You know, who ever said "you can't choose your family" was wrong. Well, maybe not the family you were born into, but you can choose who you love as family. I am so greatful for the bonds that unite us with the people we love and care for. I have moved so many times, but for the first time, I love my friends. I may not be related to most of them, but I love them as much- and even more- than I love my actual family. Well, idk if I love them more than my family, but I sure get along with them MUCH better!

     Why is family so important to us, I wonder? Could it be that it's the fundamental unit, the one we can always trace our roots too? Or is there something more?

Funny sign pictures

I felt like we need a little comic relief today, so I looked up some funny things on google.com

 

 

  

In response to the shooting in Connecticut

   A lot of crazy things are going to happen this next week, and perhaps even next year. My heart goes out to all those who lost loved ones today, especially to those in Connecticut. I guess it wakes you up and makes you realize how special and dear the people in your life really are.

In the movie Soul Surfer (which is a really amazing TRUE story btw), Carrie Underwood plays a character, and she says to Bethany Hamilton:
"I don't know why bad things happen, but I have to believe that something good will come out of it."



"...Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest."
                                                                                                                                 -Joshua 1:9 (KJV, bold and underline added)

Aha moments

Bethlehem in Hebrew means house of bread, and that's where the Bread of Life (Christ) was born. (13 Dec. 2012)

Sometime in the spring of this year (2012), after I had gotten a stuffed lamb from one of my friends, I started singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" because it just popped into my head. Then I was like "wait a minute" I looked at the poster on the back of my door of Mary holding baby Jesus "Mary had a little Lamb, It's fleece was white as snow." I was like "OhMyWord!! That is SOO cool!!!" Mary DID have a little Lamb, because one of the names for the Savior is "the Lamb of God", and the line "It's fleece was white as snow" is that he is pure, and has committed no sin.
I also simultaneously remembered the scripture in Isaiah, I think chapter one verse eighteen, where it says "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be like crimson, they shall be as wool." The second line in "Mary Had a Little Lamb" could also be talking about how He paid for our sins and cleansed us. I don't mean to be preachy, I just thought that was really cool.

I'm feeling better about moving now. I still miss my friends, but I feel it's more ok now. That probably has something to do with the fact that I've been able to hang out with them, even after the school year ended. I missed them terribly all through the summer, up until I was able to hang out with my friend Jeremy in August when we went boating for a mutual activity (church activity for 12-18yr olds). It was the first time I'd ever gone boating, and it was really fun!!! I also got to hang out with him a few more times in August, and I finally got to hang out with another best friend, Emily in September, the day before school started for them. :) And I also got to see another friend, Alec, that day too. It was a really cool unexpected surprise, and I had a LOT of fun hanging out w/ Emily.

The next day wasn't so great though. As I sat on my bed looking at my clock, and I saw it was 8 o'clock, I wanted to bawl. I kept repeating to myself, frustrated and mournful, "I should be in school, I should be in school." School starting for them made it worse, because I guess my brain finally accepted that I wouldn't be attending the same school as them this year. September thru half of November I had depression. September it was the worst. On the first day of school for me, I was angry, oh so angry. I ready to get in a fight with someone-over just about anything. Those first two months, I didn't care about school, I didn't care about my grades, I didn't want to make ANY new friends (except for at church), my interests were gone, and my eating and sleeping habits changed. There was a cloud of saddness over me, and I felt lonely some of the time. Fortunately, (or unfortunately, you pick) I'm used to sitting by myself, and I even enjoy it some times. Even so, it was still just so hard for me to not see them every day- the fact that I went to school knowing that I wouldn't see them was almost heartbreaking.
I was able to see my friends Jeremy and Emily a few more times during that segment of the school year, and so, I think that helped- a lot. I guess it helped my brain to understand that even though we had moved away, we were, for the first time, still close enough that we can still occasionally hang out.

And on that note, I am SOO excited for our Christmas Party next Saturday. Oh my word! I'll be seeing them in ONE WEEK!!!!!  ^_^  :D!

A few minutes ago, when we were getting off the bus, I stood to block everyone else from going, and let someone else go first. I feel so happy and warm inside. I like to serve others, and I'm really glad I started the day out right. :)
I'm so happy for the Christmas season coming up!!! I just love Christmas!! The lights and the brotherly kindness and love are some of my favorite parts. I love how people care about each other, and they actually want to help others who don't have as much as they do. I just wish that would last all year round. Yes, I'm excited for presents as well, and I love to unwrap something that's just for me on Christmas morn, but this year there won't be many presents under the tree. That's okay because my parents are giving me and my sisters one of the best presents this year. We're going to have a Christmas Party with a few of our friends from Tualatin!!! I am soo excited for it- I've even had some dreams about it!!

