Friday, December 27, 2013

Christmas in Florida

Here's some carols that we sing around the house for fun. It's not very festive, and a bit of my dislike for Florida is tossed in there, but they're fun. Try 'em out and see. ;)


I'm Dreaming Of A Warm Christmas

I'm dreaming of a warm Christmas
Just like the ones I've always known
Where the treetops are green and children will sing
About how it's really not that cold
How I wish this wasn't the norm!
But alas, our Christmases are warm


Salt Water (to the tune of Jingle Bells)

Dashing through the waves on an old foam boogie board
Surfers point and laugh, but it's all I could afford
A big one's coming in, my friends yell "Here we go!"
I'm paddling out, what a big mistake! now there's water up my nose!

Oh, salt water, salt water, ruining my day
A gallon just went up my nose, why's the shore so far away? Hey!
Salt water, salt water, the sting won't go away
Whose bright idea was it to go to the beach on Christmas day?


All I Want For Christmas (chubby girl version)

I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree
I just want to fill my plate, so much food I can hardly wait
Make my wish come true! All I want for Christmas is food
Fo-od, baby!


Hope you enjoyed the carols and had a very merry Christmas. :)

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Saturday, December 7, 2013

30 Superficial Things I'm Thankful For

I didn't post at all in November. Not once. Yet I still have the same average amount of page views, which lets me know you guys still checked and probably muttered a bit when there was nothing new. I'm sorry.

Here's a random, thrown-together, totally superficial list of things I'm thankful for on a day-to-day basis:

1. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (okay, this one's not at all superficial, just straight-forward) | 2. family & friends (also not superficial) | 3. cuddly overgrown puppies | 4. pencil stubs | 5. picture frames | 6. guitars | 7. firelogs & coffee mugs | 8. comfy clothes | 9. spiral-bound notebooks | 10. roadtrips | 11. scrivener | 12. sweet smells | 13. cowgirl boots | 14. medieval dresses | 15. cellphones & email | 16. country music | 17. rainstorms | 18. cold weather | 19. blue jeans | 20. sketchbooks | 21. marshmallows (because sugar) | 22. happy memories | 23. celtic music | 24. flipflops | 25. buttons | 26. conversations | 27. fleece blankets | 28. stained-glass windows | 29. clean sheets | 30. blog followers who keep reading despite long absences.

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|
{ps - thanksgiving was weird without ben}
{pps - ben's coming home on friday!!!}
{ppps - frozen was a great movie}
{pppps - i dressed up as poison ivy for a youth group thing. boy, was that embarrassing.}

Monday, October 28, 2013

Stuff I Was Too Lazy to Post About

1| (way back in September) Aunt Jennifer came to visit.
We went to City Walk and Bubba Gump's Shrimp Shack, then wandered around IKEA, spent a good deal of time sitting on the couch laughing and chatting, and cried a lot when she left. (moveheremaybe?)

2| (two weeks ago) we celebrated Dad's 50th...
...as a family. Because we're bums and didn't feel like planning anything. Dad said he was okay with it. But we went to Disney (first time without Ben, really weird) and saw the new Fantasy Land and all that good stuff.

3| (yesterday) Church Fall Picnic.
Got a football to the gut and sweet tea all over my pants, but it was fun. Even when we played volleyball. (read as: everyone else played volleyball while I stood in the corner and prayed the ball would never come to me.)

4| assorted random things.
Ben's coming home in seven weeks. I plan on finishing my book before Christmas. There's a ton of sewing that I should be doing instead of messing around on my 'puter. Alyx is testing for her yellow belt in taikwando today. And I am totally lacking the creativity to make this interesting. (Sorry Aunt Jen, Dad, everyone else, for not doing you justice.)

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Starting a New Chapter is Hard.

No, this isn't anything philosophical or thought-provoking; I meant it literally, as a writer. I'm not taking it so far as to apply it to life. I'm too tired for that right now.

