Being a "Grown-Up"

What exactly determines when you are an official grown-up? In some cultures, it is your specific age...but does the age matter as much as the mindset of the person at that age?

I've thought about this question so much in the past 6 or 7 years and I seem to never have the answer entirely. At 26 years old, I still think "wow, this is such a grown-up thing to do" when I pay my rent, make dentist appointments, or grocery shop. It doesn't even have to be very specific to finances either, just simply putting gas in my car reminds me that I'm a "grown-up". I thought for sure I would feel grown up when I graduated High School....but I didn't. Then I thought I would feel grown up after I moved out...but I didn't. Okay, so for sure I would feel grown up after I graduated college...but I didn't. I'm engaged now with the wedding only 3 months away and I thought that for sure during this rite of passage (planning a wedding, starting a new life as someone's wife, etc) I would feel more grown up...but I don't.

Sometimes it just hits me that I'm technically a grown adult woman living my life and making my own decisions. But when did that happen? The thought is so startling somedays it's beyond how much of a DUH moment it is....like being ran over by a bus...I know, DUH you were bound to grow up eventually right?

Growing up, I was never in denial that being an adult was glamorous and very exciting. I knew that it was about the everyday mundane tasks and being responsible for your life choices. I knew that it was a lot of work and required sacrifices that are not always easy or least of all fun. Still, I guess at some point I just assumed that I would feel like a grown-up. But I really don't....most days I still feel like I'm in High School just goofing around. I guess that's what is meant when you hear that being in your 20's is about "finding yourself".

Truthfully, I guess part of being an adult is just faking it until you make it and pray that you are getting it right at least part of the time. At least that's MY plan....

You know you need time off when...

You know you need the time off from work when at 9:30am you start typing up your "Out of Office" reminders.

I have a confession...

I'm sad to say that I have broken the rule of Christmas....

1) DO NOT PEEK AT YOUR PRESENTS!!!

Haha, good thing I did though because it was interesting, confusing, and just plain weird to me. I'll keep it to myself for now in the event that it is part of another present and I'll understand later.

Not very "PC"

I hate that this world has become so politically correct that you hesitate to say something as simple as "Merry Christmas".

I never thought growing up that something so natural to me would be so offensive for someone else. I also never thought that I'd fall victim to hesitating at all before saying "Merry Christmas"....but I have. I can't believe it either...so very unlike me.

On the other hand, it brings the biggest smile to my face to hear someone wish me a "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays". I'm not sure why, because no matter what the phrase is actually, it is the thought behind it that is truly touching. However, on two different occasions today, I've had people say have a great Christmas when I know that they do not celebrate Christmas. Not knowing exactly what to say in return, I panicked and said "you too". How much sense does that make?




Also this was along the lines of not being very "PC" either.





Its presented a little dramatically, but still proving a good point in my opinion about having to be careful with what you say to people these days


At any rate, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!!!

Perspective

What truth....

A woman was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything elseimaginable, and hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, this woman finally made it out ofthe store and to the elevator with her two kids.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year: Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, get that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, make sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sends us a card. Not to mention, getting the kids everything they ask for.

Finally the elevator doors opened--there was already a crowd of people inside. This woman pushed her way into the elevator and dragged her two kids in with her, along with all of her shopping bags of stuff.

When the doors closed, she let out a big sigh and decided she couldn't take it anymore, saying out loud, to no one in particular,"Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be arrested and strung up!

"From the back of the elevator, a quiet calm voice responded, "Don't worry ma'am, I believe they crucified Him."

Relatives

I'm not too crazy about my relatives. I love my immediate family. But don't you look at your relatives, and you can't believe you're actually related to these people? I give blood four times a year just so I'm less and less related to these people.
-Brian Kiley

How many of us can relate to this?

Warning: "Extreme Sport"

I've posted before about how I get these "how to" web clips come across my gmail.... Well, this is the best one in a long time:

http://www.wikihow.com/Ride-a-Mechanical-Bull

Why did someone feel the need to write a "how to" article on this subject? Was it after some embarrassing pictures? Was it after a drunken night? Are there really people out there that need to know how to ride a mechanical bull?

None of it makes much sense to me.

Update: Wedding

By now everyone has ordered their dresses and hopefully they will be here as scheduled...thank goodness, I was paranoid there for a while some of the bridesmaids might wait too long to order their dress. Oh well, crisis averted for the moment I think.



I'm going this Saturday with my mom to the florist in Conroe to meet with the wedding consultant. Hopefully it goes better than it did when we met with the owner of the flower shop. She wasn't very helpful and had no clue about weddings or flowers related to weddings...wish us better luck this go around.



I met with my friend Amber right before Thanksgiving since she was in town from New York. We talked a lot about the invitations, programs, etc. She said she was going to start working on them as soon as she got back home. The sample one she made was so pretty and very special since she's doing it all by hand. I just need to pick out some paper for the programs and some for the favors. For those of you that don't know, I'm making these sour cream containers for favors and I'm going to fill them with some kind of candy and a little thank you note. My Stampin Up Demonstrator, Bev, offered to have a little workshop at her house for all of us to make them together. I guess I do have a little bit of a crafty side...just as long as I have a goal in mind. :)



Other than that, not a whole lot of things going on right now with the wedding. Scott is going to be out of town for work most of February so I might try to schedule my bridal portraits then. We had decided to take engagement pictures sometime in January but I'm running out of weekends already.... The majority of the pictures will be outside so I can only hope that the weather cooperates for whatever day we pick. He's narrowed down the resort we are going to for our honeymoon. I'll let you know when it is all finalized. I don't want to jinx it by saying too much since I did that with the Sandals Resort in Antigua and we are NOT going there now unless we win the lotto. The place he found is very nice and looks soooo relaxing, it will be great!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving

Happy belated Thanksgiving...man did it go by fast. Seems like November flew by and now we are only 3 weeks away from Christmas!!! Our Thanksgiving was interesting...lots of people crammed into my Dad's house for 3 days.

I need a break from the break...haha!!!

The food was good but it's just a lot of work to cook, clean, etc, etc. I truly look forward to the day when I can have holidays at my house. We came home on Saturday, took a nap and went out to eat. Sunday we went to church and then came home, took out all the Christmas decorations, then went to eat, then took a nap, THEN started putting everything up. I haven't put up decorations in almost 4 years and I couldn't believe I had sooooo much stuff. The tree is finished but I need to finish up the decorations for the table, fireplace and mantle....

I'm hoping that things will start to slow down for the next couple of weeks before Christmas...I really need it. Yeah right!!!!!!!!!