Jane Eyre

"Everything seems unreal...you sir, are the most phantomlike of all."

I read it on a treadmill early into high school. We have the most beautiful, out of print green and gold copy that I am absolutely in love with. It is probably my favorite story. I had never watched a single one of the numerous film adaptations for fear it would ruin my imagination of the characters and the story. That was of course until I saw the trailer for Jane Eyre, the 2011 edition. Yikes! I knew right away that this would be the one. Focus Features hated me enough to release the film only to a limited number of theaters (really? Fort Smith Malco didn't get included???), but I counted down the days until it finally came out on video. After a desperate search across town for an available DVD rental facility, we downloaded it from iTunes, broke out the tea and cakes and hooked up the computer to the TV.

And it was a good movie.

The End.

Ok, I’ll actually review a little. Michael Fassbender embodied Mr. Rochester STUNNINGLY. It transfixed me quite. Alice from Wonderland Mia Wasikowska made a pretty cool Jane too. If you know the story you would no there is no way of making it exactly kid friendly, but it is clean--no cussin’. There is kissin’ and a Pride and Prejudicey nude painting to look at though. The soundtrack was pretty lovely, also Pride and Prejudicey but less memorable. The worst of the movie was the violence I suppose...there are a couple of smacks and fist scuffles, girls get struck at a bad school, and there's one scene with a bit of blood involved. But hey, it's not the Gladiator. This is definitely one that I'm gonna own in the near future. I shall leave you with a lovely preview that will make you want to watch it too :)

Summer's almost done?

School is about to start back up! Tell you what people, I have been SOOOOOO blessed this Summer! I've been thinking of some things that have been happy for me that I'm thankful for this season. Let's see...

New Macbook Pro!!! Well...maybe...

This chick lost her first tooth! She got to go to Braums with the tooth fairy ;)

I get to be in an art show at school! With this thing.

We got to clown a lot.

VBS! Two of them to be exact. "Rock of ages...your word is always true..."

We got to go to Branson and hang with our CO homies and play at Silver Dollar City! That was def a blast. This pic is some handsome boys at Pizza Hut up there :)

My mom and dad both had birthdays AND an anniversary this Summer!

I fell a lot more in love with this handsome fella. I know, I do that every day, but... :)

This guy made it into the nursing program at school! Proud sister? Why yes I think so.

I got to witness two of my most beautiful friends get married to awesome guys! Happy happy joy joy!

Aren't they so pretty?

And as for now, I'm gonna go thank God for the Scholarship I got and the dress I need to go buy and Summit church camp that I'm gonna go as councilor. And I'm gonna pray for my sissy and her trip to EA. Miss that girl like the dickens!!!

Happy rest of the Summer everyone!

"Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift up my hands."

~ Psalm 63:3-4

The Evolution of Meg's Macbook

Once upon a time on a day much like today, Meg awaited her little bundle of joy in an excited fashion. Finally it came at about 3 0'clock in the afternoon, in a state such as this:

Meg was delighted, as this was the expected appearance of her little dear in its early state of life. With a little assistance, the box transformed into this:

Meg pressed the power button located on the Macbook Pro's front side and prepared to enjoy the final stage of her Macbook's life cycle...or so she thought.

3 minutes later:

Gloom.

Despair.

Death.

The poor mutilated creature shriveled up into it's original cardboard cocoon to get sent off for burial back to the company while Meg awaited a new bundle of joy.

The End.

Part II

Evolution of Meg

Early today:

3:09...

Happy first day of SUMMER!

What is Summer for you?

For me, Summer is...

1. Crafting!

Anybody else that agrees should check out this great giveaway! I want one of these things!!!

Painted this family crest for Papa R's father's day present. Amateur, but he loved it and my sweet guy says I should go into business :) He makes me smile.

2. Cooking!

Made these for memorial day! Yellow cupcakes cut in half with a brownie in the middle. Throw some white and yellow frosting inside for mustard and mayonnaise, coat the tops lightly with sugar water and sprinkle crushed oats on the tops. So funny and SO YUMMY!

3. Siblings!

So much fun to watch swimming, get snowcones, play bionicles, or in this case go to best buy at test some Bose headphones :) All that fun stuff I can't do very much while I'm in school!

