Française

Bonjour mes amis! 

When I was 13 years old (wow... four years ago), I got the wonderful opportunity to visit France for a month with my mom.  My mom's good friend is a professor who was heading up her college's student study abroad program for that whole school year.  So, we had a free place to stay is Strasbourg, France, during which time we traveled through Switzerland, walked the streets of Paris, swam in the Mediterranean Sea, biked into Germany, and hiked the mountains of Cinqa Terra, Italy.

Anyways, I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures.  Be warned, however... I am the skinny, brown-haired, braces-needy, fluffy haired girl in these pictures.  These were taken a LONG time ago.  :)

This was between Switzerland and France.

The next three pictures are of Strasbourg, France, located in Alsace, the territory long disputed between France and Germany.  My mom's friend's apartment was in Strasbourg, so we spent most of our time in this beautiful city. :)

 (me sitting by the canal in Strasbourg... notice the couple behind the stone fence on the other side :)

 (my absolute favorite building in the whole city!)

(beautiful, Strasbourg-German styled buildings)

The next four pictures are from Paris!!!  I loved Paris!!! I'd absolutely do anything to live there someday.

(me and my mom in front of the Tour d'Eiffel)

 (Notre Dame -- I loved that place.)

 (the Eiffel Tower at night!  It lights up too!)

(me at Versailles, the old royal French palace.)

(Sacre Coeur -- Sacred Heart)

And, as a side trip, my mom, Lori (my mom's friend) and I visited Cinqa Terra, Italy on the Mediterranean.  We hiked about 10 miles in 2 days up and down mountains, visited 5 little cities on foot, swam in the sea, eat seafood, pesto, petas, and cheese.  It was heavenly.  By the end, I was exhausted, and I remember being so tired that I also passed out trying to catch a train back to our little hotel. :)

(probably my favorite of the 5 cities or cinqa terras -- Vernazza)

I also did a painting of Vernazza, Italy.  The lighting on this picture is really bad, but here's my version.

It was one of the best experiences of my whole life.  And someday... someday... I'm going to go back. 

À plus tard!

Laughing At

This song has been on my ipod for FOREVER.  It's called Laughing With by Regina Spektor.  Once it's in your head, it's hard to get out.  In fact, it's gotten to the point where Jenn will be like "Stop humming that song!"  Recently I had to write a paper on a song of my choice for my English class.  At first, I thought, "How am I going to choose a song out of ALL the songs there are?"  So I got out my ipod and started shuffling, and this is the one I ended up choosing. 

To be honest, I'd never really thought about the lyrics before, and when I finally did, I was sort of confused.  In the verses of the song, she sings about how people don’t laugh at God in the midst of their troubles.  She gives different examples of hardships, like, “No one laughs at God in a hospital, No one laughs at God in a war, No one’s laughing at God, When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor.”

In the chorus, she tells about how God can be "funny" or is "made fun of" when people are happy or doing okay.  She sings, “God can be funny, At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or, When the crazies say he hates us, and they get so red in the head, you think that they’re about to choke. God can be funny, When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way, And when presented like a genie, Who does magic like Houdini, or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus.”

In essence, the song is about hypocrisy.  Why do people mock the thought of God when they feel like they don’t need Him, and then pray to God desperately for help when things get out of control?  Regina asks her listeners a question... Do you really believe God is out there?  If you do, then act like it all the time and don't mock the existence of God when you "feel like don't need Him."  If you don’t, then why don't think about God when tragedy strikes?  If He doesn't exist when life is good, then He won't exist when life is bad.  In essense, I think the song tells us to either take God seriously or give up the idea of God altogether.

At the end of the song, it says, “No one’s laughing at God, We’re all laughing with God.”  This struck me, and it gives the song a whole new meaning. The song is called Laughing With because of the last line.  But I think the song should be more appropriately called Laughing At.  I also thought it was interesting how the name God is mentioned over thirty times throughout the song, but the word God is not in the title.  Maybe no one would have listened to a song titled Laughing At God, but in truth, that exactly what this song is about.

But what does Regina mean by laughing with God?  Laugh because we know everything will turn out okay?  Laugh because the world is going to end someday and nothing on earth will "really matter?"  Laugh because once we die, we're DEAD, and there's nothing really we need to live for?  It's almost like God's just up there laughing at our short, petty little lives, and then we all realize it's all just a big joke.  For me, this last line is the most puzzling and thought provoking part of the song.  What is Regina trying to say?

I think there are many ways to interpret the ending of the song, but this is how I look at it.  We'll laugh with God is heaven.  We'll laugh when we see our sorrows turned into joys.  We'll laugh when we hear music instead of crying.  We'll laugh when we see good come out of bad.  That's when true happiness will come -- not when we think we have life figured out and not when we think we're okay on our own -- when we realize that God had it all planned out the whole time.

Listen. 

