"And we'll make our way back home; For the King is still on the throne!"

The Lyrics In The Title Came From...

Well, I have been away of late for a while, eh? Well, I don't really have an excuse for it, but I do have a reason... Been depressed for a bit. I allowed my past to kinda control my decisions. But I'm rising up again now.

A Ragamuffin Saint

So, lately it has been a difficult time, been feeling as though I am rotting away. It's weird, but I have pulled the response of the Israelites wishing they had died in Egypt or remained slaves... Whine, whine, whine, grumble and complain... I am certain that I very often make God as sickened from my dizzying mood swings and waywardness as much as I am certain I sicken myself, my family and friends...Sometimes I wonder very often if I am too much of a handful for my family and friends... I am certain that I am too much of a handful for myself... but I am just glad I am not too much for God!

God certainly hasn't given up on me, and for that I am very grateful. He's constantly calling out for me. Through the things I read, watch, write, and listen to. So I will not give up on myself anymore... Starting to pick back up the pieces of my shattered hopes and dreams and give them up to God once more... I now know that in believing in Christ's love, mercy and grace, that it isn't like how I thought it was... I don't say, "Jesus, come into my heart. Amen." and then suddenly have a holy upward spiral of success in the faith... It's not about having faith in Christ then you are magically and completely converted that moment and no longer have struggles with the same darned sin... It's about having faith in Christ and the continuous transformation and growth in faith. Being framed and reframed and reframed again until we come to Heaven. When we die and go up into paradise, that's when we our transformation will completed. As long as we breathe in this world, we will always be growing, we never stop!

Stuff that is happening....

I've been writing a lot lately... Of Love and Courage is somewhat popular amongst my fans and followers on Wattpad... I dunno if it really is that great, but many folks think it is... So, here you can be the judge of it.

I've also decided to be selling my service as a digital artist on fiverr! I'm hoping it will be a success... Today, I just started listening to Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning! It is good so far from what I have heard. It has a radical and earth-shattering message in it. So far, I'd say it is a good read and suggest it to others!

Conclusion

I'm trying to figure things out in my faith. Still trying to know where I stand. According to my parents, I will be trying to do this for a while... I am in the process of taking my faith as my own, still and so I am testing the waters. Prayers during this time, my brothers and sisters in Christ, would be much needed and appreciated... So, I'mma leave you with this question [one I will be pondering myself as well...] Do you believe that Jesus loves you? I mean really truly unconditionally... Do you live your life as if Jesus loves you no matter what you do, how you feel, where you're at etc.? Think on that and God bless you all;

Knocked Down? Then Get up!

“If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good.”  

~Thomas J. Watson Jr.~

Whoa... I started this post in March! A lot has happened since then... what used to be telling you about cleaning my room, switching wattpad and facebook accounts has turned into MOVING TO ANOTHER HOUSE!!!! I am struggling to keep up with several projects at one time...packing, organizing, writing for 2 challenges(had to drop one though) and a novel to boot! I have a new Wattpad account that I named this blog after:



Also, I'm bringing my ministry back up! I have been scared, however.... What with my Gramma throwing up blood a couple of weeks ago... the Boston bombs.... and an irrational fear of Truth....I know I need to "put on my big-girl pants" (as a very firm friend has been constantly telling me) and do what's right because sitting on the fence is becoming too cowardly.... I have been falling away from the Word.... and I have been too scared to reach out for God.... I know of all things I could be doing....internet isn't the best thing for me.... but I don't want to get out.... Prayer would be much appreciated....


I'm at a standstill with my Scripture, homeschool,  and guitar, (the solutions I've come up with are getting back into the word homeschool co-ops, and getting back into guitar...) Writing's a great struggle...I'm beginning to wonder if I'm made for this at all.... Beads are just non-existent....but I am collecting bottles....how great, huh?

My loverly bottle collection...... xD

In Christ Alone,
Ari

P.S. How do you like my new template?

“Lily, do you know where Joyce is?” “STOP!” “Oh my word! I almost stepped on her!”

Sorry for not updating since New Year's. Stress started piling up(mostly from SAD and family issues), but I am finally coming to a form of stability and am able to manage and maintain a certain peace now... So, I'm updating this after a long time and first I'm going to talk about the 9th-12th days of Christmas, cuz I left off at 8th!

