12.30.2011

You have the power to create happiness...

You have the power to make life free and beautiful... to make this life a wonderful adventure.


Another year is just around the corner and I am going to make this short & to the point. Let's take the end of 2011 & reflect upon the core of our hearts and answer some big questions (and get ridiculously positive for a minute cause some of us might need it.)


What's your purpose here? What fuels you...what is that driving force that makes you want to wake up in the morning and start your day? What story are you telling? Have you reacted out of spite more than out of love, compassion and understanding? Have you forgiven others? Have you forgiven YOURSELF? Have you been thankful? Have you loved and hugged on people today more than you have fought and bickered with them? Let's search our hearts and throw out the negative we come across. Let's be better versions of ourselves. Let's refocus and let love invade our agendas.


YOU can make things better every day.


Laugh hard & spread the love [and watch this video] HAPPY 2012 FRIENDS!


12.09.2011

Ignorance is Bliss.

Good morning world. This morning I woke up, stretched & the first thing on my mind (besides the song stuck in my head) was Rick Perry. Unfortunate, I know. I woke up thinking about all of the talk circulating around him and his recent ad campaign. That didn't last too long before I started thinking about something more important than Rick Perry...something close to home, and that was all of the others around me that are just as ignorant as Rick.

When I was a kid the word ignorant always had a negative connotation regarding the persons character...basically, I thought it meant they were ridiculously stupid haha. I came to find out it simply just means "Lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated." Hey, I used to be one of those people...and maybe you did too. If you have ever taken something that someone else says at face value before doing your own research on a topic then yep, you're guilty too. It's how we deal and respond to this ignorance that matters.

Rick Perry's hatred towards gay people is really a bigger issue that needs to be addressed on a daily basis and I'll be the first to admit that I think about it all the time BUT I never do anything to help educate people. Now, in that..I am not saying that I am right and you are wrong...I am just urging people to take a different look. Dig deeper. Research with a loving and open heart. Raise your hand if you have looked beyond the few scriptures in the Bible about homosexuality. Have you taken what your pastor says and condemned and belittled many people in the name of Jesus because of it? Have you researched other laws and chosen to JUST follow the one about homosexuality but not the others. Picking & choosing what is convenient for us or what makes us feel most comfortable in our pew is one of our favourite things to do, but in doing that...we isolate a gigantic group of important and loving people and yes, I am one of those people you are isolating. ME. Steph. The same person I have always been...shocked? Yes, so were my parents years ago. I know I am here for a purpose and that purpose above all else is to show & spread love to others. To listen and not judge. To understand that no man is better than the other. To live true. To live a story that will hopefully live on when I die. So friends, let it be known that the purpose of this blog is NOT to get into a heated religious debate with you...that's not gonna happen [but I can't speak for my friends haha]. All I ask is that when you want to shake ignorant people and shake them HARD. Remember, it's our job to love, to make people aware...not to tear them down.

After all...IGNORANCE IS BLISS, RIGHT? [Not knowing something is often more comfortable than knowing it.]

"I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a Christian. And I may not be in the church pew every Sunday, but I do know there is something wrong with our country when a governor of 11 years can openly disgrace the men and women of our armed services who are fighting abroad for our freedom this Christmas."

SPREAD LOVE NOT HATE. <3

12.08.2011

The End of Another Year.

"find life experiences and swallow them whole. travel. meet many people. go down some dead ends and explore dark alleys. try everything. exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life." -lawrence k. fish



This morning I made myself some french vanilla coffee. I feel like coffee makes me breathe better...that's when you know you have a problem. I was having some quiet time this morning...reading, zoning, getting lost in my brain and I had a realization. Most people plan and dream of their wedding day their entire lives...they plan birthdays and big graduation celebrations but who really spends time thinking about planning their funeral? Seems pretty morbid. 


This all stemmed from a few things...but the main thing was something that my mom mentioned to me this week while I was back home visiting. We were dancing around the kitchen singing to Mariah Carey...she said "sing it Steph!" (She always gets happy when I sing to her). Then she said "I want this song played at my funeral". 2 things I know for certain about my mom: one, she ALWAYS has music playing and two, she wants her death to be a celebration of life. My mom and I think a lot alike when it comes to that. I want my death to bring people together. You know, talking about the good times...slideshows, great music, laughter and of course...hanging white lights. None of this mopey stuff...I mean sure, be sentimental..shed a few tears, hug my family a WHOLE lot but be inspired to live your life to the maximum. If one person who comes to my funeral leaves feeling a little more motivated to make a few more people smile, to give tighter hugs, to actually get out and LIVE life, to find joy in the littlest things and to make some happier memories then my time on earth has been well spent. 


I have asked 2 people and 2 people only to speak at my funeral: Grant Theissen & Russ Ronchi. I feel happy with my decision...I love & admire these two men & they have been my mentors throughout the years on different levels.


My moms song: "Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child" by Mariah Carey. 
What's your song? What's your story?