[quote!]

“The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder

[quote!]

"What day is it?" 

"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day," said Pooh.
- A.A Milne

"The worst thing you can do for a student is to answer a question for them before they've asked it." 

This is a quote from an interview my teacher did on a radio show the other day. Feel free to take a listen; he's speaking specifically on astronomy. It was quite interesting! 

-Shanaynay

I am more willing to believe and look a fool in this life than to disbelieve and look a fool in eternity.

Hey kids :) Pray for Daddy; he's been having pretty bad neck pain and went in for it today. They took some xrays and did the usual doctor thing, he's no better off yet.
Things that I planted two years ago are popping up! It's so wonderful to see that happen... pretty surprising actually. The only thing that didn't work was the roses I transplanted..and that was kind of a bummer. But oh well. Spring is such a beautiful time in Kansas. As are summer, fall and winter :)
The other night after the game, I was in the kitchen rolling up potstickers, (which, by the way, were amazing. I'd say they were the best yet. UD really cooked them well. For any of you wondering, he steams them and then fries them very lightly to give them a really perfect texture. I'm going to have to take pictures someday.)  and Papa John came in and patted my head, saying, "KU won!! Aren't you glad to be Kansan?"
And I was like, ".....not because of that." Haha. I have yet to watch a game this year.
I think I'm going to be leaving facebook soon.
You don't mind my rambling, do you? Good.

[quote]

"Be taught, ye abandoned creatures, and ascertain the causes of things; what we are, and for what end we are born; what is the law of our success in life, and by what art we may turn the goal without making shipwreck; what limit we should put to our wealth, what we may lawfully desire, and what uses filthy lucre serves; how much we should bestow upon our country and our family; learn, in short, what God meant thee to be, and what place He has ordered you to fill." -Persius

May I just say that I'm so happy with the education I'm receiving from Mr. C right now? Like, beyond happy.  When and if you have kids, make sure they get a classical education. I don't even know Latin or Greek, but what I've done has been so amazing.

"I have...mountainous abs. I trained them to do that."

I'm a huge fan of the pear tree at the moment. :)

 

Annnd, Josh likes it too :) 

Hahah my eye is silly. I didn't even know I could do that!

[this is my heart]

Why must fear follow me everywhere, like a tiger waiting to pounce and kill? 
"Fear not, for I am with you." 

Lord, be with me always.
"I shall not leave you or forsake you." 

Lord, this hurts so bad. 
"My flame shall not hurt thee; I only design/ thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine."  

[i think my tongue is moldy]

So, two, three days ago: I get out some marmalade, slap it on a biscuit, and... *gulp* "MOM, this tastes moldy."

"No, it doesn't, I just got it recently." "Nooo, seriously, Mom, taste it!" *nom nom* "It doesn't taste moldy. Do you want me to finish it for you?" *nod nod* Today I pulled out some new toothpaste and start foamin up.... *gulp* it tastes moldy. I'm starting to think maybe it's my tongue. Someone please help? Haha. 

On a separate note, I'm totally shocked and surprised at the response I've gotten on my poll. I had no idea I had that many readers. (and I certainly didn't know how many people obsess over my blog, hehe) It has even caused me to question the integrity of the poll, presenting the possibility that some of you have been voting more than once. (ridiculous, I know. I just don't see any other explanation for the amount of votes I've gotten. Which... is not very many, haha. But still a lot more than I thought there were.)  As you all know, curiosity killed the cat, and asking the one question led to many more questions, like, "Who on earth would want to read my blog? And who would obsess over it?"  However, all that being said, let me very subtly remind you all that anyone can comment, even if you don't have a blogger account. Just choose the anonymous option and leave your name, nickname, or initials in the comment so I know who you are. And if you're some random internet stranger, no problem. Just.. say you're a random internet stranger, or something. I'll try my best not to be creeped out. ;) 
Love always,
Nay-Nay (As this lil dude calls me)

[quote!]

"Everyone asks me how to find the man or woman of their dreams. The best way I heard on how to pick a mate was this. You run as fast as you can for Jesus Christ, commit your life to Him, love Him, sell out to Him, and stay devoted to Him. Then you start looking to your right and left and see who is running at the same speed. And you wave at them. And if they stay up with you, after a while, say, 'Come on over!' And you're running together. That's how you find your mate."

-Unknown

[twelve/fiftytwo]

BTW, I've gotten some very interesting answers in my polls... Now I'm curious to know who my obsessive checkers are, haha. Thanks to everyone for voting!!

creepy sam.

warning: photographer talk!
Set up: I used a long strip of insulation that I stole from Papa John and Grandma. I set it up on the floor, running behind and around samantha, so it wrapped around to camera left. Window light came in from camera right. We were rushed for time, so I only did one eye, haha... which is the reason you never see the other eye. *cough* "Fake it til you make it" is totally my mantra, haha. Never used  a reflector insulation before, so the last pictures of the shoot are much different than the first. Samantha is such an amazing/willing model. In fact, the light was so bright in her eyes that her eyebawls started watering. Trooper that she is, we kept going. Ok, back into the set up. The shiny background you see is, you guessed it, the reflector. In the next two photos, the sun is reflecting off of the portion you see and blowing it out to white, which I quite like. Also, I really have no idea about makeup either, I just decided to wing it, haha. The application isn't great, but I really like the colors for Sam and they're definitely what I was going for.

