SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT // chasing moonlight

Hey there!

So, I have a very special announcement for everyone. Thanks to the help of Julia and Sarah, I was finally able to start something I've been hoping to do for awhile now.

*drum role*

I STARTED MY OWN POETRY BLOG

Guys!! I'm beyond excited to share with you I started a poetry blog, chasing moonlight. I have to say a HUGE thanks to Julia and Sarah for helping me get started. Julia, the kindest human ever, texted me Christmas morn and told me she wanted to buy and install a design for the poetry blog I've been yearning to start. *sequels* Is that not that sweetest thing ever? So her and Sarah were way too kind and helped make it all pretty and I can't thank them enough. Also, Sarah helped me come up with name, which I am just in love with. If you're not following Julia's blogs Twilight to Dawn and The Barefoot Gal, and Sarah's blog The Introverted Extrovert, you must go do so right now. They are both the cutest, nicest, funniest girls ever and I am so blessed by their existence. So go stalk their blogs, go do it!

My goal for chasing moonlight is to just share my poetry with whoever will read it. I love to write, but I feel as if Whimsical Thoughts has taken a different route. Don't get me wrong, I adore this blog and will still be posting regularly, but I wanted to dedicate a spot for only my writing, somewhere I can post as many poems as I want without feeling bad I don't have variety. So, if you've enjoyed my writing in the past, jump over to chasing moonlight and follow me! I already have one post up, and I cannot wait to share more.

Thank you to everyone who has given me so much encouragement in my writing, thus inspiring me to start this new blog. And thanks again to sweet sweet Julia and Sarah for helping me out. YOU TWO ARE THE LEGIT BEST.

Have a wonderful New Years,

Elizabeth

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Hello friends,

Last Friday my family and I woke up to a beautiful surprise. SNOW! A good snowfall was much overdue and finally, after a few years, we got a couple lovely inches. Plus, it came around Christmas and stuck. We had a white Christmas! It was truly a blessing. Of course, I had to take advantage of this gorgeous sight and take a few pictures. So Aaron, our mother, and Murphy set out to do just that.

I just love my family and these pictures are so honest to our relationships. Aaron running around making goofy faces, and my mom tolerating me taking a few of her (shhhh don't tell her I posted them), And of course, the pup. He's so funny in the snow, he'll jump in the air to catch the flakes and then fall back down, all confused. Aaron likes to make snowballs and watch Murphy try to catch them. It's a bit cruel, but entertaining nonetheless. Confession time: I'm not really an animal person, and would get slightly annoyed at people obsessing over their dogs, but I adore my fluffy pup and can't stop taking pictures of him and showing them to others. So I suppose I'm warming up to the idea of liking animals, especially if they have cute faces and live with me.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. Can you believe it's over? Time goes by so quickly and the thing you were waiting for for so long, suddenly is over with and gone. It was very pleasing to have a white Christmas, though, and spend time with family. But guys, winter break is over in a week and I'm just not ready, not ready at all.

Send help and lots of coffee please. Also, cake. Cake cures all.

How has your week been? Can you believe it's officially winter AND that the year is almost over? Guys, it's too crazy, I think I must go hide and wait it out.

Hoping you have a wonderful week,

Elizabeth

searching for cheer

tis the season
for christmas cheer
snow is falling
carols are sung
people are bustling
here and there
and jolliness seems to be
everywhere
yet
i'm still standing here
empty handed
my heart is full
but not with joy
with doubt
fear
confusion
dread
so i wait for it
to snow
and i buy all
the gifts
i watch elf
and polar express
and rudolf the reindeer
but
nothing
am i broken
have i just grown up
why is this excitement
absent
in my life
but then i stop
and realize
christmas isn't about
the lights
the music
the traditions
it's not even about
who's here
and who isn't
it's about
Emmanuel
God with us
our Savior
who came down to earth
to save us
yet i base my feelings
on a christmas tree
on snowmen
and holiday cookies
no wonder i don't feel
this "spirit"
of christmas
i've been looking
to all the wrong things
when it's only ever been about
Jesus
and the precious gift
we've been given

How are you feeling about Christmas? I know this season can be really hard for a lot of people, and I totally get that! There's people that I miss and traditions that have been lost, and it's sad, but I've come to the realization that it doesn't matter if I feel "christmasy" or not, because this season is all about Christ, not me. So join me in these last couple of days in worshiping Jesus and remembering why we celebrate this holiday in the first place.

Merry Christmas! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday,

Elizabeth

Chats Over Coffee #1 // Surviving High School

Hello beautiful people!

Isn't my title so creative and original? It came to me in a dream! Okay so not really, but guys I'm not a creative person so if you have a better title, leave me a comment down below. Anyways, I've just adored writing on this blog and having conversations with other bloggers, so I wanted to start a little series where I can chat about different topics with you guys and share my experiences while still being authentic. But that means you have to chat with me too, so don't leave me hanging here okay? Okay,

So this is my senior year in high school/freshmen year in college and it's so weird. For a little recap, my state has a program where high school students can take free college classes that work for both high school and college credits, and you can get an AA degree through it, so it's pretty awesome and not something I wanted to pass up. But even though I'm not going to high school this year, I still definitely feel like I'm in high school and I can't believe it's going to be over soon. It's been funny to reflect on the past four years and think back to when I was almost sure I wouldn't get through it. But guys, I am surviving high school, and you know what? It's not as hard as I thought it was going to be.

i. learn to laugh at yourself

Back in 9th grade, basically anything humiliated me. In Spanish I, I was constantly messing up the pronunciation and every time we had to talk in class, I felt like dying. I just knew everyone was like, "Wow, Elizabeth is so stupid, I can't believe she is in this class." I felt like this for a month or two, until I realized that everyone else also struggled in different areas and I wasn't alone. I learned to laugh at my mistakes and the class stopped being something I was afraid of, and I ended up learning so much! So guys, laughing at yourself is so important. It helps you cope first off, and shows others that you're a boss and don't need to be perfect. But actually, am I the only one who just fails at learning other languages? Because oh my gosh am I bad.

ii. an "f" doesn't mean you're a failure. 

