All Things Beautiful

1st New Year's Resolution

2012-01-27T16:19:00.000-08:00

Well, I never thought I'd make it, but I did. I am now the proud owner of a driver's permit. Woohoo. I only have six long months and some more tests until I have my license. So close, and yet soo far off.
A special thanks to my best friend Sarah, (the one who lives in Illinois) who motivated me to finish driver's ed.
I was so nervous going in to take the test. I had never taken a test like this in my LIFE. The only kind of tests I had taken were short answer and essay question quizzes. Calling a test 'Multiple choice' makes it sound so full of promise, it practically gives you the answers. To think I always thought the grass was greener on the other side, and that multiple choice questions were easy. I was wrong, to say the least. I had been on the side where the grass was like my neighbor's across the street (she waters her grass thoroughly everyday) and where floppy-eared bunnies frolicked through wild flowers. I've crossed over to the dark side of testing. My driver's permit test will not be the last time I see the stupid A. B. C. and D. multiple choice answers.
Anyways, I was extra nervous to take this test. I prayed from the moment I entered the DMV to the moment I left. I really didn't want to fail. It seemed like hours before I finally made it through the DMV lines with the sorry souls who were also taking that cursed test. I gained a little courage looking at the people who were taking the actual driving test. They looked like the kind of people who skipped school frequently. Also, the guy in front of me had his pants pulled down so low, that they were below his butt. That is not okay. I really wanted to ask him to pull up his pants (in the nicest way possible of course), but I thought it probably would not be acceptable. If THOSE kind of people could pass this test and make it to the license testing, so could I. And I did. I missed 4 questions, and I think 50% percent of those I missed were trick questions. I also missed the ludicrous BAC question, "What percent of alcohol can a person UNDER (the key word I mistook for OVER) 21 have in their blood?"
Um, duh? None? You really should not have any in your blood, but there was no answer that was all zeros. I made it through the test and that's all that matters. The best part by far came after when my mom bought me a Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks, the best drink ever created.
If anyone comments on this saying,"Oh, since you're driving now, I should stay off the road!", I will do a frowny face at them. I am going to be a VERY good driver ;).

Faithfully Yours <3

Happy Twenty Twelve

2012-01-13T20:17:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I'm kind of a few weeks off to be saying that, but deal with it. Besides, I brought in the New Year partying it up at winter camp. Then I jumped right back into school. Fun fun fun.
This year is looking up to be promising. I hadn't really thought about my New Years resolution this year. I guess it's just the obvious: keep on keeping on. In all seriousness, the things I want to accomplish this year are:

Finish Driver's ED and get my permit (Half check, I finished Driver's ED)
Get my license
Get a job this summer
Sew like a crazy mad person

There you have it. I guess those are the things most people my age are thinking about (except that last one there). Though, I think I'm leaving out something crucial. What about growing in my relationships with my family and friends and with God? Yeah I think that should be on the list too. So far I have started this year on a high, ready to take what God throws at me. Even the weather so far in this new year has been beautiful. Last year was like the calm in the middle of a storm. The year before I moved across the country. Although I started going to a new school in 2011, everything change was for the better and not drastic, just a part of life. I pray this is a year to remember for the beauty God shows me through everything that I am surrounded by.
Cheers to a beautiful new year.
Faithfully Your~

Ah, Christmas Time

2011-12-11T16:16:00.000-08:00

You know it's Christmas time at the Jones family household when you wake up to a toast of chocolate and look around every corner for creepy elves. Yeah that pretty much sums up our Christmas countdown.
I think we are the only family in perhaps the WORLD that toasts a cheer with our advent calendar chocolate. And, according to my mother, it's bad luck to cheers an empty chocolate rapper (ehem, SETH).
Also, I don't believe any families can say that they hide a creepy little elf around the house. A few years ago my brother (Seth) decided that a certain pair of tree ornament elves were creepy, and started hiding one of them in places around the house to creep the rest of us out. So naturally, all of us followed suit, and when getting in to bed you might find a creepy little elf sitting there. So far, the best hiding places have been: the fridge and my brother's bed. I never manage to see it in my room unless someone points it out to me. I'm not really sure where it is right now.

These are the creepy-babyfaced-elves

The funny thing is I found that picture online, our elves are identical and dressed in gold.

So there you have it. We are prepping ourselves for the oncoming arrival of the relatives. I'm just going to say this is going to be the most.. interesting Christmas we've had in awhile.

Stay warm in this crazy California fifty degree weather. Some of you Californians might not make it past December ;).

Faithfully Your~

Giving Thanks

2011-11-17T14:08:00.000-08:00

Next week is thanksgiving. And I just want to say how very thankful I am.

My life.

My family.

My house.

Food to eat.

Money.

School.

Jesus.

God.

Love.

Laughter.

Friendship.

My church.

My gifts & talents.

My stuff.

My clothes.

Trees.

Rain.

Flowers.

My dog.

The ability to think for myself.

The ability to walk and run.

The ability to move at all.

My health.

Happiness.

BEAUTY.

I'm thankful for all of the above, and so much more.
Last weekend I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to serve breakfast to homeless people at the Valley of Hope. I woke up at 4:30 a.m., but it was a sacrifice I'm glad I gave. It was a humbling experience, and made me start thinking about how much food I have. I'm definitely going to be thinking of those people when I eat thanksgiving dinner. Though not with guilt. With thankfulness.

