To the girl I used to be...

To the girl I used to be,

You are so full of life and joyful. Don't lose that. You're going to take some hard knocks. You'll be too young, but no age is old enough for them. The point is you can't let them keep you down. You've got to get back up and keep going.

You're a 'glass half full' kinda person. Maybe people think you're naive. Maybe you are. But that's okay. Be naive. Find the good in your situations and find the good in others. Don't search for the negative or wonder what others are doing, but focus on yourself and how you can grow.

People change. You might have to let go... but always forgive because you don't have room to let bitterness grow.

You're going to change, too. Life changes you, but let those changes grow into something good.

Most importantly, keep the faith. Trust the Maker of All Things who knows you thoroughly. He is the source of your hope. He has a purpose for your life. Remember, there will be disappointments, suffering, pain you never thought you would bear, but you will bear it because HE will bear it for you, just like HE did on the cross so many years ago.

It's a process. Learn to let go. Learn to love more. Know that you have to be willing to change. You know you aren't perfect and sometimes you're going to really dislike yourself, but keep moving, keep working, and remember: Know matter what happens, you have the joy of Christ.

I miss you, sometimes, and I really really wish I could be you again. Could feel free to laugh loudly and be crazy once in a while and stay up to late hours talking and singing loudly. Maybe I can, but more importantly, maybe you will become someone who is compassionate, bold, creative, and truly unique.

You aren't defined by others. The only expectations that matter on the ones the Lord has for you, so keep after Him. Chase him with all that is within you, chase Him harder, and find Him.

Yours,

Bethany

You Ask Rathelm: The Answers

 Hey everyone! I'm late again... but I shall try to post Friday instead of yesterday. Of course... tomorrow I'm starting college, so hoping I'll get my blog post up. Here's hoping!

 Anyway, I think we have waited long enough for Rathelm's answers to the questions we asked a while back. I guess there is a reason he didn't get as many as Elric. (I see that glare, Mr.) But here they are. May he have mercy on your heads.

Your majesty is too kind to answer the questions of us mere peasants. I would ask if you two things: the first, how many people have you executed in your illustrious career, and what is your preferred method? (William Cloud)

 I see you have a smooth tongue. Many with smooth tongues have had a sharp blade beneath it. In my time of king, the execution rate could be varied. There are certain crimes which are punishable by death that could be done without my knowledge, and taken care of. For personal execution... perhaps less than fifty... perhaps more.

 For my preferred method, the method with a message is the most suitable to get the word across to others in the kingdom. Therefore, often the most violent way is the most practical. For example, leaving traitorous generals high on towers in the sky to be dehydrated, and eaten by our lovely death birds.

 How long has he reigned as king and did he ever want to do anything else besides be king? (Victoria Grace Howell)

 I have been king for almost twenty-five years. Why do you wish to know this information? I never wanted anything else. It was what I was groomed for. It was what I always wanted to be, whether it was my choice or not.  Me: That totally makes sense...

What is his highness' favorite color, meal, and, if he were to have free time, what would he do? (Anna Three)

Purple for royalty. Roast duck stuffed with green peppers and cheeses. I used to hunt, but no more. The hobby has lost its appeal. A game of fencing gets the blood flowing. But if you think I'll tell you my schedule so that you can attack, you are gravely mistaken.

Is there a particular reason his highness is such a grouch? (Anna Three)

Insolence! If we were in Linaeus you would be executed at once. A maid should not speak to her king in such a familiar and disrespectful manner!

Me: Eesh. Moving on...

What was your childhood like? (Athelas Hale)

 Like any other who is destined to be king. Tutors in all practical things such as swordplay and strategy and some less needed areas. I played alone, but that was how things had to be. When you are special, you are apart. You must stay special.

When you became King, what did you feel? (Athelas Hale)

 Like a king! The moment I had trained for twenty years for had arrived. I was excited, ready to make my kingdom the best.

 What do you consider an offense worth death? (Athelas Hale)

 Betrayal above all other things. This encompasses all things like speaking about the king in a derogatory manner, talking to the king in a disrespectful manner, etc.

What did you feel like when you first killed someone? (Athelas Hale)

I have never killed a person myself, but on my first ordered execution I felt in control. No one could undermine me.

What do you think of your son, Elric? (Athelas Hale)

 My weakling son? He wastes time. If he is to be king he must show more interest in the position. He must be more serious. Dreams are for the lower royalty to attain. Everyone wants to be king so I don't know why he resists it so. He needs a backbone.

Why does his highness not value book learning? (Imogen Elvis)

 There are a certain few books that can be advantageous, but there is only a degree of book learning that can help you rule. The rest must be learned with iron fist and attentive ears.

What does his highness value instead? (Imogen Elvis)

 I value decisiveness. Knowing your own mind. That is the thing about my son. He never shows he has strength of will. I value strength. My son Aren. He is a sight to behold. A talented, likely young lad. Unfortunately he was born last.

In his highness's opinion, are kings are allowed to have friends, and if so, does he have any? (Imogen Elvis)

 Friendship was a commodity I never was allowed. I have never needed it. 

 Who does his highness care about the most? (Imogen Elvis)

 Can I say myself? In this world you have to look out for yourself. But if not, my son Aren. He is no failure.

And finally, cats or dogs? (Imogen Elvis)

Cats. They are brooding and unpredictable. A somewhat intriguing match up.

 Me: Yes... I can see that... I wonder who that reminds me of...

 Well, I guess that wasn't actually a bad amount of questions. Thanks guys! I hope you enjoyed this interview! See ya later!

 ~ a rambling author


  

Camp

 So I was at camp last week. It's our church camp. It's wonderful. Kids come from all over the state (and sometimes other states) to worship the Lord and fellowship. I arrived Thursday, got checked in, went to my cabin (I was Assistant Cabin Leader for the youngest age group of girls), and then went to the staff meeting after getting my bed made.

 After that, I went back to the cabin to meet up with the leader, Chelsey, and meet the girls. We quickly got acquainted and it was time for dinner. We had a delicious dinner, went to church that night, and while Chelsey went to bed with the girls, I spent a bit of time with some of the staff.

 Here is a basic understanding of how the next three days went. We got up early in the morning, went to devotions, then breakfast, then class, then crafts, then music, then lunch, then organized recreation, then swimming, then free time until dinner, and then we had cabin devotions and service, and after service we had fun time and more free time until bed. And there were breaks in there somewhere. And yeah. That was a long (possibly run on) sentence.

