I know that every young person in North Dakota hates it. They can't wait till the day that they graduate high school so they can leave this disgusting, cold, boring place and move somewhere amazing, warm, and fun, like California..and that is fine. I was totally one of those people, and if God didn't bless me with my baby girl I would probably be backpacking in Europe right now. With that aside, there are several reasons that I am thankful for being raised in small North Dakota town. The first being, I have strong morals, family values, and my priorities are some-what in the correct order. I know right from wrong, bad from good, I know my limit, I know how far I can put myself out there with out hurting other people around me. I know what its like to be loved, I know what it's like to connect with strangers in the grocery store, I know what it's like to go to a country church with 30 people with my grandparents, I know the power of a smile, the thoughtfulness of a wave, and how much a hug can cheer someone up. I know that it's important to take time to do the little things, it's important to call in to work to spend time with a relative in the hospital, I know it's important to keep promises, stand up for myself, and always have my family and friend's back. I know my grandparents walked up hill to school both ways and did everything that they could so that my parents could have life better then them and I know that my parents did everything they could that I could have it better then them. I know I need to be thankful, I know that I need to use manners, let elders go first, help old ladies with their groceries, and give to charity. I know that you need to be kind, work as a team, and never give up. I know that violence in not the answer, I know that a farmer like my grandpa worked hard to get this food on our table, and I know that when old people are going 15 miles an hour on interstate to be patient because would you want someone to zip by your grandma and flip them off and honk? absolutely not, so why would you want to do that to someone elses grandma? Now, I am not saying that if I grew up in Nebraska or Seattle or West Virginia that I wouldn't know these same things.. I am just saying we have it lucky in North Dakota to learn all these things from the beginning... it makes us and everyone around us better people.
I also am thankful that I learned to smile at strangers, wave at passing by cars, and take the time to help an elderly person cross the street. People in Los Angeles are sooooo fast paced. No one smiled at me, no one waved, and no one had time to spare to help me find directions to the nearest yogurt land. I honestly missed looking at a stranger in the eye, smiling, and have them smile at me back... it's a weird kind of connection you make with people every single day of your life that gives you a good feeling. In Los Angeles I'm not saying there are not friendly nice people, I am just saying a smile was hard to come by from a local. Also, everyone is so concerned with making it to the next metro, to getting in line first at starbucks, and to not miss one second of work because what would the CEO of Sony do with out his assistants assistant for 5 minutes?! I just know that you take time off of work to spend with your loved ones, to pamper yourself, and to just breathe and relax. Life isn't all about making a six figure salary and having enough money to afford a new Ferrari for your 14 year old daughter. I just think that growing up in North Dakota made me a better person, so one day.. if I decide to move to New York or Miami or LA that I will be able to be the one in a hundred local people to smile, wave, and stop to help a stranger. It's all about the little things, and taking time to help others in need.
I am putting this lesson under mine and Kim's pictures because this is a lesson that I have already learned, but I think that she needs to keep working on. You may think that you are going to get married when you are 22, graduate college at 24, buy a house and get pregnant at 25, and have your third child by 32. You are going to name them henry, daisy, and charlie. You are going to live in a Blue house with a white fence in Vermont and belong to a book club and your daughters going to be in dance. Your husband is going to be in bed with you every night and you are going to be financially stable and never have to tell your kids no. But seriously? I got pregnant when I was 16, went to hair school, broke up with my high school sweetheart and my daughters father who I thought I was going to marry and spend my life waking up to every morning, I live by myself, struggle to put gas in my car, and am so damn tired with friday night rolls around that I fall asleep before 10pm. I would rather spend saturday night finger painting and watching clifford then getting drunk, I would rather spend my money on new dance slippers for lillian then buy myself a new coach wallet. I know that I am different then almost every single 19 year old in the country, but I just wanted to make a point that you have NO idea what God has planned, you just have to have faith that what he does have planned is for the best and you always have to trust your family and friends to help pick up the slack when you are having a rough day. What would life be with out some speed bumps? boring. Just live your life in the present, whats meant to happen... will happen as long as you are making your self happy in the moment.
Lesson three: Lillian Joann is my biggest priority in life.
The lesson title says it all. I would do anything in the world to make that little girl smile. She is the biggest blessing I could have ever asked for. She has taught me more lessons in her 22 months of life then I learned in my 12 years old school. She has made me wise beyond my years, and has made me grow up faster then I would have hoped for... but I wouldn't change one thing about it for the world... she is my princess and I love her more then I could have imagined it was possible to love someone... Mommy Loves you Lilly Jo.
These two pictures are of me fishing for the first time in my life in the Pacific ocean with 13 year old boy that was teaching me. I think that a lot of people miss out on opportunities and miss out on great experiences just because they don't realize what is right before their eyes. If you don't take advantage of what is right in front of you how are you ever going to accomplish everything you want to do in your life? When you see something you want, go for it! Don't hesitate, don't be afraid to ask for help, and don't be scared! I can honestly say that if I ever let fear get in the way of what I wanted I would not ever leave my parents house in the morning for fear of what that day is going to bring. You need to be confident and enter every situation with your head held high, you never know what crazy story you are going to come out with... you just need to open your eyes and see what life has to offer.
xoxoxox
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