Day 29

Hopes, dreams, and plans you have for the next 365 days:

I want to read a whole long list of books I have.

I want to improve my violin and handwriting skills.



I want to write a 150 page novel before December 30th.


I want to dissect a frog, worm, crawdad, and what ever else I can dissect. I
have always wanted to ever since I took biology last year.


I want to start earning money for my future life.
I want to read my Bible a lot more:

I want to the time in my hands as wisely as possible.

In Christ,
Jillian

Day 28

A scar I have and its a story: I'm doubling up today, since I did not post yesterday.
I have 1 chicken pox scar on my forehead. That's all. No story. I don't get injured much. So I decided to ask...what about you? Got any good scars with story's?
Jillian

Day 27

Sorry I missed a day. Sunday was pretty busy, and so I did not have any time to post.Anyway, a physical feature I love: Hands. I was going to do eyes, but that has been done already. I like watching hands, watching them knit, crochet,
write

play instruments, watching all the fingers move in the coordination that they need to.

It is so fascinating all the things that hands do. I even like watching hands fly across the keyboard.


In Christ,
Jillian

Day 26

A childhood memory: Let me see...well, I guess one would be:

We used to put on little play for our parents in the living room (This was in Cali) I mean, what kid doesn't do that? A favorite with us was Rapunzel. I was always Rapunzel up in the paper tower on the stairs, and Caitlin was always the wicked old witch. It was Caitlin that usually headed these plays up. I just remember I did not like standing up there, pretending to lean against the paper window. And my hair? Caitlin would do it in a braid and then tie all of our white stockings together until they trialed several feet on the floor, and then attached it to my braid. We have a video of at least one of these Rapunzel plays, but I think I'll just let you laugh at this for now!

In Christ,

Jillian

Day 25

A recipe:I have not actually made this before, but I found it on a new favorite website, 17 and Baking (Sorry I can't give a link, we are having problems with our computer) . And I really want to try this recipe.

Almond Lemon Cake
A 17 and Baking recipe
Makes one 9″ round cake

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup almond meal (make your own by grinding almonds to a fine powder)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup + 1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp almond extract
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 large egg
1/2 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter a 9″ round pan, line it with a circle of buttered parchment paper and then flour the pan.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a mixer, cream the butter and sugar at medium-high speed for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Mix in the extracts and lemon zest, then beat in the egg. Working on low speed, add 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 the buttermilk mixture, then another 1/3 of the flour, the last of the buttermilk, then the last of the flour. Mix until just combined.

Scrape the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then finish cooling on a rack. Cool to room temperature before frosting. If frosting the cake with mascarpone frosting, store the cake in the refrigerator.

In Christ,
Jillian

Day 24

A movie No one would expect me to love: That's a hard one. I think I'll go with Alice in Wonderland. Now I know that's not a big surprise, but it was all I could come up with. I surprised myself. I did not think I would like it, but I actually really do. There are aspects that are just plain weird and bizarre...and thats part of the reason why I like it. There are several things that are just plain not likable, for me anyway.

Day 23

A way in which I want to be remembered: Where ever I go, whatever I do, I want people to remember me as a young woman with grace, with a passionate love for God and the Church, and with the wisdom to know how to act, talk, and live.

In Christ,
Jillian

Day 22

A Website: I just recently joined POLYVORE and I think it is a lot of fun.
In Christ,
Jillian

Day 21

Something i do differently than most people: Well, I had a really hard time with that one. I asked Caitlin and she said that I think differently than most people do...but I don't think that that really counts. So I decided I would just tell you one of my weird little quarks that most people don't do: I eat pie differently. There is a very precise method I have for eating pie. First, you eat just the filling, carefully scraping as much off of the pie crust you can. Then I proceed to slowly eat the pie crust. It's really good. Every body always thinks I hate pie crusts at first. I know, its weird.


Jillian

Day 20

A hobby: You know, when I think about it, I really don't have hobby. So I'm gonna break the rules just a little and tell you something that I would really like to make a serious hobby: Archery.
I don't really know why. Perhaps because I like weaponry and fighting, but my friends have learned all the other cool forms I would like to learn. So, someday I would really like to get into archery. But I don't know if that is going to be anytime soon. We will have to see.




Modern and old fashioned, I'll do either and both!

Jillian

Something Fun

There are a great many things people do to express affection and admiration. We should all seek to regularly show how we love our family in ways other than verbal. We can do simple things, such as helping with a task, give treats, and leave notes. There are also many ways to be creative. Plan an outing, hide a gift, write a song. Or you can give an unexpected hug, with a smile and compliment. Everyone loves to hear that they are loved and appreciated by the ones they love.

My soon-to-be husband gave me a delightful expression of his affection. I finally got a picture of it to share. This will be a regular reminder to me of the creativity God has given this wonderful man.

Day 19

A talent of mine: Well, I like photography, cooking, science, and violin, but I am not talented at any of those. So I asked my family and the answer I got?

Writing.

Yep, writing is the thing for me. Words are so wonderful. I just won some cash in an essay contest, and am writing and novel for another contest...the prize is 8,500 dollars!!
So, there it is, plain and simple.



Jillian

Day 18

A time when you felt passionate and alive: Two weeks ago, when we went huckleberry picking up on crane mountain. Those of you who have been there must be thinking: What?
Let me explain:
This particular evening, it was stormy. Lightening flashed constantly, thunder rolled every few seconds, and we got view of a glorious sunset from way up high as we got drenched with rain, which added to it. We did not bring a camera, but this picture I found gives you a very good example of what we saw. I loved it! God was truly showing his glorious majesty.




Jillian

Day 17

An art piece: Well, heres two. They are both made out of a single piece of paper. Nothing else.

