Some Thoughts of Love

But not mine.  Rather, in honor of Valentines' Day here is a small sampling of some of my favorite thoughts and quotes about love... enjoy!

 "Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one's life with pomp and blare... perhaps, perhaps love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath." ~ Anne of Avonlea 

"I fell in love with him. But I don't stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me. I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other. I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me." 

 - Triss, "Allegiant" 

Amy Pond, "The Girl Who Waited"

"Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own." 

 — Robert A. Heinlein 

Gilbert: It'll be three years before I finish medical school. Even then there won't be any diamond sunbursts or marble halls. 

Anne: I don't want diamond sunbursts, or marble halls. I just want you.

Happy Valentine's Day!  

Do you have a favorite love quote/saying/song lyric? Feel free to share in the comments!

When the Son shines

But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow.  Even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when it does... the sun will shine out all the clearer. 

~ Samwise Gamgee, The Two Towers

Kindred Spirits

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

The other day, I decided that there are friends and acquaintances, and there are kindred spirits.  You don't have to be kindred spirits to be very close friends, but I think it can be agreed that there are some people that you meet that you have that extra special connection to.  You click together a little better than you do with other people.  Months can go by without saying more than a few words but it doesn't matter because when you finally run into each other again it's as if no time has passed at all.  You fall right back into conversation, and any silences are the silence of comfortable companionship and not awkward "Well, we've caught up and now what?"

Kindred spirits are the people that you want to go to with any funny story, joy or sorrow - no matter how trivial - because you know they'll get it.  Other people might not understand, but you know they will.  Maybe you don't have exactly the same interests and likes or dislikes, but you both get the same joy out of life and you have the ability to truly value and be enthusiastic about what they are interested in.  When you're with a kindred spirit, life feels a little more perfect.

Kindred spirits are a very special type of friend.  Through our lives we are very likely to run into kindred spirits that we may only know for a few hours, or a short period of time.  In that short time however, you still make that connection and walk away the better for having met them.  Other kindred spirits may find us and stay with us for much longer and if we are fortunate, for the rest of our lives.

It's a great blessing to have friendships and people that you love and value.  Finding a kindred spirit does not make your other friendships any less or not as important, by any means!  It does, however, make your friendship with your kindred spirits a little more special.  You never even have to say anything about it, because they'll know.  Kindred spirits get you, in a way other people don't... and isn't it splendid, when we discover like Anne did, that there really are so many of them in the world?

Lenten Quote

Our monks go robed in rain and snow, But the heart of flame therein, But you go clothed in feasts and flames, When all is ice within; Nor shall all iron dooms make dumb Men wondering ceaselessly, If it be not better to fast for joy Than feast for misery.

~ G.K. Chesterton, "The Ballad of the White Horse

Doesn't that last phrase just sum up the mentality of Lent?  We are not fasting with sackcloth and ashes on the street corners, proclaiming our sufferings like the Pharisees. Instead we are fasting with a joy given to us by Christ, because we know that we would not have this time of penance and prayer if He had not died to save us.  It is much better to be fasting with joy now - though it is hard sometimes - then to be ignorant of lent and feasting away with misery in our hearts.

5 Quick Takes Saturday - Vol 21

~ 1 ~

Greetings this fine day, oh fair readers! I pray thou will forgive mine form of speech this day. For I am of a Shakespearian turn of mind this weekend! On the fair forum we art having a party - aye, and a fine one at that - to celebrate All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day and the second anniversary of our Forum! 'Tis a wonderous good time we are having... all masquerading as characters from the plays of Shakespeare. I am enjoying this verily much!

~ 2 ~

"Can one desire too much of a good thing?" - As You Like It

~ 3 ~

Aye, and another thing of Shakespearian turn that I am looking forward too with eagerness is the release of the November "Ink and Fairydust". Quite excited am I, for it has been transformed into the shape of a magazine this month... with 44 pages! By Jove, what a joy that shall be to read! Here is the cover for this month, is it not comely to behold?

~ 4 ~

I have a confession to maketh to thee all... I have become quite entranced with Shakespeare! Those of ye who have heard me proclaim Shakespeare to be dry and dull in my youth shall wag their heads at me, but 'tis the truth. Verily I like him now!

