Pinterest Lovelies

I love DOC :)

Spin!

Yup

"You can hide underneath me and come out at night

When I turn jet black and you show off your light

I live to let you shine

I live to let you shine"

I love that song :)

Travel

She is precious!

I MUST start doing this!

Beautiful

Now that's a compliment!

Have a great day!

Movies and Music

2014 is a great year for movies! I am looking forward to...

1. Noah (March)

2. Divergent (March)

3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (April)

4. The Fault In Our Stars (June)

5. Mockingjay Part 1 (November)

6. The Hobbit: There and Back Again (December)

Yay! :D What about you?

And here are some awesome songs that I've been listening to a lot lately...

"Married Life"

"Little April Shower"

"King of Pride Rock"

Hehe. Gotta love Disney. :)

"Let It Go" Africanized tribal version by Alex Boye

I LOVE this! :D The little girl is amazing!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Have a great day!

Part 9!

Hallie

That night, I went to sleep with a smile on my face. All afternoon, until it had grown too dark to venture outside, Jasper and I had talked and made dinner and explored and talked some more. Thankfully, he didn't ask too many questions about my prior situation, and so I kept him busy with questions of my own.

I learned that he hadn't always been living in the forest with his introverted uncle. When he was young, he lived in house in the village near the palace with his parents. His father was the king's blacksmith and his mother was the teacher at the nearby school. He said she was good teacher, had a quirky sense of humor, and a beautiful voice. Whenever he couldn't sleep or felt scared, she was always there to comfort him and tell him a story.

He was happy for many years. But then, the plague came. The sickness spread all over the land, and many people became ill and couldn't leave their beds. Doctors didn't know of any cure, and so many people died, including his mother. He said he remembered waking up one morning and she wasn't there to take him to school. She wasn't there to make him his favorite breakfast or tell him how much she loved him. Only his grieving father remained, left to gaze out the window at the empty street in the early hours of the morning.

Dark times followed. The Battle of the River Swan broke out and soon it wasn't safe to live at Ellenwood any more. And so his father took him into the woods and built a home for them in an old gypsy's abode. It was there Jasper grew up, learned how to track and hunt animals, and trade with the occasional traveler who went sailing down the neighboring river.

When it was safe again, his father used a bridge he had stumbled upon during one of his outings to provide a shortcut for him and his son into the village.

"It was then that-"

"Jasper!" His uncle interrupted, calling from the house.

"Coming Robin!" Jasper replied, standing up.

I hadn't realized how long we had been idling. Disappointed, I followed Jasper back made him promise  me that he would continue his story another time. He did.

Book Review and Other Stuff

~ Delirium by Lauren Oliver ~

Summary: In an alternate United States, love has been declared a dangerous disease, and the government forces everyone who reaches eighteen to have a procedure called the Cure. Living with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in Portland, Maine, Lena Haloway is very much looking forward to being cured and living a safe, predictable life. She watched love destroy her mother and isn't about to make the same mistakes.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena meets enigmatic Alex, a boy from the Wilds who lives under the government's radar. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?

My Thoughts: I really loved this book! I captured me from the first page and told such an interesting story. Lena was very likable and relatable, though a bit melodramatic sometimes. :D But I definitely plan on reading the next two books in the series.

Age Range: 13+

Rating: 5 stars!

Speaking of books, I am going to the library tomorrow with quite an On Hold list! I can't wait to dive into...

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

The Elephant's Tale by Lauren St. John

Like the Willow Tree: The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce by Lois Lowry

The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding

...and many more! :) Libraries are just the best, and now the only place I can get books besides online ever since my town's next to last book store closed. :( Sigh. I fear someday all book stores will be extinct and only Amazon will be left. It drives me crazy.

Anyhoo, have any of you been watching the Olympics at all this past week or two? I have - I love the Olympics! My favorite winter sports would have to be figure skating (it's so beautiful), ski jumping (it's so cool!), speed skating, and snow boarding (Shaun White). :)

Have a great day!

Part 8 :)

Soren

I stopped and stared long and hard at Percy's pale face, a hint of a smirk forming on his lips.

"You're lying," I retorted, clenching and unclenching my fists.

How could my sister be dead? I had seen her only recently - where had I seen her? Memories of the day before were fuzzy and I couldn't seem to focus them. But I knew they were there and it was driving me crazy not knowing.

"How did this happen?" I asked, trying - and failing - to hold back the tears.

"She fell, and then she drowned." He snapped his fingers for emphasis. "Just like that."

He paused and started pacing, going from one end of the room to the other.

"Running away from your problems won't solve them. It only makes them bigger. She should have known that before she tried to cross The Bridge. But it's too late now. She's gone and you are the king."

