Sunday, December 30, 2012

Two Months.

Dear Ryan;

You are two months old today! It actually feels much longer. I feel like you've always been here. I want you to know how much your mommy and daddy love you. I'm sure that will be a frequent topic of these letters, but I think it's important for you to know that the love was present from the second you arrived...and I can see it growing stronger and stronger every single day. It's the way your daddy refers to you as "my baby" or how your mommy says "I'll be right back, bye bye Ryan" and kisses you, even when she's just going up the stairs. They protect you and they look at you with sparkling eyes and wide smiles. They are so proud of you.

You've grown a lot in the last month. You're a whopping ten pounds, you are sleeping more during the night, and you have turned yourself over from your tummy. We all love watching you grow. You started smiling more, too, and that smile is beautiful.

You had your very first Christmas, and you got so many presents, our way of saying that we love you and can't wait to watch you grow. I got you the book Peter Pan. That is my very favorite children's story, Ryan, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I can't tell you to never grow up because I know that you will- but I hope that your life is your very own version of Neverland. Magical and full of surprises and adventure.

We are all waiting for your hair to turn a certain color- right now it is light, but with dark hair in the back. We're still oohing and aaahing over every little thing that you do and we are all very much in love with you.

Tomorrow is the last day of 2012. What a year it has been. The greatest gift of all was you, our little Ryan.


Love, Aunt Megan

Friday, December 28, 2012

2012 memories.

I scrolled all the way down through my facebook wall until I reached January 2012. Because the easiest way to look back on your yeari s through facbook. No but seriously, it is. And so, here is my 2012 reflection.

A few things you will never forget in 2012.

  • Taking a week long trip to Ft. Walton Beach, FL with my siblings and their spouses. 
  • Becoming an aunt for the first time
  • Making a commitment as an associate of the sisters of Mercy
  • My 25th Birthday weekend
  • Moving out of my parents house
  • Susan Jarrell
  • Cristo Rey Graduation
  • Tigers going to the World Series
  • Tonsillectomy
Relationship (s)

  • This was the first year in a while where I tried to put myself out there a little more. I tried online dating. I went on dates. I had a 4 month steady relationship. I stuidly let a really bad guy back in and he once again broke my heart. I learned to stick up for myself. I learned not to settle. I learned what I am looking for in a relationship and that I don't have to desperately try to find someone. Someone will come along when the time is right. I think what I have to work on is being more open about it. I don't like my family to tease me so I don't always talk to them about the "relationship" thing. I need to just get over that and talk about it.
The Best Day

  • July 28th. Woke up at 5 am. Rocked the color run. Fell into a color run coma. Woke up, got pretty. Went to a Japanese place with my backup besties and Sam. Saw Melinda perform the Love 101 show. Hung out after. I was so happy, so free. The next morning was my 25th birthday, and that was pretty perfect too. 
 The worst day

  • January 11th. My mom came barreling in my room to tell me Susan had been murdered the night before. I had never been so distraught in my entire life. I felt sick. I was shaking. I was crying. I was numb. I was helpless. I have never felt like that before and it was the worst feeling. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. I stilll miss her. I still have her name naad nmber in my phone. I still have nightmares occasionally. And I pray for those beautiful children every single day. My pain was nothing compared to theirs. I only hope that their hearts can heal.
On that note, I want to sincerely thank everyone who came to my aide during that time, the most difficult thing I've ever been through in my life. I love you all. I know when January 10th/11th roll around this year, I'll be in a very strange place of mind but I will armor myself with prayers and good people.

The most memorable moment.

  • Holding my nephew for the very first time and realizing what it meant to fall in love with a baby.
Your best friend(s).

  • To be quite honest, my coworkers were pretty much my best friends this year. Probably because I spent the most time with them. Maggie, Sue, Tierra, Ashley, Christina, Carol, Christine, Shannon, Stella, Suzanne, Sarah, Lynn. Those girls supported me, stood by me, advocated for me, and made me laugh. I care about them and I know that they care about me. I couldn't ask for a better group of gals to be surrounding myself with every single day.
Your birthday.

