Cinnamon Challenge Accepted

What is the "Cinnamon Challenge"?  Well as many of you might know, the cinnamon challenge is when you take a spoonful of cinnamon and you put it in your mouth and you try to swallow it all.  Well tonight, my friends and I were sitting around watching YouTube videos, and we came across a video of this lady called GloZell doing the cinnamon challenge.  Well, after seeing that, my friends Chris and Kyle decided that they wanted to take on the cinnamon challenge.  So check out their video!

Movie Review: The Vow

I have now seen The Vow twice.  The first time seemed as if I was at a giant slumber party because I went to go see the midnight premier across the street from my school.  It seemed as if every girl from school was in the movie theater, along with some guys... the boyfriends who got dragged along to the movie.  

About the Movie: The Vow was about two people named Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum).  Paige and Leo were married and got in a very bad car accident which left Paige in a coma.  When Paige woke from her coma, she had no recollection of what had happened in the last 5 years of her life.  She didn't even remember that she was married to Leo.  In her mind, she was still engaged to her ex-fiance Jeremy and was a law student.  Throughout the movie, Leo works to help her remember what their relationship was like and what had happened in the past 5 years.  Whether she remembers... you'll have to go see the movie for yourself!

What I Thought: After seeing the movie two times, I thought that it was a pretty good movie.  Although many may say that they did not like it, I thought the message that the movie told was a very important message.  The quote "I chose to stay with him and to remember all of the good and right things he did, rather than leaving him for the one bad thing he did.".  I think that is one of the most important things to remember; to always remember the positive things about someone, rather than holding onto all of the bad things that one person may say or do.

Other Thoughts: My dad emailed me this article called "The Real Story Behind The Vow".  I really encourage everyone to take a look at this article because it is quite interesting to read about who the characters were written after. Take a look at the exert from this article.

"The Carpenters had been married only 10 weeks when their accident occurred. Krickitt was in a coma for four months, and when she awoke she had lost all memory of the past two years, including her entire relationship with Kim. 

“When I came round from the coma, I had no memory of this whirlwind romance,” said Krickitt in a recent article.   “My parents told me that I was married to this man, and they wouldn’t lie to me, so I knew that I must have loved him deeply. But I had no feelings for him at all, and as hard as I tried, I could not conjure up those feelings.”

Kim’s efforts to help Krickitt recover were hampered by her hostility and sudden mood swings—common aftereffects of brain damage. In their book, Kim wrote:

Unpredictable described our whole relationship. What was her real personality now and how much of it was getting to the surface? How well was she communicating what she thought and felt inside? Were we seeing the new real Krickitt?

Maybe she knew how to behave, knew how to act with me, how to control her anger, how to be affectionate and forgiving, but couldn’t put her knowledge into practice somehow because of her injury. Or maybe she had no idea about any of that. I didn’t know what Krickitt was like spiritually and emotionally anymore, and didn’t know whether her true self—whatever that was—was represented in her actions, or whether there was a disconnect between what she thought and what she did."

Movie Review: This Means War

About the Movie: This Means War is a great romantic comedy/action movie staring Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, and Tom Hardy.  Throughout the movie, you learn that FDR Foster (Chris Pine) and Tuck (Tom Hardy) are working for the CIA and are also best friends.  Through different situations, they both end up meeting a beautiful woman named Lauren (Reese Witherspoon).  Both FDR and Tuck end up slowly starting to like Lauren and so they decide to both date her but not let her know that they know each other.  Through the movie, you see them both starting to get very competitive, even to the point where they are using their resources as CIA agents to spy on the other person while they are on a date with Lauren.  Who ends up with Lauren you might ask? Well, you'll just have to go see the movie for yourself!

What I Thought: I am not the hugest fan of action movies, however this movie had a great balance of action and romantic comedy.  I was definitely intrigued during the movie and I was always wondering what was going to happen next.  It was a great "Friday Night" movie and I would definitely recommend it to any one of my friends!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day.  You either love it, or you hate it.  Usually when you hate it, it's because you don't have anyone special to share the day with.  When you love it, well, that's self explanatory.  You have someone to love and share it with.

