Chewed Food

One of my Mom's friends

2011-03-05T22:01:00.001-08:00

It's pretty cool. One of my Mom's friends is hosting a giveaway to win two dresses from Shabby Apple.

You should visit Seven Clown Circus, and check out the amazing giveaway that's going on over there. And you should just say hi. XD

If you love vintage dresses *or vintage anything* you will love the dresses you could win. I REALLY LIKE THE YELLOW ONE! I like both..but I love yellow things with all my heart. XD

~Lissie

Bye for now

2011-02-02T20:42:00.000-08:00

I'm taking a break from blogging. Just for a while. I realize my last post was four months ago but I will be taking a break. Life is pretty busy and I am writing the good, the bad, and the crap in my life elsewhere.

Just for now, I will be taking a break. I am not sure how long it will be. It could be a few months, it could be a half of a year, or a whole year. Hopefully not longer than that. But, I don't know.

Shout out to all who read me: Thanks. I commend you for that. I mean my life isn't really worth reading, but to those who read me anyways (and put up with my feisty, opinionated ways.. :P) well, thanks! Heheh. (:

-Lissie

Condemnation On Both Sides Of The Spectrum Part 1

2010-09-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been thinking about what happens after high school. Say what you like: Little late for that eh?, You've got plenty of time!, Just enjoy the time you have now!, Better get to cracking! Time's a' ticking!

Whatever it be. Just shut up for a minute. No matter what side of the spectrum I'm on I feel so condemned from both sides: Either go to college and pursue a degree and in essence live your LIFE a bit before you "settle down". Go out and experience things, experience life, and struggle and wrestle with your faith, because that makes you strong. Or DON'T go to college, DON'T pursue a degree, or a career. Settle down, be a stay at home mom. Women are suppose to be at home.

No matter what side I'm on, there's condemnation on the OTHER side. It just sucks. I'm so tired of people applying (whether unconsciously or consciously, although consciously done tends to hurt more..) their standards to me, and others for that matter. I'm SICK of this. Jesus defines me-not your freaking standards. I'm not living my life to reach YOUR bench mark..mmkk?

Please note that the sarcasm will be given in heavier doses in this particular post.

No matter where I go in my life there's always going to be condemnation coming from somewhere. It really crushes (especially in this area in my life) my spirits. It does nothing to encourage me and spur me on in Christ. In fact it tears me down, it spreads decay, it HURTS me, honestly it does. Why should it bother me so? If I'm honestly letting Christ define me and not what others say or think about me, then why does it bother me?

First- It's so confusing. I'm indecisive as to what I'm going to do as it is! I just need time to think away from the noise, away from the people, the influences, the beloved people and yes role models. Apart from these people, I need time to think about my own interests, my own pursuits and figure it out. I don't WANT to pursue a career. I really don't. I don't see *me* living life in pursuit of a career. I don't see a point in a degree unless I'm going to use it. I'm not going to be an idiot who uses it for bragging rights. I'm either going to use a chunk of my life to go to college in pursuit of a degree for a career, to USE. Or I'm not. Because I'm certainly not going to waste my life, my time, the short time I have on God's green earth (it's beautiful..and guess what I'm a flower. I'm here for a season. And so are you. Think about that.) to waste spending time at college, getting a degree for NOTHING. (*add*: But bragging rights) I'm not going to waste my time partying it up as a college student either. There's things I would rather do, places I would rather see, things I would rather learn, food I'd like to eat, people God wants me to meet (that I know not of now..), etc.

Second- That's just it, it IS a struggle of who defines me. It is a struggle of my identity. American culture today has successfully made you an unsuccessful person if you do not have a degree, a career, SUCCESS-intellectually, financially, socially, etc. Right now I speak more of intellectually. Your intellect must be written on a paper that says, "Hey look I've got a degree. I have a ph.d in math.." Or whatever. You HAVE no identity if you don't have that fancy paper saying you went to BSU for four years. BS. So I'm a nobody because my intellect doesn't jump through your freaking hoops? Kick rocks, and that's BS.

My identity must be, Christ. My acceptance is in Christ. Tell me why again it bothers me so much? I see a heart issue..

To be continued...

~Elisabeth

New Music

2010-09-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

1~Arcade Fire: Fave songs: Wake up, My body is a cage, Keep the car running, Headlights, No cars go..

2~Radiohead: Creep (Edited version) (so far..I haven't been able to listen to them much)

3~Band of Skulls: I know what I am, Fire, Cold Flame, Death by Diamonds and pearls (I recommend them to any Black Key fans, Broken Bell fans, or White Stripe fans..)

4~The Pixies: Where is my mind, The happening, Into the white, Here comes your man (The Pixies are one of my favorite bands ever.)

5~The Shins: New Slang, Turn me on, Split needles (haven't been able to listen to them hardly at all!)

The other bands I'm trying to listen to more to see if I like them: Son Volt, Forest Sun, Sea Wolf (they're kind of like the Shins), Ra Ra Riot (So far I REALLY like them!), Pretty Girls Make Graves, Passion Pit, and The Whigs. (I really like them so far too.)

~Elisabeth Darcy

Looking Forward To

2010-08-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

Driving again. My Mom and I want to maybe dedicate a day to practice driving in certain areas. (like in driver's ed) And driving just to where ever my Mom happens to be going. (I've already been doing that much.)

School! I'm SO SO SO excited for school!! All new curriculum this year! I can't remember all of their names. But I know I'm going to be taking in a lot of literature; doing a lot of essay writing etc. Grammar, and SPANISH!! (Although I'd prefer to learn Latin first..but whatever. Spanish is on my list of languages to learn so I'm down with that!) Algebra 1 (yes I'm behind but whatever. grades don't define you, luckily. If they do--well you need to re-think your life.), a lot of history, etc. Maybe a sport or two..I don't know. :D I haven't looked into that stuff yet. We had checked a while ago but the fall stuff wasn't out yet. I'd love to learn tennis. For some reason I've always wanted to learn.

FALL! I love all the colors, the crisp air, and the comfy clothes. :) Cocoa on the porch! OH SPEAKING OF WHICH cocoa on the porch while it's snowing is magnificent!

Fall brings Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving brings..CALIFORNIA TRIP! I'M SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CALIFORNIA TRIP! MY OLDER SISTER JALYNA AND MY OLDER BROTHER DREW (WHOM I HAVEN'T MET IN PERSON YET!!) ARE COMING OUT TO VISIT! AND I GET TO SEE UNCLE! AND I GET TO MEET MY AUNTIE EMMA (from the Philippines! my Lola's sister!)!!! And I get to see Papa! And Auntie Carmen and Ate Maria (Filipino *relations*)!! AND TT!! YEAH-YA! I get to see some awesome friends!!!!!!!! It's going to be one heck of a trip! A very memorable one!

I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm looking forward to all of these things! School's going to keep me busy enough to make the days go by faster, and Cali CLOSER!

I do have to say though, I love all the new friends and church family we've met out here in Idaho. You guys are a blessing to my life and I love you guys very very much. You all are some very dear people to my heart. God knew just what we (my family) needed, and just who to put in our lives; some very special God-fearing people. Shout out to Nampa Bible peeps: I heart *stalk* you.

Affectionately,

~Elisabeth Darcy

Driving Strike

2010-08-19T15:25:00.001-07:00

I haven't been driving for a while. When I first got my permit I drove quite a bit. Then at some point I stopped, and avoided it as much as I could. "Oh I uh..left my wallet upstairs, it has my permit in it.." You know. Stupid stuff like that.

I'm quite insecure driving the big red van. I'll to take a picture of it and post it so you all can see. Anyhow, it's a 12 passenger van (currently only having eleven seats as of now..) the right side mirror was bashed off (by my Mom--haha not me). Having all of the family in it at once, doesn't help either. Too many distractions.

Driving with my Mom SOMETIMES makes me nervous. I think it's just bad communication on my part so she's no clue what I'm doing. And then she freaks out. And then I get freaked out because she's freaking out and then it's just a misunderstanding overall. HOWEVER sometimes I am doing something worth freaking out-but not always. I mean not for that kind of freaking out..

So I'm terrified. But, I want to overcome that fear. I want to be a confident (not timid) driver! I just need to practice. The plan was to ease into driving with all my siblings. But instead I just jumped into it. So then I stopped.

My parents aren't ones to force me into it. My permit is good until 5 days after I'm 18. That's a while. I think their main thing is to let me ease into it. Which I like. I'm ready to start driving again, just maybe not with all my siblings and stuff. I'm going to start over and ease into everything at my own pace. Once the water is warm then I'll start swimming to a cold spot until that's warm again. (EW. NOT TO CREATE AN ANALOGY OF SOMEONE PEEING IN THE WATER..THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS GOING FOR AT ALL. WHATEVER.)

All this to say--I'm going to be driving again! THE ROADS ARE NO LONGER SAFE!! Mwahahah!

~~Lissie~~

What's Left

2010-08-19T15:02:00.000-07:00

Summer for me is almost over. I have two and half weeks (approximately) left. I start school September 7th. What's left of the summer is going to be enjoyed fully. Reading books, enjoying summer evening walks, and discliplining myself for the coming school semester. I'm trying to get up somewhat early to do my work out, eat breakfast, shower and get dressed, and make my bed. I want to be done with all of that by 8:30 during the school semester so I can actually start school by then. (Or at least by 9) I'm also trying to stay in the habit of working out. Mon-Fri I do the 30 day shred with Jillian Michaels. Fri-Saturday I go running. I also want to stay in the habit of daily devotions. Feed my soul.

What's left of summer is going to be pretty chill and relaxed:

Summer evening walks,
Reading whatever I can get my hands on,
Working out,
Daily Devotions,
Building my wind (see HERE),
Some owed-letter writing,
A few crafty projects:
I'm currently working on a skirt,
Some spray painting stuff for my room,
Mod podging stuff for my room,
Going out driving with my Mom (hopefully we want to do it but things keep coming up),
Netflix like crazy,
Coffee dates,
Common Placing like crazy,
Sleeping in,
Getting up early,
Staying up late,
Iced tea on the porch,

Maybe some shopping (for fall clothes though!!),
Enjoying as MUCH of the sun as possible!

What's left is going to be nice. I don't want to take it for granted.

I'm excited! I still have a bit of summer left!!

~Lissie

Quote of the day#4

2010-08-18T22:57:00.000-07:00

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point." C. S. Lewis

AND (because I think they can be read together...)

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. “He that will lose his life, the same shall save it,” is not a piece of mysticism for saints and heroes. It is a piece of everyday advice for sailors or mountaineers. It might be printed in an Alpine guide or a drill book. This paradox is the whole principle of courage; even of quite earthly or quite brutal courage. A man cut off by the sea may save his life if he will risk it on the precipice.

He can only get away from death by continually stepping within an inch of it. A soldier surrounded by enemies, if he is to cut his way out, needs to combine a strong desire for living with a strange carelessness about dying. He must not merely cling to life, for then he will be a coward, and will not escape. He must not merely wait for death, for then he will be a suicide, and will not escape. He must seek his life in a spirit of furious indifference to it; he must desire life like water and yet drink death like wine."~G. K. Chesterton's "Orthodoxy"

Quote of the day#3

2010-08-17T10:09:00.000-07:00

"If you're not growing, if you're not walking with Jesus; if you're not being challenged by Jesus, if you're not learning from Jesus; if you're not receiving the forgiveness and restoration and mercy of Jesus, if you're not paying attention: Then even the past fruit of your life will shrivel up and blow away. See the Christian life is either growing or dying. And most people who think they're standing still are dying; they're dying. It's grow or die. And those who pay attention grow.These words are life, they really are. But you have to pay attention. You have to kneel before a king, not rub your chin and take advice from a good teacher. And when we're doing that a change will happen, it just will. Not because we're pursing change. Converts will happen not even because we're pursing converts; because we're pursing Jesus. Change happens because you pursue Jesus not because you pursue change. Discipleship happens not because you're pursuing discipleship but because you're pursuing Jesus."~Sharad Yadav (my Pastor!)

Possesive Love

2010-08-15T21:46:00.000-07:00

I love the people I've met here. I've grown to love them so very, very much and very dearly. I've made some awesome peer friends and we've met some really amazing families. I love the adults and their kids. (Including the "Kids" my age ;D)

I couldn't bear the thought of leaving. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone else leaving. I have plans for my life. My dreams would look something like this: If someone came along and we got married we would stay in Nampa. I'd want to stay and continue going to Nampa Bible and see my family there too. I don't want to be further up in Idaho like way up in Idaho falls, or in Moscow Idaho, or states away. I want to be in Nampa and if not somewhere NEAR Nampa.

That's how it would stay. As things are now only I'd be married.

But that's not reality. Things change in life because God has plans of His own. Thinking about the beloved people I'd hate to leave (I'd be devastated.) hurts. Having to realize that I'm not in control of my life, God is, is scary. I hate to think of change. I hate to think of people moving away, etc. I love these people too much. I cling too much to my own plans. I don't trust God with His plans for my life. It's a lack of trust. I need to be praying about it. I cannot cling so much to my hopes and dreams. Those cannot be my pursuit in life. Happiness cannot be my pursuit in life. The heart can never get enough. Ever. So even if I got everything I wanted as perfectly as I had pictured it and wanted it-it still wouldn't be enough. If I cling to my will, it's going to be so hard when I am faced with God's will.

~L.

Reading List

2010-08-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

My reading list has changed. It always changes. It's one BIG reading list and all the other ones are just mini ones taken from the huge BIG one. (Which I actually have typed up in my google docs. It's sad. Whatev.)

It looks something like this:

The Reason For God (Tim Keller)
Surprised By Joy (Lewis)
Moby Dick
Gulliver's Travels
One Thing you Can't Do In Heaven (Mark Cahill)
The Grand Demonstration (Jay Adams)
Cry Of the Soul (YES I STILL haven't finished it.)

I just haven't been reading as much as I normally do. (Which is like a book a week or a book every other week.) Now whenever I read I try (if I come across something meaningful and worth it) to common place great quotes. It takes me a while to push through the reading if I'm also trying to jot down amazing quotes and thoughts following. But that's not what's really holding me back from diving into some literature. Of late I feel overwhelmed in every other area in my life. The huge reading list I have is overwhelming to. I don't need ONE more thing to overwhelm me. Instead I'm going at my own pace. I know with school starting pretty soon that it doesn't matter I'll have to read and accomplish the reading one way or another. But until then I'm going to ease into the water a bit. :) Although it's not the brightest of ideas since during school it'll be harder to pick up some free reading stuff. But whatever. Those books can be put on hold. They've waited this long for me on my shelf, they'll still be there by Christmas and Thanksgiving break. And so on.

~L

Building Up Our Wind

2010-08-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

I try to keep up with the 30 day shred workout video with Jillian Michaels, Mon-Fri. (Emphasis on "try") Saturdays and Sundays are my chillaxing days. Which means NO workout. I've always liked going on walks, and I've noticed it feels good on my knees to walk. When they're really achy and standing up and stretching them isn't helping enough (this is while waiting for the Ibuprofen to kick in..which it doesn't really help..especially on REALLY bad days) going on a walk does. Besides I really enjoy looking at God's beautiful creation and being quite and thinking.

Evy has been running. She's built herself up to the point where she's able to run a mile without stopping. She just accomplished a HUGE goal four miles! Yes, I know. DANG is very much appropriate at this particular moment. DANG. Anyhow, I've always enjoyed running. But, I never thought about doing it for a workout. She suggested we run together if I wanted to. The thing is, Evy can ask me to do anything and I'll do it. If she wants me to come over to help her make dinner, I will. (If it's ok with my Mom. Which it usually is! Unless my Mom needs my help here.) I love Evy and it doesn't matter what we do together just as along as we're hanging out together. You know when that is the case you really are friends!

After my doctors appointment, and hearing about how physical therapy might be good for me, I got to thinking. I don't WANT to do physical therapy. I mean if it's about stretches and workouts to build up my knee muscles then-tell me what I can do. I didn't have a stroke, I wasn't in a car accident, I didn't break my legs, or knees..so why dramatize the situation more? I don't know. I think it's more like pride that's getting to me. I'd rather just have them tell me what I can do and let me do it for myself.. But I haven't even gotten the blood test results back, NOR have I seen an orthopedic yet. SO. I'm just going to wait BEFORE I come to any conclusions about anything. I'll wait and see what happens about all this.

IN the meantime. Jake and I have now made Saturday mornings our running days. I calculated (using a pedometer) that twice around the outskirts of our subdivision is a mile. We can't run a mile non-stop just running. (Oh and running-more like jogging..what am I saying?) So we alternate between jogging and fast power walking. The jogging time is longer then the walking time. And we only go in so fast as is within our limits. If we keep this up, we'll slowly take out some of our walking time. We'll do this until we get to the point where we're just jogging non-stop (no walking) a mile. Once we've accomplished that we'll have to party for one thing. Actually I want to get to the point where it's a mile, a mile and a half, two miles..(etc.)

For now, we're building up our wind! Jake's a good running partner. Today was our first day. We went around 12 in the afternoon. Just before it gets REALLY hot. Next Saturday we want to go around 6 before anyone's up and while it's still cool out. (I HATE running in our subdivision when people are out and they stare like: Go jabba the hut. Hahah. Actually it's more like: Dang. I need to start running too. That's more like it. Haha. Jake and I are born athletes! If it was up to us we'd be doing everything from rock climbing-tennis-fencing-swimming..YEAH you get the point. It's just a matter of money. WHICH. Sucks.)

Cheer us on!!

Your blogging soon to be mile runner athlete,

Lissie

Ps. Oh and I know once a week for running isn't much. But we'll get to the point where it's more often. :) We're just starting!

Quote of the day#2

2010-08-12T12:22:00.001-07:00

"You know, I was thinking. If ppl had a taste, like ppl that we love that are dead now, Pappi would be an onion." "That's really weird disturbing that you said that just now." "I just took a bite of that salad and it made me think of Pappi because he likes onions and spicy things." "Grandpa would be an onion too because your Dad said he used to eat them like an apple."~Me and My Mom while making dinner.

~Elisabeth Darcy

Blood work and X Rays

2010-08-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Today I had a doctors appointment. I got 6 x-ray pictures taken of my knees, and a blood test. (Fun way to start your day!) We have a family history of arthritis (on both sides of the family) and my knees, ever since I can remember, have always bothered me. They ache. This last year and particularly this year (and this past month or so) my knees REALLY ache.

They don't really respond to Ibuprofen very well, I've been taken 600mgs and it's been taking a LONG time for it to kick in. Two-two and half hours or so. And then it doesn't give me much relief when it does kick in. So that's why I went to the doctors.

The doctor said that she doesn't think it is arthritis. She says my knee caps move more freely then most. They have more mobility. It's like they're more flexible then the average *normal* person's. (I could've told her that.. But I didn't realize that it was *abnormal* for them to move around as much as they do..) She thinks it's the mobility that is causing my knees pain. She says if that's the case physical therapy would be good for me to get some knee exercises that builds up my knee muscles. Which I wasn't too happy about. Why can't they just give me some stretches or something? I mean why do I have to GO to physical therapy..? I dunno. I won't think too much on it anyways since we haven't gotten the blood test back yet.

The nurse is making an appointment with (I forgot what he specializes in..specifically) a guy who apparently deals with a lot of knee issues and athletes stuff like that. Whatever. The like. That's why the doctor had me get some x-rays done of my knees so he can have them, and have looked at them by the time we meet at the appointment with him. So, cool. It's all organized and stuff. That is ONE thing I like about the doctor's, they're so organized. And you know me, that's up my alley. But, she had me take a blood test anyways since there IS a family history of arthritis. Annnnddd since I've noticed aches and stuff in my elbows and shooting down my arm and into my hands too.

I don't know when my next appointment is. So we'll see what ends up happening. Also, I'll be posting about the blood test results. I also hope the pain in my elbows and hands can be explained... Blerg. Whatev. What a fun day! (no..not really..)

I'm a germ freak too! I hate sitting in the waiting room chairs or any chairs at the doctors-period! They're so yucky to think about all the sick people before you that have sat there. People that were diagnosed with life threatening diseases that have sat in that chair before you, and perhaps died since then..

I wouldn't let Josiah touch the arm rest on the chairs because, "of germs, Siah". I can't help it. It grosses me out. When I came home I RAN inside being careful not to *touch* anything because of "being at the doctors..EW."

When I was waiting to get my x-rays taken, there was a bunch of old ladies waiting in the waiting room too. I watched them for a while. (I'm a people person what can I say? I LOVE to people watch..) Then I turned around and I told my Mom that I really like old people. She's like you do? And I was like yeah. They're so sweet. And even when they aren't you gotta realize they have lived life, and experienced much more than you have.. I don't know. There's something beautiful about them. Oh and those old ladies were so funny and cute and sweet.

Just for the record before I end this, it was my first time getting a blood test. I actually don't mind it!! I think getting your blood pressure taken is WORSE. I HATE the squeezy thing! I have to purposefully think about something else, look at something else (if possible), and slow my breathing. Otherwise I start to laugh uneasily just out of pure nervousness. I'm claustrophobic and all I can think about is, "I wanna get my arm outta this, I wanna get my arm outta this...hurry up..tick tock..any day now..plleeeease I just want to get my arm out of this.." It's really pathetic. I also HATE the way it squeezes me, it hurts, it's not comfy..it grosses me out. The reason why it grosses me out is, it makes me think of if you squeeze your wrist really tight and start wiggling your fingers: It makes your veins pop out. That's what I think about when they take my blood pressure. I hate it. It's nasty. To me the blood test was easy, like getting a shot. Oh and it's funny because the lady was looking at which arm's veins were more easy to get to-if I'd've known what she was doing I would've been able to tell her to do it in my right arm from the start. (Yup, I know my arms THAT WELL. Be jealous!!) But, it took me a few seconds to figure out what the heck she was doing (first time). I was really relaxed too. I just looked away. Not because I can't handle seeing the blood fill up. I just looked away because if I see the needle coming-my skin is going to expect it and perhaps try to avoid it. Like in cartoons if they put a knife to your belly-they suck it in. Hahaha. But I got to see my blood vile afterwords. It was pretty nifty! (I did just say that so there :P) To me that would be AWESOME too look at under a microscope as opposed to preserved lab slides in anatomy class. No no, that's REAL lab work right there. Pretty sweet! Excccccccccceeept! I don't mind blood, but URINE. EW. Who wants to look at someone's URINE..? That's just NASTY. I'm glad there are people who are willing to do that--but not me.

Quote of the day #1

2010-08-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

Jami: Look Ma! I'm pretending my goldfish are people, I'm eating people!

Ma: Oh, really?

Jami: Yeah. I'm eating the people, but the pastor's telling me not to. But, I WON'T LISTEN TO HIM. *Giggles innocently* "Ahh! No, no, don't eat me, PLEASE don't eat me!" "NEVER." *plops goldfish in mouth*

Me: ..................Woa *chuckles nervously* Jami, that's totally evil!!

Ma: Jami, you need to stop.

Jami: I was jest kiddin!! *Laughs*

~Lissie Darcy

Ps. Jami's 4.

The Ice Is Getting Thinner

2010-08-11T19:20:00.000-07:00

Death Cab For Cutie is my new favorite band. I go through phases of listening to specific people a lot. Currently its the Black Keys and Death Cab For Cutie. Go check out the song "The Ice is Getting Thinner" Google the lyrics..or here I'll do it for you, Click HERE

That song pretty much describes my life right now. It's scary. I heard that song today and just got the chills. We need prayer. Lots of it. Pray for my parents, pray for our family. Pray that we would all LOOK TO CHRIST.

The song that SHOULD describe our lives, is the hymn in Christ alone. (SEE HERE) It's like the Lewis quote--in order for that song to be your life's song then, "Relying on Christ must begin all over again, everyday as if nothing had yet been done.." (What? It's my FAVORITE Lewis quote. Well one of my favorites.)

I really do not like that Death Cab song particularly because it describes life right now. I want our life to be described as courageous Christians always and only ever seeking Christ. I want our hope to be found in Christ--ALONE--. I want us to daily rely on God. I want us to be strong in the Lord, and courageous.

Chesterton's quote on courage is amazing. (The only thing I've ever read of Chesterton's is, "The Man who was Thursday". I really REALLY want to read, "The Everlasting Man," and "Orthodoxy". They are on the top of my booklist right now. (Yes because I need more books to read along with the 50 others on my shelf...))

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. “He that will lose his life, the same shall save it,” is not a piece of mysticism for saints and heroes. It is a piece of everyday advice for sailors or mountaineers. It might be printed in an Alpine guide or a drill book. This paradox is the whole principle of courage; even of quite earthly or quite brutal courage. A man cut off by the sea may save his life if he will risk it on the precipice.

He can only get away from death by continually stepping within an inch of it. A soldier surrounded by enemies, if he is to cut his way out, needs to combine a strong desire for living with a strange carelessness about dying. He must not merely cling to life, for then he will be a coward, and will not escape. He must not merely wait for death, for then he will be a suicide, and will not escape. He must seek his life in a spirit of furious indifference to it; he must desire life like water and yet drink death like wine."~G. K. Chesterton's "Orthodoxy"

Life's definitely not fully described by that right now. It's more like "the ice is getting thinner under me, under you," We bury our love.."

Brothers and Sisters in Christ-keep us in your prayers!

~Elisabeth Darcy

Ps. Chesterton's quote is definitely worth common placing, if you keep a common place book.

When The Spiritual Realm Breaks Through The Temporal Realm And Becomes Reality Part 2

2010-08-09T18:10:00.001-07:00

There was an issue of pride on my part today. I had a chip on my shoulder since. (it was a small matter mind you and pride as is the case, made it into a bigger matter..) This was during reading "Don't Waste Your Life" mind you! After we had got done reading it there was a stupid comment made about some movie Jake wanted to watch and my Mom said "you should". I just thought it was weird because she never says "You should". She usually just nods her head and then maybe she'll say "Just make sure you do what you need to do first.."

When I pointed this out my Mom was like well he hasn't watched that one in a long time and it's such a good one. Anyways I was like, "mm..well you never usually say that." From there I don't know what was said exactly. I just know that Jules and Jake made small comments that were to be taken as, "ooooo..SOOOMMEBODY'S cranky.." They were passive aggressive remarks. I'm more of the aggressive type myself (so as you can see we clash a bit..) and I confronted them with total pride and impatience that I did not "appreciate" the way they were treating me. (In case you haven't noticed if there's one thing I can't stand it's passive aggressive little sarcastic DIGS.) The funny thing was that I wasn't treating them the way I wanted them to treat me in the first place.

My Mom confronted me on this and (here's the blunt details..) it just got elevated. I got up after she was done talking and was like, "Well" and started to get up and I was going to walk away. (again with the running away from conflict-see a pattern here? It's a HUGE sin struggle I deal with and it's also a generational sin struggle from my Dad's side. Actually both sides. But my Dad's side is more of how I am: The Cold, bitter, distant, silent *but deadly* anger that I use to run away with and NOT deal with the conflict..It's a huge sin struggle.) My sister Jules said in a very soft voice, "No, Ate. Don't shut us out." (It's a pattern..when I'm furiously angry I run away to be alone. Instead of dealing with the conflict.) I decided to just sit and glare her down. My Mom was again confronting me and it got to the point where it was just elevating and elevating..She got to the point where she was being sarcastic and was like "Here we are I am trying to do this for you guys. I'm trying to do stupid Bible reading and read you this stupid book *gestures to Piper's book* and we can't even have five minutes of peace around here without at least one of you guys causing strife around here." It went something like that.

After that I decided I was "done". She was in the middle of talking and I cut her off right about there and I said, "Well if it's so stupid.." and just started to walk away. I was furious. It wasn't just the remark that bothered me so. It wasn't the sarcasm beating down into my soul (which I was using against them as well-in fact I was the one who began to use it first..) that got to me. No, it was all of my heart issues, my sins, all of life's circumstances, EVERYTHING that I had been struggling with just blew up inside of me. It just exploded. It was like an atomic bomb. I had had enough. I needed to get away fast-to retreat because I didn't know what else to do with my fury inside of me.

There's only been a few times in my life where I've been THAT furious. Where I don't even know what to do with myself, how to deal with the conflict and the anger inside of me. I can do nothing but furiously sob (which I only ever cry when I'm furious or when I'm broken. OR having an emotional break down due to no sleep or I feel crappy or having a hard day in general..)

Of course I was a rebellious, stubborn teenager which to make matters worse, claims to be a Christian. I was being incredibly disrespectful and dishonoring to my Mom. And from there I'll refrain from all the dark details. It got pretty escalated. Bulging tears, and quite a bit of yelling.

I ran into my room and in the closet in the DARK because I didn't want to be in the light. I felt exposed, and I felt like I would have to justify to myself, to God why I was sitting in a sunny room at a time like this.

My Mom came up to my room shortly after and talked to me. After which I couldn't take it. I knew the consequences of running away from God. I knew where they lead in the end. What I wanted most was for the conflict to end, to be dealt with. I didn't want to (I truly didn't want) run away from the conflict in my life in general. But especially in my heart. There's few times in my life where Ive been outwardly defiant like that to my parents, and so boldly too. I knew I was in a bad place in my heart. I knew I wasn't and haven't been really dealing with the sin in my heart. I knew if I ran from God that the conflict would still be there, the sin would still be there, the decaying and the filth and the evil and the demonic powers of this world would still be there. I knew that in the end without Christ it's hopeless. I knew I did not want to throw my life away by doing whatever I wanted..by avoiding conflict. I knew that headed down this road I would be like the people in Romans 1:20 and on. It's always been my greatest fear, that God would depart His Spirit from me. It was these thoughts that drove me to God. It was the thought that "IN Christ ALONE my hope is found.." that drew me towards Him.

From there on I had HOURS and HOURS of self examination. I was quiet, and I listened to everything God had to say. I watched as He showed me SO clearly, the reality of my heart. I prayed, and I prayed, and I prayed. I begged for forgiveness. I was broken. The illusion that I was in control was broken. The reality that God is in control was faced.

After all this I was able to go downstairs and reconcile with my parents. Usually they come to me first-but this time I went first. A baby step towards humility. Something that I need God to give me DAILY.

This Monday the spiritual realm was clearly seen. The demonic forces, the power of evil are there. They're here. They're real. And the kingdom of God was seen today too. There are PEOPLE, brothers and sisters in Christ all around us who ARE fighting this battle daily. Who are AWARE of it. Who are armed, and fighting. It's a day-to-day battle. If you wake up in the morning and you don't prepare yourself for battle-you're in for it. It's going to be like Men and Black: Woa woa woa..ALIENS? Ha ha! WHHAT? The battle between men and the aliens in Men and Black isn't clearly visible to the rest of earth-only to a few group of people. An institute that fights the aliens. They are equipped for battle, they know their stuff. The difference is we know our stuff, we are equipped for battle with the Word of God, and with prayer. But we aren't using "flashy thingies" to wipe peoples memory whenever they get a glimpse of the spiritual battle around them. No, we are suppose to actually TELL them about it! We're suppose to go to the people getting captured and tortured by their sin, Satan and his followers; we're suppose to go to them and tell them about Christ. Let them know there's a way out. We are suppose to come along side them and FIGHT for them, show them how to fight. Show them with what we are armed with: The Word of God.

