tis the holiday season

it's that time of year again!

get ready to pack on the layers, turn up the heaters, and cuddle up for warmth as winter is indeed on it's merry way. And with winter comes the best holiday of all... 

MY BIRTHDAY!!!

haha just kidding - christmas! :) 

Every year I increasingly feel the christmas cheer start to..wear off.. *sigh* BUT, this year I'm determined to beat the effects of aging and go backwards so I can be a kid one more time!

REMEDY #1: Drink some hot cocoa with friends and go on a scenic horse sleigh ride in downtown Oakville!

Check. On Saturday, five good friends and I went to a quaint cafe for sarsar's birthday lunch, and enjoyed delicious hot chocolate from a nearby bakery. We then happened to see a sign for free horse wagon rides along downtown oakville - we just couldn't resist! It doesn't matter that the ride is intended for children under age 5, and who cares that it's freezing outside and I'm not wearing a coat?! We went up those stairs, got pictures with Santa, and belted out christmas carols the whole ride without a shred of dignity lost. I thought for sure we scared the one little girl and her mother who were on the ride with us, but at the end she came over and gave us hugs, wishing us a merry christmas with her one-toothed smile. 

*note the little girl on right with cute bear hat haha

squeezing between sarah and ally for warmth, i thought it would
 be good to wear a light jean jacket on the coldest day ever 

never too old for you santa :P

It was definitely an unforgettable afternoon! I forgot what it feels like to be a kid and have no cares in the world, I couldn't stop smiling :D.

Anyway, I encourage yall to go back in time and do the things you'd say you're "too old" to do. Why not bake cookies, go christmas caroling, or take a picture with Ol' Saint Nick? Some good old-fashioned fun! And maybe, just maybe, you'll be able to find that christmas cheer from your chilhood. :)


have a ho-ho- happy holiday!

meg.

the attack

Do you ever have days when you feel all these emotions but can't explain why? You could have had an amazing day yesterday, but as soon as the sun begins to rise signalling a new day, your awoken to feeling like nothing in the world is going right. It doesn't make any sense! Cursed hormones take over and we're left defenseless, without a rational bone in our bodies as we resort to believing what we 'feel' as the truth.


Well I've had the emotional blues the past couple days, it's sad to say. Please don't pity me or think I'm writing a pathetic sob story - I felt the need to expose these lies that we so easily fall into because we need to fight against Satan's ploys he uses on us! 


Lately I've been struggling with feeling unaccepted and even unlovable - i fail so many times and try to find security in what I see, like my image or appearance or acceptance from others. I tire myself out and am never filled, which makes me feel more insecure and angry at myself for letting my feelings get the best of me, when I could have just surrendered everything to God in the first place. It's this spiral that slowly deteriorates my confidence and trust and security - exactly where Satan wants me. And this is the place where he can get me to do his deeds because I'm deceived into thinking I can find joy and fulfillment in it. I become nearsighted and blind and forget all of God's perfect promises and gracious blessings, and lose hope. 


But the amazing thing is, even though I can give up on myself, God never will. It's still extremely hard for me to grasp that He truly loves me despite all the ways I can run to other idols. I can't imagine loving someone who was unfaithful to me and who told me he loved me, then went to another girl. And it's sad to think that we do that to God! But He's not like us, and His love, forgiveness, compassion, and grace is perfect. Just like a perfectly made cupcake or the perfection of newly fallen snow, God is perfect. Instead of being prideful and critical of our many mistakes, He has compassion on us and sees our strengths, sees the potential instead of the problems. 


I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of this, but I guess this is what I'm learning right now. I haven't written in so long because I haven't known what to write about, but I guess it's a blessing in disguise that God put me through these seemingly terrible emotions.


Without feeling low, I wouldn't see who I am without God, and how much I truly need Him. Like silver, He refines us. If He didn't care about us, He wouldn't bother going through the process of putting us through tests and challenges. Clearly, He must love me a lot if He is taking me on this constant roller coaster called life - God, don't you know I'm afraid of heights? :P


Just earlier today I was feeling shameful, ugly, judged, alone, hypocritical, and unloved. Now I feel cared for, content, inspired, grateful, and loved. And these feelings will go away if I don't start holding on to God's promises! 


