I know you're getting sick of this, but...

I'm pooping out on my meme again. Why do I always do this? Well, honestly I think if I had more time I would be better with these things...but having to think of all of the Short Answers questions, and then ask them to my brothers every week(Jonas doesn't like being asked random questions) is just a lot of work.

Besides those reasons though, I've really been trying to simplify my life. I'm cleaning things up so that I can have more time for what I really want and essentially need to be doing.

So, (don't hate me, Alexis!) I'm going to have to do one of two things--either give up Short Answers altogether, or hand it on to someone else. If anyone's interested, let me know!

On another subject...Harrison is OBSESSED with Scooby Doo! It's really too adorable. ^_^ He never wants to watch anything but the Scooby Doo movies--and I'm not talking about the old cartoons; I'm referring to the new, real people ones. Anyway, this kid is insanely good at role playing! We had a new humidifier set up in the living room the other day and Harry found it rather mysterious.

So, he checked it out...



...and he found the evil mastermind...



...and then Velma appeared on the scene just in time to proclaim an earth shattering "Jinkies!"

I love that little man. ^_^

P.S. There are only 4 more days to vote for me on the Love This Site Awards...so, any last minute votes would be AWESOME!!! ;) Thanks peeps!

By Body & Soul

Abundantly Blessed

My little stud-muffin...



My charming little man...


My sweetie--the only two year old I know who has posing down to a science...



My crazy and beautiful sissy...


My loyal brother and fantastic friend...


My little sister Anna, whom I will see again when I enter Heaven's gates!


My spastic and totally fun mother...


My imaginative and hilarious daddy...


My wonderful extended family...
All of you are amazing...I don't have a pic of all of you together, but you know you're loved. ;)

My precious violin...

Photo courtesy of my momma. :)

My Father's beauty everywhere I look...


And all of you...


These are a few of the things I'm thankful for, and they're all mine because of the person that I'm most thankful for--my Father and Saviour, Jesus Christ!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Orchestra Concert etc.

So, after much trial and error...I FINALLY got my orchestra videos to work! Yay! These three videos make up the full performance, but if you don't want to hear the whole thing, you should at least listen to the last one. It's too fun!







I admit...I've got the after orchestra blues. We turned our music in directly after performing on Sunday, and the sense of loss was felt as I handed it over. All of the reminders I'd scribbled in between the lines...all of the notes which I'd spent hours and hours learning, memorizing, practicing...all of it was gone, and in a few months I won't remember how to play those pieces. It makes me terribly sad to think about--but, we're getting next semester's music sometime at the end of next month...I can't wait to see the trial and triumph that await me! It's going to be fantastic.

Oddly, I think one of my very first motivations to work harder with the violin was when a small blister formed on my neck. I know it sounds weird...but it was my first moment of pride. The first time I felt like I'd practiced enough to pat myself on the back. It's really an adrenaline rush when you can feel yourself working and getting better. The correlation between hard work and success is intoxicating.

But enough about that--I'm sure my family's getting sick of hearing about the violin. heehee. This is my hundredth post on Rear Window. That's nifty.

And this is just really random, but I had to show you this precious picture I got of JoJo. :))))))


*sigh* I love my family.

Oops

I completely forgot about Short Answers last night (again)! So sorry everybody! I was so caught up in trying to get my orchestra videos on my computer that I spaced it. And I haven't even gotten the videos to work yet...so my brain is just evil right now.

Well, I'll post with something substantial later on...like perhaps my orchestra videos (that is, if I can get them to work). *sigh* Later peeps!

A Sweet Autumn Day

I've always thought I was the type who always "stopped to smell the roses"...but how often is that really the truth? I caught myself the other day doing just the opposite of that. I tend to get caught up in my "important" projects, and I really just forget to care about the other stuff.

Well, the other day, after a little prompting from my momma, I headed outside to spend some time with my little bros, and I felt so refreshed and rewarded after I did it.

Harry has no problem expressing himself in front of the camera. I've never seen such a free spirited two year old!




There's nothing cuter than a little boy's dirty shoes. ^_^


He's got Momma's affinity for nature!






Silas and Jonas showed me their "fort" (made of sticks and branches) in the woods...they're pretty next level if you ask me.






My orchestra concert is TOMORROW! I'm extremely excited! I'll tell you all about it in my next post. ^_^

Christmas Time Has Commenced

I seriously appreciate all of your amazing comments on my last post. :) They are so special to me, and I just want to give you all a big hug for being so sweet! Love you all!

On Thursday, we put up the Christmas tree...same as every other year for the past 5 years, in honor of Anna and with her picture sitting nearby. We all felt a sense of melancholy I'm sure, but the tree is always something we look forward to. It's a time to blast Christmas music and get kind of crazy with experimental vocalizations--to have an excuse to be overly sentimental--and most of all, to remember and realize the sweet feelings, memories, and sensations that Christmas always brings...wait...does that go along with shameless sentimentality? heehee.

Isn't it PRETTY!?

