Kindness & Excitement

Since my last post about media sensationalism was a little heavy, this post is a lot more happy! Especially because I JUST finished my LAST EXAM!!! How exciting is that?!  I just finished my first full year at university in the states.  It was a long road to get here and without sounding full of myself, I'm pretty proud of the fact that I set a huge goal and with the help of lots of amazing people, am well on my way to accomplishing it!

I had a heavy heart last week.  Since last weekend, I have been overwhelmed with generosity and love; both for myself and for others. It started with a beautiful article I read about a Disney Cast member(s) who went above and beyond to create an amazing experience for some sweet girls who had to experience a horrible tragedy.  You can read it here:

Boston Marathon, Sandy Hook & the 3:00 o'clock Parade

It makes you believe in the good.  The good that fills this world and will always continue to be there.  There is a lot of sad and a lot of bad, but there is so much good that we cannot let ourselves lose sight of.  There is also this Youtube video that I absolutely love:

Restore your Faith in Humanity

This weekend I got to see the Director of the Mahima Care Home talk about what they do, what it's like, and the difference it is making.  The Mahima Care Home is a Kolkata-based girl rescue and rehabilitation home that addresses the grave injustice of sexual slavery, by providing a safe home for girls who have been rescued from the sex trade. This lady actually goes into the establishments with a team and the police and take young girls out of the sex trade and provide a place for them to live, be loved, be educated and feel safe.  It was really inspiring to hear and it makes you believe there are people being the change in the world.  

One of my friends accomplished something very important to her and super exciting, and we had a little get together to celebrate! You could tell how excited and happy she was, something I haven't seen in a while, and it was really great.  

Personally I've been showered with love as well.  I strolled into work last week, getting set up, looking for things in draws and turn around to all my co-workers with red and white balloons and a birthday cake!! They all sang and we had cake and I just couldn't believe it! I was so surprised!!

Two of my favourite ladies sent me packages in the mail, making me feel the love from 3000 miles away.  I haven't opened them yet though.  I also got a package from my parents! So fun!

I got to see my niece gallop like a horse around her new house, flutter like a butterfly, attempt to give me a house tour which was a lot of spinning and chin shots, and hear her say "Katie" over and over in the most amazing voice ever.  Hearing your name said by a little munchkin that you love? AMAZING.  There is little that can outdo the videos and pictures I've gotten of Clo lately.  She can carry on conversations! and runs around in her adorable little outfits.  Told me all about bumping her head.  She's so logical and has the most mischievous, glorious laugh that you can't help but smile about.  Even though the laugh came after a little hair pulling... She's incredible.  

Two of my dear friends in Florida have been planning a birthday celebration for me on Friday and Saturday, and last week they let it slip what we're doing.  We're going to be staying at the Grand Floridian CLUB LEVEL! I can't even believe it. I'm still in shock and still can't wrap my mind around it.  Then on Saturday we're going for Tea which I'm SO excited for! Saturday night my boyfriend takes over for dinner :) How incredible?  I'm in shock.

But it keeps going, because Sunday is when we leave for Miami, and Monday is our cruise! (Still can't believe that one either!!!!)  AND Disney announced both Disneyland and California Adventure are going to be open for 24 hours while we're there!!! SO I will have been able to spend 24 hours straight in both Magic Kingdom & Disneyland if I can convince Francel... Epic Disney Geek status. :D

How can your heart not be overflowing when you are ambushed with so much love from so many places?  I will mention that in there also Francel and I went to a movie.  After the movie I really wanted Menchie's.  It's frozen yougurt where you get to add your own toppings and they have lots of yummy flavours. I didn't want to recommend it though.  Francel opened my car door (how cute is that? Such a gentleman :) ) and then as he was walking to his side of the car I said to myself "ice cream ice cream ice cream."  When he got in his side he looked at me and said, 'do you want to get some ice cream?" I was in SHOCK! There is no way he heard me because i said it inside my head (and he was outside of the car ;) ).  I thought he was going to want cold stone, which is good, but super ICE CREAM whereas Menchie's is more froyo.  And what did he suggest? MENCHIES! So happy. lol.  I told him I'd been thinking about it and he said he just kind of got a craving while getting in the car.  EPIC.  Ask and you shall receive? 

Overall it's been an amazing week, I haven't even hit everything.  I attended a 40th birthday party where I only knew the birthday boy and his husband and one other person who left before me, and everyone was so nice and so inclusive! They asked all about school and work and were genuinely excited when I told them about my concierge job.  I LOVE friendly strangers! It was such a great afternoon. I also officially finished moving in to my new place, with the help of an amazing friend.  

So you can see how one week can make a huge difference.  The end of the semester relieves a lot of stress, and the overwhelming power of love has really left me nearly speechless this week.  Sometimes it's hard to not get caught up in all the hardship, in the ever changing visa information, the tragedies in the world, and the friends who weren't worth it.  However, if you just stop for a moment, you can see the love.  It's all around us. It's on the internet, it's in the last 5 minutes of the news, its on the faces of strangers and its in the incredible people who you surround yourself with.  Life is good. Especially today :)