For Real??

Did I really figure out what I want to do with my life? Really?? :D More details on that next week. :) 
I had a job interview yesterday. Well, I was supposed to. But it turns out that someone else had my app, so he said he'll call me Friday when he gets it back. I really miss working. There's a few other job opportunities  as well. And I'm still getting at least one babysitting job a week. Which isn't a lot of money, but at least there's some money coming in.


Remember how I was studying for midterms? Well, I had the first one yesterday and I ACED IT! BOOYAH! (shout out to all you 90s children! :D)


I bought Leap Year the other day. One of my favorites. Along with P.S. I Love You. And I'm wearing my brand-spanking new Celtic Thunder T-shirt!! And The Big Bang Theory  is on tonight! This day just keeps getting better and better! :)

I think that's all for now. Hope you all are having as good a day as I am. <3


Now I'm going to leave you all with some Michael Jackson Love

In Our Darkest Hour
In My Deepest Despair
Will You Still Care?
Will You Be There?
In My Trials
And My Tribulations
Through Our Doubts
And Frustrations
In My Violence
In My Turbulence
Through My Fear
And My Confessions
In My Anguish And My Pain
Through My Joy And My Sorrow
In The Promise Of Another Tomorrow
I'll Never Let You Part
For You're Always In My Heart.

I'm so tired...

So yesterday was pretty much the best day of my short, young life. But to fully understand, we're going to go back a few months...about 24, to be exact.

OK so about two years ago I heard about this on-the-rise group of guys (NOT a boy band) from Ireland and Scotland called "Celtic Thunder". At the time I thought they were good, but I wasn't really into that style of music (celtic, mostly, with some popular songs from the 70s and 80s). Now, fast-forward a year. I randomly started to listen to them about a year ago, and really liked them. I mean REALLY got into them. I got all their CDs from the library and was listening to them all the time. Around February, I happened to see them doing a show on PBS, and they said they were doing another American Tour, and were coming here!! The show wasn't until October. 8 whole months! *Insert sad sigh* Then last March (St. Patrick's Day, ironically ;)) My grandma surprised me with their latest CD and DVD. That was a good day ;) OK so then on my birthday I said I wanted tickets to the concert. Then I went through this phase where I didn't really listen to them, then I did, then I didn't, then I did etc. Well, finally, Thursday, the day before the concert, I was like, "Mom, I want the tickets." I knew we'd probably not get very good seats, since it was so last minute, but I looked, and we ended up getting tickets on the floor 7 ROWS FROM THE FRONT!! I was shocked that seats that good were still available.

according to my camera, this is how far away we were...

but it was really this close

So last night, I started getting ready 2 hours before we left. ;) We drove all the way downtown, parked and walked into the amazingly beautiful Fabulous Fox Theatre. Oh my gosh, that place is SO gorgeous! I've been there several times before, but every time I walk in, it takes my breath away.

this is one of the walls inside the auditorium

I had planned on taking a bajillion pictures. I had erased my memory card, and charged my camera battery and everything. But they said that taking pictures/video was strictly prohibited, and if you got caught, they'd kick you out. Well, that was a risk I was just not willing to take. So I only got a few pictures before the show started.

this was my outfit...obviously ;)

The show itself was AMAZING! It exceeded my expectations, which to be honest, were already set pretty high. You know how everyone is terrible live? Singing-wise? Well, CT was BETTER than the recordings. Since when does that happen? Yeah, I know...never. So that was pretty awesome. :) The tickets themselves were pretty expensive, so I wasn't expecting anything else, but my parents said if I wanted (they were like pushing me to) I could get a T-shirt. So I did :) My mom's turned into a Thunderhead ;) and she bought a calendar. On the way home Mom and I were talking about driving straight to Chicago to see them again. My dad was like, "hahaha. no." So that was that...but I'm happy. It was a VERY good night :) :)

This morning was the dreaded ACT. I'm always nervous 'til I sit down at the desk. Then I'm fine, and I just want to get it over with so I can sleep. It was sooooo long and soooooo boring. I'm hoping I did better than last month (my score went down last time). So we'll see.

When I got home I watched a movie (P.S. I Love You--one of the best movies EVER! Yay Ireland! <3 ;)) then went to go babysit my favoritest children ever. I just got home about 30 minutes ago. I'm so tired, I almost fell off my couch just now. I think that's my que to get off and go to bed. ;) I might finish watching this football game with my dad--Go MIZZOU!!

I was going to put up the 4 whole pictures I took last night, but I think I'll just do it tomorrow. Hope everyone's having a good weekend! Ciao! <3

How lovely...

Hey everyone! Remember the other day how I said I had midterms to study for? yeah about that...they're all next week. nice. Oh and I have about 53 thousand hours of Trig homework this week, and two chapters and a midterm to study for in Health class. On top of all my other school. woo hoo! *sarcasm*

Don't you just love how awesome God is? And how he provides our needs? When I had my job I (for whatever reason) never got asked to babysit. At all. Which was fine, because I didn't have the time, and I hate having to say "no" (another God thing perhaps?). Well, now that I'm (kind of) unemployed I've gotten 3 babysitting jobs in the past week! YESS! Which, at this point isn't quite as much money as I would've been making at a "real" job, but it's a heck of a lot more fun! :D So yeah...It's pretty amazing how God works everything out. :)

I'm planning on traveling to France and Italy next year (about a week after graduation--perfect timing) with my French teacher and some other people. I'm really excited and had about 2/3 of the trip paid for when I got "laid off". So now, I'm praying about it and trying to find a way to get $1300 by February. One way or another I WILL be on that plane come June...Deo Volente. And I'm also thinking/praying about a mission trip to Belize with my church that same summer. God has really put the country of Belize on the hearts of several people in particular at my church, and God has done some amazing things in their lives, and the lives of the Belizians. 

