Girl Meets World - Episode One Review and Recap

The moment I have been waiting for since an announcement in November 2012 that Boy Meets World was going to live on finally happened on Friday night - the first episode of Girl Meets World premiered.

Being the first episode, they had to introduce everyone. If you watched the original Boy Meets World, you know the parents, Corey and Topanga, played by Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel. They are now all grown up with a 13 year old daughter, Riley and younger son, Auggie, played by Rowan Blanchard and August Maturo.

Corey is Riley's history teacher, and he has obviously been inspired by his mentor Mr. Feeny. In fact, they aren't even trying to pretend that the new characters aren't based on characters from the original. Riley seems to be a good combination of Corey and Topanga, but so far leans more toward the Corey side. Her best friend Maya, played by Sabrina Carpenter, is a character-type of Corey's best friend Shawn.

A few special things in Girl Meets World that related to the original:
- They kept the paper airplane in the credits.

Girl Meets World Theme video link

- Riley attends John Quincy Adams Middle School. In Boy Meets World the school they attended was John Adams High.

- There will be special appearances from other original cast members, including Rider Strong (Shawn), Betsy Randle (Cory’s mother, Amy), William Russ (Cory’s father, Alan), Lee Norris (Minkus), and Danny McNulty (Harley Keiner). A quick moment with William Daniels (Mr. Feeny) at the end of the first episode (I hope we get to see more of him in future episodes) started out the promised visits from original cast members. Will Friedle (Cory's brother, Eric) will not appear in the first season, but Michael Jacobs has left the door open for any original characters to return, so there is hope he will visit in future seasons.

Girl Meets World Episode One Recap

The theme of this first episode seemed to be a very heavy-handed message of "this is Riley's turn to meet the world." They said it in about one hundred different ways. Hopefully this won't be a trend that continues to repeat itself in future episodes. There is no reason to work the title of the show in over and over again each episode (I know that worked in Good Luck Charlie, but it will just quickly become annoying in this show).

The episode starts with Riley and Maya trying to sneak out of Riley's room to ride the subway. Corey catches them, and tells her she will be living in his world until she goes out and makes it hers, and Topanga joins them to reassure Riley they will always be there for her.

The opening was a bit awkward, making me feel like I had walked in on the middle of something. But I got to see Corey and Topanga, so I wasn't too upset.

After the credits, we are taken to the subway where Maya is going to show Riley how to ride, even though she isn't supposed to be there. This is when we learn that Riley's new goal is to become just like Maya. We are also introduced to Lucas (the new Topanga character) whom Riley begins crushing on immediately. Maya proves herself to be confident in the world of flirting and talking to boys, and pushes Riley to give it a try - literally pushing her into his lap. Riley proves to be much more awkward than Maya. At this point, Jackée Harry enters as a subway passenger (and we all have Sister Sister flashbacks).

At school we learn that Corey is Riley and Maya's history teacher. We are also introduced to Farkle, who might possibly be the most annoying character on tv. Farkle (who likes to refer to himself in third person), is in love with both Riley and Maya. For some reason, Corey entertains this subject by letting Farkle take over the class to explain how he can love equally two girls who are so completely different.

I was not convinced of anything other than Farkle's extreme ability to be annoying, prompting me to tweet (What, you didn't live tweet the premier of Girl Meets World?):

This Farkle kid is going to need to change schools so I can keep watching #GirlMeetsWorld.
— Tracie Nall (@fromtracie) June 28, 2014

At this point, there is a joke made by Maya about a girl who sits in the back of the class being more right for Farkle, and Farkle scoffs. The adult parent in me thought it was mean. The 13 year old in me thought Farkle should be so lucky to have "Back of the class Becky" pay any attention to him whatsoever, because he is so very annoying.

In classic Boy Meets World fashion, it is now time to introduce the classroom subplot that will inform the lesson being taught in the episode. The subject is the Civil War, and Corey tells the class, "History shows that bad things happen when you don't know who you are," he then gives them a homework assignment to write a three page essay on anything they believe so strongly in they would fight for it. This felt like a classic Feeny assignment.

Maya knows what she is willing to fight for - no homework. She makes her point by leading a chant of "No homework! More freedom!" and staging a class walkout, pausing long enough to tell Riley this is her chance to choose who she is going to be.

As Riley stands up to join the walkout, Corey tries to stop her. She tells him she wants to be like Maya, because Maya is cool, has a wild side, and does what she wants. Corey responds that Riley is like him, prompting her to ask, "Would you chant 'No homework! More Freedom!' and walk out?"

(I feel qualified, with my many viewings of every episode of Boy Meets World, to answer this question - he absolutely would have done that when he was Riley's age in season one of Boy Meets World. There is no question.)

We find ourselves back at the Matthews' house. Riley and Corey come in the door, both looking for sympathy from Topanga. As the situation is explained, Riley asks if they thought she was one of those girls who follows all the rules and doesn't get in trouble. To which Corey replies, "I was hoping." Riley stalks off to her room, leaving us with our first Corey and Topanga scene of the show.

