To My Teenage Self

                                          Dear Liz,

You're experiencing a whirlwird of emotions as you begin middle school. Even though you were invisible in elementary school, for some reason guys begin noticing you this year. You'll 'date' a bunch of guys, but each and every single one of them will be a waste of time and tears. None of them are worth it. You'll join Band and realize you're actually naturally good at the clarinet. Even though you get teased for this, DO NOT give it up. Your future husband loves hearing you play. You also join Drama Club. No surprise there since you're known as a drama queen. You'll be in two plays and two talent shows and you'll miss it when it ends. Thankfully your friendship with Miranda survives all the ups and downs. No surprise there, fast forward a few years and you'll be close to two decades of friendships. You meet other people though. And some are just not good for you. But every decision is a stepping stone. Own up to it. Your mother will take a higher paying job during this, and you get kinda bratty thinking you're all that because you get everything you want. Stop that.

Here comes high school. You'll still be the smart girl, actually end of being one of the top 4 GPA's of your freshmen class. You'll do marching band. You'll still be involved in Beta Club. But things are about to change.

Freshman year you make a decision. A decision you're not really proud of. You lose a major part of you to someone who doesn't deserve it. And you make some huge mistakes when it comes to your walk with Jesus. You'll think you're in love. But trust me, you're not. You think you're some kind of awesome because he chose you. News spreads because even though he's older than you, he's not more mature. You'll rise above it, and people will eventually talk about someone else, but it causes conflict with some of your closest friends. No guy is worth it.

Sophomore and junior years are about the same. You start to care more about a social life than your academic one. You'll still graduate at the top of your class but you know you could've done better. This isn't to say that was a mistake. You made a lot of good memories. But education should always be more important.

Senior year. The year you waited for. It starts out really good. You'll like a guy from another town. Don't put too much thought into him. So much wasted energy and time. Your Momma & Gamma will get you a car. A gorgeous 2005 Pontiac Sunfire that you still own to this day. You'll spend every waking moment with your friends. You guys are practically inseperable. But people change. Yourself included. Never forget those girls. They stayed by your side, even if they're not now. In May, right before Graduation, you'll vow to your friends the next guy you date will be the man you marry. Then you meet someone in Burger King, randomly. Your friends are concerned because you fall for him, and you fall hard. They have reasons to worry. Your dating track record is horrible. You try to see the best in everyone, and you like the attention. But with this guy, things are different. He doesn't want you for your body. He likes your mind. Soon, you graduate. High school is over. But your story doesn't end here.

In the fall, you begin at a community college. By this time, for personal reasons, your boyfriend has moved in with you. You are a few months into your first job. You struggle slightly with college. You end up dropping a class, which turns out not to be the end of the world. Your boyfriend leaves for the Army. 5 months into your relationship, and suddenly you're dealing with a LDR with no communication. Keep your head up though, good things are about to come. He comes home for Christmas 5 weeks later. And suddenly you are ENGAGED. You plan to spend a few years engaged. But the best of plans aren't always the well designed ones. You'll marry 6 months later.

And then the life you have always known is no more. You move more than 1600 miles to be with your husband. You plan on doing courses while in Texas, but within a month of you moving there, you get seriously sick. So sick that you'll have to have two surgeries in a span of 7 weeks. In fact, your Momma and Gamma will visit you shortly after moving and the day they are due to leave you land in the hospital with a gallbladder infection with gall stones, kidney infection with kidney stones, gastroenteritis and a UTI. It's safe to say you'll be miserable for a while. You'll turn 20 by yourself. You quickly learn with the military, time together is not promised. But you grow strong, you learn to adapt.


Coming from 23 year old Liz, I'm really proud of you. You didn't always make the best of decisions but you made the most of life. And I'm so thankful you never gave up.