Catching Up

So...I've been gone for just shy of forever. It became very obvious to me that before I start posting like I used to, I should probably find out what has been going on with everyone this past year. So, without further ado, I present

THE QUESTIONNAIRE OF DOOM!!!!!!

I will put my answers in parentheses, but in the comment section, I would like you all to answer for yourselves. I know it's just a start, but I've been gone for so long we can't possibly cover everything in one post! =3

1. How old did you turn on your last birthday? What grade/year of high school/college are you in this school year? (I turned 15 back in March, and I'm a sophomore in high school this year.)

2. What did you do over this past summer? (I went to Outer Banks, NC with my mom and brother, went up to Northern Virginia to visit my boyfriend, spent 12 days living on the campus of UVA for a gifted learning camp [my favorite part of summer!], moved, and did some writing.)

3. If you are a writer, what project/goal are you currently working on? Are you working on more than one thing? (I'm working on three things at once. My original novel is finished but still needs a little editing, I have a trilogy started, and I also started another standalone novel. Lots of work but very worth it!!)

4. How is the YCF doing? If you are a new member, tell me a little about yourself! I'd love to get to know you! (I can't answer this question for myself...)

5. Read any good books lately? (I've been a little short on things to read lately. Recently read the Gemma Doyle Trilogy...good but a little strange. I read this book called Daughter of the Forest awhile back...that one is now on my favorites list. It's really, really great! Well written, excellent plot yet unpredictable. Props to the author of that one!)

6. What has God been doing in your life in the past year? (Well, I don't know how many of you I've told about the trouble I'd been having with my dad since my parents divorced, but God at last delivered me from that dark valley on December 5th, 2008. Almost a year later, I am so humbly happy to say that he has healed me up from a lot of that and I am now in a place where I'm starting to forgive him. Now that I don't have to focus primarily on just staying emotionally stable enough to live another day, I have been able to look at my life in a whole new way. With God's help, I have become a better person...I now take the expression "trial by fire" very literally. If you are in a hard time in your life, remember that God's ways are always better than ours and that we experience trials to refine our faith like gold! Coming out of this trial, I feel like someone who has been trapped in a cave all their life and is being led outside into the light for the first time--it's a little overwhelming, but it's so beautiful. I have been able to make new friends, get more involved in church, grow closer to the Lord, and devote more of myself to my family. Thank you Jesus for my freedom!!)

7. What is the best thing that has happened to you in the past year? (Aside from being granted my freedom, I met (summer '08) and fell in love with (summer '09) the most loving, caring, brilliant, selfless, pure young man on the face of the earth. [Okay, so I might be a little biased, but he is in my opinion =)] The Lord has really given me a blessing in my boyfriend. He has been really, really good to me and for me, and has done nothing but build me up, encourage me, and be there for me no matter what. I thank God for him every single day.)

8. What is the most interesting/insane thing you've done in the past year? (I climbed a 150 foot lighthouse!!!! It was breathtaking, and I'm not just talking about the 214 stairs!)

9. Anybody moved in the past year? Moved schools? Moved into a new house? Moved out of state? (I moved into a new house this past summer. I didn't move very far though, just 20 minutes or so. We moved the day after I got back from my twelve day camp at UVA. I have two words to describe that experience. Utter. Torture. Imagine getting home after being away for that long only to find out that you can't even sleep in your own bed! We made it through though, and the new house is great.)

10. What would be the first thing to pop into your head if I said, "Say something random!" (colored ink cartridges are headache-inducing!)


Well, there you have my questionnaire of doom! Enjoy!
Never Alone,
Shelby Marie

Greetings!
I do not have much time, but I'm at the library and just had to drop in for a few moments and say hi to everybody!
How has everyone been doing?
How's the writing coming?
How is the YCF?
Tell Me!
Things have gone well for me so far. I got to take the best Myrtle Beach vacation ever with my mom and brother...so much fun! I am nearing 300 pages in my book and shall be done soon, I think...my story has been taking several wild, unexpected twists on me, so I'm pretty much just going with the flow.
I will be leaving on Sunday, the 6th of July to go to UVA for a twelve day camp---I have never been away from home for that long and will not know anyone there. Pray that I will be a good Christian example for the people I meet as it is not a Christian camp.
Write On! Never Alone!
Love in Christ,
Shelby Marie

Prince Caspian at Last!!!