I encourage you beautiful ladies (and guys if you're reading) to examine how you're feeling right now. Take out the headphones, close your facebook and turn off the tv, and really think: What am I believing in right now? How do I view myself? What am I striving to find security in? What lies am I mistaking for truth? The only way to find the truth is to look into God's words because He is the only perfectly truthful thing we have. (HINT: If you ever feel that you're not attractive or smart or enough, you're wrong! Don't believe it sista!) haha. true story.


Anyways, I hope you have a splendid rest of your week and are able to see yourself how God sees you - amazing, super cool, and worth every ounce of His time and effort. :)


meg.


P.S. I did indeed get my license and have been cruising around town quite frequently, it's pure bliss. :D


"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made...The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down...He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them." - psalm 145:8-9, 13-14, 19

i believe in miracles

^^that is the title of a sick song by Norwegian Recycling, for all you MJ fans out there. thanks for showing it to me evelyn! you can listen to it here.
In other news... guess what?! 
You're looking at a chorus girl in the musical!! 
At first I was wishing that I got a bigger part, but I'm just glad I can be a part of it and I'm happy that I won't have as big of a commitment but just as many ounces of fun. ;) The first meeting/read-through with the cast is tomorrow, it's becoming real!


When I came home from school today, my mom says: "Oh, you got a letter in the mail from your brother". Odd, he's never sent me mail before. I cut up a pear, turned on some chill tunes, and sat at my kitchen table ready to open it. I haven't talked to this long-lost brother of mine for a couple of weeks now and with the business of life haven't even had time to miss him. As soon as I started reading it, I heard his voice in my head and all the emotions of him leaving came back. I remembered Coss, my amazing big brother. I started tearing up after the first sentence! He was so incredibly encouraging and honest and he opened up to me a side of him I've never been able to understand. All the things a girl needs to hear from her brother, he told me. I felt so loved and not forgotten, but also had an ache in my heart because I realized once again that we're apart! And I'm going to have to get used to seeing him twice a month instead of every day. But at least I have confidence now that our relationship will never disintegrate just because we live in different cities - he will always be my big brother, no matter how old and independent and "mature" we become!


I love you Nathan, you are better than any brother I could ever hope for, and I apologize for not showing you how much I appreciate you!

We went to Nate's graduation ceremony before thanksgiving.
Mom attempted to edit the picture nicely but made it blue instead haha... 

Other than that lovely surprise, I have my G2 road test tomorrow.. eek. I'm excited/slightly anxious/trying to trust that God's in control! Maybe He doesn't want me to drive by myself yet or maybe He does, I just gotta be content with whatever He decides. However, it would make life a lot easier... :)

Wow, it's been an eventful couple of weeks! there's not usually this much stuff going on! But yeah. it's way past my 'bedtime' so I better hit the hay.
enjoy the rest of this beautiful autumn week!


meg.

"But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in your hands."

- Psalm 31:14-15

quick update

hey folks. so i have 2 minutes to write this because I'm about to go practise my parking, yeah be scared. - I'LL WRITE FAST.

Soooo.... my audition was yesterday! I was nervous before going, but once I entered the theatre, all my fears were gone and I just LOVED being on that stage! I've never sang alone in front of people before, and I realized that the acoustics in theatres make it easier to sing somehow, it's like echo-ey or something.

anyway, Dad's yelling at me to come. going to boston in 2 hours! haven't packed yet :S

okay i better go.. ha BYE!

take-a take-a chance chance

What's the sitch? 
(and since when was it okay to wear half shirts ?) 

hmm...

I've had 4 four/three-day weeks in a row! So great. 

