Is it for God.....or the world?

Everybody wants to get ahead. It's a pretty common thing. We all want to do well in school, do well at a sport or musical instrument, and make a life for ourselves.
But have we ever thought why we're doing all that we do? Is it for our benefit? Is it so people can look at us and say, "Wow, she's doing so well!"??????? Or are we doing it for God's glory?



People change and plans get changed and
Everything changes but You
Everybody moves around and
Everything gets pushed around but You
You always stay the same, stay the same
I want to finish last
Last in the world's eyes
No matter what I do
I will be first in your eyes
I am running in this race and
I am pressing onwards towards the finish line
You have promised me a better life
Far beyond this world, far beyond this place and time
I want to finish last

Last in the world's eyes
No matter what I do
I will be first in your eyes
--'Finish Last' by Stellar Kart

When I first heard this song, I was like Okay, I get what they're saying: the only opinion that matters is God's. But I don't want to completely fail in life!

Then, it dawned on me: God wants us to do well in this life. He loves it when we get an A+, or score a goal, or get a really nice job. After all, he gave us the talents to do all those things!
What I think Stellar Kart was trying to say in this song is: Do well in life, but not to impress people. Do it because you want to glorify God and make His name great.

Your-song-deciphering-blogger,

I bleed Black & Gold

*I apologize in advance to Samarah and any other Packers fans. Love you anyway!*

Before I begin, I should probably justify my reasons for liking the Steelers:

1. My grandparents grew up near Pittsburgh, and my grandma is probably the biggest Steelers fan I know. So I'm a Steelers fan by birth.
2. There is so much tradition in the Steelers organization! We're one of the oldest in the league.
3. We have the best fans in the world. No matter where you go around America, you mostly likely will come across a Pittsburgh fan. Sorry Cowboys, I think we're America's team.


For some reason, lots of people really dislike the Steelers. I can kinda get this....I mean, we do have the most Super Bowl rings........so that probably ticks a few people off.

Look at those beauties......*sighs with pleasure*



Ben Rothlisberger, quarterback

 Big Ben should definitely be considered one of the top quarterbacks right now. The only reason some people don't consider him as one of the best right now is because he doesn't make very many statistics, and his style of play isn't that pretty. But I don't care----I think Ben is the perfect quarterback for Pittsburgh.

Heath Miller, tight end

Another tough guy, Heath is a great tight end as well as blocker. I love that he always holds tight to the ball and fights for every single yard. He seems to be a great teammate too.

Hines Ward, wide receiver

Ah.....I love Hines!!!! He is almost always smiling, whether we're losing or not. And after he scores a touchdown.....it gets uber big. Some people might classify him as a dirty player, but I disagree. He blocks well for his teammates, and that's it. Oh, and he can get a bit mouthy.....but what football player isn't?




Rashard Mendenhall, running back

Besides his really cool name, Rashard also has amazing running skills. He slips almost effortlessly through holes created by the offensive line, and he always fights to get just one more yard.

Troy Polomalu, safety

My personal favorite player, Troy is amazing. In this picture, he has just intercepted a pass....look at him go!!!!! *sighs dreamily* Commentators sometimes call him the Silent Asassin. Despite that kinda creepy name, Troy is such a nice guy. He always prays before each play, which I admire greatly. (:

So there's a lowdown on my NFL team. For you Packers fans----I definitely respect your team, but they're going to lose. Sorry.

I have to say, though: I'm super pumped for the Super Bowl! For one thing, there won't be any cheerleaders, since the Packers and Steelers are the only NFL teams who don't have cheerleaders. Which is fine with me. ;)
Also, I love Super Bowl commercials! Well, when they aren't too ill-humored. Hopefully this year's will be better than last Super Bowl!


Who are you for? Steelers or Packers? Or do you not care at all?

Just in case you thought I was an HTML genius....

I'm not. Not in the least bit.

So, what's the deal with my {little} design change? The answer is simple........I won a blog design!!!! But, I am still totally loving my background, so I asked Annie, the fabulous designer, to just make me a header, blog button, and fix some things around my blog.
Boy, has she done a good job or what? *polite applause for Annie*

Thanks a bunch, Annie!! I never could have gotten this look without you......I've pretty illiterate when it comes to computer stuff. (:

Anywho, hope you all like my new look! I certainly do. ;)

Oh yeah, and one more thing: remember how I was whining a few posts back about all the cold and no snow? Well, the past two days have dumped about 7 inches of snow at my house.
My lesson: be careful what you wish for!

