Martin

Hello wonderful world!

First off I want to apologize to all of you out there for not posting in over two months. My summer has been crazy busy. Hopefully I'll be posting more once school starts. Now, since I am on a time crunch I'm going to get to the rest of this blog post:

You're probably wondering about the title of this post, I'll clear that up for you. You see, I recently went on a missions trip to South Dakota with my youth group. We went to a little town called Martin, the population is about 1100 people, half of whom are Native American. The town was very run down. It was in need of some help, which we came to give. 

The trip started with an eight hour van ride without air conditioning. It was hot! When we finally got there we pulled up in our old, discolored van and plywood trailer, blasting classic rock. The other youth groups, which were from Minnesota, and that we would be serving with stared at us with strange looks 

on their faces. We were that weird, crazy, diverse group from Colorado, and that was fine. 

The next day we were split up into groups, each group did different projects. My close friends were in other groups, which kind of scared me. I didn't want to have to meet new people on top of being in a new place and having new experiences, so the first couple of days I really didn't talk to anyone. I just did the work. Then, the day before we left, I started talking with one of the youth groups. They were awesome people. I made some best friends that day. Our youth group got really close as well, now my youth group is basically my second family. 

In our groups we did projects. The first day I painted a house. It was a pretty small mobile house, but it took a lot of effort to get it done. My wrists were very sore at the end of the day, but I felt good that we helped someone out. The second day we visited a nursing home. We played bingo with the residents, who really enjoyed it. They told us stories and talked a lot with us. One of the men had lost both his legs in war. Another one laughed at everything you'd say and bragged about being the bowling champion. I enjoyed our time spent there. The third day I helped with their children's outreach. It was basically a disorganized VBS. The kids were so thirsty for the love and attention that they were deprived of at home. They loved sitting in your lap, and a piggy back ride was like a roller coaster for them. It was hard having to leave at the end of the day. 

The next morning I painted a house. It sounded like a simple project, but when we got there we discovered that the house was infested with cockroaches. There were a lot of people living in that house, a two year old  girl was walking around without clothes on. It was normal for her, but I felt like it wasn't safe to be in that house even for two minutes. It was a sad arrangement for those kids. That afternoon I went to visit the kids again. I gave so many piggy back rides that my back and hips hurt, but it was worth it for that look of pure joy on those children's faces. 

Having to say goodbye the next morning was harder than anything I had to do that week. It was harder than the cockroaches and the piggy back rides. I cried. A lot. I had fallen in love with Martin, South Dakota and all of it's inhabitants. It was such an amazing week, definitely one of the best weeks of my life and I wouldn't have rather done anything else. God used me to do wonderful, simple things in order to further his kingdom, and that is an amazing and beautiful thought.

Arielle

Mount Rushmore

The whole group that was serving in Martin

We were cleaning paint brushes

I am going on another trip with my youth group at the end of this month. We will be going to Waco, Texas to do a poverty simulation. Basically, we will be going three days without our luxuries of our everyday life. No phone, no showers, no shelter even. It will be very physically straining. We will learn what it's like to have nothing and know how much it means to people in poverty when we help them out. It will be a very exciting trip, and even though it will be hard I'm looking forward to it. I'll definitely be telling you all how it went. Your prayers would be very much appreciated. 

Puzzling and Deep Thoughts

Tap......

Tap tap......

Tap tap tap......

Tap tap......

Tap......

Tap tap......

Tap tap tap......

Tap tap......

Tap......

This is the sound of water meeting earth.

The cold wet melody of two elements colliding.  

The feeling it gives you. 

Surrounding you. 

It's cold.

Yet warm. 

It's comforting. 

There's a smell too. 

There's the fresh scent of something new. 

The smell of old and dirty things being cleansed. 

The smell of life. 

Oh the sight! 

It's beautiful. 

The beauty of an arch of color taking it's place in the sky. 

Seeing everything clearly yet murky. 

The small windows to the world underneath. 

Seeing your reflection waver. 

There's a kind of madness in it. 

Some unprivileged people can't seem to find the beauty in it. 

They only see grey. 

I can see it though. 

I can see the beauty. 

I can smell it. 

I can feel it. 

I can hear it. 

I know the promise. 

Do you?

Do you feel it?

