Old Entries

The other day my mom told me I needed to revisit some old boxes in her closets. Of course, this was in hopes that I would throw out those items that no longer have sentimental value to me. Why is it so hard to get rid of old pictures, notes, and newspaper clippings? Do I really need a birthday card from my best friend from third grade? Does she even remember me?

I have high school scrapbooks, pictures of friends, and even some papers from college that I worked super hard on. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a hoarder. I actually hate clutter and junk scattered everywhere; however, I still find it difficult to let go of certain items. Interestingly enough, I came across a few old journals and diaries that had scribbles, drawings, and my deepest feelings of the time written all over them.

I loved listening to my "old self" spill her guts and share her troubles. The most rewarding part of reading old entries is seeing the spiritual and emotional growth that takes place. As we go through our days, it's hard to know if we are moving forward or making progress in our lives. It was evident after reading some of my words that I really have grown. I have learned from mistakes; I have overcame heartache.

I don't know if I will ever get rid of those old entries. They are a part of me - all the triumphs and mistakes brought me here today.

Bladin' Bia

Years ago, my sister and I decided we would each like a new pair of roller blades. We made our way to Target and bought matching pairs – same color, same size. We were ready to hit the streets.

I really latched onto roller blading; my sister, on the other hand, didn’t. To this day I still ask if should would join me as I glide across the side streets of our hometown, but generally, she isn’t having it.

As you can about imagine, my roller blades are shot. The gliding is becoming more and more difficult, and I’m beginning to be a tad bit embarrassed of the scratches and dents as I slip my feet into them. What can I expect? They were less than 40 bucks at the time.

When it comes to roller blading, you really have to think it through. First of all, consider the streets/paths. There is nothing worse that finding yourself on a rocky road that allows no gliding what so ever. Not only does it make for a long trip, but you look extremely silly “avoiding” bumps when you are wearing roller blades.

The other consideration is how tired you really are before you set out on the journey. Think about this: if you are running and get tired, you walk. If you are biking and get tired, I suppose you could walk your bike. If you are roller blading and are tired… you roller blade. Are you really going to take off your blades and walk in socks all the way home? I didn’t think so. Roller blading is a great workout, and you must be prepared.

Maybe some time soon my sister will hop back into her roller blades. Maybe I will actually get a nice pair that rides smooth down the road. Until then, this bladin’ bia is riding solo. 

Appreciate

In case you forgot...

Appreciate. Be Thankful.

Outdoorsy Anna

There is something about the warmer weather that leaves me a little bit thirsty. Last week my friend, Ashley, and I enjoyed a couple of cocktails on a sidewalk patio downtown Minneapolis. With the sunshine on our faces and shades coving our eyes, we made plans for summer trips. Ahhh…. the life.

I asked my brother for blogging ideas. His first answer: outdoor drinking. Perfect, right? So let me tell you the perks of enjoying the outdoors with a toddy in hand:

Shades. Who doesn’t feel awesome when the slip on a pair of aviators? I know I feel like a rock star in my $10 Target sunglasses. And you should too.

Kickin’ up your feet. Have you ever noticed that it is more acceptable to slip off your shoes when you are outside? This coming from a server herself: it’s okay to sneak your toes out of your sliders if you are hanging on a patio.

Refreshment. I couldn’t go on without mentioning the crisp summer cocktails that grace our presence as soon as the temperatures creep up. Sweet arnys and long islands. Yummy in my tummy.

Sunshine. Nothing like killing two birds with one stone. I love sneaking in some rays as I enjoy the company of good friends. Bring it on, summer!

Pinterest does it again.

Cheers to Mike! 

My Poser Confession

I realized something this morning: I am not a real coffee drinker. In order for me to devour that cup of joe, it has to be made a certain way. Iced (so the coffee is just a little bit diluted), a shot of sugar-free syrup (for added sweetness), a little bit of skim milk (so I can promise my mom I'm getting some calcium), and oh yeah, I prefer it is the flavored blend. So you tell me. Am I really drinking coffee?
poser 1 |ˈpōzər|: noun
a person who acts in an affected manner in order to impress others.
I, Anna Nelson, am a coffee poser. I have tried time and time again to really enjoy that hot java, but I'm just too picky. The bitter taste of strong coffee just doesn't slide down my throat the way it does for those coffee connoisseurs. If fact, in the morning I would much rather reach for a hot cup of tea. So there you have it. I'm a coffee poser. 

Tea and crumpets?

TGIF peeps!!!

Sign Me Up!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

My best friend, Katherine, is an excellent runner. If I said that to her, so would modestly decline the compliment, but it is true. While my legs take a little bit longer to get there, I am glad that we are able to share our love of running and fitness.

I have ran in multiple 5K races, but beyond that, I have steered clear of signing up for anything much longer. Katherine asked me the other day if I was going to run the Dam to Dam race (June 2nd in Des Moines). In recent years, it hasn't fit my schedule; however, this year I can say, "Sign me up!" That's right, I will be running a half marathon this summer! I am excited to be challenging myself, but a little nervous as well.