The change didst come upon me with an adventure upon our forum. 'Twas revealed that one of the members was in truth Laertes of Hamlet fame, and his sister was the fair Ophelia. Having not read that play, and being curious to read a classical work featuring one of mine friends, I took up the book and was snared. I have since re-read As You Like It for the third time and started Macbeth. I plan next to cast mine eyes upon A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew... and as many as I can well fit into my school year!

~ 5 ~

I shalt now leave thee with some o' mine favorite quotes.... Rose and Lanta style.

"Is this a bubble I see before me?"

"Oh happy bubble! This is thy sheathe! There pop and let me die!"

"To pop, or not to pop? That is the question!"

"Were we to call a bubble by any other name, 'twould pop just as well!"

"All the world's a bubble, and the men and women merely pop it."

"Frailty, thy name is bubble!"

"But bubbles are bubbles; the best sometimes pop. "

"Be not afraid of bubbles: some are born bubbles, some achieve bubbliness , and some have bubbles thrust upon them."

5 Quick Takes Saturday - Vol 18

~ 1 ~

I was awarded this very bright and perky looking award a while back by Vicki a while back, and am just now getting around to passing it along!
I think for this one, i shall award the people who's blogs i have started reading recently.
Jare and Lib
Earwen
Sarah
Emma

~ 2 ~

*whips out imaginary guitar and cues country background music while adopting a Billy Currington pose*

My room looks great, my chores are done, *sigh* my siblings are lazy!

~ 3 ~

Note to all Love Story meets Viva la Vida fans out there... i was finally able to put it in my music box!!!! For the longest time Playlist.com didn't have it, but now they do! I am dying of happiness and joy... it's such a lovely arrangement! I am soooo going to play this at my wedding reception. =)

~ 4 ~

We started school this past Monday. I am... a Senior. Wow. When did i get to be so old? Ha, at least being a Senior seems more probable then me being 17. For whatever reason, almost half a year after my birthday, my first response to "How old are you?" is "16". Well, Bear knew what he was talking about when he said, "So you're saying that 16 isn't an age, it's a state of mind?"
It's a cool, but sometimes annoying state of mind. Cool that i'm proving Fish's point, annoying because i want to enjoy being 17. Which i have been... just not mentally.

~ 5 ~

And no, at this point in time i am not going to college next fall. Unless something happens, i'll be taking a year or two off from school, before moving forward. Things could change, but at the moment that's how they are.

Quote of the May

Blessed are the actions enclosed between two Hail Marys.

***

Know that of all devotions the most pleasing to Mary

is to have frequent recourse to her, asking her favors.

***

Let the servants of Mary perform every day, and especially on Saturday,

some work of charity for her sake.

***

When the devil wishes to make himself master of a soul,

he seeks to make it give up devotion to Mary.

St. Alphonsus

Quote of the May

Remember me, dearest Mother, and do not abandon me at the hour of death.
~ Saint Francis de Sales

Quote of the May

In all temptations of pride, there is no greater remedy than this one: to have recourse to the humble Jesus and Mary
~ Saint Alphonsus Rodriquez

Quote of the May

We turn to you for protection, holy Mother of God.
Listen to our prayers and help us in our needs.
Save us from every danger, glorious and blessed Virgin.
~ Sub tuum Praesidium, oldest known prayer to Mary, circa 300

The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord

Out of compassion for us, He descended from heaven: and although He ascended alone, we also ascend, because we are in Him by grace.
~ Saint Augustine

Quote of the May

The moon illuminates the night when the sun has set and before the next sunrise; Mary, too, often illuminates those who are in the night of faith and being tested... if they invoke her.
~ Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap

Quote of the May

Christ was born of a virgin and took His flesh from her, as was His will, in accord with the economy of salvation... Thus, the virign became the Mother of God.
~ Saint Proclus of Constantinople

Quote of the May

To recite the Rosary is nothing other than to contemplate with Mary the face of Christ.
~ Pope John Paul II

Quote of the May

There is no more excellent way to obtain graces from God than to seek them through Mary, because her divine Son cannot refuse her anything.
~ Saint Philip Neri

May is the Month of Mary

In honor of the month of May being the Month of Our Lady, i will try to post a quote pertaining to the Blessed Mother every day during this month.
Queen of Heaven, Conceived without sin, Pray for us who have recourse to thee!

