The 30 Day Challenge

So, it's the end of July already, and a new month is about to begin. And that means two things: I've been blogging for almost a month now *fanfare* and I'm about to start the 30 challenge. Yey! :D So you might be thinking, "Here goes Leigh Ann again, starting something that she probably won't finish". Well, this time this is gonna be different. If my best friend can do it, so can I! I'll be going online everyday for the month of August (alright, 30/31 isn't so bad) and I'm gonna be posting about whatever is assigned for that particular day. And because I'm nocturnal, I decided that I'm gonna do most of my posting AFTER midnight, that way I won't forget it.

Here's a summary of what you're gonna be hearing from me for the rest of the month:

Day 1: A Picture Of The City You Were Born In

Day 2: A Picture Of Your Favorite Animal

Day 3: A YouTube Video

Day 4: A Song You Want Played At Your Wedding

Day 5: Ideal Future Career

Day 6: Your Favorite Quote

Day 7: Your Favorite Food and Recipe 

Day 8: Picture Of The Last Place You Visited 

Day 9: A Photo I Took 

Day 10: A Silly Photo Of Me 

Day 11: Name Of Your Elementary School 

Day 12: A Photo Of Me Taken Recently 

Day 13: A List of All The Places You’ve Lived 

Day 14: Your Day, In Great Detail 

Day 15: A Picture Of You And Your Friends 

Day 16: Your Best Friend 

Day 17: A Hobby Of Yours 

Day 18: A Place You’ve Never Visited But Want To 

Day 19: A Picture Of You When You're A Baby 

Day 20: You Goals For This Month 

Day 21: A Place You See Yourself In 5 Years 

Day 22: What Would I Find In My Bag 

Day 23: Favourite Baby Names 

Day 24: Your Personal Collection 

Day 25: Guilty Food Pleasure 

Day 26: Fictional Character You Admire 

Day 27: A Picture Of You And Your Family 

Day 28: A Picture Of What You Wore Today 

Day 29: Your Favorite Song 

Day 30: A Picture Of You From Last Year And Now. How much have you changed?

Of course I'm not limiting myself to just posting this challenge. I'll put in a few random posts here and there whenever I find the chance. Wish me luck! :D

Trending: #SomeoneLikeYou

I'm gonna try something new (again) here in this blog. So as I mentioned before in my Bible Challenge post (which I will try to continue later on), I attend a cluster group every Tuesday. Well, they also have a service for youths every Friday night called U-night. Every month, they have different series that has topics that vary from discipleship all the way to love and relationship. So I'm gonna start talking about what I learned and understood from these services. Here we go. :)

So for the month of July, the series was titled 'Trending' and each week featured a song that's popular nowadays. They were #BornThisWay by Lady Gaga (which I wasn't able to attend due to flooding near my place), #CallMeMaybe by Carly Rae Jepsen, and #SomeoneLikeYou by Adele. So I'm starting my blog off with the last segment of a series since I thought of this idea pretty late. Oh well, better late than never.

So the night started off with praise and worship as always, starting off with Go and Chosen Generation and ending with my favorite song, Unending Love. It felt really good to sing along to songs that I knew, and it really got me into the mood to listen. As we took our seats, the hosts mentioned that for some of the first timers there, they might be wondering 'Who is this God that they are worshiping?' and they cited a bible verse to answer just that. 

13Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"
14God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you say to the Israelites: 'I am has sent me to you.'"

Exodus 3:13-14

Then they had a short game with the audience. Some people came up on the stage to sing or dance to a few popular songs. After some time, the music team went back on stage to perform Someone Like You by Adele. 

One of the first things they mentioned was that 'Everyone is in a search to be complete.' I was completely stricken by that single phrase. That was exactly how I felt. I mean, I know that I'm incomplete. I needed someone to help me with that. So I was amazed that this was the topic. And this line sparked a new question that almost everyone has asked themselves at least once in their lives: 'Who will complete me?'

