Funny outakes and bloopers from the Sumo video!!

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. ~C.S. Lewis

Even though his writing is not always the easiest to decipher, C.S. Lewis is one of the most brilliant writers of all time and he happens to be my favorite. He sends me for a loop 97% of the time, but when it clicks, I’m shocked at how insightful and straightforward even his metaphors are. This was exactly what went through my mind when I read the above quote. How do people think of this stuff? And how do they make it sound so good??
Let’s list some “virtues”, shall we?

Courage
Diligence
Ability
Determination
Patience
Balance
Loyalty
Purity
Self-confidence
Idealism

This is only naming a few. Now, can you carry any of these out without courage? No. Actually, most of them need the others to survive as well. But the main focus here is courage. When did we start giving up on it? When did we all start going along for the ride called “Life” and stop being loyal to ourselves by trying to make our dreams come alive? I’m being serious. There is nothing wrong with playing it safe, or with wanting a conventional life that you feel comfortable with. But why can’t dreams keep the purity and the magic that they always had?
I hear you. Because as we grow up, we realize this is the real world and its not at all how you see it when you are so young. That is not what I’m getting at. At some point, you have to have a balance in your life of idealism and realism. I had a conversation with a girl a few days ago. She told me she had always wanted to be a veterinarian. When I asked her why she never pursued it, she said “Well all kids want to be a vet when they grow up. But it normally doesn’t happen that way.” So I started wondering… why doesn’t it? Its one thing to change your mind as you get older, but its another to give up because you don’t think you can. Is this lack of self-confidence? Many children want to be astronauts. Same situation, you think you can’t. Do they not send people in to space anymore??
And now we are getting more to my point. My sisters and I were raised to be confident and never given any limits on the goals we should set for ourselves. From first hand experience I can tell you that it takes diligence to pursue and the patience for the right timing, but amazing things will happen that you didn’t think could. Somewhere in this time I feel like I stopped believing I can, however. My mind and my body crave more; more of what this life can be and what it has to offer. Why am I not seeking more? I want to change that… What do I want to be/do/see/experience? I have no idea. But I’m not going to sit around and never feel as though I gave my full potential.
Aspirations come in all shapes and sizes; they are unique to each person they belong to. Have the courage to seek what makes you happy, and have the determination to achieve the goals that only little kids still have the ability to dream.

It's Sunday afternoon, and I need a nap.

Over and out, <3 Rachel

My mom has always said to count your blessings when we were young and as you get older you truly understand that. I have truly been blessed with everything in my life from family, friends, my health, life, etc. Yeah we all get curveballs that come our way but that's life, when you step up to the plate you never know what you are going to get thrown at you. The ups and downs make you appreciate things more and make you a stronger person, so I say it's worth it all.

Today I was sitting at lunch with my mother and sister and there was a girl sitting right beside us that had to have been around Rach and I's age, she was in a wheelchair. I am not sure what or why she was in the chair but you could tell had surgery on from the scar on her throat. She had this amazing glow about her as she talked to her friend with a huge smile on her face. As I looked to the table behind us, there were three other women/girls sitting there gossiping about so and so or talking about how terrible things were at school/work. And as I sat there I thought how can someone like this sit right here not able to do everything like normal and have a huge smile on their face while someone that's perfectly normal just have the worst attitude about everything and rolling their eyes at people? I think all three of us were thinking the same thing with, how do some things happen to certain people and not to others? Why do some live all their life with nothing like that to deal with and others do? Anyone I have met with a disability has light or glow to their face that you just can't explain.

As I got up I smiled at her and she smiled back saying "Hello" and my heart just broke for her, even though she would probably look at me and go "why do you feel bad, because I don't..." It's amazing what these people go through and what they teach us and how strong a person can be. I like to consider them angels in a way that remind us that life is a great thing but it's how you live it that others see. You have to live life to the fullest because you don't know what tomorrow holds and always count your blessings, even going through the darkness.

Have an amazing Thursday evening!

-Ashley
Psalms 34: 12-15

"pretty much what everyone does on a roadtrip but just may not admit to it...."

If you saw the SugaHolic Video, you can't miss the blooper reel for it! It's flat out hilarious especially if you need a laugh!

We all try to plan things out with our lives but soon realize you have to let life happen and let the road lead you to where you are suppose to be. Have faith. Because faith is moving without knowing...

Come on, rip currents in Antarctica? Who knew!?

What is not better than relaxing at the beach with a gorgeous sunset and a cup of joe from Starbucks? Hmm, Starbucks ad you think?

If you ever thought about tubing in the ocean, think again my friend....