This is kind of a must-see.

I just watched The Young Victoria. It's probably one of my new favorites! Good stuff. And it's available on 'watch instantly' on Netflix!

Rupert Friend is in it. Yeah, that name meant nothing to me five minutes ago, either. Until I looked him up and found out he's Wickham in the new Pride and Prejudice and co-star in this lovely film, as well! I know now why his face made me so curious as to who he was. I knew I had seen it before! Turns out, there was a reason. Who knew?



UP.

Why don't we appreciate good oldies anymore?

Like this.

Or this, and this, and this.

Yeah, the list goes on.

It could go on longer, but maybe that will be another post for some other time.

P.S. If you disagree, then (you're wrong, but) just don't listen. It's as simple as that.

It's fun. . .when you're done.

So, this morning I woke up at the crack of dawn and prepared for half an hour of torture. In other words, I went to race at the Tallahatchie 5k this morning.

The hills were mountainous, my breath was short, my lungs achy, my feet sore, my calves burning. . .you get the picture. It wasn't pretty. My thoughts throughout? 'Another hill?' 'Why do I do this again?' 'This is a sick sport. I can't imagine anyone enjoying this, except maybe the mentally deranged?'

But end it finally did. I did experience some feeling of accomplishment. It feels good. When it's over. Now I can think I did that. I conquered those hills.  Cheesy, yes. But comforting. (But of course, for the sake of avoiding public humiliation, my time will not be posted.) I trained for a week. So you have to understand that I wasn't expecting much. I'm okay with my time, it just was by no means impressive. I didn't place, let's put it that way. I didn't place but I got to see Jonathan awarded 3rd and Katie 1st in their age groups!! In honor of their super speed, they received shiny, white tiles. (Seriously, who was in charge of awards this year??) Exciting stuff, nonetheless.

After the race, we stayed for the festival, went to the coffee shop, and I did a little shopping with Bessies #1 and #2 in downtown New Albany. All in all, a fun day.

the world didn't sing without you.

Monday. Yes, we all have those Mondays.

I don't have free time anymore. I have no life. Homework ate my life.

But I'm learning discipline. I'm learning things. Important Things. Like what really began that great era of Modernity, its 3 causes and effects, the many (many, many) philosophies of modernity, such as those of Voltaire and Descartes (some men who were really crazy in the head, pretty much). I'm learning to dig deeper, to analyze, and to fully understand the classical literature of the 19th & 20th centuries. I'm being taught math and the rhetoric of Aristotle, of the necessary skills of writing and English and the sciences. I'm learning about music and of the beauty of the art of the Impressionists, which we are learning identify and to copy. (My favorite would have to be Monet, by the way.)

Why am I complaining? I have no right to. This education of mine is a privilege, not a duty, it's not even a right. I think of women of the past who weren't well educated, who didn't have this opportunity that I have. I have this great gift of a good education. So why am I dragging my feet? Why am I complaining? I'm reading Jane Austen for school, for crying out loud! Why on earth would I complain about that?

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." -Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever I do! Yes students, even school, even this busload of homework (that my mind is going back to. . .yet I'm sitting here typing away about it on Blogspot)! Even on Monday when I just don't feel up to jumping out of bed to scribble and scratch away on college-ruled notebook paper with my dull pencil. Even when I have to work at using my brain because sometimes it takes time to defrost after the weekend has done so well at freezing it solid. I am called to do it as unto the Lord. Students, we can go about doing this as unto HIM. Shouldn't we do so with a happy heart? A heart glad to serve Him? A heart so overwhelmed with the love and joy of Christ that doing even the hard tasks would become easy?

(And it might make things easier if I do something which requires thought over the weekend. I suppose pulling out some Sodoku or crossword puzzles wouldn't hurt. . .)

feeling patriotic?

it's beginning to look a lot like...

FALL!

When I came downstairs this morning, I went to join Dad on the backporch. It was absolutely beautiful. The sky was brilliantly blue, a few happy clouds were floating above us, there was a gentle breeze and I promise it had to be in the 50's!

It's beginning to smell, look, and feel like Fall! You have no idea how happy this makes me; this brings joy to the very core of my soul. But it's not yet time for Fall. We are only being tempted by Summer's best impersonation of that happiest of seasons. We still must be patient and eagerly await the Autumn season and all of the bliss, charm, and delight that goes hand in hand.