I've always struggled with finishing things - stuff I mean to bless other people with, artsy projects, lesson assignments, stories. Every word that I write in A Maiden's Touch - the current work-in-progress - beats the record for most-words-Charli-has-written-in-a-single-story. I've never been this close to finishing, or even over half-way, really. So when the story arc finally reached the point where the major foreshadowing is done and I have to keep the ball rolling with some action, not just intriguing hints, I...

...did what I do best. Took a break.

Sometimes God uses breaks to rejuvenate people and get their gumption back. Sometimes He uses truth to combat the laziness and inspire them. And sometimes He lets them sit on their rears until they realize that they're not living according to His calling, waits while they kick themselves, and then none-too-gently pushes them off their rears and says, "Get moving!"

In the span of a few hours, I wrote what I call the EIKAMS (nicknamed 'eek'): Everything I Know About My Story. (Again, there could be real-life applications here that I'm too tired for.) Picking up from where I left off in the book, I typed out every single little detail that was foreshadowed and then some, finishing it on paper so that the ideas took residence somewhere other than my scatterbrained mind. I know exactly what to write now. I have no excuse.

But it's hard. I'm three chapters into fleshing out the eek and already I'm bored. Gah. But no more breaks!

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Saturday, September 14, 2013

I Have an Aversion to Complete Sentences.

First-- a few random notes.

-Rather ironic that the last post - over two and half weeks ago - happens to be about writing. Which, obviously, I don't do nearly enough of.

-I find myself craving Christmas. Honestly no idea why. Well, actually, I do have a few ideas, but I'm not going to share them.

-Also recently obsessed with this song. I've been a fan of the group for ages, but when they came out with this song, I didn't care for it all that much. Needless to say, it grew on me.

-Legend of Korra Book 2 released the first episode yesterday. Not as good as the Last Airbender, but still fun.

-Played guitar and sang with friends at a playground today, shared a bit of God's love, and gave away a soccer ball. :)

-My room is almost clean. Well, you can see the floor. For those of you who have seen my room in its average state, you know what a big deal that is.

-I got my driver's license. And the second time driving without a licensed-adult-over-twenty-one, I hit a squirrel. Many tears were shed.

-I'm back at Freedom Ride. We have a new horse!! But I'm not allowed to pet her yet. :(

-Every word I write in AMT makes it the longest book I have ever written. It makes me giddy and all the more unmotivated.


Second--

Ha. Just kidding. There is no 'second'.

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Why I Write

1| it keeps me sane.
My brain has this awful tendency to scramble itself at the worst of times. Sometimes all it takes to clear it is a pencil, a scrap of notebook paper, and the rhythmic strokes of forming simple words. Sometimes it takes more - listening to my Irish music, staring blankly at the laptop screen, grappling with the process of forming a coherent sentence.

2| it keeps me {in}sane.
When life gets boring or out of control, it helps to retreat to my dark corner where I can laugh like a maniac without being judged and live someone else's life that I can control with my fingertips. Like a puppeteer. A puppeteer with a keyboard.

3| it's my guilty pleasure.
There's that whole live-someone-else's-life thing. I can fake so much in a book - in Kaylie's life, I'm a superhero with an epic hoverboard. I get horribly seasick, yet through Ana I can pretend I'm a pirate. I've got the flexibility of a cow, but I've got my 'writer's belt' in tai kwan do. And I have an awesome car that can change its paint job with a click of a button because of breakthrough-technology nano paint, of which I understand just enough to write about.

4| it makes me feel cool.
I'm known as a writer. To be witty (which often comes across as obnoxious). To be good with words (even though I'm about as eloquent as a... as a... oh, shoot). To scribble something about medieval torture devices at the most inopportune moments. I'm also known to have pencils stuck in my hair. (but that's not cool at all. actually, it's kinda weird.)

5| it gives me a sense of purpose.
Maybe I'm not wasting my time sitting in this chair. Maybe I'm not a complete and utter failure for waiting to go to college. Maybe, just maybe, my books will be published someday and provide for the demanding lifestyle that I'd like to live. Or maybe just one person will read my maniacal, obnoxious gibberish and be touched by the message that God weaved in there without telling me.