One of my ALL time favorite Lewis quotes: "Relying on God has to begin all over again..Everyday as if nothing had yet been done.."

And I'll leave you with that quote,

Elisabeth Darcy

When The Spiritual Realm Breaks Through The Temporal Realm And Becomes Reality Part 1

2010-08-09T15:59:00.001-07:00

I have a love/hate for Mondays. The thought of a long week ahead is either overwhelmingly stressful, or overwhelmingly exciting, or overwhelmingly mundane and boring. Lamentations 3:22-23 is what gets me through Mondays. That's only if I'm even looking to God when I'm overwhelmed by Mondays. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed I have to chide myself and purposefully read those verses.

Mondays are kind of scary. It's either the start of a really crappy week, a really exciting and busy week, or a really mundane and boring week. I have this weird fear of Mondays. Call it pathological or irrational (or a combo of both..yikes) it's in actuality not of the Mondays themselves. I think it's more of the fear of the unknown. What is going to happen THIS week? Am I going to SURVIVE this week? Is surviving even a question? Or is it more like how am I going to live my life this week? (For God, or for myself..) What sort of struggles will I face? What sort of people will I encounter? Is there (if you really want to get to the bare bones and be honest..) ANY amount of control on MY part? That's what the fear boils down to. It boils down to control. Mondays for me, are a small break in the illusion that I am in control.

It was a typical summer Monday for me: Get up, weigh myself (I'm on weight watchers with my Mom and Sis. I'm morale support and I have a small goal.) Which is another reason, by the way, why I hate Mondays.., record in my observations journal (aka weight watchers journal..maybe I'll post about it some other time..), eat breakfast, and gather around with Jules, Jake, and Ma to do Bible reading and read from, "Don't Waste Your Life" by Piper.

To keep this some what maintained (because I'm so over wordy just because I'm a detail oriented gal myself..) I'm just going to fast forward and get to the point. Before I go on however, I want you to know that as much as I am honest about home life on my blog, I'm also very indirect about the darker side of life. I'm sure you've noticed. Sometimes I'm indirect just because by the time I blog about it I've already talked with a bunch of other people (God, my family, people in the church..) about my situation and struggles. To blog about it directly and give all the details can be frustrating in a sense. Why blog about it then? It helps to just spell out the crap in life sometimes; even in an indirect way. It helps to think about it again, and again and analyze over and over again. And search my heart over more than once. If that makes sense. If you've read other posts of mine you've heard me say that I blog so my head doesn't explode. Point being, this time I'm going to be more direct. You can stop reading if you want. Just sayin..

Fast forwarding-There was an issue of pride on my part. I have trouble sleeping. Of late I stay up really late. 12..is usually the latest, sometimes one..sometimes later. I'll be in bed and I'll fall asleep to music or tire myself out by reading. I always ask why can't I just go to sleep and pass out? I used to be able to do that when I was little. (But I did go through a phase when I was little where I would anxiously lay in bed and then start bawling. I'd hyper ventilate too-mildly so. Basically I would have anxiety attacks when I was little, contemplating on whether or not I was a Christian. Was my name in the book of life? Can God ever forgive me because I'm such a sinner-I haven't been "doing enough works for Him. (I've always wrestled with grace..but I think everyone does..) I'd run downstairs to my parents and perhaps ask for benadryl or something. I was always told to fight it through. "There isn't any medicine for anxiety...etc." You know. Drugs don't deal with the conflict-it just knocks you out so you can sleep without the conscience thoughts seeping in and bothering you.. They would pray for me, and have me pray for me. They would remind me that I don't have to DO anything for salvation. They would remind me of Lamentations 2:22-23 They would remind me that people who are as concerned as I was about my heart, who claimed to be Christians-ARE CHRISTIANS. They aren't "not" saved. If that makes sense. I went through that phase around when I was ten and eleven. But it's not like I'd be up until 1 in the morning..) I couldn't quite figure out why it was that I have been having sleeping issues. Why do I feel like I have to stay up THIS late?

Part of it is because since I turned sixteen I no longer have an official bedtime. (Although 12 every night isn't acceptable because it starts to catch up with me. And then I end up sleeping in until ten..) I had a lot of time today (a whole half of a day) to really examine myself and search my heart. The reason why I stay up so late and can't "unwind" is because if I stay up late enough then I'll be tired enough to just fall asleep without having to really THINK about my life. If I'm tired enough I can push aside all thoughts, reflections of my day, reflections of my HEART and where I am at in my life. You see it's just the same as drugging. It's a sin issue for me. It's a way to take control of my life. It's a form of unfaithfulness to God. I don't trust Him with my life so I'm going to take charge of it.

My life right now isn't the greatest. But it's not facing the reality of my life that I'm afraid of. It's facing the reality of my heart that I'm afraid of. You see, when the spiritual realm (see Ephesians 6:11-etc.) breaks through the temporal realm the illusion that YOU are in control starts cracking. When conflict can no longer be overlooked, the power and influence of evil is so vivid you can't ignore the reality of things. There is a REAL spiritual battle that you must face on a day to day basis. When we ignore that, and make our own little worlds where "we're" in control, at SOME POINT the reality of the spiritual realm is going to break through your illusion. It will break through your world. It is not fun when it smashes your world. You're a wreck. Put on the full armor of God, Christian. With God there is NO shortcuts when dealing with conflict, when fighting the good fight. God's going to break your world, tear it apart and remind you that He is in control.

When this happens you have 1 of two choices: 1) Run to God, repent and put on the whole armor of God and FIGHT. OR 2) Run away from God and try to find ways in which you can control your life. Basically: Continue sinning. Running away from God and doing things like drugs, getting drunk, sex, etc. (which is the extreme side of things) or even the not so extreme side of things: closing your eyes and pretending there's no sin-it doesn't deal with the conflict. It doesn't take it away. It numbs the pain that your sin is causing you and others around you. It creates an illusion that there is no sin. But the conflict is still there.

One way or another God will break you..keep on sinning and He'll keep on breaking you. Or He'll give you up to your passions and lusts of your heart-but He'll continue to let you know that He's still in control of your life. Although you're doing what you please-you're not going to be AS evil and AS sinful as you can possibly be. He's still God.

This Monday I wrestled with God. I encountered a holy God, as I saw all the wickedness in my heart. You know what? Somehow-(only by God's grace) I'm at peace. I know that no matter what happens, even if the WORST happened-He has a plan, He has a purpose. In the end THIS isn't it.

I'll leave you with this question: When was the last time you encountered God? When was the last time you wrestled with God? Have you armored yourself with the full armor of God? Have you eaten and drank from His table? Are you satisfied? Because now YOU have to go OUT THERE where there's people so accustomed to darkness, so down in the depths of despair, (as Anne would say) so incredibly hopeless, and they think there is no way out. They think that this is all there is. They keep looking and looking for peace and restoration, and redemption, and grace, and mercy and satisfaction, and hope, and love. They don't find it. They KNOW they can't save themselves. These people need to hear about the cross. They need to hear about the Gospel. We are told to go out there humbly (because we AREN'T better then them, we are ALL made in God's image, and we are ALL sinners..) and tell them about Christ in a way that is free of the Christian language/jargon. By that I mean: All the doctrinal phrases, all the stuff Christians know, they know because they're Christians. They've read the Bible, they've studied theology, they've read a wide variety of Christian literature, they've heard a wide variety of Christian preachers. We live in a world right now (at least in Western culture..) where people think they KNOW Jesus. But they don't. We need to tell them in a way that they can understand, and in a way that isn't boring. To me the Gospel message isn't boring, and to Christians it isn't boring. (or it shouldn't be). What I mean is we need to tell them in a way that's understandable to them, and in a way that they haven't heard before. (SO-all their assumptions about Jesus that are false-we need to tell them about the REAL facts about Jesus. Who He REALLY is, what He REALLY does, How He's REALLY involved in our lives PRESENTLY.)

Are you equipped with the Word of God so you can do that?

~Lissie

Ps. Can you tell (for any of you Nampa Bible readers..if any..) I've been listening to the sermons? Geeze, Lissie..

Diving In

2010-07-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

Someone told my Mom this past Sunday, (and my Mom told me) that trials and tribulations are put in our lives by God so that we may TURN to Him; so that we may RUN to Him. They are a reminder that He is THERE.

They knock us off our feet, off our thrones of self-righteousness and religious piety, and point us to the God who sent His Son to die for us! We have 2 choices when trials come: Run to God, or Run away from Him.

James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Counting it joy when we meet trials of various kinds..that's HARD. In this case the word " joy" doesn't imply *happiness*. Happiness is an emotion we feel when something good happens, something that makes us feel "happy". Joy is something deeper. Joy is a peaceable happiness. It's a deep sense of the hope you have in Jesus Christ no matter what happens. That's JOY.

The best thing to do during trials is to dive into the Word of God! Your flesh naturally wants to turn away from God, and seclude yourself from everything, everyone; and from God. Your natural reaction is to close off the relationship with your Heavenly Father. You want to be alone. Even from the people you love, sometimes. Because it hurts, you're in pain, in agony you just want to be left ALONE.

But these trials are suppose to produce steadfastness in our faith. God is steadfast in His love for us. You can read that everywhere in the Psalms (and all over the Bible but esp. in the Psalms). He WON'T leave you. He won't forsake you. He HAS IT UNDER CONTROL. God's character overall is steadfast. He's unchangeable. He never goes back on His promises.

Diving into the word, praying like crazy, FEEDING YOUR SOUL, ARMING YOURSELF WITH THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD (See Ephesians 6:11-and on) IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. We are at WAR with the demonic forces of evil! There is a real, real spiritual realm all about us. It is more real (someone said..) than this; than this physical world. We aren't up against flesh and blood, we're up against: " against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12b)

Dive in to the word, and prepare for battle.

As Lewis said: Relying on God must begin all over again..as if nothing had been done yet..

I don't know about you, but I'm diving in.

~Elisabeth Darcy

When the Darkness doesn't Fade

2010-07-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

I stole the title from a line from the most corny worship song ever: When the music fades...

I took it and tweaked it so it is now "When the darkness doesn't fade."

You ever feel so overwhelmed and that the darkness is swallowing the world around you up-whole? You ever feel like Satan won't stop breathing down your neck? You ever feel like it's just one thing crashing down after another, just when you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. You run as fast as you can to that light and somehow realize it was just a firefly?

Maybe it's not even a firefly! Maybe it's a tiny space of light and just ahead is another dark tunnel to your horror. What the he**!? I thought the storm was over? I thought the darkness was gone! Now I can see it in front of me ahead!? But..but God, I thought you said I was done. I thought you said I could have a break. I thought (and this is where you start insanely chuckling to yourself and..telling your feet to move because you sure as he** don't want to move yourself.)

I just feel like it's one thing after another not only with me but my family. We've all been going through a lot. Some extended family issues..and not only that but I'm just watching my parents struggle financially. They're both stressed, both under pressure. It's just not fair. I want their worrying to end. I want this endless heap of anxiety to just STOP.

I'm tired of worrying for my Mom because she's worrying. I don't know how she does it. She's an amazingly strong person although she may not feel that way-all of us kids can see it. In Job in the beginning when satan is pleading with God, asking His permission to afflict Job, and God says go ahead but do not harm my servant Job. It's proof that satan IS on a leash. He's only doing so much as God is letting him.

It's comforting to know that. But at the same time it gets at me like, "Why not give us a break once and a while, God? Why not let us take a few breaths first before you just afflict us with darkness again!"

I just don't get it. What am I suppose to do with all of THIS crap that I feel. Emotionally I feel like I just got into a car accident. Sometimes I just wish God would give me some time to actually breathe and THINK and figure this crap load out. Hahaha.

Pause-

Key words: THINK, and FEEL. I'm more of a logical thinker. I'd rather THINK things through and to he88 with this feely stuff. Sure I feel but that's no reason to stray away from the "logical side of things". (Totally making fun of myself right now if you couldn't tell..) But, God gave us feelings for a reason. They are a form of communication that tell us how we are doing in our walk with God, and our relationships with other people. For instance right now I'm angry, depressed (mildly so), sad, pondering..in silent frustration. (oh and I'm overwhelmed. When I'm angry I usually have a sense of an overwhelming feeling. Did you know anger is a secondary emotion? It's a passive emotion as to what you are ACTUALLY feeling. *secondary* When you feel anger it's not the FIRST emotion you're feeling-it's not the root. It's only the top of the leaves of the weed..) These emotions can tell me something of how I'm doing in my walk with God and in my relationships of others. I was reading this book called "Cry of the Soul" a while ago. I never finished. *which I'm going to pick it back up again because I think it'd be of great help* It talks about the emotions and what they say about your relationship with God.

Oh and if you've ever taken the Meyser Brigg's personality test, I'm an ENTJ. So the "T, and J" have a lot to do with the whole "logical" side of me..

UNPAUSE-

But when we're in the boat (remember the passage in Mark I referred you to a couple post's ago, when the Disciples are in the boat and Jesus is sleeping in the boat and there's a huge storm..) and panicking and all we're thinking about is surviving. All the disciples were thinking about was I HAVE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE. Fear was driving them. It was mastering them, ruling over them. Remember it is OK TO FEEL FEAR. It is WRONG TO LET FEAR RULE OVER YOU, AND CONTROL YOU AND THE WAY YOU LIVE.

But when that happens all we see is the darkness, the storm, the thunder and lightening the waves. The boat rocking uncontrollably! The water coming in, the hopelessness. And that drives us, fear drives us to shear panic mode. All we can think about is ourselves, I've got to get the hell outta here!

Amongst all this we FORGET JESUS is IN the boat too! He's sleeping! Why isn't He panicked? Why isn't He worried? Oh DUH, because He has things in CONTROL. Because He's GOD, idiot. So duh! And that is when we see the light, and the darkness FADES, and the waves CALM, and the storm DIES DOWN.

I caught myself! When posting this. I'm totally in survival mode.

Dinner gotta go..

Pray for our family,

~Lissie

Armed With Manipulation

2010-07-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

I once read this book called "Green Dolphin Street", by Elizabeth Goudge. I would've never read it on my own, but I had to for book club.

I must say I hate her writing. She's overly descriptive, and in a way where it makes her look like she's trying too hard. It also looks like she's a wanna-be poet. She tries too hard to sound like a pro, like a sophisticated poet and she only comes off as overly descriptive, and a wanna be Lucy Maud Montgomery.

The book is about these two sisters: Marguerite, and Marianne. A man writes home to ask one of the two sisters (too keep this simple and brief) to be his wife. But, he confuses their names and so he gets the wrong bride. It's a fictional story based on fact, I guess. I also "guess" Elizabeth Goudge is a well respected, well known adult novelist that wrote many children's stories as well. In my opinion she sucks.

Anyhow. They two sisters are very, VERY different. Marguerite loves life and wants to enjoy it to the fullest, even the simplest of things. She's always happy, and very beautiful. She's modest about it though, but all the guys fall for her. Then you have Marianne who's very tiny, and she's plain looking, nothing grand about her. She follows the latest of fashions and she's incredibly smart (which in the time this takes place in, women weren't really known for their intelligence. They were more thought of as gentle little house keepers and wives, and loving mothers. But leave the intelligence to the men-that's a grough rough man thing! That's basically the thinking of back then in the time period this story takes place in.) and chic, but not pretty.

They both fall for the same guy. You can guess what happens. William falls for Marguerite and she in return, but he ends up with Marianne because of a simple mistake he's made ever since they were all young: He got their names mixed up!

In fighting for him, Marianne uses emotional manipulation to control William's feelings for her. They go on a special adventure together without Marguerite, she loves William's father as much as he does, she helps him get into the navy and puts everything she's got into helping him with the "brain work" in that area, she was there for William when his father dies..

And when he leaves to go in the Navy, she hopes and prays and crosses her fingers that he'll remember everything she did for him. She puts all her hope and trust that because she did all of this for William he'll fall in love with her. He'll remember it and THAT's going to make him love her.

Little does she know he really loves her sister. And little does she know that he got their names mixed up and it wasn't really Marianne he loved. Little does she know he sacrifices over, and over, and over again for HER because he doesn't want to hurt her. In fact, she's lead to believe that SHE does everything for him and SHE is the one sacrificing everything for him. She nags him, she continues to feel the need to manipulate him every which way to gain and earn his love, she kills and crushes his "foolish" dreams and then says she's having to sacrifice all she's got to "make him mine, to make him right, to make him love me.."

Page after page the reader is left to watch William suffer and say good bye to dreams that will never come true. You have to watch him get up to another day of seeing her face by him in bed instead of Marguerite's. You watch this good kid, as the life is being drained out of him.

It does end better then it sounds, just an FYI.

The question is, WHY does Marianne seek to manipulate her husband and her husband's friends and control EVERY aspect of their lives..? Because Marianne is a very insecure person. Because she is she has armed herself with manipulation, pride, and control. If she doesn't have those things in life she throws a fit, literally. There are multiple incidents in the book where she's literally throwing a fit or having a mental breakdown because she doesn't get her way, because of her pride.

To protect herself from getting hurt, from not being accepted in the eyes of her husband and everyone else (even in the eyes of her own daughter) she builds these high walls of pride and manipulation and control.

She is a very jealous person. She even gets jealous of her own daughter because her husband loves her daughter and she suspects, more than he loves her. (His daughter reminded him of Marguerite.) Bitterness, and hatred well up within her. She is ruled by these two things; so much so she's blinded herself with them and cannot see the truth clearly.

People who often look confident, poised, and maybe they're even super smart; often the case is they really aren't secure people. People who use manipulation are insecure. It is a sign of insecurity. It says: I'm not in control so I'm going to GET control by using this person in this such of way. By doing so they don't have to get their hands dirty. They think that by using manipulation to get their way, or to guard and protect themselves is a way where they can get rid of their vulnerability. Manipulation says: I feel vulnerable and I don't want to be, so I'm going to get this person to do the work for me; and therefore I'm not the one who's vulnerable. I don't get hurt. I don't get my hands dirty. They do, not me. It's on them.

People who are afraid of getting hurt for whatever reason use all kinds of forms of manipulation (and you can google them to see if you recognize any..just be careful ;D) but one of the most common forms: Gossip.

You'd be surprised at the extremities people will go to to slander about someone. Whether it's false or truth that was taken and twisted, or truth in general people gossip about other people and try to emotionally persuade *manipulate* other people to have certain thoughts or feelings about others.

Why? It depends on a lot of things but the main thing is: they somehow feel threatened by some other person. They feel insecure and powerless so they decide to take matters into their own hands and slander that person's reputation. If you can picture a file, and in that file is a clean sheet of paper with nothing on it, and someone comes along and wipes blood all over it; that's what I picture whenever the word "slander" comes to mind.

Words are powerful. Out of God's mouth came words, words of life that created THIS life. By words you have the power to take away life, to give life (and by this particular statement I'm speaking figuratively.. not literally..), to edify one another, to bring down and tear down other people, to hurt and cause chaos and destruction, to heal and bring peace.

In Romans (1:29b-32 if you care to read it..) it talks about the sinful nature of mankind and how God poured out His wrath upon those who rejected His laws. Their hearts were hardened and turned away from God, and their eyes were looking upon evil; no longer did they seem to care or even know what righteousness was. So God gave them up to their sinful natures. On the list of sins is gossip!! It's a serious thing, obviously GOD takes it seriously so we should too!

The Bible has a lot to say about gossip you can read these verses for yourself: Proverbs 20:19, Proverbs 11:12-13, Proverbs 16:28, Proverbs 18:7-8, Proverbs 21:23, 2 Corinthians 12:20, 1 Timothy 5:13, and more..

My favorite out of all these: Proverbs 16:28 "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends." And Proverbs 18:7-8 is a really good one too. It is true that gossip is eaten up and taken in like delicious morsels that go down into the inner most parts of a man.

What do you think would happen if you heard gossip about your friend? Would you be loyal enough to stand firm by them no matter WHAT it is you heard? Or would you be too dumb witted and be easily persuaded by the whisperer? I'm telling you for future reference now, the gossiper wants you to fall into their snares of manipulation. They want you to feel the horror after you hear what they have to say-because they are armed with manipulation and you; unarmed are easily swayed by their snares they set about your feet.

Stay loyal to your friend. You don't have proof of what the others said. Arm yourself with the word of God and remember that the LORD who made the gossiper and the person who's being gossiped about takes this sin and all other sins seriously; you as a CHRISTIAN should too! It isn't a funny matter, it isn't a light matter it is sin you are dealing with. It is SOMEONE'S REPUTATION THAT IS BEING RUINED AND SHREDDED TO PIECES. SO WHEN THEY SHOW UP AMONGST THOSE FACES WHO HEARD THE GOSSIP-WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS? If they have loyal friends NOTHING. The whisperer if anything, should lose friends. If the friends have fallen into the snares of the gossiper then well then that poor person can do nothing to redeem his or herself. They cannot pull out a file and say well here, look this is my reputation. Because something literal doesn't exist. But those words do. Those horrible words.

If I haven't convinced you, if I haven't made my point just yet then listen to this Christian, you will be accountable for the gossip on judgment day! And you will also be accountable for those who HEARD the gossip, and how you dealt with them.

Christian and non-Christian alike, you WILL stand before Almighty God.

I leave this to your conscience may it prick you mercilessly until you realize the seriousness of the matter,

~Lissie Darcy

The Innocence of Summer

2010-07-18T14:25:00.000-07:00

We had our pastor's daughter over last Wednesday. It was so fun. Anyways. We caught 2 butterflies and let one go because we thought it was dead but it wasn't. As we were catching butterflies and taking summer walks (it was *very hot* but we had a good time), and running home to sip some ice cold water I was thinking..

This is summer. I didn't feel 16 I felt like I was 10 again. I felt like making mud pies. It was so fun. It was..sweet simplicity. It was, traveling back in time back to the innocence of summer. Don't you miss that? Don't you miss the days when we sat back and enjoyed the simple things in life? Barefoot everywhere be it baking tar, cement, grass, etc. It don't matter. I aint wearing shoes. Remember those days?

Somehow summer seems to have lost it's innocence. We forget to "take time to sniff the roses". But this summer, this is the summer of innocence. I've enjoyed a slow summer, what some people would think dull. But it was so laid back, so chill. Time to take delight in the loveliest of simple things.

It's like running through the sprinklers at 12 am with friends because their air conditioner is broken and it's a way to cool off. It's like laying down and gazing at stars even though you can't point out any constellations. It's like catching butterflies in mason jars with a 9yo, 10yo, 12yo, and 16yo.

It's like reading in a comfy chair on the porch with iced tea or cold water. It's bonfires on warm summer nights that get cool when the sun goes down. It's sitting down, knees up, with a friend crying because you have a crap load of a mess spiritually. It's working through that, wrestling it, muddling through the mud with your friend. It's awkwardly saying you love the friend even though on both sides you really do love that friend but your both bad with words. You feel it passionately, you feel it but you can't always express it as much as you feel it. But you know, it's the knowing that they really do love you and take time to say it.

It's the going to the mall and walking everywhere and finding couches to sit on and texting your friends when they're right next to you and it's the laying on a friend's shoulder, half hidden behind a pillow in case the movie is creepy. It's the love and affection you have for your friend you can eat each other's food, hug each other randomly, put an arm around your friend's shoulder's spontaneously just because; invading their personal space but they let you and they do the same to you because you guys love each other.

It's the goofy conversations, the many laughs, the chaos in trying to plan times to hang out, the misunderstanding/mishearing what was really said and laughing so hard at it afterwords. It's the letter writing to still loved friends but very much missed friends.

It's laying down for bed falling asleep to music and waking up with music. It's the sitting and doing nothing, and spending all your nothing time wondering about doing something. It's the late night movie watching. It's these little things, the innocence of summer.

~Elisabeth Darcy

Boldly Press On Christian

2010-07-17T21:11:00.000-07:00

We had our pastor's daughter over last Wednesday. She's 9. She's so incredibly sweet and bright and cheery. She's a very social person and kind of reminds me of myself (in the respect that she's outgoing. I'm no where NEAR as sweet a person as she is. She has such a tender heart towards God and people. (Duh-like father like daughter..I'm tellin ya!)) Very outgoing-more so then your average 9 yo..maybe even then your average teen. Something to be proud of for sure! (I can't understand typical teens who refuse to talk and socialize with all ages-besides themselves.. (actually I CAN understand. But that would be a whole other post.))

Point being we had so much fun with her. She was a blessing to have. She already adopted us (My sister and I) as older sisters and I love her for that. You see I adopt people I love too. It's almost like I love them so much being friend's just isn't good enough. So I'll consider them an aunt, uncle, cousin, sister, brother-whatever. (I've never found an adult I'd love so much to adopt them as a godfather/mother. Except for two people. Once that spot is reserved no one else can take it. So the rest are aunts and uncles. Not because I love them less. But just because they aren't so close as to call them second parents. (godparents that is..) I still love them just as much but the only difference is they're in the aunt and uncle spot-not the godparents spot.)

She encouraged me in the faith. She was telling me how her siblings and their LDS neighbors went to see how to train your dragon with them. And she said it was a fun time and a great opportunity to share Jesus' love to them. What a courageous, faithful soldier of Christ this child is!

My Lola came out recently with her boyfriend Larry. Apparently we found out from Jonah (once they had already left) that Jonah was trying to tell Larry about God. And Larry was trying to poison his mind with doubts. He told Jonah, "Well what about fairies? Fairies are a made up story and you can't see them. What about Santa Clause and Rudolph? They aren't real. They're just a made up story. You can't see them. They don't exist. They're fake. It's the same thing with God. You can't see God. How do you know He's real?" *I'll refrain from saying all the dirty rotten things I'm thinking right now..*

Little Jonah held his ground and BOLDLY continued (mind you he's SIX. He has faith like a mustard seed, truly.) pressing on, "Well God is EVERYWHERE. But, we can't see Him. He's still there, though. And if you keep sinning and not believing in God, you're going to go to hell. You don't want that."

And Larry *insert form of unwholesome talk..HERE* says, "I don't know what hell is."

Haha. You WILL. Continue down this path and you sure as HELL will no what the HELL hell is.

These little ones are examples to us. They do not ask questions. They say SEND ME GOD. And wherever God sends them they go, asking no questions. They cheerfully submit and with a skip go out and boldly press on, Christian soldiers for Christ; sharing Jesus' love to the unsaved.

So what must be done? Ha. We must get into the boat. Get into the boat and go to the other side. (See Mark 4:35-41) What must be done, I ask again? First, we must get IN the boat. That's the first step. Once we're in the boat that's where we prepare for what awaits us on the other side. That's where the testing of our faith begins. What happens on the other side? We are reaching out to the lost, the unsaved on the other side.

We ate at Christ's table. It is time for us to go out and invite OTHERS to eat and be satisfied, to be full. We are called to boldly press on. To boldly live our lives as if Jesus was curiously looking over our shoulders. To live as if in everything we do we wanted THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE, OUTSIDE of your social bubble-to know the love of Christ, the grace and mercy and restoration of Christ.

That doesn't mean we aren't going to be scared. That doesn't mean fear won't be felt. But it SHOULDN'T mean that we are ruled BY fear. That is when our faith is really tested. When you go out there and proclaim the name of Christ boldly-it is scary. We don't know what might happen. But we do know that whatever DOES happen Christ is and has endured it for us and with us already. NO matter what happens man can do nothing to the soul! What's the worst that can happen? You end up dying proclaiming CHRIST'S name! That's scary but then you'll end up seeing Christ face to face, you'll end up..at home. And remember dying proclaiming Christ's name whether you were burnt at the stake for your faith or whether you died naturally but proclaiming His name until your last day--you're showing others that this guy, this Jesus is to DIE for.

Christian, no matter what you cannot call yourself a Christian and not be willing to die for what you believe. You cannot represent Christ's name and not be willing to die for Him.

In what areas of your life are you being ruled by fear? In what areas of your life are you not willing to die for Christ. Whatever areas those are-cut them off. Leave them. If it's your leg, cut if off. Isn't it better to be without a limb and proclaim Christ's name all the way-unto the death? Or is it better to have all limbs intact and proclaim His name half way? You choose. Judas had all his limbs intact and he proclaimed Christ's name half way-look how he ended up. The apostles (take Paul for example) were choppy. They had left pieces-limbs behind because they were causing them to only go so far in the work of the Kingdom.

Overall Christian, you have to be able to say both as Paul was able: Wretched man I am, Praise be to God that I am saved. You have to be able to say JESUS IS NOT YET LORD OVER THIS AREA IN MY LIFE-but thanks be to God, for saving me. Both must be said. Not one or the other. (And this is a quote from my pastor.)

ALL OF THIS POST, by the way is me listening to the sermons and talking to my Pastor..and all of it has really been on my heart lately. And I speak for myself and myself only. But if in someway I have struck a spark in your heart, I pray and thank God. A fire starts with a spark first, before a flame can form. It is little sparks that is changing the way I am thinking, that is opening my eyes to see these dark areas in my life that Jesus is not yet Lord over. It is sparks that are leaving me begging God to change me, change my heart, work in me, humble me, make me a DOER of the word not JUST a hearer. (Read the first chapter of the book of James the last bit..) It is seeing how holy my God is that has left me as Isaiah was-realizing I am unclean. I am begging God to press that coal to my lips (read Isaiah 25..I believe is what it is..). Make me holy. Make me a real disciple for you. For now I feel like Peter did who said, "Though they all fall away, because of you I will never fall away." Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And all the disciples said the same. (Matt. 26:30-35)

As you might have guessed, I am struggling right now. But, I do feel encouraged. Very encouraged. A friend let me vomit my insides out onto him. And he was there and kind of just let me muddle through my own mud. Wrestle through it. But I wasn't alone. He was there the whole time I was wrestling through it trying to explain how I was doing. Which reminded me. Christ hasn't left me, He's there. Helping me wrestle through it. One of my biggest fears..in life, ever since I was little was that God would take His Spirit from me. If you've read Romans 1 you know what I'm talking about. When you're struggling, when you're naked and exposed you fear you'll never see the light-Romans 1 dangles before your eyes and all you can do is beg God PLEASE don't leave me. I know I'm struggling, Father. But I need your help. I don't want that to happen to me. I'm going to keep fighting even though I FEEL like I'm capable of it.

Pray for me. And boldly press on Christians.

Elisabeth Darcy

These are the roads one must choose which to travel on

2010-07-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

Realizing there isn't a middle ground can drive a mind nuts! It leaves you with only 2 choices then: Live for myself or live for Christ. Embrace the curse of sin, or embrace the way of life in which I was originally created to be-Christ's way of life. Live upside down in a backwards upside down world or live rightside... up and fight to be forwards, not backwards.

Both ways of life are painful. The first: (living for yourself) Because you are always searching for something to satisfy you. But that something is usually always found in things that end up bringing you only pleasure. As we all know pleasure only lasts for a little while. And so you are left wanting more and having to search elsewhere hoping you have better luck next time.

