she loved life and it loved her right back.

CAPES [something empowering] When I was a little girl, I asked my grandpa what he did when he doubted his faith. He told me that whenever he doubted, he would recall the times when things had happened to him that he knew-knew-knew were because of God. Then he asked me if I had any stories like that. Being younger, I couldn't think of any. He then proceeded to tell me one of his stories. At the end, he said I could borrow his story until I got my own. I wish I could have told him before he died that I have some of my own stories now. There is nothing more powerful than someone standing in the gap and believing for you.

COFFEE [latest trend or addiction] DON'T: wash your hair every day. DO: use this fabulous dry shampoo in between washings. Oprah says you can actually "train" your hair to not need to be washed every day. However, please continue to shower frequently. Haven't found a way around that one yet. Don't you wish everyone used Dial?

THE COLOR ORANGE [something noteworthy] Try to use these words today: callipygian & gesticulations. If you succeed, please comment how it went over (especially with that first one).

her pants were tight and that's okay.

CAPES [something empowering] Fear always lies (except when it's a big bear in your tent, then for sure let fear run your butt in the other direction).

COFFEE [latest trend or addiction] I am always losing my flash drive. Recently, a friend showed me a magic pocket. Install it on your computer (it's free!), and say "bye-bye flash drive".

THE COLOR ORANGE [something noteworthy] I can't pronounce the word "peculiar". Some would also argue that I can't pronounce the word "house". However, I CAN pronounce the words "strange" and "home". Yea for synonyms.

Strrrrrrrretch yourself.

CAPES [something empowering] The pursuit of happiness is the source of all unhappiness. Look around you...find something to be thankful and happy for in your present state. Gratitude can be a really good feature.

COFFEE [latest trend or addiction] Glassybaby isn't a new trend, but giving to Haiti is...and thru the end of February, when you purchase a Glassybaby, mention "Haiti" and we'll donate 10% to the relief efforts being made by Red Cross. If purchasing online, put "Haiti" in the promo code.

THE COLOR ORANGE [something noteworthy] When my nephew wakes up from his nap, he shoots his arms straight up and stretches for a good long while. I am inspired - I need to stretch more. Thanks again, Coop, you're always teaching me something.

Don't do that.

CAPES [something empowering] Sometimes people talk about you behind your back and it stinks. The temptation is that we then feel entitled to turn around and do the very thing that hurt us in the first place. Don't do that. You'll never regret not talking bad about someone.

COFFEE [latest trend or addiction] I am absolutely addicted to TJ's tangerine juice. It's fresh, tangy, bright orange, and I'd rather drink my vitamins than take a pill. Bottoms up!


THE COLOR ORANGE [something noteworthy] They are here! Lululemon has Olympic Cheer Gear...I wish they had stuff for Holland, but the Swedish gear is pretty fun!

I am King Ahab.

Tonight I gave a talk at youth group on King Ahab.
Little did I know that going into prepping for this talk, would I discover several things about myself and the newly found importance of friends and family.
King Ahab was dubbed "the baddest of the bad". His "incident" with Naboth's vineyard gives reason as to why. The Rev. Dr. Scott Dudley calls Ahab's experience with being consumed with desire and being bitchy when you don't get your way the "if only" syndrome. Translation: Ahab's attitude was "if only I have Naboth's vineyard, then I would be happy".
Do we not do the same?
Okay, I know I totally do.
Upon reflecting on this passage, and how so much of the time I do the same, I also noticed a shift that has happened in my life. More on that "shift" later.
My "if only" for the past many years has been "if only I was married, then I would be happy". I know, it sounds so shallow. But I really believed it. REALLY did. I was waiting for it to happen, because when it did, the pieces would fall into place. Then I would really be happy. Then I wouldn't be lonely. Then I would have this "community" that I so longed for. In the process of believing this, guess what happened? Self-absorption. I totally became obsessed with just getting what I wanted. What an icky place to be. I probably wasn't the greatest person to hang out with. Most of my relationships were surfacey. And even when I would feel convicted about thinking that maybe there was something else out there besides my "if only" that could make me happy...I didn't do anything about it, because I really did believe that marriage was my ticket to happiness.
It may sound cheesy, but Cooper James Vander Pol (born March 25, 2009) shook me out of this self-centered mindset.
This is the shift I was talking about earlier.
Seeing him for the first time, I knew that there was something greater beyond my "if only" (correction, I didn't know this right away, it was a process...but looking back, it was his birth that started the process, so I give him the credit. I'll tell him when he's older...and thank him for it). Being a part of his life, and being more intentional with family really showed me that there is greater fulfillment than sitting around wishful thinking.
The trouble I have gotten into is this: when I am consumed with what I want, I miss out on things going on all around me - especially the things that God wants for me. And that is a most dangerous place to be.
I'm glad to say I've shaken off my "if only" and though it comes back to haunt me, I have learned these past 9 months that I am truly fulfilled and happy when I am asking God what HE wants for me (not what Annie wants for me...because I'm often wrong) and participating in the relationships He's already surrounded me with - like family and strong relationships I'm building with roommates and awesome ladies (yea, you know who you are).
So, Coopaloopa, Coop du Jour, King Coopa, Cooper James - thank you. I'm glad you were born to knock some sense into me.