Have a wonderful {perhaps snowy} day!!!

It could stay this simple....

*wipes away tear*
Another Taylor Swift song that made me cry a bit..........these lyrics are becoming pretty clear to me now. I do sometimes wish I didn't have to grow up; that I could be fifteen forever.
But, God has a plan for my life....and He's got one for yours too. So, think fondly of the past, but remember that God made you so you would grow up.

Your-sniffly-blogger,

I am determined that nothing but the deepest love could ever induce me into matrimony.

Teehee, can you tell I've been reading a lot of Jane Austen? Over my break, I finished reading Pride and Prejudice {for the second time}, watched the BBC 1995 movie, and started to read Emma.

And I've realized something very important.
I belong in a Jane Austen novel.

More specifically, Pride and Prejudice. After reading the book and seeing a {six hours long!} version of it, I definitely want to be Lizzy Bennett. Sure, she had some tough times.....but look at the handsome gentleman she picked up!

Ah.......how sweet (:

I mean, the fact that her dresses were drop-dead-gorgeous, there was actual ballroom dancing, and she had the perfect older sister makes her life rather wonderful.

Oh, and she got to marry this guy

Do you think that, in Heaven, we'll be able to wear anything we want? If so, this will be my outfit. Permanently!

.....and she got to live here. Lucky girl!

Pride and Prejudice is officially one of my favorite books and movies. Well, at least the 1995 version is. The 2005 one, with Kiera Knightley, wasn't horrible.....but they left so much out! And, like my mom says----Colin Firth makes a much better Mr. Darcy. ;)

That being said, I still adore this hairstyle for Lizzy. Creepy stare going on, though.

So now, I think I can call myself an official Jane Austen fan. Oh, if only I could spend a week in Pride and Prejudice......what a dream come true that would be!!

How big of a Jane Austen fan are you? And what book would you want to spend a week in?

Lily? Who is she? Do I know a blogger by that name?

Uh, well, I certainly hope you weren't thinking the same as my title says!!!! After all, I've only been 'gone' for a roughly a week! But oh, how it feels to be back at blogging again! I have to say, being away from my blog and bloggy buddies has certainly been trying. But at the same time, it was rather nice to just step away from the computer and......chill. I got some quality reading in {post on that coming soon}, watched a few movies, and prayed my way through the Pittsburgh Steelers game {VERY tense post on that coming ;)}.

So yes, my little computer-break was rather fruitful. Though, I must admit: winter is taking a strain on my nerves!!! All this cold, bleak weather, and not a snowflake in sight! I could probably bear it better with some snow or something.....but God does know best. So, I'll just trust in Him and keep wishing and dreaming of spring.

While this may not be my home, it is a beautiful picture of Ireland. And, with that, I bid you all good-day. ;)

Love you all,

~Lily
ps--Have I mentioned how much I missed you, my dear followers, and how much I love you all?!? Well, now you know. (:

Your *freezing* author presents.....

1. First off, I LOVE my new glasses!!! They totally rock.....

Sorry for the bad quality----my computer doesn't have the best quality ;)

2. Homemade pizza is the bomb. Yummy mozzarella and cheddar cheese, with just the right amount of sauce......delicious.

3. The Steelers won their playoff game! Which means they play the Jets in the AFC Championship game on Saturday. Needless to say, I'll be watching. (:

4. I love my cousin Rachel sooooooo much. We got to see her Sunday, before she went back to college. She is such a great girl, and I am so glad God gave her to me!!! She's like my surrogate big sister. *laughs*

5. Here's a verse I found today that I {think} is my new life verse:
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an examplel for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity"
-1 Timothy 4:12

6. I say with some sighs.....I will be taking a wee little break from blogging, and just the computer in general. Don't worry, 'twill only be a week or less. I just need a breather from blogging, so I can get some ideas. But I'll be back!!!

Have a great week, m'dears.

~Lily

She's so pretty, but she doesn't always act that way

I first heard this song at World Views......and it made me laugh.

