It may be clique, but Happy New Year!

There is not enough time to write about all of the wonderful things that have happened to me in 2010.  I was blessed beyond belief, thrown into a world I never knew I could fit so well in.  God has given me such amazing opportunities; meeting new people, experiencing a different lifestyle, opening my eyes to a world of possibilities.  There were hard times, but what year doesn't bring those as well?  I wouldn't take any of them back, they have taught me lessons that will stay with me for the rest of my life.  All in all 2010 has been such a wonderful year, one that I will never forget.  It brought me where I am today, and am I so happy with my life right now.

In 2011, I want nothing more than to take full advantage of everyday I'm given.  I look forward to more laughs, more good, memorable times, new love, and so much more.   Right now my thoughts are all over the place, but it's only because I'm nothing more than excited to start this new year.  I know this year can be whatever I make it, and I've already decided to go into it fearless.  To let the Lord lead me, guide me, into moments that are meant to be a part of my life.  I have no regrets in the past and no worries about the future, for I know I am in able hands.  

Here is to a great year that has passed and an even better year to come!

No answers, just thoughts

No one ever expects the unexpected, but life happens and we have no choice but to deal with it.  Over the past week or so, I've done a lot of thinking and rethinking and more thinking.  It bugs me that I can't come up with the answers for everything, but I know life is not about knowing everything.  And for people like me it's difficult not to know, but I'm learning.

But what I do know is this...

Life is too short to be anything but happy!

Make right with everyone around you, there are no reasons to hate someone.

Even though your family may be crazy, love them and spend time with them.

Hold the people you love the most close to your heart and show them your love.

Appreciate what you have, and don't fuss over wanting more.

Don't be too much of a people pleaser, make time for yourself.

Notice the positives, there's no room for negatives.

Do things that you want to do, take a chance.

Give, give, and give some more.

When you find love, hold on to it tightly.

Make friendships with people who are different from you.

Live your life to the fullest, and don't be afraid.

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

Merry Christmas!

This holiday enjoy the time you have with your family.  Laugh at all the family members that drive each other crazy.  Give a little extra love to those around.  Cherish the memories made when gathered at the dinner table.  Hug your loved ones a couple more times.  And don't forget the reason we celebrate this day!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

1 For everything there is a season,

      a time for every activity under heaven.

 2 A time to be born and a time to die.

      A time to plant and a time to harvest.

 3 A time to kill and a time to heal.

      A time to tear down and a time to build up.

 4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.

      A time to grieve and a time to dance.

 5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

      A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

 6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.

      A time to keep and a time to throw away.

 7 A time to tear and a time to mend.

      A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

 8 A time to love and a time to hate.

      A time for war and a time for peace.

 9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

 14 And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. 15 What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

Here are the answers, right in front of me.  Though they are here, clear as day, I know it will still take time. In time we will be okay and we will all go on living our lives the way we should. Enjoying every minute we can and treasuring the people we are with. 

Matthew 5:4

"God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

It still doesn't feel right and I still can't believe she is gone. 
 I want all of this pain to end.  I want to stop asking myself "Why did this have to happen?".  I want all of the tears to be wiped away and gone.  I want her to be back home with her friends and family.  I want everything to make sense.
When will this tragedy have a reason?  When will I see the good out of this?  What if there isn't any? So many people are heartbroken and need these answers.  I can only continue to pray, for I know we didn't lose this fabulous girl for nothing.

May angels lead you in

Times like these are when it's hard for me to understand why God let's tragic things happen.

  Why does He end the lives of those who are so young?  I think of myself and what if my life ended now?  There are so many things left that I want to do, so many things I want to see, and so many people I have yet to meet.  It's devastating to see someone's life cut short and for their story to be left unwritten.  For those people around them to mourn for such a loss.  It seems so unfair for that to happen to people who didn't see it coming.  Completely unexpected and unpreventable.

Even though it's hard to take anything away from this besides grief, I now see that my life can be taken from me at any given moment and to cherish every second I have.  I will live my everyday to the fullest for those who couldn't.  

This is for Holly.  Though we haven't seen each other in a while, I will never forget you.  Dancing with you was such an honor.  I will always remember your positive attitude and bright smile.  When people say you lit up a room when you walked in, you really did.  You were beautiful and kind, and I always looked up to you for that reason.   As the holiday comes near I will continue to pray for your family.  May God give them strength and peace through all of this pain.  God has a plan for you and as hard as it is to accept you are in a better place.  

