Just Keep Writing...

Well hello there! I'm ashamed to say that I almost forgot about you! But as ever, my faithful readers always manage to wiggle their way back into my memory. What can I say? I love you all too much! 


Unfortunately, I don't have any interesting stories or experiences for you today. It's been quite boring actually. I woke up late, took Garrett on a date to lunch, spent the entire afternoon in my room writing this silly paper, went to the park for a walk with Gavin and then back to my room for some more writing. And guess what! I'm still not done with this thing! Joy... 


So because that's all I have for you today, I thought I'd give you a few songs. At the moment, Garrett has me stuck on Owl City so here's a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tShKvvd7l0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx77HRbRKQQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usR7mMHUhlY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C21g0t49iy8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytBR7ET_6uU

Until next time!

Feminine Friday: Falling In Love

Falling in love. It's a nice fantasy isn't it? I think every girl dreams about falling in love with her knight in shining armor. The only problem with that is they deceive themselves into "falling in love" over and over again, consequently breaking their hearts over and over again. Here's what I found on the subject:

"Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." ~ Sol. 2:7

A while back I made a decision and so far, it's worked out pretty well for me. I decided that I don't want to fall in love. I want love to fall into me! Meaning, I'm not going to go looking for it. Oh sure, I've had your usual girlish crushes and such but I've never gone so far as to call it "love". Waiting on God's timing is probably the best decision I've ever made! It amazes me how girls insist on falling in love when they know in the back of their minds that it will just end in heartache. Why not save yourself the trouble? Why not wait for God to bring you His best?

Ok, I'll put away my soapbox now. Until next time! 

Untitled Because I Couldn't Think Of An Interesting Title

Ah Thursday. I kinda like Thursdays actually. They seem pretty laid back and comfortable. Probably because it's almost Friday. 


Today was certainly laid back..... well after about 9:45. As you know, we had to give our informative speeches in class today and the butterflies were running rampant in my stomach until about 9:45 when I finished. After that, I got to sit and watch the others give their speeches. Needless to say, some of them were...... interesting. But anyway, at the end of class, there were only three people left (which is pretty good for that class!) and everyone said their goodbyes.


When I got home, I thought my schedule would look like this: lunch, nap, homework, dinner, mime practice. Well, not quite. I did eat lunch. However, instead of taking a nap, I cleaned up the kitchen and went with the boys to the apple orchard for apple slushies! A worthwhile trade if you ask me. Then instead of doing homework, I wrote in my journal, shamefully getting my journal self up to date for the first time since March. Yeah, not too happy about that but oh well. 


Two hours later, dinner time had commenced. Mom has been craving my shrimp for a while so I told her I'd make dinner. On the menu: shrimp, rice and salad. It was pretty good too! After I had cleaned up the kitchen (heh... again), Carl dropped by on his bike. He stayed for about an hour or so, all of which Lucy didn't stop talking. That little girl loves him like none other! I can barely get a word in edgewise! While he was here, I discovered that Hannah forgot about our mime practice so I told her not to worry about coming and we'd meet next week. She's doing great so it really wasn't needed anyway. I just wanted to see her. :)


When Carl left, Garrett and I made an ice cream run and came home to watch a movie. Tonights genre: Western. And both my brothers stayed up to watch the whole thing with me which made me happy. When we had said our goodnights, I finished writing in my journal and here I am!


Ok, now for your song of the day. My absolute favorite Beach Boys song ever! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E4FRtrD9aQ

Until next time!

A Producti....... Nevermind

Hello hello! This post is going to be just a bunch of odds and ends about my day because I did a whole lot of things and all in all, wasn't really that productive. Oh well. It was a good day!


First was class and that test. I got to talk to Christina before class started and then we were handed the test and I took about half an hour to finish it. Honestly, I have NO IDEA how I did. There were some questions that I knew without a doubt and others that..... well I didn't. So we'll see I guess. 


