I debated on whether to post today or not (ya know since it’s Christmas and all) but I decided to go for it…(obviously)

I had an amazing day. Opened lots of perfect presents. Ate delicious food. And spent time with my favorite people.. But the best part of my day was drinking coffee with my parents and my brother this morning before we opened presents.. We sat there listening to old funny Christmas songs that we used to love when we were little. And we laughed and talked and remembered.. And I just wanted to freeze that moment forever. I didn’t want it to change.

I don’t want to grow up.

Those words ran repeatedly through my mind. I don’t want to someday not wake up in my favorite red brick house. I don’t want to lose the smell of coffee every morning. Or hugging my dad when he gets home from work. Or long car rides with my mom.. I don’t want to miss the sound of my brother singing from the shower.. Or going to my grandparents house in my pjs.

I don’t want to grow up.

I mean I’m growing up now. But I’m still in the growing up stage of wearing Christmas hats in public and leaving milk and bread out for Santa….(We didn’t have any cookies)..

Anyway.. I was sad this morning… But then I realized that instead of being sad.. I should enjoy every moment of being young. Making my parents laugh. One of them riding passenger seat in the car while I drive and the other one in the backseat probably scared for their lives.. I’ll savor every laugh. Every song we sing.. Every prayer around the dinner table. And I will always remember that Jesus Christ is so much more magical than any tinsel or light. Because that is what my family believes in. And I’m so glad we do because it is the greatest thing that anyone could ever believe in. Much better than any big hairy man in a red suit..

So today I enjoyed every moment. I laughed a lot. I sang louder.. And I may have acted even quirkier than I usually do.. Because I can.

So I hope you all cherished the moments today.. And ate way too much food.. And wore ugly Christmas sweaters.

Oh and Lovely Christmas.
(Merry is so overrated)

peace & love

MR

Hello again.

This summer I spent a few days in New Orleans. I love staying there. I love the music, culture, food and buildings. Anyway, we went in some little shop and there was a wall covered in sparkly, colorful masks. I tried one bright, glittery one on and it was all cute and fun.. Then after a few minutes it got itchy, uncomfortable and just in the way.

We all wear masks. And not the fun Mardi Gras kind…. The kind that hides your eyes. The kind that keeps people from knowing the real you. We all wear them. It distracts from who we are and what we feel. I am always afraid to show my feelings. So just like in New Orleans…I put on a sparkly mask to hide behind.

Of course, we all act differently in public. We WANT to be liked. And there is nothing wrong with that.. But sometimes we let it go too far until we can’t even tell what’s the real us and what’s a mask. Sometimes we even try to hide others. We get so caught up in ourselves and what we do and who we’re associated with.. So we try to mask the people around us.. Hide their flaws or differences. Or just hide them entirely so that people don’t think we’re “uncool” for being friends with them. That’s how we end up hurting the people that actually care about us. Masks can make us feel pretty and mysterious. Unique. Or we wear one to fit in with everyone else. But the thing is, everyone is different. Special. Beautiful. And we don’t need to hide our unique, quirky or exciting things that make us US.

Well I’m sorry for this rant. But I think we all should remember that most of the time.. when you take off the mask then it reveals a really pretty person..and some prince or princess realizes how beautiful you are and you live happily ever after and get married and have like six kids.

The End.

peace & love

MR