Day 16

A song that has made you cry: The same one that I want to play at my wedding, possibly. I was listening to Before The Throne Of God Above done by the Eden string quartet and I just started crying because of what Jesus Christ and God did for me, and how I am just a lump of unworthiness. I could not find a video of them, unfortunately.













In Christ alone,
Jillian

Day 15

A person I admire: My mother. Boy, without her, where would I be? Nowhere good, most likely.


"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."
— Abraham Lincoln

"No man is poor who has a Godly mother."
— Abraham Lincoln

In Christ,
Jillian

Day 14

A vacation you would like to take:
Well, how about all of this?:


There are just so many places that I want to go and things I want to see, I just can't decide! How about I do the top three (It was hard to narrow even this down!).
OK, first I would take a grand tour of Europe:

And then, Belize would be a great place to visit as well:


What about Australia?


There are so many more places I would like to go, but, this will have to do.
Jillian

Day 13

A guilty pleasure: Peanut butter and chocolate (a.k.a one of my greatest weaknesses)
I mean, let me show you the math:







Or, all rolled up into one handy package you can just pop in your mouth:


And some other mouthwatering pictures I found:



My mouth is watering. I better stop.

Jillian

P.S Do you like this combo?

Day 12

A Song I want played at my wedding: Well, I have thought about that one, and their are several that would be neat, so I think I'll just go with "Before the Throne of God above". It might change by the time my wedding comes around. Actually, it probably will. But I really do like this one.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea,
A great high Priest whose Name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.


When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free,
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me,
To look on Him and pardon me.


Behold Him there, the risen Lamb,
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace.
One with Himself, I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God!

One with Himself, I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God!

Day 11

A picture of you taken recently: Well, I have not had a any (good) pictures taken recently of me, but here is one from last April (Sorry if I'm copying you Megan, but my dilemma is exactly the same!)



Jillian

Day 10

A picture of you taken over ten years ago: Yes, well, that's me, fuzzy baby hair, double chin, and all. thought you would enjoy the um...ejaculations emitted by my face and tongue. this is way over ten years ago.
Jillian

Day 9

A picture you took: Hmmm, let me see...I know you all must think this is vain of me, but this is the only picture I could find really fast, because I have other things I need to go get done. I just turned the camera around and took this one, about a year ago.

Day 8

A Thank you letter to someone who has changed your life.

Dear Caitlin,
Yes, you have been a huge influence in my life. Without you as my roommate, I really would not be who I am today. You have helped me with my faults, and without you to teach me I would be a messy, unorganized person who did not have her head on straight. You showed me the way to being sensible, calm, and practical. Thank goodness I had, or else I would be a fearsome thing to behold!
Jillian

Day 7

Five Thing I could not possibly live without: Well, same as Megan, I think that I choose stuff that I could live without, but life is much much happier with them then without them! ;)

1. My bed. My sisters don't get why I like my bed THAT much, but I must have gotten the really comfortable one...


2. Chocolate: enough said.



3. Friends. What would I do with out you guys?

"There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate."
— Charles Dickens

4.Music. Where would we be without it?

5.Growing things. I love gardening and watching plants grow and hopefully flourish.

Day 6

A moment I wish I could relive:
The moment when we walked outside our house to Romans new car, and saw this:


Boy, what a moment!

Day 5

A favorite quote:

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one."
— C.S. Lewis

Day 4

A favorite television program.

Well, I know Laurel posted this exact same one on on her blog, but it is my favorite as well...we don't watch a whole lot of TV shows anyway so its not like I'm picking this out of a whole bunch of other programs. Anyway, Stargate Atlantis is a favorite with me because I like sci-fi and the episode writers in this are VERY creative. I've heard that they know how to get you hooked on most TV shows, and this is no different.The actors all look really mean here but the characters are not. I don't get why they do that...

Day 3

A favorite book. Besides the Bible? Hmmmm.... that's a pretty hard one. But right now, one that has really been helping me a teaching me to be a Godly young lady is Raising maidens of virtue. I read it, then picked back up and read it over again. It is very encouraging.


Oh, and for fun, I like Inkheart, Inkspell, and Inkdeath. They are very well written and draws you into the story. One of those ones you just don't want to put down, even wehen the book is done!

Day 2

A favorite movie:I could not choose just one, so here are three. I know they are all out already, but here are the trailers anyway.

Day 1

A favorite song.
I have a lot of favorite songs, but one I can listen to a lot is Page 47.I love the violin in the first part!

Challenge

Well, I've decided to do the thirty day challenge that's been going around the blogger world lately, because I have very much enjoyed reading other peoples stuff and even though nobody may comment, I am pretty sure you guys are looking at it. So, tomorrow I start!

Day 1: A favorite song

Day 2: A favorite movie

Day 3: A favorite book

Day 4: A favorite television program
Day 5: A favorite quote

Day 6: A moment you wish you could relive

Day 7: Five things you couldn't possibly live without

Day 8: A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life

Day 9: A photo you took

Day 10: A photo of you taken over 10 years ago
Day 11: A photo of you taken recently

Day 12: A song you want played at your wedding (or was played)

Day 13: A guilty pleasure

Day 14: A vacation you would like to take

Day 15: A person you admire

Day 16: A song that makes you cry

Day 17: An art piece

Day 18: A time when you felt passionate and alive

Day 19: A talent of yours

Day 20: A hobby of yours

Day 21: Something you know you do differently then most people

Day 22: A website

Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered

Day 24: A movie no one would expect you to love

Day 25: A recipe

Day 26: A childhood memory

Day 27: A physical feature you love

Day 28: A scar you have and it's story

Day 29: Hopes, dreams, and plans you have for the next 365 days

Day 30: A motto or philosophy

Jillian