The very first exam I ever took in Biology, I got an F. Never in my life had I gotten an F and I was so devastated. How was I going to pass Biology? How was I going to get into college? Basically, my life was ruined. But do you know what? I corrected my test, did extra credit, and studied harder and I ended up getting an A in that class. So just because you get an F in something, that doesn't mean you're a failure and you can't come back from it. Don't let test scores and essay grades define your intelligence, because that's just simply not an accurate comparison. Work hard, do your best, and try try again.

iii. drama is inevitable 

I'm home schooled/private schooled, but I still ran into drama. It's unavoidable. Whether it's revolved around you, your friends, the person you like, it's going to come into your life and you have the option to get involved or to back out. Now, I'm chosen both options and more often than not, it's a mistake to get involved into drama. Of course, other times you get sucked into it without a choice. Honestly though, people say things just to get reactions and attention from others, so don't give them the satisfaction of getting on board. Just let how you live your life show your character, and the people who matter will realize what's true and what isn't.

iv. be respectable to those in charge

Every time someone complains about a teacher not liking them and how terrible they are, more often than not do I find that the student is actually super disrespectful and distracting to others. This upsets me so much because your teachers and leaders work so hard to help you learn. They spends hours every day just to benefit you and your life, the least we as students can do is treat them with respect and gratitude. You will get so much further when you learn to respect authority and be thankful for the work they put into your life. And you know what? It's okay to be nice to your teachers, say thank you, and have conversations with them. That doesn't make you a "teacher's pet." Don't stop being nice and respectful because your peers are teasing you for it.

v. focus on the lord instead of emotions

This is the most important thing to remember when attempting to survive high school, and really the rest of your life. I'm a very emotion driven person, and a lot of times I'll get on these spiritual highs, where I'm like, "Oh yeah this Christian thing is so great, I just love God and everyone else so much." And when that wares off, I start getting unfocused and I fall into this trap of searching for that high again. But our relationship with God shouldn't be based on spiritual highs, because then when it leaves us, we often fall into into this pit. We go from high to low, from light to dark, and get sorta lost. This is been something I've been struggling with for since I can remember, and I keep having to remember to keep the Lord the center of my focus, and not on how things make me feel. Being a Christian isn't easy, and it says that in the bible. It's a choice we constantly have to make, to live for Him and obey his commandments, whether we love it or not. Remember that while in high school and as you move onto the rest of your life. Remember the bigger picture, and realize when you're focusing on the world or what makes you feel good instead of our Lord and His word. It's okay to feel really great about your relationship with Him, that's awesome, but if you hit a road block, don't let that bring you down. Praise Him through all stages and periods of life.

I know I'm not the only senior on this scary road to graduation and university, how are you all feeling? What tips do you have for surviving high school and what experiences caused you to learn? Leave a comment down below and don't forget to click that "notify me" button so we can continue the conversation.

Have a lovely week!

Elizabeth

18 Things I've Learned in 18 Years

Hello friends,

The time has come to say goodbye to being a child and to say hello to adulthood. I mean, all I've done since turning 18 is eat like crap, make a mess of my room, and sleep in too late, so nothing has really changed, but now I can check I'm an adult on forums and elope, so that's something to be excited about. But really guys, I've been reflecting a lot on how life is changing and thinking about what I've learned. It's been 18 years, so I sure hope I've learned a few things. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been writing a few some stuff down and came up with a list (Whoa, a list of 18 things on your 18th birthday, what a coincidence!). I was hoping to have this up on my birthday last Friday, but life happens so you're getting this a bit late. But without anymore filler words, here's a list of 18 things I've learned in 18 years, and why they're kind of important.

1. Stop using "adulting" as an excuse. Adults have been "adulting" since the beginning of time and when you use that excuse for making mistakes and being too lazy, it makes more mature adults want to strangle you. Seriously, yeah life is hard, but stop making it sound like your generation of adults has it so much harder. You don't, you really really don't.

2. Yes, you do have time. There's never enough time to read your bible, catch up with friends, do your homework, and clean your room, but wow look at all the time there is to watch Netflix, eat cake, and binge read! Funny how that works,

3. It's okay to say no. Saying no is hard, I get it, but sometimes it just needs to happen. You can't do everything, you can't carry everyone's burdens. Learn to say no to more things so you can say yes to the things that really matter.

4. No person can fix you. Stop looking to significant others, friends, and family to fix you. No one can make you feel beautiful and loved forever. You need to accept yourself first and realize your worth comes from Christ, not the people around you.

