It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Or it was anyways.  Christmas and NYE have passed, but the memories of the Christmas party will forever remain in my heart.  Ainsley and I, along with Hannah and Mackenzie threw a huge Christmas party that was loads of fun!  It took a lot of preparing, but it was completely worth it.  We did all the cooking and decorating, and by the end I was impressed with us!  Mackenzie made a video (click there to check it out) that captured the entire event.  It was so fun and I never thought it would turn out as great as it did.  There was a food table, a drink area where we had water (with cranberries), apple cider, and punch, and dessert section.  The dessert table housed cookies that people could decorate, and a hot chocolate portion.  We had an assortment of candies, along with ice cream and whipped cream.  

The dessert table

All the guests

Food!

The hostesses

With our supportive mothers!

Me with the mugs Mackenzie and Hannah made!

I highly suggest you check out the video Mack made because it is very good (and I completely approve of her music choices for it!)

We had Andy William's It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year playing on a constant loop on Hannah's porch.  There was a marshmallow roasting station in the backyard, and in the basement It's a Wonderful Life was playing on the television and there was even a photo booth that we created.  We also held an ornament exchange, and that was a lot of fun for everyone!  Christmas music was constantly playing and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves.

I know I had so much fun and I wouldn't have traded it for the world!  Until next time xxx.

My Ideal Life- Like a Movie

I have decided that life is not like a movie whatsoever. Yet I have found that some moments in real life  actually are those cliche scenes we adore from movies. 

Everyone has seen The Breakfast Club, or maybe heard of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Maybe you've seen the 80s film Some Kind of Wonderful. I'm not sure, but whatever your thing is, you know what I'm talking about. 

I'm talking about those characters in movies that have the perfect friendships and relationships. They trust eachother one hundred percent and there are no lies or any drama. 

Well, in my head, life would be ideal if 

these friendships were easier to come by. Just imagine having a bunch of people you can trust with anything. 

Imagine being able to call up anyone in your phone book and just talk to them at 2 o'clock in the morning. You could discuss the deeper meaning in life. 

Or just sitting in a diner drinking milkshakes and laughing about pointless things. Sitting in the rain or in a parked car and just throwing out all you hopes and fears and all your feelings. 

Taking walks at night during the summer or as it began to snow. It's all so cliche. We all sort of hate the clichés and we roll our eyes and say "Really? Life isn't a movie." 

But imagine those moments as being real. How dreamy would it be? 

There is also family. In movies, families range from everything from cookie cutter to out of control. There are families from The Godfather to Sixteen Candles and even Back to the Future. 

In real life families there is fighting, and drama, and everything else in between. But if you look closely, you'll see that beneath if all there is love. Maybe not mushy, in your face sort of love; just unconditional love.  

So why panic if your family fights some times? Why worry if things aren't "the wt they should be?" Families come in all different forms. Love is what makes a family. 

Then there is romance. Friendship a few steps further. 

Lots of girls dream about a kiss in the rain The Notebook style. A powerful love like in Titanic. Something sweet yet forbidden like Romeo and Juliet. Something adventurous and quirky. Something while on vacation. I don't know. But movies always consist of something that sounds absolutely perfect in it's own way. 

This is my dream: You just have a simple date. Incredibly simple. Like you cook and bake a meal together and while it's in the oven you sit in front of the fireplace or on the front porch and just talk. Really talk about important things like what life means to you. Then you eat the meal you cooked and talk some more and laugh and that's it. Pure and sweet and simple. 

Why have a boyfriend buy you expensive things if instead you could go on a hike or get lost on some other crazy adventure together?

Why have friends who consist of drama when you could just be up at early hours staring at stars or laughing about old memories? 

Why have a perfect family from the movies if you can have your own family- a family that loves you more than anything? 

I guess our lives are sort of like a movie. It's our very own movie that we write, direct, produce, and star in. It's pretty impressive if you think about it. 

I suppose I will go into more details about my "ideal life" later. It was just a little thought.

I find the small moments in life that are raw and genuine to be the most important moments of all. (Who cares if it's a cliche from a movie). 

Until next time xxx. 

