Celebrating Life

Usually I'm not big on skipping class.  If you miss one class session, you may miss a whole lot of what you need to know.

However, at the same time - I'm big on celebrating life. (And probably even bigger on the idea after my year of "2011".) This weekend I am going to Disneyland!  Even though it's 4 months later, I am finally going to go to celebrate my 21st birthday!!  I am excited to go out of town to the "happiest place on earth".  I'll be going with my uncle, aunt, 2-year-old cousin, mom, and grandma.

The original plan was to leave tomorrow after two out of my three classes were done so we could go and spend the day at Disneyland on Friday.  However...My mind has been changed.  Instead, I am skipping classes.  The pull of Disneyland and having a good time with family won me over.

At least I'm doing well in my classes...Right?

Disneyland, here I come!

It's like having a birthday all over again. :-)

The Travelin' Chick,
Crystal

PS: Or how I put on Facebook:

"Tonight I am declaring my tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday an official personal holiday. On this holiday I not only permit, but encourage, myself to skip all classes taking place at college. School work is not allowed to be a part of my life until Monday. I must laugh and smile a lot while having tons of fun this weekend...Making memories in celebration of my 21st birthday - even 4 months after the big day. Maybe I'll even meet my "Prince Charming" while I'm away this weekend. (A girl can dream - right???) ;-)

Disneyland, here we come!!!!!!"

"I Love You This Big!"

Part of Scotty Mccreery's I Love You This Big

"...I might look a little silly

Standing with my arms stretched open wide.

I love you this big

Eyes have never seen... this big

No-one's ever dreamed... this big

And I'll spend the rest of my life

Explaining what words cannot describe but, I'll try

I love you this big

I'll love you to the moon and back

I'll love you all the time

Deeper than the ocean

And higher than the pines...

I love you this big

Eyes have never seen... this big

No-one's ever dreamed... this big

And I'll spend the rest of my life

Explaining what words cannot describe but, I'll try

I love you this big...

So much bigger than I ever dreamed my heart ever would

I love you this big..."

Okay. If you look at all the lyrics of this song it is an obvious love song from a guy to a girl. However, in my case it's so much more.

The day of Ashley's burial service this song was playing on the radio. While listening to the song only certain phrases stuck out to me - mostly the ones I quoted above. As the music was being played through my cars speakers I kept hearing, "I love you this big..." thinking about, Ashley, my niece, and my love that I have for her.

Fast forward a month later.

The night before my birthday I was at camp with our teen girls from church. Once the room's seemingly endless chatter and laughter silenced, I found myself in my own little world of thoughts. Often in the silence I think about life and the recent events that have taken place.

This night specifically I kept thinking about Ashley. I kept thinking about how much I miss her and how I wish she was still with us. Thoughts of birthdays came to my mind, as I will never get to buy her a birthday present and/or she will never get to color me a colorful card with colorful crayons when it's my birthday. We will never get to celebrate each other's lives together. Before I fell asleep I couldn't help but think, "I wish we could be together on these special days in some way."

The next morning came around. As I awoke to my alarm clock the very first thing that came to my mind was the song lyric, "I love you this big..." This was stuck in my head for at least an hour.

Some may think this is just a weird coincidence that the song was being played the day we buried her, just to have me wake up to it the morning of my 20th birthday after a night of wishing we could celebrate together. They can think what they may.

In my heart I truly do believe this was a way for my niece to tell me, "Happy birthday, Aunt Crystal! I love you! I love you this big!" As I think about those words I think about Ashley in her new body, bigger then the mere 14 ounces she weighted on earth, stretching her strong and long arms out across Heaven sending her love and good wishes my way.

Hey Ashley - I love you THIS big - and I am NOT afraid to say it!

The Travelin' Chick,

Crystal