Tell me a story.

Tell me a story.
Make it interesting & bright.
Make it fascinating & beautiful. 
Make it...lovely.
Tell me a story.
Make it dance.
Make it whisper in the breeze
& make it sweet the the honey of bees.
Tell me a story,
but don't forget to make it beautiful.
And so, the One who crafted the stars & carefully painted each zebras stripe said,
"Alright, I'll tell you a story. But you should know that you've already heard this one."
"Oh? How so?"
"Well, the story I'm about to tell you...
you're living. 
And yes. I made it beautiful."

Extraordinary

 

-Waking up to a sweet song play.

-Talking for hours with my sister on our way to Grama's.

-Photo shoots with nature.

-A happy dog's slobber. (Yes in my mouth practically)

-Trips to put gas in the car.

-Sweet sunshine on my face (Yes, that's where dappled sunbeams play =)

-New discoveries outside.

-Letting our dog stick her head out the window as we drove to the dollar store.

-Watching people.

-Realizing that God gives courage.

-Prayer & excitement!

-Climbing the roof.

-Catching a full moon.

-Cooking & cleaning with Gramma.

-Laughter.

-My day was ordinary in so many ways. Yet when I looked, I found that God truly maked it extraordinary.

The Key to a Hearts Garden - a story!

As Lilah climbed the tallest tree to get to the roof of her grandparents' old house, she slowly lifted her hands up to the sky. She let her long red hair dance in the wind, and tilted up her pink lips to the sun.

"Oh, Lord. I want you to have the key to my hearts garden."

She placed her hands over her heart and closed her eyes. 

"I don't want to let anyone sneak in and steal all the flowers. I don't want to let anyone do that. Not anymore. I want my heart to be pure before you--so take the key. I know at the right time you'll bring him to me."

Later that night as Lilah snuggled into her bed in the old attic, her heart felt fresh.

She had a dream that put all her words and desires into pictures:

Way deep into the woods, there was a garden and a white gate wrapped around it. In front of the gate stood a tall, strong man, holding a key.

This man was so radiant! More radiant than the sun. And he had a smile on his face that was more glorious than a crescent moon. 

Inside the garden were different types and colors of flowers. There were pink tulips, white daisies, orange poppys. 

One day, a guy walked up to the garden.

"May I come in?" He asked the man holding the key. "I want to pick those flowers in there."

"Sorry," the man said, "This isn't the garden you're supposed to pick from."

Then, another guy came up to the guarded gate and just stood there looking around.

He obviously wanted nothing from that garden.

Another one came over. 

"Can I come in? I want to pick that single white rose way in that back of the garden."

The man looked at him gently and said, "You've already picked a single white rose. And this one is not for you."

Finally a young man walked up and appeared to recognize the gatekeeper.

"Somehow I knew I'd find you here," the young man said. "May I come in now?"

The man looked at him as if he'd been waiting for him, and gave him the key. But before he let him enter, he said:

"You are free to roam and pick. But you must never pick the single white rose. As you can see it is not finished growing. It is not ready. It is not ripe."
The young man nodded and smiled, excitedly entering the gate.

He walked up to a red rose.

"A rose as read as the hair of my love, a tulip as pink as her lips. And a lovely white rose. White as her heart."

When Lilah awoke from this dream, her weary heart was no longer troubled. She had never felt more free and settled, than the day she gave her true Love the key to her heart.

------
This came to me out of truth; experience. It's hard to give Him the key, especially when you think you can take better care of your "garden". But like the dream, I don't want any guy who's not my future love to pick all my flowers. Soon, there'll be none left for him!
Know that God is ready to take that key! No matter how many flowers you have--none or all.

"His mercies never end. They are new every morning."
-Lamenations 3:23-

picture source here. =)

A Walton Scene:

Elizabeth Walton: Daddy?

Mr.Walton: What is it, Elizabeth?

Elizabeth Walton: When I get older, can I marry you?

Mr. Walton: I'm afraid I'm already taken.