 But I just wanted to let you guys know a little bit about camp. It was great. I had fun. I remembered to wear sunscreen, so didn't get turned into a tomato like previous years. The air conditioner stole my voice on like the first night. I fell off a swing and got covered in reddish dirt. I also got smeared with peanut butter and had fish crackers thrown at me. Also, apparently my frog died. (I was in a skit.) I was also a little girl. (In another skit.) I convinced several boys to pick pink yard for a craft by telling them about the historical origin of the color pink. I FAILED at kickball. I mean, for real. I tripped while KICKING the ball. So I was basically caught before I even started running. This is why I do not like playing sports. Except volleyball and softball. Which reminds me, I played volleyball, but didn't do so well thanks to it being dark out. Yay. I also got bit by sweat bees. I had the sweetest little girl who seemed to really like me. I got to pray for all of my girls. I even shared a devotional with them. I ate so much good food. And dessert. Oh. My.Word. I also fell after hanging up something on the clothesline, which was witnessed by some little girls and a teenaged boy. IT was a mini landslide. The ground slipped out from under me, okay? I got attacked in the pool by many people. I got asked to the bonfire by an old friend, I ate too much, tried to stay hydrated, and had a pretty awesome time in general. I even got to have a couple of "girl talks." Mwahaha.

 So yeah. I'm probably forgetting something. Camp was pretty great.

 ~ a rambling author

UPDATESSSSSSSSSSSS

 Hey everyone! My days are going to be a bit mixed up this week. Here's a quick update on what's been happening in my life. Sunday I graduated from High School! What a weird feeling... I suppose I should do a more in depth post on it later, but for now... My parents and pastor's wife put together a wonderful party/graduation. The program went well, and the food was delicious. I even got to sing a little bit. I'll upload some pics later on. Today, we pulled up the carpet in our living room. It's been there for years... 18 years to be exact, just like me! That's weird too. There's wood flooring underneath, but I think we're going to put something over it since it isn't super nice. But it's much better than an old carpet! Tomorrow I'm going to be reviewing A Place in His Heart because the review is due, so expect my writing post on Thursday. Though... since Rathelm doesn't have enough questions asked of him yet, it may be a different type of writing. Remember to ask him here! I hope you enjoyed this quick post. I'm not reading Lord of the Rings and thinking about a devotion for youth camp. See you soon! (Like, tomorrow.) Bye!

~ a rambling author

Graduation Parties and Whatnot

Wow! God is good, and some exciting stuff has been happening lately. I'm in that exciting (and scary) time of change. I guess I won't really understand it completely till I'm standing on the steps of my college... or ever. The fact that I'm graduating... class of 2014... is surreal. I feel the same as I always did. People keep asking me, "How does it feel to be an adult, how does it feel to be graduated?" Etc. And really... I don't know. Things feel the same. And I'm dreading the entrance exam of my college even if it is only to see where I place on the learning scale.

A fraction of my graduation party attendees.

 And I even wonder about college. There are so many different voices trying to tell me what I need to do for me and for my future. Some encourage me to go to college, to have a career path ready... others say I should follow my dreams, or learn other valuable skills you won't learn in a college. But I don't know. I feel so uncertain. But I know God holds the answer, and I'm praying for His insight in this matter and all matters.

 I had a graduation party in May for my theater friends. We had such a fantastic time eating, singing karaoke (because we're theater kids. Duh.) and playing mafia. It was just a lot of fun to spend time with some of my favorite people on my special day. I'm so grateful for the friends God has placed in my life.

 I've been able to attend a couple of other graduation parties which were a blast. Like I said, I have the best friends.

Argh. I'm a pirate.

 I've also been in Tarzan, as you know. We opened last weekend to a smashing success, and have one weekend left. It is such a bittersweet feeling because this is my brother's last show probably. He's been with me since Joseph back in 2011, and it feels so weird to think we won't be in another show together. Well, with this particular theater program at least. I'll probably talk more about it next week, but I'm probably going to cry buckets. Ugh. Emotions.

Anyway... yes. My life is crazy. But it's good. God is so wonderful to me, and has blessed me so much. Without Him I would be nothing. Thank the Lord for His grace and mercy.

~ a rambling author

Busy as always! :D

 So, my blog posts will hopefully happen this week. I'm about to leave to visit with family. I've packed up some things, making sure I have notebooks and the computer. I hope I'll get some writing done on the way. But I'm super excited cause I get to see my adorable niece and nephew! I'll try to get some photos to share with ya'll when I get back. Next Tuesday I'll try to share with you the theater class I'm taking currently. By the way, I was cast in the musical Tarzan! WHOOP! Anyway, I know this is short, but life is life, and I have to make sure I'm ready to go. I love you all, and hope to be on here again tomorrow!

~ a rambling author

And Then I was an Adult and it was All Very Frightening...

 Another show just ended for me... this one Willy Wonka. I got to have so much fun playing Mrs. Gloop, an indulgent mother of the fat, greedy Augustus. There's so much I could say about that part and show, but I'll wait for one of my "The Other Side of Me" posts.

I also want to say a little bit about my birthday. Yup, Saturday I turned eighteen. I'm an old fogie now. Something they like call... adult. *Shudder*

 So I've joined the ranks of the grown people, but I'm still a child at heart, so Peter Pan will still take me to Neverland, right? ........... Yeah. So, anywho, eighteen.

 I chose a word at the beginning of this year. It was change. And yeah. Things are changing. I'm now a legal adult. I can vote. I can sign things for myself. It's bizarre. There are so many things coming in my future, things I can look forward to, and things that I'm a little afraid of. But that's all part of life, right? I have to take an entrance exam to a college, and graduate high school. I feel more desperate to get my book done. I have things I want to accomplish. New goals.

 Seventeen was a great year. It was beautiful. But eighteen started off with a bang, and I count my birthday this year as one of the best so far.

 It started at midnight. I was staying at a friend's house before another day of Willy Wonka... (My friend was also in the show, playing Charlie's loud grandma, Georgina.) I hopped in the shower, and by the time I got out, it was my birthday. I never really thought about what it meant, and as my friend Sarah would say, "That was one life changing shower!"

 I had hardly settled into the bed, when Sarah surprised me with a gift. It was so sweet, and the card she wrote me almost made me cry.

