Reverting Back To Childhood- Bueno!

It is week three being Laura the nanny. I feel like in my short existence I have worn a few different hats in life. Laura the accident prone youth (no lie, broke the same ankle three times in a year and a half). Laura the talkative (hehe, I still wear that hat from time to time). Laura the nerd (I used to be the biggest teacher's pet ever... sigh. Now I am just a nerd for no reason). Laura the college student. Laura the Young Life leader. Laura the food scientist.

Laura the nanny is very different. I get to be a kid again. No lie. I watch Noggin. I have snack time. I go to preschool

(well, just to pick up Caleb). I have nap time (well... Noah naps, I watch TV and do YL work). Life is much simpler.

I even get to do cool things like take Caleb to the aquarium. There is something so fascinating about how a kid can be captivated by the smallest thing. When we first got to the aquarium Caleb was immediately in awe of the fish. Okay, I can't lie, fish are really cool, but he though EVERY one was the most amazing thing. Even the not-as-cool fish were UHmazing in his eyes. It makes you wonder, what happens to us as we grow up? When did we stop seeing each new thing in front of us as something to be in awe of, and

instead just take things for granted? When did I start going through life carrying a million worries around with me, missing all of the beauty that I get to experience

every day? Heck, why didn't I realize how awesome nap time and snack time were? Okay, I have always loved snack time, nap time was the issue when I was a kid.

My challenge to myself in this next year is to fall in love with creation again. To try and see life through the eyes of a child and be captivated by what I see and do each day. I hope to see God in everything and in everyone. And maybe I am being too much of a dreamer in all this, but who cares. Kids get so much more than we do. It's like we grow up and forget to have fun, real fun, forget the joy in playing, forget to enjoy the little things. Well no more. Laura the nanny has some childlike tendencies that she thinks will be a good thing to bring back.

Changes

A friend recently gave me a sweet painting with a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote on it. It said, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." That seems to be what I am attempting to do in my life. For the past year and some change I have worked at a great company, made great friends, worked on great projects, and felt less than great. It made no sense. Why would I, when working in an environment where I should flourish, not be doing just that.

Fortunately for me, I have a great friend and previously she was my mentor, who told me over a year ago, that what I was passionate about, was not what I was pursuing. She, in her wisdom, told me that I came to life when I was talking about Young Life. Young Life has been a part of my life since high school when I was a typical YL kid, then I became a leader in college, and even worked for YL part time as a senior in college on Student Staff. But full time? For a non-profit. Me? I have student loans. I can do it as a volunteer still. I don't want to move. Great reasons huh. Yeah, it only took me a year AFTER that to realize that she was right.

So what then. How do I not take the path? How do I make my own path? What does that even mean ?!

God has a funny way of showing you where to go. Sometimes going where there is no path can be hard. I have left a job where I loved all I worked with. A job where I had felt like I had found another family. To be honest, leaving felt a lot like breaking up with a boyfriend you like. And having done that before, I can attest to the fact that it sucks. It's bittersweet.

Hard does not mean bad though. The upside is that for the next year, I have the privilege of watching out for two of the cutest little boys. I get to laugh, I get to rock the little one to sleep, I get to watch Noggin, and I get to do it all in comfy clothes!! Woo hoo! I am taking a step back from projects, high heels, and a 9-5. Still hitting up 40 hours a week, but less stress is on the horizon.

This next year will bring dirty diapers, cooking dinners, playing with trucks, hanging with YL girls, Club, Camps, and applying for YL staff.

Do the changes scare me? Yes.

Do I miss my friends I worked with? Yes.

But do I feel like this is right? Heck yes.