[twelve/fiftytwo]

i love the way sam's hair looks in this. which photo of the set is your favorite, and why? comment below!

[guns..shooting..daytrip...stuffs]

We girls went on a walk...in the mud.... heh.

We also banded together for an ultra cute photo in the front of the car :) <3

....and this is why I need an in-camera meter.

by alyssa

by alyssa

The boys had a race... well several of them actually. Hahah Gabe's expression is great.

Run up to the top of the hill. check. turn around and walk back looking epic and nonchalant. check.

....have a perfectly wonderful day. check 100%

[come morning sun]

Last night, frustrated with myself and broken, I finally called out to God. I wrote in my journal, "He makes all things new." This morning, after three straight days of rain, I woke up to the most glorious sun streaming in my window, washing over the pear tree and backyard. I wiped the sleep out of my eyes and grabbed my camera, of course :) Less than five minutes later it was gone. It was such a wonderful confirmation of the words I wrote last night. 

"Let us begin from this moment to acknowledge Him in all our ways, and do everything, whatsoever we do, as service to Him and His glory, depending upon Him along for wisdom, and strength, and sweetness, and patience." -Hannah Whitall Smith

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. -Isaiah 40:29

"The sun...in its full glory,
Either at rising or setting-this
And many other like blessings
 we enjoy daily;
And for the most of them,
Because they are so common,
Most men forget to
  pay their praises.
But let not us."
 -Izaak Walton

I have to say, I've absolutely loved this year, with all my heart. But Confessions took first place as my favorite book we've read. Augustine's words spoke to my heart in a way that not many other books have. It was amazing to me how something written 1700 years ago could be so relevant to what I'm thinking and feeling. It was such an encouraging, challenging, and stimulating read. Probably any of you reading this pretty much know that because I was always posting quotes from the book as I read it. I would encourage any of you to read it: it's a pretty short book, and easy to read. (It was an easy two weeks in GB) In many places it reads similarly to a devotional; in others it's more autobiographical; in every part interesting and thought provoking. Augustine had such a questioning, open heart, he feels like an old friend.

Note to self: 

Don't use 'literally' right before a figure of speech.

If you're reading this in an email, click through to the blog. I've made some changes and there's a poll for you guys to vote in! Just to satisfy my own curiosity. :)

[very random happy post]

I think I'm falling in love with country music again. Which makes me happy. The thought of Easter coming up also makes me very (though unrelatedly) happy. And the fact that though we're done with Confessions,we're still reading Augustine makes me super happy as well. The rain does not make me happy, but you can't win em all, haha. I'm definitely going to have to tag this one under 'random', because I really don't have any logical reason behind posting this, loool.

[lorna doone]

Sam and I have been pining to watch a chick flick together lately. So when she came over randomly this evening, we thought, "Why not?" We dug up something we hadn't seen yet, which happened to be Lorna Doone. (made in 2000)  I have mixed feelings on it, haha. While it was a really good story, and had some really good looking actors in it, the acting could have used some help. But it interested me and I'd like to read the book now. And it had some really great scenes. :) The main actor I totally thought was the actor that played Eomer in Lord of the Rings... but nooo, he's not. Hahah recognition fail.

~Shaina

[mud!]

<3 Bre, you're so cute  :) You both are, haha.

[eleven/fiftytwo]

[eleven/fiftytwo]
I saw this light this evening and was irresistibly, helplessly drawn to it. I'm so glad I was.

Black and white?

And last but not least, an elegant b&w collage.

[lots of photos from this week....]

My gummy bear had a tail! Isn't it adorable, Bre? :D

Levi was riding on the front of Micah's bike the other day and decided to stick his toes in the spokes of the front wheel while they were speeding along...needless to say, that didn't go over so well. Actually... it did go over! The bike flipped over on the front and Levi got scraped up pretty badly. Micah got some scrapes on his side, but thankfully they were both only temporarily damaged :) Haha, yes, I took this right after we all ate lasagna.

I started painting mud on my face and they joined in, haha. I painted the stuff on my cheeks, and Josh's cross, Sam painted a Christian fish on his other cheek, and he gave me... a unibrow, haha. You can kinda see it. Loooovely ;) Actually, I was the one that suggested it, haha. And of course Sami got a smiley face!! on...her smiley face. Lol.

<3

Haha, I told John to make a face... lol.

Later that afternoon we went shed hunting...

and we found a well!! It was super deep, and cool :D

"Boy, overexposed."

Haha, yes we took a lot of splashing pictures that day.

"oh no you didn't!" Loools.

Papa John's pear clones are blooming beautifully!! Well, this one is anyway.