I'm a -green bug drivin' - suv lovin' - shoulda been an Astronaut- kind of girl

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

--C.S. Lewis--

I love to hear kids say, When I grow up I wanna be...

I asked several kids this week what they want to be when they grow up and I received these answers:

• An Artist
• A Cooker aka Chef
• Superman
• A Cowboy
• The mail guy
• The pet fixer aka Veterinarian

Well, 6 year old Kristin (aka me) wanted to be an astronaut! But I discovered that dreams change as you get older. Because now, 23 year old Kristin does NOT want to be an astronaut. 23 year old Kristin has to take a double dose of anxiety meds before getting on an airplane :] I still love astronomy, and love to sit out late into the summer nights staring at the sky, counting how many constellations I can still identify. However I prefer both feet firmly planted on planet earth.

As I grew up, around age 12 I declared that when I grew up I wanted to:

• Get married
• Homeschool my kids
• Be a dance teacher
• Own a shiny black SUV

Ask any of my family. They will confirm that I repeated this over and over.

While I'm not married with kids, I am still hopeful :] And I'm not a dance teacher to the degree I had hoped, but there are little girls out there who know me as, Miss Kristin, the dance teacher.

But in September 2010 when I drove off that car lot in my shiny black SUV, nothing else mattered. I was in love.

And oh do I still love that shiny black SUV.

However, as the gas prices started to get higher and higher, and my gas needle started dropping faster and faster, it quickly turned into a love-hate relationship. 

There came a day when I finally had to tell myself that I simply couldn't afford my shiny black SUV anymore. Yes, I cried.

 So over the course of several months, I started looking at some other options, but kept stalling so I wouldn't have to part with my childhood dream car. But the bank account is now saying No more stalling!

So I began my search again. And after only a few days I found a dealership who is giving me an awesome deal on a trade in. A trade in on what, you may ask?

A bright green, Volkswagen Turbo Beetle. 32 mpg beetle vs. 16 mpg SUV. hmm.

I wasn't convinced at first. In fact I left the dealership only to return later in the day when realizing this was the best deal I was going to get. So I test drove that beetle.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Is that thing ever fun to drive! Don't get me wrong, its no SUV, but thats the most fun CAR I've ever driven :] I drove it back onto the lot with a smile on my face and the saleswoman said, I told you you'd like it.

So, hopefully I'll know for sure on Monday if the deal is going through.

As I think about driving away leaving my shiny black SUV behind, I feel like crying; but then I remember that green VW Beetle and can't wait to drive it again!

So even though my dream of being an Astronaut changed, my dream of that shiny black SUV is still there. And I thank God for the 18 months I got to live out that dream. Who knows, maybe one day I'll have a shiny black SUV again.

So, here's where you can help. I name my cars. Yes, I'm that kind of person. 

My first car was Lucy, my second Ethel, and my SUV was given a name by my grandfather that I can't write on here because it would probably get me in trouble :]

So...any name suggestions for a green VW Turbo Beetle? No, Herbie is NOT an option! lol

Sorry Brittany, I can't give it to you as a birthday-christmas-wedding gift, but I'll let you take it for a spin :] 

I'm Standing On My Soapbox, People!

Although I'm not literally on a soapbox and I'm not talking about anything political, I am about to 'make a speach' about something that is very important to me. All who choose to continue reading, I warn you, this subject is very dear to my heart so this may get scary :)

Growing up my family very seldom had TV. We would watch movies, and visit my grandparents TV set when the Olympics where one. Every once in a while Mom and Dad would decide to order TV for a while, but it only ever lasted a few months.

A few years ago we ordered DirecTV so we could host Super Bowl and News Years parties...etc. Mom agreed to this with the condition that the TV be set up in the basement, so it wasn't so easily accessible.

Her plan worked, and we didn't watch TV nearly as often as we would have had it been on the main living level of the house.

Stop right there. I'm not on my soapbox to talk about how America watches to much TV.

I'm up here to talk about a particular show.

When I moved in with Pap and Grandma, Pap hooked up my new TV (thanks Dad!) to the cable line.....the cable line in my bedroom. Hence, I've been watching way more TV than I ever used to! I'm not very proud of this.

I'm the kind of person who likes channels like: HGTV, TBS, ABC Family, TLC.

TLC is my favorite, with shows like What not to Wear, Say yes to the dress, 19 and Counting, Kate Plus 8...to name a few.

Well, on Wednesday nights, there is this show (and you've all probably heard about it...or maybe even watched it) called Toddlers and Tiaras.

*Pause while I stand up a little taller on my soapbox*

Since I was about 16 I've had a passion in my heart for ministry with 8-12 year old girls. This is such a critical time in a girls life. Its when they start learning about what it means to be 'pretty' and they start caring a little more about self presentation.

My 6 year old niece told me the other day, in all seriousness, that I was having a bad hair day.....don't tell me she doesn't understand! (And heres a high-five to my Sister and Brother-in-law who are doing an amazing job with little Cosette!)

So, on this show, these innocent little girls are made up, dressed up, and ....in my opinion, messed up.

I watched in horror as a little 5 year old girl walked on stage in a less than appropriate outfit and did a dance routine that, if she had been a full grown woman, I would have had to change the channel because it would have been quite provocative. She's 5 people! A few minutes earlier, this same little girl had this conversation with her Mom:




Girl: I just wanna go play on the play ground. *crying*

Mom: We have to win the crown first.

Girl: But can I have some milk?

Mom: After we win the crown.

She's a little girl. Take off the 5 pounds of make up.....the entire can of hairspray.....the fake eyelashes.....the inappropriate costume.....and let the little girl be LITTLE!

Now, I'm not saying that letting little girls dress up and have fun on stage is wrong. I myself was in dance class since I was 6 and enjoyed the costumes and stage fun. But this was the difference:

I had a Mom who taught me what true beauty was: Its whats on the inside...the crown doesn't matter.

My amazing dance instructor had us dancing to music by Michael W. Smith, Nicole C. Mullen, Carmen...etc. NOT Lady Gaga or Beyonce.

Our dance choreography was all to glorify God...not to win the approval of the judges.
A Toddlers and Tiaras Mom said, "If she messes up her dance routine, at least she still has her pretty face to help us win the crown."

So, why am I on my soapbox?

I'm up here to stand up for our little girls. Keep them little. Don't dress your 6 year old like shes 25. When your daughter is in that 8-12 year old stage, that is when it is most important to start teaching about true beauty.

Focus on your daughter's heart, not her hair.

Ok, I'm stepping down now.

For anyone with a little girl in that wonderful time of life, check out Author and Speaker Dannah Gresh's website www.purefreedom.org. She has lots of resources and ideas on how to "Keep the LITTLE in your little girl". Anyone interested in her 8 Great Dates book for Moms and daughter's, please contact me, as I have some of those available! I'd love to bless you with a copy!