warm weather, long beaches and a bruised body

Right now, I honestly should be working vigorously at my Pre Calculus homework, full of parametric equations, yet I find myself compelled to write. Sometimes one just gets in the creative mood and x's and y's don't romance the heart's desire. Plus, I read over my previous posts and quite frankly, I think that they are sub par. So, in efforts to reverse the direction of this blog, I will attempt to write the best blog yet to be conceived on Halls of my High School.

On the 28th, I leave. I meet at the AirTran check-in, at the Denver International Airport. I am supposed to arrive sharply at 3:30, but our flight leaves hours later. I don't really understand that, but that's okay. The flight will hopefully be accommodated with complimentary mixed nuts, movie showing and air conditioning but seeing as how I have never heard of the airline, I'm not setting my hopes too high. Around 12:35 in the morning on the 29th, I will arrive in Orlando, Florida, jump into a van, drive to Cocoa Beach, which is one hour outside of Orlando, check-in to a hotel, sleep for 6 hours, wake up and go play lacrosse. Then, a few hours after playing lacrosse, I'm going to go play more lacrosse. Later that night, but not too much later, we (my lacrosse team if you hadn't figured that one out yet) have a game to play under the lights against Penn. Thurst, the number five team in all of Pennsylvania. Two days later, after many more lacrosse practices, an early morning team run on the beach and probably some sleepless nights, we have another game under the lights. This one is against the number one team in all of Georgia, Lassitier. Crap...even their name sounds intimidating. I don't plan on winning. I just hope to hold our own and see what our team can do. I just hope I don't get too many bruises.

But have no fear. There will never be a trip made by thirty high school kids to Florida without a whole heck of a lot of beach time. The last day at Cocoa Beach, after the bountiful lacrosse practices, early morning team runs on the beach, and games played against teams way above our level, we will be allowed to relax and enjoy some warm weather on a long beach. I can't wait to feel the sand in between my toes, hear the roar of the ocean as wave after wave barrel their way onto the beach and see the endless horizon that the majestic Atlantic Ocean has to offer.

I have a horrified excitement rushing through my veins. I can't wait to be in warm Florida. Yet I'm terrified of the 250 pound guy with a six foot pole and a Lassitier jersey on who is waiting for me their. Wish me luck. Wish my team luck. I'll try to score a goal for everyone of you. Peace be the journey to you my brother!

one in blood, but two in Christ

I have two brothers who are in New Zealand right now. Besides their blog and few emails, oh yeah and one early morning call to one of them, I haven't been able to talk to them very much. That's a hard thing. Sure one of them isn't my actual brother, but that doesn't mean that I don't look at him that way. I look up to both of them and see something that I strive for in them. They have an amazingly deep relationship with Christ and I love to see that in them. The way they, whole hearted, chase after God in everything they do is just an awesome attribute that makes me love them even more.

Well, Really the only reason I wrote this blog was to remind them that I love them, miss them and still praying for them. I can't wait to see them again and hear their stories about their adventures in New Zealand.

Oh yeah, and I wanted to let them know that I one step closer to coming out there in June. Love you guys.

do you floss...no...me either

I recently heard someone say that if it's not worth it in the end, then it's probably not worth doing. This got me to think. I soon realized the immense amount of wisdom in the saying. If you don't think that what you are doing is making a difference, then why do it at all. If the final reward, the ultimate prize doesn't tickle your fancy, then you wasted your time. I know that this idea seems obvious, and pretty well elementary and I'm quite certain that it doesn't take much to wrap your mind our it, but I hope that you don't get caught up in an arrogant tone about it. Step back and consider it. Trust me, it will be worth your time.

So then...here is a list that I have compiled, detailing on the things that I will not do any more, or at least not as often.
1.I floss, but really my teeth don't seem all that much cleaner.
2.I make my bed, but I don't sleep any better.
3.I use a towel more then once, but I don't know if were really saving that much energy.
4.I try to go to bed at an early hour, but going to bed doesn't mean I go to sleep.
5.I wipe my...just kidding.

It may be different for you. Honestly, I hope you have a different list. Why? Because you're a different person with different values and that is a beautiful thing.

But what if I were to take this idea and apply to something bigger. Not just petty, daily life things. What if I viewed my relationship with God through this idea. What would it look like. Honestly, frequently I find myself reading the bible or praying and my heart is no where to be found. My heart fell asleep a long time ago. I don't mean what I say or think. It becomes an obligation instead of a passion. It becomes something that, in the end, doesn't change a thing. I'm not trying to say maybe I shouldn't pray or read the bible anymore, no. But what I do think is that it is better to sit and try to regain the focus of your heart and mind, instead of push on without them. Make your time worth while. Make it so that in the end, all that you can say is wow. When you bring your heart, God will press his thumb into it and leave his fingerprint, and all you have to say is wow. And that is a beautiful thing.

It's not worth it to floss, if your teeth aren't any cleaner. It's not worth it to make your bed if it doesn't help you to sleep. It's not worth it to be in a relationship with God, if your heart isn't their to be changed.

politics are for grown ups

When I looked up the word politics, I found very vague and dissatisfying meanings. "The science or art of political government" or "The practice or profession of conducting political affairs." Oh so that's what it means. I get it now...(pause)...NOT! Right under these meanings came meanings like,"To take advantage of political issue or situation." Now you're getting warmer but the fact that your using the word to define itself, creates a hallow sense of definition. Yet, pulling from this what I could, I came to the final definition of "the act of talking about or expressing your ideas about the current government or the effort made to achieve an office in that government." Essentially, arguments, complaints and false hopes concerning our government.

My dad, no matter how he tries to disguise it, enjoys politics. I don't blame him because most people do. Not many people will back down from an argument just for the sake of they don't want to argue. No, if they truly feel that they are right they will argue their point until it's dead and dry. My dad, falls under this category. I usually fall under this category. Like I say, "There are three things that Haagenson's do real well, ski, drive go karts and be right." I say this sarcastically of course and try to make fun of the fact that most people see being right as something as simple as skiing or driving go karts. It's just something that is apart of their daily life. When we always think we're right, then arguments are sure to follow. And no, they don't always end in one side realizing their mistakes yet in a form of a "agree to disagree" census. So I think I'm right, you think your right, lets do politics. Hopefully my dad will chime in.

So here's my point. I'll try to make it as obvious as possible. If everyone thinks that they are right and are willing for fight vigorously for that, and most arguments don't end in "Oh, of course. I'm sorry. You're right." then why do politics? Why fight a fight that we probably won't win; a fight that will probably just leave us frustrated and holding grudges. Honestly, no one likes a grudge holder. My guess is that my dad has an answer for that question so I simply say...politics are for grown ups.

expectations suck

I'm not really a blogger, per say. I just enjoy to write from time to time. I don't have great insight on controversial topics; no profound opinions on questions of our day. I'm just a kid. I dislike English Class a lot. a whole lot. Yet, in despite of that, I find something to be satisfying when I write. So i decided to create a blog where I can hon my skills because English Class doesn't really do the trick for me.
Expectations ruin relationship. They have time and time again. And since I view this blog as a sort of relationship, and one that I would like to have not fail, I've come to the conclusion that the best thing to do is to not have expectations. I don't expect many people to read this blog. I don't expect any comments back. I really don't expect anyone to always understand what I'm trying to say. In the same fashion, I hope you, the reader, don't expect much in return. I'm not going to have ridiculously awesome blogs. There probably won't be much that you can take out of most of my blogs. And most certainly, I hope you don't expect me to post in a timely manor. Due dates aren't really my thing.
So take out of this what you can. I will do the same. We won't expect anything, and our experience together should be a pretty good one.