Elizabeth: Oh, well, goodnight anyway, Mama.

Liv Walton: Goodnight Elizabeth.

The End ;)

Okay, so I'm not exactly sure those were the exact words, but I'm pretty sure they were.

That Elizabeth has quite a dream.

For you:

Planning.

Planning for my future is such an exciting task!

I'm prayerfully considering in a tiny whispered ask.

I can't wait to explore, to dream and to see;

I'm just hoping it's as wonderful as the dreams inside of me.

Poems for my sister.

(me left, her right)

My Best Friend, My Sister

Silent prayers: a million and ten;

 My heart was pleading for a very special friend.

Where is this person whom I can share my heart?

This was my plea from the very start.

"She's out there I know it, I just haven't seen,

And the one God had saved is probably a teen."

But what I hadn't noticed was a thing that was wrong,

My friend was right beside me--she wasn't in Hong Kong!

So why was I waiting for a best friend and a mister?

When right beside me was you: my best friend, my sister.

Oh, how lovely your friendship is to me;

Never would I imagined God would let this thing be!

Do You Remember?

Do you remember the day I would follow you around?

I'd wear all your clothes and all the jewelry I found.

Do you remember the hour I'd run to your room?

I'd admire all your stuff and I'd envy and swoon!

Do you remember all the names you'd call me that morning?

Beans, Pinkerton, Miss Piggy and Georgie!

Do you remember the times we'd act like big meanies,

We'd fight and we'd yell, and we prob'ly called each other weenies.

But the greatest of all was when we declared it to be,

That our friendship was sealed, and it's sacred to me.

My beautiful sister. My forever friend!

"Savor little glimpses of God's goodness & His majesty, 

thankful for the gift of them:

winding pathways through the woods,

a bright green canopy overhead,

and dappled sunshine falling all around."

-Unknown-

"I don't have to explain anything to my sister...

She's one of the few people who can read my heart."

I am so free to be me!

I am so free to be me! by God'sNoella featuring vintage inspired jewelry

"Today you are you, that is truer than true. There's no one alive who is youer than you." -Dr. Suess

Max Lucado said something like...be you because you are the only you there is. If you don't bring it (what you have to offer the world), it won't be brought.

Lord, help me to be the -me- You created. Not the -me- I created.

Oh, sweet New Mexico!

Arizona, I miss you; Yes, I truly do. 

But arriving in my city was the best adventure, too.

Hours and hours in the car was a breeze;

But arriving to my city was a happy bittersweet.

You see, Arizona, your cactus & heat;

Were just what I needed with your oranges so sweet.

But once my eye caught onto my own city town,

I was happy to listen to the joy of that sound.

Those sweet purple mountains, sitting up above,

Was a gentle reminder of the place that I love.

Those happy giant dirt hills were a reminder to me, 

That the sweet New Mexico mountains are really a happy sight to see.

Oh, sweet Arizona.

Off to the place of sweet getaways; 

making memories from a simple taste of days.

Hours of stiff sleeping sleepy-time dreams, 

are what help me to open the getaway me's.

Evergreens stand with their tall bodies still;

Sky's and mountains and sun upon each hill.

Arriving to this place and that place was wild;

Hoping to pick a sweet orange was mild.

I gazed on the one who became my blooded other;

The one who makes tastys, the great chef my brother.

Way deep down under the blue pool of bliss,

Was just as magnificent as a sour lemons kiss.

Then a place of great food which was made in old days,

Let us remember, which I thought in a daze.

Here we were at a shop of the deer,

No room for a pool or a tired girl here.

Two million trees were the sight from the eye;

Simple yet perfect which gave a sweet sigh.

And now it was time to dine in a forest;

The thunder & lightning did not leave us borest.

"Happy Birthday to you," they sang with a smile;

We'll have to cry later, or maybe in a while.

A kiss from the heat on a soft December night,

left me in a dress that was a soft golden white.

Play me that song, that one of the sona;

Come back again, oh sweet Arizona!