See it?

Hear it?

Can you smell it?

Do you know the promise?

A minute in a dancers mind

One, two, three, four

Five, six, seven, eight

Breathe in. 

Next move.  

Oh no! I forgot to smile. 

I have to keep going. 

Here's the hard part. 

I'm off on my counts. 

I have to try to find someone counting out loud. 

There we go. 

One and two and three and four 

I'm back on track. 

Wait where are we in the combination? 

Remember to turn out. 

I wish my extension was like hers. 

Keep my core tight. 

And lift

Point 

Balance

Hold 

Smile

Oh no. 

The teacher is watching me. 

I can't keep my balance. 

Going down. 

Land in a plié. 

Now here's a pirouette. 

Remember not to tilt. 

Spot!

Hold your arms in first position. 

Keep your foot pointed. 

Smile. 

One and two and three and four. 

Now plié. 

Do another pirouette.

Plié again. 

Now a grande jeté. 

Wait! How do I get into it? 

I'll just run I guess. 

But I'll do it with my foot pointed. 

And smile. 

Keep going. 

Almost done. 

Foot pointed!

Legs straight! 

Core tight! 

Smile! 

And finish! 

Now most of you probably had no idea what that was about. 

That was a minute in the mind of a dancer. 

You're welcome. 

Most of you probably didn't find that very entertaining, but I have no blog post ideas so this is what you get for now. Please comment with posts you'd like to read!

Home

Home is where the heart is. I'm sure you've heard that phrase. 

Do you think it's true? 

I do. 

Aside from my actual home (and where my family is) there are two places that I feel like home at. My dance studio is the first one. To me it's one of the best places in the world. The second place is with my friends. Because I really love you guys a ton! Guess what, these places are where my heart is at. 

Home can be anywhere you make it. Home is not just a thing. 

I believe it's a state of being. Just like love. That's why you say things like "I'm at home, I am home, etc." 

I think that being home means being with or doing something that you love. Feeling loved and free and accepted and safe all at the same time. 

It's so much more than wood and paint and all that other stuff. It's more than where you sleep at night or where you keep your things. 

Home is so much more than we make it out to be. 

It's so much more beautiful and complex and amazing than we think. 

Christmas Lights

I love Christmas lights. I currently have some hanging in my room. VvVvVvV 

The reason I love Christmas lights is because they make me feel like I'm in a fairy tale. 

That I'm surrounded by fairies. Or floating among the stars. That I'm flying to never land. That time stands still. That it's Christmas. ;)

That I'm having some little adventure of my own. 

Every time I plug them in they instantly illuminate the room. Like they're just rushing to see me. To see what adventure we'll have today.

 It makes me feel like a little kid. Using my imagination in a high-tech world. 

I can just forget about school and work and life and loud brothers and just sit there in peace. Just me and my thoughts. 

PS So I know this was kind of a random post but I really had no idea what to write about. If you guys could comment with an idea for a blog post that would just make my day. Thanks!

Information That May Be Useful

 For I know the plans I have for you declares The Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. 

I like change. I like doing different activities, different jobs, having a different routine. But I also hate change. Especially when it applies to things like my home or friends. Things that really matter to me. You know, I hate it so much that once, my mom said she was going to change the placement of a decoration in our house. I hate this decoration too. It's a creepy deer head. Painted white. Looks like a weeping angel animal in my opinion. But anyways, my mom was going to put it in her room, rather than keep it in the living room, and I got so upset at this. Because I liked it exactly where it was. It just belonged there. 

So, I am not coming back to Thursday Classes next year. So,

I know I will still see you ,but not nearly as often. I still have time before saying farewell, but I felt inspiration to write a blog post now so, here you go!

Now I just have to give a little speech to you all:

It's been great seeing you guys every Thursday. I've loved sitting through long classes with you guys. Having jam sessions. Practicing dances. Going to the homeschool balls. Camping trips, ultimate frisbee, snowball fights, movies, card games, sports camp, food pantry, banquets, the list goes on and on. I just want you guys to know that I will never forget these moments, I hope you don't either. I hope you never forget. I also hope that we always stay in touch. I've lost friends before. I don't want that to happen again. I've seen people say they'd be best friends forever and then forget each other after a couple of years. I want us to always remember each other. You are all like family to me. You are the best friends anyone could ask for. You are some of the closest friends I've ever had. Thanks for the great memories. I know it's not goodbye for good. But it sure won't be like it was before. It's changed. But let's not call it goodbye, let's just call it.......See ya later alligator! (Obviously I'm being a bit dramatic, but I felt like writing something really.....sad, so yeah.)

