I hope he doesn't mind. :) But a friend of mine wrote this amazing sonnet that I just wanted to share with everyone! First off, it is encouraging. In so many ways. Second off, this dude has God-given talent for writing and encouragement.

One day you will awake and realize,
That I am your hero in disguise.
I am your knight although I do not shine.
Quality to looks does not consign.

Just open your eyes and you will see,
There’s more to love than strong arms and blue eyes.
This truth, let no feeling tear apart:
Love is more than a flutter of the heart.

Please do not regard me with loathing
Because I am a prince in frog’s clothing.
Listen not to simple elation,
My true love springs from determination.

Love is faithful and love is true.
One truth I know: I will wait for you.

~Jonathan Thigpen

Fairytale?

So it has come to my attention that perhaps a new craze is beginning. With the dawn of the ever popular Twilight frenzy, a fairytale-esque series, trailers for remakings of classic fairytales are emerging. A friend introduced me to the trailer for Beastly (starring Vanessa Hudgens and hitting theatres in July) and just today another friend posted on my facebook the trailer for Red Riding Hood (starring Amanda Seyfried and coming March 2011). Needless to say, being a die-hard classic Disney girl and loving the actuall classic fairytale stories themselves, neither of these trailers made a good impression on me. Nevertheless, the films will be meeting the world next year and I am curious to see which movie YOU are more excited for. So leave a comment below and tell me which one you would see first and why. Feel free to tell me any other thoughts you have!

Beastly


Red Riding Hood

Even when you feel like crap...

...you're never fully dressed without a smile! That is kinda my motto. I don't really live by it, but I try.


On Sunday afternoon I began to get that feeling that a cold was coming on. And sure enough my nose is stuffy and dry and red from so much blowing. At least I don't have a fever! And today I was putting on my coat and I pulled/twisted my neck so now I can hardly turn my head. Uuugh I feel awful but I could be worse. I could be sitting under a cold bridge with only one old coat for warmth and no food in my belly. My heart goes out to those in our city who must brave this cold night.

I have six followers on the Africa blog! Woohoo!

Today there was some snow on the ground and ice on the roads. It never got above 30 degrees. Oh I love winter days!

If you could marry someone that looked like any actor/actress, which would you choose? Not including personalities, just looks! (Please feel free to post pictures!)

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

It is true. The day after Thanksgiving begins Christmas season in my home. I set my alarm clock this morning on the Christmas radio station. Because of the dog we are dogsitting, though, I didn't get to wake up to magical Christmas music. But you can be sure I put some on the minute I got out of bed. And at this very moment I am listening to the Celtic Thunder Christmas album. At Dad's prompting (can I get a shocked face??) I downloaded it MP3. As an early present from him, I guess! Can I use this moment to say again how much I love this band?

Margie and I didn't end up going shopping today. We were going to but last night I just liked the idea of staying home and decorating better than wasting gas in traffic. Plus, shopping just wears me out and I didn't want to be a sleepy mess tonight at a sleepover we are going to. Maybe next year we will pull it off.

I am definitely not looking forward to the next two weeks. Two weeks and then I am done done done! I feel so un-studied, though. Now I'm panicking...I think I'll go study. Oh school you are the tragedy of my life. And yet one of the biggest blessings. Love + hate = school...

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a great morning! Around 6:30 the little doggie we are babysitting crawled under my covers with me and then at 7 I got up to go watch the Macy's Parade only to find out that it didn't start until 9. So I went back to bed!

The parade was fun, as usual. Except it is kinda dissapointing to me that it is less of a Thanksgiving parade and more of a "Here comes Christmas!" one. Oh well, it is still fun. I love all of the Broadway numbers.

Yesterday I went to the hospital to see Katie as she just had her gall bladder removed. Then that night I went to her house and hung with her and her family. Poor girl was so pale yet she was all over the house cleaning up. Silly girl!

Today some family friends are coming over. They, just like us, have no family in town so we like to comfort each other during holidays. Tomorrow Margie and I are debating going to experience Black Friday for the first time ever. We shall see!