The month of May is ... a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. Our heart rejoices at the thought of the moving tribute of faith and love which will soon be paid to the Queen of heaven in every corner of the earth.
For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration: and, it is the month in which a greater abundance of God's merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother's throne.

~ Pope Paul VI, Mense Maio (On Prayers during May for the Preservation of Peace)

These Dead Shall Not Have Died in Vain

The evening of the March for Life, after the crowds had all dispersed, the sun had set and we had all eaten our dinner, the "Awesome Group" went on a tour of some of the many monuments of Washington D.C. The first one we stopped at was the Lincoln Memorial. I was awestruck at it's size, which you would never guess from looking at photographs of it. It is huge, almost as grand and imposing as the words inscribed inside. I raced up the stairs and attempted to take photos of the statue, but alas, in dim lighting, that doesn't work so well. All blurry. Naturally, on the bus driving away from the Lincoln Memorial I discovered a setting on the camera that said "Use for taking pictures in especially dim lighting". Of course.

After I attempted to take some photos, I strolled over to the side of the monument where the immortal Gettysburg Address is engraved in the wall. Leaning up against one of the towering columns, I read the words written so many years ago, soaking it in. I read it as I always have, thinking of the Civil War, when I came to the last paragraph. I gasped slightly and read the words in a way I have never read them before. New meaning lept out at me and I re-read them again.

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

I read them again, and felt my eyes well up with tears. That was why we were there, why everyone there that day was in Washington D.C. Why there is a March for Life.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

President Lincoln was speaking about the soldiers, but in a way, he could have been speaking about the unborn. Those children gave their lives, maybe without a choice, but they gave them anyhow.

I read somewhere once that everyone was created for a purpose, and that you will not die until that purpose, that mission is fulfilled. It is my belief that the mission of the aborted unborn children is to bring about the conversion of their mothers, to serve as an example to all those contemplating abortion and bring about their conversion, so that our nation, and the world, might someday realize and repent of the evil it has been allowing for far too long. During their short lives, they were part of the Church Militant, they were soldiers too. Now that they are in heaven, they are part of the Church Triumphant, but they are still fighting with their prayers, so that not another child will have to die in the war against The Enemy.

In the words of President Lincoln,

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain!

We must continue the fight, those of us who were given the chance to be born, to grow up, to live our lives for the honor and glory of God.

When I read those words, my throat tight with tears, they gave me such comfort. I admit that I was struggling with disappointment at not having been able to meet up with some friends I'd dearly wanted to meet, and I was brought back to the remembrance of why I went to D.C. I was so thankful to God for not only healing my disappointment, but for reminding me of the reason I was there. Not to have fun and experience history - though I did do both as well - but to save lives. HE gave me renewed dedication to fighting for the cause.

It is my hope that all you who read this blog post, will read that last paragraph of the Gettysburg Address, and then read it again and again. Then resolve in your heart to fight for the pro-life cause

So that these dead children shall not have died in vain.

The Christmas Edition of Guess the Quote

I've had people asking for me to do another round of 'Guess the Quote' so I thought I'd comply and do it again - with a Christmas twist this time! All the quotes will be from favorite Christmas movies. If you want to do this on your blog as well, here are the rules:

1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.

2. Go to Internet Movie Database and find a quote from each movie.

3. Post them on your blog for everyone to guess.

4. Put it in bold when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.

5. Looking them up is cheating, please don’t.

Have fun!

