Tomorrow (:

I choose to let go of the things of this world and look forward to tomorrow. Take those bad (or good) situations and no matter the issue, reflect on the good in it, whatever it is. Focus and meditate on those good things. Do NOT let the bad in them get you down or dwell in the negative! Because honestly, it just does not feel that great. Tomorrow is a new day, the past is behind me and the future is ahead of me, today is a gift from God (that is why we call it the present). Today is the tomorrow that I dreamed of yesterday. I have way too many things ahead of me to try and deal with this stuff. It does not do anything good for me. Maybe that is just it, take my life for how it is and everything it is going to be and LOVE it. LOVE it like it is the only thing that matters in this place, because it is. I have friends and family that I can love and care for and appreciate but there are more important things in life. And that is to love and care for and appreciate yourself. If I do not do that, I am living and breathing for nothing. Everything is happening around me, and to me, but what will I do when it is time to actually stand up for myself and put matters into my own hands. The essence of this may be to take care of yourself or do not let stupid stuff get to you, but I take it as loving me for who I am and not taking things for granted because there are billions of other people on this Earth and my focus should be to care for myself...

Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles :D

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
It's all right, it's all right

a little bird told me...

DAILY TRUTH FROM THE BRAVE GIRLS CLUB ONLINE SITE.


Dear Courageous Girl,

Some people might say that walking away from a battle is the cowardly thing to do, but very often, it is the best and bravest thing you could ever do.

How do we know when it’s time to walk away from a battle...whether it is a real human conflict in a relationship, or a battle that is going on inside of our souls that no one else can see ? Our gut usually knows when it’s time to walk away, but we can ask ourselves some important questions to get to the right answers.

When we are feeling tired of fighting and the fighting doesn’t feel right in any way, then we need to step away and at least think about why we are staying in the fight. What exactly is it that we are fighting for? Who or what are we fighting against? What will it mean to “win” the fight? Is the fight causing us to sacrifice things that are more important than the fight, or what “winning” the fight will mean?

A fight that will go on and on whether we are there or not might just be a good fight to walk away from. There are so many conflicts, so much drama and so much negativity in the world that will keep going no matter how hard we fight, or whether we are there or not -- and that damages our life if we stay in the fight. Sometimes it’s best to just smile, walk away, wish everyone the best and walk toward places that use our time, energy, and talents in productive and wonderful ways.

Don’t be afraid to walk away from a fight, a battle, or a conflict when it’s time to walk away, beautiful friend. Listen to your heart, and shut out all of the other voices.

Quiet bravery is sometimes the most noble bravery of all.

You are so very loved.
xoxo

Girl America by Mat Kearney

My girl America is just a youth in this world

Her smile is more precious than the sparkle of pearls

And though her age reads she's just a young girl

The age behind her eyes show the pain that she's swirled

Through the hand that's been dealt though it's quiet as kept

The weight that she felt last night when she slept

And as she crept into the dreams of the things of her past

Seems to have grown so fast, way beyond her own class

Though they're right there with her, her brothers and her sisters

A natural born leader even when her peers dis her

My girl, she's at a crossroads, people praying for her

Some are preying on her magazine ads, sex, drama

Smoking marijuana, longer for a father to call her, 'daughter'

She's part of a generation longing for reconciliation

And this future that they're facing and this poison that they're tasting

My girl, I know this love you're chasing

[chorus]

My girl America's crying when she's lying on her bed at night

I can see that she's screaming when she's dreaming for her freedom

My girl America's dying while she's trying just to stop this fight

Don't stop believing, my girl America

Boys with hungry eyes have been beating her door

Telling her that's what she's for, trying to rob at her core

Then leave calling her a whore, but still she knows there's more

I know she knows there's more because there is a voice she can't ignore

'Cause it was founded in the foundations, from the day of her creation

In God we trust engraved on the treasures of her nation

And the void that the boys can't fillWith the tipping of the bottle or the popping of the pill

But still most of her friends don't care as they glare

Ready to drown down the funnel as they frown down the tunnel

They stumble and they tumble breaking down into rubble

My girl America, stop can't you see

It's not the circumstances that determine who you're gonna be

But how you deal with these problems and pains that come your way

It's for you that I pray with hope for a brighter day

And so I say, your deliverance is coming

[chorus]

Faith like a child from your first birth

You left it in the dirt on your worst hurt

And I see each tear and every scar

The hands that have held you where you are

And I can see we've strayed so far

A king born under that morning star

As a crown of thorns was placed to erase

Each tear that's touched your face

And his palms and sides were pierced with spears

He hung in love just to draw you nearMy girl, out of this whole world

Can't you see this is where we started?

