Blood, Sweat, and Tears

 So I finally finished writing a novel and I'm going to get one free hard back copy of it.  At first I was all like, "Yay!  I finished a novel!  Now I can just upload it to the website and get my copy!"  Haha.  NOPE.  Now I have to do all the editing and non stop revising.
As my cousin points out things that don't make sense to her in the novel, I'm reminded that to someone who hasn't read it yet, it is VERY confusing.  But to me, hey, it makes perfect sense!  So right now that's what we're working on.  Making sure it all flows, makes sense, doesn't contradict itself, and all that FUN stuff.
To be honest, I'm tired.  I just want my book in hard cover!  But the thing is, if I want it to be well done, complete, and thorough, I have to finish the editing process.  This is the most time I've EVER spent perfecting a novel...like EVER...in my life.  It's been VERY intense.  Really...like...I'm sick of my own novel.
Anyway...the point of this post is that in order to get a good end result, you have to work hard and wade through the blood, sweat, and tears to get the product you want.  Things don't just come to us with the snap of a finger or the wave of a wand.  It takes work, dedication, and an aching brain to get better and create something you're proud of.

liebster

So I was nominated by Rachel from the amazing blog This Sunkissed Farm to do this so here it goes!

11 Random Facts about myself:

1. I LOVE broccoli and cauliflower

2. I have conversations with made up characters in my head (weird I       know)

3. I don't like boiled potatoes

4. I can't stand squash or zucchini

5. I'm an introvert

6. BOOK WORM!

7. I'm a writer (or an aspiring writer)

8. I LOVE The Avengers (Iron Man!)

9. I speak my mind

10. My favorite sport is track

11. I'm a Lord of the Rings NERD

So to Answer Rachel's questions!!

1) What movie/book has impacted you the most, and why?

I think it would have to be a book called Eyes Wide Open which is about seeing God in everything.  It impacted me because it helped me see that it's not all about me and that even the little things cry out to God in worship.

2) How old were you when you accepted the Lord into your life?

Around 4

3) Tangled or Frozen?

Frozen!!!

4) Facebook or Pinterest?

Pinterest definitely:)

5) Favorite song?

Let Her Go by Passenger

6) Who is your biggest role model, and why?

My dad.  Because he is a great example of living a Christian life and putting others needs before your own.

7) What is your dream?

To be an author who can make people smile through the power of words.

8) If you could meet any historical figure over coffee, who would it be and what would you talk about?

I would want to meet J.R.R. Tolkien and we would talk about his writings and I would ask him what it felt like to be awesome:)

9) If you could tell any young girls (ages 13-18) anything, what would it be?

I would tell them that if Christ is at the center of your life, that you don't need to worry about being accepted, or fitting in because in His eyes, you are perfect just the way you are.

10) If you could do one thing that greatly impacted the world, what would it be?

Demand another season of Merlin!!  Just kidding!!  I actually don't know what I would do...

11) How did you get started blogging?

I got a blog for Christmas!!  True story

Now my turn to ask 11 quesetions!!

1. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

2. What is your favorite book and why?

3. What is your favorite Disney movie?

4. Prepared or unprepared?

5. Favorite time of the year?

6. Greatest role model?

7. What kind of music to do you listen to?

8. If you could fast forward your life to see your future and then rewind to present day again, would you say yes?

9. Who is your favorite superhero?

10. What is your dream?

11. If you could meet anyone in  the world who would it be?

To answer these questions I nominate: Emma and Rachel

Update

Due to it being baseball season and me being busy, I'm going to take a small break from the Wednesday and Friday posts.  Hopefully when things calm down a little I'll start doing them again:)

Movie Night:)

Last night, I watched a movie called That Thing You Do! with my family.  It was about the rise of a rock band, who called themselves The Wonders.  An older movie, but a fun one!  It showed their rise to fame, and eventually their break up because of selfishness and other passions.  I hadn't laughed that hard in a movie for a while!

Then after the boys went to bed, my mom, my sister, and I all watched the chick-flick Letters To Juliet.  It was one of the cutest romantic comedy movie's I've seen!  There were a few moral issues with it, such as the main character and her fiance` go on a pre-honeymoon because they wouldn't have time after the wedding, but other than that it was adorable!

I guess you could say I had a lot of laughs last night and was reminded of the gift of being with my family and having a great time together.  Family is something that is irreplaceable and I'm so lucky to have one that is so close knit.  God is so good!

Funny Friday: Week 15

Blimey Cow: Seven Reasons why being a Teenager is the Worst

Encouraging Word Wednesday: Week 15

Not everyday is perfect, but even though we live in a flawed world, doesn't mean you shouldn't praise the creator who made it.  Praise God today and thank Him for His love and his beautiful creation, because without Him, we wouldn't exist and neither would all of the beauty that surrounds us.

Art and Beauty

I recently finished reading Francis A. Schaeffer's book Art and the Bible.  Mr. Schaeffer's main message was that art was a good thing and that it isn't meant to be hidden or shunned just because some of it might not agree with our faith or the way we view the world.  Some Christians tend to shy away from art because it's beautiful and "worldly".  Schaeffer pointed out that in the bible, God ORDERS art.  When Solomon was building the temple in Jerusalem, God ordered several different kinds of art to be placed in his house.  The walls were covered in gold and carved cherubim.  There were gold pillars at the entrance with gold pomegranates hanging from chains around them.
Schaeffer kept saying over and over again that Christian's should marvel at art because it's beautiful...and God created beauty.  Shunning the beauty in art is like telling God that creating beauty was a mistake.
Does all art portray a good message?  Of course not, but it's still a masterpiece.  Art was made to be marveled at, not to be worshiped.  It's okay to think that something is beautiful and to see God's hand in it.  When it becomes wrong is when you see art as a god, as an idol.  And when you begin to stray away from the fact that whoever made it had a God given talent.
So all that said, art is beautiful and meant to bring glory to God.  The way we honor him by praising art is by seeing that he was the one who gave the artist the skills to create it.  So next time you see any kind of art, thank God for it.  Don't just focus on the beauty of the thing, but praise the God who made the thing.

Funny Friday: Week 14

The guy who plays as the voice of Hans in Frozen auditioned with one of the most hilarious songs!