summer.

Summer... summer, summer.
It has officially started (for me) today. I'm excited. I'm ready to go out into the world and be a spontaneous (yet discerning) teen. Woohoo!

...I must tell you the truth, now. I've never liked summer much. I mean, sure, it's great to have a break from stress for a couple of months. But it's hot, and it's sticky, and it's head-ache inducing. And I get bored. If I don't have a goal I'm striving towards, or a project I'm working on, or school work to spend late nights on... I feel listless. I'm not much of a party girl, so that's not a valid solution for me.
However, I was wondering... do you have any ideas? Something I could have to do during these long, hot days? I'd love to hear suggestions, however wacky :) Hit me up with a comment!

new look.

So what do you think? Is the new design too simple? Too white? Leeaave a comment :)

christ is stronger.

It's about 2:30 in the morning right now, but I'd been lying in bed feeling a bit overwhelmed with emotions. I came to listen to this song we sung earlier today in church, called 'You Are Stronger', by Hillsong.

And... wow. I was hit with something, really hard. Here are the lyrics:

No beginning, and no end
You're my hope and my defense 
You came to seek and save the lost 
You paid it all, upon the cross

You are stronger

You are stronger
Sin is broken, 
You have saved me 
It is written, "Christ is risen." 
Jesus, You are Lord of all

So, let Your name be lifted higher

Be lifted higher!
Be lifted higher!

I've been thinking about evangelism a lot lately- how Jesus commanded us to go and proclaim the glorious Truth to everyone. And I've been feeling hopeless. After all, I'm thinking, there are so many unbelievers, all over the world. Most are firmly planted in what they believe- whether it be another religion, or science, or nothing at all. It is such an impossible task. How can I ever do this?

So I listened to that song again. And the lyrics struck me, reminding me what was wrong with that anxious thought I have. 

He paid it all, upon the cross.

He broke off the chains of sin.

He conquered death.

He is stronger.

I am not strong. I am weak, selfish, and afraid. I haven't done anything. Christ has done it all- He is the authority!

To paraphrase a point from one of Mr. Harris' messages the other week: When we tell people about the Gospel, we're not telling them what we've done. We're telling them what Christ has done! 

"Look! See what Christ has done for me? He wants to do the same for you!"

It's not about us. We needn't rely on our own strength- because we lean on Christ. 

Jesus Christ is stronger. He is stronger than doubts. He is stronger than the most stubborn person. He is stronger than addictions. He is stronger than temptation, than the Devil.

Christ is stronger. Let us lift His name higher, by His grace!

and another thing changes.

Tonight was my last concert with the Intermediate III ensemble. It's really very sad.

I've been part of the Music Academy for 5 years now. I've worked my way up from the beginner group, when I could barely play a G major scale all the way through. I've played with mostly the same people- it's like we've grown up together through music. Yes, that was cheesy. But it's true. We've had the best director ever, Mrs. Rachael Boer. She's been so caring and encouraging, and has always striven to give the glory back to God through our playing. I most likely wouldn't have stuck to it if it wasn't for her.

Sarah, Elisabeth, Chichi, Maddi, Charlotte, Emily, Julia, and Bekah: I love you all muchly. Thanks for the wonderful times!

goodbye, school year.

School is nearly over. By the beard! Can you believe it? I certainly can't. This year has, to borrow the cliche term, really flown by. My first year in highschool, gone in a flash. Yet it was a beautiful flash. I've learned so much these past 8 months, and I don't just mean school-wise.

The Lord has spoken to me in so many ways, and through lots of wonderful, caring people. He's given me a joy in Him that nothing else can satisfy, and He's shown me His power and mercy countless times. Oh, how we ought to praise Him.

This year, other things have happened as well- I've found a passion for music and for playing my violin that I didn't have before, and a passion for writing that I didn't have before. I've taken my first outside classes, and loved them (nerd alert!). I've taken a dance class, and failed (nonathletic nerd alert!). I've gotten contact lenses (aha! I'm becoming less of a nerd now).

And more... but that's all for now. The point is, it's been a packed two semesters.

However, I'm ready for summer. Are you?

p.s. As I won't be a 9th grader much longer, I'm going to be a bit of a pain and change the URL for this blog again. I'm awfully sorry! It's now watchlistenwrite.blogspot.com :)

movies of 2011.

Okay, so, I'm fairly new to this going-to-the-movie-theater business. As a kid I grew up watching the same movies, pretty much; Disney, mostly. Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, Toy Story. We loved musicals (Sound of Music) and Jane Austen (Pride&Prejudice, over and over). Awesome movies, of course. But now that I'm older, I can also look forward to movies coming up! :) I thought I'd share my thoughts on some of the ones I'm particularly excited about.

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Johnny Depp is brilliant. We all know this. I'm a huge fan of the 1st Pirates movie, and mostly it's because of Johnny. I really didn't like the 3rd movie, and mostly it's because of Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightly. So guess what? They're not in this one! Which means with a good script, it could be just as good- or better than, Curse of the Black Pearl.

4. The Muppets

I don't know much about this movie in particular, but I do know about the muppets. Kermit the Frog's gonna be in this one, thank goodness, and that's all I need to know! It'll be released in November, though, so that's a while away.

3. Winnie the Pooh

I love Winnie the Pooh. I even wrote a post about it, as you may have seen. Now, this has the potential to be really good or really bad. So far, what I've seen is really good. It looks to be a bunch of stories from the books wound together to make an epic plot. Fingers crossed!

2. Cars 2

Of course. Pixar is amazing. But for me, Cars 1 wasn't that amazing. A sequel? Ehh. But hey, I said that about Toy Story 3, and it turned out to be my favorite Pixar movie. So I'm highly anticipating this film anyway!

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

There's a certain crowd of people who are really looking forward to this one... and I'm in that crowd. It's the final film in the series, and a long time coming. There's been some ups and downs, but so far the movies have been pretty good. Deathly Hallows looks like it'll be the best yet. Can't wait!

As you can see, I'm a pretty mild movie watcher. Not a big fan of thriller/action movies. Oh well :)

a revelation.

As you may already know -although the odds are that you don't, which is why I'm telling you- my computer sort of... crashed. I could lie and say it did this of its own accord; however, the truth is that I was an idiot and spilled  a large amount of water all over the keyboard.
Dang it.
That being said, I have discovered something that perhaps I had known beforehand, but had never really experienced. Here it is:
You can get a lot more work done in the absence of a computer! I know, I was as shocked as you ;) It's amazing how quickly a math lesson goes by without gmail or online tv episodes. Ha.

There is a severe downside to this predicament. I can't write my book, as it's exclusively located on my computer. That was a stupid decision, in hindsight. Fingers crossed that we can get it fixed!
If not, I was thinking about getting an iPad. Thoughts?

Ahem. Now that that's off my chest, I'd like to make a music recommendation. Being the film score nerd that I am, this piece is right off a soundtrack. Perhaps you've seen 'How to Train Your Dragon'. This is a track from that, and ohh my gosh. Just listen to it. I love it, the Celtic sounds, the time changes, the hybrid of exciting themes. ...Yes :)