Okay, so now that I have that out, to finish off this blog post I just want to say that God knows what he's doing in our lives. He's had them mapped out since before we were born! That doesn't mean we will always like what happens, but it does mean that we can always trust God to pull us through. To work it all out for good. Even those pesky changes. 

Random thoughts about kids

Kids are interesting. 

One second they're the cutest thing. The next you're fearing for your life. 

But I don't see how anyone couldn't value kids. 

As I'm writing this I'm watching some kids play on the playground. I ran down the steps of the playground and the little boy told me. "Be careful Miss Arielle!" (I love when they call me Miss Arielle. It's adorable.) but I was so touched that he genuinely cared for my well being, an stopped playing to make sure I was careful. 

That same boy wouldn't even talk to me thirty minutes before. He was scared, scared that his mom wouldn't come back for him after being dropped off to be babysat. Half an hour later he was climbing all over the playground. He was fearless. 

Samuel does that too. He's scared whenever my mom or dad leave. But then he's climbing all over anything and everything. 

Kids always do that. They need someone to take care of them. To comfort them, hold them, play with them. Have you ever held a sleeping baby? Let me just say, it's amazing and beautiful. 

Random Ramblings of a Book Addict

I love books. I like reading them. I love writing them. I like discussing them. Etc. etc. There is one thing I hate about them though. 

Ready?

I hate how only the main and supporting cast matters. 

Yes, I know, books cannot show every single person's story and adventure. 

In adventure stories people can be dying every two sentences. But unless the main, or supporting character dies, then it doesn't matter. 

Also in adventure stories other people could be doing the exact same thing as the hero. But it doesn't matter. They will never be the hero. 

Samwise. He's a perfect example. Frodo get's all the praise for destroying the ring. But, I mean, how many times did samwise save frodos life? Then, he carried Frodo. Up a mountain. But he is not "the hero". He is barely even "a hero". 

Sorry, I go on these little rants. It happens. Comment on whether you agree or not. 

Really random picture. 

V V V V V V V V V V V

Compliments and such

I've come to really appreciate compliments. Not flattery. Compliments. A few people I know don't accept compliments. Maybe they just don't think they're genuine. Maybe they're confusing compliments for flattery. Maybe they're full of self confidence, maybe the complete opposite. I should look into that. Well anyways, I think that genuine compliments are the way to win someone's friendship. People are always being criticized. Humans love to tell you what you're doing wrong. I've found that sometimes bringing people down builds confidence. I don't know why, but it does, or so I've heard. So, with all that criticism if you tell someone a genuine compliment, they realize you're different. That you won't put them down. That the only criticism you'll be giving is the constructive type. That you are great best friend material. It takes a lot more maturity and honor to give a compliment. But remember, flattery is much different than a compliment. People love being built up by others. Go give someone a compliment. Just do it. Make it genuine. Make it kind. Build someone up. Maybe you'll make a new friend.

Just a little something to think about and occupy your thoughts for a bit. ;)
Have a good day!

Stuff and things

I have been in a very crafty mood lately. Since I've been in that mood I finally got some projects done. I got this old guitar from some friends, and turned it into a shelf (which I'll show you how to do sometime soon). But in order to do that I had to rip apart the guitar. It made me really sad. To know that I was destroying something that once made beautiful music. It looked like a pretty old guitar to me. Who knows what emotions went into that instrument? Maybe someone played it after something sad happened in their life. Maybe that was their happiness. To play that old guitar. It was sad for me to destroy it. But I did it. (With the help of JJ). 

I realized that sometimes emotions can just be poured out into items. I mean just think about it. You probably had some toy that always used to cheer you up.  I used to talk to a huge stuffed moose that I had ,when I was younger, if I was sad. Or maybe holding onto a favorite pillow. Reading a favorite book. Sometimes I'll look at my old birthday cards, just for fun, it makes me smile. Sometimes I wonder if God gives us special "things" just to give us a smile. I love how God works like that. He knows just the right thing to get us jumping for joy, or smiling after a sad day. He has a rainbow planned after the storm. Because God is just amazing like that. 

