Love Abundantly

Wednesday nights have become my new Sunday mornings. Huh? That makes no sense, Mallorie. Well what I mean is that since moving to LA, I have found a church home that meets on Wednesdays nights rather than Sundays. (Our pastor is also the lead pastor at The City Church in Seattle and he preaches there on Sundays, so he's in LA on Wednesdays, for those of you that might still be scratching your heads.)

Over the past few years, Wednesday night has become a ritual, something I love and look forward to each week. It's not about the act of simply "going to church" to keep up appearances, or feeling obligated just to appease my mom, grandma, or anyone else who might be watching. It's not about what anyone thinks or doesn't think of me. It's not an event to fill up my social calendar. (Although the fellowship is definitely an upside!)

I go church on Wednesdays to hear God's message, to sing (completely off pitch - sorry neighbor!) and worship Him, to give thanks for all that He has done and continues to do in my life, and to feel uplifted by the positive energy from all of the beautiful people in the room. It's my weekly reset, my recharge, my renewal. It reignites the fire in my soul. It's the light that casts out the darkness when times are tough. It helps restore my hope when I feel down. Picks me up when I have fallen and cannot find the strength to stand on my own. Gives me direction when I feel lost or unsure. Reminds me of my truth and that I am a living, breathing miracle. It provides me with meaning and purpose and keeps me grounded. It's the foundation on which I continue to build life. 

Normally Pastor Judah delivers the message, but tonight we had the privilege to hear from Dr. John Perkins. I was so deeply moved by the message(s) he shared with us, I felt compelled to share. My exact words to my dear friend Morgan on the ride home (we carpool in her super adorable, brand new white jeep...yes, that detail is absolutely necessary!) were, "I wish I had a blog to share what we just heard!" I was so energized, my mind started racing...Should I send a mass email to my random list of contacts? Post something obnoxiously long on Facebook and attach a cute photo? Call everyone I know and tell them one by one? Some of you might be taken by complete surprise that you're still in my contact list after all these years - that could have been fun!

...but then I remembered, oh that's right I do have a blog!

If you're reading this for the first time, you might confused, so let me quickly get you up to speed. This blog was started almost four years ago now (whoa, it's really been four years?!) as a way for me to share my "new" California life with my family back home in Iowa. (Hence the name, which I thought was kind of clever at the time.) I quickly learned there are not enough hours in a day for me to tell the same stories to my mom, dad, sisters and brother, dog, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and friends, about all the fun and exciting things I was doing in LA. And it was when my Grandpa Arlin said he just wished he knew what I was up to out here, that inspired me to take action.

I started this little blog to primarily share pictures and stories from my experiences; to connect my 'old' world with my 'new' world. It was a success, for a short while at least. I'm not sure who actually stopped by, and I didn't care about how many unique visitors I got per month. If nothing else I could always count on my mom, grandparents, and maybe a friend or two to check it out, and that was enough for me.

But what was once bright, shiny, and "new" about life in Los Angeles soon became normal and ordinary (to me at least). Grandpa has since passed away, and my efforts towards my blog have fizzled out completely. In fact, right before I started writing this I looked back to see when I last posted, and it was right after my 25th birthday. Coincidentally, my 26th is just around the corner...t minus 26 days to be exact. (Strange coincidence.)

Short story long, I'm hopping back on, at least for tonight. No, this blog isn't a huge platform, nor do I have thousands (or even hundreds) of followers. This isn't intended to be some strange sermon-like post. I'm not trying to preach to you or tell you what you should or shouldn't believe. And I won't come close to fully articulating what Dr. Perkins shared.

Instead, my goal is rather simple: to share the love and joy that has been ignited deep inside my soul and has me wide awake in the wee hours of the night. 

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Dr. John Perkins is a minister, civil rights activist, theologian, philosopher, author, and community developer. Throughout his 85 years of life, Dr. Perkins has experienced incredible pain and tragedy - his mother died when he was only seven months old, he and his siblings were abandoned by their father and were then raised by his grandparents who were sharecroppers, at 16-years-old he witnessed the fatal shooting of his brother by a police officer, and he was arrested and tortured at the age of 40 by white police officers after leading an economic boycott. 

