30 things I wish I could have told my younger self

(the first time I ever had-or even saw- a cheese doodle.)

1* Helping Mom and Dad around the house all the time is good practice.  You'll need it someday so do it and be thankful for it.

2* You are skinny.  You are not fat.  Stop feeling that you are.  When you are 30 and have had four children then you will know what fat really is.

3*  Read more.  Uninterrupted reading will be pretty rare in a few years.

4*  Fresh Asparagus is divine and so is basil.   Don't wait until your 20's before finding that out!

5* Fresh cherries taste NOTHING like maraschino.  These too- don't wait!

6* Do not waste your time looking for attention.  Those whose attention you want, will not be attracted to someone who is actively seeking it out.

7* Thank your parents more for what they have done for you.  When you are a mother, you will realize full well what you put them through.

8* Be respectful even if people aren't respectable. You are doing it for God, not them.

9* Don't worry about fitting in.  Worry if you DO.

10* Learn to cook real food.  It will make things so much easier in the beginning of married life.

11* Don't think twice about Chris.  Matt is SO meant for you.

12*  Wear sunscreen for goodness' sake!  Speaking of which:

13* Red does not equal tan.  You will never be tan.  Just give it up already.

14* Stop slouching.  God loves you tall.  Your husband will too.  So-start to love it yourself.

15* Be more courageous with the gospel.

16* McDonalds cheeseburgers are REALLY gross.  Seriously.  Stop eating them.  NOW.

17* Sit with Opa more and write down his stories.  Someday they will fade.

18* Everyone reads Adele in Jane Eyre as Ah-dell;  only you read it A-da-lay.  Understand this while considering names for your third child.

19*  When you find an envelope on the sidewalk outside of the library-do NOT look inside.  What you find will not be pretty.  (Remember, Elizabeth?!)

20* Beg Mom to teach you Dutch.  You will really regret not knowing it.

21*  Learn to play the piano.  You will really regret not knowing that too.

22* Tell Russel not to go swimming at the Gorge before Graduation.

23* Don't go to nursing school, for Pete's sake.  You don't want to be a nurse anyway!

24* Take more ASL classes in college and, when you are done with college, don't stop practicing it.  

25* The fact that no boys are interested in you in highschool?  It isn't YOU.  It is God protecting you from a lot of heartache.

26* Enjoy those love letters Matt writes.  Save every single one. They come less frequently once you are married a while.

27* Go to more plays and less football games.

28* Don't let people make you feel guilty for being you and don't be apologetic for the things you accomplish.

29* Don't fret about finding a good man when it seems there isn't a one anywhere nearby; with just 'old people' in your church or the idiots in college.  God plunks the perfect man for you in your life when He wants to-seemingly out of thin air.  He has a plan and it is pretty wonderful.

30* Everything you do is preparing you for that plan...so TAKE JOY in every moment.  Even the hard ones.  Even the unpleasant ones.  These moments are shaping you and who you are to become.