I Am From Poem by Standing in the Silence of Your Pain

I am from old-fashioned clothes and fancy hankies. From playing dress up with cousins, and Saturday morning Garage-Selling with Grandma.

I am from my second-grade teacher's threats of, 'Be quiet or I'll pull out the duct tape! ' and not really believing she'd do it. She did.

From Aunt Tracey's excited, 'Oak Hill beat your pants! ' and Uncle Jim's triumphant gloating about Golden Eagle victory.

I am from hours on the trampoline, Pictionary Jr., and creaming Dad at Monopoly.

I am from being a rosy-pink, blush-covered monster with Jen in Kindergarten, and insanely fun but smelly bus rides. From golden card board boxes, the 'Brain Store' and 'I SWEAR I DONT SWEAR! '

I am from late-night phone calls to my friends, and hanging out around the campfire. From hilarious pranks and laughing so hard my stomach ached for a week.

I am from inspiring youthgroups and mission trips out of state. From every VBS at church and Keith Connor's 'Drive The Bus'.

I am from every tobyMac, Skillet, Hawk Nelson, Barlowgirl, and Superchic[k] CD known to human kind.

I am from being so gullible that for seven years I believed that girls only had half a brain and would argue with anyone who tried to tell me otherwise. (Dad told me that one)

And mainly I am from my family's loving arms, God's gentle touch, and my friends' craziness.