Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day. It's purpose is to remember those who died for our freedom.
I think one way to honor their memories is to study the Constitution, so we can better try to preserve that freedom instead of letting it be trampled on.
Today, please try to do all you can to grow in your knowledge of what it takes to be free. It's the least we can do when people are fighting and dying for us.

The Hunger Games

I read The Hunger Games series a couple months ago, thinking it would be a fun thing to read. Well, I was sadly mistaken, because I didn't like them, although I couldn't stop reading them.

A few weeks ago, I started a Hunger Games class, because I was intrigued by these books.

Now I have found a lot of meaning that I couldn't have even guessed at before. When I try to discuss The Hunger Games with a lot of people, the discussion ends up being about whether Peeta or Gale should end up with Katniss, but there is a lot more meaning.

In my class, we keep a notebook with a page for Ahas! (it has to have an exclamation point :P), I-Wonders, Questions, Truths, Archetypes, Imagery, Satire, Irony, Symbolism, Foreshadowing, Allusions, Use and Misuse of Personal Power, and Random Acts of Love and Kindness. This helps us to think critically while reading any book.

Anyway, I thought I might share with you all so you can understand why people like or dislike The Hunger Games, past things like, "Peeta is so amazing!", or "Katniss is so awesome.", etc., and so I can give you some tips on thinking critically and expanding your ability to become better.

:)

Joan of Arc

For my Creative Writing class, which is mentored by the amazing Mrs. Williams, I have to write about a time I met a hero. So I chose one of my many heroes to write about. Here is my assignment:

"I met a hero that has been dead since May 30^th 1431, on May 6^th 2012.

She is my hero because of her amazing faith during times of adversity and in the face of death. She put courage into the hearts of her countrymen, and helped her country win a war as a young girl in her teens. She burned at the stake at age nineteen, her king not helping her, even though he could have.

She is Joan of Arc.

I met her when I read Joan of Arc by Mark Twain.

Even though some people may not think that counts as meeting somebody, it does because you learn about her life, how she acted, where she grew up, how she died, and more than you generally learn when you meet somebody. You rejoice with her, cry with her, and feel her pains and sorrows, when you read about her life in that book.

When I met her, I was inspired by her acts of kindness, compassion, love, faith, and bravery.

One example is when a person left without a home from the war comes to her father's house. He's a complete stranger, and has an unkempt appearance due to poverty and hunger. Joan's father turns him out, because he doesn't look like he should be trusted, but Joan makes her father feed the stranger and let him warm by the fire for a while.

A better-known example of faith and bravery is when she led the armies of France in order to drive out the English, or when she made the Dauphin be crowned king and take responsibility for his country.

Or when she refused to speak what wasn't true while being tried for witch-craft at Rouen, which led to her being burned at the stake, where she died while praying.

I look forward to visiting her again, and learning more from her life, because it's hard to associate with better company than that."

Scripture

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest"-Joshua 1:9
I've been reading the Old Testament lately, and I really love this scripture.
The scriptures can always be a source of strength and comfort. They can be as a drink of fresh water when you're fatigued from the long journey, and can help you to carry on.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful mothers, and women who are not mothers. Everyone of you is precious and beautiful in the eyes of God. Your role in this life is sacred. You are so appreciated and loved.

Happiness

I think that happiness is service, faith, and a good character. Real happiness can't be found in keeping up withe the latest fashions, how many friends you have, or if people like you.
Just do your best to live God's commandments and be truly humble and loving, and I believe you will be happy.
An argument against this could be made by saying that the most virtuous people seem to have the worst things happen to them. First, of all, there are a lot of really great people that don't have terrible things happen to them on a daily basis. They have the normal trials of everyday people, without the knowledge that they're not doing their best pressing in on them and making their consciences feel stained. Second, if you follow God's commandments you can have the peace of God with you at all times, which brings happiness.
SO when you are discouraged, remember to truly do your best to be a disciple of Christ.

Friends

Who we pick as friends can influence us in powerful ways, for better or worse. If you choose friends who have high standards and will not lower those standards, they can be a force for good, motivating you to keep your standards high as well. But if they don't have a place they want to go or if they do and it's a bad place, then most likely you will end up leading a life of misery and despair until you change your friends and lifestyle.

And then there are friends that are really nice and friendly, but when any trouble comes, or they get bored of you, they go away. These are alright to have, but do you really want everybody you associate with to be like that? With them, you won't be sure if they like you because they genuinely find you awesome, or because nobody else will be their friend, or because you have something they want.
 In Timon of Athens by Shakespeare, Timon is a really rich person, and he gives stuff away all the time. He throws parties, and everybody comes to them. But when he has financial troubles, all of his friends go away. Only his steward is still faithful.

And there are friends who are there for you no matter what, who live righteously, and who are real rather than putting on a false front for you. These are the people who you want to have with you through your whole life, to cherish.

So choose your friends wisely, be a good friend, and love everybody.

Spring

"What potent blood hath modest May;
What fiery force the earth renews,
The wealth of forms, the flush of hues;
Joy shed in rosy waves abroad
Flows from the heart of Love, the Lord."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today actually feels like Spring. It's gorgeous outside, and inside of me it just feels like it's Spring. 

Happy first of May!