Today We Remember

Today is the ten year anniversary of a day that we will never, and should never forget. I didn’t really realize what today was until I turned on my computer and saw on the Yahoo home page. Then I looked to see that the date was, indeed, September 11th.

Unlike so many, I don’t really remember all that much about that day. I remember being dropped off at school, a normal day for a seven year old. But before too much time had passed, not even an hour I’d say, I was being called back to the office and my mom was taking me home. Of course, even for a child, the first reaction whether it’s asked or not is “Who died?”.

My mom explained what had happened on the ride to my grandparents house, where we spent the day with my granny. I suppose I understood as much as a seven year old can at that point. When we got to my grandparents house, I remember looking at the TV and seeing the two tall buildings burning. This was what my mother had told me about, and frankly I was scared.

I can remember watching as they burned, as they fell. Watching the recap of when the first plane entered the first trade center. I can also remember thinking ‘what if we’re next?’. That’s exactly what my mom had thought when she picked me up early from school.

It was a tragic day, and everybody over the age of at least fifteen can probably remember it. Many lost lives. Many others lost loved ones. And I can only imagine the pain they must feel today.

So let us not forget what happened that day. We are Americans, we should be proud of it. Unfortunantly, it doesn’t seem that many are nowadays. But we should always remember, above all, that we are one nation UNDER GOD. We wouldn’t have gotten far without Him, and we won’t get much farther if they continue trying to kick Him out.

On The Blog Again

Howdy, ya’ll!

Been a few days (weeks… months?) since I’ve posted, and as I’m making progress in both my videos and the book I’m reading, I decided to take a break, ignore my hungry stomach for a little while, and just blog. I’m not really sure how much I’ll have to say, and it will probably be just as the category says. Rambling. So, if you’re interested in ‘An Actual Subject!’, aside from my ranting about how I absolutely adore the Hunger Games series, there won’t be one. So ha.

I’m going to try and blog more often now, but we’ll just have to see how that goes. I really need to get back into the ‘Song Suggestion Sunday’ thing, and I’m thinking about putting an alarm on my phone that tells me around 4 every Sunday that the blog needs an update. I’ve also been considering a ‘Bash Rebecca Black Friday’ but as that may only last a week, and it would give me a killer headache every week, that was ruled out almost right away.

If you have any suggestions for a weekly thing, or even a weekly Youtube upload maybe, then suggest it and I’ll do my best to fill that request! Maybe a Fanfic Friday… but I’m not sure how well that would go. I get horrid Writer’s Block.

Achem, aaanyway, as I said, I’ve been reading The Hunger Games. I’m halfway through ‘Mockingjay’ now, and I’ve already made a fanvid. I found out that the movie comes out FOUR DAYS after my birthday next year, so I’m absolutely thrilled. Though, I am a little confused as to how on earth they can make three books four movies. I suppose we shall see…

On the side of the ‘Team Peeta’, ‘Teem Gale’ war front… honestly, even with the set back that I’m reading through in ‘Mockingjay’, I am still Team Peeta all the way. He’s just so cute and sweet and DOWNRIGHT lovable. Though I do with there were two Katniss’s, because Gale and Katniss do make a cute couple as well. I feel so sorry for him, for all three of them really. I’m really anxious to see who she picks and marries… if she even lives. I’m going to cry like a baby if either of the guy’s die. Or if anyone else dies. I mean, really? Gosh… and this is on a reading list for 5/6th graders??

*sigh* Anyway, I suppose that’s all I have to rant about for the time being, which means it’s a good day! I just have a headache from swimming and holding my breath too much… But it was fun!

And, oh yes! I saw Tim Hawkins last week. So, instead of a song quote, I shall leave you with THIS.

Peace, Love and Hawkins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL0CaO5jH3s

April 27, 2011

By the topic, you should know what I’m going to be talking about.

