Last post of 2009

This has been an excellent year of blogging; I've been able to talk to people through my blog and join the "blogosphere" of writers. I've had blogging failures, unposted posts, and posts that drew up to 10 or more comments. Thank you for sticking with this blog for 2009, and I hope to bring you more interesting posts in 2010!

~Livvy

Happy New Year's Eve

Hello! I hope that all of you have a wonderful evening being with family and friends, making resolutions for 2010, and staying up late. :)


HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!!

Adorable Puppy!

The most aborable puppy tries to whistle!

Puppy Tries to Whistle!

FreeRice

I would encourage all of you to take a few minutes out of your day and go to www.freerice.com. A sponsor will turn every correct answer you get into 10 grains of rice to feed someone in a third-world country. If you need to brush up on math, English, geography, etc, this is an excellent way to do. It's also a good way to turn a strong point in some subjects into food for a hungry person.

~Livvy

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, my faithful blog readers! :) I hope you all had/are having a wonderful day with family and friends; I did. I also received some thoughtful gifts, including a gorgeous bag that my mommy made. I'll try to post pictures later. :) What was your favorite gift that you received, and what was your favorite gift to give (and who did you give it to)? Have a very merry Christmas, all!!!!

~Livvy

Merry Christmas Eve!

There's irony for you; I told you that I wouldn't be posting as much, and now I've posted more in the last few days then in the whole month. :) But I couldn't resist telling all of you blog readers Merry Christmas Eve!!!! Now hopefully there are people reading my blog, and I'm not just writing for my own benefit. So, if you read this blog, I want you to leave a comment on this post. That's all I ask. Just leave a comment. Okay? Have a blessed time celebrating our Lord Jesus' birth!

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's a Pokenberry Christmas (I, II)

Today's Adventure in Odyssey was a clever twist on It's A Wonderful Life. Enjoy! Whit's End

Musings.......

Since nothing earth-shattering has happened in the last little bit, I haven't had anything to post. But with some exciting things coming up, I thought I had better write!

With Christmas in 3 days, I am enjoying celebrating the season! We've been going through our Advent book, and on Saturday we set up our tree and decorated it. The last few days have been a flurry of buying and wrapping presents, cleaning, and hanging out with friends and family. My cousin, her husband, and their little baby will all be coming down either late this week or early next week. I'm planning on getting together with a close friend that I haven't seen since summer time.

I may not be posting much the next few days, so don't be surprised if I seem to disappear from the blogging world for a while. :) Merry Christmas!!!!

Gotta love ordering online

Oh well. The present that I had ordered for my dear mother got shipped off to who knows where, and what I ordered someone else has no doubt received. Let's just hope that the company straightens this incident out. I'm sure they recieved at least two emails today. :)

Christmas Break!

School is officially over until January 5th! Finals are done, and they all went really well. I am however thrilled to have over two weeks off. :) We have our church group coming over tomorrow for a Christmas party, and hopefully we can get together with friends on Christmas Day. We also have to get our Christmas tree this weekend; life has been so hectic lately we've had no time for decorating! But as we gather with our families and friends to open presents, and share time together, let's not lose the focus. I know that I often do, but this year I'm going to strive to put Christ at the center of this holiday. What are you all doing for Christmas?

International Festival and FINALS!

I have been silent the past week or so because I've been insanely busy working on my International Fest. The project was last night, so I thought I'd take the time to tell you all about it!

All the freshman at BCS had to present a country at the International Fest last night. I chose the country of Israel, so for the past three weeks, that is just about all that's been occuping my time. It was a lot of fun though. I got to talk to a lot of people and share what I had learned; I also got to dress up in modern Israeli clothes, so that was really cool too! I am happy that it is over though!
Finals start on Tuesday, so today I reviewed some English a wee bit, and then practiced a LOT of algebra. Finals are over Thursday, and Friday all the highschool students get to go play with the elementary school kids! Friday is a half day for the whole school, and then I am free until January 5th. Yippee!

Argh!

My internet died yet again, so I'm sorry again for my silence. I think we have everything worked out, but if not, you'll know why I've disappeared. :)

It was amazing; this morning I woke up and the ground was covered with snow! To get snow in Tennessee at the end of fall is unbelievable! So we went outside with the dogs and had snowball fights and raced down the hill in sleds. So fun!

