Lights, camera, action.

(Caution: this might be – probably will be – a long post, because of our time up in Duluth)
First let me just say, that whatever is in the wall at the moment (it’s either a bat or a mouse), is driving me a little crazy…ok, not literally, but it is annoying with all it’s scratching and all.

Anyway. Hello! I’m home. Did ye all miss me? ;) Did ye know I was gone? Haha :P
From Wednesday to Saturday my family and I were up in Duluth, as I said in previous post. It was a lovely time, and I was almost sad to leave. I mean, I was sad to leave, but also ready to sleep in my bed. Because…here are the pros and cons of Nanny’s:

Pros
It’s up north
Near Duluth
With my grandparents (who are awesome)
It’s BEAUTIFUL
There’s some great wildlife just out their front door
They’re road is awesome to walk on

Okay, so I could actually go on and on with the pros of Nanny and Grandpa John’s :D

Cons

There’s a T.V. right there, and it sucks you into watching it, so you waste like half your day in front of the tv
The good-for-you-food supply can sometimes be kind of low…(this time was pretty good though, since it was Thanksgiving)
There’s only one bathroom that…6 people had to share. So needless to say, I rarely got in there. And what’s worse is the room I slept in is ALL windows, so I had to get into the bathroom every day just to get dressed. (It was a miracle if I could brush my teeth in that time span, tooo ;) Haha, just kidding)

That pretty much sums it up…sort of. I had to sleep on the floor (not complaining here – if I hadn’t brought up my cat, I wouldn’t have had to sleep on the floor…there was the couch.) and so my bed I missed quite dearly :D

But I do so love it up there. I can’t wait till God has us move up there. I just hope it’s soon :)
You know how I mentioned the tv? K, well if you know my Dad at all, he likes to be…Dad, and well…yes, that sums it up pretty well. Anyway. The show “The Santa Clause” was on with Tim Allen, and he and Noah were watching that, while Mum and I played cards (which I love. I love playing Spit. It’s addicting.) And the part came up with the head elf or something…Bernard I think is what Dad said…and he (Dad) just randomly says “Raechel has a crush on Bernard” to which I laughed, because now Nanny thinks he’s serious, and the elf is like what…13? I don’t know. If your parents can’t tease you about guys, what is there to life, right? ;)

Thanksgiving was very nice. Very quiet. and hence the reason it was very nice. Hehe. It was nice having Dallas and David up with us. We ate around 2:00pm, which was all very good. (well except the sweet potato marshmellow thing…didn’t try that.) and the pies were wunderbar. I l-o-v-e pumpkin pie.
That evening, when a couple of the group had already gotten their pj’s on (I hadn’t, because that meant another time to try to get into the bathroom), we decided to go down into Duluth (yay!) and look at the Christmas Lights at this one Lady’s house that she does every year, and is open to the public. Nanny said she was open, but turns out she wasn’t officially open until December 1st. Oh well. She let us walk around anyway, because almost all the lights were up, and it was amazing. It was extra cool with my cloak on ;) When we first got there, they were letting off a balloon lantern thing, like on Tangled! That was neat – it went really far over Lake Superior before it burnt out.
We had a nice time there, and then left. We were just gonna head back, but then what did our wondering eyes see? Not some reindeer and a sleigh or anything…but lots and lots of Christmas lights. Down on the…Bay Front, is that what it was called? I’m not sure. Either way, it was a Christmas Lights ordeal, that you can walk around in, and it was of very good size. There was music, and free hot chocolate. It’s called “Bentley Ville”. We walked through that, which was also enjoyable. Though I remarked to myself, as I noticed Dallas and David holding hands, pretty much everyone over the age of 12 was a ‘couple’. I am quite certain I was the only single 16 year old in that place! Haha, which was fine with me. I had Vlad of course. So I wasn’t technically alone and single ;)
The lights really were neat.
As this post is quite long enough, I shall end here! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello and happy thanksgiving to you! If I had time and was feeling really creative I’d come up with something fun to post about on Thanksgiving, but alas it is not so. My family and I (my elder sis, her hubby and baby in belly included) are up in Duluth, at my mgrandparents house :) Wha a lovely way to spend today! We are all full already, and now some are taking a nap, ‘chilling’ or in my case, writing a blog-post simply because I can, and it just so happens that the room Nina (my cat) and I are sleeping in, has the computer in it :D

There are SO many things I am thankful for – too many to list. The Lord has blessed my family and I so much. One blessing that pops to mind right away is a nephew that is on his way into this world. Yes, you read hat right – come March, I shall be the very proud auntie of a wee little boy. Can’t wait to be the best auntie ever! And you know I will be. ;)

So, with that I think I might wrap this up, and join the family that is awake. Happy thanksgiving to ye all!

