One Day Without Shoes

I've been in the process of designing t-shirts again. 

{seriously so excited to reveal my newest idea!}

 Going through the process of finding designs and what kind of t-shirts I want to be in the market for has brought back memories of doing the awesome "ODWS" t-shirts. 

I don't think I ever posted about how great that whole experience was for me. And how grateful I was for all who participated. 

It was such an awesome experience to see our whole school join in and come to school barefoot.{despite many teachers disapproval, we had an awesome principal. :)}

It was incredible to have people I'd never met before join us in our walk down the boulevard barefoot.

One guy, at a gas station, took his shoes off right then and gave them to us. 

My dad had massive blisters on his feet for supporting the cause. I was so proud of him. :)

and I'm pretty sure my friend Cas went to the emergency room for her blisters. 

The Boulevard wasn't a short walk, but everyone stuck it through, and made an impact that day. 

Though we are so privileged to have shoes to wear here in our comfortable homes, there are many in the world who don't have that privilege. Raising awareness for this cause has changed the lives of thousands. Because all of us, together, joined the movement.. today one more kid is wearing a pair of shoes to school. :)

The choices you make have endless effects you may never see.

The whole thing was utterly awesome. And I still love when I see people wearing those shirts 4 years later. 

TOMS, One for One. Thank you for living your dream so we could participate in a better future.

We made a difference. :) 

{thanks to all you awesome people who took photo's of this day!}

Up only

a thousand years ago i was listening to one of my most beloved teaches in high school talk about a man he once knew. This particular man, my teacher knew as just a kid, but one day the kid changed. He saw a sign in the temple stair well that said, "Up only." Knowing it was meant for the stairs, he took it a different way. He made it his life motto. to go "up only." From the moment he looked at that sign, the kids life changed. And my teacher watched it change. the boy became nice to everyone he met. He beamed with joy as often as he could, he looked for the good in others, and he found the good in himself. he applied hard work to get where he wanted to go, and he never lost sight of that sign.

Years later my teacher stood in line at this mans wedding, waiting to shake his hand. When he did, the teacher told the man how impressive it was to watch him grow from such a young boy, to such an incredible man.. to this the man replied, I owe all my growth to the one up stairs.

he never stopped "going up."
& i have never forgotten that story. 

1 month

after Olive Garden he took me out in the middle of nowhere 

where we could see only the city lights..

we got out of the car, and he started playing the luscious sounds of Tim Mcgraw. 

as we slow danced, he sang Tim's "My best friend" 

.. he said he practiced all day long. 

then he whispered, "you know I love you, right?"

it was perfect. 

:) 

until he knelt down on one knee..

TO GET A "ROCK" OUT OF HIS SHOE.

I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest! 

what a trick trick trickaroo!!

I'm gonna give a standing ovation to Kolter for this one. ;)

in all honesty though, yesterday was perfect. 

even though it took me a million years to pick something out to wear.

 ;)

unique moments

as i am preparing for the opportunity to go with ILP again, to China, this upcoming spring semester, i have been thinking about all the things that made my past experience great.

the little things they can't really tell you about. ya know?
those things that are unique and specific just for you.

I had a lot of these things, or days, or memories. & i can only hope that China will bring as many, if not more. :)

i think my top five unique things are:

1. getting up in the middle of the night to fill a craving of cookies and cream yogurt.
{they had THE best kind!}
2. watching the skeleton baloon float arund the metro stop on our way to church.
3. sliding across the ice on my stomach, on our last night in Moscow
4. talking about alien weddings with Janelle, past experiences with Jenny, and listening to Ariels funny stories while watching her hand actions.
5. playing Star Wars Lego games on the PSP with Sergey
6. falling right out of my seat after the bus went over a bump
7. my first moments of walking into Red Square at night
8. Listening to the song "tenderness" being sung by a man in St. Petersburg
9. Playing cards with the men staying in the same Hostel as us in Estonia
10. just watching the lights of Moscow on the wet streets during our long road home. All the while listening to Josh Grobans Chistmas Cd.

there is something about being abroad that makes life completely yours. You are whoever you want to be, and you don't have to report back or pretend. It's almost magical.

I hope i get the opportunity to be a Head Teacher in China. I think the opportunity to work so closely with many kids my age, will do a great deal of good for me. I also am really looking forward to the opportunity of looooong service hours i will be able to put in. I miss serving, and helping the people around me. Being a Head Teacher is all about that. {Areil was an awesome example of that.} :) The whole thing, the timing, the place, the position, it will all work magically. I can't wait. :)

just wish you knew,

I miss my friend, every. single. day. 

Desiderata.

One of my Grandpa Reisner's favourite poems.

The more I learn about him, the more I wish I could have met him. I think him and I would have gotten along beautifully. I'm sure he could have taught me a lot. He already has, and he isn't even here..

-- written by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence. 

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons. 

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story. 

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit. 

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. 

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. 

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. 

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism. 

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass. 

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth. 

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. 

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars; 

you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be. 

And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul. 

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

I'm loosing a grandpa right now... and nothing but floods of memories and wishes are flowing through my mind. I have loved both of my grandpa's. Though, I have never met one, and the other has been distant.. my love is still there. And, will always be there. 

my prayers are with you Grandpa.

Gezahgn Wordofa

is the man that put together the Christmas party refugee camp, I volunteered at, while in Russia. 

Tonight we caught each other online, and he showed me this video. I am soooo grateful this was done, it truly shows the needs of the people all over Russia, and everywhere else. 

He is truly an inspiring, kind, and loving man. He works hard, and I am so grateful I had the chance to meet him in my International Branch back in Russia, and to help him at his party. He just got back from his homeland in South Africa, and he is already putting himself back to work in Moscow. And he says, that even though I am now far away, I can still help. Or rather I should say, WE can still help. He will give me more details on how exactly we can do that. I am excited! Like I said, this man is wonderful, he helps people believe in miracles, because he sincerely loves, and cares for them. No matter who they are.

He won't give up. He is just beginning. 

I miss

Sergey. 

I was just informed by his new teacher that he won't come to class, and he just keeps saying,

" I miss Miss Kiri..."

Well, I miss my Sergey. And I miss being Miss Kiri. 

I think one day I may have to go back to visit him. :)

one day soon.

As days go on, I am able to realize just how much Sergey changed my life. He became one of my best friends back there... and he never failed to make me smile. Him and I? We had a special connection. And we hit it off from day one.

The kid really showed me what the power of love can do.

I really really miss him :(

Grandma.

I just got a card in the mail from my beautiful Aunt Heather, in it, she said something that stopped me. 

"Grandma made a new star for you up in heaven.."

This broke my heart, in a good way. I miss my grandma more than anything. She had the best kind of love..

and I hope I can make her proud. 

..I love you Grandma.

remember and a side note.

Remember when I said the day after I graduate I'm going to take a picture everyday for a year, post it, and then blog a little about my day? Just to see where a year out of high school would take me? Well. I'm still gonna do that. I just haven't yet. cause I'm worried I won't have that option in Russia. And then the plan won't really work... But I'll figure something out. so don't be too down hearted ;) it shall come.


and, oh yeah.


I graduated High School!

and, this is Chad. :))))