SATs

I am going to take the SATs today...I'm leaving in twenty minutes...I had to get up at 5:45...I slept horribly...afterwards I'm going out to lunch with some of the more "popular" girls...

Not sure if I'm more nervous about THAT, or the SATs...

Just kidding. You know, mostly.

I'm really nervous. See, I like taking tests. I don't mind it. It's fun to me. But I'm so far behind in math that I feel there's no way I can do well. I'm not BAD at math like I used to be (I've been working hard lately), but I'm not where I need to be.

And then I'm nervous that something will just plain ol' go wrong. I'll loose a pencil. I'll tuck my hair behind my ear and get kicked out for cheating. My mind will blank. Someone tries to cheat off me. Etc. Etc. Etc.

>.<

If you wouldn't mind, prayers would be appreciated.

~Kendra

Praises and Prayers

Praise: I got my permit! YESSS :) It was a little more complicated and irritating than we thought (we ended up not having all the paperwork, etc.), so I just got it yesterday. I missed 2 questions XD Oh well. I drove to class today, which was fun, even though it was kind of nerve-wracking.

Prayers: I know 10 people who are sick. There is a horrible thing going around. Stuffy nose, runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, coughing, chest pain, and a high fever in my sister's case. See, Lizzy is an amazing sport. She plows through life and gives 100% no matter what. She has to be feeling like death warmed over to show it, and, well, she's showing it.

I haven't seen her like this in years. At least. It makes me want to take all the sickness and just go through it myself, and I mean that. (Normally I'm a selfish little snitch, so it's different this time, lol...XD) My mom is even thinking about taking her to the doctor, something she hardly ever does.

Anyway, I don't want to sound annoying, because I know there are WAY worse things than a bad cold/virus thing, but any prayers for my sister (and all the other sick people) would be wonderful.

~Kendra

On Your Mark...

Who's ready for the Scavenger Hunt?? :D I am! If you don't know what that is, click HERE! The people we have, the more fun it'll be!

Hunters can "sign up" as late as Saturday, but I'm not taking Hosts anymore, just because I'm afraid I won't have time to make your clue. Hosts, be checking your emails :D I'll be sending the Clues within the next couple of days.

On a side note, would you guys mind praying for me about chemistry? I know that's weird, and pretty insignificant, but I'm really stressed. I have a test next week and I'm completely lost.

~Kendra

Summer Travels

Ah, traveling. It's what some peoples' summer is all about. Some people like to use summer as a time to relax and just enjoy the things we miss during the school year. My family is in the middle. We don't travel much, but we try to get in a good vacation and a little get-away somewhere among the long hot months.

These next few weeks are my travel weeks. Tonight, my younger sister Lizzy and I pack our bags full of basketball shorts, grubby T-shirts, lots of socks, a pair of sneakers, and an air mattress. What are we doing? YOUTH MISSION TRIP!

It happens every year. Some of you may even remember me going last year. Well this year, our church recently bought a new building! It's the perfect thing for our church, a real God thing. However, because it was so important to purchase the building, there hasn't been a lot of funding toward the youth mission trip.

So instead of packing it in a car and driving 6 or 8 hours, my youth group is doing the stay-cation version of a mission trip. We're packing our bags, same as usual, and meeting at the church for a lock-in. But this year we'll stay at the church. We're going to work on the building, work at our local food pantry, do some work on a farm, help at a battered woman's shelter, and stuff like that, all in our community. This idea came together really at the last minute. Another God thing for sure.

The day after the mission trip, my family and my "brothers'" family are leaving for Sanibel, Florida! Vacation time! WooT WooT! It's gonna be pretty awesome. Lizzy and I have been saving our pennies for this vacation for months. I'm super excited :D

The only downside to all this awesome is the blogging factor. *tragic sigh, violins play* I don't expect to be blogging very much, if even at all, until we get back from Sanibel on August 10th (Happy Birthday, Cavender XD). I might post once or twice, but I'm not sure what the computer and internet situations will be in Sanibel.

