Today is my birthday. Wow. I remember being 11 years old and thinking to myself, “I’ll have it all figured out when I’m sixteen.” I’m one year from 20, and so much less grown up than I thought I would be. I used to look at people that were 19 and regard them as being so old. Well, I feel like a baby in some ways. I kind of wish I was turning 20. Whenever I say that to an older person they instantly respond, “Don’t wish your youth away!” Haha. OK OK. I won’t.
I just wonder when you reach the point when you want people to think you’re younger than you really are. It is still a compliment to me when people think I’m 21 or 22. Maybe it happens when you’re 30. All of the sudden, when someone says, “Oh you seem so much older,” it becomes an insult. Haha. I don’t know. I wonder when I’ll act grown up. I mean, I still squeal and jump up and down when I’m excited. My mom doesn’t do that. No a dult I know does that. Interesting.
For awhile there, I went through a stage, though, of not wanting to grow up. Actually that was this year. The thought of becoming an a dult was so frightening. But, now I’m really liking the idea. I’m moving out of my house to Canyonview in June. Another step towards independence. I would have to say I am definitely enjoying life more now than I ever have. But it’s in a different way. I don’t enjoy spying on the boys and playing grown ups so much. Maybe because I AM kind of grown up. Isn’t it interesting that all our lives we imagine what it will be like to be an a dult, and imagine what we’re going to do. And now it’s here.
Well, that was my insightful nostalgic post on getting older. And YES I feel very different. 19 sounds loads more mature than 18. Love you guys. Later.

20 comments
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May 18, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Elliot Swan
You mean that didn’t happen for you? Odd. I most def. knew just about everything the moment I turned 16…
May 18, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Kala
Happy birthday, Christen!
May 18, 2007 at 10:32 pm
christen
elliot *shakes head* why can’t I be more like you?
May 18, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Elliot Swan
It takes some practice.
And yes, happy birthday.
May 19, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Cody
Happy birthday. I still don’t want to be a dult maybe a grown up but not a dult. Whatever that is. =)
For me I think 25 is the age I will want to stay at. Your insurance drops you can do anything and you look old enough that people respect you but you still look young.
May 20, 2007 at 12:10 am
Charles
Don’t grow out of squealing and jumping, or I might have to ostrazice you.
jk, jk, jk, jk!
Ah, the innocence of youth. I have the privilege of being younger than all of you, but I’m still insightful. Part of me can’t wait to grow up and be my own man (my wife’s when I’m married, but you know what I mean) and all that, but part of me loves all the innocent things kids enjoy, like playing outside, jumping and squealing (still happens, sometimes), and all that! And have you ever looked back and felt kinda sad looking at your childhood past? Don’t lose ALL of your childhood, or life’s gonna be really sad, boring and . . . GROWN UP!
I’m going to be a youthful grown-up (adult sounds still so mature).
Happy one-day post birthday, Chris! Don’t grow up TOO much!
May 20, 2007 at 12:39 am
DoubleTake
Some people stay fun and weird when they grow up, then they get married and have kids, get boring and then I don’t like them. Most of you will be like that, but I will always act like a kid (except on my first date
) so anyway I am just bored, so happy belated birthday!
;D
May 20, 2007 at 4:27 am
nickerbokers88
I don’t think that there is any defining age that magically turns us into an adult. We can look back through the years and see the difference that each year brings. So, 20… 18… 19… it really doesn’t matter all that much. As long as you are still growing you’re right where you are supposed to be.
As far as squealing and jumping up and down goes… Many of the Adults I know still squeal and jump. It just takes more to bring on the reaction. God brings the reaction of jumping and squealing to kids as they are filled with unquenchable joy and excitement. As we get older it takes more for us to release our emotions so outwardly. God brings the same emotions and reactions to adults too; he just waits for them to come to him. Like at our worship encounters, men and women, young and old, will be jumping, screaming, and shouting as they are, once-again, filled with the unquenchable joy and excitement that God provided in their youth.
but, if you still really want an age of adulthood. Over the course of 7 years all of the cells in your body will have at one point or another been replaced. So 7 years after you’re 18 all of the cells that you had in childhood will be gone.
May 21, 2007 at 3:19 am
Charles
That’s a comforting thought.
May 21, 2007 at 3:21 am
jmelin
I’m 20 and I still feel like a 12 year old.
I’m so not mature enough to be an adult.
May 21, 2007 at 4:35 am
Charles
More Power To you.
May 21, 2007 at 8:24 pm
josephallen
YOUR 20? I thought you were like 18.
May 21, 2007 at 9:10 pm
brianna
“Oh Cwisten Awial Pagett… I wuv you”
yea i don’t think I am ever going to grow up. /me giggles.
May 21, 2007 at 10:36 pm
greeneyedearie
Haha, same here.
“Go get ‘em, tiger…”
May 22, 2007 at 4:53 am
christen
hahahah . . . i think as long as we all hang out together we will NEVER grow up.
May 22, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Cody
Growing up will not happen. Most of us will just grow out not up.
May 22, 2007 at 8:16 pm
jmelin
Yes… I am 20. Hard to believe, I know.
May 23, 2007 at 9:55 pm
josephthegreat
Wow.
May 25, 2007 at 5:26 am
christen
cody, i dont think you will EVER grow out. hahaha.
May 28, 2007 at 4:50 am
kittykatt
Soo true…I’m 20 too and i definitely am still immature…sad, but true!