Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Okay, so you're probably wondering why I called this post "Happy RESURRECTION Day" instead of "Happy Easter" or something of the like.  Today after the church service, I was sitting with my friends, talking, and eating lunch.  A couple friends were discussing the fact that when people think of Easter, all that comes to mind are chocolate bunnies, eggs, and dye.  My friends also brought up the fact that Easter Sunday was actually originally a pagan holiday for Ishtar, goddess of fertility.  I was like, "What?  Huh?  Easter celebrates Jesus coming back to life after 3 days in the tomb!!"  But it turns out that priests in Babylon sacrificed babies to this goddess on Easter.  The Easter eggs that we like to hunt is a representation of good fertility or whatever.  Ugh.  Totally not what I thought Easter originated from.  So after this whole discussion that I was kind of eavesdropping/participating in, I decided that I'd rather call this beloved Christian holiday, Resurrection Sunday.  And also cause, you know, Easter kind of sounds like Ishtar.  

Before you go all over me for being an Easter-hater, I'll tell you that I don't hate Easter at all!  Every time I think about how Jesus died for us and took the nails, the lashes of whips, and the abuse for us, I'm just so grateful.  He did it out of love for us.  I'm also really amazed at how someone could love us so much that He would give his life for us.  I'd just rather think about this holiday as the resurrection of Jesus Christ, not a day about the Easter bunny, candy, and colorful eggs.  The candy and egg hunts are a plus, I suppose, just not the most important thing about Resurrection Sunday.   

Moving on!  If you didn't catch the post, I gave up secular music for Lent this year.  My first year giving something up for Lent, actually.  I saw this as a chance to focus my heart on God and took it!  Some of you may be wondering how the Lent thing went.  At first, it was sooooo hard for me not to sing secular songs in the shower (ILOVESINGINGINTHESHOWER).  Every time I'd think of a song and wanted to belt it out, but then I had to think twice before I did.  Other times I just got so sick of listening to Christian music and nothing else.  Also, I'm the kind of person that thinks of a song and the song gets stuck in my head FOREVER.  I found myself singing "Jesus Loves Me" loudly multiple times.  It was really effective though!  Some other difficulties were surprising ones that I never would have thought of and could not really help.  In gym class, the teachers started playing secular songs while we were playing volleyball.  When I went to the mall, every store was blasting some well known artist.  In band class, we obviously didn't play any Hillsong United (haha, I'd like to see that happen), so that was an exception.

Overall, I think it was a very, very good break from secular music for me.  I discovered that listening to secular music a lot made me discontent.  However, with more than a month of listening to music that was specifically created to praise God made my mood lighter and I am more grateful for what I have.  Right now, I could turn on my iPod or Spotify and listen to some Cimorelli or Birdy or whatever else there is.  But I just don't have that hunger for secular music anymore!

One last thing before I go!  It's really cold right now where I live, and it's only just starting to warm up again.  Since spring obviously can't come at the moment, I thought I'd just try to liven up the place with some colorful nail polish.  Here is Pinkalicious by Maybelline Color Show.  I absolutely adore the color and I think it looks very flattering with gold or silver rings.  *I apologize for the dull-looking appearance (it had been several days since I applied the polish) and my ungroomed cuticles.*

I hope you've all been having a glorious Sunday remembering the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!  HE IS RISEN!!!!!

Winter Manicures: Purple Glitter

Okay!  Here's the long awaited nail design.  It's probably not even a design because it's just layering two beautiful nail polishes.  

What I Used...

#'s 1-3, left to right

1) Light pastel-ish purple nail polish

2) Revlons's Multi Care Base + Top Coat

3) Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails Top Coat

4) Forever 21's Love Nails: Purple/Multi glitter nail polish 

the glitter polish, #4

The Simple Steps I Took...

1) Apply the base coat.

2) Apply the pastel purple.  Make sure that this color is more neutral than bold, because the bolder polishes and glitter polish clash mightily.   Also make sure that the pastel color is even all the way across the nail.