Tomorrow I'm doing something crazyy - auditioning for the school musicale! Who knew Meagan could sing?! Yeah, me neither. I can keep a tune, but you would not want to hear me belting out a solo - unless you enjoy the sound of dying cats or boys going through puberty... everyone's different though.. But yeah, it's a fairytale type play which means if I get a part I get to wear princess-ey dresses! Not gonna lie, that was one of the major deal breakers. So I'm gonna be singing "Part of Your World" from the Little Mermaid, and acting a scene as this pompous Queen - it will definitely be unforgettable!! I'm excited though cause a lot of my good friends are doing it too, it will be fun. :)

well minus that peculiar pillow on her head 

This friday I'm jetting off - erm, well driving off - to Boston for their teen-led conference! I did not expect I'd be able to go at all, but I guess God worked it all out. It will be great seeing everyone and seeing all my friends up at the podium preachin, singin, dancin, and leadin this whole shindig! I'm especially looking forward to a young man sharing at the girls purity talk, I hope I get to sit beside Shannon Robbinss ;) hehe. 

A week tomorrow is my G2 ROAD TEST! That means that if I pass, I get to drive all by my lonesome - that much closer to sweet freedom. Let's hope I make it out of there with a smiling face, and without any dents on my dad's car! 

no that's not me, you racist. 

Other than that, just living life, trying to surrender and trust God on the daily, drinking hot chocolate, doing homework, and trying to stay warm and cozy as the heat is slowly escaping, but that's okay I like fuzzy sweaters and sleeping with big covers. :)

off to midweek, i'll fill you in on how the audition goes :S !

meg. 

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." 

- Philippians 4:8

one of many things

one of the things i am thankful for is reunions with dear childhood friends.

love you willow, hope to see you soon so we can make up more delicious songs! ... literally, we sing about food, what else is more important than that, ESPECIALLY at this time of year? :)

I wish you all (Canadians, that is) a wonderful time of family, friends, food, and most of all thanks!
 

meg.

P.S. looking forward to round 2 of the thanksgiving meal festivities tomorrow. This time with the two other musketeers, finally reunited - can't wait.

P.P.S. Happy Sweet 16 Miss Cassandra Jim! Hope you had a good one :)

cheers

Everyone, including me, seems to be in school mode these days and stressed and overwhelmed. Let's open up the blinds, let the sun come in and dwell on all the great things going on, despite the grossness of school. :)

So, CHEERS!

to reconnecting with my soon-to-be sixteen year old friend and watching sappy movies and baking layered cakes and vegging out on the couch together,

back in the early days, where it all started with us :)

to baking homemade pies with parents and seeing them act all cute together,

to EATING homemade pies, with whipped cream on top ! ,

it might not have looked this gourmet, but sure tasted delishh!

to seeing my best friend Rachel every week, and seeing her make the most important decision - to become a disciple and get dunked! 2 more days! ,

get ready to be cleaned gurrrll! aha :)

to falling leaves and pretty colours and crisp autumn air and getting all cozied up in fuzzy socks and old man sweaters,

 

to staying up late blogging even though I have tests to prep for! Take that school blues,

yes garfield

to life and love and laughs and memories and smiles and embarrassing moments and epic encounters.

oovoo - it was short-lived but worth it

playing human jenga? looks like it

trying new things like being in a MUSICAL!

and lastly...

to Thanksgiving , a time of celebration and family and seeing my BROTHER and stuffing ourselves like crazy and doing more endless bake-a-thons :D

can't wait to be reunited !

 oops i lied, one more!

to NOT exercising or worrying about my body image after stuffing myself silly ! 

aww i feel your pain... oh wait, i don't! baha

i hope you all have a wonderful day and look on the bright side, there is always something amazing going on just under your nose if you take the time to look.


meg. :)

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full"

- Matthew 10:10

weakness and strength

Whenever you think something's easy, it gets hard. Coming back from the high of summer and camp and everything, I was feeling on top of the world, ready to face school with my nerf gun of evangelism loaded. I was going to defeat the back-to-school slump, have amazing quiet times before sun up, connect with disciples all the time, share my faith, etc etc etc. 

If only that were the case and I could find my security in all the "things" I do and how "strong" I am! ...

I'm thinking God was trying to show me what a fool I am. Good news, he was successful as always! Like clockwork, as school started, I got overwhelmed with homework, slept in more often than not, and my time with christians diminished slowly as each week went by. I was so frustrated and felt so lost, like there was always a looming cloud reminding me of my failures. I felt discouraged which brought me farther from God rather than closer. I wanted so bad to be close again, but it felt like my efforts weren't working. 