Thankfulness and such and such

I thought holidays were supposed to be relaxing. Haha, nothing in my life is ever relaxing. It seems like ever since high school started 4 years ago my life has been full of stress stress stress.

This week I have to study in all of my classes, prepare a presentation for history with three other kids, try and catch up on my Perspectives reading, apply to colleges, etc. etc. etc. I am just panicking as I think about it.

I am determined to relax though. Maybe Thanksgiving morning I will do homework and then on Friday morning I can sit and watch the Macy's Day Parade. I LOVE that parade! I wonder what Broadway song they will do this year...

Tonight I went to the YMCA with Katie and used one of her guest passes to work out with her. It was quite energizing. I feel so healthy! Tomorrow afternoon I go to meet with the other kids from history to work on a presentation that none of us are excited about. Sigh. We shall chug through it. Friday night I go to some friends' house for a sleepover. Saturday I get together with someone else...and we shall see from there. Monday starts off a whole new round of classes, but within two weeks we are done done done! Which is more stressful than exciting because of all the studying I will have to do. I am just gonna cry right now. Excuse me.

I think I pulled a muscle in my arm today. Weird...

Oh how I love to dance!

My life feels rather hapless and confuddled at the moment. One thing at a time, and yet I don't do anything at all. I swear the day I get out of class I will do something amazing and drastic. I don't know what but I am living for that last day.

I am thankful for:
-Pickles
-Socks
-My family
-Hot showers
-Night time
-Friends (of course!)
-Pillows
-Youtube
-Martin Luther
-Mechanical pencils

Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts

I kinda like this song :)

One of the most beautiful things I've read today

Only "today" because I read Song of Solomon last night, which I think is absolutely enrapturing.

Deep Regret by Adam Young

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

First off, happy happy happy birthday to the most amazing Meghan in the world! Readers, you may see her comments on most of my posts. I have met Meg once in my life, and at that time we didn't really bond seeing as we did not yet realize the hidden treasures of our friendship. But afterwards we really began to get to know each other, and what a privilege that has been! She is a few years older than me but we share many similarities and she is really a terrific online (and offline!) friend. I can't wait to see her again and hug her to death. Happy birthday Meg. :)

oh!! IT'S SNOWING!!!!!!! *dies of happiness*

Guess where I am again? Panera bread. There is an old lady looking at me...she just keeps looking at me. Creepy. Or it would be if she wasn't an old lady with a pink sweater. They have rewards cards for free now here at Panera. Go get one! Once you register it online you get a free something yummy! :

I turned in my chemistry test today. Only one more and then the final. I felt a bit better about this one than the last, I just hope my grade reflects my confidence.

This should be a good week. Tonight my sis and I go out to dinner with a friend of ours. Tomorrow I'm going to Bible study, Wednesday is dance, and on Saturday night I'm going with a friend out to dinner and then to see a community production of "The Importance of Being Earnest". So excited! Plus, I've taken all my tests for a few weeks so I can take it a bit easier.

I need to remember when I hate life that I really do love life.

List of movies to watch before I leave for Africa:

Anne of Green Gables 1, 2, 3
Pocahontas
Wives and Daughters
Pride and Prejudice
Mulan
North and South
Sense and Sensibility
Phantom of the Opera
Beauty and the Beast
Cinderella
Lion King
Singin in the Rain
Miss Potter
Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Please come to us snow!

Today I sent an e-mail with the link to my Africa blog to a bunch of people. I hate doing stuff like that...it just seems so narcisistic and like I epxect everyone to want to read it or something. I mean, I love it when people do obviously but I hate promoting myself in that way for some reason...well, I know the reason.

I hope we get snow today! The forecast calls for it, but down south in the city where our house is rarely ever gets snow. :( I think this calls for a unisonal "Poo-hoo!"

