Finally

Well. As most of you know, I'm kind of cool sometimes. Not all the time, but sometimes. And today proves that. I decided to do something awesome for my mother on this day.

And so I took her to see the traveling Broadway production of Wicked at the Buell.

I have but one word: SQUEE!!!!!

It was so very good! I've seen it on Google videos but nothing could have prepared me for how amazing the show would be live. The cast was phenomenal, our seats were great, I have no words for how wonderfully, beautifully spectacular it would be. I can now check that off my bucket list. Please enjoy these photos documenting my journey while I go fangirl some more.

It gave me chills, it made me laugh. I even almost cried several times due to the sheer magnificence of it all. Was it expensive? Maybe. But it was worth every penny and I am on top of the world now.

A little piece of my symphony has just been uncovered in a Broadway show that defies all expectations.

Making Hearts With Stars

The title is basically irrelevant if you're not in on what went down last night. But this is a quick post to show you as best I can what did happen. I've got one word for y'all.

Prom.

Yes, last night was my junior prom. I went with my dear friends Bianca and Sarah and we did have a splendid time. I'll let the pictures explain.

The last picture is exhausted me at Bianca's house after we danced our hearts out. It was very wonderful. I can now add "prom" to the list of things I *adore*.

Cheers!

she dreamed of {Paradise}

Soooo. Over my Spring Break I took an excursion to the Golden State. If I were to tell you in detail of all the adventures I had and all the fabulous things we did, I'd be here all night. In a nutshell, it was exactly what I needed at this point in time. It was a tall drink of cool water and a dazzling firework display and the nostalgic cheerful song of an ice cream truck. But I'll shut up with the metaphors and let you piece together how my trip went with some pictures for guidance.

I'll leave you with this video of what my sister, cousin, and I do at Disneyland.

Cheers!

Because It's Been A While

So. I've missed you and I thought I should give you a little life update. If you actually read this, I *adore* you.

--Last weekend I embarked on our church's annual youth retreat in the mountains: Avalanche! The theme was Insurgo which means "to rise up." Isn't that lovely? To rise up. Here's something else lovely:

These are the drop-dead gorgeous girls I had the pleasure of rooming with over the weekend (and me, second to the left with the huge purse). I love them all. So very much.

--So way back when around the time that Christmas Break was coming to a close, I told some people at my work (Chick-fil-A, for those of you who have not yet been informed) that my parole was ending and I was going back to prison the next day. They believed me. I was really just comparing my school to a prison. I'm not sure how I should feel about that.

--I'm going back to California for spring break! My joy is unspeakable. I haven't been in almost two years and I miss it so much. I'm excited for the beach and Disneyland and In-N-Out.

--And just in case you forgot what I look like, here is a picture of me now:

Today, my hair looks good and my voice sounds great. I think I'll go conquer the universe.

Cheers!

Beautiful People: Discovering Emma (and Travis) Part Neuf!

1) If he/ she could be played by an actor, who would it be? Emma: Since she's a dancer, I'd cast her as Melanie Moore, not an actress, and her hair would have to be dyed, but she's such an incredible dancer I couldn't not choose her. Travis: Since the character was based after him, Travis Wall! He's done choreography for Melanie before, so I know they'll work well together.
2) Does your character have a specific theme song? Emma: Brave by Idina Menzel. Travis: Fix You by Coldplay.
3) What is his/her worst childhood memory? Emma: When her Uncle Ben died. Travis: When he broke his ankle in third grade and couldn't go on the dance tour to Europe that he'd been so excited about.
4) If your character had a superpower, what would it be? Emma: Invisibility. Travis: Strength or flight.
5) If your character crashed on an island with a bunch of other people, how would he/she help the group survive? Emma: She would take care of their wounds and help them find suitable food. Travis: He'd step up to a leadership position and try to organize an escape plan.
6) Is he/she married? If not, does he/she someday wish to be? Emma: No, and it's not a priority to her, but she would like to. Travis: No, and he would definitely like to so Heidi could have a mother.
7) What is a cause that he/she would die for? Both: Heidi and each other.
8) Would he/she rather die fighting valiantly, or quietly at home? Emma: Quietly. Travis: Fighting.
9) If someone walked up to him/her and told him/her that he/she was the child of the prophecy, would he/she believe them? Both: Since this is a realistic book, no.
10) Does he/she prefer the country or the city? Both: The city.

Beautiful People: Discovering Emma (and Travis) Part Huit!