It wasn't until I really got open, had great time with close friends and my discipler, that I started to feel hope again, to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I started to pray again and surrender all these emotions to God. And this week has been one of the best! I don't know what shifted, but I know it was all from Him, and I'm so grateful. It was hard when I felt so unworthy and not enough, but I know God used those times to teach me I can never get my security from my own accomplishments, least of all my emotions! I can never earn grace, no matter how much I try. He's teaching me to accept my failures and just come to Him with everything. It's so freeing to know that God won't give me what I deserve. I'm not sharing this to boast at all, quite the contrary! I'm saying that I stink. God is great. And I hope whoever's reading this will feel a sense of hope and encouragement that we will fail! All the time! And that's okay!

Man, I wish someone told me that before. Oh wait, they did. Satan's a tricky trickster sometimes - all the time.

Ha, but yeah that's the latest and the greatest. 

Hope you have a great day ! But if you don't, that's okay too, sometimes we need some bad days...

OKAY BYE.

meg. :)

first day

goodbye summer, hello school!

cheers to waking up early, staying up late, and working hard my senior year!

I have one more year before going to university, becoming independent, and leaving the nest. Only one more year with all the people I've gone to school with since grade 6. One more year to impact their lives and help them see God's plan for them! That leaves no room for coasting, standing still in my faith and not sharing the Great News with friends. Fortunately, we don't have to do it alone - skype has become my best friend lately. The test will be staying in contact with all my brothers and sisters in Christ and helping eachother stay strong and grow. 


It's time to take the plunge!
I'm excited. for now at least. :)

meg.

"[insert your name], I have made you a watchman for [insert school]; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself." - ezekiel 33:7-9

goodbye FOREVER...

well maybe not forever... but it seems that way.

Today we drove to Laurier and unpacked my brother's things into his new place. He's now officially a university student, an adult, on his own and independent! Unfortunately, school is an hour and a half away and his independence includes not being home. It never really registered that Nathan, coss, my brother who I've lived with all my life, is not gonna be here. I'm not gonna get to hear his annoying music late at night, I won't wake up to him right next door, and I won't have someone to be crazy and hyper with. I realized how much I took for granted and there are so many things I wish I could have done to be a better sister. It's bittersweet, I'm so excited for him pursuing business and for the Waterloo campus to grow, but I know that it will be hard for us to fit eachother in our lives. 

It's crazy how fast time really has gone, just looking through old pictures of our childhood, we really have grown up! And that kind of scares me. Another blink and we'll be married with kids and a mortgage and reduced to yearly reunions! Oh please God, no! Atleast I'm the only girl in his life right now - when he gets a girlfriend, that will be another obstacle to overcome ha. 

So Nathan, if you're reading this, I love you sooo much. I don't always say it but I really do. And I respect you and admire you and look up to you. You are honestly such an amazing brother and so many people wish they had an older brother to protect them - I guess I'm just really lucky. I'll be praying for you every day and thinking about you a lot. And you better not forget about me coss, I'm always a phone or skype call away! Can't wait to hear how school, please fill me in on everything!

Sad ends are also new beginnings.*sigh* :)

meg.

 awkward stage! see? change isn't always a bad thing..

"To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time." - Clara Ortega

up and down and all around

oh hey there!

It's been a while since my last post, I needed to take a break and figure myself out. 

I realized that this lovely gadget is a great way to document day-to-day joys, but it also has not been much help on my journey to humility. This summer God has shown me how much I can rely on myself and my image, and I always want to make it seem like my life is perfect and happy and all that jazz - as you can see, posting about everything good and dandy and writing in a happy-go-lucky mood can put up that facade very easily. And then getting wrapped up in having the perfectly edited pictures and music and designs, and it's a recipe for self-focus, superficial-ness, and insecurity. 

I can't try and find my security in how many followers I have, or how I look in one airbrushed picture or how witty I am, etc etc. I need to find my security in the One that made me and who will never dissapoint or get old. 

I mean, I made this blog to show others my life with God and to inspire people with what He's teaching me! Instead, it became the "ALL ABOUT MEAGAN" show - I wouldn't even want to watch that.

