Radiohead

I had the privilege of seeing Radiohead last night. We had pit tickets thanks to Jason staying up all night to get tickets online. To me, they are just the perfect band. It was incredible. If you ever have the chance to see them, don't hesitate!

Another Blog

I received a link to a blog today I think people should check out. This man has been running a relief organization in Kenya for the past 4 years and he's giving his thoughts and perspectives on what's going on right now.

http://dlipparelli.blogspot.com/

A woman at our church started a ministry of her own a couple years ago centered on Kenya. It started with her going on a missions trip there. When she came back she raised as much money as she could to bring Bible's with her the next time she went. This year, her organization raised enough money through things like garage sales and trivia nights that they built a new school! I was so excited when I saw the pictures of it, almost finished. Now I'm wondering if it's even still standing. It's so, so heartbreaking and leaves me feeling helpless. Just when I thought I was actually able to contribute something tangible there. Pray.

It's my Birfday

I'm 26. It's a rather plain number I suppose, but, a good one I think. I feel like every year older I become, I am more credible in the minds of some who are older than me. I've always had older friends and now having a child at a young age, I have even more friends who are older then me because our children are similar in age. I think of the verse, "Do not let people look down on you because of your youth" all the time. I have to. I have a job that requires I direct people who are almost all older than me. There are many times that I have to be the "mature " one in situations. It's odd. I remember one of my mom's friends telling me when I was around 12 years old, "I want to be like you when I grow up" What does that mean exactly? I suppose I've always been "mature" for my age or something. So, I embrace being another year older because perhaps someday the age I seem will actually match the age I am.

Then there's the other side of the coin that I'm still asked if I'm a teenager on a semi-regular basis because of my appearance. This fall I introduced myself to a ref prior to a volleyball match and he reacted in shock. "I thought you were one of the varsity players helping the JV warm up!" Or when I went for an ultrasound and the man asked me if my mother would be accompanying me - assuming I was under 18. I try to see my youthful appearance as a good thing, and I guess when you're among high school girls wearing a volleyball jacket and jeans, it could be confusing. I was always sure I had a ring on my finger when I was pregnant. I bought a fake one a Target when my finger was too swollen for my real one. I knew one man already assumed I was an unwed teenage mother so I wanted to at least try to appear to be married and in my 20's!

Finally, it's still sinking in that I'm a mother! So, I think the older I get the more normal it will feel to me that I'm a mother. Having a baby at 24 felt a little crazy, but I'm thinking when I'm 30 I'll think, of course I'm a mother, I'm 30. Yeah, not sure if that's gonna happen, but I'd like to think at some point I'll actually get used to the fact I have a child. I still look at her sometimes and think, "You were really inside of me? I can't believe we did that!" It's a good thing you have the 9 months to prepare for a child, because it's still hard to believe it all happened sometimes, even a year later!

So, I'm 26 today. I'm a mother, I have a great job, a nice place to live, a beautiful child and a wonderful husband. I have a car I own, more than enough food to eat and plenty of clothes. I have lots of great friends and a community of people we're growing closer with and sharing our lives with. I'm very healthy, my family's healthy and we are greatly loved.
I'm 26 and I have so, so much to be thankful for.

GO TIGERS!

Mizzou-Rah, Mizzou-Rah, Mizzou-Rah, Tigers!