Winnie the Pooh Wisdom

I love Winnie the Pooh. Because he says beautiful things, but mostly because he reminds me of my sweet adopted grandmother, Barbara Gorshing. 

'It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?”'

“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” 

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” 

“If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.”  

“What day is it?" 

It's today," squeaked Piglet.

My favorite day," said Pooh.”  

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet. 

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.”  

“It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily. 

"So it is." 

"And freezing." 

"Is it?" 

"Yes," said Eeyore. "However," he said, brightening up a little, "we haven't had an earthquake lately.”  

“Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.” 

“You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” 

“Some people care too much. I think it's called love.” 

“We'll be Friends Forever, won't we, Pooh?" asked Piglet.

"Even longer," Pooh answered. 

Pinterest Post

It's been awhile since I've posted my recent Pinterest favorites (I'm pretty good at Pinterest). Enjoy :)

This reminds me of my best friends.

I think this is just the best ever.

And these are providing me with inspiration to power through the next few days...thanks, Ry. 

I've also been pinning lots of Cinco de Mayo drinks...I'm a little excited for my birthday :)

Unbelievable beauty

These pictures are so freaking beautiful they kind of make my stomach hurt...ok, maybe that's the Casa Bonita food from yesterday. But still. They are incredible.

http://imgur.com/a/2jtOG

Middle School Instagram

This article is really good. It's written to parents of middle schoolers, but I read it and absorbed it as a Wyldlife leader. And I think it's completely true and accurate and very important. I also know that it's not limited to middle schoolers because I see high schoolers and even college kids that take their number of "likes" and "followers" to heart. So how do we (Wyldlife leaders, friends, cousins, parents, family in Christ) love them with Christ-like love and show them their infinite worth in Jesus? It seems like a pretty daunting task, but it is important.

http://taylorandsarahbrooks.blogspot.com/2013/04/parents-word-about-instagram.html?m=1

Call Me Maybe - Mumford/Lumineers Style

This is cool! And silly and fun. I like these people.

"The extra encouraging and two drops of mercy"

We all need it.

http://www.thewiegands.com/2013/04/to-you.html

People are good

Sorry for the recent blog overload...I've had several posts brewing and I just can't help it.

I've heard and experienced a few things recently that have reminded me and encouraged me: people are good.

On a small scale...yesterday I uncovered my car and got in and my tires just spun in the snow. I tried to go in reverse and that didn't work either. So I started to run back to the house to grab a shovel when I heard someone shout, "Ma'am!" I turned to see a man running towards my car with a shovel. He shoveled quickly, probably assuming I was running late. I thanked him several times and got in my car. It still wouldn't move, so he shoveled some more. Still, my tires just spun. After digging some more, he got behind my car and pushed me out. I tried my hardest to convey how grateful I was as I pulled out of the neighborhood. He just said, "No problem, of course, you're welcome, ma'am," and headed back where he came from, several houses down the road.

This morning, after waking up to tons of snow and messy roads, my roommates and I peeked out the window to see two guys helping our roommate dig her car out. Apparently they passed her uncovering her car and just stopped to help. Then this afternoon, I headed outside to find my roommates and one of their boyfriends digging my car out. It was pretty darn stuck, so we spent awhile getting it out. Had I tried to do it alone tomorrow morning, it would have been nearly impossible.

But on a bigger scale, I've read a few articles about the Boston Marathon tragedy that have really impacted me. Many of the marathoners finished their 26.2 miles and continued running to Massachusetts General Hospital to donate blood for the victims. They had so many people willing to donate that they had to turn people away and stop accepting donations.

And please read what this man did:
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/04/17/boston_marathon_bombings_runner_tries_to_find_couple_who_gave_her_their_medal.html
(Brent Cunningham is the Regional Director of Young Life in Alaska and worked with my friend Bob for many years. What a cool man.)

People are good. Yes, our world is crazy and broken. But I refuse to lose hope because I see that people are good and I know that God is good.

Why middle school girls are awesome

1. They imitate (aka make fun of) my dance moves.

2. They call me out when I say, "Dang, girl" too often.

3. They love to do the Camp T "What Makes You Beautiful" choreographed dance with me.

4. They feel awkward and uncomfortable around boys (as do I).

5. They don't question it when we ask them to come to club dressed as babies...and they bring all of their friends. (We had almost 50 kids at Baby Club - whatttt???)

6. They make me feel famous when I walk into a 7th grade volleyball game.

7. They do cool things like competitive ice skating and let us come watch them.

8. They love Tristin's stories about fairies.

9. They have crushes on the guy Wyldlife leaders.

10. They make cards for the elderly to tell them that they are loved.

Recipe for Snow Day Success

It's been quite the couple days here in Colorado. We're making up for the lack of snow all winter so it has been snowing pretty much nonstop since Monday morning. There is SO MUCH SNOW. CSU really just doesn't cancel classes, but my roommates convinced me to take a personal Snow Day yesterday. It was an excellent life choice. I was slightly productive and very happy.