Compline V

Tuesday -- The Cuthbert Compline

*I will lie down and sleep in peace

for You alone, Lord,

make me dwell in saftey.

*O God, and Spirit, and Jesu, the Three,

from the crown of my head, O Trinity,

to the soles of my feet mine offering be.

Come I unto Thee, O Jesu, my King -

O Jesu, do Thou be my sheltering.

My dear ones, O God, bless Thou and keep,

in every place where they are.

*Whoever has chosen to make

the shelter of the Most High their dwelling place

will stay in His over-shadowing.

*He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

He is my God, and I am trusting Him.

*He will rescue you from teh traps laid for your feet,

and save you from the destroying curse.

*His faithful promises are your armour.

You need no longer be afraid of any terror by night,

or the death-arrow that flies by day.

*The Lord Himself is your refuge;

you have made the Most High your

stronghold.

*Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,

for You are my crag and my stronghold.

*How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand.

When I awake, I am still with You.

*I will not lie down tonight with sin,

nor shall sin

nor sin's shadow

lie down with me.

*O God of life, this night,

O darken not to me Thy light.

O God of life, this night

close not Thy gladness to my sight.

O God of life, this night,

Thy door to me, O shut not tight,

O God of life, this night.

*Be it on Thine own beloved arm,

O God of grace,

that I in peace shall waken.

*Jesu, Son of Mary!

my helper, my encircler.

Jesu, Son of David!

my strength everlasting.

Jesu, Son of Mary!

my helper, my encircler.

The peace of all peace

be mine this night

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Compline IV

Monday -- The Aiden Compline

*O Christ, Son of the living God,

May Your holy angels guard our sleep,

May they watch over us as we rest

And hover around our beds.

*May You reveal to us in our dreams

Visions of Your glorious truth,

O High Prince of the universe,

O High Priest of the mysteries.

*May no dreams disturb our rest

And no nightmares darken our dreams.

May no fears or worries delay

Our willing, prompt repose.

*May the virtue of our daily work

Hallow our nightly prayers.

May our sleep be deep and soft

So our work be fresh and hard.

*I will lie down and sleep in peace

For You alone, Lord,

Make me dwell in safety.

My dear ones, O God,

Bless Thou and keep,

In every place where they are.

*Into Your hands I commit my spirit;

I give it to You with all the love of my

heart.

*How precious to me are Your thoughts,

O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them, they would

Outnumber the grains of sand.

When I awake, I am still with You.

*Christ without sin, Christ of wounds,

I am placing my soul and my body

Under Thy guarding this night,

Christ of the poor, Christ of tears.

Thy cross be my shielding this night,

O Thou Son of tears,

Of the wounds of the piercing.

*I am going now into the sleep:

O be it in Thy dear arm's keep,

O God of grace, that I shall

Awake in peace.

*My Christ! My Christ!

My shield, my encircler,

Each day, each night,

Each light, each dark.

*My Christ! My Christ!

My shield, my encircler,

Each day, each night,

Each light, each dark.

Be near me, uphold me,

My treasure, my triumph.

*Circle me, Lord,

Keep light near and darkness afar.

*Circle me, Lord

Keep peace within; keep evil out.

*The peace of all peace

Be mine this night

In the name of the Father,

And of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Complines III

Sunday -- The Ita Compline

*The Sacred Three

to save

to shield

to surround

the hearth

the home

this night

and every night.

*Search me, O God, and know my heart.

Test me and know my thoughts.

*See if there is any wicked way in me

and lead me in the way everlasting.

*O Father, O Son, O Holy Spirit,

forgive me my sins.

O only-begotten Son the heavenly

Father,

forgive.

O God who is one,

O God who is true,

O God who is first,

O God who is one substance,

O God only mighty,

in three Persons, truly merciful,

forgive.

*O God of life, this night,

O darken not to me Thy light.

*O God of life, this night,

close not Thy gladness to my sight.

*Keep Your people, Lord,

in the arms of Your embrace.

Shelter them under Your wings.

