coming soon!  a christmas story written by me.

Chemistry

I recently started chemistry and I love it! (except the homework part with all the math problems)  Anyway that being said, can anybody guess what this is???

                                                It's a real GRAM cracker!!!!  I made it myself!

OMG You make everything sooo beautiful!!!

I love my backporch at 5:00 in the afternoon! It faces the east so when the sun is going down it is the most beautiful shady place to hang out. I love eating dinner on my back porch with my friends or just being out there alone.

                           I love this hill.  it's one of those that they would call "rolling".
                              you can definitely "roll" down it! :)

 

There's the sunset shining over the top of the house.  Best place to view a sunset in the village? Nora's house!

 

criticism gossip and clarity - this i believe

    What would you rather: have someone mad at you because you were straight-forward and honest, or have two angry and frustrated people (you and that person) as a result of "hints" and angry actions?  I believe that in the body of Christ it is ok to be honest and "come out" with things.  It annoys me when there is a lot of "hints", generalities, and "tactfulness".  I know, I know:  In some situations this is necessary because the individual may be in a weak place and may need gentleness.  Also, I understand that I must first have a relationship with the person, in which he or she knows that I actually care about them and that I am looking out for their better good.  But just pretending for a moment that these things are in place, I believe that there is a level of honesty that is, not necessarily pleasant for us to deal out, but is freeing and clearifying for us and our brother.  After all, how else will he see himself through yours and others' eyes?

And I know it's hard!! Sometimes it comes out wrong, sometimes you're not even sure if it's an important issue, but you'll never find out if you don't try. Sometimes you worry if the person will be mad at you. And if you're on the recieving side you may think that the person talking to you hates you or only sees your faults. It's not true! They care. And that's why they summed up the courage to talk to you!

"Let the righteous smite me, in kindness, and reproof me. It is precious oil upon my head: I won't refuse it or despise it." Psalm 141:5

And I am also saying this to my friends about me. I don't want my friends just living with my faults and not saying anything to me when I do (or say) something that offends them or someone else. Thank you to Hosanna who is never afraid to say anything to me about anything! That really means a lot to me. 
I've recently wondered "what if we gossiped about someone TO that someone"  :)  that would be funny. If you think about it, it's really funny how we can tell a million people what someone did but are too afraid to tell that person.  By then it should be clear that it is that important to you and hopefully you'll go tell that person how you feel.  :)

"If it's very painful for you to criticize your friends, you're safe in doing it. But if you take the slightest pleasure in it, that's the time to hold your tongue."     
                                                                                        ~Alice Duer Miller

Anyway, I hope that this is not words of death and I hope this doesn't offend anyone. I kind of realized as I was writing that I have seen this situation in more than one place so I am not talking to any one person. (am I being too general! :)

~ splendid majesty ~

Sometimes I walk alone on a warm night after a gentle storm.
I here the distant sounds of cicadas cerenading the night away.
The moon makes the rain drops on the grass sparkle!
And in all the beauty around me I start to sing because I have to express how lovely everything is...
And then I am silent. Almost as soon as I begin because I realize that my song can do no justice to what I behold.
I can only be quiet because I realize that it is an honor to witness this splendor and this honor should be accepted with great humility...

courtesy of me (taken from my porch 9/11/11)

I Love You

In my family we say I love you everytime we leave the house and at night before we go to bed. I leave the house a thousand times a day and I pretty much go to bed every night... you can imagine how many I love you's a person is throwing out all day.

I'm not saying that anything's wrong with that except that it loses it's special-ness, you may think (as I have) "what if that's the last time I see them" or "they might not know it if I don't tell them." That's why I think that I should show that person how much I love them through my actions. What is "I love you" going to be worth when I don't talk respectfully to mom when she's annoying me or when I'm not kind to Palal.

I'm always up for less talk, more action and I believe that's what I am feeling right now. Sometimes when I don't get the chance to tell mom I love her I quote Sid on Ice Age:   "Oh well, (shrug) she knows"
Bottom line (literally) show someone you love them first by your actions, then (even though they already know it) say it with words sometimes   :)  <3

= a couple random things =

What I look like when I'm mad (for those of you who don't know :)

My garden now... didn't really turn out the way I wanted, I'm thinking about starting over with some plants that can withstand the fall.  But, hey, the cornflowers are pretty!

                             I like this one. the leaves are pretty but I wouldn't call it a flower.

 I just turned 17 on the 13th and to celebrate I took a ride on this super cool Harley Davidson... (Just kidding the kickstand was up and we asked the owner to sit on it!)

               A new friend of mine. I saw this kitty on my way to visit a friend and managed to coax him to my house where I gave him a bowl of milk and then some cat food. He was very hungry.  I saw him again the next day and fed him again. Maybe he will be mine. I am calling him Kit-Kat.