The bible passage that was read that night was the story of Adam and Eve, found in Genesis 2:18-22. As the first line said, God was to create a helper for man. At first, it may seem a little sexist to say that women are just helpers to man, it also shows that in fact, man need help. So if any women are out there reading this, feel complimented by it, not insulted. Notice also in this line, God said "I will make..." A question that may pop into ones mind is 'Why does God need to make again? How come God didn't create woman on the 6th day, along with man?' Well the answer to that is kind of simple. It's because God created man as complete. Everyone is already complete. It's just that it would be better if man had a companion, right?

The second part of the reading that they emphasized was that God put Adam into a 'deep sleep'. Well the obvious reason for God to do that was so that Adam wouldn't have a panic attack while his rib was being taken out of his body. I mean, who in their right mind would want to be awake while that was happening? Well certainly not me. But that's beside the point. The real reason was because during that time that Adam was asleep, God was creating Adam's love story. As they said that night, God is more excited for our love story than even we are. God puts us to sleep to get us ready for the one that is meant for us. So all the time we are spending waiting for the right one to come along can be likened to the time that Adam was asleep. "Relationships are best experienced when character is properly built." This line just means that a relationship will most likely fail unless both sides are ready. It's not about the right time or right person, but if both are ready. I mean, what's the use of finding the right person at the right time if you're not mature enough to handle a relationship?

"...Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."

Song of Solomon 8:4

Think of it this way. 1 x 1 = 1 right? That's a well known mathematical fact. But what's the use if your significant other is already complete (meaning that they have already built their character) if you aren't? 1 multiplied with any fraction is still a fraction, not a whole. To make a relationship work, both have to be ready. So there really is no reason to rush into things. It's better to just wait and see what God has in store for each and every one of us.

So what does this mean? This means that instead of what I've been doing this past year, I should just sit tight and wait. I know to myself that I'm not mature enough to be in a relationship again, so I'm just gonna wait until I am. And how are we to know when we're ready? Well, we'll know when we know it. It's just something that we'll feel eventually.

And to end this post, here's a verse that may help us know if we're complete already:

"and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."

Colossians 2:10

Life in our Laughs

Well here's a descriptive essay I made for my ENGLCOM class back in my third term. I feel like it can be improved upon, but I guess it's fine. Well, I hope you enjoy reading this. :)

My view faded in from black as I opened my eyes to find my mother gently shaking me awake. She unstrapped my seat belt and lifted me up out of the car seat and set me down onto the pavement, holding my hand as we sauntered towards the sound of children laughing and screaming in delight as they played. As we approached, structures of different shapes and sizes loomed over me, some smooth and straight while others with various loops and twists embedded in the figures. I stood in awe as I stared intently at the area that opened itself up before me. Suddenly, I felt a tug on my hand pulling me towards a cluster of picnic tables on a bed of grass. My mom placed her bag on top of a wooden table nearby and took out a pocketbook to read. She gestured that I was allowed to go back to the figures that had piqued my interest. I inched my way towards the group of structures, unsure of what they were for. Some children were flying through the air, only to come back down again. Others swiftly glided towards the earth at an alarming rate. I caught a glimpse of a few kids swinging from place to place, and a few others that stayed in one place but instead moved up and down. The amount of activity surrounding me was overwhelming, but I caught hold of myself. As I gazed at what lay before me, I saw scenes of my life flash before me. I saw everything that has happened and all that was yet to come, all within a blink of an eye. I saw my life through this playground.

Curious and excited, I strode towards a group of children nearby, hoping to learn more about the area I was entering. I saw shovels and pails of different shapes and sizes, some packed filled with sand. I took in a view filled with towers, castles, bridges, and moats, varying in complexity from a simple cylinder to a complex maze of figures. I seated myself next to an older child who obviously knew what he was doing and watched intently as he built more and more structures just out of sand. A shovel in one hand and a small bucket in the other, I observed how he came to create the various buildings that surrounded him. He packed down a pile of sand into his bucket and once he was satisfied by his work, he would tip the contents out, give his bucket a light tap, and lift it up to reveal something new. I figured that in this enclosed pen, nothing was impossible. You could create anything and everything, as long as you can picture it in your mind. The amount of ideas your imagination could come up with was practically limitless, and they all came from something unexpected – a pile of formless sand. I was in the sandbox, the place where all of my ideas begin.