Now, a few months and one age change later, I see the wisdom in this song. We really should give emotional girls mood rings. *points at self* I know my brothers would appreciate that.


I'm not gonna post the lyrics, 'cause I want you to listen to this song. Of course, you could always look the lyrics up yourself. But that would be cheating. (:

Love ya'll,

'I answer to no one, Nancy Drew'

Okay........do ya'll know what today is?!?!?!?!?!? I'll give you three seconds to answer...

1.........2.........3........

Give up? Well, in addition to it being 1/11/11 {pretty cool date} and the day of Lecrae's album release {which Anna is super excited for} it's also the start of my one-week-countdown-until-White Collar-comes-back!!!!!!!!!!

Super slick, super cool, super witty......Neal Caffrey. 

Smart, no-nonsense, thoughtful.....Peter Burke

Quirky, know-it-all, absolutely awesome.......Mozzie.

*sighs* I've been waiting soooo long for this show to come back!!!!! In the last episode of last season, Mozzie got shot in the chest....and then the camera faded. We have no idea what happened, but I am not convinced that they would kill off Mozzie. He's too adorable! Neal is pretty awesome too, and so is Peter. I'm actually a bit partial to Peter, since I got him as a result to the White Collar Character quiz. lol, right?

So yeah, I'm pretty darn excited for White Collar.

What about you all? Got a tv show you absolutely CANNOT miss, under any circumstances?

I'm out.......stuffed shells are calling my name. (:

~Lily
ps--The title of this post is a quote by Mozzie. ;)

Who knew love could travel through the internet?

^^^That is seriously what I was thinking to myself, Saturday night. I had just read all the comments you guys posted.....and I thought my heart would burst. Who knew God would use this blog, this little spot in the big wide internet-world, to touch hearts and lives {especially mine}????
Honestly, I thank God every day for you guys.

*clears throat* Okay, moving on....


Kinsey French over at soulBACON awarded me with the Stylish Blogger Award!!!!!
Thanks so much, Kinsey---you're such a great blogging friend!!!!

Like everything else in the world, it comes with some rules:

one. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.

two. Share 7 things about yourself.

three. Award 10 recently discovered great bloggers.

And now, for my 7 things:

1. I laugh quite a bit. Maybe too much.

2. I have a serious itch to travel.

3. I make up stories in my head to make myself fall asleep.

4. I love watching NFL football {go Steelers!!!!!!}

5. I am a procrastinator. Big time.

6. I dream of buying the house my mom used to live in.
7. I hate hot days. With a passion.

And, as for the recently discovered bloggers....I'll sort of follow the rules on this one. (:

1. Bess at Bess' Bag

2. Lauren at Bits and Pieces

3. Kels at The Flip-Flop Farmgirl

4. Jess at {Far From Perfect}

5. Kelsey at Butterfly Dreams

6. Destiny at Destiny's Days

7. Angela at Dragon Fire

8. Emii at Girlz 4 God

9. Sierra at Mission Cool

10. Chelsea Elizabeth at Organized Mess


As for the rest of you.....ya know I love you. So, I'm breaking the rules:
anna (:
Margaret Rowena
Hope
Ellyn
Makay
Eldarwen
and Bleah......
I've followed your blogs for so long, and I feel like it wouldn't be fair not to award you. So, consider yourself all Stylish-Blogger-Awarded. (:

Love always,

~Lily

Am I beautiful?

This post comes from a place deep with in my soul......

Almost exactly a year ago, I really liked this boy. And I thought, perhaps, he might like me. *slaps self* Yeah, I know, I shouldn't have been dwelling on this one guy. But I was just a child then. *sad smirk*

Anyway, this guy turned out to be a real idiot, and I was super hurt. I thought that maybe he didn't like me because there were other girls prettier and skinnier than me. *sighs*

Soon after I realized this, I wrote this journal post (some parts have been edited to protect the innocent):

Sometimes, I wish I was dumb and blond and skinny, so boys would like me. But then, I would think they liked me just because I was blond or skinny or flirted with them.

I want a guy to like me because he likes the way I laugh, or something we have in common, or because I'm a good soccer player, or because I like kids.

I want a guy to respect me like I'm a lady; to respect me because I care about politics and stuff like that.