Faithfully Yours <3

11.11.11

2011-11-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

I have decided to write a blog post to commemorate 11.11.11. Guess what? I forgot it was 11.11.11 today, and forgot to make a wish at 11:11 a.m. this morning. What else is new.
Since the "colder weather" has finally sunk in, I have been in a flurry of yarn. For some reason, when it's cold and dreary outside I feel like crocheting or knitting. So, I have been knitting wash cloths and blankets, and trying unsuccessfully to crochet a hat.

You know, 'cause we need snow hats for all the snow we get here in SoCal. I should have thought to crochet hats when we lived in Snow Central, IL.
It's funny how people get so used to the place they live in. Once the temperature hits 60 degrees here, everyone is wearing Ugg boots and beanies.

In Illinois, 60 degrees was still flip-flop weather. In the spring we would be so desperate to not have to wear 4 layers of clothing, that as soon as there was no snow on the ground our toes would come out and capris would be dug out of our drawers. Now that I have lived in California, when it's less than 70 degrees, OMG break out the electric blanket and hot chocolate. I have never liked the cold any way. Snow is fun, for a day or two. Or even just and hour. Then it gets really old. Especially when it snows in Illinois from November to April. If I'm this bad now, I will seriously have to live some place warm when I get old.

Faithfully Yours~

Revelation

2011-10-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Do you ever see/hear/read something a zillion times, then one day you see/hear/read that thing and you have a totally different perspective on it? Like a light bulb moment? I get that all the time. I'll be singing a song I've sung over and over again, then I'll realize what the words actually mean ("Oh.. so I was singing a song about how I? Great..."). Or I'll find a weird birthmark I didn't even know I had.
In school, we have started at the beginning of Genesis and are working our way through the Bible. Of course, most of these stories I've heard so many times before. We are in Numbers right now, which, I might say, is not my favorite book of the Bible (due to the long lists of names I can only pronounce with a lisp). But something about the Israelites' journey to the Promise land recently made a light bulb go off in my head.
When reading about the Israelites, I always thought,"OMG, they are so stupid. God totally just made a path through a SEA, and they don't believe He will provide food them? He rescued them from slavery! Hello?!" Then, I got my revelation. The moment where you smack yourself on the fore head and proclaim,"I should've had a V8" I am just like them. Just like the Israelites. I too, am a childish complainer and worrier, and sinner. By worrying about my future, I am questioning God. By doing that, I am telling God, "What do you know? It's my life." I'm like a blind child who argues that the grass is blue and sky is green. And like a father, God welcomes me back to Him, even through my unfaithfulness. I worry and question God about my future all the time. Will I pass my driving test? Will I have enough money to drive at all? What will I wear tomorrow (oh wait.. that's not important). God's got it all under control. He wrote and illustrated my life ahead of time, and it's going to happen whether it goes one way or the other. Unlike the Israelites, I don't have to fear that the earth will open up and swallow me, just because of my unfaithfulness. I don't have to cut off the heads of animals and sprinkle (vomit) blood everywhere on a special altar. God made the ultimate sacrifice, and I am so grateful.

Faithfully Yours

Never Dull

2011-10-24T17:24:00.000-07:00

To put it simply: Life is never dull. Even if you're day utterly stinks, that doesn't mean it's boring. In most cases in my life, there is always something to laugh at. How could there not be? I have three younger siblings. That says it all. I shall give you some examples of non-dull moments within the past few weeks.
#1. We went to Walmart one day, and my 11-year-old brother decided to hop through the store on a plunger.
#2. My siblings were entering a lip-sync video contest and wanted to do some shots on the beach. One video included a barbie doll, and the other a big stuffed monkey. They made me hold the monkey for a few minutes.. I got several strange looks. I'm sure if you search, "Girl with monkey in Malibu", my picture will come up.

Me and the monkey, on the beach

#3. A follow-up of the last humorous situation, eating at Mcdonalds with the monkey
That's.. all I can think of.. maybe life isn't so humorous? But you can't say it's all that dull.

I'm up for a laugh, humorous moments anyone?

Faithfully Yours

It's Sunday

2011-10-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

If you don't already know, I play keyboard for my church's (Church at Rocky Peak) student ministry. I usually play once a month, and I played today on the first Sunday of October.
All throughout the week before the Sunday I worship on stage, I really have to try and focus my thoughts more towards why I am playing keyboard, not what I'm playing. Let's face it, it's pretty simple to hold a few keys down with the right timing, but it's harder to focus on something other than those keys while you're playing. It's harder to focus on God, the reason I'm worshiping in the first and foremost place. I get so easily distracted by other things and getting the songs right, rather than focusing on the words of a song I've heard a billion times before. Not that getting the songs right isn't important. I've had many times where one clumsy move of mine ruins the whole song for me, and all I can think about is that one mistake I've made. I have to remind myself time and time again, that I'm playing for God. That's it. Not for anyone else, and especially not for myself.
This weekend I really did focus on God. And I found that the more I focused on Him, the steadier and more surer I became. If anyone from my worship team is reading this, you guys did a great job today.
I'm starting the week off good.