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Weekend in a College Town

It's a bit strange. The record for days-Ben-and-Charli-have-survived-apart-from-each-other has been bumped from five to seventy two. In those seventy two days, Ben has made friends that I don't know, gained a real work experience, had four different roommates, and learned how to play volleyball. At the same time, I've been sitting in the spinny-chair in the far corner of my bedroom and throwing random pity parties.


Mom and I took Ben to Chick-fil-a, met some of his really awesome friends, watched him play volleyball, and drove all over Pensacola in search of the Heroes of Olympus series (okay, so we only went to two bookstores). I've given him countless hugs and tackled him. He's let me use him as a pillow again. And somehow I have to leave tomorrow.

~Charli Rae |Jeremiah 29:11|

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Pros and Cons of Life In General

+ No more school!!

- All my friends are going off to college or still in high school. Nobody has time to be lazy with me.

+ Possible full-time job coming up that offers incredible pay and late mornings.

Full-time job means limited fellowship time, severely cut-back hours at Freedom Ride, none of the extracurricular activities that I miss so much, and putting my hair up every morning.

+ "I finished outlining my book - detailed, chapter-by-chapter, I-now-know-everything-that-will-happen kind of outline." Words that have never before come out of Charli Rae's mouth (or been typed by her fingers)... but now they have. ;)

Back pain is making it hard to get motivated to do anything. Mom keeps saying exercise'll help, but moving hurts.

+ Alyx is probably getting promoted to Lieutenant next Monday. All she's gotta do is go before the promotion board, which she'll pass with flying colors!

I miss Ben. I respect now that he was a far better older sibling than I - he dealt with me storming into his room and flopping on his bed and demanding that he do something entertaining a whole lot better than I handle Alyx doing the same thing. And nobody else appreciates my random hugs.

+ Mom and I get to visit Ben on FRIDAY. :D

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Snippets: Journals of Myondelf

Sorry for my absence. I've hit a rough patch... life is too dull to post about right now. Enjoy my attempt at a mainstream story, down to the unpronounceable title (mee-yon-delf). Oh, hey, it's sorta longish. :P

