Carolyn Wanberg in Bolivia

My best friend, Carolyn, is currently in Bolivia (awesome, right?!) enrolled in Spanish language school. We have known each other and been close friends for almost four years now, so watching her go off an experience this new adventure has been extremely exciting yet heart breaking at the same time. As much as I would have LOVED her to stay in Omaha with me, I can't help just to be so ecstatic for her as she learns more about the Latin American culture and as she becomes fluent in the language. She has a pretty amazing blog that you should check out an read, even if you don't know her.

Her stories will definitely motivate you and inspire you... not to mention, make you laugh. (Read her post from today, Friday July 23rd.... HILARIOUS!)

Carolyn in Bolivia

ReChurch

Hey Friends and Family!

I'm not really able to write an entire post right now, but if you want, please check out the website for ReChurch, the church I am interning at in New Zealand starting in January!

I am working on my support letters right now, so it reminded me to encourage you all to check out their site to see what you think!

ReChurch in ChristChurch, New Zealand

Do it to it, Lars.

Leonardo, O Leonardo!

I have had my share of celebrity crushes.

Let's see, well, there was Andrew Keegan. Bad boy from "Camp Nowhere" and douchebag model in "10 Things I Hate About You." There was also Deven Sawa, dream boat from "Casper" and "Now and Then". His hair was just so luscious. OH, and I can't forget "Wild America"... shout out to JTT being in that movie too, even though my sister had a biggest crush on him than I did. Who else... hmmm... well, Joey Lawrence (Lawrence Brothers... "Brotherly Love" anyone?), the main character from that Disney channel show 'The Famous Jett Jackson', the red ranger, George Clooney, one of the guys from that band BBMak, Rupert Grint (aka Ron Weasley... yeah yeah, I know, he's a ginger...), Orlando Bloom (Helllloooooo Legolas and Will Turner), and Jake Gyllenhall. Yes, I am sure there have been more, but even despite this long list of individuals, there is only one celebrity crush that has lived up to the hype.

This is the hardest crush to fight... well, to be honest, I'm not fighting very hard. He's the only one I would IMMEADIATELY say 'yes' to if he asked me to marry him. I truly, truly adore this man. I know for a fact he is intelligent (yes, I like the brains) AND he cares about the world. With his social activism and environmental work, he captures my heart... and I have never met him. It also probably helps that he is an amazing actor and extremely good looking.

His name? Leonardo DiCaprio.

From the moment he appeared on 'Growing Pains', I couldn't help but become smitten with him. Since, my crush has just grown stronger and stronger. Good thing he is such a good actor who picks incredible roles in films so that I have an excuse to see him (... and the movie...) on the big screen. I haven't seen all of his movies quite yet, but I have seen a good number of them. Here is my list of my favorite (to least favorite) Leo movies:

1. The Departed. This one will forever be hard to beat.

2. Inception. Absolutely brilliant.

3. Catch Me If You Can.

4. Blood Diamond. Incredibly moving.

5. What's Eating Gilbert Grape. If you haven't seen this, DO IT. This movie proves how good of an actor, even at such a young age, he is/was.

6. Shutter's Island. CRAZY.

7. Romeo & Juliet. Beautiful Rendition of the classic.

8. Revolutionary Road. Depressing, yet tragically truthful and beautiful.

9. Gangs of New York. I like bloody movies.

10. The Basketball Diaries.

11. The Aviator.

12. Titanic. Everyone "hates" this movie, but c'mon, it is one

of the highest grossing movies in history, so you have to give it some credit.

13. The Beach.

14. The Man in the Iron Mask. (This was the only movie I TRULY hated. Good thing he's so adorable and he just picked a sucky movie to be in.)

There's still a number of his movies I need to see, especially ones from his early years, but nonetheless, he has never really disappointed me and

I can say without any hesitation that he is one of the most brilliant actors of our time. And beautiful. If you disagree, go see 'Inception', it will blow your mind.

And Leo, if you are reading this, will you marry me?