Stay Faithful,

Faithfully Yours

Photo Shoot

2011-09-22T22:19:00.000-07:00

Hi guys. I have promised pictures of my romper. But I cannot release those pictures quite yet. Because I don't have them. I have also made some other little tidbits of fashion, some of my own design. Those won't be released yet either. I am storing up my collection, and am going to have a photo shoot of all my summer and fall designs! This can't happen until I have built up my collection. To all of you whose hopes I have just crushed (it may be none of you) I'm sorry.
Stay Faithful.

Faithfully Yours~

Kindergarten

2011-09-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

Ah Kindergarten. One of the innocent ages. What is kindergarten even supposed to mean? Before I learned to spell it, I thought it was some kind of figure of speech. I thought it meant like a small garden, in which kids were like sprouts being tended to. I looked it up, and what do you know. In German, kindergarten literally means "children's garden".
Lets be honest, how many people have a bad experience in kindergarten, or actually remember it? Funny thing is, I've been thinking a lot about kindergarten lately. It may be because we live right down the street from an elementary school now. When we first drove by, my siblings stared in wonderment at the kids having recess. Not me. I'm the only one who has had a taste of the other side. I spent kindergarten and 1st grade at a public school in North Carolina. I remember a surprising amount of kindergarten, though not 1st grade. 1st grade has been blocked from my memory. Some of you may be thinking why I should have to block out 1st grade. I only remember it was terrible. So, I have decided to share my memories of kindergarten with you. I'll give you my honest and true thoughts at the time, and, at a later date, supply pictures.
You're not going to want to miss this.
Where to begin? I remember the beginning of my first day. I was late and it had already been a few days since the school year had began. I walked in and I felt like crying. I might have, but that's as far as I remember.
Usually you wouldn't think KINDERGARTEN to have a popular set of kids right? Wrong. There was the "popular" girl and boy. Of course, each girl and boy had two friends who were like their sidekicks. You know the ones. If you haven't guessed by now, I was a "sidekick". That's just how I thought of it at the time, in actuality it wasn't like that. Anyway, our "lead girl" (who was extremely bossy) was named Taylor, and the other girl was Danielle. Taylor decided that she liked the popular boy, Justin, and that Danielle and me liked his friends, Kyle and What's-His-Name. I wasn't okay with that. I wanted to like Justin too. So I did, just secretly. And at the kindergarten graduation "prom" I got to dance with him, and, get this, have my picture taken with him. Lucky me. This all seems so silly and ridiculous now.
The playground was made of wood. And metal. Okay, who decided this? "Let's put wood and metal slides in a place where kids play!" Don't want to be too careful. They might never get a splinter. I got tons of splinters from that playground. I vaguely remember being chased by yellow jackets there too.
Then there was nap time. I regret ever breaking the habit of taking naps. I think everyone would be in a better mood if we all took naps during the day. I remember during nap time that I never fell asleep. It only felt like, five minutes. Then there would be little kids around me whispering, and I would be told to be quiet. Oh, and my favorite part was when the "sleep fairy" (a kid who was asleep) got to go around and tap everyone with a wand and wake them up. I, sadly, was never chosen to be the sleep fairy.
Around Thanksgiving, we had a type of play that our parents came and watched. Guess what it was about? The first Thanksgiving. How original huh? I desperately wanted to be an Indian, or at least a turkey. But no, it was not to be. I was a pilgrim. And to me, I had the ugliest costume of all.
Now at the Christmas play, I got to be a sugar plum fairy. That, to me, was better than playing Santa Clause.
There is a lot more I remember. I only just touched my memory bank full of kindergarteny memoirs, but I have presented my funniest thoughts.

Faithfully Yours~

Through the Eyes of Faith (Part 2)

2011-09-13T20:18:00.000-07:00

I have been debating whether to write about a certain subject... but I have concluded that this is my blog, where I spout my thoughts, ideas, hopes, dreams, etc. If you, whoever may be reading this, don't like what I say or disagree, let me know. I'd be grateful for the input. Also, if you DO agree with what I have written or have the same thoughts or ideas, I would love it if you commented or told me. I write my posts in a conversational tone, and I would like to know whether people are actually reading my blog (not just accidentally clicking on my page).
Now, on to that certain subject.
Dating.
Boom. Probably not what you were expecting. Before you make a quick exit, I just want to say that what I'm about to write is not a sermon, or necessarily true for that matter. It's just my views/thoughts on a matter that is esteemed by some of my peers and most of the teenage population. And I'm not talking about innocent crushes, I've had those several times. That's ok, but during high school and college, I don't want to fail (school or life) just because I've gone head over heels.

First, think about it a moment. What really is the point of dating? I could be wrong, but I thought it was about finding your future spouse. If you're, say, 15 and dating, you still have a long 5 years to go before should even THINK about getting married. A 5 year relationship through high school drama would be a hard thing to hold onto.
Second, chances are that you're not mature enough to handle such a commitment. Even if you girls think you are, the chances are even greater guys aren't. In most cases, guys rarely seem to mature before the age of 20, some times not even then. Asking a 15 year old guy to live up to your every expectation and to not make mistakes and live up to his side of the "deal", is like handing a 5 year old boy a fragile glass object and telling him to just stand there and not drop it or crush it. It won't work. If you're a guy reading this, I apologize. It's true.
Third, there is no such thing as the perfect relationship, there is no such thing as a perfect human. The only perfect human to walk this earth, wasn't even human (ehem, just in case you didn't know, that non-human human was Jesus). Whatever you THINK a relationship should be like, it isn't real. I'm not saying that you can't get along with someone well and really like each other, I'm just saying that there will be problems, especially if you aren't mature enough to handle issues. The media makes it apparent that to be the average teenager, you should have a boyfriend/girlfriend. It's in almost every teen movie and tv show.
Fourth, girls, if the only reason you seek approval from guys is that you want someone to be there for you, who thinks you're beautiful, and is without drama, you're looking in the wrong place. There is someone who is perfect in every way, loves you endlessly, and will never break your heart.
God.
HE is the place you should run to.
There is a song by my favorite band, called "Average Girl". It is exactly what I have in mind and have tried to say through my rambling.

