Love Letter to my Broken Shoulder

Dearest Broken Shoulder,
I am writing this letter to you because I would like to tell you how much I love you. The pain and inconvenience that you cause me make the day so much better. I absolutely adore the fact that you make me miss weeks of gymnastics classes. Practicing for competition is totally overrated anyway. Who needs it? The sling that you have forced me into is the most comfortable, happy thing in the universe. I love it almost as much as I love you. Please come back for another visit soon.
Love,
   Me

P.S. JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!! I hate you with an intense passion. You should go cry in a corner and feel miserable about yourself and then die in a Cambodian ditch where there are broken shoulder eating monsters.

Costa Rica!!!! :D

Wow. That is all. Wow. Words just can’t describe the experience. God worked in so many ways, through so many people. It was overwhelming and wonderful. Who knew that a bunch of people who don’t even speak your language could influence you so strongly?

The first thing we did in the morning was devotions and worship. All of the male chaperones took turns doing the devotions. They did such a good job preparing us for the day and in encouraging us to step out of our comfort zone a little. This was very good because immediately after the devotions we went into the little town called Santa Rita to distribute bibles. When we gave each person their bibles we told them what the bible meant to us and how it helped us. It made us think about what the bible really meant to us, which was nice because we take it for granted too often. A lot of the people also opened up to us a little and told us about what was going on in their lives so we could pray for them. It made me think about how much I have, and how amazing my life is, while the people in Costa Rica have pretty much nothing. And they are all thankful for what they have and never complained to us about wanting more.

Bible distribution was definitely something that Satan did not want to happen. It rained on us, or it was really hot and uncomfortable to walk, or we ran out of water, or we were fed suspicious liquids….But that’s another story altogether. Satan just did not want us out there evangelizing, so he came up with every way to discourage us. Thankfully, tons of people at home were praying along with us and we got God’s word out there. So thank you to everyone who prayed!!

Another amazing thing that we got the opportunity to do was run a VBS for the kids. Once again, Satan did NOT want it to happen. The first day, we barely got bible time in. The kids were running everywhere and wouldn’t pay attention for anything. And, of course, God came to the rescue again and helped us out on the second day. The kids paid total attention and we all got to talk to the kids about Jesus. Aidan also shaved his head and let Steph paint it purple and yellow. That got the kids pretty interested, I think. J

During the week, Ashley and I got to babysit some babies for teenage moms. That was a lot of fun. We sat in the air conditioning for the first time during the week and held babies and ate pineapple all morning. I’m not sure if the morning could have possibly been better. The babies were obsessed with playing with my camera. It was pretty darn cute.

Aside from the aforementioned things, we fixed up the YWAM base a little and the boys built a ceiling for one of the rooms. Every morning we each had different chores to do around the base to help the staff. Mine was to make the lunches. 45 sandwiches almost every day. Somehow, dad got out of chores. I would like to know his secret…maybe I could use it at home… God also did some amazing things in our lives during the first week. For me personally, he changed my heart and my attitude significantly. One of my biggest burdens was taken away and it shouldn’t be returning any time soon. Isn’t God great?  I think, yes.

During the second week, we got to work with a team from South Dakota. Together, we fixed up a church. The boys rebuilt the roof while I swept up their mess and helped cook our meals. It was actually quite fun. That’s all we did during the day for the first few days. At night dad taught his seminars on worship and we sang together for the people. We tried to sing a song in Spanish, and it actually worked! It was awesome.

The non-work stuff we did was zip lining (which dad didn’t do for some crazy reason, because it was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING), and we went to the hot springs and the beach. The beach was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. The waves were so cool and it was just beautiful. There were little creatures in the sand that didn’t really look like anything. I thought they were rocks until they moved. And the water was warm. It was really, really nice.

So, basically, the past two weeks were the best two weeks of my entire life. God was the center of everything we did and we all learned to rely on Him more instead of trying to work things out ourselves. I’m so glad we got to have this experience. Hopefully, we’ll go there again next year. J

TPW!! =D

Last night my church had this thing called TPW (Thanksgiving Praise and Worship). It was the most fantastic thing ever. You know that feeling when you just KNOW that God is right there with you? Well, that's what it felt like the whole time. Isn't it amazing how wonderful our God is?