"And the Lord cares deeply when his loved one dies"

-Psalm 116:15

R.I.P. Holly

Have a dance with the angels for us, we love you.

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?

Romans 8:31-39

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

   “For your sake we face death all day long;

   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

                                                                                                                           

Though these lyrics may be simple, they always remind me of the power of our Lord.  I have no fears, no worries, and no regrets.  For my God will always be there for me.

"There is nothing half as pleasant than coming home again"

Home. Nothing can feel the way a home does.  I realize after being gone for so long how much my house means to me.  Laying in my bed I begin to recognize those certain sounds.  I remember the peace I feel sitting in my own space.  The comfort of knowing the people I love are just on the other side of the house.  The happiness I feel when my dog stays by my side anywhere and everywhere I go. The fact that my friends are all back home and that everything has seemed to go back to normal.

The life I had here seemed to happen so long ago, it's almost like a crazy flashback.  Being back seeing those familiar faces that I grew up with is so welcoming.  It seems like just yesterday my friends and I were ruling the city.  Even though I may have changed, this place has stayed the same.  It has stayed just the way I remember and just the way I like it.  

Though some people may not appreciate this place the way I do, that's okay because they don't understand.  I see the quirks as cute and the people as my neighbors.  This is where my life started.  This is where I grew and learned.  This place has shaped me into who I am today.  All of my memories are in this city. All of the times that I've laughed and cried.  Everything I've ever known is here.   

Even though I couldn't wait to get out of here after high school, it's surprising how much I miss it and sometimes wish I could relive these moments.  My home will always be where my heart is.  It may be in Wisconsin, but I'm okay with that and proud of it.  

I love this place.

P.S.  Today I ate a whole bag of cheese curds... it feels good to be back to normal:)

A Special Thanks

This is to a woman who I have known since I was only two years old.  She introduced me to something that I never thought would mean so much to me.  She showed me how to dance.  And now dancing is one thing that never ceases to bring me joy.  

She taught me how to express myself in a way that I didn't think could be so calming, so emotional.  Without her I would never find the happiness in dance that I do now.  She has showed me the way I want to carry myself, the kind of person I admire to be.  Even though this woman isn't blood, I love her with all of my heart.  She has shared with me such an amazing gift, the gift of dance.

Dance means everything to me.

It is the way I escape to a brighter place.  It is like floating on a cloud where no one can touch me.  Moving across the stage freely and spontaneously is one of the greatest feelings in the world.  Letting the music sway your body, move your soul.  It is more emotional that you could ever imagine.  

Everything I have is put into my dance, and my dance is everything I have to show.  

Dance is who I am. It's just me. 

So thank you Barbara Jean.  Thank you for sharing that love with me.  Thank you for making a difference in my life. Thank you for trusting me.  Thank you for supporting me, and thank you for pushing me.  You have truly given me something that can never be taken away.  Dance is something I will never forget and I owe it all to you.

Thank you & love you.

Taking a Chance

A chance infers that there is a possibility or probability that anything can happen.  It can mean luck.  Or it could mean something hazardous.  The two outcomes of taking a chance are noticeably different.  It could either turn out unbelievably good, or take a turn for the worst.  It's the risk part that throws everyone off, that discourages people.  But what if I told you a chance is a opportunity for something better? Something greater than the here and now you may be living?

This past year has been such a roller coaster, literally taking me from one side of the country to the other.  And it was all Because of one risk that I took.  

Moving from Wisconsin to California was the biggest decision I have ever made.  I came to the west coast with no idEa of what to expect.  And even though it was the largest risk in my life, I don't regret it one bit.  

It was in this move that I discovered myseLf.  It is the way I figured out who I am and how I want to live my life.  I've found that I do have a purpose in this life.  I have found my place with my God.  I have lEarned the true meaning of friendship and the importance of family.  Mostly, I have found something to belieVe in.  I have learned so many life-changing lEssons in the past couple of months and even though they were beyond difficult to go through, I would never take them back.  

For anyone who is afraid to take a chance, to take a risk at something unpredictable, please keep in mind that it's in those moments where you truly find yourself.