The Stuff of Summer

Despite the overcast, slightly chilly days, I love New England summers.
The thunderstorms are mild, but beautiful,
the rain is gloomy, but magnifies the greenery,
and the light breeze forces me to hold on tighter to the ones I love.

It's good to be home.

Home has a way of relaxing me, even when I'm stressed. I know that I am loved where I am, and that's all I really need to know. That I am loved. From that point on, I can face the rest of this world. That's probably why, in general, I am not really a stressed out person.
I know that, no matter what people's opinions of me, I am loved by the Creator of the world. That's definitely a mind-boggling relief.
I am thankful for the people he's placed in my life here at my official earthly home because through them, I see Him. Their love, to me, represents God's love, because I know that they love because He loves. Home reminds me of that.

So far, this summer has involved getting to know and love my nephew, catching up with cousins, seeing old friends who I grew up with, trying new things, sticking to old things and getting some work done.

I just love my nephew a lot. Everything about him. How is it possible to have so much love inside of me for this little human being who can't talk and who I barely know? I don't know how, but it's happened. Needless to say, that little one has my heart.
I've come to understand what God wants of me in certain areas of my life but only in glimpses. I sort of know what He wants, but I don't know when or how that's going to happen. Or maybe (probably) I don't actually understand, and I just think I do.
...And people think the Christian life is boring. Ha.

In other news, I sort of threw the majority of my reading list out the window and developed a whole new one.
Didn't read the Great Gatsby before I saw the movie, but may in fact read it anyway.
The movie reminded me of why I loved the book in the first place... depth, beautiful language, depiction of historical pains.
I picked up "To Kill a Mockingbird" off of my shelf tonight. It's been there for years, and I still have yet to read it. I'm sort of glad I didn't read it when I was young because I believe that now I can really appreciate it. So I begin that, along with two books that I have to read for RA for next year.
"Gospel Centered Discipleship" by Jonathan K. Dodson and
"Lady in Waiting" by Jackie Kendall and Debby Jones.
I started Dodson's book and so far so good. We'll see.
I'm really excited to start on "Lady in Waiting," especially since I started my new blog, Embrace the Single. I'm praying that it gives me more to think about and to contribute.
I am, however, still reading "The Picture of Dorian Gray," but it's sort of turned into my "when I'm stuck somewhere, bored and just need to read" book since it's on my iPod.
Sometimes you just need one of those books.

I'm finally getting to watch some movies that I've been wanting to watch but haven't had time for during the semester, one of which was "One Day," a 2011 picture starring Anne Hathway and Jim Sturgess. This movie genuinely took my breath away (of course, not including inappropriate scenes and so on) .. it was creative, made my heart happy and sad all at the same time and attached me to the characters. Definitely a worth while film.

I painted on Wednesday and realized how completely unrealistic my mind is- or so depicts my art. Disorganized, colorful, flowery and... swirly. Those are the contents of my brain.
Confusing. Unfocused. Passionate. Hopelessly romantic.
I don't even understand my mind.
Does everyone think in different shapes? If that's the case, I'm pretty sure the shape I think in is swirls. Is that a shape?
This reminds me of a quote from a song by the Vespers:

"People come in circles and squares
Some are hearts but they're quite rare."
-Eyes Wide Open

I love that quote. It's such a truth of life. It's like the hearts in life are the kindred spirits.
That's how I paint.. with that in mind. That there are hearts out there somewhere, despite their rarity.
I don't paint well, but somehow there is still a method to the madness.

On a different note, despite every single place I've applied to either telling me they won't hire for the summer or not getting back to me at all (even though I harrass them frequently), God has still provided me a method of work this week (and exercise).
House cleaning. Nothing crazy, but something.
And a something that helps me build my muscle index as well.
I can't complain.
Honestly, cleaning is extremely relaxing for me (unless it's my own room.. then it makes me want to procrastinate). It was enjoyable for me in general, and it was exciting that I was doing something and working hard. I've loved the opportunities of relaxation, but I really do love to work and earn.

 In my time in the Word, I have been reading Judges and I just love everything about the book (even though I have been struggling to read it daily, especially with its heavy topics). The repetitiveness of Israel's sin can sort of be disheartening at times, reminding me of my perpetual disobedience to God as a human being, but at the same time, it reminds me of God's mercy and constant forgiveness of the people of Israel.
From the book of Judges, I learn who I want to be like, who I don't want to be like, how I want to live my life and how I don't want to live my life.
I see more about the character of my God, what He expects of those who follow Him and how He interacts. Most importantly, I see my need for Him.
The Bible has a trivial way of somehow relaying that same message, despite the actual topic.