---------

This poem is a little taste of what I tasted in Arizona! Just a few things I experienced & saw.
It was a great trip.
I hope you understand the weird meanings behind the words!

Breath in, breath out

Spring.

New life.

Birth.

The sunrise.

Spring is like the beginning of life. A babies first breath. Everything is new & fresh. 

Wonderful.

Summer.

Once you've experienced the spring, summer is still something new. 

The teen years.

The sun is out & everything is worry free.

No school, no bills.

Autumn.

School has just started! Ugh, now responsibility kicks in & you're stuck to deal with it.

But in the process of life, Autumn is like your middle aged life. 

The trees are dying.
You're getting close to old age.
Everything seems gray & sad for some because winter is nearing. But for others, it's just the beginning.

Winter.
Here you are.
You're no longer in the sweet peace of spring.
You're cold.
Sometimes you are afraid.
Some trees are dying quick.
But some are alive & well!
Winter.

Your winter is just someone else's spring.

*Analogy by my Grama!*

Picture 1
Picture 2 
Picture 3
Picture 4

Comforted by a rod & a staff.

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I lack.

He lets me lie down

  in green pastures;

He leads me beside

 quiet waters.

He renews my life;

He leads me

  along the right paths

for His name's sake.

Even when I go

 through the darkest valley,

I fear no danger,

for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff--

 they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

You annoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Only goodness and faithful love

  will pursue me

all the days of my life.

and I will dwell in the house

 of the LORD

as long as I live.

~Psalm 23~

[emphasis added]

From The Journal: A Crown of Beauty

On December 1, I had decided to read through Proverbs the whole month.

They're all about wisdom. 

I wouldn't of guessed that I'd be tested & my prayer would be answered:

"Help me to understand how to be wise." I prayed.

Well God answers prayer, doncha know?

Yesterday, I went to my cousins house. It was a blast!

But that's not the point here. 

The point is that I was being tested.

You see, lately, it's been hard for me to turn down a movie when someone wants to watch it.

I'm talking about worldly movies. And I'm also talking about watching it at home, when it's harder than turning down a movie @ the theater. 

Is that hard for you? How can I say, "No I don't agree with the things they do in that movie"?

It's harder than it sounds.

Especially if you're younger & don't know if they'll think you think you're better than everyone else, or if they'll actually take you seriously.

I felt like I wasn't standing up for what I believe in.

Well, those verses were somethin' else. I can't believe how relevant they were to my situation.

I think God was preparing me. I think He was testing me, & I think He allowed all this to happen.

What the devil meant for harm....

God used for good.

"...when trouble & stress overcome you...they will call to me (wisdom) , but I won't answer...[because they chose] not to fear the Lord." 

-Proverbs 1:27-29-

I didn't fear Him. I feared man.

"Never let loyalty & faithfulness leave you."

-Proverbs 3:3-

I want to be loyal & faithful to God. More than I have been. & in every part of my life.

"Her (wisdom's) ways are pleasant, & all her paths [are] peaceful."

-Proverbs 3:17-

I was anything but peaceful as I sat there hearing blasphemy of God's name. 

"...and your sleep will be pleasant."

-Proverbs 3:24-

No, my sleep last night wasn't pleasant. 

"Keep your way from her ( the forbidden woman)...Don't go near the door of her house. Otherwise, you will give up your vitality to others & your years to someone cruel..."

-Proverbs 5:8-9-

I am not saying that my cousin or anyone else is cruel or at fault for what I do. We all have our own faults.

But I made the mistake for choosing the foolish "woman" instead of the "wise".

When I want to please God & do, I am peaceful & mysleep is sweet. But when I blow it, I am so miserable.

"Carefully consider your path..."

-Proverbs 4:26-

The forbidden woman will ruin my life.

But wisdom, she will give me a crown of beauty. 

(Prov. 4:9)

Me.

Hi there.
Welcome to my corner of imagination!
I'm just a 17 year old who loves to write.
But that's not all I love!
You'll find me cuddled on the top bunk reading a book & eating an apple; outside soaking up some sun as I snap a picture; dreaming; playing my guitar; journaling; or organizing.

