30 People, Day 12: The Mean Girls

 

Shout-Out to the mean girls sprinkled throughout my years.

We all encounter them from time to time; we’ve all suffered their cattiness; we can all remember how they made us feel — those who teased us, ridiculed us, left us out.

A shout-out to you because you were a necessary part of growing up. Because your meanness hurt at the time, but did no lasting damage. Because the scars you inflicted healed up and became memories, and made me stronger in the process.

I hope the same is true for you.

 

Challenge to readers:
Can you look back and appreciate the growth caused by someone who was less-than-nice to you? Give a shout-out in the comments below, if you’d like. 

30 People, Day 11: My First Real Friend

 

Shout-Out to Lindsey, who I consider my first “real friend.” By real, I don’t mean that my prior friends were imaginary, but that you were the first friend with whom I talked about real life stuff, where our friendship went beyond playdates and childish things.

I struggled, through the middle school years, with wanting what I thought was a “true friend,” and there were very specific qualifications in my head for what that meant. While I bemoaned this ideal friend’s lack of existence, one winter you sent me one of those fun little Valentine’s Day cards and on it you had written, “Thanks for being a true friend.” And I realized God had already given me what I was asking for!

So thank you for showing me what real friendship looks like, through all the sleepovers, homeschool trips, and True Love Waits events. All the way from your mom asking if you could come to my birthday party (that will never stop being funny), to being at each other’s weddings, and beyond, I appreciate having you as a friend.

Challenge to readers:
Who was the first friend in your childhood who was a REAL friend? Give a shout-out below. 

 

30 People, Day 10: My Sisters

 

Shout-Out to my sisters: Briana, Marissa, Daniella – the three girls I grew up with, the three I share more memories and inside jokes with than anyone else in the world! I bring you in later to this in-order-of-appearance series because, though one of you was in my life from almost the beginning, two of you came a bit later… and my world got ten times better when you did!

We grew up like the story of Little Women, complete with silly fights, bedroom sleepovers, teasing about someone’s latest crush, and dramatic performances in elaborate costumes. It was magical, and I wouldn’t change growing up as four little women for anything in the world. “Big sister” is part of my identity, and the three of you own a lot of space in my heart.

Thanks for 28 years of sisterhood, and bright shiny memories I’ll never forget!

Challenge to readers:
Shout-out to your siblings in the comments below! Be sure to tell them how much you love them and appreciate the life you’ve shared.  

30 People, Day 9: The Kenya Missionary

 

Shout-Out to Cyndy, the missionary who introduced me to Kenya. I’ll bet you never expected that your slideshow presentation to a Wednesday night church class of 4th grade girls would birth – in one of those girls – a life calling and passion for missions. But it did. I went home that night and told my parents that I wanted to be a missionary in Africa, and that wasn’t a passing whim. It remained, and it grew, until about fourteen years later when it culminated in me joining you on a plane, bound for a month in Kenya – a land I hadn’t seen but already loved.

That trip was life-shaking, and the next one was incredible, too. What an impact on my heart and on my worldview… to see poverty, to hug orphans, to meet face-to-face the sisters I only knew through years of handwritten letters.

Thanks for being obedient to the ministry God placed you in, and for being faithful in such small things as sharing a slideshow with a class of little girls. Maybe some weren’t paying attention… but I was.

30 People, Day 8: My Ballet Heroine

 

Shout-Out to my ballet heroine — the older Ashley, under whom I became known to the whole dance studio as “Little Ashley.” I didn’t mind the nickname, though, because you were the role model I looked up to.

Thank you for being so kind, as a high school junior, to a ten-year-old little girl who idolized you. Your welcoming smile and “Hi Little Ashley!” made me feel accepted and valuable. Yes, I loved watching you dance, and dreamed of being as good a ballerina as you were, but more than that, I appreciated how sweet you always were to me.

Because you probably never knew it, but to an awkward tween girl figuring out who she was, the acceptance and kindness of her heroine was empowering. So thanks for all the smiles.

 

Challenge to readers:
Was there someone you looked up to as a child, a role model who had a positive impact on you? Give them a shout-out in the comments below. 

30 People, Day 7: Miss Elizabeth

 

Shout-Out to my ballet teacher, “Miss Elizabeth.” Outside of family, you were one of the earliest and longest-term influences in my young life. From once-a-week lessons starting at age 3, to being invited to join the competition team at age 9, to countless hours spent at the studio until age 19 — you were absolutely an important part of my growing up. A whole lot of my learning about real life, developing social skills, and figuring out what I believe in, happened on that dance floor and around those wooden barres.

Ballet is part of who I am, and I can’t imagine my childhood without it. Thank you for training me not only to dance, but to love it.

Challenge to readers:
Did you have a teacher or coach who was influential in your life? Give them a shout-out and let them know how important they were to you! 

30 People, Day 6: My Grandparents

 

Shout-Out to my grandparents: Pop and Gram, PawPaw and MawMaw. You are an integral part of my childhood, family identity, memories, and my life still today. Here are some of the memories that make me smile and things I appreciate:

• Countless hours of babysitting, time together, and listening to a young me chatter stories about whatever was going on in my life at the time.
• Always keeping a box of Barbies in your closets.
• Letting us run wild with our cousins through your house once a year.
• PawPaw’s gift of photography, and cuddles in his big leather chair.
• Shopping sprees at the mall with MawMaw.
• Going on walks with Pop and the dogs.
• Cooking with Gram and talking about life.
• Boat rides on the lake.
• Line dancing lessons.

I could keep going, but you get the idea. In both big and little ways – in your own way – each one of you invested your love into my life. Thank you.

Challenge to readers:
Give a shout-out to your grandparents in the comments below! Then be sure to let them know – if they’re still living – how much you appreciate their investment in your life. 

30 People, Day 5: Granny

 

Shout-Out to Granny, the great-grandparent I got to know the longest. I loved your hairdresser chair, your cuckoo clock, your fancy couch, and your stories of growing up during the Great Depression. But I think what I’m most grateful for from you is your gift of cooking.

The love of cooking skipped a couple of generations in our family line, but I’m thankful to share that with you. That means finally mastering your famous chicken-and-dumplings, of course, but also the love of the craft – the enjoyment of creating a homemade meal, of trying new recipes as well as old favorites, of serving something warm and welcoming and delicious when people come into my home.

When people ask me if I like cooking, I always smile and tell them about you – your gorgeous chocolate pies, your insistence on a “fat butt chicken” for your dumplings, your colorful vinyl chairs around the kitchen table. Thanks for all the meals and for unknowingly passing along a passion.

Challenge to readers:
Have a grandparent or other relative who has passed along a skill or passion to you? Tell us about it in the comments below, then be sure to let them know how much you appreciate their legacy! 

30 People, Day 4: Aunt Lara

 

Shout-Out to my Aunt Lara, my role model as an aunt. Thanks for all the memories that make me smile. You used your eyeliner to paint my face like a kitty. You played Barbies with me and always seemed to actually have fun doing it. You sent me mail all the time – pictures that you drew with markers – and called me your “favorite nine(or whatever age I was)-year-old.” When I was an awkward tween, you let me come stay at your house with you and entertained me for a week every summer, which I only now realize was probably not convenient for you, but it was a childhood-highlight for me.

Now I’m an aunt to five little ones, and I want to be the same kind of aunt you were to me – one who sends mail and paints kitty faces and makes my nieces and nephew feel like they are my favorite four-year-old in the world.

Thanks for the inspiration to be the very best aunt I can be.

Challenge to readers:
In the comments below, give a shout-out to a favorite aunt, uncle, or cousin! Then tell them your appreciation in person.