What happened on Wednsday April 27, 2011 is something no one from Alabama will ever forget. If you were hit, you will certainly remember for weeks, months and years to come as the clean up efforts take place. And if you weren’t, you will certainly not forget watching the tornado on live television, if you had power, on the news and then seeing the destruction that it had caused.

I am obviously the latter in this category, as I have the computer and internet to type this. But many other people in my state were not quite so lucky and blessed as I and my family were.

When the first round of storms came through and we saw some of the damage it had caused, we couldn’t help but think ‘Yay! It wasn’t as bad as those weather men were saying it would be!’. I’m sure they were even hoping that themselves. But when the second round came through, and we saw the damage it had already produced in Mississipi and Oklahoma, we knew we were in for something big.

School and work were canceled for many people, and it was a good thing. My dad was one of those folks who were told not to come in, and though we had a very close call, though not near as close as others, we got nothing but rain, and there really wasn’t much of that, lightning and lots of wind. We have no damage except for some mild cracks that were already there before in the basement. We’re hoping it’s nothing, but we’re having someone come out just to be sure before another row of storms comes our way. Though it would be best to hope that doesn’t happen for a very, VERY long time.

Me and my parents were sitting there watching the news when one of the stations camera’s picked up a tornado sighting. After a few minutes of watching in utter silence - because what can one say when you’re watching what would turn out to be catastrophic damage, the loss of homes and lives? – the camera’s power was cut off and the tornado sighting on that end was lost. It wasn’t until a little while later that it began barreling toward  the news station itself, which sits on a hill above a large city, that we got another glimpse of the strengthening tornado. It was ugly, it was massive, and it was deadly. We knew that much just by watching, but we didn’t know just HOW deadly it was.

It didn’t hit the city, thankfully, or else there would have been many more dead and missing then there already are. The total death count for Alabama alone is over 200 now, a devastating number, which will only continue to go up until search efforts are ended. Many are still missing. Thousands are injured. And even more are without homes.

Stories continue to pour in and the news is on non-stop now. It’s completely mind blowing to hear some of the miracle stories, and some of the others that aren’t so miraculous. But I fully believe that those that perished in this storm were meant to die in this way at this time. But I pray for their families anyway. They certainly need it.

College rivalries have been shoved aside to bind together, which is probably one of the most miraculous things of all. These two schools pretty much hate each other, so far to the point of poisoning trees (*eye roll* incredibly too far) but the one further south that was not hit is coming together to help those at their rival school.

It’s both incredible and painful to watch. You can’t help but simply cry as you watch things unfold and the death toll raise, and see stories from people who lost everything they had. But all things happen for a reason, and I know the people who lost their homes and family members will rise above this.

I’m trying to find ways to volunteer as well, as is my mom, but being a puny seventeen year old girl, I can’t exactly help with the clean up efforts. Maybe a soup kitchen would take my help.

Anyway, I shall leave you with that. I just needed a good rant for something I’ve been keeping pent up since Wednsday.

Keep the south, Alabama specifically, in your prayers.
(And our governor. He’s had NO sleep, poor guy.)

‘I will praise You in this storm, and I will lift my hands, for You are who You are, no matter where I am, and every tear I’ve cried, You hold in Your hand, You’ve never left my side, and though my heart is torn, I will praise You in this storm’

A Boring… Tuesday?

It is Tuesday, right? I’ve lost track of days! Have I sunk to a Rebecca Black level? *GASP!* Gosh, I hope not…

This blog post is for two reasons.

One: I am hiding from not one, but TWO video collabs that I have discovered I have absolutely no inspiration for. (Actually, one’s going pretty well, but it’s taking FOREVER to render the first part…)

Two: I am bored.

Yes, it’s the typical afternoon slump in the life of a graduated senior who is waiting for college to begin. Did I say waiting? Waiting with a sense of horror and deep fear residing in my stomach and mind, I meant.

Yes, it’s true. I am afraid to start college this fall. I’m afraid I’m not doing the right thing, that I’ll go to the wrong school, that I’ll fail, and that I’ll get kicked out of the house immediately after the fact, even though I know my parents wouldn’t do that even if I DID have a place to go.