5. Sleep is actually really important. Stop waiting till Midnight to write you midterm paper, stop watching Friends until 2am, stop reading until your eyes can't make out the words. Sleep is so so important for your health! Get things done before the wee hours of the night and give yourself some well deserved rest.

6. You're going to mess up a lot. You're not perfect, but guess what? No one is! Don't be proud, but don't carry around guilt either. Know when you're wrong, forgive yourself, apologize to those who deserve it, and confess you wrongdoings to God. You're not a failure, you're not a terrible person, you're just flawed like everyone else.

7. Take time to explore. Don't stay camped up in your room, go explore the world around you. Go for road trips, take that long hike, check out the tiny new bookstore. You're young, go explore while you still have the time. Breath in the fresh air, take lots of pictures, and pick the wild flowers.

8. God's way > your way. Sometimes God's way is a lot harder than your way, but it's so much better. Sometimes we think we know best, but we're always wrong. Spend time in prayer and listen for God's voice. Read the word and recognize how it applies to your life. Even when it's tough, stick to his commandments. Abiding in Him is so much greater than going your own way.

9. Don't do life alone. Look for close friends you can trust. Seek guidance from those who are older and wiser. Know you aren't alone, and ask for help when you need it. Don't deal with anxiety and depression alone, seek help and be honest about your feelings. Don't lock yourself away, talk to others and build healthy relationships.

10. Stop stressing over the little things. Stressing out is one of the easiest things to do in the world, but how often do we get so stressed out over little things and forget it the next day? Learn to let things go and realize that life doesn't always go your way. Remember that God always has a plan and purpose for the things that happen. Stop stressing, give your worries to God and relax.

11. Never be ashamed of your smile or laugh. If someone ever tells you that you laugh or smile too much, take that as a compliment. Smile often, laugh even more. Be joyful and give that joy to others. Laugh at the funny moments and the stressful ones. Smile to those who need it, and smile when you don't think you can.

12. Spend time with your family. Make time for you parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents, or any family members you have to call your own. Don't take them for granted, grow those relationships and be thankful for them. Ask them questions, give them hugs, and tell them you love them before it's too late.

13. Make the little things count. Dance to your music without shame, pick flowers and put them on your desk to be admired, share hugs often, treasures handwritten notes and cards, and take pictures of moments, even if they don't seem significant. Make the most of every day.

14. Write stuff down. Life is busy and we forget so much stuff. Take time to write things down, small or big. Record what's happening in your life, talk about your feelings and interesting events. Keep the words you wrote down and look back at them often. Move on from your past, but don't forget it. Learn from it and take joy away from it.

15. Say yes to things that scare you. Never say no to things just because you're afraid you might fail. Take risks and try new things that challenge you. Learn from your failures, and try again. Fear is only in your mind, don't let it stop you from achieving your dreams.

16. Do hard things. Take care of your body and be mindful of what you put into it. Break away from harmful relationships. Be thankful in all seasons of life. Learn to do things yourself and not rely on others to do it for you. Step out of your comfort zone. Work hard on things instead of doing the minimum. Sit with the friendless. Do the things that are hard instead of what feels easiest.

17. Don't take insults to heart. People are going to say some mean things, treat you like a child, and completely ignore you. Don't take it to heart. Realize that you can't please everyone and others will look down on you. Don't fight hate with hate, but instead treat everyone with love and respect, even if you don't receive the same treatment.

18. Keep your relationship with Christ as your top priority. This is by far the most important lesson I've learned over the years, and it's something I continue to learn daily. Your relationship with Christ is the most important relationship you'll ever have. Make time for Him, pray often, reflect on His word, praise Him daily. Don't sacrifice this relationship for worldly wants.

Although these are lessons I believe to be important, I'm am continuously trying to apply them to my life, and am always learning new things outside of this list. Life is full of so many lessons to learn from and I can't wait to see what my future holds for me. So what lessons have you learned over the years? Why are they important? Let's chat down below, I always love hearing from you and discussing life. :)

Hoping you all have a wonderful week,

Elizabeth

Hey There December

Hello friends,

It's December!! I know, I know, old news. I'm getting this post up late, but it's still kind of crazy. This month, four of my closet friends have birthdays, I'm turning 18 and Christmas!! December truly is a wonderful month, expensive and cold, but wonderful nonetheless. But guys, we only have one more month until this year is over. One more month to make this year count (no pressure or anything). It's kind of freaking me out, time is going by too fast and I need to pause it and get my life together before anything else happens. Anyhow, before I depress you all with my inner thoughts, let's get on to the wrap up.

Currently// Hurriedly writing papers and trying to get through finals week, hanging up Christmas lights and listening to holly jolly music, eating crappy but delicious food and not having any money, constantly cleaning my room and recleaning it, never having enough clean laundry, writing when I should be sleeping, and being tired. all. the. time.

Reading// Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. This is seriously such a wonderful book and I cannot wait to find time to sit down and consume it for hours. For now, I have to settle for reading it in my snippets of free time. Also, currently listening to The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater on audio. I loved the first three books and I really want to finish the finale, but I haven't had a lot of opportunities to sit down and listen to it.

Enjoying// Mikailah's post, Summer Girl // Poetry. Jacyrayn's post, Break Through. Adelaide's post, Waiting. Julia's post, Apart. Vanessa's post, Don't Just Watch {A Poem} And Eve's post, Ghosts.