I rose up and moved elsewhere, intrigued by what was causing the other children to run around when they could be sitting in the sandbox as well. I saw children flying up through the air, their hair flowing behind them as they moved. The chains supporting them were slightly rusted from old age, but otherwise stable. As one child went up, another came back down. Other children were already lined up, standing behind those in flight, ready to give them a boost back up. While some had helpers to go higher, others could support themselves. The ones that reached the highest point let out a squeal of delight as they descended back down. I waited my turn, and when I got on, a feeling of relief surged through my body. I felt the wind in my hair and the rush of the earth moving away from me. I reached the top and, for a split second, felt like I was at the top of the world. Then I came back down to earth, learning that even the most joyful moments of someone's life isn't for forever. The ups and downs of life started at the swings.

More kids were running around, and I looked over to see what all the fuss was about. A long line started forming at the base of the steps but the movement was constant. The children went up one after another and, after a few seconds, came running past to line up again. When I reached the head of the line, I cautiously climbed up. When I reached the top, I suddenly felt nervous. Before me was a steep slope of shiny metal gleaming in the sun. The kid behind me urged me to sit down and just go for it, but a part of me was hesitant to take the fall. Eventually, I gave in and took a seat. I let gravity pull me down and my breath be taken away from me. Within a few seconds, I had reached the bottom. I looked up and wondered what made me so worried when it was actually exciting. I learned to take the plunge and find risks worth making, like the choice to get on the slide.

A couple of older kids were rushing past, and I turned to see where they were headed. I saw a skeletal structure that was tall and wide. The coat of red paint was slightly peeling off, but the figure itself was smooth. I caught a glimpse of the older kids jumping up to reach the structure. When they got hold of it, they started swing their bodies forward and back. One of them suddenly let one of his hands let go of the bar, but instead of falling down, he grabbed hold of the bar in front. His legs dangled as he made an effort to keep his grip. The other one wasn't as strong. As she let go of the bar with one hand, she came plummeting down to the ground. She stood up and dusted herself off then walked back to the end where she jumped up again. She grabbed the bar and hoisted herself up again, and started swing like before. She gained momentum before she had the courage to let go and grab the next. She kept repeating this process until she reached the end. When she finally reached the end, she let out a sigh of relief and let go, a broad smile splashed on her face. Not everything in life is easy to get. Some might make you fall, but you just have to stand yourself back up and try again. The feeling of accomplishment you get when you attained your goal is overwhelming, like the first time you completed the monkey bars.

I turned around and found my mother waving, calling me towards her. I sprinted towards her and leaped into her arms. She gently lifted me up and carried me to the car. I felt my eyes get heavy as I sat in the car seat. Flashbacks of my day flooded my mind. I saw the sandbox and the ideas that seemed to form from nothing. I imagined the swings, the ups and downs of life, and the constant they had in common that was change. I pictured the slide and the plunge I took to realize what I was missing. I felt the pull of gravity on me as I swung on the monkey bars, reaching for my goals that were hard to achieve. I blinked and tugged on the seat belt. I shut the door behind me and walked around to the driver seat. I inserted the key, gave it a quick turn, and started the engine. I turned to look at the backseat and saw my child dozing soundly in her car seat. I smiled as I turned back to the front and drove off down the road back home.

LSS: This is what dreams are made of

Since I haven't blogged in a very long time, I guess I'm gonna start off again by making a new segment called Last Song Syndrome or LSS. I'll just make a review about a random song that's stuck in my head for no apparent reason.

So the other day, during our make up class for ENGLRES, I got really bored. As in REALLY bored. So I started singing, even though the professor was sitting at the front of the room. I think this song popped into my head because one of my classmates remembered it when she read the title of one of my posts, "What if?". I dunno how she thought of that, since it was kinda far from the song lyrics, but oh well.