3) Apply your Forever 21 purple glitter nail polish!  Be sure that the glitter is even all over the nail too; you can lightly patch it up if you see a spot with less glitter.  However, don't go all out with the glitter because your beautiful pastel will be hidden and it looks kind of bad.  2 swipes of the brush max!

glitter blending...

4) And always remember the top coat.  I used to never use a top coat, and as a result, my nail polish would chip easily.  Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails top coat is very effective; I definitely recommend it!


I don't really think that you guys needed the steps, but you know, just in case.  :)

I really appreciate the friend that lent me the gorgeous glitter nail polish (I forgot to return it to her until two weeks later, haha sorry)!  It's very cool because the small glitter pieces are actually pink and blue.  When they're combined, they radiate purple!  Very cool, very cool.  Anyway, good luck!

On Repeat...

Hi!  So I thought that I'd put it out there that pretty much all I've listened to for the past few days was Misty Edwards's "Only A Shadow Live" CD.  Well, not quite because I don't have the CD.  Yet.  

ihopkc.org

You see, there was this special deal thing at the onething '12 conference where we could get 2 CD's ("Only A Shadow" being one of them) for a discounted cost.  So of course I bought the package and I'm still waiting for it because they're still being shipped.  I'm so excited because I love the songs so much, especially "Pour My Love On You" and "Only A Shadow".  "Only A Shadow" is my favorite because it incorporates Psalm 23:4 which says...

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me."

The message of this verse has always comforted me when I am/was afraid.  I really like Misty Edwards put it into a song (you know, so I can sing it in the dark.  :)  Don't pretend you're the only one that doesn't run up the stairs at night).  

Something you should know:  I almost didn't buy the CD because I thought just listening and being there for the concert/session would be okay (it was Sunday night, for a live recording).  Turned out that I was soooo wrong!  As always, haha.  The concert was so amazing that I couldn't even call it a concert!  Everyone was worshiping like crazy and it was amazing.  

Anyway, for now I'm just listening on Spotify (thank you, Spotify!) until the album comes.  The day couldn't be sooner...

Preachers' Daughters... Good or Bad?

Hi everyone!  I meant to blog about this topic for today a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't have the time.  But now Spring Break is here and I have ample time!  Wooohooooo!  *I personified Spring Break because it deserves personification.  It is the 2nd most amazing concepts that schools have come up with...  2nd to Winter Break which is 2 weeks long!*

Okay, so one day I was on SparkNotes (yes, I do use SparkNotes, but only if I didn't understand what I was reading) and reading their amazing stuff.  At the bottom of the screen, a little bar popped up with the advertisement for a new show called "Preachers' Daughters".  Interested, I clicked on it and it brought me to a description of the show.  Basically, it's a new reality show that premiered on March 12.  This show films a period of time following around girls who are the daughters of preachers.  

impawards.com

The girls who star in this show are all described as girls who are being filmed while going through the most turbulent stage of their lives.  Two of the daughters are 18-ish, and they complain that people are always expecting them to be perfect just because they are children of pastors, the leaders of the church.  They complain that they want to be "normal girls" like everyone else.  One daughter is already pregnant out of wedlock, and she has come back out of "the life of sin" and has "strong religious connections with her family", according to the Wikipedia page.  

First of all, I have to say that I was interested because I myself am a PK (Pastor/Preachers's Kid).  I know what it's like to be looked at differently because my dad is a pastor.  Sometimes, people act a different way around me because they are afraid that I'll tattle on them when they're being "inappropriate".  And other times, people tattle on me because they thought that I was doing something "inappropriate".  And still other times, they don't tell me things because they think that I'll be "tainted".  For example, for the longest time, I had no idea whatsoever what grinding was until high school.  I heard my friends talking about it once and asked them what it was, but they wouldn't tell me.  They wanted me to maintain my innocent, angel-like reputation as a PK.  Well, now I know what grinding is.  Great.  Whoopdeedoo.  It epically changed my life (not really, I'm just being sarcastic if you can't tell).  The point is, I can relate to these girls. 

