first generation of me

Do you ever take a look at yourself in the mirror and find that you don't recognize the person looking back at you? Sometimes it happens, even to the best of us. Even if you are the most secure of individuals (which I am most assuredly NOT) this can happen to you. Life happens to you. Stress happens to you. Too much self absorbed introspection and not enough ice-cream happens to you. My personality lends itself to the "too much self absorbed introspection" part of that prior sentence. Well...it also lends itself to the "ice cream" part too. But, I digress.

All of this is to say, there are times when I take myself and my life far too seriously and forget to have fun.

There was a moment this past weekend where I forgot to take myself seriously at all. I even forgot to keep my dignity! It was good. It was very good. The giggling that ensued was almost enough to need a change of underwear. Almost.

A few of my fellow adoptive moms (from our first trip to Ethiopia to visit Tate Temesgen and to appear in court), got a hair-brained idea to crawl into the kid's inflatable jumper at our annual reunion. This is what happened.

And this.

And this.

We almost deflated the whole thing. The loop of the corner strap pulled off the stake and sent one of the sides of the apparatus into a downward slump.

I didn't realize it when I saw the photos, until a dear old friend commented on Facebook that it reminded her of the way I was in college. It reminded her of the carefree, silly, rambunctious version of myself that existed prior to some pretty significant heartache, disappointment and depression.

THAT person is allowed to come out on rare occasions these days. She definitely made an appearance on this day and it felt really good. Thanks Judy Boyles for the reminder. This "first generation" Angie is welcome, she's pretty fun, and her zest for life has very few boundaries.

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me 

and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." 

Psalm 28:7