I start my internship on Wednesday, and it would probably be an understatement to say that I'm terrified. Terrified to mess up, terrified to forget what I've learned, terrified to let people down, terrified to not display Jesus to people. In addition, I'm terrified to get lost. Really though, I am the most directionally dysfunctional human being (probably on this planet), and I can't get lost. I really need to figure out where this place is...

So that's what's been happening.
Summer. Life. Love. Bliss. Home.

The Room

As I sit in my bedroom at home, its history haunts me, reminding me of who I've been and how God has changed me. I remember when I moved into this room-- eight years old and completely unaware of the utterly different, yet curiously similar girl that would sleep in the room thirteen years later.
The pictures on the wall have hung there for about nine years, some for longer and some shorter.
On the wall to the left of my closet hangs the wolf poster I designed in 6th grade (that was the class project that sparked my love for the crazy beasts) and a variety of other wolf pictures. To some, it may be an odd fascination, but I love wolves, nonetheless. Another glimpse of the nerdy-self.

The figures on my dresser have collected there over the years, my 1st grade softball trophy being the oldest member of the collection. On one side of my mirror hangs my kindergarten graduation tassel, and on the other side hangs my high school graduation cap.
The miniature piano music box given to me by my piano teacher of eight years sits on the dresser as well, and I remember the many frustrating, yet absolutely incredible years of piano lessons. I think of how my piano teacher didn't just teach me how to play an instrument but how to live a song. She always reminded me of why I should play and Who I should play for, and I haven't forgotten.

Each poster and picture on the wall has a memory and a background. In high school, I hung the 1 Peter 3:3-4 poster above my mirror to daily remind myself of the beauty that lasts in life. Pictures of my family all around my room, because I am blessed by them. Pictures of childhood friends scattered here and there, whether I'm still friends with those folks or not. Why I do keep the pictures? To remind me that friends come and go, but the LORD remains. Posters of childhood fandom and adulthood realizations, Bible verses that have especially made a difference in crucial points in my life and things with memories. I hung John 14:27 at the end of my bed during the times of consecutive nightmares, and it reminds me every night of the peace in Jesus Christ.

The bookshelf that holds many of my favorite classics and even more of my unread, literature goals. I haven't conquered the whole mini-library yet, but someday it will happen (although the books constantly seem to multiply). Books from my childhood sit up there-- the ones that sparked my love for story-telling.

The memory chest is a newer addition to my room, but one of my favorite parts of it. When we found it in the attic, I knew it would be in my life for a while. No matter how unexciting or unenchanting it's outward appearance may be, it's inward contents are priceless. Old journals, even older pictures, little artifacts that remind me of the people that have come and gone through my life, glimpses of myself from the past and dreams for myself in the future. Few secrets, but many stories.

Such a little room, yet so much history of my small life.

This summer, I plan to move to my sister's old room.
Maybe it's for the extra space. Maybe it's for the change. Maybe it's for both.
Maybe it's to remind myself that a room with a past does not define me.
It will be hard to say goodbye to this room, but it will always be my room.
No one knows it like I do.

It's time to move on.

"I buy books like most women buy shoes."

Most women struggle to walk away from a pair of stilettos and would much rather walk away with them. In a shopping bag. And with less of a checking account. 
Some women have their infatuation with nails, makeup and clothing.
Brand names, bright colors, glitter and pink.

While I love being feminine and as much as I love buying dresses and other female favorites (apart from shoes.. I hate shoes), I have a slightly different obsession.

Books.
 

The word itself gives me chills. No really, I have goosebumps as I write this. That is the level to which I love books. Classic books, Christian books, books about people, books about places, books about cultures, books about life... books books books. I love books.

Mind you, I have not read every book in my collection. Someday I will, but probably not before I'm finished with college.

I have a lot of books in my collection... and here's why.

I have a problem.
Book sale? I'm there.
$.25 book rack at my library back home? Yes.
Book section at any random store? Never leaving the aisle.
Library? O_O.
Yard sales with books? Making those people rich.
Used book store? In love.

Just as a typical female melts at the sight of a beautiful pair of Prada shoes or vibrant Sephora eye shadow, so do I melt at the sight of a used book.

"Why used? Why not new?" you may wonder.

Used books hold a special place in my heart. The thought of someone else having read that exact book before me is enthralling, their heart captured by the story and their mind quickly formulating a detailed, personal image.
New books, though holding a wonderful smell and smooth feel to the pages, have not been broken in, and there's just something about a book that has been broken in already.
I feel like I should be someone who likes to break in a book, and sometimes I suppose I do.
However, especially if it is a classic book, the older and more used, the better.

