Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Promises
Once upon a time there was a princess. A Spanish princess named *Charity*. Charity dwelt in a palace in the west and lived two lives. In one life, she stayed with her family, wrote books, played dress up, and lived like a normal princess would. In her second life, she would sneak away and meet up with the best friend no one knew she had.
His name was Peter Pan.
Peter taught Charity many things. He taught her how to fly, he taught her all the best things to do at Disneyland, and mostly he taught her all the benefits of staying young forever. Not long after they'd first met, Charity promised Peter that she would never grow up and that she would stay with him forever.
But then something happened. Charity's father, the king, informed Charity and her little sister and little brother that they would be moving away from their palace in the west to a bigger palace farther east of there. Charity was overjoyed.
"This is good, Peter." She told him. "The people further east need our help more."
"No this is bad." Peter responded. "I can't go with you. You can't go away! If you leave, you'll grow up. You promised!"
"But I don't have a choice! I have to go where my parents take me. I'm sorry, but I have to do this."
Peter sighed, knowing she was right. "Okay. Just don't say goodbye. Because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting."
Charity nodded. Then, in October of 2004, she climbed into her carriage and rode away, leaving Peter with the promise that she would come home again someday.
Well, Charity and the royal family settled into their new palace. Charity was forced to attend public school for the first time when she was in fourth grade. And though she didn't realize it, Charity began to grow up. She forgot the best things to do at Disneyland, she forgot how to fly.
She forgot Peter Pan.
Peter waited, day and night, on the roof of the old palace for Charity to come home. His eyes would scan the horizon and he would sit for days awaiting her arrival.
Wendy, who had always envied Charity's relationship with Peter, tried to make him stop. "She's not coming back." Wendy would say. "You might as well give up on her."
"No." Peter would respond. "I know she's coming back. She promised she would. She promised." And so he would wait and wait for Charity to return.
After a while he became discouraged. Several years had gone by, and he had not received any word from Charity. "But she promised . . ." He would think and then continue waiting. But seasons continued to change and the horizon remained the same: unblinking, moving only with the people and the carriages of the west. Peter had to accept it for what it was.
Charity was not coming home.
Charity had almost fully grown up. The time for her sixteenth birthday was approaching and she would soon delve into more adulthood. Then one day, she pulled out an old box from atop her bookshelf labeled "Dreams". It was clumsily decorated by the fingers of someone she once knew and someone she once was. She set it down upon her bed. "What could be in here?"
She opened the lid and drew in a short breath as she saw what lay on top. "Peter . . ."
She had taken the picture years ago of Peter and Ariel, her two best friends. She saw the face Peter had always looked at her with. And then, she remembered. She remembered all the things to do at Disneyland and how to fly. She remembered how she'd promised to go home someday. Tears spilled onto her cheeks as she looked through more pictures of him.
As she picked up the last picture, of the two of them together, she realized that she had grown up, even though she had promised she wouldn't. She realized that she had broken several promises, and she vowed in her heart that someday, soon, she would keep one of them.
"I'm coming home, Peter." She whispered. "I promise."
His name was Peter Pan.
Peter taught Charity many things. He taught her how to fly, he taught her all the best things to do at Disneyland, and mostly he taught her all the benefits of staying young forever. Not long after they'd first met, Charity promised Peter that she would never grow up and that she would stay with him forever.
But then something happened. Charity's father, the king, informed Charity and her little sister and little brother that they would be moving away from their palace in the west to a bigger palace farther east of there. Charity was overjoyed.
"This is good, Peter." She told him. "The people further east need our help more."
"No this is bad." Peter responded. "I can't go with you. You can't go away! If you leave, you'll grow up. You promised!"
"But I don't have a choice! I have to go where my parents take me. I'm sorry, but I have to do this."
Peter sighed, knowing she was right. "Okay. Just don't say goodbye. Because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting."
Charity nodded. Then, in October of 2004, she climbed into her carriage and rode away, leaving Peter with the promise that she would come home again someday.
Well, Charity and the royal family settled into their new palace. Charity was forced to attend public school for the first time when she was in fourth grade. And though she didn't realize it, Charity began to grow up. She forgot the best things to do at Disneyland, she forgot how to fly.