Although those are the two most common reactions towards Valentine's Day, I for one have learned to have a different view towards this day.  On Valentine's Day, I always realize how blessed I am to have the life that I have today.  19 years ago today, my parents were in China to adopt me.  Had it not been for them, I do not know what my life would be like today.  Throughout the past 19 years, I have been blessed with so many opportunities and I was raised in a wonderful loving Christian home.  I have the most wonderful family ever and I have also created some wonderful friendships too.  

For me, Valentine's Day isn't a day to realize how lonely you are if you don't have a 'Valentine' or a day to be mushy and show that you love someone more on one day than I do on another day.  For me, today is a day that I look back and I say "Thank You" to God and to my parents for how they have blessed me so much and given me all that they can to make sure that I have the best opportunities in my life.  

So for those of you who may be single on this Valentine's Day, I challenge and encourage you to take a look at your life and realize how blessed you are to have a wonderful loving family and wonderful friends.  Just because you aren't 'In a Relationship' doesn't mean that you can't show that you love you friends and family. 

Summer Work

Today at school, we had a Summer Non-Profit Organization Fair, which had so many cool opportunities to get involved in!  Most of them were various Christian Summer Camps all throughout California and even Colorado.  I could be a camp counselor or I could be a secretary for the camp, or I could even just be there serving at the camp being a part of the kitchen staff or recreation staff.  

While walking through the fair, I also came across this one table which was an organization helping students around Azusa, California who were not up to par on their education.  By being a volunteer with this program, I would be able to actually create various lesson plans and teach the students after school!  

Is it just me or does it seem like summer is coming all too quickly, despite the fact that I do want it to come?  There are just so many opportunities to think about and I also need to figure out what I want to do this summer. Any suggestions as to what I should do this summer?

My Princess Rubber Ducky that I got at the fair!

Book Review: When God Writes Your Love Story

Throughout this whole school year, it seems as if every other conversation is about dating, marriage, and getting your "Ring by Spring" (according to those here at Azusa Pacific University).  I mean, even my school has workshops about getting your "Ring by Spring"!  

Last semester I read a book called When God Writes Your Love Story: The Ultimate Guide to Guy/Girl Relationships and this book really seemed to spark many conversations.  From the many conversations that have come up since reading this book, I have been reminded that my Prince is Jesus Christ.  It is so hard with all of the chick-flick movies, songs, and everyone around you either talking to "someone" or being in a relationship.  After reading this book, I realized that I wasn't the only one who was noticing everyone around me starting to date someone.  Through talking to many of my friends who are currently "single", it seemed like they were all noticing all of the couples appearing.  It was just so funny to me that even though we all notice the relationships, and even though many will say "I wish I had a boy/girl friend", we're all happy being "single", and it's really refreshing.  


So for those who haven't read this book, I really encourage you to read it, regardless if you are "single" or "in a relationship", or whatever else your status on Facebook may say.

On another note, I read this on my friend Stephanie's blog!  I really encourage that you read it, even though it is really long.  I will admit, towards the very end of this story, I was tearing up.  So enjoy, and let me know what you think!


~Karissa


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"MARRIED OR NOT YOU SHOULD READ THIS (made me think hard) (MARRIED GUY SPEAKING) When I got home that night... my wife was serving dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had... to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her! With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now. The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again. In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request. I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office. On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her. On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. i suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’ s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore. She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart. That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I ran up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed -dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was too busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from whatever negative reaction it would have on our son, in case we pushed through with the divorce. —At least, in the eyes of our son—-I’m a loving husband…. THE SMALL DETAILS OF YOUR LIVES ARE WHAT REALLY MATTER IN A RELATIONSHIP. "IT'S NOT" the Mansion or House, the Car, Property, the Money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage! If you don’t share this, nothing will happen to you. If you do, you just might save a marriage. Most of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up..."