I'll know my name as it's called again.

Isn't Jocelyn beautiful?
I love her.
If you don't know her, you should get to know her. . she's so sweet and real.

I just found this photo and wanted to share it.

It's probably my favorite one I have ever taken.

I just finished my two and a half sections of Calculus homework. Oh, school. . .

Right now, I'm about half-way done with writing a page about Mortimer Adler's artile. I have to state his assertion and to what extent I agree with it.

His assertion (thesis) is this: "Full ownership comes only when you have made it (it being a book) a part of yourself, and the best way to make yourself a part of it is by writing in it."

I actually like this article, suprisingly enough. It is called How to Mark a Book. Doesn't sound too exciting, aye? Mind you, it is much better than the articles from Writing Analytically (our wretched textbook, one of two for the class).

Adler talks about how the only way can really connect with a book and understand what it is saying is if we "converse" with it, write in it, mark it up and down. I mean, I agree to a certain extent. When I am reading one of my non-fiction books (usually a religious one) I keep a journal along with it and highlight the things that seem the most important to me or puzzle me.

But, I think some people are just so intuned with reading that it isn't necessary. I know people like that.

I am not one of those people.

I don't have a very good attention span.

I accidently took a nap, I'm never going to fall asleep tonight.

You should listen to Mumford & Sons- The Cave. Ah, it's way too good.

You can call me Al.

I have very exciting news! And by exciting, I mean I want to scream. . .so here it goes:

I MIGHT BE GOING TO ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND SWITZERLAND FOR TWO WEEKS THIS UPCOMING SUMMER!

Ah, yes.

Two teachers from school are leading a trip to Europe this summer. . .the only problem. . .we need at least thirty people signed up in two weeks or we will not be going.

And the day we know whether we are going or not is on my birthday. I would hate to be told, "We don't have enough people, so we aren't going. Happy Birthday."

This would be my ultimate dream if this actually happened.

Ultimate.

And I feel a little silly saying this, but pray! Pray that it works out. I know that there are a million more important things going on right now. I know it may be a little selfish, but this trip is on my heart. It would be so amazing if it worked out .

Europe! Can you believe it?

Hey, I've got a social disease!

Snap.

Snap.

Snap.

I'm watching West Side Story.

"When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way! From your first cigarette to your last dyin' days!"

This past week of school wasn't as bad as I originally thought it was going to be. I really love my summers, so I was really, insanely, nail-bitingly, dreading giving up my summer.

Part of me likes having the routine and the schedule back.

I just need a good project to always work on or I start to feel useless or something. Well, that's a little melodramatic. But, I do always like to be working on something.

Today, Lindsay, Jake, and I went to Goodwill. I bought some old...rather matronly...more like grandmatronly dresses. The fabric is really cool and vintage looking though...

I'm making them into high-waisted skirts. I have one down, two to go. That's my project for the week.

I love to sew.

"Why do you kids live like there's a war on?"

Do the Cupid Shuffle

Today was my last first day of high school.
I'm wiped. . .I forget how much I can't stand high school.
And how much I don't care right now.
At least I have Art, Ceramics, and Textiles to make my life a little less miserable.


Merr. . .179 days and counting.

Feliz cumpleanos a ti!

Okay, I have some very exciting news!

Are you ready? Okay here it goes!

This is my 100th post!

Wait, that's not all! This is also the one year birthday of my blog! The 100th post on the one year birthday of my blog, how exciting is that? Ah, I'm so excited!

I feel like I should be offering prizes or something! You know how they do at stores and things? Are hugs okay? That's about all I got right now....but who doesn't love hugs?

And I feel like I should do something special for that Tanmoy kid, who got me started on this whole blog business. And for Tanmoy I have got...gratitude! Thank you Tanmoy!

Anyway, on with life, aye? But really, this is exciting.


Yesterday was the youth group boat trip! Great fun to be had. Well, for some people anyway...you will understand if you go.

We load up in the church van and head to Patoka Lake at 7:30 A.M.

We rent what they call a Party Barge (which cracks me up). It's a two story pontoon with a slide. And a jank bathroom no one uses.

Some people swam, we grilled, and played Apples to Apples. Good stuff, I'm telling you.

I put on enough sunscreen to kill a woodland creature....mehhh...the downfalls of a pasty complexion. You can see my white light for miles, it's true.

Amazon has a ton of free music right now. Good stuff too, like Sister Hazel, The Benjy Davis project, A Merge Records compilation...and soo much more. There's nothing better than free stuff, especially free music that is actually good.

You really should jump on this opportunity.


I'm about to head to Bloomington with my brother and his silly friend Ryan to do some school shopping. For Avery, this consists of American Eagle tee-shirts that all look the same to me, Underarmor socks and undershirts, and Hollister cologne.

It cracks me up how different girls and boys are.

When I shop for clothes it is definitely billboard advertisement shirts from over priced places and sportswear....

Okay, I'm gonna head out.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOG!

Wazzup Diary?

I've been collaging and mod podging my binders and my planner all day.

I put a collage of photos from my summer, especially Honduras, on my locker door.

I'm convinced that if I make all my school supplies and my locker and things look happy and remind me of summer then I might not be as miserable when I'm there.

