award and end of trip!

How pitiful, a week gone by since my last post. I apologize to the couple of people who might actually care. ;)

Moving on...I was awarded! Thanks so much, Piper!! It is the Liebster award again (that's been going around quite a bit lately), so this time I'm just going to answer her questions. Sorry. No time for awarding other peoples...and my answers are going to be pretty short. :P I'm in a terrible rush (which will be explained). :) Anyway, here are her questions!

1) Do you like Owl City? (I'm sorry, I had to)

    Their tunes are catchy...sorry, but I don't like them all that much. ;)

2) What is your favorite blog post (on your blog)?

    Ummmm......I don't know. I'll think about it. Maybe update with the answer.

3) What do you do when you're home alone?

    It's been a while since I've been home alone...read? Listen to music? Call a friend and talk to her on the phone?

4) What do you think makes your blog fun to read?

    Umph. It's honest?

5) How often do you wear headphones/earbuds?

    Not that often, actually - I love listening to music, but it's usually just out loud - on the radio, YouTube, my bro's iTouch....for some reason, I can't get earbuds (most of the time) to stay in my ears. This can sometimes be very annoying.

6) Do you like writing? If so, how dedicated do you think you are to it?

    Yup. Not dedicated at all. ;)

7) What's your favorite thing about music?

    It's one beautiful way to worship our Savior.

8) If you could have any pet (that you can actually legitly have), what would it be?

    A chinchilla. Totally legit. ;) (Okay, maybe not really...)

9) Do you like painting?

    Um, yes, I would, only I can't remember the last time I painted... :P

10) Do you like rain?

     Definitely.

11) What inspires you?

      God. Er, wait, you asked "what"...umm...life. Does that count? Cuz it's totally true.

And...guess what, peoples? (Note: the following is my explanation for the terrible rush.)

WE'RE BACK!!!

You know, back from our summer trip? Which, by the way, I have had an amazingly fantastic time this summer! And now...I am SO happy to see my friends! Soon. Very soon.

Annd...since we just drove up to the house, like, five minutes ago, I'm not going to sit here on the computer. Moi has work to do. Lots of it.

Farewell!! Love and blessings to all!

awarding fun

Today I was awarded the Liebster Blog award by the amazing Ireland from A Pearl of Great Price!! Thank you, Ireland!

First of all, of course, the rules:

1. You must post 11 facts about yourself
2. You must also answer the 11 questions that the awarder has given you, and create 11 questions for your awardees to answer in turn.
3. Tag 11 fellow bloggers.
4. Notify them that they’ve awarded them.
5. No tagging back.
6. The 11 blogs that you tag must have less than 200 followers.

So, 11 facts about myself - here we go!

1. I am a triplet!

2. My family is exactly 7 weeks into a 9-week RV trip that we're on, mostly around the Western United States - starting from Florida and traveling along the southern coast to California, up the California coast to Washington, eastward to South Dakota, down to Colorado (where we are right now), and then heading back through Arkansas and such to Florida again. :)

3. I hiked up a 10,000 foot mountain with my family yesterday, 6 miles round trip, 1,000+ feet up...and I had only had about 6 hours of sleep the night before, give or take an hour. :P Ah, well - we had fun!

4. I am the only girl of four kids.

5. I, oddly enough, am looking forward to this upcoming school year. :) I have a lot of courses I'm excited about - I'm homeschooled, so I'm doing some curriculum simply at home with my brothers, some on Florida Virtual School, and some out-of-the-house classes with (mostly) other homeschoolers.

6. I don't like eating bananas just by themselves...but I like them in smoothies, in pudding, etc. I know, I'm weird.

7. Speaking of, I just made a smoothie for lunch with half of a (large) banana, most of a peach, most of a mango, about 20 frozen blueberries (we don't have any straw berries :( boo-hoo), and, of course, ice - it is delicious!! I wish I could give you some...but I just drank the last sip. ;)

8. I haven't watched any of the Olympics this year!! :( We haven't had TV reception at the campsites that we've been staying at while the Olympics have been going...maybe tomorrow we'll get reception at our new campground that we're going to? I hope so!