The second: (living for Christ) You are living in a way that is not your own. It is the way of life that Christ calls you to live. It goes against the grain of the wood of this world. It is a way of life that calls you over and above the highest of the highest of standards of THIS world. It is not what you would rather do. In fact, it is quite the opposite. His way goes so far as to love our enemies! To feed them and clothe them! Under the curse of sin we DON'T want to do that. We (no matter what culture you come from) do not like doing anything that puts us out of our comfort zone and makes us uncomfortable-so we can serve and love others.

The first choice (living for self) is a soul-murdering choice. Everyone hungers and thirst for something that goes beyond the limits what this world can bring. We long for peace. We long for a true home. We long to be accepted. But the things of this world doesn't hold what we long for. Why? Because this world is created, not the creator. The Creator of all things can give us what we so long for. Just as the farmer can give his crop the soil and the water it needs.. (although that's rather a bad analogy since the farmer doesn't necessarily GIVE the sun to the crop..but you get the point.) The first choice hurts us because we weren't originally created to live this way. We weren't made for selfishness, for decay, for death, and suffering. (Nor were we made to CAUSE/BE these things to OTHERS. For instance: we weren't made to make others suffer. Take Hitler as an example..) We were made for a higher calling in life!

The second choice ends in life. It hurts because we ARE under the curse of sin. And so it hurts to fight against it by living the way Christ wants us to live. It hurts to go against a grain buried so deep in our hearts. It hurts because we have weeds of corruption and decay entangled in our souls. But that is why we need Christ to rip out those weeds in our life. And that is where the pain comes in. But in the end there's life. An eternity with God Almighty. An eternity with the one so Holy even the angels cannot have themselves fully exposed in His presence. They must have coverings for their eyes and feet.

There is no middle ground. People often label (including myself) the first choice (living for self) as "easy" but it's not. Living in that way is not only soul murdering for yourself but for others too. You are living in such a way that KILLS others too!

You choose. But know that one way ends in destruction, while the other in life.

~Lissie~

Reading

2010-07-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

My reading list looks something like this:

Moby Dick
The Reason For God *by Tim Keller..in case you were curious*
Persuasion (it's so hard to get through. I stopped 26 pages in. Pride and Prejudice was a fast read. Even Northanger Abbey was a faster read! I mean GEEZE..I started snoring the first 10 pages..kind of sad..but I have this thing where if I start a book I must finish it..)
Alice in Wonderland
Through the Looking Glass (these have been put on hold. I have one book that has both of these stories in them. And I can't find it ANYWHERE.)
GET ON WITH IT. (that wasn't a book. that was one of the many mental notes that are posted everywhere in my mind...)

What's keeping me? LAZINESS. Ok not really. Life is.

~Lissie

The Wanna Be Writer

2010-07-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

So I want to write a book. I have all these ideas written down. And they all sound great and look promising. I even have this really big story idea. But, I just don't know where to start. I still don't think I have the idea that I've been looking for.

When I blog I get a trail of thoughts in my head..and it usually just blows up and I just write. And everything comes out. Everything I've been thinking, doing, etc. Writing a book is different. I need to just sit down and write. Just to see what comes out. My ideal story would be that I would just be able to sit down and write and have everything just come out like it does with blogging. But it never happens that way. I have a feeling if I want to write a story it's going to take work.

Whenever I hit a writer's block I can't seem to EVER get past it though. Outlines may work for some people but not for me. Maybe I'm just not committed enough. I know I'm not giving it my all. Maybe I should sit down and really think about the plot of my story and really plan it out and write out an outline.

I don't know. I'm complaining to you. Arg.

-----------------Elisabeth

AGAINST TWILLIGHT FTW

2010-07-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.truewoman.com/?id=1176

READ. THIS. ARTICLE. This lady totally stripped Twilight and left all the teenagers and even adults biting the dust from this lady's feet. Because she totally proved that there's nothing (besides the fact that Stephanie Meyer *so I've heard* is a really good writer) edifying, or "*GREAT*" about Twilight.

I'd really like to hear a teenager's or even adult's defense in response to what the lady wrote about Twilight. I was amazed at some of the stuff I've read about Twilight. And how obsessed people are with it. Even grown ups!

I read a review about (obviously a twilight hater) one of the Twilight books (can't remember what site I read it on..) someone who thought twilight wasn't that great. And that they were sickened at how people are responding to the books. One woman was in counseling because she was SO into Edward that she didn't care for or about her husband anymore.

THAT is ridiculous. TALK about idolatry! If something (be it a book, a movie, music, a song, a toy, clothes, etc.) is causing you to sin and to be idolatrice; if something is causing you to be SO obsessed with it then you need to check yourself and ask why?

Is it becoming the most important thing in my life?
Is it causing strife and the destruction of my relationships in my life?
Is it or Has it replaced God in my life..?
Is it causing me to sin overall? *or in general if you will*

If the answer is yes to just even ONE of these questions you need to rethink about if it is worth having in your life etc.

~Lissie

Ps. FYI- The phrase "FTW" means F-OR T-HE W-IN. Nothing bad. Just..so you know :)

The End Button

2010-07-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time....

The end.

If my life was a book that is how it would look. Once upon a time..THE END. Ok. Maybe I'm over exaggerating. My life's book has some details here and there in it. It does have a story to it. I could sum up the story for you if you want.

There's this girl. Her name is Elisabeth. She's sixteen. She has 6 siblings. She's the oldest. Elisabeth likes to read, watch old black and white films, write, dream dreams that shoot for the moon, etc. Then the rest of the book would be almost like a collection of diary entries, only better. It would be an account of my day-to-day stuff. What I did in the 24hrs of my life down to the last detail.

When it came to fighting sin it would look like the intro of this post: Once upon a time..........

The end.

That's what I do. As soon as a fight begins I give up and almost immediately and just hit "the END" button. When really it's the beginning. It's like I go on auto Pilate or something. If there was a mute button I'd hit it and wouldn't hear what my Mom has to say. What? You rebuked me? Whaja say? I couldn't hear you.

That's pretty much what the end button does. It just ends. Or maybe the "prideful" button is more of what I should put. I just GIVE in. Kind of like "ah screw it". (I am aware of what that word means.. I think it's perfectly appropriate for this. That describes me giving into my flesh.)

There comes a point in life where you don't have the option of pressing the "end" button anymore, because that's it. It is the end. And it's your fault. You should've seeked the Lord while He still may be found. You should've listened while you still had ears to listen.

Isn't that lovely? The End Button sounds promising. Satan is a good sale's man. So is your flesh. So is the temptations and offers of the world. They're all good sale's men. They sell you on things like the End Button (in this case it's my flesh that sold it to me..) and promise you an easier life. That may be true. It's HARD to fight off sin. It's HARD not to give into your flesh. It's hard when your vulnerable, when you're tiered, when you're cranky, when you haven't eaten, etc. Our flesh is strongest during these times. It's easier to just press the End button and forget. And screw it. Might as well give in. Hey why not close my eyes for a minute? Why not take the hand of darkness just..just for a moment, that's all.

What happens when you wake up? When you open your eyes? When the lights go on? YOU SEE the sin. Hiding, running, (even in the DIRECTION of sin), closing your eyes all these things do not TAKE away the sin. It's there. You have to deal with it. You have to fight it1 You can't give in!!!

In the LOTR Sam didn't let Frodo give up! He wouldn't have it. When Frodo was at his weakest, most vulnerable moments that is when Sam intervened and pushed him, talked to him of the shire, helped him to remember the light! He helped him remember what it was to taste real food and drink cold, clear water.

This is what Christ does. Amongst the moment of the battle, especially your vulnerable moments and when you're being corrected He's there. He's intervening. He's telling you of the shire, of home. He's reminding you of the taste of His word. Of the refreshment for the soul of His water.

Don't press the End button. This isn't the end. This is far from the end. This, this is the beginning.

~Lissie

The Gift Giver A Sweet Friend

2010-06-30T01:55:00.000-07:00

There is this friend I have. She's little and sweet. She can't help but to give, give and give some more.

She gives her ears to you as you pour out words to her; she listens. As you spill your guts not meaning to, you know her heart is all yours. And she will give it to you. For she listens to you, all while you need her to. She pours out her love for you by showing that she cares, that she's there.

She shows up at your doorstep and in her arms is a gift: A present for you. You aren't suppose to ask why, for you both now the answer: Just because I love you.

Ready and eager are her arms to share a hug. It doesn't matter if you need it or don't or "just because..." They are there just the same.

Understanding and compassionate is this friend of mine. She's there when you need her. She'll be sure to dedicate some of her time You watch her gentle, caring hands as they caress her sweet kids. You see in her eyes how proud she is of her husband. And you know that she gives herself willingly and lovingly to her family for she is the gift giver, a sweet friend.

The Tiny Quiet One

2010-06-30T01:47:00.001-07:00

For Jessi Bear

Today I'm a baby. Tomorrow I will still be a baby. They try to tell me I'm a big girl, but they won't make one of me! They say I'm a tiny quiet odd one. I just chuckle quietly to myself. They may be right about me being tiny, but I can run just as fast as the others! I may be small, but I'm really smart and eager to learn! I may be tiny, but I talk a lot for someone my size!

As for quiet, well who says I am!? I can be really loud and wild when I want too! I never suppress a giggle. I giggle a lot; sometimes rather to loudly. There's so much to see and hear. Sometimes I just have to be quiet, for I find people very interesting. Granted, there are times where I'm being quiet and I'm not watching people. In fact, I'm avoiding them. That's because I'm rather shy..

When I'm tiered I love to sit and snuggle up with a blanket, my buddy, and passifyer while watching a movie. Everyone loves a good movie though. I especially love to be quiet with someone as we snuggle each other. Particularly my parents or older siblings.

After reading all that would you still call me odd? I can't help it if I want to continue being a baby. Besides if I was a big girl I wouldn't be the tiny quiet odd one, now would I?

Merrily With A Skip

2010-06-30T01:42:00.000-07:00

I love how kids carry themselves. They walk confidently, knowing they run the show". I love how kids smile: They know just when you need one to brighten your day. Smiles from them are like vitamin D only in this case for the soul instead of the body.
I love how kids mispronounce words and when you try to correct them they assure you 100$ that, "Yes, is!" Yet when they grow out of those mispronunciations you feel sad. I love how kids walk, merrily with a skip, totally carefree in the world. They're so wholly and completely dependent upon you. They do not know what lies ahead in this fallen world. And so for now they walk merrily with a skip, as they look back at you with their ever trusting eyes. Yes, merrily with a skip my dear!

~Lissie Darcy

Poetic nonsense try wandering soul

2010-06-23T12:40:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like someone you're not? Like a poet. Or a philosopher. Or a stalker. Or restless.

THAT is what I am. I am restless. Searching endlessly for something, something, something. But what? I grab for solid objects to hold my body weight, which feels like led to me. I hold on and cling desperately to branches on the cliff that I know will break on me within minutes. I swim in darkness wishing, hoping earnestly-not pleadingly for the light. I walk endlessly on cheap shoes that fall apart after a few steps. I eat and drink because I am starving. I leave the table stomach full, heart longing, soul dry and empty. I gaze upon dirt and filth, longing for holiness and purity. I hear music reciting words, empty words that bring me pleasure never happiness. I delight in the temporary when the Infinite joys sit before me. I search endlessly for something, something, something. I get nothing. I achieve nothing. I see myself as nothing. I do nothing. I exist in meaningless nothingness.

For I eat and am not satisfied. I drink and my thirst is not quenched. I go and my feet lead me further away from my destination. I touch and do not feel. I speak and do not hear. I see and do not perceive. I ache and yet I am numbed by wicked pleasure. I am imprisoned. I hope because I remember He who has given me hope. AND THEN I push the hope away and it dies..or I think it does. But it does not die. It is only buried until it is dug up again. I ACHE and plead for medicine. They say, "Come to me. I have medicine that will take that ache away." And so I come and take the medicine. The ache goes away. I lie down my cheeks feverish, my soul disturbed. The medicine makes me drowsy. It dulls my senses. I can no longer remember why I was disturbed. Perhaps it was just because of the ache. But it is gone now. Hours go by and I lie there. To tired to get up, to tired to care. More hours go by. In the morning I wake up and I ACHE again! "Come with me. You should have come to me in the first place. I will give you medicine that will last longer then the last." NO NO MORE! This medicine only takes the ache away temporarily! It doesn't HEAL the ache.

Suddenly I hear a voice. Hush my Child. Be still and know that I am God. Be still and listen. Listen?..Listen..listen.. I'm listening! Go. Far away from here. Run and do not look back. Run from evil! Get away! But I'm alone! How, how!? How can I ever get away from here! They will crowd around me! They will tie me down! They will force medicine down my throat! They will eat me alive. I am with you. They cannot harm you, they will not harm you. I'm scared. What can they do to you? They can harm you, harm your body. They can physically destroy you! But your soul they cannot touch. Run. And I ran. I ran for my life. I did not look back. The darkness, the huge, vast, blackness that I thought had swallowed me whole was growing smaller. Smaller and smaller and smaller and smaller. The light the far away kingdom grew before my eyes. When I got there I had to shield my eyes for I wasn't used to the light.

I arrived. I was welcomed. I was washed by the King Himself. He clothed me with a robe as red as blood. He anointed my head with oil. He fed me water from His fountain. He used no cup, but His own hand. When I had enough He carried me up to His castle. My feet weren't used to walking on such ground. This terrain wasn't rough-it was pure. It was holy ground. You see I was used to easy terrain, filthy ground. So the King carried me up to His castle. Up, up, up. And then! Oh a huge endless table was before me! He set me down on a bench by other's that were robed. They all welcomed me warmly..as if they had known me for years. Then I remembered. I had been here before! Before I ran away, I was living here! These were my family. My brothers and sisters in Christ!!

Tears filled my eyes. How could the King still love me? After everything I had done? I looked all around me. Then there was a toast. The King rose. "My Daughter is home. Let us rejoice." And He kissed my head. I couldn't bear it. I whimpered and moaned. I was quite surprised at the sound of it. It wasn't like the moaning I had done in the fallen kingdom. Those moans were the moans of pain. This moan was the kind of moaning you do when you have laid eyes on the Holy King. I was blinded by light, by holiness, by purity, by the King. He made coverings like the angels for my eyes, and feet. And still I cried and cried. I didn't deserve it. And suddenly my soul was quieted and I was still.

Something filled me. Something I hadn't had in a long time. Something was different. MY ACHE! It was gone! I knew it wouldn't be gone for only temporarily but forever. I was filled with peace! A peace I had never experienced before! A peace that only comes from the King. I ate and drank and was full. I saw and perceived! I heard and went out to DO. I DID and it was not meaningless nothingness. It was my mission. Our mission. We went out and invited others to eat, drink and be satisfied by the King-because of the King.

I enjoyed the earthly blessings given to me. I could do it now and see that it was not meaningless because I am no longer living, and surviving for these things. I was enjoying them because the King had given them to me. I was enjoying them but not DELIGHTING in them. I delight in the King. I could do all this because I now had a purpose in life. I had hope. I had a reason to live. I am no longer a wandering soul. I have the King..or rather He has me!

~Lissie

Tired as hell

2010-06-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

It's really bad but I have been getting 5 hours of sleep probably..? Going to bed late doing reading homework for Driver's ed class. Why you ask? Because it is Monday-Friday (unless you are scheduled to drive on a Saturday..) from 12pm-3pm. The last thing I want to do when I get home is homework, after having been at class for 3 hours. So after class until dinner is my chill out time. I usually come home do chores then lay down and listen to music and kind of rest. Or check facebook. (I've been doing really well by only getting on once a day..!! :D) (Sometimes twice..hehe..but usually vouch for once a day.)

Today I took Jonah and Jami to the park for 20 minutes because it was REALLY hot and everything was scalding (the slides and swings..etc.) so we played around for a bit but then it was unbearable. (Well it was at the point where it's the hottest time of day..) Then I kind of chilled on the couch because of lack of sleep.. Then blogged. The end. WOO. Exciting I know.

So after dinner is kitchen cleanup, put the babies to bed, pick up the house (stripping it of all the toys etc.), spend time with my Mom until Siah has (i.e. josiah) to go to bed-she usually puts feeds him, puts him down and then watches a movie on the laptop in her room.

THEN HOMEWORK. And by then it is usually 8:30pm or maybe nine. Then what I do is hang out with Jules and Jake since I don't get to see them much in the day. And THEN (ok..fine THEN) it is homework. So by then it is usually 10pm. And I'm wiped from the long day and so I end up reading realllllly slow and then it'll be like twelve and I'll snap out from my zone and decide it is bedtime.

Wake up at like SEVEN finish up any extra credit/work whatever..and get ready. The rest of the morning is me scrambling around making sure I have everything, including something to eat during class etc. And jamming out the door with my Mom.

Sorry but sometimes you got to express yourself a little deeper then "heck" or "crummy". Words like hell, crap, bullsh** (with star's...) (or I guess BS will do eh?), are necessary at such times.

I'm tired as hell. I can't wait until class is over this week. Only four more days to go. And tomorrow it'll be three. *sigh* It is only the beginning of summer and I'm tired as hell. Ha. Funny. I'd rather be tired as hell because I'm spending lots of time with my friends and family.. but whatever. The time for that will come sooner then my glum self is thinking.

If someone could sing the "Cheer up Charlie" song (from charlie and the charlie factory movie) and replace the "Charlie" with "Lissie" that'd be great, thanks.

BUT ON A LIGHTER NOTE AND A MORE ENTHUSIASTIC NOTE: I CAN'T WAIT TO DRIVE.

WOOT-FRIGGIN-WOOT!

May your days be sparkly my friends, just plain sparkly,

~Elisabeth Darcy

Declaration of Joy

2010-06-14T16:48:00.000-07:00

Yeah so I'm pretty happy right now. Summer is here! I think it's finally here to stay. It is nice and hot out. Oh sun. I love you. On Sunday afternoon I spread out my cheery quilt that helps me get through the dreary winter: My red and yellow quilt. I spread it out on our front lawn, still in my summer dress I wore to church, sun hat on, sunglasses on, Idaho's driver's manual out, Drive right book out (from driver's ed class..these aren't my choice in reading..), ice cold glass of water, soaking up vitamin D. It felt good. Finally though, I had to go inside because it was so warm, so nice out that I thought it'd be nice to take a long sun nap on my favorite quilt ever. If we had private property I probably would've done just that..(being in a dress and all..hehe..u know..)

But I had forty vocabulary to memorize for my driver's ed vocab final. And so I memorized all forty within an hour and a half. (Well I had to write them out too..)

I did SUPER well on my quiz we got back from last Friday! And I did well on the quiz we took today!!! So happy! Hopefully my 87 will go up (which it most likely will because that's not counting extra credit) to a 90 something.. :D YES.

I'm taking driver's ed with two friends: P-nut and Sarah. Sarah sits in front of us (teacher assigned our seating..) and P-nut and I sit next to each other. Woot woot. It's bombizzle doing it with friends. If I was a lone well :( no one likes being the lone wolf.

Anyways. I have a presentation tomorrow. Should be super duper easy. Three articles on accidents and you have to tell what the driver's error is, and what they driver COULD have done to prevent the accident.

Oh and on Saturday (this last Saturday) it was such a nice Saturday!!! It was the perfect temperature out. I had my first *legal* drive with my driving instructor and P-nut. It was fun. I definitely like going 35 mph rather than 10/20 in a subdivision. *bleck*

Then Mum picked us up and we headed on over to the Flying M (bestest coffee shop everest..). We drank coffee, got jittery (..dunno why it's not like P-nut and I don't drink coffee OH yeah Mum said it was because we didn't eat lunch (in my case a *proper* lunch)), laughed at everything because we were just a little bit hyper, talked smack about our classmates *the ones that we dont know and have no connection with them/have never been in their lives before until now in class* *WHICH would be pretty much all of the class..33 students*. Ok maybe I should clarify. We didnt talk smack (the apostrophe key isnt working just so you know...) about them. We (being seated in the back row..hehe given the ability to observe/people watch) just simply stated everything weve got *figure out* about them. Example: We know who are the nerds in the class..and the girls sitting in our row whos the perfectionist (if you didnt catch it the first time Im having issues with the apostrophe key so Im giving up on trying to use it..) and whos the dumb*ist*..(as in she who makes up answers..to tests..).

Then we headed on over to this place (RIGHT NEXT to the M..) called (note the quotation marks are on the same key as the apostrophe key too..shooot me..) *The White Pine*. It is awesome! They have used books for a decent price and I found 4 books that are on my reading list that I have to buy (which I figured Id just order them off of amazon..)

Gone with the Wind
Count of Monte Cristo
Lord of the Flies
Moby Dick

Now I know what you are thinking!!! Im a slacker for not having read these already! But that is the point! I created a booklist for this year (2010..lol) consisting of some of the classics that I havent read and need to read and wanna read and should read. Get it? Got it? Good!

So anyways. I wasnt thinking that we would go to the White Pine (I was jammin out the door for class) and so I just shoved some coffee money and a little extra to buy something to eat at the M for *lunch*. I didnt bring enough money on me to be able to buy all four.. CUZ I SO TOTALLY COULDVE DUE TO THE SWUH.EET. PRICES.

I left proudly with Moby Dick though! Im trying to build my library. By that I mean buy books on my own or ask for more books on birthdays and Christmases so when I move out/or get married I have a library to bring.

Yes the amazing Woman who inspired me to do this was Aunt Lori. We were talking about hope chests one time and got on to talking about books and how she wants her daughters to leave home with a mini library of their own to begin to fill their home with books. It kind of woke me up because I realized when I leave home I want to leave with my books *with some books even to have! is a better way of putting it..*.

I have to catch up on sermons!! I missed one week because we were at a baptizim. Then I missed another week because I was helping out in Childrens church..and so now Im going to go back listen to the two missed sermons and then all the way up to this weeks sermon. I feel like I need to do that to get a full understanding. All this to say this weeks sermon was really challenging. Im now praying every day that God would give me ears to hear what Hes trying to teach me/say to me.

Ever since Naomi and Joshua came out for a visit, and they talked about (In Joshuas sermon and talking to Naomi after church..) witnessing in the every day mundane things in life. Ive been really convicted of this. Ive been really (and am still struggling and striving to be aware of this) aware that the little *mundane* things in life like having an attitude with my parents, serving my siblings, honoring my parents, dying to myself daily really DO speak out to the world of who it is I worship. Is the way Im living, in every moment of every day, saying LOUDLY that I am God's child..? I serve Him. I worship Him. AM I BEING A LIGHT to the world?

I was thinking it is kind of like love. You can say *I love you* to someone all you want but if you treat them like they are the dirt you walk on..then you obviously dont love them. It is plain and clear that actions speak louder then words.

The attitude Naomi and Joshua were encouraging us to have *SCRATCH THAT THE MINDSET..THE WAY OF LIVING LIFE FOR CHRIST* is not *lets go out and street preach for 3 hours..so I can get my witnessing in for the day..*

And that is NOT to say that the Todd Friel way (because hes who comes to mind..) is wrong. But over time it is so easy to slip into that mindset of ok I got my witnessing in for today. Kind of like how people say *Ive done my good deed for today..* As Christians it is so so easy for us to become little pharisees. The whole *holier than thou* mindset and attitude is VERY common in Christian circles. Bulls*** You Christian, are no better then the thief on the cross. You Christian, were given the gift of grace JUST like the thief on the cross was. You didnt gain Gods good favor by your good works so you can shove the little pharisee/holier than thou act up your butt. Its not going to cut the mustard and THAT isnt something God looks down upon in good favor. He didnt look at the pharisees at pat them on the back telling them to keep up the good work. In fact He wanted them to STOP working. Its not the work thats getting them to heaven. How many times did Jesus have to tell them to stop toiling endlessly!? Theres a verse that talks about how all our good works are like filthy rags in the eyes of the Lord. (See Isaiah 44:6, and also see Hebrews 9:14)

Witnessing one-on-one is NOT WRONG AT ALL. That is NOT what Im saying. What I am saying is we are not to take for granted those times where we think oh it doesnt matter no one is watching or even those times where we give in to our flesh and sin even WHEN ppl are watching-THOSE TIMES IN YOUR LIFE MATTER. Your WHOLE life should demonstrate who it is we serve.

Naomi was telling me about how her Mom has a front door garden. (It was either her Mom or Joshuas...) (SORRY THIS WHOLE SCREWED UP APOSTROPHE KEY IS BUGGING ME TOO!) And she purposefully has her vegetable garden in the front because her neighbors pass by. And when she gets a lot of basil or of some sort of vegetable, she gives some to the first neighbor who happens to walk by. And the neighbors know this since it is a habit of hers. And through this means she is able to be a light to her neighbors by engaging into conversations and whenever she can she talks about Christ-in some way. And it is always natural and in something so mundane as gardening and sharing with neighbors.

Its little things like this where we share the love of Christ in the mundane things in life!

Also Sharad and Evy had their neighbors over for dinner. Their neighbors are LDS, and when they found out that Evy and Sharad are Christians they were surprised because they werent trying to force the Gospel into them like an aggressive nanny trying to give some kids medicine. So they were really happy and appreciative that though they (APOSTROPHE WORKING AGAIN! YES!) differ, they aren't debating with them like their life depends on it. And they aren't doing the "holier then thou" act either.

And so they invited them to their community group every Thursday. (I guess their neighbors just moved here from Seattle and they don't have any friends and they don't go to their LDS church either..)

I'm really straining to hear what God is calling me to do. It's good too because I'm at that point in life where I'm still growing up and trying to figure out who I am suppose to be/where my place in this world is.

We have some neighbors that moved into a house across our street. We met the mom (who was KIND of cooky/slightly on the creepyish weird side..but still nice..) one day as we were bringing in groceries. Anyways her daughter is a single Mom who isn't a Christian (the mom is). She has 2 daughters I think that are around Jonah and Jami's age. I think at some point this week or next week I'm going to make them some chocolate chip cookies and welcome them to the neighborhood. As time goes on who knows? I may be babysitting for her? As we get to know them better we can invite them to church and stuff. We also have a house that is almost finished being built (pretty much done.) RIGHT across from ours..uhhh diagonal. So more cookies for them too once they people move in! :D

OH so as I was saying. After the White Pine we went to the Brass Razoo. And they lady there had a MARVELOUS ENGLISH ACCENT..and helped me out A TON. She was sooooooo sweet too! She told me of 4 places that are hiring and I know of one other place too so that makes 5 places to apply for!! :D Woot woot!!

OK this declaration of joy is kind of meshed around with a bunch of stuff that has been on my mind. Quit making fun of me. I know this is long. Whatevvvv.

Sunshine and Ponies,

~Lissie Darcy
Then we headed on

FYI

2010-06-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

I do have some posts that I wrote down in my note book and haven't taken the time to type them up. They were from two weeks ago so I will be posting them and adding the date on them so you know when they were from and won't get confused.

FFWP/6

2010-05-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

I want a garden period. End of story. My house is going to look like a flower garden inside and out. (Dried flowers, pressed, fresh, etc.) But, I want a front yard vegetable garden. It'll bring up good opportunities to share with my neighbors and get to talking with them and be salt and light to them in a mundane thing in life. A dear friend (a new friend!! :D aren't new friends a blessing?) told me about their sweet mother (whom I'd love to meet one day Naomi, if you're reading..) who had this brilliant idea and lived it out. :)

Being a light to the world in the every mundane things of life is going to have to be another post for another time. I have to say right here and now though, that this profoundity didn't come from your feisty red-headed friend-entirely that is. I had the kindling, but the dear new friends of mine were the spark and now there is (slowly) a little fire that increases in size each day within me. It wants to consume me. And soon, it will.

~Lissie

FFW/P #5

2010-05-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

I have to have ONE room in my house that is dedicated completely and wholly to books; and the celebration of the luxury/comfort of them.

I know exactly how I want it to look. It goes something like this: Beautiful bookshelves made with beautiful wood (I haven't figured out just what yet. Maybe cherry wood..), DOZENS AND DOZENS, AND DOZENS OF BOOKS will garland those bookshelves. There has to be a window in the room and a window seat with comfy pillows and even a throw (i.e. light decorative but COMFY blanket) for comfort. LOTS of lamps. There's something comforting/reassuring about reading by the light of a lamp. BIG COMFY LEATHER RECLINING SEATS!! (Those are the star of the show besides the books!) And the window is going to have pretty flowy modest curtains. (I don't want them to take away from the leather seats or the books..etc..) And lots of dried flowers and fresh flowers in the room for a sweet scent! This is one wish I hope will come true someday. I could do without all the other stuff in the room as long as I had lots of natural light from a window, leather reclining seats, and that WHOLE room for books!! (Oh and of course lamps...) :D

Does anyone have a dream room for their future home?

Sweetly dreaming,

~Elisabeth Darcy

FFW/P #4

2010-05-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

I don't have a "wedding gift list". Unless of course, you count an espresso machine as a "wedding gift list". Oh and carnations are my new favorite flowers! (I still adore tulips and daisies though!) so I have three favorites now! I want to have (maybe) carnations at my wedding. They are so sweet, so beautiful, so well SWEET.

~Lissie

PS. Anyone have a wedding gift list? Or a few things on it already? Or any flower ideas for their wedding? If I'm a freak the declare it so (erm confirm it) via comment! :D

GUESS WHAT?

2010-05-30T20:33:00.001-07:00

THIS IS MY 201ST POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll have to host a giveaway sometime soon!! :D It can't be this week though, it'll have to be next week because my mom is leaving the 1st-8th for Cali to visit Papa who had a stroke we found this out Mother's day morning. So yeah. She's going to go see him. And since he's resting a lot, in between his rest times she's going to go visit old pals and dearly loved old friends! Yeah. Pray for me. I'll be with the kids (5) (she'll take Josiah) for a week.

:D

~Lissie

FFW/Parenthood #3

2010-05-30T18:09:00.000-07:00

Mental note: I will train all my kids to be on a sleeping schedule. It makes life SO much more easier. And I can't deal with 5 attempts of a kid waking up (i.e. after trying to put him to sleep during that time) and wanting to bawl the 5th time he wakes up.

I respect those who do not want to train their kids (at such a young age!!-IT'S HARD WORK!..but it definitely pays off) because it breaks my heart and their heart to hear their kid crying. But for me, when I grow up..it breaks my back rocking and holding and bending over for so long. And it breaks me out into a sweat from anxious pleading to God "PLEASE let him stay asleep!!". And it makes me want to break down into a cry from him waking up and FIGHTING his sleep and not wanting to be "put in the bed" because he likes to "sleep in someone's arms".. you know? It's just stressful both ways.

Mental note: train my future kids to be on a regular (like you know when their 4/5 months not when they're first born's obviously!) sleeping/eating cycle.

What are your thoughts on this? Disagree or agree?

~Lissie

The ultimate playlist

2010-05-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

I'm creating a new project playlist. It's going to be the ultimate playlist. I'm sooooo going to post it on my blog!!

