Rascall Flatts has a song called "My Wish." There are four main wishes within the chorus of the song:
1. This life becomes all that you want it to.
2. Dreams stay big; worries stay small.
3. You never need to carry more than you can hold.
4. You never regret [anything].
These are all of my wishes for myself. I need to remember that I am amazing and that amazing things will happen to me. I am the only one that can hold me back. These wishes will turn into reality because I am in control of me. <3
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
A Tribute to Fathers of Daughters
The older I get, the more I believe that the most important person a girl can have in her life is her daddy (or a similar male role-model). Whether or not he could win "Dad of the Year" or if he was absent every single day, a girl's father molds and shapes several huge areas of her life.
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Fortunately, I was blessed with the best daddy. He was and still is the most influential man in my life. He taught me (and still teaches me) so many things: how to hit a softball, how to throw a football, how to check my oil and tire pressure in my car, the difference between a phillips-head and flat-head screwdriver, how to drive...but most importantly, he taught me how to love and how to be loved.
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Trace Adkins has a new song called "Just Fishin'." If you haven't heard it, it's about memories in the making between a little girl and her daddy. (I posted the song at the bottom of this blog.) Although she thinks they are "just fishing," so much more is taking place; they are making memories that will last a lifetime and will become so important to her as she gets older. It's so true! Looking back at all the things my dad and I did, all of those things are so much more now. We used to go to the backyard every day and throw the softball. At the time I thought we were just having fun and I was learning to be a better pitcher. But now I know that he was teaching me that a good man will make time for me and encourage me to live out my dreams and reach for my goals. He told my sister and me that he was proud of us and that we were beautiful. He reminded us each and every day of how much he loved us. At the time we thought he said those things because he "had to" because he was our dad. Yeah, partly he said it because he was our dad, but he meant it. He was also shaping the image in our minds of how a man should treat us. Not only did he show us love and respect, but he showed all of that to our mom infront of us (and continues to today...he brought her flowers yesterday :)), and we were watching and learning the whole time. I cannot stress how much I believe that a dad (a positive, loving, respectful dad) is the greatest influence of a girl's self-worth and value when it comes to adult relationships and what she expects out of men. Meghan and I are the most independent, confident women I know, all thanks to the love we got from our father and the example set by our mother.
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So, dads of daughters... This is your time to shine. Be your daughter's hero. Treat her with respect. Give her too much love. Be that man in her life that she will be proud of and will look back and cherish those memories with. Make sure she knows how valuable she is. Spoil her and reassure her that she deserves nothing less than that. And, when she looks back at all of these memories in the making, she will know that there was more going on than "just fishin'."
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Starting on the first day of her life, a little girl's dad is the example of what a "man" is and what "love" means. Unfortunately not all men are good examples, and on too many occassions girls are taught the wrong example of what a "man" is, how she should be treated by men, and what love really means. While growing up and during my four years of teaching, I saw too many young girls that have the wrong definition of what a "man" is and how she should be loved and treated by others. Now I am not saying that all girls with good examples will value themselves and find good men and all girls with bad examples will turn out to have a low self-value or become strippers, but I greatly believe that there is a huge correlation between the example of a "man" in a girl's life and what she will get out of life and the value she will have in herself.
Fortunately, I was blessed with the best daddy. He was and still is the most influential man in my life. He taught me (and still teaches me) so many things: how to hit a softball, how to throw a football, how to check my oil and tire pressure in my car, the difference between a phillips-head and flat-head screwdriver, how to drive...but most importantly, he taught me how to love and how to be loved.
Trace Adkins has a new song called "Just Fishin'." If you haven't heard it, it's about memories in the making between a little girl and her daddy. (I posted the song at the bottom of this blog.) Although she thinks they are "just fishing," so much more is taking place; they are making memories that will last a lifetime and will become so important to her as she gets older. It's so true! Looking back at all the things my dad and I did, all of those things are so much more now. We used to go to the backyard every day and throw the softball. At the time I thought we were just having fun and I was learning to be a better pitcher. But now I know that he was teaching me that a good man will make time for me and encourage me to live out my dreams and reach for my goals. He told my sister and me that he was proud of us and that we were beautiful. He reminded us each and every day of how much he loved us. At the time we thought he said those things because he "had to" because he was our dad. Yeah, partly he said it because he was our dad, but he meant it. He was also shaping the image in our minds of how a man should treat us. Not only did he show us love and respect, but he showed all of that to our mom infront of us (and continues to today...he brought her flowers yesterday :)), and we were watching and learning the whole time. I cannot stress how much I believe that a dad (a positive, loving, respectful dad) is the greatest influence of a girl's self-worth and value when it comes to adult relationships and what she expects out of men. Meghan and I are the most independent, confident women I know, all thanks to the love we got from our father and the example set by our mother.
So, dads of daughters... This is your time to shine. Be your daughter's hero. Treat her with respect. Give her too much love. Be that man in her life that she will be proud of and will look back and cherish those memories with. Make sure she knows how valuable she is. Spoil her and reassure her that she deserves nothing less than that. And, when she looks back at all of these memories in the making, she will know that there was more going on than "just fishin'."
Friday, June 17, 2011
Here I go again on my own..
Two weeks from today I will be in a moving truck somewhere between Nashville and Denver. This is it...a fresh start and another shot at happiness.