Again, you don't have to agree with me. Just stating the ramblings of my brain.
Stay Faithful. Stay Beautiful.

Faithfully Yours <3

A Quick Note To My Viewers

2011-09-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

Happy ~~Monday~~ Tuesday everyone.
I know, your calendars MAY say Monday, but I've decided to skip this Monday, and just have a prolonged Tuesday. I know there are quite a few of you who also do not like Mondays, am I right? It means going back to school/work. You might tell me,"Faith, wouldn't it still be the first day back from the weekend, even if it's called Tuesday?" Yes, and no. I have grown accustomed to the word "Monday" meaning, not sleeping in, and not closer to the weekend. Also, nothing exciting every happens on a Monday. Wednesdays I go to life group. Thursdays are intensive chore days. And Fridays speak for themselves. So this week, I'm skipping Monday.
Have a happy Tuesday.

P.S. My blog has had 695 views!! Almost 700. Know what would be awesome? 1000. That would make me speechless.. ok maybe just impressed. Stay faithful.

Faithfully Yours

Singing Songs

2011-08-31T09:38:00.000-07:00

My Favorite song at the moment that I just can't stop listening to is this! Listen to it. Love it.

Faithfully Yours <3

Through the Eyes of Faith

2011-08-30T19:12:00.000-07:00

It annoys me when people use my name in a sentence that is totally cliche, for example, "I have FAITH in you, Faith." It's totally not funny, it will never make me laugh if that is your intention. If you do get a chuckle out of me by saying such a phrase, it's fake. Yet I couldn't find a more fitting title for my blog post.
Hey, how's it going? I don't blame you, my blog readers if you have given up the perusing of All Things Beautiful, for it has indeed been awhile since I have posted. If you haven't, thank you for being so faithful. I have been postponing writing a blog post because I've been trying to think up something truly clever, convicting, or interesting. Such a post has failed to come to my attention, so I will have to be satisfied with stating what has been seen through my pupils (eyeballs) of late.
Where to start? I don't want to go at random. I'll start in June and work my way down, because some important fun events have been left out of this blog.
June.
My bestest friend from Illinois came to visit me for a week, and we did every fun thing you can fit into just a week in SoCal. After that, I went to summer camp for my church, Rocky Peak. It was the most fun I've ever had! We were right by the beach, and could see the ocean from the campus we stayed on. It was great, eating pizza everyday, going to the beach, hanging with friends, playing some competitive games, cutting in meal lines, going on a bike ride along the beach and getting a giant snow cone( then proceeding to spill it on my white tennis shoes), falling asleep on the last beach day. I have to say something extra on behalf of the "cutting in lines" thing. Everybody cut in line because the meal lines were so ridiculously long. All you had to do was sidle up to a group of people you knew and engage them in conversation, and perhaps they would take mercy on you and let you join them. Sometimes you were told to go to the end of the line. You picked your friends wisely. The list could go on with the fun times. I regret deeply I have but few pictures from it. Next year, I'm taking my camera with me everywhere so I don't miss a moment!

Me in my war gear

My friend Rachel

Me of course

My friend Madi

the view

Me in my dorky attire

The view again

I tried to take pictures while biking.

I was successful

The panic moment when you're turning and you still are taking pictures

It was beautiful

Boardwalk

Yep, that's the snow cone

In this picture I already felt like throwing that monster away

Rachel and Me

July.
Right when I got back from camp, my mom surprised me with a trip to San Francisco to visit my great aunt Nina. It was beautiful.

Ghirardeli Square <3

My bros and the bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge

The Bridge and me :)


Joshi

It was a blast. Soon after we got home from the trip, we started packing up to move into a new house!! With a pool.

Yup.
I guess that's pretty much where I am now. In my new house, swimming every day, starting up school, getting excited to go to my new school in September, and sewing.
Stay faithful ;),

Faithfully Yours <3

Imperfect Perfection

2011-07-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

Summer has been crazy busy!! My last blog post was soo long ago. So much has happened. Especially this week. On Monday I went to Dland with my youth group, which so amazingly fun. On Tuesday I woke up bright and early to go to the doctor and get a check-up/shot. Today I woke and took my dog to the vet so SHE could get shots, then came home, did school, and then went to the lunch at the Habit. And it's only Wednesday!!!
I'm pretty much done with going to dentists and doctors offices though. Because of my braces I have to go in to the dentist more than I usually would, and a visit to the doctor's office makes me feel sick. Although I'm perfectly healthy in both of these areas, I still can't escape the fact that I'm not perfect. When I go to the dentist, my bottom jaw is too long to fit my top jaw. When I go to the doctor, my scoliosis (curved back) sticks out because I'm so skinny. The thought of a back brace makes me want to cry. I just hope I don't have to go to the eye doctor any time soon. With all of these physical imperfections, it's hard to think highly of your appearance. It's also hard to understand how God thinks you are so beautiful and so perfect in his eyes. I guess how very unlike most human beings, God doesn't judge our beauty on physical appearance. He made us perfect and the only thing to corrupt us in His eyes is sin. It's hard for me to not judge on appearance. I would like to say it's just this generation, but it's not. People have been judging people by their appearance since forever. Even Jesus was dismissed because he did not look like a king and live up to our expectations.
"He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
³ He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him."(Isaiah 53:2-3)

I have to constantly remind myself that God's opinion is the only one that matters, and that I should NOT judge by this world's standards. I pray that God guides me that state of mind.

