Dear Teenage Self,

Dear teenage self,

Oh, how I wish You really could be reading this letter.  I know you are hoping for an adult listening ear, guidance from someone, anyone...and boy, knowing these things will save you a lot of heartache and trouble. I realize you find your guidance from your peers, but one day you will be able to find your confidence and support from the right places/people. Being the baby of the family has it's benefits, but also gives you way more freedom than you are ready for. Dear girl, just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean it's the right thing. Skipping school, keg parties during the day, dating those football players....they are just temporary , empty fun. In fact, those boys that you have crushes on-I wish you could see ahead to your 22 yr old self when you will meet your future husband. Avoid all those just-because-I-think-I-need-a-boyfriend-boys. I promise you will eventually meet the kindest,cutest boy ever and he will ask you to marry him. Yes, he will have his own teenage baggage, but you will grow and mature together.

                                                        {So young and naive}

Oh, and I know you have never heard of him at this point, but someone else will eventually grab your heart. One day, when you are much older , 33 to be exact, you and your future husband will accept Jesus together. You will go through many years of good & bad before you see the light, but it will happen, and it will be life changing. And all this heartache you are going through, this not knowing who you are, you'll figure it out soon.

Girlfriend, ya know those girls your hanging with? The ones who aren't really very nice to you or others? Please have more respect for yourself. As soon as you graduate high school you will all go in different directions.  And your family? Spend more time with them. Bond more with them. When you are older, you will realize how much you wished you had. Your mom really does love you, though you are butting heads now. One day, she'll be a big support & friend to you. Your Dad? Spend time with him. One day soon he will not be able to think and talk like he used to. I promise, you don't "get" them now, but it will all make sense one day.

                                            {one funny Dad}

You know how everyone thinks your afraid of the dark, and probably will never leave your hometown? Well, just wait. You will eventually live in several states and cities-surprising your mother most of all. Enjoy the journey. College? You will end up not being ready, but that will work out fine. It will actually be the reason you meet that husband I was talking about. About school. Please spend less time on social stuff and more time on your studies. Because your priorities are all those parties, you will soon go from an A student to a B-. Be encouraged because one day you will relearn all those things you ignored. In fact, you will learn alongside your kids while you homeschool them. Yep, crazy as it sounds, you will be a Jesus loving, homeschooling mama of twins. Have you picked yourself off the floor? On top of that-though you think you will be fertile Mertyl one day, you won't. I know you are not thinking of babies right now (praise God), but adoption will be in your future.

                                    {an unexpected, amazing double dose of love}

I wish I could tell you everything, and guard you from all the hard days ahead. Y' know what? Those hard days, the journey through ups and downs, I am fairly sure that they led you to your husband and twin boys {and also to your savior}. God's timing in everything. Dear teenage self....you will make many mistakes, but thankfully they will be worked out for good. And you will be given grace, and new mercies each day.

Love,
Your 40 something self

PS...when you inherit that wad of cash at 18, think twice about buying that shiny white convertible. They really are not safe, and the money will come in handy later ;)

 I recently read Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman and loved it, and recommend it! She's written a new book geared toward teens called Graceful. I saw on her blog a fun idea to write a letter to your self, and decided to do it. I don't often link up to things...actually, have not written much lately anyway, but thought this would be fun.