I Was Thinking About Freedom

Yeah, ^^that's pretty intense.  You don't have to watch if you don't want to.  Especially if you don't want to cry.

   I was thinking about William Wallace.  And I was thinking about how "Every man dies. Not every man really lives."  And I was thinking about Brave Heart.  And I was thinking about him dying.  I was thinking about him yelling.  "Freeeeeddoooooooommmmm!!"
   And it got me thinking.  I know someone greater than William Wallace.  One who was beaten, spit upon, scourged, humiliated, and nailed to a cross.  One who gave His life for freedom.  Freedom for the Scots, and freedom for the English.  Freedom for you, and freedom for me.  Freedom for the whole world.  Everlasting freedom.

P.S. Mel Gibson is pretty awesome.



Forgive My Quaint Old-Fashionedness

   I like porch swings.  A lot.  And so, someday, when I have a porch of my own, I will put a swing on it.
   And picnics.  I have a great desire to go on a picnic.  I even put it on my "To Do Before School" list.  A real, authentic, with homemade food, out-of-doors picnic.  Picnis are awesome.
   I read books.  All the time.  For fun.  Books are my friends.
   Plus, I believe that every word of the Bible is true.  I do my best not to cuss and sometimes I use big words.  I respect my parents.  I believe that cleavage belongs inside your shirt and your rear should be far out of sight.  I am firmly pro-life.  I am saving myself for my husband - I only plan on one.  I enjoy going to church.
   So call me old-fashioned.  But this is me.  And I will stay true.
   Oh.  And there's that part where I spent a third of my 6th grade year in a pioneer dress and barefeet.

Awkward +Awesome {6}

Awkward:

• biting into a cookie expecting complete chocolate-chip-awesomeness and ending up with raisins - which, if you ask this girl, are nasty
• not being able to roll my r's, or trill my r's, or do anything with my r's except say "rrrr"
• looking like an uneducated dunce in this post because I left the s off of "Marine Corps".  I fixed it.  two seconds ago
• failing at the whole getting-people-to-buy-stuff thing.  gold cards + cougar football fundraiser + major determination to win prized = changing that
• realizing in the middle of heated sibling rivalry that we are in a public place.  meaning people can see and hear us

Awesome:

• all the amazing new friends I've made this summer - like 20-somethin'.  just ask Facebook
• my grandpa and grammy coming in from New York to see us
• getting this bag with the tie-dye that I love - for $25

Shopko

A little bit of both:

• the comments I get as the girl with the water bottles at football camp:

"you think you look cool in those glasses?"

"you guys should call yourselves the water angels"

"I like my water at 73.62 degrees farenheit"

"so you're gonna help me in Spanish this year, right?"

"hey can I get some of that angel pee?"

•  watering the garden with Titus.  I told him to go get a bucket.  he finds the only one with a gaping hole in the bottom.  I tell him to put his hand under the hole to keep the water in.  he starts singing.  "my have a hand-hole, my have a hand hole..."

I Shall Emerge From This Summer Victorious

   These summer months are slipping away.  There are only 26 days left to savor before school starts, and I am determined to make the most of them.  Therefore, I have created this finish-during-the-last-days-of-summer-before-school-completely-takes-over-your-life list.  I'm sharing it with you all to keep me accountable - and possibly to offer inpiration for killing summer boredom.