My collection is growing which I am thankful for, but until I read all of these books that I have purchased over there (and spent next to nothing on each one.. I know how to bargain hunt, people. I pride myself in this skill), I need to stay out of any sort of discount or used bookstore.

Love of Everything Les Mis

Despite my extreme love for everything Les Miserables, I have failed at blogging about the recent movie. Yes, I'm surprised too. So, literature and theater freaks, I hope this post finds you well.

I am going to start off by saying that the movie was absolutely brilliant and beautiful. I had extremely high expectations, and I was pleased that the movie did not let me down at all.

• The filming- incredible.
• The cast- perfect.
• The interpretation of the Broadway and book- spot on.
• The music/singing- beautiful.

I was both moved and impressed by the director's accomplishment. I believe it's the same man who directed, The King's Speech. Am I correct? If so, this director knows emotion. He gets it.

The story of Les Miserables may be one of the most beautiful works of literature ever written. Jean Valjean's initial condition and lifestyle of thievery is dramatically changed when he is shown grace, mercy and God's love by a humble bishop. One act of kindness changes a man's heart forever, pushing him to show the same type of love and mercy to all who cross his path. Valjean's character is a masterpiece, his person painting the portrait of a good man.When he takes in Fantine's child at her death, he has the opportunity to really know long-term love. Cosette is his blessing, and he must protect the man she loves so that she may have a future full of love (since we all know her 'heart is full of love').

I absolutely LOVE the song "One Day More" because of the way it ties the entire story into one song. Marius and Cosette's love, Valjean's fleeing from Javert, Enjolras's battle cry, Javert's intention of shutting up the rebels and the Thenardier's dirty motives even in times of war. So good. But then again, I love the entire soundtrack. I mean, Red and Black... so incredibly catchy. I Dreamed a Dream? Powerfully heart wrenching. Do You Hear the People Sing? Motivational and patriotic. ALL OF IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL. I can't stand it.

I can't even really cover everything.. there is just too much.

I heard numerous reviews that Russel Crowe and Amanda Seyfried bombed their singing parts and expected some pretty pitchy, awful vocals from them going into the film. Honestly, I thought they did a fantastic job. Seyfried's voice in general is not my favorite but that doesn't mean she did a bad job. Crowe, however, I really liked. His vocals weren't operetta, but it fit his character and his voice was on pitch, masculine and powerful.
Of course, we all know Hugh Jackman OWNED his part in every way shape and form. So much emotion. So much passion. Beautiful vocals. Incredible acting. Jean Valjean truly comes to life. Anne Hathaway, however short her part, was beautiful in this film. She was one that I was slightly worried about at first, but she completely removed any doubt I had about her being able to sing. Her vocals were absolutely chilling, her passion spilling out into her songs, and her rendition of Fantine was fantastic.
I was absolutely blown away by Aaron Tveit who played Enjrolras. His performance was incredible and his voice was perfection. While I love Marius's character and though Eddy Redmayne fit the part well, I wasn't a huge fan of his voice. He was still fantastic overall, but I definitely preferred Tveit's performance.
The Thenardier's are pretty obnoxious and dirty characters to begin with, but Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen NAILED the part. To a tee. Hysterical performance.

Can I just say, Samantha Barks? Fantastic. My heart. Ouch. So good.

http://www.lesmis.com/

There legitimately is so much to cover, but basically... if you aren't opposed to musicals, love classy films, appreciate powerful music and plot and are interested in history- this movie will blow you away.

A Jane Austen Ideal

Jane Austen will always be one of my favorite classic authors. I've only read two of her books, but I've watched almost all of her movies that are based on her books (I know, I know.. how could I..) and intend to soon read through all of her books (better?).
The characters in her novels are so passionate and intriguing that I can't help but love them, and the language is so profound and vibrant that I tend to linger over lines and soak them in.

Elizabeth Bennett is of course a favorite female heroine, her strong but wise personality admirable and fascinating. Emma is a hilarious, bold character, but I can't say that she's my favorite, while Anne Elliot (of "Persuasion".. a less popular one of Austen's but an absolutely fantastic story) just hits me as someone I would love to know.
The list of Austen's amazing female leads could go on and on, but the list of Austen's incredible male leads would just be endless.

So here's where this all gets tricky for me.
Sometimes I find myself so enamored by characters like Darcy and Wentworth that I place myself in this dream land of the "misunderstood men" who don't actually contain flaws but are rather perfect in every way once their women really get to know them.
I love literature, and I love the classic romances of famous authors like Austen, yet I realize how blinding it all can be.