What a crazy weekend I have ahead of me. Today I got to French class and take a test. After that I go babysitting. Then I come home and work nonstop on my chemistry test. Tomorrow morning I go babysitting again until mid-afternoon. I come home and, guess what? Work nonstop on my chemistry test. Then we are having friends over for dinner. I'll probably sleep over with a friend and in the morning I have dance at 9:30. At 1 I have a CNA training thing and then after that I go straight to some friends' house for another sleepover. I get up in the morning, go to church (and hear my dad preach!) then come home and, yet again, work nonstop on my chemistry test. By the point depending on how much I have done I might go to Perspectives (my missions class). If not, I'll stay home and work on the test. Which is due Monday morning.

Only a few more weeks of this school madness! I think the fact that I'm done with high school in December is making me a wee bit apathetic.

I really want to spend money and buy the Celtic Thunder Christmas album! But no. Well maybe. We'll see...

I raked a big pile of leaves yesterday. I might go jump in them before it snows...

Favorite Youtube Videos (in no particular order) #1

Places to where I wander

Nightbirds on Nantucket
The personal blog of a very dear friend. She always has great meme's going and other fun stuff!

Write Out of the Blue
Another personal blog of a mentor and friend. She is quite poetic and contemplative in her writing. She actually partly inspired my blog.

Petite Princess de Noel
The most beautiful blog I know of with very inspiring and gorgeous posts. The author is a true artist and a very wonderful friend.

Rather Whimsical
Another personal blog of a great friend and awesome gal (I think she resembles Audrey Hepburn)!

Peculiar Fellow
A blog by a very inspiring friend of mine...God-adoring gentlemen like him are far and few. It's so nice to read something written by a guy every once in a while... ;)

There are many other blogs I love to read. I would love to see more friends start blogs (and blogger is a great hosting site...hint hint) to add you to my list!

I hate trying to think of titles

Call me an eavesdropper, but I love listening to other peoples' conversations. Right now I am at Panera bread and the women at the table next to mine (a shaded table I am coveting at the moment) are having quite an interesting convo...I'm not sure what about, but there is a cute little baby with them. Aww...

So much to do after I write this up. I can't leave this restaurant until I have...at least four pages of my paper done. That is my plan. I should be able to get that done in less than two hours hopefully. They might kick me out though so I sould probably start. But the sun is blinding me so I can't even like, see the screen.

oh yes, the baby started to cry! the ladies are leaving. I'm going to take their table...

This week we have to buy the tickets for Africa and I need to get my visa stuff filled out. What's funny is the visa instructions are in French! But alas I can't understand them perfectly.

A lot of my friends have said they want to start blogging. I think it is a great idea. I love blogs. I love writing them, I love reading them. If every person had a blog and posted things that are on their hearts...the whole world would be on the internet. I think something I tend to do is put my life on the internet but not invest enough time showing my true self in real life. Something I should probably be working on fixing...but it's really hard.

What keeps you from blogging? It's a personal preference I guess, but I am curious.

Awww, shade. Yes. Now my coffee is cold. I wonder what the Panera people think about someone sitting here for two hours continuously filling up on cofffee? ;)

Broken

broken bones
broken dishes
broken toys
broken hearts
broken radios
broken crackers
broken swings
broken zippers
broken kites
broken locks
broken teeth
broken souls
broken trains
broken pianos
broken cameras
broken fences
broken clasps
broken pencils
broken clocks
broken friendships

Meme Day 30

Day 30 – One last moment
When I made the decision to go to Africa, I just sat on my bed for a moment. Then I called my friend and started crying and laughing at the same time as I told her. After that I just had this feeling of…like, this is all mine. I get to go, and it’s my time to do something. Then I started looking for passport holders on ebay!

