Just keep swimming: my life in a nutshell

"Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall."
- Ray Bradbury

Wow, where should I start? Every time I write on my blog, I spill out all my guts (Maybe, not literally, but you get the picture). As I have said time and again, I grew up in a musical family. We are just as excited about music as we are about swimming.

 I've been swimming since I could crawl! Luckily, I was homeschooled so I was free to swim as much as I wanted. My parents decided early on to put all of us kids in a swim club called NOVA. Back then, swimming was all I knew because I was there every day from 3pm to 8pm monday through friday! Crazy, huh? Now that I look back, I didn't really care too much about competition. I distinctly remember playing cards with my friends at Junior Olympics before my heat was up. Unfortunately, I totally missed my heat and my coach was mad! I was having so much fun already that I forgot about my race and I wasn't even worried about it at all. Swimming is and always will be my favorite sport! I am not sure I'll ever go to competitive swimming again myself, but I'll cherish those moments forever. 

Butterfly is my best stroke. This might explain why I have gnarly muscular legs on my tiny body. If you've ever met me, you already know! I'm definitely not ashamed of my muscular legs, and I'd go as far to say that I'm proud of them even if that makes me cocky. God gave me a height of 5 ft 1.5 in and it's amazing how much I can do with all he has given me. I used to think of my short height as a bad thing and wanted to be taller. Then I realized there's no greater gift than the body God gave you and he has such an amazing plan that you cannot even fathom.

To all the athletes like me, remember that you are blessed to have a sport that you played and your parents were probably the reason you were able to become an athlete in the first place. Thank God I was given the amazing opportunity to be a part of a swim club team like NOVA with my siblings. I'll always remember the early mornings as a blessing because I wake up at 5:30 am automatically now.

Once a swimmer, always a swimmer

Rachel

Fitness matters

"We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible."

- C. Malesherbes

I recently watched this video about fitness by Mike Vacanti because I do need motivation to work out when I know I'm slacking off. Mike knows what's up so check out this short video from him that I've posted below! 

Cheers,

Rachel 

St. Patrick's Day: Young Life changed my perspective

'He is handsome, she is pretty! She's the bell of belfast city, she goes courting... 1!....2!....3!..... Please, won't you tell me who is she? 

Wyoming as winter was just around the corner

Who is he? Lucky charming? Maybe his name is Patrick (:

First of all, Happy Saint Patrick's Day! I read many articles to see what I should say. This is such an important holiday! Some wear green, some drink bubbly and beer, and some may chill out at home to spend time with family and say YES, Praise be! I will be doing all of that minus the consumption of copious amounts of alcohol. (: Whatever you are doing, celebrate a day where you can see rainbows, rain rainbows, and even eat them too (Lucky Charms of course! Or Rice Krispies, your choice!).

 The bold quote at the top is a song I sang in Choir circa 08'. The reason I chose that song is because it is based in 'The Luck of The Irish'! Wait for it. Okay, I think you have grasped the joke and point of that statement! I can't believe it was that long ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. I will say those are some of my fondest memories for real. 

Now for the 'ahhhhh' moment, Who is Saint Patrick? I have attached an article or maybe two that will tell clearly depict how much I see the importance in this holiday! History is so important in our everyday lives. If we don't know history, how can we live our country fighting for freedom? I am a patriot and Mel Gibson definitely one of my favorite actors who does such an act. Enjoy this glorious holiday and listen to Spotify's Happy St. Patrick's Day if you have the time. 

Hardy harr harr and eating spinach, Rachel

http://www.summit.org/media/journal/2000-11-Summit-Journal.pdf

 http://www.summit.org/blogs/student-virginia/virginia-session-62709-pt-1/

Omnipotent: Celebrate HIStory

People touring CA: 'So you're from California.. do you see celebrities all the time?' Me: 'I have seen a few... they're everywhere, not just in California.'

It never ceases to amaze me how many people think California is celebrity village. Well, I did play softball with Kobe Bryant's daughter and my brother bagged his groceries at Ralphs. Does that count? My point is that celebrities aren't only on TV. 

Truthfully, there are many celebrities out there that haven't been discovered yet. They probably don't realize how amazing they are. You know what's coming. YOU are a RAD HUMAN! Don't tell me you've done the worst thing possible because I'll look past that and so will Jesus! 

After all, in his town, people looked at him like he was strange. I mean, seriously, he was 11 years old and talking to popes! His father was a carpenter and his mother concieved him because of the Holy Spirit inside her! Talk about celebrities! They were outcasts, and Jesus was born in a stable. Dwell on that for a while.

 The next time you think about how amazing Taylor Swift is, look at yourself and how you have impacted your friends and family.

Avocados know and shine bright, 

Rachel

Pediatrics: Yes, I love to run around with children and speak as strangely as they might! (:

I have always been one of those people who loves to talk with anyone if they're interested enough to listen to me. Plus, I'm a sucker for hearing others' life stories! When it comes to children, let's say I have a close bond with them because I act like a 5 year old when I'm happy! They enjoy that about me and vice versa. Here's a clip from years ago when playing cards with my cousins. They're freaking hilarious and we holler when we play cards!

Joa Group: civil engineering beyond the structure and into the light

Hey y'all! My dad has had his business for over 50 years. I have created an instagram account for him. He launched his company in the 80's after living in Reno, Nevada for a few years. Born and raised in Tustin, he started at Orange Coast College with his own money and the courage of a lion! Check out it. He has done amazing work with John Wayne airport and The Camp/The Lab as a whole.

Proud of my engineering papa,

Rachel O.

Instagram: joagroup_usa

Website: joagroup.com

Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys!

*Cue girls screaming 'they're handsome in camo and cargo pants' and boys rolling their eyes since it shouldn't make sense that this excites them

This cracks me up because I grew up in a family full of veterans and actives in the militia like many others. One of my all-time favorite movies that clearly depicts this reaction is Pride and Prejudice. I have watched both versions and I cannot choose one as a favorite. Sorry, not sorry. (: I thought I'd try to doing one of those type of posts Buzzfeed does.

http://blog.amariproductions.com/2014/03/11/kelsey-joel/

Enjoy and I hope you have a giggle or two:

• Cargo Pants are underrated

•  They are STRONG

• Buff is natural

•  I'll end up with a man who wears camo or talks like he is camo

•  Tall, average and short are in the militia

•