Monday, April 4, 2011

Appreciating the little things..

This past weekend was so unbelievable! Friday I finally caved and got into longboarding. My future room-mate, Ali and I were pretty much the only ones who didn't have boards and didn't even know who to. Well we finally did it and fell in love. We ended up boarding with some of our friends were a total of like 4 hours, we went to Kollen Park, which is about 2 miles from campus and were able to board right by the water. It was chilly, but still nice. It was so amazing. Seriously indescribable, and it's funny how little it seems but it meant so much. We spent the rest of the time boarding and speaking in British accents, and it was so glorious! I couldn't help but thank Jesus all night for giving me that night because I just realized how blessed I am.

The next night me and like 15 of my friends went to a lakehouse we were able to stay at for the night. This house was incredible and we were able to stay there completely for free! We just hung out for a while, and then we longboarded, walked and drove to the beach at night and had a bonfire. What was so magical, were the stars. I don't think I have ever seen so many stars in the sky before, it was absolutely beautiful. I had the gift of witnessing two shooting stars, while laying on the beach with my best friends. It was seriously one of the most magical nights of my life. Being able to witness God's creation in that way, with my best friends here at school, praising Jesus the whole time, was SOOOO AMAZING! we all just piled all over the floor, and the house pretty much and spend the night. Of course, got like zero sleep because we were up too late and there were like 20 of us sprawled everywhere. The whole night was a complete dream and I am so thankful I was able to experience it with such incredible people.

THANK YOU SO MUCH LORD!!!

Truly understanding the meaning..

It's amazing how much you can learn from something that you didn't even think about as a child. All year my friends and I have been enjoying so many Disney movies from our childhood. Usually it's just really funny to see how much adult humor is in these movies that none of us understood as kids, but I found one that is exceptionally different the other day. My friend Marcy made me watch The Hunchback of Notre Dame (which I totally didn't want to cause I had only seen it once and I thought it was actually about the football team of Notre Dame...) anyways, so I caved and watched it. WOW! Seriously, this movie is so unbelievably inspirational and has so many representations of Christ in it. I didn't understand social injustices when I was a kid, but now watching the movie, it all made sense. Now don't laugh because I am writing about a Disney movie, but seriously this movie impacted my life big time. It's such a beautiful story about outcasts thinking they are the monsters, but through the Lord, they come to find out that the judgmental people who torment them and are taken over by the devil are the real monsters in the story.
Quazi Moto, the Hunchback, was told ever since birth that if he went out into the world he would be ridiculed because of how different he is and how he looked by his master who is a so called 'minister.' So he locks Quazi away for about 20 years, and tells him never to go out into the world. One day Quazi goes out and is caught by the city, who is disgusted by him and the way he looks because he is different. Only one person gives him grace, a gypsy named Esmerelda. In this movie, gypsies are considered witches and sworn the hell just because who they are, with no way to redeem themselves. She is the ultimate outcast, and it is her grace and love she shows towards Quazi that makes him start to realize that he is really not a monster. She sings this song in the movie called "God Help the Outcasts," where she asks for nothing for herself, but just for all the outcasts to be able to live the life God has given them in peace. She understands that Christ himself was once an outcast as well, so she knows he would understand more than anymore. If you don't know the song, please listen to it, you will be inspired.



There is an amazing amount of symbolism in this movie. Frolo, who is Quazi's master is a minister in the movie so you would assume he would be a holy man, but his views are conflicted. He convinces Quazi that he is ugly, and a monster and tells him that the world is a cruel, horrid place which has nothing beautiful about it. When in actuality, Frolo is possessed by the devil and is the person ruining Quazi's life, not the world. It can be very dark at times, but it's necessary to truly understand the meaning of this movie. In this movie, the only place where the outcasts are free is Notre Dame herself, the church; definitely not a coincidence there.

I don't think I have ever felt so much hurt, confusion, hatred, compassion, love all in one Disney movie. There are some scenes that are so unbelievably powerful and mature for little kids, which is why you should see this movie again as an adult. Some parts are too hard to watch because how they treat Quazi, but in the end, Christ's love through people like Esmerelda, is the thing that conquers all. It also hows how God's wrath on people who are killing and abusing people in 'Christ's name' will happen one day. This movie makes you think, more than a lot of movies, especially Disney movies. This movie taught me so much! All of the songs are so inspirational and tear jerking for sure. I HIGHLY recommend seeing it again as an adult or at least listening to the songs. God will teach you something through this movie.

Friday, January 14, 2011

looking around..

Here I am..

Holland, MI
Downtown
JP's coffee shop.

Here I am, sitting and looking around..

Sometimes I wish one day I see my Grandpa Zeke walk through the door, to grab a cup of coffee before he goes on with his day. Then he would see one of his grandchildren; the grandchild that is trying to continue his legacy at Hope College. Then he would embrace me in a hug and tell me how proud of me he is and that he loves me..

I thank God for giving me every second I spent with my grandpa, but it's times like this where I wish I had a little bit more..

I love you Grandpa Zeke, and I miss you so much.

Proverbs 3:5-6

A rush away from a place; an attempt to escape...

That is the definition of a break : a rush away from a place; an attempt to escape. That's exactly what my Christmas Break was. It was a time to escape from all the stress and craziness of college. It was such a blessing to be able to go home and speak about a month with my family and friends. Experiencing Christmas and New Years with all the people I love back home :) I had so many heart felt conversations and interactions throughout my break. Now sitting in a coffee shop back at school, I look back at my break and thank God I didn't take my family and friends for granted. Being away from home all the time, you tend to develop this unconditional appreciation and love for things and people you took for granted at some point.

I am so blessed to have the most amazing parents a person could ask for.















The strangest, most wonderful sister a girl could ever want.



















The most unbelievable and ridiculous blessing called best friends!














Old memories reminisced, and new ones made.















Time with family.




























The celebration of the new year approaching.
















If 2011 is going to be anything like 2010 was.. wow I am one very blessed person.