Finishing My Narnia (part two)

Painting the ceiling was a challenge. Not only was I running low on paint, I failed to accurately estimate the amount of paint I should have on the brush at once. Needless to say, I ended up with paint dripping on my face, clothes and footstool.

In the end, however, the ceiling was defeated and the struggle turned out to be worth it.

A big part of this process was cleaning. See, I've accumulated a large amount of stuff. It used to be that when I outgrew something, I would get rid of it or pass it on to someone else. Over the past few years, I haven't outgrown anything, but I've continued to collect clothes, jewelry, books, and just plain stuff at about the same rate as I did when I would get rid of things on a semi-regular basis.

I'm also extremely sentimental. To a fault. I hoard keep things that, for a while, mean something to me. I then can't bear to part with these random things despite the lack of actual value those things hold. This results in pileups and boxes of junk. Well, not -all- of it is junk (or maybe that's the aforementioned sentimentality speaking), but most of it is. I don't need to keep every button, pin, hat, scarf, paper, or failed knitting project that I collect.

And so the purging began.

I learned to let things go. And it felt good. I got rid of the things I didn't need and I found place for things that I couldn't bear to let go of just yet. -Almost- being a Senior in high school got me thinking more and more about preparing to move out. Possibly as soon as next year (my future plans are still yet to be determined) I'll be choosing what things I 'need' and what things I can let go of.

Several garbage bags and a car-full of Goodwill donations later...

...I had my Narnia

I somehow managed to consolidate all of my musical memorabilia in one box ;)

My assistant's room was also cleaned during this process, and she asked if photo evidence could be posted 

The C-Word

Cancer is a scary thing. A very scary thing.

Cancer means hospital visits and more hospital visits and even more hospital visits.

Cancer means uncertainty. Uncertainty about the future or even uncertainty about day-to-day schedules. Plans can change at the drop of a hat.

Cancer affects everyone who knows the person. Regardless of how close you are, you still feel for the person and that person's family. When my grandpa got diagnosed with cancer this summer, it impacted my family, of course, but it also impacted the people my grandpa said hi to when he got fish every Friday. It impacted his neighbors, the people at church, and even the woman who works at the pharmacy counter at Wal-Mart. 

Phone calls and cookies and random favors don't make the cancer go away, but they bring people together in an effort to reach one common goal. Cancer and sickness give chances to show love and that's what helps form communities. Families grow closer, friendships are formed, renewed, and strengthened.

Cancer itself isn't a good thing. It's a terrible thing. But not everything that it brings about is bad.  

A Closet Of My Very Own - (part one)

'Hey Maddi, you know...if we can clean the school room and Grace's room, we could move the things from the closet outside the bathroom and you could have that as your closet.'

I've always loved, loved, loved closets. I've also always loved my room, but it has a glaring flaw. It lacked a closet. A small room-within-a-room that has the potential to double as Narnia, a spy-hideout, or a get-away from a difficult day. 

Out of the blue, here it was. The promise of my own Narnia. 

My 'I'm so glad to be done cleaning' face

 The previous owners of our house re-plastered various spots in this closet and I couldn't wait to cover it up after adding some plaster of my own

 (despite the...ahem...character that the wall added to the room)

                 

Note: That is -not- the carpet. It's one of our poor old tablecloths that has retired to a life of catching paint. It definitely got to do its job this past week.

My wonderful helper painting shelves with me while we waited for the first coat of the wall to dry.

Stay tuned for the nail-biting conclusion of my closet remodeling: 

'A Closet of My Very Own: The Wrath of Ceiling Paint'

Once Upon A Summer...

This Summer, I had some wonderful opportunities through Camp Phillip. 

I met people from all kinds of different backgrounds.

I climbed Bell Rock.

I saw the Grand Canyon.

I flew in an airplane. 

I lived in a trailer for a week, during which I went to the Black Market ;)

I helped to scare a dear friend by hiding a clown in aforementioned trailer bathroom.

I got proposed to by a kindergartner. (Technically, the puppet Prance the Unicorn got proposed to) 

I pranktexted.

I got to hang out with six of the most wonderful girls I've ever met.

My cabin won jump ropes in a rap battle.

And most importantly, I did none of these things by myself. God gave me some wonderful friends this Summer that I am so incredibly thankful for. 

Suicide And The Social Media

Robin William's suicide has left lots of 'The Genie is Free' and 'Finally at Peace' posts all over my Newsfeed. The problem with this is that they are usually accompanied by a slew of Suicide Awareness posts. The world seems pretty torn between the overglorification of suicide and the prevention of it. The media keeps spitting out conflicting messages about how we should be viewing suicide. Between trying to stop depression and trying to comfort the people who mourn the death of someone who committed suicide, it's easy to get confused.


Depression is a real thing. When news reporters sugarcoat suicide as a way to comfort mourners, they're just digging themselves into a hole that they later try to cover up by making their next news segment about suicide prevention and the dangers of depression.


Instead of telling people to be happy, news stations and websites could make active measures to make people happier. Eliminating the subtle (and not so subtle) use of pornographic images that warp the minds of little girls by telling them what they should strive for to become successful is one way to do this. The plots of TV shows aimed at pre-teens and teens don't have to all revolve around the need to have a boyfriend or girlfriend to validate oneself.


Now more than ever media influences not only kids but adults as well, whether they realize it or not. This influence eats away at people's self-image and self-worth. Focusing on the world and its desires and expectations is only going to end in feelings of failure. When suicide is viewed as a 'better place' or as a final peace from this world of high standards, what's the expected outcome supposed to be? Suicide rates go up after a celebrity kills themselves for a reason.


This isn't to say that the only reason for depression is because of media. Depression is a mental illness that requires help and support. But for someone who is depressed, opening their web browser and reading articles isn't going to help. Depression and self-doubt is a slippery slope that's worsened by the media. 


As a Christian, I believe that there is no happy ending for someone who actively takes their own life. I also believe that my worth and my hope comes not from the world, but from God and that gives me hope.  

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
                                                                                                   Luke 12:6-7 ESV