But then I read more and got less and less excited about the show.  The show basically shows the girls (mainly the two younger ones) going around and dating, doing drugs, partying, and all that other stuff.  Meanwhile, their parents sit at home and pray for their daughters to stop being like normal teens.   They also try to watch and monitor every aspect of their daughters' lives.  

According to theblaze.com...

"As for Pastor Mark Perry, he says the family’s motivation for appearing on the show isn’t to gain fame. Instead, he hopes they can help people see the difficulties preachers face in raising their families.

“We didn’t say yes to the show because we wanted to be on TV. We said yes because we wanted to tell our story,” he said in an interview with the San Luis Obispo Tribune. “We’ll be able to show our weaknesses and hopefully our strengths.” "

I understand this totally.  But I just have this nagging feeling about the show that I can't really describe.  I know that PKs have tons of pressure because there are people trying to be like them and watch them and all that.  Some PKs just break down and become rebels.  They feel that becoming rebels will prove something to their community around them.  I haven't really gone through this, and don't worry.  Not all PKs become or stay rebels.  It really just depends on your personality and how you think about things.

However, I don't really like how this only shows the negative view of a pastor's family (despite the fact that daughter no. 3 is back with the church again).  This show just depicts the stereotypical negative view of the pastor's family.  It makes people think that all PKs are rebels and pastors don't know how to raise their children the "right way".  And it's not true.  Not at all.  I've met many pastors' children, and I've seen the good and the bad.  There are PKs who follow their parents' footsteps, and there are PKs who don't.  And like I said, it really depends on the personality and values of the PK.  I also don't like how the show reveals promiscuous stuff about the other siblings in the families.  It's such a reality show thing, isn't it?

I guess the real way to find out if this show is a good idea is to pray about it.  To pray about what is happening to God's church and why we are advertising it on TV.  To pray for the future generation that will lead the church.  To pray for our pastors for guidance from God, not only for the congregation, but first and foremost, their families.  

Here's the link to a description of the show.  If you'd like, you can tell me what you think about this new show in the comments.  Or you can email me.  I'll try to sort out my feelings about it in the meantime.  :)  Thanks for reading!

The Good Things of Life

Hello everyone!  Sorry I haven't posted in while.  It's been very hectic, and I don't think that I'll be able to write my post on my new nail polish design this weekend like I planned.  :(

However, good things have been happening around here too!  

1)  A few days ago, my gym shoes started falling apart, so my lovely mother offered to take me to Target (I know, I know, Target is a horrible place for gym shoes) because I was so desperate.  The gym shoes there were quite disappointing (a given), expensive (also a given), not very professional, and ugly (I don't know anyone that really likes neon colors ALL over their shoes.  Neon shoelaces are okay, just not everywhere else).  I was so disappointed, but needed shoes so badly that I settled down on one not-so-ugly-looking pair.  My mom could tell that I really didn't like them, so she suggested Nordstrom Rack.  By then, it was already 8 pm and we were on a tight schedule.  We quickly went to the nearby Nordstrom Rack, which had TONS of more options that were so much better.  I chose the least expensive pair (still about $50) and was kind of feeling guilty about it.  My mom told me that it was okay since my feet weren't growing anymore.  However, I was still feeling very selfish, so I almost put them back.  Up at the cash register, I was almost about to tell the lady I didn't want them until she rang them up and said they were ten dollars.  Oh my goodness.  Ten dollars.  The lady and I thought that it was a mistake, but it wasn't!  I walked out of Nordstrom Rack holding the $10 gym shoes, thanking God, and having a mini celebration with my mom.  

