Tell me everything is wonderful now

I heard a song today that I hadn't heard in years. Which is funny, because usually songs that I love stick with me. But this was a nice refreshing beat to my day today. "Wonderful" by Everclear. It came out in 2000 - 12 years ago...what?! - crazy! Anyway, as I was driving through my quaint little downtown part of McMinnville, I just couldn't help but stop and really listen to those words in the song.

Starts out...

I close my eyes when I get too sad

I think thoughts that I know are bad

Close my eyes and I count to ten

Hope it's over when I open them

Even though I was only 8 when this hit came out, I remember listening to the song and not fully understanding what the aforementioned meant. "I think thoughts that I know are bad" - I couldn't wrap my mind around what they were trying to say. I couldn't wrap my mind around anything past a problem beyond a B- on a social studies test or why I couldn't nail a backhandspring in gymnastics. I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that other kids, other people, other adults, had problems that caused "thoughts that I know are bad."

I go to school and I run and play

I tell the kids that it's all okay

I like to laugh so my friends won't know

When the bell rings I just don't want to go home

Still...even now, at nearly 20 years old, I have trouble imagining this situation for children. That at 6,9,12 year old kids have to put on a front so young to seem "okay."

Near the end of the song, it closes...

Promises mean everything when you're little

And the world is so big

I just don't understand how

You can smile with all those tears in your eyes

When you tell me everything is wonderful now

And when you stop and think about it...promises really do mean everything. Everything when you're little, and everything when you're big. I guess the moral of this whole schpeel is this:

If you ever see a child without a smile, go out of your way to make that child smile.

Make a funny face, smile at them, tell them a joke, tickle them. You don't know what that child goes home to, or doesn't go home to, at night. That may be the only time he or she feels special that whole day, or whole week.

And yes, I know, they can be whiny and snotty and gross and bratty, but they're kids! :) Look past it, however hard it may be! (God bless my sweet mama, an elementary school teacher for 20-some years. P.S. - Make sure teachers know they are appreciated, too! They take those kids' stories and lives home with them.)

Tomorrow I am making a visit to Smithville Elementary School to read & speak to two 2nd grade classes, and I can't wait. I want those kids to know they are loved. If not by their parents, by God.

Be the light that you want to see shine.

xoxo- C

It's 2012?

So....I haven't blogged since November. And I'm really behind. And I feel like I don't even know where to start as far as covering a nearly 3-month span goes. And I only have 1 week left of Christmas break, which means life will be picking up even more speed (which is, honestly, a little overwhelming to think about). By the way, MISS TENNESSEE IS IN 5(-ish) MONTHS!!!!!

...K, freakout=over.

Anyway, it's January. It's 2012. A new year. People have asked me lately what my resolution is for this year. You wanna know what it is?

Here it is....

You ready?

.......NOTHING.......

Ok now, before you start jumping to any conclusions, this does not mean I plan to sit and twiddle my thumbs all year long. What I mean by no New Year's resolution is this: I think, as a person (and as a Christian, sister, daughter, fiance, friend, titleholder, and all other job titles that fit in), I need to have goals set for myself each day. Not just one day of the year. It's like setting yourself up for failure.

Ya'll probably know I'm big on to-do lists. (by the way that's not my to-do list) I make at least one list per day, if not more. Something about writing something down on a piece of paper makes it that much more real and concrete. Which, in turn, makes me more likely to follow through with it. So, my theory is: make a "to-do list" everyday. My to-do lists usually don't consist of JUST tasks and chores. I speak my own language. Sometimes I find myself writing down "consider your options on purchasing ____'s birthday gift" or "decide what your workout plan is for tomorrow." That way, I'm already planning for my goals in the next day or so. Sounds complicated, maybe it is...maybe it's not. But, it works for me.

Now this is what works for ME ya'll. That's why I don't do New Year's resolutions. Why commit goals and ideas to just ONE day? Why not do it every day?

I'll leave ya'll with some pictures of this past holiday season. It didn't just fly by, it ZOOMED by on some kind of futuristic unfathomable jet. Where did my beloved Christmas go?!?!