Listening// So I've really been enjoying listening to the 2011 Jane Eyre soundtrack. Guys, it's so good and perfect for studying/reading/writing. I've also been really liking the Sweeney Todd soundtrack with Johnny Depp. It's such an odd, but fascinating story and the music is quite intense. And then of course, Christmas music has been playing practically daily, because once November 1st hits, I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.

Loving// Chocolate milk and McDonald's hash browns, because there is no better match. Lip syncing to musicals and wishing I had their talents. Doing well in my college classes and feeling a tad smarter than I did during the beginning of the quarter. Chicken bakes from Costco. Sitting by the fire with coffee and petting Murphy. My new black skinny jeans from American Eagle. And seeing everyone's updates on Twitter, they make my day that much better.

Disliking// Finals week and writing papers when you have no motivation. An unnamed person spilling chocolate milk all over my bed. Trying to interact with mechanics when you have no idea how cars work and what's happening. Early mornings, being late, and stepping in a deep puddle of muck. People telling me it's too early for Christmas celebrations. When its packaging says cream filling and it's actually gross powdery stuff.

Blogging// October Photo Dump, where I talk about random October happenings and share some photos. Art Journal Update #1, where I show you all a peak of my art journal and poetry. my air force man, where I write to my brother the words I couldn't say beforehand. Recommended Reads: Classic Literature, where I discuss why you should read classic literature and give you some suggestions. enough, where I write about being thankful in even the darkest moments. Things to Do on a Rainy Day, where I give you 10 awesome, somewhat productive things to do on a rainy day.

Upcoming// Christmas break!! Which means more blogging and catching up. My 18th birthday, coming soon on December 9th. Please send help, because it means I'm adult and I just want to sleep and eat potatoes.

Hoping// To write a lot more and possibly work on a project I've been wanting to act on for awhile. *evil smile* To really focus more on Jesus and reconnect with friends and family. To read books that are actually on my shelf, and stop buying new ones. To maybe work on redesigning parts of my blog. What do you guys think, yes? No? Does anyone have experience or suggestions they might want to give me, because I have really no talent when it comes to designing. I would so appreciate any help!

How was your November? Should I update my blog design? Are you getting pumped for Christmas? Let's chat down below!

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend,

Elizabeth

Things to Do on a Rainy Day

Hello friends,

As a resident of Washington, I've seen my fair share of rainy days. Like, probably 70 percent of our days are rainy. Well okay, so I just looked it up and it's more like an average of 42 percent per year, but it feels like a lot more than that. Still, I'm well experienced and today I'm here to share with you some things to do on rainy days that are more or less productive. So sit down, grab a cup of tea, enjoy the sounds of rain falling on your roof, and get ready for some extreme wisdom.

1. create a goodreads/twitter/instagram// Okay, now hear me out, too few of you guys have social media for me to stalk you on! I want to know every book you're reading, every small detail of your day, and every bit of food you took a bite of. Plus, social media helps raise awareness for your blog and beautiful face, so what's not to love? See, productive!

2. discover a new musical// Don't get me wrong, I love Hamilton and Les Misérables, but there are other amazing musicals out there that also deserve crazy fangirls (and fanboys!!) to memorize every line, create fanart, and write fanfiction for. So cue the recommendations.

Fiddler on the Roof. TRADITION.TRADITION!....TRADITION. *inaudible fanigrl squeals* 

Phantom of the Opera. Phantom and opera in the same title, so a no brainer obviously. 

The Huntchback of Notre Dome. Specifically the 2015 musical by James Lapine and Peter Parnell and composed by Alan Menken. Such goodness. 

Into the Woods. It's weird, it's creepy, and it's a play on different fairy tales. It's cool. 

Wicked. UM it's about the two witches from The Wizard of Oz so uh yeah. 

My Fair Lady. Audrey Hepburn plays the main character. You're welcome.

Grease. GREASE LIGHTENING *attempts to mimic their dancing* It's good, so good. 

3. curl up with a cozy read// Reading is just pure wonderfulness and reading on a rainy day is so magical, so you must do it now please, thank you. And, if you read, you'll learn new things and have a better imagination and you'll just be a cooler human being. Not that if you don't read, you're not cool, it's just that, you're probably not as cool as someone who does read, especially someone who reads on a rainy day. But hey! I'm here to give you some cozy reads recommendations so now you too can be cool. *enthusiastic thumbs up*

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. A wonderful book written by a wonderful human, You should read it, then run to me and we can talk, but only if you loved it, because this is my all time favorite book and I will not tolerate any hate. 

The Tale of Despereaux by Katie DiCamillo. It's a book about an adorable little mouse who is outcasted because he's too brave. It's the cutest book ever! 

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. This book utterly broke my heart into a million pieces but also made it feel so complete. It was amazing. 

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. This is such a heartwarming contemporary that gave me so many feels. I adored it! The movie adaption is great too, but the book (obviously) is much better. 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Some of the best writing I've ever read and a beautifully crafted story. Plus, super short chapters so it goes by quickly. 

4. try a new recipe// Because baking is ten times more magical when it's rainy. Try my Jam Cookies or Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins if you dare! WARNING: They're super old posts and need updating, so please no judgment. Or judge, whatever, no hurt feelings or anything. 

5. watch something new on netflix. Okay so nothing about this is really productive, but you could clean or do homework while watching your new show and maybe feel productive? OR you could just take a well deserved break and eat food and turn on a good show. Do it, you know you should. 

