So, Kirsten's Over...

I'm here with my friend Kirsten. She is cohosting my 500 Anniversary Celebration! :D

30 Random Things Kirsten and I Thought of For This List:
331. This week is "Change Your Picture to a Cartoon Character" on Facebook. We highly recommend DOING IT.
332. "Not you, WESLEY, you're a RRRRABBIT for heaven's sake."
333. "A GGGGGREAT ANIMAL."
334. We played dress up today.
335. We took exams today.
336. Kirsten failed an exam. (NOTE FROM STEPHANIE: She BARELY failed. Two points, and it was a freaking hard test, and she knew a ton of it when we looked at it after the fact.)
337. She likes animals.
338. She's allergic to aspirin and sulfa.
339. She's obsessed with my purple hippo named Happy.
340. We did crazy makeup today.
341. Facebook chat is annoying.
342. I love red peppers, Kirsten thinks they're gross.
343. And blecky.
344. We like the song "G6." Like, a lot.
345. Also, "Low." And we can dance to it.
346. I had ramen today.
347. Raw AND regular.
348. We watched "The Devil Wears Prada" for the first time, and it was good.
349. Kirsten, as you know, works at Subway.
350. She just now freaked out that I had told you guys that. She called me a stalker. I am deeply wounded and offended at such vicious name-calling.
351. Kirsten: "The truth hurts."
352. This list is rambling.
353. I had it all planned out that I would end this list thing on Thursday, Thanksgiving, but I feel like I may have misjudged that a little...seeing how it's like three days away and I'm still 150 to go...
354. I'm wearing my sock monkey footies.
355. We're going to go watch "The Swan Princess" til our eyes fall out in a minute.
356. We're going to a lunch tomorrow for a grade we're not in to have food we don't like (chili). It'll be great :D
357. I'm going to Disney on Saturday.
358. I hope I'll get a ton of school done before then, because we have a ton of assignments to do, and I want to actually have a break...
359. We want to go see "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" at midnight >:D
360. My cartoon character is Belle; Kirsten's is RUFUSSSSSS.

~Kendra

What a God Moment :)

I had in mind a hundred different things to post on. Today has not been one of those days where I can't think of anything to say. I've had lots of ideas that cover lots of different angles, but when I came downstairs and checked my email just now, I knew what to post on.

I just had such a God moment.

Ellie B slept over last night, and we talked about a lot of deep things--as usual--but one thing in particular has been bothering me. We used to have this amazing friend a few years ago. She's still a friend of ours, but different things happened and we've kind of fallen apart. We talked about her a lot, and came to the conclusion that everything was over. As much as we hated to think it, we figured the friendship was pretty much dead.

And you guys know how my week has been, right? Just one thing after another, everything sucked. School, family, emotions, the "personal junk" I asked for prayer about, everything.

It wasn't one of those "mad at God times", just more of a completely discouraged feeling that's been hanging over my head. The talk about the fallen friendship was just the icing on the crap cake (lol).

I came down here to blog and see if I could write anything. I saw I had a message in my inbox. I shrugged and clicked on the message.

It was from the "lost" friend. She apologized for the randomness, but said she felt like something was up and wanted to see if everything was cool with us.

I don't know about you, but that was one of the biggest WOW and GOD moments of my life, and definitely of the past few weeks.

I haven't talked to this friend really in three months. Ellie B hasn't talked to this friend for real in a long time. And all the sudden, God laid on this friend's heart the fact that something wasn't quite right.

Well, guess what? I sent a message back explaining my feelings and why the different circumstances bothered me. I read and re-read the message several times, making sure my tone was how I intended it to be (it's so hard to communicate tone in emails; you really have to be careful). I think we can work this out.

Oh my gosh, I didn't even think about this until JUST NOW. Guess what our youth group study was on today?

Friendships.

