Monday, October 27, 2014

How My Original Character Saved Me

This is actually a true story---not made up. But I thought it was interesting enough to tell.

This summer, my dad invited one of the players from his little league and his family over for dinner. I'm going to call the kid Annoying Guy. Before they had come, I was working hard on my new story. (still unfinished) Being little brothers, Danny and Annoying Game managed to sneak up in my room while I was outside to take a look at my computer. Thankfully, I was able to stop them before they could get any farther. But Annoying Guy found the name "Sammy", one of my main characters written on the screen.

For a few weeks, he teased me, saying I had a crush on this unknown person named Sammy. I TOLD him over and over that Sammy wasn't real, just a character in my story. But boys usually don't believe you, do they? I tried to tell Danny to tell him the truth. He knew it as much as I did. Finding the situation funny, he refused to tell him. Typical little brother...

Fast-forward to a couple of weeks later. I was volunteering to help with a local choir camp, along with a few friends. My friend, Crystal, teased about liking another guy, a guy who just happened to be on my dad's little league team as well. To this day, she is sadly mistaken. But my friend would mention it suggestively while he was around. Naturally, I assumed the worst--that the guy thought I liked him.

The evening Crystal had brought it up, we happened to have a baseball game. I walked past their dugout and who happened to be there but Annoying Game. He yelled, "How's Sammy?" I think, at that point, I realized convincing him of the truth was impossible. So I glared at him and continued walking, but watched him.

By a twist of fate, he happened to be setting next to the other guy, the guy who Crystal had teased me about "liking." Annoying Guy nudged him and said, just loud enough so I could hear, "She has a crush on a guy named Sammy."

It took me a second to connect the dots. I knew that Sammy was fictional. Maybe somewhere in his twisted mind, Annoying Guy knew Sammy was fiction. But the other guy didn't. So my problem was solved! Now that guy wouldn't think I liked him!

I found this incredibly ironic so I thought I'd swear it with you. And that's why I thank God for a character, who formed in my mind when I was ten, named Sammy.

So, apparently, I haven't found any good Taylor Swift audios. But I should post my favorites from the new album later this week. One of my favorites is "All You Had To Do Was Stay", "How to Get the Girl," and, "Style." So, look those up. They're amazing!

Saturday, October 25, 2014

THE HEIR and other book-ish things...

Okay guys, I watched to do a quick post to talk about THE HEIR, the fourth book in the wonderful Selection series. When I saw the cover and found out what it was about, I was excited! I will not put the plot thing here because I know some of you guys haven't finished it yet and the back cover gives away... ah-hem... a little something that is answered in The One.

Also, I don't feel right about putting the cover on here. She's wearing a strapless dress that isn't that immodest, but it isn't insisting something I want to post on my blog. She has her body partly turned so you can see a short part of her back. Nothing worse than you would see on Disney Channel, but still nothing I want to post here. BUT, if you do really want to see it, I'll put  the link there so if you want to see it, go ahead. A blog I follow posted it.

 In other news, I used my Kindle gift card to buy four books so far. Unsurprisingly, three of the four books are by Jill Williamson. Rebels, By Darkness Won, and Storyworld First. So far, the only one I've had time to finish is Rebels, but I'm reading By Darkness Won right now and it's awesome.

I did finish the Gallagher Girl series and it definitely is one of the best series I've read all this year. (And I've read some pretty good ones) I can't wait to finish the Heist Society Series and read Ally Carter's new book. I totally recommend her books to any kind of girl who likes interesting, yet girly books. They're great.

I'll quit fangirling and let you go on with your day. Thanks for reading:)

I'm not into The Fault in Our Stars, but this song is so sweet:)

The PINK Challenge

Hello peoples! Well, you might remember that I posted about the PINK Challenge that's going on at the lovely Jessica's blog (Almost Perfectly Pink)  as a celebration for her first blog birthday! Yay! I finally have finished by Pink post so here we go. And it's not too late to do the challenge.

