My First Ever Award! :)

Thank you so much, Elrania! :) How did you ever know I was horse-crazy? ;)

I'm so excited! Yay!!!

Now I want to award this to my dear, soon-to-be-famous authoress friend who loves horses even more than I do...*drumroll*... Rachel Danielle! :)

Share the horse-craziness!

God Bless horse-crazy people and everyone else,

Long Day...

Okay! So yesterday was a very tiring day. First, we woke up for morning prayers. Then, we got dressed and piled in the car to go to my cousin's house. My cousin's family all piles in our car, and we head for her school, where she is to be graduated. It was really exciting; but I didn't remember from last year, when my other cousin graduated, that graduations can be rather boring. Here's my view of yesterday's graduation.

1. 
   
   
   We sit for about an hour waiting for everything to start. I read my book.



2. 
   
   
   The graduates march by as "Pomp and Circumstance" plays.



3. 
   
   
   The music teacher sings.



4. 
   
   
   The Principal gives a speech.



5. 
   
   
   The graduates stand up, sit down, cheer.



6. 
   
   
   Someone else gives a speech.



7. 
   
   
   The graduates stand up, sit down, cheer.



8. 
   
   
   Someone sings.



9. 
   
   
   The graduates cheer and go crazy, except for my cousin.



10. 
    
    
    Someone else gives a speech.



11. 
    
    
    The graduates stand up, sit down, cheer.



12. 
    
    
    Awards are given.



13. 
    
    
    The graduates scream and go crazy, except for my cousin.



14. 
    
    
    Someone else gives a speech.



15. 
    
    
    The graduates stand up, sit down, cheer.



16. 
    
    
    Someone sings.



17. 
    
    
    The graduates scream and go crazy, except for my cousin.



18. 
    
    
    Someone reads a poem.



19. 
    
    
    The graduates clap.



20. 
    
    
    The Valedictorian and Salutorian give speeches.



21. 
    
    
    The graduates cheer and clap.



22. 
    
    
    Some more songs are sang, and more graduates go crazy.



23. 
    
    
    I am more than ready to leave.



24. 
    
    
    Graduation.



25. 
    
    
    Slideshow.



26. 
    
    
    The graduates throw their hats into the air.



27. 
    
    
    We leave.

Then, we went back to my cousin's house and ate some Graduation Cake. (Boston Cream Cake... Yum!!!) We go to our other cousin's house. I read and watch cartoons. We all coo over the baby. We go back home.

It was all very exhausting.

And then, the blow. We reach home, to find that someone dumped kittens, food and water in our backyard. (This continues to today; the animal shelters won't take them, and our friends are looking for us too.)

We go to bed at... 12:00 or so.

It was all very exhausting.

So that's why I wasn't on yesterday. Very eventful, wasn't it? :)

God Bless everyone as tired as I am,

Tag from Elrania! :)

Elrania gave me this tag (thank you!), so I decided to do it now. :)

Starting time: 5:24 PM
Name: Horsey (I don't put my real name on the Internet...)
Sisters: 1
Brothers: 1

What are you wearing? A long, flowered dress, a blue hijab (headscarf), and khakis.
Favorite number: Ummmmm.... 14?

Favorite drink: Hmmm... cold water, lemonade, ginger ale, homemade milkshake... anything that makes me feel good.

Favorite month? Uhhhhh... Spring time?

Favorite breakfast? Oatmeal, omelet with cheese, etc.

Love someone so much who made you cry? Yes...

Broken a bone? Twice. :)
Been in a police car? Nope.

Been on a boat? Yep.
Came close to dying? Not sure...
Been in a hot tub? Yeah.
Swam in the ocean? Yes.

Fallen asleep in school? Yes... but I'm homeschooled, so I don't know if that matters or not. :)
Cried when someone dies? Yes.

Fallen off a chair? Yes. (Don't ask.) :)
--------------------Who---------------------
Who did you last yell at? My brother.
Do you like filling theses out? Yes. :)

Do you like yourself? Only when I don't do something silly. :P
--------------Today did you---------------
Talk to someone you like? Yes.
Got sick? Felt sick.