  • My 25th Birthday was one of the greatest birthdays I have ever had. I was in Indy. The night before I saw Melinda's Love 101 Show with my friends. I woke up sore from doing the color run, all smiles from being around some of my favorite people. We went to breakfast in downtown Indy and I sat next to my idol and friend Melinda. We laughed a whole lot. She shared a personal story with me that brought closure to a huge chunk of my life.
 The best getaway.
  • For sure, without a doubt, our siblings trip to Florida. I laughed so hard every day of that trip, I didn't think about work and I let myself relax and enjoy. Honestly one of my favorite moments of the entire year is running around the sand dunes with Sara, pretending like we were in the Hunger Games. And finding that turtle shell. I am still kicking myself for not bringing it to JP to tease him that we found the ninja turtle he buried years and years ago.
New Year resolutions.
  • I hate resolutions. Because they are basically the things we should have been doing all along. Makes me feel like I didn't do something right, or that I failed. But the new year is about hope. And for 2013, I strive to: Eat in more than I eat out; apply for graduate school;  finish Laurence's book; take the stairs; turn off computer by 10 pm; pay off my debts; cut out gossip; and start my days off with prayer. Think I can do all of that?

favorite tweets of the year from people I follow

@lover_of_sushi I saw this really hot guy out of the corner of my eye and then I realized it was a chick! This is amazing!

@jessyjams Nothing makes me sadder than a middle aged hoodrat

@immattgiraud Someone just made a comment on the radio about breast feeding and I said Heyooo! Haha #awkward

 @Kristen8108 Crapcakes. I just remembered that I forgot my cat's birthday again this year. Not like he really knows but I still feel bad.

 ‏@ladygaga Is it wrong that sometimes when people call me, I break out into 'Telephone,' my mom always does Beyonce's part.

 ‏@GloZell 1D Flawless Homosexuals? Well pass me the Rainbow cuz I want to taste the Skittles

 ‏@IAmCaseyAbrams I'm watching spiceworld on tv. I feel the movie kind of explains my life

 ‏‏@SaraBareilles Children are like little drunks.

‏@Lauren_Collins I forgot Taylor Swift's last name today for like, TEN minutes and thought I was having a stroke.

‏@jessyjams i would love a pulled pork sandwich for dinner. shit, ill eat it for breakfast.

@glitterbots i wish i weren't allergic to elephants so i could join the circus.

@Zammie255 I shuffle everyday it's exhausting

 @Jacob_Lusk I want to live my life with mermaids and poets!

 ‏@lizZmilK i wish i was off every afternoon so i could cuddle with my dog in bed and cry about characters on tv shows. i feel so alive.

‏‏@GloZell So cold on this bus ... My left nipple just broke off and rolled away. RIP NIP.

‏@mdoolittle OMG! Just got ANOTHER autograph request from a prisoner that said, "I loved you on Mash!" LOL! Who exactly do they think I played?

@KhloeKardashian  I literally just shat on the floor. Ugh.

@mandisaofficial One day I wanna find a White person that looks like me and play a trick on tanning salon workers. LOL!

@jambajim  On my walk from the parking lot, a rooster crowed, a squirrel popped out of a bush & a butterfly landed on my shoulder. #DisneyPrincessSwag

@DeniseJanae  Okay....not once but TWO times I have been in the presence of the muppets. God...why are you so cool??????????

@alayahEFFINkai WHO TF DUG UP MC HAMMER?

@JordinSparks @mcaro05 lol TWITTER IS A BATTLEFIELD!!!

‏@Zammie255 Ahh! @OfficialSanta just faved my tweet. Excuse me while I fangirl. http://twitpic.com/bngtqc


So that was my 2012 in a nutshell. What happened to you this year?










Friday, December 21, 2012

My Personal 2012 Pop Culture Picks

I love reflecting on the year, both personally and pop culture wise. Listed here are some of my favorite movies, albums, and songs from the year.