Here's the bands I'm going to have on it:

Death Cab for Cutie
G. Love and Special Sauce
The Fray
Snow Patrol
The Decemberists
The Avett Brothers
The Whigs
The Artic Monkeys
The Fratellis
Franz Ferdinand
The White Stripes
Dead Weather
The Black Keys
The Flobots
Cage the Elephant
Flyleaf
Paramore
The New Pornographers
Pretty Girls Make Graves
The Kills
The Killers
The Kooks
Son Volt
Broken Bells
Dan Auerbach
We were Promised Jetpacks
The Shins
The Walkmen
Fleet Floxes
Bon Iver
Animal Collective
Forest Sun
The Veils
The Stills
Alpha Rev
Red Wanting Blue
Ra Ra Riot
Rogue Wave
Passion Pit
Jaguar Love
Train
She and Him
The Smiths
Cake
Radiohead
The Ramones
The Pixies
Kings Crash

ISN'T IT GOING TO BE LIKE THE ULTIMATE PLAYLIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??? Bombizzle, fo sho!

Signing off,

~Lissie Darcy

Ordinary Fridays

2010-05-27T20:13:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a new blog series. It's called "ordinary Fridays". It's going to be a traditional blog post. It's going to be a post every Friday, consisting of a picture/s that are OUT of the ordinary. SO say it's a random picture of something colorful or vibrant or differently textured that I saw on my Friday. Or whatever. Anyways. It's basically me trying to be creative with my photography/blogging. Finding the Out of the ordinary or "Extra"ordinary in the..ordinary. OK I MADE THAT WAY TOO CONFUSING.

I'm ending this! ANYWAYS. I'm STARTING IT TOMORROW SINCE IT'S FRIDAY.

THE END!

A very tired,

Lissie Darcy

Oh Rain!

2010-05-27T18:57:00.001-07:00

Oh rain, how I love you. Please stay. Rain seems to give one the assurance that peace does exist. It reminds us that peace comes from the LORD God who made all things. I think the rain efficiently reflects God's glory. The sound of the rain is a calming, soul-quieting sound. Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" That my friends, is the story the rain is telling. It is the story all of creation is telling. HEY HEY LOOK OVER HERE! *FINGER POINTING TO GOD* and then this verse is quoted. The finger (creation) then starts wigging around and around on the specific part that says "and know that I am God" and THAT is when the finger starts wiggling and practically flinging itself off the hand and to God.

If you REALLY wanna look at it in a symbolic way you could say the rain REMINDS (not "stands for") us of Christ's blood washing away all our sins. Kind of like in Noah's ark--only then the rain wasn't washing away our sins. It was washing away the evil, and hatred, rebellious people that turned away from God. It was a symbol though, of what was to come. God was going to send His only Son to wash us, cleanse the sinner's from their sin. But, in Noah's ark, God saved only His people, those that were faithful to Him. (Noah, and his wife, and his son's and their wives..) Christ called a selected few (just like God has always done--if you read the old testament..)whom He would save; bought by His precious blood.

And with the rain, there is also the promise of God that He would never flood the earth again (in water...). And the beautiful rainbow's that we see after the rain displays a beautiful picture: God put His bow in the sky as a sign of His promise never to flood the earth again. But, notice the bow (if you picture like a bow you'd shoot an arrow from..) is not pointed towards us, it is pointed towards Him. Which again (is ever so slightly) a symbol of how God would not slaughter His people the next time. Instead He would slaughter His only Son. BUT..that is kind of me reading into the rainbow a bit much. Still-the bow IS pointed towards Him-not us.

Some people hate the rain. I never have a definite "I HATE IT" or "I LOVE IT." I'm always switching between the two. It always depends on where I'm at in life. If I'm depressed and not doing good spiritually, the rain usually is the voice of what's going on in my heart: There's a storm. If (like right now) I'm right with God, I'm on the path of righteousness. I'm at peace. Etc. The rain is comforting, lovely, wonderful, beautiful and soul-quieting. "Be still, and know I am God." Right now, that is what the rain is saying for me.

If this was totally random and weird. Sorry. I woke up at 6 this morning, and I went to bed at 12 something because I had a sore throat (WHICH SUCKS. I just got over being sick!) so I'm friggin tired man!!

~Lissie Darcy

CLUTCH GIVEAWAY

2010-05-10T22:47:00.000-07:00

Go to: http://www.carissagraham.com/2010/05/wanna-clinch-clutch-giveaway.html

to win a clutch!!

--LISSIE

Music update

2010-05-10T18:50:00.001-07:00

I have about fifty billion new bands that I'm exploring right now. A friend mixed a little cd for me and there was 21 songs and so 16..(or maybe it was 18) out of the 21 songs I took the bands and made them into pandora stations!! I do better if I can listen to one station for a certain amount of time and then move on to the next..and so forth until I'm pretty familiar with most of their songs. (Doesn't take me long since I listen to music every day..and there's never a limit!!)

The bands I'm focusing on most right now (which aren't all from my friend's cd.) are: The Black Keys, (and I really love them..I like Jack White so yeah the Black keys are one of my faves. I've always liked the White Stripes..), Dead weather (another Jack White), Pretty Girls Make Graves, Cage the Elephant (If you like flobots you'll like cage the elephant), The Veils, Death Cab for Cutie (I've known about them for ages..but I never took the time to really listen to them and get familiar with their songs. But I am now. I REALLY like them a lot!!!!!!!!!!!! Current favorite song is: Blacking out the Friction since it was specifically written for people living in Idaho in the winter..D: ;)) Passion Pit, Broken Bells, Alpha Rev (I really like their song "New Morning"), Red Wanting Blue, and Son Volt. I found out about Son volt just by noticing how many people I know that actually listen to them..so I though hey why not!? And I must say I actually really like them! Been listening to them quite a bit today. They remind me of Forest Sun. If you like Son Volt, and if you like The Avett brothers you'll like Forest Sun. :D

Anyways. I'm trying out all these new bands and it's almost overwhelming. (In a good way of course) But sometimes not in a good way too. Like it reminds me of how many books I have on my book list right now and how little time I have to actually read them. SAD.

But I'm loving it. I don't think anyone listens to as much music as I do. (Except maybe my Dad...my family in general...hehe we're all freaks. We'll be like: ..SOMETHING IS MISSING!?..WHAT IS SO DISTURBING ABOUT RIGHT NOW-OHHHH THERE'S NO MUSIC ON! OH MY GOSH..) Ok well maybe we don't do that but that's what goes on in my mind haha.

Right now as I am typing this I'm listening to Chopin. I really do love Chopin. Aside from Vivaldi, and Mozart, he's by far my favorite composer ever! I never was a big beethoven fan. His music seemed always repetitive to me: He always had one mood (the way I interpret his arts at least..) which was either some deep form of depression that was abstractedly presented through his music. Or melancholy. Or anger.. or all of the above meshed together. I don't know. Not a fan. I do like some of his pieces though.

I've always liked classical music. Ever since I was a kid. Dad would have the classical radio station on and I always would sit and listen. I always tuned everything out except the cello and violins and violas, because I liked those best. Especially the cello though. I was in heaven on earth whenever I listened to the story the cello was portraying.

I don't tune out so much now. I listen to it as a collective whole, as it should be done. But sometimes if you want to appreciate all the instruments as individuals you do , have to tune out all else, and tune in to the specific other.

When I was a kid I was the freak getting autobiography's on Mozart and Beethoven (i used to love him..now I'm kinda ehh noo.) and read up on them. I was born in the wrong time period.

I should've been born in England, first of all. Or somewhere middle eastern like Egypt or India (I love Egyptian history/culture. I find them fascinating and always have ever since I was like 6 watching "prince of Egypt" over and over again for the 100th time..and then moving on to Ariel and the next day doing the same thing over again..) (WHICH by the way I still love Ariel. She's always been my favorite princess.)

Second I should've been born in the victorian time period. Or..I dunno I could go on with the list. But it's useless. I'm stuck in the 21st century. Dag 'gun!

~Lissie

PS. I KNOW WE LIVE IN A FAMILY THAT HAS 7 KIDS BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO SOUND LIKE IT, DOES IT!? YES, I'M YELLING THIS TIME OVER THE NOISE AND CHAOS OF IMMATURE 12 YO SISTERS, AND 10 YO BROTHERS, AND AS FOR THE TODDLERS IT IS TO BE EXPECTED THAT THEY ARE NOISY. BUT 12 AND 10 YO SHOULD KNOW BETTER: HEY GUYS. LET'S USE LIBRARY VOICES. I'M SO SICK OF THIS ON-GOING IMMATURITY AND OBNOXIOUSNESS. LET'S GROW UP A LITTLE SHALL WE?..yes I'm Pis*** in case ya didn't know!

FFPW: For Future Parenthood/Wifehood #2

2010-05-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE converse shoes. THEY THE BOMB. I have like 5 pairs of converse. One of which, (my awesome black high tops) are in need of replacing!!!!!

Knowing people like the Forrey's, who probably EVERYONE in their family owns a pair of converse, makes me think thoughts like: Um yeah this is why we're friends! (..ok..well that's not "WHY" we are. but I love you for the existing converse in your home.

It's dangerous when you're sitting a row behind your pastor's family. Because then you get thoughts like "awww they have the cutest family!!" "OH MY GOSH. THEIR LITTLE BOY (Whom I won't name because I do not have their permission) LOOKS SO STINKIN CUTE! WHO DRESSED HIM! OH..MY..GOODNESS!" And then you start unconsciously making SLOPPY MENTAL NOTES..AHEM. SOUND FIMILIAR?

Mental Note Number 1: I LOVE ARGYLE AS IT IS BUT I'M SORRY MY HUSBAND HAS TO HAVE SOME ARGYLE IN HIS WARDROBE!

Mental Note Number 2: ALL MY KIDS, WILL OWN A PAIR OF CONVERSE!! BECAUSE MOMMY WON'T BE THE LONE WOLF IN HER CONVERSE WEARING..

Mental Note Number 3: LITTLE BOYS IN SWEATERS LOOK DANG CUTE. MY SONS ARE GONNA HAFTA HAVE A WHOLE WARDROBE OF CUTE SWEATERS!!

Mental Note Number 4: (this was made ages ago..it's always existed in my head since I was like 13..) MY LITTLE DAUGHTERS WILL HAVE A WARDROBE CONSISTING OF DOZENS OF DRESSES! FROM BLACK-PINK-YELLOW-POOFY-A TWIRLY-...yeah you get the point!!!! AND MOMMY WILL HAVE DRESSES TOO! And Skirts! (LOVE dresses and skirts..)

Mental Note Number 5: (Which isn't a mental note...) I'm lucky I'm short!! Because I can marry a short guy or a really tall guy..and we'll look so cute together!! He'll have a little wife and well me a big husband.

OK so. Just pretend you didn't read that last one. I have to do SOMETHING with my shortness..there has to be SOME sort of acceptance on my part that I AINT GOIN NOWHERE, AND FAST! I'M 5'2" LET'S BE THANKFUL FOR IT! lol!

Is it scary, that you can now say (what with reading my crazy posts) how my mind works? Poor you. You have to put up with my little "outbursts" of craziness, saneness, total serious/somberness, total goofiness, ETC. How I pity you lovely reader you.

LOVE a very distracted red head,

~Lissie Darcy

Ps. So maybe I should think about doing a mother's day post huh? Not only to honor my Mom but all hard working moms out there..?? EH? Ya think? Yeah I do too. I have to do kitchen clean up first and round up these lil'uns for NAP TIME..:D In the mean time..I'll be contemplating on Mum's and what they *particularly mine* does for us children. :)

Book update And a Warning: The Results are epicly lame

2010-05-08T19:15:00.000-07:00

I'm reading........................................

ARE YOU?

Ok I wasn't gonna say that from the start.

I'm reading: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. It was a birthday present. It's my first Oscar Wilde. I'm not very far so I can't give any compliments/critisism.

I'm also STILL reading Cry of the Soul. Because I'm lame like that.

I'm also reading Lewis's "The Great Divorce". It's kind of..strange. Um yeah. I'm not very far. But it's a THIN book so technically I AM far. Does that make sense? It should.

I made my summer reading list too! I'M SO EXCITED FOR SUMMER! The first week of June will be spent finishing my history cirriculumn. The first 2 weeks will of June will also be 2 very horrible weeks of ALGEBRA 1. And then I'll have completed (by then) my MATH!

Week 1 of June: Math and History

Week 2 of June: Just math NO history

The glorious Week 3 of June: NO HISTORY OR MATH..OH AND OF COURSE ANATOMY CLASS WILL BE OVER WITH AND WILL HAVE BEEN FOR A WHILE. YESH BABY YESH!

I am going to attempt to do geomatry over the summer.

BUT FIRST, I'm going to have 2 weeks of pure NOTHINGNESS! Just going to devour book after book and devote hours of my free time to BOOKS. All that I can get my hands on. I feel like this school semester and LIFE there's been like NO TIME to read what I wanna read. D:

I have a major essay to write for anatomy class. It's my last essay for this class. Class ends in 2 weeks. So I have to write on why I agree with the Psalmist (i.e. see Ps. 139) that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. YIKES..that's tough! I NEED TO GET CRACKING BUT RIGHT NOW MY BRAIN HAS DECIDED TO MELT INTO MUSH DUE TO MUCH QUIVERING OF NERVOUS RACKMENT OF THE BRAIN FOR IDEAS..(Oh..is rackment not a word? Too bad..)

Anyways yeah. I also got my half sister coming out next wednesday. She'll be visiting for a week. So things are going to be intense.

I SPOKE WITH THE STARBUCKS HIRING MANAGER ON FRIDAY (..oh yesterday..lol) IN PERSON!! AND SHE TOLD ME TO CALL HER MONDAY!! SO I have that to worry about.

And then the fact that I'm behind schedule with math (the schedule that i designed sheesh..)

I have some things to look forward to though!

FOR INSTANCE: Dinner with some favorites of mine (forget not having besties..I have besties..hehe they just don't start with P and end in "EER". It's more like "A" and ends in "dult"...hehe), Coffee with a friend, Hair cut and shopping date with one of my favorite people (one of THE sweetest people I know!!), and on the 25th is orientation night for driver's ed, DRIVER'S ED!! I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT!!, dinner with some more NBC peeps!!, (again with the a..d...u...l..t..(S) )

SO it's not all bad/things to be anxious/nervous/yeah I won't label this last one for certain reasons....

So I guess this turned out to be more then a book update. More like a life update. Why is it that I want to make a point and instead I spill my guts on EVERYTHING ELSE SURROUNDING that point? Maybe in order to make my point I need to start out with the things surrounding that point and the outcome will be: MY POINT! (That did make sense in my head..if I've left you confuzzled it's ok. I have that impression on most people. DON'T FEEL SAD. YOU'RE NOT ALONE! Go find the "confuzzled about Lissie Darcy" group on facebook.. um only don't look it up now. Wait til I actually create the group and pay people to join, so that I prove that you can believe HALF (at least) of what I say. So that I can prove to you that half of what I say is actually in all seriousness..

Confuzzled at your Confuzzledment,

~Lissie

FFP/W: For Future Parenting/Wifehood...#1

2010-05-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

Yes I'm weird. Yes I make mental notes in my very unorganized head, that are labeled: FOR FUTURE PARENTING/WIFEHOOD#..(and then I number them, and re-arrange them in my mind alphabetically..because I'm SO incredibly organized and amazing that it's just not even funny because that's so not the truth of things...)

Want some inspiration? Ok. Fine. You're right. I'm no one to look for inspiration from. But how about just an example of what these mental notes look like? Beware: It's my mental journal made up of only JOTTED DOWN *sloppily* notes-like crappy grocery lists that you are suppose to help you NOT spend so much money but if you go shopping with me you end up getting a few extra things...Or like random lists of favorites: My favorite movie *said in a baby voice* is Pwide and Pwejudice.... These kinds of notes that have NO significant meaning WHATsoever.. OK ok..I'm totally just rambling PURPOSEFULLY so. Showin off..y'know..yo..(what it was catchy!?) YEAH YEAH YEAH..TO THE POINT, AND ALWAYS TO THE POINT!!!

For instance: I don't like it when people give little DIGS. Those are so lame. Instead of just SAYING straight forward what it is that you are frustrated at, people will give these slight little digs that indicate what they're mad at without really opening up the matter and discussing it, and insulting the other person at the same time. I mean really, let's be honest with each other. I'd rather just have someone tell me: Hey I'm frustrated right now and it's because of this this and this. Rather then these slightly insulting, ever sarcastic, going NO WHERE digs.

Another thing I hate is sarcasm. The thing that pisses me off is that I use the dang crap myself..so does it really count? Hehe *Guilty Hypo

But, the form of sarcasm I am referring to is kind of similar to "digs". Except instead of even SLIGHTLY indicating on what your frusteration is, you just go all out and use sarcasm blow after blow until you provoke the opposite opponent to anger-JUST so you can take out your frustrations on SOMEONE else.. *I mean sheesh. If you have to go turn into the hulk go somewhere else..or count to ten, dang..* (That wasn't a dig, nor was it sarcasm. I'm perfectly serious. Also, I was straight forward in my frustration: If yur gonna blow up go somewhere else don't take it out on other people..)

These are things that make me mad when my siblings use these things, or when my parents do. I don't know what "normal" teens do, but I make little mental notes like "And I certainly don't want to dish out all these digs to my children when I'm a parent. And I do NOT want them to do that to their siblings EITHER.." But the fact of the matter is I have my own issues that I should make mental notes of in regards to how I treat people in general. I still can't help but make mental notes though...

In fact, I make mental notes unconsciously about everything. Take education for an example, I already know 2 different styles I would like to homeschool my kids. The first is the Charlotte Mason classical style. The second, well I don't know what you'd call it, would be heavier on logic and foreign languages and..yeah..I haven't got the second QUITE figured out yet.

I based that mental note on education, off of the fact that if my parents had homeschooled me from the start I would've liked a combination of the two forms of education above for myself. I don't think it's wrong to think of the future. As long as at the same time you take just the same amount of time (even more so) to correcting your character and take corrections from other people. Learn the lessons God wants you to, listen and look at what He's trying to teach you right here; for right now! And That sentence was totally preached TO ME, and me ONLY. Because I'm a hypocrite, if not the biggest of all hypo's! If you've ever seen Madagascar and the part where Moto-Moto says to Gloria: GURL, YOU HUGE. Gloria: Who's your friend or is that your butt? Moto-Moto: Gurl, you's as quick as you are hefty! I'll be seeing you 'round gurl you know, because you so "Plumpy"....

Um yeah. I am a huge hypocrite, I do have a butt (which I hate..but Mum admires and she's even got some of her friends to join her (meaning mum's) "My" *referring to me* butt fan club...:P) and I'm not hefty thank goodness!! I am going to start THIS WEEK *BECAUSE I'VE BEEN PUTTING THE CURSED THING OFF* some guilt-induced vigorous kick @ss yoga with Jillian Michaels. (hence the kick @ss...)

Anyways, you get the point. Or maybe you don't. That's ok. As long as I've inspired you to get some workout videos of Jillian's then we're cool.. ;)

Your very feisty young blogging friend,

~Lissie Darcy

* "Hypo" is a word that only exists in Lissie Darcy's vocabulary. Do not feel intimidated for it is Lissie who should feel intimidated by YOUR vocab..*or anyone's for that matter..* (fyi that was a "self pity" dig to myself that can be translated as: OH POOR ME. NO ONE HAS TAUGHT ME LATIN. NO ONE HAS MADE A HEADY, NOSE-BLEED INTELLECTUAL, SCHOLAR OUT OF ME! Poor. Me. Ridiculous I know..and yur tellin me? I LIVE with myself..mmmkay?) IT is merely an abbreviation of the word "hypocrite". Make a mental note *like lissie!!* of it because it will now be used in future posts....

Gangsta Luv

2010-05-07T19:02:00.000-07:00

Ok so there's this song called "Gangsta Luv" by Snoop Dog, and I WOULDN'T recommend reading the lyrics...

The fact of the matter is, I THINK I GO A LITTLE CRAZY WHEN I MEET NEW PEOPLE AND REALIZE THAT OUR SOULS ARE SIMILAR..

ISN'T IT JUST GREAT!? PEOPLE ARE GREAT! I LOVE friends. I'm speaking particularly of several adult friends that are on my mind/have been on my mind lately.

MY QUESTION IS THIS: IS IT POSSIBLE TO LOVE SOME PEOPLE SOOOOOOOO MUCH YOU JUST HAVE TO DO A HAPPY DANCE OR EXPRESS IT, REJOICE THAT YOU'RE FRIENDS WITH SUCH AMAZING GOD-FEARING PEOPLE, ETC.

Is..is it insane for me to just like be so joyful to be surrounded by godly Christians who really and truly love Christ?

BECAUSE I FEEL A LITTLE INSANE! I FEEL LIKE THE BIGGEST STALKER OUT THERE...AND I'M STARTING TO GET CREEPED OUT BECAUSE I WANNA BE a normal human being thought of as a friend not a stalker..

(The problem lies with me: I think of myself as a stalker. There's just well I HAVEN'T HAD FRIENDS..REAL FRIENDS THAT LOVE AND CARE FOR MY FAMILY AND ME, THAT LOVE CHRIST SO ZEALOUSLY, THAT ARE SO DANG DOWN TO EARTH IT'S JUST NOT EVEN FUNNY..since like YEARS..since like LIVING IN CALI!!! And so right now (I've been surrounding myself a lot with people. If someone wants to spontaneously get together with me um..yeah I'm kinda the person that will snatch that opportunity if I can because..that's how I roll..) all I can talk about is these specific people and conversations we've had, good and whollsome. I LOVE HOW I CAN SPILL MY GUTS to these people and they listen, and encourage me in ways that I need encouraging. I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. Christian fellowship is a very necessary thing for your walk with Christ. AFTER ALL God called us individually and collectively as a whole ONE body in Christ...:D )

ALL I CAN SAY IS I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVE YOOOOOUUUUU..yeah I'll stop. I don't think people like the Barney song as an expressive form of love.

That's ok! I LIKE HUGS..does anyone want a hug?

I'M A LITTLE JOYFUL RIGHT NOW, IN CASE YOU COULDN'T TELL. I'M NOT SHOUTING EITHER JUST..EXCITED TONES HERE. JUST A LITTLE HAPPY! MAYBE BECAUSE I KNOW I HAVE ICE CREAM AND A COOKIE AND A SUGAR CONE AND A MOVIE AND BOOKS WAITING FOR ME RIGHT NOW! MAYBE BECAUSE IT'S BED TIME FOR THE BABIES RIGHT NOW! MAYBE BECAUSE THAT MEANS A PROMISED QUIET PEACEFUL REST OF THE NIGHT FOR ME! MAYBE BECAUSE I'M HAPPY MY PARENTS GET TO HANG OUT WITH SOME AWESOME NBC PEOPLE (NAMPA BIBLE CHURCH PEEPS)...MAYBE BECAUSE I LOVE NBC PEEPS WAY TOO MUCH!! MAYBE BECAUSE I LOVE THE PEOPLE I BABYSAT FOR LAST NIGHT? MAYBE BECAUSE MY FRIEND IS SENDING ME HER THESIS..AND I THINK SHE'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! MAYBE BECAUSE I HAVE A MAJOR ESSAY TO WRITE ON WHY I AGREE WITH THE PSALMIST (PS.139) THAT WE ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE. MAYBE BECAUSE I HAVE FEELINGS OF NOSTALGIA THAT ANATOMY CLASS IS COMING TO AN END. MAYBE BECAUSE IT'S GOLDILOCK'S PORRIDGE WEATHER RIGHT NOW (I.E. JUSSSSST RIGHT!), MAYBE BECAUSE I'M ENJOYING THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MUSIC INTAKE I'VE BEEN GETTING THIS PAST WEEK. MAYBE BECAUSE SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE! MAYBE BECAUSE I'M EXCITED FOR NEXT SCHOOL SEMESTER (ALREADY PLANNING). MAYBE BECAUSE I CANT WAIT TO HAVE ENDLESS SUMMER DAYS OF JUST SPENDING HOURS BY THE BOTTLE IN MY BOOKS! MAYBE BECAUSE I GOT SOME VITAMIN D TODAY (NATURALLY NOT IN PILL FORM). MAYBE BECAUSE I TALKED WITH THE STARBUCKS HIRING MANAGER IN PERSON TODAY. MAYBE BECAUSE MY HALF SISTER IS COMING OUT. MAYBE BECAUSE I HAVE 5 DATES WITH FRIENDS (I MEAN HANG OUT TIME..) COMING UP!! MAYBE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GET MY HAIR CUT SOON! MAYBE BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN ME REST. MAYBE BECAUSE SCHOOL'S ALMOST DONE! MAYBE BECAUSE GOD'S BLESSED ME IMMENSELY IN EVERYTHING. MAYBE BECAUSE I THINK IT SMELLS LIKE FENNEL..OR BLACK LIQUORISH...(EW).AND I THINK THAT'S RATHER STRANGE AND AM CHUCKLING OVER IT. MAYBE BECAUSE I CANT WAIT TO GET MY LEGS TAN THIS SUMMER (WELL I GOT A MAJOR SUN BURN AND SO MY ARMS ARE ALREADY TAN..A START. YOU CAN NEVER GET TOO TAN HEHEHE..NATURALLY THOUGH! NONE OF THIS TANNING SALON CRAP..!) !! MAYBE BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT TO START SWIMMING!! MAYBE BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT TO LEARN MOOOOOOREEEE! MAYBE BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT TIL AFTER HIGH SCHOOL! MAYBE BECAUSE ONE DAY I WANNA WORK AT ANTHROPOLOGIE!! MAYBE BECAUSE I APPLIED AT OLD NAVY!! MAYBE BECAUSE ..a little birdie told me that our pastor's wearing the sweater I got him for his bday?..MAYBE BECAUSE YOU SO DIDN'T READ THAT LAST SENTENCE. MAYBE BECAUSE I'M SO NOT A CREEPER/STALKER! MAYBE BECAUSE I CANT' FRIGGIN WAIT TO DRIVE! MAYBE BECAUSE I LIKE THE WORDS: FRIGGIN, SHINY NICKLE SYNDROME, GOLDILOCK'S PORRIDGE, CONFUZZLED (I.E. CONFUSED/PUZZLED). MAYBE BECAUSE I ADORE THESE MUSIC ARTISTS: THE WHITE STRIPES, THE BLACK KEYS, DEAD WEATHER, BROKEN BELLS, CAGE THE ELEPHANT, PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES, BON IVER, USHER, ALICIA KEYS, ROGUE WAVE!!!, ETC. Maybe because I CAN'T WAIT TO START MY SUMMER READING LIST THAT (I) CREATED! MAYBE BECAUSE I'M WRITING A STORY!!! AND I'VE ALREADY GOT THE PROLOGUE DOWN!!!, MAYBE BECAUSE I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT!!, MAYBE BECAUSE I LOVED SHERLOCK HOLMES WITH ROBERT DOWNEY JR., MAYBE BECAUSE I DISCOVERED SOMETHING PETTY HEHEHEHEHEHE MWAHAHAHA!!, MAYBE BECAUSE I LOOK FORWARD TO ADDING 2 MORE PEOPLE TO MY POSSE, MAYBE BECAUSE THIS LIST IS NEVER ENDING, MAYBE BECAUSE I'VE LOST SOME FRIENDS BUT I'VE GAINED TWICE AS MUCH FRIENDS AS I EVER HAD, MAYBE BECAUSE I SEE CHRIST IN MY FRIENDS, MAYBE BECAUSE IT IS CHRIST WHOM I LOVE IN THESE PEOPLE WHO I SEE IN THEM THAT MAKES ME REJOICE AND DANCE FOR JOY AND DIE OF JUST ADORING THEM..

I think I'll stop there because I've now found the answer to my question which was truly, "Why is it that I love these people in my life so much..?" Answer: I see Christ in them, and it is Christ whom I love so much.

Wow. That was like a brick to the face. I think I need to go have some quiet time with God.

Love, *thanks for letting me do my routinely "passionate" outburst...*

~Lissie

It's a Masquerade

2010-04-21T09:12:00.001-07:00

I don't know if you have ever read Chesterton's "The Man Who Was Thursday" (also known as The Nightmare), but one of the biggest themes in it, was a portrayal of how nothing is as it seems. It was quite the intriguing read, I'll give it that much. Ok, I'll admit it. It was good. It's one of those books you can read a billion times, catch another theme you didn't notice the first time around; and still not fully understand it. I really like his writing though, he's a poetic type of guy. I don't know how else to describe his writing other then: It's not a head-on type of philosophical poetic type of writing. He comes at it from an angle. He's so incredibly heady it's almost as if he's laughing at you, like a fat man laughs at a skinny man because he can't eat as much, as he watches you scratch your head in confuzzlement. [A note to the readers: Confuzzled is my new favorite word. Put puzzled and Confused together and get, confuzzled. It is now going to be used frequently in blog posts-just warning you.] To Chesterton, we probably look like monkeys-not the evolved ones that is. ;P

Sometimes I felt like he was rambling on and on, philosophy his game, poetry his language in it's highest form of nonsenses and circular reasoning. But if I had just 1/4 of his brain, I'd probably see that it ISN'T circular reasoning and nonsense; but a very high form of symbolism, in it's thickest allegoric accent.

I did have a point though..:D I just got distracted..:P

It's the same issue that I have always wrestled with. I have really good friends and then all of a sudden something goes wrong, and those friends change. I'm talking about a slight change at first in their character. And then the change speeds up, and it's just to the point where my eyes are open, and I'm left gasping at the fact that they weren't who they had *posed* to be. It's like a masquerade. You know all the people in the ballroom, but everyone is dressed up, and wearing masks, you are left to guess who is who. It's like thinking someone is one person, and then they pull off the mask..and you're left disappointed because you SHOULD HAVE KNOWN who they really were.

Life seems like a masquerade, in this way, in more ways then one but specifically this way for me right now. I don't know why but at some point we're good friends, able to talk not only on the shallow "crazy" conversations, but we are able to be open with each other about our spiritual walk.

It's like if you picture two people walking on the same path, until a fork comes in the road. Your friend leaves you. You are left to continue walking down the same path you have been. It really hurts at first. But, knowing that you are always going to be the same, always running to Christ, always trying to uphold God's standards even if the world thinks you're stupid, then you'll be OK.

This has been a struggle, a reoccurring issue for me. The first couple of times it happened I was pretty broken. You have to put yourself in my shoes: Best friends for a LONG time, and then all at once they let you down, they leave you hanging, they no longer care about running towards Christ with you.

The other few times I have been FRUSTRATED. Why? How can I go from brokenness to frustration? Why the change in reaction?

THIS is where my frustration lies: I am so sick and tired of having people say they are for something let's just say: MODESTY. And they tell you FROM THE START of your friendship WHAT their standards on modesty are. And for a while you're like wow, they do a great job of sticking with that standard. They reflect Christ when doing this. You admire them for it. Somehow, all of a sudden you notice a slight change in their attitude, in their presentation of dressing, it seems like they no longer are following this conviction they had of modesty....what the he**?

My frustration in these friendship let downs, isn't that they let ME down-not any more. I have learned that friends will come and go. I have learned that no matter what my sister, my family altogether, my parents, God, will be my bff's. Anyways the frustration then, is aimed that the HYPOCRISY.