Sing? In the car. :)

-------------------Last person who-----------------
You talked to on the phone with? Uhhhh.... I didn't answer the phone since a few days ago, and I don't know who that was... you see, I don't like talking on the phone.
Made you cry? Can't remember...
Went to the mall with? My family.

Been to Europe? Nope.

Been to Asia? Yes.

Been to Russia? Nope.

Been to the Bahamas? Nope.

Been to Mexico? Nope.

Been to Canada? Yes.
Been to Africa? Nope.
---------------------Final questions--------------------
What are you listening to? A car going by, an airplane overhead, my sister washing the dishes...
Do you hate someone in your family? No, of course not!

What car do you wish to have? I don't really pay attention to cars...
Good singer? I guess so.

Indoors or Outdoors? Both. :)

Do you have a job? No...

Time finished: 5:42

I tag...

Hannah

Abby

Bekah (Oh... Bekah's left. I'll tag her anyway and wait for her to come back. :)

Rachel Danielle

Thanks so much, Elrania! That was fun! :)

Do We Really Want to Kill Time?

Do we really want to kill time?

I've always learned that a person is born with a certain amount of time to spend in this world. No more, no less. A certain number of minutes, seconds, and breaths. Wouldn't we want to use our limited time here to our best advantage?

Some think that they have "time to kill", or "time to waste". But do we really have time to kill? If we have a certain amount of time to spend here on this earth, we shouldn't actually be wasting our time doing unnecessary things when we could be doing so many things in those spaces of time that we "kill"?

Don't kill time. Use it; and be sincerely glad that you have it. (This is as much to myself as anyone!)

God Bless,

Made a Tag

I just discovered that you can make tags! So, I decided to make my own. Get ready for randomness! :)

The ARTS Quiz

Who is/was your favorite artist? Claude Monet

Who is your favorite classical composer? Mozart, Beethoven, Scott Joplin, Peter Tschaiofsky (Is that how you spell that? Hm.), and many more...

Who is your favorite singer? Dawud Wharnsby Ali, too many more to count...

Do you like to write? Yes!

What genre? Any except for romance. Mostly action, adventure, fantasy, science-fiction, HORSES!, and realistic fiction where people change heart by an animal or a little kid, and it goes on and on and on.... (Not necessarily in any order....)

What is your favorite picture book? Too many to count!

Favorite books? Do you really want me to list all of them? :)

Favorite Painting: Ummm.....

Do you compose music? Yes, but I don't know how to write it down.

Do you write songs? Yes, but most of them come out strange. :)

Do you like poetry? YES!

Do you write poetry? Yes!

Favorite Poets? A lot! :)

Do you know an author? Three or more, in fact. :)

I tag...

Rachel Danielle

Hannah

Bekah

Abby

Elrania

Welcome, Summer!

....though it doesn't feel like it where I am. Oh, well. Longer days! Able to play in the yard during "school" hours! Summer Reading Club! Summer! :)

Poem: Pencil and Paper

Sometime friend,

Sometime foe

Scratching out fiercely

Or softly and lovingly

Ink or lead

Hidden or read

Pencil and Paper

Make a brilliant team

Miracles in Everyday Life!

Sometimes, we think that all the miracles in life happened for extra-ordinary people, such as the Prophets and other very religious people---not us, the very normal people of today. But when you really think about it, God sends miracles for every person, whether they notice them or not.

Some people find a miracle in rain, while some people think of it as an annoyance. Some people think it a miracle that there is such a variety of life on Earth, while others think that it's a freak of nature occurance. Not all people see the same things as miracles. Some don't notice them at all, even if they were sent especially for them.

So, what can we do? Notice the miracles. Understand that they're a gift. And then, start telling others. You may get a lot of funny looks at first, but after a while, (God Willing, of course) maybe others will start to notice them as well. Let's hope for the best! :)

(Sorry if I didn't make much sense. :)

God Bless,

Tagged for the Very First Time!