She forgot Peter Pan.
Peter waited, day and night, on the roof of the old palace for Charity to come home. His eyes would scan the horizon and he would sit for days awaiting her arrival.
Wendy, who had always envied Charity's relationship with Peter, tried to make him stop. "She's not coming back." Wendy would say. "You might as well give up on her."
"No." Peter would respond. "I know she's coming back. She promised she would. She promised." And so he would wait and wait for Charity to return.
After a while he became discouraged. Several years had gone by, and he had not received any word from Charity. "But she promised . . ." He would think and then continue waiting. But seasons continued to change and the horizon remained the same: unblinking, moving only with the people and the carriages of the west. Peter had to accept it for what it was.
Charity was not coming home.
Charity had almost fully grown up. The time for her sixteenth birthday was approaching and she would soon delve into more adulthood. Then one day, she pulled out an old box from atop her bookshelf labeled "Dreams". It was clumsily decorated by the fingers of someone she once knew and someone she once was. She set it down upon her bed. "What could be in here?"
She opened the lid and drew in a short breath as she saw what lay on top. "Peter . . ."
She had taken the picture years ago of Peter and Ariel, her two best friends. She saw the face Peter had always looked at her with. And then, she remembered. She remembered all the things to do at Disneyland and how to fly. She remembered how she'd promised to go home someday. Tears spilled onto her cheeks as she looked through more pictures of him.
As she picked up the last picture, of the two of them together, she realized that she had grown up, even though she had promised she wouldn't. She realized that she had broken several promises, and she vowed in her heart that someday, soon, she would keep one of them.
"I'm coming home, Peter." She whispered. "I promise."
Sunday, June 26, 2011
An Obsession I Will Have Forever
Disney.
It's what I grew up with and it's what (if I ever have kids which I'm not planning on) I want my kids to grow up with. I fell in love with Aladdin at a young age and "Go the Distance" was my theme song for life. Jasmine was my alter ego, Ariel and Peter Pan were my best friends and Belle was my twin. I imagined Toy Story and Bug's Life were what really went on when humans weren't looking. Disneyland was my favorite place in the world (it still is). And Walt Disney was my hero. I *adore* all things Disney. This is a post of pictures and such dedicated to the obsession I will have forever.
The last two technically don't count because they aren't classic Disney but I had to include them anyway.
Taken from simpledisneythings.
It's what I grew up with and it's what (if I ever have kids which I'm not planning on) I want my kids to grow up with. I fell in love with Aladdin at a young age and "Go the Distance" was my theme song for life. Jasmine was my alter ego, Ariel and Peter Pan were my best friends and Belle was my twin. I imagined Toy Story and Bug's Life were what really went on when humans weren't looking. Disneyland was my favorite place in the world (it still is). And Walt Disney was my hero. I *adore* all things Disney. This is a post of pictures and such dedicated to the obsession I will have forever.
The last two technically don't count because they aren't classic Disney but I had to include them anyway.
Taken from simpledisneythings.
Isn't he so cute?
*le sigh*
Don't even try to tell me you don't do this.
That's Darth Vader riding Dumbo, by the way.
Okay my little post is done. But I'll leave you with the most brilliant thing I've ever heard. (And PS: This was probably one of the most fun posts to make because it's just so . . . magical).
Beautiful People: Discovering Emma (and Travis) Part Quatre!
1) What kind of music does he/she like? Emma: Classical. Her favorite composer is Vivaldi. Travis: Unknown artists with a contemporary style.
2) Does he/she like to go outside? Emma: Yes, outside is where she feels most peaceful. Travis: All the time.
3) Is he/she naturally curious? Emma: Less than she used to be. Travis: Yes, because Heidi is.
4) Right, or left handed? Emma: Right. Travis: Left.
5) Favorite color? Emma: Yellow. Travis: Green
6) Where is he/she from? Emma: The poorer area of New York City. Travis: Upstate New York, but he moved to Manhattan in Elementary school.
7) Any enemies? Emma: Herself in a sense. She's very reserved and gets down on herself often. Travis: None.
