he'd have to fix his vocabulary first

Dalton: "Eleanor, I just want you to know that I would not hesitate one second to marry you. If I were a beau, that is, and you were a beau...ess..."

Jehovah-jireh

the Lord provides. not only material possessions, but grace and strength and wisdom.

rest in this.

i hope you all have a wonderfully thankful Thanksgiving.

bust a move

I realize I haven't posted in quite some time. 

I have no excuses, and I'm not going to try to diagnose why I haven't. 

I will just say that I hope to be more consistent and regular this fall, because...

I'm going to be living in Texas till mid-December!

(Yes, I realize that bluebonnets won't be in season during my stay. 

And I don't think I'm going to be near very many longhorns...or just plain old cows for that matter. 

But you get the idea.)

Crazy, right? 

I know.

Plans for my future have changed so quickly and unexpectedly.

I've gotten a job (or rather, was offered a job) as a live-in nanny for my second cousin. 

She's got three adorable little boys (yes, yes, I know what you're thinking. I'm not going to think they're so precious after living with them for two and a half months. To that I say, quoting Alfred, Batman's butler, "Nevah."), and I will be sitting them three days a week while she's and her husband are at work.

Also, I'll be about 45 minutes away from some of my best friends in the whole wide world, so hopefully I'll get to spend some time with them! Yay! 

This is new.

I didn't really ever think I'd leave home until I went to college, (and yes, I know that two and a half months away is not exactly "leaving home," but it's the closest I've ever come to it (and also, there's a good chance that I'll be going back next semester for a few months)), so I haven't had quite as much time to get used to the idea, but I'm very excited about it. 

Adventure! 

A little more independence and a good stretch of the wings! 

Especially since I'm (hopefully) going to be buying my first car from my [other] cousin. 

It's quite a delightful prospect. 

And hey, I can even call myself a Texan for a little while! 

{hat tip to Mama's home state}

Must get a cowgirl hat. 

Just kidding.

Anyway...

"Psh. Right, Eleanor. You're gonna post more regularly. Uh huh. Sure."

Yes. 

I will.

Why, you ask? 

Because I don't have a journal. 

And plus, even if I did have one, I probably wouldn't write in it. 

But I can type faster than I can write (a sad sign of the age we live in), and so I'm going to use Fiery to journal this new experience.

"Oh, great. We're gonna get every little detail about her life and every stupid bit of junk that passes through her mind."

Yep.

Pretty much.

Enjoy!

Re:

They Call Me Thumper, yes, I did actually do #9. I wish you could've seen it---you would've appreciated the amazing end result. 


Brian Regan is a comedian. I must educate you, Ceridwen.


I meant...Logan...but you're wonderful too, Pearl and Gwen! Just not over-protective. Or paranoid. Most of the time, at least. I'm just going to be quiet now.


Pearl, the chance to meet one, the chance to use one, the chance to eat ice cream with one, the chance to jump on the trampoline with one, the chance to marry one...that's what I meant. Just don't pass one up. Period.


Katie..."dimply mouth?" You make it sound as if I've got cellulite on my lips or something. Not a very pretty thought.

home

land where my fathers died

land of the pilgrims' pride

from every mountainside let freedom ring

What are you doing to celebrate?

a little bit cliche, i know...

but don't scoff at my dreams.

summer? i think i love you. harmony hill? i know i love you.

i'm so indecisive. 

when it's winter, winter is my favorite season.

when it's summer, summer is my favorite season.

so right now, summer is my favorite.

but don't quote me on that.

it could change.

so far, it has been...everything i wanted.

and lots i didn't want. 

lots i tried to avoid.

oh well.

that's life.

it doesn't ever really feel like summer has started until Harmony Hill (and Camp Moriah (or in this case, this year, Harmony Highlands)) happens. but then once it's over, there is only 1 & 1/2 months left! NOT very appreciated by the graduated class of the current year who are trying to complete a certain amount of priorities before the school time comes again.

oh well.

it's incredibly worth it.

saw the sunrise every morning for a week. 

that right there will make you love God even more.

...and the singing was heavenly...

most of the time...

except for that one time when the basses in the girls' ensemble got off. :)

my brother kinda rocks.

"just sayin'..."

i'm pretty sure this is one of very few pictures that C and i have together. ...maaan! i wish Louisiana wasn't in the way. but while i'm wishing, i might as well just go ahead and wish for teleportation abilities. psh.

yay john and catie! i'm rootin' for y'all! 

