Is Writing More Like Drawing than We Think?

 I've been thinking about writing for a while. (Well, duh. But -) Yet I've always thought of writing as sort of like reading a book in reverse. It's all about fixing your mind on a single story, and finding out what happened, and writing it down. 

Masterpieces (in the realm of art) are created by drawing from (punpunpun) sources you've got in your head, in your hands, and in the many files cluttering your room. Da Vinci probably didn't decide, at age 12, "Okay, time to paint the Mona Lisa. First I need to figure out how to paint humans, and then I need to figure out backgrounds, and then study lighting and color. . ." Rather, Mona Lisa probably came to him later in life, and she manifested herself out of vestiges of this and that from all of the experience and images and knowledge in da Vinci's head. Before there was Lisa there were countless other paintings of women and use of dark folds of cloth and studies of distant, hazy mountains. 

What if I've been thinking about writing all wrong? I started with an idea for a masterpiece at age 12 and thought if I researched enough and worked on the same story long enough, I could force it to be the masterpiece I wanted?

What if it's really about studies?

A study is a smaller, less elaborate drawing or painting of the image you're planning to create (or a part of the image). Before you paint a person, you might paint a study of the person's skin colors, clothing colors, where the sunlight falls on their face, etc. You might draw a study of human proportions or just practice painting some little scraps of paper over and over.

Why haven't I been using this technique in writing?
Why not do studies of smaller excerpts for larger pieces of work?
These are what we call writing prompts.

I've been doing those for a while, but I've never made the connection or realized how one could be intentional about it. Pick your novel apart into little scenes, little ideas. Play with those ideas. Invent theoretical scenes in which completely different characters, not from your novel, have to go through similar situations to your characters. Or insert the characters from your novel into a situation that's not in your novel. Write these "studies." Throw them away! (Don't actually throw them away. Your kids will want to dig through all your old writing scraps and cry over them when you're dead. :) These are only steps along the way, building blocks in the goal to reach a great towertop!

Writing a novel isn't just a process you do but a process you practice.

A Tribute to a Fallen Comrade

i don't think i've ever written a poem this long

if you can guess who it's to i'll give you a hug
__

You're a kid with a heart of sun,
That warms and glows and burns with life.
You're a precious, beloved son,
You're a brother, a daultless knight.

In your one hand you hold a gun,
Fierce defender, you never miss.
You hold life in the other one,
You hold goodness, the point of this.

You're a soldier that never runs,
Never lag, never say, "Enough",
Take their punches and give 'em some,
Be the shelter when times are tough.

Who you are, who you have become,
You know where your allegiance lies;
What you'll give, more than anyone,
Who you'll live for, for whom you'll die.

Human beings you love a ton,
Hearts and hands, faces, minds and souls.
Just want to help them have some fun,
Oh, you live just to see their smiles.

There's a brother in whom you trust,
Whom you know better than yourself,
Give your life for him if you must,
Follow him through the jaws of death.

Take the heat for him when he falls,
Cheer him on, only lift him up.
Stand beside him and risk it all,
Be his sheild, lifeline and backup.

If they take you you'll never cave,
If they break you you'll never change.
They can't shake you, forever brave.
You're consistent, you'll stay the same.

Tell your brother you'll lose your mind,
Suffer, strive, flee, or stay confined;
Time or distance can't break your tie;
With you till the end of the line.

With you till the end of the line.
 __


there's a tune to this
!
if you beg me, maybe i'll release it as a song by next memorial day

An Honest Assessment of a Scream

I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I'M SORRY
why am i screaming so hard?
why am i screaming so fast?
maybe the reason is that i'm afraid
i'm so terrified that the truth is i'm not
i'm not sorry not sorry not sorry

Showing Hospitality in Group Settings

 I wrote these notes up for myself as I was part of the hospitality squad in our co-op's high-school volunteer group (about 70 kids).
But I realize this is excellent advice for anyone in a social setting, from the school cafeteria to the basketball team. This is for those who have a heart for service, for the Lord, and for making others feel loved and welcomed. If those are desires of yours, these will not be burdensome chores, but rather helpful reminders of how to better do what you're already trying to do.