Ninth Day of Christmas Gifts:

• Me: eyeglass holder
• Aneira: hairbows
• Aric: certificate of aversion(one days of not doing dishes... xP)

Tenth Day of Christmas Gifts

• Me: earbuds
• Aneira: necklace
• Aric: homemade coupon(allows him to have his XBOX time all night starting at 8pm)

Eleventh Day of Christmas Gifts:

• Aric: homemade coupon(treated to soda)
• Me: purple magnetic bracelet/necklace 
• Aneira deck of playing cards(snowman shaped)

Twelfth Day of Christmas Gifts:

• Me: headband
• Aneira: little Hello Kitty tin(with candy)

   
Oh kark....it's been quite the ride this month! So, where do I start? Guess I'll start at....

 

Rearranging?

I have been secluded in a cramped corner for far too long.....my bunk bed blocks the view of the door...making this bedroom to be a spiritual, emotional, and mental death trap! And so in steps we want the room to wind up like this:

• Bunk bed torn down, and rebuilt to be up against the wall
• My dresser elsewhere
• My pc shoved where my dresser is(it's a more open corner, not at private)
• Lego table in the middle of the room
• drawers shelves lessened, two for me sis, three for me....(arranged artistically)

 

Getting a Life!

Scripture: I am into the word more times than I have ever been, even through the times from June to December! 2013 is a new year, not only time wise, but spiritually! Yes, I have made major mistakes this year, that I regret sincerely, but when you think about it....those mistakes brought me closer to God, intensified the longing for God! I have been reading Jesus Calling By: Sarah Young in the morning(been like an adventure in each daily devotional....every devo seems to be specific for that day! IT'S AMAZING!), I read(past tense) a chapter in the book of Galatians each afternoon and am in the midst of memorizing Psalm 23....

Homeschool/College?: Yup, still in high school, asked mum if she could help me with my homeschool more often than she has.... Apparently, I learn better with a compilation of physical examples and hearing the voice of the teacher xP I asked her to give me creative writing assignments, since we cannot afford writer's classes elsewhere! Daddy suggested that I major in hairdressing at Regency Beauty Institute.... and maybe after that, I can aim for an associates' degree in English/Creative Writing and Music maybe in Converse....

Guitar: Still worth the $100, I have been spending more time on Aislin than ever! Maybe still not as much as I should but, alright... I understand the chords, I understand the guitar, Aislin is like the other piece of my heart the dream I couldn't find--until now!I have major plans for my music! I definitely plan to at least go to converse the go for a 2-year scholarship with it! (\0v0/) LET'S GO! 15 minutes a day to practice Aislin and get to know my baby! <33

Writing: Wow.... since January 20th, I barely had any distractions from TWA.... I'm still writing it, apparently, I'm on Chapter Four, now! Whoooaa...... 45 pages on google docs now! The story is unfolding well, also am outlining each chapter as I go along! Doing commitment training from Jan. 20th-Feb 19th! Wrote around about 9k in the story from Jan 20th to the present.... the first couple of commitments 3k by the 23rd and 7k by 27th(else I'd have been doing Aric's dishes and mum's clothes) was done by the 22nd and then I was to have 10k by the 28th, 12k by Feb 1st and 14k by Feb 3rd(else I'd be rendering-actually, have rendered dark music-- Writing 1500 words in my late short story, iShrunk, and vacuuming my Gramma's house!) No more commitments like that for quite sometime, siiiigh.... Here's a snippet of iShrunk to get ya guys interested:


Lillian carried Joyce into the room and allowed her to go on the floor. Joyce’s cheek blushed red.

“Hi, I am Joyce,” she waved to the couple who beamed at her.

“I am Jonathan Amos, and this is my wife, Nancy,” Mr. Amos knelt before her, and extended his index finger, “How do you do?”

Joyce took it and shook it.

“Now, I hear you’re an adventurous little girl!” Mr. Amos scooped her up in his hands and placed her on the arm of the couch.

“Yeah,” Joyce stared warily at Mr. Amos.

“I used to be the same way, attack a snake and kill it, and I felt like a hero!” he flexed what little muscle he had, bringing laughter to Joyce’s eyes.

“Oh, Jon! Don’t fill silly ideas into the girls head!” Nancy hit his arm playfully.

Mr. Amos leaned over and whispered in Joyce’s ear, “Even if she won’t admit it, she fell in love with me after I saved her from a rattlesnake.”

Joyce giggled at Mr. Amos.

“I know what you’re telling her, Jon! The rattlesnake wasn’t even attacking!” Mrs. Amos laughed.

“May I correct you on one thing when the head is reared up, it’s preparing to attack! You had invaded its space too much!” Mr. Amos nudged his wife’s arm.

