This blog and song here to honor Sgt. Derek Johnson and raise money for his lovely family. There is a link to preview the song in the text below. I just wanted to offer a quick explanation as to why we put this together because my heart is very full at the moment. I lost my first husband after a yearlong battle with cancer. It was obviously beyond difficult, but I was carried by my wonderful family and so many self-sacrificing friends and even strangers. The hardest year of my life was also filled with so much love and generosity. I was floored and vowed to pay that love and generosity forward.

When I heard the news of Sgt. Derek’s passing, I found myself feeling an immediate connection. I am now married to a police officer so this event has stuck with me on so many levels. I cannot be quiet and just go on with my life. I had to do something. It is small, I know, but I do have to do something! And so I have teamed up with Dustin Wayne of the Wayne Hoskins band (who really has done all the work) to record a song, Home to Me, in his studio (for preview click here). He graciously offered his time and talents along with Blog designers extrodinare, Todd and Rachel Crane. My part in this is very minimal, it will be others who take over from here and do the real work. However, music helped healed me and allows us to get out those emotions that spoken words alone fail to express. Writing and singing are about the only skill sets I have, so that is why I decided to write this song and use it as a catalyst to raise money for the Johnson family. It was either that or impressing everyone with my ability to quote Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and the Burbs from start to finish. But, I didn’t think that anyone would be too interested in that. J

I am new to the police world, but in just over a year I have learned that this is not just a career, it is a family. I think it would be hard for others to understand unless they have lived that life day in and day out. It is my hope that Shante Johnson will one day be able to ready this blog, so just in case she does I want to say something really quickly to her. Shante, I am sure you have already felt all the love and support, you may even be a bit overwhelmed at the moment. I just wanted to add my love and let you know you will never be far from my thoughts and I wish you so much love, hope and joy for your future. This song is all for you! He is gone for the moment, but never forgotten, and never far away!