[chorus] 

Book Review.

13 Little Blue Envelopes is the story of a teenage girl named Ginny who's aunt passes away unexpectedly. Ginny does not find out until months after her passing. Her very artistic aunt Peg spent 2 years traveling around Europe and having her own experiences. In return, aunt Peg left 13 little blue envelopes for Ginny. In each envelope contained a different task and lesson for Ginny to complete. For example, the first envelope had $1,000 to buy a passport and directions to a specific London flat. Once there she could open the next and so on. Ginny met many people along the way that summer and in the end it changed Ginny completely. When worst comes to worst and her backpack with her clothes and all the envelopes including the last envelope with the last task gets stolen, Ginny is at a hold and is forced to give up her journey and return home to New York.

The sequel, The Last Little Blue Envelope continues Ginny's story six months later around the Christmas holiday. Ginny receives an email from a mysterious man named Oliver who has found her backpack with most everything still inside of it. Ginny travels back to London to receive the letter. It contains the most important task yet: to collect different pieces of aunt Peg's art and put them in an auction and the money would belong to Ginny. But there is a catch: Oliver feels since Ginny would not have the letters back without him, he will not give her any of the letters or any or her belongings back until they find the last pieces together and then they split the profit from the auction 50/50. Ginny feels she is being blackmailed and forced into something that should be a personal matter. But if Ginny does not comply, Oliver will take back all the letters and disappear. It would all remain a mystery to Ginny. So this is the journey that Ginny takes to places both familiar and unfamiliar & uplifting and emotional.

This series is definitely worth the read with the creative mixture of tragedy, romance, drama and even more. I hope you consider reading and if you do, I hope you love it as much as I do! :)

I Will Survive by Stephanie Bentley

Growing Fatherless.

I am jealous of all my friends, cousins, and everyone else in the world who still has someone to call dad or say they even have a "worldly" father. Whether their parents are divorced or split up, they still have a father. There is no getting around that fact. For just about as long as I can remember, I have not been able to say that. Although I could for over four years of my life. People feel bad, or try to comfort me, or they don't care. But just about no one can relate. In reality it is really tough for a girl to grow up without a father. I cannot speak for a man like my brother. Speaking for myself, I hate it. When I think about it my throat feels like it is closing in on me and all my insides are tying together into huge knots. Then I try to cry but the feeling I have stops me. That is one of the weirdest feelings I ever have. It is hard to imagine. That is truly the only time I deal with that (I guess besides one other time). All those areas in life that a young girl must go through while she is coming of age, some of them just need a father involved. A daddy is there to spend quality time with her as she is little (before she becomes a teenager and will be embarrassed to anymore). A daddy is there to guide her through and give advice when she actually enters jr. high and high school as a teenager. A daddy is there to approve of the first guy she brings home and it does not turn out how she planned. A daddy is there to tell her to change her clothes and "cover up" when she comes down stairs in the morning. A daddy is there to prepare her to dance with her date at her senior prom. A daddy is there to accept that she is ready for college after graduating from high school. A daddy is there to miss her as she really begins a new life in college. Most importantly a daddy is there to walk her down the aisle at her wedding and give her away to the love of her life because he knows deep down she is truly ready. A list like this is never ever ending. For me, that is all I can think of. It starts with what I have seen and ends with what I can imagine because I will never be able to say my daddy was there for everything a daddy should. But I can say I imagined it..

If weakness is a wound that no one wants to speak of
Then "cool" is just how far we have to fall
I am not immune, I only want to be loved
But I feel safe behind the firewall

Can I lose my need impress?
If you want the truth I need to confess

I'm not alright, I'm broken inside
And all I go through, it leads me to you

Burn away the pride
Bring me to my weakness
Until everything I hide behind is gone
And when I'm open wide with nothing left to cling to
Only you are there to lead me on.

Honestly, I'm not that strong.

I'm not alright... that's why I need you.

Where to Go? ;)

The technology of today truly amazes me!!! Right now I am in the Apple Store, posting this from the apple store. What this single company can accomplish in my opinion is...out of this world!! Compared to what people knew of technology 30-40 years ago and then today is insane.