Since I got done so early and I happened to have my Bible with me, I stopped by the park to do my devotions. Best idea I've had in a while! It was so nice! The park was completely empty and I just sat on the hill, listening to the birds and talking to God. As I walked away, I had that overwhelming sense of peace. If He's in control, why worry right? Silly me. 


When I got home, I took my open book multiple choice speech test. Easy peasy. After that, I spent the rest of the afternoon working on a poem and a little addition to my blog. Ladies and gentlemen, the blog button! I was ever so proud of my computer illiterate self for figuring it out! So there it is. Feel free to grab it and post it on your own blog! 


By then, you can say hello 3 o'clock and work time. It actually didn't go too bad today though. We had a lot of kids but Brittany and I had a good time. And we got to leave by 6!


Home again home again, just in time for my mom to leave for Bible Study. Lucy and I danced around the kitchen, made some vanilla tea and I gave her a bath. Garrett was kind enough to take a few minutes away from his music to listen to my speech twice. And then Lu and I watched some good old Doris Day!


Tomorrow is speech day! EEK!!!! I'm a tad nervous now and tomorrow will be even worse. Thank goodness I'm going second so I can get it out of the way. But still! I'm hoping that I do well. Keep your fingers crossed!


Now for a song! I know I've used this before but I absolutely LOVE this song and for those close friends that read my blog and may be thinking about Christmas presents already..... this sheet music would be incredible. *wink wink* Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYN0qYG1egs

Until next time!

Speeches, Visits And Growing Up

Today...... was..... a FABULOUS day! Even if I did have you endure a tad of the creepy flirtatiousness, that couldn't dampen it! 


Being Tuesday, I had speech class this morning.... which meant I could get up at 7! But this morning, I didn't feel like getting there absurdly early like I usually do so I took my time getting ready. A hot cup of apple cider and some Owl City later, I was on my way with the rising sun. Class was interesting today. We're giving our informative speeches Thursday so today was our speech "Practice Round". Well, the two people I was paired with...... didn't have their speeches done. Like, no outlines, no nothin'. So after running through my speech once, we spent the next hour and 20 minutes brainstorming for their speeches. Heh, I wish them the best of luck. By the time we finished, it was time to leave though first I had to check and make sure my mp3 would play. So when I inserted my USB into the computer, I clicked on it and..... NOTHING!! Grrrrrrrr. So there I sat, trying to figure it out, when Robert came up and asked if I needed some tech support. He was kind enough to help me get it working (it was quite simple once we figured it out) and I got to leave, knowing I'm all prepared for Thursday! 


After class, I got to go see my adopted sister Rachel! :D I was ever so glad too! I hadn't seen her in quite a while so that hour and a half was very nice. We sat on her couch and talked and laughed and caught up on life. Finally I figured I should go since she hadn't had any sleep the night before so off I went. 


When I got home, I discovered that I had the house to myself! Along with not having to work this afternoon, I decided to watch a chick flick. Music & Lyrics was the choice of the afternoon and may I say, I do love that movie. :) Anyway, by the end, everyone had gotten home from their various places and my parents left again, taking Gavin out to dinner for his birthday. Since they were gone, you know what comes next. Right. Dancing around the kitchen to some awesome tunes. Lucy was in a jammin' mood tonight too! We ate frozen pizza and I listen to her sing along to stuff while I cleaned up the kitchen. 


Then I settled Lucy and Maisy on the living room floor to watch a movie and left them in Garrett's charge while I started on homework. It was all studying tonight. I have a test in Physical Science tomorrow which means no lecture and no lab which means I get home early! Anyway, I've spent about 4 hours studying and my brain is thoroughly tired. So I have my tea and almonds for a snack and my music and I am quite happy! 


Oh! Ok so Gavin is a teenager now right? Well today he got a Facebook!!!!! It's not fair! Last time I checked, he was seven! But oooooooh no. He went and grew up on me! *sigh* Guess he isn't a Peter Pan after all. 