100 things that make life wonderful

So, I got this idea from Steph. She was having a bad day, so she wrote about 100 thing that make her life good. So, I though I'd give it a try.


1. my Bible
2.my bed
3.music
4.pianos
5.singing
6.Celtic Thunder
7. my friends
8. orajel
9.smiles
10.dinosaurs
11.my kitty
12. chocolate. oh my gosh DUH
13. learning new stuff...and actually understanding it
14.being alive
15.ballet
16.gymnastics
17.choirs
18.Craisins
19.laughing
20.Knowing that God loves me
21.Funny teachers
22.little toy cars
23.fishies
24.text messages from amazing people (EVERYONE!)
25.cousins
26.the mountains
27. beaches
28.soft, cuddly blankets
29. hugs
30.coffee on school days
31.church
32.legit coke bottles
33.Photo albums
34. drawings
35.dresses being burned (it HAS happened!)
36.someone saying they love you
37.sweaters
38.books (not textbooks. Just books)
39.headbands are cool
40.eyes. people have beautiful eyes
41.sparkly and shiny things.
42. bunnies
43.shrews
44.ok all tiny animals...plus zebras and pandas..
45.somebody smiling at you
46.individuality
47. water...water makes me happy
48. swimming
49.showers
50.bubbles
51.malls
52. new born babies
53.when hamsters nibble your fingers
54.art
55.little bits of string
56.polka dots
57.bright colors
58.just being around people
59.watching people do stuff that they love
60.blogs
61.leaves
62.study hall
63.finding something you lost
64.the feeling you get when you finish your homework
65.grandparents
66.guitars
67.Irish and English accents
68.memories
69.clouds
70.the sound of rain
71.happy people
72.birdies!
73.parks
74.water balloon fights in the rain
75.snow..when I am safely inside, drinking hot chocolate.
76.hot chocolate! =D
77.the word "chicken"
78.mystery movies and books
79.doctors that are actually NICE!!
80.Damian McGinty.....
81.boots
82.children's shows
83.The Land Before Time
84.Kid's books
85.exploring
86.chapstick
87.sharpies
88.crayons
89.randomly speaking in Spanish in the middle of a conversation
90.socks
91.random sayings
92.the stars
93.drawing pictures all over your math notes (not that I do that or anything...)
94.no shoes
95.acting like a ninja
96.year books
97.watching movies with people
98.roses
99.playing games with people
100.writing songs

My post...With Stephaly :-)