Rebecca spent the night last night and we pulled out my 5th grade journal...ahhh it was muy hilarioso.

Not only was I boy crazy, but I was majorly A.D.D.
I will write some of the entries, because they are too good not to share.
Okay here's a good one:

February 28th, 2005 (I was in sixth grade.)

Today was an okay day. Kinda boring. I love writing in a diary. It gives me a chance to tell my every thought but no one hears. Like I can tell a secret like I used to be scared of the fat dalmation, Rolley, on 101 dalmations.

-Melissa

Okay here's another fun one:

May 3rd, 2005

Wow, I haven't written in a month! Well, here it goes- I'm writing a book, it's about 1/2 way done, my choir concert is coming up really soon, we are moving into a house in town at mom's, school is out in two weeks, we went camping, I watched that new movie Finding Neverland with Johnny Depp and it made me cry in front of my family, Chad Michael Murray got married, we opened up our pool and it was green, our cat had kittens, I got sea monkeys, well I've had them for a while and they are really cool, and that's all I can think of right now. Oh, well.

-Melissa

Yes, that was all one sentence.
Oh, the things that are important to a twelve year old.......
I was a really deep sixth grader.

I know, right?!? WHAT?

I went school shopping today with the Slone women. We left at eleven and got back home at eight thirty. We conquered I think.

I bought a pair of knock-off Birkenstocks and they made fun of me. Said that I dress like I am a grandmother.

It's funny because it's kind of true.

My favorite cardigan used to belong to Katie's grandma.....I really love it.

Okay, I have been really dumb the past two days. It is like my brain has completely turned off....and I'm not kidding.

Yesterday I was sitting on a couch and Aaron Taflinger flopped down next to me and completely crushed me. I screamed and he looked at me and said, "It was only half of me, like 80 pounds. That's it."

And then I replied, "Aaron Taflinger, you do not weigh 120 pounds."

Fail.

I hope you get it, because if you don't then you are like me.

Welp, this is a pointless post. That was all I have to say.

I'm going to go watch The Golden Girls and paint my toenails, it's an exciting night....

Diamonds.

Today is Saturday.

Last night was a girl's night...oh how I love girl's nights.

To boys who read this: one of the things we talk about most are weddings. Yep, we even look up our dresses on the internet. It's almost an obsession. Why is this?

I really don't know. Nor do I care that much.

It's romantic I guess.

This morning when I walked into the house on the dining room table were many many perfume and cologne boxes. And not just anything but Armani and Yves Saint Laurent and Diesel...oh my.

My dad gets them for free, they are like the tester ones they put out in the stores. I am smelling so good and I am so happy.

I have this weird thing for smelly good stuff. Like, I really adore smelling good. The Diesel smells so good, I don't want my brother to wear it. When I look at him I feel like he is still a little kid...not a teenage boy. It's kinda sad.

Educational Material Fee Invoice

I don't even know what day it is...it's either Thursday or Wednesday, aye?

Summer is eating at my brain, and I love it.

I got my class schedule:
1. Advanced Art
2. Advanced Psychology
3. Ceramics
4. English 12 Lit/Comp
5. Economics/Government
6. Calculus
7. Textiles/Fashion

Ummm...yeah. The first three classes and the last I'm all over it. I wish I could just skip 4, 5, and 6.....especially Calculus. Mr. Kearns is a wonderful teacher and he really cares but I really don't care about Calculus. I'm fully aware of the fact that I'm never going to use it. Some people will, but I'm not that person.

Yesterday I was talking to my mother on the phone and we were talking about how much I can't stand high school and how I don't feel like I belong there blah blah blah. . . .then we got to the subject of math and how much I abhor it also.

Then my mom says "I have a secret. I used to always convince you that math was fun and girls could do math...but in high school I read books during math."

She said it in a tone like she was about to tell me she stole the Statue of Liberty or was confessing she was a serial killer. I told her I read during classes too....and then I proceeded to crack up.

I still don't understand the whole thing about how "girls can do math too....". My mom is kind of a feminist. It's true. She wants to change Mother's Day to Women's Day because not all women have children and they work hard too.

I'm such a dissapointment because I'm not a feminist at all......my mom is hilarious. I love her.

Lady Gaga Remix...Cana Girl Style

This past week was Intermediate Week of bible camp! I was a Junior Councelor of these cute things pictured left. It was me, Karen Day, Darci Roberts, Rebecca Burris, and Riley Day in Cana with ten girls ranging from 6-11.

There are a lot of things that naturally just come with a group of ten little girls:
-Lots of high pitched screaming
-Pillow fights
-Cotton candy scented perfume
-Lots of hugs and high fives
-A little lack of hygiene....
-A big interest in bugs, especially moths (lunar moth in the photo, see it?)

It's such a great, and exhausting time to councel little girls. To be honest, I thought I was getting the oldest girls and when I learned I had completely switched and got the little girls I was slightly upset. I didn't know how to relate with little girls....but God had something in store for me.

These girls captured my heart! They are so loving and honest and albeit a little crazy...but I think that's why I love them. One of the best things was how they relate to each other. Even the girls who didn't know each other at first were close by the end of the week. Everyone of them cared for each other and loved each other.