Now I am home and after the Apple Store I went to the Microsoft Store, not even knowing there was a Microsoft Store and I cannot really decide which one has the more technological stuff! I am still amazing. I feel the Microsoft Store definitely displays more that technically are not even a part of Microsoft, like the Kindle and I think the XBox with Kinect. And buying a laptop, computer, or anything at the Microsoft Store is hundreds of dollars cheaper according to what I saw!!

Side note.

Although my blog page may look very different and you may have second guesses if it is even mine, this is Kelsey's blog with a new display. I hope you like it.. :)

View of a Bedroom Window.

While the sun is out and the light is shining, I witness trees whistling in the breeze, cars zooming across a near road, houses sitting at a still, and people living their lives. I hear trees whirling in the breeze, cars zooming across a near road, people living their lives, and a very busy 405 freeway. I am not exactly sure why but I feel those factors tell a lot about the area that I now live in. When the sun is down and the moon has risen and I have to look at a yellow sky with hidden stars, I see all the same but all I hear is the very, very busy and productive 405 freeway.

Stars in the Sky.

Lying here in my new bed, in my new room, looking out my new window, seeing the...YELLOW sky gets me thinking. Why is the night sky yellow in the city?? To answer that rhetorical yet obvious question, it is because of the massive amounts of street lights that inhabit a city. I have always known this fact and I guess I have gotten used to it. Living in Ridgecrest for the years that I did (where there is not as many street lights aligning the roads), my most cherished hobby to do every night (and still is) was to point my head straight to the sky and take in the beauty of God's creation. Because in Ridgecrest you can see every star that is out there. I continually think about the movie, Bruce Almighty. The scene where Bruce is controlling the night sky. He moved the moon so close it seemed so big and placed each star where he desired just by the drop of his finger. Having time to ponder that, that is close to what God did when he created this universe. Just to know that there are hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of trillions of beaming stars sitting in one huge universe leaves me in a state of amazement! Stars are full of light and power and although they may seem so small from the distance we as people are from them, they are huge! I love to look at all the beautiful and majestic elements that perch in the very same world we live in. And still to know that all the stars fall under the same category, oh man I just LOVE the idea of that. Now, I get to look at a yellow sky where those gorgeous stars hide behind..

The Story by Brandi Carlile

All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true...I was made for you

I climbed across the mountain tops
Swam all across the ocean blue
I crossed all the lines and I broke all the rules
But baby I broke them all for you
Because even when I was flat broke
You made me feel like a million bucks
Yeah you do and I was made for you

You see the smile that's on my mouth
Is hiding the words that don't come out
And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed
They don't know my head is a mess
No, they don't know who I really am
And they don't know what I've been through like you do
And I was made for you...

All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true...I was made for you

Oh yes, it's true...
I was made for you.......

What I Live By.

-Life is a journey, God is my guide. We travel safely together side by side.

-Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.

-The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.

-You have to live your teaching.

-Use your life as a class.

-Say "wow" to your achievements.

-Pay attention to the whisper of life...

-God can dream a bigger dream than you can even dream for yourself.

-When you have done all you can do and there is nothing left, surrender.

-BELIEVE you are a blessed person.

-It's not about the other guy, it's about what you can do.

-You are not alone

-You mean something

Power of the Prayer.

One day, a few years ago I came home and was not happy with what I arrived to. My little brother Jack had been his playful self during my absence and while on the top bunk of his bed he was doing something, that made him fall to a distressed, tile floor. I was just trying to imagine how that possibly could have happened. But falls can honestly happen to any little child when being supervised or when they are not. I was scared when I came in and found out what happened. Jack was lying on the couch sleeping. I was told that he has been and will be waking up just about every thirty minutes and would complain for a good amount of time and my mom would comfort him and maybe put some ice where he fell and Jack would soon fall back to sleep. I have an extremely insane amount of love for my little brothers. So, my plan was not about to go into my room and pretend he did not just get hurtand continue with the rest of my activities. So, I stayed in the living room and told my mom that when he was to wake I will sit next to him and take care of him. The first time there, it was just what my mom told me would happen. Although the second time was what made it worth it for me. Jack woke up, I began rubbing his head, and attempting to calm him down.  What that precious little boy said, grabbed at my heart and would not let go. Jack sat up and asked me, "Will you pray for me?" My first thoughts were that I was surprised Jack would even know the meaning behind that question and that he had the courage to ask! His wish was granted and I prayed for my little brother. I was filled with joy with how much better he felt later on. I just love that kid, HE is the one who fills me with joy..