"Me? I'm king? Oh no."

I slumped back onto my bed and buried my face in my hands. I was the only one left. I had to rule now or risk Percy coming to power. And that was the last thing I wanted.

Come on, Soren, a voice whispered. You have to be strong now. You have a country to lead and a funeral to arrange. And so wiping away the tears and squaring my shoulders, I stood in front of Percy and said, "I'm ready."

Hallie Part 7

Jasper

Closing the door behind me,  I strolled into the main room.

"Hallie?" I called.

She had her back to me and was hovering near the fire, but then turned when she heard my voice.

"Oh, hi!" she greeted, smiling. "Is your uncle here?"

"Yes, but he's working right now. He'll come out when we have supper though."

"Great, I'll be sure to express my thanks to him then. Oh, and I love the dress! It fits perfectly!"

She held out her arms and spun around once for the full affect.

"I'm glad! You'll need something more practical than the one you were wearing."

"Yes, I suppose so," she said, sighing. "I guess I'll just have to throw it away now. The water probably ruined it."

"Oh, you don't want it? Do you mind if I have it then?" I asked, an idea forming in my mind.

"Not at all, Jasper. Though, what would you use it for?" she teased.

"If you don't mind, I was maybe thinking of selling it when I go into town later this week. I'm sure I could get a good price for it. Where did you say you were from again?"

"Oh, that would be fine. I'm sure someone needs it more than me and it would help you out to," she said, not answering my question.

"You are too kind."

"So I've heard."

We smiled.

Made to Inspire #21

Have a great day! :)

Calling {A Sunday Devotional}

What is He calling you to do?

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

~ Philippians 3:14 ~

The calling God gives to our lives is not always easy. Sometimes I think of Mary and the special call God gave her for her life. It could not have been easy to a young, pregnant, unmarried woman asked to conduct the task of bearing and raising a son. But not only any son, God's son, Jesus Christ. I try to imagine how she must have felt to know that true prize of her life was in the day-to-day tasks by which God asked her to be part of His miraculous plan for mankind.

Sometimes, it warms my heart to know that all in His good timing; God is going to work out the steps of my life as I continue in the faith-walk journey I am on. It does not always seem fair or right when it seems like others my age have had things come to them easily, without arising questions or causing strain. Still, I realize that what God has in store for my life is great not in spite of but because of the trails and the uncertainties I live through.

Reflection: What goal are you pressing onward toward? Is it one of your won making or one you allow God to sprout and mature in you?

Application step: In the day to day tasks that contribute to your goals in life, remember that God is also growing you toward the calling He has for you in your faith walk with Jesus. He will never ask you to do more than you can, but he does have a prize awaiting you if you tread steadfastly after Him. Remember He is the prize that is so worth the journey every day!

Have a great day! :)

Part 6!

Soren

When I opened my eyes, I found my cousin Percival peering down at me.

“Well, what do you know? It looks like our new king has finally decided to wake up! How are you feeling this lovely afternoon, Soren?”

“What’s it to you, Percy? Wipe that smug look off your face; there’s nothing wrong with me. Though, I’m not really sure what happened or why I’m in bed when it’s still light out…”

“Perhaps I could answer your questions. You won’t remember much because you took a hard blow to the head when you fell off your horse. If I hadn’t been accompanying you, who knows how long you could have lied there, slowly dying… You were lucky enough that I was there to save you. I think there are some thank you’s to be made! Well? Chop chop! What do you say to you wonderful cousin Prince Percival?”

He leaned towards me with that stupid grin of his and I almost rolled my eyes I was so annoyed. However, I was the prince. And princes don’t roll their eyes at their cousins.

“Thank you, dear cousin. What would I ever do without you?” I said, purposely over-doing it.

“What would you, indeed?” Percy muttered, smiling slyly.

He then crossed over to the window that took up almost the entire wall on the right side of the room and gazed out at grounds beyond. I pushed back the covers and was about to call for a servant when he startled me with a piece of news.

“Oh, you do know what happened to Hallelujah, right?”

“No. What’s wrong?”

Percy turned towards me, his eyes full of remorse. “She’s dead. Your sister is dead.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mwahahahaha! :D I've given you part six! I love this story! I'm even thinking of hosting a book cover contest for it! What do you think? Would you enter?

Have a great Valentine's day telling all your family and friends how much you love them and eating all the candy you want! At least, that's what I'm going to do. :D

February

There is a crispness in the air this morning.

Everything is wet and green again.

Spring is on its way.

{1}

I love my new boots!

{2}

{3}

Thanks for reading // Have a great day! :)