Forget

Today I learned a few things that were unexpected.  Things about love, about trust, about forgiveness.  About surrendering.  About feeling helpless.  About feeling hopeless.  About wanting to cry, wanting to fight, and wanting to give up.

It's hard to start a post like this, but let's begin with something very basic.  --> My Mom.  I love her.  She's the strongest, most sensitive, most unwavering person I know.  And she doesn't give up.  She fights for Jesus every day of her life.  She grows in His goodness, mercy, and peace.  Her life isn't easy, but she makes mine easy.  Her days aren't always fun or enjoyable, but she does everything to make mine that way.  She has laid down her life for me.  What else can I say?  There's more behind this than I can share, but her heart is constantly waging a war for the truth of Jesus.  I know God warns us as believers that a life of Christ will be filled with suffering and pain, and yet God promises to deliver us.  And I have seen that clearly with my mom.  So this is a tribute to her.  God bless you Mommy.

I had a long talk with my mom today.  About the past, about the present, about the future.  It was one of those good talks about life, about things that you don't really want to say or hear, but that are good to be spoken and heard all the same.  Her biggest piece of advice to me in everything we talked about was to follow Jesus.  To know Jesus.  Yes.  I've heard that all my life, but today I thought about it a little deeper.

Tonight my mom and I went to a small church life group, where several families got together at one of their houses and held a Bible study.  Scott, a guy from our church who helps lead a Healing Prayer service that my mom often attends, invited her to come to this Bible study, so my mom and I decided to go check it out.  It was a wonderful group of people... we eat, sang songs, read the word, and discussed what was on our hearts.  There was one thing that really stuck out to me tonight that I feel God laid on my heart.  Haha, be prepared for a sermon, but one that I much needed today… and these are my thoughts spoken from the heart.

We read 1 Corinthians 13.  I'm sure a lot of you are familar with this passage, but it's good to read again anyway! :)

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I've highlighted that parts that I've really thought about tonight.  But first, here's another verse that needs to be read.

1 John 4:8

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

So, God = love.  So, let's translate this with the parts I’ve highlighted.

God is patient.  Often I feel like I can handle life… I’m self-sufficient, I’ve got things down and under control.  I rely on myself for things to be okay.  But when we read and discussed how God is patient, God put this thought into my heart and made me share it with the others.  I am impatient with God when I don’t TRUST Him.  I begin to take things into my own hands and become self-reliance instead of trusting in His perfect timing and plan.  And I began to realize how guilty I am of this every day. 

I am nothing without God.  Yet God is patient.  God is love.  And without love, I am nothing. 

God never fails.  God is faithful.  He doesn’t give up on me.  He doesn’t turn away in disgust because we failed.  No.  God will never turn His back on us.  He never fails.  And we should never fail others.

God keeps no record of wrongs.  This was the biggest thing that I struck me today.  God doesn’t hold anything that we confess and repent of against us.  In fact, He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west, right?  Right.  But this is what blew my mind away.  Ready??  GOD FORGETS OUR SINS AFTER FORGIVENESS.  He forgets.  He doesn’t remember.  He doesn’t hang it over our heads.  God – who’s perfectly good – doesn’t have a list of our wrongdoings.  Our sins are gone.  Gone.  Forever.  Wow.

So what does this mean for me?  It means that anything anyone does against me, I must forgive, and then forget.  Forever.  Never keep a record of wrongs.  Against anybody.  Ugh, this is so hard.  Especially when I started thinking about the people I shouldn’t be holding grudges against.  But it’s so easy to keep a record of wrongs.  And yet God says LET IT GO. 

Let it go Cassie. 

Forgive.

And forget.

Obsession

So basically, I am obsessed.

Yep.

That's right.

-Sigh-

Obsessed...... with.... BROADWAY MUSICALS!

First of all, I'm going to see Les Miserables on Saturday with a couple of friend and I'm so excited!  I've never seen before (and I haven't even read the whole book yet *shaaaame on me*) but I've been listening to the music for the past month and I'm in love with it!  Plus, I've been watching the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert which has been running on tv for the past couple of weeks.  It's so amazing!  Words cannot express how amazing it is!  And I'm not just rambling on for the sake of rambling on... this show is incredible.  And I haven't even seen it yet!

One of the main characters in the show is named Enjolras.  The guy who plays him in the 25th anniversary concert is wonderful... I absolutely love him!  It took me a few times watching him, but this guy has some talent.  And currently, he is starring as the Phantom in the sequel to Phantom of the Opera called Love Never Dies.  This guy has a voice, and he doesn't even look like he's trying!  His name is Ramin (such an awesome name!! haha!)