WHY DO WE AS CHRISTIANS, WHO SAY WE ARE FOR THIS, WE HAVE A CONVICTION TO REPRESENT CHRIST IN THIS SUCH WAY, AND THEN!!! AND THEN WE DO NOT FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT! Or we do, but then we get tired of it, so instead of HANGING ON AND CONTINUING TO WRESTLE WITH GOD (like we talked about in my post: On rambling) WE GIVE UP.

You aren't a Christian, you are NOT in the disciple category (if you're intrigued because you haven't read my: On rambling post, then do so. Click "Here" to read it.). A Christian doesn't GIVE UP because THEY'RE TIRED. OBVIOUSLY we are going to sin, and sometimes we tend to wallow in it before coming back to Christ. Ah! There's the key! The key is we know that this is going to happen. That isn't "giving up" that's called hey everyone is born under the curse of Adam...I'm a wretched sinner who isn't perfect, but thank God that Christ already lived the perfect life! As long as you continue to cling to Christ through you pain, through your confuzzled meant, through your doubts, through the temptations the world brings, through your FATIGUE, through your WEARINESS, through your SIN, through your SORROW, through your joy, through your TRIALS, through your LIFE then you know that you ARE truly a Christian.

But if you're tired of clinging to Christ and you are having thoughts of letting go, you better be asking for a lot of prayer.

What happens when you get OFF FOCUS-EVEN for a short period of time? SIN, sin, sin, sin, sin, sin, sin andddd more sin, sin, sin, sin, sin, sin, sin, ANNNND, morrrrreeeeeeeeeeee sinnnnn! Our consciences become DULL and we become DEF to hearing them, when we are focused on the things of the world.

The world will bring you PLEASURE not joy. The world will bring you "happiness" as they PROMISE, but in the form of shallow, not even scratch-the surface kind of "happiness". The kind of PLEASURE it brings is the kind that they promise if you do what everyone else is doing: Sex beginning at a young age (they teach this stuff to kids in school! I can't believe it!), drugs, drinking to get "buzzed" or even fully drunk, partying all night, and all kinds of form of "pleasure".

It's like this: Sin brings us pleasure, but for the few minutes of doing it, until we realize the consequences for our sin, until we realize what we just did was WRONG, until we realize we have to go back to Christ..and confess, until we are sitting in the presence of the Holy..only then do we realize that we didn't just experience joy. Pleasure lasts for a short moment.

SO to give UP completely is dangerous. Or even starting out slow-you don't understand-this is THE WORLD you'll be facing not even facing you'll be "hanging out with", being around, doing the things it does, and then you have to face your self at the end of the day, and God at the end of the world.

I'm disappointed in this generation of teenagers. I'm SICK of these false convictions, fake presentations of selves, of pretending, of attending this masquerade.

I DON'T understand how someone who comes from a Christian family can look at the world so hungrily. I don't understand how someone who comes from a Christian family can long so earnestly, wait so patiently, for ONE temptation to come their way. One opportunity to getting what they so deeply desire...which is what? A moment of pleasure..?

If that is the case. If you desire ONE moment of pleasure whether it be: Sleeping with someone, having a bf/gf (yes it is a sin because you are STILL defiling marriage which is a HOLY thing set apart from God from the beginning in Genesis when he told Adam and Eve to go out and multiply and how He explained the two shall become ONE flesh. having a bf/gf is defiling that holy thing because you are doing things that only a married couple that are one flesh, do. even if you're only kissing or holding hands..you're in the wrong.), drinking underage, partying and doing all the wicked things at the party, drugs, WHATEVER it is that's a sin that will bring you pleasure...

You're looking for THAT, seeking THAT, then you have NEVER TRULY experienced a SOUL-DEEP JOY FROM CHRIST THAT ONLY HE CAN GIVE YOU. You've never experienced a joy that comes from resting in Him. You've never experienced being utterly BROKEN and then all at once being mended by Him. You've never experienced the joy of suffering in Him as Paul the appostle so greatly did, and all the appostles. (Excepting Judas)

THEN I think I CAN understand you..still only from a very mild aspect because I still don't get why you desire THOSE things. And not the things Christ upholds. I guess that's where the parents would come in, they aren't doing a good job, or a good enough job.

All this to say I'm so freakin frustrated that people just go hay-wire! WE CAN'T give up. God promised it wouldn't be easy! He came to take away your sins, not your pain. He will however NEVER leave you.

Where are the godly teenagers that represent Christ 100%!? I'm not asking you to be perfect! I'm asking you to not let go, to keep wrestling with our God, keep fighting the good fight, keep your chin up so your eyes are ALWAYS on Him!

Us Christians are leaving Christ's mark on this world by how we GLORIFY Him. If you want to know if we are 100% striving to do that, then go ask the people around you, go ask your neighborhood friends/kids, go ask the elders of your church, go ask your parents, go ask our sibilings, go ask EVERYONE you possibly know-and ask them if they think you are glorifying God to the best of your abilities. If not, then ask them where your weaknesses are in this matter. And when you ask the people that are not Christians that see you sometimes, that are in your life, ask them if there's anything different about you compared to everyone else..and give them an example like: an attitude change or something. If they don't notice anything different then you know you REALLY need to talk with your parents, the pastor and elders of your church, ask them to pray for you and ask them how you as a part of the body of Christ, a worker in His kingdom, can better glorify God in ways that the world will notice. In ways that will be encouraging to other peers, and even to the adults!

Guarantee you that their mouths will drop...:D

~Elisabeth Darcy

Ps. Pray for me that I will glorify Christ in ways that my surroundings will notice CHRIST in me--not me, I, or myself. :D

Job applications!

2010-04-20T22:44:00.001-07:00

SO I filled out my very first ever JOB APPLICATION! We have 2 starbucks here in nampa. I filled out an app for one because the other is affiliated through Target. So it'd be different. Yeah. Anyways it's like 5 mins away from us! (or less!!)

Even if I don't get the job, it's awesome that I have filled out my first application, EVER!

Wish me luck guys!

I wanted to get a job at this BOMB coffee house "The Flying M" but the environment there is a little bit different. Like yeah..modern in the sense of "new age" type of modern. OK..get it? Emoish..typeish..of ppl there. And I dunno I just think it being my first job as it is, and being inexperienced, I'm already nervous as it is. And so to be put into that type of enviornment first time--I don't know..kind of makes me nervous and anxious.

Yeah so I went with Starbucks since it's the SECOND best coffee out there!!

:) :) :) :D :D :D

Don't worry, I didn't say nuffin bad about their coffee in the app ;PPP

Yeah I can't wait! To get a job! Saving for a car!!

Driver's ed is covered by birthday money..which I'm thankful for because I can't believe I made it to $300 so quick!

:) :)

The end

~L D

On Friendship

2010-04-20T22:42:00.001-07:00

By far, people are, my favorite subject to write about, ponder on, be intrigued by. The anatomy of the human body doesn't even scratch the surface if you wanted to 'start somewhere' in your pondering's.

Where do you start then? For me it is always the eyes. The eyes can say a lot about a person. Some bloody genius once said..(and I don't recall who, or if I've ever known..if you do know, PLEASE comment and tell me!!) that the eyes are like the windows into one's soul. I think it's true. I start with the eyes, and then perhaps I will smile at the person and watch them to see if they smile back, always looking into their eyes.

Next, I'd move on to their personality. I take extra notes on their characteristics. I don't mean the shallow 'like and dislike' routine. That will come in time, though. I mean I look for their strengths and weaknesses, their sin struggles, and those things that they possess with ease, in which perhaps I don't. Or vice versa. Or maybe we both struggle with the same thing. Personality-wise I make note if they are shy or outgoing, quiet or talkative, funny or serious, witty or slow, smart or above and beyond *mind blowing*, modest or cocky, mature or immature, possessing leadership skills or a follower, etc. You get the point.

The best for last is to ponder up on the soul. You know you are friends at last, when you are able to openly expose the great suffering, endless toiling, open wounds, sore bruises, un-dealt with pain, brokenness that your soul has *or is* going through. When you begin to exchange dreams, goals, triumphs against evil, explicit joy you've experienced, the sweet scent of peace God has given you, satisfyingly delicious rest in Christ, with one another. You know you share a friendship when your friend needs to be loved more then ever, and you can give them that love. But, to do so makes you feel like you're going to fall apart, like you're shattering into tiny pieces. YET you show them the love of Christ, ANYWAYS.

Only then can you know, that you're friendship is indeed, a friendship. To rejoice with the other's soul, to wear a sackcloth with your friend's soul, to open and expose each other's weaknesses is friendship in it's second highest form. Second highest form, because the highest form of friendship given, shown, and demonstrated to us, is when God came down in the form as a man, and died for an unloving, ungrateful, unfaithful group of people.

He exposed Himself to us all, and promised us new life. He exposes us everyday, everyday ripping out the weeds that are growing in our soul, everyday making us more and more like Him. He never forgets about us, though the afids come, though the weeds never stop growing, though the droughts come, though the thorns grow and form around our soul! He comes, each morning, waters us, shines down on us, and clears away all the weeds, all thorns, all nasty little bugs that promise nothing but mischief to His garden *people*.

That my friends, is friendship. It is Christ searching our souls, always reminding us: I came to take away your sin Lissie, not your pain. And that is exactly what I'm going to do. You are not alone. Remember I never promised you a life free of pain, but I promised you an eternal life to come. With this promise, you can risk having to endure suffering, you can risk friendships destroyed, you can risk not going out and doing whatever you darn well please, you can risk your loved ones hurting you, you can risk having people that don't live up to YOUR expectations, you can risk crushed dreams, you can risk being completely and utterly powerless, you can risk rejection, you CAN risk NOT BEING LOVED by people, You can risk enduring unbearable pain, You can risk it all for Me.

If God didn't exist we WOULD NOT be able to risk these things because THIS would be it. You want an example?

Pretend that this line is life: STARTS______________________________THE END.

That's it. End of story. If that's "all" life is, then yes the world has it right, go out and do whatever brings you pleasure.

But since the world is WRONG, you can risk it all my friends. No matter what, you have the greatest friendship that ever existed, Christ's. Follow HIS example, knowing eternal life is promised. Knowing that you are accepted in God's eyes! Knowing that if nobody loves you it doesn't matter, you will be broken yes, but satisfied by the love Christ has to give you.

(If you haven't listened to Derek Webb's song "Nobody love's me, um you should. My family LOVES Derek Webb, Sandra McCraken, and all the Indelible Grace albums, and Caedmon's call albums!)

~Elisabeth Darcy

On Rambling

2010-04-19T19:32:00.001-07:00

I gave everyone that goes to NBC (i.e. Nampa Bible Church) their thank you cards for coming to my surprise 16th birthday party and making that day one of the best in my life!!

Yay! Phew, glad I got that over with. I write a lot of letters to friends. Writing thank you cards was no biggie, I really enjoyed it actually. I prefer actually taking time to write something PERSONAL, other than a sad little 'thank you', in the cards. Personally, I had so much fun writing those thank you cards, it was like writing a letter to all these friends! So much fun! :D

I sealed them too with my wax seal from Michaels (wedding section-YO). I had red wax, with black and white thank you cards from Target that pretty much went with the color scheme of my birthday party. Oh, and I had some silver too. For specific *Speshul* people, I mixed waxes. For instance, my pastor's family. I mixed waxes for some other friends too!! And others of course I left it as just a plain 'either-or' (i.e. red or silver) because the plain "red" is my FAVE. Or even the plain SILVER..soooooo awesome. Either way though I like both.

Right now I'm doing a job for my dad. I'm spinning some articles for him. Technically 7 articles but they have to be re-written twice so if you times that by 2 that makes 14 articles. And I'm getting paid like $45 for it! So it's worth it totally.

I have a feeling though this week is just going to be a week of no sleep. I'm 3 weeks behind in anatomy. And we're starting school again, and calorie keeping. YES. Back to normal life. Break was wonderful though.

All the flowers are in bloom, they're so beautiful!! It's no wonder God took the time on Sunday to sit back and say, "This is good. This is really, really good. It reflects me in a way that is going to glorify me, that points to my beauty, that intrigues man to the point where he ponders, 'What is man that you are mindful of him?' "

Today God gave me rest. God quieted my soul, my anxious toiling, my restlessness and I rested in Him and Him alone. It was quite wonderful. You may be wondering how I am "resting" if I am working so hard on articles and playing "catch-up" on homework. It's a good question.

Resting does not mean literally "Go take a nap" or as the pharisees thought it to be "NO WORK ALOUD". It meant that we rest OUR SOULS, that we put complete and total faith and trust in CHRIST, that we ACKNOWLEDGE the fact that our satisfaction is in GOD ALONE.-To put it to you briefly. I could go on. But, it's late so I'm trying to rap this up.

I rested today in the fact that I don't have to "fix" myself. I don't have to "tarry til I'm better". (Something I struggle with) Being a disciple of Christ has nothing to do with (i.e. A Christian..for those of you who didn't know and should've..) how much you read your Bible, and pray every second of the day. The Christian faith is not based off of WORKS. It does, however, have EVERYTHING to do with whether you are putting your trust in Christ, whether you have repented from your sins, and ARE repenting from the new sin struggles that you are faced with. Repentance plays a big part in Christianity. Obviously we aren't going to be perfect. But you cannot abuse God's grace by having an attitude/mind set of "OK. I trust you Jesus." End of story, there's no desire to do God's will because "I'm a sinner, I'm not going to be perfect". Do you understand the point I'm trying to make? Romans 6:1 sums this up in one short sentence. Being a Christian is like one big wrestling match with God. "Fight the good fight of faith". Being a Christian means you won't back down no matter how tired, how tough, how confuzzled (confused and puzzled put together), how emotionally disraught, how broken, no matter HOW dry you are, how every smithering of joy is sucked out of you due to hardships, now matter WHAT you will NOT let go! You will NOT run out of the wrestling ring, and give up, you will not recant. You will continue to wrestle with God, and let Him expose your sin struggles, your weaknesses, and you will let Him search your heart, you will let Him mold you into a brick for His church. He will continue to shave off the rough edges until you feel like you can't take it anymore, but He knows how much you can handle and how much it will take for you to get to the point where He wants you to be. He will take His hand and use it like sand paper to soften the rough spots, so that you FIT PERFECTLY in His church, in His kingdom.

There are 2 groups. Only you and God know in which group you belong in. Group A- A disciple of Christ. Group B- One of the crowd that was attracted to Jesus.

Group A is self explanatory.

Group B "One of the crowd that was attracted to Jesus", I'll explain. The crowd that would gather around Jesus treated Jesus like a lucky charm. They wanted Jesus to radically change their lives just like the disciples did but, they don't want the changes Christ is offering them. You see Christ offers Himself. He tells them over and over and over again that He came to "take away the sins of the world". But they don't want their sin taken away. They want Jesus to take away their pain. They want to rub Him like a genie bottle, and get what they want from Him. They want their pain to be taken away. And Jesus basically is telling them: Look if you let me, I can change your life. I can radically change your life so that you see the world through my eyes. I'll take away your sins, but not your pain.

The difference between (the biggest difference) group a and b is that if you are in group a, you are allowing Christ to change your life. He has forgiven you of your sins, and you have put your trust in Him. All of that has happen. Right now Christ is exposing you, shaping you, forming you into who you were created to be in the first place-had Adam and Eve never sinned. That's what Christ does to you if you are in group A. He's molding you in a way that is going to better reflect Him. The molding hurts. It's not like putting a band-aid over a scraped knee. It's like getting run over by a car, and then having to have surgery all over your body in order to "sew you up". It's not even like that. It's exactly like dying, and being resurrected by Christ, in Christ, and being made new.

We (even as Christians) tend to toil, and fumble around blindly for something to bring us satisfaction, to bring us rest. When in reality, we are only restlessly searching, searching, working, working, working, to find something to fill our emptiness. Finding rest in other things will bring you joy for a short period of time. Which cannot be counted as joy. It's the kind of worldly surface(y) joy that lasts for 5 minutes. It's the kind of joy little kids have when they get a new toy (or anyone for that matter), it lasts for a short period of time, until the next "toy" comes around.

I've been toiling restlessly lately. I got out of my daily routine of reading by Bible daily, and praying daily. Instead, I have just been existing, living, breathing short shallow breaths rather then RESTING, TRUSTING, ENJOYING, AND TAKING DEEP BREATHS in Christ!

I struggle with waiting until I have "fixed" myself before going to God and confessing. What goes on in my head when I do this is, "Well I'm not good enough to go to God right now. I'm hideous, horrible, I'm ashamed and broken.." The stupid thing is, I'm NEVER good enough because I'm a sinner. So no matter how I "fix" myself I'm never going to do any amount of fixing that will make me presentable before God.

The hymn Come Ye sinners is one of my favorites. My favorite line from there is, "If you terry til your better you will never come at all" because it's TRUE. I always remind myself of this. And of course Romans 4:5-8 says (to make it brief, simple, and sum it up) that we don't have to fix ourselves. We CAN'T fix ourselves, we don't have to WORRY about fixing ourselves because we are ACCEPTED in Christ because of what CHRIST has done, NOT WHAT YOU AND I HAVE DONE. We don't live in old testament times where we have to constantly make a sacrafice in order to be able to go to God. Back then, that was how they "fixed" themselves. The way how a sacrafice works is this: Instead of killing yourself, because justice must be done, a lamb would take your place. When God would accept your sacrafice, that meant He accepted YOU. That has already been taken care of. Christ sacraficed HIMSELF for US. God accepted His one and only, PERFECT Son, THE perfect sacrafice. Now God can look down at US and He no LONGER sees our sins, but CHRIST'S PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS! HE ACCEPTS US.

It is this passage in Romans that I always reflect back to when I am "terrying until I am better". Lately I have. I was waiting, waiting until I get back into the habit of reading my Bible, and praying daily. I was reminded about the line in the hymn Come Ye Sinners, and about how I am accepted in Christ when I was in Church this last Sunday. Only God knows how thankful I am for Sharad and his sermon, and getting up there even though he probably felt really crappy (he's been sick) and probably was really weary bodily, emotionally, maybe even spiritually and yet-he preached a fantastic uncomfortable to sit in sermon that was like a slap in my face, a wake up call, that my soul very VERY much needed. It was like cool water to someone who just had a heat stroke, and died, and then who's corpse never got burried and therefore rotted in the sun, and then after many days it finally rained, and the water burried the corpse. (..that means that it was dang refreshing to my soul-in case you didn't figure that out yet). A better way of putting it is my soul was starved, my tongue thirsty for God's word, and I was feasted, and I drank, after many days of starvation and dehydration. God knows I needed it.

I reflected back to that passage in Romans because a friend was having the same problem..and so I looked up the verse again and was able to encourage her, especially because I was going through the same thing.

THAT my dear readers, is how I rested this Sunday...

I rested in the fact that I am accepted in Christ for what He has done, and that I no longer have to keep toiling restlessly for satisfaction in temporary things that only bring me temporary joy and rest. I no longer have to fix myself. I am completely and utterly accepted by God Almighty because Christ said you know what? I'm going to die for Elisabeth Darcy..

I was weary, beat down, tired, restless, anxious, insecure, doubtful as to whether I was a disciple, yet I stayed in the wrestling ring, and God quieted my soul. He quieted all doubts as to whether I was His, and said, "Come, rest in me, my weary child". (..seriously I'm gonna cry right now..trying not to because it will look really weird to my Dad sitting across from me writing articles) He said be still, and I was still.

Terry no longer my friends, search no more for satisfaction, do not be insecure anymore for you are accepted in Him, come and rest in the One who breathed life into you,

~Elisabeth Darcy~

Empty Tank

2010-04-17T00:10:00.000-07:00

Emotionally: Um emotionally I'm ok. :) I'm not stressed, I'm not depressed, I'm not over joyed..or extremely happy. I am examining, examining...I'm MEH. Or not even Meh..cuz that means indecisive. No, I'm just fine. Which is good..:D

Physically: I have to pee. Other then that I aint hungry and or anything. OH and I should be in BED. Too.

Spiritually: I don't have an empty tank.. or a completely empty tank. The meter is like almost on "E", I've gone too long of just LIVING. I need to dive into the word, dive into prayer and feed myself spiritually.

I had a really good self examination. I took this test. It's called: The Inventory of Emotional/Spiritual Maturity test.

My pastor is reading this book called: The Emotionally Healthy Church. In this book there's this test. [the test above that I told you about] He and his wife took it. My Mom wanted to take it. But Dad called her on the phone saying he was on his way home and they just got into a big long conversation. (They always do, which just means they love each other..and that they're talkative people..) She (Mum) had left the link open, to the test. So I took it.

[Blogger's Note: I'll give you the link to the quiz in a minute]

Below are my test results. It will make sense to you if you take the quiz yourself. Be HONEST in your answers, about yourself, TO yourself.

Part A General Formation and Discipleship: Emotional Child

Part B Emotional Components of Discipleship: Emotional Adolescent

Principle 2 Break the Power of the Past: Emotional Adult

Principle 3 Live in brokenness and vulnerability: Emotional Child

Principle 4 Receive the gift of limits: Emotional Adolescent

Principle 5 Embrace grieving and loss: Emotional Infant

Principle 6 Make Incarnation your model for living well: Emotional Infant

Principle 7 Slow down to live with integrity: Emotional Adolescent

This test was very rough. The questions really require you to self examine your self. I know myself pretty well: My weaknesses, my desires, my goals and dreams, my sins, my specific sins I struggle with, my gifts God has given to me, etc. But there were some questions that I had to really think about before answering, I had to really search my heart. There was some things I learned about myself as well, that I didn't realize.

The hardest part was looking at my sinful, ugly self dead on in the face. You really have to be extremely honest to yourself and to God when answering these questions. So it was a really good self-examination. I highly recommend taking the quiz. Also, the questions asked are definitely Scripture based. They give you (I guess I should say "IT" gives you..) references to verses after asking the question it's based on.

The test definitely brought up some good conversation between my Mom and I. Here is the link CLICK HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE TEST I'VE BEEN RAMBLING ABOUT.

I also think that depending on where you are presently, in your walk with God, the quiz results can and will change for you as time goes on. Because it all depends on how you're doing spiritually, and WHERE you're at emotional/spiritual maturity.

Take the test! And you don't have to tell me the results, but I would like to know whether you took it or not. If anything, take it for the heck of it and you'll for sure get a good self examination out of it! I know I did.

Hence the title. I know my emotional, physical, and spiritual capacities, when I need a break, when I'm hungry or tired or need to pee, and when I need some down time with God.

This tank needs to be filled, does yours?

~Lissie Darcy

Blessed and Surrounded

2010-04-16T23:49:00.000-07:00

I had a surprise birthday party for my 16th birthday, last Saturday. I'll post a seprate post, telling all about it, complete with pictures and details-later though.

Point being is, I walk into the room and to see all these people I love dearly-loving me, being there for me was amazing. I felt like I was living in a dream.

You see, I wanted to some how have a birthday party to where I could have my crazy, funny, peer friends, as well as my very much loved adult friends/mentors/adopted relatives/adopted into my posse..-friends.

I just didn't know what to do.

So it was really, REALLY a blessing to see it happen.

The whole time I kept thinking, "I'm blessed, I'm blessed! I am blessed to have so many godly people surrounding me. To have all these people who love me, care about me and my character. Care enough to guide me back to the path of righteousness when I need it."

I seriously thought I was in a dream. But, I wasn't. It was real life. I'm blessed to have such a big church family. I have a lot of people I look up to, I admire, etc. I have quite a bit of mentors, that's for sure!!

Which is awesome.

Not only do am I blessed with friends, but I'm also blessed with my family! I have 2 wonderful parents who came from screwed up back grounds, and yet God saved them. And because He saved them, because He had a plan for them, I am living and breathing today, a sixteen year old red head! You see my parents had me when they were 19. And at the time, their families were telling them to abort me. But here I am, not because of THEM but because of GOD. (Them as well too, because we DO have a free choice. But, God predestined this.)

God is a good God. He saved my parents from their sin, and because of that I am growing up in a Christian home. When I think about that it blows my mind away. God did and DOES have a plan for me, and for everyone He's created. [Side note: But that doesn't mean He said His plan for us would be EASY. I thought I should add this because, I do realize I have it really easy in life. But there's great suffering in people around the world. He still, even then amongst chaos, has a plan for you. He never gives us more then we can handle, He created us so He knows EXACTLY how much He can put on your plate. And He also knows that if you think you have more then you can handle, it's for a reason. Sometimes He puts what seems like an over-sized-load on our plate so that we would STOP trusting in our idols, and START trusting in Him-fully. Sometimes in order for that to happen, in order to make us see that or "wake us up", He gives us trials. And if you say, "Well my God doesn't do that! My God is a loving God!" I suggest you go back and read the Gospels. Take specific care to read everything Jesus has to endure for us. He did NOT have it easy! That's the whole calling of Christianity-to die to our SELVES, and live again with HIM, IN HIM. Also ponder on this quote, "Mercy, detached from justice, grows unmerciful"~C. S. Lewis]

I am blessed to be surrounded by God's grace and mercy.

Sleepily (hence it's 1am), [BUT IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT! :D :D]

~Elisabeth Darcy

A blogging friend, and not to mention a friend in real life! :D

2010-04-03T16:25:00.000-07:00

So if you head on over to http://www.ohsweetleeme.blogspot.com/ you can enter a chance to win a pretty necklace. It's cool because I actually know this person in real life-although they live in NC. Anyways! Stop by, not just for the contest but check out her blog, and drop a comment. :)

And here's a link to the actual blog give away

Happy blogging,

~Lissie Darcy

Enter a chance to win--A KITCHEN AID!

2010-03-09T11:56:00.000-08:00

You can win your choice of two different, awesome kitchen aids. We already have ONE and just LOVVVE it! But I figured, what's the harm in having a second? It'd actually be extremely useful since we bake a lot and cook a lot in our house, and especially for our big family.

I'm going to give you the link to the giveaway but here's the catch: After leaving your comment--DON'T FORGET (BEFORE you post the comment!!) to say "Lissie Darcy Sent me". IF you do, and you end up winning the giveaway, since there is 2 kitchen aids if you win and you say "Lissie Darcy sent me" then that means we BOTH win! We each will win one of the kitchen aids!! So please, don't forget to say I sent ya. :D

CLICKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKIEDY CLICKKKK!

Have fun and good luck!,

~L. D.

The Garden Story-Replayed

2010-03-07T10:14:00.000-08:00

It's the same story. We want peace, harmony, love, happiness, etc. But, we don't want to get these things the way Christ wants us to. We want that peace that passes all understanding, without having to get it from God. We want things to be the way they should without divine intervention. We want-WHAT we want WHEN we want it, without the help of the cosmos. Without God's innervating.

Just read the garden story. It's the same old story being replayed. I want peace. I want to be in my own mind WITHOUT having to be split into two selves: Flesh, and the Holy Spirit. I just want shalom.

The desire itself isn't bad, God Himself has put these desires in us all. We all want peace. Why? Because if you can imagine things the way they would've been (i.e. without the stain of sin in us) don't you think there'd be peace!? OF course! We can't exactly imagine that because we've never experienced THAT kind of peace. Mind you I'm not saying we've never experienced peace. I only mean we haven't experienced that peace-WITHOUT a sinful nature. Adam and Eve did for a time, before they sinned. We won't experience that until heaven. TANNNGEEEENT MUCH!!?

Anyways. We all desire peace. But to get the peace that passes all understanding comes from God. We cannot gain peace through ourselves, by ourselves, without Christ. To get peace God shows us through His compelling example by sending His one and only Son, who offered His own body for us sinners. You have to die. I don't want you to go get a knife and you know, "Ok God! I'm going to die like you did! La dee da!" If you read Romans 12 it tells you exactly how you are to die. Die to self. All your selfish desires, all your sinful desires, etc. are to be left behind. GO. Pick up your cross and follow HIM. If you read all the epistles of Paul you'll see how this man has suffered, and unbearably so. Yet, you always see Paul talking about how he is at peace. And the reaction that comes to mind is..WOOA WOA PAUL. LET'S BACK UP HERE..you're at peace? DUDE...what's going on..*psst maybe Paul's getting a little cuckoo from age..??* Seriously. How can you suffer and be at peace..? You have to place yourself in Paul's shoes. He's not just suffering physically, I'm sure he suffered mentally, and emotionally as well. Yet he was at peace.

Paul was at peace because He knew this life was NOTHING compared to where he would be going. He can deprive himself of the luxuries of life, and go and spread the gospel. WHY? Because NOW isn't the time to be worrying about "me" about what I "want" about what I'm "doing" what I'm "taking pleasure in"...no. Now is the time to pick up our Christ and march to Christ. We are to with ever fiber in our being, mirror Christ's image. We're like little stalkers..except YES we follow Christ around--but we do so with a little mirror in our hand. We wave those mirrors and shout out to everyone "HEY--LOOK AT HIM! LOOK AT THIS GUY! SEE HIM!? LOOK AT WHAT HE'S DONE!" That may be a bad analogy.."stalkers"? Sorry. We're to be transparent-to the point where someone looks at us and they see the reflection of CHRIST...not us....not the world..not our flesh...not the devil..not the filthy sinner we are...NO. THEY LOOK AT US AND SEE HIM.

Jesus says to come to Him, all who are weary and He will give us rest. We have a hope. We have a hope of an eternal life with Him. We have a hope of living eternally, of being made new, of things being the way they were originally made to be. When Christ comes back, He'll give us new bodies..now none of us know WHAT they'll look like our how they'll be. BUT, you can be sure of this: He will make you new, and what you were to be had you not been under the curse of sin.

Peace comes from God Almighty. He and only He, can quiet our hearts. We need to not harden our hearts towards Him. We need to open our chest, go to Him and say Father rip out all bitterness, rip out all unrighteous anger, rip out all impatience, rip out ALL THE WEEDS THAT ARE GROWING IN HERE. HEAL MY HEART. RENEW IT FOR YOU, CHRIST. TAKE AWAY ALL THAT WILL PREVENT ME FROM SERVING YOU. FILL THE WHOLES THE WEEDS MADE IN MY HEART WITH THINGS THAT WILL HELP ME TO GLORIFY YOU. TO BE MORE AND MORE LIKE YOU. Fill these wholes with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, humility, a burning desire to serve you, holiness, etc.

Go to God with your sin. Don't tarry. Ask Him for peace. Pick up your cross and follow Him. Some of you may ask well how is "dying" going to give me peace? How can suffering for Christ bring me peace?

Let me answer a question with a question, if you will. Is going against God going to give you peace? Is inclining an ear to bitterness, jealousy, anger, hatred, frustration, satan, the world, your flesh, is that going to give you peace?