"Let's get married. Let's have a kid. Let's have another kid." Topanga mocks to Corey. "Well, you listened to me you big stupid." Cory answers, and a cute little hug follows.

(Every 90's kid say it with me, "Awwwww! Corey and Topanga forever!!")

We get a glimpse of Corey and Topanga's younger child, Auggie in the next scene. He sits with Riley on her window seat, as she talks to herself, asking questions about who she is going to be. Auggie asks a few questions of his own, "Do bears know how to smile? Why is cake always so delicious? Will my drawings ever get better?" When Riley asks if he is making fun of her, he says something about being just like her because they are twins, and then runs out of the room calling for his mom when Riley tells him they aren't. It felt a lot like an early Boy Meets World Morgan (Corey's little sister) moment.

The next day at school, it is time for lunch. There is an annoying interaction when Farkle sits down with Maya and Riley that I am going to pretend never happened (isn't it time for him to transfer schools yet?). After Farkle leaves, Lucas joins them. He is clearly much more confident in boy/girl interactions than Riley. This must be apparent to Corey as well, because he shows up to be the super protective father we all imagined him to become. Telling Riley, "Father's don't see anything as innocent," he asks Lucas what part of Texas is closest to Mexico. "That would be El Paso, sir," Lucas replies. "Great! Let's go now," Corey answers, pulling Lucas' chair away from Riley's table.

Lunch is now over, and it is time to walk to class. Maya is sure that Riley still did the homework, even though she participated in the walkout the previous day. Riley admits that she did it, and she liked it. She also did Maya's homework. Maya says, "Don't save me. Let me be me." I am guessing we are getting a hint of the Topanga side of Riley here, not only has she always been the good kid who doesn't get into trouble, she also enjoys doing her homework.

Lucas still shows up for class in the next scene, prompting Corey to notice and say, "You are a good looking guy." Yes, Corey is still Corey all these years later.

And now it is time for everyone to present their homework.

Corey tells the class he wants to see what people believe in strongly enough to fight for, and asks Maya to share first. She announces that she did not do her homework, and Riley also says she didn't do hers because she is now the same as Maya (even though the audience knows she did do it, because of the conversation on the way to class). Maya asks everyone who did their homework to pull it out, and starts collecting all the papers. Farkle runs out of the room and comes back carrying a diorama with sparklers.

Maya grabs one of Farkle's sparklers and stands on the desk, trying to light everyone's homework on fire. Corey saves the papers, and she only succeeds in setting off the fire alarm and sprinklers. As the class is running out of the room, we see Lucas holding his jacket over his head and sharing it with Riley. He asks Riley why she didn't stop her friend, and tells her she is better than that. (I like this Lucas guy. He is a good new-Topanga.)

Corey gives Maya detention. Riley asserts that she deserves detention, too, but Corey disagrees. At this point, Farkle is climbing on Corey's back and shoulders like an idiot-ape (ugh, Farkle). They walk into the hallway, and after Corey sends Farkle away, it is time for the big conversation.

Riley tells Corey she wants to stand by her girl, to which he replies, "You missed the moment to stand by your girl. you were so busy being her you forgot the most important thing you could do was be you." and sends her on her way. He then turns to Maya, "I always believed a friend helps another friend out of trouble, not into it." (YES! This is the Cory Matthews we know and love. The Corey Matthews who told Shawn to come back to his side of the line after the firework in the mailbox incident.)

Maya responds, "I'm sorry." and Cory says, "I am too, because you go too far." And then Maya drops the bomb (not a real bomb, even Shawn wasn't that hard core), and tells Corey, "There is no one at home to help me with my homework."

At this point I was a little disappointed there wasn't more to this conversation. I feel like Boy Meets World would have had Feeny or Mr. Turner offering some kind of help. Instead, we are sent back to the subway where Maya tries to preemptively "break up" with Riley, because she is sure Corey is going to tear them apart when Riley gets home. Maya wants Riley to know she won't blame her when they can't be friends anymore.

With occasional interruptions from Jackée, who is riding the subway with them again, Maya says, "I go too far, and I don't think that is going to stop. I'm bad for you." and as they reach Riley's stop, she pushes her off the subway reasserting, "It is time for you to get off, you don't go as far as me." Jackée says, "You do not push your best friend off the train," but Maya ignores her.

Riley stands on the platform watching the doors close, but she isn't going to give up on Maya that easily. Prying the doors open, Riley comes back on the subway saying, "I'm not you. You are not allowed to abandon our friendship. I would not let you do that."
"I'm not good for you." Maya argues.
"You don't decide that," Riley responds, "If this is my world, the first person I want in it is you."
"You are gonna save me now, aren't you?"
"I am."

We next see the girls as they arrive at the Matthews' home. Riley brings Maya over to her parents and tells them, "There is no way I'm going to let you break up my friendship with Maya. You said you want me to make the world my own and do my homework. Well, I'm doing it right now. This is worth fighting for. This is my best friend. She is going to get me in trouble, and I'm going to get us out of it. And I did. Look at us here. My civil war is over." We don't see a response from Corey or Topanga. I with they would have included just a couple of sentences from Corey addressing the girl's belief he was going to break apart their friendship (because I can't believe that Corey-best-friend-of-Shawn-Hunter was going to do that), but instead, we are taken back to the subway. This time the entire Matthews family is there, as well as Maya, Farkle, and Lucas. They move Farkle and Lucas off with a quick joke, and all attention is on Riley.

