Free Hugs Campaign

Today I was reminded once again of how small of a world we live in. Last week in my speech class we were doing our impromptu speeches and one girl in my class mentioned this free hugs campaign. She explained what it was and I thought, hey, that's kinda cool. I should check it out on YouTube sometime. Well of course I didn't check it out because I was too busy studying and having a real life. So today on Oprah, guess what the top story was... Yes it was the Free Hugs Campaign. So I had to see this video on YouTube for myself and here it is for you.

Free Hugs Campaign. Inspiring Story! (music by sick puppies)


Here's what PeaceonEarth123 says about this video:

"Sometimes, a hug is all what we need. Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man whos sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives.

In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal.

As this symbol of human hope spread accross the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED. What we then witness is the true spirit of humanity come together in what can only be described as awe inspiring.

In the Spirit of the free hugs campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER! After all, If you can reach just one person..."

I love this whole movement and if I had the courage to hug a stranger I would love to do the same thing. What I find astounding is that police officers banned the Free Hugs Campaign. What kind of world have we come to that we can't give out hugs anymore? I am so grateful for the 10,000 people who signed that petition and even more grateful for the hundreds of others who have continued this campaign by spreading Free Hugs around the world. Let's all try and spread a little love and give a Free Hug!

Weekly Prayer Requests

Seeing that it is Sunday and that the only people who really look at this blog are Amber and Ryan (maybe a couple others but Amber and Ryan are the only ones that I know of), I thought I might do this weekly prayer request post to keep people a little more up to date with whats going on in my life. So here it goes:

• First you can pray that Dalton doesn't get sick especially since he is having his surgery in a week and a half.
• Pray for me to have strength and patience at work especially having both Dalton and Kendall.
• Pray for my classes this week and that I will remain focused throughout the rest of this semester.
• Pray for Sarah to make the right decision on whether or not to audition for the musical
• And finally pray that I can get all my travel plans and stuff for Australia all planned out by mid November

I believe that is about it. I can't think of anything else that might pertain to me personally. So I would appreciate you all being in prayer for me this week as I will be in prayer for you as all as well. Have a good Sunday everyone. Have a Happy Halloween as well.

I Think I Think Too Much

The past month and a half or so I have been playing women's league soccer at the Rec Dept. It started out really fun. We had a great team and we were the only team that had enough players. Around the third game or so, players started getting hurt and not showing up and it stopped being fun.

A couple weeks ago after I finally gave into the fact that our team was not going to succeed like I wanted us to, I decided to just accept our fate and have fun with it. So I have been trying to teach my mom how to play soccer just by giving her pointers throughout the game. Last week she was saying that she couldn't get her brain to tell her legs to do what she wanted them to in time to make the play. So I told her to not think about it and to just do it. Tonight she took my advise and she kicked butt. She played the best I have ever seen her play.

So that made me wonder. All it took for my mom to play well was to stop thinking about what she had to do and just do it. I wonder how many times in our daily lives we think too much about what we should do instead of just doing it. When we see a homeless person asking for food or money, do we think about all the drugs or alcohol that he might buy with the money that we give him instead of just helping out another human being in need? Our if we see someone hurting, do we stop and think about how we can help them, missing our opportunity to actually do what they need? I think I think too much.

Do you think about the moon? Do you think about the stars? Do you think about why we sneeze in the sun? Do you think about when you're older? Do you think about what kind of tattoo your grandkid's gonna like? Do you think about all the books you haven't read? I think I think too much.

Here's a thought. Thinking is wonderful, but if we do it too much it distracts us from living our lives the way we were born to live them. I'm not saying stop thinking completely, but to find a nice balance between not thinking at all and thinking too much. Wish me luck.

I AM SMART!!!!

Today, I had a stunning realization; I AM ACTUALLY SMART!

Now here me out. This semester has been really hard on me. I just haven't been that excited to be at school. Don't get me wrong, I love my classes (Sign Language, Public Speaking, Human Anatomy, and History and Philosophy of Sport), I just haven't been as into this semester as I have in the past. I have even been thinking about taking a semester off or even dropping out. I had my midterms last week and when I got them back I was... less then thrilled on how I did. So I kinda had to kick myself in the butt to get focused.

So anyway, back to my Ah Ha! moment today. Since I have been paying more attention in class, I have been able to follow my once very confusing professor (who looks like a Eugene Levy-Super Mario mix) in his lectures. He gives out these worksheets that we are supposed to fill in as he letures. For the first time this entire semester I was able to listen to what he said and fill in the blanks, while still understanding what he said. It was a remarkable feeling to know that I do actually belong in college and I can pull this off.

Anyway I know it's probably not that big of a deal, but it was a wonderful feeling walking away form that class and knowing that I am going to kick butt on my next exam.

Welcome to My Blog

"Many believers feel stunted in their christian growth. We beat ourselves up over our failures and, in the process, pull away from God because we subconsciously believe He tallies our defects and hangs His head in disappointment. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Father beckons us to himself with a furious love that burns brightly and constantly. Only when we truely embrace God's grace can we bask in the joy of a gospel that enfolds the most needy of his flock - the ragamuffins" - Brennan Manning

So, in response to the wonderful nagging of a certain someone (Hi Ryan!) here it is. My very own blog. It probably won't be that exciting as my life is fairly constant. I am not sure who will read this but I open my life up for all to see on the wide web. So enjoy every bit of it. This blog is just a look into the life of an Ordinary Radical; just Another Ragamuffin. Welcome to my life!