Speaking of Peter Pan, my music today comes from that soundtrack! I always forget how much I love it until I stumble across it again. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H3adifFTfg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtxT-bn18OY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8O0tIJRu28

Until next time!

Bounce Back

I think I should apologize for yesterday's post. Yesterday and today just weren't the best days. You know, when you get in that mind frame of "Life stinks and then you die." Well I personally dislike that mindset. And really, I know people with problems WAY beyond mine so I have NO right to complain. God has gifted me with the opportunity of education and I should be thankful. 


I had a very good talk with my dad about it today after class. Honestly, talking to him, I felt like I was just singing the same old song that I did all last summer. And he said the same thing he always has. "You have to do it Casey. So buck up and do it." So I guess if I have to, I should at least try to enjoy it right? After our talk, he took me to lunch which was nice. We moved on to other subjects like missions trips and dreams and boys and stuff. The things you usually talk about with dads. :) It was lovely!


When we got home, I finished a good piece of homework while listening to a bunch of awesome soundtrack songs that Carl was kind enough to send me. It definitely made my homework bearable. Theeeeeeen it was time for work. It wasn't too bad today! I worked with Liz and she's really nice in general but when it's time to come down hard, she's the one to do it. So I get to be the nice one! :D I even got to leave a little early today which was nice. 


Dinner was with mom and dad since the kids where scattered around elsewhere. Then my mom and I ran to get apple cider finally! It's been fall for how many weeks and this is the first time I've had it! I know, shocking. But it's fixed now. So while I drank my hot apple cider, I did my homework and listened to more music. After a little while, my mom came in and pleaded with me to go get Garrett from a friend's house. So, like the good daughter I am, I hurried off to fetch him. Now I'm home, it's 10 pm and I'm done with my homework for the night! 


Now, to make up for my lack of happiness yesterday, here are some happy songs that I hope you'll enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RjNcOqwpRk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxEP_UrdJD0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy_qlYjAh8o

One last little thing. Today is Gavin's birthday!! He's 13 years old and the kid is almost taller than me!!!!! How time flies. Happy birthday buddy!


Until next time!

Today And A Lament

Today wasn't too bad of a day. Church this morning was excellent! I've said it before and I'll say it again, my daddy is an awesome preacher! (Listen in! http://www.livingstreamscc.org/sermons.html) I also got to talk to several people this morning that haven't been at church for a while so that was nice. 


Lunch was leisurely. Tomorrow is Gavin's birthday but we let him open his presents today since Mondays are pretty busy for us. Of course he had no objections to that. :) After we ate, Maisy and I ran an errand and took a nice long time about it so we could talk. When we got back, I decided to grab Garrett and head to the park for a walk. It was the perfect fall day today and thankfully I took my camera! Here's a selection of pictures:

On to my lament that I eluded to in the title. But first, you need the proper background music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXyPnFjeeww

Ok. Now then, Thursday I was sitting in Speech class, listening to Ms. V lecture when this thought popped into my head. "What am I doing here?" Upon some elaboration, "What am I doing here? How is what I'm learning going to help me in the long run? Is this aiding me at all in God's calling for my life?" I hear about Shannon taking sewing lessons and find myself insanely jealous that I can't. I spend a Saturday doing loads and loads of laundry and find myself completely satisfied with the day. I help my mom make grocery lists and I'm disappointed that I don't have time to help her cook the meals. I have to turn down an opportunity to spend time with someone that needs a friend and I'm saddened beyond compare that they can't come first when they should. See where I'm going here? I'm only 6 weeks in and college has ruined my life! I can't do most of the things I want to do! Things like cooking and helping my mom homeschool the kids and learning to sew and being there whenever anyone needs a friend. Why not? Because I have classes and assignments and studying that has to come before everything else. Classes and assignments and studying that, next semester, won't matter one little bit. Four years of wasting my time and money, all for a piece of paper that the world requires. Four years of being educated in ways of the world that I should wish to remain ignorant. My constant prayer at the moment is that God would provide that escape. That trap door that leads to my heart's desire; the life of a homemaker in training. There's so many skills I'm going to need before I leave home that I'm not going to have the time to learn while I'm taking classes. It makes me want to cry! 