Actually, it was Bernie who found Jessica's blog. I was looking my profile and saw that I followed this blog. When I discovered it, I went through a few posts and commented. Maybe a few days later, I noticed that someone had commented on my recent post. Back then, it wasn't normal for me to get comments. It ended up to be Jessica who commented and she still remains one of my main supporters of my writing. I'm so thankful to God for her. She's a great writer herself, by the way. Her blog is unique, creative, and original, and I would encourage to follow! Keep blogging, Jessica:)

Now, for my pink post. This poem needs an explanation. To be honest, it took awhile to get an idea for it. I wanted to write a poem, but I didn't know how the color pink could fit into it. Humorously, the idea for this poem came after I watched Winnie the Pooh, for the first time in years. When I was a little kid, I adored Winnie the Pooh, up until I was ten maybe. Watching it really took me back to those days. I realize how different we think now than when we were children. Our priorities, tastes, and outlook on life is not the same.

So I thought about our childhood. Things like pink clouds, like cotton candy, represents how innocently we thought back then. As we got older, we couldn't wait to grow up, to make our own decisions. But now, I find myself missing my childhood years, when I wasn't aware of the twisted lies the world possess. When everything was so simple and innocent before it got complicated on me. Just think about it. When we were young, our worse problems were getting in trouble with our parents, but now we're obsessed with all things social media.  That inspired me.

The Pink Clouds
When we were children,
we lived in pink clouds.
Happy and cheerful
Before the lies got loud.

Do you remember those days?
When all you knew was just one way
Laughed until you fell asleep
And closed your eyes and wanted to dream.

Now it's all about our social life.
Followers, comments, hits, and likes.
We shut our doors, block the world out.
Hiding our fears and forgetting our doubts.

Do you remember Peter Pan
Flying fast and free in Never Land
It's a wonder, his life goal
To live life and never grow old

Back then, I didn't understand
But now I see through his plan.
Some truth that we don't see
Our best times are our childhood memories.

We believed in happy endings.
We were satisfied and soft
But now, we're stressed over little things.
Wondering what could be the cause.

Now we go, refuse to wait
Get tricked again, lost in a maze.
We think we, but we're fooled by the mask.
Giving ourselves to things that don't last

And if I could give my young self advice
Through all the happiness, pain, and tears,
I'd tell myself to stay in the pink clouds
At least a few more years.

This isn't my best work, but I thought it would be good for the Pink Challenge. Please do check out Jessica's blog. She almost has 50 followers! Thanks again, Jessica, for doing the Pink Challenge. I had fun writing this poem:)



Thursday, October 23, 2014

The Ticking Monster


Time.
When you were first born, you didn’t feel it. Even now, you still are numb to the truth. Time is passing, faster than you could ever comprehend. Usually, your worst fears are things that can kill you or cause you pain. But really, what people should fear, more than anything else, is time.
Because when time runs out, there is no going back.

Think about it. What makes time so terrifying is that it is uncontrollable. For all you know, today could be your last. And if not today, tomorrow. You don’t even need a turmoil disease for your time run out quickly. You know with things like car accidents and shootings that time can run out….
…just like that.

Will you answer this, reader? If you knew how much time you had, would you your life differently?
Would you take more interest in things that matter than things that don’t? Would you decide to spend a few more minutes talking with your family over dinner before you go into your normal routine? Would you smile more often? Would you talk more kindly to others? Would you make the best use of the time you have, regardless of how much it is?

Would you?
Perhaps, to some extent, but not fully. You know time is passing, know it as much as I do. But sometimes, we don’t heed the warning. We still engulf ourselves in social media and entertainment.

Things that do not last.
The reason why we don’t heed the warning is that we fail understand how urgent it is. Even if you knew how much time you had, you would waste it. Not as much, maybe, but you would.

But… what if you knew how much time our loved ones had?
So, reader, are you scared of time? I do not blame you. It is a scary thing. Not only time itself but whatever happens when time ends.

People have their own assumptions, but what is true? You must choose carefully what to believe because what you chose will influence your desires, your choices, your life.

Until time ends.
The truth is, time is frightening. You can’t control it. You can’t predict it. It goes faster than you will ever know. But… it doesn’t have to scare you.

What shall you do to make the most of your time? You can choose kindness. Be good. Give back to everyone is has ever given to you. Help others. Live life to the fullest.
But you will always lack sometime, until you understand what will happen when your time is up.

