{Growing Up.}

For most of the week, my house has been under construction. Well, before you start imagining holes in the roof and cranes parked in our front yard, we are actually in the midst of replacing all six front windows. Severe water damage and poor original framework has caused this project to take precedence. My room and my parents' have been in complete disarray. You can just imagine how distressed I've been.

Well, as I hit the week long reset button, I came across quite a lot of memories. Letters from middle school. Photobooth pictures with friends. Packets from church events. High school graduation cap and gown. Hand decorated shirts. Old toys. I decided to condense these memories into one box. Everything had to fit in that one box, and boy is it full.

As we enter the lives of twenty-somethings, we hit a strange moment of nostalgia. Our childhood was just long enough ago to subtly forget those late night conversations and inside jokes, but with one simple reminder we are able to recognize again the emotion behind every word and every smile. Here are just a few of my other findings.

SASSAFRAS BOX.
One summer I received a box that portrayed a solid representation of my friendship with Victoria. "It was always a dream of mine to meet Ron. I just wasn't expecting him to stalk me." I'm not too sure what was physically inside the box, but I vaguely remember joke birthday gifts, perhaps a boa and a toy car? Eh, those items might be somewhere around my room or more realistically sitting in a donation center. However, several years later and it's container has been tucked away under my bed waiting for it to be found again.

GINGER SANTA HAT.
Every December in high school was spent at the local Santa's Workshop. We created crafts, helped kids "shop" for their families, and wrapped gifts. My senior year, BETA Club overestimated the number of participating families, so our supplies were in surplus. Santa hats were decorated for every member to serve as a name tag, including me. There were two fellows who were very persistent in calling me "Ginger." So persistent that, that was the name labeled on mine. Stumbling upon this hat made me appreciate the time we spent there helping those kids make their Christmas just a little more special. It also made me wonder what these boys are up to now. I haven't really spoken to either of them in at least two or three years. It's truly sad how you can easily drift away from your friends that you spent every day with in school.

2005 LOST & FOUND PACKET. 
Although I don't remember this specific church event, it definitely made me think about my time spent at Eagle Eyrie and Roanoke College. In sixth grade, thanks to Victoria, I attended my first Virginia Synod ELCA event. And a decade later, I'm still attending. But instead of being a participant, I'm a leader. The circle that has incurred is just incredible. I have truly grown up through this organization and series of events. I honestly wish I could lead more so I could witness the same thing among the new generation of participants. But life gets in the way sometimes. Classes. Projects. Club events. Work.

Reset complete. Plus a new design.