• finish reading the New Testamant (currently in Philemon)

• write at least 15 blog posts - only counting the ones I actually do post

• sew myself a dress

• go on a picnic

• complete David Copperfield

• share my testimony with at least 3 people

• run a total of 25 miles

• begin learning Spanish

• win a game of Risk

• make a plan to start ThinkFAST at my school

To Be a Leader



   In the Marine Corps, officers eat last.  I kid you not.  Ranking officers let their soldiers eat first, while they wait at the end of the line.  The best way to lead is to serve.
   Jesus Christ came to this Earth knowing that people expected the Messiah to be a kingly, overbearing, take-over-the-world type of guy.  They wanted someone who would overthrow Rome and be their all-powerful leader, not someone who would take the job of the lowliest soldier and wash his disciples feet.  Christ was a leader, but only of those who chose to follow.  He broke the rules and went against the grain.  He led by serving.
   Jesus served selflessly.  He considered others more valuable than Himself.  He served endlessly.  He was never too tired, too busy, or too stressed to help someone.  Our God served regularly.  It wasn't something He did whenever He remembered, it was a continual habit.  The savior served voluntarily.  Not because He was forced to, but because He wanted to.  Christ served emphatically.  He gave it all He had and focused on it.
   If you want people to think highly of you, think of them as better than yourself.  If want respect, give respect.  I you want others to work hard for you, be willing to make sacrifices for them.  If you want people's time and energy, never be to busy to listen and to help.  If you want to be a leader, you have to serve.



So I Was At FCA Camp

   I got back from FCA Leadership camp four hours ago.  I'm still waay up there on that camp high, and it feels a little wierd to be home, but I am so excited to break the huddle and play the game.  Camp was such an amazing experience that I have to tell you about it. So.  After attending North Missouri FCA Leadership Camp 2012, I can officially say that:

• ArgoMania is way better than plain ole Rock Paper Scissors.
• God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.
• I adore water.  The frozen stage is awesome, too.
• Surrender is more than performance.
• I have been taken hold of by Christ.
• Attitudes are contagious.
• I have gone TP raiding.  (bucket list!)
• You can make impact by just living your life.
• Inside jokes are great.
• God passionately pursues ME.
• I have met someone with almost thee same testimony as me.
• Worship is more than nice songs.
• Andrew was a phenomenal evangelist.
• Power = dunamus (Greek) = dynamite.
• You can't make the club if you're sitting in the tub.
• fcaresources.com is a website I have to utilize.
• I love competition.
• God renews.
• I took 9 pages of notes.
• The best way to lead is to serve.
• It makes me smile when people hold the door open.
• People know me know me cause they know my coachin' daddy.
• Purity is more than a list of don'ts.
• Christian pick-up lines are hysterical.
• I have made life-long friends.
• I am more than a conqueror.  Crazy, but totally true.
• Aleah got me hooked on bandanas.
• I am unstoppable.
• Late night hallway parties are the best.  Especially with junk food.
• Absolutely nothing can change the way He loves me.
• Laughing is an intense ab workout.  I'm sore.
• The word enthusiasm comes from two Greek words.  En = in.  Theos = God.
• I am in the zone.

Awkward + Awesome Thursday {5}

Awkward:

• Going to bed at midnight.  And this is what went down: try to fall asleep, try to fall asleep, finally fall asleep, omigosh I'm sleeping good, dream, dream, wake up, no! go back to sleep!, fall back asleep, dream, dream, dream, wake up, nooo! savor every moment!, go back to sleep, dream, dream, loud music at 5:03, wake up, fall out of bed, go to the school with Dad to run, run, be so tired that I yawn while I run, come home, fall asleep.
• That whole yawing while running thing.  Totally makes it hard to breathe.
• Being made fun of for twirling the ends of my braids.  They mocked me.
• Elaina: What's swag?  Me: How do you live in America and not know what swag is?  Dad: I have no idea.
• My face...



• Bumping into random people at the pool.  Literal bumpage.

Awesome:

• FIST!  Faith, Integrity, Swag, Trust.
• My cookie monster nails. :)  Thank you Shy!  It took forever, but completely worth it.

• The class of 2016.  I mean, isn't it obvious that we're simply the best?  4 more years 'til freedom... :)
• Warmness that's not suffocating.  Is it sad that 92 degrees feels awwwesome?
• Passing as 18 years old.
• Painting on horses.  We had a big group come out to the ranch and I got to help with finger painting.  Those kids have some major creativity - Reva was very colorful.
• This photo of me and a bestie from waayy back during track season.  And that one meet that we totally dominated.



emotion {July photo challenge}

Linking up to Lucia's July photo challenge with this shot of my sis.  The theme is emotion.  I think this photo pretty well covers it.  What about you?