I've been tagged by Bekah! :)

SUMMER QUIZ

What's your favorite day of summer(June 1-Sept 1)?

Hmmm.... Would it be okay to say I didn't know? :)

What's your favorite indoor activity during summer?

Reading, writing, drawing, studying, learning something new, surfing the internet, etc, etc, etc...

Favorite outdoor activity?

Jumping on the trampoline, swinging, daydreaming, bug-watching (It's actually fun; try it sometime!), drawing, etc...

The pool or the beach?

The beach!

Have you ever camped in a tent during the summer heat?

Indoors... does that count?

Popsicles or ice cream?

Both!

What flavor?

Ice Cream: Vanilla, Butter Almond, Strawberry

Popsicles: Edy's Fruit Bars

Do you help in your church's VBS?

I don't know what a VBS is.

Do you get bored during summer?

Not really. When you think about it, how could I get bored with so many things to do? Just contemplating... :)

Are you going anywhere this summer?

I don't know.... maybe.

Is summer your fav season?

I like all the seasons, but I'd say Spring is my favorite. :)

Okay! I tag...

Rachel Danielle

Hannah

Bekah (Can you tag someone back or no?)

Abby

That was fun! Thanks, Bekah! :)

A Beautiful Poem: Slow Dance

I read this poem... and it's so beautiful, I almost cried. I first received it as an e-mail, and I suddenly thought of it, so I Googled it and read it again. It was written by a girl who was terminally ill with a fatal form of cancer. (I received the e-mail a year ago, so I don't know what her situation is now, so please pray for her.) I don't even know her name. Please read the poem. It's a real wake-up call.

This is not a joke or chain letter as such but a beautiful poem, and a lesson for us to consider.This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital. It was sent by a medical doctor - Dr. Yeou Cheng Ma. Please do what you can to help fulfill this young girl's dream by also reading what is in the closing statement AFTER THE POEM.

SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say "Hi"?
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

Dear All:
PLEASE pass this mail on to everybody you know. It is the request of a special little girl who will soon leave this world as she has cancer.

It really made me think. Real poetry comes from the heart. In true feelings: sadness, grief, love, hate, happiness.

Enjoy what you can. While you can.

Beauty Be Deep!

Have you ever heard the expression "Beauty is only skin deep?" I've thought about it for a while, and came to the realization of how true it sometimes is. Many people apply make-up to hide their true selves, making them "beautiful" for a few hours or a day. But eventually, what is inside your heart will shine through, and reveal your true face, either in this life or the next.

Beauty doesn't really matter. It's what is in your heart that matters. Think about it. If you take a few moments to make your inner self beautiful, to cultivate love and peace instead of hate and selfishness, you will radiate that which you are inside, a true, pure beauty, not one that is fake and skin-deep. A beauty from deep within.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful expression? "Beauty isn't skin deep...it's deeper than that."

So pray to God to make our beauty deep, and firm inside our hearts. I know for certain I am! :)

Expressions...

I was just contemplating on what a wonderful word "expressions" is. It tells so much in only 12 letters!

When we write poetry, even if it's not very good? We express ourselves.

When we talk, dance, or sing? We express ourselves.

Our opinions, our choices, who we love, how we dress, what we believe? We express ourselves.

What exactly is the definition of expression? Well, I'm not that great with definitions. (I'll leave that to until I have to take the SAT.) But in my opinion, the picture that comes to my mind is a flower. It's petals are outspread in the sunshine, and it is slightly transparent, so that the sunshine makes it glow. It takes the sunlight in, but it also lets it shine out, showing how beautiful it really is.

I know I'm kind of strange and I'm sort of running around in circles, but what I'm getting at is that everyone expresses themselves in a different way. Don't try to smother it; instead, let it shine out, show you for who you really are, make you beautiful, even as simple as the flower in the sunshine.

All right... I've got to go before I digress anymore. :)

God Bless You and Your Expressions,

Embrace Being Unique!