Faithfully Yours <3

Twin Tops

2011-06-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

If any of you have been wondering what I've been up to in my sewing life..
This is it:

Allie, my sister's best friend

Allie, my Illinois sister

My sister Ky

(she begged me not to put this one up..hehe)

Matching tops for my sister and her best friend! These were spread over a number of weeks.. when they should have only taken a day each. Whoops. I'm afraid I get a little lazy on break.
I will now be making one for my dear mother at last.
And then..
On to greater triumphs! I will begin experimenting with mixing patterns!! Yay! What will I be attempting, you may ask? It's a secret. Just kidding, it's a romper.

Faithfully Yours <3

Closing A Chapter

2011-06-25T17:59:00.000-07:00

Last week I closed a chapter of my life, and began a new one. My fifteenth birthday. Yes, everyone should stay off of the roads in six months. This had to be one of the best ways to begin a new year, it went up there with the big three (my 12th and 14th birthdays). My best friend Sarah who lives in Illinois hasn't missed one of my birthday parties since I was nine, and she didn't miss this one either. She flew out to SoCal for a week of continuous fun. She got here Monday. On Tuesday, my birthday, we spent over 12 hours at the Happiest Place on Earth. It was amazing. It would have only been better if I had been in the Disney parade :).

At the entrance to DLand!!

Driving in Autotopia

Sarah, the expert driver (^not real car)

A float in the parade.

:)) Tinkerbell!!

After a night of fun, we woke up to Wednesday beach day. Even though it was overcast the entire time, it was one of the high points of my week.

Body Boarding


My toes <3

On Thursday, we had a mall day with my sister and my Illinois sister Allie.

Giant lollipops at the mall

... I'm kind of goofy

Blurry picture of Allie and Ky

Sarah & Allie

Sarah

Friday, we went to see Soul Surfer (which, I might add, was amazing) and we got the new fad. Feathers. In. Our. Hair. Oh yeah, we're stylish. That night we went to an all-nighter at Golf n' Stuff for my youth group. Saturday, we slept most of the day. Then we had a cupcake baking war. Sunday was father's day, and we played Were Wolves of Miller's Hollow and got fro-yo at Yogurt Land. The next day, we went to Hollywood and wandered not so aimlessly around.

Sarah <3

Grauman's Chinese Theater

Speaks for itself

Hollywood didn't seem so glamorous as soon as we got back into the car. Earlier that day Sarah was supposed to be dropped off at the airport but her flight was delayed 4 hours! So after Hollywood it was time to say good bye. Good byes are not my strong point. If you were to ask me, Faith, how are you at saying good bye? I would probably say not at all. My mom always says to say, see you later, instead.
I'm thinking about starting to say farewell. It sounds more sophisticated.
It was one of the best weeks of my life, I love you Sarah! <3

Faithfully Yours <3

(best friends forever and ever ^)

She Walks In Beauty

2011-06-11T22:14:00.000-07:00

I think free things can be good and bad. Usually (it seems to me), free things are good. My favorite kind of good free thing is either music or books. I get free books on my kindle all the time, but I'm always unsure as to their quality because there might be a reason they were free. A few months ago, my mom found a free kindle book for me that was called She Walks In Beauty by Siri Mitchell. I put off reading it because I thought it was going to be lame. A few weeks ago, I started reading it. And finished it that day. It was so good!
It was set in the late 19th century, in a time where girls wore corsets and dresses (something my sister would be scandalized at), and a time where what you looked like and what you did were crucial to your place in society. The book is about a 17 year old girl who is "coming out" into society, and struggles with being herself and falling under the critical eyes of society, or doing exactly what she is expected to do and look like. She eventually is told by the man she loves that God loves her just the way she is.
It's such a good story and has a great message to it. Siri Mitchell is a christian author and I would definitely read more of her books, and reread this one.
In the book, the main character Clara Carter, reads the poem She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron. I thought the poem was interesting:

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that’s best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impaired the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o’er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express,

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent!

Faithfully Yours ☙❤❧

Dress No.# 2

2011-06-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

During a trip to the hot state of Arizona (my birth state) I sewed a dress with my granny that may just be my favorite dress ever! It looks so cute and professional (if I do say so myself.)
The Unveiling:

these pictures didn't turn out quite the way I wanted, they aren't very clear. I'll have more pictures up later.

Faithfully Yours <3

My Love Hate Realationship...

