Twist.

a twist on growing up.

i have probably blogged several times about growing up and how i hate it. i rather have the high school days where i hung out with my friends, made A's without studying, worked enough to put gas in the car and chick fil a in the belly. i still feel that way HOWEVER....

when i think about growing up here lately i think about it in a whole new light. i moved to san diego when i was 20 years old. just a baby really. i just turned 23 and i'm still quite the baby... but i have grown up so much. it's hard to put how i've grown up into words but i know that i have.

i look at life differently, i look at the world differently.

i have learned that there are appropriate times to share your opinion and other times where silence and a hug is much more beneficial. i am no where near mastering the art of taming the tongue. i am a girl you know. i plan to constantly work on it though. the tongue has the power of life and death (pro.18:21).

i have learned so much from holly ross. she has become one of my dearest friends. at one time i only saw her as the woman i worked for. now, i love her more than words can say. i have learned a lot from her. she is a very accomplished woman who has worked very hard for the life she has. her and her husband are still very much in love. i want to always be in love with my husband and i'm very willing to put in the work to make it happen.

i have become even more independent. i realize this isn't always good but in a lot of ways it is great. being alone doesn't bother me nearly as much as it used to. in high school i always wanted to be surrounded by friends or family. i still love a full house and i still love people and being surrounded by them. at the same time, i am not afraid to go do what i want to do. alone. if no one else wants to go do something fun, i'll just go by myself. treating myself and "taking myself on dates" can really bring happiness. i'm not too completely independent... i still call my mom every. single. day. and talk to brittany every other day :)

i love the thought that not only did Jesus die for me. rescue me. redeem me. but he didn't stop there. he loved me enough to save me AND he loves me enough to discipline me. and grow me. it's not always fun and delightful but i THANK GOD i am not the same person i was when i was 16. i was a great 16 year old but if you don't learn and grow what do you have to show for the years between 16 and 23? i want to constantly be growing and changing and bettering myself. i want to honor HIM with and in everything.

here's to 23. 2011. growth and change :) {something you'd never hear me say in the past ;)}