They were such a cute, cotton candy scented, high pitched, and flip-flop wearing picture of Jesus.

And I'm so glad that I got the little girls.

Make it fierce!

This morning we had mini photoshoot, here's some of the photos!

50% Off

Yesterday I went with the youth groups girls (Caroline, Rebecca, Jocelyn, Lindsay, Bethany, Abby, Ashley, Riley, and Laura) and Gary Spear to the Circle Center Mall in Indianapolis.

Yes, it was great times.

Anyway, I'm a nerd and of course I observed people amidst my shopping experience. Which was hard, mind you. When Caroline, Jocelyn, and I really get shopping we have one track minds....especially Jocelyn and I with all the awesome stripes that are "in" lately.

Onward! Okay, so I observed yaddah yaddah and I decided to write a list of unwritten rules for mall behavior! So here we go:
1. Walk at a leisurely pace as not to disturb everyone else who is walking at a leisurely pace.

2. Do not make eye contact with people you pass, and especially do not smile. This makes you a creeper.....which means I'm a creeper.

3. When in the restroom let the older ladies go first, it's just polite.

4. You should not use Bluetooth's because everyone around you thinks you are either talking to yourself or talking to them. Then there is chaos....chaos in a mall is bad.

5. Make sure your conversations are appropriate and okay to hear, because everyone around you can hear your conversations.

6. Make sure to wear clothes that are easy on and off so as to cut down time in the fitting room. Jeans, tee-shirts, and flip-flops are awesome. Even a sundress and sandals are fine if you want to look cute. No one likes "that girl" that takes a million years in the fitting room......but really.

7. Touch every article of clothing you pass. I don't know the reason for this...I do it and I see everyone else do it too. So, it must be legit.

8. Keep your cellphone in an appropriate place, no one wants to see you have yours appear like magic out of your cleavage.

9. The louder and clickier your shoes, the more attention you get. That's why I wear sandals.

10. The final and most important rule: Always take samples from the people in front of the pretzel place. Duh.

Okay, I've got a lot of laundry to do and a lot of coffee to drink.
Over and out.

Well Done Bird!

You know what I love?

Naps!

Yesterday Caroline, Lindsay, and I turned on the sixth Harry Potter and napped in Rita's living room. I had super hardcore dreams! Oh, ahhh I'm laughing thinking about it---

I had a dream that I woke up because someone was snoring soooo loudly. It sounded like it was coming from Lindsay so I sat up on the couch and looked toward where Lindsay was laying. She looked back at me and put her finger to her lips to shush me and pointed to the end of the couch where a fluffy white dog was sleeping and snoring LOUDLY. We silently laughed and fell back asleep.

When I woke up for real I thought the dream was real.....I walked to the bathroom and started cracking up when I remembered that Rita doesn't have a dog....bahhhh it was hilarious.

I napped today too, and by today I mean, I just woke up.

You know what else I love? Knitting! I finally started a new project because I've laid out sick all last week, so I had plenty of time on my hands. I am doing the Starburst stitch and I love it. Caroline and I both got superthick, nautical looking yarn--her's is cream and mine is heathered light blue. Love. Love. Love.

Starbucks.

Coffee, Knitting, and Movies with Caroline.
Just Saying.

Cookie Dough Icecream and John Travolta.

Today has been a really crazy, but awesome day.

I had to drag myself out of bed...it should have been at 8 but it didn't happen until 10.

My entire family came today, including my Aunt April, Uncle Greg, and Cousin Angel are here from Ohio. They are wonderful! And I'm so happy they are here!

Yesterday, a small group of us loaded up into the church van and headed to Ferdinand to go to the Abbey and to the Monastery Castle. They were lovely.

We got to go into the large chapel in the Abbey. The marble floors, ornate woodwork and stonework, angel carvings, stain glass windows, and statues of Christ were a little overwhelming compared to my normal setting of a gymnasium and simple stage. It was like stepping into another world. One where to show your love for God, you spent and spent and decorated and spent.

I don't think that God in anyway calls us to build ornate buildings like that to worship in, rather I believe the opposite.

But, at the same time I can appreciate the beauty of the building and the imagination and creativity and heart of the people that spent their lives on it.

My favorite part of the Abbey and the Castle were the windows.

You should have seen the detail and precision and the colors...ohhh...
They were otherworldly. They were like nothing I've ever seen.

I was afraid the pictures were going to step out of their frames at any moment. That I would be joined by the angel Gabriel, or Jesus falling beneath the weight of the cross.

I studied each one and wondered how I could take the beauty of the windows and apply to my life; to my religion. Then I thought of what the most important part of stained glass windows is....sunlight.

Without light the picture isn't visible! It's just a dark picture outlined by iron....sooo how does that apply to my life?

The windows are beautiful and painstakingly worked on. We are painstakingly created beautiful.

No one can see the beauty of the windows without light shining through them.
As Christians true beauty isn't visible without the light and love of God our Father shining through us!

Does that make sense? Or did I totally force that thought just for the sake of making windows applicable?

Mehh....who knows. I'm running with it.