Top 10 Movies.

10. Brave
There are those who say fate is something beyond our command. That destiny is not our own, but I know better. Our fate lives within us, you only have to be brave enough to see it.

9. People Like Us
Most doors in the world are closed, so if you find one that you want to get into, you damn well better have an interesting knock

8. Breaking Dawn 2
You nicknamed my baby after the Loch Ness Monster?

7. The Dark Knight Rises
 A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a little boy's shoulder to let him know that the world hadn't ended.

6. The Vow
The moment of impact. The moment of impact proves potential for change. Has ripples effects far beyond what we can predict. Sending some particles crashing together. Making them closer than before. While sending others spinning off into great ventures. Landing them where you've never thought you've found them. That's the thing about moments like these. You can't, no matter how hard you try, controlling how it's gonna affect you. You just gotta let the colliding part goes where they may. And wait. For the next collision.


5. Sparkle
All I think about is music.


4. Pitch Perfect
Even though some of you are pretty thin, you all have fat hearts, and that's what counts.

3. Hunger Games
May the odds be ever in your favor.

2. Perks of Being A Wallflower
So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how could that be.

1. Silver Linings Playbook
You gotta pay attention to signs. When life reaches out with a moment like this it's a sin if you don't reach back...



Top 15 Albums of 2012...and my three favorite songs from each.

Maroon 5- Overexposed

  • Tickets "you're perfect on the outside, but nothing at the core"
  • Sad "I'm scared to death that there may not be another one like this. And I confess, that I'm only holding on by a thin thin thread"
  • Daylight "Here I am staring at your perfection in my arms; so beautiful"
Zac Brown Band- Uncaged
  • Goodbye in Her Eyes "the life she wanted, it was gone. Prince Charming I wasn't"
  • Uncaged "every day find a way to face my fears"
  • Natural Disaster "and the rebel in her soul brought her to me"
Pitch Perfect Soundtrack.
Won't do the lyrics because they are all covers :)
  • Cups
  • Bellas Finals
  • Riff Off
Fun., Some Nights
  • Some Nights "what do I stand for? Most nights I don't know anymore"
  • Carry On "may your past be the sound of your feet on the ground. Carry on"
  • Why Am I The One "for once for once I feel like I'm right where I belong"
Mumford and Sons, Babel
  • Babel "press my nose up to the glass around your heart, I should've known I was weaker from the start"
  • I Will Wait  "raise my hands, paint my spirit gold"
  • Hopeless Wanderer "Hold me fast 'cause I'm a hopeless wanderer. I will learn, I will learn to love the skies I'm under"
Alex Clare, Too Close
  • Too Close "at the end of it all, you're still my best friend"
  • Damn Your Eyes "damn your eyes for taking my breath away, for making me want to stay. damn your eyes for getting my hopes up high"
  • Tightrope "the only thing I'm sure of is to have no fear at all. Just go, keep on going on."

Ed Sheeran, +
  • Wake Me Up  "and you will never know just how beautiful you are to me." 
  • Sunburn "She was mine, I was hers...And all that's in between. If she would cry, I would shelter her, And keep her from the darkness"
  • Lego House "I'm gonna pick up the pieces, and build a lego house, when things go wrong we can knock it down"
P!nk, The Truth About Love
  • Try "funny how the heart can be deceiving  more than just a couple times. Why do we fall in love so easy?  Even when it's not right."
  • Chaos and Piss "I also feel things more than I should. I don't relax very often, as often as I could. I worry how the whole thing looks, it doesn't look good."
  • The Great Escape "Terrified of the dark, but not if you go with me. And I don't need a pill to make me numb. And I wrote the book already, but that chapter of my life will soon be done. I'm the king of the great escape. You're not gonna watch me checking out of this place. You're not gonna lose me, cuz the passion and the pain are gonna keep us alive someday".
Haley Reinhart, Listen Up!
  • Undone "I don't want you back, I just want to have what you took from me".
  • Hit The Ground Running "You better watch your mouth boy, cuz I don't miss a beat"
  • Keep Coming Back "don't you have a home to go to? don't you have another soul to hold you? am I the only one who really knows you?"
JillandKate, Heart of Stone
  • Burn It Down "caught that liar right in his tracks, and I said some things I can never take back. Wouldn't if I could".
  • I Come Alive "I come alive when you look at me that way"
  • Breakdown "If we don't get this figured out, it's sure to break us down and we won't ever find a way back home"
Bruno Mars- Unorthodox Jukebox
  • If I Knew "I know it breaks your heart to picture the only one you want to love in someone else's arms, but I wouldn't have done all the things that I had done if I knew one day you'd come" 
  • Natalie "you'll be begging me please please please, while I sit there and laugh laugh laugh, and you'll be cryin for me cryin for me cryin for me"
  • Gorilla "oh look what you've done, but in this jungle you can't run"