I'm kinda a big deal...

I have recently discovered that I think I'm pretty funny and have interesting things to say, which brings me here. To the world of blogging.
My brother says the following regarding blogging:
Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few.
(I think he ripped this quote off from here)
I highly agree with him, however, for you few people out there, you're welcome and you can thank me later.

RE: the title of my blog reflects three things that I love and hold important.
CAPES: I started making capes in college when I was a Resident Assistant for a freshman coed dorm. We all made them and wore them to dorm dinners, and history was made. I now own three capes and wear them frequently. There is something empowering about wearing a cape. There is also something childish about wearing them that I embrace fully. There's a tad of Peter Pan in all of us.
COFFEE: One of my most favorite times in the day is waking up, making coffee, and sitting on my couch journaling and listening to music. It keeps me sane. It's my "me time". Coffee is my favorite addiction. I have tried giving it up many times. Those times mostly occur after I get my teeth cleaned. I come from a family of "soft teeth" - which means they stain easily. Yes, we are the family that, in drinking red wine, end up with purple teeth by the end of the night (especially you, Ryan). Awesome.
THE COLOR ORANGE: I have always loved it. It is bright, cheery, the color of Holland's national team, and I was Orange Team's leader in Mexico 5 years and running. Beat that. You can't. Okay. My favorite glassybaby is Kumquat orange. I also love things that are orange, like kumquats, cara cara oranges, purses, high heels, and the old BMW 2002 in its original rusty orange color...

Not really sure where my blog is headed, but if I had to guess, I'd say I will probably blog about the following: Cooper - my 9 month old nephew (pictures soon to come), family (they are fabulous, inappropriate at times, but you'll benefit from that since it will make for highly entertaining stories), friends and roommates, graduate school (started seminary in Aug. 2009), After School Snack (yes, the acronym is ASS, and yes that was intentional - "are we getting some ASS tonight?"..."of course we are"), and my love for karaoke. Somehow, getting myself behind a microphone invokes so much joy and energy in yours truly, that I can't find myself away from the karaoke bars too long before I'm longing to go back. I also keep an ongoing list of songs that I have performed as well as songs that I must sing ASAP. I guess I should also throw in that I will probably blog about run-ins that I have with wildlife. I love to be outside, and somehow, the animals flock to me. I take it as a compliment. To date, I have had 4 animal attacks/encounters. I made it out alive each time, but the same can't be said for 2 of the 4 animals. RIP bambi and mr. crane. And I wish you'd RIP mr. owl and flock of geese.

delusions of grandeur

CAPES [something empowering] Stop living in your delusions of grandeur. In other words, stop making excuses for people that continue to hurt you. In 2011, leave your delusions behind and choose healthy relationships.

COFFEE [latest trend or addiction] Lately, I have been putting chocolate milk into my high-fiber-but-low-in-taste cereal. It gives the illusion that I'm eating cocoa puffs, instead of something that's good for me.

THE COLOR ORANGE [something noteworthy] I love this modern décor site. It has fun and affordable ways to decorate my walls...and I especially love this wall sticker.