*Be their light in darkness.

Be their hope in distress.

Be their clam in anxiety.

*Be their strength in their weakness.

*Be their comfort in pain.

*Be their song in the night.

*In peace will I lie down, for it is You, O

Lord,

You alone who makes me to rest secure.

*Be it on Your own beloved arm,

O God of grace, that I in peace shall awake.

*Be the peace of the Spirit

mine this night.

Be the peace of the Son

mine this night.

Be the peace of the Father

mine this night.

The peace of all peace

be mine this night

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Glory to God Forever

This was a song we sang at my school retreat (link), and it's been on my heart ever since. Enjoy!

Glory to God Forever

Verse 1 Before the world was made,

before you spoke it to be

You were the King of Kings

yeah you were, yeah you were
And now you’re reigning still

enthroned above all things

Angels and saints cry out

we join them as we sing

Chorus Glory to God, Glory to God

Glory to God, Forever

Verse 2 Creator God you gave

me breath so I could praise

Your great and matchless name

all my days, all my days
So let my whole life be a blazing offering

A life that shouts and sings

the greatness of the King

Bridge Take my life and let it be

All for you and for your glory

Take my life and let it be yours

(for more info, go to this site)

Complines II

Saturday -- The Patrick Compline

*In the name of the King of life;

in the name of the Christ of love;

in the name of the Holy Spirit:

the Triune of my strength.

*I love you, O Lord my strength.

The Lord is my rock,

my fortress and my deliverer.

My God is my rock

in whom I take refuge.

*I will praise the Lord who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

*I have set the Lord always before me.

Because He is at my right hand,

I shall not be shaken.

*I am placing my soul and my body

under Thy guarding this night, O Christ.

May Thy cross this night be shielding me.

*Into Your hands I commit my spirit;

redeem me, O Lord, the God of Truth.

*The God of life with guarding hold you;

the living Christ with guarding fold you;

the Holy Sprit, guarding, mould you;

each night of life to aid, enfold you;

each day and night of life uphold you.

*May God shield me;

may God fill me;

may God keep me;

may God watch me;

may God bring me this night

to the nearness of His lvoe.

*The peace of the Father of joy,

the peace of the Christ of hope,

the peace of the Spirit of grace,

*the peace of all peace

be mine this night

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

16 Golden Retrievers Teach On The Atom!

This is so adorable! I wish my dogs were so well-behaved.....
16 Golden Retrievers Teach On The Atom!

Hand Care

Even in Tenessee, the winters can get cold. My hands crack badly, and last year my mom gave me a helpful tip, so I thought I'd share it with you! The secret: olive oil and salt. No, I'm not kidding. Pour a small amount of salt into your hand, and pour a tablespoon or so of oil on top (doesn't need to be exact). Rub it around on your hands for a minute or two, but be forewarned: it will tickle! Use just enough water to get the salt off, and then pat your hands dry with a paper towel. Your hands will feel soft and hopefully won't crack as much.

Complines I

Lately, before I drift off to sleep, I've been reading a compline to myself. Complines are prayers for each day, (I believe) from the earlier centuries, named for the priests who wrote them.I will post one each day for 7 days; I hope you enjoy them!

Friday -- The Boisil Compline

*O Lord, you will keep us safe,

and protect us forever.

*I am placing my soul and my body

in Thy safe keeping this night, O God,

in Thy safe keeping, O Jesus Christ,

in Thy safe keeping, O Spirit of perfect truth.

The Three who would defend my cause

be keeping me this night from harm.

*I call on You, O God,

for You will answer me;

give ear to me and my prayer.

*Show the wonder of Your great love,

Who who save by Your right hand

those who take refuge in Your from their foes.

*Keep me as the apple of Your eye;

hide me in the shadow of Your wings.

*Lighten my darkness, Lord.

Let the light of Your presence

dispel the shadows of night.

*Christ with me sleeping,

Christ with me waking,

Christ with me watching,

each day and each night.

*Save us, Lord, while we are awake,

guard us while we are asleep;

that, awake, we may watch with Christ,

and, asleep, may rest in his peace.

*God with me protecting,

the Lord with me direscting,

the Spirit with me strengthening

for ever and for evermore.