Casey Abrams, Casey Abrams
  • Wore Out My Soul "As time keeps moving on, your shine is clearly gone"
  • Ghosts "Found out that love is too precious to waste, but I'll waste it all on you"
  • Midnight Girl "And I wanna tell your right now, you're the kind of girl Ray was singing about"
Jason Mraz, Love Is A Four Letter Word
  • I Won't Give Up "We got a lot to learn, but God knows we're worth it. I won't give up."
  • 93 Million Miles "sometimes it may seem dark, but the absence of light is a necessary part. just know you're not alone, you can always come back home"
  • Hidden Track "I hope you notice that I am still in love with you. Yes I, I'm coming over tonight. I hope you notice I was never over you."
The Spill Canvas, From San Francisco
  • Whiskey Dream Kathleen "To my babygirl in the picture, could you pass along that I miss her? I know you're still in there somewhere".
  • The Meds "don't get me wrong I think about you all the time, that doesn't mean I enjoy you spoiling my mind"
  • To Chicago "At one point I thought maybe I should warn her. But such information is reserved for our dark corners".
Taylor Swift, Red
  • I Knew You Were Trouble "And the saddest fear comes creeping in...that you never loved me, or her, or anyone, or anything."
  • I Almost Do "I bet it never, ever occurred to you that I can't say hello to you and risk another goodbye"
  • All Too Well "And you call me up again just to break me like a promise, so casually cruel in the name of being honest. I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here, cuz I remember it all too well"

15 Songs Not Previously Listed That I Really Freaking Liked This Year. No judging allowed.
15. Nicki Minaj- Pound The Alarm
14. Ellie Goulding- Lights
13. Justin Bieber- Boyfriend
12. Carly Rae Jepsen- Call Me Maybe
11. Taylor Swift- Eyes Open
10. Phillip Philips- Home
9. Adele- Skyfall
8. Kelly Clarkson-Dark Side
7. Kelly Clarkson- Stronger
6. The Lumineers- Ho Hey
5. Carrie Underwood- Blown Away
4. David Guetta feat Sia- Titanium
3. Of Monsters and Men- Little Talks
2. Gotye- Somebody That I Used To Know
1. Kelly Clarkson- Catch My Breath





Monday, December 17, 2012

teachers are heroes

I am not a teacher, but I know a few. I know young and old teachers, those who teach in the inner city and those who teach in upper class suburbs. Some teach little ones, others high school.  And I can tell you this: Every teacher I know is a hero.

We all know the job of a teacher. Their job is to spread knowledge to the kids, prepare them for life. Sounds easy, right? Wrong. Being a teacher is like being a parent. These lives are in your hands. Everyone remembers their teachers growing up- whether you liked them or not, you can probably admit that they made some sort of impact on your life. That's not an easy task. You always have to be on your game, ready to answer questions, to be patient, to be honest. And if you have one bad day, one bad HOUR, people attack you. Teachers are the number one source of knowledge for our kids.

Do you know that most teachers work over 50 hours a week? They come in the classroom early, leave late. They grade papers in the evening and on weekends and heck sometimes even go into their classroom on the weekend to get it ready for the week. And yet, the profession has one of the lowest paying salaries.

