Grocery Shopping

Today I went grocery shopping for my mother. I normal don’t go grocery shopping at all when I live at home, but we didn’t have any more food in the house, it was close to dinner time, and mom was still working. So I took it upon myself to go and purchase some food, so that we might be able to eat dinner tonight. I also took it upon myself to bring my little brother with me. And from my trip to the grocery store I have learned three very important lessons.

1) When I am a mom, I shall do everything in my power to NOT bring my children to the grocery store with me. My brother is 11 years old now, so he is nearing the tail end of the obnoxious child stage and entering the phase of obnoxious pre-teen stage. While the obnoxious pre-teen stage is more obnoxious in the home, the obnoxious child stage is horrifically obnoxious when said child is at the grocery store. My brother displayed the later obnoxiousness symptoms this afternoon by blocking alles with the cart, riding the cart like a scooter (which I will admit to doing in my obnoxious child phase), asking if we can buy everything except what I was requested to purchase, and almost hitting an old woman-twice. However, since my brother is in the late stages of his child obnoxioussity, these acts that were preformed were only mild of what I think they could have been. I think there should be a sign on the door of Vons that reads “children under the age of 15 are one permitted ever.”

2)The grocery store is meant to confuse the shopper by any means possible. Every single grocery store I go into is set up differently. Even if the store is under the same company. The Stater Brothers on Collins and Tustin is not at all the same as the one on Tustin and Santa Clara. Even the ATM is on the opposite side of the store. The reason for this pattern of unsameness is to cause the shopper to be unaccustomed to where whatever it is that they have come in to buy is. This then causes the shopper to stay longer, see more products, and fall into the trap of buying another carton of milk or jar of penutbutter. The way to avoid this is the grocery list. In the grocery store, the grocery list becomes the shopper’s bible. It tells you the truth of what is in your home and what you need to leave with. Stick to the list and you shall never fall into the trap of accidentally buying two extra cans of tuna that you did not need.

3)4:45 is a bad time to go grocery shopping. It’s not the amount of people in the store, or the lines at the checkout. What makes 4:45 a bad time is the free sample people. About an hour before dinner, they assume that you don’t have anything planned for dinner so they offer you a taste of whatever it is they want you to buy and make for dinner. And they always stand right by the meat section. Right where I needed to go and grab some chicken breast. As I’m browsing the wall of packaged meat, they come up to me and ask me all sorts of questions. All I wanted to do was get some chicken. “Please spicy meat sales man-please let me take my chicken and go in peace. You scare me a little, and my slightly still obnoxious brother almost hit that old lady. I’m sorry, but I can’t try a bite, of what you wish to sell me.”

Stawberry Pancakes

July is an excelent month. there is somehting about the middle of summer. Lemonade still tates like it did on the first day, and your not quite to the point of bordem with summer yet. My dad’s favorite week of the year is the last week of July for that very reason. I would say that there is something magical about summer, but then as I began to think about it, there is a little magic in every season. But its summer time, so I’m going to ramble about that for a bit.

Summer is…

a hammock swinging in the shade, a warm breeze on your face, yellow sun, a half asleep dog, a blue-orange dragon fly by the pool, a 8-year-old’s laugh, a scabing knee, Arnold Palmer, the way an ice cream sandwich sticks to your fingers, a full moon shining on the beach, and strawberry pancakes.

I had never tried strawberry pancakes till this morning. I recomend that everyone try at least one in their life. That is of course unless you are allergic to strawberries, then don’t try one. Beacuse of the fact that the strawberries might give you hives or be the cause of your death. hmm…death by strawberry….

Yes, you have got to enjoy July. Say the word out-loud, and you can’t help but smile.

My Thoughts on Transformers 2

It’s the biggest blockbuster of the summer, and everyone is talking, thinking, blogging about it. So here are my thoughts on this summer’s most explosive film.

Transformers 2, for me, started out very promising. Two years after the original Sam is going off to college, Mikaela is working in her dad’s shop and the autobots are teamed up with the US army hunting the remains of autobots left here on earth. However as the movie progresses the story becomes lost in battle scene after battle scene. I started to wonder what was going on and why all of these giant robots were fighting. While the first Transformers has the luxury of setting up back story on the autobots and develop main characters (both robot and human) there was still more of a story to fallow that kept you plugged into the movie. While watching Transformers 2, the reason I kept watching was to see when the story was really going take off. I felt that the basic plot was masked by big explosions and forced jokes. I really wanted to see characters interact with each other more. My two favorite scenes were when Sam goes to meet with Optimums Prime and Prime asks for Sam’s help, and when Sam and Bumblebee have an all to short of talk around a camp fire while they are in hiding.