• Notice loners - that one girl who nobody talks to, that one guy who always sits with his mom or sits alone in the corner. We want [this group] to feel as familiar as a family; family means nobody gets left out or forgotten.
• Know people - it might seem impossible, but it's not; make an effort to at least know everyone's name by the end of the year (if not by the end of the semester). And keep an eye out for future hospitality leaders; what are their strengths, and how do they best serve?
• Welcome newcomers - this means more than an introduction. Ask questions, find out about their life, their home, family, past, likes and dislikes, future hopes or plans. Then introduce them to someone else. Most importantly, make sure they feel like they're a part of your group already; show just as much interest in them as in the friends you've known for years. Don't let yourself and your best friends be a clique.
• Break into cliques - notice groups that always sit together and jump into their midst. Find out they interact and why they always sit together. Always look for ways to connect members of a clique with people from outside their group. Ask a clique member to sit with you (away from their usual table), or with your friends.
• Get one-on-one - people with lots of good friends are sometimes hard to talk to personally. Seek a chance to meet them one-on-one and talk to them directly, individually.
• Be intentional - as the Spirit leads, seek people out. Make it a goal to have a good conversation with at least one person a week, getting beneath the surface of how-are-you-I'm-good.  Notice patterns of behavior (always late, sits alone, always with that one friend). Consider writing down people's names so you can remember them and love them better, and noting who you sit with each week so you can catch yourself if you're sitting with someone too much and thus neglecting others.
• Ask how you can pray - a great conversation starter, and something that really helps them and you and your relationship with God as you're intentional about praying for the people you interact with at [your group].
• Be fearless - love openly, be genuine, ignore insecurity, laugh at yourself, show people you're happy to see them, and make yourself vulnerable for the sake of exposing your genuine desire for a godly relationship of brotherly love.

How God Used Homeschool to Prepare Me For Life

Just another day in geography (and geology, and natural science) class.

“I only have one request. Do something fun with your inheritance. Don’t spend it all on groceries.”

So Mrs. Zeller bought a motorcycle.

Imagine a middle-aged woman in flannel zipping up a rock-smattered road in the mountains of Colorado, with one grinning barefoot seven-year-old clinging to her back. Parking her metal horse at a house of alpine wood, she wades through chickens, corgis, and children to the kitchen – which her husband built – and breathes in fresh bread – which her husband threw together, no recipe. The younger children, barn chores done, stream to set the table with goat’s milk, goat’s cottage cheese, and venison. With breakfast they had fed on the Word of God, and now lunch involves a seminar on lawn mower safety for the boy’s new business. The boys are eleven and twelve. After lunch the family scatters - the children to help each other with school, the father to write tomorrow’s sermon, the mother to a million tasks which form the unseen roots of a great and fruitful tree.

When our family first met the Zellers, we could not understand what made them so perfect. The role models of homeschool, they lived out their faith. The siblings – all thirteen of them – actually treated each other as friends. They climbed mountains, built chapels, ground grain – in other words, lived. If the entire government had collapsed, I doubt they would have lost five minutes’ sleep. Mr. Zeller somehow served as a faithful pastor, a personal father, a romantic husband, and an enthusiastic teacher simultaneously. And as for Mrs. Zeller, ‘a wife of noble character’ was her biography.

She inspired my mother; he supported my father. The children befriended my siblings. What did they do for me? Well, they brought me to Christ. Now, credit where it’s due: my mother’s faith and love affected me first, and she alone walked me through the sinner’s prayer. But Noelle Zeller, then my one best friend in all the world, invited me to the Bible study where Jesus woke me up. I wanted to be like Noelle. She read the Bible and loved her siblings, showed me kindness and taught me important morals, such as, “Don’t say holy cow. God is holy, and he’s not a cow.”

When compared to her mother, Noelle faded into a paper doll. One evening at Bible study Mrs. Zeller told us the secret to her exceptional marriage. Once, she had prayed, “I am terrible at this. I’ve been engaged twice and I’m done. God, please just pick a husband for me. Let there be no romantic feelings involved.” Mere weeks later, a friend casually told her he thought she would make a great wife, and would she kindly consider it? After months of the Holy Spirit’s prodding, she agreed and married a man she was not in love with. But the rest is history; now their weekly date night is a given, and everyone agrees they are ‘a match made in heaven.’ Their story impacted me greatly. From today on, let Christ be the center of every marriage, and the Holy Spirit the instigator. Let virtue conquer romance and godliness conquer affection.

Although my family sometimes idealized the Zellers, we also caught glimpses of their flaws– a harsh word here, a disobedience there; they were human. But back then we saw so much of the Spirit’s work in their lives, and so little in ours. My parents sacrificed mountains, and did more for their children than I will ever know. But the fruits of their labor took years to emerge, while the fruits of the Zellers’ righteousness already drooped full and ripe. Sometimes the Zellers did seem perfect.