Wow. I rarely get this excited about God stuff like this. As bad as that is, God really has to HIT ME WITH IT for me to get it. Boy, he really did today. I'm just smiling. Can you even believe how awesome God is?? Without me even noticing it, God shaped this whole day--and last night, too--preparing me for that email. I thought my friend was lost to me forever, but guess what? ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD!

He's not an ancient force that stopped interacting when the Bible was finished.

God is here, God is now, and God is doing things in our lives NOW.

Wow.

What an interested, alive, personal God.

Retarded Post

The Sweet 16 party was fun :D It was a little awkward getting warmed up to the other girls, but I still had fun :D

I ate strawberry muffins at Emily's house for breakfast.

And I came home.

And I talked to Shang on Facebook.

And I didn't feel like eating lunch.

And I talked to Shang on FB again, lol.

And I did math. I could have done logic, but I didn't.

And I cleaned a lot. BLECK.

And...here I am. I'm going to babysit in an hour. Fun. It's not like I don't want to go, I just don't want to either. Kind of a *shrug* feeling, you know?

I didn't go to the tournament game last night. Or the one today. Ben (The Dare Devil) is going to hate me. Josh (The Nice Guy) will probably be disappointed. I feel like a failure. Crap.

At least Emily liked the card and present I gave her. I actually made a decent-looking card this time. Usually they look like crap.

*sigh* Maybe I'm tired. I got plenty of sleep though. Like seven hours. Which is plenty. Whatever.

I learned some stuff about some people last night that is good news and bad news. So I'm thinking a lot about that. And that's as specific as I want to get. Sorry.

Okay, this is a retarded post. I'll just stop now. Thanks for reading, play practice for the 31st show starts back Monday. Yay? This time when we do the show, it's the last time FOR REAL. Hmm.

I think I'm hungry. I'm going to eat something.

God Sightings

*sobs for joy* 38 FOLLOWERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bekah, you rock! Thanks *so much*!!

I'm listening to "Leave Out All the Rest" by Linkin Park, so this post might be a little distant because I love this song and am mostly listening to it and not thinking about typing so much.

Okay. Never mind. It's over.

Such an amazing song. *sigh*

OKAY, so, here's what I plan to cover in this post: Carpe Noctem, God Day, and a quick run-through of my day and the sleepover last night.

Sleepover: It was fun!! We had a blast being crazy and super silly and watching like forty-five minutes of "Twilight". We took lots of crazy pictures. Here's one of them :)

There's nothing like girl friends gettin' together and doing crazy hair! :) (I'm the one in the middle, the tall one, lol!)

Quick run through of my day: Got up, got ready for church, ate two PopTarts, went to church, talked to people, listened to the amazing sermon, went to a little restaurant with D&D and their family, ate only a grilled cheese and drank Coke because their chicken fingers make me sick-feeling for some reason, took David home with us so he wouldn't have to go all the way home only to come right back for youth group (which is near our house), did stupid stuff on the computer, felt sick to my stomach (possibly because of that restaurant?), watched thirty minutes of "Twilight", went to youth group, had a great time talking about Miracles, came home, still feeling sick, blogged on Carpe Noctem, ate dinner, still felt sick, finished blogging on Carpe Noctem, re-did the layout of Carpe Noctem, went up and watched a news special about this news guy named Walter Clonkike (or something) who died, came down here, read blogs, started typing this, still feel sick.

We think it must be something in the well-water at the restaurant that makes me sick. Ugh, I feel kind of like crap.

Carpe Noctem: Uhm, just click on the link up there (or here: http://toseizethenight.blogspot.com/) and read it for yourself. Let me know what you think of the thingies on the side if you do, please.

God Day: Let's talk miracles!

We did in youth group, and it shocked me at how many miracles we've actually seen. Like, ME, personally.

1. We as a church laid hands on this guy who had kidney stone and prayed over him. We didn't pray for his surgery to go well, we prayed that God would just take the kidney stone away. We prayed that this guy would be a living miracle for the doctors to see. Well, he was. He went to the doctor the next day and the kidney stone was GONE.