Merlin. This is my favorite drama ever!! Merlin is adorable and all the characters are amazing and it's a fantasy and made by BBC and it is pure joy so watch it. Yeah yeah, that was a terrible run on sentence, but I can't properly express me love for this show, it's just so wonderful!! 

Call of the Midwife. Another wonderful drama from BBC, I've only watched the first season so far but I'm really loving it! The British know how to do it right.

Heartland. So this is a show about horses and a ranch, so not normally something I'd watch, but a few of my best friends love this show and got me hooked. So far it's pretty good!

When Calls the Heart. This show is so cute! It's a bit cheesy, don't get me wrong, but I quite like it. One of my closest friends really likes it too, but since she lives about three hours away, we just watch it at the same time while texting each other and ranting. It's pretty great. 

6. get coffee with your best friend. Because your best friend is an adorable, wonderful person who deserve to be loved and given coffee. You can do it, you can leave the house, bear the rain. If you have a close friend who doesn't live close enough (like me, *sniff*) skype them and drink coffee over the screen. Unless your wifi connection is ruined by the rain, then just be lonely and sad I guess.

7. discover new blogs. Welp, hopefully you guys have a good wifi connection or else you're missing out! Blogs are the best and there are so many wonderful people you must read from. Spend some time looking through other bloggers' "friends" pages (I really need to make one), or stalk the people who comments on their blogs, or who follows them on twitter. It sounds creepy, but you will find amazing bloggers, I promise you.

Letters to Jayna. Okay, so Elissa is one beautiful soul and just happens to be one of my best friends, so obviously you need to go follow her. She writes such beautiful poetry and I love her to death. 

Twilight to Dawn. So if you know The Barefoot Gal, then you already know Julia is an amazing human being and I adore her poetry blog, everything she write is pure goodness. Go follower her and convince her to publish a poetry collection, okay? okay.

Simply Me. Oh my gosh guys, Vanessa is actually the sweetest person ever and I love love her blog and her so go check her out.

Words Passing You By and Beloved. So I've been following Cally for awhile now and she is who I aspire to be. Everything she writes is breathtaking and I just love her and the wisdom she has. Follower her other blog too, gah she's great. 

Paper Fury. If you like books, then you will love Cait's blog! Her formatting is on point and she writes some of the best reviews ever. I just love everything about her writing!

8. watch your favorite childhood movies// And let all the nostalgia kick in. I was watching Spirit the other day and it just gave me all the feels! My brother Zachary use to force us to watch that all the time, it was so weird to watch it without him.

9. take up a new hobby// If you're going to stay home all day, you might as well hunker down and learn something new. It makes you feel all accomplished and productive, that is, if you actually were able to figure it out. If you tried and failed, well, you might feel differently.

Start a blog. Okay, so if you don't blog, you need to start! the blogging world is a magical place where you can write whatever you want with no rules and express yourself. It's wonderful and actually not that hard. I mean, it takes a lot of time and work, but it's fun and rewarding. Do it, you know you should.

Learn to crochet/knit. It's way easier than it looks, plus you can knit your family a bunch of stuff for their gifts and it's cheap and they can't complain because it's "from the heart" *evil laugh*

Pick up a new instrument. Spoiler, I don't actually play an instrument and that picture is me creating an allusion that I'm more talented than I actually am, but I wish I knew how to play an instrument, so let's learn together, shall we? Okay. 

Write something new. A short story, poetry, creative nonfiction, a song. Whatever you're not use to and kind of scares you, try it! You just might like it. 

10. go clean your room// Because this is the most productive thing on this list and it'll raise your spirits. Let's be honest, it's probably a mess right now and you're using the internet as a distraction. Well stop it, and go clean your room. You can't say I'm not wise. 

Bonus! 11. go enter to be in Morning's blogger yearbook// So Morning had this amazing idea to create a blogger yearbook and she needs more entries, go check it out! Her blog is awesome and I think her idea is absolute genius. 

What do you like to do on rainy days? Throw me some more ideas down below. Did any of my suggestions help? Let's chat about it! 

Have a wonderful week,

Elizabeth 

enough

life was good
for there were flowers to be picked
bright and vibrant
just like her eyes
they were to be set on her desk
to remind her
there were still beautiful things
at night
when she couldn't breath
when her mind held her captive
she could look at those flowers
and smile
she would clench
and unclench her fists
panic would rise up her throat
choking her
but
life was good

life was good
for there were twinkly lights
to be put up
walls to cover
with words she'd stringed together
and images
painted straight from her soul
when her vision blurred
with tears she could not control
she looked up to see her creations
the feelings that were pasted there
and was comforted
they were wet with tears
and scars were hidden in their pages
but
life was good

life was good
for there were adventures to be taken
mountains to climb
with hair blowing in the wind
she had road trips to leave for
maps to be looked over
detours to be taken
when she felt alone
tapped in a box unable to move
she thought of the smell of fresh air
and the feel of new ground
under her feet
wrapped into a ball
loneliness holding her tight
she stared into the darkness
but
life was good

life was good
for there were books to be read
the pages
each having a story
she filled her bookshelves
with friends she held dear
and places that whispered her name
when she no longer wanted to be herself
when her spirit felt crushed
she changed her name
and left her sad world
she became lost
and questioned her purpose
but
life was good

life was good
for there were sunsets to be watched
hands to be held
and shoulders to lean on
as the sky turned magically
into colors no human could ever recreate
she became an early riser
just to watch the sunrise
when the panic attacks erupted
and breathing seemed impossible
she reminded herself
endings can be beautiful
and new beginnings breathtaking
alone in her bedroom
rocking back and forth
her heart was pounding like a race horse
but
life was good

life was good
for there was always light to be found
in the darkness
and arms to hold her
when she fell
even when she felt alone
her heart hopeless
she was never alone
when she felt unworthy of love
her creator told her otherwise
this world failed her
and every day she was reminded of her imperfections
but
life was good
because god was good
and that was enough