9. Um...ah...er...let me think...oh! I don't need braces. :)

10. Hmmm...well, my parents went out on a date last night, so my brothers and I watched Mars Needs Moms while they were gone. I have to say, I actually think it was quite good. It didn't have the unnecessary things that many movies, even animated, kids' movies, have - the only small, two things I could think of were that the main character wanted to watch a movie about zombies or something (not shown), and the female Martians' suits were kind of tight, but only around their hips and such. It had great morals of conviction, healing, redemption, consequences to our actions, sacrifice, and showed how important a loving parent is to a child and vice-versa.

11. I'm turning 15 this year (already?!) on November 16th, and I'm hoping to get my permit around then!

Now, here are my answers to Ireland's questions:

1. On average how often do you blog? Not often enough. ;) Probably somewhere around a week or a week and a half on average, I'm not sure. It's pretty amazing that I'm posting again so "soon" after my last post, which was 5 days ago.

2. How many siblings do you have? I have three brothers.

3. Are your siblings younger or older? Well, like I mentioned earlier, I'm a triplet, so I have a brother who is a minute older (Nathan), a brother who is a minute younger (Noah), and a brother who is a year and a half younger, to the very day (Nicholas).

4. Do you like to swim? Yeah, I do like to swim, but most of the time I'd rather do something else.

5. What is your favorite season of the year? Autumn, most definitely...maybe spring, but even in spring it gets so hot so quickly in Florida.

6. Favorite holiday? Hmm, I don't know...Easter? Christmas? Thanksgiving? One of those three, I suppose.

7. Favorite band/singer? Oh my, there are so many that I love to listen to! Singers...I really like Kari Jobe, Jason Gray, Britt Nicole, and Francesca Battistelli. For bands, I like Tenth Avenue North, tobyMac, Newsboys, and Casting Crowns.

8. Do you have any pen-pals? If so how many? Well, not by letter, but I have been emailing, IMing, etc. with two girls who I "met" through a blog - one of them I actually got to meet earlier this summer on our trip!

9. How long have you been blogging? I've been blogging for a little over two years if you count my old blog (which I started on July 18, 2010 on Weebly), but I don't post on that one anymore; I've been posting on this blog since December 26, 2011, ah...7 months, 1 week.

10. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Ooh, good question...probably just simply taking a walk with friends/family.

11. What is your favorite thing to do inside? It depends, but I definitely enjoy reading, playing games with my family, and going on the computer (email & blogs for the most part).

Well, that was fun! :) OK, about awarding people...because I want to get off my laptop and it's a beautiful day outside and I can see the mountains from where I'm sitting and the cool breeze is wafting into our RV through the open windows and I just got a bunch of good novels this morning that I might possibly crack open...because of all this, I'm going to be lazy and simply tag anyone who wants to do this award! Really, go ahead and do it - I know you want to. :)


Have a wonderful Saturday evening, everyone! I'm planning on eating a delicious dinner outside in the cool air with my family and sitting around a dancing, smoking campfire and getting my fingers sticky with s'mores and going out driving with my family to look for elk...what about you? What have you done or are going to do today?


p.s. does anyone know what liebster means? :)

The Beautiful Blogger Award!

I was given the Beautiful Blogger award by the beautiful Piper from her beautiful blog on this beautiful day - how beautiful! ;) Let's get started, shall we?

1. Thank the person who nominated you and give the link.
Thank you so much, Piper for nominating me!!! That was uber-beautiful of you. ;) {OK, OK, I'll cut it out with the beautiful business...but all that's been said so far is so beautifully true! ;) haha}

2. Tell us how the idea of making a blog popped up and why you continue it.
Wellll...this isn't actually my first blog. My old blog was with Weebly - each member of my family had their own blog page altogether on the same blog in amazing blogness! (If that made sense.) To clear things up, just go here. Go ahead and look, that's fine. I'll wait.