Some people would probably say it's a little messy...we've never been the type to have uniform ornaments or a color scheme, but it looks like kids decorated it, doesn't it? And to me, that just makes it all the more special. ^_^

Forever...

Five years ago today, my heart was crushed. . .
my first conscious breath in the morning was taken with sobs. . .
my stomach felt like regurgitating every emotion it bore the burden of. . .
my shoulders, back, neck, ached from the pain in my heart. . .
my fingers stroked my sisters hair for the last time. . .
my eyes saw her skin, fair and flawless under the pretty pink dress that adorned her sweet frame--
laying inside of her bed of white and grey. . .

Five years ago today, my family & I had to say goodbye to my beautiful little sister.





I never mourned so deeply. I never thought a young girl's heart could hurt as much as mine did, but from the first day without Anna, I did see something--I saw the love in my mother's eyes when she saw her children hurting. I saw the love in my daddy's arms as they wrapped around her trembling frame. And I recognized the love in my Heavenly Father's tears as I realized they fell for me--for me and my family.




And slowly, Christ gave us the strength to uphold one another once again. He held our hands, He spoke words of comfort through His Word, He gave us things to be excited and joyful about...but most importantly, He gave us His eyes--and suddenly we could see victory in the pain...a bright and stunning Light at the end of the darkest cavern we could have stumbling through.

Five years ago today, I felt pain. . .

But now,
I've been inspired by a life. . .
I've aspired to be more. . .
I've loved deeper and stronger than I could have ever hoped to in my own power. . .
I've seen more beauty than pain. . .
I've been in the pit, so I can recognize the mountains. . .

And the sun still shines.

Forever changed. Forever touched. Forever joyful.


"Look! Look! Up in the sky! You're lifted off the ground into the silver lining. Look! Look! This is your day. This is here and now. Don't let it slip away."

"Silver Lining", Danyew


To see more pictures of Anna, visit my momma's blog.

Short Answers and...

RELAXATION

I need me some of that...
I've got an orchestra performance this Sunday, and I've been working like CRAZY to be ready for it. Besides that, I finally got my license last week! Yay! So, needless to say...I've been very busy. Should I take up yoga? *taps chin thoughtfully* Hm...


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What are the benefits of going green?

Silas: What do you mean?
You know like doing stuff that’s good for the environment.
Umm…envilo-o-n….what? What does environment mean?!
Um, it’s like the atmosphere, like nature.
What’s the nature of the color green?

Jonas: You already asked Si that. *raises hand* RAIN! Right!? *grins really big* When grass has lots of grey dust on it, rain can spill all of the dust off.

How do remote controls work?

Silas: Ok, there’s this flat green thing with thorns that stick up, and um…um….an orange cord, an white cord, a blue cord, and a red cord, a silver cord, a couple more whites, another blue, and another red…and um….batteries, aaaaand Jonas would say electricity wouldn’t he? *giggles*

Jonas: Batteries.
Right, but how do they work?
A machine, right?
Yeah, but how does the machine work?
I don’t know. I’ve never broke a control and looked in the machine. You plug it in. You get this machine thing, you put the batteries in, and then there’s a giant cord and it plugs everything in. That’s a machine, right?!

Where do they make Coca Cola?

Silas: Coca Cola? You mean like the pop? Yup. Lots of places. Um, let me see. McDonalds, um…ummmm…what is it? Kwik Shop, aaaaaand uuuuumm….*sigh* let me think. I don’t know…that’s the only places I know. OH! And uh, Pizza Hut!

Jonas: Um…water?
Yeah, but I said ‘where’.
Out of the thing.
What thing?
New York? Is that true, New York? POP! Starbucks!

If you had to define your mom in one word, what would it be?

Silas: Hm. Mom. *laughs*

Jonas: One word? What do you mean? Say it slowly.
*repeats question*
M-O-M-M-Y.

What about your dad?

Silas: Dude. *does the Vulcan “live long and prosper” sign with his hand*

Jonas: D-A-D-D-Y…and then D-A-Y….no wait, don’t do that. Do this…D-A-D. And then it says Daddy after that. I’ll tell you how to write it: D-A-D-D-Y.

Daydreaming

You know those days when somehow all day you've been making unrealistic plans for your future? Well, I've been having one of those days. I've been daydreaming!

I want to one day become a brilliant violinist and play my brother's beautiful music in an orchestra...

I've fashioned up a lovely theme for my wedding day, I'll wear a brilliant pair of Converse high tops and have a vintage style wedding. I want my groom to wear designer jeans, and I will be wearing something like this.



I wish that someday I could live somewhere by the beach. I would loooove to live on the coast. :)



Oh, I know most of that will probably never happen...but daydreaming is so much fun sometimes! It's no wonder kids do it so often--when there's nothing pressing on your mind, sometimes there's nothing more entertaining or thrilling than dreaming up the future. So, there's my inner 5 year old for the day! :)

Thanks for bearing with my ooey gooey-ness...I think I should write Hallmark cards, eh? Well, Hallmark cards for the strange and bizarre sentimentalists of the world--Ok, not much of a market. :P

Aaaand I'm ramblings...