 

Note: I’m sorry if I don’t reply to any comments/emails/notes etc. till Saturday, or even Sunday – I don’t care to be on my grandparent’s computer, as it’s not the fastest in the least, and the key-board is a bit funky. But when I get home, I will reply :)

No Words

I love you with my rebel soul (House of Heroes)

“I’m of Polish decent” ,”An interesting Mix” “So long Jasper” “Bottle feeding calves”

Four posts in one right here :D

We’ll start with the first: “I’m of Polish Decent”. Which is actually true. Very true. A couple days ago, Dad was going through one of his drawers that he kept stuff in, and he came across a few sheets of paper that was his family tree, going all the way back to the 1700’s. And can you guess where his family originated in? You got it: Poland.
Dad’s great grandfather came over from Poland, straight to MN (just south of where we live, actually), where he married another Polish gal, who then had my Dad’s grandmother (still Polish here) who married some guy named James —– (our last name now), and then they had my Dad’s dad, who married my Dad’s mom, and we don’t know her family history. They had Dad, who married Mom, then had me :D
So besides Dad’s grandfather, who we suspect was probably of Irish decent, and whatever my Dad’s mom’s history is, Dad is almost full Polish. Which means I’m about half so. Mum’s side is mostly Scottish/Irish/English we think. So yep, very cool in my opinion.

An Interesting Mix

Recently I got three House of Heroes songs off of Itunes, and was going to have them put on a CD as soon as Dallas (my elder sister) could come over and do that. She’s the only one with a burning device.
Well she came over on…Thursday I think it was, and did those three songs for me, and asked if I wanted any of the songs she had on Itunes. So my CD is:
#1 You Got Me – Colbie Caillat
#2 Falling For You – Colbie Caillat
#3 In the Valley of the Dying Sun – House of Heroes
#4 Lovesick Zombie – HOH
#5 Love is for the Middle Class – HOH

I especially like the first song of Colbie Caillat’s – I first heard it on the end of “Leap Year” and then in the beginning of “Letters to Juliet”

So Long Jasper Jasper, the cat that annoyed me thoroughly, has now entered cat heaven as of Wednesday. And no, it was not done by me, or my knives/tomahawk. (Though that was close…) No, Dad accidentally ran over him, when moving the van. Ooops. When Mum said he ran over a cat, I asked who was it? She said she thought it was Darya. That’s about when my heart stopped. There are quite a few cats I don’t care for outside, but she, Jessie, and Nehemiah are not any of those. Darya is my Russian baby. But thankfully, Mum then saw her on the deck. Then I asked about Nehemiah (the cat Dad ran over was grey-and-white) but he was on the deck too. So I’m wracking my brain, trying to think of grey and white cats that aren’t on the deck. Jessie? Is Jessie on the deck? No. But Mum goes out and find her being naughty, eating all the cat food in the bin. At least it wasn’t her. Anyway, it was Jasper. And though it’s awful, I said “Oh praise God!” because it wasn’t my favourites :D

Bottle Feeding Calves

Yes, Mum and I got the pleasant experience of taking care of about 18-19 calves yesterday! It was for some ‘neighbours’ who live 4 miles away. Not all needed to be bottle fed – only about 4 of them I think…yeah. The rest got either water and food, or water/milk replacer.
I was bottle-feeding two at the same time, and the one kept shoving the bottle towards me and I was holding the bottles, that were also resting against my chest, so that didn’t exactly feel the greatest…! I think I’m a bit flatter. Hahaha, just kidding.;)
It was quite the process, but an enjoyable one in my opinion. I like cows. I don’t know if I’d actually want any after seeing how much work they are – you could never go anywhere. Ever. But they are cute :D

And that is the end of this four-in-one post!

