My amazing family.

My amazing family.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Wisdom

                    "If you're looking for wisdom, call your grandmother." - Alice Hoffman

I am lucky to have one grandmother still living. She is 92 years old, lives across the street from my home in RC, and never leaves her house. She {thinks} she knows a lot about what I do, but in reality it's all just assumptions from how many times/what time I leave the house everyday. She once told me when I was home for a weekend from college that she gets bored when I'm not home. Still, I love her. And I know she loves me, as I can tell from my visits to her house--when she thinks of anything and everything to talk about so I stay there just a tad longer. She has a big heart and we all love her (even Aunt Sharon when she has to buy her groceries and go through the checkout with Metamucil, etc.) 

How I wish I could still call my other  grandmother. My Grandma Mohr was one of the greatest women I've ever know. I didn't get as much time with her as most people my age do with their grandparents (as my mom was the youngest of 8 and I am the youngest as well), and I wish I would have cherished her time more. 

She had the strongest faith of anyone I've ever met. She was and still is an inspiration to me as I travel on my journey to strengthening my faith.

Grandma Mohr taught me many things (she's the reason I'm so good at the guilt trip), but the most important thing she taught me is on a tiny little plaque that sits on my piano at home. It says:
"Everything happens for a reason, just believe." 
This is also on a poster hanging in my dorm room, as an everyday reminder. 

As we go through life, we must remember that God has a plan for us. Each and every one of us. And everything that happens has a reason behind it. All these little things that happen in our every day lives have a purpose in the big picture.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

For the Beauty of the Earth

A friend of mine has decided to go to Europe for an undetermined amount of time. When I heard this news I thought to myself, "I would love to spend an unlimited amount of time in Europe, seeing all the gorgeous views." 

I then realized that we often take for granted the beauty we have right here in the United States-more specifically, Iowa. 

As the daughter of a city maintenance man who has to plow all of it, I was raised to dislike snow. I'm still not a huge fan of it, but pictures like this make me realize that it's just another one of God's great treasures He gives us. 




With the beautiful fall weather we had this year, it was easy to slow down on my walk to class and capture simple beauty like this: 



Now if we travel back to the place I call home, Calhoun County, Iowa, we find treasures like these: 



And the best place of all: Twin Lakes, Iowa





With our chaotic lives, it's important to stop and take in the beauty of the Earth, for God is the world's greatest artist. 




Open Your Eyes..

This speaks truth. 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Wordless Wednesday


Do You Hear the People Sing?

Two words: Les Miserables. 

As much as I love acting and singing, I actually have not seen as many musicals as one would think. In fact, I had never seen any form of Les Mis, nor had I even heard the songs. 

OH MY GOSH. Can you say LOVE?! My mom and I took a trip to Fort Dodge one night over break to get some groceries and we decided to go see it. Amazing decision. We both loved it, and I haven't stopped singing the songs since....

Reasons I loved it: 

1) It's in France. Uh, hello?! I love everything about France. (and CAN'T WAIT to go again in June)

2) The music. I honestly don't care that Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman haven't had years of training in singing, 

3) The acting. Anne Hathaway is one of my favorite actresses and Hugh Jackman is, well, Hugh Jackman. 

4) Isabelle Allen. and A Castle on a Cloud. No further words needed. 

5) This. Which I'm singing for an audition this weekend... (more information to come) 

And just the movie in its entirety. I have tossed around the thought of seeing it again...and I will most definitely be purchasing it on DVD. 

Don't know much about history...

Sam Cooke. 

Ring a bell? Probably not. 

I LOVE music like this. Music from the late 50's and 60's is one of my top favorite things to listen to. One of my favorite songs is (What A) Wonderful World by the one and only Sam Cooke. 

The reason for this post is because January 22nd is his birthday. I don't have any facts about how many number one hits he had or anything of the sort, nor do I care. All I know is that he made beautiful music that I could listen to all day, and that he died at the too-young age of 33. 

So if you've never heard of him, check it out. You won't be disappointed. 

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Christmas!

Christmas sort of went by fast- and I'm a little sad about it. It was, however, full of amazing food, great company, and lots of naps :) 

I went up to Lindsay's house a few days before Christmas to stay with the boys (who were both sick) while Chris worked and Lindsay finished some Christmas shopping. They were super cuddly, and I was okay with it! 

Sunday before Christmas we celebrated the Pedersen family Christmas. Here's the annual 'sibling' photo:



I worked during the day of Christmas Eve. Thankfully, Mike and Julie came in (and stayed to drink) and let me leave so I could make it to church. The choir sang a few songs before Mass started. I sang O Holy Night (at the front of church-scary!) with the choir joining on the refrain. 

After Mass, Ma and Pa had the bowling gang over for prime rib. I stopped over to Kristen's grandparents for a little while (because they're my second family-I have to see them on Christmas!). I came home and enjoyed the prime rib and great company :) 

Pa dressed up as Santa for Mass (per Father Brian's request) to give the message that even Santa has time to attend Mass. 




I saw Mommy kissing Santa Clause....



Christmas day we were all up and at 'em early to start cooking. Pa and I worked hard making cheeseballs and pickle wraps. The troops arrived around noon and the chaos continued throughout the day. We had 21 people total in our house for lunch. We had so much good food and we all ate ourselves into a food coma. After lunch we opened presents and then had pie. The extended family left and the immediate fam opened presents. Needless to say, our living room was pretty much a war zone. All were pleased with the gifts they received, aside from the cookie jar being located in a set of luggage given to Lindsay. She and I managed to sneak it into Shelby's luggage, but JD found it before they left. I am currently not aware of the location, and I'm worried. 

Shelby bought Kaden a marshmallow shooter and, in the words of Lindsay, "This is what Christmas is about:wearing your fuzzy fat pants and shooting marshmallows at people." 


Connor got a new Hawkeye chair

A few of my favorite people! 


So that's the wrap-up of my Christmas. Now I'm just enjoying break, visiting friends, napping quite a bit, and doing basically whatever I want. and I love it. :)