What on Earth is Wrong with this Place?

Today I came across this piece that I made in my much-loved, half-broken, worn notebook. I vaguely remember writing it, but don’t recall what brought around these thoughts. All I remember is that it all started with that circle on the page. I was trying to figure out how to turn a blank page with a black ring on it into a beautiful piece of art.
And then there it was. Fill half of the circle with synonyms for “beautiful,” and the other half with antonyms. And, somehow (I guess), the rest of the words just flowed from my head, through my hands, and onto the paper.

Which is stronger? A kind word, or a derogatory one?
If first: what about one’s insecurities? Would they not kill any goodness in an instant?
If second: how could men possibly be so cruel to each other? Even a weaker but nice word is better than a strong, mean one.
What on earth is wrong with this place?
Contradicting but beautiful. Large, yet so, so small. Full of idolotry and purity. Supposedly sinnless, but so broken we can’t even see our ugliness. So vain, so humble. Confusingly simple. So full of hatred.
I don’t understand this world I live in.
So I’ll cling to Christ, who will save me from this place.
This crazy, twisting, long, fantastic, odd, beautiful life means something to Him.
And I don’t mean to disappoint Him.

Bekah♥

Granola Recipe

Ingredients
3 cups quick cooking oats
3 cups traditional oats
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup applesauce
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 300. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat.
In a large mixing bowl, toss together the 2 kinds of oats with the cinnamon. Stir in the maple syrup, applesauce and melted butter. Mix well.
Spread the granola onto the lined baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Check the granola after 20 minutes and turn around the edges of they become too dark. (They shouldn’t when cooking on the parchment or silicone mat.)
Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container, or in a plastic freezer baggie in the freezer.
Enjoy homemade granola with milk and fresh fruit, yogurt and berries, or mixed into a pantry trail mix.

I got this recipe from over here. The granola isn’t very sweet. I love sweet stuff, so I don’t like it alone. If I make it again, I’d try adding some sugar or something. But it tastes great with applesauce.

Bekah♥

Sixteen.

I never thought I’d make it to sixteen. This age has always been somewhere far away in time. It’s always been a time I’d never reach. And yet here I am, able to say I’m sixteen.
It’s kind of creepy. But that’s okay. I can handle this kind of creepy, because it comes with a lot of good, and so many new dreams and ideas I think my head is going to explode.
See, I have almost impossible goals for my sixteenth year. I don’t want to say what, because I know that the chances of them happening are negative 100%. But I can hope and dream and try my very hardest to succeed. Also, I can say this: what I want to do with this year is huge (like, so huge it feels like Mt. Everest to me). It’s something that, if everything goes as planned (*laughs*), will touch a lot of people.
But I have to trust God and pray a lot to get there. And then there’s the hard work and the concentration. But maybe, just maybe, I’ll succeed. And when I do, we can all celebrate together. And if I don’t get there, seventeen will come around soon enough.
But for now, I’ve only got a year to be sixteen, and I’m going to make it the best I can.

Bekah♥

Not Giving Up

**WARNING:** This is the most clichéd (and repetitive [it was in the middle of the night when I made it. Give me a break]) poem you will ever read (or I will ever write—hopefully). I wrote it a few nights ago after falling asleep, waking up, and realizing that somehow, someday, all those words I’ve written and kept hidden in Microsoft Word documents will have a purpose.

Like the flowers,
I will bloom.
Like the sun,
I will burn.
Like the stars,
I will shine.
Like the trees,
I will grow.
Like the leaves,
I will dance.
Like the wind,
I will push
Those who need
the nudge
Toward the light
of my Savior.
Like a baby bird,
I will fly.
And then fall.
But I will land
On a branch,
And keep trying.
I’m not giving up.

Bekah♥

Pros & Cons

So I know most of you won’t get this (unless you do), but I had to make this (because I did).
The said “this” is a Pros and Cons list that I made about one of my absolute favorite book series (The Gallagher Girls Series) by Ally Carter.
The books are about girl spies in training (but you don’t know that. It’s a secret).
For those who do get this (and I think that would mainly be anyone who sees this via Pinterest, because I am planning on pinning this to one of my boards), enjoy. And, Ally, if you ever see this, we all love you.♥ (And, on a more personal note, you were one of the first people who inspired me to start writing. And you still do inspire me. A lot.)
To anyone who thinks the above sentences are cheesy, leave. You have absolutely no idea how much Ally Carter has influenced my writing. No. Idea.