4. VBS!

We already had one VBS at Immanuel Baptist Church and it was a BLAST! I did music. Love these kiddies!!! I'm trying to post a video, but blogger is technical difficulty-ing me...ARG! One more VBS to go, at Fellowship Bible Church! Bring your kids, it will be a blast!

5. Man time!

Having spare time to spend with my Ethan is an awesome Summer thing! We like to go shopping, and walking, and cooking, and writing, and sword training, and talking, and eating, and date nights, and the list goes on!

So that's a taste of Summer for me. Anybody care to post on Summer for you? I'd love to see!

If ya gots one, if ya expectin one, or if ya wants one...

Behold! I was checking out my friend Brittney's blog, and stole this list that she stole apparently from somewhere on the Internet :) I thought it inspirational in my attempts at wifely preparation for the future.

BUT before I get into that, I must state an interesting thing that the LORD has showed me recently. You know those times when you are a tad off in your spiritual walk, and you need to jerk yourself back, get right with Him, and ask Him for His guiding hand? In those off-kilter times, I am also off-kilter in my relationship with my man.

Why?

God gave my the love that I have in my heart for Efum. When I am not loving my heavenly God like I should, how can I expect to be able to love my earthly man like I should?

Just a thought in the middle of a post that wasn't supposed to be about that. Just another reason that I shall never be a popular blogger.

ANYWAY. The list...

Eighteen Ways to be a Blessing to your Husband

1. Ask your Husband, "What are your goals for this week?"
2. Ask your Husband, "How can I help you accomplish your goals?"
3. Ask, "Is there anything that I can do to make it easier for you?"
4. Be organized with your housekeeping. Then your husband will be free to do his work.
5. Save energy for him everyday.
6. Put him first over children, parents, friends, jobs, ladies Bible studies, etc.
7. Willingly and cheerfully rearrange your schedule for him when necessary.
8. Talk to him in a positive light to others. Don't slander him at all, even if what you are saying is true.
9. Do whatever you can to help him succeed and accomplish his goals (Ex: run errands for him, pray for him, organize your day to be available to help him w/projects).
10. Consider his work (job, goals, hobbies, etc.) as more important than your own.
11. Think of specific ways that you can help his accomplish his goals (Ex: keep careful record of money spent in budget, take care in recording telephone messages, etc).
12. Consider things that you are involved in. How do they bless your husband? Ask him.
13. Be warm and gracious towards his family.
14. Do and say things that build him up.
15. Dress and apply your makeup in an attractive manner that is pleasing to your husband.
16. When your husband sins, reprove him gently, always give him hope and pointing him to the Lord.
17. Encourage him to use his spiritual gifts.
18. Submit to your husband's leading.

This gives me some ideas for new goals for this new week! Also, these steps would be fun to make prayer cards with--finding corresponding verses and fun stuff like that. Maybe it should be a project, cuz I like projects. Speaking of, check out this give-away by my big sis Bekah! She made a set of prayer cards that are cool beans and they could be all yours! Or all mine! Or somebody else's! Get in on it, hurry up!

I should blog more, because I never think I have anything to blog about until I actually get down to it--then suddenly there's a lot! :P But for now, I will leave you all with a picture of a couple of my favoritest fellas.

Aren't they delicious?

Snack anyone?

The other day we all needed some good lunchbox fodder in order to properly enjoy JahJah and Jesse's soccer game, and I found this fun recipe! It was tagged by many miniatures (and olders) as... "the awesomest popcorn", "best thing ever", etc. SOOooooooooOOooo now everybody has to make it.

Ingredients:

5 quarts of popped popcorn (NOTE: I didn't know how much popcorn that was, so I just threw 1 cup into the popper that my man biked over and let me borrow :P)

1/2 Cup melted butter

2 Tbs Parmesan cheese (I didn't have any, so I'm labeling it as optional ;D)

1 Tbs parsley flakes

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp chili powder

4 to 6 drops of your favorite hot sauce

Put the popcorn in a big bowl, mix everything else up, drizzle it over, toss it around and there ya have it! I ended up tweaking a lot...it didn't seem like enough "sauce", and I 1 1/2x-ed the sauce part if that makes sense. Tweak it up however you want and it's super easy! And great for lunchboxes I might add.