“Welcome to the Blue Moon!” Jill chirped. I chimed in out of habit, even though I was preoccupied with the clock and didn’t see who walked in. Quite frankly, I didn’t care. Though the clock was busted, I knew that Dillon was over an hour late.
“What can I get-“
“Jill!” Fred hollered from the back room. “Your pa’s on the phone!”
Jill sighed. “Lil, could you get this for me?” As she headed for the back, she brushed by closer than she needed to. “Hottie alert. I got dibs,” she hissed, snapping her bubblegum for emphasis of some sort.
I rolled my eyes and set the clock down on the bar. Pulling my notebook from my apron pocket, I retrieved a pencil stub from behind my ear and turned toward the front of the diner. The customer had chosen one of the seats closest to the door. His hair was dark, plastered down over his ears by the rain outside. The sleeves of his black rain slicker were pushed up over his elbows, and he hunched over the bar as if he were keeping out the world and its cares. My heart started to pound a little. I don’t know why I was surprised; Jill was rarely wrong when it came to guys.
“Can I get you something?”
His head snapped up, revealing the bluest eyes I had ever seen. He seemed surprised, then suspicious. “Aren’t you a little young to work in a pub like this?”
I held my chin up high. “I’m fifteen, and this is hardly a pub. If needed, there’s a drawer full of knives in the bar, a fire extinguisher’s in the back that can put out more than fires, and you obviously haven’t met my boss. If you want to go to a pub, go down the street.” Then my eyes narrowed. He couldn’t be that much older than me. “Besides, aren’t you a little young to visit a pub?”
He held up a hand. “Okay, point taken. Chill.” He opened the menu and scanned it. Apparently nothing caught his eye and he sighed. “What’s the cheapest thing you’ve got?”
I skimmed through the upside-down menu. “Water’s free.”
The corner of his mouth half-lifted and he shook his head, sending water droplets all over. “I’ve got plenty of that, thanks. I need something a little more substantial.”
“Well, how much do you got?”
He unzipped the slicker and pulled a worn wallet from somewhere inside. “Three soggy dollar bills, two hands that are willing to work, and a wink that’s worth at least a buck.”
“Is that so?” I set my notebook down and rested my palm on the countertop. “Let’s see it, then.”
With a flourish, he rested his chin on one fist and… winked.
I felt my nose scrunch up as I considered. “Hm. I’ve seen better. I’d say that’s worth seventy-four cents. How good are you at fixing stuff?”
He shrugged. “Like what?”
“Clocks.”
“Mechanical or battery operated?”
“Battery, but I just put a new one in and it’s still not working. “
“I’ll try my hand at it. What’ll I get in return?”
“Well, we have one pulled pork sandwich left. You can have it, and if you fix the clock, I’ll heat it up for you.”
“Alrighty,” he said, flexing his fingers. “Let me at it.”
I slid the clock across to him and went to the kitchen. Jill’s voice floated through the door to the back room as she argued with her dad. I pulled the sandwich from its bin, and Fred stepped out just as Jill’s voice got really loud. Fred shut the door behind him, twisting his fist in his long, salt-and-pepper beard. “They’re in a fight if they ever were,” he sighed.
“I know the feeling.”
Fred gestured toward the sandwich. “Dillon finally here?”
I shook my head and told him about the customer. “Is that okay?” I asked. “It would have been Dillon’s, anyway, and we get three dollars and possibly a clock out of this.”
Fred smiled and put his massive arm around my shoulders as we walked back to the front. “It’s just fine, lassie.”
Our customer was hunched over the clock when we came out. I slipped out from under Fred’s arm and set the plate on the table. “There you are. This would have been my brother’s, but he wasn’t on time, so it’s all yours.”
He held up a finger, and as soon as I fell silent, a steady ticking split the air. I scooped the sandwich back up. “I guess I owe this to you hot, huh?”
“Yep, that was the – whoa!” The second he caught sight of Fred he shot up so fast that the stool fell backwards. “Sorry,” he mumbled and tried to set the stool right-side-up, but he must have set it on his toe, because he gasped and pulled away. He ran a hand through his hair, causing some of the curls to stand upright. “This must be your boss,” he gulped.
“Yup. Microwaved okay with you?”
“Huh? Yeah, sure. That’s fine.”
“Well, me laddie,” Fred drawled, bringing out his Irish accent full force. “These actions o’ yourn be leadin’ me ta believe that yer intentions be not honest.”
“What? No! I mean, yes, I’m honest. I think. What did I come here for?”
“To eat, I believe,” I said, starting up the microwave.
He ran his hand through his hair again. “Could I actually take that to go?”
“Sure.” I leaned over to pull out a carton as Fred started up one of his belly laughs.
Before Fred could finish his laugh and say what was on his mind, Jill’s voice rose to a shrill shriek. Fred sighed. “I better go take care of this,” he mumbled, lumbering back through the kitchen.
The customer stared after him. “Why’d he loose the accent?”
“He only turns it on when there’re customers around. Thinks it’s a sales gimmick. Maybe people won’t mind eating from the hand of a giant if he talks funny.” I shrugged. “I don’t know, really. You still want this to go?”
“Yeah, I’ve got somewhere to be.”
“So it wasn’t just Fred?” The microwave beeped and I plopped the sandwich into the carton.
“Well… let’s just say he jogged my memory.” His lips lifted in a half-smile and he took the carton. “Thanks for letting me take your brother’s sandwich.”
“Hey, you paid for it, he didn’t.”
“Yeah, well, thanks, anyway.” He headed towards the door.
I picked up the clock and took it to its place on the wall, stretching on tip-toe to reach the nail.
“Oh, and Lilly?”
I dropped the clock, but, luckily, I caught it before it hit the ground. The customer had paused at the door and was looking back at me. He grinned and said, “Happy birthday.”

