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

Stats: whoa, thanks avocados and horses!

I never knew many people could read my blog until I learned to use my resources well.. And I am tech savvy so it took me a few years really understand how to blog, right? Still unsure of what that entails. I want to thank all of you who've been reading my blog thus far! I hope you've been encouraged and understand how important you are to God! His agape love is amazing and I am not perfect because he is the creator and he loves me in my ups, downs, and buffalos! 

Giddy up horses, Rachel

Live room sessions

For King and Country recently posted a live session album of a few songs from their most recent album. I really love it because it's more mellow than the original album. I am such a big fan of this amazing band and Moriah Peters. 

Musically in love with their sound,

Rachel 

Fly on: Forever is better with you ~Humming House

"Fly on, fly on, just we always do, fly on, fly on, forever is better with you!" -Humming House

Just a couple months, I discovered this amazing group of musicians. I love their sound and diverse tracks! Makes me realize how much genre is good, but there's so much room to expand out of the zone of normal. Hence the fact that I love music!

When I was in 6th grade, I wasn't really doing much besides school and I had quit swimming because my allergies were getting the best of me. Then my mom brought up the idea to join Choir! My first thought was.. "ugh, are you serious?" Most of you know that I was homeschooled, I'm sure. When you think of homeschoolers, your first instinct is the same one I get when I had never been in choir. Ya, I thought of nerdy kids who cared only about academic civility. It's so rude, I know. But I had NO idea how awesome it'd be!

Flashback to freshman year in college, I was in my eighth year of choir! DUDE. That's a long time!

Mirror, Mirror: What does it mean to be big and small?

         "Three little birds sat on my window & they told me I don't need to worry"
~Corinne Bailey Rae

    As a short girl, I get a lot of pats on the back."You got this, shorty". It's not a big deal to me until you say that. I can fit in small spaces, but that doesn't mean I like it when taller folks use me as a stepping stool to build up themselves. Tall people get it the other way around as well! Whether you are tall, average, or short like me, you'll never understand how much God restores, in these ways, for our lives. And that's okay because nobody is perfect. I believe that when you realize you can create beauty, with agape love, in this world, God can and WILL empower you. Fight for your right as a child of God because he's worth more than any sweet nectar you can find.

   Lately, God has been showing me how much people will and can come into your heart. Then he tells me to let them go. I can fight with God leading. My brother is expecting to raise his first baby GIRL this summer. Wow. I expected Baby O to be a boy, but God decided that some men need baby girls first. Apparently, that's actually a theory in the militia. I'm not too sure about that theory, but that's interesting! I am going to be a nurse. WHAT. Yay for dinner and decisions that last a lifetime.

~Sweeter than honey and softer than clouds, God restores us daily~

Rachel

Fun fact: That quote is what I base most of my problems on. Because in the trinity, there are three: the Caring heart, the Creator, and the Cwig that wants to be a tree.

Healthy, strong relationships: God can move mountains and bloom fragrant flowers in you.

In my wrestling and in my doubt, in my failures you won’t walk out, your great love will lead me through, you are the peace in my troubled sea. -Rend Collective

Sometimes I feel like I'm a sailor in a lighthouse. I can't visually see that God can do his will and promises to do so. I have many options and I can get a job. Money isn't the problem. It's me. I have a wall up that I leave when anyone gets too close for me. I like my bubble unburst, but God wants to pop that comfy bubble [lol, NO]. His agape love doesn't mean we can cruise our way through life. We must accept that he has a plan. I have a plan for myself. I want pursue it, but then I put up a wall again and again. I'm sorry to those who I've hurt in the past. I let you become my problem instead of my solution. And to those of you who think I'm your problem, hehe. You've got to earn my trust before I give you the key to unlock my secrets. My book is open to a certain point and then I shut it when I am persecuted for my actions. Jesus can give me water, God will carry out my plan, and I need to step in with the Holy Spirit that lives inside me wanting to bloom.

He will bloom flowers and shake mountains because God is all powerful and his strength can MOVE you and those around. He'll make you shake. This being said, I am 21, and there's no shame in waiting if you'd never dated (I don't see why that'd be fun, personally) or had a boyfriend. I haven't and I plan it on keeping it that way for a while. I have seen relationships strive, but I've also seen ones that crumble because they were too eager to fall in love. I say fall in love when you are ready (whatever that means). If you are in love right now, I am so glad, it's great to know that you have someone special in your heart (Besides, the Holy Spirit who is always dwelling in you). To all singles like me, God has someone special for you out there, and unfortunately he's not going to put a red arrow pointing towards them. Respectively, I look up to my parents and siblings to see strong relationships because I care for them dearly and they have shown me more love than I could see with my own eyes.

Here's the uncertainty and joy that God has a plan for all of us, Rachel

Note: Agape love means that no matter what you say or do, respectively, God gives it freely to us and what we decide to do with that love is up to us (yikes, I know, that's scary).

{love is knowing you’re wrong and wanting to change

that, these siblings let me embrace who I am, and call

me out when I said things that hurt or surprise them.}

~~~ Joel & Kelsey may be busy

(I mean, their life is freaking rad). I can
email, text, or call them & they answer no matter
what. Really? That’s love. Kelsey has a baby girl 
growing inside her right now. Wow. ~~~

[sweet message I got from my brother Joel last summer. 

I was crying then and I’m crying as I post this because 

my heart is so full and I am so grateful for him.]

~I get to enjoy adventures as an individual right now and someday

I will do those with someone else as well. Er, besides God!~