours sitting at the kitchen table playing checkers with Pop sipping on Dr. Pepper. Perfect way to end a long hot summer day!

$5 bills will always hold a special place in my heart and not because of the value. Every time we would go see Nana and Pop, he would give us $5. This is something that when I have grand kids I will do. I will tell them stories about Pop and say that this was something he would do.

I miss him a whole lot! Little things that I do remind me of him and things the other grand kids do remind all of us of him. My little cousin Lannie is a lot like Pop. Bev will tell us stories about something Lannie did and we will all say "Grady Franklin".

The other day I wasn't feeling good so I didn't go into my day job and just layed around the house. While I was getting ready I had on the radio to a country station I listen to all the time. They have what they call a "Beaver Back Track" everyday where they play a older song that doesn't get played much. Well the song then was Vince Gill's Go Rest High On That Mountain. When I heard this song I just sat down on my bed and started crying. This song was played at Pop's funeral. We had some trouble with the pastor over this song but in the end everything worked out great! I never knew until Pop passed away that while Pop was up on his mountain on the farm that Nana would play this song. She would be so scared that this tractor was going to tip over while he was on it.

Pop would be so proud of the young lady that I am becoming and what I am doing with my life. During the fall every Saturday I think of him while watching an University of Alabama football game. Pop is the one who got me into Bama football. I was able to go to a game this past season and all I could think about was how I wished he would have been with me.

I know that he is up in heaven and I will get to see him one day. I wrote this blog today because last night when we had a thunderstorm the thunder was extremely loud! When a thunderstorm came and the thunder was that loud Pop would always say "Well sounds like God is bowling again and sounds like he is doing really good."

This was written by a solider in Iraq

I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson . As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point

Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the Mercian people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing? Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America . Where is there moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good ridence," and "thank God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?"
I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan . They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxory and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.


Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it. Feel free to pass this along if you want.
Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military;

"So that others may live...”

Kids say the sweetest things

Every year my aunt and her 2 kids come up to our house for the 4th of July. We go to a big fireworks show on the 3rd and then cook out and have family time on the 4th and just watch fireworks that the neighbors do. This year was by far the best visit we have had with them. Lannie is 4 and Lindsey is 3 and they are so different but so much a like at the same time. Lindsey is a spitting image of me when I was her age and Lannie wants to be just like my brother, Trent.

I was walking back to the car with Lindsey on my back and she tells me this.

Lindsey: Sarrey Katlyn, you are my best buddy. Can I stay here with you?

me: Well you are my best buddy too lindsey and yes you can stay here with me!

Her saying this just melted my heart.

When Bev and the kids were leaving to go back home Lannie asked Bev this

Lannie: Mommy, why aren't we going to Aunt Beda and Uncle Keifh's house?

Bev: Because they are at church sweetie

Lannie: Oh, well I like them and their house a lot. I love them!

I love these kids to death and I'm so happy that I get to be apart of their lives and get to watch them grow up.

Something I have discovered....

This week I have discovered some new artist in the Country scene......

Gloriana is one of my new favortie country groups. They have a different kind of sound but really good. Their hit single right now is "Wild At Heart" If you haven't heard it you need to hope on over to youtube.com or to myspace.com and look them up. Gloriana is worth listening to. My favorite song from them is "You Said" Its an interesting song but makes a whole lot of since. Currently Gloriana is touring with Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift.

WALKER HAYES= A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

Not only is he a BAMA boy but he can sing! Carol from work also finds all of these unknown bands/artist and sends them my way to listen to. Her and her daughter saw him at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville one night and fell in love. After listening to him I fell in love also, okay not really but you know what I mean. He has this voice that is so cute and he can play the guitar amazingly! He will have his first single to hit radio stations in the fall and then his album will come out sometime after that. Walker has a song called "She Can Wear The Pants" It is a very very cute song and I really hope that this will be his first single!

Justin Moore is kind of already known by his hit single "Small Town USA" That song has become one of my favorite songs. It reminds me of my hometown in BAMA. He is not only really cute (hello look athe picture above) but he can sing. Justin's cd will release on August 11 so go out and buy it! Its going to be one that you want to own.

The last artist is Dean Brody. He is from Canada but has a great voice! His hit single right now is "Brothers" Everytime I hear it it gives me goose bumps. It is a very touching song! Dean's whole cd is filled with great songs. If you are looking for a love song then listen to "Gravity" It is a sweet love song that will make you want to get that special someone in your life and slow dance with them. If you are looking for a fun summer song then "Dirt Road Scholar" is a really good one to listen to. I am hoping that that song will be his next hit single. It is a fun song that makes you want to have a great time!

My Hot Pink Ferrari

So I have the best College Group leaders anyone could ask for...... their names... Michael and Wendi. Not only did God bring them to our church when we needed them most but Wendi can sing like no other, their son Brett Michaels can play the drums amazingly, their daughter Bre' Bre' is the bomb.com, and they took their vacation time and took 5 of us from the college group to ICHTHUS!! This family is amazing!

But what makes them even more amazing is that they bought me a HOT PINK FERRARI!!! Okay so it isn't a real one its a Hot Wheels but still its amazing!

Here is the story and why it is so amazing and thoughtful of them......