And then he was gone.

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Graduation - Part 2

Those of you who know me - or if you've been reading this blog for a while - probably know some pretty straightforward things about me. I have a terrible sense of direction, for one. And I'm kind of obnoxious for an introvert. I can't write on a schedule to save my life. Oh, and I don't dance.

So, because I like to shock people, I broke one of my personality rules at our graduation dance. And there's a ton of proof. Enjoy.









~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Seattle

Sorry for the unexcused absence, but I hope you find it acceptable. I was running all over Seattle with spotty internet and, frankly, better things to do. Like--

{bethanie's graduation! whoo-hoo!}

{visiting canyonview, the college that i have to work my rear off to attend}

{shopping! it takes a lot to get me to enjoy a shopping trip. you have to bribe me with bandana shirts and jean jackets.}

{babysitting liam, my second-cousin-once-removed. aka, he's my mom's cousin's son. :)}

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Friday, June 14, 2013

Graduation - Part 1

I started the day with nerves. Y'know, all the stereotypical stuff - butterflies in my stomach, feeling a bit dizzy - along with some weird things, like my hands hurt. Maybe I fell asleep clenching them. I dunno.

Anyway, my hands started to feel better as the day went on, but my stomach grew more and more upset. A few of the other graduates and I went earlier to the ceremony rehearsal so we could get in some practice for the song we would be performing, where I found out I couldn't play my own guitar because it didn't have a jack, but another graduate offered to let me use his and it was all good again. As we rehearsed, I was reminded about how intimidating stages and audiences and microphones - oh, especially microphones - could be. But we made it through without too much trouble.

The rehearsal for the ceremony was a lot easier; maybe because I wasn't in charge, or maybe because I was too preoccupied with not throwing up or fainting, or both, to care. I had to be reminded on several occasions to 'sit like a lady', which was a little embarrassing. Then we got tossed in a back room and were told to wait.

And wait, we did.

For a long time.

Then we got shepherded out to the lobby and paired off and sent to march down the middle. Boys in nice suits and fancy ties. Girls in nice dresses and fancy shoes. Me in a fancy dress and cowgirl boots.

Time slowed to a crawl as Riley gave a fantastic prayer, some other graduates performed a worship song, and Alex delivered an excellent speech, which was followed by John Stemburger's equally excellent speech. All the while I was fidgeting in my seat, waiting for my little gang to be called up. Boots tapping. Fingers alternately getting pinched in my capo and scrambling for my falling guitar pick.

Finally we were called up. Hannah went to her microphone. I tried to move mine closer to the guitar stand. Sarah sat down at the piano and started to play her solo. The guitar strap fell off as I tried to get it over my head. I was a full measure late to the song.

Otherwise, though, I think it went rather well. I didn't miss the chords I'd been struggling with. Hannah's fears proved unfounded as she nailed the vocals. Sarah did perfect, as always. And Josh - who was graduating with a different school and agreed to help me even when I gave him only a week's notice - made the song special by playing the solo.

The rest of the ceremony was a blur. I almost cried when my parents' recording played over the slideshow of pictures from my growing up. Mom cried unashamed.

And by the way, those of you future graduates who don't know already - they don't actually give you your diploma during the ceremony. I knew that - I really did, don't roll your eyes - but I thought I'd get some cool ribbon out of the deal. I got some flimsy black plastic stuff that comes from the dollar store.


So. Lessons learned. Don't clench your hands while you sleep. Practice a lot before you perform and show that microphone who's boss. Fake diplomas don't come with cool ribbon.

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Friday, May 24, 2013

I'm the Evil Twin

So. I wanted to post something. Maybe because it's been a week since I last posted and the previous post was five days before that one and I finally feel dedicated to my blog. Or maybe it's just cause it's late and I'm bored but not bored enough to go to bed.

At first, I thought I lacked post-matter. I figured surfing through my old pictures would help, but it turns out my new ones worked better.