Jane Austen, the woman who created these characters, built these men from her personal ideals, her female expectations forming an unattainable bar for all real, uninvented men. I can imagine how frustrating it must be for any man to hold themselves to the standards of  Mr. Darcy- wise, pondering, genuine, often taken as a harsh man when he is really ultra precious and attractively shy, his opinions revolving around his woman's preferences and wishes.
Don't forget extremely handsome, wealthy and possessing integrity levels reaching the Empire State Building. I mean, who doesn't want a man like that? But really, is there even a man that perfect?
Let's be real here.. there are great men, but there are no flawless men.

The irony of this all is that Austen remained unmarried. 
It's a wonder such standards were left unfulfilled.

Don't get me wrong, I swoon over Mr. Darcy as much as the next nerdy girl, but I do believe all of the "Darcy swooning" can be inexpressibly dangerous.

Ideals.
Dangerous ideals.

I think of Anne Shirley of L.M. Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables" series. Anne mentions to her best friend Diana that she can't marry her childhood friend, Gilbert Blythe (who loves her to the moon and back), because he doesn't meet her "ideals."
Marilla, Anne's mother figure, tells her of Gilbert's love for Anne, to which Anne replies, "Marilla, he's hardly my idea of a romantic suitor." 

Marilla's response is one I will always love and remember:

"Anne, you have tricked something out of that imagination of yours that you call romance. Have you forgotten how he gave up the Avonlea school for you so that you could stay here with me? He picked you up everyday in his carriage so that you could study your courses together. Don't toss it away for some ridiculous ideal that doesn't exist. Hmm? Now, you come downstairs and see if a good cup of tea and some of those plum puffs I made today don't hearten you."

Anne almost misses out on her perfect match (and almost ends up with the most annoying man ever).
Gilbert Blythe is simple, frank and someone she's always known, but she doesn't know how perfect he is for her.

What do we as women miss out on while we place such ideals upon men?
Of course, other factors rule into make a decision about a man (faith, family, personality, compatibility, attraction, etc.), but if the only thing holding us back is our "ideals," then what are we doing?

I love Jane Austen and the passion of her characters. I love the Bronte sisters and their deep melancholy romances. I love Elizabeth Gaskell and her complicated plots.

I love them all, but I don't want their ideals.

Summertime Moments

There's something about summertime that allows for the most perfect moments. I feel as though within the past few days I have gotten to take part in some ideal activities, whether with people or alone. I have learned more and more that some of the most "romantic moments" happen with just friends or while I'm on my own. Hey, you people in relationships aren't the only ones who get to have cute experiences..

1. Picnic lunch by the pond
The other day I took my little cousin to the park for the day. We packed sack lunches, drove with the windows down and the music up and prepped for our little "date." There's a baby-sized pond at the park, and in that baby-sized pond lives baby-sized ducks (maybe they're actually babies.. I'm not sure these days). So, we snagged our lunches, found a grassy patch and soaked up the sun while we watched the precious ducklings get attacked by cheerios (compliments of the little boys who "just wanted to feed the duckies"). I don't know about you, but it was one awesome moment.

2. Literature at dusk

I still haven't finished Wuthering Heights- go figure- but I am only four chapters away from finishing! The other day, in hopes that I would finally find out what happened (everyone keeps dying in the book and I'm not sure where this story can possibly go...), I decided to spend sometime reading. It was nice outside (I had just gotten back from the park with my cousin) and my dad was painting the deck, so I figured it would be a waste to sit inside. Well, since the deck was wet and in the works, I decided my backyard would work nicely. The sun was going down and I had to keep moving every few minutes to be in a sunny spot, but it was the most lovely experience ever. Dusk has a certain smell and feeling. It's hard to describe in words, but if you're a human being with an imagination, I'm sure you have some idea about what I'm talking about. There's just something fantastic about reading beautiful literature at dusk while lying in the grass... until your mom yells, "You're going to get ticks!" This is true.

3. Painting in the sunlight

Today I had the urge to paint. Don't ask me why considering I'm by no means an artist. However, it was perfect. The family was out on the deck and the sun was warm and friendly. Set backs? I only had three paint colors. As you can expect, that did not stop me- it just gave me an opportunity to splash paint around together in attempt to get other colors. While my pictures were pretty random and sort of ugly due to the maroon, light purple and forest green that invaded every single one of my paintings, it was a lot of fun and very relaxing. My next mission: to buy the primary colors so that I can actually mix and get colors other than mint green, mauve and brown.