So.....yeaah. :)

But I do love writing and sharing funny stories, so I'm gonna try this again, and pray that I do it RIGHT this time.

Take that Satan. 

adios amigos!

meg.

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." - Philippians 3:7-9

lots of feelings

I'm sure we've all experienced ups and downs in our christian walk, or life in general. For the past little while I've had these underlying feelings that I kept inside, and yesterday I finally decided to open up to God and be completely honest.

"Dear God,

I miss you. I miss feeling your spirit and presence. I miss that feeling after having a great quiet time or spiritual talk or reaching out to friends. I miss not caring about me as much as You. I miss writing to You every day and always being open and honest. I miss fighting the fight and being different and someone You would be proud of. I miss denying myself and pushing myself to grow and learn more about you and Your will for my life. Most of all, I miss you - that's it. I feel like I've let you down in some way or that I've left you behind in my day to day life. I feel like a burden, a major fail who doesn't have what it takes to be a true disciple. I feel like you should give up on me and start over with someone more equipped. I feel like I've allowed myself to build myself up, not you, and now I'm left feeling empty and envious of those who are "doing it right" and having an amazing relationship with you. I feel FRUSTRATED and HOPELESS because I always come back to this place of lukewarmness it seems. Sometimes it feels like Satan's winning, he's stronger and uncontrollable. I feel like all the things I thought would give me happiness have fallen short - clothes, guys, beauty, approval, attention, you name it. Now I'm realizing that you truly are the only thing that will sustain me and give me meaning, joy, and hope. 

But is it too late? Is it too hard to get to You, to repair our relationship? 

Is it pointless since I will keep on messing up and sinning?

Should I just give up and get what I deserve?

love, meagan."

After writing this, I opened up God's Word and He answered my questions.

God's response:

yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. - 2 Corinthians 7:9-11

Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. - Ephesians 2:4-5

He mocks proud mockers
       but gives grace to the humble. - Proverbs 3:34 

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. - 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. - 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

So I went from feeling hopeless to hopeful, and learned a couple things. One, God has never expected me to be perfect, and if I did everything right there would be no purpose for Jesus dying for us! Second, God  is enough and strong enough to protect me from temptation and Satan. Lastly, I should not put all the weight on myself and try to "be a better christian" without relying fully on God - He will make me grow and Him alone. 

I guess I am a fail. A major one at that. But who knew that it could be a good thing? I feel a huge weight lifted off me, being reminded that I don't have to carry this load by myself, and God loves me despite my many imperfections.

I pray that you find peace and hope and security in God, and truly accept yourself as a major sinner - you're definitely not alone. 

have a good weekend folks!

meg.

the sun is just beyond the clouds. :)

who let the dogs out?

soo... me and my good friend JAZZY decided to make a movie for our friend ronnie who has left us this summer. i can guarantee that you will see a different side of me.. ENJOY!

all i can say is.. 

i'm a bon-diggity dancer.

happy friday!

meg.

the three musketeers

do you have those 2 friends who you've known since birth,

the ones that you have billions of old pictures together,

and always matched with?

the ones that you've laughed with, cried with, and know everything about?

the ones that can withstand distance, time, and pretty much ANYTHING?!

their names are ray-ray, and ay-may. racho and amers. r-dizzle and a-master flex.

or to the rest of the world, Rachel and Amy.

Rachel is always up for an adventure, and makes everything fun. She's always positive and upbeat, and makes the most AMAZING cards and collages and anything art-related.

Amy is so unique and funny and definitely not afraid to be herself, it's so refreshing. She has the most hilarious outlook on life and I love hearing her tell stories, she is also so passionate about things and WILL fight for what she believes in.

All in all, I consider myself so LUCKY to have the chance to grow up with these ladiess and can't wait to go through the different stages together! Like university, boys, KIDS, getting wrinkles - hold up, let's not get too ahead of ourselves..

so CHEERS to old chums, inseparable pals, and friendships that can never fade, even though you get on eachother's nerves sometimes haha. that's what makes them real!