And guess what? They don't just teach the basic subjects or extracurriculars. They teach about life.   They lead by example, giving kids the chance to have a role model. They push kids to try their hardest, never give up, aim higher, set goals.

I am telling you all of this because I can pretty much promise that today, December 17th, was one of the hardest days in a teacher's life. The Newtown tragedy is very, very fresh in our minds and hearts and millions of children are stepping into school very scared. And it will be up to the teachers to comfort them and to answer their questions. They don't have to, of course. They could ignore it and go about their day. But they won't, because they are teachers, and because they care a whole lot about your kids. They are invested. They would go to the ends of the earth to see them succeed and to protect them.  God bless you, teachers.

I want to end by sharing some personal stories about a few teachers that I know. I can name every teacher I've ever had, I probably have a story for each of them. But I have four I want to tell you about today.

Mrs. Carolin
I bet you didn't see that one coming, did ya. So Mrs. Carolin is this teacher I know. She teaches second grade at St. Hugo and has for sixteen years. She's pretty extraordinary, if I do say so myself. There are a couple of things that make her so special. First and foremost is she really fricken cares about the kids. I don't know how else to say that eloquently. I know this is a fact because I lived with the lady for fourteen years of her teaching at Hugo and have heard the stories of every single student that have passed through her classroom. I know this because several times she has been the contact person in the face of a tragedy. I know this because I can't step foot near St. Hugo's campus without someone stopping me to tell me how wonderful she is. Another reason she's so special is her teaching method. She's unique in that she has her old school way of thinking, but is also incredibly innovative. She's had to adapt to technology in the classroom and now she uses it more than I do. She uses a format called Workshop that teaches kids skills and information, but allows them to work at a pace that works best for them- because Mrs. Carolin is one of those teachers that knows not every kid learns the same way. I have sat in her classroom before, both as a student and as a visitor. But I'm the lucky one who got to have her as my mom, too. I have seen the hard work she puts into her students and her work. I know how late she works, how sometimes her bones ache from all the emotion and demands. But I also know that she wouldn't choose to be anywhere else but in A-1, teaching those kids. And that's why she's a hero.

Mrs. Currier
 Mrs. Currier was my English/Literature teacher in 7th Grade at St. Hugo. Let me set the scene for you a little bit and give you an insight on 11/12 year old Megan. I was shy. I had a solid group of friends but was not one of the "popular" girls by any means. In fact I actually HAD been friends with them at some point, but somewhere between sleepovers, soccer games, and spelling bees, they decided I wasn't cool enough for them anymore. But that's not the point. The point is, I always saw myself as average. I did alright in school, getting a's and b's, I just never saw myself as extraordinary  or as having any kind of talent. Mrs. Currier was the first person to change that. She was passionate about reading and writing, and that passion somehow was passed along to me. I  fell in love with words. She was tough, trying to prepare us for high school, but I also remember how compassionate and enthusiastic she was, cheering each of us on and encouraging us to do our best. Mrs. Currier helped me to discover a whole new world of learning. I remember specifically one project where we had to pick our favorite song and write a paper about the lyrics. I cannot for the life of me remember which song I picked (which probably makes this story a bit of a let down), but I do remember how intrigued I was by my classmates choices and their presentations. Mrs. Currier is still teaching 7th grade at St. Hugo, and I cannot tell you how excited that makes me for those kids. They are getting a rich education, and discovering strengths they never knew that they had.

