LAST RANDOM TRUTH OF 2011!!

I used to get really homesick when I was younger. Until the summer before seventh grade, I could hardly sleep over at a friend's house for even one night, and even then I had to call my parents before I went to bed. I don't know why that happened all the time - sometimes it got so bad that my parents had to come and take me home. My first time at sleep-away summer camp (the summer before seventh grade) was the end of it. This camp is in Arkansas (my friend's mom went there when she was a kid, and that summer was also my friend's first time), a six hours' drive away from my house. As we sat in the line for registration, I started imagining the worst-case scenario, all the bad what-if's and I started sobbing. I got on the phone with my mom and I practically screamed at her to come and get me, even though I knew it would be time for bed before she got to me and that we wouldn't be home until 3 AM if she did come get me. My friend's aunt was there too, and once I got off the phone she took me into a huge hug, which really was all I needed to start feeling better. She told me that her first time at camp was hard too, but that she thought of all the fun things that would happen during the week and that it would be better soon. Miraculously, I felt better almost instantly and I haven't felt homesick since. I've been back to that camp twice after, and I'm still determining whether I should go again this summer or go on a school trip.

Random Truth - December 30 2011

From 2nd grade to about 7th, I was obsessed with Webkinz. Literally obsessed. I had 32 in all, most of them named after foods. I could probably name them all: Chestnut, Marshmallow, Caramel, Plumpy, Sunlight, Sugar, Aquamarine, Spearmint, Clara, Oreo, Iceberg, Icee, Nutmeg...okay, so I lied. I can't name all of them, there were too many.

Random Truth for December 29 2011

I can speak 5 different languages (but not fluently in some, only a few phrases): English, French (I used to be conversational but it's wearing off), Mandarin Chinese (I chose that instead of taking French again), some Spanish, and American Sign Language.

Random Truth - December 28 2011

The year is almost over... wow!

I always wear my scapular. It's a strictly Catholic thing, I'm pretty sure, so I'll try to explain it for those of you who don't know about it. It is a simple necklace made of a string cord attached to two small rectangles of brown wool. Scapulars are a way to - I think - remind us that our suffering will be turned to joy when we reach Heaven. See, the wool is not comfortable, it's pretty itchy. Wearing it doesn't always complement my outfit, especially when I'm wearing a v-neck top, but it's worth it because Our Lady of Carmel has blessed all scapulars saying, "Whosoever is found wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire," meaning we won't go to hell if we die wearing this blessed garment. Granted, you also have to live a good life free of mortal sin and all that.

Random Truths are back! I have no idea which number this one is.....

Okay people, let's get this truth party started!

So you know how I hate abortion? Well, back in about 7th grade I got myself a Pro-Life bracelet that has images of the stages of a baby's development, from an egg to 9 months, and on the reverse side of the images there is a prayer for my spiritually adopted unborn baby, who I call Ryanne.

The prayer is: "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you very much. Jesus I beg You, spare the life of the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion. Amen." It's a short, sweet, and to the point prayer, yet it means so much.

What to do, what to do...Thoughts on this lovely Boxing Day

I feel strangely empty (haha, Empy feels empty) without the 30 Day Challenge...it gave me a lot of things to think about and obviously blog about.

Stats report: now 19 Russian readers and 2 German, probably more American ones but I forgot how many there were last time I checked. Still only 1 in UK and in Thailand, but that's okay. It means a lot that you read it! And now one in Spain?! WOW. Guys, this is really making me feel special...I hope I don't get big-headed because of this.

I got a lot of books this Christmas; six as of Christmas Eve, but I finished one of them this morning. Today I cleaned out the old clothes from my closet for Boxing Day!

This is such a completely random post here, all of it is, but to tell the truth I'm bored. Just thought I'd make that clear.

So I have a Twitter, though I usually never get on...mostly because I forgot my username AND my password. I keep getting e-mails from Twitter with follower requests, and the most ridiculous one I've gotten yet is from a 32-year old woman who is following a LOT of accounts but has no followers of her own. Her description includes "looking to see what maybe offered out there as a chance for a fresh start". Um. No thanks, lady. I feel bad for her, but just NO. Besides, following me won't do much good, seeing as I can't post anything without my login info.