 We went to sleep, and the next day began. The celebration never seemed to stop. Twice in the dressing room I was sung to in the midst of pulling on clothing, and twice more outside the dressing room. It seemed I could turn nowhere without someone calling "Happy Birthday!"

 Several friends gave me lovely notes and gifts (Thanks Will! And you're mom! And Eliza! And everyone!) I was actually floored. I couldn't believe so many people cared so much to give me something. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy and like crying all over again. My friends are so wonderful!

 I made a mistake in the show that afternoon, and it was pretty upsetting. But many people, both kids in the show, and their parents encouraged me.

 After a three show day filled with friends, and enjoyment, we went to a restaurant the theater people like to gather in on the second Saturday night after the show. We ordered food and talked and talked and talked. And then they sang to me again. I'm pretty sure I came pretty close to turning permanently pink.

 I must have decided that such a momentous day as birthday number eighteen couldn't happen without some near death experiences, so I proceeded to choke on my mozzarella sticks (twice) and trip on the pavement.

 Ah yes. An eventful day all wrapped up back in Sarah's bedroom, reading facebook posts. Eighteen is an exciting age, I suppose. I think I rather like it. After all, it's not the person's age on the outside, but the inside, right? Ha. Logic.

I'm sure I've missed something. And tomorrow I'll go into more depth about this since most of my presents corresponded with books, and I was looking for something bookish to write about tomorrow. But for now, I must bid you farewell. I'm an adult, which means I have awfully important things to do. Which is a joke, by the way.

 I am thankful to God for giving me eighteen years of life, and for the things that happened this year. I'm so excited for the future that He has planned for me. I know I cannot fear as long as He is with me, showing me where to go.

~ a rambling author

This Week in Theater Class: Character Acting in Musicals

 Hey everyone! So... I know I'm already doing The Other Side of Me, showcasing parts of my theater life such as shows I've performed in, but I also want to delve into the other side of theater I take part in while doing shows: Theater classes with CharacterWorks Theater. These classes can range from singing, to acting, to improv (improvisational acting, or acting without a script.) So, I present to you This Week in Theater Class! Every now and again I'll talk about a class I'm taking. For the past nine weeks or so, I've been taking a class called Character Acting in Musicals with the awesome Heather.

 This class is about defining the different types of actors, and focusing on being a character actor, or someone who can play all kinds of different roles, often quirky ones. For our Showcase (the presentation we do at the end of the session) we're performing bits from a musical called Urinetown.

 I know what you're thinking. It sounds really weird. But it's actually pretty funny to think about considering Urinetown was created to be a spoof of nearly every musical out there. I'm not going to go into all the details on it, but if you'd like to know more, Google is your friend.

 Anywho, we're doing parts from three different songs. If you would morbidly like to listen, here they are:

   

        

   

 

 Hehe. Now that you're wondering what on earth this is... You'll definitely want to Google it. In showcase, my brother is playing the guy in the second video, and I'm the old lady from the third video who could survive with a cold, tall glass of water. :P 

 Despite it's interesting concept, this has been an enjoyable class to work on. The showcase is Monday, and I'll try to get my mom to video it. If all goes well, I may post it here for your morbid curiosity. :P 

 So this was a class that covered different concepts... singing, acting, and the freedom to perform without inhibition. 

 I hope you enjoyed today's blog posts. Do you like the idea of This Week in Theater Class? 

~ a rambling author

The Other Side of Me: Joseph Photos

Hello bloglings! How goes life? (By the way, I never told you that I was cast in Willy Wonka as Mrs. Gloop, and I'm having a fantastic time with the part.) Anyway, here are some photos from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as I promised. Enjoy! ;) Disclaimer: Prepare for weird bearded pics.

Let's just say we had to wear some big pants.

Me and my "dad" AKA Jacob in the show.

This was during the song, "Joseph's Dreams." We had a bit of a Jazz dance going on.

"There's One More Angel in Heaven."

More Jazziness.

"Those Canaan Days." We're starving. We hear a fly. We want to eat said fly. By the way, the guy wearing green in the middle is my brother, Micah. ;)

Yup. Rough times.

Raise your beret.

     

Here's an attractive photo. :P

      

His expression though...

   

Defeated.

  

   

"Grovel, Grovel"

  

Journey to Egypt

 

  

Smiling with a beard is weird.

   

 

Did I mention there's a Seventies dance? Yeah, that's me in the back looking like a resident hippie.

 

 

Hm. I have an idea, let's attack our brother!

    

It was red, and yellow, and colors and colors, etc, you get it, all right!

  

    Anyway, you get the picture. It was an awesome show. There were a tons of pics. I played Gad and was a terrible brother, but everything came out right in the end. If you've never heard of the show look it up! See you tomorrow! ;)

~ a rambling author

Loving What You Write: Recycling

So, I'm still working on coming up with new content for the blog, but I have lots in mind. For now, I'm not sure you've all seen this post I wrote on Randomosity Writers a while ago. I talked about loving what you write, and I thought I'd share it with you guys. I've seen a lot of people get discouraged, but I hope this post will encourage you! Next week, I hope to have some of that original stuff I promised. ;)

Loving What You Write

  When you write a story, you’re going to feel sensitive about it, that’s just the way it goes. Trust me, it can be a tad bit depressing to write sentences that just feel loaded down by a herd of elephants. (That was an interesting simile…) What I mean is, when your sentences move so slow, or just don’t sound clever at all, and your dialogue is… blah.
 Half the time, in my opinion, that’s just your feelings. I mean, sure, a story is going to need refining, just like any worthwhile craft, but your original writing is sure to have that new spark. I love reading stories by my friends that have scant to no editing. So here’s a few tips on how to get past the feeling down about your story, and learn to love what you write.

 Quickly write your first draft A lot of people like to edit as they write, but that can be a stressful and tiring way to do it. I, for the most part, try to just get through the first draft as quick as possible, even if I know that there are many things that need fixing, or something isn’t completely accurate to the timeline. It’s best to just write. After that,

 Take a break from your story If you start reading/editing your story right away, it’s only going to depress you. “I spent a month writing this? I spent six months writing this?” Don’t give into the temptation to read your finished work. Instead, set it aside for a few weeks, or a month, and take a break. Maybe read a book you’ve been wanting to read, or start on a new story your passionate about. By the time you come back after distancing yourself from your story, you’ll feel a  lot better about it.