There are many things that perceived to be accidents, but many of those things aren’t. You’re here, reading this right now, for a reason. Maybe you’ll never find out why, but it’s true. So, I will tell you now, boldly that I do know what will follow my death.
Jesus is the master of time. He knows exactly when Your time is up. He knows when He has planned for you to die. He knows when you will take your finally breath. Until then, He will do many things to get through to you. Whether you realize it, or even believe it, God is watching out for you. He lets things happen, puts people in your life, all for a reason.

To make you realize your need for Him.
You do not have to live a good life to receive his gift. You could have wasted every second of your life until now on worthless, despicable things, but He will still receive you. All you most do is believe that you need Him, that You have done wrong, and trust in Him to take you the rest of the way.

If you do not have Jesus, you are missing the most important piece of your life. If you do everything in your power to make sure your time is not wasted, it will be in vain if you do not have Him.
Trust in him, reader, and He will know you. You will know him. When you time is up and a part of you is scared, He will recognize you. And on that day, when everything you knew, expect for Him, is out of your reach, He will say, “Come to me, child. I have given my life so could you could come.”

Yes, time is scary, and yes, we don’t what happens next. But with Jesus, we have a reason to spend our time wisely. We have a reason to live happily in spite of time. To some, time is a ticking monster. With Jesus, it is not. Because when we have Jesus, dear reader, time will not run out when we die.

It will be only beginning.
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come." Mark 13:31-33
 
 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

THIS. SONG.


 Remember when you hit the brakes too soon
Twenty stitches in a hospital room
When you started crying
Baby, I did too
But when the sun came up
I was looking at you
Remember when we couldn’t take the heat
I walked out, I said “I’m setting you free”
But the monsters turned out to be just trees
When the sun came up
You were looking at me.
 
 
This song is amazing. Yes, the chorus repeats a lot, but the rest of the song burns with meaning. I like it better than "Welcome to New York" Listen to this song and read the lyrics above. Because it is worth it.
6 days.... :0
(This is the last thing I'll post about Taylor Swift, at least until 1989 comes out. Sorry for so many:(

Monday, October 20, 2014

Chocolate Book Tag

Before I do anything, I would like to thank everyone for commenting on my NaNoWriMo post. I will replaying to the comments shortly. I'm so glad you guys took time to say what you felt about it. I'm pretty sure I will be doing it, so thank you again:)

Technically, I was not tagged for this. But a few other blogs I followed did this and it looked so... fun! Books and chocolate. Can anyone think of a better combination? Uh, no, I don't think so. Here we go.

Because I love so many books of involve the questions they asked, a few of these will include two answers.

 1. Dark Chocolate (A book that covers a dark topic)

Blade Silver by Melody Carlson.
It's been a long time since I've read this book, but it still stuck on to me as one of the best Melody Carlson books ever. It explained teen suicide and why they do it and had a amazing redemption story that shined. Melody Carlson introduced me to YA Christian Fiction genre.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusark
Wow, this book is awesome. Yes, it is sad and definitely covers a dark topic. But despite that, it's has its high points. Though the book is sad, it has wonderful, happy scenes. Ups and downs. The voice is the most unique to any voice.

2. White Chocolate (Favorite light-hearted/humorous read)
A Charmed Life Series by Jenny B. Jones
Oh, wow, I love these books! Other than being exciting and cute, they're hilarious. Of course, all the Jenny B. Jones books I've read are funny. The romance was well done. The mysteries kept you on the edge of your seat. But I think what I liked most was how the author gave equal attention to every aspect of the story. The romance was great, but it didn't take over the story, same with the mysteries
 
3. Milk Chocolate (A book with a lot of hype that you're dying to read)
I have quite a few books I want to read so I'm choosing a few.
 
The Blood Of Olympus by Rick Riodarian.
I'm a huge fan of the Percy Jackson series, not so much The Heroes of Olympus series. Still, I do want to read this book. But... I still have to read The House Of Hades. I'll check out a few book reviews and see what happens:)
 
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.
I've heard a lot of people like this book. I read the preview on Amazon and while it was incredibly interesting and made me want to read more, if it's about an assassin, I'm not too sure if I want to read it. Once again, I'll have to look at some book reviews, but if they look good, I will read it.
 