I run pretty much every day, but never more than five or six miles. In order to get my mind and body prepared for the run, I have started a training program from SmartCoach. The long runs seem a little daunting, but I know I can do it.

I've heard that Dam to Dam is extremely fun as you run through the streets of Des Moines. While I'm not quite sure what I signed up for, I'm glad I get to share this great experience with Katherine and other friends :-)  

Together Works

Is this week dragging on, or is it just me? I must just be excited for the upcoming weekend :-)

This morning I spent time sharing pictures and experiences from my trip to Haiti. I was in a high school World Geography classroom, and then I bee-bopped over to the third graders. I was very pleased at the great responses and questions that I received. It has been so rewarding sharing what I have learned. Each day I am surprised at how much I learned in Haiti. I am so far from knowing it all, and I plan to continue this curiosity and willingness to grow.

While in Haiti, we saw a lot of broken down vehicles and unused tools. Many of these were "gifts" from American missionaries in hopes of helping advance the country. While the gestures are commendable, they were lacking one thing: togetherness. People were not showing the Haitians how to use the materials. Giving hand-outs only works for so long. If people are not taught how to do a task, it becomes worthless.

"If you give a man to fish, he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you have fed him a lifetime."

This is true in many parts of our lives. If we learn how to do something, we take pride in it. The things I have worked hardest at are the same things that I value the most. As we made the desks for the schools in Haiti, it was important for Haitians to be sanding, varnishing, etc. along with us. We were building desks; we were building relationships.

Rather than explaining a task, often it feels easier to just do it ourselves. We all must be willing to not only learn, but also teach. We are all teachers in one way or another. Sharing our talents is how we all become better.

Together we can learn. Together we can teacher. Together just works.

Fashionable, But Not Late

I'm an American... born and raised. I enjoy a warm slice of "homemade" apple pie. You can find me doing the whole baseball gig in the summer, as I munch on a hot dog doused in ketchup. I even cruise around in a Chevy. "And, I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free..." (That was me singing).

How do I really know that I am an authentic American? I'm never late. I know Justin Bieber suggests that we "Never Say Never," but I'm pretty confident with my promptness. I literally can remember one time I overslept. I'm not trying to rub it in to those of you that run on your own clock; I actually commend you. I will never be able to make a grand entrance as I arrive to the party fashionably late.

Sometimes I try to be late. I wait an extra ten minutes before applying mascara; I clean up the kitchen before painting my nails; I stop at a gas station for a bottled water and Trident. Even after all of these stalling activities, I still find myself knocking on the door right on time.

It was always a running joke between my friends that I would be in charge of getting the table at a restaurant. I could have already sipped on three drinks and downed an entire appetizer before the rest of my party even gets there. I really need to learn to be late.

The best part of this quality is that I am never late for work. Calling all potential employers: I am NEVER late. I just like to get in the working mode before the day actually begins. There is nothing worse than feeling rushed all day long.

I will always try by best to be fashionable, but I'm sure I will never master the art of being late.

I hope y'all had as great of a weekend as me! Enjoy the beautiful weather :-)

Top of the Mornin'

Happy St. Patrick's Day folks! I'm a little afraid to leave the house. The sea of green that presumably awaits is slightly overwhelming and scary. I also don't own green clothing, so I am risking little fingers pinching me at any corner. I really should have planned my nail polish color out better. I'm pretty sure I own at least five different shades of green. Ba-hum-bug.

I guess there is always a reason to celebrate, so here are a few fun facts for your March 17th St. Patty's Day celebration:

Why green? It represents the lush landscape that can be found in Ireland. And, of course, there are those lucky little green shamrocks.

What's with those leprechauns? Apparently, the 1959 Walt Disney film Darby O'Gill & The Little People inspired the association with St. Patty's Day and these funny little creatures. I'm a little curious about the film now. Maybe I will put it on my "To Watch List".... Probably not.

Why do I always get pinched? People used to believe that wearing green made them invisible to the little sneaky creatures. If you don't wear green, you get pinched as a reminded to beware of the crafty little spirits.

Why do strangers kiss the Irish? In reference to The Blarney Stone, people believe that kissing the stone brings good luck. If people are unable to make it to the actual stone, apparently finding a red-headed Irishman is just as good.

If all else fails, go to McDonald's and grab a Shamrock Shake this afternoon. Enjoy your Saturday my little Irish Leprechauns ;-)

Source: MSN

Weekend Brain

I don't like the idea of forcing my writing. When I'm not feeling it, then I steer clear of my computer. Today is one of those days. Apparently my brain has already entered weekend mode. I even tried to throw on some 90's music to get revved up... nothing.

Then I saw this on Pinterest....

Fine... I won't forget. In fact, I'm off to play. Enjoy your Friday :-)

My ABC's

I really hate feeling like a lazy bum, but every once in a while I make an exception. Today is one of those days. Last night, my best friend Ashley and I traveled north to Minneapolis for a Boyce Avenue concert. It was our special treat to ourselves. I hadn't seen her since before I went on my trip, so we were both very excited for some good talks and belly laughs.

I realized that between yesterday and today I got my favorite ABC's:

A - Ashley. It felt so good for us to get back in the swing of things. Ten days without talking to her is like an eternity! We laughed a lot and made some great memories. It really never fails, we work so well together.