So.. those were three of my "moments" this week. Don't ever think that you can't have memorable moments alone- I'm telling you, it's possible, and when they happen, they're all the more beautiful. Go enjoy summer and love life!

Soaking in the Rainy Days

It seems that about 85% of the world despises rainy days. That statistic was not legitimate, but I'm sure you get my gist. However, I am one of the 15% of my made up statistic who loves rainy days. Don't get me wrong, if it's been raining for over four days and there's a monsoon taking place, I begin to get sick of the rain. Other than that.. rain is miraculous.

"So, what can I even do on a rainy day?" you may wonder. Well, it's your lucky day! You now have a blog post in front of you to throw some ideas at you.

1. Rainy days are always the best days for writing...
   Writing blog posts- Like this one! Booya! Tell the world what you think when you have the time to think about it!
   Writing letters- Emails are so overrated. Hand-written letters are so much more personal, they're fun to write and they're even more fun to receive! Why don't people write letters anymore? They're just so fantastic. Not to mention, extremely romantic. Just saying.
   Writing stories- Let your imagination run wild! In stories, you can make up anything and everything, and it's ok, because it's a story. It can be completely fictional and terribly irrational, but that's quite alright!
   Writing memories or thoughts- I tend to absolutely love having journals simply filled with memories, favorite quotes, thoughts, recent lessons I've learned, etc. They're always a great time to read through later on in life.
   I absolutely love rainy days because I have an excuse to sit down and write whatever it is I want to write in whatever form I want to write it!
2. Rainy days are also fantastic for reading.... Whether you're a believer in Jesus Christ or not, the Bible is always a fantastic read. In addition, I'm sure you have a list of "to read" books that you still haven't touched, in which case, rainy days are calling your name! If you do not have a "to read" list, then you better get on that, because you're missing out in life. If you need some ideas, I can assure you that I can successfully supply you with worth-while reads.
3. Crafts! Don't ask me what type of crafts, because I would be the worst person to ask, but that's why people like us have websites like Pinterest and Stumbleupon. So get searching and crafting!
4. Movie marathons or Television show marathons... My current t.v. shows are Once Upon a Time and Parenthood. In general, I just love movies (as long as they're not ridiculously dirty or inappropriate). The film world is absolutely amazing- an art I truly love.
5. That extra cleaning... Come on. We all know we have that one room in our houses we avoid touching, and therefore it is a mess of clutter and hoarding. Or maybe that's just my house. Anyway, this is always a good option. Turn up the jams and get organizing!
6. Or just go run around in it! Really, why waste the rain? If it's a warmer day, go enjoy the free water park! Make a water slide outside, get out your super-soakers, and prep up those water baloons. Get the neighborhood together. Go do it now!
7. Playing your long lost instrument... for those of you who used to play an instrument way back in the day, go dust it off and have a jam session. Playing my piano is one of the most heavenly things to do on a rainy day. If you don't play an instrument, look up a youtube tutorial and learn one! Playing an instrument is one of the most relaxing, rewarding hobbies of all time...
8. Trying out new recipes... you know all of those left over ingredients in your fridge? You can now use them for something! Hooray! Search online what type of recipes you can make out of whatever it is you have stored up and get cooking.
9. Scrapbooking... remember all of those pictures you printed that you always said you'd make something cool out of but never did? Well, snag some paper, any design and any color, and start pasting. Three-hole-punch them, stick them in a binder and viola. Scrapbook.

..I'm sure more ideas will come to me later, and when they do, you can be assured that I will tack them on this list. If you have more ideas, feel free to throw them out to the rest of us!

Rain allows us to sit, contemplate and just inhale life for all it's worth. Something about the rain is so mesmerizing, forcing me to retreat into a world of my own. It's so eery and surreal.

Don't waste rainy days.. soak them in. Literally, figuratively.. however you want to do it.

Summer Books; Summer Movies

*UPDATED* ... So here's this updated and adjusted!

Summer reading and movie-watching goals.. I have many of them. Many of the movies I want to watch I've seen before but love and must watch again this summer.

So what's on the list for this summer? Maybe if I list them out publicly I'll actually read them/watch them...

