And, honestly, its just not Garth. It's the whole "thing" surrounding Garth. It's the things and the people who make up Garth. It's the music, the man, the wife, the children, the band, the family, the management, the believer staff, the crew, and the drivers.

Sandy...just one woman but one who is sadly overlooked. I read recently of a donation that the Brooks' family gave to the Nashville Zoo. The donation will help fund a children's area inside the zoo. Sandy made a comment to the effect, that it felt good to do it because she would be known as someone other than just Garth's wife.

I'd always just took for granted, I guess, that Sandy knows in that big heart of hers that we just do not see her as "the wife." I look at Sandy and I see strength, an example of a hard headed, outspoken, go after what your heart wants woman. I look at Sandy and I see softness, an example of a tender, caring, forgiving, supportive lady. I see a young mother who would fight to the end to give her children as normal a life as possible. I see a girl who can be childlike and a woman who can shock you with the wisdom that comes from her mouth. I do see a wife, one who has traveled this world over to be there with her soulmate as he chases a dream. I do see a wife, one who had to make a decision years ago to leave and walk away from her marriage or to stay and fight for what she loved most in this world. I see someone who is fun and happy. I see someone who loves life and all its little surprises. I see an intelligent, well educated woman who writes beautiful songs and can reach the depths of emotions with them.

Sandy, please, just know, you are not just that woman who Garth married. That is not how we all see you. We see the woman who does stand in the shadows, but that shadow of yours, it is entwined with the shadow of your husband. So many of us have also sit and watched that same woman with a smile on her face, a tear in her eye, and a look of pride that cannot be equaled. You are not just "the wife"...you are Sandy Mahl Brooks...no one can ever take that from you.

God had to know, in all his wisdom, it would take someone special to be the wife of Garth Brooks. Someone who was willing to travel, to hold a family together, to raise children in the spotlight and yet give them a sense of "home."

Sandy, just know, you are in my heart...because when I look at Garth, I do not just see him. I see you too. You are a part of him and he wouldn't be the man we love today if not for you.

Taylor, August, Allie, three precious little gems in your parents hearts. You are the gifts God has given to them for holding their marriage together and loving each other so deeply. It must be odd to have a daddy who the whole world wants to be close too. When daddy goes to work, he brings smiles to so many people. Not everybody's daddy can travel the world, make millions, and be sought after by so many. But, to you all, none of that matters. You see the daddy who wants to play in the floor and sing silly songs. You see the daddy who reads you bedtime stories and kisses you each morning. You see the daddy who holds you when your sick and hugs away the hurt when you fall down.

Girls, you will never realize until you are much older what you being with your daddy meant to him all these years. That you spent so much of your childhood traveling from city to city so he could play and sing. That when he woke up in the morning, the first faces he saw were those of your mama and you three. In giving of yourselves what you yet do not even realize you are giving, you give to all us fans. You bring the music to us just as surely as if you were the voice that comes from your Daddy's soul.

Taylor, August, Allie, just know, you are in my heart...not a day goes by that I do not ask God to guide you, to keep you safe, and to always make your days happy. I wish for you all the dreams and wishes that little girls have.

Then there's the family. Mama and Daddy Brooks...Colleen and Raymond. This is one case that you can truly say the apple did not fall far from the tree. When you see the kindness, the loyalty, the protectiveness, the love that these two have for their children you understand why Garth is simply just...Garth. You see certain morals and values that shine through in the music, in the man, and in his life. You see a sense of strength and self assurance that surely came from two parents who were always there when their children needed them. You see a fine line between love and discipline and you do not doubt for a moment that when the line was crossed it hurt one as badly as it did the other.

Jim, Jerry, Mike, Betsy, Kelly who share your sibling with the whole world, you are not in the spotlight but no doubt you feel an incredible sense of pride in what your brother has accomplished. You choose different paths in life, no less remarkable and special, you just marched to a different drummer. You helped form a foundation from which Garth built the strongest opinion of what a family should be. For the many times you've shared your baby brother with the world and in doing so showed us what a part of you all he carries with him, thank you.

Betsy and Kelly, you two, followed the sound of the music. Betsy, I still miss you on stage. Your vocals and music shined through with a force all their own. Kelly, thanks for always being there, handling the business side of things, taking care of the other end of the music so the music can take care of itself.

Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, Jim, Jerry, Mike, Betsy, and Kelly, just know, you are in my heart...when I look at Garth I see faces of some I know and feel the presence of those I don't. May God continue to shine upon you all and bring you the greatest of joys.

Stillwater...people who love the music for the sake of the music. People who give of themselves just as fully as Garth. They are there everytime the lights go down. They entertain, they thrill, they shock, they amaze, they touch you with their sound. To each and every one of you who have given your life to the road and to follow the sound of your hearts, thank you.

Mike, James, Steve, Dave, Debbie, Mark, and Jimmy the stage just wouldn't be the same without you. Most of you have been there from the beginning and you are not merely musicians or "the band." You are so much more. We rely on looking at that stage and seeing each of you, your personalities, and your smile as you watch the music take us to places we never dreamed we could go.