Interesting Stats...

So today while checking page views and other stats of this blog, I noticed that I have obviously an audience in the good ol' US of A, but I also found that about 16 people in Russia read this, and then one person in Germany (part of my family is from Germany, so that was cool to see!), one in UK, and then one from Thailand! A big shout-out to all of my foreign readers!

Special Random Truth :)

So back during the 30DC I posted about my relationship status, which back then was "single." I would like to tell you all that it has changed! As of yesterday, I am in a relationship, but we're not going completely public about it yet. Come on, my entire life doesn't have to be displayed on the Internet. You know who you are :) Merry Christmas, my darling readers! I hope Santa brings you everything you asked for!

Love from your faithful blogger and friend,
Meridith <3

30DC Day 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :'(

I don't want this to end :( oh well guys. Tomorrow since it's Christmas, I won't be posting anything at all, not even a random truth. Random Truths will commence again on the 26th, or maybe on New Year's Eve. Well, technically I have one today but whatever. Or maybe I'll post some poems I wrote, though I don't want anyone to submit them and call them their own.

My definition of love?

To me, love is being with the person or people who make you happy and always have your back, like family, friends, or one's significant other. Just look at 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8: "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury. It does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." That is what love means to me. Nobody can live without it; it is always somewhere in a person's life, whether it is from God or the people around that person. People may not realize it, and maybe after reading this some of you will think: "I guess I'm not loved after all." THAT IS NOT TRUE. I promise, though you might doubt at this moment, you are truly and deeply loved by somebody, and if you haven't found them, they are somewhere on this earth.

30DC Day 28 and 29

I just noticed on the picture of the challenge that it goes from 27 to 29 without a 28...I guess yesterday's won't actually be done since I don't have an assignment.

Day 29
This picture is me when I was about one, I think.

30DC Day 27

I am a Pisces in the zodiac calendar. Pisces is a fish, and according to www.astrology-online.com/pisces we Pisces are imaginative and sensitive, compassionate and kind, selfless and unworldly, and intuitive and sympathetic. I don't know about selfless, but I do feel bad when I realize that I'm being selfish. And as for unworldly, I really like stuff; come on, I am a girl.

30DC Day 26

5 celebrity guys I find attractive:

Zayn Malik from One Direction.

Niall Horan, also from One Direction.

Pierre Boulanger <3 

Zac Efron :) not the best photo of him but yeah...

And the best for last, ladies and gentlemen, TAYLOR LAUTNER. 

30DC Day 25

Five places I want to visit...
1. I'd like to go back to Belize/ almost anywhere in Central America. When I was 6, my family and I went on a cruise around that area and I got to climb an Aztec pyramid (and I also got a purely-decoration ukulele from Dzibilchaltun).
2. U.S. Virgin Islands
3. Galapagos (even though there are no human civilizations there, I could take a cruise and stay on the ship overnight)
4. Eastern Oregon (in the summer it's almost exactly like what you'd see in an old-time western movie) - I learned (well, sort of) how to drive there the summer I was ten. Funny back story there...I'll tell you later. Or will I?
5. NYC

30DC Day 24

This is my very own piano! It means a lot to me because I've had it for almost the entirety of my musical career, excluding the six months that I used a Yamaha keyboard. This beautiful instrument was my seventh birthday present; my grandparents had tied balloons to the bench's legs. They had taken my brother and me out to lunch, and when we got home this is the first thing I saw. I remember I ran up to it, plunked myself down on the smooth bench, and exclaimed "IT HAS PEDALS!" (my Yamaha left much to be desired). This piano is a little beaten up, but it's great anyway. I think there's some symbolism in a slightly damaged piano; though it has scars, it is still able to produce beautiful music. It's kind of like me that way.

More Random Things about me! I can't believe I forgot these!

• I love horses! I've only really been on trail rides (my mom wouldn't let me have lessons on how to ride) but I love riding them anyway. They're beautiful creatures!
• I am still (after 4 years of having the music) learning how to play Fur Elise on the piano, as well as Solfeggio in C Minor. I really prefer jazz and blues to classical, but I don't mind learning a challenging song. Look them both up on YouTube and you'll know why they take so long to learn. Besides, my teacher hasn't come back to them yet; both pieces are in my old binders. I'll remind her next lesson.