*In the name of the Father precious,

and of the Spirit of healing balm.

In the name of the Lord Jesus,

I lay me down to rest.

*The peace of all peace

be mine this night

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

While I am reading them alone, during a quiet time, you can read it with family members, alternating phrases and reading the bolded phrases together.

The Explanation of My Recent Silence....

While the Internet is a wonderful thing, we must sometimes go without. :) My computer suddenly quit about 2 weeks ago, so I haven't been posting, but I've been thinking about a lot of posts! So don't be surprised if a wave of posting begins very soon....

~Livvy

New books to read!

As a very critical reader/writer, I am always on the lookout for good literature! With this mind set, I've decided to go through most, if not all, of Jane Austen's work, as well as Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, on the recommendation of a friend. (Thanks, Katus!) I just got Persuasion, Emma, and Jane Eyre out from the library, and I'm going to start reading one of them tonight. So don't be surprised if a few book reviews start popping up the next week or few! (Any good book recommendations from my readers? Let me know please!)

Practical Science in the Home

Stand back, Mythbusters! In an effort to prove something, and to add selling charm to Mom's latest knitted designs, we were testing the effectiveness of her new cup cozies! Here, in detail, are our steps!

• Step 1: Boil water and measure a cup of it into each travel cup. One cup is covered with a knitted cozy and one is not. The initial measurement of the uncovered cup: 188 degrees Fahrenheit. The measurement of the covered cup: 186 degrees Fahrenheit. (difference of 2 degrees)
• Step 2: After 15 minutes, check both cups and take new measurements. Uncovered cup: 152 degrees Fahrenheit. Covered cup: 158 degrees Fahrenheit. (difference of 6 degrees)
• Step 3: After another 15 minutes (30 minutes from the start), take final measurement. The uncovered cup: 131 degrees Fahrenheit. The covered cup: 140 degrees Fahrenheit! (difference of 9 degrees)

Our theory was proved! The cup cozy kept the drink approximately 9 degrees warmer for 30 minutes than the cup with no cozy did. Just goes to show that some science is applicable in the home!

Foothills Craft Guild Show 2009!

Many, if not all, of you know that my mom is a knitter! This year, she'll be in the Foothills Craft Guild Show. If you are an artsy person, and live in this general area, you may want to come check it out. Admission is reasonable; $5-$6 dollars. Here is the link to the official site: Foothills Craft Guild.

Sick :(

This morning when I woke up with a raging sore throat, Mom told me, "Go back to bed!" So here I sit, blogging, feeling somewhat better, but not well enough to go to school. Since I only woke up about 2 hours ago (11:00), it doesn't feel like it should be after 1:00 already! Another reason I decided to stay home was the fact that I have a huge geography project due tomorrow. A classmate and I will be teaching the rest of the class on Western Sahara, and I thought if I have to miss a day this week, it should be today and not tomorrow! On a happier note, the project is going well. Last night I painted the flag, my friend is doing a poster, we're going to do a crossword puzzle and play a fishing game (at first we thought we might try camel racing, but decided against it!), and have a fruit salad! It should be a very good project. I'm just praying that my throat will be well enough to talk for 40 minutes. :) I need to go make some fishing rods, and type up so notes....

Blessings!

~Livvy

Family!

This week, my older sister and nephew came down for a visit. It was so much fun! They came in on Wednesday night, late, so everyone said hello and then went to sleep. In the morning, Jen and I introduced Tallie and Bono to their dog, Domingo, and thankfully it went well; no one bit off any limbs or anything like that! I took the day off from school (it was such a sacrifice..... Not!), and we went to the Smoky Mountains. The weather was absolutely gorgeous! One stop we made before we explored the mountains was at a store called "Wood and Strings." The man who owns the store specializes in handmade dulcimers, but also has flutes, lap harps, bow psaltrys, steel drums, and other instruments. My nephew Rhys enjoyed the steel drums especially! After that, we went to the Y (a beautiful stream in the mountains, and a good place to throw rocks). Our next stop was Buddy's, for some true Tennessee barbecue! It was a great time for hanging out and enjoying good family time! Thanks, Jen and Rhys!