One time my mother could not help herself. She had to ask. “How do you do it?” Mrs. Zeller laughed. She replied with the name of her daughter, “Grace; pure grace.”

What more need be said? After all we had learned from their family, they were not the role models. They were only an arrow pointing to the true Model, the Perfect, the Giver of pure grace. To him I look; I follow his arrows. One day, Lord willing, I will be an arrow to the Living God for my husband, my children, and their children. With rough-cut homeschool, unblemished grace, and a pinch of faith, we will move mountains.

Breaking Bad Habits: You're Doing It Wrong

We hate that feeling.

'There you go,' says a voice in our head. 'You did it again. You've promised yourself 500 times you'd never do it again, and that's the 500th time you've blown it. There's no point in even trying now because you're such a failure; you'll never break this habit.'

We go through that cycle again and again. Depressed, discouraged, useless; our emotions tell us we'll never improve. That feeling can be very harmful indeed.

But what if we're thinking about it all wrong? What if breaking a bad habit is not an overnight decision?

Think about this; how are habits formed? The first time, for instance, you had that late night snack, did you instantly say to yourself, 'I have formed a bad habit. I'm a late night snacker. I'm stuck in this horrible habit and I'll never get out."?

No! If anything, you thought only, 'I had a late night snack today.'

Maybe the next night you thought, 'That was pretty nice, having those Doritos while I watched Netflix. I should have some again.'

After a couple of nights, you develop a regular craving at that time of night. You think maybe you're having them a little too often. But your stomach once again gets that certain ache, and your body's already heading towards the kitchen. 'One more time won't hurt.' Only after you've been regularly doing it for some considerable time can you call it a habit.

This is how habits are formed. What if they're broken in exactly the same way?

I'm sure you've heard it said before that our lives are full of decisions. Some are big decisions, such as who to marry or where to go to college. Some can be as small as what to wear today or what to eat for breakfast. But hold on a second. Why this mode of thinking? Why do we consider some choices so 'big' and others so 'small'? If I may, I'll venture to say this; there is no such thing as an 'insignificant decision.' And the way of thinking I've been describing is exactly the kind of thinking that not only creates bad habits, but keeps us enslaved to them.

The breaking of a bad habit is a two-step process.

1) Make a single, tiny, one-time choice.

2) Repeat.

It's just like forming any habit. It takes the smallest decision. No dramatic, solemn, once-and-for-all resolution, but simply one small choice, as if you were only making an exception, only deciding to break the pattern this one time.

But then you make that choice again. Forget that you made it the last time. Don't worry about making it next time. Just think about this time. This time, I'll say no. Just this once, I'll pass, I'll resist that urge.

It will take time. It will take patience. It will take, above all, a terrible memory and a great imagination. Don't think about the road ahead - that will overwhelm you with how far you have to go. Don't think about the steps behind - that will make you weary and longing for the struggle to end already. Overlook the times you've failed or fallen short -all that matters is this time.

Not this time.

Not this time.

Eventually, secretly, like the unperceivable underground growth of a mushroom's roots before it reveals its cap, the habit will crumble. It will break, and you might not even know it did. And, just as importantly, a new habit will form simultaneously. Guard yourself here - don't let a new bad habit form to replace the old. Don't go from picking your fingernails to picking your lips. Instead, form the good habit of perhaps folding your hands while your hands are at rest. Don't go from midnight snacking to midnight drinking. Unless... unless it's water. Heh. Whenever you take something away, it must be replaced by something better.

The small choices shape our habits, and the habits shape our lives. Bit by bit, choice by choice, our lives are changing, and maybe we don't even notice it. They can change for the better. And it starts with one tiny decision.

Not this time.

Platt (Eastern Hessian Dialect of German)

Platt (the P pronounced almost like a B) is a dialect of German found in the state of Hessen. It is an Eastern Hessian dialect. Platt is what it's called by the locals - it is not to be confused with other Hessian dialects. I learned these words directly from locals of the Rhön region; from the town of Tann and the village of Günters. Because it is a dialect, it has no written language. The words below are my interpretation of what I heard; they are not always consistent and should not be taken as Gospel. Furthermore, anyone learning these words should first have a solid understanding of basic German, not only because German and Platt are practically identical, but also because the Platt words are spelled according to German pronunciation, not English. Platt words should read like Hochdeutsch unless otherwise noted.

 Unlike Hochdeutsch, the Rs are almost always rolled.

