Part 1: Answering your questions.

(In kicking off my birthday week (my birthday is in 3 days!), I thought it would be fun to find out...what you what to know about me. Ask me anything, and I will answer. This is the beginning of me answering those questions.)

Heather asked:

I think you should post your most embarrassing moment as well as a few favorite memories from childhood that shaped who you are today! :)

Today, I will skip the most embarrassing moment, but I will be back to that. Today, I want to talk about memories from my childhood that helped shape me into who I am today. 

He doesn't even remember saying it. But, I was 15 years old, and I definitely remember hearing it. It was my 15th birthday, and my dad said: "Well, congratulations. You are 15. You now have the next 10 years to figure out who you will be, what you will become. Good luck."
Dad had no idea how that singular comment would send me into a spiral of frenzy. WHAT?!?! Only 10 years? I calculated the milestone events in my life - high school graduation, college, graduate from college, start my career. DEFINITELY NOT a lot of time. 
He had no idea how that one comment would be instrumental in shaping my life. How I would repeat that one statement over and over again as I counted down the years (only 9 years left, only 5 years left, only 6 months left)...But, my sister and best friend, Lydia remembers. She remembers how I spent a lot of time agonizing over that deadline. How when she turned 15, Dad said nothing. And then, for the 6 more kids following her, He didn't say a word. Only to me. And, he didn't even remember saying it to me. 
Last year, I turned 25. The milestone year. The year I had been planning towards for 10 years. And, I was satisfied. Sure, I'm still becoming who I am, but the core essence of my being is established. All thanks to a dad who made a random comment that changed my life.