I am a bit behind but I will try to catch up I promise!

1) If your character's house burned down, and he/she was left with nothing but the clothes on his/her back, what would he/she do? Where would he/she go? Emma: She basically went through an I-have-nothing-and-nowhere-to-go situation when she left home after she graduated. She'd gravitate to her best friend, Mandie. Travis: He has wealthy family to support him so he'd probably just shake it off and move back with his parents.
2) Is he/she happy with where he/she is in his/her life, or would he/she like to move on? Emma: She definitely views this time - the nanny job, staying with Travis, etc. - as more of a transition phase in her life. She would much rather move on and get a job as a dancer. Travis: He's certainly content with where he is in his job, with his friends, and with his life. But he can't help but feel that he's missing something and he can't quite seem to pinpoint just what it is.
3) Is he/she well-paid? Emma: Yes, the family she works for is rich and pays her well, but she uses a lot of her money to pay for food, rent, and transportation in the city. Travis: Very much so.
4) Can he/she read? Both: Yes.
5) What languages does he/she speak? Emma: English and French. Travis: English, French, Spanish, and some Latin.
6) What is his/her biggest mistake? Emma: The unforgiving attitude she has toward her father, and the resentment she has toward her mother and sister for holding her back. Travis: Late in the book when he withholds certain information from Emma.
7) What did he/she play with most as a child? Emma: Not with things as much as imaginary friends and places. Travis: His blue and gold striped kite.
8) What are his/her thoughts on politics? Emma: She doesn't really follow them that much except during presidential elections. Travis: They aren't a big deal to him, but he stands obviously on one side of every political issue and has strong opinions.
9) What is his/her expected life time? Both: 80-ish years.
10) If he/she was falsely accused of murder, what would he/she do? How would he/she react? Emma: She'd see it as an outrage. She'd call, Travis, Mandie, and the family she nannies for and seek their support. Travis: He would defend himself, but keep his cool and trust his lawyer.

The One That Nobody Seems To Like

Is it just me, or does everyone seem to hate Valentine's Day? And it's not just the single people. It's a vast majority of those I know. I've never hated the holiday. But I don't exactly like to entertain the idea of International Love Day. That's really all it is: a day, invented so the February would have something interesting, for mushy high school couples and and excuse to eat out and a reminder to all the single people just how single they really are. It's a day to celebrate love.

But why can't we just show love every day?

I've been single my whole life and I'm totally fine with that. If Papa doesn't want me to have a guy then I don't want me to have a guy. It's Papa's job to pick him out. I don't trust myself enough to do that.

It actually bothers me to see how many girls my age are obsessed with the idea of having a man. Being in a relationship. Being someone's other half. I honestly don't see the appeal. If you've got your whole life ahead of you, why would you want to get tied down so quickly? Get an education. See the world. Go on adventures. Then once you hit the age when you're ready to marry you can start checking out your options.

I really don't see the benefits of dating before you're ready to get married. The whole point of dating is to get to know the one you plan on spending your whole life with. If you can't see starting a life, raising a family, living forever with someone, why do you even bother giving your heart away? All that's going to come out of it is pain. For both of you.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that no one who dates in high school ever gets married to each other. It actually does happen sometimes. But to see these junior high and high school girls obsessed with love or their boyfriend or just the idea of being with somebody bothers me. A lot.

But I'll stop myself before I go too far.

I've made a pact with two of my best friends, Mel and Andrea, that we're not going to date in high school. That we're going to stay pure. That we're going to guard our hearts and keep each other accountable so no one gets hurt. Andrea already has a potential man, and Mel and I are so very excited for her. But The Fellowship of the Ring Pact was made so that we can spend these years focusing on Papa and what He wants us to do with our lives. That's why I'm letting Him choose my man for me.

I have extremely high standards. I demand respect. I refuse to be treated like an object. I expect adventures. If we're talking in terms of a ship (a thing I've become rather obsessed recently)*, he's allowed access to the helm, and I actually expect him to guide me through storms. But if I ever get to the point where I think he's become my anchor and I am no longer free to pursue my passions and goals and callings, then he is obviously not the one for me.

And that's the power of a metaphor.

I hope your love day was beautiful. I hope you got candy and/or flowers. I hope someone told you they love you. I hope you told them back. And I especially hope that even in your season of singleness you choose to pursue the Designer and what He has planned for you. I promise that He will eventually let the right man step aboard.

*I've been considering writing a post about ships and pirates and adventures. Would you read it if I did?