2. A little girl at our church got kicked in the head by a horse. Her skull was pushed into her brain two inches. She is not paralyzed, has no brain-damage, and is completely healthy without so much as a visible scar.

3. A man at our church, a very old man, had really bad pneumonia. He was on his deathbed. The doctors all said so, we all thought so, but we kept praying. He's alive and perfectly well today.

4. Our youth leaders' daughter had severe heart problems when she was born. Time and time again, she has been a living miracle as she has had problems with that, and come out fine every time.

5. A boy we know was born with 20 different disabilities. He wasn't supposed to live to be more than a couple of DAYS old. He is currently sixteen years old.

6. A friend of our youth leader was doing something that needed a parachute in the dark. He thought he was much higher than he was, and pulled his parachute very late. Miraculously, he didn't die. He landed in a tree, and is pefectly fine today.

7. Our church is very small, and has a lot of bills to pay. Our offering isn't exactly rakin' in the cash. On a weekly basis, the accountant will wonder how in the world we're going to pay the bills. Something always happens.

8. Our youth leader was going on a family vacation a long time ago, and was broke. FLAT BROKE. They did not know how they were going to pay for the gas it took to get to their destination. They day before they left, a check came in the mail for $500. They had overpaid on something.

Stories like that are miracles that I have seen personally! Isn't it amazing? Our God is such a big God!

And it's not just the big things like kidney stones disappearing and money showing up; little things like being late to work so that you run into an old friend, waking up early to see a beautiful sunrise. Those aren't really "miracles", but God did it for you. God is always doing little things for us. You just have to stop and watch for them. At Bible School, we call those "God Sightings".

So look for God in the little details. Watch for miracles. Be prepared for God Sightings.

Hello? What are you waiting for? CARPE DIEM!

P.S. I found this blog a while ago, and this post just absolutely blows me away every time I read it. It's so poweful, so deep, so well-put, so moving, so true. "Reno" puts into words what I've felt before and never have been able to say. A thousand congratulations, Reno, for your amazing, poetic skill with words. Unfortunately, he hasn't enable comments on his blog, so I can't tell him how I feel about his writing, but I *can* share it with you, so here it is (WARNING: depressing, if incredibly eloquent): My Angel.

Another Amazing Day!

Not much time.

Lake 11:00am-7:30pm.
Matt, Katie, lots of other people.
Big family again. Awesome.
Two girls (Kaitlin and Jessica) are coming over in a minute and spending the night.
Katie is spending the night, too.
I always think it's funny when Lizzy will go over to Katie's one night, and then the next night, Katie is over at our house.
Got sunburned on shoulders and face. Oh well. It was worth it.
Got to see Matt and Katie's cousins again for the first time in FOREVER. They're both absolutely *GORGEOUS* now and pretty fun. Kind of city girls, though, lol! I never realize how "country" I am until city people come.
Can't post on Carpe Noctem right now :( I'm too tired. The post would be really shallow and rotten. Plus, Kaitlin and Jessica should be here any minute now.

I've said it before, I'll say it again: I must be the luckiest girl in the world!!


P.S. I also had a dream last night that I had four brothers!!!!!!! Two older, two younger. And a bunch of sisters. One of the younger brothers was Matt! Lol! Maybe I'll tell you all about the dream sometime. I wrote it down. I always write down my interesting dreams, especially if they're about brothers. When I'm feeling pitiful, I read over them. Yes, I am weird.

P.P.S. THANK YOU, OURLIFESAVIOR FOR FOLLOWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, I'm back up to 35 followers. Strange world, isn't it?

Excuses, Excuses

I am evil and must be destroyed.

I didn't post yesterday.

But I have a fabulous excuse!!

Ready? Here it is:

I had no time.

I woke up at eight and had time to get dressed, eat, and skim over some peoples' blog posts before Maddie and Ryan were dropped off at my house. (I'm babysitting while their parents go to a home-school thing.) So then the next six and half hours were spent hanging out with them!