You can wrestle with God all you want, but in the end He wins. I wrestled with God. I was angry and I realized that everything isn't "ok". I've just been ignoring my emotions that are telling me "heeeeyy we're bitter against this person" or "we dislike this person" or..WHATEVER...these emotions are flashing neon signs that are basically telling me "hey you need to go to God..because you've got some serious issues". Instead I've ignored them and moved on. Thinking "WOW things are great!" and when "injustice" is done (or a better way of putting it is when "things don't go MY way") my whole "great" world came crashing down. Hopelessness, frustration, bitterness, murderous anger crept up and seized me. I was frustrated with God. Why aren't things going MY way. Why haven't you stopped this? Why hasn't THIS and THIS happened? Why am I so angry!? As R. C. Sproul in "Holiness of God" put it, "I wrestled with God and lost". I did. But, I'm at peace right now. He has quieted my heart, and opened my eyes to the cross. I didn't have to fix myself before I came to Him. In fact, I was anything but fixed. He reminded me that I need Him. I can't control my life. And I certainly need to stop ignoring the flashing signals He's giving me on a daily basis. I am not with every fiber in my being, with every red blood cell, down to the last leukocyte, reflecting Him. I begged for forgiveness and the realization of how nasty I am, how much I need Him made me sick (of me..how I truly am..of how I want very much to reflect Him.)..I have not been (lately) living for Him, and Him alone. It's been more of "some of me" "some of Him"..you can't do that. If you are Christ's give Him your ALL. It all boils down to sin. It's the garden story replayed. I wrestled with God, and He reminded me who is holy and who is called to be holy. See the difference? There's the "is" and the "be" God IS. In and of myself..(this goes for every thing that has life) I'm no "is". God's made me to "be" but only God just IS. He IS and always has been! God's existed before the past even was there.. Well I mean before anything. Before time.. I better leave before I start talking nonsensically and well confusing you and myself.

Pray for me. I had a self check. And God's directed me back on the path of righteousness. Thank you Father in Heaven you are so good.

~Lissie

He is in total control in this story. are you coming under the rule of Jesus or are you asking him to come to yours?~Our Pastor

(Ps. was listening ..aggh italics is still on!! anyways was listening to a sermon at the same time as I was writing this (super multi-tasker I know!) and so the quote above is a quote from our pastor..and it really stuck out to me..I was like..wow. Um..before I wrestled with God I was asking Jesus to come under MY rule..until He reminded me it's HIS rule that I'M coming under...anyways I hope that the quote above is thought provoking for ya..:D Thanks for reading, and for baring with me here..pray for me..)

Ps. (sorry too lazy to take off italics ;p) The irony of all this is I'm reading this book called "The Cry of the Soul" and it's about how our emotions speak loudly of our relationship with God. It's basically about how your emotions are asking the deeper questions of God like, "Is God good"? And if you're like me..(or your human..:P) we tend to ignore our emotions..and it's very very dangerous to do. God put emotions in us (well for lots of reasons when it comes to the anatomy aspect of it ;) ) as flashing neon signs to tell us when things are going great and when they aren't and perhaps we need a self check. If only we'd examine just exactly "why" we're angry..or we're jealous etc. What is it that's causing us to be angry, or whatever the case is. That's what I'm trying to get at. So ask yourself next time you start to feel like emotional wreck. First calm down. Go in a quiet room, then ask..why am I feeling/acting this way. Then go to God. It is always going to boil down (if you are a Christian) to our cross is too heavy so inSTEAD of letting GOD carry the load, I'm gonna do it myself, my way. I'll just rest for a bit. That's dangerous. So go to God immediately with your worries and troubles and struggles. If you're NOT a Christian it'll always boil down to this: You're at war with God. You're not FOR Him. You're created in His image yet you refuse to go to Him..instead you want to keep on sinning. And when things go hay-wire (..is that uhum..correct spelling/usage of the word? hehe) you keep wondering..why you're back to square one. Why doesn't "my" peace last? It's because the cry of your soul is you are needy, weary, tired, sinful being who's created FOR God's purposes and instead of living out those purposes you're doing your own thing. You need HIM.

OK I'M DONE PREACHING---TOOOOOO MYSELFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF-------------!!

Hey! Ah-hah Uh-huh!

2010-03-01T12:20:00.000-08:00

Yeah I like the "ehs" you find in hip hop music as well as from a Canadian's mouth. And I like the "EH, ah-hah, uh-huh" you find the in Jay-z's song "New york". Lol Get over it. That's just me.

To the point now, ol' chap!

I hate it when you're home with six siblings and one sibling likes to question your authority because ONE kid questions your authority then ALL THE REST of the kids think so.

You know how in families all the siblings are close to each other but there's some that are closer to the others, and therefore tend to cling to specific(s) sibling(s)? If right now you're like "huh?". Then if you've ever read books like: Pride and Prjeudice OR Little Women you'll know then what I'm talking about. You know what I mean. You see in P&P how Elizabeth and Jane are very close to each other. They ask the other for their opinion and advice. Yet at the same time they have a sense of closeness with all their other sisters. You also see how Kitty and Lidia are rather close..and yet Mary is added in that "bunch" too sometimes. (:

In Little Women Joe and Beth are close, Meg and Amy are close. Yet as a whole (group, bunch, set,*of sisters*) they are close together.

In my family it's like that too but we lean more towards "alltogetherness" then the individual groupness. Perhaps this will change as time goes on. Usually we divide ourselves into 2 groups, GROUP (A) The "big" kids (Jules, Jake, and I). GROUP (B) The "babies" (i.e. Jonah, Jami, Jess).

If we were to have individual "pairs" it'd be something like this: Lissie: Me, and Jess and then; Jules and me. Jules: Jules and Me, Jules and Jonah..or Jami..both.. Jake: Jonah and Jake (sometimes) Jami. Jami: Jami and Jess, Jami and Jonah, and sometimes with Jake and lots of times with Jules. Jessi: Jess, Me; Jess and Jami; Jess and Jonah and Jami as a group of three, Josiah: Well he's with everyone!!

Anyways. Yeah. So when your 10 yo brother questions your authority his "partner" Jonah decides he doesn't have to listen to me either.

Hmm..hold up a minute...

'HEYYYYYYYYYYYY!! AH-HAH, UH-HUH...YO. I'M IN CHARGE HERE..WHILE THE PARENTS ARE GONE. AND EVEN WHEN THEY'RE NOT I'VE BEEN GIVEN SOME AUTHORITY..."

Shuddup is sometimes a good phrase...when said to the person you've pulled aside. Because um sometimes thats what the person needs to do is just shuddddup! Because then these little ones think they can "do" what they've "seen" being "done" which isn't always "good".

SO the next time a sibling questions your authority..just sing Jay-z's "EH Ah-hah uh-huh"..so as to cool down..and THEN you can discreetly pull your bro/sibling aside and be like "if you think that what I'm doing isn't right pull me aside don't shout it out "You're wrong" or whatever because then everyone else thinks they can do it.."

(; So in the end Jay-z's music IS useful!! (Well at least that particular song "NEW YORK") lol!!

~Miss Lissie Darcy

Welcome to the Future

2010-02-28T16:13:00.001-08:00

The title is actually a quote from Brad Paisley's song "Welcome to the future". You know me, I love Brad Paisley. His song's make me laugh, some make me sad (well I don't cry unless I'm really mad/aggrivated.), some make me just crack up, some make me smile because he reminds me of me sometimes and my day dreamin self. :D

Anyways. I titled the post "Welcome to the Future" for a reason, just so you know. The reason being is, I'm excited for life! I'm excited for what the future brings, for what this summer brings! Heck for what this YEAR brings!

I'll list some things I'm excited for, and you might shake your head and ask, "Uuhumm..whyyy? Just..whhhhhhhhhhhhy?". Or perhaps, "Wha? How does that work,"? Just ignore any of those confusing ones that well confuse you. You know me! I'm strange-you know that if you're a regular reader, or ya know me personally. There's no doubt about my weirdness. So, just go along with it ok? Some of it is because I've just never experienced something like it before.

I'm excited to get my permit
I'm excited to get my license before this summer
I'm excited to be driving everywhere this summer
I'm excited for making money by writing articles and having Dad bid on jobs for me!!
I'm excited to save money, and to have some extra pocket money to go shopping..and all (:
I'm excited for this summer and what kind of adventures it will bring, such as..
GETTING TAN AGAIN! NO MORE PASTY WHITE!
SWIMMING AGAIN!
Biking, ROLLAR BLADING,..who knows maybe white water rafting!?
Maybe camping? WHO KNOWS?
Maybe a trip to Cali!?
Maybe having a friend visit out here in ID? WHO KNOWS?
Painting my room and the upstairs bathroom!! Which means I might move into Jami's room and she'll take my room...I think all of us might move into different rooms this year. Just because we've found out which ones work better/we like better.
The books I'm going to be reading this year! Due to my self-making-list
My attempt to wear dresses and skirts the majority of this summer...(I have to build up that area of my wardrobe though..I have quite a few dresses but not 'nuff..and I have zero skirts)
And hopefully this summer/year I'll be hanging out more with my friends then last summer. Now that I actually have made some friends here in Idaho! ;p
dieting..only that's happening the second week of March. (: And working out.
Hopefully getting to know our pastor's family more-this year!!
The new music artists I'll be exploring
TIM MCGRAW CONCERT! (I'm planning on going..but I have to have money by then..)

The end!

I mean I have tons of stuff I'm excited about so much it's crazy. My mind is bursting with excitement1

Anything fun/cool/interesting/exciting planned this spring OR summer if ya will!?

3 cheers for being excited!,

~Lissie Darcy

The Joys of Spring and New Favorites

2010-02-28T15:48:00.000-08:00

I changed the order of favorite "stores" on my list:

1.Anthropologie
2.Forever 21
3.Urban Outfitters
4.Target
5.Oldnavy
6.Winco
7.Ross

(:

Oh and I've converted from Starbucks coffee to "The Flying M" coffee. The richness of the coffee grounds is so good! It's definitely more coffeeish then Starbucks.

It's such a beautiful day today. I had a wonderful time with a wonderful friend who took me out to Boise and we went to Anthro, and Urban Outfitters, and I tried Flying M for the first time today. IT's so beautiful out it's sunny, and blue, and warm*er*.

I have a feeling spring's going to be coming very soon because I've been having allergies lately. Itchy eyes, runny nose, very itchy nose, and sneezing. It's rediculous!

I'm looking forward to spring because

Spring cleaning that's going to get done. We have a lot of cleaning! And it's nice because spring cleaning doesn't consist of the "everyday" stuff. It consists of the "odd cleanings" such as the tops of the cabinents that are RIGHT above the stove top. You know that's where all the steam and grease from whatever you're cooking goes too. So I'm really excited for the "odd cleanings" we'll be doing!
Warmer weather, more frequent sunny days. Which means..
Dresses and skirts can be pulled out! I mean sure you might have to wear a light sweater/cardigan over your dress. But, at least you get to pull your dresses out!
Gardens. We had a garden 2 years ago. We wanted to have one this last spring we had but there were some complications around that time that prevented us from having one. :( This year though (I even heard it come out of my parents mouth several times lately and including my own mouth :D) we're determined to have one! And perhaps having one will keep us more motiviated in maintaining the weeds that pop up in our backyard. :D I want to have my own little corner where I can have my own little flower garden. I love flowers. I want lots of daises in mine, and tulips, and I don't know..lots of flowers. The best thing about flowers is you can be really random with them!
Spring break-oh wait we don't ever get a spring break. Haha. I actually could care less about spring break. I just like it because I can hang out with friends during that time since they're more "free" to do things that week.
Easter
Windy days. I love windy days for some reason. They remind me of days where I used to run bare foot in this park that has a huge field. I used to run from some friends house to the park because we had, every Friday these days called "park days". If on those days it was really windy, after all the "park day" games some of us would pull out our kites. I'd run bare foot in the grass with my kite, and after flying it a lot I'd lay in the grass with my hands behind my head and just sigh with delight at the wonders of God's creation.

Tea. It's still a good season to keep drinking hot tea. (:
Flip flops! I've already pulled mine out because I love flip flops. I could live in those things..probably because I used to ALWAYS go bare foot in Cali. To get me to wear shoes was-an accomplishment. I mean..obviously I'd wear shoes if I was going somewhere. But, being at home I'd walk outside barefoot-always. (: I'll probably when I'm married, be one of those wives that are always "barefoot"...(and well the rest is barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. But-hem. I'm too young to be thinking of such things. :D)

I love spring. I just hate allergies. We get them pretty bad (esp me). I remember days in NC (it was reallly bad there probably because we weren't used to the climate there and all. :D Different type of pollen and all y'know.) and I'd have to have benadryl in the middle of the day just to make it through the day. Because the allergies there were so bad for me. I would play outside w/my friends or with Jules and Jake and then I'd be half asleep while being "outdoors" because I was so drowsy and groggy from the benadryl.

Anyways, I just love spring. My favorite seasons are really summer and fall. But I also love spring!

I'm excited! I'm excited for a lot of stuff, but that's another post for another time.

Here's to spring!,

~Elisabeth Darcy

Phone update

2010-02-24T15:49:00.000-08:00

FOUND MY PHONE!
....................................................YES!..............................................

Thanks for the prayers btw!

--LISSSSSIE

An Appology

2010-02-24T15:01:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry to any of my peers--if I offended them or said something totally inappropriate. It was late last night that I wrote that post.

Also-I wasn't thinking of people I know SPECIFICALLY...more so just the whole "typical teen" thing. AND THEN...also some broken friendships with people I used to know.

So in essence-I wasn't and am NOT against my peers..so I hope I didn't come across as that.

Nor do I love "adults" more then "peers". It's just different between the two.

With Love,

Lissie

Ps. I CAN'T FIND MY PHONE!-IF YOU THINK OF ME PRAY THAT I'LL FIND IT! MY 5 YO BROTHER JONAH TOOK IT..AND STASHED IT IN HIS BACK PACK OF STUFF FOR HIS "TRIP/ADVENTURES WITH BARE GRILLS!"..shoooooooooot me!

Love and Stalking #2!!!!!!!!

2010-02-23T22:03:00.000-08:00

You may have remembered my previous "Love an Stalking" post. Well this is kind of a cross reference to it and a follow up to it!! Woohoo!

It just hit my Mom--and then afterwards I realized it (more so) too!! Let me start off first by saying I've been made fun of (more like in a jokingly admiringly way..if that makes sense..) for looking up to adults and making tons of adult friends--rather then peers. Here's how the convo went:

Mum to Dad: Too bad, like all of the people Lissie looks up to (/admires) is basically people our age.

Dad: What do you mean?

Mum: Well you know..One of the things she's looking forward to is hanging out with Evy Yadav (i.e. our Pastor's wife. She's one of the sweetest people..ever..).

Dad: *starts laughing* Oh. Yeah I see. I mean, "Come on Lissie, cant you get some friends your own age" (He was totally joking, and all of us were laughing..)

Me in my head: Yeah I pretty much stalk adults lol.

Me out loud: I know seriously!! I have very few peers who are REALLY close to me that I love dearly. (I listed them..) And then the majority of people I look up to as mentors and just plain flat out admire are adults (starts listing them)... I mean hey what can I say, they're all in my "posse". Lol.

Yeah sometimes I wonder if I scare adults or surprise them (I know I surprise some..), or if they love me back. If they don't oh well. They'll learn to love me, because I love them. Once you're in--[referring to my posse] YOU'RE in!~A quote from Confessions of a Shopaholic (Just watched that movie with my Nana, it was her first time and my millionth. Love that movie. I'm such a gal. :p )

It's true. Some of the people that I consider as dear friends are adults. Such as our pastor at our church and his wife (even though I'm still getting to know them. I'm sorry but they've already been adopted!), and my adopted Older Brother's Mummy. She's an amazing woman. I called her on her birthday--and wow. I won't ever forget the coversation. We talked about silly stuff, and about spiritual stuff. Or some of my blogging friends. 2 chaps, I wouldn't have known if it weren't for Dad debating on several other ppl's blogs about Christianity VS. Evolution.

The thing is I love my peers but I'm cursed. I'm telling you I AM. It's FREAKY. (ok I'm kidding) but I've learned that I can't cling to my peers as much because I if and when, I happen to lose them it hurts. I've had several friends I just lost--in the past 2 years. And it was very hard for me. That's the first and closest "hear-break" I've ever come to in my life. (i.e. I'm comparing to a heartbreak that a teenage girl my age, would typically have over a "breakup" with her boy friend. But, since we have different convictions/views on dating and having boy friends and the like, I've never had my heart broken by a boy. Thank goodness too. Life's hard enough without added on drama. When the time comes, I'll have my prince charming. :D ) Anyways. Yeah. And lately I've been having more, "drama" it seems with some peers.

The drama and stuff I hate that comes along with fellow teenage friends (that I've experienced)-

Having what seems like life-long friends and then convictions completely change-and so do people
Clicks..(is that how you would spell it-for this terminology I mean?) as in "if you aren't somehow involved in THIS" or "you don't like THIS, THIS AND THIS LIKE WE DO" then we can't be friends.
Idiocy. Yup I said it. Plain idiocy. Well sometimes it almost seems as if peers are going, "DUR.UHH..WHAT!? What..was that something poetical? was that a dream? was that a profound quote?..annd what am I suppose to do with that? Huh!? Eh? Say what?" It's like..come on. Haha. I'm kind of making fun of myself in this too.
FAKE*NESS* WHY..WHY...WHY..WHY x 25 do the fake people ALWAYS get the attention? Why do people BUY INTO that stuff!? Why does it ALWAYS feel like I'm the only one who can see it!? Or can everyone see it and everyone's just pretending? Or..am I crazy? (I know the answer!! To..the last one. It's I'M NOT. It's crystal clear--that person is FAKE. DUH. O.P.E.N. Y.O.U.R. E.Y.E.S!!) Which reminds me...
Why do the attention hungry people get the--ATTENTION! And why, when given attention (The WRONG kind of attention), do they grab for it greedily...? Do they really crave attention so..? Are they copping out so as to get the EASY way of getting..attention? Not caring it's the wrong kind?
One-sided-ness. Meaning you go a long, thinking you're friends and then..you see this whole other side of them you didn't know..and then you REALIZE that "OH". It's been me, my part, my pursuit of this friendship.-Yeah. I've had that too.
Gossip, and untrustworthiness, as IN..You realize "Oh" they talk about "EVERYBODY" Duh. That means as soon as "I" turn "my" back they'll go on and talk about me!! And that's lovely..I just confided all my secrets with them..because we're "such" good friends. And therefore, you mark them with a big red X (no make that a big, fat, ugly "U" for UNTRUSTWORTHY) and then the friendship downfalls from there. Oh and did you notice it's a "red" "U" *x*? IF you haven't watched, "The Village" well, RED'S THE BAD COLOR! HA-HA! I'm so funny sometimes..it's sad that I laugh at my own jokes..ok moving on..

Jealousy. There's several kinds I'm sure. But the kind I've known about are 1) Where if you're friends with ANYONE else other then THAT friend--they're jealous and it's like you've committed a crime against them for the simple fact that: you are a person, a person likes to surround him/herself with other people, sometimes those "other" people means "other" friends as in "other" "than" "you". AND..2) Jealous. Of. You. Why? You don't know. But..they just are? It comes off as that? Everything's a competition. Everything's a, "that person likes me B-E-T-T-E-R!"..and you're just like..okkaaaaaayyy what just happened here?

Yeah. It sucks. That's some of the "CONS" of having peers as a friend. I can't wait to get out of this "teenage" stage. With being a "teenager" comes: Awkwardness, *It's weird unless you're not shy *as in non-social* like every OTHER teen*, upholding education and being looked down on if you DON'T have the same high standard/view of education that "THIS" person does, *it's weird when you're the new kid*, *it's weird if you don't act like a typical teen*, *it's weird if you don't like boys* (don't get me wrong. I'm not opposed to saying, "Yeah, he's cute" but I'm not going to stare at EVERY dang guy and, nor do I look at every guy so as to see if he's "Cute" or not. I'm not always aware of them like "that". It's rare if I am. The way I view them: They make great older brothers..(since I've always wanted one!!), *It's weird if you aren't starving yourself to look skinny* (luckily not too many people I've known/met who are like that..:D), *If you aren't loud and immature in front of other peers you're known and marked out as the "mature..freakishly weird one", *weird if you're a homeschooler (used to this one!)*, *WEIRD IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE AND PURSUE A DEGREE..* WHICH BRINGS ME TO:, *WEIRD IF YOU DREAM ABOUT HAVING KIDS AND A LITTLE YELLOW HOUSE AND A WONDERFUL HUSBAND TO LOVE, ETC.

Need I go on? However..I'm enjoying my childhood and these days of goofiness, and laughs with my siblings, and running bare foot out to the mail box to check the mail, and pajama days, and running down to nanas in 30 degree weather to show her my new lavender summer dress I got at Target, and whistling/humming in the dark because I'm afraid of the dark, and all my free time to read and do whatever, and standing in 20 degree weather with pant legs and long sleeves rolled up so as to get vitamin D *k* (I thought at the time it was called "vitamin k" lol!), and drinking cup after cup of tea, and confiding in my parents (although this shall continue to be so even when I'm grown up!), and sighing and rolling my eyes when I hear the weather forecast is going to be "snowy"..shoot!

What I enjoy in my adult friends:

Their wisdom
Their intellect, and williness to share it with the *speshul* 15 yo *stalker*
Their willing*ness* to listen to me-the 15 yo
Their encouragement
Their not mind*ingness* that I love them to death
Their beautifulness all in all!!
Letting me hug and kiss and play with their kids
Inviting me over to tea, or to go shopping with them followed by having coffee
Their advice
The fact that I can express my dreams to them without having the fear of an awkward silence..or perhaps a burst of nonsensical giggles...they listen and sometimes maybe..
They'll tell me their "dream" when they were my age, and then we can laugh
The stories they have to tell (sometimes really funny!!)
The time they give to me..be it car pulling with me..be it tea...be it teaching me..be it-anything
Looking at them and wondering. Just wondering. Sometimes the eyes reveal much wisdom-all you have to do is look. And perhaps ask..which reminds me..
They allow me to TALK and talk AND TALK ..their ears off. But, probably because they know I know how to glue them back on. :D
The fact that they can be friends with me AND with my parents. That's just cool.
Their sense of hummor. So much more 1) profound 2) WAY less corny (most times ;P) then mine!! And my peers (sorry peers!) I mean seriously. I get a laugh at some of their facebook status messages. It's great!!
Their taste in music..(ok well that goes with everyone because I'm always ready to steal someone's music artist1 lol!)

The end.

Stuff I enjoy with peers:

Late nights/sleepovers
Parties
Laughs by the dozen about sometimes...nothing!!
All nighters!
The profound talks we have :D
The understanding since we go through the same stuff
The stupid stuff we do and share
Encouragement and prayer I get from them <3
The fun times we have together!
The ability to talk about spiritual things as well! (even if that means with certain friends, I'm thankful for those who I can talk about stuff like this with)
The, "I'm against click"ishness!! Hahah..ok..so..yeah..forget I said that
Our funny debates on silly things such as "is tea or coffee better"
Our sugar highs
Our love for benadryl (..inside joke)
MEMORIES.
Crazy pictures

And the list goes on. :D

So-if you're an adult and in my posse. I'M AINT STALKING YA!! I'm just admiring you, staring in your eyes like a creep, waiting for you to tell me a story like grandpa's do..but it has nothing to do with your age, thinking over and over how I "heart" you, wondering how I'll be when I'm your age and have as much wisdom as you, wishing I was more like you, possibly adopting you as a distantly related Uncle, possibly admiring your cool clothes, possibly wondering when we'll have tea next, possibly just thinking yur an all in all amazing person, possibly adopting you as my godparents, possibly mentally adding you as my mentor(s)!

(NOTE: I made the above paragraph sound creepy and stalkerish on purpose ok..so hopefully no adults were offended during the reading of this posts.-Or peers. I do love ya too.)

~Elisabeth Darcy

My New Music Favorites!

2010-02-22T14:25:00.000-08:00

First off--a thanks to Ri, who helped me get in the mode of being-on-the-look-out-for-newbies (i.e. some more music artists)!! Thank you much, m'*blogging*friend!! Maybe we can be pen pals. (:

1. G. Love and Special Sauce Try some of their songs: Milk and Ceral, Cold Beverage, Shootin hoops, Soft 'n sweet, Honor and Harmony, and my all time fave of theirs: Baby's Got Sauce.
2.The Arctic Monkeys I've tried 'em out before but not enough to determine whether or not I liked them. (: Every song of theirs (pretty much) is enjoyable.
3.Franz Ferdinand Love them. They're just awesome. I really enjoy their station on Pandora Radio!
4.The Whigs OK I LOVE THEM!! Fave song of theirs? "Right hand on my heart"!! They seem like a Forrey band. (some friends of mine) SO here's a shout out to any Forrey's who may or may not be reading this post--HE-EY!! Hope you like 'em. Check 'em out.
5.The Whombats they're cool too!! I liked their energetic songs a lot. Haha.
6.The White Stripes DON'T FREAK OUT. It's only occasional. I don't listen to them on a regular basis. In fact, I used to DETEST them. With all my heart, might I add. But, they came on a couple times on one of my Pandora stations (can't remember..it's one of the music artists above..I think it was The Arctic Monkeys--oh yeah. It was. :) )
7.Flyleaf especially their song, "Again". I used to not be a rock person but then all of a sudden I guess I turned into one? I prefer mellow pop and stuff like Matt Nathanson, Jack Johnson, Colbie Caillat, etc. (AND CONTRY.) Which reminds me...
8. Kenney Chesney. I've always known about him per-say, but never been a big fan. Now I love him. Some songs: That's the good stuff, It's Summertime, I'm alive and well.
9.Muse I noticed several friends of mine lo-ove them. I never tried them out before. But, they came on the Franz Ferdinand Pandora station and I found out I liked pretty much every song that had come on of theirs.
10.The Strokes! I've always known about them, but I never really, "listened" to them if you know what I mean. I started to, randomly. They rock. If you like the killers, or the arctic monkeys, or modest mouse, you'll really like The Strokes!!
11.The Fratellis OK I just have to say, their album covers aren't the greatest. (Cartoonized..but still not the most appealing, or appropriate.) But, their music just blew my mind. I wanted to dance--but I was doing school. So I tapped my foot to the extreme. Yah. Let's put it that way. Haha.

I'm still trying out "train" (although I did really like their "Drops of Jupiter", thanks Ri!), and some other music artists.

That pretty much sums it up! I highly, HIGHLY recommend G. Love, and the Whigs, and Franz Ferdinand (and everybody goes: WHAT!? DUH, WE KNEW ABOUT THEM AGES AGO..(i.e. franz) SUCKS FOR YOU!), and The Strokes.

Dancing to my heart's content,

~Lissie

My Random Essay

2010-02-15T20:19:00.000-08:00

This is my random essay that I (on Sunday) just sat down and literally wrote. I've been inspired by Lewis Thomas. I'm reading a book of his called "The Medusa and the Snail", which is just a collection of essays of his/his observations in essay form!! He's funny, intellectual, and expresses himself in such a way that makes you awed at his writing skills. (In fact I'm very jealous. Jk) But, he's one of those author's who you just SO WISH that you could've known him personally. I'm telling you, I'm a stalker! It's sad! I love my peers, but I'm drawn towards adults. I love them. They are beautiful. First off they're by far, more wise than I. Secondly, they have a profoundness (prob comes with the wisdom) that is easily reached by a chillun like me! Or chillun (i.e. children) in general! I mean what are we missing here!? We can be typical teens and just sit in our little "clicks" of friends, and gain what!? I have quite a few adult friends that I love and admire dearly that I LOVE to socialize with and can't wait to whenever given the chance. The adults are waiting for us to reach out to them, love them as they love us, and have them show us how to see the world through their eyes. By doing so, we trigger 3 things: 1) Profoundness in simplicity (i.e. you can even rephrase it to beauty in the simple things in life!) 2) Hopefully we can add some of their humor to ours (hem..I mean learn to be funny by ...ok whatever just disregard this one..)/their coolness and wisdom will rub off on us!! and knowledge might I add!? Basically we learn from them! 3) THEIR FRIENDSHIP! I find it easier to be myself in front of adults, then my peers at times! Crazy I know.

TANGENT MUCH!? Anyways here's my essay. I did what the real writer would do. I had an idea that was thrown at me by texting a friend actually...(the friend doesn't know though lol..) So what did I do? I made it a point to at some time in the future, sit down and put my IDEA to paper!! Plus with all the quotes, and intellectual observations of Lewis Thomas floating in my mind it was quite easy to write this essay! Here it is! Hope you enjoy!

On Reading by Elisabeth Darcy

Sometimes we just need to escape reality for a little while. The only problem is, where to go? A first resort would be grocery shopping. Your list would probably look something like this: Milk, Eggs, Bread, and dog food. And then you'd go shopping to escape the four walls of your house. Only to come back from the store with 20 other things that are everything BUT what was on your list. Bang goes that theory.

What about a vacation? Not enough money, or time. A girl's night out? Oh, yeah have to stay home with the kids tonight. I know! Somewhere quiet, somewhere peaceful, like THE LIBRARY!!!!!!!! You can pick up a book, and choose the perfect escape pad from reality! You can go, anywhere you want to go. When reading, anything can happen.

When you pick up a book something beautiful happens, something out of the ordinary, something magical. As you read, a combination of the book and your imagination starts to spin a web of dreamy magic around you. Once the sounds of ordinary life fade into the background, you're no longer watching the character(s). You are the character(s). You know then, you're sucked in. The web of dreamy magic has pulled you completely out of your world, out of reality. You become entangled in the web of dreamy magic in the new world in which you're in. In this new world where anything can happen, where nothing is as it would be in our world, where nothing is as it seems. This then, is dangerous.

The dangers in falling into another world is: attachment and submitting. By attachment, I mean you become so attached to the characters that you hate to lose them. It's like they become a part of you. When the book ends you're sad to leave them. it's like closing a part of you're life (i.e. in the sense that you're losing friends). You're sad to leave them, because you feel like you've only JUST become good friends! The second danger is submitting. How is this dangerous? And what has, "submitting" got to do with, "reading"? As a reader, you must submit to whatever the author has in store for the characters. Say one of them dies. What can you do about it? you aren't the one spinning the tale. You're not the author. You're the reader. Accept that fact, and let the author finish his/her story! That's the beauty of a book, it's not your story. It's a different one for a change. Enjoy it, and get sucked in!

When you do get sucked in, you forget about reality. You forget about worrying about what to make for dinner. You forget about how the sun decided to hide itself behind those grey clouds. In fact, the whole earth seems to have stopped spinning. Every fiber in your being seems to dance in synchronized rhythm to the beat of the new world in which you got sucked into. Everything's new and beautiful. There's places to go and people to meet and greet. There seems to be music on every corner of the street in this new world. When suddenly, something happens.

The kids wake up from their nap, and you wake up to reality. The music stops and the magic dies. You are no longer tangled in a web of the new world. Reality entangles it's web around you. Sadly, the earth starts spinning again. All in all, reading is by far, the best escape from reality!

~Lissie Darcy

Creeped out, and favorite stores

2010-02-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

I really like, need to stop stalking certain person(s).. I'm sure they're just entirely creeped out. With Dad and I, we have this issue where before people get to know us we just unleash all our nerdiness/quirkiness/humor and sometimes it can be overwhelming for someone who's only JUST getting to know us..heheheh :D In other words, they need to spend a day with us FIRST and then we can unleash the power of the force! MUWAHAHAHA! "MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU," "HAHAHA! SILLY JEDI!"..yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. You, being my reader for quite some time, are now shaking your head in shame I just know it! "LISSIE! Coffee, much!?" Nope. I'm too much of a coffee snob, to drink coffee at home with our crapy (ie? double p, then ie? ...) coffee maker! You see first off cofffee grinds get in it, anddd if I'm going to have coffee I want it FRENCH PRESSED, and THEN I want some shots of espresso.