4. Caramel-filled Chocolate (A book that makes you feel all gooey inside)
 
I suppose they mean something with romance and the only thing I can think of is Legend by Marie Lu. Legend kept me interested the whole time. It had me freaking out. Like, literally. I read half of it on the way home somewhere and it was a struggle not to read it at our destination so I could save it for the trip home. Eventually, the suspense won. I finished it before we left. The plot is great. The characters are amazing. For the most part, it is clean, only with some mild cussing and kissing.
 
5. Wafer-less KitKat (A book that has surprised you)
The Hunger Games will probably always be the book that surprised me the most. I've read too many negative critiques of the movies and just assumed that this was another bad thing that teens were into. After reading the series, I was so wrong. Now it's my favorite secular book(s). I could go on and on about that, but it would make this post way longer than it should be.
 
6. Snickers (A book you're going nuts about)
The Gallagher Series by Ally Carter.
AH, these are amazing. I'm reading the last one right now and can't wait to finish it. Ally Carter is one of the best authors I've encountered in a long time and the last four books of this series kept me on the edge of my seat.
 
7. Hot Chocolate With Mini Marshmallows (A book you turn to for a comfort read)
The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet
I have both of these books on my Kindle app. First of all, when I wanted to be comforted, I go to something that relates to me and Ellie is shy, keeps to herself, and a writer. At the same time, she feels left out. And I can totally relate to that. Other than that, I felt like I was Ellie when I was reading book two. Definitely read these books, especially if you're a girl and a writer.
 

8. Box of Chocolates (A series you feel has something for everyone)
The Percy Jackson series fits the description. Yes, it is about a boy, but it has some girls in it too. It never has a dull moment and is intriguing. But what I like most about it is the morals it promotes: sacrifice, bravery, and love. No, it has very little romance in it to all those who wondered.
 

 
 
 
 I tag:
M
 
This is a great tag, so if you're not on the list, go ahead and do it!
Doesn't this sound great? It's coming out tomorrow, which means I will be up as earliest as possible to hear the world thing.
 
Sorry for the long post!
 
 
 
 

Friday, October 17, 2014

NaNoWriMo?

Hey guys!  I just wanted to quickly say that I'm contemplating doing National Novel Writing Month. (I can't find the short way to say it because I haven't done this before) I made an account on their a few years ago, but I wasn't a dedicated writer then. (Still so much to learn) But I know some of you guys do it so could you tell me more about it? Do you have to start a brand new novel or can it be an idea that you wrote a two chapters on and stopped? Thanks again!

Have you attempted or successfully completed NaNoWriMo? (I think that's how you say it) What are the pros and cons of it? If you have time, please comment and tell me what you think. I'm pretty sure there's time left:)

In Christ,
Sarah

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The Selection Series


Hello everyone! Having a good week?

Today, I'll be reviewing a series, discussing the pros and cons of the series. And this series is the deservedly popular (not trilogy, as I originally thought), The Selection by Kierra Cass. I apology for the length of this post.

About the Series: So far, The Selection has consisted of three books, The Selection, The Elite, and The One. I'm going to leave the cover blurb.
 For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.


Throughout the series, America's affections grow, but she still can't bear to leave her first love, Aspen. The growing rebellion plays in this series as well, so it's not all about the love triangle.

Pros: Yes, this series revolves around a love triangle on the surface, but truthfully, it's much more than that. Kierra creates a intriguing new USA. It was a interesting concept: An Ester sent to a palace when she's in love with somebody else. America can be difficult, but overall, she turned out to be a great protagonist. She wasn't shy, but she wasn't a loose cannon either. I especially liked her relationship with her dad. It's funny how so many famous series keep parents as a side note, not important. But I loved it when she said that she wanted to make sure her father approved of whoever she married. Not something you see in many romances.

Most Disney movies portray princes to be lame. Either they don't explore their character at all or they make them sound overrated. The best Disney males in princess movies don't even start off as princes. (Kristoff and Eugene) As a result, I wasn't expecting to think much of Maxon, but I ended up loving him. There were some things I did make me hate him... for a little while. Of course, he wasn't a Peeta, but I loved how he loved America, despite how difficult she could be. He stood up for truth too and respected a girl's boundaries.