2011-05-19T20:40:00.000-07:00

With Tennis. One minute we're friends, the next, it's hitting me in the face. Literally. At first me and tennis were on good terms. I thought,"Yeah, I got this." That was the first week. Then the second week my wrist really started hurting. We couldn't figure out what was wrong exactly. Third week, me and tennis were NOT on good terms, my wrist was killing me on forehand swings. Though on back hand swings, I was ok. Fourth week, (last week), my tennis teacher recognized the inevitable truth: I was using my wrist too much, when I was supposed to be using my arm. Bingo.
That cleared up, tennis was back on my good side.
Then IT happened. Yes, IT. The incident.
It was Monday night, and we went out to practice tennis, my fam and me. The tennis courts were all filled up, so there were balls flying everywhere and in every one's court. My sister Kylee and me were practicing serves, and I wasn't really paying attention and was getting tired of my racket swinging aimlessly through the air and not hitting the ball. The guys on our left shot a ball over to our left. The guys on our right decided to shoot the ball back across the courts. To put it simply, the ball hit me in the nose. A hard, hard hit. Aaand, my nose bled and my heroic mother rushed in, unselfishly tore off her white sweatshirt, and gave it for my usage (if don't portray this part correctly, I will hear about it). It didn't bleed for long and after, I'm proud to say, I got up and kept playing. That's big for me. If you didn't know, I've always shied away from balls because I was afraid they would hit me.
So there you have it. What could have been a big blow to my vanity, turned into just a sore nose with out even a bruise.

Faithfully Yours <3

Tank Top Number 2 (1st atempt)

2011-05-17T22:35:00.000-07:00

I finished ANOTHER tank top. Oh yeah. I'm not bragging or anything, but I cranked this one out in two days flat. Aaaand my back is killing me for it. It was meant to be made for my sweet mother, but I miscalculated and made it too small. Just big enough to fit me... (hehe) So I'll have to make a second one. Here's my creation:

This tank top was like my experiment tank top. You see, I'm going to be making several like it. Through it I learned that you can use polyester and cotton together, just carefully and calculating the stretchy-ness of the polyester. On with the show!

Faithfully Yours <3

Tank Top Number 1

2011-05-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

Yay I finished the first one! Here it is:

The pictures' quality isn't very good. I'm proud of myself. I had to re-do the bottom twice. It was worth the work though!

Tank top 2, here I come.

Faithfully Yours <3

Toothy Antics

2011-05-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

Is there anybody who loves the dentist? I mean it's ok, but it just makes me nervous. There's always a possibility the dentist could say," I'm sorry, you have such a bad cavity in your mouth that we are going to have to preform a painful procedure that will cost you all you teeth, they will be replaced with dentures." Or I get the picture of the dentist from the movie Little Shop of Horrors. It's not like I have bad teeth, it's just things pop into my head when I go to the dentist.

Like most kids though, my bite is not perfect, and I need braces.

My bottom jaw is longer than my top, which makes my case a class 3. The most difficult of cases to fix. Awesome right? We have gone to several orthodontists and they all have said that I will need jaw surgery around the age of 18. Though, when we moved to California, our dentist (who is also an orthodontist) said that it could be fixed with braces. Which to me sounds a lot better than having my jaw broken and face possibly deformed.

My long alligator-ish jaw and my small teeth is hereditary. I feel sorry for my children. I will have to marry a guy who has genetically good teeth, so the odds of my kids jaws being bad will be less so. "Can I see your teeth? Hmm, and how are your parent's teeth? Ok good, I do."

Last week I went to the dentist and a week from Wednesday I'm getting my brackets put on. Wish me luck. I'm kind of nervous, but I know God will be with me on this.

Faithfully Yours :-#

My Craft

2011-04-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

A question most pondered by peoples of all ages is the question of, "what to be when I grow up?" Not me. I've got this question in the bag. As I afore said, I believe I can do anything I put my mind to. I shall be a fashion designer. A world famous one. And give away 75% percent of my millions to water and food for people in Africa. Yep. Most people try to think of jobs that can most benefit the struggling human race and/or economy. I figured out what I wanted to be and just shaped the helping mankind part around my aspirations.
The reason I want to be a fashion designer is because I want to do what I love. I love to draw and design outfits, and I'm working on loving sewing. I've also had a keen sense for fashion. You will never be disappointed with your purchases when you take me clothes shopping with you :)!
When first starting sewing, I started out simple: a pillow and curtains. I've just recently started working on clothes, my first was a simple pair of shorts with pockets:

My second project I just recently finished was a yellow with white polka dot sundress that tied in the back:

(^Me modeling the dress)

I am now starting to work on tank tops for me, my mom, and my sister. I shall post pictures of the finished projects, but these are the colors of fabric (the top fabric in the second picture is lace):

So there you have it! I will keep you, my blog readers, up dated on my latest projects with pictures.

Faithfully Yours <3

Avalanche

2011-04-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

For the past couple of weeks, I have really been listening to the new Hillsong Cd, Aftermath. I'm in love with it. It's so good, and it just really makes me feel God's love. One of my favorite songs on the Cd is Avalanche. It explains perfectly what I feel when I remember what God has done for me.

