I'm a big kid now.

Hey, I'm 16... and I can drive! All by myself and without help!
As I was writing that, the Huggies Pull-Ups Training Pants slogan came to my mind. You know the one: "I'm a big kid now!"

Anyhow, I got my license last Friday but I hadn't driven all by myself until today. Yes, that is right, until this very day.
It will be engraved in my memory "for as long as the sun and moon shall endure."

I got home from babysitting and, feeling a little hungry and tired, decided to make myself a smoothy (it was sorta really nasty -- soy protein powder blended with any variety of fruit is, well, have you seen the movie Flubber?), but my mom said that I could drive Sophia over to her fairy dance camp. Since the camp was starting in 15 minutes and it apparently takes 18 minutes to get there, I put my congealing, jell-o-like "smoothy" into a large (I wish our cups were smaller) vase-like glass and rushed out the door.

Because the studio is not exactly familiar to me, I felt a twinge of apprehension when I started the car. Could I do it? What if I got lost?

Plucking the doubts out of my mind, I began to focus on the positive... I know my way around Lansing and I have a pretty good internal compass.

Even if we were five minutes late, I still did it. I was (and am) pretty pleased with myself. No map AND driving without a co-pilate? Shoot!

Actually, the real test was driving back home. You see, I had never driven home from that studio and everything looked different backwards. Plus, I was completely alone.
So began my first ever solo drive.

Surprisingly, I found it easier to drive (I was more comfortable) when alone.
I was also surprised at how everything came so naturally. I've definitely come a long way. My prayers count for most of this, I'm sure.

Dropping Sophia off at the house a few hours later, Matt hopped in the car and we zoomed on over to get Culvers for dinner.
Managing to park perfectly in our driveway after this excursion, I looked over and asked if he thought I was a good driver. He said I was.

Well, I finally broke the news to Josiah today. When I told him I had my license, he gasped and stared at me like I was queen of the world. Then he looked at me with his serious, intelligent green eyes and asked if I could drive him to Star Bucks to get a "lemon loaf". Of course I obliged this whim.

After consulting with my parents, they gave their consent for me to drive my younger siblings to see Toy Story 3. Sophia and Josiah had been talking about it since the very first trailer was released.
All the way to the movie theater I got to listen to this:

Josiah (still in awe of that fact that I could drive without mom or dad): "I can't wait 'til I'm big 'nuf to drive!"

Sophia (balancing out his optimism): "Siah, that will be in, like, a hundred years."

Josiah (shaking his head): "Nuh uh. I'm going to be big as Christine when I can drive."

Sophia (rolling her eyes): "You're only three right now."

Josiah (looking slightly offended): "When I get older, I'm going to get a green car. And be a daddy!"

Sophia (after a long pause and quizzical brow): "I'm going to have a big, red car. And have horses."

Then Matt looked over at me. It was all I could do to not bust out laughing. I love them all so much.
And they loved the movie, as anticipated (despite me making them close their eyes intermittently during the scary scene).

Although, it is a good thing that I already saw it; I was the designated potty-partner and had to miss a good chunk of the movie.
When our movie was finished, Matt wanted to know what time dad was coming to get us. I just looked at him. The sudden, happy realization came upon his face as he remembered that I was driving home.

Now, I wonder when my license will come in the mail. Tomorrow would be nice -- I've been checking the mail every day.
Patience seems to be an unattainable virtue for me. Sad, right?