Saturday, November 5, 2011

100 Things I Have Learned In My Life

1)      Never forget to leave a tip, which is 3 dollars, more than what makes you comfortable.
2)      Hugs should always be chest to chest, that’s the only warm embrace that’s real.
3)      Reuse as often as you can.
4)      Never take more food than you can eat.
5)      Give away your excess clothes to your local homeless shelter.
6)      If you make eye contact with someone, smile. No matter what.
7)      Don’t drive over the speed limit.
8)      Drink water, LOTS of water.
9)      Be random. Organization is good, but not all the time.
10)   Once a month place fresh flowers of on a grave stone, of a person you didn’t know.
11)   Visit/call your grandparents once a month.
12)   Rotate your tires and have your oil changed regularly.
13)   If (_________) hasn’t been used in a year, give it away.
14)   Wake up, and think of someone you love, and refuse to hit snooze for that person.
15)   Tell the women in your life, that they are beautiful, all the time.
16)   Hold hands more often.
17)   Take more pictures.
18)   Let your mind wander, but don’t let it ignore the present.
19)   Walk bare-foot as much as you can.
20)   Plant something every spring, even if it dies in a week.
21)   Own a pet. But don’t replace your dog for a child.
22)   Mow your neighbor’s yard once a year.
23)   Remember who your friends are, but pray for who your friends aren’t.
24)   Have the courage to be courageous.
25)   Instead of turning on the heater, make a fire in the fireplace.
26)   Make your bed every morning, in honor of those who don’t have one to make.
27)   Own a lava-lamp at one point in your life.
28)   Eat less meat.
29)   Share your umbrella in the rain, even with a stranger. Especially with a stranger.
30)   Go to church more than just on Christmas. There’s more to the story than just Jesus’ birth.
31)   Journal your thoughts and feelings, about yourself and others.
32)   Affirm others, daily.
33)   Cry, because tears are the most real thing we create without trying.
34)   Watch firework shows until they are over.
35)   Dance in the rain, but listen to your mom when she tells you to go inside, because of the lightning.
36)   Write hand written letters to people, just telling them how much you love them.
37)   Pray more often than you watch T.V.
38)   Eat out less.
39)   Go outside more, the sun is good for you.
40)   Smile.
41)   Don’t hold grudges.
42)   Don’t go to sleep angry, we aren’t granted the next morning.
43)   Tell your parents you love them, it will make their day.
44)   Play the license plate game more often.
45)   Laugh out loud every day, no excuses.
46)   Have more girls/guys nights out.
47)   Go visit the elderly in nursing homes, just sit and talk with them.
48)   Listen to less radio and more records.
49)   Teach a child something.
50)   Life is too short to be skeptical or superstitious, just go for it.
51)   Don’t regret anything, your mistakes make your stronger, and the people who judge you for your mistakes allow you learn to forgive others, so you can forgive yourself.
52)   Stop hating and start living.
53)   Ask for prayer requests from others.
54)   Actually pray for their requests.
55)   Don’t be afraid to start something, it if you can’t finish it, it isn’t over.
56)   Don’t be afraid to love someone.
57)   Have more dance parties.
58)   Memorize lyrics, and SING LOUD!
59)   Remember your body is beautiful, but don’t flaunt it.
60)   Clean up after yourself.
61)   Listen to children talk about the world, they know more than most adults.
62)   Show love to those younger than you, they choose your nursing home.
63)   Remember that each person is worth dying for.
64)   Once a friend, always a friend. Never stop loving someone, but you can still let go.
65)   Talk in accents.
66)   Make others hearts smile.
67)   Go on a mission trip to another country, roll up your sleeves and do some work.
68)   Swim in the ocean at least once in your life.
69)   Roll down your windows in the car in instead of turning on the AC.
70)   Cuddling is a fabulous idea, just about any time.
71)   When things get awkward, smile and go with it.
72)   Don’t hide your baby pictures; they’re going to be showed sometime, might as well laugh about it now.
73)   Make CD’s of brilliant car ride music for your friends.
74)   Let someone else have shot gun once and a while.
75)   Learn how to play Chess.
76)   Let the other car go first.
77)   Sit with someone new at lunch once a week.
78)   Be the first one to say Hi, and the last one to say bye.
79)   Thank a Veteran.
80)   Visit the imprisoned.
81)   If someone says the need help, don’t be the first one to question, be the first one to stand up.
82)   Don’t lose touch with your friends once they leave for college or you leave.
83)   Thank your teachers, even when it’s hard.
84)   Don’t envy others.
85)   Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
86)   Be yourself.
87)   Say you’re sorry, and admit you were wrong.
88)   Strive to leave the world a better place than it was when you arrived.
89)   Welcome all life.
90)   Our lives are meant for change, accept it change and embrace new possibilities.
91)   Stay as far away from drama as you can.
92)   Don’t let your past hold you back, rather let it push you forward.
93)   Love others, before yourself.
94)   Show compassion.
95)   Say “Bless You” when someone sneezes, even if you are the only one.
96)   Have a secret handshake with someone.
97)   Remember that when you fall there are only two things keeping you down, gravity and fear of the unknown, one of the two is figured out, the other is still to be conquered.
98)   Men should uphold the dignity of women.
99)   Women should uphold the integrity of men.
100)  Have Faith in Everything.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Beth Campanella

Beth Campanella


On October 8th 2011, a dear friend and classmate of mine was in a terrible and fatal car accident, with her little sister Katie, who unfortunately passed away, in the accident. Beth was not only left with severe injuries, such as a broken pelvis and a both arms broken, she was left an only child and without her little sister.  Beth and I are both juniors in high school, when our class with maybe 90-110 girls (All-girls school is the way to go!) got word of what had happened to our classmate, the Lord entered into ALL of our lives and was not going anyway.
Beth is vice president of our class, on National Honors Society, and not to mentation she is a tennis STUD, if you haven’t caught on by now, this girl has got it going on. She is one of the best people I have ever had the privilege to know, her kindness and joy for life has (and will always) be a part of who she is, even when struggles that seem unbearable come her way, she finds and determines herself to seek a way to find, joy, love, and the Lord within everything she faces. To say she is inspirational could not even begin to describe her fully, but it’s a start.