Nasty Headache and Short Answers

Hello my lovelies...well, tonight I have not much to say. I have a killer headache, and sleep is calling my name. =_= So, I'll leave you with Short Answers, and hopefully I'll be all better tomorrow so that I can come and visit you all! :)


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What’s better, butter or cheese?

Cheese.
Why?
Because it’s more cheesier.

Not cheese ball, but cheese.
Why?
Because I hate cheese balls.

How are donuts made?

Flour. Mr. Sprinkles. Aaaaand…syrup. Sugar. And white frosting. There.

Sugar…right? And flour. Ok, the flour and mixed to dough, and make the dough round, and put some sugar on it and put it in the oven.

Why do the trees change colors in the fall?

Because it’s more cold, and they dry out.
Ok, but why does that make them change colors?
Because it dries them out and then they start changing colors, that’s why!

Because…Because I don’t really know about that.
Do you have a guess?
Huh-uh. Except for one…because it’s cold, right?

What do broccoli, carrots, and cucumbers all have in common?

You mean, what do they all taste like together?
No. What do they have in common?
Well, carrots are similar to…broccoli pretty much. And apples. They’re not sweet like apples, no they are sweet like apples they’re just not…yeah.

What does that mean?
Like, how are they similar?
Similar? What does similar mean?
It means like the same.
Ok, pickles and pickles?
No *repeats question*
Greens in one…and more greens in one…and more greens and more greens. Broccoli is actually greens, right? Mangos, they put stuff inside what’s sugary.

What’s a tapestry?

What’s a tapestry?
I’m asking you.
I don’t know.
You have a guess?
Uh…tap dances. Is that right?

What’s a tapestry?
I’m asking you. (again)
No way! What is a tapestry?
Do you have a guess?
Nuh-uh. Is it something you eat?
No.
Is it something you get arrested?
No.
Is it something you make?
Kind of.
How do you make them? I don’t even know what a tapestry is!

Going the Extra Mile

Last Christmas I discovered a new obsession. It's not that I hadn't thought about the possibility of the endless intrigue and devout experimentation this obsession would possess...no, I had thought about it many times, but thus far I had not had the opportunity to develop that interest.

My new obsession was...

The Rubik's Cube

I have been working on solving the cube for hours and hours at a time ever since that morning last Christmas. I haven't read any tutorials on how to solve it, I didn't get it with a manual...I've been flying freestyle.

At first, I thought it would be thrill enough to be able to solve the Rubik's Cube--how awesome it would be to show people that I could solve the infamous puzzle that had stumped so many! I was tempted so many times to settle for the pattern that some fellow geek on YouTube had discovered. I had even googled instructions, and slapped myself right before clicking on a result. The thing is, the longer I focus on finding my own solution, the more I become bonded to the idea...determined.

I find this similar to my walk with Christ. When I first accepted Him into my heart, I didn't care about all of the little details--the important thing was that I had a Heavenly Father and Savior! This fact remains true, but as I grow older and stronger in Christ, I want more and more to develop my own beliefs and reasons for believing things. This is one of the reasons that I'm SO thankful for my parents. Who better to help me discover the biblically sound rules, and the ones based in traditions of men? Who better to help me sort through the schizophrenic spasms of my mind?

I want a solution to the problems I share with the world...but I don't want it to be Luigi's solution...I want it to be mine and Christ's. Similar to the relationships between an earthly father and child, I believe my relationship with Him is unique--He has particular things to impart to me; talents, wise sayings to recycle on listening ears, hard lessons, and answers to the problems that life throws at me.

My Rubik's Cube is still in the works, but I'm learning the resolution, one small step at a time. And when it's all over....serenity.

Determined

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
--Theodore Roosevelt

Wait....Your Baby?

It's been fairly common knowledge for the last several years that I absolutely ADORE Mustangs (like the car...not the animal). When I was 11, I wanted nothing more than a brand new, hot pink, Mustang convertible. A year later, I decided that a nice canary yellow Mustang GT was much more my speed--take note, I still get goosebumps when I hear that lovely engine roar to life from some nearby parking lot. At the ripe age of 13, I decided the vintage 'stangs were my favorites. Specifically, 1967, pink. In case you haven't noticed...I was obsessed with pink for a good majority of my preteen and early teen years.

Well, by the time I was 14, I had given up any hopes of ever getting my own Mustang. It's fun to dream, right? But it just wasn't realistic.

Hm....I was right on one account. I still don't have a Mustang....but my big bruh does! My awesomely amazing grandparents bought Jared a car! How awesome is that!?

No, it's not mine, and I can live with that. The important thing is that I get to drive it. *evil laugh* Ah my minions...my evil plan is unfolding so perfectly.

As for me...I've gotten over the idea of my dream Mustang...I've decided to focus on the far more realistic idea of a completely restored '67 Chevy Impala....black of course. Is that too much to ask? ;)