...aaaand y'all have pretty eyes. 

the Ns.

i just want to say...it makes me very happy that there are people out there with which one can feel an instant connection. i think they just might be some of my new favorite people. 

no joke.

kneeeees!! aaaa!!! ...i promise it was unintentional and just that once. promise.

this is my "little buddy." ok. i don't like to use precious when it comes to kids because it sounds like those cheesy people who are always talking about how they remember when you were born and how they just "loooove" babies and all that good junk...

BUT...

she was precious. straight up. precious.

and now i will leave you. not to return for...probably a while. i haven't been that inspired lately. obviously. hence the lack of posts. but i'll be back! never fear, younglings. i'll be back. (i know you were all waiting with bated breath for that proclamation.) 

ok. now i'm just rambling. 

peace out.

{photo credit: beatrice and chelsea miller...and moi}

this summer

i believe in going to bed with wet hair. in spur-of-the-moment trips and surprise visits. in french love songs, produce stands, and breakfast. and i believe in dancing when and where you feel like it whether music is playing or not. i believe in early morning walks, in stopping the car on the side of the road and climbing that rocky cliff. and walking through the field of beautiful weeds even though you know you'll get bitten by critters. i believe in tomato sandwiches that are so juicy it drips down your arm. especially in driving with all the windows rolled down.

i believe in open windows.

Finally...

It's funny. 

I've never really connected Valentine's Day with boyfriends, couples, or lovey-dovey-ness.

It's always been more of an excuse to have family time.

I'm glad. 

It will make it more special when I actually do have a boyfriend to be lovey-dovey with.

Go here

...

and here

...

They know what I'm talking about.

Valentine's Day doesn't have to be a sad day for singles.

It can be happier for singles than couples. 

Think about it.

You know what I'm talking about? 

Tell me your idea of what I mean.

inchoate

 This is Papa.

He won the Beautiful Baby contest when he was a blonde-headed tot.

This is him a little later. 

Ok, a lot later.

Can you guess which one is Papa? 

Yep.

The younger cute one with the gap in his teeth. 

Dead give-away right there. 

This is a picture of my Uncle Mark and Papa.

This is him when he was a student at U of M.
Doesn't he look excited? Full of vim and vigor?

Dude.
You have to be envious of a mustache that is that cool.

This is him now.
Duh.
He's my sweetheart.

HERE IT COMES!

There's an ice storm warning for Ripley! 

That means no school tomorrow! 

And it also means hotdog, brat, and marshmallow roasting! 

Yay!

It's time.

This past summer has been one of transition for me, and the shift has not been an easy one. I've neglected things I should've focused on, gone down paths I never even should've looked at, and completely missed out on some very essential moments. (Oh, and developed a nervous disorder that completely rules my life. Stupid.)

But I feel it's time to grow up.

In doing some good, old-fashioned soul-searching, I realized that I've been clinging to my childhood---my irresponsible teenage years.
I wanted to stay in my groove, wanted to go to Neverland with Peter Pan, wanted to live in my past me.
The age groups I started hanging out with got younger and younger, the choices I made got more immature and more immature, my self-confidence zones got smaller and smaller, and I became more and more recalcitrant.
My family got ticked at me more often, my friends wondered what was wrong with me, and my sisters---two of the best women on God's green earth--started distrusting my choices of friends, music, clothing, and tastes.

Several of my friends, such as Beatrice, have been the type to become old before their time, grasping at small indications of their great maturity and advancement in life and clinging to them as reassurances of what was to come (much to my puerile annoyance and disgust).
I've never really longed for grownup things. I've always been happy to be the age I am. To enjoy each age as it comes to me and to be in the Now.
But now I understand. Not necessarily the desire to be older, to be included in "the older kids'" activities, or to wear clothes that assure people of my mature age. But I understand why. And I agree with that view, more than with the one I've held up till now.

I've slowly begun to realize that it's all got to change, and that the only thing that has been holding me back is fear--fear of change.
My own incapability and unpreparedness for age and all the responsibilities that come with it has been my only excuse. And it's a poor one. If I never attempt to step out into the next stage on my own, I'll never improve or overcome my incapability.