...good, you saw it? Now, the reason my family started that blog (about 2 and a half years ago) was to record our traveling extravaganza! When we came back to Florida, it fizzled out quite a bit (except for my mom's blog). Later, I started this new blog, because I like Blogger better than Weebly. Aaaannnnd (sorry this is so long) - I continue this blog because I like to write. And post pictures. So there.

3. Describe a usual day of your life.
Um, ah, well, er...I don't really have a usual day in my life. Sorry! :) That's just the way my family is - right now, that is, as we're traveling around the Western United States in our RV. I could describe a usual day during the school year. But that would be boring. :P So, just suffice it to say that my days this summer are as varied as people on this earth. ;) Oh, wait - there is one thing that you can count on: most every day this summer we will have spent some amount time at some kind of museum. Just check out my mom's blog if you don't believe me. ;)

4. The best collaboration with a blogger?
Ah...I haven't exactly had any collaboration with any blogger yet. Well, I'm in the middle of one, I guess, answering Britt's interview questions...and so far it's been wonderbaar! :) {Sorry...too many Amish books lately. ;)}

5. Worst collaboration with a blogger?
See answer to #4.

6. Explain what having this blog means to you.
Oh, wow, well...basically just my journey through life. A place to improve my writing, share some of my thoughts, epiphanies, and just every day stuff. I also hope that through my blog others might be encouraged - that I would always point to Christ. :)

7. Nominate five bloggers for this award.
Okey-dokey, I nominate...

1. Britt at Encouragement for Everyday Struggles

2. Emma at Beautifully Me

3. Ireland at A Pearl of Great Price

4. Melody at Rejoice Always!

5. Sophie at My Happy Place

That's it for today! So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu, adieu, adieu, to you and you and you. Ahem. I want to watch that movie! :) Anyone else think the Sound of Music is amazing?

award and such

I know, I know, I know. I am a very bad blogger. Let me 'splain...no, there is too much - let me sum up (hehe :) Princess Bride quote): it's been about...let me see...5 weeks - over a month - since my last post.


I will wait for your gasps of horror to subside.


Now. Where were we? Oh, yes - the terrors of my blogging habits. You see, the first week and a half or so of my impromptu hiatus, I almost completely forgot to blog. At all. Really, you ask? Really. Seriously. No sarcasm involved. I'm not sure how, but somehow I just about totally forgot that I had a blog, much less that I needed to post on it. I'm not even sure what I was doing that so led me astray!


Once it finally, actually dawned on me that my 13 followers - wait a minute, 13? I gained new followers while I wasn't even posting?! This is slightly concerning...it leads to the thought that I am more interesting when you don't have to listen to me. Hmph.


Let me continue. *switches to dramatic, theatrical voice* When at last I realized that my questionably loyal followers were waiting in questionable suspense for my next questionably amazing post...*switches back to normal voice*..I procrastinated. Mmm, procrastination - one of the most blissful yet most cursed habits of mankind (blissful, that is, until your friend is coming over in 10 minutes and you haven't even started on your science test; blissful, that is, until you have to leave in a half an hour and you still haven't taken a shower; blissful, that is, until an entire 5 weeks have gone by and you are forced to post because you have been awarded. how pathetic. thus, it is cursed, as aforementioned).


And then, for the last, oh, 3 weeks, I had a topic bouncing around in my head that I refused post because of my stubborn laziness. I hesitantly checked up on my ailing blog every now and then, while still eagerly following other blogs....until the day that my blogging world was changed. That day was the day when I was....awarded. ;)


So, here I am, humbly presenting myself to you and apologizing for my lackadaisical neglect, and hoping you could somehow forgive me for my horrible misdeeds. (And realizing that I did not sum up. I most definitely explained, in a quite superfluous fashion. *sigh* Another thing for which to ask your forgiveness...)