Good for a laugh...

If you want a laugh, just watch this:Who's on first

October Reading List

I have seen this done on another blog (link), and I thought it looked like a nifty idea. Every month, I'll post and give small reviews on books I have read during that specific month. Some months will obviously have more than others, since school keeps me pretty busy. So, I now present my reading list for the month of October (thus far).

• Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. An interesting remake of the traditional story, Cinderella. This book is well-written and fast-paced. Mrs. Levine does an excellent job of creating believable characters, while still including the small amount of magic necessary for any fairy tale.
• Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene. I've been reading various books in this series, both from the new and the old. Although not the best writing, reading Nancy Drew gives me a break from other more studious requirements.
• The Bible (NIV). In Spiritual Life I, we do three Bible readings a week. Right now, we're going through Philippians and Psalms.

Not much else, but then, it's only October 15! What are you reading?

Adventures in Odyssey!

One of the fun points of each day is to sit down after school and listen to the new episode of Adventures in Odyssey. With good morals and no bad language, they're a pleasure to listen to. If you would care to check it out, just follow this link.

What a week....

I do believe that this week was the longest school week that I have had so far. Overall, I had about 7 tests/quizzes and a huge geography project on Sudan, besides all my regular school work and basic things like eating and sleeping. :) It was, however, a good week. I feel as though I got plenty accomplished, and the project on Sudan went okay. Our food though was absolutely, without question the most disgusting thing I have ever had the misfortune to be required to put in my mouth. My partner and her mom made a custard, flan type thing. They definitely made it the right way, so it certainly wasn't their fault. But the food just jiggled while we carried it, and the texture was totally gross and slimy. Ugh! The project itself went well though.

So, this weekend I plan on recovering from my activity-filled school week by going to my brother's soccer game and spending time with church friends. Ev's team is short a few players, so maybe I'll get recruited! Have a great weekend, all!

Blessings,
Livvy

Note...

I have removed comment moderation except on comments older than 10 days. Just thought I'd let everyone know. Since I love to get your comments, and removing comment moderation makes commenting on my posts easier, it seemed like the wisest thing to do. Thanks!

~Livvy

Rolls!

From dough....



to risen dough....



to rising rolls....



to the finished product!


For many, many years, Dad and I have been making these triple-rise rolls. They are the best! If you want to read a funny story about one of my experiences making these rolls, click here.

Back to 1st Grade....

Yesterday, I was able to go back to my old school and spend the day with 16 first graders! It was so much fun! The day started out with lots of stares from the students at Paideia Academy since I was wearing my uniform for Berean (where I am now). I also felt so old! My brother's class, seventh grade, is the oldest there, and since I'm in highschool... Well, you get the idea. Through the day, I sorted papers, graded papers, copied papers, cleaned bleeding mosquito bites, dried off a locker, cleaned up popcorn and pretzels, helped build pyramids, helped with spelling, read, and washed desks. It was fun, but a lot of work. One little boy, during lunch, popped his popcorn bag, and it opened from the bottom! I also had to walk all sixteeen kids to a potty break, which was actually really exhausting. It was hard to keep them all in a straight line, and quiet. Actually, it was impossible! But it was good. Hopefully I can do it again sometime. :)

Vote!

Yet again, I am going to ask for your help for Heartland Golden Retriever Rescue. The voting challenge has started up again, and HGRR is in 1st place for the state. To win overall, they need lots of votes. Please help! http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com Click the "it's free to give" button and then the "vote now" button. Also, I completely understand if you're not allowed to. Please don't feel pressured. If you want to see what HGRR really does, the link to their site is over in my list of favorites websites. Thanks!!!

No school!

Due to H1N1 (and others), Berean Christian School has closed for the week! While I am sorry for those that are sick, I am so glad to have 4 days of freedom. :) I do have some work and a project due on Sudan that I will have to work on by myself as my partner has swine flu. Oh well. It's going to be a good week......

Camp BaYoCa Retreat!

Hello! I just got back from a wonderful high school retreat today! All of Berean Christian high school and faculty went to Camp BaYoCa for two and a half days, and it was wonderful.