I want to grow up gracefully, though, like Brooke Premo. I don't want to lose life in my Life or stand with the over-old youths. I want to keep my childish zest, but add compassion, generosity, responsibility, wisdom, self-discipline, and discretion to it so that I may grow to be like the many good examples I have before me---my parents, my grandparents...actually, I don't think I'm going to start that list. It's much too long to finish.




Maybe it's the New Year approaching. Maybe it's the fact that I'll be 18 in a few weeks. Maybe it was the jolt I got 2 weeks ago.

But whatever it is...it hasn't come too soon.

I'm going to grow up now.

Am I scared? Very.
Do I think I'll make it? With God's help.
Will it hurt? Heck, yes.

::sigh::

my papa just taught me how to solder a shorted wire.

he's so handy to have around.

I'm pretty sure I could eat cream cheese by the spoonful

You know those waves of emotion (I would say love, but, as "they" say, love is not a warm, fuzzy feeling; it's an action) that you get for people?

A few night ago, Papa told us that Grandpa didn't want his boys to hunt doves. He said it was because they were a symbol of peace, and most importantly, when doves mate, they mate for life. If one is killed, its mate won't find a new mate. It will live the rest of its life alone.

I love Grandpa. I'm always learning new things about him. It seems every time I get a picture and idea in my head about the way he was as a younger man and the father of my Papa, I learn something new about him and have to reconjure the image. His character, temper, loving actions, and the way he brought up his children to love the Lord, not only in word, but in deed---these things (and countless others) make me respect him more and more, and I look on him not only as my pun-making, corny, sometimes grouchy, puttering old grandfather, but as a strong, compassionate, and anchored man with an invaluable legacy.

I love you, Grandpa.

Gone Fishin'

Be back in a few days...

Preferably lavish and happy.

I've been having a flash flood of old movie longing. It started when I saw a clip from Easy Living, with Ray Milland and Jean Arthur. We used to watch that movie a lot when we lived at Granny's house. It's extremely lavish and very hilarious. I recommend it.

Anyway, so I found it on Youtube and watched it.

Then I started craving more old movies.

So I found Three Smart Girls with Deanna Durbin and Ray Milland. I love that one. Kay, the middle daughter, and Ray Milland's little romance is my favorite.

Then I found Margie on Youtube! It has never been officially released on VHS or DVD, but we saw it on TCM a long time ago and recorded it. But then we lost the recording, so we haven't been able to watch it for a long, long time, and it was one of our very favorites! Sooo cute and sweet. Jeanne Crain is one of my favorites, and her french professor is dreamy. :)
But surprise, surprise! I found someone selling a DVD copy of it on Ebay for only $13! If anyone wants to get me a present that I will love and adore to my dying day, this is your best bet.

So, for next weekend (if I have time), my list of old movies to watch includes---
The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer - Myrna Loy, Cary Grant, and Shirley Temple
Belles on Their Toes - Myrna Loy and Jeanne Crain
People Will Talk - Cary Grant and Jeanne Crain
Good News - Peter Lawford and June Allyson
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town - Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur

Do you have any good suggestions?

Shafer wants everyone to know...

That he likes his family.

Ewoks are cute

I dreamt that Uncle Eddie Jacobs and Sandra Bullock (yes, you heard right. Sandra Bullock and Uncle Eddie) sang You Are My Sunshine together at my old church. With a guitar. Both wearing shades. Standing behind the pulpit with their arms around each other and their eyes closed.

Then, they both put on those weed-eating glasses (you know, the ones with the dorky black rims at the top, and then just plastic at the bottom) and started acting out a Road Runner and Wily Coyote skit. She was Road Runner and he was Wily.

She chased him (which, need I point out? is totally backwards). And then she started chasing Dalton.

Then, out of nowhere, (well, actually, this whole dream is out of nowhere) short figures dressed in yellow robes (like the ones in The Village, except these guys were short. like Ewoks. they resembled Ewoks very strongly), came into the church in a huge army. They were in rows (like an army) and they came forward, one stomp at a time.
Then, all of a sudden, they stopped moving forward and tensed. Something had frightened them!
It was a One-They-Do-Not-Speak-Of.


And then Papa woke me up. Thank God. I did not want to see where that one was going.

Thank you for proving my point.

Me: "Shafe, you're just an ignorant little boy, so be quiet."
Shafe: "Eleanor...I don't even know what that word means."






I win.


.