So let's just say STARBUCKS, MOXIE JAVA, AND I'VE YET TO TRY THE FLYING M! That's what I'm talking about!

Anyways, all this to say I drink TEA. At home, coffee when I'm out!

And now..favorite stores! Sorry, this is a rather random post! TOTALLY RANDOM!

Not necessarially though! Jules, Mum, and I went shopping last night. I've now created my favorite store list, and in the order as FOLLOWS.

1.Anthropologie
2.Forever 21
3.Target
4.Old Navy
5.Ross
6.Winco (best grocery store ever!)

Can I add a few? They aren't stores persay..

1.Starbucks
2.Jamba Juice
3.In-and-Out
4.Mexican Meat Market! (IN CALI)

Love and Lady Bugs,

~ELISABETH DARCY A.K.A LISSIE!

Ps. Happy Valentine's day! And more posts to come hopefully not so random ones!! And yes I mean more to come, TODAY!

THE END!

Food for thought

2010-02-08T15:12:00.000-08:00

COPY RIGHT: THE PROFOUND THOUGHT YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ ABOUT, WAS NOT FROM MY BRAIN, BUT FROM MY FATHER'S AND ALL THIS INFORMATION I'M ABOUT TO SHARE WITH YOU HAS BEEN DIGESTED IN MY BRAIN OVER SOME YEARS IN MY LIFE. YOU WILL BE FINED $200,000 IF YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH STEALING THIS PROFOUND THOUGHT, COPYING IT, AND TAKING CREDIT FOR IT!!! Ok, the warning is now over, please leave a message at the sound of the beep, "BE-E-E-EEP!"

YES I'm a dork, but I thought we established that one by now? ;P

I was reminded today about a bunch of convos my Dad, Mom, Jules, Jake, and I have had in the past. The whole universe is hung on words. Ever thought about it? Since the beginning of creation when God said, "Let. There. Be. Light,"...

With words I think we take for granted how important they are. We don't take them NEARLY as serious as we SHOULD. YOU have the power to save a life, or the power to destroy a life.

There's a whole chapter in James (..2..or 3...one of the two chapters!) about TAMING THE TONGUE. As Christians, we must be ever so extra careful with our words. You can do massive amounts of damage to a loved one, with words.

Words can damage someone beyond repair. Even though sometimes people will heal, your words will leave a scar on them forever. Once you open your mouth and say something, you can't take it back.

Christians, we need to make sure that what we say to others around us is always going to be edifying to Christ. I say this more to myself then to anyone.

I'm reminded of that song, "Oh be careful little eyes what you see..(and then it goes on to..) Oh be careful little lips what you say. For the Father up above is looking down in love, oh be careful little lips what you say."

Be on your guard, and go serve High King Jesus,

~Elisabeth

Cross reference-"hidden expectations"

2010-02-08T14:45:00.000-08:00

So you remember a while back I posted a post on, "hidden expectations"? It seems like God's changing my attitude towards my Mom, even my Dad in ways.

PAUSE

Before I go on, I just need to give you a quick life status: Right now Dad is doing 2 jobs. One (as you know, or at least should by now ;P) is driving the big purple "Dry cleaning butler" van; for my uncle Shaun. Not something he wants to do, but has to because this is where God has him..for now. You need to understand my Dad, he's a dreamer. Like me. Like you, like my Mom (only in a different way), like Jonah my 5 year old brother, like those beautiful people you bump into on a corner street. Their thoughts pre-occupied with profound doings and sayings, their eyes a-lit sparkling, and you just HAPPEN to bump into them. The one glance you glimpse of the stranger is a rare treat, it leaves you wondering what they were thinking. What goes on in the beautiful, perhaps wonderful mind of that individual. What intellect has been implanted in her/his soul..

That is my Dad. He's a dreamer. Anyways. Job #2 is at home AFTER coming home from job#1. He writes articles for TONS of different people who higher him, all over the world, for their money-making-websites. And because of this we don't get to spend time with him as we used to, always. It's just a season of life for us right now.

UNPAUSE, AND REWIND TO THE FIRST PARAGRAPH-

So you remember a while back I posted a post on, "hidden expectations"? It seems like God's changing my attitude towards my Mom, even my Dad in ways. In what ways you ask? I'm thankful for the 5-20 mins I get with my Dad a day. Even if our conversations consists of his excitement over dreams he has. Besides, his dreams are what inspire my dreams. My parents dreams inspire my dreams. They're the spark that lights mine. :D I'm thankful for every moment I get with Daddy. It actually is making me more appreciative of him, I think, and the time he and I get. In those ways, I mean.

I've noticed my attitude towards Ma is slowly, surely, and truly, changing, by Christ, and through Christ! My thoughts consist of: "Have you had breakfast yet Ma? Can I make you something? (and lunch too), what do you need? Have you taken your vitamins yet? What can I do for you? Do you need help? What's wrong? Who are you frusterated at, or what? What's so funny? I'll take Josiah. I'll change him for you. Have you been drinking water? I'll make dinner, or lunch, or do THIS for you so as to relieve some stress..."

My prayers are consisted of: Praying for my Mother's heart, any anxiety she might have, any stress she might have, that God will bless her in the ways best for her, and in ways she might need it. And then of course I'm praying for my wonderful Father too: For lack of sleep not to effect him, for him to be safe at work, his heart, his anxiety, his stress, etc. and that soon he'll be able to quit his job he has with my uncle, and work for himself.

Prayers for me: My heart, that I won't grow bitter towards Dad because it's so easy to listen to the devil and my flesh that say, "well he's not exactly there ya know.." cuz that's a lie and it's a season of life, for my attitude towards my Mom, that I'd desire to serve Ma and honor her, that I'd quit wallowing in my sing and pick up my cross and follow Christ, that my eyes stay on Him, that I'd honor God, that any bitterness, anger, pride, selfishness, impatience, hatred, etc. would be plucked out and new roots would grow to replace them: Selflessness, patience, humility, love (Christ's example of love), brotherly kindness, etc would grow instead.

Long ago God planted the seed of faith in my heart, now I'm praying that the seed would begin to bloom. I'm praying that when the fire comes, I'll be fireproof, I'll still be standing.

SLOWLY, friends, God is at work within my heart! I've noticed a total attitude change-AND ALSO I've gotten BACK INTO the habbit of reading my Bible every day. I miss a day or two sometimes..but I'm getting back into that habbit which I used to be in..that's part of my problem. I've forgotten who Christ really is. I need to always be reading the Gospels, to keep that sharp image of who Christ really is, who He says He is. As someone once said, we tend to make up this totally different version of GOD, because we haven't been reminding ourselves who the God of the Bible really is.

Continue to pray for me folks!! And thank you ever, ever, so much for all your past prayers for me!!

Don't waste another minute, if you haven't read your Bible today, DIVE IN IT! Bask in the richness of His grace, and mercy, and who Christ REALLY IS!!

With that being said,

~Lissie Darcy

Just to make things even better

2010-02-06T15:38:00.000-08:00

SO, I have a bladder infection.

Dunno how long I've had it for but docs are closed and will open again Monday. Ma yesterday, bought this box with these little things in it to test (home test) if you have one. And I did it and I have one alright. No doubt about it.

So she got me some medicine that relieves the pain from the symptoms of a bladder infection, but it doesn't heal it. I have to get anti-boitics to heal it. But still. IT's really uncomfortable. But the medication is helping. And I have a slight fever ever since last night..(actually I thought I was coming down with something one night because I had a fever, Ma and I think that it was actually because of the bladder infection)

Also, I felt fine when I woke up and after I ate. But, then I felt tired..like I had just recovered from a really high fever. That kind of fatigue. Cuz the fever leaves you somewhat weakened. You know usually you have one more day of taking it easy after the fever's gone. But anyways yeah. IT sucks. I told Ma about the fatigue, and she said (which is what I thought too) it's because my body is fighting off the infection.

So I'm a bit tired. But I have medication and I'm doing ok!! Oh and a fever but I should prolly take some Motrin for that eh? lol

Pray for me.

~Lissie

Ps. Anyways, I'm going to the docs Monday-unless I start to feel worse. But the medication is suppose to help so the infection doesn't get worse. But, really Mondays are already SUCKIE as it is. Going to the docs just makes it THAT MUCH MORE SUCKIE. Erg! Or should I say, "BAH HUMBUG!"

Cool Apron Giveaway

2010-02-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

--------->click here for a chance to win an apron giveaway<----------------

My Presentation for Anatomy Class

2010-02-03T07:10:00.000-08:00

Multiple Sclerosis

The meaning of "Multiple" is self explanatory. The word "Sclerosis" is a different story altogether. Sclerosis came from the Greek word "Skleros", meaning "to harden". MS gets its name from the forming of scars on the brain and spinal cord. If you think about how sometimes you'll get calluses on your hands, it's kind of like a hard scar..(only it lasts temporarily), but, in MS the scar/s would be on your brain and/or on your spinal cord. When we think scars in general, we think "oh ya got a cut, it healed, it's all good right,"? Actually it's not because if you think about it scars are the results of damage done to a piece of tissue in your body.

Multiple Sclerosis (a.k.a. MS), is what you call an autoimmune disease. Which means that the immune system under normal circumstances destroys foreign pathogens in the body, mistakenly destroys normal tissue. In MS the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain and spinal cord. Multiple Sclerosis effects the white mater tissue in the Central Nervous System (CNS). The white mater is consisted of nerve fibers that are responsible for transmitting messages within the CNS, and throughout the body. The scar tissue, which is called lesions, form when the protective and insulating myelin sheath covering nerve cells is destroyed through a process called, Demyelination. Without the myelin sheath the action potentials distributed throughout the brain and spinal cord are halted or disrupted. The brain becomes in able to send or receive messages. The inability to communication to different parts of the CNS, and the to the body, causes the symptoms of MS.

Doctors still aren't sure what causes MS, but data shows that a person's environment can play a role in MS. Or some researchers believe it can be genetically inherited. Some scientists believe there's several genes involved genetically in the development of MS. They aren't sure what it is but they think some people are born with this gene that will cause you to respond to your environment in a certain way triggering an autoimmune response. Also some studies shows viruses linked to MS such as measles, herpes, and even flu viruses. But, that hasn't been proven. Ms is 2 out of 3 times as common in females as it is in males. It's not common before adolescense.

The four most common/basic types of MS are: (1) Relapsing remitting MS (i.e. abbreviated, Rrms). In RRMS, you'll experience an attack or series of attacks, followed by either complete or partial remission. Usually as the disease progresses, the remissions won't be as effective as they once were. You'll still be left with permanent symptoms. (2) Secondary Progressive MS (i.e. SPMS), starts with RRMS. SPMS is a second-stage, progressive form of MS. There's no periods of remission like in RRMS, and no recovery from the attacks. Though you may have relief from the symptoms for a bit, and breaks from the attacks but only minor. (3) Primary Progressive MS (PPMS), is found more common in men. There's no real remission from the attacks. You may have the briefest, most minor relief from symptoms but it's not common. This type of MS is really just a continual decline in the disease. (4) Begnign MS, is known to be very "slight" in the attacks. That's not necessarially true. It can be just as damaging as any other case of MS. You can have little or no progression after an attack with this type of MS. Although you can still function under this type of MS, you still may have slight problems with cognition (reasoning, thinking things through, etc.), and possible short term memory loss. There are other types of MS but they fall under the more "rare" category.

Symptoms vary from person to person. It all depends on the location of the scars (i.e. lesions on the white mater in the CNS) on the white mater. Some common symptoms are: numbness or tingling in various areas in the body, loss of balance, dizziness, weakness in limb/s, blurred, hazy, or doubled vision, unclear cognition, fatigue, sensitivity to heat (even to normal heat temperatures), muscle spasticity and cramps, abnormal sensations, tremors, difficulty walking, uncontrolled or hesitant urination, and in rare occassions difficulty breathing and even seizures may occur.

So what's the prognosis of Multiple Sclerosis? It varies with each person and their particular case of MS. MS can get really severe really quick depending on what nerves in the body is being attacked. Or Ms can be fairly mild and slow in it's progression. Again, it depends on where the damage is being done. The average estimated prognosis, is 35 years. But, there's been people well up in their 80's and 90's diagnosed with MS over 35 years ago, and still living normal lives. It all depends on the severity of the disease, it effects each person differently.

I'M FINISHED! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH--YAA! So glad! Ok..it's early in the morn and I'm going to go work out!

Buh-bye!,

~Lissie

~MUSIC~

2010-02-02T18:21:00.000-08:00

I'm desperate. I'm in need of some new music artists because I'm SOOO sick of listening to the same people over 'n over 'n over!

I'll take pop, jazz, blues, oldies, blue grass, irish folk music, some hip hop (if it's somewhat appropriate), light alternative rock, country, etc.

ANY SUGGESTIONS!?

COMMENT!

LISSIE OUT!

Hidden Expectations&Raising the bar

2010-02-02T12:53:00.000-08:00

God revealed something to me, a few days ago. It came off so unexpectedly, yet it was made out so plainly and clearly. For onces I didn't have to learn my lesson the hard way. Yes! Thank you God. Now..can I have more of these "lessons the easy way"...??

In relationships you can't let yourself create these "expectations" for the person to meet without verbalizing them to the person.

Before I go on let me explain what I mean by this. I don't mean, "I EXPECT THIS, THIS, AND THIS FROM YOU! NO, I DEMAND IT!" I mean if you're going to meet your husband for lunch, then remind him of the date..men can be forgetful sometimes. If you moved states away from your friends and family, and you wish they'd "Call you more" or "talk to you more" or "write letters to you more" so "you're not the only one pursuing the relationship" then talk to them about it. Don't just create these "unknown expectations" and expect them to live up to it.

On with my post...*unpause*

What happens is you've got these high expectations for someone and they don't even know about them. When they don't meet these "unknown standards", you're going to find yourself bitter towards them. You might even start resenting the person. The danger in this: there's emotions involved in all this. And it's hard to see your bitterness and resentment growing, past the entanglement of emotions. It's easier for others who AREN'T involved in the situation, to see that bitterness.

As a Christian you have 2 options: 1) Let love cover over a multitude of sins, and quit creating "unknown expectations". Or 2) Go to the person and tell them what's on your mind. Whatever it is that you think they're "not doing" that should be done..I mean if they're sinning against you then go to them. Or if they aren't if it's something as mild as "you don't talk to me anymore" then..ask them about it.

Or forget about your expectations and question yourself. Am I being selfish? If so how? Do I have sin in this relationship? Am I sinning against my friend? Have I hurt them? Is there something I need to ask forgiveness for? Etc.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.

So if you're the one who's having to pursue the relationship then do so. Remember the verse above. Remember Christ! Over and over again have we failed Him. And not just in our time period but all the way back to the beginning of history with Adam and Eve. Yet God sent his one and only Son to die for us! He continued pursuing us, though we rejected Him.

As Mum and I were talking about some issues I was having with a friend, I had (w/out knowing really) created these expectations for this friend. The friend wasn't meeting them, and I had some bitterness and resentment growing in my heart towards the friend. Ma is the one who caught it. And so we talked about it.

As we were talking I was like, OH. MY. GOSH. I was totally moved by the Holy Spirit. I've been struggling a LOT during the last few months Mum was pregnant w/Josiah and afterwards too, with honoring her. I was struggling with, "Why should I honor her when she's getting so worked up over a little thing," "Why should I honor her when she's yelling at me..or having an attitude and she knows it," And "Yeah but I have to honor her because God's called me to do so and because in doing so I'd be honoring God Himself." Etc.

But I had realized I had raised the bar with these expectations I had for her, and she had no idea about them. I thought "DUR DE DUR" no wonder I'm having such a hard time fighting my pride, my anger, etc. It's not her, it's me.

You see friends without knowing it you could be raising the bar, forgetting we're all under the curse of Adam. We all fall short of the glory of God. We can't even reach God's bar of standards, which is the law. So who are we to pull out our measuring tape and go.."mmm..hmm...nope you're still a foot away from where you're suppose to be. Tsk tsk.."!?

That aside, Ma is still my mother. She gave birth to me for pete's sake! I was just as stubborn then as I am now..they had to use the vaccuum to get me out! She was appointed to be my Mummy by God All Mighty, predestined by HIM before time. I'm called to honor her, in doing so it will go well with me.

God is good. He knows your sins. He sees you struggling, He has offered to carry your load if you'd only turn away from your sin and quit with your stubbornness. Take your heavy load and give it to Him.

Pslam 55:22 "Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved."

And

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Before I close..I just want to say I'm going to steal Mr. Todd Friel's line..and I'll hope he'll forgive me for doing so.

Go serve your King,

~Lissie Darcy

Serious Prayer

2010-01-22T10:10:00.001-08:00

Hey, so this is what's going on in my life right now.

Woke up this morning saw that I had put my phone on silence all (due to not wanting to wake up from my alarm). And I saw I had gotten a call from my Uncle Shaun. Which was unusual. He doesn't ever call me unless he can't get ahold of my Mom, and/or my Dad can't get a hold of either of us.

But, me just waking up, it not processing I thought nothing of it. I thought..actually that he was calling to tell us that Dad quit or something. Dunno. (Well Dad's been working up to the point where he can quit working for him, and just work for himself..so yeah.)

Anyways, as soon as I walk downstairs with Jess, (Usually she's the first to wake up in the morns and Mum asks me to bring her downstairs take care of her and all..) Dad calls Mom. (Mom's phone was downstairs, her room is upstairs and that's why she didn't get all her missed calls). I answer the phone and Daddy tells me to bring the phone to Mum even though she's still sleeping. (Not his usual since she just had a baby (yes that'll be my next post when life doesn't get as serious as it is now..) so he likes her to get her rest and doesn't disturb her unless it is REALLY urgent.) So I'm like..okkk...

Then Jami comes down yelling, "AAATTEEE MA REALLY NEEDS YOU SHE'S CRYING RIGHT NOW!" And I'm like..yeah uh-huh Jami..riiight, Ma's crying? She's probably laughing so hard at Daddy's joke that she's teary-eyed, but CRYING?

Jacob, and Jonah were in the room, Ma's holding Josiah (our newest addition to the fam) while talking to Dad and she's crying..like literally balling. Then she tells me, "Jor go get Jules, and hurry."

After telling Jules the urgency we run back to the room. (Well I did. She still didn't get it, having just woke up.)

My Nana (grandma whom we call Nana. Mom's Mom.) has had a mild stroke. The worst part about it, is she's been having these headaches for some weeks, and I kept telling her to go to the doctor's..and I only mildly mentioned this to my Mom. And now here she is, she had to go to her doctor's appointment this morning, and Auntie Mariah (the wife of Uncle Shaun whom my Dad works for) had to drive out to her house (they live around 25..mins...from us?) (nana's house I mean) and drive her to her doc's appointment. Well she ended up in the hospital this morning and a test confirmed that she did infact, have a mild stroke.

She went in the hospital Friday morning. She went through the MRI. And on Saturday I stayed all day w/her in the hospital with my TT too. Tt flew out here on the spot. And Grandma Kitty arrived last night pretty late. Anyways the neurologist said that she had THREE!! THREE (nana) STROKES! Mild, pin point sized strokes. What we're seeing is the AFTER EFFECTS of the stroke. When she went into the hospital the neurologist said she had the strokes at LEAST 48 hours prior to Friday the day she ended up in the hospital.

Here's a brief touch-up on the anatomy of the strokes (from the neurologist), in the simplest of language:

Blood vessels clotted in the blood supply that is given to the brain. So essentially, the brain was deprived of some blood supply for a short amount of time. And it eventually got disolved. (who knows when at this point, it doesn't matter, as long as the body did its job in disolving it.) This all caused irritation, in essence swelling of the brain. (OH and she had the strokes in the lower left side of her brain.) So what WE'RE seeing, of what's happening to her, is the after effects of the stroke. So her right hand is weak, she's walking funny (and she's right handed..so that's her dominating side) (and you know how the left side of the brain controls the right, and vice versa) she has a bit of droopiness in her right side of her mouth.

Anyways she stayed in the hospital for two days, she came home today. She's on cholestral medicine and asprin. Asprin will keep her blood thin, and from clotting again. There's no medication that wil 100% prevent another stroke from occurring. All we can do is watch her and she's having to have 24 hour care. I'm so thankful she lives on our street! Tt and Grandma Kitty will be mainly taking care of her. Ma will be helping (we'll all be taking turns when one needs a break, we'll have plenty of help.) and I as well.

It could be worse. Anyways, pray for Nana. We're just taking it day by day. Pray for Ma, and Tt. Tt isn't a Christian and it must be really hard for her. Plus she already as it is struggles with anxiety so it's..gotta be pretty tough and scary for her laying in bed at night..you know that's when your mind starts thinking about everything..and just runs off w/your imagination.

Pray for us. It's scary. Death hangs over us all by a thread, it's only when we are woken up to this realization when it becomes a vital thing.

I've been meaning to post this FRIDAY when it all happened, but as you know and can forgive me things have been hectic.

We've been blessed! Extremely blessed, people and friends all around us caring for us, bringing us meals, offering to help us in any way possible. It's been wonderful.

So thank you to all who've helped and offered your help and brought us meals, etc. We love you guys extremely.

Through Him all things are possible,

Lissie Darcy

Love and Stalking

2010-01-18T15:37:00.004-08:00

Once upon a time Grace was walking to the library. She bumped into someone along the way, causing the poor man to drop all the papers, and books he was carrying.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you. Oh, here! Let me help you." Said Grace, frantically picking up papers.

"Hahaha. no problem. I'm rather clumbsy, as it is. Don't worry about it. I need to get a book bag or something. I almost always bump into someone after leaving the library by trying to see past my mound of books," the Man replied.

"Haha. Oh, I see. Well, I think you got it all. Can I help you with anything else, or are you good?" Grace asked grinnig. The Man looked funny with books stacked on top of him every which way.

And thus started the friendship of the funny Man and grace.

There are some people in life you're just naturally drown to. Why are you friends with the people you are friends with now? You like them. There's something about them that you liked from the beginning when you met, right?

Maybe you liked their personality, a specific character trait you saw in them, their smile, their eyes, their out going personality, the easy going attitude as you spoke with them, or whatever it is/was that made you decide "I like them,". You've been friends with them ever since your first meething them, right? Only now you know them so much better, because you've gotten to really know them as a person.

I am the kind of person who doesn't just (I'm 15) have friends my age. I have adults as friends too. I'm friends with my family members too (duh everyone should be!). Let me make it clear to you, I love people! Some people love chocolate, mountain dew, nature, their pets, their pillow, etc. But me-I love PEOPLE. wouldn't survive with out them. (Prolly could BUT that'd only be in a "have to" situation like if I was stranded on a deserted island.) I'm the outgoing person who'll go up and introduce myself to you if we haven't met. Where's the danger in that?

If I like you (garunteed ya I will..) there's NO escaping me. Ever. Because it's kind of like a "love at first stie" only more like, "love at the first meeting". And it's NOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT the same "love" as the kind in the "love at first site (that's more like "will you marry me?" kind of love..). It is more like, I love you SO much I'm going to adopt you into my posse. Oh, and my posse is a group of people I adopted as my family. My "love" for my friends is really, and truly a deep admiration for them and our friendship. The fact OF our friendship. It's an, "I'm honored to be friends with you." kind of admiration. It breaks down to, "you're personality is beautiful", "your character reflects Christ in this way," and on rare occasions, "I want to be like you in this way/area of my life because you're a good example and I need to be reflecting Christ in a similar area in my life as you do." (RUN ON SENTENCE..BAAAAAAAAAM!)

I do have certain friends I lean to more, we all do. I know them better. It depends on the length of the relationship (so how long I've known the person), and the closeness and openess on things like sharing struggles and triumphs in our walk with God.

Although it may look like, or seem like I'm stalking you but I'm not. It's simply that I love you, admire you, see Christ being magnified by you, agree with most of your convictions as far as them being parallel with the Bible, thank God for you, and want to adopt you in my posse if you'll let me.

I'M NO STALKER! Think of me as a big fan of yours, or how about, as your friend? Now you know I love you....*blushes...moving on..;)

As for stalking/stalkers. If you don't want me tail gating you, then when I see you shying away in the corner, and the 5'2" red-headed gal comes up to shake your hand, I suggest 2 things: 1) Shake my hand heartily knowing what you're getting into.----> A deep friendship, my admiration, love (in a "i'm 15, I look up to you, and will listen to any advice/wisdom you have to give me kind of way.), respect, my outgoingness, dorky humor, and friendship.

OR 2) Run! Get the heck out of that silly corner and run for your life. Don't look back either or you'll see 1) me laughing as it is a comical situation. OR 2) Me looking after you longingly thinking, "Dang, I've dog 'gone done it again! Gone off 'n scared 'em off 'gain! Well SHEW 'EE SLAP MY GRANDMA! That makes a record of 17..*sighs..*continues sippin sweet tea. OR 3) You'll see me carrying the tray of fresh chocolate chip cookies and tea I was going to share with you. Ok I doubt #3 will ever happen. If you wanna even LAY EYES on MY cookies, then you HAVE to be a part of my posse. OTHERWISE, you can just forget about cookies 'n tea. Or 4) Me crying my eyes out...yah I'm being sarcastic. Ok #4 was going to be me looking after you with my mesmerizing puppy eyes! If you look back then, you're bound to turn back 'round...

In other words when you shake hands with me you're signing the contract of us being friends. Be thankful I don't make ya do what they use to do back then to seal a contract/deal/friendship...they'd SPIT on their hands THEN they'd shake!! (Hahah yes, I've had Tom Sawyer on my mind. I've been reading To Kill a Mocking Bird too..hence...the southern accent and the "spitting" and stuff like that..hehehe ;)

Your affectionate friend ~~Stalker,~~

~Lissie Darcy

Book Status

2010-01-18T15:37:00.001-08:00

I've been going to this bookclub, and last time it was my choice of book. We (as a bookclub), read Chesterton's "The Man who was Thursday". It was good, rather random. But, I guess I only say that because when I had picked the book I didn't actually know what it was about. I wasn't expecting it to be about anarchists...and I didn't know it was an allegory either. Anyways, it was a good challenging read. Personally, I thought it was more challenging then Tolstoy's "Resurrection".

I had started "The Man who was Thursday", but the date of when our bookclub would meet got delayed, so I put it down when I was 3/4's the way through. For Christmas I got several books, one of which called, "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies". I had already read Austen's original P&P. I was really anxious to read this version. (Which has a co-authored by "Seth Graham he took the same story, and then added a zombie/oriental twist to it.) Christmas night I started P&P&Z. I had to put THAT down, and then finish the Chesterton. I finished that a day before bookclub, and then was able to pick up P&P&Z again. I finished that sometime this week I believe 3 days ago.

NOW, I'm bookless! But, I already have a book picked out to read, "To Kill a Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee.

I have a book list for school (just you know required reading for sophomores, that kinda thing) that I'm going by. And then I have my own book list of at least 30 (yeah I think it's 30) classics/common books that everyone's read..but me. lol. For instance a classic: Moby Dick. Common book that everyone's read but me: Lord of the Flies..I'VE BEEN DYING to read it. I have an adopted Older Brother who's read it and loves it (he is a guy..haha) and said I'd like it. I trust his judgment. It's usually 75% right. Haha. But, yeah. Been wanting to read that book for a loooooonnng time.

Oh! And the next bookclub book (which on Amazon is like $20..ridiculous!) is "Green Dolphin Street" by Elizabeth Goudge. I can't wait to read that because (if we ever order it!) it was made into a 1940's black and white film! Which..if you know me, then you know that I love black and white films! Particularly the ones made in the 30's/40's.

Anyways! Lots of good reads! Oh, and I'm keeping a reading log this year, so that by the end of 2010 I can see how many books I read!! Yaaaay! Haha.

Feel free to comment and tell about the books you're reading.

Kindest regards, and good mornings to you all,

~Lissie Darcy

B U S Y and N E G L E C T

2010-01-18T15:32:00.000-08:00

Ok I've totally been neglecting my blog. And yes I've been busy, yes everyone has! Haha. I know it! I'm guilty..I've ditched my readers. I'm sorry readers!

Will be posting soon!

Ima out!,

Lissie Darcy

Ps. By the way I have a "movie review" blog..and I think I'm just going to re-create it into something different. For those of you who might've possibly glanced at it. Because it's hard to keep up with movies and give a review for EVERYONE every time we watch a new movie. (Which isn't THAT often...since we're sharing the netflix que with my parents as well. But, still it's rather tiring to have to give movie reviews. Plus it's boring..and I don't think anyone's bothering to read it anyways.)

P.s.s. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! (I owe it to you, readers! Sorry it's late!)

Letting you know..

2009-11-26T19:51:00.001-08:00

Ok that one time I told you I had like 18 posts coming up!? I'm finally starting to write them!

Only problem is I decided to do a stupid thing (well stupid and smart) I wrote down the post titles and then saved them as drafts but when I went back to actually write them (as I'm starting to now because more posts are coming in..the thoughts are exploding in my brain I figured it was time to write! or I'll explode..) they're posting as "older posts" because they're far down and that was the order I had 'em in when I saved 'em as drafts.

THE SOLUTION: is to give you the LINKS that will take you directly TO those posts once I publish them! OK!? So be paying attention!! I just got a post down right now I'm gonna give you the link to it ok!?

///////CLICK! RIGHT! HERE! PLEASE! THE POST IS CALLED: TALKIN THE TALK OR JUST WALKIN THE WALK?///////////////

AND PLEASE COMMENT! I need to know that someone actually read these posts..haha. And was able to get to them without much difficulty, ok!? Just wanna make sure I'm doing this right. So I don't care if the comment is just "I was able to read it" or..something funny like that. But, I would like some real feed back to like your thoughts about my post..you know the proverb "Iron sharpens iron" right!? Proverbs 27:17 "Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another." Actually I just discovered this now if you read the footnote on that (I don't know what it says in other translations but I use the English Standard Version (ESV) it's translated really as "Hebrew sharpens the face of another" (i.e. one man sharpens another) COOL HUH!? I love discovering things like that!

LOVE IN CHRIST, BE SURE TO READ THE POST PLEASE! It's been on my mind and I must know what other Christians think about this matter!

--Lissie Darcy--

Day#1 In CALI!

2009-11-26T16:38:00.000-08:00

We made it! At four am in the morning CALI time. We predicted it'd be 6 am but I don't know if my parents meant ID time or Cali time..I think they meant we'd be here FIVE am CALI time and SIX am ID time. (AHH! CONFUSING!) So for ONCE in our lives we WERE EARLY, SO YOU CAN COUNT THAT AS BEING ON TIME AND WE WERENT' LATE! YAY!

It was a LONG car trip. I probably scrounged up around 1 hour-2 1/2 hours of sleep. We left at 8pm ID time. The tots were drugged up with some good ol' benadryl. Jami fell asleep instantly. Jonah a little afterwards. Jessi could NOT fall asleep! She did but she kept waking up crying thinking my Mom had left. (She was sitting DIRECTLY behind my Mom so she couldn't see her, plus it was pitch black!)