Share your story This is hard for many people. As I said, we’re very touchy or sensitive about our work, and we don’t like to have “prying” eyes reading what we’re still unsure about. But one of the biggest confidence boosters a person can get is if you share your story- with the right people. I’m not saying post it on the internet where the world can see, because there are some mean people out in the world. Some might even steal your idea. But if you share your story with another writing friend, even if they point out some grammatical or sentence structure mistakes, they’re sure to say something good too. You can also share it with family. I’m very close with my sister’s husband’s family. It’s the most wonderful feeling when you have a bunch of kids all wanting you to read them your story, it almost makes you melt. :)  One more…

Go back This is the one I was thinking. One way I can really get back into my story is if I go back several chapters, or even the beginning of the book, and read that part you thought was funny, or just remember why you wrote this story- remember why you love it. If you can get to the heart of your story- the core- then you’ll love it again, especially if you remember why you wrote it in the first place.
And that’s all for today! I hope this post has been helpful in any way to you. Have a great day!
Bethany

What are some ways you get back to loving your story?

The Other Side of Me: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

 It's Tuesday! And according to my new blog schedule, that means it's Life and Theater day! That means I'll be posting about the things happening in my life for every Tuesday on out. (Or sometimes I might just talk about theater stuff.) *Throws confetti.* For my first post in my Life schedule... I'm going to be continuing my 'Other Side of Me' series which has been neglected far too long. You can read previous posts in the series here.

 Today I'm going to be talking about the second show I had the pleasure of performing in... Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Here's one of the songs from the show so you can have an idea.

 

   

 So, before I found out they were doing this show, I heard they were thinking about doing Peter Pan. Peter Pan is one of my favorite favorite favorite shows. So I was beyond excited. But then it came out that we couldn't do Peter Pan, and they were going to do Joseph instead. I was disappointed at first because I love Peter Pan so much, but I ended up having so much fun with Joseph that I can't imagine what not doing it would be like. This was done with the same group I did Willy Wonka with. 

 Instead of a classic audition, they had something called an "Audition Workshop" for Joseph. You could sign up for two different slots, and we chose the first one. When I say we, I refer to my older brother, Micah, who I roped into doing theater with me. We had gone to see Peter Pan at CYT a few months earlier, so that had hyped his interest in theater significantly since it was such a great show. 

 The Workshop was comprised of acting games and group singing. 

 After it was over my brother and I were both called for callbacks a couple of weeks later. 

 This time, there were lots of kids at callbacks. But for some reason I felt so much more at ease than I had at the Willy Wonka callbacks. I had been listening to the Joseph soundtrack and had a pretty good grasp on the words and tunes of a lot of the songs. 

 At this point in time I had been expecting to be tried for only female parts, but Mrs. A said at the beginning of callbacks that girls could try for guy parts too. 

 So when they asked who would like to try to sing 'One More Angel in Heaven' (seen below) I volunteered. It was a good day for me, I guess. I just had fun and sang the song in a low man-like voice. I remember one of the directors saying, "Careful boys, or the girls will get all the parts!" Some of the other girls were doing well too. 

                    

  My brother also did well, and was tried for several large parts. They picked some of us and lined us up according to height.

 This was right before Thanksgiving. I was actually out of state visiting family for the holiday when the cast list was posted. We looked. I had been cast as Gad, one of Joseph's brothers, and Micah had been cast as Levi, another one of them. It was an exciting day.

 Rehearsals started. There were a couple other girls cast as brothers, as well as several boys, and we had the greatest time together at rehearsals being a little family. Joseph is one of my favorite show experiences because I just had a blast doing it.

 I mean, there were a couple things that happened, but all together it was a great show to be a part of. I could say a lot of things. There were so many memories combined about that show. Like tearing legs off a cardboard goat, and seventies dance moves, and trying to eat my brother during 'Canaan Days.' Oh, and I had to wear a beard. A beard. I had to glue a beard on my face. Fun. And then I had to take it off afterward. But it was totally worth it, and I would do it again!

I know I'm probably missing something, so if you have any questions about the Joseph experience, post 'em in the comments. Oh, and next week I'll post some photos from it!

Hope you enjoyed!

 Come back tomorrow for a post about writing! 

~ a rambling author




 

2013.

 So. I'm not very happy with myself. My plant to post something the first few days of January didn't exactly pan out, but for once I have an excuse. :P Tuesday was my last day to spend with just my sister and her family before coming home, the day after was the last day to spend with friends as well as get things packed up, Thursday we traveled home, Friday we had rehearsal (we also slept in,) Saturday we had to get up early and go to rehearsal, Sunday we had church, etc. So you see... I was quite busy. ;)

 So instead of several blog posts over a span of time, I'm going to make this one big blog post celebrating the year that was 2013, and perhaps later this week I'll write one looking towards the future.

 2013 was the year...

I wrote Baby, It's Cold Outside.
I was Glinda and Auntie Em in Wizard of Oz.
My niece turned one.
I finished writing The Prince's Quest.
I started watching Doctor Who.
My nephew was born.
I was in Les Miserables.
Met my nephew.
I was staff at camp, and got to work with sweet little girls.
I met new people.
I grew closer to those I knew.
I met Leah in person.
Traveled to Kentucky.
I got lots of books.
I started reading 6 sections of the Bible.
Wrote four skits about sailors and pirates.
I went to the Assembly and worshiped the Lord.
I was Mrs. Mops in A Christmas Carol. One of the most wonderful experiences.
Sarah became one of my closest friends.
I auditioned for Willy Wonka, and got the role of Mrs. Gloop
I wrote The Pauper's Masquerade.
I submitted The Pauper's Masquerade to a writing contest.
I received hugs and kisses from my niece and smiles from my nephew.
I received hugs from the other children in my life.
Met up with Leah again and filmed a short film. :D
I spent Christmas together with my family.
I had the best year ever.

I did so many things. Probably more things then listed here! And they were all wonderful. I'm so thankful to the Lord for the year that 2013 was, and I'm thankful to have a wonderful family to spend 2014 with!

 And now, for your morbid curiosity... Here is a list of books I read this year, and to challenge myself... a one sentence summary of what I thought. :P I also have this thing about pretty covers, so I'll say if I liked a cover.

 The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet by Stephanie Morrill - This was an excellent book about a teen writer that I can identify very well with! I like this cover.

By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson - One of my favorite discoveries of 2013, I love, love, LOVE this book.