#1 - Yes, indeed. The Star of Christmas of Canterbury, one of the finest existing examples of sixth-century metalwork, given by St. Gregory the Great to the monks at Canterbury August 14, 592. This astonishing gold and silver five-point star later decorated the courts of King Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, and James the Lethargic before coming to rest at the church you see behind you in 1638. The star hasn't been publicly displayed since February 12, 1803, due to the perceived security risks from the reigns of King Charles the Greedy and Cedric the I'll-Eat-Anything-Star-Shaped!That's big news! - Remmirath The Star of Christmas

#2 - "Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?"
"You want me to kiss her, huh? "
"Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people" - Autumn Rose, Delaney, Laura, Vicki It's A Wonderful Life

#3 - "He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny."
"He does not!"
"He does too, he looks like a pink nightmare." - Rachel, Delaney, Trina A Christmas Story

#4 - "Bob! Are you okay?"
[upside down in the snow] "Mousetrap. "
"What? "
[still upside down in the snow] "I wanted to play 'Mousetrap.' You roll your dice, you move your mice. Nobody gets hurt." - Remmirath The Toy that Saved Christmas

#5 - "How many days have you come with us on this journey?"
"One hundred and four."
"And how many days have you complained about it?"
"One hundred and five. ... I am counting tomorrow." Yaviel The Nativity Story

#6 - "You're a little absent-minded, spirit."
"No, I am a LARGE absent-minded spirit." - Autumn Rose, CM & Eddie, Delaney, Laura, Rodger, Vicki A Muppet Christmas Carol

#7 - "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"
"Sure, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
"Lights, please.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"
That's what Christmas is all about," - Autumn Rose, CM &Eddie, Delaney, Laura, Rodger, Fishie A Charlie Brown Christmas

#8 - "I am the official sentry of the Isle of Misfit toys."
"A jack-in-the-box for a sentry?"
"Yes. My name is... "
"Don't tell me: Jack."
"No, Charlie. That's why I'm a misfit toy. My name is all wrong. No child wants to play with a Charlie-In-The-Box so I had to come here." - Autumn Rose, Laura, Rodger, Vicki Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

#9 - "You've got to excuse him, sir. You see, he just came to life, and he doesn't know much about such things. "
"Oh, well, okay. If he just came to life. Move along! That silly snowman. Once they come to life, they don't know nothin'. Come to life?'" - Remmirath Frosty the Snowman

#10 - "How could we do this? We forgot him."
"We didn't forget him. We just miscounted."
"What kind of a mother am I?"
"If it makes you feel any better, I forgot my reading glasses." - Rachel, Delaney, Laura, Rodger Home Alone

Summer WIFD ~ Day 5

Welcome to Thursday's edition of "A Week in Feminine Dress!" Today I am wearing - uh, er.... um... My head, Yaviel's body and Lady Kathleen's legs!!!! Good heavens! That isn't what I put on this morning! Who did this? Who's idea? What scandalous traitor has convinced the idea for this dastardly... What? Oh, it was me? I see.



So this is what I am really wearing today! Another summer time outfit, taken - once again - with the sun in front of me so I can't open mine eyes! I shall have to remember tomorrow to find a spot that is facing away from the sun!

So, my skirt is a pretty peasant-ish style - typically refered to as a broomstick skirt - that I got from...... any guesses? Anyone? I won't tell you where, but leave your guesses in the comment box and when the first person to get it right gets it right, I shall spill the beans. But honestly... it shouldn't be too hard to guess! If you can't.... you have not read my past posts! (There, now I've just practically spilled the beans)
I like this skirt, because it so light and flowy, and due to the many patterns and colors, I can wear almost any color top! For the record, it goes with white, pink, purple, turquoise, blue, and probably even green!


My top is a turquoise "v" neck that I am almost positive came from Wal-Mart... wait! Ha Ha! It didn't!!!! I remember!!!!!! I got it three years ago as a birthday present along with a skirt that didn't fit! And... and.... it was from Kohls!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, that is a first! Usually I can't remember - but I did!!!!!!!



Today mine hair (which almost looks redddish to my poor deluded hopeful mind) is pulled back in a clip from what could very well be re-named "Lady Rose's Closet". Where else but... Wal-Mart. Gosh, I really have to go non-Wal-Mart tomorrow... this is getting so repetitive!
But it is a lovely clip, and works very well for pulling back part of my hair or all of it!