It's a Wonderful Life

I have not posted in eleven days!  I have all these drafts but none of them seem quite right so I just haven't posted.
But here I am, finally posting.  Christmas was just yesterday and it was more than amazing! I got an array of gifts from a nice watch to a Kindle to new boots and even Disney princess shampoo (from my little brothers).  Now that Christmas is over, I'm partially depressed because the season is over, but also happy because it was so much fun.
My little thought of the moment is: how wonderful is life?  I mean it is so amazing!  As the old classic with James Stewart says, It's a Wonderful Life.  It truly is.  I felt to blessed to have a spread of food on the table and presents under the tree.  It's hard knowing that many people don't, so I feel fortunate.
Also, the new year is approaching rapidly.  2013 is coming to a close.  What is so amazing is that I actually feel inspired to be a whole new person.  It may have something to do with the Arapahoe Shooting and other hardships, but it feels really good to know that next year is a clean sheet of paper.  
I want to travel to lots of fun places during breaks and try lots of fun things.
Later this evening I want to do some yoga and maybe even drink green tea.  Heck, maybe I'll even take a hot bubble bath and then a cold shower.  It all just seems so refreshing.  
Tonight I'll write a story or two.  About what?  I don't know.  But I love writing stories, because I honestly become friends (or really despise) the characters I create.  It is an incredible thing- to have an outlet like that.  
Who even knows what I'll do tomorrow.  The point is, I'm deciding to take time for myself- to prepare myself for the new year.  I want to have the cleanest and healthiest fresh start of all.
It is extremely reassuring to know that life sort of begins all over on January 1st at midnight.  I'll work on publishing some of my drafts later on.  
Go take some time for yourself!  I hope your Christmas was very Merry!

I'm thinking for my next post, I'll work on some New Years Resolutions:) Until next time xxx.

My Apologies

I am so incredibly sorry to my readers.  It has been a chaotic time, with finals upon us and the tragedy at Arapahoe.  I have not posted anything in a couple days and I do not believe I will post anything more for at least five days.  I have to focus on studying and all the tests and just taking some time to be at peace. 
Something else I wanted to add is a huge THANK YOU to all my readers (yes, you).  I can not believe I have almost 1,500 views on Little Thoughts, Big Ideas.  Let alone that several hundred readers are from out of the United States.  I'm so blown away and beyond grateful!  So thank you all so much and thank you for understanding my absence within in the next few days.  Love and peace to you always.  Until next time xxx.

Pray for Arapahoe

"Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength."

I am sitting in my class visibly shaking. 

My high school is on a lockout, because we are only a few miles away from Arapahoe High School. 

At Arapahoe High School, a shooting has just occurred. Again, Colorado has been struck by an unbelievable act of violence. 

But it is not only Colorado with these tragic events, it's everywhere. 

From the beginning of it all at Columbine (another Colorado high school, a mere miles away from my own) to Sandy Hook Elementary, these acts of violence seem to occur more and more frequently. 

Hearing that "Your school's under lock out. This is not a drill." Is the most chilling thing a student can hear. A child can hear. We're all still children, though we're in high school. 

It's unfathomable. Lives taken while sitting in a movie theater, walking in the mall, and simply sitting in a classroom. People of all ages are being delivered back to The Lord far too soon. 

High schoolers who just want to have fun and are just beginning to live are being senselessly killed.

Elementary school students, who have not even begun to live, are being ruthlessly murdered. 

I can barely imagine the fear students, faculty, and family are enduring at this very moment, only miles away from where I live. 

But I do know the fear friends are enduring. I am a friend to some of the students at Arapahoe and I am beyond terrified. I feel sick and scared. 

The one place we are suppose to be safe- school- has become one of the most unpredictable places. 

"We brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand "

While the gunman committed suicide, the worst is not over. The healing process has only just begun. 

First there is "why?"  Why did this happen? Why do these things happen?

Then there is "who?" Who could have done this? Who does these sorts of things?  

Then there is "how?" How do these things happen? How can we stop it? How can we recover?

I do not know how long it takes students to feel safe again. I don't know how long it'll take for me to feel safe again. 

But I can't even imagine how the students of Arapahoe feel. 

I can barely imagine what it feels like to be sitting in the cafeteria or washing your hands in the bathroom and hearing gunshots. 

You're just sitting in class learning polynomial functions or about globalization when gunshots ring down the hallway. 

Suddenly, seconds drag by like hours. There are sobs and screams and chaos. 

The world seems to be spinning out of control. Your life seems to flash before your eyes and all you want is to be safe. 

Who and why are constant questions. As for the why part, sometimes we'll never understand. 

So just please pray or hope or whatever it is you do. Don't take anything for granted. Life is precious. So tell the people you love how much they mean to you. Hug your friends and family a little tighter. 

Take in account all the things you have to be thankful for. Maybe one day, instead of these tragedies occurring more, they'll finally disappear. 

#ArapahoeStrong 

All the Ways

I honestly do not care if this is self helpful.  If you want to continue reading and maybe leave with a more positive attitude, then by all means, keep reading.  But you'll have to read every word.  If you do not care enough, then it's your choice and you can click away.
But there is a heavy topic that exists out in the world.  I don't want to say it, but I want to talk about it.

