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!