But blog posts are not to remind me of the impending doom. They are to get my mind OFF of that impending doom. So I shall rant (ramble) about the two collabs that I am currently working on and will be working on again as soon as I finish spilling my guts about something nobody will probably read and/or care about. Yay!

The first one was something I said yes too before I knew that there would be another collab coming along. More Than It Seems, by Kutless, is the song, and Narnia/Eragon is the fandom. And I don’t even get to vid Eragon! Boo me for agreeing to that.

The second is a full Narnia video, mostly set in Voyage of the Dawn Treader, set to Within Temptations ‘Somewhere’. It’s a beautiful song and even though it’s a blighter to make a video with, I have done it before so I know, I agreed to it. It’s surprisingly going well, and for a girl who started out with five parts about fifteen to thirty seconds in length each, that’s including the title that I made, I have two parts done! Including the title. So technically, I have three parts left. Yay me! And about ten in the other one… aww… poop…

DESPICABLE MEEEE!

I promise not to go on a rant about that wonderful movie. I’d never shut up.

Well, anywho, those two songs mentioned in the past posts can be taken as two songs to make up for the missed Song Suggestion Sunday. I’m incredibly sorry about that, but with Passover Sedar on Saturday, staying out late then, and having much to do on Sunday, I had absolutely no time and no mind to write up a blog post, much less a slightly intelligent one.

And now that I have ranted about a collab and want to stay away from the ‘More Than It Seems’ one just a wee bit longer, I shall rant about the new books that’ll be coming tomorrow.

‘The Priest’s Graveyard’ by Ted Dekker SQUEEEE!!!

I have been waiting for this book for over a month, literally, I pre-ordered them on my birthday which was a month and thirteen days ago or something like that, anyway. Over a month, let’s settle it on that, shall we?

I’ve read reviews, and I’ve seen the trailer, and I absolutely can not WAIT to get it in my hand and read it in about a day’s time like I normally do.

I still need to finish ‘DragonQuest’ by Donita K. Paul. The book is very good, but for some reason I’m finding it a slow read. That doesn’t make it bad, mind you, but I have tonight to finish it. I guess that’s my excuse to keep away from the collabs. Mwahaha!

Speaking of which, I suppose I need to get back to it and finish at least one more part so I can get to the book and finish that, then watch t.v. with my mom. ‘The Voice’ comes on tonight and it looks incredible, so we decided to watch it. Besides, American Idol doesn’t come on til tomorrow night so we need something to fill the ‘nothing on tv gap’.

If you’ve read this entire thing, or even a little bit of it, take a cookie AND a free book from the table.

Peace, love and Dekker!

‘More than it seems, these dreams inside, blur realities line, if I could believe the dreams inside, I am capable of more than it seems, til there’s nothing that’s left of me, show me the way to these dreams’

Song Suggestion Sunday FOUR!

Finally?

Wow this has taken so long to get back into, but seeing as how life is finally starting to calm down and I have time to read or write again (though the plot to a story I was writing is nearly completely forgotten! Darn life…), I decided to jump back into the wonderful world of blogging! And since it’s Sunday, I thought I’d come with a ‘song suggestion’.

First off, though, I would like to give a shout out to my new youth group (that shall not be named for privacy sake, not even sure if they’ll read this, but hey ). Those guys are wicked awesome and in less then a week have made me more welcome then I’ve ever been at any place of worship! Except my synagogue, but I’m like the only teenager there aside from my best friend who’s kinda barin damaged right now… so there’s no youth group… go figure.

Now, where was I? AH! Song Suggestion Sunday. *insert awesome music here*

This week, I come with not one song… but TWO! *GASP!* How dare I? Because I couldn’t pick between depressing song (which is really very pretty) and a song that’s really very beautiful.