So, in all my spare time, which isn't very much, I have been obsessing over Les Mis, Phantom, and a bunch of other musicals.  I've already seen Wicked, The Lion King, Annie, Little Women, A Christmas Carol, and Highschool Musical on Broadway.  And besides going to Les Mis this spring, I'm also going to Broadway's Mary Poppins.  And yes, I'm absolutely estatic!  I've told my family many times... if a guys likes me... A LOT.... he better take me to the theater on dates.  No cheesy restaurants or visits... we're going to do this Parisian style! :)

And speaking of spare time, I'm finally on Spring break!  I had my last final this morning (since I take 3 classes at Columbus State) and what a relief! I get a whole week and a half to worry about nothing...except for the pile of Calculus homework that I'm behind on.  But for the most part I'm free.  Such a heavenly feeling.  And I was able to work this afternoon and earn a little money to pay off my debts (going to all these plays adds up after a while!)  Next quarter should be interesting, that's for sure.  I'll be taking Beginning Drawing at OSU and Astronomy and Humanities at CSCC.  Lots of driving, lots of car time.  But, there's a plus to all that... I get to listen to the news, which I would never do unless I was in the car.  I also can listen to audio books which is quite handy, and on OSU's campus, I get to ride the bus because the parking lots are so far away!  (as you can see, I love riding buses!) 

So this upcoming three months will be a true adventure.

dancing the night away!

I have had the most glorious weekend! I went to a ball! Haha, and no I'm not princess on the way to meet her prince... NO.  It was a Celtic Ball, kind of like square dancing in sets but more formal and of course celtic!!!  In fact, a couple guys always show up in kilts each year.  I've been to this dance at least 6 times in the past, and the first time when my dad came too, he surprised my sister and I by wearing a kilt.  I wanted to die in a hole out of shame and misery, but my dad was quite proud of himself.  Thankfully, that was only the first year. :)

Indeed, Saturday was a splendid day and such a blast, especially since my sister and I had nine other girls come spend the day with us to get ready for the evening.  It was so much fun!! We all laughed, played cards, eat yummy food (love you Mommy!), did each others makeup, told secrets, got pretty, and used way too much hairspray. 

Photo credits to my mom :) And I'm the one in the white dress.

This is the end result.  Aren't we beaaaautiful?

And of course we had to get some goofy pictures. :)

Me and my pretty sister <3

I got to drive a bus full of girls up to the ball, where I saw and hugged even more of my friends.  And what's funny is when people at places like the Celtic ball know who you are, and you don't know who they are.  I had a couple of people say, "You're Cassie, right?"  Um, yeah... so who are you? lol

One of my neighbors (kinda) who I've known forever walked me in for the first dance, where we got into a conversation about Braveheart (due to the awesome bagpipe player), drama, school, and Shell Silverstein.  Another guy who asked me to dance talked about The Notebook (a movie that I don't really like but he absolutely loved, which I thought was hilarious!), adopting kids, and annoying younger siblings.  That's one of the things I love most about the Celtic Ball.  You can make friends so fast just by dancing one dance, and it's very formal while being casual at the same time.  You end up finding something in common to say, and you try to say it without messing up the entire dance.  And believe me, that's trickier said than done.

So, some of the most memorable moments of the day is laughing at Caitlin talk to the radio and her camera, playing the straw game, doing Hannah's makeup, taking hilarious pictures, playing freeze, jamming to music, seeing my friend Brooke at the ball after a really long time, and getting my feet stepped on (thanks to the guys).

By the end of it all, I was exhausted but oh so happy.  A bunch of friends and I went out to Applebee's afterward, where we made one of our friends drink a cup of salsa for $2.50 while drinking nothing afterward for at least five minutes.  He did it, unfortunately. 

A bunch of the girls came back to my house to sleepover, where we washed our faces, ate food, shared stories, laughed at the events of the night, and told juicy secrets.  When it came to waking up for church in the morning, I was an extremely sore and grumpy person. :)

But let's just say, it was all worth it!!!

::rain boots, green coat, and umbrellas::

Ahhh, keeping up with this blog is harder than I thought!  I need more time!!!  Often, I have a great idea for a blog post, but then I forget to write it.  *sighhh*  I'm going to have to work on this.

Yesterday was a huge, crazy, tiring day.  But in the midst of everything that went on, God gave me a little joy.  He gave me sunshine!!!  I even drove home from class with my sky window open!

About a week ago, I had this sudden inspiration of a photoshoot I wanted to do.  My mom just bought these adorable rain boots, so I thought, why not do outside in the puddles and take some pictures in them?  (Thankfully, my mom agreed to me going out and slopping in the mud with them as long as I cleaned them off).  Also, about 3 days ago, I bought this adorable green coat!  I looooove green!  In fact, my favorite color is teal or emerald green.  Thus, this coat makes me extremely happy!

Since yesterday was so absolutely gorgeous outside, I convinced my sister Jenn to take some pictures of me in my green coat and rain boots.  The little umbrella was an added effect out of an ingenius idea to add more color to the pictures, and it helped tie my outfit together.  I've actually had that umbella since I was 5 years old!

Thought? Favorites? Any other photoshoot ideas? 

All photos were taken by Jennoelle.  Thanks sis! :)