My short story

Hey everyone! So, I wrote a short story and really wanted to share it with you. I would really appreciate your feedback!
Here it goes:

    I heard the sharp breaths racing out of my mouth. The echoes of my footsteps haunted my ears. It was there, closing in on me. I tried to be silent. To calm the nervous air that was entering and exiting my lungs. I tried to find courage, but it was lost.
   I looked behind me. There it was, rounding the corner. The thing I feared most. I could never escape it. It was always there, right behind me. I kept running. My knees kept buckling. My calves throbbed. I could barely hear anything over the sound of my own anxious heartbeat.
    "I can't do this." I whispered to myself. As the words left my mouth the enemy got closer. I tried to go faster, yet all my surroundings seemed to pass by in slow motion. "You're too weak." The words I spoke to myself echoed off the endless metallic walls. The enemy got even closer. It's presence made my skin crawl. My vision started to blur. My lungs ached. My stomach hurt. My legs were stinging. "Stop trying. It will catch you anyways." My voice rang in my ears. I could now feel the ice cold breath of what was behind me. I couldn't continue. I collapsed in a heap on the floor. It had caught me.
    I looked up. My head hurt. My eyes finally adjusted to the light. I saw myself standing before me. Another form, but me nonetheless. There was an ice cold look in it's eyes. Then, the other me spoke. "You're worthless." It spat out. The words hit me like a blow to the stomach. "Stop!" I cried out, but it just kept going. "You'll never amount to anything. No one loves you. You're a burden." Now my head was spinning. Each word had hit me hard. I could barely breathe. Everything started to go black. The other me started to speak again, but I ignored the words. I wouldn't accept defeat. It took all my strength, but I managed to speak. "Those words." My throat stung. "Aren't true." I finished with a gasp for air. I looked up and could see the other me disappear into a black mist. A scream erupted from it. I curled into a heap on the floor, and everything went black.

Thanks for listening!

Best Movie of 2014!!!!

Soooo many awesome movies came out in 2014 and I just had I share these treasures with you all, so I now present The Best movies of 2014: 

The Hobbit battle of the five armies-

This one was extremely amazing. I did a full blog post on it. But since I still cannot figure out how to link it I will just let you find that post for yourself. 

Amazing Spider-Man 2-  My whole family loves this movie. Even my three cousins who are all girls under the age of ten couldn't stop talking about it. My mom absolutely loved it! You just have to watch it. Right now!

Captain America 2 The Winter Soldier- This movie was awesome too. It gives you a lot of information that will probably be useful in marvels upcoming movies. I'm constantly using it's famous quote. "I'm with you 'till the end of the line". Again, you really need to go watch it!

The Lego Movie- I thought it looked like such a cheesy movie. But it ended up being one of my favorites. My family now is constantly singing it's theme song and quoting the characters. I've watched it over and over again without getting bored because I just love it!

Despicable me 2- I can't remember if this was from 2013 or 2014 but this is probably my favorite animated movie. 

Frozen- I'm assuming you've already seen it. But I actually liked it. A lot. You can, again read my past blog post on it. ( yes, it came out 2013, that's okay. )

Divergent- this one is great! I watched this one in the theaters twice in the same weekend. I love it. Seriously go watch it. It's one of those sci fi/ futuristic/ kinda movies. But it actually has a plot. Which I really enjoy. 

How to train your dragon 2- this one really wrapped up the first one well. I really enjoyed it. This is one of my favorite cartoons. 

These are just movies that I've seen. There are many I haven't yet watched so obviously this is just opinion. 

Now go watch some movies!

Do hard things

Sometimes we need to do hard things. Go the extra mile. Try our hardest. You have to work for things, they aren't just handed to you. You have to try everyday to be the best you can be. To make the most impact you can. I've realized this my whole life but this year I've come to find that I need to put these words into motion. I need to go above and beyond. I need to do hard things. Work as hard as I can. Try my best. Make every second count. Do it all for the glory of the one true king, Jesus!
Some inspiration for ya!
Randomly Brainy