Since living in the St. Louis area, which isn’t small by any degree, but we aren’t talking LA large here people, so please understand that, for one person to change the whole realm of thousands upon thousands of people’s lives, is very hard to do, even within a tragedy, but if you have two people, the possibilities are endless. That’s where sweet Katie Campanella comes into the picture, though she may be gone from this earth, she is never far from loved ones hearts and minds. I personally only met Katie once, shortly before her passing, but that was enough for me to see and experience the beautiful legacy she started here on earth, and is continuing in heaven.

The day I met her, was a day I will never forget, just as the day she left this world, and I speak for her loved ones, my class, and everyone who ever knew her, or has heard her story and has been touched by it since, that they look at their lives differently now because of this beautiful 11 year old girl. If you were to ask any person, having met Katie, what they would take away from who she was or the life she lived, they might say things like, to love others always, and tell the people you care about how much they mean to you, to smile even when it’s hard, to sing and sing LOUD, be happy because life is meant to be lived happily, never give up on yourself, each day you are allowed another morning, strive to be better than you were the day before. I know for myself she has taught me, to live my life in service for others, as she did. Though she was just one girl, she was meant for a bigger purpose, a purpose of HOPE, which is just beginning to unfold with her life and passing, she taught me to love the people in my life with every aspect of my heart and soul, because they are the ones that matter the most, she also taught me to thank God for those people, because I know my life would not be where it is without them.

To Beth, you and your sister have shown me what it means to have true sisterhood and I am forever grateful for that, though Katie is not physically here, she is defiantly here spiritually, never doubt that. She is watching out for you, and is going to continue to be involved in your life, within the details.
What I mean is that, when you turn and see a sunrise, and you don’t know why you suddenly glanced and looked at it, that’s Katie putting her hand to your face, and turning your head, so you can see God’s beauty, when you need it most. When a cool breeze brushes your cheek and the warm rays hit your skin that is Katie giving you a kiss on the cheek, and a warm hug, just letting you know she’s with the Lord, and they both are loving on you constantly. Every time you look up to the sky and see the stars, know that Katie designed and aligned them herself, so her beautiful big sissy, could smile right up at her. Katie with always be with you Beth, ask her to pray for you, and with you.
“I can do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens me!” Philippians 4:13
That verse, is a shout out from the Lord that, you can do anything, literally anything, and with Katie’s help, and the man upstairs’ guidance, your life and Katie’s legacy is meant to change the world.

To all those reading this, who did not have the privilege of knowing Katie, or who may never meet Beth, allow me to give you each a challenge that not only with honor the memory of Katie, but honor the life of Beth, the challenge being…..prayer.
Though it seems, small and insignificant, as the old saying goes, if you think something is too small to make a difference, you obviously have never been in bed with a mosquito. Catch my drift?

Prayer will always change the way you, look, feel, and act toward anything. When anything bad happens, we always say, to pray for the person, and their family. Which is BEAUTIFUL, and alone is amazing, but that can’t be it, that can’t be the only time that prayer is needed or helpful, I think if I have learned anything or really been shown anything by this tragedy it is that, prayer is maybe most needed or used in times of trial, but its most affective in times of joy.
Katie’s life is something to be celebrated, with joy, happiness and lots of smiles. Beth’s recovery and future is something to be rejoiced over and distinguished as a miracle. Both involve some sort of prayer.

Prayer will allow us to celebrate Katie, and rejoice over Beth, we thank and praise God for Katie, and exalt His glory for Beth. Prayer is what connects each one of us to the Lord, and the Lord is what connects us to love, which we show to those we LOVE. Makes sense right?
Offer prayers for Beth and her family, offer prayers in thanksgiving for her parents, talk to God and just lift up their names, He’s listening, but you got to talk, but He’s a patient God, He will wait.

Whether you are teenager like me, a husband, wife, daughter or son, we all have someone in this world who we love, and we ALL have someone in a divine world, who loves US, but we are connected through prayer. Live as Katie lived, with passion and love.

St. Raphael Pray for Us!
St. Agnes Pray for Us!
St. Rita Pray for Us!
Katie Campanella, Pray for Us!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Brilliance


If you have ever believed, that you weren’t good enough, you’re to insignificant, not pretty enough, to fat, to dumb, pathetic, weird, alone, to small, or worthless, if you have ever bought into the lies that someone else has fed you, the person who was judging you obviously missed the brilliance that is YOU! Your worth, your importance, your beauty, your intelligence, your uniqueness, your presence alone, which is something marvelous in its own light, if you can find the will to see your own brilliance, then maybe others may not judge yours but rather find their own. What this world would be like if we each knew, and understood our unbelievable brilliance.