Authentic People

After visiting Hannah Grace’s blog (http://walkinthytruth.blogspot.com/) I saw she was participating in something called “Authentic People Blog Party” It looked fun, and so I checked it out, and have further decided to join in as well :) So here I will be answering some questions and whatever that are just fun, and quirky in a way :) So let us begin:

In case you don’t know who I am (meaning, you’re new to this blog, and are just passing through.) my name is Raechel, and I’m 16 years old, homeschooled, and completely in love with my Savior. I write, I breath, (writing comes before breathing) I live at home, I’d like to move norther, I love lakes, rivers, any body of water (yet I’m not a big fan of swimming…), I throw knives (and most recently a tomahawk) and own numerous blades, a sword of which will be added to the collection hopefully soon, and I want to travel someday :)

(This is not the bestest photo, but it’s fine. The photo was taken as I was about to throw my knife)

1} What’s the nerdiest/geekiest/weirdest thing about you? 

Um…a lot of things. The better question would be what’s the normalest thing about me =) K, fine. I’m  slightly (a bit more than slightly, but we’ll just say that anyway) a complete name-geek. I love names. I could also be called a language-geek because I adore other languages. Absolutely adore them. Attempting to learn Russian at the moment, and have tried many many others in the past.

 

2} If you could live in a fictional universe from any book, movie, or television show, what would it be? 

Either in the Knights of Arrethtrae books, or in the movie “How to Train Your Dragon”. I wouldn’t mind living in my own fictional world though…
3} Little or big, practical or frivolous, what is one of your favorite items in your house?

Favourite item…My Bible. I’d be so very terribly sad if I didn’t have that.

 

4} Do you like animated movies? If so, what is your favorite?

Yep. My favourite is probably “How to Train Your Dragon” There’s just something about that movie, that stuck in my heart.
5} What is your favorite household chore?

Dishes I guess. I can go off into my own little mind while doing that, or just rock out to my music that no one else likes…
6} What’s your favorite thing to get at Starbucks (or your favorite coffee shop)?

Never been to Starbucks…and only recently have been to a coffee shop. Umm…a cappuccino I think.
7} What is your favorite pizza topping?

Sausage. Meat. I like meat/beef.
8} Waffles or pancakes?

Both? It really depends on what I feel like.
9} Do you like to play games? If so, what is your favorite?

Not really…sometimes I do, but sometimes I don’t…I like card games, and Apples to Apples is a fun game to play. So is Life.
10} Have you ever let anyone win a game?

Yep. I’ve got a little sister. :)
11} Have you ever dyed your hair?

With Koolaid, yes. But otherwise, no.
12} Do you make your bed every morning?

Not a chance.
13} Picasso or Norman Rockwell?

I’m not really an art-expert or fan…but I guess I’d have to go with Norman Rockwell.

14} Do you like carpet, tile, or hardwood floors?

Hardwood floors for the most part really.
15} If you could put one thing in a safe under your bed, what would it be?

My stories.
16} What’s your favorite condiment?

Ketchup. It stinks to high heaven, but it’s usually good.
17} Have you ever thrown up on someone (excluding when you were a child)?

I don’t think so…
18} What was the last thing that made you laugh?

Most likely my Mum :)

19} Think fast…what’s the first song that pops into your head?

Umm  the fifth song on “Jars of Clay, the Long Fall back to Earth” can’t think of the exact title. There, I looked, it’s called “Closer”

 

So yes, there it is. I hopeth youeth enjoyethed it. And very sorry if it bored you too much ;)

“Tom and Huck”

I know I just posted, but well, here is am again.

Yesterday, I was home alone for pretty much the entire afternoon. Actually the whole day. But anyway. The time that I was alone in the afternoon, I was strictly alone – while in the morning time, Noah was with me.
Since I was alone, and didn’t feel like doing anything productive (and Mum and Dad preferred that I didn’t thrown knives or anything. Plus some Joel dude kept stopping by…creepy.) I decided to watch half of “Tom and Huck”. I don’t want Noah watching it, just because it really isn’t something an 8 year old really needs to be watching in my opinion.
I hadn’t watched the movie in quite some time, and so watching it now was somewhat funny. Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Brad Renfo were sooo little!! It was so cute :D Like I mentioned briefly I only watched half of it. It was funny to realize that the girl who plays “Becky Thatcher” is “Abigail” on “Psych” – Shawn’s girlfriend. Not Jewels. (Who I prefer.)

