a fresh, unedited start

listening to: "on the wing" by Owl City.

quote love: "the sea was calm, with a fresh wind blowing from the south-east;they sailed under a sky of azure where God was also lighting up His lanterns, each one of which is a world." 

~ The Count of Monte Cristo

{this post is going to have no editing....just me typing whatever comes to mind. Enjoy ;)}

I been feeling so tired lately. It's a good tired, but still....my body aches every time I move. It could be from all the piggy-back rides I've given while babysitting. Or from helping kids at gymnastics camp learn how to do walkovers. Of course, it's probably just from soccer practice last night. *laughs*

I've been feeling so happy lately. My past week or so has been filled with kids, soccer, and The Count of Monte Cristo. Babysitting is seriously the best job on the face of the earth. It pays well, little kids are hilarious, and I get free snacks......which is totally awesome. My soccer team is finally starting to feel more like home. The girls are becoming more outgoing, which is really comforting. I'm about halfway through TCMC, and I'm pleasantly surprised by how good it is! There are so many awesome quotes, like the one above. I love the beauty of Dumas' writing!

I've been feeling so stressed lately. Classes will start up soon, and this year is going to be crazy. Just thinking about it makes me sick with worry. *groans* I'll get through it somehow, I suppose. It seems like everywhere I turn, someone I know or love needs urgent prayer. And when all I can do is pray, I feel rather helpless. I'm kind of a control-freak, and I like being able to do something. But for things like cancer......all I can do is leave it in God's hands. 

I've been feeling so excited lately. Today, an earthquake hit where I live! Which is totally and utterly crazy, 'cause we don't really get earthquakes here on the East Coast. I need a t-shirt that says, "I survived the earthquake of 2011." My church got a new pastor, and so we've been getting used to him and his family. He has three daughters close to my age, and they are so awesome! For the past eight years they've been missionaries in Uganda, which means plenty of interesting stories to share. 

I've been feeling so restless lately. With the air outside slowly turning crisp, my heart is desiring to go somewhere new and exciting. Mostly Europe, but right now I would take any place that I haven't visited before. Why can't I have family somewhere in New York City or South Carolina? I could really use a break from everyday life.

I've been feeling like myself lately. And it is quite nice, just being myself. No more pretending that everything is okay, or that I live a perfect life; no more editing out all the 'bad' or 'boring' stuff. Just me, my thoughts, my dreams, my worries. I do hope you'll join me as I learn more about me and God's desire for my life.

linking up to the challenge over at Dramatic Elegance, hosted by Rachel.

just a few things worth obsessing over :)

Stepping off the pedal of blogger-craziness has opened my time up immensely. The following things are what have moved in to make my life crazy again. ;) 

1. Ah, Dr. Wile. That dreaded subject called chemistry has finally come upon me. Though I really don't think I'm going to like this subject very much, I'm determined to get through it with a smile. 'Course, Mrs. Scott and my fellow students should make it, er.....interesting. *wink wink*

2 .I think I've actually jumped on the Harry Potter bandwagon! I've been tearing through the books like crazy. Oh my word, they're so good. (: Yes, there's magic, yes there are wizards/witches, and yes the last few books are a bit dark.....but the characters are hilarious and the plot lines are really interesting. J.K. Rowling has such a creative mind!

3. Barclay's Premier League soccer started yesterday!!!! It's been a long summer without my English soccer, so I'm ecstatic that it is back. Go Man U!!!!!

4. Another book for school, The Count of Monte Cristo. I was surprised to see how many times Alexandre Dumas mentions God, just in the first few chapters!!! That's the highlight.....but I've never been one for revenge stories, so it's not my most favorite classic.

5. hehe......that picture cracks me up. =D The sixth season of Psych is on this October, and my family is doing our best to hurry through all the other seasons. Still missing Season Five.....grrrrrrrr!!!!! Anyways, I think Shawn and Juliet make a wonderful couple....if they ever get together. ;)

And there's my obsession post. oooh, one more thing:

"Can you hold me together/cause without You/holding my heart/I'm falling apart."

so much is going on, I can hardly take it in

I seem to think better in little snippets and pictures....so here ya go. ;)

1. I left the soccer team I've been on since I was nine. Things with the coach weren't going well, a few of my friends were leaving too.....and it was just time. I cried a lot last week, but I'm okay now. I got picked up by another great team, that has a friend from wayyyy back on it. I'll never forget my old girls, nor the times we've had together----but it's time for a new chapter in my life to start.