My sister and I are having a movie night tonight. We've watched the first two Anne of Green Gables (the ones put out by Sullivan Entertainment) movies last week, and are watching the third tonight. I'm very excited. The third is my favorite. It's so...emotional :')

Ok, I've rambled enough. Ooh wait! Is anyone else taking the ACT this Saturday? Am I the only one who's completely dreading it? :\ Ok, NOW I've rambled enough. Have a good rest of the week! Ciao! <3 

xo

She's Alive!

I'm back! I'm so sorry I forgot about you. I can't believe it's been 3 months. Oh well...I'm back, and I'm here to stay (fingers crossed :)). Where should I even begin? I could go through and write about everything that I can remember from the past 3 months, but who wants to read that? :p

I feel like I have to write another "introduction" post, which is not fun. So I guess I'll just say that it's good to be back, and I have a few ideas about where I want this blog to go. I love writing, but I'm lacking in the creativity department. I have a few post ideas in my head, but as far as the over-all "atmosphere" of the blog...I'm not really sure what I want for it. I do know that I want to be able to encourage girls in their Walk. I pray that God will use this blog to further His Kingdom. And of course I'll be writing (alot!) about my daily life. Which of course is oh-so-exciting. right.

Anyway, I guess that's it for now. I have midterms to study for.

Peace and Love,
Melanie

How He Loves

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves.


We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, weÂ’re all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I donÂ’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

Hey Y'all! :)

yes. I say 'y'all'. And I'm not ashamed. :p In this particular part of the good ol' U. S. of A., only hicks and visitors from the South say 'y'all'. But who cares. I juts want to try and get rid of as many stereotypes as possible. All they are, really, are an excuse to needlessly judge people. That's not our job, people. It's God's. :)

Ok, rant over. Moving on...

It's been kind of a busy week. My friends came back from Belize last Thursday, and Saturday at Church, we had a sharing service so they could talk about all the crazy-awesome things God did down there. Sunday we had Church and I had to work that evening. This week has been spent really cleaning and organizing everything, touch-up painting, and more cleaning. I'm also in charge of meals and keeping the kitchen clean and in order. It's been rather challenging though, as everyone's been busy, and right now we're all on different schedules, so we're all eating whenever we have the time. And, unfortunately, it seems we're never all here together.

Anyhoo, I have to go to work in a couple hours. I tried the sweet tea from McDonald's (A large is only $1!!), and honestly, I'm only looking forward to working so I can stop and get some sweet tea on the way. ;) It's good stuff.

I finished my quilt!! :D YAY! WOOT! HURRAY!! I haven't gotten around to taking a picture of the finished product, but will probably post a picture tomorrow. Maybe. We'll see.

I've been reading a lot. Currently, I'm reading "When God Writes Your Love Story" by Eric and Leslie Ludy. I just started it today, so I'm not very far into it, but it's really good thus far.

That's all I have time for today. I have a few "article-type" posts in mind. It's just finding the time to sit down and actually write them. :) Have a great week!

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every evil thing. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22

Pictures!

This is kind of a defining moment in my blogging "career". It's the first time I've ever blogged long enough to have a post 'worthy' of pictures. Very Exciting. ;) Ok, moving on...

All the pictures are actually going to be from yesterday. I forgot my camera this morning. oops.

(btw, sorry the pictures are in the wrong order...I guess it doesn't really matter...i'll try to fix it eventually ;))


my sewing table/desk




My quilt. It's almost done now. I sewed the binding to the top last night. Now all I have to do is hand-sew it to the back. :)


Trent is an "Abatar" (Avatar)


Trent's 4.




This is Ethan. He's 5.



The boys are very adorable, but they can both have very bad attitudes. All day Monday was spent seeing how far they could push me, and how much they could get away with. Well, the conclusion was--not far. They figured out that whining and throwing a fit on the floor is NOT how they're going to get want they want from me. All day I was dealing with tantrums over ridiculous, petty things (i.e. trent threw a fit because Ethan "made him forget what he was going to say). It took a lot of patience and a frequent prayers of wisdom and sanity. ;)

Today went much better. Since they had gotten used to me, and they knew I wasn't going to put up with anything, or give into their screaming, we actually had a lot of fun. And we worked on saying "please" and "thank you", and not hitting your brother to give you what you want, but asking for it nicely. It went better than I thought. By the end of the day, they were being polite all on there own, without me having to remind them. :)

Thursday is the last day. They'll be at their mom's, so I won't have to be there I think 'til around 7:30. I'm trying to think up something to do. I like taking them to a park or something where they can be outside, but I need a backup plan because it's supposed to rain all week.

That's about it for tonight. I've been up for 18 hours, and frankly, I'm pooped. :p I hope y'all are having a good week.