Yes! Caspian is here at last, and I got to see it on Friday after school! Oh, it was sooooo good! Definitely worth the SIX MONTHS of waiting! I'm gonna go see it about five more times....and then buy it when it comes out on DVD...
So, what did you guys think of it? Or have you seen it yet?
Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

Lost in You

Hail and well met, blogging friends!
I apologize for being gone for so long...my teacher was not at school, so we weren't allowed to use the computers...
Anyway, to get to the point of this post...I've been recently introduced to a band called Red. (thanks Christian!!) I would like to share with you the words to one of their songs. I know you're probably getting tired of all the poetry and lyrics, but anyway, here it goes.

Lost in You

Can I be dreaming once again?
I'm reaching, helpless I descend
You lead me deeper through this maze
I'm not afraid, I'm

Lost in You
Everywhere I run
Everywhere I turn
I'm finding something new
Lost in You
Something I can't fight
I cannot escape
I could spend my life
Lost in You
Lost in You

Your whispers fill these empty halls
I'm searching for You as You call
I'm bracing, chasing after You
I need You more, I'm

Lost in You
Everywhere I run
Everywhere I turn
I'm finding something new
Lost in You
Something I can't fight
I cannot escape
I could spend my life
Lost in You

I can never be the same
It's something that I never could erase
I can never look away, I've
Lost myself in You
And it's all over now


There you have it. It's such a beautiful song...I hope you like the lyrics! Anyone heard it before?
Spend some time and lose yourself in Christ today!
Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

To Follow the Trend...

Hey guys,
Well, I tried to post something yesterday...but for some reason it didn't work. I don't know why...it was a really good post too. I'll try to rewrite it some other time, but since everyone else is giving random facts about themselves, I suppose I'll play along.

I have two dogs--a short, fat beagle named Bagel and a sharpei mix named Rogue (Rogue has lots of wrinkles and is very funny looking)

I have two cats--Newman, who is about fourteen years old and has a very strange personality, and Tiger, who is about five years old and is approximately 30 pounds!

I only have one sibling, my younger brother Daniel.

I have dark brown hair. It's long, perhaps halfway down my back.

I have blue eyes, and have never worn glasses or contacts.

My favorite soda--Cream Soda, all the way!!

My favorite food is spaghetti--oh, great, now I'm hungry...

I am a member of the Door Within Forum...I'm actually one of the moderators.

I am an avid reader of almost everything, especially fantasy, and I am currently writing two books.

I am currently reading Father of Dragons, by L.B. Graham. Anybody else read the Binding of the Blade series? Sad, but very, very good books.

I like to sit on the roof of my house and read.

I am currently sitting in my school's computer lab. The walls are painted blue, but you didn't really need to know that...

Ok, I think that's about it for now...I have to go to algebra class in about ten minutes...I don't really want to, but I must.
Goodbye for now,
Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

One More Thought

Alright, I know I'm posting twice in one day, but I didn't get to post on Easter. I saw this little skit thing at church that went to that "Arise, My Love" song, and I just really like the chorus, so I shall put it on here for all to see!

Arise, my love
Arise, my love
The grave no longer has a hold on You
No more death-sting
No more suffering
Arise
Arise

Think of it as the Father speaking to His Son... that is the way the song was written, I believe.
Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

Hey guys,
Just a quick post to say hi to everyone and update y'all about my writing. I'm in the library right now and couldn't resist the chance to check on everyone.
Spring break has been lovely, and I wrote alot. A whole lot. In fact, I stayed up until two in the morning the other night furiously rewriting the middle of my latest chapter. It turned out really well in the end though. However, the morning after that, yesterday morning, my dog, Rogue, had a seizure. It was really scary, but he is alright now. Please pray he doesn't have any more.
Anyway, I'm off to check the YCF blogs now!
See you all on Monday!
Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

Just to Let You Know...