Not to say that I did not enjoy the movie, because I did. I just think that it was lost by fireworks and clanging metal. I am looking forward to seeing it again, and hopfully getting more out of it a second time around. Why would I see it again, if I did not think it was the greatest movie of all time? Well I mean come on, who does not enjoy robot battles? Overall thoughts: 3.7 stars out of 5.

Running

When you live in the Coloradon rockies for nine months 8,684 feet is not a big deal after a while. You get used to the altitude and befor long are able to run around for two hours in a small gym playing indoor soccer.

I went running on Wednesday morning and found something rather interesting. As I was running my lungs did not get tired. They were full of air and I was not breathing hard at all. It was one of the easiest runs I had ever been on. Well, until my legs began to scream at me. My knees ached, my caves were tight, and my thighs were super sore. So as I’m running, my lungs are full of air and breathing like I am walking and my legs feels like they are about to fall off! Such a weird combination.

I think that this is how my spiritual life is at the moment. My lungs have gotten strong and are able to soak in everything needed for me to function, while my legs have not had a decent amount of exercise and need to get strong again. I need to start practicing and applying what I have learned at Ravencrest. The only question is, what does that look like. I guess this summer will let me know.

That’s really all I got, and it’s time for my morning run anyway. peace out.

The Final Week at Ravencrest

[This was supposed to be posted a while back, but thanks to slow internet it was not.]

Well, the last week of Ravencrest is finally here. It is crazy to think that it is the end. It’s one of those things that you think wont ever get there, and then suddenly you are facing it; like getting your drivers license. Crazy to think that I have been living here for 9 months. I feel as if I have known the people here for my whole life, and I can’t imagine life without them. I keep having this feeling that I’ll come back in a few weeks and see them all again. This place feels like home to me now, and I love it here.

Tonight is the showing of the yearbook, and to tell the truth, I’m finding myself being a bit nervous. I hope that people like it. I hope that I am able to get dvd’s to people this summer.

The other thing that I have been thinking about is keeping in contact with people from here when I get home. I don’t just want to go home and forget the people here. I want relationships that I have made to continue to grow and become deeper. It’s going to take some work. Realistically there is no way that I can be best friends with everyone, but there is definitely a list of people that I would love to keep in contact with.

This last week has looked a little like this: classes, last laundry day, hangin out in the sunshine,

Fear

I’m not sure that the only thing that we have to fear is fear itself. You may ask what I mean by this. I think that what people are really afraid of is not knowing. Even the people who say that they are fine with not knowing, may fool themselves. This thought of fear came to my mind this morning at 6:24 am or so.

I got up early this morning to hit up some snowboarding action behind the student parking lot. I was the only one out there, and the snow was rather icy from melting all day the day before and then freezing over night. And even though I have been boarding since I was in 7th grade a great sense of fear came over me. Why? What was I so afraid of? Sure it was a bit icy, but that had never stopped me before. I think that I was afraid because I did not know what was on the other side of the jump. How steep the trail was. I was unfamiliar with my surroundings. This was a type of environment that I had never tried to board in before. It makes me wonder why that people can be so scared of what is “new” or “unfamiliar” to them.

I think that most people are content to leave life the way that it is, for as long as possible. Anything else outside that world that they know is scary and strange. So we leave things the way they are to prevent ourselves from being hurt physically, emotionally, relationally, or even spiritually. I don’t want the unknown to hold me back.

I’ve been learning a lot of what it means to give up everything to God. That includes the future that He has for me. I had a plan, but that plan seems to be falling out and now all I am left to do is to sit and wait on Him. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with my future. It’s messy and foggy and nothing seems to fit. And its ok. I’m continued to be reminded that God is bigger than 36,000 dollars. That He is sufficient and wants the absolute best for me, and will bring me there. He is bigger than my plans, my dreams, and my attempts to do things my way. And even though I’m about to make my way into unfamiliar territory, I find myself being less and less afraid and being filled with excitement.

I don’t want to leave Ravencrest Chalet, but God has something big for me around the next corner. Even though the ground feels icy, and a bad fall could seriously hurt me, I’m feeling at peace. I may only be rambling about nothing at all of importance to anyone, but I guess I just have a lot on my mind. I guess that my point is, I’m not afraid anymore.

For Destry

So, I happened to check my facebook the other day. and I had a “wall post” from Destry that said “molly you must give me an update on your life seeing as your blog has long since been updated.” And so with that I signed in distress and shook my head. If there was a blogging class I would get an “F.” This I am conviced of.

I have six weeks left of school here at Ravencrest. This thought does sadden me greatly. I have a million things to do. Besides homework, I have a yearbook to work on, some student council stuff, money to continue to find, and books to read. The list just keeps on getting longer. Some exciting things have been happening though.