Corey makes a grand announcement to everyone, "We are here today to celebrate Riley being Riley," and gives her a subway card as Topanga says Riley showed them she was ready, and Cory finishes with, "Riley, I already met the world. It's your turn." (I told you there were a lot of references to meeting the world in this episode. I skated over quite a few of them for you.)

Riley and Maya get on the train, discussing that Riley is supposed to be home by 5. When they return, The Matthews are waiting for them. Topanga refers back to her promise at the beginning of the episode saying, "We told you we were always going to be there for you."

Then, the best part of the whole episode happens.

Cory says, "It’s not so easy handing over the world without making sure everything’s going to be okay." He turns around, and sees Feeny standing behind him, and Feeny says, "Well done, Mr. Matthews."

(And then everyone watching at home screamed, and possibly cried just a little. I know I wasn't the only one, so don't even pretend you weren't excited.)

Feeny disappears, and Corey is left looking at the poster where he was leaning. It is a picture of Feeny that says, "It's cool to stay in school."

This was the perfect ending for the first episode.

My thoughts on the first episode of Girl Meets World

It isn't Boy Meets World. No matter how much I want it to be, it isn't. But it isn't just another Disney Channel show, either. I think it has real potential. Michael Jacobs' influence was all over this episode. Even as I saw the signs of Disney Channel in it (hello ridiculously expensive clothes on young teenagers and overdone laugh track), I could see the lessons and heartwarming feelings working hard to break through. I hope there is more of this in upcoming episodes.

Unfortunately, my dreams of Farkle leaving aren't going to be realized anytime in the first season. A quick preview of upcoming episodes airing after the premiere revealed him to be Minkus' son. While I appreciate Minkus being recognized, the way I appreciated his quick reappearance in the high school graduation episode of Boy Meets World, I am not a fan of Farkle. His character is not hitting the mark the way Minkus did, and unless there are changes coming, he is going to be the weak link.

It is hard to judge a show on the first episode. There was not nearly enough Topanga in it. I am hoping her role is expanded as the series continues. I know the show will center around Riley and Maya, but (especially in the early years) Boy Meets World always had a strong parental presence that I hope will be repeated in Girl Meets World.

There was a lesson in this episode, like so many episodes of Boy Meets World. I feel like it wasn't quite strong enough. Five extra minutes of screentime probably would have been enough to drive home the point that Riley is better when she is being Riley instead of trying to become someone else. And like I said above, I would have liked to see a response from Corey and Topanga when Riley brought Maya home to say she was going to fight for their friendship, as well as in the moment when Maya discloses to Corey that she doesn't have anyone at home to help her with homework. Hopefully future episodes will be able to spend that extra time on bringing these points home since they won't also be tasked with introducing characters.

Am I going to watch future episodes? Absolutely! Boy Meets World was on for seven years. The characters and storylines were given a chance to grow, and I want to give the same chance to Girl Meets World. It is not going to be the same show, but if they do it right, it can be something special of its very own. I will say that Katarina has long been a fan of BMW, and she enjoyed this first episode of GMW. I know I'm not exactly their target audience - I just hope they can find a balance where both kids and parents can enjoy it the way Boy Meets World did.

Did you watch the first episode of Girl Meets World? I want to know what you thought of it. Or what you thought of Boy Meets World. Or any tips you have to help me have Topanga-like hair.

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Life Is Too Short To Buy Bad Cookies

Thomas came home from the store with a package of cookies yesterday (because he has been married to me for almost 12 years, and knows the way to my heart). They looked like the pirouette cookies I love, and were on sale for a dollar. It seemed like a perfect answer to the question, "What cookie will I eat after dinner tonight?" but it wasn't.

They didn't have any filling or flavor.

No chocolate. No hazelnut. Not even any french vanilla.

Just the outer cookie.

It is like having an Oreo without the cream, and nobody wants that.

After a couple of bites I realized they tasted exactly like fortune cookies.

So now I'm sad there isn't any chocolate filling, or a piece of paper giving me lotto numbers and a possible glimpse into my future. Very disappointing.

Here's the thing, I'm fairly cheap, and like getting a good deal, but that good deal isn't good anymore when the cookies are bad.

Life is too short to buy cookies that aren't great just to save a dollar.

The older I get, the more I feel the shortness of life. And I'm realizing how many things I do, that I don't want to do, and don't even really NEED to do. And all the things I don't do, that I really DO want to do.