I recently discovered that I like to write poetry, so that's what you'll find here.

In short, I'm a young dreamer with mountains to climb, waves to ride, guitars to strum, people to love, memories to make, & chances to take.

p.s. love ya!!

The abc's of Thanks

Today has been such an inspiring day for me in several ways. And I think it'd be a good time to write out all I'm thankful for -- in ABC form!

a) A creative God. I can't tell you how many sunsets, sunrises, moons, stars, trees, clouds, & clouds I've seen that have gone far beyond ordinary. I'm talkin' FAR beyond. (this is 1 of the reasons I've been so inspired)
b.) Banjos.
c.) Cinnamon rolls. Oh, man!
d.) Dandelions.
e.) Energy. I can't say I've exactly had that in a while...
f.) Forests. My favorite!
g.) Grammar...just cuz. (haha, there went that grammar..)
h.) Hair. Long hair, might I add. I want long hair.
i.) Imagination.
j.) Jasmine, my cousin.
k.) Kicking soccer balls around.
l.) Learning new things. (Like, music, cooking, etc)
m.) Music -- hearing it & playing it.
n.) Nicknames. I counted & I have approximately 24 of them. Not kidding.
o.) Oxymorons. They're awfully nice ;)
p.) Parking straight.
q.) Quotes.
r.) Ripples of laugher. The best.
s.) Songs of birds & rain & instruments & laughter & worship. There's one thing I love most about worship, & that's hearing all of God's peoples' voices blending as one, singing to Him. I usually cry when I hear that heavenly noise.
t.) Tulips. My favorite.
u.) Unity.
v.) Violins!
w.) Written letters.
x.) Xylophones. I love the noise they make, & I'm thankful that their sound adds pazazz to songs. =) y.)Yellow flowers in random places.
z.) Zzzzzzzzz's. Boy do I need a lot of those.

Check out the finding joy blog where I found this idea =)

Enjoy!

"...so much more beautiful..."

"Please don’t take modesty lightly. As your brother in Christ I value the relationship that I will have with my wife someday. When I am tempted because of you I lose a part of myself that I am trying to save for her. When I’m tempted because of you I become that much more accepting of the perversions in the world. When you remain pure and modest, my life is made so much easier. Instead of watching to ensure that I don’t sin I can focus on you as a person and fellow follower of Christ. I appreciate modesty more than you’ll ever know. Please, show respect of yourself and of me and be modest."

-16 year old guy. 

Girls, you are so much more beautiful than the other girls in the world because you are modest. Your purity is beautiful and I find you attractive because you guard it.

-17 year old

The Rebelution

Speak, you!

"Ear, speak!" said the tongue. 

"But I am an ear! I do not speak! I hear."

"Eyes, walk!" said the stomach.

"But I do not make the body move, that's the muscles' job. For I merely see."

"Brain, talk." said the heart.

"I cannot talk like you say."

----------

Now, I know technically these body parts are speaking to each other, even thought the ear & brain said they couldn't, but you get what I'm saying!


I wrote a post on my other blog. I hope you read it. I just realized that in the body of Christ, we all have our own spiritual gifts. I probably don't have yours, & you may not have mine. But that's okay because they each contribute to the whole body!

It's fall! Now lets celebrate!

With a poem that is! Yes, I know, another poem, but this is a poetry type blog afterall :)

So here we go.

"Walking through the woods
in my cowgirl boots
My jean skirt flowing
with the south wind blowing

Singing a merry tune
my feet are dancing in a swoon
Crackling dry leaves are breaking
from my joyful swaying

Feeling the coolness of the air
and seeing geese flying south up there
I feel a rush of blissfulness
uncontainable of my playfulness

Standing on top of a hill
I stood perfectly still
my singing stops
my heart drops

As I remember my goal
to give my soul
to the Lord of All
in remembrance of Fall.?