Today classes were cancelled from noon on so I haven't left my house. Here's my recipe for a successful Snow Day:

1. Stay in bed and don't get dressed...keep holding out hope that they will notify you before your 1:00 class to cancel it.
2. Light some candles, put on some Etta James Pandora, and read The Great Gatsby (the movie comes out May 10th and I'm SO EXCITED. So I'm rereading it. The 1920's is one of the eras I'm convinced I should've been born into...along with the 1950's and 1980's.).

3. Listen to Lennon & Maisy. These girls are incredible and I love them. Amanda and I have learned Call Your Girlfriend and we're working on our video...

4. Drink a Vanilla Coke.
5. Cancel your babysitting job because the plows have conveniently and completely blocked your car in.
6. Don't think about the fact that your sister is here right now.
7. Write a blog post instead of a paper.

Fall in love with Jesus

This is good. Its about life. And about not waiting to really live just because we think marriage is the goal. God gives infinite purpose to our lives, regardless of our relationship status, our success, or our ability to understand what that purpose is.

http://gracefortheroad.com/2012/02/03/idontwait/

Real Beauty Sketches

This video is really cool and interesting. And it made my cry, duh.

http://realbeautysketches.dove.us/

I like what Dove does in this video, but I also just read an article that critiques it. This woman makes some interesting and very valid points so I thought I should share it, too. "You should feel beautiful, and Dove was right about one thing: you are more beautiful than you know. But please, please hear me: you are so, so much more than beautiful."

Feeling Deeply

If you know me at all, you know that I feel emotions deeply. Joy, excitement, love, hurt, sadness. And tears can accompany almost any emotion I feel. So there are definitely times when I wish I didn't feel so deeply. But there are other times when I feel certain that it is a blessing and a huge part of who I am. 

I felt deeply this weekend. It has been one full of goodness. I got to house/pet-sit, so I've had this wonderful stay-cation. [House-sitting is the best job ever...you get paid to eat someone else's food, sleep in someone else's bed, and watch someone else's movies.] I spent very little time crossing things off of my to-do list and quite a lot of time embracing the true meaning of relaxation. On Saturday morning I woke up late in my weekend house, grabbed a Pop-tart, and watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I watched episodes of some of my favorite shows, took the dog on a walk, dreamed on Pinterest, and ate food that I don't have at my own house. 

Then I got to have a mini best friend reunion. Best friend reunions are the best kind of reunions. Because they are real and easy and life-bringing. We reminisced and shared stories about our recent lives and laughed that can't-catch-my-breath, my-stomach-hurts, tears-streaming laugh. Over and over again. It was so good to be together and it was just what we all needed.

Today, as I thought about life and the people I love and the circumstances around us, I felt sad and hurt and fearful. About many things. Not necessarily significant things, but real things. So I allowed myself to feel those emotions for a little and I cried a couple times. Even as I was tearing up at church, the pastor was talking about James 1.

 ^"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."

He talked about how we can have a "simmering calm delight" in the midst of trials because we know that God wins. 

"In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Here's one of the guys I've been taking care of this weekend...Gus. I'm not really a cat person, so it kinda freaks me out when he climbs all over me, but he's pretty cute. 

Also, on a completely unrelated note, did I ever post a picture of my new mug?? I got one for my best friend, my sister, and myself because I liked it so much (and Kelle Hampton has one). I've been using it as I write this terrible paper...it helps a little. And the tag on my tea had a sweet little message for me...dream. 

For a perfect ending to my stay-cation weekend, I'm watching Cinderella. Yes :)

Dreams come true on Thursdays, too!

(Someone posted that on Facebook last week and it made me happy...it's become my new Thursday motto)

AH! I haven't blogged since March and it is already April 11th. How did that happen? I also never blogged about Spring Break - fail. Maybe someday.

Since it's been so long, I'm writing this during the class that I'm a TA for...I'm the best TA ever. Here are some pictures from a few events in the last couple weeks that were lovely.

1. Aaron Carter concert
Yes, that's right. Aaron Carter is on tour and he stopped in Fort Collins to play at the Aggie (at 1 in the afternoon...). Cool! Amanda and I found out about it the day before and we were SO PUMPED. We wore our snap-backs and I forced her to wear overalls so we would be 90s-ready. And it was the best! Oh, except for the fact that we both had places to be and Aaron didn't come on stage until way late. So Amanda missed him and I only saw one song. But it was exactly as you'd imagine an Aaron Carter concert to be and I loved it.

2. Easter
It was so great to be back in Arvada for our traditional Easter celebration. It was a beautiful day and we got to celebrate Jesus, life, and family. I won't apologize for the number of pictures of Jackson and Soren because they are freakin cute.

I think these pictures of Jackson are so funny...what a goon.

3. Rockies game, half-marathon, and Grandmother's 90th birthday
Last weekend was such an awesome time with my family. We went to a Rockies game on Saturday night...that is an indication that summer is coming, which is the best news ever. On Sunday, Alex and I ran the Platte River Half-Marathon. We had quite the cheering section: Mom, Dad, Olivia, Matthew, Chris, and Vicki all cheered us on at several locations throughout the course. Alex and I ran together for over half the race, we both survived, and we both finished with good times! Then we quickly cleaned ourselves up and headed to Colorado Springs to celebrate Grandmother's 90th birthday. It was such a sweet time to celebrate an amazing woman that has built an awesome family.

(Don't show Martin these pictures or he'll critique our running form...)