Here are some more things I've learned life is to short to do or not do:

• Life is too short to not stay up all night when you are reading an amazing book, and let yourself sleep in the next morning.
• Life is too short to eat all your vegetables and not leave room for dessert (unless you love vegetables like dessert, in which case I don't understand you, but do think you should eat all the veggies you want!).
• Life is too short to not wear that t-shirt from 1997 that still makes you smile.
• Life is too short to make your kids stick to a strict bedtime schedule every single night.
• Life is too short to not make time for writing, especially when those words might be some of the most important things you leave behind in the end.
• Life is too short to eat grilled chicken when you really want a steak.
• Life is too short to not talk to your best friend on the phone for an hour.
• Life is too short to talk to someone you don't like, or stay on hold, for more than ten minutes.
• Life is too short to not visit that museum exhibit you have been wanting to see even though you should be running errands.
• Life is too short to check your work email in the evening when you really don't have to.
• Life is too short to not add time for that video chat into your official schedule so you don't miss it.
• Life is too short to waste time on reality television (unless you really love it, and then you should go for it!).
• Life is too short to not save up, take a whole day off, and go to the movie theater for a double feature.
• Life is too short to stay in relationships that don't nourish your soul.
• Life is too short to not learn how to do that thing you have always dreamed about trying.
• Life is too short to hold on to things that aren't really important.
• Life is too short to not tell your stories. All of them.
• Life is too short to keep your mouth shut when you know the answer or have a better way.
• Life is too short to not take that picture so you can remember this perfect moment forever.
• Life is too short to let fear lead the way in your decisions.
• Life is too short to not take a road trip, or any other kind of trip.
• Life is too short to pretend to be someone you aren't.

What is your life too short to, or not to, do?

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Step Over The Bad And Celebrate The Good

Imagine with me if everything that happened to you in the last week was represented by something tangible. Some of it is a little gross, like a three week old bag of fast food trash that got shoved up under your car seat, only to be found on the hottest day of the year. Some of it is beautiful, like a small note from your kid, left on your bookshelf right where she knew you would find it. And some of it appears muddy, until you wipe it off and find a glittery stone hiding inside all that dirt and grime.

You are holding all these things in your hands.

It is time to drop all the things that are gross (and maybe more than a little smelly), and step over them. What is left is the beautiful things, and the things that have the potential for beauty once they are given a little love or looked at in a new way.

This is how I see Ten Things Of Thankful each week. It is a chance to share the beautiful things left in your hands once you step away from all the bad. It doesn't mean the bad didn't happen, or that you won't have to deal with it (hopefully it will be as simple as throwing away a bag of trash, but we all know life tends to be more complicated than that), but for just a few minutes you are letting all of that go to celebrate the good.

That being said, step close. I have ten things in my hands, ten thankfuls, that I want you to see. I hope they inspire you to find the good in your week.

1. Yellow flowers.

2. Last night we watched The Odd Life Of Timothy Green after borrowing the DVD from the library. I remember seeing the advertisements and previews for it, but they all left out one very important aspect of the film - it is basically all about pencils. Yes, there is a lot of family issues and an adoption story in there, and even some magical moments with a kid who has leaves growing on his legs. But for me, it was all about the pencils. I'm sure any lover of office supplies would agree we need more movies that concentrate on this special niche.

3. Finding out the official date for the Universal Studios Diagon Alley opening, and learning that wizard wands will actually work there. It makes every inch of my geek-heart happy.

4. A rainbow loom puppy to keep me company while I work.

5. Have you ever had a business meeting where every second was awesome? I did this week. It was great. Plus it was one of those weeks when I felt wondrously productive. Now I just need to work on making that happen every week.

6. Books arrived in my mailbox this week. A long-awaited book I haven't yet read, and a book I have read and loved but did not previously own.

7. Last Friday Katarina had all her teeth pulled. Well, not all of her teeth, just all seven remaining baby teeth.

I am thankful for every bit of support we both received through that process: a ride to and from the dentist in a torrential rainfall, text messages sent to keep me sane in the waiting room, ideas for food that require very little chewing, kind and encouraging words sent to Katarina, and all the love and prayers.

8. The Ten Things Of Thankful facebook group, which has made me smile all week. I'm loving it. I even mentioned it in my post about how social media makes me stronger, because I really believe it is a force for good.

9. Blueberry bagels with cream cheese eaten early in the morning before the sun comes up to say hello.

10. Emails from people who really get you. This week I got an email that made me laugh, sigh with relief, nod with agreement, and want to do a happy dance. Everyone should get an email like that at least once a week.

What are you thankful for today?

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Your Wizard Wand Really Works In Diagon Alley (Plus The Grand Opening Date!)

It is time to seriously talk about opening dates for Diagon Alley and wizard wands that really work.

What? Wands that really work?

Yes! (I'm excited, too.)

But first, the opening day for Diagon Alley has finally been announced!

July 8, 2014 is the official grand opening day for Diagon Alley!

On July 8th, you will be able to ride on the Hogwarts Express, eat strawberry and peanut-butter ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour, visit (and escape from) Gringotts Wizarding Bank, eat traditional British food at the Leaky Cauldron (there is a lot of eating in the Wizarding World), and visit all your favorite Diagon Alley shops, and enjoy live entertainment like the preformance of stories from The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

There will also be interactive experiences in Diagon Alley. Including one involving wands that I have been geeking out over since I read about it.

