Big Move

lauraka is making a move – so ignore that last post.. :)

This move will allow you to see photos, videos, and of course my blog posts.

Find me now HERE!

the mary poppins woman.

If you know me at all, you know I have a bit of an obsession with Disney, especially Mary Poppins.

so on my weekend alone. i popped in the new DVD that Kait’s mom gave her for valentines, and switched on the commentary. Now, I’ve always looked up to Mary Poppins. I’m determined I want to be like her when I’m a mommy. You know, taking my kiddos on magical adventures (of imagination of course) and still being strict, but fun. She’s such a magical woman, even if she is imaginary.

But one bit of the commentary made me think. I’ve always been confused about what I think a woman should be. There’s the “strong-woman-who-doesn’t-need-a-man” ideal, and the “weak-woman-who-can’t-survive-without-her-man” persona. But I don’t believe I want to be either. The commentary, an older man- I believe the director, stated that Mary Poppins had this unique strong woman identity, but yet she was still so feminine. Obviously it’s not EXACTLY what a woman is/shouldbe/etc. But, I think its a better basis than our weak/strong ideals.

I’m pretty sure there’s a “strong-woman-who-likes-to-have-a-man-to-care-for-her” and that’s who I’d like to be.

Mary Poppins just help put it into words for me. I think that’s how I comprehend things properly about myself and the world. Words.

impersonal?

Everywhere today I hear how the internet is making relationships less personal. People becoming hermits. Or false relationships.

I gotta say. I can’t but disagree. Or maybe I’m the falsifying impersonal relationships girl. Having lived all over the United States (okay, four states) I have met a lot of people that live far away. I’ve known a lot of people that have moved far away from me. I have facebook friends everywhere from Kansas to Michigan to Israel and hop around to Australia and back. Yes. A few of those relationships are impersonal. I only keep them on my friends list to check up on their lives. You know, see who’re they’re dating. Say happy birthday…etc. Oh you know you do it too.

The internet allows me to keep the important relationships alive. (assuming the other uses the same crutch).

I can see my childhood best friend and chat with her on skype. I get to talk to my boyfriend and talk almost daily. despite the grand body of water and land that separates us. I use it to talk to people who live only two hours away back in the KC metro.

It lets me do this. (Now granted. This may qualify as impersonal. But I hope I make it personal-ish!)

Maybe it just comes down to the age-old answer to all. Balance.

victorian inferno.

Obviously the news is of interest to me because of my journalism major.. and obviously when i see the word “australia” in the news I zero in real quick.

This is just to ask you to pray for the people of Victoria that are being plagued by these massive forest fires. Their stories are so disturbing and heart wrenching. The numbers rise every time I check CNN.com, and with each number is a person who had a family and people who loved them.

Side note: The previously mentioned Australian boy is safe and doesn’t look like anything bad fire wise will be heading his way.

photo contest.

Hello all. For those of my readers who have remained faithful through my lack of writing, and for those who are just stopping by, as mentioned in previous posts, I’m aspiring to go to Australia to study for my sophomore year of college. In order to do so I need a loooot of money. So rather than give me money, if you would vote/spread these photos.. that gives me a huge chance. I’d be so grateful!

Father and Sons

Small Stones versus Giants

ahh politics.

it has begun.

not gonna lie. i’m super glad that i don’t have tv in this case so I can skip out on the mudslinging commercials.

instead i get to do my own research for who i want for president.

now.. who to vote for.. if only it were easier!

gymnastics venting. you were forewarned.

(In case you haven’t seen my previous sports ranting posts.. i rant. you have been forewarned.)

So eliminating the fact that there’s ridiculously strong evidence that China cheated by having a team of young’uns that are more flexible and..well that makes things easier!

Step One: Americans win silver in the team competition. Yes, Alicia Sacramone screwed things up. So that silver medal was a tad unsatifactory. But at least the fault was ours.

Step Two: Yes. Shawn and Nastia went one-two. INCREDIBLE. First time ever I think?

