Over The River And Through The Woods...

Hello, my beautiful readers! I call you beautiful, because I know you are! You were made in the image of God, specially created to be you and no one else. And if you were made in the image of God-- the creator of the universe, then how could you not be beautiful? But even more than the way you look on the outside-- your hair, your eyes, your height, it's the way you look on the inside that's beautiful. He created you with a beautiful heart that longs to worship Him and praise Him for what He has done. I pray that all of you will realize, if you don't already, how beautiful you are in His sight. So the next time someone tells you how pretty you look, in stead of letting the voice inside of your head say 'No I'm not, you're just saying that, and it's a lie,' say 'thank you' and remember that you were created just the way God wanted you to be. And also remember that when we put ourselves down, we not only give into Satan's trap, but we are putting down God's creation. We are saying it's not good enough. But remember what God said? In Genesis, He created the heavens, the earth, the plants, etc., and He said they were good. But when He created man, He said it was very good. So remember that even when we feel so imperfect, Jesus' blood  covers our imperfections, and our Heavenly Father sees only Jesus' perfection when He looks at us.

Wow. I really didn't mean to write all that. I called you beautiful, and the rest just flowed out. Okay, so I am finally back from... Grandma's house! My sister and I got to spend Monday through Thursday at my Grandparent's house, preparing the feast for Thanksgiving.

As for what our week entailed, please read on. :)

Making homemade noodles for the feast

Fixin' some biscuits and gravy

lichen. I was so captivated by its brilliance that I left the bread baking early to capture it. 

Libby and the lichen tree

The rain on all these was too inspiring to pass up.

uhh... hay bale?

orange rolls, which, sadly, i didn't eat...

and...finishing Catching Fire {the second in The Hunger Games series}
I actually bought the last one today. Mockingjay is its title. It felt so incredibly exciting. See, as I've said before, I'm not much of a reader-- or at least I haven't been until lately. And when I want to read something, the library is my best friend. Or else I would just borrow from a friend. But there's something so refreshing as you pick up a brand-new book, so crisp and clean, take it to the desk of Barnes and Noble for purchase, and carry the bag home. The pages are unfolded-- untouched, even, and the words inside bring you to a whole different world.

Okay, sorry for that sappy ramble. Sometimes I just get lost. :)



I took several more pics, which I will add later, but it's just good to be back. [hint: be ready for some silhouettes and sunsets!] All in all, it was a successful and memorable Thanksgiving. I got to see some of my very few cousins, which is a rare and lovely treat. I also got to ride horses with my aunt, through their acres and acres of pasture, in search of a cow-- and the calf she was expecting. We found neither, but it was certainly a very pleasurable ride. Thanksgiving day brought an array of dishes-- turkey (of course), candied sweet potatoes, noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet corn, pumpkin pie, and about 14 others. The homemade noodles would have to be my favorite! We ate until we couldn't hold any more, then followed up with dessert and a few games of bingo. It's a relatively-new family tradition that is rather amusing.

Following hours of mingling with the family, my brother and I set out in my parents' tiny hometown in search of a red box.  We had absolutely no idea where we were going, but that's always the fun part of our late-night excursions together. We played the "turn right or left?" game until we found one... which was out of the film we were trying to find- Jane Eyre. So we found another, where the same story displayed itself.  But, since the third time's a charm, we got to a McDonalds and picked up the last copy available... and saw someone I knew! Which wouldn't be a problem, except I picked that night, of all nights to wear my pajama pants out of the house. The first time ever, and what do ya know? So I hid my lower half behind a trash can while my brother kept the conversation going. Our trip back included stopping at a green light, while in deep conversation, stalking a bridal shop window, and driving the wrong way down a one-way street. Yes, we were quite successful. And talented. And since my brother will be out of the house, and away to college in less than a year, I'm relishing each one of these crazy, laughter-filled adventures we have together.

Well, I think I've said enough. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It was a great reminder to me of how terribly blessed I am, and I hope it was for you, too! Also, you should know that all fifteen of you are huge blessings to me! Thanks you so much for the encouragement!

Much Love,Lindsey Nicole

P.S. What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

{a ramble about our gifts}

Whether we realize it or not, God has given every one of us gifts. Some people are great at sports or music, others are really outgoing and friendly. Some are great at dancing, theater, singing, cooking, or so many other things! But sometimes we simply can't see the gift that has been given to us. We focus too much on the talents and abilities given to others, that we become jealous and discontent and can't see that we are special in our own way. 