Cons: Though the love triangle wasn't horrible, America could be frustrating. It was mostly in The Elite, my least favorite book in the series. She would have a moment with Maxon and then have another with Aspen a few minutes later. She was on and off in a sick game. This happened in The Elite the most and a little bit in The Selection. It made me want to pull my hair out. Who do you really want, America? I felt bad for both boys.

Another thing is the content. There are definitely worse content-wise books out there, but this book did have a significant amount of kissing/making out. Honestly, I knew it was going to happen so I just skipped those paragraphs. They don't benefit to the story, if anything raise tension. They don't go all the way, but America does lie in bed for a night with someone. (I skipped that part entirely) It's completely wrong, but I will note that it is right after she find out they're getting engaged. (in The One) Only a couple of pages long, by the way

Another kissing scene involves Maxon kissing someone else. (The Elite) America says the girl is in a bra and if I remember correctly, he was shirtless. He gets punished by America, who hates him for a time afterwards and the scene is portrayed as horrible as it was. (Once again, I skipped it, though scanned a few words and read the aftermath.) In the end, he regrets it. He does give a reason for doing it that made me reconsider my first thought. (that he was a complete slime ball) It was still wrong though and was his lowest moment.

There are few mild cuss words through the three books, mostly h words and d words, and one b word. A little bit of violence here and there, as well, but nothing graphic or unnecessary. Something did happen in Maxon's past that strangely a lot like something in Divergent. I won't go into detail about that though. No spoilers.

A few characters did die and the effects of it wasn't realistic. It was like, "Okay, this person died. I wished (s)he was here. Moving on."

Conclusion: Turns out, I have a formed a new opinion of this series by summing all the "cons" up. And as good as everything was, the sexual content did go overboard and is the reason why I will not be buying the books. I was aware that most of the bad things would happen. You can see it coming and it isn't significant to the plot. I didn't hesitate to skip. So, if you do read this series, I would encourage to skip.

Through everything, I do think that the good outweighed the bad, making this book worth reading. America's relationship with her father made her instantly related to me. For the most part, America was very strong and wasn't trashy. She wasn't afraid to tell Maxon how she felt, (expect for one thing). She wouldn't let someone use her. In the end, she forgave someone who constantly hurt him through the first two books. I admired her a lot for that.

My favorite quote of this book was from Maxon when he said, "Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway." (I didn't even have to look at the book. I have it memorized.) That quote sums up the message Mrs. Cass was trying to send throughout the whole series. With America's relationship with her father. With her love for Maxon and Aspen. With everything.

Unconditional love. Loving someone, despite their status, their riches, their past, their mistakes. Unconditional love means to love someone despite... everything. If they drive you crazy or hurt you. It's needing someone and at times, wishing you didn't. It's true love. Because sometimes we forget that true love is unconditional love. Sometimes, even when people are unfaithful, love can still go on. That's another thing I don't see often.

And The Selection portrayed that beautifully. I will pick up The Heir when it comes out. In the end, America does commit to someone. I'll leave you to decide if you want to find out who. BUT, I will repeat, please skip the sexual scenes. If I wouldn't have thought of skipping them, I wouldn't have read these books.





Sunday, October 12, 2014

I Always Forget To Tell You....

Hey! This song is so amazing that when I was trying to pick what lyrics to put on the post, I was torn. All the lyrics are so amazing I couldn't pick just one verse! Sorry about the lack of posting. Maybe you'll catch me again tonight... or tomorrow. Would you please pray for a relative of a friend's with cancer. Thank you:) have a good Sunday!
 
 

Something in his deep brown eyes has me sayin'
He's not all bad like his reputation
And I can't hear one single word they say
And you'll leave, got places to be and I'll be OK
I always forget to tell you I love you, I loved you from the very first day


And I watch you fly around the world
And I hope you don't save some other girl
Don't forget, don't forget about me
I'm far away but I never let you go
I'm lovestruck and looking out the window
Don't forget, don't forget where I'll be
Right here wishing the flowers were from you
Wishing the card was from you
Wishing the call was from you

'Cause I loved you from the very first day


Thursday, October 9, 2014

I want to do this quick post to share this. Taylor Swift covered "Riptide." I heard bits and pieces of this song, but it sounds wonderful when Taylor sings it. And today, she announced the five days from now, she will be releasing a track from 1989 called, "Out of the Woods." Excuse me while I freak out in excitement. She says this is her favorite song from the album and the lyrics that have been revealed make it sound so interesting. I will be counting down the days:)

Today, I got this shirt in the mail. It's perfect for me since I'm a writer and I love this song and of course, Francesca Battistelli. Along with it, I received an easy piano book for all the Frozen songs. My awesome brother got me a stuffed Olaf doll that talks. Haha.