Happy Easter my friends. Chew on this song for a year or two.

Wonderful, merciful Savior

Precious Redeemer and Friend.

Who would've thought that a lamb could

Rescue the souls of men?

Oh, You rescue the souls of men.

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper

Spirit we long to embrace,

You offer hope when our hearts have

Hopelessly lost the way.

Oh, we've hopelessly lost the way.

You are the One that we praise.

You are the One we adore.

You give the healing and grace our

Hearts always hunger for.

Oh, our hearts always hunger for.

Almighty Infinite Father.

Faithfully loving your own,

Here in our weakness you find us

Falling before Your throne.

Oh, we're falling before Your throne.

You are the One that we praise.

You are the One we adore.

You give the healing and grace our

Hearts always hunger for.

Oh, our hearts always hunger for.

A first anniversary...

With the LORD, college, and a man this year I learned more than I ever would have guessed. Not more as in quantity of the usual. Not more of what I'm used to, like being accustomed to cheerios and then getting more in the bowl to swallow than the usual. I mean more as in instead of getting cheerios, I got some fruit loops, some frosted mini wheats, AND some lucky charms--a plethora of various material all in one shabang that I never really even considered learning. This year was the first year of my WHOLE LIFE to not be a homeschool student. This was my first year to drive myself places. This was my first year to be "older" than people. This was my first year to be working and talking to people who aren't in my homeschool group or church every single day. This was my first year for a lot of outreach ministry. And this was my first year to be courted by a dashing fella. It's this dashing fella I'm here to talk about. Basically, if you don't already know, he is my knight--everything I ever dreamed about. He's got the most beautiful smile. He's got a big imagination. He's a very hard worker. Oh, and his hands can do everything--he can do taekwondo, he can cook, he can clean, he can hack firewood, he can CNA people, he can play piano, and harmonica, and what can he NOT do? He's always out wanting to use them and I'm glad he's in a field where he can make money by working with them someday soon. He dresses pretty well and he likes looking good, so he takes my fashion advice ;P He's got strong defense mechanisms. For the most part, he's a very healthy eater (and is trying to help me out with my not-so-stellar habits in that area...I'm working on it). He's naturally good at what I have to work at. He calls me names--in a good way :) He brings me presents. He helps me with school. He reads to me at night. He teaches me martial arts. He teaches me songs. He teaches me to listen to Jesus. He teaches me about being a light. Of course though, that's not just him--he and the LORD team up and teach me things together for the most part :) Of course he's a human. He's got sins, he's got habits, he's got the same problems everyone else has in this world. He's not perfect. But he's perfect for me.

I love you sweetie! Happy first anniversary. I love you again!

Trashion Fashion

When you go to...

This school

in...

this room

with...

this guy as a teacher, then youre bound to make stuff like...

this

and this

and even some of that.

But now...

(wait for it...........)

Something bizzare is in the works with the 3D design students.

Stuff like...

this

and this

and...that?

Confused? You should be.

Ladies and gentlemen...

Prepare for the show of sheer amazingness at 2nd Street Live.

Trashion Fashion.

Check back for further updates.

Maybe.

~*Stuffs What Girly Girls Like*~

As of lately, simple objects that girly girls in general think are just awesome have been called to my attention. I thought this would be a good place to make a quick list. Now I realize I (mostly) speak for myself, and I am NOT talking about things girls like to DO, like walk in the park or go swimming...this list is of physical objects that sissy females generally appreciate. Ladies, do comment and further my list! :) Gentlemen (if any of you read this blog), you may find this useful one day, maybe ;)

• PINK!!!
• Candles that smell pretty
• Body spray and perfume stuff
• Chocolate
• Girl Movies (you all know what I mean)
• Nail Polish
• Tea/Coffee (check with your girl before you take my word on that one for sure)
• Shoes
• Clothes in general
• Frilly bath products
• New makeup
• Jewelry (this is usually a big one)
• Lip gloss (mostly chapstick with me ;D)
• Books (especially Jane Austen!)
• Hot chocolate
• Vintage/just cute Teacups
• Any cute cup really
• Any cute dishes
• Teapots
• Cute notebooks
• Cutesy cookies
• Music
• Hair stuff
• Gum
• Fanciful wallet/purse
• Mail
• Shopping money :)

Well...that's all this girly girl can think of right now. Add on ladies! :D

I Dreamed a Dream...:/

I had a dream that she came back.