Life can be incredibly difficult.  This I understand.  Sometimes, the world seems as if it's ending. I know this feeling.  We all know it, even if we never talk about it.
Sometimes things just fall apart.  We may not even realize it.  One day, things just slip away.  People walk out of our lives while others walk in.

There is a constant change in life, and it can be a struggle.  Sometimes we never feel worthy enough, or smart enough, or simply good enough.  "Why me?"  "Why am I like this?"  "Why has this happened?"

It's always why, why, why.  Life never seems to be good enough.

But look at yourself.  You are amazing.  

Your body, your eyes, your smile, your extra loud laugh, your weird sneeze, your heart and your blood and your voice.  It's all apart of you.  It is the one thing you have that no one else does.  You yourself are the one thing that no one can take away from you.  All your scars and imperfections are what make you you.

No one can destroy or hurt you once you realize that you own yourself.  No one else does.  
Now, I'm not saying that we are all invincible.  We still have feelings and thoughts.  Those are the things that destroy us.

The hardest part is controlling your thoughts and keeping them positive.

"I eat too much.  I'm fat."
"I'm dumb.  Gosh, I'm so stupid."
"No one likes me."
"I'll never get anywhere in life."
"All these bad things happen to me."

Those are all such negative thoughts that slowly rip us apart.  Understand that you are not a number.  Whether that number is on a paycheck, a report card, or the tag on your pants doesn't matter.  You are a human.  
There are always mean people out there in the world who will say things to hurt us, but we have to use our own brains to say: you're wrong.  Instead try to have thoughts like:

"I'm smart."
"My body is my body.  I love it."
"There's someone who loves me a lot."
"I've gotten so far in life."
"Look at all the good things in life."

If you actually step back and look at life as a whole, it's pretty amazing.  Bad things happen. It's life and it is not supposed to be perfect.  If life was perfect, there would be nothing to learn from.

There will always be bad days.  But for every bad day, there's a hundred more incredible days.  Think of all the great things there are in life.  Some examples in my life are:

When it's warm and raining at the same time.
Being able to read.
Books in general.
The beach.
Traveling.
Family.
Being able to write.
Having food to eat.
An untouched blanket of snow.
Laying by the fire place on a cold place.
Unconditional love supplied from pets (my dog).
The beauty of nature.
Breathing in fresh air.
Making someone laugh.
Laughing until I can't breathe.
Feeling sunshine soak into your skin.
Dancing.
Music.
Amusements parks.
Hugging someone.
Walks in the rain.
Holidays.

What are some in your own life?  I mean, look at all the things that came to me with little to no thought.  In life, there are just so many things to be happy about.  So why not just focus on those?  If we constantly live life with a more positive attitude, we will automatically be happier.  

You're good enough.  I promise.

You may be completely confused on what this is about so I'll leave you with this:

Out of all the ways to live, why choose that way to die?

Until next time xxx.

How to Deal with Stress

Recently, I have been under an unreal amount of stress.  Not only are there your typical high school pressures ("am I good enough?" "do people like me?") and all those other dumb, pointless things we worry about, but there are actual stresses.  Example one: finals.  Finals, or the huge tests we take at the end of each semester, are incredibly nerve raking.  I literally feel as though I will explode just thinking about them.  We are constantly told that if we fail in high school, we will fail in life.  There is this constant pressure to be perfect.  How is that fair?
Even this morning, my chemistry teacher was talking to me and this senior and he said, "You guys are teenagers.  What are you?  14, 15, 16, 17, 18?"  We nodded.  "Exactly.  You guys are just kids.  I don't expect you to be perfect at all."  So then, of course, I had to go ask, "Then why are we constantly told our future depends on our performance in high school?  Doesn't that sort of force us to be perfect?"
Want to know something funny?  My chemistry teacher didn't have an answer to my question.

So here is what I am trying to say: We basically skip out on our childhood without realizing it.  We are under such a heavy amount of stress and given (almost) adult responsibilities that we forget that we are young and that we should be cherishing it.  I understand we do not have to pay the bills and support our family, but we are under a pressure of our own.

How to stay calm is the real question here.  It is important to stay at peace even during times of ridiculous stress.

Here is the quick and simple solution (I have to go study): STAY POSITIVE.  I do not care if you're nervous, sad, or afraid.  Life is good.  Life could be a lot worse.  Grades do not define you.  As long as you know you tried your absolute best... that's all that matters.  Right there.  That.  Be the best you.  It is honestly that simple.  One day, these four years of high school will be small memories.  The bad times will be unimportant.  The good times will stand out.  Until next time xxx.