B - Boyce Avenue. The concert was great. Ash and I were singing along and rocking out. I don't remember the last time I jumped up and down and sang until my voice cracked. I was a little disappointed in the crowd. Maybe I was just on a much higher level than the others. What can I say, we like to party...

C - Car rides. I know that being cooped up in a car is not always the most fun activity, but when Ash and I are together the rides go by much smoother. We end up yapping and laughing the miles away.

While I am tired today, I am very glad that we were able to have such a great time last night.

Can You Taste It?

Before I left for Haiti, my mom encouraged me to “savor every moment.” This stuck with me as I made a point to slow down and take it all in. So often we are moving so fast, constantly consuming the world. When is the last time you stopped to really taste your surroundings?

There was a time in my life where I longed for something more exciting. It was almost as if I was embarrassed of the mundane. I thought I needed to at least want and dream for an extravagant lifestyle. After a conversation with my brother, I realized that even the silly and quirky parts of our lives are what make us who we are; they are the parts that bring us together. These comforts that we often overlook are just as important to savor as the big events and expensive trips.

Savor this day. For it could be the time of your life.

Difficult Decisions

I love TV. I really don’t consider myself lazy, but I am a person that has weekly shows that I need to watch. I have even been known to watch missed episodes online the following day. And, of course, I choose all educational shows ;-)

Monday nights have been oh so difficult for me this fall. Why must “The Bachelor” be on at the same time as “The Voice?” Couldn’t the networks get together and figure something else out? If only I had TiVo.

 Then there are Tuesday nights. I would love to call myself a Gleek, but Fox has chosen to air “Glee” at the same time as ABC’s “The Last Man Standing.” I am too big of a sucker for Tim Allen to be missing out on his humor.

The biggest problem of all is Bravo. I love almost every show on that darn network, leaving flipping between channel 36 and primetime television. If I have had a long day and am tired of thinking, I turn to Bravo. It is truly stupid TV, which is perfect when you’re tired.

I don’t want y’all to think that I strictly fill my brain with garbage. In fact, I enjoy watching ESPN and Robin Meade on “Headline News.” And I’m pretty close to being the biggest fan of “The Today Show.”

I'm drooling.

As I write this, I should be focusing on my shows. I meant to just write through commercials, but that never happens. Goodbye.  

Moving Forward Monday

Over the course of the past few days, I have been overloaded with emotions. Generally, I feel myself smiling. After my trip to Haiti, I was a little confused. I was unsure where to place my emotions. While I am saddened by the poverty and lack of order I came across, I am hopeful in the spirit of those that I encountered. Every second of the trip, I knew I was right where I needed to be.

Those feelings continued as I stepped off of the airplane. I knew that something had changed in me. I will never be the same. I am refreshed and excited for what is to come for me. There is so very much to look forward to.

A few thoughts on Motivation Monday:

Trust in it.

Even for the little things.

Moving forward.

Enjoy your day :-)

Kony 2012

Everyone must watch this. It is worth every second.

"Because where you live shouldn't determine whether you live."

"A bunch of littles make a big difference."

"Make Kony famous."

More Alike Than Different

I'm baaaack!! Yes, the trip to Haiti was an absolute success. On the plane ride home, I was thinking a lot about this blog post. How do I capture what I saw in Haiti, what I learned, and how I felt? I came to the conclusion that I can't. There are no words to fully explain. I tried to make sure that I journaled each day I was away. As I look back through, I have made these conclusions:

1. Count your blessings. We are so fortunate to have running water, food in our bellies, and opportunities to grow as people. I traveled the rocky, dusty roads of Haiti in disbelief. It is overwhelming to think that the people of Haiti live such poor conditions. Not only must we count our blessings, but it is just as important to use our blessing for good.

2. Love is universal. After meeting the people, even with a language barrier, you could tell that they loved and cared for one another. It is important to look at the heart of people, seeking to find the love that is truly in everyone.

3. Flexibility and patience make life easy. There were times that our team had to wait, and wait, and wait. We had issues with our water generator one day. It was a big issue, but we learned to surrender and be patient. It makes all the difference in the world to just stay positive and make the best of each situation.

4. People are people. That's right folks, we truly are more alike than we are different. The Haitians are people just like you and me. We all share the same feelings. We all want the best for our families. We all deserve the same benefits and opportunities in life.

5. Kids are amazing. Their faces, curiosity, and laughter makes everything worth it.

6. Teenagers are shysters. Yes, it is true. It doesn't matter what country we travel to, what language we speak, those hormones are on fire in every teenager. I spent some time with a couple of teenage boys, and they were hilarious. They poked fun of each other and rocked out to music. They make me smile.

After sharing pictures and stories with my mom, she responded with, "You will never be the same." My answer? "I know, and it's awesome." I have never felt so blessed and balanced. It was such a rewarding opportunity. I am still trying to digest everything. I learned so much, and am continuing to learn.

The best news is that our mission was a great success! We built 43 desks for a local school. The faces of the kids were priceless when we delivered them. God is good.

I'm so glad to be back!