Jake took a whole back row and just laid down. He got the most sleep out of all of us older three!

Jules and I shared a row (the tots were in the front second to the passenger/driver seat row) and we kept ending up laying on eachother's shoulders and stuff. It was funny. But yet pathetic. Hardly could sleep. Dad started drifting a bit but Mum stayed up the whole time with him talking to him so he wouldn't fall asleep. He WAS UP FOR TWENTY FOUR HOURS! HE GETS UP AT FIVE AND THEN WE ARRIVED AT FOUR! So, a lil' over twenty four hours. YIKES!

Lola was awake as usual. (She's AN EARLY BIRD!) And so we said hi to Uncle Brandon and Lola and then we jammed upstairs and went to sleep and everyone was up except Jules, Mummy, and Me. We were the last to get up. We got up at like 8. So that's cool.

We already ate Thanksgiving dinner! It's only five pm here!

We had a lovely walk to the park: Jake, Jonah, Jamesyn, Julienne, and me.

I'M TELLING YOU I SHOULDA BEEN PREPARED BUT IT IS HOT OVER HERE! I'VE NO CLUE WHY I BROUGHT LONG SLEEVES! Well, it's perfect for jeans. But, like jeans and a tank top. Everyone else is like in heavy sweaters! I'M LIKE DUDES..IT'S LIKE 60-70 DEGREES OUT! But, probably because it's FLIPPIN FREEZING IN IDAHO..AND WARM HERE!

To my friend Bel: I'M TOTALLY GETTING VITAMIN D HERE! HAHAH NICE CALI SUN! I'll bring some to ya in a bottle! Lol! For you and P-nut!

Love you all! I'm gonna get off the computer now. Haha. Just wanted to update you all.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Yours,
Lissie Darcy

Lissie Math..

2009-11-25T14:07:00.001-08:00

(Toby)X(Master gone in Cali)=A SAD PUPPY!

CALIFORNIA HERE I COME, BABY!

2009-11-25T13:59:00.000-08:00

OH YES! WE ARE LEAVING FOR CALI TONIGHT. DRIVING ALL NIGHT. WHOLE FAMILY. AND UM..THAT'S HOW MANY PPL IN ONE AWESOME 12 PASS VAN THAT I NAMED: BIG RED? 9 PEEPS! (YES I COUNTED BABY JOSIAH! HE'S A PERSON, WHY WOULDN'T I? )

CALIFORNIA HERE I COME, BABY!

HERE'S TO SEEING WONDERFUL FRIENDS/CHURCH FAMILY, OL' PALS, EXTENDED FAMILY, GOOD TIMES, LAUGH ATTACKS TIL YA CRY, LATE NIGHTERS, ZERO SLEEP FOR MY PARENTS, A CRAZY WEIRD THANKSGIVING, FAMILY, AND TO MY HOME TOWN VACAVILLE!

--CHEERS--

AND HAPPY EARLY THANKSGIVING!

--Elisabeth Joy Darcy

We arrive like around 6 am tomorrow and we'll stay til Sunday. Awesomeness! BUT, Mr. Yadav we'll miss you lots! (um well I will then.)

Lissie Math...

2009-11-18T14:09:00.001-08:00

DUDES! DO! NOT! WEAR! SKINNY JEANS! IT'S LIKE PUTTING ON GIRL'S JEANS!

EW.

HAHAHA!

BUNCHA GUYS IN GIRLS JEANS! LOL PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!

(Skinny Jeans) X (A DUDE)=ME HURLING IN A PAPER BAG.

-LISSIE

Stand Still Grand Central..

2009-11-10T18:23:00.000-08:00

Furniture store invasion...

2009-11-10T18:11:00.000-08:00

High Five Escalator

2009-11-10T18:10:00.001-08:00

Grocery Store Musical

2009-11-10T18:09:00.000-08:00

INVISIBLE DOGS-I WANNA DO THIS!

2009-11-10T18:08:00.000-08:00

HUMAN MIRROR!

2009-11-10T18:07:00.000-08:00

FOOD COURT MUSICAL

2009-11-10T18:06:00.000-08:00

I LOVE LUNCH!

2009-11-10T18:05:00.000-08:00

Just to letcha know..

2009-11-09T19:57:00.000-08:00

JUST SO YOU KNOW I AM NOW UP TO 145 POSTS!!

That's just like totally awesome!!

Just wanted to letcha know that. Haha.

Over N' Out,

LISSIE

PS. I'm working on a TON of posts right now!! I have about 18 posts on different subjects that I'd like to write on. One of them is a series. The series is called, "Fighting against Typical Teenism" and then each post is a challenge that I myself am doing, and that I want to encourage you as a Teenager to do. It's not just for teens. For all ages that know how to read and have a good reading comprehension. (Well my brother who is 5 can read, but he wouldn't have the reading comprehension for it.) If you are 10, and wanna read it that fine!! It's better to work on the things/challenges I'm going to be talking about, early in life rather then later. Learning them later make it harder to learn because your heart has already grown accustomed to other ways.

The rest of the posts are about what I've been learning in books I've been reading, learning throughout the year, and that I've been learning or hearing from Mr. Yadav at Nampa Bible Church. Like one of the posts is going to be about "How to Answer the Problem of evil", "God died for OUR sins".

Just wanted to give you a heads up on that, ok!? Be ready for some good, convos!! I expect COMMENTS PEOPLES! YES, I used a grammatically incorrect term just now. It's going to take me a while to write these posts however, because first off THERE'S 18 OF THEM! Second off, I HAVE SO MUCH SCHOOL I'M TRYING TO GET DONE BECAUSE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS WE ARE GOING TO CALI FOR THANKSGIVING! MY MOM'S HAVING A BABY SHOWER, MY AUNTIE LIS IS DUE FOR HER BABY IN 3 WEEKS, I'M TRYING TO FINISH UP SCHOOL/MATH BEFORE THANKSGIVING I'M ALMOST FINISHED WITH PRE-ALGEBRA!! I'LL BE DONE WITH IT TOTALLY BY NEXT MONDAY!! Lots going on over here!! I will be writing in my free time. BUT, I'm doing a lot of reading for school in my free time, and catch up in school in free time lately. Kind of in a jam with school o'er here! Please, bear with me! But, keep checking the blog because I have posts coming soon!!-Elisabeth D.

PS.S. I won my very first BLOG GIVEAWAY! I WAS SO EXCITED! MY FIRST ONE! HAHA!! OK..had to mention that because I had forgotten!

Walkin the walk or just talkin the talk?

2009-11-09T16:25:00.000-08:00

Dude WHAD UP DAWGS!? I IS TALKIN THE TALK AND WALKIN THE WALK! YEAH-YA!

Now to get down to business...

As Christians we are called to LIVE for Christ. Romans 6: 1 says this: What then are we to keep sinning that grace may abound? BY NO MEANS...

Christian, what is your duty here on earth? Answer: TO GLORIFY GOD (not flesh, not man, not the devil, not the world, etc..) AND ENJOY HIM (not sin, not your fleshly desires, not the world's offerings, etc.) FOREVER!

I ask you then Christian, are you REALLY living for Him? Are you WALKIN THE WALK, OR JUST TALKIN THE TALK?

Part of the reason that the non-believing want nothing to do with Christianity (other then the fact that they don't wanna give up their sinful ways..) is that they see SO MUCH HYPOCRACY IN THE CHURCH! A lot of atheists mention this.

Ask yourself, what the **** (heck) ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT!? I can point out several areas of hypocrisy in the church. But, one of the biggest areas that I've noticed is how a lot of us Christians are just talkin! We talk about how we need to reach the lost, we talk about how we need to reach out to the women going to the abortion clinic, we talk about how we need to be reaching out into this world that we live in and DO something, how we need to FIGHT for Christ, how we sleep in America yet there are brothers and sisters out their DYING for GOD ALMIGHTY in countries where God is banned. YET DEAR CHRISTIANS, IT IS MERE TALK ONLY! THERE IS NO ACTION! THERE IS NO DO! READ THE NEW TESTAMENT! THE APOSTLES DIDN'T JUST TALK OF SUCH THINGS THEY DID THEM! IF PAUL SAW AN ERROR IN THE CHURCH HE DIDN'T HESITATE, HE REBUKED THEM! JESUS REACHED OUT TO THE POOR, TO THE NEEDY, TO THE NON-BELIEVING, TO THE LITTLE CHILDREN. WHERE ARE WE AMONGST THE NEEDY, THE POOR, THE BROKEN SPIRITED, THE DRUG ADDICTS WHO NEED TO BE TOLD ABOUT CHRIST, THE DRUNKARD WHO NEEDS CHRIST, THE ANGRY HEARTED WHO NEEDS TO BE REBUKED ABOUT HIS MURDEROUS HEART, THE PRIDEFUL WHO NEEDS HUMBLING, ETC!?

We sit on our high thrones and worry about how "this particular church doesn't do a creed" "this church doesn't have wine at communion" "this church's worship service SUCKS" "this church's pastor's sermons ARE TOO SHORT" "yet this one too LONG" "this church doesn't have beautiful architecture" "this church doesn't do communion every week". Does this mean that we can't ponder over these things? OF COURSE NOT! HOWEVER, little things like THAT must be considered, but when you look around there are people who have NEEDS and the church isn't providing for those needs because we're too busy having family communion every Friday.

Christian, these things aren't wrong, but when "family communion" or things like that become a RITUAL instead of a time to come before God, then it's wrong! You know who you become like when everything is a ritual? THE PHARISEE! Jesus called them WHITE WASHED TOMBS! BEAUTIFUL ON THE OUTSIDE YET ON THE INSIDE LIES A DEAD CORPSE!

Live like CHRISTians..(i.e. like Christ calls you to live. if you don't know how to do that pick up your Bible and READ IT) should live! The world should look at you and not see a white washed tomb (i.e. "another one of those Christians" "another hypocrite of the church I suppose..) but they should look at you and see CHRIST IN YOU!

I ask you Christian, are you WALKIN THE WALK (by faith and not by site) OR ARE YOU JUST TALKIN THE TALK?

(See Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) Which talks about how there is a time for everything. There is a time for enjoyment in Christ such as sitting down for family communion, or family worship, or I have some friends who do this cool thing called Sabbath day feast. However, there's a time to weep with those who weep. There's a time to read your Bible. There's a time to go REACH OUT TO THE LOST. There's a time to meet the needs of others in the Church. There's a time for EVERYTHING Christian! So get off your pedastal because it is YOU who is UNDER Christ's FEET! 1 Corinthians 15:27 For “God [3] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him." Get off your high and mighty pedistal Christian for YOU are MAN and NOT GOD, and go out and live like a Christian. Quit talking about how we should be living and START WALKIN AND LIVING AS YOU SHOULD BE!

This has been on my mind because I've noticed for quite a while now how we (I included! I'm not sinless in this situation.) get so caught up in the rituals of "oh yeah and we need to do this and we need to do that and oh no! oh no! if it isn't done in THIS PARTICULAR WAY as it always has..then ITS WRONG.." and forget about what NEEDS TO BE DONE! We become BLIND, and DEF to God and His calling to us.

Don't forget Christian whom you serve. Keep your eyes on Christ! It's ever so easy to get distracted with all the worldly distractions but don't forget! Go into the world (as Mr. Yadav once said in one of his sermons a lil' while ago) WITH YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN. See the world as it is, in all it's filth and shiver with joy for you know that though you were apart of that filth God called you out of the grime and you serve Him now! No longer are you naked in the dark running for fear that you will be exposed, for God exposed you, and He bathed you in His own Son's blood and clothed you in white linen.

I leave you Christian, with this amazing verse: "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good."-Romans 12:9

Favorite # 5 INTRODUCING...

2009-11-09T16:23:00.004-08:00

CONVERSE!!!!!!!!! I <3 (that's a heart) CONVERSE! I have black high tops. But, I really need a new pair because those are falling apart. I wanna get a red pair, or an orange pair, or YELLOW! OR AN AWESOME PLAID!! Yup. That's me. With jeans. That or FLATS! FLATS ARE AWESOME! A super bright LIME GREEN PAIR WOULD BE TOTALLY COOL! Ok..yah. Sorry. Haha. Getting carried away here.

Over 'N out,

Elisabeth Darcy

FIGHTING AGAINST "Typical Teens" A challenge for y'all

2009-11-09T16:22:00.001-08:00

Have you ever went up to someone and introduced yourself and the person refused to talk unlessed you pressed them? Was this person a unscociable teenager? Or perhaps YOU are that unsociable teen. Your excuse is "I'm just a shy person". That may be. But, if your "symptoms" of shy consist of only socializing with people you know or people in your age group, then YOU AREN'T SHY! YOU'RE UNSOCIABLE! If you are shy, it doesn't mean you're "unsociable" it just means that you get rather nervous and timid around other people. Irrelevant to their age.

One of the biggest things teens are known for is being unsociable. That's the "norm". It's just a "natural phase teens go through." I'm sorry, but you're wrong. We aren't born this way, there isn't something wrong with us, it's not a "normal stage" that everyone goes through. This is just another one of those lies that our culture has developed. Lovely, eh? This isn't a normal thing this is an abnormal thing.

Another lie is there is no such word as "Teenager". We, as Christians shouldn't be known as "teenagers" irrelevant if we are in our TEEN YEARS. We should be known as young men and women; young adults. Why? Because the word "teenager" is something used for a typical, wordly person who's in their "teen years" (a.k.a Teenager). WE ARE NOT TEENAGERS! Or at least we SHOULDN'T BE. We are only known as "teens" if we are just like every other person from the age of 13-19 in the world! Before I move on with this (the post isn't about whether we're teens or not) I want to ask you, are you living for Christ? When people meet you and look at you in this world do they see Christ in you? Do they go, "Wow that's a very mature young man/woman"?

NOTE: The rest of this post I will be referring to us as the way the world knows us, "teens". But, as I go on with this series I will refer to us as we really are, "young men/women" "young adults". I expect you to know what I'm talking about. When I say young adults I mean us in comparison with teens in the world ok?

We as teens should be more capable to talk to adults in a respectful, mature way, realizing our place. We should be capable to talk to our piers, while still acting like young adults. You don't wanna be a hypocrite. On the one hand, you do have more lee-way with your piers then with adults. But, your maturity level doesn't need to drop. Sometimes we get giggly and silly, perhaps too silly but just remember there's still an invisible line you may not cross. There are some subjects in which you should talk with your parents only, or family only. There are some things that one friend tells you that you need not reveal to another friend for that would be gossiping, right? We as teens should be capable of socializing with little kids. (including infants) You may think I'm being rediculous, but I'm not. I'm perfectly serious, with absolutely no hint of non-sense.

How do we relate to infants? They can't talk back, idiot! Yeah, I know. But, if you are baby sitting an infant you need to talk to the baby. Make silly faces and try to make the baby smile. Play rock-a-bye baby, and peek-a-booh. (Keep in mind age appropriate games. You wouldn't want to play "rock-a-bye baby with a new born. Their brains would shake, and it's not good for them.) Talk to the baby. I have THE CUTEST BABY COUSIN EVVVVVVARRR! His name is Jeremiah! He is soooo chubby and sooo cute! He has the bluest eyes you've ever seen! A cute bald head..and a smile that makes you go, "awwwww" every time he gives it to you! Whenever I see him I take time to spend with him and talk to him so he knows my voice.

Me: HI JEREMIAH! How's my baby cousin!? Is he good!? Does he have a cwean (clean) dipper on?

Jeremiah: Smiles

Me: I WUV MY COOT BABY COUSIN! HE'S SO HANDSOME!!

Jeremiah: Wiggles his hands and feet and gets excited

(I made this up btw..but it's similar to what I say and stuff haha)

Jeremiah will immatate the way you say, "HIIIIII" to him. He coo's a lot and smiles a lot and giggles. He's only 4 months too! He's the happiest baby you'd ever see!

That's how you "socialize" with infants. They love to hear your voice, to receive kisses and gentle hugs. They also love to give you dirty diapers to change! Haha! AND THEY LOOOVVVE-A-MAMMA'S MILK!!

It gets easier to "socialize" with little kids as they get older. My brother Jonah(5), and sister Jami(3) loves it when i play games with them. They also like to tell me things. Anything that comes to mind. Though it may not make sense to you, or sound "intellectual" they're very smart. They're human beings like you and I and they have thoughts and feelings. So, next time you see a little kid running around after church or at a party you happen to be at, go up to them and talk to them. Ask them what kind of games they like to play. Ask them how old they are, what their name is, who their parents are, what their favorite dinner is. Anything. You'd be surprised at the answers you'd get. Especially the ones that make you laugh. (Only, don't laugh. Save that for later. They like it if you treat them as if you're on the same level as them. If you can't do that, then BRING YOURSELF DOWN to THEIR level. You'd be surprised at how fast they'll tie you to their heart, love you, and trust you.)

When I say "socialize" I don't mean you have to make infants and little kids your best friends, I just want you to understand and know HOW to do this for when the time arises. Next time you baby sit a bunch of kids and/or an infant you'll know how to act around them. How do you expect to be able to talk to ANYONE if you ONLY EVER socalize with people IN YOUR AGE GROUP, and that YOU KNOW.

The reason I say we should be most capable to do all these, is because we are YOUNG ADULTS. We should by now, be mature enough to handle talking to a fellow human being irrelevant the age, or gender.

That's the other thing you should (boy or girl) be able to talk to the opposite gender. "Oh yeah I can totally do that! No problem!" Ok, then you shouldn't be a guy and talk about gross, scary, bloody, gory things to a girl. Girls aren't USUALLY into those type of things. You also shouldn't be drueling over the person because you've never ever ever ever socialized with anyone but YOUR gender (and perhaps your mom and sister(s) before so..WOW I'VE NEVER SEEN (ok..I'm over exaggerating here a bit..bear with me) the opposite gender! If you as a girl, are going to talk to a guy, it should ALWAYS be in a sisterly/brotherly type of way. And you (boy or gal) shouldn't talk about provocative things that will tempt the other person. The only time you won't have to talk in a "sisterly brotherly" way to the opposite gender is when you are A) courting (but even then you must be cautious) B)it's your spouse!

We have learned from our parents how to be mature men and women and to show it through our speech and who and how we socalize with other men and women. We know when a conversation is heading towards gossip, how to respectfully, and maturely change the subject. We know how to go up to an adult and introduce ourselves and to make conversation with them. We know how to gently, and in love rebuke a friend. We know how to treat little kids and keep them entertained. We know that a soft answer turns away wrath. (Prv 15:1) We know that our speech should be gracious, and seasoned with salt. (Col 4:6)

Last but not least, TALK TO YOUR PARENTS! You are NOT an average teen only able to talk with piers, and who despise being seen in public with their parents! NO SIREE! You are truly a typical teen if this is the case. God gave you your parents to protect you, to provide for you until you as a man are able to do so yourself, or as a women have a husband to provide for you. They are there to teach you about God, and to raise you to live for CHRIST and to be prepared to face the battles of Satan, sin, flesh, and the world! They are preparing you with proper armor you need to fight the good fight. PARENTS ARE A BLESSING! They have wisdom that you do not. They know more then you do about life, for they have experienced more and have lived LONGER then you!

I'm leaving you with a challenge. When you are met with a chance, go up to at least 3 people this week. 1 has to be an adult, the other a pier, the last a little kid. I want you to talk to your parents. Be open to them about your struggles, fears, dreams, accomplishments, goals, etc.

The challenge doesn't end there. I want you to embrace maturity, be the mature young man or woman that God wants you to be. That your parents want you to be. Declare yourself a Young adult, not a typical teen. Live for Christ, and Christ only. So that when others come along side you, they have to look for Christ in you to find you. Hopefully that makes sense.

This is the only time I'd use "rebel". I HATE that word. It usually means something bad. But, in this case it's good. We're rebels in this world. Why? Because we're CHRISTIANS. We live for CHRIST, NOT THE WAYS OF MAN, not for the pleasures in life, not for Satan and his demons, not for our flesh, not for sin, not for our family, not for our friends, but for our Almighty God who gave us life!

Here's to going against the flow, here's to going against the "norm", here's to being mature young adults,

~Lissie Darcy

Favorite #4

2009-11-09T15:13:00.000-08:00

I do not have a TOP favorite pass time. I never have a TOP favorite of anything. I always have TOP FAVORITES. My top favorite pass times are, actually the list will go to a hundred.

NEVER MIND!

Just kidding of course!! I'm such a joker. The sad part about it is I'm not even funny. Corny yes, funny no. Ha-ha!

1. Reading is at the top of the list! I am known for always having a book in my nose. (That's what I was going to say at first but I caught myself. I meant "my nose IN a book" haha. But, decided to leave it because it shows how lame I am.) Some of my favorite books are: Anne of Green Gables, Pride and Prejudice, Stepping Heavenward, Tortured for Christ, The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie society, and others..

2. One way I pass the time is by (Yup, you guessed it!) talking! I talk to everyone, all the time! The people I talk to most are: MY PARENTS BELIEVE IT OR NOT! My parents, and siblings, and then my extended family! (Usually my Grandma[S] ) What do I like to talk about? ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING! Usually I talk about what has been on my mind. My thoughts, questions I may have, assumptions, convictions, beliefs, doings of the day/week (week extends to the past month! I am always reflecting on what went on the past days, weeks, & month..) or verses in the Bible, I talk about God a lot. I talk about movies and books I've been reading/watching. I also talk about what I've been learning in school, be it math, history, anatomy, etc. I also ask for guidance and wisdom a LOT. God is first, my parents second, siblings I ask for their point of view sometimes, and then last is usually my Nana(a.k.a. G-ma) who lives 8 doors down. I also will ask my friends-if it is a situation that I can ask them for advice about in a discreet way. Why ask my friends? Isn't that what "typical teens" do? Yes, and no. You see a typical teen doesn't ask their parents or anyone OTHER then their friends. As you can see, I don't do that. I ask my friends sometimes because the majority of my friends are older then me. I love being in the middle, or the youngest. I'm the oldest at home, so it's like getting 2 different experiences!! Double wammie!! Love that. It's also nice to have someone older who you can ask for advice on. I have 2 older brother Christian friends,(I adopted them as older brothers :] ) I have TONS of gals that are older then me, and some that are younger but close in age with me.

3. Another way I pass time is watch movies I've seen more then 500 times (I woulda said 1000 but, that's pushing it) and repeat my favorite lines in the movie! Haha! My siblings and I do this ALL THE TIME! The movies we have memorized practically (I said PRACTICALLY, MIND YOU!) are: Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Meet the Robinsons (notice the disney/pixar theme going on here), Madagascar2, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Pirates of the Carribean 1, 2, and 3, Kungfu Panda, Bolt (which we don't have but whenever we see it we repeat lines!), Cars, Ice Age 3, Enchanted, Matilda (Jamesyn for some reason loves this movie), Beverly Hills Chihauhau, Monsters Inc. (Don't have it but seen it a billion times. Some friends have it.), THE LIST GOES ON!

4. I watch black and white movies on Netflix! One way to relate to my Nana and by doing so, honoring her, is by watching black and white movies and discussing them. She LOVES them. She knows ALL THE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES! We watch movies from the 1940's, 80's &20's. She actually got Jules and I REALLY into 'em black 'n white movies! By doing so, Jules and I (know this sounds weird) have grown closer together just by talking about our faves, and reccommending movies to one another and spending time watching them together! Some of our ALL TIME FAVORITES ARE: It's a Wonderful Life, The Philadelphia Story, Holiday, To Catch a Thief, Sorry, Wrong number (that's 1 movie btw the sorry wrong number one), Wife Vs. Secratary, Since you went away, The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer, The Man who knew too much, It Happened one night, Vertigo, Spellbound, Life Boat, Rear Window, ETC.

5. I take walks! Get fresh air, enjoy God's beautiful creation and I pray a long the way!

6. I play with the 3 toddlers. I make up games and we play and goof off and they laugh til their stomach muscles can't take it any more, and we have so much fun! I'm going to be 16 next year the last years I have with my family before I get married and have one of my own, are precious and to be treasured. I've learned that much.

7. I pray. I take time in my day to pray for all the prayer requests I've gotten over the last two weeks, or month or so! I try to do this throughout my day. When you're doing dishes, instead of listening to music at the same time, try praying through this silently in your head. Or, if you are alone allowed.

8. Like everyone else, I have chores around the house. I do laundry, kitchen clean up, change icky dipers, take out the dog, clean up a possible accident the dog had, feed the dog, bathe my 3 littlest siblings, vacuume, clean our always-seeming-to-be-messy-upstairs-bathroom, struggle to keep my medium sized bedroom clean how hard can that be!?, pick up around the house, clean Jami's room, make laundry soap (that one is actually fun! I've officially made it my job! love it!), dust, mop, clean walls and base boards, etc. Yet, somehow once we clean our house 5 seconds later there's another mess to clean up.

9. Once in a while, I go shopping. It's fun to window shop too though!

10. Believe it or not, I'm an avid letter writer! I write letters (real letters, not emails) to my friends in Cali! They write back! It's great fun!

11. I write emails too. Don't think I'm that awesome. Haha. I can type like 80 words per minute.

12. I blog! No Duh!

13. I take pictures! But, our camera is really old I have postponed my picture taking. I'm hoping for a camera for Christmas.

14. I sing. Mostly in the shower. But, whenever I'm alone in the house I try singing some of my favorite songs by my favorite artists. Or when I bathe the tots, I blast the radio loud (I do it up stairs) make sure the base is booming, and sing along to Taylor swift or Brad Paisley or Indelible Grace or Caedmon's call because those cd's are always on top of my parent's radio.

15. My Dad gives me driving lessons on weekends. Lately he's been kind of busy, and we all got over the flu a little while ago. We've all been REALLY busy. So yeah.

16. DANCE! YES, I DANCE TO MY LOUD MUSIC!

17. TEA PARTIES! Ok, no not really. I just drink tea and enjoy a book or watch the tots be all silly.

18. I walk down to my Nana's and spend time with her.

19. I read other ppl's blogs and comment like crazy!

20. I spend time with my lil bro Jake. He's fun. He and I play legos, wrestle, (although lately I've stopped because I'm always tempted to give him a wedgy but he hates it and I just get in trouble anyways ;( ) Or we ride scooters, or bikes but our bikes need fixing, or we go to the park, or we walk around the block, or talk, or he draws and paints while I do anatomy homework. But just being by each other is good enough.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS YOU PASS TIME!? I DID NOT SPELL CHECK. FINGERS HURT FROM TYPING. AND I WAS TOO LAZY TOO ANYWAYS BECAUSE I JUST REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A REALLY LONG POST SO I WAS LIKE FORGET IT! HAHA! SORRY I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE THIS SO LONG!!

-LISSIE DARCY

PS. I LIKE CAPS??

Favorite #3

2009-11-09T15:10:00.001-08:00

My favorite stores to shop at in order from most awesomest to um..not least awesomest just it's not my top favorite are: Target, Ross, Savers, Old Navy, Forever 21, Shopco, Walmart, and I can't think of anything else right now. Haha.

What are some places you shop at? Seeing as some of us live in different states maybe even countries, share some of the stores you like to go to with your Mom and Dad, siblings, and friends...

-Lissie

Favorite #2

2009-11-09T15:07:00.000-08:00

My favorite Starbucks drink is seasonal. Which is sad. But, it's really yummy. It gets you in the mood for fall, and winter, and the holidays, and cozy nights by a fire!!!!!!!!!

My favorite Starbucks drink the the fall/winter season is Pumpkin Spice latte or if I'm in a store and really hot (TEMPATURE WISE!! THAT'S ALL I EVER MEAN BY THAT WORD!! FOR FUTURE REFERENCE!!) I'll make it a Pumpkin Spice Frap.

What's your favorite Starbucks drink?

-Lissie

Favorite #1

2009-11-06T16:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Jake's birthday. He turned ten. My Mom allows us to pick what we want for meals and dessert.

These are Jake's meals:

1) Breakfast-Doughnuts

2) Lunch-Pazole (A Mexican soup.)

3) Dinner-Ribs!!

4) Dessert-Tres Leches cake (means 3 milks)

Our cousin Brandon came over and spent the night and celebrated with us. We did presents. Oh, and Nana came over too.

Here's what my now, 10-year-old brother got for his birthday:

From my parents: Cow boy boots (he LOVES cow boy boots he wore out his old pair to where it had holes in them), A rip stick (awesome form of a scooter), the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua, X-men Origins, and Jonah gave him a top. (Haha) I think I'm missing some stuff..

From Nana: He got a couple of Justice leage movies, and..another movie.

From Brandon/Uncle Shaun and Auntie Mariah/Jeremiah/Tyler: A new snow jacket! His old one was getting too tight and too short on him.

We watched one of Jake's movies and stayed up talking til 3 in the morning. Brandon and I stayed up til 5 in the morning.

Oh and one of the things the birthday boy/girl gets to do is have NO CHORES. On their birthday OR SCHOOL!

All in all I think he had a good birthday!! He was surprised by all his gifts and plus he got some gift cards and money in the mail from our Cali relatives who weren't able to celebrate with us. (:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU--YESTERDAY MY TEN YEAR OLD BROTHER! YOUR MY FAVORITEST TEN YEAR OLD BROTHER EVER!!

(My only ten year old brother..and sibling at this point in life!)

ATTENTION: NEW BLOG SERIES

2009-11-04T14:42:00.000-08:00

As you know it is now November 4th and I still have not come up with a new blog series! *shame on her* *who's her?* *um me* *stop talking to yourself your readers are already weirded out by you as it is!* *but it's fun talking to us* *we* *I* *myself* *SHH* *DON'T SHH me!* *I can because I'm you, you're me..what difference does it make?* *sighs* *QUIT ROLLING YOUR EYES, Jor!* *ok..you really need to stop talking to yourself look all your readers left* WAIT COME BACK!

I stopped talking to myself! NEVER WILL DO IT AGAIN! HONEST! PWEASE COME BACK! Haha.

As I was saying before I was interrupted by myself, I have a new blog series for the month of November! Every day I will come up with some sort of "Favorite" of mine. Be it a movie, music artist, song, book, quote, color, food, beverage, word, number, circumstance, favorite time of the day, high light of the week, Bible verse, chapter, ect., type of brand, meal of the day, ETC. I will post it for you! And I expect you to comment back and tell me what YOUR favorite is!

Example post: My favorite color is green, what's your favorite?

Here's will you get to participate! You can tell me what your favorite is!

Example Post: My favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice!

Then you would comment telling me what your favorite movie is.

Example Post: My favorite book is Stepping Heavenward.

You would comment telling me what your favorite book.

If you would like to further participate you can post your own post of your own favorite. It doesn't have to be the same as mine! Whatever is on your mind, post your favorite! Like maybe a favorite cookie recipe or your favorite thing about fall!

It's going to be really fun!! I'm going to post a lot of music artists. But, since I just did that today I won't do it for a while.

Tune in for tommorrow's favorite! It's kinda like the 1-Post-a-day series only it's one FAVORITE A DAY!! Yay!!

Just wanted to give you all a heads up!!

Yours Truly,

Elisabeth Darcy