So, until the 10th, adios, sayonara, arrivederci, au revoir, fare thee well, GOODBYE! :D Prayers, especially for this youth mission week, would be greatly appreciated. Let's hope we can really make a difference in peoples' lives for Christ.

~Kendra

White Hearts

Thanks for following, Tay, Ruthie (although I was sure you were already following...O.o I'm loosing it XD) and Hanner! New followers shock me. But they delight me, too, so it's okay XD

So far the poll it telling me that y'all want...

- About my life [Seriously? I'm so boring XD]
- Creative stuff [*gets out thinking cap*]
- Funny stuff [I'm not funny :D]

Then it's a three-way tie between My writing, Thought-provoking posts and My thoughts and opinions. Y'all are clearly not in this for the intellectual aspect.

JUST KIDDING. I luv you guys XD

Well, today was...interesting.

I only have about three more weeks of school left, which is great and everything, but it means we're closing in on finals--FAST. I have plenty to do to get ready, let's just say that. I'm so much looking forward to being done, though. I can't even remember the last time I was so ready to be finished with school. I used to like school. This year, I've kind of hated it all year :-/ So yeah. Lots of finals coming up, and a Lincoln-Douglas debate, which is so overwhelming that I don't even want to explain it >.<

We dissected a sheep's heart today. It was white. I guess I know that it's just the blood that makes a heart red, but that still surprised me.

Creative stuff.

Eat dinner with your left hand.

How's THAT for creative? Actually, it's not. I got it from Kyle. XD

Well, I'm really kind of distracted and not much of a poster today XD I'll talk to y'all later :)
P.S. Cavender's ankle isn't broken, it's sprained. Keep praying :)

Beach

I can't believe I haven't mentioned it much before. But, guess what?

I'm going to the beach with some people for my Sweet 16 :D We're leaving today and coming back Saturday. I might have internet, but even if I do, I probably won't post XD I'll be busy having lots of fun. I'll let you know how it was when I get back, but for now, goodbye!

If you wouldn't mind saying a prayer for safety and for us not to be too swamped in schoolwork while we're there, that would be great, lol :) Thanks, y'all!

~Kendra

P.S. I may have Kyle update if something REALLY MONUMENTAL happens. Like if we crash into the ocean or something. That'd be pretty monumental. Or if I decide to move to the beach. Or if we discover cold fusion by accident. Something like that. Or maybe just if we're having a really epic time. We shall see.

kBai.

~Me again

Monday, Monday, Monday, Monday...

This week feels like one Monday after another.

I'm dealing with some personal junk right now, too, so if y'all could just pray for God to help me out, that would be appreciated.

I feel like I'm asking for prayer all the time. I'm sorry! I know there are a lot of more serious things out there for you to be praying for.

At least I've been writing. A little.

I have play practice tonight. I should be glad, but I'm definitely not.

I don't have much to say, and nothing particularly encouraging. I'm sorry :(

Character Day and Feeling Much Better

Character Day! I'm going to do one of my own today: fourteen-year-old Kaelie Kayla Morgan (KY-lee KAY-lah MOR-gun).

Kaelie is bubbly, fun-loving and impatient, but also clever and maintains a touch of solemnity when necessary. She's a complex person. She can be giggly and easily distracted one moment, and then come up with a perfect solution to a mind-boggling problem the next. Her favorite things include good jokes, the color periwinkle (she likes the name as well as the color), and friends. She despises stupid people, her brother being right when she's wrong, and long waits.

Appearance-wise, Kaelie's looks match her personality. Her auburn hair and extraordinarily bright green eyes give her a clever and excited look. Originally, her hair was supposed to be kind of scrunched-style and shoulder length. Now I'm starting to like the picture of hair I have below. Kind of a Star Trek-esque ponty-tail thing going on, which fits since Kaelie's story is set in the future. What do you think? Anywyay, she's 5'6" tall and weighs about 124lb.