The Tide of Unmaking by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper - This ending to one of my favorite series' just tore my feeling all to pieces and left them scattered on the ground.

Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore - This was a very interesting book to fit into the supernatural genre, making me happy because its for the most part biblical accuracy.

Broken Wings by Shannon Dittemore - I had to read the sequel to Angel Eyes, and I liked it quite a lot.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux - A book my favorite musical was based on... yes please... thrilling.

Chasing Jupiter by Rachel Coker - This was the first book I read that made me laugh and cry a few minutes from the other, such a beautiful story! Pretty cover.

It's Complicated by Laura L. Smith - A complicated little book that made you feel for the characters, and hope for the best in the end.

To Darkness Fled by Jill Williamson - I liked the sequel to By Darkness Hid even better than the first, it's so good!

Rock Harbor: Search and Rescue by Colleen Coble - A good start to a middle grade mystery series.

Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale - I've been waiting for a sequel to Princess Academy for years, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, and it was worth it! Lovely cover.

Storm by Evan Angler - I like his writing, it's very Lemony Snicket, and I liked this book.

Captives by Jill Williamson - If you can't tell, I love anything by Jill, and this was no exception... can't wait for the next book in the series. Awesome cover.

Divergent by Veronica Roth - I wanted to read this one before it became a movie and exploded, and it was a mostly pleasant experience.

Warp: The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer - I really really liked this book, it was very cool. And the cover (US version) is so so cool.

Angry by Laura L. Smith - Laura sent this to me because she's so crazy sweet, and I was in Les Miserables at the time... and I must say, I enjoyed it greatly, especially with all the Les Mis references. :)

Beloved Enemy by Al Lacy -  As I've said before... one of the most disappointing reads of the year... I was expecting so much more, but I was pretty bored by the end.

Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey - Pretty good for a quick read, could have used some more development though.

Golden by Cameron Dokey - An original concept--a bald Rapunzel--makes for a very interesting book. This particular cover edition is pretty.

Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey - My favorite of her books that I read, this retelling of Mulan made me happy.

Viewers by Scott Hawthorne - Another one of the year's disappointments.

The Destiny of One by Sarah Holman - A rollicking space adventure from a Christian vantage point... great book.

The Destiny of a Few by Sarah Holman - Is it possible to like the second even better than the first? I believe tis.

Swept Away by Mary Connealy - This was the first book I read by this author, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Daughter of Light by Morgan L. Busse - An interesting addition to Christian fantasy, I enjoyed this one.


Burning Sky by Lori Benton - A book filled with exquisite word descriptions, how could I not love it? And the cover... Beautiful.

Anomaly by Krista McGee - I'm so excited that some Christian authors are finally writing Dystopian... this is a really exciting book! The cover is so cool.

From Darkness Won - The explosive finale of The Blood of Kings series left me wanting more.

Perilous by Tamara Hart Heiner - A terrifying book if you think about it... what would you do if you witnessed a crime and were kidnapped for it?

Dark Halo - The final book in the Angel Eyes series was good, just as its predecessors were. Compelling cover.

The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson - I liked this book a lot, and really grew to like many of the characters. Also, the cover is lovely.

The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson - I think this is my favorite book by this author so far... sooo good... but I'm reviewing it tomorrow, so... And the cover is so pretty!

Cave Secrets of the Pterodactyl by Lydia Howe - A very good little book that I think kids everywhere will enjoy.

Edenbrooke - A lovely regency romance with lots of gentlemen and ladies, and and a good ol' story. The cover is also pretty.

 So that's that. Those are the books I read in 2013. Have you read any of these? Are they any you read that you think are particularly good?

 So in short, 2013 was a great year, and I can't wait to see what 2014 holds in store!

The Other Side of Me: Willy Wonka

 Okay. I know I'm late, but I honestly have a pretty good excuse this time. Besides other life things, I had a rather long eye appointment and I had to go to the city about an hour and a half from my home  for head shots/trying on costumes in the evening Tuesday. (Did I mention I was cast in A Christmas Carol? But more on that later...)

 Okay. So today is the second post in my The Other Side of Me series. I'm not promising that these will be weekly, cause I'm still trying to figure out that pesky blog schedule, but we'll see what happens.

 I left off last week talking about the choir I was in. I forgot to mention one thing. While in this choir, we traveled as a group to see The Wizard of Oz performed by Christian Youth Theater.  I was amazed by the talent and professionalism, and dared to dream that someday I could do CYT even though at this time it was impossible.

 Back to my group, and what Mrs. A had said when we first inquired about musical theater. Well, true to her word, around January, info went up about the show they were going to perform in the Spring: Willy Wonka. I was pretty familiar with the Willy Wonka storyline having seen the movies and whatnot. I looked at the roles, and since they said pick one to try for, I decided to try for Veruca Salt. I was thirteen going on fourteen, but they'd said I could try for a kid's or adult part. Even though that was the specific part I was auditioning for, I practiced other parts as well.

 Finally the audition day arrived. Guess what? I was sick. Or recovering. And thanks to my illness, my voice was in a terrible state. I went to the room with Mrs. A privately, and told her that my voice was messed up. She assured me that she already  knew what my voice sounded like, and I sang what I could of my audition. "You have a callback," she said. "It will be here, next week."

 I was so excited! I'd never heard of a callback before, unless you count maybe... the part in Hoodwinked where the schnitzel guy gets an acting callback?

 Anyway, the callback day came. I was so nervous. The idea of competing against others using simply my vocal and acting abilities which probably weren't at their peak completely intimidated me. There were about three other girls called back for the same Veruca Salt part. We all sang her song together, and then sang it alone. Unfortunately, I let my nerves get a hold of me, and was kind of shaky with my audition. After this, we read a few lines, and the callback was over. They told us when the cast list would be posted.

 Oh the wait was excruciating! I may have felt pretty bad about my callback, so I was very nervous about what might happen.

 The cast list was posted!

 I looked-- would I be portraying bratty rich girl Veruca?!?

 No.

 Mrs. Beauregarde - Bethany Baldwin

Was I disappointed? But of course. If you are hoping for something you're going to be disappointed if you don't get it! But my mindset... I don't know if I started it then, or when, but it is this. No matter what part you get, always do your best. Besides, I was a named character! That was something to be happy for!

 Mrs. Beauregarde was one of the characters I hadn't really researched (The mother of the rude, gum chewing Violet,) but I found myself becoming excited anyway. And in the end, I discovered that Mrs. Beauregarde was really the better part for me anyway.