Every face and you and me

And every stripe on every bee

And every creature that you see

Swim fly run or crawl

Every flake of snow is different

Every place you go is different

Everyone you know is different

That's the beauty of it all...

---from "Theeverythingsong", by Dawud Wharnsby Ali

I officially delcare today National Unique Day!

The thing that we find the most beautiful about this world is uniqueness. No two things are alike, from the mountains to every drop of water in the sea. Not even factories, who mass produce hundreds of products that look like carbon copies, can make them exactly alike.

That's what I love about everything. Isn't it wonderful? To not look exactly like your friend, to be able to choose different varieties of flowers, to look into the branches of unique trees?

So take a moment, and rejoyce in all the different things of this world. Lock and key? Different. Flower and tree? Different. You and me? Different. That's the beauty of it all!

Caught Carmen

Okay, so the last post yesterday showed my great enthusiam at finally being able to finish the CD-ROM I'd been wanting to finish, oh... the past six years? Well, last night, I finished it. It was really fun, though probably I'd have been more happy and excited if I were still eight years old. Sigh. Ah, well...

So what should I do next? Go for another Carmen Sandiego CD? (If there are any I haven't completed....) Hmmm....

Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego?

Yes! I've finally got it!

Has anyone heard of Carmen Sandiego? Basically to explain, it's a couple of cool CD-ROM games that teach you while you play. Carmen Sandiego is the criminal mastermind of V.I.L.E, her criminal headquarters. A good agency, A.C.M.E, is always out to stop her schemes, all from stealing the Mona Lisa to the Moon. (There's also a cartoon called "Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?" that you can find on YouTube.)

My sister and I have wanted to finish this one for ages, but it just so happened that our little brother rubbed the CD over the floor when he was one.(In other words, a very very long time ago.) Now, we've finally got the chance to finish the game and catch Carmen, because we've interlibrary-loaned it!

Basically in this game, Carmen and her V.I.L.E villains have broken into A.C.M.E headquarters and stolen the Chronoskimmer; a time travel device. She scatters her villains throughout time to steal ancient artifacts and disrupt history. The player and an A.C.M.E Good Guide have to travel through time to catch the villains and --- in the final game--- catch Carmen herself.

Don't be fooled by the age level; it's really fun to play! So, after school and religious classes today, my siblings and I plan to try and start the game again. So, wish us luck in catching Carmen!

Never Cease to Be Amazed

Have you ever seen how perfectly shaped a grain of sand is? How no two blades of grass are the same? The ripples and crevices on your skin, the delicate wings of a butterfly, the million different colors of a sunset?...

Many years ago, when I was little and first heard of evolution, my immeadiate response was, "That's silly! Who would believe that?" Now, many years later, I really think it through...I guess it's just my mature side kicking in... and I really am amazed at how people can be tricked to believe in Darwinism, the Big Bang, and evolution. Don't they look around them?

Could the Big Bang have caused each leaf on every tree to be uniqely designed? Could evolution have made the frogs and salamanders we see today? Could evolution really have designed cells in our body that actually have intellect?

What do we do in a blind world as such we live in? I know only one thing to do. Never cease to be amazed. Keep on learning and living. Keep on loving, and surprising yourself with the wonders God has placed in your path. And the best part? You feel your faith increasing with each new thing you marvel in, from a small seed to the giant Redwood tree. Never, ever, no matter what, cease to be amazed.

Careers

Have you ever thought about what you wanted to be when you grow up? That's the first thing many kids ask another kid when they meet them. But have you ever really, really think about it? Like doing it for life? It's rather scary to me when I think about it.

See, I don't know for certain what I want to be when I grow up, and in three years, I'll be going to college. It bothers me every so often that I don't have a definite career choice, though I also remind myself I don't have to sweat it. I want to be so many things that I'm not sure anymore, though I am definite about one thing: I'll be a teacher. I'm just not sure about all the other things that interest me.

So, here's the list of all the things that I would really like to be.