Things We Did:
1. Fed the fish at the lake
2. Fed the ducks at the lake
3. Saw the cutest ducklings EVER
4. Played a mystery and deduction game called Crack the Case (Maddie, who's seven, is REALLY good at that game!)
5. Watched the Bilbo's birthday party part of Lord of the Rings
6. Played a lot of hide 'n' seek
7. Ate lunch (cherries and Hot Pockets :D)
8. Went down to the "beach"
9. Took my dog on a walk
10. Watch part of Hannah Montana
11. Lizzy and I showed them our dances

I think that's it.

So then at three thirty, they get picked up and I start packing to go to a sleepover at Ellie B's.

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but a couple of days ago, I GOT THE FINAL BOOK IN THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS TRILOGY!! YAAAAAY! Yeah. Sorry.

So I finished packing and called Ellie to ask her if I could come early. The party started at six, but my parents wouldn't be home from the home-school thing, so a family friend was gonna pick me on her way home from work and drop me at Ellie's, and just take Lizzy home with her. I also told Ellie that I was almost done with the Mortal Instruments book, and that if I finished it before I had to leave, I would bring it to her. Her response:

"Hang up. Go. Read. NOW."

Lols :)

So I sped read like 150 pages and finished the book two minutes before the family friend came to pick me and Lizzy up.

So, see, it's not actually my fault I didn't post.

...

Okay, yeah. Still my fault :P

Sorry. I'm making like no sense probably. I'm going to come back tomorrow and read this and be like, "WOW". But I'm reeeally tired. That's why I'm not making a lot of sense (if any at all). I got to sleep around four last night (sleepover at Ellie's), and woke up at nine forty-five. So, that's really not that bad. But I'm still a little out of it.

I had a really good time though! Two of Ellie's friends from private school came, and they're so fun and nice. We all had a great time together. And we watched Veggie Tales at like three in the morning. So that was FUN!!

Lizzy used to love Bob the Tomatoe. He was, like, her favorite.

Okay, wow. I usually make a little more sense when I've had... *counts on her fingers* ...almost six hours of sleep. I don't know why this time I'm especially...incoherent.

I also just drank a coke, so I'm hyper and about to crash at the same time.

I'll shut up.

No dark thoughts today yet, but I'll let ya know if I come with a good Carpe Noctem idea.

Carpe diem. Peace out.

(And if you're reading this blog for the first time, I promise I'm not always this...scattered? Whatever. Bye.)

OHH, and ONE LAST THING:

Thanks for following, Mike!!!!!

An Enchanted Forest and A Happy Week!

Haha, I know it's a little girly, but I thought this picture was cool. I don't really know why, it's just like the classic enchanted forest. I think it's really well done, too.

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I know this is random, but want to show y'all this before I forget. It's sooooo funny!! It's called Bible in a Minute. Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar_k8JjVWQA

Anyway, today I went bathing suit shopping. I already have a bathing suit, but since we live closer to the lake, my mom figured we'd be going swimming more often that we do normally. *sigh* Bathing suit shopping is usually hard for me. Not because I'm overweight (I'm actually not too bad), but because I feel so...exposed in most of them, lol! It's hard to find one that I feel comfortable wearing, because, sorry, but I don't just lay on the beach and watch everyone else have fun. I like to actually DO stuff without worrying that my top is gonna fall off! I found one that's cute and I feel okay in. It's a little low, but I figure I can get used to it. Let's hope.

Haven't written Creepy in a couple of days. I'll force myself today.

OHHHHHHHHHHH guess what?? I got the third book in the Mortal Instruments Trilogy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Books are the only thing that get that many exclamation points. I'm really excited! So is Ellie B. Or at least she will be when she gets the text I sent her, lol! We both love the books now. I let her borrow the first one when she came over a couple of Fridays ago (remember?), and she loved it, too. YAY! Now I'm reading two books at once again. *sigh* The final Farsala book (which is still good), and the City of Glass.