Step Three: Vault Finals. Um, knees mean eight tenths of a point deduction.. not being square..more deduction, uneven hands on vault MORE DEDUCTION. yet who won the bronze? Nope. Not Alicia, who had a hop. ONE HOP.

Step Four: Floor Finals: Shawn Johsnon takes lead. Keeps the lead. The very last gymnast swipes the gold.

Step Five: Uneven Bars Finals. Nastia’s a sure fire win correct? So the little Chinese girl went and got a great score. Then Nastia went and SHOULD HAVE blown the judges away. And got the same score. So then there’s this weird “tie breaker” thing right? I learned in elementary school that tie breaker means you redo, and then whoever wins that, wins. Apparently not. So Nastia walks away with silver. And got the same score as the gold medalist who looks like she’s twelve.

Step Six: Beam. Chung Fei gets a 15.9 something. What?! And then again, Shawn has sights on the gold, with one gymnast to go. But she WINS! And the Americans go one-two again.

I’m so glad it ended on a good note. Otherwise I was close to running out to KCI and hopping on a plane to Beijing to give the IOC a piece of my mind. If you hadn’t noticed, sports can get me going.

when i grow up..

in kindergarten i wanted to be a ballerina. [i hadn't yet discovered my lack of coordination. at that age-everyone was clumsy.]

in second grade i wanted to be a teacher. [this dream held out for a little longer.]

in sixth/seventh grade i wanted to be a overseas missionary. [realized short term would be better. but who knows what God has in store.]

in eighth grade i wanted to be a photographer.

in eleventh grade i wanted to be a graphic designer.

in twelfth grade i wanted to be a journalist.

the dream now: to be a photographer and writer for sports illustrated.

what did/do you want to be when you grow up?

trash baskets and trespasses

My mom forwarded me an email that she recieved today. It was originally from a preschool sunday school teacher at our church. During the prayer time for snack, the teacher asked a student to pray. Intending to say the Lord’s prayer, the child began to pray. Most of the prayer came out right..except for the part mentioning “trespasses.”

“Forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.”

I thought it sounded pretty theological.

on the other side.

Five days ago, I went into this cabin leader thing nervous and excited. 

I thought of my experience in junior high, and how much i loved my cabin leader/dorm leader (super summer was different), kristi. 

I went in not knowing any of my girls. All I had was a pink list that told me I was in cabin 1857, and had six girls (one of which who switched cabins). So the remaining five and I hung out for the week. It started off well, they gelled fairly well together. Sydney began to break out of her shell, and Marleah and Lindsey asked more questions.

One day in, I felt like I had known them for weeks. These girls were so much fun, and they adored me. It’s an incredible feeling. We faced the high ropes course along with our fears of heights, played together on the aqua jumps, and even though we were split for the low edge, shared our team work experiences together. 

I loved hearing them all, especially Marleah speak about how she looked forward to the debrief time, and her quiet time. How their eyes lit up when something connected. They glowed. They raved about how much they loved listening to Eric, the speaker, talk.

Some combination hit right. And even now, I wonder what might have happened had I told Angie, “No.” Because last night, during Eric’s invitation. God got through to Marleah, Sydney, and Lindsey. Eric asked the leaders to head to the back where students could approach them. 

Instantly, Marleah came back to me and hugged me. She told me that she had just asked Jesus into her heart for the first time. She thanked me for being there for her, for helping her along. That was by far the MOST incredible experience of my life. I was able to hold them as they cried this mixture of happy sad tears, and celebrate at the same time. Later, Lindsey and Sydney told me they asked Jesus into their hearts as well. And Olivia realized how badly she needed strong friends to push her towards God.

I was changed. This time, not by a direct thing the speaker said, but because of these girls that I learned to love so deeply in five days. They had the ability to make and break my heart. I would do anything to protect them, and still will. It’s a strange feeling, but an exciting one too. 

leader beats camper any day.