Mr. Schusterbauer
My Junior year English teacher at Mercy. (See a theme here?). Good ole Schuste. I had him first hour for Lit Into Film. I was terrified at first. He had a reputation of being tough- but also hilarious. I wasn't the kind of student that spoke up in class, and I was always worried he'd call on me out of the blue. But from day one of stepping my 16 year old self into that classroom, I was mesmorized. If Mrs. Courier gave me my love for writing, Schuste reinforced it. Talk about passion, he had more passion for English and writing than anyone I've ever met to this day. He was poetic, and had a beautiful unique view on the world that he willingly shared with us. I feel like being able to have him as a teacher is like being a member of a secret club. If you've sat in his classroom you know that I'm talking about- we were spoiled with knowledge. That class was special. We learned techniques, themes, skills, and lessons that I would have never known otherwise. In a way I think I grew up a little bit in that class. It hit me, after the class was over, that we had the ability, the opportunity, to live our life the way we wanted. When I went away to college and had my freshman English class, I was amazed by my classmates and their lack of basic writing skills. Not only did I get that as a young student, but it was pounded into our heads at Mercy. I thank Schuste for the opportunity to be a student in his classroom. He is retired now, but he continues to spread his wisdom through poetry.

Mrs. Kowalski
So now that you know all about my love for English and writing, you can hear about my disgust for math. I hated math. I had it in my head that I wasn't good at math, and therefore didn't try very hard. I would pretty much hold my breath through all my math classes growing up, waiting for the bell to ring so that I could escape. In high school I suffered through, got c's, and rejoiced every spring when it was over and I didn't have to think about math all summer. I had Mrs. Kowalski twice, once freshmen year and then again senior year. I requested her senior year, and that's the year I remember better. I was one of the few seniors in my class, because I had started at the basic level in high school. Mrs. Kowalski understood me, probably more than any other teacher in high school did. She made me sit in the front row. She made me come in during my off hours to study or catch up on homework that I didn't understand. She paired me with a junior who understood it all.  She constantly asked me to put problems on the board so that she could help me figure out where I went wrong. She scared me to death by telling me that I wasn't going to be able to be a Kairos leader if I didn't bring my grade up. She helped me to pass that class. In fact, I think I got higher than a C. She was honest with me, and she was rooting for me. As a senior I was mature enough to know that, even though it seemed like she was being a pain, she was doing her job. She was teaching. She is still teaching math at Mercy and I can pretty much guarantee that she is helping girls like me get by. Thank you, Mrs. Kowalski!


To all the other teachers that made a significant impact on my life, you are a hero, and I appreciate you: Mrs. MacLean (Miss Joyce), Mrs. Leahy, Mrs. Morrow,  Miss Michalik, Mrs. Schrimsher, Madame Campbell,  Miss Desmond (Sorry, you'll always be Miss Desmond to me!).

Go hug a teacher today.

Friday, December 14, 2012

newtown tragedy.

There are a lot of people trying to make sense of today's tragedy. Going through the details, piece by piece. The timeline. The pictures.

I can't do that. I don't even know all the details. Just some numbers. The shooter was 24. 27 people are dead. 20 of them are children.

That's all I really need to know to feel this affected, this broken. I'm not sure what urged me to write this blog, or what it will really entail, I just had to say something.

The Victims.
Stating the obvious...their lives were cut short, tragically. No one should go like that, ever. I have this image of Jesus hugging the kids so tightly, wiping tears from their eyes and telling them they don't have to be afraid anymore. They are angels now, and they will protect other children.

The Survivors/Witnesses
They will never be the same. Memories of this day will be stuck in their minds forever. And it won't be easy. My prayer for the sweet kids AND adults who witnessed this tragedy is that they are somehow able to heal from the pain. That something will keep them going, even on the hardest days. For the teachers who did their absolute best to comfort their students during the tragedy, God bless you. You are heroes. I'm not going to tell you to stay strong because I know right now that seems impossible. I will just pray that you find strength, find hope, find peace.

The Families of the Victims
My words won't mean much but I am so, deeply sorry, and if I could take away the pain and loss that you are feeling and bring back your loved ones, I would. I am sending you all the hugs and prayers that I can muster.

The Rest of Us
We cannot argue over gun laws right now. I have my opinion, and so do you. But fighting over it and spreading hate is not going to solve anything. Stand up for what you believe in without bringing someone else down. The people of Newtown need our prayers, not our nasty comments toward one another. We have to stand together, stand up for each other and be a shoulder to lean on during these hard times. We must teach our children that there is still good in the world and that love conquers hate.