:)

trust is not a four-letter word

trust is not a four-letter word.
[at least, that is what i keep reminding myself]

i think you know that place of which i speak.
the small area
[approximately the size of a quarter, i'd imagine]
which rests in the center of your chest:
between the caves of your ribs
beneath the muscles and tissues
of your heart and your lungs

this is the place we feel trust
[or lack thereof]

at its most intense times
[when betrayal is fresh]
the pain and discomfort
radiate across our entire being

the tension in the neck
thre pressure on your stomach
nauseated
[imagine the tire of a texas-sized truck
running over your torso
repeatedly; repeatedly]

arms folded
trying to protect the emotional:
the spiritual:
the mental:
using physical means
survival

[logical redemption]

with grace
and time
forgiveness is chosen
the once overwhelming
sensation of suffocation
retreats back into
aforementioned quarter-sized area
and quietly refrains
from causing disturbances
emerging and unsuspecting

hibernation
by definition
conserves energy in
those frigid winter months

but once the warmth of the sun
touches the air
[touches my being]
instead of spring
the fear of feeling
those things that have been
felt before
[crushing me before]
[shredding me before]
emerge

questioning this new light
[or this one? or this one?]
is real; shining; radiating?

perhaps another fluorescent clone
which will project
a washing out of my skin
[grey]
[lifeless?]

i find myself
staying...
...buried

still afraid
and unable to find it.

[to find trust]

written by Anne Jackson, taken from the book Permission to Speak Freely

Meme Day 29 and Katy Perry

Day 29 – Your aspirations
Haha, “aspiration” is also sucking fluids from a bodily cavity. Just thought I’d share that.
Isn’t this sorta like…what are you goals or dreams in life? Which was already a question. And I really don’t want to think of new little things. Ok, well maybe I can think of a few. I want to make a perfect, beautiful cupcake. I want to go to Boston with my East Coast friends. I want to speak French fluently.

~~~

Just a note. I have had two people tell me that they like Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" and express regret in listening to it due to my expressed feelings on it. I would just like to clarify something. I listen to the song. Now...not necessarily because I like it but because I want to write a really railing devotional about it and so I want to listen to it to keep pumping my outrage. ;) But anywho, just so ya'll know, I don't want any of you to change your ways because you feel like you have to because of me or anyone else. I hope that people can make their own decisions based on their own conciences and on how they feel God is speaking to them. I am glad if I can have some sort of good influence on people through what I say or think but I don't want the outcome to be when the song plays you think, "I shouldnt' listen to this cuz Liv doesn't like it!"

November 2

What a day. Oh.

I am too tired to even write out everything that happened. I voted for the first time. Had my first flat tire ever. Couldn't get a hold of my dad for two hours, which was a little scary and frustrating. Forgot my books for school and had to go back home to get them. Had amazingly yummy pizza in a really awesome NYC themed restaurant. Watched an amazing video from an amazing friend.

May I just take a moment to note that I am disgusted with Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream". Absolutely horrified. Not necessarily at the degrading content of the song (which I am) as the fact that our society--people, parents, and local radio stations--condone it and even...accept the message. Oh so gross. I might just throw something.

I must be a really dysfunctional friend or something.

Got my senior pics...most of you saw them. I am really happy with the way a few of them turned out. Our good friend did them for me--she's amazing. God's amazing to have made me the way He wanted me to look. I just love that I look how God wants me to. Wow...

Tonight at Bible study we were reading Luke something or other, the story about the prostitute or cleaned Jesus's feet with her tears. And it struck me for the first time ever how amazing that story is. Have you ever experienced the amazingness of God so fully that you just cry? Or when a really awesome worship song plays and you are in a mass of thousands of people all singing together and you start bawling? I can imagine that is sort of how that woman felt x 100. I mean, to think that she was sobbing so hard that she could literally clean all of the crap of Jesus's feet. Sometimes I think that's how it might be when I get to Heaven. Not just tears from shame and humility but tears that are evoked by the sheer majesty, love, and compassion from our Lord.

Honesty

With some people I can be honest. With others, I can't. If you think I'm being honest you could be wrong. Because chances are, if I'm being truly honest, you won't be wondering if I'm being honest. Too many other thoughts will be running through your mind...

Meme Day 28

Day 28 – Something that you miss
Slovakia.