• A Loyal Follower of God. Foremost on my list; something that I'll never give up.
• Loyal Housewife and Mother. This is very important to me, and I don't want to neglect it.
• Veterinarian. Just think of being able to help animals all day!
• Horse Trainer. To be able to train horses for a living? What a dream come true!
• Baker. Always making the best crumpets and pastries!
• Pediatrician. Helping little kids feel better would make me feel good too.
• Marine Biologist. Studying the untouched frontier, the mysterious depths of the ocean...
• Whale and Dolphin Trainer. Being around these beautiful animals would be a wonderful experience for me.
• Naturalist. Studying plants and animals, helping preserve their environments, standing up for them.
• Artist. Sketching and drawing; some of the things I like best!
• Freelance Writer. Writing as I wish. Writing for every time I feel like it, and getting paid for it, too!
• Author. Sigh. My stories do not wish to dwell on my paper, so this dream is for whenever they wish to come out.

I could go on and on and on. There are so many things I want to be, and life is so short. Pray for me, though; God Willing, I will be able to be all these things!

Picture Books, Anyone?

Does anyone else love picture books? I do. There's just something childlike and innocent and fun that emanates from the pages when you open a book. That's what I want to do, someday, among a list of other things... be an illustrator.

There are some picture books that I've been reading since I was little, and others that I've read only recently. But one thing's for sure: all of them are never tiring to read again...and again...and again. Sometimes, I've even memorized them. :)

So, what are some of my favorite picture books? I might post all of them later, but for now, here are a few.

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear: Whoever hasn't read this book is missing out on a really, really cute story. Accompanied by cute illustrations, this book tells the story of a little mouse on a mission to harvest a red, ripe strawberry. However, the narrator tells him about the Big Hungry Bear, and how he loves red ripe strawberries. So starts the little mouse's panicked attempts to protect his red ripe strawberry...

Love You Forever (Pictured): This story never fails to bring tears to my eyes. It tells of a mother and her baby. Every night, she takes her baby in her arms and rocks him back and forth, and sings a gentle lullaby to him. This goes on, even as the baby grows into adulthood, until one day, the mother isn't able to do it anymore, because she is old and tired. But she has underestimated how much her son loves her...

The Mud Puddle: Prizes for hilarious books? This should win one! A little girl has just had a bath and gone outside to play when a mud puddle jumps on her. This keeps on going on, and on, and on... until the little girl has had enough and fights the mud puddle right back... with soap.

Flotsam: This book is breathtaking, yet it doesn't use any words at all. A boy finds a camera on a beach. He inquires for it's owner, and not finding one, he takes the camera home and develops the film. He finds inside, to his wonder and amazement, pictures of things that shouldn't even be on this earth...much less in the sea.

Bats at the Beach and Bats at the Library: These books are both cute and funny. Bats are often scrutinized, as most people are scared of them. But these books show that they are actually friendly, and even act like people! In Bats at the Beach, the bats have a blast on the beach at night, roasting bug-marshmallows and lying on beach blankets...while in Bats in the Library, someone has left the library window open, and the bats venture inside for a night of bookish fun. The pictures are appropriately matched with rhyming prose, but the pictures themselves tell the story.

Whether you like to read picture books yourself or read them to a little siblings, they are loads of fun for everyone! If you haven't read a picture book in a while, I suggest you start again right now. All you'll be able to think is, Wow...I can't believe what I've been missing!

Poem: Sunset Over the Hills

So peaceful and beautiful, isn't it? I can almost see elves dwelling here, or having a grand banquet under the moon...

Just a poem I wrote. It's not my best, but I just felt like posting it. :)

I have never seen a sunset over the hills

When the sky is set ablaze with orange flame

And melts the clouds into molten golden

Bliss

And it slowly drip-drops into the sea

Dying it the color of dreams.

No, I have never seen a sunset, over the hills.

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

No, unluckily, I don't live in the place shown in the picture. It's beautiful, though, isn't it? Like a fairy garden.