30DC Day 23

Before we begin, I would like to point out that the 12 days of Christmas START on Christmas day. They had originally been to celebrate the twelve days it took for the Wise Men to find the Christ child. Now, like almost every part of any holiday, stores have used them to their advantage by actually starting the 12 days of Christmas on December 14. THAT IS NOT HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. Also a fun fact: did you know that the song was actually a clever way to help Catholic children remember things about their faith during times of persecution? The partridge in the pear tree represents Christ, the four calling birds are the four Gospel writers, 12 drummers drumming are the twelve disciples, and so on.

这是我家的照片！

Please pardon my face. And my fingers. Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of a picture using a webcam?

A BUNCH OF RANDOM TRUTHS HERE BECAUSE I'M BORED :)

Okay so I have had some ginger ale today and that always makes me a little bit hyper, plus I'm listening to One Direction songs while typing this post. Also today's the kickoff of Christmas break so I'm deliriously happy about that too. And I thought of a lot of cool wacky facts about me I haven't mentioned to y'all yet, so before I forget them I'll tell you now.

• The summer that I was 10, my family and I flew to Oregon to visit my uncle. Our flight switched in Denver, but our flight hadn't been called yet. So, my brother and I went to a Ben & Jerry's stand and, being a silly hyperactive child, I decided it was a good idea to randomly turn...straight into the corner of a pillar that I hadn't seen until that moment. I still have a line in my forehead from that, on the edge closest to my nose of my left eyebrow. 
• I also (accidentally) gave myself a tattoo in sixth grade. I got a 100-piece set of gel pens for Christmas, most of which are still hardly used, and I brought a lot of them to school. I was decorating an index card with one, but the gel stopped flowing. So, I started tapping it vigorously on its side in my hand to hopefully get it to start working again, but my friend started talking to me. I looked up, still tapping the pen, and what happens? The tip of the pen lodges itself into my palm. It didn't hurt, honestly, but blood started to well up and I panicked, pretty much running to the nurse's office downstairs. There's still teal gel ink in my hand from that. 
• I used to be a cheerleader, did you know that? It's true! All the way through middle school up until this spring, when my coaches decided to be total jerks. 
• And then I took up lacrosse until this fall, when I didn't make the JV team at my school. See, I have really long legs (I'm around 5'9") so I can't run that effectively though I try my hardest, and lacrosse is pretty much ALL running; it's called the fastest sport on two feet for a reason. 
• So yeah, I'm "athletically challenged." What else is new?
• I am really good at piano music, or so my friends tell me! 

30DC Day 22!

We're only 8 days away from..........THE END OF THE 30 DAY CHALLENGE. That's actually kind of sad. I like this challenge.

3 things I like about my personality:

• I like that I try to be nice to all people
• I am deeply rooted in my love for God and I think it shows
• I also like that I can be really social and outgoing

30DC Day 21!!

Something that makes me feel warm & fuzzy?

Friends! And aroma-therapeutic socks. And comfy pajamas. And hot chocolate. And Christmas

30 DC Day 20!

A lot of these will be the same as the ones I've said before. Obviously these will all be about boys.

5 turn offs: 

1. Cockiness

2. Ugliness

3. Rudeness

4. Being boring
5. Conceitedness

5 turn on's:
1. Handsome
2. Asking how your day was
3. Doing sweet things like giving you presents for no apparent reason
4. Being a good hugger
5. Treating you like you're his best friend

End to the Story (one winner by default)

This submission is courtesy of David, who I have mentioned previously in this blog.

So, the months passed. At the battle of Hogwarts (people who haven't read/seen the Harry Potter series won't understand), Zachary and Esther have found themselves amidst the battle, defending their beloved school. Esther still hasn't told Zach how she really feels about him. Zachary, being a sensible friend, tried to get them to safety. Right as they approached a safe spot, a huge group of Death Eaters arrived, but Zach and Esther fought all of them off. However, one of the Death Eaters cast a deadly curse on Esther. It would have hit her, but Zach pushed her out of the way and suffered the spell instead, falling to the ground with fatal wounds. Esther disarmed the nearby Death Eaters and rushed to Zachary's side. Despite her efforts to reverse the damage, her love told her with his dying breath, "I have always loved you."