And now I am putting my dark past behind me and am moving forward - to thank Ireland from A Pearl of Great Price for awarding me!! :)

1. Thank the person who awarded you.
2. List 7 random things about yourself.
3. Award 15 others this award.


So, #1 - just in case I did not make this clear: thank you so much, Ireland!! That was so sweet of you! ;) As I was telling her, I'm a bit embarrassed that she viewed my blog in its sorry state, and I was explaining how un-award-worthy my blog is, when it dawned on me - my blog fits one of the (lesser known) definitions of the award!


ver·sa·tile (adj.) - 1. Able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities. 2. Changeable; inconstant.


Inconstant - describes my preferred pattern of posting perfectly! :) I mean, I suppose could start a new trend on this blog of mine and start posting more regularly...maybe...think it'll work? It would take a miracle. Goodbye! (sorry...another Princess Bride quote :) ya think I've watched that movie too many times? my family quotes it all the time...)


Now for the 7 random things about me....


1. My eyes are blue-green, like my dad and my older brother.
2. I finished (home)school last week!! Next year, highschool...(still homeschooled)
3. I am taking Spanish on an online class over the summer, my choice. I'd like to one day be able to speak Spanish just about fluently.
4. My family is leaving on either the 15th or the 16th for our trip! So excited!!
5. My dad's birthday was yesterday!! We had such a great time, and I made this delicious dessert for him! Only instead of chocolate frosting, I made and spread ganache on top (my friend's idea), stuck it in the fridge, and then we ate it later. Yum...
6. I'm looking forward to, Lord willing, getting my permit this year, as I am turning 15 on November 16th!
7. I - er, my mom coupons. Well, I help. :) Any fellow couponers out there?


And I award....


1. Alisha at Mercy's Miracle
2. Anna at f a n a t i c a l
3. Chloe at Blooming in Christ
4. Emii at Girlz 4 God
5. Melody at Rejoice Always!
6. Melody at 100 Things to do Before College
7. Rachel at What Do You Expect?
8. Sarah Elizabeth at Learning to Trust God
9. Sophie at My Happy Place
10. Talia at Girlz of God
11. ...
12. ....
13. .....
14. ......
15. .......


Um, OK, so I didn't make it to 15. :P I tried really hard, but I only made it to 10. :( Ah, well. I already knew it would take a me a while to round up even just 10 people to award and then comment on their blogs letting them know I've awarded them...which is why I put this post off for a day or two. :P BUT, anyone else who wants to do this - I award you! ;)


Anyway, I hope this satisfies y'all for now, because I right about now, I feel satisfied just writing! I need to write more often (as my record of posts clearly shows)...


Love and blessings to you all! May God's peace guide us throughout the day as we serve Him...and be reminded by Him to serve Him - not others, not ourselves, but Christ, our Savior and Lover. <3


P.S. My friend and I sidewalk chalked yesterday....in the rain. ;) It was quite amusing, and I'm very sorry I was too lazy to take pic of it. :P We were very proud of our (slightly smudged) balloon and flower and tree and butterfly and teddy bear and - our best - the earth with purple, pink, orange, yellow, and white children circling it, holding hands. ;) When was the last time you sidewalk chalked? Or...have you - *gasp* - never sidewalk chalked?!

11 Things Tag & Giveaway at Girlz of God!!

First off:

via
I am a despicable human being.
(Or blogger.)

I know it, I know it, I know it. I've been blogging so much less. But today, today is a new day. Today the sun shines, today the wind comes from a different direction, today, my friends, I blog anew.

Enough with that nonsense. On with the post.

--Quoted from This Solid Ground, by Rose (it's exactly what I wanted to say, and I couldn't say it any better. :) Thanks, Rose! And I love that movie, btw.)


Just the thing I need to revive this blog!  Which is already, even, slightly abandoned.  :( Actually, as I told Sarah Elizabeth, who so graciously tagged me, I haven't really abandoned it - I just don't post when I think about it and know that I really should.  There's a difference.  ;)

So, here we go - the '11 Things Tag' is where you share 11 random things about yourself, answer the tagger's 11 questions, make up 11 questions for the people that you tag, and tag 11 people (or however many you want).  Pretty cool, huh?  I thought so, too.  That's why I'm doing it.  ;)  (I really like to end my paragraphs with smiley faces, huh?)