and He's already started to heal my heart. :)

2. On Tuesday, I went to Kings Dominion for the first time!!!! Abby and Brittany {teammates from the Christian school I played for} invited me....and I'm so glad they did! They actually managed to get me on three rollercoasters. *shakes head* Yes, I gave into peer pressure.....and yes, I did actually have a lot of fun. But don't worry: I did not let them get me on the Intimidator, the Drop Zone, or the Crypt {isn't that a scary name anyway?!?}. No matter how hard Abby and David pushed, I was not getting on any of those rides. Not even a pinky-promise could get me on the Crypt...first time I've ever broken one too. I think it was worth it, though.

Anyway, their youth group is so much fun, and I hope I get to hang with them all sometime again this summer.

rode this bad boy SEVEN TIMES......booya ;)

3. On the way home, Abby and I were discussing Disney characters and stuff like that. Well, she decided that I am like Wendy from Peter Pan. When I wasn't too excited about that, David pointed out that I'm more like Mary-Jane from Spiderman. Thoughts?

Mary Jane....but I don't have red hair.

Wendy....but I don't have curls and my eyes aren't blue.

 

Oh well, I suppose Wendy and Mary Jane aren't the worst characters ever....I penned David as Mowgli from The Jungle Book {'cept with clothes} and Abby as Sally from Cars. *cracks up*

4. Once again, I'm getting the itch to travel. I wish I had my license so I could hop in the car, pop in a good cd, and just drive. I just need a change from my everyday life......

"imagination's taking me away!"

5. I finally got to see Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides last weekend!!! Oh my word, I totally loved it. And, surprisingly, I didn't miss Will and Elizabeth too much.....thanks to this lovely couple.

 

PHILIP WAS A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!!!! And while he wasn't the most sound missionary ever, he still brought a better light to Christianity for the movie. I eventually learned to like Serena, even if she did *spoiler alert* almost cause Philip to die. Downside: the mermaids were really scary. Just sayin'.

6. The best thing about summer is the freedom to read whatever and whenever I want! Ted Dekker, Beverly Lewis, and C.S. Lewis have been dominating my reading chair lately. I'm so thankful for the library---without it, I would most certainly be broke from buying new books.

 

7. I'm having a serious longing for Disney World. It's been a year and a half since my family last went....and not being in the happiest place on earth is starting to tax me.Whenever I'm at Disney World, I can forget all the outside troubles and worries of normal life, and just be happy. I seriously want to be there right now.

it deserves to be bigger than everything else *giggles*

that's all for today, folks. love you!!

your slightly-crazy-blogger,

~Lily

Looking back on the most stressful three days EVER......

I think that a little random {albeit mostly about school} is very much needed.

1. Wow. We only have one class left in the school year.......*cue sobs mixed with joyful shouts*
Since I live 'bout 45 minutes away from all my co-op friends, I won't see them hardly at all this summer! And yet.....I'm very glad to have all the work over with.

isn't this cute? I need something cameo in my jewelry box. :p

2. Pretty much all I have left for my co-op is my science honors presentation. I'm doing it on wildfires. Pretty cool, huh? *laughs* A few other people are doing stuff like rockets and combustion. 'Twill be a fire filled class next week!!!

3. I'm really getting into The Scarlet Pimpernel, the movie we're watching in French class. The guy who plays Percy is absolutely hilarious.....and not in the best way. ;) Oh, Gandalf is in it too!! 'Cept, he kind of plays a bad guy.....which is a little discomforting.

how very Middle Earth-ish.

4. I hate getting up in front of people and giving a speech. And yet, I'm in Advanced Public Speaking. Yeah, I don't really know why either. Could have something to do with my mom being the teacher........(:
We gave our 30-minute speeches on Heaven yesterday. Some parents and siblings came, including three former students who graduated last year! It was good to see them before the year ends.


5. For the past few mornings, I've been waking up with a song playing in my head. Mostly Relient K and Tenth Avenue North, but this morning I woke up with Taylor Swift. *shrugs* I wish I could control what goes on in my head during the night.

"and I've been locked inside that house.....all the while you hold the key."

6. Speaking of music.....I'm currently obsessed with Daydreams by Breanne Duren and Shaken by Hawk Nelson. Thank you, my dear friends who have awesome playlists on their blogs. ;) Without you, I would have a teeny-tiny window of music.