So, if you’re in the mood for something more down, check out ‘Things Left Unsaid’ by Disciple. It’s both a beautiful song, and a tragic one. I’m not one to cry very much, but it even gets me a little teary eyed. I can only now start listening to it after my granny’s death, and even now it’s kind of touchy. But it helps in a way, I just hate for my parents to find me crying.

And if you want something more upbeat, aim for ‘Treasure’ by Flyleaf! It’s an amazing reminder of just how treasured we are by God. And after the sermon at the special youth service tonight, I really can’t stop listening to it. (It was good, not bad lol)

Anyway, so I suppose that’s all I really have to say for today. But I can promise that I will post alot more frequently (I hope) now that I have more free time. Or my youth group friends will kidnap me more often. We’ll see… *shifty eyes*

Oh, and on an ending note, if you have not read ‘Skin’ by Ted Dekker, go do so. You’ll cry, wet your pants, then scream ‘YOU’RE KIDDING ME!!!’ when the ending finally comes to play. Aaah, the beauty of Ted Dekker.

And on a second ending note… ‘THE PRIEST’S GRAVEYARD’ COMES OUT IN A FEW DAYS!!! AAAAAAAH!!!

That is all. Thank you for reading.

Peace, Love and Dekker

‘If you fly away tonight, wanna tell you that I love you, I hope that you can hear me, I hope that you can feel me’
‘Tonight I’ve become the most dazzling precious treasure, I am treasured over all the earth’

Alot To Catch Up On…

So, it has been a few weeks (months?) since I last posted and I thought, since I’ve made it through about ten chapters of my book in one day with three parts of an MEP done, I would allow myself to pick between blogging and writing the next chapter of my story. Since I’ve got alot on my mind and a horrid case of writer’s block, I picked blogging.

This post goes in both ‘An Actual Subject!’ and ‘Rambling’ because it’s both. Rambling around an actualy subject! I guess I need to make a category called that, hmm…?

Subject/ramble number 1! Birthdays and puppies.

Since I have last posted, I have turned a year older. I am now one year away from being an adult! (Yay?) I have also gotten a puppy, which is another reason for my lack of posting. He is now ten weeks old. He is a Chiweenie (Chihauhau/daschund mix) named Isaac… after one of my RPG characters (who we admittedly killed off and brought back to life today…). Fun day, fun day.

Subject/ramble number 2! Family life.

We all have crazy family’s right? This aunt hates that cousin, or this uncle shot that nephew for trying to date his daughter (I mentioned I live in the South, right?). I am not so proud to say that I have one of those families.

Another reason for my lack of posting is because of a bunch of family nonesense that his been driving me insane, keeping me from doing much on the computer, and just being a bothersome… bother. The problem with it is that the family member in question is one I used to be very close too, but he’s pretty much jumped off the deep end. He’s now moved a state north to live with his mother and brother, and our troubles have finally come to something of an end.

He was living next door, in our great grandmother’s house, but thanks to his… insanity, he let his puppy wreck the house. When he went to visit his mother and brother, my great aunt, who owns the home, went out to make sure he hadn’t left his puppy behind. What she found was not exactly to her liking. We spent about a week cleaning it up, packing boxes, my dad had to rip up the carpet because that was completely soiled, floors mopped, ect. And every time we tried to call, they either wouldn’t answer, or they hung up after less then a minute conversation. It was quite infuriating to say the least.

(And if you read all that, congrats, you get a cookie.)

Subject/ramble number 3! MelinSQUEE!

It’s true, I’ve become a Merlin addict. I’m on Season 2 Episode… 6 or 7 now. ‘The Lady of the Lake’. I only saw ten minutes of that last night, due to watching it on Hulu and discovering that I can download all three seasons for free, and also be able to use them to make videos (which I’ve been dying to do). So now I’ll be forced to wait as each episode slooowly downloads to get to the episode I was on.