Otay! So...Steph is here helping me write my post. Anything in Italics is something that Steph is saying :D Steph is spending the night tonight...which rocks my fuiken socks off. Fuiken is not a bad word. Just sayin.. It's pronounced like, "Fweeking", except it's spelled "fuiking". We came up with it during Spanish class when we were talking about the past tense forms of the verb "ir". Spanish class creates all kinds of inside jokes. It pretty shrewtastic. And....it tickles my peach.
So, I was pretty bored this morning, and was pretty sure I was going to be bored all day, and then Bekah was online on Facebook. Then we started talking about how fuiking bored we both were and decided to have a sleepover at her house. It's been quite fun so far! We went for a walk on a trail by my house and found a dead fish.....a legit dead fish in the middle of the trail. There is a picture of this fish on my Facebook page if you wish to see it. It is really quite hilarious. If you wish to see a fish... hey that rhymed.....
 We didn't really do a whole lot today except talk (because we're girls and that's what we do) and watch movies. But, you know what? It's been kind of nice. Spending the day with Steph is pretty darn amazing. She makes me realize that life is FANTASTIC and I love her so so so so so fuiken super much. Haha, I really don't understand how I do all that, but I'm glad that's how you feel about it! Life is fantastic, and even when it sucks, it's nice to have good friends to talk about it with. Friends are so nice to have! And Steph happens to be a phenomenal friend! Apparently my hamster drinks like a camel. It is very true. And it eats like a horse. No kidding. Why in the world do you have a hamster? They don't do anything except sit right next to the water thing and just drink and drink and drink...and then box my finger off every time I try to touch it. Your hamster is a furry, sexy man beast. Er, I mean rodent-beast...?I don't know. Do you have anything you'd like to add to that? He also......nibbles fingers and looks cute...? Ummmm...Well I love my hamster.. And his name rocks my world. Hammy Watermelon. Legit, yes? And he is adorable when he boxes fingers off! And when he nibbles on his cage in an unsuccessful attempt to escape into the human world. I am wearing your jammies.  You are indeed. Do you find these jammies comfy? I like turtles.  Named Murtle? No, Norman. I am in love with your cat. We are going to go to Vegas and get married in a drive-through chapel. Do you have a problem with that? My cat is taken.....by the mice in the garage. Goodness dancers my dear, you cannot marry my cat in Vegas. Go to Hawaii instead! I can't afford to go to Hawaii. Unless you want to buy him and I some water-wings and we can pattle our little hearts out and kick sharks in the face with our sneakers. That doesn't sound like that much fun to me. What if God sends a storm and a whale and we never reach it? What if he sends us to Ninevah?? Well then you simply can't marry my cat. Besides, Nathan already called him to make a hat out of his fur.... My hamster just bit your finger.... because you trash talked him just now in this blog post. Your hamster and I have some issues we need to work out. Maybe you should send us to counseling for rodents and humans. Maybe we could roll around in a hamster ball together and work all the kinks out and finally be best friends. Doesn't that sound lovely? As long as you enjoy the feeling of hamster claws in your side, go for it. I will call the ambulance to come in the event that he beats you into a polyp. Which will happen. Your hamster's so BA. I think someone should put him on WWE wrestling for tiny creatures. Maybe then he could make you some money and then you could be rich like Oprah and go buy yourself a jacuzzi. You like jacuzzis. Hmmmmm jacuzzis are quite nice. However, I do not wish to be rich like Oprah because...well...she kinda sucks. Like a hagfish. Or a lamprey. If you were a lamprey, your face would suck. That's a little nasty, don't you think? You're more lamprey-like then I dear child. Because I suck so much... You do. But, I love you anyway. I am a bit hungry. I am too. Let's go find a kangaroo to eat in your backyard and barbecue it on your dad's engine in his car. MMM sounds delicious. Yep. Vamanos. Goodbye!

My incredible friends and their awesome quirks

Ok, I have incredible friends. I walked into school this morning and saw Rachel. She immediately jumped up, hugged me, and gave me a cookie. No joke. She really did. I love this kid.  Then I saw Spencer. He walked up to me with a giant smile and greeted me in that happy tone of his. Then we all went to study hall and saw Emma with her cute little bow in her hair. Then in comes Mark and Tisha with their monsters and whatever other energy drinks and of course Tisha offered to share. It was rejected by most people...I love my friends so, so much.

In computer class, Stephen and I have been working on a project that he entitled "Picnic while they eat". It is about a pool in his backyard where there is strawberry strudel for you to eat before you throw yourself into this pool, which is full of sharks, and let them eat you for the low price of 50,000 dollars..... The idea was his...clever..? We finished this project today and all of the boys loved it. The girls, on the other hand, found it far too gruesome. I can't say that I disagreed with them. It was quite disturbing.

At lunch, I was once again greeted by Spencer's big, happy smile. It totally made my day, because the previous three hours had been pretty lame. His giant smile was the perfect thing for a day like today. I don't think he will ever know exactly how much his smiled helped me today. While we were eating, Mrs. Atherton showed us a video for Operation Christmas Child. It talked about all of the kids in different countries who get nothing on Christmas, or any other day. It really opened up my eyes to see that I'm really, really lucky to have what I have, when there are people all over this world who genuinely have nothing. It totally motivated me to get out there and help all of those people.