Books:

1. The Sound and the Fury - by:William Faulkner --> (I'm halfway through this and still uninterested. It's very well written, but nothing really happens, which sort of defeats the purpose... Sorry, Faulkner, but if you can't get my attention by the middle of the book, you fail.)
2. Spiritual Leadership - by: J. Oswald Sanders
   *Currently Reading*
   While I'm required to read this for next year's SLD position, I am really looking forward to reading this. I'm guessing the title is pretty self-explanatory.
3. The Way of the Shepherd - by: Dr. Kevin Leman and William Pentak
   Really enjoyed this book. The author focuses on how a shepherd tends to his flock as an example of how a manager/leader is to manage/lead the group of people that has been placed under their care. The examples are perfect and eye-opening. Definitely helped me to see managing people in a completely new light!
4. Wuthering Heights - by: Emily Bronte
   ....Aaaanddd a year later, Heathcliff and Catherine's story is finally completed. Definitely a cold, dark romance, but it's so well written that no matter how depressing the storyline may be, I somehow enjoyed it.
5. Not a Fan - by: Kyle Idleman
   My leadership team for next year will all be reading this over the summer and discussing it when we get back. Apparently this book focuses on being a follower of Christ rather than just a fan, and it explains the difference. I'm excited!
6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - by: F. Scott Fitzgerald
   This was a short story, but it was one fabulous use of my time. The story is original, well-written and just plain hilarious! If you want a quick and interesting read, this is for you! Love Fitzgerald's writing style and would read this again in a heartbeat.
7. Roses for Mama - by: Janette OkeI read this years ago, but I was in the mood for a sappy Christian romance. I'm not really a fan of the writing style, but the story is cute. Just one of those girly must-haves. Gotta love the typical "orphan farm girl meets boy next door" story.
8. Pilgrim's Progress
   I read a shortened, child-proof version of this story when I was younger, but really am interested in reading the real deal. John Bunyan uses allegory to express the dynamics of the Christian life. I absolutely love the writing style and cannot wait to dive into all the symbolism!
9. The Count of Monte Cristo
   Not sure what this is about.. but it's a classic and was only 5 bucks at the used book store, so here it goes!

So, right now, that's what I've got for books. Disclaimer: This is OTHER than books of the Bible.

Films:

1. The Avengers
   Absolutely loved it. That's all that really can be said. Who doesn't love a movie with a massive amount of superheroes and cool effects? Only the crazy.
2. Jurassic Park
   Yes, I am that person that has never seen these movies, but no more. This summer, I will be cultured in the ways of giant prehistoric, man-eating animals. I'm ready.
3. A Walk to Remember
   It's been forever since I've watched this movie, but it's a classic and a must-watch. If you need a tear-jerking romance, this is the movie for you.
4. Anne of Green Gables series
   Another series that I've watched since I was a kid year after year, but must watch this summer. Since this is a lengthy series, I never have time to watch these movies during school. Anne, you are my literary hero and probably the fictional character I relate to the most. I even named one of my journals after Anne of Green Gables. Yup, these movies are definitely winners.
5. Anne of Avonlea series 
   ...and the amazing series continues...
   
6. This Means War
   All right- Reese Witherspoon is one of my favorite actresses and this movie looks hilarious. Probably going to be pretty cheesy, but now and then these cheesy movies are fantastic.
7. Madea Goes to Jail
   I recently saw "Madea's Family Reunion" and absolutely loved it. Probably one of the most hilarious movies I have seen recently. So, my goal is to watch more of these awesome Madea movies.. it will happen.
8. Snow White and the Huntsman
   This looks absolutely intriguing. I love fantasies and fairy-tale types of books and movies, and this looks like it will be amazing. Every time I see the preview it makes it more difficult to wait to see this movie.
9. Mirror, Mirror
   I know, another Snow White movie, but this seems much lighter and completely different From "Snow White and the Huntsman." This looks hilarious and a fun film, but I don't know if I would go to theaters to see it.
10. The Little Dorrit Series
    This movie is based on Charles' Dicken's book which I would be very interested to read if it wasn't the size of an encyclopedia. Just kidding, it's not that bad. Anyway, the mini-series was absolutely fantastic and brilliant. Definitely worth the 16 episodes!

 So that's what I have right now.

Why the Bible Never Gets Old

So many times have I heard those who've grown up in Christian homes, or even those who haven't, say "I already know this story in the Bible," or, "I've read this before.. why should I have to read this all over again?"
I've grown up in a Christian home and have had these exact same thoughts flash through my mind in my lifetime.. especially in the junior high and early high school years.

Well here's the thing:
God's Word isn't about the stories; it's about every Word.

I realized something recently in my life.. when I re-read books like Pride and Prejudice, it's not because I don't know how it's going to end. It's not because I forget what happens in the story. On the contrary, I can tell you that story backwards and forwards. I re-read that book because I wish to inhale the wording, soaking in every description and dreaming of every image.