Ollivanders wand shop will offer interactive wands that really work throughout the Wizarding World. When you buy one of these wands, you will get a map that marks all the places your wand will work. There are also bronze medallions marking the shop windows where you can cast spells.

Here is a video of George, Fred, and Ginny Weasley working some magic with one of these wands.

Harry Potter Cast Experiences the Magic Windows in Diagon Alley video link

Isn't that awesome?

I love all the small details Universal includes in the Wizarding World.

One last thing I found while I was stalking reading the Universal Orlando Blog. Universal has released a new app for iOS and Android as well as free, park-wide wifi. The app will help you monitor wait times for rides and show times, as well as helping you find your way around the park. More functions are expected to be added in future. I haven't tried it yet, but I definitely plan on giving it a go the next time I visit Universal.

This has been your Diagon Alley update for the week. Not to say there won't be more updates, because there can never be too much talk about Harry Potter and Diagon Alley.

And, just because it never gets old, I am going to leave you with one more picture of the Ukranian Ironbelly dragon sitting on top of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. This time at night, with a great view of a row of shops on Diagon Alley. If you look closely, you can see The Daily Prophet!

What are you most excited to see or do in Diagon Alley?

*This post is in no way sponsored. I just love Harry Potter, and am super excited about Diagon Alley and the chance to swish and flick my way to feather levitation!

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Social Media Makes Me Stronger (And Less Depressed)

One of the local morning news shows had a story explaining how social media leads to depression, especially in mothers trying to live up to an impossible standard. It is hardly a new story, but I'll give you a paraphrase of what they said...

"Social media gives an unrealistic vision of what is happening in people's lives. Pinterest shows us pictures of perfect houses and mothers creating elaborate crafts. Facebook is full of our friend's children wearing cute outfits and beaming smiles while they vacation at amazing resorts and say only cute things. Instagram points out all the fancy restaurant dinners everyone else is eating. Social media is mostly a game of "I'm a perfect mom and you aren't!" This makes you feel bad, and leads to depression. Probably everyone should just get off of social media and live in the real world. Oh, but first, leave us a comment on our facebook page telling us what you think about social media and depression."

There was some truth to this news story. People do tend to present themselves at their best on social media. They share the one good picture they took that day instead of the 50 bad ones. They tell you the cute thing their kid said, without telling you about disrespectful backtalk and rooms left unclean. When bloggers share a craft tutorial, they don't show you the blury pictures of failed crafting attempts. It can seem like you are surrounded by perfect people living charmed lives.

But you know in your heart that isn't true. We all have issues and burdens to bear. The problem is, when you are already depressed (actually depressed - not just a little sad or more than a little jealous), the dark cloud in your mind makes it hard to see past the perfect wrapping presented on social media to the truth inside your friend's lives.

This doesn't mean social media is causing depression.

And the news story certainly didn't give a balanced view of what happens on social media. In fact, I don't think it was a good example at all. It certainly doesn't represent what happens in my internet life every day. Sure I see all those perfect updates and pictures as I scroll through my newsfeed, but I see a whole lot more than that.

Social media has been a lifeline for me. When my daughter was a baby, and I was dealing with postpartum depression and a resurgence of feelings, flashbacks, and memories from a childhood full of sexual abuse, I found hope and support in an online forum for sexual abuse and rape survivors. That message board eventually helped to lead me to blogging and social media.

How do I use social media?

Between work and personal use, I am on social media for most of the day. I check my facebook just like you do. I hit the like button on happy updates and cute pictures, and offer prayers for difficult situations. Sometimes I feel that prick of jealousy when I see yet another fabulous vacation, new house, or professional family photograph. I'll be honest, my family lives in a hotel (a motel, really). Life is not always rosy, and even though I know we are very blessed to have the things we do, I am no stranger to jealousy. But when I think about my friends and family, I want good things for them. So I rejoice with them. The way they rejoice with me when I share something good or special. I focus on the good. That is the most basic social media interaction, but it isn't the lifeline I mentioned before.

When I said social media has been a lifeline, I am talking about interactions that many of you never see. Social media has given me safe spaces to reach for a hand on hard days, and to be that hand on better days. I'm involved in groups on facebook: survivor groups, motherhood support groups, Bible study groups, a group with very special women who are sisters of my heart, and some groups with lighter focuses like blogging, writing, and book clubs. There are also twitter chats, blogs, and personal interactions in emails and private messages. All of these things have a common thread - they are a place of connection. They are safe spaces where I can share the hard things I might not be ready to shout out to the entire world right this second, but do need to say to someone. They are spaces where I can laugh, and spaces where I can learn about new things.

I have found amazing friendships on social media. People who live on the other side of the country, or even in other countries, who are closer to my heart than my next door neighbors. This is my community. Not to say I don't have friends in my "real world" life who are also supportive and close to my heart; I do. But social media makes it possible to connect with people who are dealing with the same issues you are in real time.

With social media, you can have a supportive group without having to find a babysitter to attend a weekly meeting. I know there are people I can contact at any time of the day or night, and I will be supported completely. I know I am not alone. I'm not saying social media will cure depression, but I am saying it can make the journey easier. It has helped to make me stronger, and I have found real encouragement and support as I practice better self-care.

