Parks in Small Towns are the Bomb

Ok, so basically, I went to Gardener a couple of weeks again, then just this last weekend I went to Wellsville. The, I guess, two things they have in common is that I have a friend from InterVarsity that lives there, and well their parks rock.

They even have two other things in common, they have an "Eifel Tower" (like in the picture), and they both have a tire swing in one sort of another.

Why is it that small town have the best parks around. I mean I am definitely not gonna go and drive like 30 - 45 minutes just to go to a park. You would think that a county as rich as Johnson County would spend it's money on some sweet parks. I am not even really sure where the best parks around are. I mean Antioch Park is nice, but no tire swing or "Eifel Tower." Shawnee Mission Park is nice and big, but there aren't really alot of play grounds around. Sar-ko-par Park is nice too. A skate park, tennis courts, "lake", volley ball courts, a pool with a slide, and even a nice big field. But yet no "Eifel Tower" or tire swing.

I don't know about you, but I am almost thinking about just going do some research and look for an awesome park in the area. Or even talk to city hall about it. "Throw up your rock fist" if your with me. (LOL TFK[thousand foot krutch] reference).

No, but if you know of any sweet parks in the Lenexa, Shawnee, Overland Park, or Olathe Area please comment and let me know. I am really loving going to parks, especially at night.

I guess maybe if we took care of our parks, we could get better and new ones. *fingers crossed*

This Weekend.... period.

Ok, so basically, my family but me is going to my cousin's wedding.

Why aren't I going? Well, let's just say my cousin and I don't really get along, never have, and who knows we may one day, but I don't want to chance it on her special wedding day. Plus, I am not sure if my Grandma is still alittle upset with my new career choice. So I want Ali to have a great wedding, and I wish her the best in everything, but I don't want to create something and mess up her big day.

So my parents and little brother are out of town, leaving me and Shea, my little dog, alone in a house to ourselves. I am really excited, I just hope I don't mess things up...

But I am really excited cause I am doing a little Korean food get together with my friends, and well it's just going to be alot of fun.

So I guess wish me luck, this weekend.

The Invisible Children Roadies are in Town with Papito and Geoffrey!!!

Opwoyo bino!

I just learned that today from my new friends Papito and Geoffrey. They are so totally awesome people along with their other Roadie Family members, Claire, Adam, Lindsey, and Stephen. We hung out and met for the first time at Scooters on 87th St. Then they followed us to SMWest for a screening. Which was a totally awesome turn out.  :)

Then I went to their following screening at KU. It was alot of fun. I got talking to Adam about the roadie life, and I know I am going to have to apply once I turn 21 so I can drive the Roadie Van. I love driving. I really do. But I saw alot of old faces at KU like Alex, Calvin, Beta, Ariel... and some few unfamiliar faces, but that's ok, because like Marcus Price says, "A friend is a stranger I haven't met." I really enjoy look at things that way because now I am trying to not take people's looks for what they are but try to actually get to know them. Honestly for me it can be hard at times, but you know it's almost worth it most of the time.We got to talking, and I taught Geoffrey and Papito how to say hello in Korean. And well to our amazement, some Korean ladies walked by and well Geoffrey was all like, " Can I say it to them?" And I was all like "What? Ohh, yeah sure try it." Then he said and the ladies were like, "Woa how did you learn how to say it? You said it very well." Well let's just say it was very ironic that he actually got to use it so fast.

Well I can't wait to see them again tomorrow night at my church. You should totally come if you live in the Kansas City Area. The screening is at Central Church of the Nazarene. 12600 W 87th st pkwy, Lenexa, KS. at 7pm.

TOMS' One Day Without Shoes

Last Thursday, April 8th, 2010, was TOMS annual One Day Without Shoes.

Honestly it was my first time doing, wasn't sure how long I would last. Surprising myself, I went the whole day without shoes, except for when I with emergency needed to use the restroom and I had to go to McDonald's. Of course I took them right off when I left. But it made me think about how we take going barefoot for just one day for granted.

I was and am still excited for the great day. I was looking around during the week about people promoting it. Seeing a range of reactions from eww that's disgusting to no way, I go barefoot everyday. I just think we buy new shoes like it's gum. We start to chew on it until we don't like it anymore and just go out and buy a new pair like it's nothing. OR We just go barefoot and could care less if we stepped on glass, but we just love the feel of grass between our toes. When there are children in these developing countries HAVE to go barefoot because they have no other choice and just can't afford another pair. Since they are going barefoot they contract diseases, some can't go to school, some walk miles barefoot to just get clean water just to clean the cuts on their feet, and skip school in the process.

I mean I am not saying I am not one of those people, which in reality if I could I probably really would go barefoot almost everyday. But sometimes, I just think we need to stop and pray for the people that are less fortunate in the world's standards, and praise God for their strength and trust in Him. Sometimes I believe they have more of that then I do. So... I have these flip-flops at home that have holes in the soles, and people laugh at me for keeping them, but in reality for me. It reminds me how blessed I am, how grateful I should be, and reminds me to pray for those I mentioned earlier.

Remember to support your favorite causes, but stick up for our fellow humans on the other side of the world. Because we are apart of a global community.

What Do I Need To Do To Make You Proud of Me?

So question... what do I need to do to make you proud of me? Become an IT Manager, and become a Godly man just like you are? Do I need to go and become a '' children's pastor'' at two different churches? Do I need to have two kids and show more love to one? Do I need to tell my kid, '' I am not going to your baptism because you are only doing it for attention."? Do I just need to kill myself, because it seems like your life would be heaven if I were gone... oh wait do you still believe in God?

It always seems to you that everything I do in my life is to get attention. Well it isn't true. if it were true, I may have joined the marines just because you did. maybe I would have stayed home and helped mommy cleaned the house. Maybe i would be the perfect little angel you always wanted me to be. Get  all A's, be skinny, be active, move out, listen to you ALL THE TIME. Well sorry... wait... I am not sorry for not being what you want me to be.

I want to work for Invisible Children, work for World Vision, work for TOMS, work for Falling Whistles, go to Uganda, go to Swaziland, go to Kenya, or go to some third world country. It's not because I like the organization, it is because God has called me to do that.

Sorry to disappoint you dad, that I am not going to live in some nice apartment while working 60+ hours a week cooking food. Sorry for disappointing Grandma. I can not face her at the wedding, I won't be going. I can't face anyone.

I feel like Jared before he bumped into David. Alone, in need, in want of a family... a loving family... a loving father.

If you are reading this. I don't want you to change unless you want to change.

You are constantly telling me to get my priorities straight, and I tell you that I do. I do have them straight. God, God's purpose, friends, family, school, work. And, yes, I believe that school and work go that low on my priorities list. And, yes, Invisible Children would fall under God's Purpose. I feel God calling me to this amazing Organization, whether you believe me or not is your choice.

I am just frustrated that I tell you that "by the way, 5 people found the lord this week." All you can say is, " Yeah I read that on Facebook." not even a '' Wow that's amazing, Praise God'' or '' I am PROUD  of you for going outside your comfort zone.''

I bet you don't even know what my comfort zone is. I bet you don't even know what I believe God wants me to do in Third World Countries.

It's nice to know that I have at least one father, who really loves me and cares about what I do or think.

Forgotten Daugther,
Laura