THINK...

Instructions for Life

~ Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully ~

~ When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye ~

~ Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely ~

~ Don't judge people by their relatives ~

~ Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions ~

~ In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past ~

~ Pray. There's immeasurable power in it ~

~ Mind your own business ~

~ Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other ~

My Personal Lion King Cast (starring PVMB members!)

Mufasa-Shep
Simba-Tyler K.
Pumbaa-AWaz
Timon-Neiman (these two are PERFECT!)
Rafiki-Soo Jin
Zazu-JWaz
Ed-Jeffrey...the special one ;D

Apostrophe?

I dunno if I had an apostrophe or if I just found a new way to think about something...either way, it's definitely interesting.

Today I went to my old church with my dad since my mom's up in New York. During the Sunday School hour, the high schoolers went up to the Fellowship Hall to have kind of a mixed class with the adults. The class...wasn't too hot, although there was an awesome joke...

*pause for retelling of awesome joke*

A long time ago, two Irish men lived on opposite sides of the river. Every morning, they would go down to the river and shout at each other. Patrick would yell, "Clarence!!! If there wasn't a river between us, I would beat you up!" and Clarence would yell the same thing right back. One day, a covered bridge was built over the river, connecting the two men's land. Sitting in the house, Patrick's wife asked, "Well...there's a bridge, why don't you go over and finally beat up Clarence?" and Patrick says "I'll go down and do it right now!" So he heads off for the bridge. Before he crosses, he looks up, sees a sign, and heads back home. His wife comments, "You're back early..." and he says "I saw a warning sign...it said "CLEARENCE 13 FEET 6 INCHES"...he never looked that tall when he was on the other side of the river..."

*unpause*

After Sunday School was done, Wendy (youth leader when I was in middle school, amazing women, she's been there for me during everything with my parents) came and found me and we just started talking. For like...ten or fifteen minutes we just sat there and had an awesome conversation about everything that's been going on in my life.

At one point, I was telling her that my classes are harder this year and I have more low A's and some high B's and it really bugs me. And she just looked at me and said, "Rachel...God doesn't care about straight A's."

OH. SNAP...

She went on and talked about how God knows the grades I'm gonna get, He knows the college I'll get into, so I don't need to stress about those things...instead, I need to focus my time on Him and my relationship with Him.

That was just like...WOAH...

It was an awesome conversation.

Oh the little things in life that make me giggle...

"If the world suddenly ran out of cheese, he would get down on his hands and knees...to see if someone accidentally some cheese in the dirt. And he would wash it off for you, wipe it off for you, clean that dirty cheese off just for YOU!!!!!!!"

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!

National Champions...two years in a row...CHYEAH!!!!!!

Today was...amazing.

I had a FANTASTIC performance...like came off the field crying it was so good. Mr. O was so proud of us...and him telling us that is one of the most amazing feelings in the world. So...YEAH. Super hyped up after that. :D

Then we went up for awards...and strangely enough, there wasn't much hype to that. It was just like...ok go up...ok...mhm...we got first place...uh...yeah. Like...we got the huge trophy and shook all the people's hands and got our picture taken, but I didn't feel much...which was odd. Like I was still excited and so happy...it was just subdued or something.

BUT THEN.

THE BUS RIDE HOME.

WAS.

EPIC.

About 10 minutes away from the high school...we got the police/firetruck escort just like last year. But UNLIKE last year...everyone wasn't exhausted. And so the entire ride home..."WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE'RE STILL DOING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" *screaming galore*

Like the energy was AMAZING and EVERYONE was so happy and seeing everyone happy just made me so giddy inside...like, one of THE BEST feelings in the world. :D

Our escort took us right by the football stadium...AND THE FOOTBALL GAME WAS STILL GOING ON. So all the high schoolers there and the football players and the other band were like whipping around when they heard the sirens and we were YELLING  out the windows like crazy! Oh my word it was so hysterical!

Then the rest of the night was more screaming and more happiness and hugging and laughing and amazing feelings...

I love my marching band SO MUCH. :D

Disney Wisdom

"Ah yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it, or learn from it."