8) What are his/her quirks? Emma: Plays with her hair and bites her lower lip. Travis: Tapping his pen on a table.
9) What kinds of things get on his/her nerves? Emma: When Josh and Jamie fight. Travis: When people criticize him for raising Heidi on his own.
10) Is he/she independent, or needs others to help out? Emma: Very independent and likes things her way, but often receives help from Travis because she can't do it on her own. Travis: He can accomplish things on his own but prefers to work with others.
2) Does he/she like to go outside? Emma: Yes, outside is where she feels most peaceful. Travis: All the time.
3) Is he/she naturally curious? Emma: Less than she used to be. Travis: Yes, because Heidi is.
4) Right, or left handed? Emma: Right. Travis: Left.
5) Favorite color? Emma: Yellow. Travis: Green
6) Where is he/she from? Emma: The poorer area of New York City. Travis: Upstate New York, but he moved to Manhattan in Elementary school.
7) Any enemies? Emma: Herself in a sense. She's very reserved and gets down on herself often. Travis: None.
8) What are his/her quirks? Emma: Plays with her hair and bites her lower lip. Travis: Tapping his pen on a table.
9) What kinds of things get on his/her nerves? Emma: When Josh and Jamie fight. Travis: When people criticize him for raising Heidi on his own.
10) Is he/she independent, or needs others to help out? Emma: Very independent and likes things her way, but often receives help from Travis because she can't do it on her own. Travis: He can accomplish things on his own but prefers to work with others.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Restore Redeem Release {Cambodia Part 2}
Cambodia pictures part 2!
Alter call
The kids were incredible artists
The kids did worship for us on the last day
This little girl taught us how to count in Khmer
This was our roommate. I named him Clyde.
Jordan lost patience while trying to tell us the pink joke. We didn't know why.
Collin and this little boy matched!
We went on a prayer walk through the village
I wanted this baby
Baby ducks
The children carried Trent
Why were they so cute?
I'm getting a print of him and hanging it on my wall
The view from our hotel in Siem Reap
Fish spa
Weirdest thing I've ever done
Overall the trip was amazing. I did pop my jaw out of place, scratch my leg up, and throw up in a Tokyo airport terminal but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'll close up with one more picture. The kids asked me to take one more before I left and I love it :)
Restore Redeem Release {Cambodia Part 1}
I popped my jaw. I tried a spicy pepper. I had my feet eaten by fish. I had my Bible stolen (and then returned). I got sick. I fell in love.
I went to Cambodia.
And now, beautiful people, I am home. And I can not possibly put into words what I have experienced. I met some beautiful people, played with some beautiful children, and watched God do some beautiful things. My team has about a million and a half inside jokes. I wanted to bring all the children home with me. And since I can't explain what I went through, I'll use pictures.
The view from our hotel in Bangkok
The road we took to reach the Brightness of Unity village
I went to Cambodia.
And now, beautiful people, I am home. And I can not possibly put into words what I have experienced. I met some beautiful people, played with some beautiful children, and watched God do some beautiful things. My team has about a million and a half inside jokes. I wanted to bring all the children home with me. And since I can't explain what I went through, I'll use pictures.
Meg, me, and Collin waiting to fly to Taipei
The view from our hotel in Bangkok
Tyler catching catfish
They were massive
We went exploring in Phnom Penh
The rules the prisoners had to follow in one of the killing field prisons
There were lizards everywhere
The road we took to reach the Brightness of Unity village
They lined the road to greet us
The kids were so protective of their little siblings
Maggie and her friend
Jordan and her friend
Cute little girls watching us set up
We painted faces
We took pictures so they could see themselves
They were so cute!
We did the macarena on the street the day it rained
We took food to the people in the slums. These boys were our guides.
They literally live in their own garbage
We did VBS in the hotel parking lot
Collin saying goodbye before we went inside
The boys ate pig intestines
Cute baby with Trent's sunglasses
Playing Duck Duck Goose
Lauren with her friend
Me and my friend
My injury
They got into a mud fight
And now Blogger is being stupid and won't let me upload more pictures. I will add the rest in another post now for you!
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