I love it when it rains. There's nothing but the pattering of the rain against the ground and birdsong. It's beautiful. There's just something about the rain that makes me feel like I'm missing a small, beautiful secret right under my nose, but I can't see it.

I've collected all the things I like about the rain into a list. (I like lists; they help me sort out my thoughts. :)

• It's so mysterious and beautiful.
• Everything is green.
• There's that smell of earth and growing.
• No one is out playing loud, disturbing music.
• All I can hear is the rain pattering against the ground and the birds singing.
• There's nothing like feeling rain on your face.
• Everything is so peaceful and slow and quiet.
• Lightning and thunder are magnificent to watch and listen to.

I would go on forever, but I don't have the time. To sum it all up, rain is a wonderful blessing that God sends down upon the earth. What do you like about the rain?

50 Random Things About Myself

I just read a blog where a blogger did this, and it looked so fun (and I found so many similarities) that I wanted to try it too! :)

1. I've found at least twelve four leaf clovers in my life.

2. I love all kinds of weather.

3. I carry a notebook, a pencil, and a book everywhere I go.

4. I've never had a cavity in my life.

5. I'm not afraid of the dentist.

6. I know all the librarians in my library by name...

7. ...and they all know me.

8. The library is my second home.

9. I don't have cable.

10. I watch little kid shows...and love them!

11. I can't stand long fingernails.

12. I've never worn makeup...

13. ...and I never want to.

14. I don't have a Facebook...

15. ...and I never want one.

16. I have millions of story ideas...

17. ...but I'm scared to put them down on paper for fear I won't do them justice.

18. I hate procrastinating...

19. ...but I do it anyway.

20. I love Jelly Belly jelly beans.

21. I took a tour of the Jelly Belly factory.

22. I love all the colors.

23. I have glasses, but almost never wear them except in cases of urgency...

24. ...such as not being able to see the beautiful landscape or the blackboard in religious classes.

25. I cry very easily.

26. I love horses.

27. I love learning new things!

28. I love blue skies and butterflies.

29. I can be random a lot. :)

30. One of my worst fears is that no one will like me.

31. I tell times tables by the clock. (i.e: 12:24, 3:27, etc.)

32. I get obsessed with things I like very easily.

33. I go to an online high school.

34. I love nature.

35. I love photography.

36. I love to write poetry!

37. I love to read poetry!

38. I compose little songs on the spur of the moment.

39. My ears aren't pierced...

40. ...nor do I want them to be.

41. I'm a tomboy...

42. ...but I can also be girly too. :)

43. I like swords and knights and unicorns.

44. I've won first prize twice in Cricket magazine contests.

45. I suffer frequently from writer's block.

46. I hate war...

47. ...but I'm also unsure of what peace exactly would be.

48. Sometimes I feel unbelievably sad...

49. But other times, I feel so happy I'm floating.

50. I hate immodesty.

Maybe next time, I'll go for 100! That was fun! :)

Singing

I've been working on some tunes and words that I just make up for a while. Sometimes I compose them while I'm swinging or washing the dishes. Sometimes I remember them; sometimes I don't. But this song in particular has been stuck in my head, for some reason. I don't even know what the words mean, yet I find myself humming them.

I feel the wind at my shoulder

And a song in my heart

I feel something

Beginning to start

I feel hope

I feel love

I'm coming alive deep inside

All that I was meant to do is ride...

I think it has something to do with horseback riding. That's what I think of, anyway, when I'm humming it. I don't really know. It makes me feel happy, though, and that's what matters. :)

Me, Myself, and I

I don't really know what to write. Maybe that this blog is for my dreams? Or hopes? Or just to sort out the endless hurricane of ideas and facts hurtling around my mind? I don't know. Maybe just to have a place to store my dreams. My mind is overflowing with written chronicles of my life, what I'll do for the future, and worries about school, overdue books, and all the other things in life... sometimes I just need to write it out, but I'm afraid it will sound silly. So here it is. I will write down my thoughts, no matter how silly it sounds. (Besides, I can always edit them, right? Right?...)