**defining moments**

A Meme. from George

So here are the instructions:

Tell the world what you believe are the 10 Defining Moments of your Generation - and then tell the world what you believe are YOUR personal 10 Defining Moments. Then tell the world why you chose the moments you did.

The 10 Defining Moments of My Generation (In No Particular Order)

1. MTV- It's hard to say, but I don't think my generation would be who we are without music videos.. and MTV & VH1 really started the music television revolution. Now there are tons of channels with TONS of different genre's of videos.

2. TGIF- I remember sitting down with my family on Friday nights and being SO excited to watch the latest episodes of Full House, Mr Belvedere and if I was lucky Step by Step or Family Matters.. and I remember going to school on Monday, and talking about the episodes with everyone who actually got to see it. No Tivo to record, you had to figure out the VCR timer if you wanted to tape it and if you missed it you missed it..

3. Columbine- I remember how scary that was for me. Hearing about all the kids that were shot, hearing all the news stories on what happened, watching all the interviews and hearing the intimate details of what happened. I younger and a whole lot of naive, but I remember that was my wake up call that bad things can still happen, even in our modern times. I also remember the chain of threats and panic that swept the schools, ours included. We had a prayer chain around our senior park, and everyone in our school was united.. we wouldn't be scared away from our education.

4. September 11th - Another of those events that really rocked my world. I remember the panic that ensued after. I remember going to school and talking with friends who's parents were keeping their kids home. I remember watching the news all day in every single class and sitting with the very few kids that were still at school and talking to my teachers about what happened and everyone being in general shock.

5. Gas Prices- It's sad to say it but this is a defining moment in our generation because never in a million years did economists dream that gas prices could reach the prices they are at now. I distinctly remember my high school Econ teacher (Mr Thompson) telling us gas prices would hit a ceiling of four dollars, but they would surely never rise about that.. We've reached almost 5 dollars a gallon.. which severely effects everything from vacation to day to day living. SO many Californian's can't afford to drive to work and can't rely on our public transportation, which in some of the most populated areas is REALLY lacking.

6. Computers- Not just the Internet, not just PDA's or hand-helds or laptops, but even just a desktop. I'm amazed at how they've affected the way things are done in this generation. So many things are "paperless" and "web-based" that the need for so many inventions of the past are obsolete. A lot of jobs were lost to computers and so many people make their careers in computers, which was unheard of in past generations.

7. Going Green- So many Americans are joining the fight against global warming, and I've really seen the number of people in my generation who are genuinely interested in helping and recycling and taking notice of the problem increase.. not only a select few who in past generations would have been type-cast as weird or activist. Everyone is playing their part.

8. Downloading/ iPods- More and more technology are making amazing products of the past obsolete or "vintage" and I have a feeling actual CD's and even DVD's are fast becoming part of the record or 8-track type technology, cool to remember, cool to collect but not really practical. I mean, I'm amazed at how much is available for download. Stuff that you could previously find only in stores, I could most likley pirate or download from iTunes or Apple.com

9. Vote or Die- To me one of the biggest defining moments. I mean, it not only showed how important our votes are and how much of our generation wasn't a part of the political process, it showed us how much of an influence and how important celebrities are to our generation.. which leads me to my 10th...

10. Heath Ledger's Death- I was amazed and in shock when he died. I know there have been other deaths in my lifetime of amazing people like George Carlin and LeRoi Moore, but for some reason the death of Heath Ledger really hit my generation, and will go down as a big moment for a lot of us.

And now Mine. (in no order whatsoever)

1. TEC (Teens Encounter Christ)- I was 16 years old and had never experienced anything like it. It opened my eyes to so much and although it's been a constant struggle ever since, it's been an experience like no other and introduced me to some of my best friends and a community of people unlike any I've ever met, along with VDC.

2. My dad's heart attacks- I realized that I had to grow up and stop living in my little bubble if I wanted to to be treated like an adult. I also saw how my family protected me, more often than not, from the bad things in our lives because they didn't think I could handle it. It opened my eyes and showed me what an amazing family, extended and blood, I actually have, it also made my immediate family a whole lot closer.

3. My 22 birthday in SF- It was the BIGGEST deal to me. It was the first birthday EVER that I hadn't been with my family. I didn't go to dinner with them on my birthday, and it was the first time I went on such a long trip with just one other friend. I spent the weekend exploring the city and really growing up. It was only two years ago, but it was such a big moment for me.