Ben's leaving in a few weeks. Sixteen days, actually. But probably less by the time y'all read this post. The idea of it is really starting to affect me - and I say 'idea of it' because when he goes off to Pensacola, I'll go off to Washington state... and it's probably not going to fully hit me until I come back to no Ben. And then it's gonna hit me like a train.


We threw a party for him on Sunday - a surprise party, not that anyone devastated-that-they-couldn't-come-and-just-HAD-to-tell-him-how-sorry-they-were-that-they-couldn't-be-there knew - but he didn't catch on until we wanted him to. ;) My parents were shocked that so many people attended. I wasn't. I know how much people love him.

Oi. But hey, when I do come back from summer vacation, I'll be coming back to a room that I don't have to share with anyone for the first time in my life. That's totally worth it, right?

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|
{ps - i have a t-shirt that says 'i'm the evil twin'. people always think ben and i are twins.}

Friday, May 17, 2013

Snippets: A Maiden's Touch

Hey, guys - remember Liadyn? Well, she's back! I'm about a third of the way through her story now (hopefully a little further than that) and here's a sneak-peek into her goings-on!

Liadyn gradually became aware of the earth shifting. Her arm was pinned beneath her, skin tingling from restricted blood flow, and the pounding in her ears competed with a steady wooden clacking that rent the air. Her throat was dry and her thoughts muddled. With an effort she pried her eyelids open, but for a moment she didn’t realize that she had, for it was just as dark. Even when her eyes adjusted, she had no idea where she was.
You are under arrest,” echoed in her mind. But her prison was moving. Perhaps the execution would be held outside the limits of the capital so as not to subject the people to the sight of her gruesome corpse. But it was hardly fair; if there had been a trial, she was not aware of it, and how could they condemn her without first hearing her plea? Liadyn drew her knees to her chest and uttered a silent sob, for there was little excess moisture in her body with which to cry.
Tior was gone. She was a terrible person, leaving him all alone in the hands of strangers. Not that the poor boys had been responsible for the bizarre outburst, but the very fact that she hadn’t been there to control him, or at least witness the event and willingly make things right, weighed heavily on her heart. And now her horse was gone. They would have put him down by now, deprived of her insistence that the behavior was abnormal and he would never do such a thing without first being provoked.
And she never got the chance to say goodbye. Not to Tior, nor to her father, who would find her body in time and, after seeing the folly she had fallen into, feel vindicated for keeping her sheltered. She would never again happily give in to the spell that Gabby’s green eyes cast over her. Never again work her art in Taylan’s forge. Never again endure Amy’s stories or Haizea’s demeaning eye-roll, a trip to the market with Tanner or the painful process of brushing out Kimberli’s thick brunette curls. Never again see her family.

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Sunday, May 12, 2013

We Went Cruising

On the Freedom of the Seas - from the deck of which could be seen the Disney Magic.


And were called the 'dream sisters' because we 'never fought in public'. (Don't laugh.)


And went snorkeling. Then had very interesting discussions about whoever came up with the word 'snorkel'.


And saw some beautiful weather...


...and some not-so-great-but-equally-beautiful weather.


And met some crazy cool kids, formed unexpected friendships, and had an amazing time. :)

{lydia, little matt, haley, miranda, big matt (or matt g), alyx, big riley, me, victoria, gavin, micayla, ben, adam (white shirt), big jake (neon shirt), and amanda (random girl running off the screen}

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Sunday, April 28, 2013

4&1/2 Sewing Project #1

{click for a larger image}
{for a seamstress wannabe my terminology sucks, so thank goodness for pictures, 'cause i'd be at a loss to explain myself.}

1. What it was:
A silver-blue scoop-necked knee-length semi-gathered/wrap-around dress that looked pretty but, in my opinion, rather boring. Plus it looked better on the hanger than it did on me.


2. What it took:
A yard of cream-colored satiny stuff. Another dress from which cream-colored satiny flowers were removed. A yard of blue netting that gets sparkles everywhere. A whole lot of hand-sewing effort thanks to delicate materials.