Oh how we take for granted the gift of having the Bible in our hands, readily available and filled with beautiful descriptions of God's eternal love for us and our security in Him. "I know these stories. I get the concepts." How easy it is to fall into this mentality, forgetting the everlasting truths within it.

Each book, each chapter, each verse seems to have new beauty every time I read it. 
Within God's Word lies countless examples of God's faithfulness in other believers lives, giving us the capability to glimpse into their hearts and the opportunity to learn from each individual's unique relationship with God.
Within God's Word lies numerous truths, paving the way for our every day lives and teaching us how to daily overcome the struggles of this world ultimately for God's glory.
Within God's Word lies the most real and passionate love story ever told- God's love for mankind. A love that mankind did not deserve.

I legitimately get chills thinking about it.
I love Pride and Prejudice just as much as the next hopeless romantic, but no book has as much passion, truth, meaning, hope, and LIFE as the Word of God.
Well, that, and the Bible is inspired by God.. and well, Pride and Prejudice is.. not.

The Word is ALIVE. It's new every time I read it. It's fresh. It holds LIFE.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Hebrews 4:12

The array of happenings called life.

Well, I feel as though it's been quite a while since I've blogged, and I feel correctly.
I've begun about 4 or 5 blogs in the past week or so, but failed in actually writing something worth posting. So, what's been happening in my life lately.. let's see. 

Summer internship twenty minutes away from home, working with a magazine? Check.
Another possible internship for the summer after at a television station? Check.
God providing me with $75? Check. (No pun intended)
Reading the most incredible book by Francine Rivers called Redeeming Love? Check.
Spending a week with the most incredible family ever? Check.
Christmas lights popping up all over campus? Check.
Two different sorts of roommate dates in one day? (previous and current). Check. 
An encouraging prayer group today? Check.
Crazy intense workout and growing muscles? Check.
Annihilating a paper until 2 a.m. and leaving in style, mulling through the rain in a light sweatshirt and sweatpants? Check.

Random thing that I love: getting mail from friends from back home and from my campers. That is love right there...
I also love hearing from my campers and their constant reminders at what an incredible summer we had together. I learned so much from all of the incredible people I worked with, staff and campers together.

Spiritual lesson of late: God's infinite love.
No matter how unloved I feel, I AM loved.. by the ultimate lover. The CREATOR of the universe. The MAKER of time.
It's amazing how many times I can learn about God's love and still stand in awe each time. In fact, the awestruck factor grows significantly during every moment that He shows me His love, which is frequent. What really boggles my mind is the fact that God's love is even greater for me than even my closest family members. I'm not sure why I feel so "out of love" when I'm not with my family. I think I forget how much Jesus Christ loves me.. and I fail to thank Him for it.
God has definitely been showing me how much I rely on the love of people. Well, people will fail me. God will not. People may not forgive me. Jesus Christ already has. People may not always be around. God is infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. 

Another topic: it's amazing how God works things out. Situations I thought would brew and stew and eat me alive somehow evaporated... but I know that "somehow" really is not a "somehow" at all. "Somehow" implies that it was a coincidence, when I know pretty confidently that there are no coincidences with God. One quote someone posted on facebook recently was, "Coincidences are just God choosing to remain anonymous." I like that.

God is good and that's all there is to it. He takes me as I am, cleanses me from pains I cannot cleanse myself from, and restores me into a new person daily. How absolutely refreshing it is to be renewed into who God shapes me to be, rather than shaping myself. We all know I have no artistic skills. (God created the universe.. so I think it's safe to say He's pretty artistic).

God bless, and goodnight!

And Life Goes On

Well, this week has definitely been a learning experience. While some situations hurt, it's somewhat comforting to know that they could hurt much worse. I'm definitely thankful that God works things out in a way that we can handle and never gives us more than we can bear. My back's not broken yet. I've also learned to be thankful for books (above all- the Bible). In the restless times when I need to be busy instead of over thinking things, I find that reading is the perfect outlet to avoid dwelling on unchangeable issues. The Bible most definitely never gets old- it actually seems new every time I read it. I'm also planning on starting The House of the Seven Gables ..mostly because I just wrote a paper on Nathaniel Hawthorne and I'm all in "Hawthorne mode."

I'm so thankful for friends and family. I've learned that through it all, somebody does care. People may not always understand or be able to help, but they care. I think that's all we really need sometimes- a shoulder to cry on and a friend to eat lunch with. On top of that, I have a best friend who can understand, help, and hold me through it all, and His name is Jesus. It's a great thing to have Christ; in all seasons of life He is there.