Wednesday was a full day of school except for 7th period, when we left. After a one and a half hour bus ride, we got to Camp. That night was just settling in, but we managed to pack quite a bit into it. Dinner was barbecue sandwiches, and then we had Session 1 with our speaker, Richie Beeler. The worship was so powerful; I haven't experienced anything like it in quite a while. Everyone was totally focused on God. It was so beautiful! Mr. Beeler gave a talk on "Being An Authentic Christian in 2009." I have been totally inspired! After that, my friends and I walked up to the Mess Hall (there was a TON of walking up and down very steep and slippery paths). Our theme for Camp was Survivor, so that night the teachers hid our team flags (there were 10 teams), and then we had to find them. But it wasn't quite that easy. We had to be in groups of three and link our arms! My team never did find our flag, and in fact, the teachers hid it so well they couldn't find it! After games, my friends and I went to sleep.

Thursday started early for me, 6:30 am. Wake up wasn't until 8:00, so I just read my book by flashlight. When everyone finally did get up, controlled mayhem ensued, and then with much hiking and groaning, everyone made it to a breakfast of tater-tot casserole! We then had Time Alone With God and Session 2. The worship really blessed me at all the Sessions, and since I was having a pretty rough week, I appreciated it so much! After another thought-provoking session with Mr. Beeler, all the teams went off to play games. Let me just say the game was stress-filled, involved tons of running, and I did not think I was going to make it to the end. Thankfully, all the participants (save one who passed out) made it to the end, and my team, The Ligers, came in 3rd. I staggered up the hill yet again with some friends for lunch and then performed clean-up duty. That afternoon, everybody rested, and later on in the afternoon, all the teams were given different scenarios to act out. Ours was pretty lame, but we managed to do it without making very big fools of ourselves. For dinner, we had a banquet and the teachers served us! Then we had Session 3, which was really "Weeping Night." Most people were bawling and/or praying. It was amazing to watch God move in our student body!

Friday was Race-the-Clock-Day. The bus schedule got messed up, but we managed to have a good 4th Session. After that, we all raced around packing up, cleaning, and eating lunch. It was a wonderful retreat!

I'm now home and thankful to be here! I am also so grateful to God for touching my heart and really showing Himself to me in this somewhat difficult time. May the praise continue!

My Music Corner....

I am definitely in a posting mood; four in two days! Anyway, since I just told you what books I've been reading, I thought I'd tell you what music I have been listening to recently!

• "My Deliverer" by Rich Mullins
• "Freedom" (CD/#6-12) by Michael W. Smith
• Adventures in Odyssey by Focus on the Family. I really enjoy listening to audiobooks, and AIO is humorous with good messages.
• Father Gilbert Series by Focus on the Family. Good mysteries about a cop who became a priest. *Some episodes are not acceptable for kids under 15.*

My Reading Corner....

One of my favorite past times is reading. Being a writer as well, I'm always on the lookout for good books! Here are some books that I've read within the past month or two that I would recommend:

• Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. This story is wonderful! There's just enough reality to the book that you don't question the fantastical parts. :)
• Ranger's Apprentice: Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan. Again, a fictitious book. The Ranger's Apprentice series are among some of the most well-written books I've ever read. Definitely a worthwhile read.
• Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan. Set in India, Homeless Bird is the story of a young girl who is married off at a very young age. I'm in the process of rereading this book, and I'm enjoying it tremendously.
• Ryan White: My Own Story by Ryan White. I've already written about this book, but it's worth posting again! This was my favorite summer reading book, and an inspiring story of a teenage boy with hemophilia and AIDS. *Please be warned that there is a little bit of rude language in it: bad names, etc.*
• Fair Weather by Richard Peck. Absolutely one of the most hilarious books ever written!! If you want a laugh, read this story! Other Richard Peck books that are good for laughter are A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder.

That's what has been on my shelf recently! I'll try to post the books I'm reading every month for all to see!

September 11, 2009

Many of you may remember watching the Twin Towers fall exactly eight years ago today, September 11, 2001. I encourage you to be in prayer for the families that were tragically affected in that horrible act of terrorism. If you think about it, please join me in prayer!

In Christ,
~Livvy

Update!