Pay it Forward..

A book that was soon turned into a movie has certainly captured the attention of me and probably many other readers. I walked into my school library before Christmas vacation last school year and simply asked for a book that was "inspiration". I can be very picky when it comes to finding my next book to read and I think the librarian was getting impatient with me. I am pretty sure I looked at 8-10 books and, nothing. I do not, do not like to judge a book by the cover, but it seemed like that was exactly what I was doing. Although one of those few books was Pay it Forward, at that second it did not really call out at me. I looked back at what I had already seen and thought "alright, I guess it cannot be that bad." I tend to procrastinate while reading a book. I find other things to do and my mind just ventures in many other directions and I cannot concentrate. I spent Christmas vacation and a week or two after that reading Pay it Forward. When I finally got into it and grasped the true essence of the meaning behind what the author was feeling, I could not put the book down! Plus I just love that feeling, where the book is that good! I am really not at liberty to spoil the magnificence of this book but the characters are captivating. The places they go and the more characters they meet are so uplifting. The insanely powerful message that is portrayed is something I will never forget. I truly got what I was looking for in this book. In other words...please read this book, you will not be disappointed!

My Dream...

I get lost in the beauty

Of everything I see

The world is not half as bad

As they paint it to be

If all the sons, 

If all the daughters

Stopped to take it in,

Well then hopefully the hate subsides

And the love can begin

It might start now

Or maybe I am just dreaming out loud... 

Think about this...

Teacher: Can you see God?

Class: No.

Teacher: Can you touch God?

Class: No.

Teacher: Then there isn't a God!

Student: Sir, can you see your brain?

Teacher: No.

Student: Can you touch your brain?

Teacher: No.

Student: Oh ok so you have no brain?

Believe!

Some pretty wise people have agreed with me to simply believe in yourself no matter the situation. If someone can't believe in themselves, no one else can! So...just believe!

I Have Found by Kim Walker

I have found a peace that ploughs on through the storm.
I have found a joy that jumps over sadness.
I have found a love that lights up every room.
I have found, I've found You!


You are all I want, You are all I need,
Everything my heart could hope for.
We are longing for, the Glory of the Lord,
Cause we know there's so much more!


I have found a trust that teaches how to rest.
I have found a grace that guides me by the hand.
I have found a strength that stands like a mountain.
And I have found, I've found You!

A Beautiful Mystery...

At first I thought of it as this big bright ball in the sky that lit up all the surface of Earth. 
Then it was the thing I looked at it, and instantly looked away. 
(I think it was just so pretty, I couldn't look at it for too long!)
Now as always, it's the wonder I wake up to in the morning,
one of the first things I see when I walk outside for the first time every day.
It can give my skin a nice tan tone in the summer,
or it can give it a real red color that real painful if i'm not careful.
This is what shines through the clouds at the end of a cold, stormy day.
Looking at the horizon at the break of dawn is where it's majestic sight appears first,
then at the end of the day, as all comes to a closing is where its sucked back down 
just to come up once again in a matter of hours.
This beautiful mystery is simply, the sun...

What's so great about the Kindle?? (Blockbuster)

by Kelsey Armstrong

The Amazon Kindle is one of today’s most known reading devices. Wherever you are, whether at the beach in bright sunlight or in dark surroundings (though with a book-light), you can pretty much read anywhere. What most people don’t know is that there is more than just reading on this device. With the exception of the version with the internet that is not built in, you are able to use wifi wherever you are: in the car, in the park…or at Applebee’s. Something as simple as the capacity and battery life of this is astonishing. Without using the internet, your Kindle will last up to a month with no charge. On the other hand if you do use the internet, it will still last you two and a half to three weeks. The Kindle stores up to 3,500 books with more than 180,000 to choose from and over 150 that happen to be #1 New York Times bestsellers. One of the best parts about the Kindle, even with the ability to access the internet, it stays at a reasonable and affordable price. Kindles are available for the advertised price on Amazon or on ebay.

Con on Grading Policy (Blockbuster)

by Kelsey Armstrong

At West Potomac High School in Washington DC, they are simply taking F’s off the general grade book. Instead, the school is replacing the F with an “I” for incomplete. The purpose of this is to decrease the amount of failing grades in students and increase the majority of the students’ GPA. In simple words, it is pretty much impossible to fail a course. This school is the only one in the district taking these drastic measures.