Faithfully Yours <3

An Incurable Addiction

2011-04-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

Ok so it's been awhile since I've written on my blog. I'm very sorry. I haven't been faithful. I won't try and make up excuses such as, "I've been busy", or "I haven't had the time." Oh, I've had the time. I've just been squandering away my time on my addiction. It's not a new addiction, or an unhealthy one (if any addiction can be called unhealthy). No, it's I Love Lucy, my absolute favorite T.V. show in the universe. Oh yeah. I've always had a special "fondness" for this show, except it was rarely on television because of it's antiquity. My loving and caring father, Mike Jones, who claims that the I Love Lucy theme song makes him noxious, bought the complete series of 194 episodes for us. So there you have it. I have been working my way through nine seasons of awesomeness. What shall I watch after that, you may ask? I shall start back at season one. It's an incurable and absolutely necessary addiction.

Faithfully Yours <3

There's A New Way For Everything

2011-04-12T14:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever just felt SO tired of knowing the same things? Like a sport... or an instrument... or way of life? That it is always the same for you? You may grow in that one area, and learn it more, or become better at it. But do you ever wish to learn something COMPLETELY new and unfamiliar?
Lately I've been feeling that way. I do learn new stuff in school, but it doesn't count and it's still just school. Ive never been really a sporty girl, no skateboarding, no anything that includes a ball. My siblings got Rip Sticks for Christmas, and these things are harder than a regular skateboard. Though, I wanted to learn something new. So I did, and I can now successfully "Rip Stick".
As I just said, I'm not very good with any sport that has to do with a ball. I've always wanted to be good at soccer, or baseball. I want to learn a sport, so I'm signed up for tennis. We'll see how that goes. I'll get back to you on that.

I've also played piano for seven years straight, and have never attempted or wished to learn a new instrument. My sister plays guitar extremely well for her age. So I've asked my sister to teach me a song on guitar. I'm keeping at it, although I'm going as slow a sleeping snail. For my fingers who have learned the ways of the piano, playing guitar is akin to Twister. But I'm learning something completely new.
What about your relationship with God? Do you ever feel stuck, like you aren't growing in Him, or learning? I get that all the time. When that happens, my faith is at a stand still. Not moving up, or down. Just staying in the same boring place. Then, something miraculous that God does in my life, sets my faith moving again, highly motivated. The whole process repeats itself. There is always more ways to grow in Christ, but we having to be willing to search for them, to put our selves out there and admit that we don't know everything there is to know. It may not be something completely different, but something instead familiar but overlooked.

Faithfully Yours.

So Very Bugly

2011-04-07T21:02:00.000-07:00

This blog kind of seems as if I'm saying I've got it all down. That I can look at the world and only see the beautiful, magnificent, and lovely. If you got that impression, let me redirect you and say, I am FAR from getting anything let alone everything down. I can't see the beauty in everything. In some things I find it impossible at the moment. Such as, say, bugs.
Bugs. Ugh. Even the thought of them disgusts me. Ever since I was a little girl, I screamed at the sight of bugs. They terrify me. Even fireflies. How could God make something so terribly hideous and grotesque as a bug? I don't get it. Sure, SOME bugs actually help the world in some way. But I don't know for sure that all of them do. For instance, what do earwigs do, besides crawl in your ears and lay eggs in your brain?? They creep me out. Even my dog, who LOVES to eat bugs, spits out earwigs. I am constantly finding earwigs in my room.
Apparently, there is a type of bug called a "silver fish". I refuse to look up a picture of it and be haunted by it's awfulness. Also, my mom said you find them a lot in you cupboards in California. Great, welcome to California. I now reach into the cupboards fast and not too often. I dread the day I actually see one.
I'm totally serious, I FEAR bugs. Not that they could do much to me. A monster in your closet would do as much. Bugs are like my monster in the closet.
Why? Bugs are a part of God's creation, God made them beautiful, and he even cares about the lowliest ant.
This is the part were I should say: I'm going to try and like bugs more. But for people who know me well, that may not happen. Ever.

Faithfully Yours.

What's The Motto With You?

2011-03-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

For a long time now, at least a couple years, there has been a debate among my siblings as to who gets what motto. Apparently, they can't all have the same one. Kylee first came up with the motto," Different people like different things." Seth then said he stole it from her. Then there was this long thing about buying it back and selling it and stealing it. They even still bring it up once in awhile. Did they live up to there motto? More or less. They sometimes made exceptions. Anyway..
I've thought a long time about what my "motto" should be. My parents have always told me, that you can do anything you put your mind to. Which, in the past, has proven true for me. I REALLY wanted a puppy, so I started saving. And I got to where I saved 400 dollars and bought a puppy. I've wanted several things that, I was able to put my mind to saving for, and got. In everything I earn(ed), I took out 25% percent and gave it to God, and He blessed me for it. My siblings got Rip sticks for Christmas, and I decided I wanted to learn how to ride one. So I learned. My church's high school group has its own band. So I brushed up on my keyboard skills (with the help of my teacher) and got on the band. Looking at all this, and much more, I've decided my motto is Philippians 4:13, " I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." With that mentality, I never feel that anything is too big for me. I have Jesus in my heart and He strengthens me in thick and thin. I want to always live by Philippians 4:13.
What's your motto, or something you live by?