Hello, dear friends of mine.
I just wanted to tell you guys that spring break starts tomorrow...which is good because I'll have time to write and bad because I won't have access to the Internet. That means no blogging and talking to my Internet family for a whole week! I am going to miss you all tremendously, and I promise I'll post the second I get back to school and the Internet.
Oh, one thing. I would ask you all to pray for me as I write this week. I'm drawing nearer to the end of my book, which means a lot of exciting and frightening writing sessions in the middle of the night. Just pray that God would guide me, as I will pray for you.
Much love and blessings,
Shelby Marie

The Wondrous Cross

Good day!
Sorry I haven't posted anything for awhile--I've been rather busy.
I bought the Narnia soundtrack yesterday! The music is absolutely beautiful. I can just lose myself in good music sometimes.
Anyway, I was in church on Sunday and we sang one of my favorite hymns--"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." I really, really like the words to that song and I wrote them down on the bulletin while we sang so that I could post them here.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain, I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were and offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Beautiful, is it not? The writer explains G0d's sacrifice so poetically...it just touches me.
What do you think? Do you have a favorite Christian song/hymn?
Just a thought,
Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

My March

Hey guys, guess what? It's March!!! I absolutely adore springtime...the weather is usually really nice and all the flowers are blooming again...it's like all of God's creation coming to life again. It reminds me of how He brings us to life when we submit ourselved to Him. Just a little something to think about. What season do you like the most?
March is going to be rather busy for me. My birthday is coming up, as well as my mother's. We shall be turning fourteen and thirty-eight, respectively. I will also be attending two school events this month. The ACSI Spelling Bee will be held this Friday, and I'm going to that. The ACSI Math Olympics comes sometime at the end of the month...I just found out yesterday that I'm going to that one too. Then, in the midst of all that, there is soccer practice four days a week, soccer games, and The Writer's Guild!!
However, if I am patient, I'll make it through, for spring break is also at the end of the month!! Huzzah! Vacation with my mom!! Peace and quiet and time to write!! Huzzah again!! What are you guys doing for spring break??
As for my verse of the week, I just wanted to say that I have finished memorizing the rest of the chapter. Check it out (Proverbs 3)---It's got a lot of cool stuff in it.
Well, there you have it. My March. What will yours be like?

Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

Thoughts at Random

Hello friends,
First off, I just finished reading The Restorer's Journey a few moments ago. It was really, really good, but to agree with Flinn, there should definitely be another one. When I go back to my mom's house tomorrow, I'll start reading it aloud to her and my brother. I've been thinking about how much I treasure that time...the three of us just feel so close when we're reading together. Most of the time we're in the car when I read aloud to them, but sometimes we curl up on the couch or on my mom's bed to read. It's a really neat feeling. When I'm reading to them, or Mom's reading to us, I can't help thinking how much I love them both, and how glad I am that God put me on this earth with them.
Secondly, I was just lying in bed the other night and I got to thinking about what it would be like for all of my Young Christian Force friends to meet...then I realized something. I will meet you someday. It may not be until we're all in Heaven together, but I will meet you. This may not sound like anything special to some of you, but it just hit me really hard. Now I look forward to that day more than ever. Once I realized that, this warm feeling curled in around me. It was reassuring, comforting, wonderful. I will see you all one day. I can't wait.
Well guys, thanks for listening to my random ramblings.

Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

Random News

Hello, everyone!
First of all, I want to welcome ***Flinn-fan-of-the-twins*** to the Young Christian Force! Yay, Flinn!!
Secondly, I would like to recommend that everyone try out the brand new Door Within Forum. However, if you haven't read the books...well, you may not want to join. Read the books, then join!!! Anyway, here's how you register: go to http://s1.zetaboards.com/TheDoorWithinForums/register/
The rest is self explanatory.
Lastly, there's a Writer's Guild meeting today! We're just going to have a free write, which is really good because I am at a slow point and need some time to sit down and work it out.
Well, now that I've given you all my random news tidbits...what's up with you guys? What's on your mind?

Write On!!!
Shelby Marie