Many of us would likely have gone astray or become hardened after experiencing even one of those hardships. I mean, I will be honest here. I have questioned God's plan at every twist and turn, especially throughout these past 10 months. Not only have I questioned, but I have doubted and at times I have gotten angry. I questioned God when I got rejected from job opportunities time after time after time again...when I could barely afford the most basic living expenses...when my heart was broken into a million tiny pieces...when I was literally homeless and using my car as my closet...when two very meaningful friendships fell apart at the seams...when I have failed to reach the personal or professional goals I had set for myself...the list goes on. All of these things, which seem minor and trivial relatively speaking, have caused me to doubt my faith and question God's intention for my life.

I'm not sharing this so we can compare hardships, your life to mine or mine to Dr. Perkins, but rather as an attempt to put things into perspective and maybe even inspire. Despite all of the pain, all of the tragedy, all of the hardship in Dr. Perkins' life, he is a man who lives each day with abundant love - love for people and love for Jesus. And if he can find joy and passion and strength and meaning after all he's been through, I think we can, too.

So if you've made it this far, and I want to thank you for taking the time to read my scattered thoughts. I'm going to wrap this up by sharing a few things I took away from the night:

• On giving --- No one has ever been made poor by giving to the poor.
• On inequality --- So much of our effort is spent trying to fix the system. You cannot fix a system with another system. Instead we to come together to fix the problem itself. 
• On leadership --- A true leader turns vision into passion...and passion is when you put yourself in the pain of others.
• On finding your true self --- When you find God, then you will find yourself.
• On prayer --- When you pray you must listen for the will of God to you personally. We can ask him simply, "What must I do?"
• On strength --- The joy of the Lord is our strength.

Afterwards we were able to say hello and get a signed copy of his book, which was really neat. When it was our turn, Dr. Perkins paused from signing for a brief moment to tell us that it wasn't until he moved to California that he found himself, discovered his faith, and grew as an individual. This alone touched our hearts and was very powerful to hear, because Morgan and I have had many conversations about how much we've grown since we moved to Los Angeles almost four years ago. Sure, we've always believed, but it was here where we truly began a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Jesus. We've learned so much through our experiences and our hardships, and as we've found God, we too have found ourselves.

I leave you with the same simple message Dr. Perkins left us: Let your life be defined by love and not hate.

Happy Birthday To Me!

I celebrated my 25th (!) birthday this past Saturday, May 2nd, in beautiful Big Bear Lake. Before we left for the weekend, I was talking with my Grandma Marge and promised I would email her photos. (Everyone texts everything anymore - good morning messages, catch-up conversations, pictures, birthday wishes, everything. Sure it's easier to send a quick life update via iMessages, but I've come to appreciate that she only communicates through actual conversations. It's something we've lost, but I digress.) I figured the rest of my family might also be interested in seeing photos, so here we go.

Matt and I had the most amazing weekend celebrating my birthday in Big Bear Lake, a small city in the San Bernardino Mountains. Our weekend escape was only a couple hours away from LA, yet it felt like we were in a completely different state. It was far from your typical 25th birthday bash; no big party, just the two of us. I couldn't think of a better way to end my first 25 blessed years and start the next 25.

Granted the pictures don't do the breathtaking views any justice, but keep scrolling for a quick photo recap...

We're not in LA anymore...

Peaceful.

What used to be part of Big Bear Lake.
Evidence of the drought in California. Unreal.

Horseback riding on my birthday.
I couldn't stop thinking about how my Grandpa Arlin would have loved it there.

And we're off!
Somehow I was stuck in the back.

Oh, hello handsome.

We (well actually our horses) reached the top!
One of the most incredible views I've ever seen.

Meet Tough.

Showing Dunn some love.

Taking in the view.

A closer look. 

Beautiful. 

That night we checked out the local bars. It felt very much like home.

An intense game of pool.
I lost. Every time.

The next day Matt really wanted to go mountain biking. Relationships are about give and take, right? So I agreed. But let me tell you, I had NO idea what I was getting myself into. 

Don't let this picture fool you...
I may be all smiles, but mountain biking is HARD! And I was not very good at it.

However, the scenery was stunning, so I'm glad I gave it a try.

A very big tree.

Big Bear Lake peaking through.

He's pretty great.

I imagine Heaven looks something like this.

A well-deserved, post mountain biking lunch.

Panoramic view of Big Bear Lake.

Even the drive was gorgeous.

Beautiful end to a beautiful weekend.

Thanks for stopping by. I feel very grateful to have made so many wonderful memories with the most loving family and supportive friends over the past 25 years. Here's to the next 25! I'm excited to see what God has in store for my life.

Cheers!
Mallorie

Playing Catch-Up

Five almost six months later, here I am with another post. I haven't done a very good job keeping up with my own self this year, so for anyone that enjoys following my (sporadic and inconsistent) updates, I sincerely apologize.