I went to rehearsals, I read lines, worked on acting, etc. When I came into this show I had a shell. I was pretty shy around the other kids except my friend Charlotte who I had known before, and I wanted to do well, but I was a bit afraid to pop the lid off the box. But I did. For some reason, when I get on stage, I feel alive. I become a part of the story, not just an actor on the stage, but I am that person. And for your viewing *cough* pleasure, here are some photos of me as Mrs. Beauregarde.

Here's the top half of my costume. I believe this photo was taken before my first show.

  Full outfit. I should also mention that I got my braces off just in time for the show, so I was smiling proudly. :D

                   This is a photo inside the factory. I changed into this dress for the second act.

                                 In this room here... surveying the wonders of Wonka's creation.

                              About to take a hulking bite in the chocolate smelting room.

                                    Scolding/talking to my daughter outside the Wonka factory.

                                    Looking smug with my daughter during her interview.

                                             My "air guitar" picture as I call it. Who knows...

                                       The finale. Once again, who knows what I'm doing?


 I enjoyed being in my first theater show SOOOO much. Especially after waiting to long to do any sort of acting. I was a bit depressed that I would have to wait an entire year for another show! Which you will learn about next time. ;)

 What do you think?

~ a rambling author

The Other Side of Me: The Beginning

 Today I'm starting a series! Currently, it's tentatively called The Other Side of Me. I'm still trying to decide what day to post this series, as I'll be changing around my blog schedule very soon. The Other Side of Me will be about my other favorite hobby: Musical Theater. Sometimes with writing, theater, and various smaller hobbies, I tend to spread myself thin... right now with school and everything my only "hobbies" (though I view them as much more than that) are only writing and acting, along wth watching something now and again for relaxation. Here's a little background on how I got started, for today.

 Since I was a young girl, I wanted to be involved in acting in some form or other, but in my area I could never find anything. Finally, when I was about twelve or so, we heard about a home school acting group. We weren't sure how to get involved, but found out where it took place, and my mom drove me there. Unfortunately, the sign ups were over, but they promised to email us a few months later in January. January came. No email. My email could have been lost, or perhaps they merely forgot. Anyway, a few months passed, and I still wanted to act.

  I mentioned this desire to my piano teacher, who happened to know a woman who had helped put on a production of The Sound of Music. When my teacher wrote the woman's number on a sticky note, I excitedly showed it to my mom. Much to my disappointment at the time, my wise mother suggested we wait until September, since the woman was a teacher, and would most likely wait till school season.

 When September arrived, I brought it up again, and mom called the lady at last. Let's call her Mrs. A. (Love ya, Mrs. A!) Anyway, Mrs. A told mom that she was planning on doing Willy Wonka with director, Mrs. C in the spring. For now, however, she was starting a kids choir, and wondered if I would like to be involved. Since it was one step closer to my dream of acting. and I figured it could be fun, I said yes!

 One day every week, I went to choir practice, learning Christmas songs, and just having fun. We had a few small performances, but were working toward a Christmas concert to be held in a big rec center. I even had a small solo in the song Believe, which you may remember Josh Groban singing at the end of The Polar Express. My line was "There's no time to waste, there's so much to celebrate."

                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  I even somehow got into the paper. Yes, this is back in my glasses and braces days on the left. :)

 Anyway, I think I've talked enough for today. This doesn't really talk all that much about theater, but this is what helped me get there. I hope you've enjoyed this somewhat different look into my life! 

 God bless!

~ a rambling author

And The Winner is...

So, I wasn't able to post Tuesday, but I think it was worth the wait because... today I get to announce the winners for my Fifty Followers Mini Giveaway!

 First off, A Little Princess. The winner of this book, and a beautiful journal from the SassyPlanetBoutique on Etsy is... *drumroll* Adriana Lister! Whoot! Whoot! I'll email you for your address. :)

Secondly, Jane Eyre (and a special surprise. :D) The winner of this is... *trumpets* Sarah Faulkner! I'll email you to let you know how to collect your prize.

 Thank you to everyone who took part in the giveaway. It was a lot of fun for me to host, and I just want to let you all know how much I appreciate you getting me to 50! You all are the best, and if there's anything you'd like to see changed on the blog let me know. Thank you for your support, encouragement, and everything. You all are great!

~ a rambling author

First Look at Death's Touch

You know how you're doing the dishes, thinking deep thoughts, and BLAM! it hits you? Well, several months ago I was doing just that, and I suddenly had a thought for a story. A story with a very deep meaning. Death. But not specifically death, not just death itself, but also what happens after death. And how death can happen to anyone, no matter your age. I felt like it was a story that was placed on my heart for a reason. So I wrote a little about it, and put it in my to-be-written stories. Recently, this story has come to my attention again. It will not be a novel, but more of a short story, or novella. It won't be my biggest project, and I'm not even sure if it would be a story I would sell, or if it would be one I published online, so that it might help others. Right now I don't know. But I thought you guys might like to hear a little bit about it, and I'm even going to share with you the first bit of the story.

 I've never done a story like this. And the style of writing is different as well. I hope you will enjoy it anyway. :)

 Enjoy.

For some death is a doorway. For some it comes to soon. But it must come, for all. For it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgement.

 

The clock strikes eleven. There is an empty silence felt. It is real- more real than anything felt. It is a heavy silence. A silence that can mean only one thing. Death has arrived.

  If you stood in the empty hall of this Victorian-era home, you would stare at the varnished grandfather clock standing like a sentry in the corner. You would note the time that Margaret Dale passed from this life, and you would remember.

 If you were Margaret’s daughter, Louisa, you would have walked into the second room on the left, and watched her departure. You would have gripped her hand, and begged her not to go, even if ninety-three was a nice long life.

 But you are not Louisa, and if you were, you would be brought to the understanding that all have a time appointed to them, and your mother’s time is up.

 She looks at the ceiling, her face glowing with a joy you may have never witnessed. Louisa holds her hand even tighter. She is not willing to let go. You want to go to her, but you are a spectator. You cannot be part of the scene. No one is aware of your presence. You are here to learn.

 “I see the angels,” Margaret breathes, the lines around her eyes- once so shrouded, now clear- turning into a smile. “They are singing.”

 Louisa strokes her mother’s white hair, once a deep shade of chestnut. “Mother, oh mother, I’m not ready.”