Happy Thanksgiving// Whether you're American or not, happy Thanksgiving to all my beautiful followers, I'm so thankful for all your support and sweet comments, you guys are the reason I still blog and I can't thank you enough.

So I've been thinking about thankfulness for awhile and discussing it with others. Let's be honest here, it's really hard to be thankful sometimes! Life isn't easy, and often times we only dwell on the bad things. Whether it's your hair not being how you like it, trouble at school, struggling with anxiety, or a death you're grieving, there are so many things that stop us from being thankful. I get it! I've been there too and I'm constantly struggling with it, but guys, God calls us to be thankful in everything, not just when life is going good. We forget that, because it's hard and seems impossible. Why would God call us to do such a thing when we can't possibly accomplish it?  So I wanted to write about that. How even when it doesn't seem like there's things to be thankful for, there is! We have been given so much. Best of all, God is so very good and is always there for us. So no matter what you're going through this Thanksgiving, remember that! You're never alone. God is constant, and in the good and bad, we are to praise Him and give Him thanks, but He too will be there for us, comforting us and giving us the strength we need to go on.

I hope you all have a wonderful day, whether it's spent with family, friends, or just you and a piece of pie. Remind yourself to be thankful not just today, but every day, and that God is good in everything.

I love you all,

Elizabeth

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” 

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Recommended Reads: Classic Literature

Hello friends!

So if you haven't caught on by now, I love books. I mean, I really love books. I'm a collector and hoarder of all things literature and today I'm here to share a little bit of that obsession with you all. Specifically, we're going to talk about classic literature. You don't know how much it saddens me when I hear people say things like, "Classics are just for school." or "Classic literature are just giant, boring books." If you've ever said something like that, let me tell you friend, you're wrong, and I'm here to tell you why. So without further ado, here's seven must read classics you need to get your hands on right now.

1. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

(Taken from goodreads). It was the time of the French Revolution — a time of great change and great danger. It was a time when injustice was met by a lust for vengeance, and rarely was a distinction made between the innocent and the guilty. Against this tumultuous historical backdrop, Dickens' great story of unsurpassed adventure and courage unfolds.

Unjustly imprisoned for 18 years in the Bastille, Dr. Alexandre Manette is reunited with his daughter, Lucie, and safely transported from France to England. It would seem that they could take up the threads of their lives in peace. As fate would have it though, the pair are summoned to the Old Bailey to testify against a young Frenchman — Charles Darnay — falsely accused of treason. Strangely enough, Darnay bears an uncanny resemblance to another man in the courtroom, the dissolute lawyer's clerk Sydney Carton. It is a coincidence that saves Darnay from certain doom more than once. Brilliantly plotted, the novel is rich in drama, romance, and heroics that culminate in a daring prison escape in the shadow of the guillotine.

• IT'S ABOUT THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. I mean what else would you want in a book? Written by Dickens and a historical fiction? Um, yes please! Pro tip, as you're reading this, do some research on the French Revolution, specifically the storm of the Bastille. It really helps the story come alive, plus you're learning, so perks!
• IT HAS AN AMAZING CAST OF CHARACTERS. Dickens has this beautiful talent of creating a huge range of characters and not letting one go to waste. It's amazing! Just as you think a character was of no importance, they suddenly jump back into the story and are doing something incredible. 
• IT'S EXTREMELY QUOTABLE. What other novel do you know of that is equally known for its beginning lines, last lines, and everything else in between? The writing is beautiful, you just have to get use to the wordiness of Dickens' writing and then you're all set.
• SYDNEY CARTON. What a wonderful, depressing, amazing, beautiful, complex character. 
• THE CITIES. The entire novel takes place in either England or Paris, switching between the two cities depending on which character we're following. Who doesn't want to read a book set in Paris and England?  
• THE KNITTING. Call me a grandma, but using knitting to pass along secret messages, absolute genius. Life goals, I'm telling you.

• WORDINESS. Dickens has such beautiful writing and I love it, but oh my gosh is he wordy. 
• TOO MANY CHARACTERS AND TIME JUMPS. I keep contradicting myself, but there were almost too many characters and time jumps, and it got confusing at times. But then again, I'm easily confused so it could totally just be me, 

2. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 

(Taken from goodreads). Nathaniel Hawhthorne’s most famous novel was published in 1850 and takes place in Puritan New England, focusing on a community where a beautiful young woman, Hester Prynne, and her illegitimate child are subject to persecution and ostracism; while the mother refuses to name her co-conspirator in adultery, and the father of her child burns up with secret guilt and shame. Hawthorne’s family history caused much of his interest in this time period, but his spiritual leanings toward the popular Transcendental movement precipitated this classic novel where oppression, injustice and intolerance – and their consequences – are explored in turn.