If you're a Swiftie , like me, I think you're enjoy this cover.

Where God Has Brought Me

Originally, I was planning on posting a poem that I've been dying to get out, but I can't find the notebook I wrote it in. I need to stop owing so many notebooks. I swear I have so many that I've never actually filled. 

As an alternative, I have decided to write a post I should have written on my birthday.

As a child, I was committed to Christ. He gave me the gift of memorization. I had a knack for memorizing Bible verses. That's a way I became close to God and started to understand him. But I think the most important part in my conversion, other than Jesus, was my parents. They always did all they could to make sure I knew about Jesus and how I could have a relationship with Him. When I understood it, I was baptized.

But years after that, I was drifting away. Of course, I never wanted to tell anyone this. I was still going to church and reading the Bible, but it all seemed dead to me. Last year, I recommitted my life to Christ. It was that time when I realized that nothing compares to Him. Nothing. And that, he truly watches over me.

Every once in awhile, I would get a doubt. A evil whisper in the wind would question all I've ever known to be true. "How can you be sure God is real? What if this is all... for nothing? After all, it can't be proven until you die. By then, it will be too late. If you're wrong, if you believe this until you die, you're taking a risk."

Yes, God can't be scientifically proven. No, we will never see him physically until we die. But since then, I have to come to a conclusion. I do see Him. I see Him everyday.  In His Word, in the stories I hear, in life. If all the stories, if all the "coincidences" didn't happen, I'd question it. The truth is, they do happen. Because I know, without a doubt, that God is real. Every day he watches me. Every day he forgives me. Every day he stays faithful, when I do not.

He finally came through to me and one of my lowest lows. Even then, when I had constantly rejected him, He was watching out for me. Nothing could ever not convince me of that.

Am I a perfect Christian now? No. Is God all love, not caring if we skin, because he'll forgive us anyway? Of course not. But I think, through it all, God will always be with me.

Through this fifteen years, he will continue to be. He got me through my grandparent's death last year. He continues to give me ideas. He gave me the gift of music. I will always be thanking Him. Anything I could do would not equal to His unfailing love.

So I hope you like this post. I would like to share yet another song from one of my favorite artists, Britt Nicole, with Owl City. This song is so beautiful. It captures what God feels for us. It's called, "You're Not Alone."

You rescue me and I believe that God is loving
He is all I need
For these days forth
For all eternity
I'll never wander on my own
For I am yours until you call me home
I close my eyes and I can hear you say
You're not alone
Ooh
You're not alone
Ooh

Sunday, October 5, 2014

My Birthday:)

Okay, so I apologize for not posting on my birthday. Or the day after. I had an extremely busy weekend and I'm about to collapse on these keys. Originally, I was planning on writing a post about my life and where God has brought me (Lauren's suggestion)  Because I'm so tired though, I'm going to hold on that and talk about my actual birthday, which was awesome.

Before I go into anything, I want to say thank you to all the people who took time to read and wish me happy birthday wishes! I love you guys! It means so much to me that people I haven't even met in person take time to wish me a happy birthday. Bernie posted a wonderful birthday post that you can read here.

On Friday, I turned fifteen. Thank you, Captain Obvious. (a.k.a me.) After doing some school, we went to my grandparents' house. What made it awesome was that all my cousins were there. We used to see each other nearly every week, but since my grandma has some trouble with her feet, I hadn't seen them in a long time.

Guess what I asked for from my grandparents? Well... you might be able to guess. Books. And let's just say I got what I wanted. I love to talk about books so here's a birthday book ramble.




I've talked about this book before. It's amazing. The whole series.. .nah, but this book, like epic trilogy's books are, is great. Okay, you have to stick with it. It has a slow beginning, but once you're hooked, you can't put it down. You might be thinking... A book about a bunch of boys? But actually, I'm a girl and I still loved it. Not to mention the fact that it's as clean as it could be. No cuss words and no kissing. Violence? Yes. But nothing's that's unnecessary. It's kids fighting monsters, not kids fighting kids. The next two books in the series beg to differ, but this is awesome! I can't wait till my siblings read it:) Keep in mind that I haven't seen the movie.