4. St Andrew's Lutheran Church- Going to this church really changed not only my life, but my families. We had struggled with leaving Emanuel, mostly for my benefit and when I went away to college and CCOL, my family spent a lot of time searching for a new church home, and boy did they find it. Some of our best friends and closest relationships are with that church family. We've grown as a family and been able to share so much with the congregation and them sharing so much with us, but my real personal defining moment was when I joined the rejoice band. My family had all found their friends in the church and I was a little lost when I moved home.. but as soon as I joined the rejoice band I met George who introduced me to so many amazing people including his family and amazing friends, who have all accepted me and shown me more love than I can imagine.

5. Getting Pregnant- Not the actual birth of my daughter, but the absolute personal struggle I went through when I found out, when I told a few people, when I decided what to do and when I finally told my friends and family. It was an incredibly humbling and scary and stressful situation. A really low point in my life.. which is sad because my daughter is such a blessing, but while I was pregnant I was ready to lose everything. I distinctly remember sitting on the bed in my dorm about to call my parents and tell them everything and being mentally ready for them to disown me. Scary to think what I would have lost.

6. The birth and life of Hailey Rose- An amazing transformation for me. I was no longer Meghan, but Mommy. I am still Meghan but now the mommy that comes with it just amazes me. She keeps me grounded, makes me want to be a better person and is bringing out at side of me I never knew I had. It's been a struggle, it's been hard, and I know it will continue to be hard, but every time I see her I can't help but smile.. even when she's peeling the paint off my walls (yes. she did that today)

7. The death of Cody (my dog)- Now I know it seems silly, but he was the absolute definition of my childhood. He was my dog for as long as I can remember. He protected me, he slept in my bed or next to it, he was always right there when I left and when I got back. He played with me, traveled with me and even broke out of our backyard and was found wandering the halls of our high school because he missed me! He died right before Hailey was born, and it really marked, for me, the ending of my childhood..

8. My first car- It wasn't my license that made me mobile, because when I got my license it was more of an "I should really do this before I graduate" rather than an "I need my license" I had friends who drove, older siblings and my parents (as a last resort of course) but I also lived in a pretty small town where I could walk or take the bus if I needed to, but when I went to college my freshman year and lived in a much larger city and realized I couldn't walk or roller blade anymore, it was time to get my act together and get a car. And boy did I. My "time-warp machine" a 96 Cherry red mustang. I still remember my parents surprising me with it at the dorms. They told me I was getting a red Kia, and my brother drives up in this mustang. I had no idea what to say and for weeks would walk out and wonder why I had keys to this red mustang.

9. Going to a University (CSUB), and living in the dorms- I can't believe how much I took for granted at first with how huge of a moment that freedom was for me. In hindsight I went a little crazy with the freedom, but for the most part It was just an absolutely amazing experience for me. It was the first time in my entire 17 years that I'd lived anywhere but my little house in La Habra and it was absolutely invigorating and terrifying. I still remember my first night in my dorm and how absolutely excited I was to be living somewhere on my own and not having to answer to anyone but myself. But with great freedom comes great responsibility and finding the balance between fun and class and bills got really hard for me, luckily I met Angel and Chris, who kept me on track and showed me how to live a successful dorm life, while still having tons of fun :)

10. Moving Home- After being out on my own for even those two years, I realized how much freedom and perks of having my own place I had taken for granted, the thought of moving back in with parents is never a pleasant one at almost 20, but I honestly could not have survived without their support. Or the support of my extended famiy, new and old friends. It was hard. REALLY hard for me to leave Bakersfield and the friends and family I have there, but I have found a balance and as much as I miss every single one of my friends there, I don't regret moving home one bit.

Geez. This was REALLY hard.. but like I said. I don't regret any of these defining moments or look back and wish things were different. Everything happens for a reason, from the biggest disasters of our generation to the death of a pet. It all defines who we are and it all affects us in different ways.

<3

**theme**

So I've decided that my theme is going to be a "cocktail" attire type party (to give people a chance to dress up) and my colors are brown and blue. Chocolate and Aqua. Milky and Robins egg. Not sure the exact combo it all seriously depends on what I find but I need to head over to my favorite place (target!) and find SOMETHING so I can send out invites and get a feel for who's going to come. Now I need addresses..

Hailey picked her theme too.. it's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and she's really excited about it.

