Remembering the Good Old Days

Remember when the hardest thing you had to decide was what toy you were going to play with when you woke up from your nap? Remember when all you had to do was sit down to eat your meal? There was no deciding whether you wanted to eat at all, or what to eat, or when to eat. Your mom called you to come eat, and you sat down and ate what was on the plate. I have been thinking about this for a while. How many things change when you grow up.

I remember going to school and the biggest drama was who got the swings first. I remember when homework for school took me half an hour when I got home, and studying for a test was glancing at the review guide and having Dad ask me the questions. I remember when we traded things in our lunch box so we could have "our perfect meal." I remember when the biggest deal at school was the school play we rehearsed for three months. I remember when Mom and I went shopping for my clothes. I remember when fashion wasn't a big deal, and who had the cutest hair cut, or longest hair, or prettiest makeup was not even part of discussions or concerns. I remember when "liking" a guy meant giggling with your girlfriends, blushing, and playing with him, if possible. I remember when it was okay for more than one girl to like another guy, and it wasn't a big deal. I remember what it was like to talk to whoever you wanted to without getting in trouble with the girl/boyfriend for talking to their girl/boyfriend.

I remember when there was no drama with friends. All you did was play with your friends when you had a "play date." I remember when there was no judging, no harsh criticism, and rarely hurt feelings. I remember when your parents could make your world right again after it got tipped and slanted by unkind words or an incident at school or church.

I look now and think, "Wow, did I have it easy. I had naps and 10 hours to sleep at night. I had my meals made for me. I had good friends, fun school, easy homework, and fun times and memories. I had no stress and no decision making." And today I am thinking, "Would I go back to that or do I like struggling through where I am at right now." I'm wondering if these drama filled days are over when people mature. I wonder if when I "grow up" these kinds of things won't happen as much and maybe I will be able to deal with them better. I wonder if I will make my children's worlds right by simply talking to them or hugging them. I wonder if what is now a big deal- will ever phase me later on. I wonder if I will be able to make better friend choices, better life decisions, and move on a little better.

I wonder if everything I am going through now will make it worthwhile. Will this drama really matter in Heaven? Does God look at this stuff and shake His head, wondering why we think this is a big deal, or what we are thinking. I know I fail him as many times as I fail my parents and family and friends. If I was God, I think I would have given up on me already. But I am reminded that God is the perfect Husband and even when I fail Him, He will never fail me. And to me, this is one of the most comforting thoughts ever. I will fail and fall, and He will remain steady and upright, and all I need to do is look up and reach for His hand that is constantly extended ready to help me get up and stay strong and true and steady. And for me it makes me look and say, "No I would not go back to the good old days." Mainly because God never promised it would be easy, and when I live in a fallen world, things are going to happen that hurt or confuse me and I know that in Heaven, it won't be like that. "For behold old things have passed away, and new things are made." So as I reminisce about everything and how things have changed, I keep thinking how wonderful it will be to go to Heaven and do what truly will bring me the most fulfillment- and that is worshipping my Creator.

Confession Time

Time for some honesty. Or maybe a bit of a confession. I have this magical view of journaling. Sitting down at night to write down my thoughts and the events of the day. Pouring out your heart and journaling your goals and dreams and your perfect future. And you do that and fill journal after journal. Filling it with journal entries. You do it so you can look back and remember all that was happening and how much has changed and transpired. Well inevitably you have a bad day or for me I am simply too exhausted to write anything down for that night so I think, in my perfect world, I will write about today, tomorrow, along with whatever happens tomorrow. Ha! We all know how that works out.

So what we have basically established is that I am terrible about keeping a journal. I have ideals that will never come true. I feel like that is what happens with blogs sometimes too. Either you write something that no one wants to read (probably the case with this post :)), or you don't find time to write one, or you have nothing to write about because your life is pretty monotonous and boring. So yes, I can't promise I shall write all the time, but I will try when I do write to write something someone actually wants to read. BUT I would LOVE to hear what you would love to read about. Give me ideas and I promise I shall write about it. If it is something I can actually write about. (ha!)

Secondly, with this whole post about blogging and journaling, I bought a new journal, in other news. I know you are probably laughing by now after I just told you I never do well journaling. But here is what I am going to say. This journal is a Dr. Seuss journal that has the words "Oh the places you will go," so with that in mind, I am going to journal about places I have gone and why I went there. This won't be a Dear Diary, I'm in love with "fill in the blank". No, I will write about the experiences I had, the people I met, the places I went, and all I can remember, so at the very least, I will be able to remember all the places I have gone.

What a fun blog entry right? Right. I am sure there will be more confessions. I am thinking that I might do a "My Most Favorite Thing" entry. But let me know what y'all want to read or me to talk about, and I shall do my best to oblige. I would also love to know what you think about the different posts. Drop a comment and I will be sure to read and reply!