I just finished book four of this series and it's so exciting and thrilling and... ah. It's going to make a great movie! Mostly clean too, with the exception of mild cuss words here and there and kissing. Owning this book will be extremely useful when I finish book five. One of my pet peeves is when you finish a book in a epic series and realize that you have to wait to go to the library to read the next one. It's what I'm experiencing now since I do not own book five. But Ally Carter is so talented. She's coming close to becoming my favorite author.

Finally....

YAY! This might have been the one I wanted most. I have been a huge fan of Percy Jackson ever since I read the original series. This is Percy telling the story of actual Greek mythology. I love sarcastic voices and Percy Jackson is one of the most sarcastic guys I read. It's hilarious. Horrible, certainly. The Greeks gods did some horrible things. I'm glad they're not real. The title sound questionable if you've never read Percy Jackson, but I will say that reading about fake gods makes me so much more grateful for the real, true, perfect God.

You might know that the Greek gods did some terrible, unimaginable things. They weren't perfect. Mr. Riordan portrays most of them to be jerks. More than that, they weren't all-powerful. They weren't sure of the future, only knew bites and pieces. On the other hand, God is so good he has no room for bad. He doesn't cheat, lie, or steal. He has more mercy than any of the gods the Greeks worshipped.


I also got a Amazon gift card. Can you guess what I plan to buy with that. *Ding *Ding *Ding. Correct!  More books! Books are super cheap on the Kindle app. My first book will definitely be Rebels by Jill Williamson. I can barely wait to read the conclusion to that amazing series.

Then we hung out that night and watched the Cardinal game, which might have been one of the most exciting ever. It was a huge comeback and the Cardinals ended up winning. That's what I love about baseball. One movement, twenty minutes, can change a whole game. It was awesome.

So thank you once again! And to God... for being faithful to me, even when I'm much less:)

My theme song for the week:) The actual plot of the song doesn't apply to me, but I think the truths apply to every teen.







Thursday, October 2, 2014

One More Thing(s)

 
I know I've posted before, but have I ever told you how obsessed I am with The Lord of the Rings. And that I have been waiting for this movie ever since the last second watching it in the theaters? Okay, so now you know.
Apnother thing is, please check out my friend, Jessica's blog. Her awesome blog has been up for a year and she's doing a bunch of fun stuff at her blog. Check it out! Her blog is awesome! I hope to post something about it soon! Go to her blog to check it out.
 
One last thing. This song. There's a lot of beautiful songs on Alex and Sierra's new album, but this one is one of my favorites.  
Tomorrow's my birthday. I've already having a great birthday. Hopefully, you will hear from me then:) Thanks for reading!

When People Leave

One of the things I dislike the most is when people leave. Not like moving away. Most of the time, that can't be helped. I don't like it when people just walk out of your life. When their house is still within your reach, but you have no reason to visit. When you can't recall the last time you talked to him or her. When you want desperately... for things to be like their were, but that is impossible for you to accomplish.

Change can be a good thing. Don't get me wrong. But sometimes... I hate change. Because when someone leaves, when something breaks, what hurts most is remembering how it used to be. To me, anyway. It hurts.

I've only had a few occasions when people have left my life for a reason other than a move. You want to believe that, if you knew how much they were hurting you, they would come back. At the same time, you're not sure. I've always been someone to think the best of people, despite the circumstances. So I never want to believe that whoever hurt me wouldn't apologize and try to make things better. I attempt to avoid it all costs.

But I never like to be depressed for long. That's why I've amazed at the faithfulness of God. Everywhere I hear, people have let others down. In movies, in stories in music. And unfortunately, real life more than anything. Through it all, God never lets go of us, despite any horrible thing we could ever do to him. Maybe it's smarter to believe that nothing last forever. But I've come to believe that something does: Jesus. His love. His faithfulness. Not only will it last forever, but it will never fail me.

No matter how many people leave.

I don't know about you, but I fell in love with this song when I heard it and my love still burns for it today. Please listen. It might just make your day:)