Hello everyone! I apologize for having neglected my blog recently. School can do that to a person! Life has been so busy that I don't feel like sitting down at the end of a long day and typing a post. However, weekends are a time for relaxation, so I thought I would jot some notes.
School is going absolutely great! I really have the best teachers (except for art, but that's a different story). My classmates are good, some are bordering on weird, but I think that has more to do with being in high school than anything else. I've finished my first round of tests/quizzes, and all went surprisingly well, even in subjects that aren't my forte. Today I typed my English paper, had an algebra pop quiz (!), took Bible, geography, and science quizzes, and spent 40 minutes dreadfully bored in Art I. We also had Chapel today, which is a nice break from the weekly routine. We had a very inspiring message that I will tell you more about in a later post.
This weekend, Ev has his first soccer game! As his team is missing three good players, it will be interesting to see how the game pans out. Hopefully his team will not get massacred. Oh, guess what their team name is? You never will, so here it is: The Blue Pugilistic Inchworms. I'm not kidding, and you did read it correctly! Let's just say I'll only be cheering, "Go Team!"
Have a good weekend!

In Him,
~Livvy

Vote!

As you have no doubt seen, I have created a new poll to ask you which creative dog names you like better. We've made them to fit Bono and Tallie's personalities, and they really do represent my pups! After you vote, and if you would like too, please give me your idea of a pair of names that would go well with dogs! Be creative, and I can't wait to see what you will come up with. :)

*You might want to say the poll names out loud; they may make more sense that way.

Sorry!

I apologize for being so remise in posting these pasts two weeks! School has kept me busy, and the time I have left, I have been spending with family. But, now that I am settled into a routine, I hope to have time to post. :)

• First off, it's soccer season again!! Although I am too old to play, Evan is playing through a church league. I'll be posting lots of pictures, and maybe even some videos with Dad's new digital video-camera! Oh, and please be in prayer: Evan was just out playing airsoft with some school buddies, and he got stung 4 times by yellow jackets. Some of his friends got stung too.
• School is going GREAT! My teachers are awesome, my classmates are great (with a few exceptions-hee hee!), and it's just good overall. I never have much homework, either, which is wonderful!!!

That's all the news for now! Please comment, and have great day!

School!

I'm sorry to have neglected my blog so badly this past week! School has started, and I feel like I don't have much time anymore. But, I am enjoying school a lot! The days are speeding by, which is a blessing. Everything is speeding by, in fact, except art. Art is slow and, at times, tedium itself. My teacher is talkative, and that sums it up right there! My other teachers are great, classmates are good, and classes are all around pretty wonderful! Geography is so much fun! We had a lecture one day (which wasn't so great), but all the other days have been games, like scavenger hunts and crossword puzzles. I'll try to post more this week! (Please comment and tell me how your first week went. :))

School schedule

One of my friends asked for my school schedule, so I thought that I would post it on here. I'll be taking Composition/Literature, Keyboarding, Algebra I, Spiritual Life I, World Geography, Physical Science, Art I, and Home Economics. I'm looking forward to a great first year of highschool!! Please, comment and tell me what you're taking this school year!

School uniforms!

This week, after spending countless hours searching on the Land's End site for uniforms for both Evan and me, they arrived! Of course, we're still missing one pair of Ev's shorts, and some shirts that are being monogrammed, but for the most part, everything is here! So, for your enjoyment, I did a small photo shoot. Hope you like them!



Skirt and sweater...



Polos...



Polos, pants, capris, and a L.L. Bean vest from vacation...



Everything!

Cuteness!

Isn't that just too cute?!

Poll!

Please scroll down to the bottom of this page and vote in the poll! I'd really love to know how often you visit. Thanks!

Heartland Update!

Thanks to all of you who voted for Heartland Golden Retriever Rescue this summer! They were first in the state, so they won $1,000! Visit HGRR's site; the link is over under "Good Websites."

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Today, Evan and I made chocolate chip cookies for our church group tonight. They turned out great!

Evan

I would like to commend my brother on his excellent work in Latin over the summer! Although trying at times, Latin went really well this summer, and I am so proud of Evan's hard work in learning his Latin words! He took a quiz every day this week on all the words we've covered so far, and the lowest grade he got was a 98%! EXCELLENT WORK, Evan!!