Platt words are in one column                                Pronunciation notes in the other
Translation into Hochdeutsch
 _________________________________________________________________________________
 Names:

Koterin                                                                K=a bit like the 'ch' in kochen; O=rounder and
Kathrin/Katerina                                                 throatier than the usual Hochdeutsch 
                                                                            O, with almost a bit of the kochen 'ch' still in it; 
                                                                            T=almost a D; N=almost inaudible

Göndursh                                                            -

Günters (eine kleine Dorf in der

Nähe von Tann)

Dates:

Mondig                                                               O=round Platt O; D=(between T und D)

Montag

Densdig                                                              -

Denstag

Mitwoche                                                            T=emphasized, with almost an 'E' after it; W=very 

Mitwoche                                                            soft, more a W than a V; O=Platt O

Donnerdig                                                           O=Platt (with emphasis?)

Donnerstag

Fredig                                                                 -

Fritag

Sohnober                                                            S=as in Sam; B=very soft

Samstag

Sohndig                                                             S=as in Sam

Sohntag

Janar                                                                  -

Febar                                                                 E=empasized

Merz                                                                 -

Aprol                                                               O=emphasized

Mai                                                                  -

Juni                                                                  -

Juli                                                                   -

Aogost                                                             -

Saptembar                                                       First A=very emphasized; E=emphasized

Oktober                                                           First O=very emphasized; second O=emphasized

Novembar                                                       -

Dezambar                                                       E=very emphasized; first A=emphasized

Basics:

Ne Mo on'ne Frau                                         O in on'ne= O? U?

Ein Mann und eine Frau

Dau bist de Frau.                                          -

Du bist die Frau.

Dau bist ne Mo.                                            -

Du bist ein Mann.

Kölz on'ne Webb                                         O in on'ne= O? U?

Male und Female

Ein Pür                                                        -

Ein Paar

Mi Frau ond mi Kind                                  -

Meine Frau und mein Kind

Various Vocabulary/Phrases:

Gugemal bie donkle dos werd.                   First G=soft, almost "ch" as in kochen; second G=as in gut;

Guck mal wie dunkle das wird.                  N=very very soft

Wir zwei sitsen hier derum.                        -

Wir zwei sitzen hier.

Wir setse im Winderkarte.                          -         

Wir setsen im Wintergarten.

Das Mechez geht in die Kücher und          Z=very, very faint

kocht eppus.

Das [Mädchen?] geht in die Kücher

und kocht etwas.

Gödenach bis Morgen Fru.                        Ö=O as in hallo? Ü as in früh?

Gute Nacht bis Morgen fruh.

Hut                                                             -

Hoite

Winder                                                       -

Winter

Noch Mittog                                              -

Nach Mittag

Gottheilf                                                     -

Gesundheit

Nuff                                                            -

Up? Over? Upward? Above?

Nüb                                                            B=P-ish

Under? Below? Beneath? Down?

Sott                                                            -

Satt

Hall                                                            -

Hell

Hort                                                            H=rather like 'ch' as in kochen; R=silent

Hart

Höders                                                       S=very soft 'sh'

Klösen

Da Vögl                                                     -

Der Vogel

Me Heund                                                 -

Meine Hund

Brov Hoind                                              D='t' mixed with 'd'

Feine Hund

Fene Hoind                                              D='t' with 'd'

Feine Hund

If you want to learn a few more words, here's a lovely little collection.
Suggestions for improvement are welcome, but of course please source your information and cite your personal experience and authority.

What Is the Purpose of Life?

Copyright someone else. Not me.

Ahh, the age old question. I’m not going to talk about it because it’s been talked about millions of times through the ages. Instead, I’d like to cut straight into the question itself;

Why does life need a purpose?

Honestly. No one answers this question because it’s engrained into our minds that life needs a purpose. If life doesn’t have a purpose then… what’s the point? Life doesn’t matter if it has no meaning. Meaning, mattering, purpose, point; it just kind of speaks for itself. Purpose can stand alone. Life needs a purpose or it would be. . . purposeless.

Why are we like this? Why do the minds of human beings know from birth the value of purpose? Ok, so maybe it’s there so we can survive. If we didn’t have purpose we’d all just give up and die out. We have this innate sense that there’s a purpose to life and we need to seek it, and that’s what keeps us going.
But what’s the purpose of survival? No, purpose can’t be there for survival alone, because survival needs a purpose. What’s the point of survival? Pointless things get thrown out. Anyone with a tidy bedroom knows that. If it doesn’t clean the house or fill your belly or cheer you up or mend the rip or accomplish anything whatsoever, it’s out of here. Why don’t we just shrivel up and die? Granted, that wouldn’t be very pleasant or fun, but it doesn’t matter either way if life has no purpose.