Faithfully Yours

Beautiful Things

2011-03-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been listening to Gungor A LOT. My favorite of their songs is Beautiful Things, because I believe God truly DOES make beautiful things out of us :)

Faithfully Yours

Reckless Abandon

2011-03-25T22:46:00.000-07:00

Every Christmas, for the past few years, we get a gift from our parents that we call a relational gift. It's usually like a trip to a water park or something fun like that. This year, we moved to California. Guess where we got to go? We got Disneyland passes for Christmas! So, since then we have gone to Disneyland multiple times and will be completely sick of it by the end of the year. We like to get the most out of season passes.
While at Dland, and riding some of the roller coasters, I realized that I scream with reckless abandon. Though I don't scream the whole time, I scream whenever I feel like it. I don't try to hold it in, I just let it fly out in high pitches, randomly. You might say that most people do. It makes the ride more exciting if someone thinks its the slightest bit frightening or surprising. What if we all screamed with a reckless abandon? Whenever we wanted, not just on roller coasters? Personally, I think it would be a bit frightening if someone near you randomly let out a blood-curdling scream. But what if people let their guard down and were themselves, with a reckless abandon? That everyone was not the least bit afraid to be themselves, and so were. Most people put up a guard, refuse to let people see who they really are. They refuse to scream. If everyone were like that, if no one were who they really were, wouldn't the world come to be a crazy, mixed up mess? It would also be boring, if there was no originality. It would be like going on a super scary ride at an amusement park, and the whole ride, the people on it as quiet as a graveyard. What would be the fun it that? There would be no fun. Might as well not even buy tickets to an amusement park. That could be the world, without originality, and without people to be themselves with a reckless abandon.
Encourage originality.
Be the difference.
Scream with a reckless abandon.

Faithfully Yours

Beachy Keen

2011-03-23T15:45:00.000-07:00

Wow. The beach continues to amaze and impress me. It's so hard to see God's beautiful work in the natural world when you're in the city. Ever since we moved to California, the beach has been my favorite place. It's a place of calm, but at the same time, it gives me great energy. I love the sound of the waves as they crash into the shore, it reminds me of thunder (which I love).
This week, friends from Colorado came to stay with us. We were planning on going to the beach and doing all sorts of outside activities. The weather forecast predicted rain all through out the week. Stink. So we just decided to go to the beach any way, some people say its nice in the rain. At our house it already looked super cloudy, and when we were driving to Malibu it was cloudy. It can be a sunny, nice day with blue skies, then at the beach it can be ten times worse and cold and cloudy. We didn't know what to expect. as we got out of our cars, there were blue skies and no breeze! It turned out to be a beautiful day. I always find myself in awe of the beauty God has created for us.

Faithfully Yours

Down Pour Blues

2011-03-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

Blech. I DESPISE the rain. Which is nice because it barely rains here, in California. But the days it DOES rain, it pours. It's like buckets of icy cold water are being dumped mercilessly down from a high building, while the people who are dumping the water are cackling with delight. Not fun. And being a girl, I'll most likely melt one day because I'm made of sugar. I'm just kidding (but still...) Anyway, the rain really gets on my nerves, and makes me frazzled. I find myself being grumpy, unkind, and uncaring. Yet when you think about it, the rain is good. Farmers love and pray for rain. It used to be a good sign. Why does it have such a negative affect on people then? I have yet to figure that out. It probably has something to do with it being gloomy outside. If you look at the rain as good, and a beautiful thing to behold, then it lifts your mood. Because, even though it messes up our plans and drenches us, rain IS a beautiful thing, and something we should be thankful for.

Stay dry

Faithfully Yours

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

2011-03-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, so my favorite book is about a princess, it's called Goose Girl and it is by Shannon Hale. It's a remake from the old version also called Goose Girl. I've read it several times and each time it's still amazing. Again, why do I like it so much? Because it's about a beautiful princess, with super awesome powers and everything works out for her in the end. She goes through a series of hardships: going away to a distant land to marry a prince she's never met, being attacked by the person she thought was her friend, and becoming a goose girl to try and find a way to become the princess again. It's a great story about perseverance, friendship, and magic. Although it gives credit to the princess's powers and not God's, it is still a wonderful story.
I'm excited that my sister, Kylee, is finally reading it! I think everybody should read it and enjoy it as much as me :)

Faithfully Yours

All Things Princess

2011-03-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hello again!
It's taken me quite awhile, but I've finally realized WHY little girls adore princesses so much. They want to look like a princess. All girls want to be beautiful, and the word "princess" has come to symbolize a sort of perfectness in a girl. Perfect face, hair, clothes, things, they have everything. Of course there is no girl that really has EVERYTHING. So this portrayal of perfection, is it true? Of course not. Though all girls, are princesses, whether they know it or not. Every girl is a daughter of God, the king of the universe. That makes his daughters princesses. But the portrayal of what the perfect girl, presented as a princess most of times, should be and look like in today's society is so very messed up. It convinces girls that what they look like, is some how wrong, and that they need to look like a princess. It's so sad. I even begin to think like that too, that I should look a certain way. Every girl, is beautiful and perfect in God's eyes. I want to be like God and always be with out a doubt that I am beautiful, and that is my wish upon a star for every girl.

Faithfully Yours

All Things Beautiful

2011-03-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

Hello.
Welcome to the blog of a girl who wants to notice the beautiful things in her life. So often our eyes are closed to what appears ugly, but, is in fact beautiful.
This is not my first swing at a blog, but I hope this blog will interest people and also keep myself interested.
Not only am I going to notice beautiful things in my life and record them on this blog, but also put my favorite things such as books, hobbies, and interests.

Let your eyes be opened to the things around you,

Faithfully Yours