Tomorrow night is band practice and I'll get to play with the little kids (Abby and Jarrod, and Ryan and Maddie)!! Yay again! This week is just going fabulously so far. And to end it, I'll be babysitting Maddie and Ryan, and then going to a sleepover at Ellie's! Seriously, this is like the best week EVER. YAY YAY YAY YAY! Sorry to be so ridiculously happy, lol :)

Okay, here's one bad thing: I've been trying to load the same stupid page for--NOT EXAGGERATING--almost fifteen minutes. What is WRONG with this stupid computer? GOSH! Windows Vista sucks. Seriously. No one buy it. It's a waste of money, and time.

Oh, and I have a question for all the guys out there: You know that you're going to a magical world, what do you bring with you? You also know that you're going straight into the hands of the evil and extremely powerful rulers of that land. Besides, like, a gun, what would you bring? Think practical, too. Paige is bring stuff like ibuprofen and ChapStick and stuff like that, but I don't know what Darren would bring. Guys, help! :) Thanks!

Fighting for Freedom

Hey. Sorry I didn't blog yesterday! Ellie came over you know, so there wasn't that much time to post. But I *did* think of a challenge!! I know; amazing, right? Haha, it's not even good, but here it is anyway:

Do something you're "too old" to do.

Not like throwing a tantrum in the mall or sucking your thumb. I mean something that you stopped doing just because you're "too old". Play with something. Imagine something. You can pick *what*, just do something. :D

Lame. But not as lame as the last one? Hopefully.
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Okay, that was Friday. Now for Saturday. Carpe noctem day. Ehhh...I got nothin'.

OOOOOOOOH but I do have good news!!

Ellie and I talked about "Mirror" a lot last night and this morning, and we have some great plot ideas! I might actually be able to write today! Yes!! We'll see, though. I mean, if anyone can turn a great idea and some good words into a new case of writer's block, it's me.
-_-

I saw 17 Again today!! Oh. Em. Jee.

GREAT MOVIE!!!!!!

It was funny, had a good moral, and, okay, Zac Efron was in it, so that helps a lot, too, but it was just so good! And he *was* really cute. AWWWWWWW he cries. It was soo sweet!! *sniff sniff* I almost cried, too. And I (almost) never cry in movies unless the older brother dies or leaves or something. (I'm a totally sucker for older brothers.)

Sorry. I didn't mean to go all screamy-girly on you. But it really was a good movie.

*gasp* I just read Puddle Werld (awesome blog that I follow), and the post gave me an idea for a Carpe Noctem thing!! But it's kind of stealing the idea if I talk about it...Oh well. I'm going to use his topic as mine, but by all means go read the original. I don't want to take the credit. (Although, I *am* going to take a whole different approach to it :D) Here's the link: http://www.puddlewerld.com/2009/05/how-can-taleban-be-defated.html
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Carpe Noctem Day! :D

Topic: Terrorists: Can't we just live and let live?

To put it simply, NO.

Aren't people basically good deep down?

To put it simply, NO.

I think people are born good to some extent. I mean, we all have a sinful nature and everything, but I don't think anyone is *born* evil. However, people CAN become evil, and once they are, no, they are not "basically good deep down".

Now, some people say that we should stop fighting the terrorists. Leave them alone, they say. Live and let live.I'm fine with that. You're probably fine with that. Most people (serial killers not included) are good with that!

Except the terrorists.

THEY WANT TO KILL US. It's part of their religion. Their Bible says "KILL ALL THE NON-MUSLIMS!"

Ohhhhh but we can't fight back! That's inhumane! They believe they're doing good! LIVE AND LET LIVE!! PEACE!

Yay, peace. Peace is good. But I think for peace to work, both sides have to agree to NOT KILL EACH OTHER.