Over spring break myself and a group of 8 of my fellow students flew back to California, and we spent a week down in Mexico. I don’t think I have ever had such a grand time with friends down there before. We also got the opportunity to do some serving down there. Played with kids, passed out toys, served people food, and pulled lots of weeds. The rest of our time was spend hanging out on the beach and enjoying each other company very much. West loved the boys and glued himself to Matt the whole time. We went to the hot springs almost everyday, watched disney and dreamworks movies almost everynight, and ate lots of yummy food. It was a little bit of a bummer because there was not much wind to ride the land sails while we were down there, but we still had an awesome time. Back in California, we went to the beach, Downtown Disney, and a mall or two. Just hung out mostly. Great spring break. I think my favorite one of all time.

Lauren is coming to visit me in a few weeks! I’m sooo excited to see her. And for her to see what going to school here is like. I thik that she would love it. Planning to go to a pro soccer game as well, while she is here, and that will be awesome. I’m hoping to have the yearbook mostly done by the time she gets here.

Also, after school gets out, that night I am flying out to Chicago to meet up and hang out with Evan for a few days. Mom says that she thinks it will be a good transition for me. Going strait from here to home, could be a little rough. Since I’ve poured most of myself into here. But, I am rather excited about hanging out in Chicago for a few days. Hoping to even see some friends from RC while I am out there as well. Which will be fun.

Oh boy, there is just so much going on. Does life ever slow down? Maybe it only gets faster as we get older. They were not kidding when they said that time flys when you are having fun. Holy cow…it’s April 5th.

Coming to you live from Mexico

Spring break is here! Currently, I find myself on the floor of the living room laughing at Matt because is hair has been straitened. gross. This is our second night here. We arrived yesterday afternoon and explored the world. Tried to use the land sails, but we are uncertain of how to use them exactally. There are quite a lot of pullies.

The friends from school who have joined me south of the border are Joe Britt, Amanda Peterman, Matt Stern, Sarah Weibe, Rachel Roskilly, Eric Goosen, Katie Mansfeild, and Alicia Kewit. We have been haveing a really good time. This morning went to a church serviceat a local church. Very interesting. The congirgation was very small, and by small I mean about 5 or 6 people other than us. I’m not really sure how to describe the service but it was not like anything that I had ever been to before. The worship was the lead pastor on a keyboard and his wife singing, boy did she have a set of pipes. And she would dance around with the micraphone like she was the star of So You Think You Can Dance. I’m not really sure what the message was about. The pastero kind of rambled about God useing people if we let him use us. Which is cool, but he never used and scripture. It was interesting.

We spent the rest of the day lounging on the beach, swimming, and playing volleyball. Watched a movie int he afternoon, and later as the sun was going down walked down to the hotsprings. That was pretty much our day in a nutshell, and now we are about to watch a movie and eat some brownies with icecream.

Tomorrow, we are gong to go server some people. I plan to write about that more tomorrow night. The movie is starting. weee!

Joe Britt

I met this really cool awesome guy named Joe Britt. He’s about 6′2 from Wisconsin, plays volleyball, and heads up ladies he’s single and lookin to mingle. He’s pretty sweet. And I get to hang out with him for 10 days when we go to Mexico. Joe makes me laugh everyday, and says things like “that’s real nice.” Joe likes to point out the obvious to everyone such as someone haveing matching shirts. He also plays hockey (who knows why, I think he has brain damage from it…) If I had to describe Joe is three words they would be:”OH MY GOSH!”

Here is a picture of Joe:

creeper....

haha. oh dear, sometimes I wonder what I am going to do with myself. could I have a more creepy picture of someone? I guess I could…hmm.

But yea, Joe is a cool guy. In asking him what I should blog about, the answer I got was “me.” So there you go Joe. You got your 15 minutes of fame on the world wide web. Have a good day and stay cool brother.

Hemp

I like hemp. The way it smells, what you can make with it, the color. There is something about hemp that makes me happy. The reason I have this thought of hemp in my head, is that yesterday I looked at my right wrist and noticed that all of my bracelets were gone. Having been lost, or broken I was saddened my my right wrist being naked. So I decided to make a bracelet for it. To my joy, Claire had some hemp. So in class, as I listened to the speakers, I made myself a bracelet our of hemp. Then I made Amanda one. Then I made Matt a necklace. And then I made myself one more bracelet. Hemp extravaganza! I thoroughly enjoy making things our of hemp. Now I want to find some thread and make a bracelet out of that. Then my heart will be truly joyful of arts and crafts. How, I love arts and crafts.