3. What it is:
A silver-blue scoop-necked knee-length wrap-around with cream-and-midnight-blue accents that's a bit flashier and fancier and cheaper than any dress I could find.


4. What it cost:
Original dress - $10. Total cost - $27.


1/2. Where it goes:
Prom/graduation banquet. Then my closet.


~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|



Saturday, March 30, 2013

He Is Risen

He was betrayed by a kiss. He was disowned by His closest friend. He was mocked for Who He was, beaten because He wouldn't defend Himself. He was found innocent, yet condemned to die. He underwent excruciating pain while people watched.

Then God turned away.

He was made to be one of us. He grew in a woman's womb, was raised by a simple man, limited by His flesh, and - though He was sinless - He took my sin, and was separated from God.

{via}

Jesus did not come to make my life perfect. Through this life, I will be betrayed, disowned, mocked, beaten, condemned, and finally, I will die. But because of His sacrifice, I am no longer separated from God - He will never turn away from me.

~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Surprise Blog Break!

Did ya miss me?

Hey, don't be mad. It was a surprise even to me. It's been the lazy kind of hectic where I had plenty of time for blogging but just didn't feel like it. Plus, I've had nothing interesting enough for a post of it's own, but now I can shove it all in one post and be done with it!

What's been happening -

I got a job...
At a barn. Where they don't pay me. But I do get to be around horses and on rare fifteen-minute occasions they let me ride. So now I work up to seventeen hours a week at two very different barns and don't earn a cent.

Four or five unfinished sewing projects...
That you will probably be reading more about later. Like, June-ish. When I'll (hopefully) have them finished.

Ben's leaving in three months...
The day after graduation. He got accepted into Pensacola Christian College's work-study program, so he's their prisoner for the whole summer. And then he starts college. Without me. Yippee.

I'm writing on a schedule now...
Book-wise, at least. Right now I feel very smug because I'm two weeks ahead of schedule, but I can see the dark cloud hovering in the distance - the day when I can't send the chapter out to my readers and they all hate me and I feel like a slacker. Which I am.

Well, this is a lot shorter than I thought. There's gotta be something else...

I guess that's it. Huh. It feels like my head's screwed on backwards and I can't think at all, so I leave you with... four... pitiful... excuses. *ducks behind my desk* Don't hate me!

~Charli Rae

Monday, January 28, 2013

I'm on a Techie Diet

Two hours of textbook reading. An hour for sewing, which might seem like a lot, but some of these projects I was supposed to have done before Christmas (oops). Two hours of writing time, one for my thesis paper (yikes) and the other for my book (yes, book, singular). One hour on the tablet, now my only source of internet -- one short hour to access facebook, blogger, and skype.

That's six hours. Of a +sixteen-hours-of-up-and-about day. Oy.

Needless to say, I'm going to be bored. Healthy. But bored. Who knows, maybe I'll be bored enough to clean the house. We'll see.

In the mean time I'll be writing all blog posts on the tablet, which, aside from having a really weird format, has absolutely no form of spellcheck, so y'all'll get to see what I really write like. There's nothing to tell me that "y'all'll" isn't a word. Nothing to tell me that "mean time" is really "meantime". I depend so much on technology that it scares me.

So, that's all. Sorry for the absense. I can't find my signature on this thingie, so I leave you with a simple--

~Charli Rae

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Happy New Year!


My mom, Danielle, and I spent the last week (Saturday-Saturday) in Panama City while Alyx was at a CAP Encampment. After--

* a whole lot of driving

* climbing up poles on a beach (at my insistence; Danni didn't wanna get her feet sandy ;P)

* playing on the coolest playground ever (amid odd looks from parents of littles)

* lounging about in pajama pants

* wearing blankets as capes ;)

* about forty games of sudoku

* a bajillion movies (some great and some lousy)

* and one "Do you have any Neo-whatsits?" - "Neo-what-nows?" - "Exactly."

--later... we survived. :)



~Charli Rae |Job 39:19-25|
(PS - it's Alyx's birthday tomorrow. :D)