Social Media is what you make of it.

You might need to step back and take a break from social media. If you are really battling depression, social media isn't the entire cause, and the entire answer to your depression probably isn't to leave social media completely. Speak to a doctor about your depression, and then take that social media break. Use it as an opportunity to reevaluate how you are using social media. Maybe you need to unfriend certain people or hide their updates from your feed for a while. Maybe you need to limit your Pinterest use to searching for specific things, and then quickly logging off after you have found them. Maybe you need to lead the charge of sharing more openly and honestly the hard and difficult things as well as the seemingly perfect pictures and cute kid moments.

Social media is an opportunity to share you heart, and your passions, with a wider audience. It is an opportunity for you to connect with other people in a new way, and build a community that nourishes your soul.

When I think of people sitting in front of their computers, feeling bad about themselves because they aren't living up to an invisible standard represented in seemingly perfect pictures, I want to take their hands and lead them to the people who are doing good work in social media. The people who offer support and encouragement, not judgement; people like Mama's Comfort Camp, Band Back Together, Postpartum Progress, Spoons 4 Spoonies, #PPDChat, #SexAbuseChat, #MHSM, #MHBlogs, Listen To Your Mother, To Write Love On Her Arms, Ten Things Of Thankful, Pour Your Heart Out, 100x100 Challenge, She Reads Truth, and so many others. I don't spend much time in health-focused communities, but I have friends who have benefited greatly from groups that focus on health and running. Some of them even have special apps you can use to stay connected.

If you don't have those kind of connections and support in your personal social media, I want to encourage you to reach out for them. Find people who are walking the same path you are, and spend your online time with them. You will see a difference in how you feel when you shut down the computer or set aside your phone at the end of the day.

Do you think social media causes or contributes to depression?
What supportive communities are you involved with on social media?

Feel free to name names and leave links to your favorite supportive groups and communities in the comments if you are comfortable sharing. I want people to know there are resources out there, and give them a place to start connecting.

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Do Baby Teeth Have Roots?

Katarina has impacted canine teeth and other dental issues that are going to require braces and oral surgery to be set right. Her orthodontist needs all the baby teeth out of the way to move forward with our treatment plan. We wiggled and wiggled, but all the wiggling in the world was not going to make those teeth come out sooner than they wanted to leave (and a few of them were never going to come out on their own because the adult teeth are not positioned to push them out). After the better part of a year, and only loosing two teeth the "natural" way, her orthodontist recommended having the remaining baby teeth pulled.

She had eight baby teeth! We visited a dentist who was willing to extract all eight for us, but there was a lot of crying, and pain with the first tooth.

It was the smallest of the teeth that needed to be extracted, a canine tooth, but it came out with a huge root attached. I was surprised, having never seen a baby tooth that hadn't been ready to fall out on its own.

I learned a lesson. Baby teeth do have roots. We don't usually see them, because as an adult tooth works its way toward the surface, the root of the baby tooth reabsorbs and disintegrates. This is makes it possible for the baby tooth to wiggle, and come out nearly painlessly and root-free.

This was not going to be a simple, painless procedure, and it was quickly decided Katarina was going to need sedation to get the remaining seven teeth pulled.

I've never had sedation with any dental procedure (I just breath through the pain and pray for strength, because Novocain doesn't work for me), so I never realized how few dentists do in-office sedation. There is only one practice in our area that offers sedation for children, and we were blessed to be able to get an appointment with them. After a consultation visit, Dr. Linnette Hernandez was ready to pull Katarina's baby teeth.

Friday was the big day. It was actually a hungry day, because she wasn't allowed to eat anything after 10 o'clock the night before, or drink anything the morning of the procedure.

The first step was oral sedation. Katarina was weighed. The doctor mixed the medicine according to her weight, and had her drink it in the waiting room.

Katarina, ever the reader, was determined to read her Nancy Drew book while the medicine took effect. Even when she started getting a little loopy, and the letters were waving to her.

Parents are not allowed in the room when sedation is being used, so after the oral sedation had taken effect, the dental assistant escorted her to the procedure room. She was given Novocain shots and laughing gas before Dr. Hernandez pulled the teeth. Twenty minutes later, she was back in the waiting room with me. I was impressed how quickly they were able to pull her teeth.

As you can see, most of these teeth had some pretty impressive roots. Especially the molars.

Here they are with quarters to give you an idea of the actual size.

Now that the baby teeth are out, we wait. We need the permanent teeth to grow in, the orthodontist to give the go-ahead on surgery and braces, and an oral surgeon to do the actual surgery.

Also, we need a lot of soup recipes, because it is hard to eat when you are missing most of your chewing teeth.

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The Darkest Valley

A look at Psalm 23.

In the first half of the psalm, David talks about all the beautiful and lovely places we go with God: lying down in green pastures, walking beside quiet waters and right paths.

In those places we lack nothing. He leads. He refreshes. He guides.

But then we enter the valley.

Not just any valley, the valley of the shadow of death.
What the NIV translates as the "darkest valley."

Even in this valley of darkness and death, the Lord is with us.

