What I Almost Was

Hello sweet peeps. I have been thinking lately about that little phrase. You know the one. When things are looking bad, people pull it out just for you. When you're on top of the world, you smile and revel in it for a moment. "God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." I have been smiling on this one for a while, and let me tell you why. 

If you would have told me four years ago (so we're talking half-way through high school) that I would be where I am today, I would look with disbelief. I am very grateful for the past couple years of life that have taught me a whole lot in a short span of time. There have been some heartaches and heartbreaks, some good days on the mountain and some low days in dark valleys. There have been some great people and (though very few) some people I learned to love from a distance. There were some glittering nights and some hard-worked for days. There were times on my knees talking to my God and times He was talking for me. But all of it contributed to who I am today, not who I could have been. I think who I turned out to be today, and the woman I am still working on for the future, is so much better than I could have planned for myself. 

God does not need my advice when it comes to anything, much less the path for my life. His vision is here and now, hindsight, and foresight all in one. When I have tunnel vision, he puts me back on the path He laid just for me. I prayed hard for some dreams and loves and things that were never meant to be mine. And thank God (literally, people) that they were not. While it may have looked like gold then, I know it was not gold for me. So here's to remembering that good things come to those who wait for THOSE GOOD THINGS. If I could have told awkward, ready to get out of this town baby Kels a few things I'd say--

1. One day you're going to love country music. So embrace those roots, babydoll.
2. You're going to miss this moment and want it back, so do not wish it away. This applies to all of it, I promise :)
3. Turns out there is more to life than Homecoming dances. Thank goodness for that, you social butterfly, you. 
4. At 20, you're still going to be obsessed with clothes. Save that money. PLEASE. Because in college, we discover Lulu's. And we loooove.
5. Keep being awkward. You find people that find it hilarious and love you for it. 
6. Don't forget how to do math, because shawty you going to HATE accounting. 
7. You'll never wish you slept more.
8. Read as much as you can. You miss having time for it now.
9. That time you wreck your car on the way to work and cry your eyes out? Yeah there will be days even worse than that. Brace yourself, but you got it in you.
10. And quoting my favorite boy, Brad Paisley, "Have no fear, these are no where near the best years of your life."

Big Amen to that! Thank ya Eric Church for this catchy title.

ooh baby baby. circa freshman year of high school.

yours truly. in present day.