You each give up time with your families. Some of you are walking out the door leaving your children behind. You leave at home your spouse, your love, who takes care of life and its day to day events as you ride the road to bring the music to life.

To Stillwater...each and every one of you, just know, you are in my heart...may life bring you all the sweetness and goodness that you have brought to the fans for so many years.

The "G" Crew...talk about overlooked! There really is no way to tell all of you what you mean to us fans. Without you, there would be no stage...no sound...no lights...no show! You're there before any one else arrives...you're there after everyone else is gone. You truly are, the hardest working bunch out there. What you do is dependent on the safety of Garth and Stillwater. The flow of the show is totally dependent on how well each of you perform your given job. From Mick, and John, and Brian all the way down to the local worker who comes in to help out...what you do, is give us the music. You make sure every little detail is right, its safe, its on time, its perfect.

Families and loved ones are an issue for the "G" Crew too, as you're off and running just like everyone else. You are on the road more often than not and leave life's little daily details to those at home. It's a life full of adventure, a new town, new faces, but also a life of hard work, so to each of you I say, thank you.

The "G" Crew, just know, you are in my heart...your safety is always utmost in my mind. You are working around lots of electrical equipment and heavy equipment. You put up with fans who are always "wanting" something...but you always manage to take it for what its worth and continue to do a job well. You're reputation as a crew makes the fans proud!

The Drivers, oh WHERE would any of this tour be without you? Do you ever sleep? The countless miles you travel to bring us the music is amazing! Yet, you always manage to get everyone where they need to be, and safe and sound. Many is a night when I sit and watch the weather channel and I wonder just where those buses are. What kind of conditions are you having to handle as you bring the music to us? For your time, for your giving of yourself to insure others safety and well being, thank you.

To each of you, who are behind the wheel, day and night, mile after countless mile, just know, you are in my heart...may you always drive with an angel on your shoulder and a smile in your heart.

Again, the families left at home have a great weight to bear. Not only is their loved one out traveling the road...they are having to drive it. They are responsible not only for their safety but the safety of many others. They are responsible for equipment that is costly. They are responsible for being on time and meeting a deadline just like any business person.

There's the staff of "the believer magazine"...Tami who has been with Garth and Sandy since way back when the dream was just a vision. Ruth, Joyce, Sue, and Candy. You all give of your time to make sure our mail is opened and read. You all give of your time to answer countless questions. You give all this while trying to maintain and provide us with an informative glimpse into Garth and his life with a quarterly magazine.

Tami, Joyce, Ruth, Sue and Candy, just know, you are in my heart...what you do each and every day for us fans cannot be replaced. You allow us a chance to share ourselves with Garth. For all you do, and the smile you always do it with, thank you.

GB Management handles the business. They deal each and every day with the small but oh so important details that make the tour a reality. They handle bookings, publicity, appearances, they deal with fans, they deal with the press, their responsibilities are endless. Each person holds a very vital role in making Garth's music a "business." Without each of these wonderful people to handle this side of things, Garth would not be able to enjoy the music as he does...as he says...to just let the music take care of itself.

To each of you at GBM, just know, you are in my heart...without you there to handle things that most of us never hear about, without you there to support Garth and the music, without you there taking care of business, this tour and the music we cherish would not be the dream we chase today.

To all the families, whichever family member you are sharing with us fans, just know, you are in my heart...I look at the faces sometimes and I wonder who they have waiting at home. Did they miss their son's big game? Did they miss their daughter's first recital? Did they miss an anniversary dinner with their wife? Did they miss being there for a parent's birthday? The sacrifices you make are probably the greatest ones of all. You give of yourself, you give of your family so that others can be given the gift of the music...God bless you all.

Finally, there's the man who opened up this heart of mine with a song. What can I say to someone who continues to give so freely of himself? He gives with the music, he gives with his time, he gives with his smile, he gives with his whole heart. He gives simply by being himself.

Garth, you are the one who brought me to "the dance." And it is in your honor, that every day, I try to live that dance to the fullest.

People can quote me statistics, people can show me numbers, people can give me reasons why you are the entertainer you are today. It means little to me. You are what you are today because of all the people who are a part of you and what you do. You are what you are today, because God chose to give you a gift...what you have done with that gift, is your gift back to God.

The music speaks for itself as does your values and the standards you set. You are on a pedestal, and I try my best to keep you off of it, to keep you human and to keep you real. For that, is what I see when I look into your eyes...I see "real."

Garth, wherever you go, whatever you do, whatever this life has in store for you, just know, you are in my heart...you and the music you bring are as much a part of me as the air that I breathe. May God continue to bless you with the gift to sing, to play, to bring the music to life with a passion that cannot be denied. May God continue to surround you with family and friends who love you dearly. May God continue to give to you the happiness that you have so generously given to others.

Yes, you are all in my heart...not just today on Valentine's Day but everyday. Today just seemed like the perfect day to let you know.