So, What's New With You?

What's new with me? Funny you should ask, I was just thinking about doing a blog post on that very subject!
-I just finished up my second week of 'abbreviated' school and next week 'full-blown school' starts. My mom is taking fiendish delight in the whole thing. Obviously she doesn't think we had enough to do over the summer.
-I am reading Frankenstein and Pilgrim's Progress (almost the same thing) for Omnibus.
-Frankenstein is not to be read at 10 o'clock if you want to get any sleep at all...
-Ballet starts up next week....I have mixed feelings on the whole thing. On the one hand, I'm very excited to start again, but on the other hand, I have been a little less than regular about stretching during break. And I don't even want to know what my instructor would do to me if she knew what I've been eating all summer....*shudder*
-I got a hair cut! And boy did I need it! I felt the wind blowing through my hair on my way home! (which is saying something for those of you who haven't seen how thick my hair is. You should have seen the hair-dresser's face "Wow, thick hair yah?" Thin it out! Please! Save me! I can't breathe!...)
-I learned: Un evier ce dans une sal de bains.
-Translation: The sink is in the bathroom.
-My dad was very thankful for my sharing this rare bit of wisdom. And in French too!
-I have learned 'Once Upon A Time' on the piano.
-My grandma will be flying out to visit soon! YAY!
-I have created an obsession over french fried onions, they're like onions from heaven, my mom did not buy them last shopping trip. I and my tummy is sad.
-I am not doing grammar presently if you haven't already noticed.
-My friends have corrupted me, it affects me when I receive text messages saying "I is hungry"
-I'm sorry friends for blaming my incompetence on you.
-I get sidetracked easily, what were we talking about?

~RM

Spiffy Little Things Called Patterns

I enjoy experimenting, designing, creating, destroying, whatever you want to call it. And so far none of my experiments have been all that...well...let's say I haven't been all that proud of any of them. There was that time when I wrote that one song....and that time I made that one 'nightgown'....and that time I choreographed that one performance with the help of my friend that my parents (and hers) so lovingly endured....and that time I tried to cook a coffee cake....and that time I attempted to write that one story...the list never ends. The embarrassing accomplishments go on and on....and on and on...

Well, over the past few weeks I have discovered (while trying to sew yet another garment for my sister) what heavenly, helpful things patterns are! I mean, who would have thought that skirts aren't supposed to be rectangular?! My grandma obviously knew what she was doing when she sent me all those patterns for Christmas. She must have known that I HAD to figure it out some time. So, patterns are lovely things and have helped me create something that my sister might actually wear out in public (the poor thing has become my guinea pig over the past few years...actually more like all her life).

And she didn't even complain about the green zipper...much. The pattern was really cute but the skirt turned out a little too short, so I added the edge of lace ... lace and stripes, no better combination. Then, after the success of this item I attempted a skirt for myself, without a pattern!!! I know what you're thinking, "Is she completely insane?! After all the other....experiments?!" Yes I am insane, but it actually turned out quite nicely: I guess it helps to learn that skirts are not made out of rectangular pieces of fabric...
~RM

Life Through 'Love-colored' Glasses

Love your neighbor as yourself, a verse that is taught repeatedly but pushed aside as 'unimportant'. And yet Christ taught that after "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength," "Love your neighbor as yourself" is the most important commandment. Many people obey this command when it concerns those outside of their family, greeting their guests with warm smiles and "How are you?"s after just arguing angrily with their sister over which napkins to use. But I believe when Christ said 'neighbor' He was speaking of those closest to us, family members that we are with continually as well as those outside our homes. If we are looking at life through love-colored glasses when we interact with siblings and parents we will be obeying all the other commandments concerning others. If we are loving our family as we love ourselves we will honor our father and our mother, we will speak truth not lies, we will not covet, murder, or steal. When I am angry with my sister for one thing or another I tend to look through the archives of past wrongs she has done to me making myself even more angry than is really necessary (if necessary at all). But love covers a multitude of sins! Christ is love and Christ has covered every single one of our sins through His death on the cross. Why then, after the love He has shown us, can't we show love to those around us?

~RM

Bike Race

Yesterday was my brother's first BIG bike race (we aren't counting the 100 yd. one that all three of us did seven years ago). I believe the grand total was 28 miles. He and my dad got up at 5 in the morning to set out for Schofield. No, I did not accompany them, I know, you'd think I would go to my brother's very first big bike race but it was 5 AM and it was raining, and I don't function very well early in the morning. I did ask him how it went when I saw him at church, I did do that much. Well, from what I understand (now, don't think this is totally accurate because I probably will not get all the facts right) he was ahead for a while but then his tire went flat and everyone passed him while he waited to get his tire fixed. They make it look so easy in the Tour de France, just pop the tire off, pop another one on and keep on riding, or just take the bike that your teammate is offering you. Poor Isaac didn't have a teammate to offer him a bike and did not have an extra tire in his pocket to just pop on. I believe there was a race car nearby and they helped him replace his tube which promptly burst so they had to fix it all over again. After finally being able to get back on his bike everyone was well ahead of him. Pooh. But he said he enjoyed it. It was a good experience, he'll be ready for the next one that's for sure! Here are some pics!

