Sun

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. " ~C.S. Lewis

I had heard this quote before, but I don't know that it had really registered. If one day the sun simply didn't come up, life would be so very different. Think about it; if you had no light, how would your life change? The sun helps us see everything as we go through our daily life. As Christians, we believe in Christianity as we believe the sun will rise, because we see it, and it serves as our "filter" through which we will see everything else in our lives.

Motions

Often when I'm getting ready for school in the morning, I'll turn on my radio. At least once in the course of the day, KLOVE will play "The Motions" by Matthew West:

This might hurt

It’s not safe

But I know that I’ve gotta make a change

I don’t care

If I break

At least I’ll be feeling something

‘Cause just ok

Is not enough

Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don’t wanna go through the motions

I don’t wanna go one more day

Without Your all consuming passion inside of me

I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking

What if I had given everything?

Instead of going through the motions

No regrets

Not this timeI’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind

Let Your love

Make me whole

I think I’m finally feeling something

Take me all the way

Take me all the way

Take me all the way

I don't know about you all, but for me, when school and life and family get busy, it's too easy to just go through the motions, whether it's praying, reading my Bible, or really fellowshipping with God. A classmate of mine recently spoke about this song during devotions one day, and it really hit home. God should be first, not second or third or fourth! Especially growing up in a Christian home, attending church every Sunday, and going to a Christian school, it's so easy to go through the motions. But that is not what God has called me, or you, to. We are not to be complacent as Christians. No passivity. Not just motions. We need to be active.

I'm back!

Hello readers! Yes, it's true; I'm back! Hopefully I won't neglect you all as shamefully as I was before. :) School is pretty busy, but with only 44 days left until summer, life seems pretty good right now. Spring break was a few weeks ago, and we went to Charleston for a 4-day vacation. It was lots of fun, especially jumping in the ocean and finding an amazing pizza place called La Pizzeria. How very original. :) My sixteenth birthday also happened during my blogging hiatus. My older siblings were able to come down for a few days which meant so much! So that's a brief synopsis of the last four months of my life; how about you all?

P.S. I hope to get back to (semi) regular posting soon, so check back in the next few days. Oh, and if you're reading this, will you please leave me a comment? I like to know who's here. :)

A hiatus

For the few of you who read my blog, I'm sure you've noticed that my regular posting has slacked off. So I'm "officially" taking a blogging break. School and life are so busy right now, so I just wanted you to know, that's why I won't be blogging! Be back to posting sometime......

~Livvy

Vintage Pearl Giveaway!

These necklaces from The Vintage Pearl are so adorable! Check them out here.

Time flies.....

I can't believe it's been a whole month since I've posted! I'm sorry to have neglected my blog for so long; life has been quite busy, and school occupies most of my time. I have three Honors classes this year, and they require a bunch of extra work! But it's been a good couple of weeks. Our school went on our fall retreat, which was very good. The flour-water tank wars were so intense! We had to build our own tanks out of cardboard and duct tape, and then bomb each other with flour and water-soaked socks. So fun! The sessions of worship and teaching were so good too!! We had some good times of student prayer; it was so neat to see how God confirmed some things to a some of us! How have the past few weeks been for you?

The Vintage Pearl

I've enjoyed looking over the various creations from The Vintage Pearl, and I thought you might too! She is hosting a giveaway; here is the link. Enjoy!

YLCF

Take a peek at the YLCF's post for today. The link is down on the right.

Life and school

Actually I guess school is my life right now. :) Just kidding. School has been really good lately. Everybody's getting ramped up for Fall Retreat!!! I did a post on last year's FR, but for those who weren't reading then, my school takes all the highschoolers away for about two days for a time of fellowhip, worship, speakers, games, food.... :) They break up the students into groups of about 12, and I'm very happy with my group this year. Fun teacher, fun classmates; it's all good! School itself is going quite well too. I was a little busier than usual tonight, but better tonight than over the weekend. Sophmore year really doesnt' seem so bad so far. How did your week go? Let me know!

Pictures

Yesterday was just so pretty out, so Mom and I (and Bono!) went out to take some pictures.

Modeling!

I modeled some of Mom's designs for her yesterday. So fun!

Inspector Bucket

Lucy Beret

Cassandra Hat

Lucy Beret

First Day!

Today was the first day of the 2010-2011 school year! Thankfully it was a half day. :) I have Apologetics, Geometry, Spanish I, Honors English, Honors Biology, World History, and Creative Writing. My class is divided in some interesting ways. The sophmore class has 22 students, but we're in two different maths, so half of my classes have 22 students and the other half have 8! Funny how the schedule works.... All my teachers seem very nice and fun (I've had most of them before), and my classmates are great people too. Now, why don't you tell me about your first day!

Jane Austen Charater Quiz

I found this on the YLCF's archives. Try taking it, and then let me know what you are! (I'm an "L" for anyone who wants to know.) Jane Austen Character Quiz

ADDED LATER: On the request of a friend, here is a link to another Jane Austen Quiz: Jane Austen Quiz

Post from the archives of YLCF

I really enjoyed this post. It was very good...and very convicting. :) I don't always treat my brother or other guys in my life as I should; it was nice to get the reminder of one of the reasons that it is so important! Encouraging Boys to Manhood

Hair and more hair!

I know that a couple of you blog readers have dogs, and most of you know that I have two Golden Retrievers, Bono and Tallie. They shed like you wouldn't believe, but I never thought it was possible for a dog to have as much hair as Bono does. I brushed him for close to 15 minutes and this was the result:


The box was half full of hair by the time I finished, filled all the way up to the handle! Bono looks like he's lost about 5 pounds....

"By Our Love"

I read this post this morning and really enjoyed it. I think it's a very good and timely reminder of what it truly means to be a Christian, especially in our society today. Let me know what you think about it! Lies Young Women Believe By Our Love

Look at YLCF!

This month, the Young Ladies Christian Fellowship is rerunning certain posts of theirs. I really liked the one today, and would encourage you to take a peek. I was inspired to apply it to my own life, through school! I can work harder at not complaining about teachers or homework, I can try to do my best in everything, I can be productive, and I can also be nice to those classtmates that maybe get on my nerves. Anyway, take a look and then what I've just written will make more sense! :)

Life stays exciting...

I have two basset hounds that I regularly pet-sit; they're a bunch of fun! However, this morning when I went over, there was evidence that the owners hadn't left yet. I kept hearing noises, but I wasn't sure. Then Mrs. K came down after I'd fed the dogs, medicated the dogs, and given them their rawhide chews. At least her job with them was mostly done for the morning. Oh well. Life would be so much more dull without happenings like this!

Pencils: proof of God's immense grace

Today I was cleaning one of our old pencil boxes, weeding out the stubby, unusable ones. And it struck me. We are so blessed to serve a Creator who isn't like I was with those pencils; He doesn't get rid of us when it seems that we are past our use, when we feel like we have no drive to accomplish anything. No, He takes us, and He sharpens and refreshes us again and again, as much as is necessary; He makes us new and whole. He'll never throw us out, He'll never leave us by the wayside. He'll never treat us like an old pencil...

"Because of the LORD's great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

~Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

"The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made."

~Psalm 145:13 (NIV)

Little laughs....

I just found this on a blog I follow. Try it and see!

• Go to google.com (the actual website, not a search bar)
• Type in "google Chuck Norris" (make sure to include the word google)
• Hit the "I'm feeling lucky" button (not the regular search button)

See??