The whole facility of West Potomac is being very easy on their students. Teachers are livid on the decision made for their students and the school is definitely cutting the students too much slack.

This whole change lets the students think they are free to turn in assignments whenever they want on their own agenda. With the new policy, the student’s grade in a course wouldn’t decrease because they didn’t turn in an assignment on time; it would stay the same and go up when the student finally decides to turn it in.

Think about it: why should students who don’t turn in their work on time and don’t pay attention to lectures soon end up with an equal grade like students who do because they happen to get all their work in last minute?

Students soon began to not care like they did before this approach was taken. Half of the sophomore class at West Potomac received an “I”. Since, technically, they are not failing, the subject will not need to be repeated.

It is becoming necessary for teachers to spend time after school and on Saturdays to help the students. If students fail to clear up their incomplete rank, they will end up taking summer sessions in order to do so.

With all the positive aspects this policy may hold, overall it is not beneficial to students or teachers.

True Colors by Cyndi Lauper

You with the sad eyes
don't be discouraged
oh I realize
it's hard to take courage
in a world full of people
you can lose sight of it all
and the darkness inside you
can make you feel so small

but I see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like the rainbow

show me a smile then
don't be unhappy, can't remember
when I last saw you laughing
if this world makes you crazy
and you've taken all you can bear
you call me up
because you know i'll be there

and i'll see your true colors
shining through
i'll see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like the rainbow

Theatre

I feel so lucky and so relieved that I have something I can fall back on right now. Even though I am still in the beginning and still being introduced to so many things, I feel like I've known this life for so long. Depending on the production and the role I am in, there is always a whole different aspect of myself that I can show to people. I wish I had auditioned during freshman year but you can never look back and say "I wish"!!! I love everything about it so much now than I did before. The other day during lunch the cast and I had just finished the teaser and lunch just started, I was just walking around and stumbled onto the stage. There was nobody there and I looked out into the house and it was as if I felt something inside of me. I was just on the urge of having a tear fall down my cheek as I was standing there in awe knowing just about all 600 of those seats were going to be filled with people who came to see what hard work, dedication, effort, determination, and perserverance (the list can go on and on), was displayed to put on that show in just a few shorts hours. I laid my body down on the stage and just thought. Nothing will ever compare to how amazing that feeling of satisfaction was to me...

The Wonder of Reading

Opening a book could be a whole new beginning to a catastrophic world you have never experienced before. It is something you will never be able to see on television or the internet in your lifetime. It's as if doors are just opening all around you and your not even noticing it at first. When you start reading good books, you can start to notice a total change in how you think about you and your life and the circumstances surrounding you. Maybe even how you act begins to alter and how you talk. The words you are using are something you never thought you would say before. Television may give you entertainment and you can see it right in front of you on a screen, but these are words on a page where you are the one creating that picture in your mind. Your imagination tremendously widens like you never thought would happen. It's remarkable what can come out of just picking up a book, opening it, and reading those spectacular words the author has given you...

by Gary Armstrong

Happiness is knowing the pain
of the past is not exclusively your
fault.
Knowing all my past problems
were not all of my own doing,
That other people had something
To do with them, gives me great
relief
Thank you God for giving
me this realization

ga
19 may 92

To My Mother

You're my mother
And I'm your daughter
I will love you always and forever

You sheltered me
You were there to comfort me
And yet there had always been a void

I feel as though I'm alone at times
Although I know I have to dig deeper in my heart
Right then I am rest assured to find you always there beside me

Life has torn the two of us apart
By what I've said
By what you've done
Nothing can bring back the times we've missed together

But I will love you forever and always
Not only because you're my mother
But because I'm your daughter...

Church

Most people go to church because they are the kind who are on fire for God and it's just another excuse during the week to worship him. Maybe others are just looking for an uplifting mesage from the pastor to help them continue on with their lives. But at the same time you may be a teenager and you are the only one in your house who believes jn any sort of God or savior. Don't let say your parents stop you from going to church (or youth group) because they don't. It's like one of those things where you don't know what you're missing until you tried it. Or you always here about it from friends, how great it is, and what an amazing experience you would have! So go out there see if there's a church full of people that just make you feel welcome and where you have that "homey" feeling inside you...