That brings me to another thing. We as humans need to be happy. In the end, don’t all our goals point towards fulfillment or happiness of some kind? But why are we like this?

Why do we need to be happy?

Why can’t all human beings just settle down and soak in absolute depression and despair? What’s the purpose of having fun? Our body tells us we need to be happy, but does happiness have a point? The harder we try to be happy, the less happy we are. The more times you watch that movie you love, the less you experience the amusement you felt the first time you watched it. Drugs become less effective every time they’re used. Why don’t we just give up, since happiness seems so unattainable?

No, we’ve got to be happy. If we let ourselves get totally gloomy and broken, we’ll kill ourselves off. And we can't have that, now, can we? So maybe happiness just comes down to survival again. But…. Does this seem familiar? It's almost as if I'm running in circles.

This is a question for you, world.

Why do we need a purpose?

I Know, I Know.

A spring in her step and I know April's near,
I know summer's come when her freckles appear.
A glow in her cheeks and I know autumn's dawn,
But winter sinks in and I know she's gone.
-KW

Hilf

Nicht lustig.
Nicht gesund.
Immer traurig.
Böse Mund.

Will sterben.
Mich heilen.
Not dadrin.
Mich weilen.

Not funny.
Not okay.
Always sad.
Evil face.

Would die.
Heal inside me.
Dark sigh.
Sanctify me.

Life Advice #1: Flirt Shamelessly

No, I don't mean the cute guy meets cute girl kind of flirting. I don't mean, 'do you think I'm pretty', 'don't you want to kiss me' flirting.
I mean, don't hold back words of love.
If you feel affection for someone, male or female, friend or family, express it.
I don't know how many times I've wanted to tell someone they're amazing and kept quiet because I thought they'd think I was being over the top, fake, weird, gooshy, flirty, or just an awkward scum who's terrible at expressing herself.
Honestly...
who cares? 
I am so done caring. I've been caring since I was seven and quite frankly I'm wearied of it.
I don't think we were put on this earth for such a short breath of time just so we could love people and then hold back. Words are powerful, guys. I want so badly to emphasize that. I might even have to write another post about it.
Look, it's true you can come off the wrong way by pouring words of affection and admiration on them. But that should never stop you. Be thoughtful; put yourself in their shoes and phrase it so that it will come across as genuine; you want them to hear only an open, artless compliment from the mouth of a friend. But if you overthink it and double guess yourself and hesitate, you'll end up sounding fake anyway, so in the end, just... say the kind words that are on your heart. Let them know they are loved. People need that. Even if 90% of people you compliment just get awkward and disturbed, it's worth it for the 10% whose day you absolutely made. 

How To Work Harder

It's so frustrating! I'm just not working hard enough. I know I can do better than this. How do I get myself working faster when I don't have the strength? How do I improve?

You need motivations. That's plural; but it only takes one hand to count them.

1) Purpose - Why am I even doing this? Does it matter? What's the significance? Is it meaningful?

2) Goal - When I'm on a long run, I've found that seeing the end of the jogging trail always gives me an extra burst of energy. This applies to all areas of life. Your eyes need to be fixed on not only the future, but the end. That will give you something to strive for and make the work worth it.

3) Drive - Who or what is compelling you? Sometimes our feet drag and we feel we need someone to literally push us from behind. This is what keeps you going even when it gets tough, when it hurts or you don't want to.

4) Urgency - A time limit. Anything from "I need to do this before I die" to "I need to do this before the day is over."

5) Focus - This requires self-control. That means not getting up for that snack, not taking that break, not allowing your thoughts to drift and not allowing more enjoyable things inhibit progress.


That being said; if you are the type of person who often gets told 'you work too hard,' 'you run people over' 'you act like work is more important than people':
First of all, join my sad club.
Second of all... I might need to write a future blog post for you?

Surprised by Joy

I have to share this poem. It left me in tears. 

Surprised by Joy
     BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTHSurprised by joy—impatient as the Wind
I turned to share the transport—Oh! with whom
But Thee, long buried in the silent Tomb,
That spot which no vicissitude can find?
Love, faithful love, recalled thee to my mind—
But how could I forget thee?—Through what power,
Even for the least division of an hour,
Have I been so beguiled as to be blind
To my most grievous loss!—That thought’s return
Was the worst pang that sorrow ever bore,
Save one, one only, when I stood forlorn,
Knowing my heart’s best treasure was no more;
That neither present time, nor years unborn
Could to my sight that heavenly face restore. 