7. This summer, I'm going to try and focus on the little things.....long sunny days, trips to the beach, time spent with family. As I'm getting older, I'm realizing that the little moments do become big ones, later on.

8.  It seems like everywhere I turn, love is in the air!!!! I know at least three couples who are seriously involved.......and who really need to get married!!!!! *sighs* Sadly, money is always an issue.....it seems so silly, having to start off married life with a good job. I mean, who needs money?!? *snickers*

so doing this with my husband. (:

Well, I'm off to the library for some much deserved therapy. Fingers crossed I find some good books!!!

love always,
~Lily

Day 3: A favorite book {which is practically impossible}

I would definitely consider myself a bookworm.Ever since I started to read, I've had a book in my hand. My books are some of my most prized possessions, and I have quite a few 'favorites' to choose from. Which makes this decision very difficult.

Day Three: A favorite book

My mom first read this book to me as a part of our history curriculum. I was like 9 or something, so it didn't really click with me {I was more interested in American Girl and The Boxcar Children}.

About two years ago, I wanted something to read and found this ----> in a stack of books in our classroom. I picked it up and started to read.....and was amazed to find I actually loved the book!!!!!!

The main character, Kit Tyler, is a spunky, spirited girl who reminds me a bit of myself, though she's far more outspoken. *shuffles feet*

Oh yeah, and have I mentioned Nat Eaton? He's the sailor dude who falls in love with Kit......he's tanned, blue-eyed, and has sandy hair. Not my usual type of guy......but Nat is sooooooo awesome! He's kind, sweet, and really witty, plus a bit really sarcastic!!! hehe, if I hadn't found Edmund first.....I would be in love with Nat Eaton. Oh, plus the fact that he already has a great girl in Kit Tyler....

So yeah, there's one of my favorite books. (: But let me tell you: that was a very hard choice.

5 Things I'm Lovin' Right Now

5 Things I'm Lovin' Right Now

1. Celtic Woman

Seriously---who doesn't love these girls? Thier Christmas special, courtesty of PBS, was AMAZING.

2. The fact that Christmas is just about two weeks away!

3. Milky Way Bars (:

4. Picnik's really cool new Christmas features

5. Chapter 23 of 'Jane Eyre'

And there you have a pretty good recap of my day. Hope ya'll are having a great day!!!!

Love always,

~Lily

Why should we be overwhelmed by distress?

'No; I know I should think well of myself; but that is not enough; if others don't love me, I would rather die than live--I cannot bear to be solitary and hated, Helen.
Look here; to gain some real affection form you, or Miss Temple, or any other whom I truly love, I would willingly submit to have a bone of my arm broken, or to let a bull toss me, or to stand behind a kicking horse, and let it dash its hoof at my chest------'


"Hush, Jane! You think too much of the love of human beings; you are too impulsive, too vehement: the sovereign Hand that created your frame, and put life into it, has provided you with other resources than your feeble self, or than creatures feeble as you.
 Besides this earth, and besides the race of men, there is an invisible world and a kingdom of spirits: that world is round us, for it is everywhere; and those spirits watch us, for they are commissioned to guard us; and if we were dying in pain and shame, if scorn smote us on all sides, and hatred crushed us, angels see our tortures, recognize our innocence (if innocent we be: as I know you are of this charge which Mr. Brocklehurst has weakly and pompously repeated at secondhand from Mrs. Reed; for I read a sincere nature in your ardent eyes and on your clear front), and God waits only a separation of spirit from flesh to crown us with full reward.

Why, then, should we ever sink overwhelmed with distress, when life is so soon over, and death is so certain an entrance to happiness---to glory?"

--From Jane Eyre, pages 91-92.


Don't be in distress over worldly things, my dear friends.
Heaven is waiting-----with our Lord and Savior.


Keep praying,

~Lily

30 Days of Me: Day 6 & 7

I missed yesterday, so I'm doubling up today!!!

Day 06 - A picture of someplace I've been and a story behind that picture.

I took this picture in Williamsburg, back in 2009. It is from the gardens behind the Governor's Palace. We chose Historic Williamsburg that day over the beach (the boys weren't too excited about that!).
The walkway in the background is made of crushed seashells, which I thought was really cool. Anyway, there's the little story behind this picture!!

