Little Women

I read  Little Women  about six years ago ( I would have been ten or eleven) and cried my eyes out.  I literally felt sick because it didn't play out quite like I wished.  Laurie (a guy)asks Jo(a girl) to marry him, and then-of all things- she refuses him!  I was utterly and completely disturbed . . . .  Then, Jo falls for a German professor of philosophy, who has to be 15-20 years older than her, and, in the end, marries him.  Laurie marries Jo's youngest sister, Amy.  So sad.  Also, Beth, next to youngest of the Marge ladies dies of what I believe to be heart failure, but, when I read the book I was glad (don't think me evil!) (I feel bad now)because she apparently was interested in Laurie and I thought that would inhibit he and Jo from marrying-which didn't matter because they were not destined for one another anyway.  Once again, anyway . . . .  I watched the movie a few years ago and felt about it just like I had the book- unpleasant and disturbing.  But, today my feelings and thoughts are reformed, or conformed to the more positive. I loved the dynamic between each of the sisters.  The late night theatre in the attic was so much fun. And, surprisingly so, I was totally okay with Jo marrying someone other than Laurie; I rather liked the professor this time.  I also like that they go on to found the school for underprivileged  boys.  Ideal for both of their characters. 

I am now comfortably arriving at the conclusion that, on my first reading the book, I made a rash and thoughtless decision.  Little Women is, to me,  a happy and beautiful story. 

Sick

Happening now: 

 I am blogging, my mother and brothers are watching Fox and the Hound 2 (which is strange because Reba McEntire plays a dog's voice), and . . . we are quarantined to our house.

We have been coughing our brains out for weeks, and the doctor seems to think we have whooping cough--people used to die from it! So I'm sure that you can see how this news could be a bit disconcerting. Now, another doctor seems to think it nearly impossible that we could have whooping cough because we have all been vaccinated against it, but thinks we have something that sounds like "microplasm".  

The fun thing is that we are not expected to do anything but rest.  After a while this can become cause enough to feel insane, but eventually the feeling passes. 

Prospect of an interesting summer of 2010

Of late, I have been greatly interested in participating in Notre Dame's "Summer Scholars" program. You, and all other participants (all high schoolers) live on campus for two weeks studying in the track of your choice. There is not a vast list of subjects, but they all (I'm sure) are very interesting, and, in the end, would provide a rewarding experience. There is Literature, Science based, business, law, psychology, and other such things. But, there so happens to be on that stands out particularly to me, -drum roll- the study of . . . China. Oh, yes . . . . Sounds wonderful, doesn't it. Well, apparently not to many other people, for, when we called the school, the guy said that they did not offer the Chinese track last year (this past summer) due to lack of interest. So, with that in mind, I am trying to create a back-up plan. I have to be very prepared to even apply, so there are many things to consider. I have to take my SAT this spring, and have to have official transcripts ready. It's all so exciting to think about, but still a bit shaky. I think I will still apply, not knowing if the Chinese track will be available, but am not sure what to do if I get accepted and it isn't. Naturally, I would just pick another, but there weren't really too many things I was 100% interested in. So, with all of that in the air, and on the table, the prospect of preparing for an application of some sort is rather exciting, and preparing for the SAT will (or should) give me a boost in scholastic motivation.

Until the next time! Zaijian!

Observations

1. I like weddings; my father does not.

2. Most people don't relish cold weather.

3. Mandarin is a challenge.

4. Moses (our dog) is a weird creature.

5. I have become a slacker in the blogging world--this post is pathetic!

6. Wise is a half-back (whatever that may be)

7. I stay up too late.

8. School is about to start.

9. This is my second numerically listed post.

10. Running gets easier.

11. Pride & Prejudice is just . . . beautiful.

12. Also, Prancer is wonderful.  I'm rather nerdy when it come to Christmas movies.

Reason to be happy . . .

1. I'm free!

2. itunes is just great

3. I just had some nice green tea

4. fall is just around the corner

5. family from Alabama will be coming for a visit Labor Day Weekend

6. anticipating new subjects this year (in school--I'm sure many in life as well)

7. 42 days until China

8. just got a free download--Kate Earl, Melody (not really sure who she is, but maybe)

9. Family is healthy

10. my support for the China trip is almost completely raised

11. Someone cleaned our car out for us yesterday

12. a really cool desk chair is always a joy to have (mine is many moons older and the wheels hardly work, but it has character--and it wasn't $400)

13. I get to go to the Lodge tomorrow and help prepare for the "big to do" event

14. I could easily go on forever like this, and that is really good reason to be happy!

The Girl in the Metal Building

 There was a woman and her friend, both missionaries, walking down the road in Cambodia.  Suddenly they hear something clattering violently in a metal building.  They began searching out the problem. They open the door and find a girl, about eleven years old, chained to a board, and left completely alone.  This young girl's mother said that the purpose of this type of containment was because the girl had a "monkey demon".  Of course they want to help this girl-save her!  The mother reluctantly allows them to take her to the hospital, but said that they must bring her back.  They take her to the hospital but, of course, she has no "monkey demon", but a light case of Epilepsy that could be controlled by orally taking medication- just two pills.  Simple, right? She can be helped- healed!  Finally, a dismal end, the mother wanted her back, and if nothing has changed . . . that eleven year old girl, now a few years older, who has no "monkey demon" is still chained up to the board in the small metal building.  

Things like this remind me of how easy my life is.  How God said He wanted to save me, just like the missionary desperately  wanted to save the young girl chained to the bondage of her assumed (not real, of course) "demon".  No one was denying me the privilege of rescue from my bondage to sin- her mother did.  This story is heart-breaking, yes, but it should also spur our hearts to desperately cry out to God for these people just like the girl in the metal building. All in bondage to many diverse things, but in bondage none the less.

Anguish

This video is more convicting and more inspiring for change to a dry heart than anything I have ever seen in my life.  It cuts me past the surface and wedges deeply in my heart. Please check it out . . . . ANGUISH