The color and texture (and maybe length?) of Kaelie's hair:

Kaelie's eyes:

Over-all (she's a bit younger than the girl in this picture):

And there's Kaelie Morgan!

----------------------------

So, as you might have gathered from the title of this post, I'm feeling a lot better. I guess I was just having a bad few days. I'm still not who I want to be, but that's okay, but God is working on my every day. I'm not *supposed* to be perfect!

Thanks, all of you guys who left such encouraging comments. You can't possibly know how much they help me when I'm feeling down.

I don't want to talk about school. At all. Next topic.

I'm supposed to be reading "Gulliver's Travels" this week for school. So far, it's pretty good. It's not super exciting, but it's not particularly hard to read either. We're supposed to be keeping a record as we read of all the satire in it. I'm really looking forward to that. Satire/sarcastism is definitely a subject I love XD

No writing to speak of. I've been thinking some about my stories, but nothing has struck me as writing material--yet. I'm still waiting.

I haven't written any "Mirror" in a very long time. Like, MONTHS long time. Am I worried?

Nope.

This happened to me in the beginning of "Mirror", too. I wrote about thirty pages, and then it was a good nine or ten months before I read over it and got excited about it again. I'm just taking a break. Sooner or later, I'll start to miss my characters and I'll get a brainstorm or something and BAM! The words will flow.

Play practice tonight :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D I've been a little depressed, though, thinking about the fact that it has to end.

I'm telling you, I SUCK at carpe-ing my diem. I live in the past (I wish I could go back and time and relieve such-and-such) and in the future (it's gonna suck when so-and-so leaves or when such-and-such is over). I've been trying SO HARD to enjoy "Mulan" while it lasts that I've been ruining it for myself.

*MOANGROANSIGHWAILSOB*

I know this is a weird prayer request, and frankly pretty selfish, but if y'all think of me during the day, do you think you could send out a prayer that I will learn to enjoy life RIGHT NOW?

I guess that's about all I've got to say.

Oh, hah, no, it isn't. I lied XD

Fact or Fiction Day was yesterday. The fact/fiction: Eating 2 poppy seed bagels can make you test positive for drugs.

FACT.

Cavender, Bethany, and Gracie all got it right, but Cavender got it right first. Here's your award, Cavender:

I think I'm going to stop giving out awards for this. Awards are supposed to be special, and giving them out twice a week is just making it kind of mundane. And it's kind of a pain to keep cranking out awards, lol XD

Thanks for being there, you guys!

Shopping. Yeah, AGAIN.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU BETHANY, AN AWESOME FELLOW-BLOGGER, FOR FOLLOWING THE BLOG!!! YAY!!! I AM SO HAPPY! HENCE THE CAPITALS!!!

Anyway...

Challenge Day! Challenge: do 100 crunches.

This is in honor of soccer starting tomorrow. I figured something exercise-related would be good.
I am so nervous about soccer. The coach forgot about me, so the team has already had two practices without my knowledge. I'm in horrible shape, and it the coach makes us run a bunch, I don't know what I'll do. *moan* I'm on a team with a guy from my class named Ben, who was on my team last year. At least I don't have to worry about looking stupid in front of him--he saw it all last year anyway. *sigh*

My poison ivy is doing incredibly well! Yay for the small-town store with homemade soap! The poison ivy soap is amazing. It works crazy-well.

So, today, I went shopping again. Lizzy's and my mom's birthdays are coming up, so my grandma took them shopping. I decided to go with them, and my mom bought me (sort of) some more school clothes. And one random dress. I'm considering posting more pictures...hmm...I'll ask Lizzy.

She said okay. So, here:

*MOAN* Only now I feel like such a vain girl who wants to show off. :( Not true. I just usually hate shopping and all the sudden I'm going all girly and loving it and I want to document it! *moans again* Please don't hate me...

Me in a dress. *gasp* YES, ME, IN A DRESS.

My Michael Jackson shirt XD What can I say? He's the King of Pop.

Pig tails XD And, yeah.