I Think I'm In Love

   So, there's this guy...this person...someone.  He's protective and caring.  He thinks I'm beautiful - worth dying for.  I've hurt him, but he forgives me and says I'm perfect the way I am.  The time we spend together makes up the highlight reel of my life.  He's always there when I need him.  He never forces me to to anything.  He tells me he loves me.  He has chosen me, pursued me, rescued me, and wooed me.  I think I'm in love...
   With the Creator.  With the Lord of the universe.  With the Lion and the Lamb.  With the King of kings.  With the Savior.  With the ultimate Lover.  With the Bridegroom of Heaven.
   I was made for Him.  There is no one else.  I will spend my life to know Him and please Him.  This is infatution and beyond.  I am completely, totally, head-over-heels, hoplessly in love with God.

Looking Back and Moving Forward

   Today is the one year anniversary of Princess In a Foreign Land.  Can you believe that?  One full year.  This is crazy stuff, man - and so is everything that's happened in the past 12 months.  The blog has changed, I've changed, a lot has changed.
   I don't know what this next year (as a freshman, woot, woot!) will bring, but God does, and He'll be there with me every step of the way.  I'm hoping and praying for deepened friendships, more and better posts, a cell phone, the first giveaway (anyone else excited?), publishing-a-book type opportunities (ahh!), and courage to speak the truth without reserve.  May Father guide my every endeavor, show me His plan, and give me a soft, quiet heart to hear His voice.
   Many, many, maaannny thanks to everyone who has been there supporting me since those very first blog posts (psst! Mom and Dad!).  God bless you and those who have joined the scene more recently.  Father is able to accomplish more than we can ask or even imagine.  He knows us better than we know ourselves.  To Him be all the glory, honor, and praise - no matter what.

Me.  1 year ago. ♥

and this is why I work for free

HIS Ranch is...

• loving God, loving horses, and loving people (not necessarily, but quite possibly, in that order)
• passing on your passion
• finding random bugs on yourself and others
• "Well, it's in God's hands." ... "Ain't that the truth!"
• people who smile because they really are really happy (not just polite)
• that barn smell
• work & play - and all at the same time!
• discovering that horses... well, they're just like us
• "The best day ever!!"
• pony ride after pony ride after pony ride...
• wet, slobbery puppy kisses
• willing hearts and working hands
• the contented sigh when you take your boots off
• not his ranch, but His ranch
• remembering all those names - or at least attempting
• a playful whinny and a friendly nuzzle
• wearing jeans when it's 101.7 degrees
• elated smiles
• learning more from a horse than any human could ever teach you
• being paid in popsicles
• the soft, smooth horse's hair you just brushed
• riding your favorite
• loving. learning. empowering.

It's July (and other important announcments)

   It is officially July, friends.  And that means that our country is about to have a birthday.  And it means that 2012 is halfway over.  And it means that I only have a month and a half of sweet summer break left to savor before school starts.  (How'd you like that alliteration?)
   And.  In other news.    IcreatedapageforthisblogandIwasn'treallysureIwantedtobutIdecidedtoandIhopeyoulikeit. *deep breath*  Translation:  I made a page on Facebook for my amazing blog, so you should totally head on over to facebook.com/foreignprincess and like it up!  << Yes, please do.  I'll still love ya'll even if you don't, cause you're way awesome like that, but it would be really nice. ♥ :)

So how's your summer going?  Any exciting news from your end of the blogosphere?  Because I totally love excting news.

P.S.  Yes, I took that picture, but no, it is not normal for me to use "ya'll" in a sentence.  Sadly, I do not have a Southern accent.  Jsut so ya'll know.