• HAWTHORNE'S PERSONAL CONNECTION. So Hawthorne actually came from a Puritan background which he was deeply ashamed of and his ancestors were involved in the Salem Witch Trials. He wrote this to kind of separate himself from that, to show how he disagreed with his family's past actions. 
• IT HAS A WITCH. Okay so I'm kind of being misleading here, but it's set right before the Salem Witch Trials, so you're kind of getting a view of how it all began. Plus there's also a "witch" in like two pages, so there's that.
• PEARL. Pearl is the incredibly creepy, demon-like child of Hester's who has such amazing lines and plays such an important part of the story. I loved her character.
• THE THEME. Basically any one could read this and come up with different themes, but one that really stood out to me was the way it promoted that the truth will set you free. You see Hester struggling with how society treats her, but with no personal guilt because what she's done is out in the open and she's repented of it. The father on the other hand is driving himself sick with guilt, for everyone treats him like a saint, and only he knows what he's done. It's ingeniously executed. 
• THE MYSTERY. There's always questions you're waiting for to be answered. Whose the father? Will the truth be revealed? Will Hester find happiness? Even in its shortness, it's packed full of beautiful goodness. 
• THE ENDING. Just, *sigh,* so very perfect. 

• THE WRITING. I didn't hate it, but it was difficult at times. It's written in Old English, so sometimes it really is quite beautiful, it just doesn't make for a quick, easy read. 

3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

(Taken from goodreads). The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior - to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos. Now with over 18 million copies in print and translated into ten languages, this regional story by a young Alabama woman claims universal appeal. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.

• THE BEAUTIFUL CHARACTERS. Harper Lee created amazing, lovable, fantastic, adorable characters that I just all want to give hugs to. Atticus is the best father in all of literature, I adore him. And Jem and Scout are so cute and sweet and my favorites. And there's a cast of side characters that are just equally as wonderful. 
• THE WRITING. Simple, yet beautiful and full of punch. (I'm really good at descriptions, obviously).
• THE STORY. Lee handles racism, innocence, ethics, and love all in one outstanding novel. This story is being narrated by Scout, a young girl, so everything you're seeing, you're seeing for a young child's view.
• THE RELATIONSHIPS. The relationship Atticus has with his children, the relationship Jem and Scout have, and the relationships they have with their neighbors and friends are all just so feel good and lovely. 
• THE ENDING.  Oh my goodness, this ended absolutely perfectly. Everything was wrapped up in such a clever, heart-tearing-in-half kind of way. It was just perfect. 

• JUST KIDDING. This book is absolute perfection and no one can convince me otherwise. 

4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

(Taken from goodreads). Pride and Prejudice has delighted generations of readers with its unforgettable cast of characters, carefully choreographed plot, and a hugely entertaining view of the world and its absurdities. With the arrival of eligible young men in their neighborhood, the lives of Mr and Mrs Bennet and their five daughters are turned inside out and upside down. Pride encounters prejudice, upward-mobility confronts social disdain, and quick-wittedness challenges sagacity, as misconceptions and hasty judgments lead to heartache and scandal, but eventually to true understanding, self-knowledge, and love. In this supremely satisfying story, Jane Austen balances comedy with seriousness, and witty observation with profound insight. If Elizabeth Bennet returns again and again to her letter from Mr Darcy, readers of the novel are drawn even more irresistibly by its captivating wisdom.

• THE MEN. Yes yes, I can't talk about Pride and Prejudice and not mention the men. Specifically the one, the only, the dreamy, Mr. Darcy. Watching his feelings for Elizabeth progress is the best thing ever. BUT GUYS. Dear Mr. Bingly cannot be forgotten. He is so adorable and cute and sweet and I'm obsessed with him. The way Simon Woods portrayed him in the 2005 movie adaption was exactly how I pictured him! Gah, such a cutie.
• THE SISTERS. The relationship Jane and Elizabeth have is such a beautiful representation of sisters and friendship, and the way they care for their crazy younger sisters and mother is so sweet. I just adore the relationship these two girls have. 
• IT'S SET IN EUROPE 19th Century England focused on the gentry class, located in the beautiful countryside. Um, yes please. 
• THE PARTIES. So much dancing, partying, and merriment, Makes me want to take their place. Seriously, whenever I watch the movie adaptions, I just want to jump in and start dancing with them,  and by them, I mean Mr. Darcy. 
• FEMINISM. Jane Austen was definitely a feminist, you can tell so evidently from her writing. She portrays her heroines with intelligence, wit, and determination, and shows the injustice women had to put up with. She also dealt with a lot of other controversial topics during her time, such as social class and morals. 

• NOT ENOUGH DARCY. Where is all the Darcy??
• TOO MUCH CONFUSION. Honestly, so many of the character's problems would have been solved if they all just sat down and talked about it. Come on guys, you're adults, act like ones. 

5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

(Taken from goodreads). He was in love with the golden girl of a gilded era. He was Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire who gave wild and lavish parties attended by strangers.
"In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars."

She was Daisy Buchanan, a young rich beauty with bright eyes and a passionate mouth.

"High in a white palace, the King's daughter, the Golden Girl." Even her voice was "full of money."

great novel of a glittering era, of amazing richness and scope, this is the most dazzling fiction we possess of the Jazz Age's reckless revels.

fable of the Roaring Twenties that will survive as a legend.