 If you looked around the room, you would notice something immediately. Not the large four-poster bed, or the colorful carpet of red and gold, or the antique bureau. No, you would feel, see, the complete emptiness of the room. There is no one at the bedside, or in the entire house, but Margaret and her loving daughter.

The Prince's Quest: Sneak Peek

 Hello everyone! I know I promised a post last Friday, but life got away from me. It's tech week for The Wizard of Oz, so I've been a bit swamped. Anyway, on my book's Facebook page, I asked if anyone would be interested in a bit of a sneak peek of The Prince's Quest. So here it is. This is the prologue. It hasn't been through official editing, and was written over a year ago, so has many things to be fixed- it has lots of -ly words. But I hope you will enjoy anyway!

 Without further ado, I present the prologue to The Prince's Quest.

“Your highness?” Prince Elric turned towards the husky voice that called for his attention. “The girls have been gathered.”

The young man nodded, staring into the distance. “I’m coming,” he said slowly, distinctly.

“Very good, sire,” the manservant said, bowing slightly before exiting the royal’s chambers.

The prince adjusted the shoulders of his deep blue tunic, leaving the skirt of the fabric to rest above the knees of his brown breeches. Straightening, he pushed open the door, to reveal a rather dark corridor with a deep purple rug covering the entire length of the hallway’s floor. Will she be here?” he found himself wondering, barely able to hope.

With memories flashing in a strange exotic swirl in his mind, it was hard to tell what in the past few weeks was a dream, and what was reality. Perhaps, even, he was becoming insane. Could a sound minded man separate fact from fiction?

Stop being a fool, the prince chided himself, taking a deep breath, and stopping before a tall set of double doors. Beyond lay the future. What was in this room would shape his future, the path he would take; He only hoped he would not be disappointed. Inhaling deeply, hart pounding madly, he shoved open the doors.

His manservant, Winston, who must have arrived but a few short moments before, stood waiting for him, fingers patting a nervous rhythm on his black trousers.  “Prince Elric,” he said, sounding extremely relieved. “I think we must hurry- if your father knew what we were doing-“

 “Hush,” Elric said, his voice low, thick with some sort of emotion Winston could not quite place. His eyes were focused on the long line of girls, representing the entire unwed group from the village of Redge.

 Not daring to get his hopes up, the prince traversed down the line slowly, disappointment cutting into him like the deepest of knife wounds. Was it even likely that she would be here, among this crowd of peasant girls, all of which were probably worth a great deal more then they had been given credit? Perhaps they did not have substantial sums of money, a title… or any such thing. But was that what truly mattered anyway?

 Some of the girls did not look at him as he walked by; others were smiling at him openly. Pick me, their gazes said. I want to be important.

 Glancing up, Elric saw a group of people huddled in the background; eyes filled with a nervous anticipation. After all, it wasn’t every day that the greatest prince in the kingdom sent out a messenger to a village asking for all young women of marriageable age to report to one of the royal family’s many palaces- this one located on the outskirt of Redge. The prince realized that these people must be the loved ones of the girls standing before him. And they were just as anxious about his motives as the girls themselves.

 As he passed another hopeful young lady, her eyes large and bright, he caught sight of the honey colored hair of the girl standing next to her. His breath hitched in his throat, and he fumbled for something intelligent to say. Finally, in an almost inaudible whisper, he spoke one word; one name.

 “Anya?” A pair of frightened green eyes turned to him. They pleaded with him, and Elric saw a deep dread hanging there, as if being chosen were a death sentence.

 “Please,” she whimpered. The prince fought back the distress clawing at his chest. He expelled a shaky breath, before taking her hand carefully.

 “You are free to go,” he said softly, kindly.

The girl gave a gasp of joy, before withdrawing her hand from his, and rushing back to the group of families. The prince watched with an odd feeling in his stomach as the girl threw her arms around a young, tanned boy who probably worked the king’s fields, and received the lowest of salaries. The girl clung the young man, as if she never wished to be parted from him, and hot tears coursed down her cheeks, while the boy whispered comforting words into her ear.

 The prince smiled sadly to himself. It had not been her. It was just another peasant girl; but not his peasant girl. Half-heartedly, Elric paraded past the remaining village girls, before raising his voice loudly so that all in the room could hear his echoing words.

 “You are free to go,” he said without emotion. A wave a disappointment washed through the crowd. Disappointment that almost mirrored his own. And yet, stronger even then the disappointment was wonderful, sweet relief. Nothing bad was going to happen. Now one was going to be punished. And no one’s daughter would marry a tyrant’s son.

 Winston hurried to his employer, curiosity lighting his eyes. “Did you not find her?” he asked hurriedly/ The prince felt his shoulders slump forward slightly.

 “Not yet,” he said quietly, beginning the trek back to his lavish sleeping chambers.

 Perhaps he should speak to some of the men from Redge, and attempt to weasel the answers from them. Maybe it wouldn’t work – he was the king’s son, after all. He was, by association, the enemy. He was dangerous. Men of his lineage had only ever brought pain and suffering to the people of this unfortunate kingdom. Then again, every man, no matter how true, and good they professed to be had a price. Didn’t they?

 Elric was even uncertain of this himself, but he brushed all doubts from his mind, and quickened his step. The villagers must talk to him. He could not even begin to think of what he would do if they rebutted all of his approaches. But no, they would not. His quest was much too important.

 “Not yet,” he repeated, entering his chambers whilst pulling a scrolled map of the kingdom from a bookshelf above the comfortable, goose down bed. Running his finger over various trails and roads, his mind sifted through hundred of possibilities. His index finger trailed over the Wolfs bane mountain range, and through the Filian dessert, and in the gorge of Ill Will. She could have gone anywhere. Turning suddenly, Elric faced his aide, who stood surprised in the doorway.

 “Winston,” the prince said thoughtfully, brushing his hands together to rid himself of the dust the map had accumulated without constant use.

 “Yes?” the servant asked, performing yet another bow.

“I’m going to speak with the king.”           

My Purpose

 Every person longs for a purpose. No matter who they are, no matter what they do, they long for something... more. Some may scoff at this thought, but it is the honest truth. That feeling of something missing in your life, that longing for something else, that is you wishing for a purpose.

 In books, a character must have a purpose for the story to mean something. It can be such a great purpose as Frodo traveling to Mordor to destroy an evil item, or such a simple thing as a person having something they want to do before their death.