Proverbs 18:24 " A man who has friends must himself be friendly,^[a] But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

I'm getting really excited for this camp. I can't imagine what type of experience it will be, but I know that if God's bringing me to it, He has something good in mind. I know it will be a learning experience and incredible time to serve and love children who need to see Christ as He is. In a world gone mad, full of sin and sorrow, children need to know that there is hope for the rest of their lives. We, and they, are the next generation, and Christ needs to be the center of all that lies in our futures.  I can't wait to be used by God to minister to these children. I pray that I can be the witness they need and the friend they are looking for.

God Bless <3

Spring Break Happenings and a Look into a Book

I cannot believe spring break is almost over. I haven't really decided whether I really don't want to leave or whether I'm ready to go back. I love being home and it's definitely a nice relaxing time when I'm here, but on the other hand I definitely enjoy the freedom of being away at school and on my own. It's a love-hate relationship on both ends.
Other things going on in my life.. hm.. oh! I just got a twitter- it's just a trial basis. I kind of have this feeling that it's going to get really old really fast. It's pretty much a bunch of status updates and quotes, so I'm not really sure how I feel about it. (As you can tell, I'm a pretty indecisive person).
What's on the plate for today? Oral surgeons. Yes, the dreaded wisdom teeth consultation. While I knew this day would come, I was hoping it wouldn't come for a few years since my wisdom teeth haven't even grown in yet. Unfortunately, one of my wisdom teeth happens to be growing into the roots of the teeth around it and therefore has been causing me pain and agony. Ok, maybe not to that extreme, but it's pretty bad when it affects your teeth, your jaw, and your ear. Also, I'm sure it doesn't help that I clench my teeth in the middle of the night. I've been having crazy dreams every night and have been waking up with my jaw clenched shut and my blankets on the ground.
Anyway, other than that consultation, today will consist of finishing a research paper, starting another paper, and going out to dinner with one of my awesome cousins!
Yes, I did say that I had two papers over spring break.. but it's ok, because who wouldn't want to analyze Nathaniel Hawthorne's works over spring break anyhow? (Don't worry, that was sarcasm).


Alright, now that I've run out of unimportant things to update you on, it's time to share with you things that actually matter! As I mentioned in my previous post, I've been reading Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver. Last night I was reading a little bit in it when I came across the issue of "worrying." Well, whoever reads this blog can obviously tell that I have an issue with worrying and I need to 1up my trust in God.. or maybe 10up. Weaver states her issues with worrying and the negative affects it has on her life. Weaver also gives statistics regarding "What We Worry About,"

40% are things that will never happen.
30% are about the past- which can't be changed.
12% are about criticism by others, mostly untrue.
10% are about health, which gets worse with stress.
8% are about real problems that can be solved.

Well, of course these statistics got my wheels turning. How often do I sit and imagine possible scenarios that might happen and most likely never will happen.. and most of the time never do happen. Or how often do I sit and think about what I could have done differently in a certain situation that happened five years ago. I also do frequently over-analyze what people are thinking about me and often assume that they are having negative thoughts about whatever decision it is that I am making. And even if they do- so what? That's the thing. So many times we sit and over-analyze, over-care, and under-trust when it comes to situations or people which we don't even have control over. One verse she shares is Proverbs 12:25, "An anxious heart weighs a man down." Matthew 6:27 says, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
Some quotes from Joanna Weaver:

"If anxiety caused God's closest friends, Adam and Eve, to hide from his face, just imagine what worry must do to you and to me."

"God knows worry short circuits our relationship with him. It fixes our eyes on our situation rather on our Savior."

After relating our worrying to a deep London fog she says, "Our mind disperses the problem into billions of fear droplets, obscuring God's face."

"Instead of helping us solve life's problems, anxiety creates new ones, including a tendency to unhealthy introspection."

"Worry seeps into our thoughts, poisoning our joy, convincing us to give up on solutions before we've even tried them."

Those are just a few of the ideas which Joanna Weaver presents in her book, but it definitely opened my eyes to problems which worry cause and its failure to be beneficial.
She also goes into the explain the difference to between worry and genuine concern, which are two very different things. To go into it briefly, she states that worry is often "unfounded, generalized, obsessive, creates more problems, and looks to self or other people for answers," while concern "involves a legitimate threat, is specific, addresses the problem, solves problems, and looks to God for answers."

Anyway, that's just a tidbit from the life of Daisy Wolf. Hope you enjoyed or maybe benefited a little!
God Bless!