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. May the love of Christ enter your homes. And if you don't celebrate Christmas, Happy Haunaka (I hope I spelled that right), Happy Kwanza, or if you don't celebrate any holidays, have a wonderful and warm winter!!

2011-2012 school year

(my own design)

Yes, I don't ever want to forget this incredible year. But through time, I'm afraid I will. Below are some pictures from google images (unless otherwise noted) that will hopefully help me remember. (still under construction.....pics added when i have the time)

First off, friends are very important to me. I cherish the friends and friendships I have because I don't know when they may dissapear. I don't make friends very easily, coupled with the fact that every one to two and a half years we would move, only made things harder. The last place I lived, was the longest we've lived in one place. When it's an amazing accomplishment that you lived in one place for 3+ years, you know something is wrong. Anyway, after a year and a half of living there, I started to get nervous and scared because I recognized the pattern, and I knew our time was almost up. I was afraid of loosing and having to leave my friends, partially because when we move, we always loose contact, but mainly because I really liked them. I was actually really close to several of my friends. 2 years passed. Then 2 1/2, then 3. I was relieved when we were out of that window of time when we normally move. We made it passed three years, perhaps we would stay forever. I actually forgot about moving. Then towards the end of last August, Mom and Dad told us we were going to be moving. I was shocked at first, then angrey and heartbroken.
   After I said goodbye to my friends, and although we moved in December, we were still able to finish the semester in Tualatin. That confused my poor brain. Usually when we moved, I would never see my friends again. Then at the end of the semester, my sisters and I got an extension. We were allowed to stay for the rest of the year. Boy we were soo happy! But I was also freaking out and really stressed, especially as the year was drawing to a close because I knew that once the year ended, it would be the end.
    That's why I want to remember the past year. Because things happened that were wonderful. Because I want to remember my friends. Because I don't want to forget. (written 7 Aug 2012)




That is so true.


Ok so I am a big Winnie the Pooh fan, even though I'm not little anymore. ('m also a HUGE Disney fan, so I may quote, or make references to movies.) I don't car what anyone thinks about that, because unless I let it, other people's opinions don't have an effect on me. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."-Elenor Roosevelt

(It says "It takes half our life to find True Friends & half of it keeping them
I am lucky to have spent less than half my life finding you & wish to spend the rest keeping you!")


A tribute to my friends in Tualatin. You guys have left footprints on my heart.


Also a tribute to my friends- all of them.
To all the friends I've had, and To all the ones in the future. I love you guys.

Profile Picture for Digital Arts 2

I had a few ideas for my Profile Picture, but I couldn't decide which of my final ones to do, so I'll just post all, or at least most of them. The first few images show how I built up my picture, and made it look 3-D. At the end it gets confusing because I have multiple versions. They're a little out of proportion right now. I'll have to see if I can change that.

How I've grown as an artist

At the beginning of this class, I still struggled to create artwork on the computer, and I didn't really know how to use the programs, which set me behind. I still struggle now, but during this past semester, I've learned how to use them a lot better.

Digital Arts 2

Hi! :D In Digital Arts 2 (taken spring 2012) we learn ho do do animation, vectors, posters, and other stuff. I like Digital Arts, it's a really fun class, and I love learning how to do art on the computer. These are my assignments/projects.

This is my vector face that I created with Photoshop and Illustrator.

This is my anti-bullying poster that I created with Corell Painter 11 and Photoshop. Completed April 5, 2012

Despain

Class of 2012

Digital Arts 2

Adobe Photoshop & Corel Painter 11

My intent as a graphic designer was to spread awareness about bullying. No one deserves to be bullied; the ‘why’ doesn’t matter. When you don’t speak up, you’re actually supporting it. When you’re silent, bullies think they can get away with it or that it’s okay. It’s not. In my artwork I was trying to show a new day, a new start brimming on the horizon; it’s up to us if we want that to happen. If we stand together, we can change our community. I really like how the sunrise turned out. I struggled getting my poster to look how I wanted, but when I just went with it, and allowed another perspective, it turned out better than I planned.

This is the first movie I've made. I made it with Adobe Flash CS5, Adobe Soundbooth CS5, Audacity, GarageBand and Final Cut Express. Like I said, it's my first video, so I'm just starting out, but at least I know how to make a movie now! You can watch it here on my blog, or on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3p-jheKzK0&feature=player_embedded.