The last day of Ichthus there weren't many bands that we wanted to see during the day except for one.... WHITECOLLAR SIDESHOW!!! Michael, Wendi, Brett and I all got ready and went over to the deep end stage to hear a speaker and then see Whitecollar. When we got to the stage there weren't a lot of people so we were able to get semi-close to the stage. We set our lawn chairs out and just enjoyed the sunshine. It had rained just about everyday but the final day so getting a little sunshine felt amazing!! The speaker came out and it was a guy named Justin Lookadoo. We began to look at our program because it was told that a lady was going to be speaking and we wanted to make sure that we were at the right stage. It turns out that we were at the correct stage but something happened to the other speaker so Justin was filling in for her.

Justin Lookadoo

Justin got started talking and asked if anyone had read his book Dateable: Are you? Are they? My parent's had gotten the book for me several years before and I had read it and really enjoyed it so I knew that he was going to be a good speaker. He got started talking about questions that guys had been coming up to him and asking while there at Ichthus. One of them was "Dude, Justin, how do I keep from looking at the girls here who are wearing semi-revealing clothing?" Justin's simple answer was "Dude........ DON'T" Then Justing started talking about how dating can be hard in your teen years, how girls like to show everything they have and how guys look at everything girls have.

I don't remember anything that he said to the guys because what he said to the girls just stuck with me. Yeah I know that he was talking with the middle school and high school girls but what he said made so much sence. He said....

Girls what kinda car do you see just about everywhere in the USA? Fords, yes Fords are found everywhere. But what kinda of car can you only find in certain places and is very special and very expensive? FERRARI'S! Only certain people can afford a Ferrari and have the "rights" to one. If a guy purchases a Ferrari then you know that he has good credit, has a great and stable job, and cares for his things. So girls don't be a Ford that everyone can own, be a Ferrari. Yes your choices will be limited when you date like this but you are going to have so much better choices!

When he was saying all of this I was sitting there thinking, Wow that is so true! Yeah I don't date around like I am a Ford but I don't consider myself a Ferrari either. This really hit home with me espically with everything that was going on with Tyler and I. So from that day June 13, 2009 I, Sarah Katlyn Norris, am no longer going to date like a Ford. I am going to date like a Ferrari. I know that my choices will be few but that doesn't matter because I know that the man God has for me is out there and we will meet when both of us are ready and when God wants us to.

After Ichthus I had put as my status on Facebook that I was going to be a HOT PINK FERRARI from now on. Michael got a kick out of it and said that was a good thing for me to be. Sunday after Sunday School Michael told me he had a gift for me but wouldn't tell me what it was. This just got me wondering what in the world it could be. So I was talking with Wendi one night and she said he was going to give it to me Wednesday night after church. So last night after church Michael hands me this bag and I open it and it was my very own HOT PINK FERRARI!!!! I was so excited about it! He searched and searched for it on Ebay and found one in Orgean.

So this is a good reminder for me to always be a HOT PINK FERRARI and not a Ford........

God will bring the man I am to marry into my life when I am ready and me into his when he is ready.... I just have to be patient and wait........

Things I have discovered....

So I have decided to blog about new things I discover. It might be new products, new music/groups, or just whatever comes to my mind.........

This week it is hardcore christian music, which is one of my favorite things in the world!! I have discovered several new groups/musicians after going to Ichthus.

GOOD MORNING GLADYS

These guys are amazing! They have an alternative christian music sound but really good. The group is made up of Michael (bass), Austin (guitar and singer), JoJo (drums, yes a girl drummer who rocks!), and TJ (lead singer and guitar). When you see these guys play a show you can tell that they aren't doing it for the fame, they are doing it for the glory of God. It is amazing to see! They are amazing people also. We were able to talk with them at their table in the merch tent and Wendi and Bre' Bre' got to interview them for youtube. It was pretty cool! We went to go see them because we liked their name but now we LOVE their music. www.myspace.com/goodmorninggladys

WHITECOLLAR SIDESHOW

Okay so I know what you are thinking..... are these people freaks? They have a women with a drama mask on and a person with a pig mask. Well I thought the same thing until I heard them and their story. They touched not only me and the group I was with but a lot more people at Ichthus!

Their story: Mr. T and Veronica meet a month after T became a christian and then 3 months later they were married. T had never had access to the internet so he didn't know what bad things were out there. Well he got addicted to porn, drinking, drugs and a lot more. And since Veronica thought it was her fault he was doing all of this she became bulimic. Then one night after T had been at the computer, Veronica confronted him about it and told him that she knew everything that had been going on. So they decided right then and their to change things and stay together instead of getting a divorce. One night T started having these dreams of a band that would later turn into Whitecollar Sideshow. The band is his struggle with life. Veronica wears a "faceless women" mask because that's what all of those girls were to him, the drummer wears a pig mask because he considered himself a pig for looking at those women and being involved with all of that. There is no singing during their show just drums, random instruments T plays, and guitar that Veronica plays. They are amazing people who have sold everything and live in their RV traveling around trying to help teens with their addictions. www.myspace.com/whitecollarsideshow

THIS FIRES EMBRACE

So I didn't think that I liked screamo type of music until I heard This Fires Embrace. They are screamo but not over the top. It is the type where you can understand what they are saying. Their lyrics are so true and real. Just like the other two bands they play for the glory of God not for the fame. You can tell this about them also. Don't be scared by their hardcore looks, they are all really sweet and awesome guys! They played 3 times while at Ichthus and we saw them all there times. Hehe :) If you ever need some music to just jam out to and want something different then TFE is the band for you. www.myspace.com/thisfiresembrace