And I am afraid the lovely cornflowers - I think that is what they are - got the best of me. Hmmm... wonder if they were poppy's in disguise? I have never heard of a cornflower making someone unconcious.... or from the er, lovely expression on my face.... dead. Aw, I am dead? That is so sad! No more week in feminine dress!!!! What ever shall I do? =O


But wait! I am revived again! (Ha, fooled you!)

Thank you for once again dealing with my nuttiness - which is significantly more toned down today then it was yesterday. But what can I say? (Except quote another movie?)
"Would you love me if I was anything but what I am?" Courtesy of Tia Dalma there folks, Pirates 3.

See ya tomorrow!

Guess the Quote!

Elenatintil posted something like this on her blog, and it looked like fun, so I decided to do the same thing! Instructions:

1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.

2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.

3. Post them on your blog for everyone to guess.

4. Put it in bold when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.

5. Looking them up is cheating, please don’t.

Have fun!

1. "Why, you speak treason!"

"Fluently. " - The Adventures of Robin Hood ~ Yaviel

2. "Have you got a lame horse?"

"What do you be wantin' to trade for a lame horse?"

"Would you take General Burnside?"

"No. I guess I'll keep the horsehide." - Gods and Generals ~ Paul Xavier

3. "My love, will you marry me?"

"Oh, of course! And you couldn't have chosen a more romantic setting!"

"For our honeymoon: London! Paris!"

" Yes!"

"Sunny Spain?"

" [laughs] Why not?"

" We'll have six kids!"

"Six? Oh, a dozen at least!" - The Disney Robin Hood ~ Elenatintil

4. Stories don't always end where their authors intended. But there is joy in following them, wherever they take us. - Miss Potter ~ the Twiddles

5. "No disrespect to you brave men, but why are you fightin' this war?"

"Why are you?"

"Why to free the slaves, of course."

"I can't speak for some other folks, but I'm fightin' for my rights" [pronounces it "rats"]

"Your what?"

"My rights. [still pronounces it rats] The right to live my life like I see fit. I don't know why we can't live our lives our way and you live yours. Live and let live I've heard so folks say. Well, I guess this war's over for me anyway."

"I appreciate you talkin' to me." - Gettysburg ~ Lady Kathleen

6. Foll de roll and fiddle dee dee, fiddle dee foddle dee foodle! All the dreamers in the world are dizzy in the noodle! - Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella ~ Claire

7. "I just lost my family - all my friends - probably forever."

"How do you know?"

"Well, I - I... You are an illustration; why am I talking to you?"

"Oh, you just lost your family - all your friends - you are lonely."

"Yeah, well, you're dead!"

"Ahh, but that is no match for wishful thinking! If you're focused on what you've left behind, you will not be able to see what lies ahead. Now go up and look around!" - Ratatouille ~ the Twiddles

8. "Let me get this straight. You know her. She knows you. But she wants to eat him. And every body's okay with this? [jumps up suddenly] Did I miss something?" - The Lion King ~ the Twiddles

9. "I'm afraid the only thing left is to be thrown into the sea."

"Oh, you don't have to do that! We've got a plank! You can just walk off!"

"Yes, thank you. You're too kind."

" Normally you'd be entitled to a refund, but under the circumstances, y'know, with you dying and all... "

"No, I don't suppose a refund would do me much good now, would it?" - Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie ~ Lady Kathleen

10. "So are you Jason's friend?"

"Yes. I am."

"True friend?"

"Absolutely. Pinkie promise"

"So how long have you know Mr. Stevens?"

"We go way back, we're like this [crossing fingers] Now where do I sign?"

"And, um, he hasn't promised you and compensation for this friendship?

" Look at him, does he look like he has anything to offer?" - The Ultimate Gift ~ Yaviel

Note: There are no quotes from the Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jane Austen movies, or the Chronicles of Narnia.

And a bonus quote: (BTW, this is NOT one of MY favorite movies, but I am including it because it is recited quite frequently around our house!)

# 11. "What's that smell?"

"No one noticed it until you did, it must be yours." - Thomas the Tank Engine ~ Lady Kathleen (my brother's fav movie.)

*Edit* Sister's, you will more likely than not know all of these, so you can only answer 2 each. =)