-Nela-

I read this poem at a new blog I visited, Beloved Star, & I wanted to share it. It reminds me why I love fall.

On Golden Sun

Happy November! I have a habit of wishing a "happy ..." every 1st of the month to my family, so happy November to you!

I also wrote a song/poem that started out into a song & then I just thought I would turn it into a poem.

But who knows, I might continue it on into a longer poem or keep it a song.

I love poems like this that talk about God's heart for us. But I know this doesn't even touch the surface of the real thing.

On Golden Sun

I long to see your smile,
I want to take you for a ride
Across the sky.
I long to hear your laugh,
I want to take you on a golden path
to the sun.
I long to feel the heart I've created,
And melt it with My love.
I long to play with your hair
With the breeze from My lips.
I want to lather you with blessings,

And send happiness to your lips.

This song reminds me of being in the woodlands, or in a quiet meadow dancing with your love under the stars, surrounded by family & friends. With white lights on the trees, & a bonfire going on. Ah, that's what I dream about.

P.S. I'm currently writing a short story that I'll post here along with a painting that goes with it, so stay tuned!

Always Forever-Phil Wickham

What's one word that can express the way I feel? Well, I don't think that can be possible! God is awakening this love & PASSION!

I love passion. I just love it.
A year ago, I would of never dreamed I'd be where I am right now. I just can't believe it! God's love & instruction is better in a day, than that of the worlds in a lifetime!
No, this "following God" is not a piece of cake. It's stinking hard! I just can't believe He's willing to strengthen us. It's a magnificent feeling!

Hopefully this song will awaken your heart to the magnificent One! He's so good! And He will be our lover, always forever.

I'm ready to give birth.

To dreams. 

To visions.

I feel like I am about to give birth to something amazing!

I have visions for the churches, for the schools, for our homes.

I know America is not in good shape. They've taken God out of everything. Especially the homes. Can a person wonder why it's going down?

But before I get into that....

It's hard for me to remember that I can't to anything alone. I realize now, how I need to lean on God. And all I want to say is that God is moving. And working. He's about to do something through us!

-Through the youngsters

-Through the youth

-Through the older

He is MOVING.

From The Journal of a noisy heart

Sometimes I run. Sometimes I hide.Sometimes I live with it all locked inside. But when I run to God in my brokenness, it's like lighting a dark room.

If we were perfect, would we still have a reason to turn to God? To run into His warm embrace?

I wrote this song a while ago, and it reminds me of what is happening in my heart.

My head is lifted to the sun.

There's no where to hide, no where to run.

I'm totally held by what I've done.

There's feelings of heartache and of pain,

Don't know what to do with all this shame,

Don't You know I'm crying out?

And You said...

"Yes I hear your every cry.

Don't you know that's why I died?

To give you peace, to give you life.

You can come and run to me,

Child I'm here I'll set you free.

All these day's are meant for joy."

My heart was captured by You!

This peace I now feel comes from truth.

I can feel You near.

Every mountain top that I tread,

Every hour I lie awake in my bed,

I can feel You near.

My head is lifted to the sun.

I now have a place to hide and run.

No longer held by what I've done.

There's feelings of fullness and of grace,

And all of this shame, it had a place.

I cried out and You stayed near.

And You said...

"You have felt my love so near.

Then you knew that I was there,

My love, my light through you I'll show.

I am here to comfort you,

And right there to bring you through,

Darling, I'll never let you go."

My heart was captured by You.

I feel like He found me & totally captured my heart. It's of nothing I've done. Trust me, I just make things worse on my own. But it's Him! He's the perfect one.

I pray that He captures your heart & turns your attention on Him instead of your problems & weaknesses. His strength is perfect in those areas.

Love you.

What's a life?

What's a life without faith?

What's a life without God?

Without hope.

Without laughter.

Without joy.

Peace.

Smiles.

Adventure.

Silliness.

Stillness.

Pazazz. 

Tree climbs.

Joy rides.

I love you's.

What's a life, without...life?

Beautiful Things

Thanks Raquel for introducing me to this song!