I am all for peace. Really. As much as I enjoy stirring up trouble and debating, world peace is a wonderful that I want us to have! I think it would be WONDERFUL if we could live in harmoney with the Muslims. Some of them are probably really great people.But as long as they are bombing America, it is America's job to fight back.

America is not "attacking" the terrorists. It is purely self-defense.

What kind of country would we be if we just sat here and let the terrorists kill millions of innocent people just because it's in their religion to do so?

We'd be a wussy country that no one felt safe in, that's what we'd be.

I want peace. But it's not up to us anymore. We HAVE tried to be friends with the terrorists. Didn't work. If we're going to have world peace, it's up to them now. We're fighting in self-defense. Any time they want to come over and have a nice PEACEFUL cup of coffee with us, I say go for it.

But until then, America, keep on fighting. Because we are not a country to be pushed around destroyed just to prove we're "nice guys". We have to fight to be safe. To be free. And that's what America is all about.

tobyMac

Sorry I haven't posted like at all lately! I don't really know what happened...I just...didn't blog, lol!

Well, I went to a Winter Jam concert on Saturday night. AWESOME!! My favorite artist (at the moment), tobyMac, was there. He gives an amazing preformance. He even jumped into the crowd at the end :D Do y'all know how old tobyMac is? FOURTY-FOUR!! Daaaang! He's almost the same age as my dad. Toby is still dancing, flipping and rapping just as much as ever. It's pretty cool. His kids are awesome, too. One of them, the oldest (he's 11), whose name is Truett, but is know as truDog, is one his CD "Portable Sounds." I'm sure he's on other CDs, but I only have "Portable." (Just in case you were wondering, the picture is of tobyMac when he was a little younger than he is now ;) ) Here's a link to a bunch of pictures (just in case you wanna know lol): http://tobymacfans.com/2008/tobymac-photo-gallery/

Well, other than going to Winter Jam, not a ton has happened. My friend Ellie slept over for her birthday (which was the 22nd. Say happy birthday :) ) right after Winter Jam. We had fun, but she has, like, a never-ending energy supply. I was exhausted at 11:00 (not typical, though. I was tired because I had to get up at 6:00 for stupid driver's ed), but she wasn't. We ended up going to bed at around 1:30, and I felt like I was dead all Sunday. Ugh. It was freaking awful, let me tell you. I don't really even know why. I'm usually not that bad with little sleep. Usually I can take it and just catch up, but not that day for some reason. Oh well. Fully rested now :D

Like everyone I know (okay, that's a slight exaggeration) is coming down with the stomach virus. AHHH! I'm so paranoid now. The stomach virus is like my worst nightmare. I hate it with a fearful passion. If someone comes up with a cure for throwing up, I'll buy it no matter what the cost. So basically, little pessimistic me is just sitting here waiting for her stomach to her, lol! Hope I don't get sick...And keep all the poor sick people in your thoughts and prayers, lol. Being sick sucks.

Well, that was my past almost-week in a nutshell. School, school, Winter Jam concert, stress, school, sleepover, sickness, school. ;) No, it hasn't been that bad. School is bad, but not as bad as sometimes, and my mom is helping me get organized and catch up with stuff. So that's cool. Thanks, Momma!

One last thing (promise...I think...): I made a website for "Creepy Story"!!!!!! Only guess what??

I HAS A NAME!!!!!!!!!

It's called "The Mirror," which is really awesome because it has a double meaning. Oooh symbolism! Lol! Here's the link:

http://sites.google.com/site/themirrorbook/

And thanks to Kyle Hendricks for telling me about how to make a website. I'm doing kind of the same stuff you are right now with the character bios and everything, but I promise I won't copy for long :)

OH MAN!

OH NO!!!!!

I just found out something really annoying and awful: If I take driver's ed with the program I'm supossed to be taking it with, I'll have to be in a classroom for 6 hours on my BIRTHDAY! AND I won't be able to have my sleepover that I've been looking forward to so much! This sucks!

What should I do? Is driver's ed worth it? What do y'all think?