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

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost...

This post is for the entire YCF to see should they want to, but I would mainly like to address Araken, Sapphira, Ian, Elliot, and Flinn.
First of all, it has been a year and four months since I last posted, and I will not blame any of you if you don't even bother to check my blog anymore. Even I would have given up on me by now. I am so very sorry that I've been gone this long. When I said I didn't know how long it would be until I got Internet again, I definitely wasn't expecting my absence to be this extended.
Secondly, I've looked around for the past few days, and I want to say that I am really, really proud of how far the YCF has come since I lost my Internet nearly a year and a half ago. So many members! We started out with just the six of us, and by the grace and blessing of our God, the Young Christian Force has caught and spread like a wildfire, just like we prayed it would in the very beginning. Thank you for being an example and letting your lights shine for Christ!
Finally...this past summer (July '09), we moved into a new house, and I now have full access to high speed Internet there. If you five are willing to accept me again, I would love to get re-involved in the YCF and have a chance to rebuild our friendships.
I love you all, and I have missed you more than I can say.
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

Prayer for the Summer

Hey guys, I am soooooo sorry I have been gone...again. I have been taking exams and will be finished with school on Friday. I will be scarce seen after that until I have my Internet back at my house....=( I will try to check the blog at the library, but I need you guys to pray that I get the Internet back soon.
What will I do without you guys? Pray for me again...I'll be finishing up my book during this time too. This is both ridiculously exciting and unbelievably scary at the same time...it has been a long but wonderful adventure.
As for the YCF...so many new members!! I must update my link list...
I will sign off for now...I'm going to go visit our new members' sites!
Write On!!!
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