I started this blog when I first moved to Los Angeles two years ago as a way to keep my family and close friends updated on whatever it was I was doing out here. Truth be told, it was my Grandpa Arlin that actually sparked the idea. I recall hearing that he made mention that he "just wasn't quite sure what I was up to" and that bothered me. I wanted to be able to tell stories of my life here to everyone I know and love, but that wasn't humanly possible. There are simply not enough hours in a day, not to mention the two hour time difference really complicated things. (Excuses, excuses.) And so, I decided to publicly "journal" my experiences as a way to tell my all my stories to everyone at one time. This way, when I spoke to family and friends on the phone, we would have more time to talk about other things.

Great idea! Or so I thought until I fell off my own bandwagon, of course. I'm not one for giving up on things, so here I am once again with hopes that I'll do better this time.

Grandpa Arlin and me hanging out at our favorite place, the Iowa State Fair.

As most of you know, my Grandpa Arlin passed away a little over a month ago, on July 10th. I will never forget that extremely devastating call from my mother who had no other choice than to tell her oldest daughter the terrible news. In a matter of seconds, my life came to a screeching halt; I was living out my worst nightmare. The truth is, my greatest fear about moving to LA was being hundreds of miles from home when something as tragic as this might happen. I guess I was sort of in denial. Even though I knew this was a chance I was taking, a big part of me didn't think I would ever see the day. 

"I drive your truck. I roll every window down. And I burn up every back road in this town.
I find a field, I tear it up til all the pain's a cloud of dust."

The trip I made home that week to be with my family, mourn our great loss together, and also celebrate a life well-lived, will forever be one of my fondest memories. I know this seems a little backwards considering death isn't something that makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside, but this one week (out of all 52 weeks in the year) was a turning point in my young adult life.

Looking through old photographs.

Death is something that stops us in our tracks and makes us really think about the meaning of life. It also has the tendency to make us reflect upon our own lives, which is exactly what happened to me. That extremely sad, whirlwind (and blur) of a week in Iowa, really got me thinking about everything. What am I doing in Los Angeles? Am I happy? Do I like my job? Do I feel fulfilled? Is it worth sacrificing everything to succeed in my career? Where do I see myself in five, 10, or even 15 years? Am I living out God's plan for me? These were all questions that played over and over and over again in my mind. It's like standing in a mirror with your entire heart and soul exposed and being forced to analyze every last piece of your inner-most being.

In a world that's ever-changing, it's nice to know some things stay the same. :)

After a lot of reflection, conversations and prayers, I came to the conclusion that no, I am not using the gifts God has given me the way He had intended. This doesn't mean I regret moving, hate what I'm doing, or think I'm wasting my time. I wholeheatedly believe I'm right were I'm supposed to be right now; that there is a method to what sometimes (or a lot of times) feels like madness.

This seems fitting :)

Through my Grandpa's passing, God taught me A LOT about love. He showed me first hand the importance of relationships, whether it be your family, your significant other, your friends, or your acquaintances. He also reminded me how much those things mean to me. At the end of the day, who is there to celebrate your triumphs, offering a listening ear, or console you when you're down? Definitely not your job or your material possessions. Just God and your loved ones. I believe life has very little meaning without a strong faith and a lot of love.

"The Sheldahl 7"
Mollie, Joe, Alex, Olivia, me, Madeline and Marshal

No, I haven't made any drastic decisions just yet. However, I am excited to say that I have officially registered with NASM to get my personal training and fitness nutrition specialist certifications! Health and fitness have always been a passion of mine, and I could see a future for myself in this industry. I'm still not exactly sure what God has in store for my life, but I find peace in knowing that He is in control. I'm excited (and slightly nervous) to see where my journey will lead me!

These nuggets are always the highlight of any trip home.

Proud oldest sister.

Thank you for continuing to follow along.

xx

Mallorie

Happy New Year... in March!

Sending wishes for a happy New Year mid-March? This is just sad and, shall I say, borderline pathetic. However, one could make the argument that your own "personal New Year" begins on your birthday. So in that case, I'm a month and a half ahead of schedule! 

Let's just proceed from here as if the New Year has just begun. In some ways, I feel like I'm starting over each day. Isn't that the beauty of a new day? The chance to leave yesterday in the past and start fresh. I think so.

