Emily's thought of the week.

  How much sleep do we actually need? I remember this last summer when I got 30 hours of sleep in seven days. That is a little over four hours of sleep a night, and I was fine.

Recently I've started to realize how selfish I can be with my time. For example, This last Christmas break I took about 5 naps that lasted about 4ish hours. Meaning, In my 10 day Christmas break I spent 20 hours napping and if you include actual sleeping, I probably averaged 8ish hours a night. So in my 240 hours of Christmas break,  I slept about 103ish hours. That is actually pretty close to HALF of my Christmas break if you add in the few days I got wayyy more than 8 hours of sleep and the random naps in cars etc.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, about half way through my winter break I started to feel really selfish with my time. I was feeling as if there were better things I could do with myself like, make a new friend,  invite a bunch of friends to go sledding, spend time with Jesus, Talk to a friend I haven't seen in a while, take my sister out for coffee,  or maybe even spend time playing a board game with my family. there are obviously many more things I could do with my time but I decided to sleep away my Christmas break.

Because I became aware of this I started to think about the amount of sleep we deserve. I believe that rest (solitude and silence, taking walks, talking with God) Is VERY important but is sleep?  are we entitled to naps every Sunday? Are we so mentally weak we cant overcome a sleep deprived headache?

I'm not saying you should get four hours of sleep because you've been writing every person you know a letter of encouragement. I'm not saying to not sleep when you really do need it (sleep is not bad) especially when you're sick. I'm just saying you should try to be a little more intentional about the way you spend your time because that 100 plus hours I slept during Christmas break, I will never get back.

Anyway, Often I have thoughts that I feel I should share. If you agree or disagree I don't really care. Remember this is just a thought from a overly passionate 16 year old and I hope you enjoyed a small part of what keeps my brain distracted during Spanish class. That's all.

I am from...

I am from August 11th 1997
I am from the water. ( literally I was born in the water.)

I am from denim overalls and my red rain boots,
I am from baseball hats on backwards and matching football jerseys with my brother.

I am from my backyard.
I am from mud fights, water fights, kickball, singing to the flowers, and basketball on my driveway 
I am from our maple tree, play house and a stomach full of raspberries. Red, black and yellow.

 I am from familiar words.
I am from "you can do it" and "you have a purpose in this life."

I am from saltwater.
I am from sweat, tears, and the sea-it makes me feel alive.

I am from  red, memory-worn basketball shoes and a gym full of loud people.

I am from dressing my dog up for every birthday party and blowing out ALL the candles, the first time, Every time. 

I am from athletics
I am from flag football with the boys, cross country and hating every minute of it.
I am from Swim team, Horseback riding, track, softball, ballet, soccer,and my love, Basketball.

I am from Breaking the rules.
I am from illegally riding the eighty-five year old  tortoises at the blank park zoo, breaking in to my own church and running barefoot in the hotel hallways.  (rebellious? you know it)

I am from walks with The King Of The Universe.
I am from the creators hands, crafted the way he wanted me to be.
I am from his beautiful grace and because of that I am beyond thankful.

I am from the Knittel athletes and the Hanson writers.


I am from the stories I can tell of my scars.
I am from falling out of a mulberry tree and getting trampled by a horse.
I am from my permanently scarred legs due to one too many soccer games played and several burns from the basketball court.

I am from laughter,
I am from pain,
I am from loss,
I am from joy.

I am from my bonfire scented hair, and the words I never said. 

I am from Ballard high school.
I'm from our great basketball program,
and our wonderful teachers and coaches.

I am from laying under the stars, and discovering so much about life under them.

I am from all the books I've read and find myself lost.
I am from all the poems that have written me and the paintings on my walls.

I am from Wisconsin.
I am from the whitewater rapids and the cliff jumping.
I am from the tall trees that smell like memories.

I am from the freckles on my lips and my sunflower eyes.


I am from today,
walking in the school hallways, eavesdropping on students conversations hearing stuff like "HE SAID WHAT?!?" and "GUESS WHO ASKED ME TO WINTER FORMAL!!!"
I am from right  now, this very moment, learning about life, God and myself.
I am from these very words I write while trying to understand this crazy, beautiful thing we call Life.