10 years ago...

I had just come off Summer Staff at Lakeside and meeting some of the most amazing people, many of whom became dear friends... I was living with the Leffels in a bedroom across the hall from a certain 16 year old who was a soccer phenom and loved scaring me to death by jumping out of my closet when I wasn't expecting it... I settled in to subbing and then got a long-term sub-position at Harbour Pointe Middle School as a 7th grade Lang. Arts/Social Studies teacher - the first position of my 10 year stint in the district. Sunrise became my home church and I enjoyed meeting at the Golikes for Bible study, fellowship and fun... I was wondering when Mr. Right might wander into my life, but enjoying the richness of old friends and introduction of new ones... I loved how the Lord had given me a "home" to live in, a feeling of home living in an area I was not familiar with. This is a time I look back to and see God's provision and work in my life so clearly.

20 years ago...

I was 14 and a sophomore at Central Valley in Spokane. I met my dear friend Lina in Adv. Soph. English class and we became kindred spirits... I was challenged in my writing/thinking and that was great. This was the year of the Bronte sisters, Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Lord of the Flies, etc. The standards that are introduced and become "the beginning" definition of good reading in my mind... That was very good. I also ended up meeting a guy in my driver's ed class in the spring who I dated until mid-senior year. I "thought" this was good, very flattering to have a boyfriend and attend all dances etc. through most of my high school time, but oh how I wish I had spent that time just being friends with everyone. The Lord spared me the worst, but certainly I missed out on a lot because I was wrapped up in being "us". God is so good to direct our paths...

30 years ago...

I was 4 and don't remember a whole lot from that time... I had a dreamy childhood and in that respect it seems just a blur of fun... Running around our back yard getting splinters from pine cones in my feet, making mud pies, pine needle forts, sniffing my mom's roses and popping the petals on my forehead, running across a couple of lawns to go to my best friend's house, playing dress up, etc. I loved the "real" summers reaching the upper 90s and lying in bed moving wet wash cloths from my face to legs to arms etc. trying to get cool enough to sleep in a house without air conditioning. Singing into a box fan. I'm sure I was a Sesame Street, Electric Company, 3-2-1 Contact! watcher. Weird how some of the same bits are STILL on Sesame Street today... Gordon and Maria sure have aged well...

Thank you to those who inspired this walk down memory lane...