Joyce giggled, “I think we’re gonna get along perfectly!”

“That’s good,” Marian smiled, as though she was glad for Joyce’s first major triumph in life.

Beads: I began this small, and will be starting officially(hopefully) in March or April! I think I have the talent! xD I can start w/ kid's jewelry then work my way up to paper beads then a little more up to metal and wooden beads!

Blog: I am going back to being the Nutty Sundae.... it seems for too long I was trying to be someone else.... I liked being the nutty sundae, it seemed more honest so THERE! Goodbye Celtic stuff haha! xD

~Mari J. Fahel w/ her Nutty Sundae and Platypus named Cuddles!

P.S. This explains my entire January:

Open 'Em Eyes to Love!

An update on how everything is going should really please my audience. It's like I let you guys know what things I plan to do in the present to look on the future with expectation, then all of a sudden I disappear off the face of the world of Imagine Nation! Well, I have returned with a very intense drone on what it's been like since November 1st.

Scripture: I have been going intense on my scripture reading. My partner in that had sort of released me to make my own way through the Word. I have officially read through 1 Peter, James, 1 John, Ephesians, Matthew, Ruth, and Zephaniah. I have only just begun the book of Acts and soon will go to the book of Esther. At this rate, my heart shall be more prepared for the book of Revelation sooner than I had expected!

Homeschool: It is almost the end of December, and I am no further along in my studies than I was in November. I personally have come to the realization that I might be here longer than I really wanted. Don't get me wrong, homeschool's great! And the name we picked for ours is epic (Entmoot Academy)! But, even though I shall be a tad disappointed in leaving a school with such a cool name, I really want to move forward in my education! I want to go to college! I would go to Converse, but I'm considering more into colleges out of state. There may be more suitable colleges for the direction I wish to take than Converse. We will see, but before that happens, I'll have to finish up my studies in my senior year of high school.

Guitar: We have come to the decision that it is worth the $100 I put into it. I have the talent, I have the ear for it, and I believe I have the passion for it -- it just hides in the shadows right now -- I need to put more time into practicing this instrument! I'm hoping that I'll become as good as my biological father. He has great talent in the area of music, he can listen to a song (and without any notes) play what he has heard! Isn't that amazing?

Writing: I have started and stopped writing several stories since the time I last posted. But, I shall only inform you of the one I am writing now. I am writing a novel titled The Witches' Assassin, (go to the link for more information!) Also, I have written many poems on other blogs Inklings - Songs from the Heart and Healing a Shattered Heart - To the Shattered Hearts. I hope you like what I wrote!

Beads: So far, I haven't been able to commit to beadsmithing. I don't seem to ever have enough money after I get what I need and then maybe a couple things I want. To tell you the truth, guys, jewelry-making is one expensive craft, as are all crafts it seems.... **sarcasm** Maybe I oughta go and find a blacksmith to tutor me in his ways of the mighty forge! That probably won't be as expensive as beadsmithing......yeah right!

Also, if you could, my dear readers, pray for a couple of my dearest friends? My most beloved sister, Savannah is going through a rough time, spiritually. Please pray that she will find her way back to Christ! My brother of the Gaels, Eli is struggling emotionally. Please pray that he will find his comfort in Christ! My sister of the kittens is coming down with the flu, she assumes, and her mother has it, too. Pray that they may find their healing in Christ! Then, lastly, I am in middle of this, my heart is reaching out to them, but I am afraid that I may take it too far and be overwhelmed with the trials of my friends. Pray that I will find my self-control and wisdom in Christ!

I have been listening to plenty of uplifting music tonight. Far different from the music I was listening to this morning. And I came across one that has touched my heart. This is dedicated to my most beloved sister, and my brother of the Gaels!





Also, today was the lamest apocalypse ever! It only turned out to be the Friday before Christmas! Which some may say is rather close... I almost died of boredom, so I have survived the great destruction of the world for the second time! Remember when 2000 was to be the end of the world? Only because they believed that when the calendar was changed to '00, all the electricity would shut off, and then we -- the people who now depend on electricity-- would die because we wouldn't even be able to use the cars! Everything would be like it was in the 1900's and we'd suffer a death without internet, computers, cars, cell phones, etc. But, oh God forbid we lose the niceties of electricity! We'd suffer a cruel and agonizing death without the oh-so-mighty-electricity! Oh no! How have we survived as a species without the oh-so-mighty-electricity? Sorry, I couldn't resist.... GET A LIFE PEOPLE! (Like I should talk, I'm addicted to the niceties of electricity myself, and I've never even camped away from the electric way of life in my pitiful existence!)

