Guess what I got in the mail......

A new LAPTOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After many months of Mom and Dad saying I couldn't have one, especially one that could go online, a box showed up on our door step this morning and little unsuspecting me hadn't the faintest idea what it was. It's an eMachines MX4625, whatever that means. One day I'll learn all that technical stuff (I hope), but for now it is enough that I know it is wireless, can play dvds, run a search engine, and my language program. Now I must go drag my head out of the clouds and back to my physics homework.

Rascal Flatts Concert

Where: Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester
When: Thursday October 12
Who: "Me and My Gang" Ok, it's actually going to be me (glances hopefully at parents) but only if I can find a friend or two willing to go with me. The tickets were a bit pricey causing the adults to lose interest so it would be me and whoever else I can scrape up. If that's you send me an email, please! BTW- the tickets for the "upper decks" are around $60

Last Day of Summer

Labor Day...my last official day of summer. Went to the Septemberfest but it was the wrong end of it so there wasn't a whole lot going on. Pretty quiet day. I started to put my (new!) desk into order and enjoyed my lovely wood floors. So anway....

Summer on a scale of 1 to 10, I would say in terms of what I expected, um....a 2. If we're talking enjoyment, maybe a 4. Experience....I'd say an 8 or higher. It was not what I wanted or what I expected but it's what I got and I don't regret it.

Let me know how you would rate your summer.

File: 8001

Time: 8:57 a.m.
Location: Mine Falls
Situation: Two girls walking alone armed with nothing but cell phones

Those of you who understand the implications of this are probably going, "Dumb idea!" However, it was a bright sunny day, we were desperate for the outdoors, and I was sorely in need of a walk there. But, of course, it did turn out to be a bad idea.

Problem: Two BIG black guys following us
Solution: Pray hard, walk fast
Resolution: A little shook up but otherwise ok
Conclusion: Maybe I'm not ready for Boston after all

Camping On Conway

Finally I am home, just me and my family, after four weeks of relatives and two weeks of camping. There is only one week left to a summer which has turned out nothing like I wanted, but has had some lovely surprises just the same.

About camping.....
- there was getting up each morning never later than seven and sometimes before six
- seeing many glorious sunrises and spending hours in sweet solitude with only my heavenly Father and my thoughts for company
- starting out climbing my first mountain in a state of utter exhaustion and some pain but ending with the greatest sense of awe and accomplishment that I have ever experienced
- learning how to throws knives in my own clumsy fashion
- holding a gorgeous northern water snake (Katrina, your rubbing off on me) and watching eagles soar
- nearly freezing to death hiking to the bathrooms early in the morning and very late at night (those of you who know how easily I get cold will be more apt to believe this)
- going on the craziest tubing ride ever (I have the scars to prove it)
- getting to know this awesome guy named Lee
- finding Life is good!!!

A Homecoming Song

Oak, granite,
Lilies by the road,
Remember me?
I remember you.
Clouds brushing,
Clover hills,
Remember me?
Sister, child,
Grown tall,
Remember me?
I remember you.

- Gail Carson Levine

Home Again

We finally pulled into our driveway at 9:30 last night after a 13 1/2 hour drive. It feels good to be home. (Thank you for the welcome Katrina!!) But about the trip.....
The Highlights

- Driving for the first time on our trip in a torrential downpour. It stopped as soon as Mom took over.
- Listening to the new Rascal Flatts cd
- Swimming in the pool!!
- Listening to Andy at the Appomattox courthouse in the sweltering heat and then making a bee line for the air conditioning.
- Boating in Tennessee w/ family...jet skis, water slides, jumping off the roof of the boat, warm water
- Playing with the littlest cousins
- Walking down broadway in Nashville
- The view from Monticello
- Going out with my Aunt
- The niece party
- Out to eat with everyone
- Coming home once again

So there you have it. If you want to hear more about anything please ask!

Comments

My sincerest apologies to those who have commented on my blog and found that I didn't respond because they didn't show up. I fixed the problem and look forward to hearing what you all have to say in the future.

Godly Young Women

"Like a lily among the thorns,
So is my love among the daughters."
Song of Solomon 1:2

Godly womanhood... the very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it
now. We hear about every other type of women: beautiful women, smart women,
sophisticated women, career women, talented women, divorced women. But so seldom
do we hear of a godly woman... It is a far, far better thing in the realms of
morals to be old-fashioned, than to be ultra-modern. The world has enough women
who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world
has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave.
The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need
women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct.

-Peter Marshall, quoted in So Much More.

Sisters, do not be afraid to stand alone. Be willing to be a lily among thorns.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Yes, I saw the movie opening day at 3 in the afternoon. It was creepy, it was funny, and it was a cliff hanger ending if ever I saw one. I won't spoil anything for those of you who haven't seen it, but there were a few things I didn't understand. Can't wait to see the next one, only a year to go.