After school, Steph, Rachel, Josh, and I went to the coffee shop. It was snowing and it was freezing, so the coffee shop was extra cozy. We sat at a table in the back of the shop and talked (probably a little too loudly). Being the awesome girls we are, Steph, Rachel and I did everything we could to annoy Josh without annoying him. (Yes, this is, in fact, possible to do!) Rachel and Josh sucked sugar through a straw, right out of the package. Steph and I stared at them blankly, with slightly twitching eyes. What else can you do when you are watching two people suck sugar through a straw? They looked a bit high afterward. Hmm.... Then this guy that we had never seen before, ever, randomly started talking to us. He was so funny. He told us about his 700 contacts in his phone and how he has a special name for every single one of them. This guy was legit. So cool. After a bit, my dad came to pick me up in his car that smells like cough syrup..yum..=P

 I got home and drew Pawl. My friend, Trenton (AKA: Mr. Fairy man), said that he would keep it by him all night long. I cannot imagine that it would be comfortable to sleep with a piece of paper all night. You may wake up with paper cuts all over. This would not be happy. It would also make Pawl sad, which means I would have to draw a sad Pawl. Drawing sad Pawls is not a happy thing. So, let us do everyone a favor and not sleep with pieces of paper with drawings of Pawl on them.

:) <3 :) <3

First blog post ever!!! =)

Okay, so here is my attempt at a blog. Some friends have told me how much fun it is, so I thought I'd give it a try. Based on the blogs of my friends, it seems as though I'm supposed to say stuff about my day, and the people and events of life. So, here it goes!

Today was a school day. Oh the joy. Waking up at 5:30 and leaving for school and 6:30 is not exactly my idea of a great morning. But, I love school, so it is worth it. At my school, there are 79 students. According to my friend, Tim, there are 80. However, there is not an 80th person to fill that 80th spot, and, therefore, there are only 79 students. The day he admits to that will be the day Shrews rule the world. No joke.

It was a pretty good day today. We had a temporary study hall room while the real study hall room is being used for the church's fall festival. This room had posters of fruits all over the walls and on the ceiling. We did not notice this until almost the end of study hall. We looked at the posters and said "Oh look! There are words written on posters with fruits. How fascinating is this?"And we were legitly entertained, trying to figure out why the fruits had been drawn in the center of ever poster.Then someone finally pointed out to us that the posters were actually the fruits of the spirit posters. We felt so smart.

After study hall was mentor groups.  Those are always fun because Mrs. Smith is my  mentor group leader. If you have gone to Rock Solid as a freshman you will know that Mrs. Smith is the best Physical Science teacher in the world. We talked about how God is ALWAYS there for us. I find this a very comforting fact.

History was blah as always and World Literature dragged on as usual. Someday, we might learn something interesting in those classes, but for now, we must listen to stories and write papers. Fun indeed.

Computer class is one of the best classes. Mr. Lee is the greatest. He makes learning about computers enjoyable.Today, he taught us how to make newsletters on Microsoft.  Alyssa, Hannah and I were partners in this assignment and we made a newsletter about shrews and all of the reason that they are awesome. Here are the reasons we came up with:
1. They are small
2. They are adorable
3. Elephant shrews are like 2 in 1. Elephants AND shrews! Epic, right?
4: They are fantastically shrew-ish

At lunch, Holly came to visit us! It was SO great to see her. We all miss her very very very much. If only she would come back to RSHS. :(

Spanish, Geometry and Biology just flew by. They are the most exciting classes (with the exception of a few geometry lessons). So the day ended quickly and we could finally go home. Being awake since 5:30 causes a certain amount of sleepiness at this point in the day.

Dad picked me up from school and we came home to a mother in pain. When mother is in pain, we all feel some pain or the other. So, she went to bed and left dad, Naomi, and I to fend for ourselves in the cruel, cruel world of dinner cooking. Somehow, we did not poison ourselves. I was quite proud of us.

Now I sit here, writing this first ever blog post, feeling like I am probably boring you all to death with this attempt, and listening to Celtic Thunder (OF COURSE!) I love them.

So, here we are, at the conclusion of this post. Please tell me if you think this post was great and you would love for me to write more,  simply okay, and you really don't care if I write or not, or if it was absolutely awful and boring and you just want to run to your mother and cry because you are so confuzzled and insane over what you have just read and you will never be the same again because it was just so boring.

:)