She wanted to do a kitties theme, but they didn't have it online.. although it would have been easier with the colors, I guess I can swing a "Disney" themed party.

why do parties have to be so expensive?! And so tiresome to plan. I'm hoping I can plan mine in a quick amount of time and spend a lot of time on hers.. since it's her golden b-day and such a big deal :)

<3

**birthdays**

So the end of September/ October are a little crazy for me since I've got MY birthday and Hailey's birthday a week later.

I am planning to do a dinner party with my friends for me and an all out golden birthday party for her! So I'm trying to get her to decide on what theme she wants so I can start thinking about what I'm going to do.. not to mention start buying stuff since I'm trying to spread my money spending out!

I bought her a backpack today.. Hannah Montana. It was the cheapest one at Ross, but it was also the biggest and the least expensive so I don't think either of us care what's on the outside!

I also need to start planing my dinner party and getting invites out. I want it to be kind of small and intimate.. but that never seems to happen with my friends...

<3

**Work**

I have to say as much as I enjoy working the "normal" shifts I am SO not used to getting up this early.. I hate that I can't stay up anymore! I'm so lame.. I know eventually I'll get used to it and be able to get up early and go to bed at a somewhat "normal" hour instead of eight, but DAMN i'm tired!

It's Tuesday. Only four days till the weekend! And five days till my Rose comes home :)

<3

I can't stop laughing..

so I was hangin out at The Simmon's Casa last night and of course it was good times.. watching the "shake yo Poak Chop" video and watching the hilarity that ensued. I almost spit Diet Peksi everywhere.. I love the Simmons clan. They're always good times.

but the thing that made me laugh the hardest was this...

So there's this song, "Love Me Dead" by Ludo



In the song there is this line "You're a parasitic, psycho, filthy creature
finger-bangin' my heart"

Last weekend I was riding with the Simmons 4 down to the beach, and on the way we were jammin out to various tunes on George's iPod. Well this song came on, and much to my surprise Georgie knew pretty much every word... I'm digging the song (it was the first time I'd heard it) and I wasn't paying much attention to the lyrics because Gill was talking to me. All of a sudden George and Jazz start CRACKING up.. They promise me that they'll "tell me later" what they were laughing at..

Cut to last night in the kitchen George goes "wait! I don't think we ever told you what we were laughing at in the car!" Jazz starts giggling and I'm like "no! Tell me!" so George is like "you know that Ludo song we were listening to?" "Yeah" "Well there's that line, finger banging my heart, and we were laughing because Georgie was in the backseat rockin out singing at the top of his lungs and we know that if he knew what it was and knew that it was "bad" he wouldn't have been singing it.. so we were joking that he must think it's like you know, a gun with his fingers.. like BANG BANG!!!"



I'm seriously still laughing. It's just so funny to think about!!

<3

Saturday at the Barton house...

Saturdays are always interesting here :) We've got a kind of "routine" that happens when we don't have a birthday or event of some sort to go to.

~My parents still wake up early, but sleep in till about 630-7, which is an accomplishment. Let me tell you.
~They make breakfast, the whole nine yards, bacon eggs and toast, if Hailey's here there is always pancakes.
~If I can get away with it I'll sleep in till 10 or 11, if Hailey's home she wakes me up at 9.
~My dad is usually in the middle of some big home improvement project, today it's our bathroom.
~The FISH or JACKFM is aways blasting.
~My mom usually goes shopping, for groceries, which trust me takes a long time.. she does the coupon game. it's pretty amazing how much money she saves and it's always fun to see what she comes home with.
~My brother and I are doing various things. Either working, "playing" on the computer, or helping clean up the madness from the week :)
~the afternoon's are spent hanging out listening to music and napping
~the evening is usually dinner with the family, in the summer dad always BBQ's cause it's too hot to cook inside :)
~the late night is either movies at home or out with friends!

I love Saturdays. My mom's home with the groceries. Gotta go help her unload :)

<3

**Olympic Bliss**

yes. I'm enjoying every minute of these 2008 games. I go to sleep watching swimming and diving, wake up watching soccer and eat lunch watching whitewater and water polo.. It makes me proud to be not only an American but part of the generation of people ready to see the world REALLY change for the better. Not just because of a competition between nations, not just because of a new president, not because of a fad that's good for the environment... but because we realize that without a legitimate change in our everyday lives our children and grandchildren wont be able to enjoy the simple pleasure of watching someone break a world record, or watch someone from a Nation that's never been heard of win a bronze medal. It's incredible to think of how far we've come. It's nauseating to think of how far we have to go. It's invigorating to imagine a brighter tomorrow.

I'm getting sentimental.

<3