Growing up.

For the last 21 years of my life, I've always wanted to stay a kid. Nothing in me wanted to grow up. I dreaded graduating from college and starting "real life." I always like Peter Pan and dreamed of going to never-never land so I would never have to grow up. But I remember what happened to those kids in neverland. After a while, like Wendy, they all realized that you can't stay a kid forever.

And here I am, graduated from college and starting real life and to tell the truth, I'm loving it! All the dread leading up to graduation turned out for the good. I'm loving the independence, the challenge, the freedom, the stress, and the fun. I must say, it is hard to be starting Masters classes a week after graduating and that is resulting in many frustrating and about-to-pull-my-hair-out-moments but I am surviving.

On Sunday, I went to West Towne church. The sermon was part of a series titled "The Me I want to be" and todays was about being dependent." That sermon was really interesting to me and my situation because it talked about how we need to be dependent on God. Here I am faced with my independence and freedom and it was a good reminder that I am not independent, I am dependent and always will be dependent on God and it's only by Him can I live the life I am living and try with everything I have to glorify him.

Here are some more pictures to chart my journey of independent dependence. (hmm I like how that sounds :) I should title my blog that...)

This picture appropriate documents our FIRST DAY OF MASTERS CLASS!!!

(I look so ridiculous...)

Our friend Neil came to visit!

(Ian, you should be jealous!)

Monday night went down to Pigeon Forge to see three of my classmates from High School! They were down for a choir trip. So good to see them!!

I LOVE SPINACH! My first time making mommy's famous dish of olive oil spinach and it was DELICIOUS!!!

My creation for today, olive oil cooked spinach and tomatoes with noodles :) Julia says I'll be a chef by the end of my year living in this trailer.

Well, Mommy and Daddy, your little girl has finally faced the reality of growing up and actually enjoys it. But don't ever forget that I will always be your little girl. :)

Love,

Sarah

Beginnings

Well it's been over a week now since I graduated from college. At first I didn't see the significance of being graduated. It just seemed like another event and life would go on the same. Today at Kroger I ran into a girl I knew and when I told her I had graduated, she congratulated me in a very sincere way and it made me realize how big of an achievement graduating from college is.

Now a week after graduation, I have moved all of my life out of the dorms and into a three bedroom trailer that I will be living in a sharing with two other girls for a year. On Monday I will also being classes as I continue on a Johnson on the Masters program. I'm excited yet dreading it at the same time. This week of freedom of no classes and enjoying life after graduation was quick and tiring. Moving is way too energy draining and today was the only I have really enjoyed myself. Tomorrow I work at my wonderful Little Italian Kitchen all day, so today really was the only day to enjoy freedom.

I was all alone today, all day. It was nice and lonely at the same time. I unpacked, rearranged my room, started a sewing project, took a trip to Maine with the Hatcher family from the book Fudge-a-mania, made myself a first home cooked meal, bought groceries, and sat outside on my porch (isn't that cool that I can now say I have a porch?) :)

Saying goodbye to my dorm room

and hello trailer

a proud graduate with her family

setting up camp

my first meal made with food bought with my own hard working money!

Menu: rice with furikake and salad with raw veggies!

It was delicious and no better than some Sound of Music to accompany me :)

Well I really hope I can keep this up all summer to let you all know what's been going on in my life and to share somethings I have learned from growing up and being a "big girl" now!

Love,

Sarah