10 reasons why I feel old

10. We got a phone call today from some friends we hadn't heard from in awhile. They moved out of the area, but we used to do tons of things together. The 13 year old boy who incessantly teased me is now 18, married, and going to be leaving for Afghanistan in June. Aack! :-O
9. I just realized that when the little sister of some other friends turns 16 I am going to be 29.
8. My mom has a temporary job with the Census, which isn't going to last very much longer, but still- isn't it the TEENAGER who is constantly leaving and going different places??
7. I don't get into a lot of popular TV shows. They're ok..but kind of boring in comparison with a great book. I rarely watch TV. I live what Groucho Marx said: "TV is very educational. Every time someone turns it on, I go into the other room and read a book."
6. I'd say in general, for the most part anyway, my parents are highly trusting of me. They know that I'm not going to go out and drink, do drugs, or get myself pregnant. That's nice of course though, because trusting parents give a lot more freedoms.
5. I have occasionally been mistaken for Dad's wife when I'm out with him and Mom isn't there. Dad of course finds this incredibly humorous, and tells me it just shows that they think he has good taste! haha... okay, so I laugh about it too. ;-)
4. I've been mistaken for a college student (we live in a college town) since about age 10 or so.
3. I love classical music.


OK, I can't think of any more. Those are surely enough though. ;-) On the other hand, I can think of many reasons why I also feel really young. Like, for instance, I love a rowdy game of freeze tag. I also find other 'little kid games' like hide and seek (especially in the dark!)a lot of fun. I'm not in any particular hurry to move out of the house and assume adult responsibilities- though this might have something to do with not knowing what will happen to my horses! I still love being with family, which according to popular consensus is not cool for a teenager. Mom was worrying about my throat this morning, which has swelled up a little and is warm to touch, she thinks I might have mono or something like that. My reaction: how unfair to have the kissing disease and never been kissed!... though since that one has been my choice maybe it doesn't belong on the list.
what else...
*I still have a lot of my collection of breyer model horses.
* some movies designed for young kids I still love- like Veggie Tales, or Spirit. And I still listen to the kids radio program Adventures in Odyssey.
*sometimes I get in the drivers seat of a car and still go, 'wow, what am I doing here??'
*being around my older brother defenitely brings out the little kid in me. We banter back and forth constantly!

... maybe it all balances out after all. :-)

Today I am thankful for...

* sunshine!
* soft horse hair
* the colors of the world
* good friends
* prayer
* green M&M's (aka, 'happy pills'!)
* second chances
* peace
* good books
* 1 year of good health after surgery
* hugs

What's on your list today??

Enough

I spend time with some amazing people who I am honored to call friends. They each have something really, really special about them. They are wonderful people, and I love being with them. Occasionally though, my mind used to wander towards a me-centered attitude. No, it wasn't jealousy, not quite. I don't have a name for the feeling. Its a complicated combination- like, 'they are so ____ (talented, smart, funny, whatever)'. Then I started thinking, "hey, what can I do to get something that is special like that about me?" Then its time to start (in the figurative sense of course) hitting myself on the head with the truth that is with me, but sometimes forgotten: God is enough. He is ENOUGH. I don't have to be me, plus anything. I can just be me. He is enough. I am enough with Him. If I give myself completely over to Him, I have nothing to be worried about. There is nothing extra to do or to say or try to be.

That is not to say that there aren't responsibilities- I can think of several. Currently, I need to be faithful to God, honor my family, be there for my friends, be a faithful student, and be responsible to the tasks set before me by any of the above. But- there is no need to worry! I don't need to try to make myself into somebody different. God already is! He will work through me to make me who I am meant to be. Not who I think I 'should' be, based on people around me! And THAT is wonderful news. He is an incredible God. :-)



what is God working in you?
are you trying too hard to 'change yourself'?