I want a guy to like me for me. I know that sounds cliche, but it's true! I want him to like me because I like soccer, like to read, love Disney moves, love to travel, I love to laugh, and I love animals.

So, until I find this guy, I just need God to help me be patient and be modest. Sometimes it's just so hard to be different than other girls. But I know God will help me, and show me the right guy at the right time.

After this rant, I felt soooo much better {funny how writing does that to you!}. God opened my eyes that night and helped me realize something: I am beautiful. You are beautiful. We're all beautiful, 'cause God made us that way. He made us in His own image. It doesn't matter what some random guy thinks of us: we're God's princesses; His beautiful, drop-dead-gorgeous daughters. Even if we have bad hair days, or get a huge zit on our nose, or maybe aren't the skinniest girl in the room, God still loves us. We need to remember that, my sisters. We need to remember that God already has the right guy picked out, waiting just for us. For each one of us. And that guy will love us almost as much as our Heavenly Father does.

~Lyrics courtesy of Mercy Me~

Keep waiting, my dear sisters and friends.

Your beautiful-in-God's-eyes-blogger,

~Lily

A few aspirations.....and London

I've never really been one for New Year's resolutions, but I did finally decide to record some things I need to work on this year:

1. Read God's Word more
Okay, this one is a given....but it's the most important one!!! I have really been neglecting me+God time, so I need to get back to reading my Bible every morning.

2. Get a job
A real one, with a steady paycheck. Babysitting is great, but I haven't made any money since November. o.0 Which is not a good thing. So, refereeing little kids soccer games and Wegmans, here I come!!!

3. Save up money for camp
I really need to do this! World Views camp is really expensive, and my parents are already paying for enough stuff, so.......that leaves me! :)

4. Save up for Start saving up for a camera
Yeah, this one is more of a hope/wish kind of thing.

5. Start looking at colleges to consider
Okay,  okay, so I'm really planning ahead with this one. But hey, I'll be turning 16 this fall! I seriously need to have a plan.

6. Be more patient and loving
*groans* This is a constant battle I have with myself. Sure, I'm kind to those outside my house, but to my own family----I can be kind of a grouch. Okay, a big grouch.

7. Focus more on school
Now that I'm in highschool, school needs to be taking a bigger priority. Annoying? yes. Crucial? absolutely!



With all of these stressful things to be thinking about, though, this song has kept me chilled. Don't know why---maybe it's Brandon's voice, or the fact that I love London, or that it's just a new song. Whatever, I sure do love this song!
Hope ya'll have a wonderful {non-stressed!} day/night/afternoon/evening/morning!!!

~Lily

I think I'm the last blogger to post in 2011....

*yawns*

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am still trying to get used to 'real life'. School, waking up earlier, and just life in general. ugh.

Anyways: happy new year!!! My family spent New Year's Eve at our friend's annual party. 'Twas a night filled with food, laughter, dancing, and old friends. :) The best parts were definitely the friends and the dancing.

I was able to catch up with two friends from Girl Scouts, whom I hadn't seen in forever. Thanks to them, I had a fabulous time! I even *gasps* danced!!! To regular music! And it was fun! If it hadn't been for Christina and Caroline, I doubt I would have even stepped foot on the dance floor. As it was, the three of us stayed in our own little corner, just making up random moves, pumping our fists, and watching the braver and more talented people dance. ;)

Midnight was fun: the whole party {roughly 100 people} sat in front of the television and watched the ball drop! Then we toasted {with sparkling cider ;)} and ran outside to scream "HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!" at the top of our lungs. *sighs* Good times, good times.

I feel sort like a slacker, not having posted at all in this brand new year!!!! But I do think it was good for me to step away for a few days and just let everything sink in. Oh, and take some pictures. Random pictures. You have been warned!!!!!

Clockwise, from top left: Boots I got for my birhtday; me!!!!!; fuzzy slipper boots from Grandma; mismatched {on purpose!} socks that are sooo cute!

Well, with that random stuff over, I'll leave you with one of my new favorite songs:

Yeah, the name is a little weird, but the song itself is great!!!! Typical Relient K: very blunt, deliberate, and totally awesome. :)

Happy January 4, my peoples!!!!

Love ya'll,

~Lily
ps--Oh yeah, and I have 50 followers!!!! Thank you all sooo much....I feel so loved. :)