Best Little Brother Ever!

Summer Craft Project!

Being the organized person that I am, I enjoy laying out my school clothes for the next day. So, Mom bought me a clothes rack, I painted it to match my room, and then Dad helped me hang it behind the door. It's really cute, and I like it a lot. A very cute, quick, and practical project.

Training II!

I've been working with Bono some more, and it's going great! Yesterday, every time I went in my room, he would come in with me and curl up in the crate. It's wonderful progress. More pictures of him in the crate are below:

Vacation pictures!

For those of you who didn't know, my family and I went on a trip to the Northeast, specifically Maine. We returned Thursday after a wonderful time with family. Some friends asked me to post pictures, so here goes! Here's a narrative of events first:

On Wednesday, we arrived in Portland and explored some lighthouses. We also went to an excellent restaurant, Espo's Trattoria. The food was great, the portions, HUGE! Thursday we saw my grandparents in Freeport and shared a meal. We also visited the famous L.L. Bean, which is incredibly impressive! :) On Friday, when the rain poured buckets, we drove to Beals Island, where we met my brother and sister-in-law. We spent three wonderful days with them! Saturday the six of us went to Jasper Beach. It's named Jasper Beach because of the rocks filled with jasper that make up the amazing stone beach. The weather was great! Sunny and cool, with a breeze. After spending most of the day there, we just managed to beat the fog back to Beals Island. Unfortunately, the fog stayed over the island for the remainder of our trip. That night, we did something neither Ev nor I had ever done before; we cooked lobsters. Dad and Kim were the only people who ate them, but to my credit, I did try some. Personally, I thought it was chewy and tasted kind of strange. Like my mom said, it's like eating rubber bands. But to each his own! Sunday we hiked 2 1/2 miles to a beach, but the fog lay over everything, so we just smelled the ocean smells and and stuck our hands in the cold water. We saw a whale's head, or what was left of it. Jer, Kim, Ev, and I went out later and threw bumpers for Jer and Kim's dogs. It was so much fun!! The dogs were usually right on target, so it was very fun to watch! Oh, and early the next morning, at about 4:30 am or 5:00 am, the lobster men went out and then the Coast Guard tested all their very loud equipment. I think fewer people slept well that night. Monday we parted ways with Jer and Kim and then drove down to Bar Harbor, the home of Acadia National Park. But the fog was settled over Acadia too, so we drove back to Freeport. Tuesday we explored Freeport, but Wednesday Dad, Ev, and I went skeet-shooting. My only comment: it's a little harder then it looks, and I'm not going to do it again. My shoulder is still recovering. Thursday was just flying home, which sounds easy, but wasn't. We were delayed about an hour and a half out of Portland, and the Atlanta airport was backed up due to heavy thunderstorms earlier in the day. We finally made it home at 8:00pm. Our checked bags, however, didn't make it to our house until Friday morning. Happily they are now in our possession! Vacation was great! I hope you enjoy the pictures! (I'm sorry, but they're not in chronological order.)

Ev skeet-shooting.

Me, also skeet-shooting.

Two boats coming in after a day at sea....

Portland Head Light: beautiful!

Dad and me, starting our hike back from the beach...in the fog!

Mom sitting on a rock at the beach.

The whale's head.

Dad and Kim...and the lobsters!

Jer putting the lobsters in the pot.

Ev holding a lobster.

Jasper Beach: gorgeous!

Ev and Jer examining some rocks.

Family picture!

Training!

Bono has a fear of loud noises, mainly fireworks and thunderstorms. After spending two nights comforting Bono, one of them at 2:00 a.m., my family and I were ready to try anything! Dad suggested getting out Bono's old crate, but I was dubious. Bono has bad crate memories, since he used to be destructive and was therefore always crated when we were out. But we got it out anyway, figuring it was worth a try. However, I was pleasantly surprised! Bono is really fine with it. He's gone in all the way and laid down a few times, and half-way in even more! I am going through lots of treats because every time I go in my room, I tell Bono "Crate!" and toss a treat in the crate. It's working great!