Other than shopping, worrying about soccer, and OH, YEAH, I got the next two Maxiumum Ride books, and so far, Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports is excellent. <3>

That's about it. Pray for soccer, and thanks for the prayers about my poison ivy! That's clearing up nicely. Also, thanks for voting on the Name the Assassin Girl poll. Looks like Kieran is still ahead...

Audition??

NAME DAY!! I'm actually going to do three names: Chandar, Vega, and Levant. Their meanings? Sun, falling star, and moon. Isn't that great? Sun, moon and star! If I decide to use the name Vega for my assassin girl, her brothers will be Chandar and Levant.

I remembered the big thing I wanted tot tell y'all! Remember when I said I was thinking about becoming an actress? And how I might want to do some plays at the community theater coming up? Well, I got a little card in the mail about the play Mulan! The auditions are on the 28th, and I think I'm going to go. I have to sing sixteen bars of a song, and then a short dance combo is going to be taught. My mom says I can sing, and I've been doing dance all my life, so I guess I'm going. I don't think I'm an *amazing* singer, my range isn't very good, but I can sure carry a tune.

I'm super excited. What should I sing? Yikes! Mulan!

I also have poison ivy :'( All over my left ankle. And now my face is itching and there is a bump under my nose. I'M ITCHING EVERYWHERE! AHHH!! *moan* I've had poison ivy before, all over my face. It is NOT FUN, let me tell you. My dad is pretty allergic, and sometimes when he gets poison ivy in one place, he'll break out in all the places he's ever had it. What if that happens to me? What if I get it all over again? WHAT IF IT'S STILL THERE FOR THE AUDITIONS??

Sorry. I freak out about this stuff. (In case you A: haven't figured that out yet or B: don't know me personally.)

So, I found out when soccer practice starts. This Saturday at 10am. *MOAN* I am so out of shape it isn't even FUNNY. I'm going to die. DIE, I TELL YOU. HOW CAN I GET IN SHAPE IN TWO DAYS??

Sorry, sorry. I'm in the freaking out mood today apparently.

Under my nose is REALLY itching...

Harrpy Potter is getting a little better. I don't hate him anymore, and I really, really love Draco Malfoy, just like I thought I would. Evil little cuss >:D

The W Chronicles is going alright, too. I wrote a little of the first series, Woods.

Kieran and Vega tied for the names for my assassin girl (series Wars). I'm setting up another polls just between those two names. Sorry if it seems like this is going on and on.

Picture Day won for the favorite with 6 votes, followed closely by Name Day (yay!) with 5. Quote Day came in next with 3 votes, then God Day at 2 and Challenge Day with 1. Looks like Word Day and Carpe Noctem Day are OUT! Fine by me! But, I do need two days to replace them. I have some ideas, but I'd really like to hear yours. Leave a comment if you would, or email me at livinglovinglaughinglearning@gmail.com as usual. There may be an award for best idea...

So, if you would, vote once more on the poll for the assassin girl's name. Vega (VAY-ga) or Kieran (kee-ERH-in)? And if you have any ideas for what to do in place of Word Day and Carpe Noctem Day, let me know!

Muchas gracias!
a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank">

P.S. I also wouldn't mind an occasional prayer about the audition? And the poison ivy...Lol :)

Questioning God (not an original thought, just original wording)

Okay, so, let's say you've gone hiking. You're just walking along sweating and swatting gnats and hoping ticks aren't dropping on you when all the sudden this random guy pops up and invites you to his little cabin over there. Since this is a hypothetical situation, you agree. The guy leads you back to the cabin, and you both sit down on his porch and have a glass of lemonade.

Then he announces that he is Jesus, aka God (derr ;) ).

You can ask him one question. One question. ONE QUESTION.

Now, I know some of you don't believe in God. I know that at least three of you are opposed to the idea of God. Well, just pretend. This is not going to be a conversion thing, it's just an interesting exercise we did in youth group, so you're safe.

Now. What's your one question?

