Oh to be little...

At the age of 26, if I were to wear a tu-tu to any party or event other than Halloween I can only imagine the comments and stares I would receive.  No matter how comfortable I was, or how great I look someone will have an issue with how I am dressed.  I could be wearing the latest trendy top or the most fabulous shoes, but the tu-tu would be the only point of fixation.  "Why would she wear that?", "I can't believe she would be seen in that in public, let alone a reception" the potential options are endless....

However, if a 4 year old wears the tu-tu to the same event everyone fawns over her.  "She is so cute, so adorable" they say.  The young girl is probably wearing shoes that don't match her top, and maybe even some tights or leggings that have horizontal stripes when they probably should be vertical.  Why is this outfit now acceptable just because of her age?

There is a purity in youth that is so easily forgotten, a freedom of choice and expression that knows no bounds.  If you have a chance to look back at your toddler pictures when we were given the ability to CHOOSE our own outfits please do so, you will find a piece of yourself that should not be forgotten.  It's a snapshot in time where we explored the world with all our senses.  It didn't matter if we matched or we had the latest and greatest we were always fabulous and ready for the next grand adventure.  We played outside in the dirt, we fell and scraped our knees...minor setbacks, but never got in the way of continuing the game or playing to the point of exhaustion.  There was never another option. We were mezmerized by bubble wrap, and had the imagination to play with a cardboard box fort for hours upon end.

As we grow older our priorities obviously change, there is no way of escaping it.  We go to school, we get jobs and eventually start our own families. Wouldn't it be fantastic to get older and still live in a world where we were accepted and acted the way we were when we were little.  Not saying as an adult we should run around the street in a diaper with rubber boots, a tu-tu and a hooded sweatshirt as we are liable to get arrested.  However, remember that its ok to make a fool of yourself, its courageous to follow your own heart and breakaway from the opinions of the majority.  You can still be 26 and like to pop bubble wrap ;)  As we age we still stumble in the dirt and scrape our knees. The scrapes tend to leave larger scars than they did when we were 4, but we still can go on and will continue playing the game.

We admire them for their ability to express, we see them as cute and humorous, but still they are easily dismissed by adults.  Children teach us a great deal about life, so when they speak, listen, they are usually quite profound and will remind you about a piece of yourself that may be supressed.

Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young.

Thank you Mr. and Mrs Sawyer

To Mr and Mrs Sawyer,

I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be apart of the most important day of your lives.  You both have touched the lives of many people, and I am confident that your inspiration will only continue to grow.  I have to admit that I didn't understand, I was supportive but none the less felt like I was doing so on blind faith.  Seeing the two of you together gave me no room for doubt, there is something special there that people dream about and seldom get.  Witnessing you together over the course of 4 days reminded me of something I was told at a pivotal point in my life.

To love another person, is to see the face of God.

(It just so happens that is also a phenomenal lyric from the musical Les Mis ;) but that's beside the point). 

Remember, that even in the darkest of times, love is the light that guides us home.

It takes courage to give your heart to another and you both have done so with great grace and conviction.  Your strength has left a new imprint on my soul, and for that I am a little confused but ultimately extremely greatful.

Malia, we may not be able to be neighbors across the fence but i will always be there in spirit.  I forever hold you both in my heart.

Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but its the middle that counts the most.  I know your middle will be one for the ages.

In love and faith,
Megz

"All in"

So I have thought about starting a blog multiple times, and have never gotten farther than creating the account.  What was really stopping me?  There were always the typical excuses of not enough time, would it be any good?, or would anyone even be interested in reading it?  When you really sit down and look at the justifications I kept making, they were entirely bogus and ridiculous.

There is always time in a day, who cares if anyone reads it, and well, if I think its important to write about it will be good to me.

Look at that crazy little boy.  He is living the moment and he has made the decision to jump, a choice motivated by joy and excitement.  He is all in, there is absolutely no turning back.  Whether or not he truly weighed the consequences of jumping into the leaves doesn't matter anymore; he is committed.

The jump is a risk worth taking.