Anywayz! May God bless you this Christmas season with joy, peace, and love, as you remember the first coming of His son, and then look to his second coming!

Lost in the world of thought,
Arianna Schaffer

Heyo, peeps!

"Oh ho ho... brilliant! It's you! You're my favorite, you are. You are the best. You know why? 'Cause you're so thick! You're Mr. Thick Thick Thickety Thickface from Thicktown. Thickania! ... And so's your dad." ~The Doctor~

Hey, guys! Life has been really a struggle! I have a lot of stuff to do-- that being (from priority 1 and on):

1. Scripture!!! I've been getting into the Word of God for a couple of weeks with a great friend, and it's been a wonderful journey, taking me in and out of the fields of gold and to send me on my way to fight for my faith. It is an amazing battle that has changed the way I think and the way I act. I have never known strength like this. Thanks be to God, Alleluia!!!!

2. Homework! Whoa!!!! Lots of homework in so little time! A years worth of schoolwork (in each subject) to do in two months--aye that's what I said: TWO MONTHS!!!!!!! I am getting help from another good friend and promised my mother that I would get at the very least half of my schoolwork done by the end of December--and then continue on January. Yet, I am aiming to get as much done as I possibly can, if I am not able to finish, let's just say I sure will be homeschooled still when I'm 20-- I guess that's okay, someone I highly respect finished school at that age, so I'm not alone!

3. Guitar! You know after December, that's when we'll see if it is worth all the $100 to learn guitar!!! Yeah, I'm not sure it's worth it, cuz I am unable to practice the simple G scale and G Major chords and all the toughening of my fingers are going sooo slowly!!! But, hey! I'll get this, it's in my blood, right? Thank God for a musical family!

4. Writing!!! Yeah, I lost my motivation to write, it is sad but I find no joy in it anymore, but now that a few bad things have been happening I will express them through my writings and make sure that I get out of this deep dark pit of sorrow and remain out of it by Christ's power. I am writing a story in a series called "Disciples Saga". It's about a trio of teens who go into a world through a mural, painted directly on an artist's wall. The trio are Elijah Jonathan "Jack" Kings, Patrick D. Chmakova, Joyce Olivia Kings. And in the story they go to the land of Fragathia-- which is where their lives are changed forever. I'm also thinking about paying to go to an online course for writers but-- heh... that is a last priority.

5. Beads!!!! Yeah, I'm becoming a beadsmith! Making Gaelic jewelry with beautiful beads of knotwork! Then I might get to do something epic and I'll be sure to show a few of my friends the picture of this, if they really want to know and see afterward haha!

So far, I've made a little bit of progress on each of these and it's making me kinda nervous, what if I don't cut it in some of the things I'm aiming for? Let's not try and worry about it. But, be praying for me and I shall do my best in each and every one of them!!!! Even my hat collecting is at a standstill I truly miss collecting hats, but I don't have the time nor the money to do that.

Lost in the world of thought,
Arianna (Mari) Joy

Drop your weapons! Cuz I've got the dreaded pen!

Hey, guys! I just want to introduce myself.... I am Mari Fahel the Child of the Ocean and of the Gaelic Chorus of Thunder!  I am 18.... Might as well say I'm 19 since in 20 days I'll be that age! I'm a Nutty Sundae and my marbles belong on the floor of my mind for me to trip over and lose all the time! My weapon of choice is a pen for the words that are written are stronger than any blade or firearm! I'm a goof-off so if you just want a sane conversation I'm not the person for the job lolz! But if you want a seriously deep theological discussion and not an argument you've come to the right person! I try to get you thinking when answering questions with another question. I hope we can get along and try to be nice about these discussions!

I write books, hence the pen being my choice of weapon. I write strong meaningful stories that I hope would spark an interest.... Sure I don't describe things well but that's what you guys are here for, right? Critique me! I can handle it and I'll try to get better in it just for One Almighty God! Though he hasn't put the cherry on top of my sundae.... remember my nuts will last an eternity!

I've been trying to write in the Forgiver's Promise.... Stress has made it hard to sit down and think about the words to use. So, help me! Give me advice I need to move this along! <3

Preferring to look insane,
Mari J. Fahel

P.S. Remember one thing.... I'm never going to be like the 'sane' people... cuz I am mad for the One who was madly in love with me! So much so that He died for me! <3