That it was a total surprise, after I prayed for weeks to find her.

I dreamed that we found out where she lived

and I dreamed that she had missed me too.

(Which is prolly not the case in real life and that she prolly can't tell the difference but not the point and makes no difference anyway.)

And then I was sad when I woke up and she was gone again.

Then for some reason some cute little things she said were repeated and chuckled over by my man.

And I stumbled upon a picture of her accidentally.

So I'm still praying

And trusting God to know what's best for her.

And me.

Cuz I want her back a lot.

And I don't want Sha-sha and Len and N to disappear like this too.

I miss her a lot.

Me today...

Feeling...physically not great, but will be better tomorrow.

Praying...for my little Jbaby who has surgery tomorrow to get his tonsils and adenoids outta there.

Praying too...for my Geneva.

Praying also...for my mom.

Task just completed: chocolate chip cookies that were supposed to be raisin and now confuse me.

Task about to be done: Bible time!

Task not done (on purpose): English homework! BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE TO!!!!!!!!!! :D

Thinking about...calling my BUD.

Thankful for...art in the universe.

Thinking also about...Valentine's Day.

Wishing that...my BUD did not hafta work on said Valentine's Day.

Reading...Hyperbole and a Half :D

Looking at...Pics from my big sissy.

Dreading...Art History test because I have no clue what to expect.

Happy because...school was out today and will be tomorrow also.

Sadder because...I miss my BUD.

Smelling...nothing.

Gonna buy...the new RED album, a present for my Jbaby, Glycerin and essential oils.

And also Fancy the half clown.

The end! :)

Oh what a wonderful Christmas!!!!

First was the trip to Texas to see the Grandparents! :D Lots of cooking, and eating, and paper flying, and hugging, and all those things that make people happy! A short, but fun weekend! Here's some pics...

My new watch from Grandmother! (and the only present I have a handy picture of)

Bunch of kids and presents from awesome family

Grandma Vivian and Gram

Fun!

Then came Lane and my trip to Branson with the Rs and the Fs!!! We went to Silver Dollar City (!!!) the first day and shopped around at the outlets the second day before heading home. It was SOOOOOOOO much fun, especially since we'd never been there before. I'm not even gonna try to tell you about it all, so here's some pics!

Efum and Hoss goofing around...this is the mild picture ;)

Caesar in the giant rocking chair in SDC

Me and Efum and a marshmellow yum thingy we got :)

These guys were in our hotel! It was all castley :)

Lane in the giant chair

Well, these pics are being a pain, so that's all I'll post :) But on to actual Christmas day...it was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! I got one of those sole-skates to take to school :) I'll def have to practice with it. Also I got CHAPSTICK!!!!!! :) And velveeta!!!!! And a yum cinnabon candle!!!!! And a silver bracelet!!!!! And this...

from my honey man :) so pretty.

And here's some vids showing some other fun stuff that happened in Tagg land...

Cup and Ball Tournament

Wheels! :D

Well, so basically in a nutshell, that was our Christmas :) Took me forever to find those vids, so I think I'm gonna go now and name all my videos what they actually are :P Bye people!

Never have I wanted to keep a child more.

This is me and my 'Niva. She's one of my AWANA kiddies. I can kind of call them all mine, since I've taught/helped in all their classes (cept Shawn, but I had him in VBS, so). But this one is WAAAAAAY mine! She is such a cutie cuddlebug! About Birdie's age and always ready to do what's next. One thing I love about her is that she's VERY observant--when someone drops a book, she runs from wherever she is to go pick it up. Once when the little guy spilled milk and I was cleaning it up she came from another table with some paper towels! She's the sweetest thing ever and I wish I could take her to live with me someday :)