Lately several people have mentioned my "track record," Ok, I get it. I moved to Georgia only to find out that wasn't meant to be and moved back home. I attempted a move to Oregon and then went back home six weeks later. The difference between this move compared to the previous two is that this time my happiness depends solely on me. ME. That's it..no one else. Of course I am not happy to leave behind my family and friends again, but for me, right now, I would be less happy staying in Tennessee and going through the same old motions.
Most may see this as just another "Erin-move" (move for a little while only to go right back home.) Ok, so it may be. What if it does turn out like the last two moves? That's just a risk I am willing to take again. It if doesn't work out, I know I can always go home. BUT...what if it is AMAZING?! What if I find everything I am looking for and more?
Some people may live their lives by asking the "what ifs," but this girl isn't. I would never be happy with myself if I was fearful of what the future holds and made decisions based on my "track record." No matter what happens, no one can ever blame me for not trying, and that makes me happy already!!!
Monday, June 13, 2011
I really am living the life, aren't I?
Yesterday I spent six hours at the pool by myself. Really, the only thing I had to do was go to the pool. Sometimes I look at my life, feel sorry for myself, and think "Geez, I am 27 and have nothing to show for myself. I've been married and divorced, quit the best job anyone could ever ask for, and now I'm back living with my parents in a town in which I know no one." Why in the world do I focus on all of the negatives when there are so many positives?!?!?
While at the pool I had three separate conversations with strangers, and all three of them used the words "jealous" and/or "envious" when listening to my stories and learning about the life that I live. I get that a lot actually, but it's usually from those that I am envious of. Ya know, the ones with the perfect husband, beautiful babies, the white picket fence, the works... To me, these people are living the life, and I'd be ready and willing to switch places with them in a heartbeat.
I step back and examine this life of mine, and now, right at this second, I am envious of myself. Oh my goodness!!! Why do I get jealous of others? I have the freedom to do whatever it is that I want to do, and I am doing it. Of course I cannot wait until I find that perfect guy for me and have beautiful, perfect babies. Really, that is the only thing I've ever truly wanted for myself. But, until (or even if) that is the plan for my life, I will enjoy this life that God has blessed me with right now.
I have the best family, the best friends, and I meet the most amazing people each and every day. There's not a day that goes by that I don't have an interesting conversation. I laugh. I love. I have a great time...all the time! And, if this is the best it will ever get, then I am the happiest girl alive. Life is what you make it, so make it great. You only get one chance at life, so make it the best EVER!
If any of you are focusing on the negative right now, stop. Focus on all of the positives in your life, and chance are, you will be envious of yourself!!!!! :)
While at the pool I had three separate conversations with strangers, and all three of them used the words "jealous" and/or "envious" when listening to my stories and learning about the life that I live. I get that a lot actually, but it's usually from those that I am envious of. Ya know, the ones with the perfect husband, beautiful babies, the white picket fence, the works... To me, these people are living the life, and I'd be ready and willing to switch places with them in a heartbeat.
I step back and examine this life of mine, and now, right at this second, I am envious of myself. Oh my goodness!!! Why do I get jealous of others? I have the freedom to do whatever it is that I want to do, and I am doing it. Of course I cannot wait until I find that perfect guy for me and have beautiful, perfect babies. Really, that is the only thing I've ever truly wanted for myself. But, until (or even if) that is the plan for my life, I will enjoy this life that God has blessed me with right now.
I have the best family, the best friends, and I meet the most amazing people each and every day. There's not a day that goes by that I don't have an interesting conversation. I laugh. I love. I have a great time...all the time! And, if this is the best it will ever get, then I am the happiest girl alive. Life is what you make it, so make it great. You only get one chance at life, so make it the best EVER!
If any of you are focusing on the negative right now, stop. Focus on all of the positives in your life, and chance are, you will be envious of yourself!!!!! :)
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Nomad: A person who does not stay long in the same place; a wanderer
Welcome to my blog! Let's get the ackward getting-to-know-you information out of the way...
I am 27 years old and have taught middle school for the majority of the past four years. During that time I have occupied eight different addresses in three states. I have traveled all over the United States, from Georgia to Hawaii and many places in between. I have been to Ireland on two different occassions, Mexico once, and even backpacked throughout seven European countries within four weeks during the summer of 2010. And just this year I have lived in Tennessee, Oregon, and Georgia. I am currently back in Tennessee until I head out west to Denver, Colorado in a few weeks.
Although I would have never planned my life out this way, I am glad that I have had all of these experiences, and I am grateful that I will have these stories to tell forever. Life is what one makes it, and I am making mine a journey that I will never forget.
Enjoy my blogs :)
Erin
I am 27 years old and have taught middle school for the majority of the past four years. During that time I have occupied eight different addresses in three states. I have traveled all over the United States, from Georgia to Hawaii and many places in between. I have been to Ireland on two different occassions, Mexico once, and even backpacked throughout seven European countries within four weeks during the summer of 2010. And just this year I have lived in Tennessee, Oregon, and Georgia. I am currently back in Tennessee until I head out west to Denver, Colorado in a few weeks.
Although I would have never planned my life out this way, I am glad that I have had all of these experiences, and I am grateful that I will have these stories to tell forever. Life is what one makes it, and I am making mine a journey that I will never forget.
Enjoy my blogs :)
Erin
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