I shall now go into my description of each character as I have seen thus far. *clears throat dutifully*

PRINCE ARTHUR! Boy, he was a brat to begin with… but as the episodes go on, I’m starting to see him grow. A few episodes ago, I actually ArthurSQUEED! which is a nearly impossible occurance thus far. I do hope he gives me reason to ArthurSQUEE! more often, because, quite frankly, I enjoyed it.

KING UTHER! When will that dude DIE? I mean… GEEZE! I know he has ‘good intentions’ and all that, but gosh is he a jerk. (Guess that shows where Arthur got his early ‘Merlin’ brat-dom, huh?) Although, I must admit, the father/son moments do make me d’awww. But those are probably the /only/ moments I actually somewhat like the character.

GUENEVIER! (Yeah, I know, I spelled her name wrong.) She’s such a sweetheart! Though terribly confused as to who she likes. Can’t say I blame her for going for Lancelot. At all. I mean… wowza. Cute guy in armor who has a great sense of honor and is willing to die for you? Jackpot! She’s probably my favorite female character at this point. But, of course, there’s only like… two?

MORGANA! I feel so sorry for her! But I’ve read or seen or something that she goes bad. I’m going to feel really bad then. After all Merlin’s done to help her? And does he maybe even LIKE her? Ooooh, I’d love to see a love connection between them. Seriously, honestly, but I haven’t seen her ‘evil side’ yet, so we’ll see.

And last but not least… MERLIN! THIS is my fangirl craze at the moment. He’s just so akwardly CUTE that I can’t but help but MerlinSQUEE! at every episode. Even when he gets in trouble. Gaaah there’s so much to say about this character, but I think I shall have to sum it up in one word. SQUEEEEE!!!

/MerlinRant

Subject/ramble numer 4! Postage.

I do believe this is my longest blog post EVA! I feel incredibly accomplished right now! Even though it’s mostly a random ramble about family life, puppies and Merlin, I feel… incredibly accomplished. (What does that say about me? I don’t know… *snork*)

Anyway, I think I shall leave you with that and go read the last twenty or so chapters of ‘Dragonspell’ so I can get on to ‘Dragonquest’, because these baby dragons are seriously making me d’awwww big time.

And as I said before, if you read all of that, you should take a cookie from the table and take a moment to go and watch the first episode of  ‘Merlin’ on Hulu. You’ll be glad you did!

Peace, love and Hawkins!

‘And if I have to crawl, will you crawl too? I stumble and I fall, carry me through, the wonder of it all is you, see me through’

Song Suggestion Sunday THREE!

At least I think it’s the third one.

Anyway, this one’s going to be an extremely quick one as my mind is mushier then mush and I can barely see straight. Why? I blame a headache. Maybe I’m getting sick. MWAHA. Lovely…

ANYWHO!

The song suggestion for this week is, drumroll please, ‘Worth The Pain’ by Disciple!!

Amazing song, I love it to bits. Actually made a video out of it once. Or the end of it… either way.

So, there be the song suggestion for today! Now, I shall go to curl up with a nice cup of tea… and my phone. Because my friend keeps texting me. Yay for texting!

I’ll try and get up a random post sometime. Probably Tuesday. Expect one Tuesday.

‘It’s worth the pain, God’s in the rain, it’s not too late to start again, it’s worth the pain, so hold on tonight’

Song Suggestion Sunday TWO

As it is Sunday again (I think), I figured it was time for Song Suggestion Sunday… since it’s…. well, Sunday. I’ve been putting this off all day due to being a little under the weather, but I decided that I can put it off no longer. So I pulled myself away from the game I was playing and here I am!

I wracked my mind for what song to ‘suggest’, as I’m rather low on music I can listen to that I haven’t tired myself of, or something that’s uncommonly heard of. So I picked the one song that probably most every Christian music fan has heard.

‘Hero’ by Skillet.

I would give this whole big summary about it, how awesome it is, what it’s about, but all I can really come up with is I know a friend of the wife of one of the ‘heroes’ in the music video for the song. Which really isn’t anything spectacular, I guess… but hey.