We don't have to fear evil, because He is there; His rod and staff providing comfort.

But it is a place with evil none the less. It is a place with darkness, death, and enemies. And there, in the presence of our enemies, He prepares a table. He provides food and a place of rest. He anoints us with oil. He binds up our wounds and heals our pain.

And surely, surely His goodness and mercy, His love, will follow us all the days of our life.

I looked at these verses today, and recognized a change.
What is with this change; why are we being followed?

Shouldn't we be following Him, and by extension, His goodness, mercy, and love?

In those early verses we see God in control; the shepherd who is leading His sheep. But at some point we take over. You take over. I take over. Because suddenly, we are the ones leading.

It is clear how that goes - we lead ourselves right into darkness, death, and enemies.

But God doesn't stay in the beautiful and lovely places when we stray off the path. He follows us. He follows us into the darkest valley, where the shadow of death looms and our enemies await. And even though it is our choices that have brought us there, He provides for us. He gives us goodness and mercy. He gives us love. He does not abandon us.

Even in this valley, we lack nothing. He provides for us, because His goodness and mercy, His love, will follow us all the days of our lives.

And in the end, there is a promise in all of this: we will live in His house forever. The heart of the promise is, like the prodigal son, we will always be welcomed home. So when we are tired of the valley, and ready to submit our lives to God's will, we take the hands of goodness and mercy, and return to the path He has for us. The path that leads to God's house. And in the house of the Lord, we have a forever home, and a Father waiting to welcome us with open arms of love.

I'm not sure what path you are on in your life. Sometimes I'm not sure what path I'm on in my own life. But I see the shadows growing, and I feel the fear creeping towards my heart. My eyes are opened to what surrounds, and it isn't green pastures and still waters. This, then, is a valley. Maybe not the darkest valley, but it is a valley. And I don't want to be here anymore. I want to hold the hands of goodness and mercy, and be led out of this place.

This world is not my home, and this valley will not break me. I have choices, and I choose the green pastures. I choose the quiet waters. I choose to let God lead. I choose to walk toward the path He has prepared for me. And I know that one day, in timing that is not my own, I will walk into those arms of love, and live in the Lord's house forever.

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Combating Negativity

I feel negativity deep in my bones. So often I take solace in that very thing when I am having a hard day - lashing out at things around me. Criticism. Pessimism. Worst case scenarios. Negative words. Nothing pleases me. Nothing is good enough. I am able to find every flaw.

But still, I shudder when cold words are spoken in negativity around me. Maybe because my spirit recognizes them so strongly, being personally acquainted with them coming out of my own mouth.

Today I recognized this as a lesson, insight into just how much I effect everyone in the room when I lash out with my words. To know that, even when they are spoken in a whisper, these words reverberate across the souls who have to hear them. Loud and louder. Until the whole room is taken over by their cold power.

This is an especially good lesson to learn right now, as I sit down to write a list thankfuls for Lizzi at Considerings Blog. Thankfulness is like a warm blanket, the extreme opposite of negativity's dark chill. With that in mind, here are my thankfuls for this week:

1. Worship music.

2. The closeness of summer vacation.

3. Bookish emails.

4. Facebook statuses that say things like... 

Watching Black Beauty with Katarina. It is hard to hear the horse talk to me over the exclamations of, "Inaccuracy! Inaccuracy!" and "This is NOT how it happened in the book!!" 

I'm raising a book snob, and I'm okay with that.

5. Clean dishes. Clean, because someone other than me washed them.

6. Dress shopping with a friend who is renewing her vows for her 10th anniversary. Which is basically wedding dress shopping. Plus I tried on a bridesmaid dress that wasn't at all bad.

7. Feeling the chill of negativity recede as I focus on thankfuls.

8. Prayer. And being reminded that the saying, "Prayer changes things," usually means, "Prayer changes the hearts of those who pray."

9. Watching Jeopardy with my family. Even the times when I have to admit someone else got the correct answer before me.
10. Bookish shopping. And finding bookstore coupons on GoGoShopper.com that make even more book-buying possible. 

11. Art. Sculptures. Beauty in public places. This is the Discovery Muse by sculptor Meg White. Thomas and Katarina found it in Downtown Orlando by Lake Eola. Everything about this picture makes me happy.

What are you thankful for today?

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Summer Vacation Is Almost Here

We are almost at the end of our school year. One more history project, with an accompanying research paper for English, and a well-deserved summer vacation will begin.

This year has been a real marathon for us. We tried new curriculum, and Katarina wrote more papers than she did in past years. We went through spiral notebooks and google doc storage space at an alarming rate. Along with math, science continues to be her favorite subject. Even the video of a cow eye dissection that I made her watch couldn't dampen her science love, so I'm fairly confident it might be here to stay. And of course there were books. I kept a running list, and she averaged two books a week during the school  year - not counting pure leisure reading like Baby-Sitters Club and American Girl books, which would bring that number closer to seven a week.

Things change. Things stay the same.

The years start to run together, and we ask things like, "Did I read that book this year, or last year?" and "You need another math notebook already?" It is easy to forget how much hard work has happened to bring us back to this summer vacation place.