And now for the list! I was inspired to make it by Cammie’s lists, and this one over here.

Bekah♥

Six Word Stories (Plus a Secret Story)

I like writing (and reading) six word stories. They can be fun writing prompts because they leave so much left for the imagination to figure out. Such a little bunch of words can make you laugh, wrench your heart out, or make you raise your eyebrows at someone’s cleverness. These stories can help you to appreciate the art of writing, too. I mean, some of these tales are pretty awesome, right?
Here are some of mine. Enjoy.

He handed her a single rose.
She twirled and spun and laughed.
“We have come to kill you.”
She took her backpack and ran.
She took it, smiled, then left.
“Will you please dance with me?”
She gave it all to Him.
The whole family resented that man.
But he couldn’t let her go.
She didn’t remember anything at all.
He received the letter, then disappeared.
Time went so fast back then.
He begged her to not go.
The little girl lost her balloon.
His anger destroyed all of them.
“I can’t do this any longer.”
After much begging, she finally consented.
They still laugh at year-old jokes.
(That counts. Hyphens mean one word.)
See what I did there? Six!
They dated for two whole years.
“Just let go. I’ll catch you.”
They sung songs all night long.
She fell asleep under the stars.
They’ve been married for twelve years.

Now for the secret story part! Somewhere in here is a hidden story (it’s not individual words. I’ll {possibly} do that another time. But just worry about the sentences for this one). Whoever can find the story wins! But you don’t get anything. Sorry.
HINT: It contains 7 of the sentences (gee, I practically gave it away right there).

Have fun!
Bekah♥

Well, This is Nice (sort of).

I’m sick. -_-
But that’s okay, because it’s not too bad. Just the flu, according to my super-duper awesome doctor Dad. I’m in denial over this, although as the day goes on, it’s getting harder and harder to refute.
Today is going to be filled with reading, possibly writing, going on Pinterest, maybe watching some Avatar episodes, and possibly getting some sleep. We’ll see how this day goes.
But this morning I got to have a Bible study with a whole bunch of students from my online school. Even though I has a half-hour late and didn’t know a single person, it was pretty cool. We went over a section of Psalm 119. It was great.
And now, I’m off!

Have a wonderful day,
Bekah♥

Spices

One cold January day, a little over a year ago, I got out all of my mom’s Spice Island spices and decided to have a photoshoot. Then, of course, I proceeded to find all sorts of things around the house that fit the “mood” of the photoshoot, and it turned out to be a longer session than planned.
After I was done, I proceeded to mess around with Photoshop, over-edit most of the pictures, and discover new tricks on Elements 9. It was a blast.
(And I must say, spice bottles are absolutely astounding models. They do what you want them to do with no objection, there is no verbal protesting when you have them do something they don’t like, and they don’t move unless you make them. How wonderful!)

Bekah♥

Sunrise, Sunset

 Sunrises:

Sunsets:

Listen here.
Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler on the Roof)

(Tevye)
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?

(Golde)
I don’t remember growing older
When did they?

(Tevye)
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he get to be so tall?

(Golde)
Wasn’t it yesterday
When they were small?

(Men)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

(Women)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

(Tevye)
What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?

(Tevye)
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day

(Perchik)
They look so natural together

(Hodel)
Just like two newlyweds should be

(Perchik & Hodel)
Is there a canopy in store for me?

(All)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

Lyrics from here.
Bekah♥

Ice Skating & Contra Dancing

I hate trying new things. New foods, new activities, new people. Ick. Yet this weekend has been absolutely full of new things.
The best part?
I had a blast.
First, I went ice skating for the first time on Friday night. I didn’t want to go. I was terrified of losing control or falling or both. But once I was on the ice and my friend taught me how to skate, I had lots of fun. I lost control a few times, but never actually fell (a fact that I am very proud to tell).

And then last night, I went contra dancing for the first time. Again, I was terrified. I was afraid of getting partnered with someone weird, or completely messing up and getting lost. And even though I did mess up and get terribly lost a few times, I still had a blast. Of course, my partner (a very nice, very cute boy who I danced with almost the whole night) was gracious and kind enough to tell me what a do-si-do is, how to promenade, and many other things.

It was a very fun weekend.
There is only one problem with all of this:
I’m exhausted. I really need to get some rest. I never realized ice skating and dancing until 10:00 PM two nights in a row would take this much out of me.

With that said, goodnight, dear world.
Bekah♥

*Image isn’t mine. Click on it to see where it came from.