Quirks and Randomness

Basically, this is not going to be a put together blog entry. Okay? Okay. Good now you know. Don't expect a fluid thought process. It's much more fun this way right?! Yes. Ahem. Right. Okay here we go.

1. I am a grammar Nazi. No really. I am. I need the correct usage of to, too, and two. There, they're, and their. It's and its. Then and than. There is no such thing as gooder. It is good, better, best. Okay? Okay. Glad we got that covered. I would love it if people helped me out. Believe me, it is in everyone's best interest to use correct grammar. That's all.

2. I love my cousin Ben. A lot. I love his language and everything he says. There are just so many things that make me laugh and laugh. Half the time it is a guessing game as to what exactly he is talking about, but I eventually figure it out. Milkshit (milkshake) and boobies (blueberries) being among the ones that get me every time. "Wake up, Sarah" is also a favorite of his if I happen to get to sleep when he's napping. "George cryin. Cryin Sarah." and also "Knock, knock, knock, and lookin, lookin, lookin!" being among other conversations with him. Trucks, trains, Steet (Sesame Street), and food are his main concerns and thought process. "Mama" and "Gampa" (Grandma and Grandpa) are also something he thinks and talks about a whole bunch. Yes. Great times and memories with him lately! A slight side note but I also love his brother who I think I hold over 25% of the day. How great, right?!

3. Cooking and baking is such fun. Hello chocolate soufflés, French toast and some delicious pasta being among the things I have made in the past two days. It brings me great joy and it also gives me more love than I wish :) But that's ok! I love to eat and I suppose if I only eat healthy my whole life (What fun is that?!?) Meagan and I have decided that's the case anyways.

4. Soda. I had been on a fast of it for a year in a half. I had convinced myself that it was going to be gross if I decided to drink it again. I mean- I had survived over a year without it. It's not good for you anyways. There was no reason to go back to that sugar laden, ice cold, bubbly drink. Right? Wrong. I did it. I went and drank a Dr. Pepper and all the people that said it would taste nasty after not having it for so long was wrong. Very, very wrong. Sweet and cold and bubbly. Happiness in a cup. After I drank it, I felt extreme guilt. But that's alright. I convinced myself it was good. Great that I did it. Especially because I have decided not to eat ice cream for this year. And that may or may not be the death of me. So I believe soda is necessary if I am to keep myself from consuming ice cream.

5. Remember when you were little and you had that little blue kiddy pool in the summer time!? No? Oh. Well that's a shame. You see I do. I remember how much joy I got from splashing in it, but also staying cool. Yesterday I rekindled that relationship. Grant it, I did have a dress on, but my little cousin looked to be having so much fun. So I tied that dress up and got in. And wow. Instant relief. Dallas is hot in June. Yes indeed. So I did get wet and my dress also got wet but now that that relationship has been renewed, it shall not be put aside again. I do wish however that the pool was eh more like.... five feet taller. So yes. Random but I still love a kiddie pool, drinking from the hose, and filling up cups in the pool and dumping them out into the grass (to water the grass of course!)

6. ZZZZzzzzz. Sleep. You think you need it. Then you realize it wasn't necessarily necessary. I mean yes, it is RATHER nice to sleep until you wake up, but that's not life. But I love sleep. A lot. That's something I believe I will always love. This is a short number 6 but that's ok. Simple and to the point. I love sleep. Amen.

7. Another short one. I love Oreos, fruit roll-ups, gushers, Triscuits, soda, and cheerios. And yes, it is probably fair to assume I have eaten all or most of the above in the last, well, three days.

8. Whole Foods is a great place. It is a great place to go and think, "I can eat healthy." And then you walk out, see a Starbucks and order a 500 calorie drink and think, "Haha! Nope! This life is much better!" Everything in moderation right!?

9. I believe a lot of these posts have had something to do with food. But that's ok. I'm a girl. And I love food. I am also not ashamed of it! Hah!

10. I bought a new journal. You know how it goes! OH I am just going to LOVE writing in this every day and looking back to see everything I have done, and after 5 days (if you are lucky) you say oh tomorrow I will do it. But nope. It doesn't happen. Instead it sits by your bed gathering dust for however long it takes for you to clean out your room. All that to say, I got a new journal. But instead, it is a Dr. Seuss journal that says "Oh the places you will go." So instead of writing in it every day, I will only write in it when I travel, so I can look back and remember all the places I have gone and all the experiences I have had. So I am excited to use that as much as possible when I travel.

That's all. I made it to ten. Randomness it was. But I warned you! Now go out and enjoy your day and live your life like there is no tomorrow!

"Don't miss out on life just to say alive." ~ Adam Burrell