You see, I have a problem. And it's really quite a big problem. The gifts that I have been given are all in the creative realm. I love to create- everything from a drawing, a cake, a knitted sock, or a photo, to a piano piece, a song and dance, or a blog post. The problem is that I feel like I have to be the best at everything. No matter what it is, I always have to work the hardest or be the greatest. And I've really struggled with this lately, because there are simply too many things I want to do, and not enough time to do them. Which is probably a good thing. See, this problem is not really anything too complex or unheard of... it's called pride. There, I said it. Yes, it is a mixture of perfectionism and pride, and not being humble enough to be teachable and realize that there are other people who enjoy the same things I like, and just let them shine. I need to be more loving in the sense that I am not so self-seeking that jealousy, rather than joy creeps up in me when I see others excelling at something. See, I told you this was a bad problem. So I am sorry if I have acted this way towards any of you. I truly am. And I am ready to let this pride go so that I can rejoice with those who are talented and find something they enjoy. This was hard to write, but it was good to get it out of me. Thank you for reading. I hope and pray that if any of you can't see the gifts you've been given, that you would realize that God loves you so much, and made you in His image, and you are special.  "I will praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made!"{Psalm 139:14}

{completely random picture}

I'm off to take a long walk now. Have a marvelous day!

Much Love and a hug,

Lindsey Nicole

{in which i ramble about the delights of snail mail}

There is perhaps nothing more gratifying than sitting down to read a letter from a most beloved friend. When you discover that a beautiful square envelope is resting on your bed, just waiting to be opened and the contents savored delightedly. The way the envelope appears so crisp and sealed tight, with such a beautiful stamp... and that postmark that feels so affirming. And before all this, the humming sound of the mail man's truck (or whatever you want to call it) slinking down the street. Then the sound of him coming up the street, and stopping in front of the house. I wait eagerly, staring at him, hiding behind the curtains. He's stopped. Opening the mailbox. Putting down the flag. Pushing in the pile of letters and bills.   Wait one second... the second's up! I have flung the door open, and before he has even left the cul-de-sac, I have already retrieved the mail, excitedly fishing through it, crossing my fingers for something with my name on it. Every day for the past couple of months, I have been especially anxious for the letter I was promised by the someone I have told you a little about. As much as I want to believe that our friendship has been restored, and I will soon open the mailbox and find this lovely, long-awaited explanation, somehow I don't believe that day will ever come. Besides that letter, I am absolutely enthralled when I receive mail from Carolyn (aka Celia), Em, Nina (or Adelle), Sonya, Cindi, Rosie, and anyone else who feels like dropping me a note. In particular, today I received the loveliest and happiest card from Carolyn... definitely in the top five cards I have ever had the privilege of opening. I may just frame it. And here it is:

Now isn't this just lovely? Isn't it?? I'll answer for you. Yes it is. Well, that was the ineloquent ending to my ramble. Oh, and I'd love to hear about your snail mail opinions! :)

Much Love,

Lindsey Nicole

Confessions, ramblings, school, and the Outtakes: Day One

Hello, friends. I've been doing some thinking lately. I'm questioning my blog. I'm wondering why I post in the style I post. I feel like I try to sound like an adult... but I am not. I'm just a girl. I'm a girl who isn't perfect, doesn't have the perfect blogger life, gets jealous of other bloggers' blogs and perfect-looking lives, gets fitful because I can't make my photographs look like a fairytale, deals with ordinary teenage things, and wants the approval of others. Perhaps, even craves the approval of others. And I know that I have said this a few times before, but I think that once again I will be changing the style of my writing...and actually writing. I need a place to say the things I need to say and not just try to be impressive and grown-up sounding. So that is what I think I am going to do. I think that I've just been searching for the style that fits me- and I suppose I'm finding that style through trial and error. And now that I am sitting here and writing what I've been feeling for a while, it is relieving. So, to my few followers: bear with me as I figure this out, and I will do my best! You mean a lot to me- thanks for reading!

Now, moving on. I suppose I'll start rambling, but do it as eloquently as possible. Ah, this feels so good! Well, I have taken a challenge from Jocee: the outtakes. Writing about my life for the next fourteen days, the good and bad, general happenings, ramblings, things that could have been better, and things that couldn't have been any better. Here goes.