Isaac's wearing the yellow jersey ^ right there, yeah.

Crossing the finish line! Tour de France here I come!!
Not me, I meant Isaac, hahaha.....*cough*
~RM

Love, Found and Lost

BEDSPREADS SHOULD BE MADE IN KING, QUEEN, FULL, AND TWIN SIZES!!
Now that I have that out of my system, I feel much better. My sister and I are going to be changing our room theme soon and so I have been looking around for cute, bright, springy bedspreads. After a long and strenuous search through the Walmart website, I found one that fit the description exactly and have realized that love at first sight does happen. Does anyone agree? http://www.walmart.com/ip/Better-Homes-and-Gardens-Citrus-Blossoms-Damask-Comforter-Set/13274487 .... When I was done staring at it and not believing that I had found THE bedspread for our room I realized that I had not found the bedspread for our room. Under the glorious picture where the dire words: Available in full, queen, and king sizes. My heart broke and I'm not sure it is reparable. My mother has assured me that I will find one that I like even more that will fit our beds (and *cough* our budget) but I do not believe her. I will have to content myself with printing its picture and taping it on my pillow. *Sniff*

Heartbroken,
~RML

Oh Summer Where Hast Thou Gone?

Tomorrow, the first day of school....

Tomorrow, the last day of summer....

Tomorrow, the first day of doing something productive with my life....

Tomorrow, the end of having fun....

Tomorrow, no more worrying about having nothing to do....

Tomorrow, not being able to say "I'm bored" anymore...

Tomorrow, the first day of worrying about grades that count towards my college resume...

Tomorrow, the last day of being footloose and fancy free...

Tomorrow, the end of sleeping in till 7 o'clock...

Tomorrow, the end of sitting in front of the computer...

Tomorrow, the end of mall outings with friends...

Tomorrow, the end of reading books that have no deep moral point...

Tomorrow, the end of leaving the bed unmade and saying I'd get to it later....

Tomorrow, the end of afternoons spent napping....

Thank heaven school's here!

Projects: Finished, In Progress, and Ideas

My finished project: an apron for Mom :)

Project in progress: My book, 'Untitled' :) Project Ideas: Paintings for my grandma (aka Mimi)and a skirt or jumper (haven't decided yet) for Abi

~RM

Dumpster Divin' Days

Isaac continually corrects me saying it's recycle bin diving, not dumpster diving. But that just doesn't flow as well. A few weeks ago my younger siblings (Isaac and Abi) found a simple way to make $money$ :) Each morning they have diligently spent at least an hour going 'round the neighborhood collecting recyclables and then coming home and telling Mom and myself about such and such "jackpot" they hit. And each Tuesday they haul their treasure down to the community center to turn it in for the aforementioned $money$. Usually they collect quite a large bunch. This is the evidence for this weeks:
They are very proud of their work and have, on many occasions, tried to persuade me to come along. No, dumpster *ahem* I mean recycle bin diving is not for me.
~RM

My Feast (part deux)

The finished product!
~RM

My Feast (part un)

Today is a very special day! It is the day of my Feast. Feast is a tradition in my family, a tradition that we stole from another family somewhere along the line. Each Saturday night we celebrate the Sabbath with a larger meal than normal. Mom spends all day preparing food, my brother, sister and I set the table with our nice silverware and china, and we all sit down to a dinner that will last for at least two hours. This week it is my turn to prepare our Sabbath Feast. The menu: salad for the first course, roast with potatoes and carrots for the main course, rolls and green-bean casserole as sides, and, to top it all off, chocolate truffles for dessert. As I discussed my menu earlier this week with my mom I told her that I must make truffles, I didn't care what I cooked for the main course, there must be truffles present. Well, not everything is finished yet, but here are some pics anyways!
The roast:
The rolls:

and the truffles!!

I will post finished product photos after products are finished (makes sense doesn't it?!).
~RM

The 4th

Hope you all had a great Independence Day!!!
I had intended to take loads of pictures of our bar-b-que with friends and the fireworks we went to see, but I forgot...Lame excuse I know. If you could find it in your hearts to forgive me I would be truly grateful :)
~RM