• THE WRITING. AHHH guys this is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. The imagery is outstanding, and his language is beautiful. He strings together words to create such breathtaking sentences and I can't even describe it but it's wonderful. Just read it.
• IT'S SET DURING THE ROARING 20s. It truly transports you back to the jazz age, where  parties, dancing, beautiful people, and money were seen as the highest level of class. I've always had a fascination with the 20s and this novel only fueled it. 
• ALL THE FEELS. So many broken people pretending to be put together, this book really punches you in the gut.
• FITZGERALD'S CONNECTION TO GATSBY. When you read The Great Gatsby and poke around Fitzgerald's life, you'll realize the two aren't so different. It's always interesting to observe how the author used his own life to shape his novel and characters, and you can definitely see that in this book. 
• IT'S JUST PLAIN BEAUTIFUL. I mean, look at it.
• HOW IT ENDS. Tears, so many tears.

• THE CHARACTERS. They're all kind of terrible people. I mean, you can have sympathy for some, but when you dig down deep enough, none of them have good intentions. It's just so hard to love any of the characters because of how deplorable they all are. 
• THE LACK OF MORALS. Seriously, do these people not have a conscience? 

6. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, 

(Taken from goodreads). A masterpiece of satire, this classic has entertained and enlightened readers the world over with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life from the vantage point of Screwtape, a senior tempter in the service of "Our Father Below." At once wildly comic, deadly serious, and strikingly original, C. S. Lewis gives us the correspondence of the worldly-wise old devil to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. The Screwtape Letters is the most engaging and humorous account of temptation—and triumph over it—ever written.

• THE VOICE. It's written from the POV of a senior tempter, a devil named Screwtape, to his nephew, a junior tempter named Wormwood. Screwtape gives Wormwood all the dirt, and tells him all about his past experiences tempting humans, and the tricks of the game. It's eerie and upsetting, but pure genius and amazing. 
• IT'S A SATIRE. I mean, who doesn't love a good satire? The humor in this is amazing. The irony and sarcasm brings my heart so much joy.
• IT'S ALL ABOUT TEMPTATION. Although fiction, this book is packed full of truth. It's all about human weakness and temptation, and wow did it sure hit me hard. C.S. Lewis was a genius in his execution of this topic. While still being funny and entertaining, it was also moving and deep. 
• SO MANY GOOD THINGS TO QUOTE. So many, I promise you.  Like look: "It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out." Guys. 
• IT'S WRITTEN BY C.S. LEWIS. Need I say more? 
• THE FORMATTING. It's written in letter format, thus the title. You don't get to read what Wormwood is writing, but only what Screwtape has to say, so the entire book a little bit of a mystery, trying to figure out what is happening by Screwtape's reactions. 
• THAT LAST LETTER. *round of applause* 

• IT'S A BIT SLOW AT TIMES. But oh, the slow burning is so very worth it.

7. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

(Taken from goodreads). "She'll have to go back." Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert had decided to adopt an orphan. They wanted a nice sturdy boy to help Matthew with the farm chores. The orphanage sent a girl instead - a mischievous, talkative redhead who the Cuthberts thought would be no use at all. But as soon as Anne arrived at the snug, white farmhouse called Green Gables, she knew she wanted to stay forever. And the longer Anne stayed, the harder it was for anyone to imagine Green Gables without her.

• THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE. Anne is so cute and fun and I adore reading her story. And Mathew is one of my favorite characters ever, he's such a sweetie. And just all the characters are wonderful balls of sugar.
• GILBERT BLYTHE. But Elizabeth, you already talked about the characters. Yea yea, I know, but Gilbert Blythe is pure perfection and deserves his very own category. He's the cutest, sweetest, gentlest, most amazing fictional boys of all time and if you don't like him, I will fight you (and if you like him, I'll also fight you, because he's mine).
• ITS WHIMSICAL WRITING. I adore Montgomery's writing style. It's so whimsical and happy, and completely transports you into the story.
• PRINCE EDWARDS ISLAND. Can I please please just move there and live there forever? Montgomery uses such vivid language to describe it and it sounds so beautiful and wonderful and I just want to go there and visit it and never leave.
• ALL THE MISTAKES. Anne is honestly the klutziest person alive and just prone to making mistakes, but it only makes me love her all the more. I have never laughed harder at a character before., but it's more of a oh yeah me too laugh, because we've all been there Anne, we really have. 
• IT'S AN EASY AND FAST READ.  This book is just pure fun and loveliness. It's pretty fast paced and reads easily, so it's perfect when you don't want anything too complicated. 

• SKIPS OVER TOO MUCH TIME. A lot of the times the story would just skip over seasons and suddenly it's Easter when we were just reading about Thanksgiving. I get that Montgomery was trying to speed the book along and not use unnecessary space, but it seemed kind of awkward at times. 
• NOT ENOUGH GILBERT. I mean, I don't think it could ever have enough Gilbert, but I needed much more than it gave us.
  

Have you read any of these books? What do you think of them? Have I convinced you classic literature isn't all that bad? Let's chat down below! 

Also, if you have any recommendations for me, please please let me know! I'm always up for discovering new books. And if you want me to do another recommended reads, leave me a comment below and let me know what genre you'd like me to discuss. 

Have a wonderful week!

With love,

Elizabeth