I did not forget.

You missed our Skype date, lunch fell through, or you simply just "forgot."

That's ok, I understand. It happens quite a lot.
Things are happening in your life you don't quite understand,
and I'm only just too willing to lend you a helping hand.
Talk to me, rely on me, I wish you would reach out.
If we put our heads together, then we'd figure it all out.
Or not.
That's ok, I know quite well how busy life can be,
but every now and then, I wish that you'd remember me.

The time was not so long ago when we were the best of friends.
No matter what they say of distance, I'll be there to the end.
But our friendship seems to stall in the ever-present past,
Did you forget the fun we had? Is this how the die is cast?

Sometimes I wonder if you know how much you mean to me.
My feelings haven't changed, I only wish that you could see.

Or not.
That's ok, I understand how crazy life can get.
But I think that--maybe--you should know, that I did not forget.

2,000

With approximately 182 posts, my blog has reached 2,000 page views. Although about half of them are probably me, making sure that things posted correctly... it's still a cool feeling.

NaNoWriMo

I wrote the preface for my novel (in honor of National Novel Writing Month. aka NaNoWriMo). It's super exciting.

Invaluable, Perfect, Loved

You are not infallible, but you are invaluable.

You are not perfect, but you are priceless.

You are not lost, and you are loved beyond measure.

The paradox of man is that without God, we are nothing.

But to God... we are everything.

To Him we are (as Emma Woodhouse) faultless in spite of our faults.

We are His children. We are His work and His glory.

We are the dust of the earth... and the salt of it.

We are prodigal and chosen.

We are worth more than we can ever know.

More than many sparrows, far above rubies, more than the life of the only begotten son.

 We have heard all of this before.
Isn't it about time we started believing it?

Loosley 'Liza

October

Apply water-color paint. Splatter by blowing through a straw.
Don't pass out.

Continue. Let colors mix, and allow for size variety.

Fill paper. (This is the "Loose" Element. Disorganized, chaotic and such.)

This the photo-shopped picture of Eliza that I had printed. It was much smaller than I had envisioned, so I will end up cropping the paper... which made my teacher kind-of sad.

You may not be able to tell, but this is a pen tracing of the black graphic. Since there are no tracing tables (light tables) in the HFAC for general use, I held it up to a window. I now have astounding arm strength.

Black paint over the pen. It isn't a perfect transfer, but it isn't half bad either.

Aaannnnddddd.... it's done.
And I think I like it.

This is Halloween

Have you ever had a fright, or danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?
Are you the type with a terrible shriek, does terror leave you unable to speak?
Looking constantly at what's behind, you're never sure just what you'll find
Lights turned off in the dead of night, does the darkness hide an unpleasant sight?
Or do you stay up, without fail, to listen to some spooky tale?
Witches, broomsticks, cauldrons, spells, an endless supply of stories to tell.
Each child holds a secret fear that a monster might be creeping near.
Eeeks and screams will fill the air, and some little trickster a grin will bear.
Now endless mischief will be seen because, of course, it's HALLOWEEN!

3/4 2013

The year is 3/4 over.
SO.... how am I doing at my resolutions?


1. Get back in the habit of journaling, at least once a week.
Back on track. Booyah! Maybe less thorough, but better.
2. Set aside time at least twice a week to study for AP tests and apply for scholarships (as long as applicable)
Twice a week? No. But I did work heavily on certain days. And seeing how I got 3 school memorial scholarships, I'd say I've done pretty well. And Eliza can attest to my dedication to the AP tests... we didn't have fun while I was studying... and I studied for a week straight. I got all of the scores that I needed, but not always quite what I wanted. Still, 30 college credits...
3. Do some of the things I keep saying that I'm going to. (Gee Alayna, could you be a little more vague?) Triskadecaphobia T-shirt(no go), the book for Mr. Mast (checked and double checked. And awesome), stuff for NHS (Yes), Color run (That was fun), LOTR marathon (More or less, you sneeky little hobbitses), Sadies (Haha), Prom (More or less),  etc.

4. Practice more often (also vague, but there you go)
On again, off again. I haven't used the piano in the basement of my dorm yet. I'll work on that.
( Here is where I would say that I will work out more... if indeed I intended to commit myself to such a resolution. I don't)
Swim season... is over. But I did sit-ups the other morning... progress.
5. Cook at least one meal a week with minimal help.
I don't get help anymore. I cook every meal. To varying degrees of success. I haven't done anything really major yet, but I did make some pretty good calzones the other day.
.6. Get to sleep earlier so I don't sleep during Math.
Sleep earlier. Ha. Hahaha. I'm up WAY later than I ever was in High School/
8. Learn how to count.
;)
9. Get more hours at work during summer, at least 30.
Supplementing my crappy work schedule with private swim lessons. Not working at the present time, but might try for nest semester.
10. Keep in touch with friends as we move away.
I hang out with my roommates a LOT. Skype with Melissa every Thursday and my family fairly frequently. Other than that, I'm not good at keeping in touch. I haven't even seen Emily in the past week and a half, and she lives in the building behind mine.
11. Get my Drivers License. Really. And improve on my navigation skills... or get really good at using Google Maps.
Thank you, Kathy. Using her mom's ridiculously nice and well maneuvering car, I passed the Drivers test (by ONE point) and got my licence in the mail while at college.
12. Find out how to use my ipod touch. iTunes, FaceTime, all that jazz.
Scripture study to the max. No Facetime yet. iTunes is getting there.
13. Have FUN and do well in Swim Team this year. And I want to be Captain.
We didn't HAVE captains... which was a thorn in my side, but it was a lot more fun this year. But you can see all my stats by googling my name, which is freaky.
14. Graduate in White, get the Medallion, get the NHS cord, and be Salutatorian.
Check, check, check, and check. Thank you very much.
15. Get A's in all my classes and pass (hopefully with 4s) my AP tests.
5 on Government, 4 on English, 4 on Stats, 3 on Bio. Everything I needed. Not quite what I wanted.
16. Write more often. Something every week (journal doesn't count) oops. A poem, a story, descriptive essay, something. With a year-end goal of two fully written stories. (Some of the ones that have been kicking around in my head for the past forever.)
Every week. Some more impressive than others. November is National Novel Writing month. I'm going to do it. 50,000 words, bring it on.
17. Do "Artistic Progressions." (You'll see what I mean) Take pictures along the way, as I spend time doing a really good picture. At least one a month, to be worked on throughout the month. (CAN include schoolwork)
About half and half. I'm getting there.
18. Get my stinking braces off. Enough is enough. It's Senior year. I want them off before I graduate.
Check. Thanks mom. But this retainer is getting annoying, and I wish I didn't have to wear it ALL THE TIME.
19. Make new friends (necessary!), but keep the old. (One is silver and the other gold)
Roommates are great. I talk to people sometimes. 
20. Go on at least one date... it can't be that hard....
I went on one this year. Four total. Girls outnumber guys in my ward 3-1, so I don't think there's much of a chance, despite what Jono thinks.
21. Keep up with my blog.
;)
22. Help my neighbor write her personal history over the summer.
Forgot about that one.
 23. Do the best I can with whatever comes my way, but don't freak out about thinks that I have no control over.
Cryptic much?
24. Go to the Temple at least 13 times this year.
Haven't counted much. I need to do it more while I'm here.
25. Be more kind. Be more tolerant. Be more certain. Be myself... but better.
Yes?


None too shabby, none too shabby.