The End.

30 DC Day 19

Well my room is currently undergoing remodeling, so I'm not posting a picture of it. As we prepare for the birth of Christ, check out this video: If Mary & Joseph used Facebook.

http://youtu.be/reMq5fM874k

We Interrupt This Challenge for a Special Commercial!

Okay, so I wrote this short little story and I want to share it. With the entire world. Because, y'know, that's what a blog is pretty much for.

It's about a boy - let's call him Zachary - and a girl, who I will call Esther. They both went to Hogwarts; she was a Hufflepuff, he was a Gryffindor.

Zachary and Esther met in Potions class, where they were assigned to each other as work partners. As the semester progressed, the two students began to find that they enjoyed spending time with each other, and they soon became friends. When it became time to find dates for the Yule Ball, Zachary knew exactly who to ask. So, he asked Esther if she would go with him, and of course she agreed. You see, she had formed a small crush on him. During the festivities, a few of Zachary's friends came over and started saying some things that Esther found to be perplexing - she wasn't sure if she had heard them right -  but she decided to shake it off and let Zachary explain if and when he wanted to. After the Ball, Esther had no idea whether or not Zachary returned her affections. One day, he asked her a simple question: according to him, people had been asking if they were boyfriend and girlfriend. She replied saying that she didn't know (because she had been heartbroken before and if he didn't feel the same way there was no way she would let him inflict that same pain on her), what did he think? The conversation went on and on that night, until finally the truth came: Zachary said he liked a different girl. This made no sense to Esther at all; if that were true, why didn't he ask that girl to the Yule Ball and why did Esther feel so close to him? She was so disappointed; though she had braced herself for the worst, her heart still ached. A few months passed, and they stayed friends; after a few days she had recovered, forgiven, and moved on......or so she thought. They even went on a couple of "dates" (at least, she thought of them like that) during that period and she found herself falling in love again.

You, my dear readers, will choose the ending!! Send them via message on Facebook to me or if you have my number, text me.

30DC Day 18

A confession/secret?

Well...............

Trust and I are not the best of friends. Sometimes, I don't trust people enough, sometimes I trust them way too much. And I can never figure out when I need to trust more or less. I'm working on it, but so far no progress.

30DC Day 17

Something is seriously wrong with my blog. It won't post until I try the next day.

ONLY TWO WEEKS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!! I need to go shopping....hm.

Oooooooooooh today's challenge is going to be fun.... :D

Let's start with boys.
1. It irritates me when some guys think we women are only alive for two things: sandwich-making and that thing which I will not be naming but we all know what I mean.
2. When they try to impress us by doing some stupid stunt.
3. I don't like jerks. If you're sweet, wonderful, but don't pretend.
4. Cockiness is not the same as confidence.
5. I know you guys really can't control this, but you are SO HARD TO SHOP FOR.

And now on to girls.
1. I am a feminist; however, you can't expect life to be great for us while it's completely sucky for guys. Where is that fair?
2. Life is more than having a boyfriend!!!!!!!!!!!
3. Don't call other people names just to make yourself feel better.
4. (Even though I have this problem myself) If you actually take time to think about what you want to say before you open your mouth, you won't say "like" or "and" or "um" between every word.
5. STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN'T CHANGE. If you have no intent to make things better, don't waste oxygen telling the rest of us about it!

30DC Day 16

For some reason this didn't post yesterday...

Well, today I'm not looking so cute, so NOT going to post a pic. I wore a red v-neck, long-sleeve tee shirt and skinny jeans with my favorite brown boots.

30DC Day 15!

We're halfway through!!! Exciting! I'm going to a party tonight :)

Something I worry about a lot?
.......................................................
...........................................................
.......................................................
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( ^ that resembles thinking)
I worry about a lot of things. I worry about my family, academics, my soul, whether I will fall in love or not...so I worry about those things a lot of the time.