Well, today I awoke at 8:00 a.m. Yes, yes, I know. I should have been up earlier... but I wasn't. Remember? I'm not perfect! :) Ok, pause!! FREEZE! Right there. Let me tell you a little bit about my wonderful life first. Wow, this is depressing. I have had a blog for who-knows-how-long and I've hardly told you anything about the basics of my life. I guess that is why I'm changing it up. First, I am independently educated. What's that, you ask? It's not as crazy as it sounds (another name for it is home schooling). Being independently educated basically means that I do not:

-wake up at 6:00 a.m. and rush to school

-get a truckload of busywork dumped on me

-study for the test and forget everything I spent hours of busywork "learning" over the past two weeks

-stay up until 11:00 every night doing homework

However, I used to do that. Last year and the year before, in fact. It was not a bad experience by any means. It was simply different from the life I was used to living from kindergarten through sixth grade.

But I have returned to this lifestyle once again. And when I say lifestyle, I mean just that. It is a commitment and a labor of love. *thanks, mom!* And if you're wondering what I do do, here you go:

-I wake up between 6:30 and 8:00, get dressed (no, I am not permitted to wear pajamas during school), and get ready, just like anyone else.

-I begin with math, move on to Spanish, English, Biology, History, Writing, and so on.

-I have my mom as my teacher and my sister as my classmate.

-I get to work hard, learn a lot, and have home-ec class almost every day. :))

-Some days we finish early and go have fun: head to the nature park, have an art day, go ice skating with fellow home schooled friends, or work on a project together.

-I get to walk my chum, the Pen dog (penny, our beloved golden retriever pup) on my passing period/ break/ whatever-you-want-to-call-it. The point is, our schedule is very flexible

-I get to go to co-ops, classes, art, and drama with other home schoolers

-And probably my favorite part: on cold days I get to stay inside with a cup of tea, some kind of beloved, intriguing textbook, and a blanket and curl up beside the fire and learn. Yes, learn. I. Love. Learning.

Well, there you have it! Just a few of the benefits of learning at home. If you have questions, I can discuss the few downsides too, but right now I need to move on... wow, this whole writing thing might leave you falling asleep at your desk because of boredom, exhaustion, or tired eyes. Sorry! I'm still learning.

ANYWAY, moving on to the outtakes. Where was I? Oh, yes, I just woke up. After turning off my 6:30 alarm somewhere in my sleep, I awoke to my sister rummaging in her drawer for some big, fuzzy socks which were needed because of the recent change of temperatures (praise the Lord!) and our open window (I love sleeping with the windows open). I started by reading my Bible, then I got going on math, then spanish, and so on. When 11:00 rolled around, my lovely mother had just pulled a fresh loaf of oat bread from the oven, which called for a snack break. Then lunch. Then history timelines. Then reading together- I love it! I'm an auditory learner, so for part of our reading, my mom reads aloud. We sat outside, the cool breeze making the afternoon even more pleasant than I expected. So, feeling exhilarated by the change in weather, I decided it was the perfect time and place to climb a tree. Yes, climb a tree in my brand-new sweater. Thankfully it was not harmed, but it was a close one. Drama auditions came next, and were quite exciting! The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is on the radar for the next two months, though I don't yet know what part I will be playing. Everyone has said that I should be Susan, I suppose due to my brown hair, medium height, and, well, I'm not sure what else. As much as I look like her, though, I'm not sure that I'm a big fan of her character. But I'll just see how things turn out. Dinner was Spanish chicken and rice (new recipe!). Yumlicious would be the word to describe it. After dinner, I checked Jocee's blog, talked to my bestie, and sat down on my sister's bed with this laptop to write this. I'm sure there are things that could have been better, but I'm too tired to think of them right now... besides, little sissa is waiting for me to make something sweet and delicious with her. Oh, but I can think of one thing. I could have gotten a text from *someone* today, but if they want to ignore me, then so be it. All in all, today was successful.

Love to my readers!

Nighty night!

As Ever, Lindsey Lou

{Post Script: My camera's battery is dead *tear* and I can't find my charger... *concerned look because I know my habit of losing things too well* what will I do?? What?? Tell me!}

{Post Post Script: Will you consider this as a start-over kind of thingy in the history of my blog? Thanks!}