My St. Hugo Family
I could not help but think of you guys immediately after hearing the news. I want you to know how appreciated you are- the kids, the staff, and the parents. You are treasured and you are loved.




Monday, December 10, 2012

the Christmas spirit

I am totally not in the Christmas spirit this year. Which is totally out of character for me. Totally. I just can't bring myself to be cheery and spirited and full of sparkle and snowflakes. I almost smashed my phone in when our work radio station switched to Christmas music. I haven't even watched Elf yet. Or made cookies. Or sent out my Christmas cards. I had to pretty much force myself to buy them today.

My question was WHY. I love Christmas! I have a brand new little nephew who is going to be celebrating his very first Christmas. That in itself should be enough. Why am I so anti-holiday this year?

I had a breakthrough. I realized- I am focusing too much on what I don't have. I worry I don't have enough money to give decent gifts out, I don't have a family of my own or a special someone to share the holidays with.  We don't have any sunlight and haven't for days. I don't have any energy. I don't have enough time. I really really just want an acoustic guitar, but I know that's not happening. 

As soon as I realized I was focusing too much on the things I DON'T have, I began to gain a little more cheer. It's not about what we don't have. It is about celebrating what we do have. I have my health. I have my family and my friends. I have God's love. I have the ability to serve others and to make their day a little brighter. I AM blessed. And darn it, I'm gonna be grateful for it and spread Christmas cheer.

So my two part challenge to myself and to all of you this Christmas: Stop worrying about what you are lacking and enjoy what you have. Maybe you won't get an Ipad this year. It's gonna be okay. Spend time with people that you love, and if you live away from your family and can't afford to go home, write them a letter about how much you love and miss them. Second challenge? Serve others. I don't mean you have to donate all your money, we all know many of us are strapped financially. But participate in a service project at your church or go feed the homeless- and then make a commitment to keep doing that, monthly. The no time thing is not really an excuse for any of us- most organizations will take your help, even if it's just an hour a month. You can set aside an hour a month to serve someone else. Me? I'm going to volunteer at Gilda's Club holiday party (I volunteer there once a month), encourage our youth group kids to pull off a huge service project, and spend some extra time with our hospice patients who don't have any family left. 

Now, I'm going to write my Christmas cards. Totally.

Hugs and Kisses.


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

20 somethings



This is dedicated to my fellow 20 somethings. Life for us is miserable and magical at the same time. Oh crap. That’s a Taylor Swift lyric. Don’t you hate how that 22 year old billionaire is always right?  But seriously. T Swizzle, you’re right again. It IS miserable and magical at the same time. 

We are pulled in a thousand different directions. We’re trying to figure it out. We’re trying to forget the mistakes we made in college. We’re trying to build our future. And everyone wants to know our plan. But we don’t have one. We can still laugh for hours at the silliest things but we can also cry at the drop of a hat. We wonder why everyone feels the need to mother us, and the next second we’re begging for someone to mother us. We’re praying that everything will fall into place, preferably before the ke$ha concert because we have 2nd row tickets and that’s the reason we put feathers in our hair. And most of all, we are looking for love. We are looking for our match, someone who has a decent job, doesn't live with mommy and daddy, and ::gasp:: actually treats us well. 

Also, don't you find it kind of ironic that we are supposed to be role models for the youngins' in our life? A coworker of mine wants me to meet her daughter and "knock some sense into her". My youth group kids recently discussed their worries about career goals. I was so amused by that. Here I sit at 25, no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life, and these 15 year olds are worried about it? Cripes! I try my best to be a role model to those kids. I know my life may not be exactly the ideal life, but at least I can teach them to be kind to one another.

It’s exhausting, huh?  Is there a solution? I don’t think so. I think we have to find what works best for us. And I think we just have to keep going and to live every day as if it is a new adventure. It’s kind of exciting, to see what surprises are in store for us.  We can do this. One freaking step at a time.