P.S. I also watched X-Men 1 and 2. Good movies...wolverine is awesome!

A Long Weekend

Guess what I finally got to watch...Narnia! I know, I know, it's about time. I think I'm the last person I know to see it. How ironic since I wanted to go for my birthday and be one of the first. Oh well....it was pretty awesome watching it late at night with a couple of other Narnia fans. And it was even better than I had hoped. Lewis's allegory came to life in the eyes of Aslan and how could childlike faith be more evident then in Lucy?

The rest of the weekend was pretty cool too. Had some friends stopping in on their bike tour of New Hampshire and got to take them kayaking since they just weren't tired enough. :) We swung by Taz and Heather's graduation party (Congratulations guys!) and met Heather's brother Spencer. To top it off youth group went walking in Mines Falls. What a day.....

Oh, and a recommendation for anyone interested in the works of C. S. Lewis, you should read Out of the Silent Planet. And if you bother to really read it, you might just discover somethings about mankind that we should know, but for some reason we don't.

Yipeee!!!!!!

I went online today to check my SAT scores and if I'm reading them correctly I got a 1970!!!!! A perfect is a 2400. My essay was one point away from perfect. I'm beyond excited and have been bouncing off the walls and squealing for the last half hour. Test scores are probably no big deal to a lot of people but it was really important to me that I be able to prove that I could do really good in school. That score is good enough to get me into an Ivy League school which is something I've only dreamed about. Even if I don't go there it's a nice thought to know that I could. The funny thing is my worst score is usually my math but I did the best in that subject. I am constantly amazed at how God sees the deepest desires of your heart and gives them to you in the most unexpected ways.

Announcing......

The engagement of Sharon Litchfield to Justin Hall on the 25th day of June 2006. Yes, that's right my friend is getting married. I can't wrap my mind around it at the moment. Sometimes the hardest lessons are the ones we are not expecting to learn. She has asked me to be her maid of honor and that generous gift has left me humbled. Perhaps it is I who am not ready for this; I feel too young.

Life is Good....

Books are good
Jane Austen books are very good
The lake is dreamy
Sunshine is relaxing
Breezes are sweet
Kayaks are fun
Islands are enchanting
Peace is heavenly
Quiet is refreshing
Fathers are blessings
Family is precious
God is extraordinarily good

Presenting....

our new car, the Element! Otherwise known as the Honda, Ugly. I have a confession though.....I like it. It may look small, but this thing is roomy and I love the turning radius. No more van! However, at the moment Mom won't let anyone touch it, especially me. One day though, I'll get behind the steering wheel and then it's "look out world!" :)

Meet Invisigirl

It's amazing how someone can know your name and who you are, but other than that you are totally invisible to them even if they see you ever single week. That seems to be my speciality. I don't like being invisible. I wish the people I wanted to would see me. My brother says it is a state of mind and maybe he's right. But if it is, how do you change that? Still, I wish.....

SCHOOL'S OUT!!!!

Yes, that's right, I finished school for the summer. Well.....except for my mile long reading list, but I can live with that. So now (hopefully) comes all the stuff I have wanted to do like get together with my friends, go bike riding, swimming, camping, and a whole manner of other things. Wow, only one year left......not something I am fond of contemplating. How time flies. Perhaps it will do me the favor of slowing down...just for a summer. Ok enough of that. Here's to the best summer I've had in many a year, maybe the best one ever.

Ambidextrous: Are you biased?

The Latin prefix ambi- means "both" and appears in several English words. An ambiguous statement is one that can be taken two ways. Ambivalence is the inability to decide which of two possible courses to follow. This prefix also combines with the Latin dexter, "right," to form ambidextrous. It is an example of the prejudice against left-handedness since it assumes that it is an ambidextrous person's left hand that measures up to the facility of the right. One could just as well call a person equally skillful with both hands ambisinstrous, from the Latin sinister, "left," thus suggesting that it is the right hand that is as skillful as the left. This latter root is still another example of the historical bias against, or in this case fear of, left-handedness. A sinister person by today's definition is one who is bad, wicked, or evil.

Pygmalion Premiere

My parents have ordered the video of Pygmalion which should hopefully arrive sometime this month. I know some who wanted to come see it weren't able to, so if you would like a private viewing let me know and we'll see what we can do. I'll attempt to post some pictures of the play soon.

WARNING: Images may contain graphic depictions of 19th century dress. Owner is not responsible for any permanent damage to sense of style.

Happy Birthday Emma!

Today one of the coolest people ever is turning 12. This amazing girl (and the best little sister anyone could ask for) is also having her first violin recital. Unfortunately for me I couldn't make it because I know I'm missing out on an awesome performance, but I'm wishing with all my heart that I was down there celebrating with her. I love you Emma! Happy Birthday!