 What is my purpose?

 There is only one way to find out your purpose. Prayer. God is the one who has created your purpose, whatever it may be, and He is the one who will reveal your purpose. I'm still not entirely sure what my purpose is, but there are a few things I really get joy from that I feel the Lord has really put a desire in my heart to do.

 Acting and singing When I get on stage, something sparks inside me. I love it. I also love to sing, and praise the Lord.

Writing This is the main thing that I think could be used as a blessing and outreach to others. Ever since a young age, I loved to write little stories, and now I'm attempting large books. So many messages can be spread through the written word, but I also just love it for the writing. I love to have a pen, or keyboard at my disposal, and to let the story flow out. Everywhere I go I get ideas for a new story, every day I have to write at least a little bit. I love to share my writing, even if I get nervous that others won't love it like I do. Because I do love my stories. I believe that God gave me the ideas, and even if all the sentences aren't written in a flourish, the underlying story is what matters.

 I don't really know the purpose God has prepared me for. But for now, I'll continue pursuing the things I feel He has placed a desire in me to do. I love to act. And I love to write. But most of all, I love to write for the glory of the Greatest Storyteller of them all.

 What about you?

~ a rambling author

Ah La Surgery.

 Some of you might be aware that a week ago I had wisdom teeth surgery.  Yes, exactly one week. And it was not a pretty week, I'm telling you. And for those of you, my lovely readers, not familiar with the extraction of these pesky teeth, and what happens, allow me to shed a little light on the subject.

 Wisdom teeth are basically teeth that grow in when you reach the supposed age of wisdom- eighteen. Yeah, I don't think that's the age of wisdom either, but that's what the introductory video says. These teeth grow in the back, beside your latest molars. That is, if they grow in at all. Often, they become impacted, because of how they are turned, and are unable to grow in. Which isn't good. So in wisdom tooth surgery they cut into your mouth, and remove the teeth. Ouch!

 And I had a special case. Not only were my wisdom teeth going to be impacted when they grew in, but one of my twelve year molars never grew in because of one of them. It seemed that the edge of the molar was hooked to the wisdom tooth, which prevented it coming in. We had a long, drawn out near two years where we would go to the dentist, and the orthodontist, and they would tell us time and time again that we needed to have the wisdom tooth removed. But the thing was, oral surgeon we went to, who had removed all four of my siblings wisdom teeth, took a look at my x-rays and decided he couldn't decide if my wisdom tooth and molar were fused or not. *Gulp.* He said he'd have to take out both teeth. My mom was NOT pleased with this, so we didn't do it. Finally, we arranged to have another appointment with a different hospital. They said that the two were separate, so we finally set our appointment.

 That morning, I was a little worried (all those stories I read about kids dying...) but I prayed, and trusted my Lord and Savior to take care of me. We sat in the waiting room for almost an hour... maybe even longer until they finally called us back. We were taken to a little room where I had to wait a while longer. A guy came in to do my IV. I only had an IV when I was little so I wasn't sure how it was going to be. He had this long needle, and a plastic straw thing to stick up my arm. Fun! I held my mom's hand (WHAT, it's allowed!) while he stuck it right in the crease of my arm. He had to wiggle the thing around for a little bit to be able to get it in because I was dehydrated (not allowed to eat since the day before.) It wasn't exactly a comfortable experience. He left, and I had to wait again. I couldn't even bend my arm much now. A woman came in, took the IV bag down, and led me to another room. The awful torture chamber. Okay, just the surgery room. And I had to wait some more. *Taps fingers*

 The lady came back and prepped me for surgery- hooked me up to all kinds of beeping machines, and put all kinds of monitors on my heart etc. I waited a little more, (there was an awful lot of waiting involved) and the doctor's came in. They put a mask over my nose which was blowing oxygen in my nose, and told me they would tell me when the drugs started coming in. (For the record, they never did tell me. If I hadn't tasted it I wouldn't have ever known.) Then he just started a random conversation with me about schools, and some teenagers who'd gotten drunk. Yeah, weird conversation, right? o.O It was during this conversation that I started tasting this sickening sweet taste which I guessed was the medicine. Pretty soon my arms began to feel weird and like they were tingling and just... strange.

Then, something happened. I'm not exactly clear on what, but I had the distinct impression that something went wrong, so I started praying. The nurse sounded worried, and they started checking all my monitors, and talking to each other, and that was the last thing I knew... I was asleep.

 I woke up in the same chair I went to sleep in. I felt a bit out of it, but I was aware of what was happening. The doctor told the nurse to get my mom. Mom came in and talked a bit, listened to instructions, then they told her to get the car pulled up. The nurse fetched a wheelchair, and helped me in it. Then she wheeled through the hospital, to the elevators and down into the parking garage. They helped me get into the car and get my seatbelt on.

One of the first things I said, I think, was about how I didn't like the gauze in my mouth, or something of that nature. Mom helped me switch out and it was all nasty and bloody. Mom had to go to Sam's club to pick up my subscription, and on the way we changed the gauze yet again. By the time we got there I needed to use the restroom. We put in the subscription, then headed to the bathroom. Mom told me to wait til there weren't people around so I wouldn't freak them out with my blood before I rinsed my mouth out. ;P She also told me to stop staring at the floor because people were starting to stare at me weird. Haha! I got rid of the gauze, and mom bought me an ice cream. It took me a bit to get my mouth open, but when I did, and just let the ice cream sit there it felt so good!

 We got the subscription, and went home, I slept in the car.

 That day I didn't have much pain. Half my face was numb, and most people sleep the whole day, but I didn't. I had maybe one fifteen minute nap when I got home. I stayed in bed, but I watched shows or something to pass the time. Mom would give me Popsicles and stuff now and again.

 It wasn't until the next day until the pain came. I swelled up really badly. Some advice: do not apply heat to your face unless you want to swell up. No matter who tells you to. ;) I also would get pretty nauseous if I sat up too long. Once I got so sick I thought I was going to puke, but I didn't, and it calmed down after some prayer. Thank the Lord.

 So, now a week later, the swelling has almost completely disappeared, and the stitches are loosening, but I still have a bit of pain. It's all coming along though.

 I thank the Lord for keeping me safe in the procedure and all that's come after it. Thursday I'll be blogging at Randomosity Writers about writing from experience- thank you wisdom teeth! See you later!

~ a rambling author