And as everyone knows, a good lament always ends in tears. So here is where I will bid you goodnight. Until next time. 

New Houses, Late Nights And Faires

Good morrow to you, my good readers! Can you tell I've been in a time machine today? Yeah. But hold on. I've got other stuff to talk about before I get to that. 

First, Friday's activities. I spent most the day researching for my American Government paper and guess what! I have all my information now! So this next week, I start the easy part, writing the paper. And I gotta get it done in  a week. Ok well technically not since it's not due until the first week of November but we get the full 20 extra credit points for turning it in by October 11th. So that's what I'm shooting for obviously. Anyway, that took most of the day and then Jess, Wes and baby Natalie came over for Gavin's birthday dinner! I so enjoyed talking to Jess and rolling around on the floor with Nat. She's so cute! Holding her at the dinner table, I told my mom that I want one but she says to wait. Probably a good idea. ;)

After dinner and a little socializing, I was off to Shannon's! When I got there, we turned around and left for her sister Lindsay's new house. It's a HUGE work in progress but I'm sure it'll be nice when it's done! We were helping paint for like three hours while listening to Wicked and Phantom Of The Opera. Then on the way home, I hear Shannon from the backseat, "Casey I looooooove yooooooou!" to the Phantom tune. I almost died laughing! 

It was about 11:30 when we got back to her house and decided to go get a movie and snacks. So off to the scary Marsh we went. Let's just say that we were both glad Zach (her boyfriend) went with us. We made it there and back without incident and returned home with our spoils of war! Then after Zach left, Shannon straightened my hair while I sat and talked to her and Danni. About 2 am, we started our movie. We watched New Moon (the Twilight sequel) and let me advise you to not waste your time if you've not already seen it. It's way too dramatic and corny to be worthwhile in my opinion. Anyway, the movie went until about 4:30 when we finally fell asleep.

Four hours later, we were up and going, getting ready to leave again! This time, we all dressed up in our awesome costumes (see top picture) and off we went to the Renaissance Faire! It was cold. It was rainy. My straight hair didn't last two minutes. But it was completely worth it! We listened to some cool music (like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SvEttR6HTY) and ducked in and out of tents, looking at all the stuff, and huddled together in groups to try to evade some of the cold (Nathan was my snuggle buddy for the day). We left earlier than we planned but everyone was ready to be warm and dry so back to Shannon's house we went. We all got out of our wet clothes (and into pajamas :D ), distributed the hot chocolate and settled onto the couches to watch a movie. The chosen show? Barbie: The Princess And The Pauper. I will tell you right now that I had NOTHING to do with it. I was not involved in the decision making process at any point! I just got to sit there and watch it and laugh at Zach's awesomely hilarious commentary. 

After the movie, I made my way home and now I'm all tired out as I write this. But I'm warm and dry, thankful for all the great people I saw this weekend and looking forward to an awesome sermon on Revelation tomorrow! 

Until next time!

Feminine Friday: Rapunzel Rapunzel

Hello my lovely readers! It's Friday again! My subject today is short and sweet but it's something I had been thinking about. For the past few weeks, I've been debating cutting my hair. Well, look what I found the other day:

1 Corinthians 11:15 "And isn't long hair a woman's pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering." (NLT)

Guess that settles it for me. If a woman's hair is her pride and joy, then I'll keep mine. :) Now I don't mean to say "It's against the Bible to cut your hair!" No no. If you want to cut your hair, go for it! But I personally will be leaving mine long. 

Until next time!