Let's think about it. You're face to face with God, and you can ask him anything you want. It probably won't be "Whose idea was it to make misquitos anyway? It was the Holy Spirit, wasn't it? I knew it. He's so transparent."

*clears throat*

Anyway.

So, think of your question.

Like, now. Stop reading and THINK OF YOUR QUESTION. Make it good. This is your one shot to take advantage of Mr. Omniscient.

Now that you (theoretically) have your question, here comes the interesting part: That's the thing that's holding you back from God.

Even if you're already a Christian, there are little things that make us hesitant to commit ourselves to God. I have about a million little things and maybe you do, too, but the one question you ask will probably show you what your biggest "problem" with God is. Interesting, isn't it?

(Here comes the part where I get personal and start RANTING. I'll understand if you want to stop reading right here.)

I didn't say my question outloud in youth group, because I'm sometimes closed like that. Somehow it's so much easier to write my true feelings than to say them to someone's face. *shrugs*

My question is going to seem silly. It's going to seem stupid, childish, unimportant, and almost petty, but here goes:

So, God; why didn't you give me an older brother?

And that's it. After I had my question in mind, that's when the youth leader was like, "The question you would ask God is what's holding you back. That doubt is the main reason why it's hard to commit yourself to God." (Or, you know, something like that.) And I thought to myself,

Oh.

That's it. That's true.

That really is what's holding me back.

I may have said this before, but bear with me (if you're still with me at all). As long as I can remember, I've wanted an older brother. It's what I pray for every night, what I wish for one every first star, what I read some books for. Almost as soon as I could talk, that's what I asked my parents for. They explained that God hadn't given them a boy first. He had given them ME. And I, at two years old, was like,

SO? ADOPT.

Well, THAT never happened. And ever since, I've been wishing I had an older brother. In some ways, I think all my problems would be solved if I did. Like, I really think that. Everything that bothers me or is hard for me would be solved or at least helped if I had an older brother.

I want an older brother so bad I sometimes get crazy-jealous around people who have older brothers. I tell Maddie all the time how lucky she is to have Ryan, and never to take him for granted. I DREAM about older brothers. I write the dreams down so I can read them later. I read over certain passages of certain books on a regular basis and try to imagine that I'm the girl in the story, the girl with the older brother.

I'm telling you, it's the one thing I would give anything for.

I can't think of ANY GOOD REASONS for God NOT to have given me an older brother. WHY DIDN'T HE? Having an older brother would have solved so many of my life's problems and caused none. How is it possibly better for me to be brotherless? It doesn't make any sense to me. At all.

Joseph had ELEVEN brothers. Ten of them older.

Would it really have made a difference if he had had NINE? God could have given me the extra.

*sigh* I know it has nothing to do with God "running out of" older brothers. He didn't give me one for a reason. I just really wish I knew what it was.

Wanna know the most disgusting thing about this whole thing?

God sorta gave me an older brother.

Yeah. When I was eight. This guy came along who was just like the older brother I'd always wanted. For the first time in my life, I was really happy. Everything was great. I was so happy. I was thrilled. Like never before, my life was complete. Nearly perfect.

Then four years later, God takes him away. His family decides they don't want to come to our church anymore. Like *THAT*, I never see him anymore.

Uh, ouch. Thanks a lot, GOD.

At least that's what it feels like to me.

*groans* Dang it, now I've gone and made it sound like I think God is this big, insensative jerk. I don't really think that. Not really. It's just that...well, I am sort of mad at God for not giving me the ONLY thing I wanted. God created the Heavens and the Earth, surely he could give me my older brother!!

And he could. But he didn't. Which tells me something:

There's a reason for it.

I sure don't know it, and I may never know, but there IS a reason, and it's all for the best. I just need to remember that.

So, what's your one question? What's keeping you from turning to God?

(Sorry about all the ranting. I feel really bad about blurting all that out now. But after taking all the trouble to type it, I think I'll just keep it. *sigh*)

P.S. *GASP* I have another follower! Emma, YOU ROCK!!