Childhood memories

As I was sitting in class the other day just daydreaming about saving the world, I thought about my childhood and how much I miss being a kid. I mean, think about it..there are so many things that as a kid its cute and funny, but you try and do the same thing as an adult and it because rude, inconsiderate, or you just look dumb. For example, as a kid, it's cute when you go to do a somersault and just stand there with your head on the ground, butt in the air, thinking that you are awesome and then just kind of rolling to the side. Go into the middle of a mall play area now that you are older and try that..I believe that you would get a different reaction than "aww, look how cute that is." I also miss the innocence of a child. A kid will believe anything you tell them with all of their heart. That's one of the fun parts of being a teacher...I think some of my class I did my student teaching in still think that I have walked on the moon :)

I remember having an awesome childhood. My imagination was out of this world. I absolutely loved being outside. Climbing trees, catching crawdads, exploring the unknown, never before seen land behind my house, making trails in the woods, catching crickets and other insects and keeping them in jars as pets until Mom would find them in my room and make me let them go (killjoy), seeing how fast I could roll down the hill, riding my bike around the block, rollerblading in the basement, playing in our super cool tree house, playing in the mud, laying in the hammock, and laying on the grass looking at the clouds trying to think of what they looked like. Ha, I even buried treasure out in the backyard. Some of my favorite things are in that treasure box, including the map that told me how to get to the treasure. I guess you could say I wasn't the smartest child on the block.

Growing up, I never had a sibling that was close enough in age to want to play with me, nor were any of my sisters cool enough to want to catch bugs and get dirty..they all preferred barbies (lame) however, I thought my sisters were the coolest people in the world. I wanted to be just like them..I don't think they ever knew that. I remember that on our way home from church, we would always sing in the car. They usually just told me to be quiet and let them sing, but my favorite was when they would let me sing the "doo-a-diddy-diddy-dum-diddy-doo" part in that song..I wasn't allowed to sing any other part of the song with them, but that was ok. They were letting me sing with them! I felt so cool. When the "Carr girls" would sing in church, they would let me sing with them only because my parents made them but little did I know they would turn my microphone off. I still remember the day I found out what they had been doing. And to think, MY PARENTS WERE IN ON IT!! I am still trying to get over the whole thing. Another thing that I really enjoyed was when Joanna went off to college because I knew that in the summer when she would come home, she was going to take me out on a sister date. I had $20 that I could spend doing whatever I wanted with her. One summer, we went putt-putting and got lunch, another we would get sno-biz and go see a movie. To be honest, I didn't care what we did, I just liked that she wanted to take time out of her life to spend time with me.

Then there were my parents who made my life perfect. Dad and I always had such a good time. I doubt he even remembers all the things we used to do or how much it meant to me. I lived for the moments when a summer storm would come rolling in and he and I would sit out on the porch swing and watch the lighting. I loved it when we would go on walks around the block. I realize now that he was just using me to get a free back rub, but he would read to me as I would give him the best back rub that I could because I wanted to show him how much I loved him, even if it was just through a back rub. In the cold winter months when my mom wouldn't turn on the heat in the house because you can always just add more layers to keep yourself warm, my dad would rub the bed really fast and get it all warm for me. My mom was the best cook in the world. Grilled cheese and tomato soup was my favorite lunch and she made it the best. That warm cup of hot chocolate ready for me when I came inside after hours out in the snow, or standing on the inside of a locked door in the backyard while I was standing outside begging to be let in, but her telling me to walk around to the garage because that was the door I went out of. I still love going to movies with my mom.

What about you. Do you ever stop and think about your life as a child? What was it like? What do you miss?


Wasn't I a cutie!!!

It's time to face the inevitable

Well everyone, the time has just about come. This Monday, January 31, at 7:00 AM will be the starting time of the last day of my life. Now, there is a slight chance that I am exaggerating just a tad bit, however, I have never done this, nor am I in the least bit “in shape” to be able to complete such an exhaustive and exigent (I like that word) task. It will not be easy, that is for sure. I am going in good company though. Dying with friends is much better than dying alone. We have all agreed that every thirty minutes (1/2 hour) we will take turns when saying we need a break. If all goes according to plan, our plan should work out flawlessly. If by some chance we become separated, or worse, split up into different teams, that is when we could experience some difficulties. There are many things that we will have to overcome on this outdoor excursion. One, which I have already mentioned, (that was the “in shape” bit) two, the cold, bitter winter weather of the Adirondack Mountains, and three, our adventure will be at least 8 hours. Some have questioned my motives for attempting such a task. My response is always the same, it is required. If I would have known where the signups were, if I would have gotten to them sooner, if I would have known people doing other things, I would have chosen a better physical education class, but alas, this is how it had to happen. Oh, by the way, I am going snowshoeing up a mountain for 8 hours.

This is what I should look like while snowshoeing.

This is probably a little bit more realistic about what I will look like on my excursion...minus the being a man part.

floodgates

Why hello blogger world..it's been awhile. You see, I really don't enjoy these things. I just don't think that anything I have to say is worth writing about. My days aren't very interesting or filled with excitement. We are "supposed" to get another 22 inches of snow though. It's times like when I walk to class or to the dining hall that I really start missing Florida. We had some good times down there , but it was time to move on. Life doesn't stop. Sometimes, it's easy to forget that. I remember going back home on a college break and thinking how things would still be the same as they were when I left. I quickly realized just how much can change and how much people could change. My coming to New York was definitely the right choice. I love it up here. Yes, it is cold, almost unbearable cold, but what makes it bearable are the close friends I have made, the classes I have taken, and the incredible ways that I have seen God work in not only my life, but also in the lives of my friends as well. There is this verse in the Bible..Malachi 3:10. It says Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. This verse is talking about giving to the Lord, but I also like to think of it for other things. God is asking us to test Him, to trust Him. According to wikipedia, which we all know is COMPLETELY accurate and NEVER wrong about anything, Floodgates are adjustable gates used to control water flow in flood barriers, reservoir, river, stream, or levee systems. I just love this because God is saying Do it, I dare you! See what happens. He can open those floodgates and there will be a ridiculous amount of blessing! Reflect on that for a moment. Imagine sitting there and all around you, blessings are happening.

On another note, I just got back from Miami/Tampa Bay area and let me just say that I had an awesome time. It was so nice to have a little break from the cold and hang out with friends and also be a bridesmaid for my BRE..BEST ROOMMIE EVER! It was a lovely wedding and the bride looked beautiful.

Congrats Erika and Justin!