...and cheers to sappy posts about love and friends, I apologize to any guys reading this right now.

teehee,

meg.

us back in the day... haha

sunny days and happy ways

the recipe for a PERFECT day:

• coming home from seeing INCEPTION at 2 in the morning to people sleeping in my room (but only when they're your good friends shannon and mikayla robbins, if not it would be quite concerning...)
• eating junk food for breakfast - pizza, cookies AND chips. mmm
• having a lovely picnic in the backyard and opening up the scriptures
• eating marble slab icecream - who knew pumpkin was a flavour? that plus graham crackers = pure melt-in-your-mouth goodness
• taking an extravagant photoshoot by the harbour
• raiding an old pirate ship-looking boat
• belting out church songs at midweek and seeing old friends
• sitting in my room with my buddies - ellie, cassie, shann & mik eating blueberries and ruffles

 have yourself a splendid day and make the most of these beautiful afternoons! Call up an old friend, do something you've never done before, be CRAZY and ADVENTUROUS, whatever floats your boat. 

peacee

meg.

meet our new friends, ted and jim

here's the pirate ship!

miss shannon robbins :)

we found this watch on the ground, scoree 

look how far we've come

today was really fun. :)

It was the anniversary for Toronto Church of Christ, our wonderfully awesome church, and everyone congregated at good ol' Roy Thomson Hall. It brought back all these memories of going there as a kid - kingdom kids, apple juice and those cookies with the red filling in the middle, JOY FACTORY, adults telling me how much i've grown and me being super shy... ahh those were the days. It was great seeing old and new friends, and people that I haven't seen in forever, like RONNIE and WILLOW! I love you guys, like so much. 

The service was really good too, they had all these sick performances and songs and dances, and people playing these african drums, quite the experience.

Best of all, we had this boat cruise after and got to sail around the Toronto harbour. I had a lovely photoshoot, played with the cutest little kids, had good chill times, and the best part - CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN. a.k.a heaven on a platter. yummm :)

so happy birthday church! today made me realize how incredibly blessed I am to be a part of this congregation, my spiritual family! I love everyone so much, it's so refreshing to be surrounded by so many people with the same goals as you. 


So, if you're reading this and attend the Church of Christ, know that you are special to me and I appreciate you! And if you don't... i guess you're cool too? ...awkward...


haha just kidding, i love all you guys, fo realz. :) wow i'm embarrassing. i'm just gonna..stop now...


kbye!


meg.

 

 my long lost friend willow! who happens to have a professional photographer as a dad :P

memory lane, let's walk!

So today I stumbled upon a bunch of old pictures from my youth (because, you know, i'm so old and mature and grown-up..). I decided to share some of the keepers with you all and recommend that you dig up your old photo albums too, it's a great way to waste oodles of time on a sunny saturday morning.

here's little old me, on my very first birthday - i know i know, i was so cute then! (key word then.. haha) Note that I'm imitating my mom, and my brother's getting a talking to, he's been a trouble-maker from the beginning :P

I LOVE apples, I used to eat like 5 a day. I guess my obsession started earlier than i thought!

I was so hood back in the day. I think my parents watched too much Fresh Prince.."In West Philadelphia, born and raised, on the playground where I spent most of my days!" good show.

aww, what a sweet christmas photo, minus my confused, "what do you want?" look on my face. You can tell our family was just starting out due to that beautifully bare christmas tree haha

 i had to include this adorable and slightly awkward picture of me and nate - i look like a teletubby and he's in his own world.. but it's cute nonetheless !

 did i ever tell you about that year my parents sent me to the wilderness to practise native rituals? man, was that a great experience or what, i look so ecstatic.

 now this is cute, me and my best friend - pikachu! He had to have a place to stand, in the expense of that poor little girl who looks slightly afraid and not impressed. and bugs bunny is playing on the tv! classic.

sorry girls, i had to include this hehe. this is what i call the perfect example of awkward preteen years. don't judge, i know you've all experienced it too! wow, i had such a great smile, I should have done colgate commercials or something..

I hope you enjoyed a tour of my past, and have a sizzling saturday! except not too sizzling, don't forget sunscreen...who am I kidding I've never touched the stuff. uhmmm...

kbye!

meg.