We are having all of our end of the year discussions about next year, and if we want to homeschool again or try something different. I'm torn. I think she is, too. And I'm not sure which option will win.

There are so many unknowns about middle school. But before any decisions have to be made, we have summer. Vacation. Rest.

In case there was any doubt vacation is on its way, a summer reading list was created last night, the mailman delivered new Rainbow Loom band colors today, and there have been serious discussions about which shows need to be binge-watched.

We are now ready for days filled with sleeping in and relaxing.

Almost.

As soon as she finishes that last project and paper.

I was a little worried this time would never arrive.

*I feel like this was a little newslettery (but hopefully not to the level of a braggy Christmas letter). It is one of those times when I just need to document our life right this minute, to remember these feelings of almost, and exhaustion, and hard work coming to a close. And maybe, just a little bit, to say, "We did it!"

What are you most looking forward to this summer?

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The Goldfinch And My Inability To Give One Sentence Book Descriptions

I read The Goldfinch this weekend. In between reading, I tried to answer Thomas and Katarina's questions about the book. Unsuccessfully.

When I am asked about a book, I want to answer with all the feelings and thoughts and important pieces.

How do you take more than 700 pages, and turn it into a two sentence overview?

I used this as a defense when Thomas finally turned away from me, hands over ears, saying, "I don't want to hear anymore. I just wanted to know the basic plot. Never mind."

He countered by pointing at the television, where The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was playing, and said, "The Desolation of Smaug is a story about 12 dwarves and a hobbit who travel to the Lonely Mountain with the goal of killing the dragon Smaug and taking back the dwarven kingdom."

Well played, Thomas. Although I would argue that there is so much more to the story than that, and it suffers from an abbreviated description.

I guess I'm just wordier than Thomas, but I'm going to make an effort at this quick explanation thing:

The Goldfinch is about teenager Theo Decker, who survives a bombing, and in the aftermath becomes a (mostly) accidental, one-time art thief.

That didn't really make you want to read the book, did it? Or maybe it did.

I feel like the entire soul of the story was left out in that description. When I read a book, I seize on small moments that were important to me. I have to include them in any description I try to give, because they are integral to what the story meant to me. And then I usually feel the need to provide back story for those moments to the person I'm talking to can see why they were so important.

This is the reason I have a hard time condensing an entire book into a short description, or recommending books off the cuff to people who are "looking for something new to read" when I don't know why they enjoy the books they enjoy. Because books are highly personal to me. I know the same thing that makes me love a book, will quite possibly be the thing that makes you want to throw it out of your bedroom window.

This isn't to say I don't write book reviews, or suggest books to people, or have discussions about books. I do all those things. But I just don't do it in one to two sentences very often.

What did I enjoy about The Goldfinch? The writing. The descriptions (I know I have railed against overly-descriptive books and authors in the past, but I did not feel that annoyance with The Goldfinch). The furniture repairs. But mostly the writing - it is beautiful.

I've read a lot of criticisms aimed at Goldfinch author, Donna Tartt, for the length of the book, and suggestions that a heavier hand should have been applied by the editor. I wasn't put off by the length at all. There could have been some cuts, sure, but nothing huge. I guess, like Tartt, I feel sometimes you need a lot of words to reveal the true heart of a story, and I'm willing to read all of them. My biggest complaint would be the weakness of the last ten pages. I would have liked more information about Theo's next steps, but this is not the first book that ended before I was ready to step away from the characters or without the level of resolution I would like. Overall, I really enjoyed The Goldfinch.

Have you read The Goldfinch?
Do you share my inability to describe entire books in one sentence?
If not, please describe your favorite book for me using only 1-2 sentences.

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Ten Things Of Thankful

This is the one year birthday of Ten Things Of Thankful, the weekly linkup at Considerings Blog intended to help us stop and focus on the things for which we are thankful. I often click through, and read most of the posts, even when I don't submit one of my own. I appreciate seeing those bits and pieces of good things in people's lives, even when (or maybe especially when) they are reaching through a desperately dark week to come up with ten things that were pinpricks of light.

Because we all need light.
And thankfulness.

Here are my thankfuls this week:
1. The fresh smell of air that has been cleansed by a swift summer rainstorm.
2. Pens with blue ink.
3. Ducks.
4. Friends who are more family than friends.
(and sometimes more family than actual family)
5. Small butterflies.
6. Deep, companionable silences.
7. The people who make greatly detailed Rainbow Loom tutorial videos.
(because they make my kid happy)
8. Words.
9. Busses that arrive on time.
10. Tea that tastes like chocolate with notes of vanilla, and a stack of chocolate-filled wafer cookies.

11. (...and, because I can't let a gratitude list pass without at least one more mention of food, even when I'm not writing hungry...) I'm thankful for all the great birthday cake pictures in Lizzi's post. Because I'm always thankful for cake - even when the cake is far away in England.

Happy birthday Lizzi. I know it isn't your actual birthday, but it is almost as exciting. Thank you for encouraging all of us to stop and appreciate the good things that happen each week. It is a blessing.

What are you thankful for this weekend?

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