2)  Though I didn't win my doubles match, I won my singles match in the first badminton meet!  What a great way to start off the season.  :)

3)  As a fund-raiser for the badminton team, all girls are required to sell at least 50 small bags of Warheads candy, each for a dollar.  In the past, my sales were quite pitiful because I was a very bad salesperson.  I'm still a very bad salesperson, but I was able to sell 26 bags of candy in three days' time!  Wooot!  *This is all thanks to my very generous classmates.  Or maybe thanks to their generous appetites for candy.  Why people like sour candy is a mystery to me.  Chocolate for the win!!*

4)  My dad came home from a business trip!  He was gone for a really long time, and the house just didn't feel the same without him.  He also brought back great presents.  :D

5)  I had a great girl talk with one of my best friends today at church.  She just cracks me up every time.  Thank God for best friends!

6)  An awesome video of Libera's new song, "The Moon Represents My Heart" (a much loved Chinese song), came out a few days ago.  The most exciting thing is that it's in Mandarin Chinese!  How awesome is that?  It's not a full video, but it hints at a new music video that may be coming out soon.  For those of those lucky enough to go to the Libera concerts in late March and early April in Taiwan, Libera might sing this song!  Check it out right here. 

Okay, well this is the end of the good things that have happened to me this week.  I feel like writing this post is a great reminder of how good God is to us when we don't even realize it! 

Exciting news!!!!!!

Ohmygoodness Ohmygoodness Ohmygoodness Ohmygoodness Ohmygoodness Ohmygoodness Ohmygoodness!!!!

I just came home from a rather long badminton practice to amazingly joyful awesome news!!
Drumroooolllllllll.....

LIBERA IS COMING OUT WITH A NEW ALBUM!!!!

YAYYY!!!  It's been so long since they came out with new songs so it's quite the exciting news for me.  I'm also happy and excited because they'd just come out with a new album right when I discovered them.  Since then, they've made a couple albums, but those albums are more like "The Best of..." and stuff like that.  It's so exciting for me (and for you too, I hope)! 

Most people (and you, if you don't know who Libera is/are) look at me weirdly when I say that I enjoying listening to a choir comprised of young boys in grade school.  If you're wondering how I came to love this young boys' choir, check out this post here. 

Here are a few pictures that MIGHT be for the new album!  Personally, I find it weird when people are taking pictures of me while I eat.  But hey, whatever works, haha!

Thanks to Inna from BEAUTIFUL STRANGERS* and Lexi from Mini Angels for breaking the exciting news.  You can find links to their blogs in the column on the bottom right.  

Fashionably Late

The snow day that I was praying and wishing for finally came today!  A bit late, if you ask me.  But hey, I'll take it!  

At school yesterday, the school was all abuzz with the exciting news that we'd finally have a snow day.  Some of us were really optimistic, and others were quite pessimistic about it, saying that our school district NEVER issued snow days.  I have to confess that I didn't learn my lesson from last week and was hoping (really really praying this time) for a snow day.

I woke up this morning to discover that our driveway was hardly even dusted with the white snow.  Dejected, I fell back into bed and accidentally fell asleep again.  Five minutes before my bus arrived, I woke up again and started freaking out because I was going to miss the bus!  Then, ever the heroine, my mom swept into my room and told me that because of severe weather (that was yet to come), school was canceled for the day.  HALLELUJAH.  You do not know how happy I was.  

Reasons that today was a great day for a snow day:

1)  I had a seminar to do in my AP European History class, but my teacher said that we didn't have to do it if there was a snow day today!  Woohoo...

2)  I slept in without that guilty feeling that I was missing all that school and would have to make up the work later.  

3)  I got a chance to start my English assignment (due Thursday) that I was definitely NOT going to touch till Wednesday night.

4)  No badminton practice!  The conditioning is so bad now.

5)  My youngest sister and I built a mini snowman outside.  Then I shoveled part of the driveway which was not much fun.

6)  The fact that my mom almost had to drive me to school would have sent her over the edge.  

7)  I got to finish a book called Victoria Rebels by Carolyn Meyer.  It's not something I'd read everyday, but it was pretty interesting all the same.  Who knew being a queen/princess of England could be so tiring? 

I hope you all had a wonderful day, snow or no snow.  Here's a picture of the wonderfully, fashionably late snow day!