Day 07 - What my favorite book, movie, tv show, and artist are, along with why I like them.

Okay, this is really hard. I have so many favorites from the above categories! So I'm just randomly picking some of my favorites. :)

Favorite book: Witch of Blackbird Pond
I like this book because of how spunky and courageous Kit is, and how everyone ends up happily ever after in the end (oh  yeah, and because Nat is awesome!!!).

Favorite movie: Rear Window and That Thing You Do
I like Rear Window because of the plot/suspense, and because of Grace Kelly's outfits (breathtaking). That Thing You Do is great because of the song (so bouncy) and the character are hilarious.

Favorite TV show: White Collar
I like this show because the plot is really good and the characters are really witty. And no, Mozzie is not dead!

Favorite Music Artist/Band: My favorite artist would be Britt Nicole, and band......Tenth Avenue North, Stellar Kart, and Newsboys.
Britt Nicole has fun, bouncy lyrics and a great sense of style. I cannot really choose a favorite band: Each of the above performs my favorite songs! So, they will just have to stay a tie. :)

Feel free to answer these questions yourselves!

Love,



I love 8.......

8 Books I've Read Recently...

{01} Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

{02} Perfectly Dateless By Kristin Billerbeck

{03} Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

{04} Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

{05} All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare

{06} How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World by Jordan Christy

{07} Hamlet by William Shakespeare (currently reading)

{08} Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (currently reading)

8 Songs or Albums I Listen to All the Time...

{01} Mmmhhmm by Relient K

{02} Everything is Different Now by Stellar Kart

{03} "Lifeguard" Stellar Kart

{04} Light Meets the Dark by Tenth Avenue North

{05} "Blink" by Revive

{06}"This is Your Life" by Switchfoot

{07}"On Your Knees" by Newsboys

{08}"Be Thou My Vision" by Selah

8 Things I Love...

{01} God!

{02} My family and friends

{03}Manchester United FC and soccer

{04} Blogging :)

{05} Music!!!!!!!

{06} All shades of green

{07}Singing hymns

{08}Reading and writing

8 Things I've Learned This Year...

{01}When you're going through hard and emotional times, it's good to keep friends close by.

{02}I might want to teach high school English instead of third grade.

{03}If your friend says she's allergic to caffeine, but buys an energy drink, then chugs the whole thing, watch out: EMOTIONS RUN WILD!!!!!

{04}If you're nervous about something, do it anyway. Chances are, it'll actually be fun!

{05}Pictures really are worth a thousand words.

{06}If you don't want to go see a movie, but your family is begging you to, you should go. Chances are you'll love the movie.

{07} Even if you start off with 'cleaning' your room, you'll probably just end up with an even bigger mess because you got so caught up with 'organizing' and 'rearranging' your room.

{08}Treasure your family. Soak up everything they say and do. Those memories will last forever, and in the future become super important

8 New Recipes I Want to Try and Make by the End of the Year...

{01}My great-grandma's apple pie recipe....by myself!!!

{02}Successfully make cherry danish...by myself!

{03}Ginger spice cookies...by myself

{04}Sloppy Bombay Joes

{05} Massaged Kale Salad

{06}...

{07} .....

{08}....

8 Favorite Online Hangouts...

{01} Yahoo

{02} Neopets

{03} Blogger

{04} Blogs I follow

{05} Various clothing websites

{06} My library's website.

{07} Amazon

{08} Tenth Avenue North's website

8 Projects I Need To Work On...

{01} School!

{02}Finding a (real) job

{03} Becoming more outgoing about my faith

{04} Saving up some money for a really nice camera

{05}Figuring out how I'm going to visit Ireland before I'm 18 (I like to plan ahead :)

{06}Becoming more crafty

{07}Being a better big sister to my annoying dear little brothers.

{08}Actually writing and finishing a short story. ;)

8 Other People I Think Should Do This...

{01} Makay

{02} Becca

{03} Samarah

{04} Maggie

{05} Rebecca Ann

{06} Emily

{07} Angela

{08} Charity Anne

Used bookstore

I love the used bookstore.
We go to McKay's Used Bookstore in Manassas. Oh, it's wonderful.

We've always found great stuff there, but this last trip was one for the record books.
I found Eragon (far left, blue book) for only $6.86!!!!!!!! I was so excited, since I now have the whole Inheritance series in hardback!!! Well, all except for the new book. It hasn't come out yet. ;)