11 Random Things About Me...

1) I have three brothers and absolutely love them!!!

2) I love the warm, glowing, radiant light that the setting sun kisses everything with in the evening.

3) I can pretty much quote the whole movie The Princess Bride.

4) I'm homeschooled and I love it!

5) I listen only to Christian music (LOVE it!!), and I love K-Love, JoyFM, and Spirit FM.

6) I love writing.

7) I'm saving my first kiss for my wedding day.

8) I went on a road trip with my family for about 5 months about a year ago, at the end of 2010.  Yup, all six of us were crammed into our RV traveling around the Eastern United States (yeah, after much thought, we finally decided that it would be a good idea to take the boys along with us - haha, just kidding!).

9) Also, in 2008, my family went to Alaska for about two weeks...SO much fun!!! Beautiful!!

10) I absolutely love the move Courageous!!

11) I don't wear make-up (except for a bit of lip gloss every once in a while).

11 Questions from Sarah Elizabeth...

1) Of what are you most afraid?  Fear itself, I guess...that's the scariest thing.

2) What is your favorite book of the Bible?  Oh, that's a hard question!!  I would have to say that some of the top are Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospel of John, and 1, 2, & 3 John.

3) How many times have you been on an airplane?  Um, let me count...six times.

4) What is your favorite TV show?  To be honest, I don't have one!

5) Are you more of a morning or night person?  I'm a total night owl!  But I can get up early pretty easily if I need to.

6) Which musical instrument do you wish you could play?  La guitarra...mi hermano Nicholas toca la guitarra.  ;)  (Translation: The guitar...my brother Nicholas plays guitar.)

7) What is one of the best things that has happened in your life?  Obviously, accepting Jesus Christ into my life and into my heart as my Lord and Savior.  ;)

8) Do you prefer casual or dress clothes?  Casual, totally!!  I don't mind dressing up, but I'm so much more comfortable in jeans and a fun shirt.

9) Would you ever consider going bungee jumping?  Yes!! I would have so much fun!!

10) What is your favorite day of the week? Any particular reason why?  Uh, I don't know!  It really depends on my schedule - and I could go through explaining my current schedule, but I'll spare you the boredom and just say that Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays are my favorite days as of late.

11) If you were able to invite any person (living or dead) over to your house for the day, who would you pick? Why?  Well, Jesus, for obvious reasons.  How amazing would it be to stand in the Presence of the One Who died and rose for me, graciously forgiving all my sin and conquering the grave, even when I was ignorant towards Him?  Wow!!  About a mortal human being, though, I would have to say someone like Amy Carmichael, but I'm not sure.  :)  I would SO love to meet her!!

11 Questions for You... (and, btw - sorry! - I'm stealing some other people's questions :P)

1) Favorite school subject?

2) Did you ever have some kind of weird tick or obsession or something (i. e., I used to chew ice all. the. time.)?

3) Favorite Bible verse(s)?

4) How long have you been blogging?

5) What are you most afraid of?

6) Favorite book/series (if you like to read - and other than the Bible)?

7) Are modesty and purity important things to you? Why?

8) What is one kinda crazy adventure-thing you would love to do? Be creative!

9) A pic of your favorite earrings (or piece of jewelry), or just describe them.

10) How long is the longest you've slept in? 10am? 2pm?

11) Do you mostly use a 'real' Bible or an electronic one (like, Biblegateway.com, YouVersion, etc.)?


And, OK, I'm not tagging 11 people, but 4 will have to do, m'kay?  I tag...

• Emma at Everyday Emma
• Anna at f a n a t i c a l
• Kelsey at A Ray of Sunshine
• Alisha at Mercy's Miracle

As well as anyone and everyone else who wants to do this! ;)


Also, Talia is having an amazing giveaway at her blog, Girlz of God!  So sorry I didn't post about this earlier, hope anyone who sees this sees it in time!  The generous giveaway items are all absolutely gorgeous! :)


God bless everyone!!