I’ve been listening to this song alot lately, more so today to try and come up with something more than ‘It’s AWESOME!’ and still I draw a complete blank. It IS awesome, but of course there’s more to it then that. And who wants to dive in depth to a song anyway, right? It’s for listening, not debating.

That’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it! *shifty eyes*

At any rate, if you haven’t heard the song, I strongly suggest that you check it out. It’s hard rock, so if you’re into that, it’s certainly for you. And if you’re not into hard rock… well, you might want to try Rebecca St. James instead.

So, that’s the song suggestion for today.

Peace, love and Hawkins

‘I’m just a step away, I’m just a breath away, losing my faith today(falling off the edge today) I am just a man, not superhuman(I’m not superhuman) someone save me from the hate, it’s just another war, just another family torn(falling from my faith today) just a step from the edge, just another day in the world we live, I need a hero’

Yesterday, Today and… Monday?

It it Monday? Or Tuesday? After checking the calendar… I’m still not sure. It seems like it might be Monday, but then I think that was YESTERDAY and realize that it’s Tuesday… but I guess everyday’s just feeling like Monday now. It happens.

So here I sit. Eating Skittles. With rain pounding outside. And a Pepsi that’s going hot. You could say I’m bored, or you could say I have nothing to do. Or you could say both. Which would be true.

After playing the Graphics Game with my Twinny last time (which was EPIC fun) tonight seems like a real bummer. I’ve tried making a video, aside from the one from the contest, and no inspiration’s come. So I sit here. Trying to find a game to play to keep me occupied until I can find ‘Finding Nemo’ on Youtube and watch it.

And now I’m trying to come up with a proper topic, or at least something to ramble about, since I’m probably going to make absolutely no sense.

After sitting here and staring at this thing for about an hour, with many thoughts running through my head, you would think I would have a entire page full. But noooo, everytime I try to type the sentance just pops right out of my brain and runs away with the spoon. Or the dish. Or the little laughing dog. I’m not sure which.

Sleep sounds incredibly wonderful… but I think I’ll go write something instead. Or try. Try is the operative word.

Peace, love and Hawkins

‘We are not that different from each other, we just want somebody to discover, who we really are when we drop our guard, love has got to start with you and me, We’

Waiting For Lunch Takes Patience

And indeed it does. My stomach’s currently trying to eat me. O.o

I write this as I wait for my mother to get out of the shower so we can go somewhere and get something to eat, grab some things from Wal-Mart and then pootle off to pick my dad up from work so he doesn’t have to walk or take a bus. Not that he’s LAZY but we live out in the middle of nowhere, and he works in town. So. Long walk. LONG walk.

This one’s probably going to be a ramble, I forwarn you now, because I have nothing but an RPG in mind at the current moment. I suppose I could tell you about that. But I won’t. Because you’d think ‘Oh, wow, they watch alot of soap operas!’. Which we don’t. We just like writing them.

Anywho, as I finished ‘Chosen’ (by Ted Dekker), I decided to pick up ‘The Oath’ (by Frank Peretti) now. I started it last night, and I have read it before, hence the reason I picked it up again. It keeps me on the edge of my seat, no matter how many times I read it to know the ending. Frank Peretti is a genius, and there is no doubt about it.

I’ll probably read the Veritas Projects next. Or at least ‘Nightmare Academy’. That’s my personal favorite, and I hope he decides to write more. And I’d be thrilled to find out if he already has or intends to.

I’m going to start aiming to post something once a day now. I don’t know how long I’ll keep that up, if I will at all, but I think it’s worth a shot. Even if it is just little random rambling tidbits that no one will ever read.

And at any rate, I do believe my mum is almost finished, so I must head off before she decides to drag me away from the computer. Even though I’ve been waiting for her to get out. The circle of life, I suppose.

Peace, love and Hawkins

‘Hold on to the world we all remember dying for, there’s some strength left in us yet, hold on to the world we all remember fighting for, there’s some hope left in it yet, ARISE and be all that you dreamed, all that you dreamed’