This, by the way, is the poem after which Lewis named his autobiography of faith. Read it; it will change your life. 

Defining Religion

A couple of words that get thrown around a lot are love and religion. They almost seem to have a different meaning for every person, and for some they seem to have multiple meanings.
We say "I love you" to our soulmate but then say "I love Doritos" or "I love Tony Stark." Unless of course...
We say "I'm not religious," but then we say we believe in God. Or perhaps we call ourselves 'religious,' but it's only on Sundays and it's not personal; it's just a moral code or an upbringing.
How can we know the true definition of these words?
Since God is the ultimate source for truth, and in fact is the Truth, let's see how he defines them.
Let's look at religion.

Religion
(v) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Well! There we have it. Glad to have that knocked out of the way; you can all put away your religious debate papers now.

If anyone knows of another instance where the word religion us used in the Bible, let me know in the comments and please provide the verse and what version of the Bible you're using. Thanks!

Heh.

I'm pretty sure my soulmate is a cross between Doritos and Tony Stark.

Defining Love

A couple of words that get thrown around a lot are love and religion. They almost seem to have a different definition for every person, and for some they seem to have multiple definitions.
We say "I love you" to our spouse, but then say "I love Doritos" or "I love Tony Stark."
We say "I'm not religious," but then we say we believe in God. Or perhaps we call ourselves "religious," but it's only on Sundays and it's not personal, it's just a moral code.
How can we know the true definition of these words?
Since God is the ultimate source for truth, and in fact is the Truth, let's see how he defines them.
Let's look at love.

Love
(v) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not rude or proud. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at evil but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things; in other words, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. Whoever does not know love does not know God, because God is love.

That's the short definition, anyway. If you want the full one, go read the Bible. ;)

Quote on Stress

Stress is like an ache, something that gnaws at the depth of your soul. It’s that pit in your stomach that manifests itself when you’re lying in bed and you remember all the things you need to accomplish. It consumes every thought, and every decision is made with whatever is wrong in the back of your mind.

It is so painful, so often unbearable, but many times, it seems inescapable.

And that’s what’s the worst of it.

But we are not without hope.

-Amanda Beguerie

(The rest of her article is equally beautiful if you're interested.)

3 Day Quote Challenge: Day 3

Day 1
Day 2

Well, I was looking at the lyrics of Day by Day by Andrew Peterson, trying to pick just one quote from it, but I couldn't; it's all too good. He's such a wordsmith, and his songs are so inspired. The tune is equally beautiful.

Well, we took a train to Kensington
And listened to the children run
Just beyond the garden gate
Where Peter and Wendy played

There was a sign that said we weren't allowed
To duck inside and join the crowd
Without a son or daughter's hand
To lead us into Neverland

And it hurt so bad
But it's so good to be young
And I don't want to go back
I just want to go on and on and on
Day by day, day by day

And everybody's so surprised
When right before your very eyes
Your baby's in the second grade
You blink and it's her wedding day

And we just can't get used to being here
Where the ticking clock is loud and clear
Children of eternity
On the run from entropy

And it hurts so bad
But it's so good to be young
And I don't want to go back
I just want to go on and on and on

Day by day, day by day

So don't lose heart
Though your body's wasting away
Your soul is not
It's being remade
Day by day by day

Well, you have never met a single soul
Who didn't feel the curse's toll
Who didn't wish that death would die
Maybe that's the reason why

And it hurts so bad
But it's so good to be young
And I don't want to go back
I just want to go on and on and on

So don't lose heart
Though your body's wasting away
Your soul is not
It's being remade
So don't lose heart
Don't lose heart
Your body will rise and never decay
Day by day by day

Again I have no choice but to tag fictional characters. Poor me. :D

Zack Somethingsomething at I Like Things That Go 'Boom'
Hurrykat at How to Fly
Spanner at I Have Competitive Issues

3 Day Quote Challenge: Day 2

Day 1

Here's the quote of the day!

This one is from what's possibly my third favorite fantasy book series, the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson. :D

I'm supposed to nominate three people per day. Am out of people. :P Will tag fictional characters.

Nathan at Help I Am Trapped and Have No Internet Access Also I Can't Stop Living and It's Killing Me
Hiccup Haddock at I Was a Failure at Life But Hey Now Everyone Loves Me and I Think I'm Pretty Cool
Karl at I Do Not Sleep