30DC Day 14!

Well I have to do this later, as my iPod is not with me and the battery is dead anyway. I'll try to get that done tonight, though I have a lot of projects due tomorrow.

1. Free to Be Me - Francesca Battistelli
2. C'mon C'mon - Sheryl Crow
3. Abilene - Sheryl Crow
4. This Isn't Hogwarts - Hank Green
5. Burning Love - Wynonna
6. Check Yes Juliet - We the Kings
7. Break Your Heart (feat. Ludacris) - Taio Cruz
8. If Today Was Your Last Day - Nickelback
9. Cheeseburger in Paradise - Jimmy Buffett
10. Enchanted - Taylor Swift

30DC #13

I have ear piercings. I got them pierced on my 7th birthday :) the end

30DC #12

In detail, tell us about one thing you hate.


I hate abortion!! It is the murder of innocent unborn children, and without a doubt it is the work of the devil himself. NEVER is it okay to have an abortion, even if everyone is saying it's okay. 


Even if the woman has been violated against her will and found herself pregnant with her attacker's child, it is still her responsibility to have that baby. Once the child is born, she can give it up for adoption if she still does not want the baby. 


Who are we to deny someone life, when our own mothers wanted it for us?


Some people think abortion is no big deal, that the baby is just a clump of cells and tissue, but those people are dead wrong. Only a few weeks into conception, the baby starts forming fingers and toes, and begins to learn how to swallow. 


Abortion causes emotional and sometimes physical damage to the potential mother of the aborted baby.

CHOOSE LIFE!

30DC #9, #10, #11 and apology!

Apology: I left my laptop at school on accident this weekend, so I couldn't access my blog. I will make up for it now! I promise :)


#9 Tell us about your day in detail.
Well, first I woke up today at 6:45. I got ready for school, brushing my hair, putting on my uniform and packing my backpack with the things I need for the day which were previously in my B-Day backpack (computer charger, wallet, etc.). Then I ate breakfast: Mini-Wheats, some pineapple and a mocha frappucino! Then I brushed my teeth and put my backpack in the car. I gave my piano music to my dad, since he usually picks me up from carpool in the afternoon. Mom drove me to school, and I slept until we got to about the second-to-last turn from school. In my first class of the day, Theology, we went to Mass. It was funny because the last time we went to Mass as a class we had a different missal, but now that the changes have been made to the Mass people were still messing up and saying the old parts. Then I went to Chinese class, where we finished a movie called "Roots and Branches" which is about these four children whose parents die, so they get separated but find each other once they have grown up. I haven't been feeling very well lately, so I left after lunch. Then I stayed home until my piano lesson, and now I just had dinner.

#10 Post your favorite quote. 
"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end." This quote gives me great confidence that God won't leave me despairing even in the toughest of times.


#11 Things you want to say to 3 people.
Person #1: Some people have no dignity or respect at all, namely those who say you deserved to die, Collin. Though I never knew you, I can tell that the people who love you and can't wait to see you again very soon greatly outnumber those who are disrespecting you, and that you impacted everyone you met. Hang in there, my brother in Christ. We're all praying hard for you.
Person #2: Even though we fight sometimes, and I don't see you often because of school and work, you're still my big brother and I love you (though I will always deny that if you ask me in public).
Person #3: You are my biggest role model and my greatest ally, Mom. I love you and thank God for you always, and hope for so many things for you. 


I plan to get back on track tomorrow! Good night everyone!

30 Day Challenge #8

Bands/Artists I've seen live:

TSO (Trans-Siberian Orchestra)

Jonas Brothers

The 5 Browns (pianist siblings)

I don't go to many concerts, as they aren't really fun for me due to my dislike of really loud places. TSO is really the only thing I tolerate. I usually go to plays and musicals instead.

I am so excited for our school's Padrama Jam tonight!!!! 

30 Day Challenge #7

Favorite movie: "Arthur Christmas"
Favorite TV show: "NCIS"
Favorite band: Big Time Rush
Favorite food: I love all food!!!! As long as it's flexiterian-friendly and also ethical (i.e., no dog, horse, any "exotic" meats)