I didn’t really do a whole lot while home alone. I attempted cleaning the bathroom floor as best as I could, because my kitty is sick, and I read a little from a book, that I’m doing for Blogging For Books. But I have to have my Bible alongside with it, because the author uses the Message Bible, and that takes the verses so out of context.
I wrote a little bit…
That’s all. Here’s to a boring post again.

Things that annoy me

Decemberadio It’s not the band that annoys me, it’s the name. There needs to be another ‘r’ in there, because if separated it’d say: December adio or Decembe radio. That doesn’t make sense. I understand their want to be different, so I guess I’ll let it be.

Jasper he is one of the cats we have outside that has come close to death by my blades three times now. And only one was on purpose…

Whiny singers who mostly are girls. I’m sure they can sing normally if they wanted to, so please, do so.

the black chicken who is in the barn. She’s super annoying. She follows you around with those beady eyes, and her chest out, and she just makes you want to kick her.

These are a few things that annoy me.

November

As it is November, people are thinking of what to get their kids for Christmas. I am not one of those peoples, because my ‘kids’ are all animals, and all they could care about is food. And they get that on a daily basis.
And my parents are not thinking about this, because we have decided to only do one present per person, and with the rest of the money that would normally be spent on presents will go to Voice of the Martyrs or one such organization to give to those who don’t have.
I know my parents already have Noah’s present, which will be pretty sweet, as it’s a electric train set. (I’ve got a wooden train set and a wooden car set from years past :D)
Mum keeps asking what I want, and I can’t think of anything…a CD maybe? I don’t know. Not too concerned about it.
But, now, here’s the exciting part. Other people are still looking for wonderful toys and such for their chillin’s. And do I have the present for them. It is an expensive Magic Cabin organic cotton fairy doll kept in exceptional condition. A few years ago, I saved and saved, and with my Christmas money, finally got this doll. (I was unfortunately very into fairies…ugh.) Then she sat on my shelf for years. And now, I have a purpose for her. Whoever buys this lovely doll, with unknowingly be supplying me with the money to get my long-awaited Knights of Arrethtrae Sword. It is AMAZING. A real true sword. This has been on my ‘list’ for a L-O-N-G time. Never had the cash though. It’s pretty expensive – for me at least; a non working girl, who lives 5 miles from any civilization, and isn’t allowed to bike to town. Bummer.
But come near Christmas time, I shall God-willing, have the beautiful sword! And won’t that be spectacular?

Twitter

Funny that I would use the same title for something that is saying something that’s so something different. Haha, something.

In all seriousness now: as most of you, if not all, have already seen, I am done on Twitter.
I know that it’s what God was leading to, and so for that part of it, I am not too saddened. I am however saddened to leave it, because I did enjoy it. But my Savior comes above everything else, and so I shall do as He leads. “Joy comes after the pain.”
I’m not really going to go into it too deeply, as I have already with a couple of you. But in brief this is the reason:
I got down on my knees last night, seeking God, asking Him if something was causing a strain on my relationship with Him. Twitter kept popping into mind. I tried pushing it away, not wanting to give up Twitter, but it wouldn’t dissipate, so I asked God to show me some verses in the Bible that would confirm His wish for me to end Twitter. He did. I found my answers in Isaiah. I broke, and said I would give it up. Flesh is hard to die to, I said. Jesus Christ whispered back “I know. I did it for you.” I asked how? He said “Because My love for you overcame the pain. That’s why, My beloved.”
That was…amazing.
If He gave up His life for ME, I should be more than willing to give up something so stupid and trifle and a Twitter account. It’s still hard though.
But yes, so that is my explanation in brief! Any questions, feel free to ask.

Give-away going on…

There is a wonderful give-away going on over at Shining Stars. You can enter too, here is where to go:
http://shiningstarsmagazine.com/2011/11/book-review-and-giveaway-the-beauty-of-modesty/

It looks like a wonderful book, one I’d like to read for sure :)