"And now let us welcome the new year, full of things that never were."
-Rainer Maria Rilke

For me, 2013 was a year of change. It was a roller coaster of emotions - high highs and low lows - apparently this seems to be something that comes with being in your 20s. Funny thing is, no one warns you. Nope, instead you have to learn the hard way. (DISCLAIMER FOR ALL ALMOST-20-YEAR-OLDS: The first few years of your 20s are going to, how should I put this... well, they're going to really suck. But don't worry, they're also going to be so much fun! You're going to feel lost 50% of the time or more (most likely more). You're going to be on top of the world one minute, and the you'll think you're hitting rock bottom the next. So just brace yourself - you're in for one heck of a ride.) That being said, I truly believe that everything happens for a reason, and I wouldn't change one thing about my journey. (And yes, there are some days where I do not feel that way at all.) However, I find peace in knowing God has a plan for each and every one of us. I rest (a little bit) easier knowing it's about the journey not the destination, and one day all of this chaos will (hopefully) make sense.

That being said, I really think 2014 is going to be one of the best years yet! (Two and a half months in, I still stand by that!) I don't know what it is, but I'm feeling very optimistic about the next 289 days that lie ahead. It's crazy to think how much can happen in a year. Last January, I never would have pictured my life as it is now. While the unknown can be a little scary, it's also really exciting! The possibilities are endless!

My New Year's Resolution is pretty simple: do better. Do better in my relationships (friends, family or otherwise), with my faith, at my job, with my diet and exercise, etc. Simply do better. I think this is something that can be applied to all aspects of life, which is why I chose to make it my goal for 2014.

I spent my New Year's Eve with two of my closest girlfriends, Katie and Morgan. Of course, we did the standard New Year's Party and toasted with a glass of champagne and midnight. But at approximately 12:02 AM the three of us looked at one another and collectively decided to get In-N-Out and go home to our jammies! Lame to some, but I wouldn't have had it any other way! We all woke up feeling fabulous the next morning and started our year off right. We enjoyed a morning hike up to Griffith Observatory followed by an afternoon at the beach in Santa Monica. The highlight of my day was riding Ferris Wheel on the Pier for the very first time. (It's been on my list since I moved here almost 2 years ago!) Scroll for a few photos...

Long distance friends.

From New York all the way to LA!

Three crazy girls ready to ring in the New Year!

 New Year's Day hike!

Beautiful views that never disappoint.

Brunch at The Misfit.

Gorgeous 1st day of January!

Channeling my inner 7 year old.

View from the top.

Ending our day with drinks at Skybar.

*Sigh*

Happy New Year to all! Thanks for reading!

xx

Mallorie

P.S. More to come soon, I promise!

Home for the Holidays

I don't think I've ever been so excited to be home. Don't get me wrong, I always look forward to being home, but this time it feels different. I have been counting down the days till Christmas for what seems like years! Finally the time has come and I'm home with the people who I can always count on and who love me unconditionally - my family. 

Being hundreds of miles away from those you love really puts things into perspective and makes you much more appreciative. Every time I'm home I find myself trying to soak up every single moment. While being away gets hard sometimes, I'm thankful for what it has taught me.

In honor of being home for the holidays, I decided I would take a look back at the last time I was home: Labor Day Weekend.

These two little munchkins surprised me at the airport.

Clearly we were equally excited to see one another ;)

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Two sisters still passing for high school girls.

The ultimate Iowa sunset.

Cheering for my little cheerleader.

Cousins.

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Busted!

There we go :)

Chi O alumn - Jackie, Justina, myself and Callie.

Looking gooood after a long, hot day tailgating.

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One thing I miss most is random Saturday pool parties or Sunday dinners at Grandma's house.

I feel so blessed to have grown up in family that spends so much time together.

After meeting a lot of people in LA, I've learned that it isn't very common.

Selfishly, whenever I'm home, I urge that the entire family gets together before I leave.

I don't think anyone seems to mind :)

He secretly loves me.

And this picture will probably come back to haunt him.

Can't get enough of this little peanut.

 

This picture is just priceless.

Grandma & Grandpa Tiefenthaler and grandkids.

Grandma & Grandpa Sheldahl and grandkids.

Kid pic!

Sheldahl 7: Oldest to youngest.

Sheldahl 7: Tallest to shortest.

Hmm...

Riley, Reece and Regan helping Grandma Marge blow out her birthday candles.

This picture is priceless.

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So happy to see Ash and Lincoln, even for a minute.

Notice Lincoln is sporting the LA Dodgers hat I got for him :)

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Home sweet home.

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I will leave you with this:

Wishing you a very, merry Christmas!

xx

Mallorie