This song is from one of my favorite movies when I was a kid, called the Lizzie McGuire Movie. It was about Lizzie going on a school trip and being mistaken for a local popstar that just dyed her hair. She went all over Italy, avoiding their strict teacher/chaperon, and with the help of her best friend, she managed to get away with it too. Near the end of the movie, there was a concert that she had to participate in, and this is the song that they had to sing. It's really catchy, but the lyrics are a little too kiddy-ish for my taste now. Before, I loved this song and I would sing it over and over again. Well now, I have LSS. Oh joy.

Well even though the lyrics are simple, it still has a nice message, unlike those "songs" that they play on the radio nowadays. Here they are: 

What Dreams are Made Of - Hillary Duff Lyrics

Have you ever seen such a beautiful night?

I could almost kiss the stars for shining so bright

When I see you smiling I go, oh, oh, oh

I would never want to miss this

'Cause in my heart I know what this is

Hey now, hey now

This is what dreams are made of

Hey now, hey now

This is what dreams are made of

I've got somewhere I belong

I've got somebody to love

This is what dreams are made of

This is what dreams are made of

Have you ever wondered what life is about?

You could search the world and never figure it out

You don't have to sail the oceans, no, no, no

Happiness is no mystery

It's here and now it's you and me, yeah

Hey now, hey now

This is what dreams are made of

Hey now, hey now

This is what dreams are made of

I've got somewhere I belong

I've got somebody to love

This is what dreams are made of

Open your eyes

(This is what dreams are made of)

Shout to the skies

(This is what dreams are made of)

When I see you smiling, I go, oh oh oh

Yesterday my life was duller

Now everything's technicolor

Hey now, hey now

This is what dreams are made of

Hey now, hey now

This is what dreams are made of

I've got somewhere I belong

I've got somebody to love

This is what dreams, dreams

This is what dreams are made of

(Hey now, hey now)

Hey now

This is what dreams

(Hey now, hey now)

(This is what dreams)

What dreams are made of

Bible Challenge: Day 1

This Monday, I had a one 2 one session that was about Bible and Prayer. Now you may be asking “What is one 2 one?” right now. Well it’s kind of like a bible study thing, but instead of being by groups, it’s just between two people, making it more intimate. One 2 one is like the basics when it comes to Christian living and stuff like that. It can be likened to arithmetic for math, or the alphabet for reading. So yeah, it’s the stepping stones towards a relationship with God.

With that cleared up, back to the bible and prayer. My cluster leader, who is also the one who is having one 2 one with me, challenged me to see if I could read the Bible every day for two weeks. It doesn't have to be a lot, but just enough for me to get used to it. They say that the Bible is God’s way to communicate with us, like prayer is for us. So the more you read it, the more you can learn and understand God. So here goes: Day 1.

Genesis 1:1 – 2:25

This is the creation story, one of the most well-known stories in the entire Bible. It starts off with the famous line “In the beginning…” emphasizing that God was already there before anything and everything. He created everything out of nothing. We created the earth, the seas, the skies, the ground, and everything around us. Look around you. There’s nothing that didn’t come from God. He is our creator. He even created us, human beings, and we should be blessed that God made us in His image.

Matthew 1:1 – 2:12

In align with the creation story in the Old Testament, Matthew starts off the New Testament with the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. From the very beginning, we could already see who the true worshippers of God were when the Magi went all that way to bring the child gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. It just goes to show that if you are really love God, you would do anything for Him.

Psalm 1:1-6

The main point that I got from this is that God will guide those that will do the right thing for Him. Plain and simple.

Proverbs 1:1-6

Before and After

I didn't go home for the weekends this week since I had so much to do. Community service orientation. Props making. College government pictorial. Sleepovers. Community service. Math and stat camp. Note card making. Pre-activity requirements. Eat. Sleep.

Yep, that was pretty much my entire weekend wrapped up in a nutshell. I don't understand why or how my schedule got this hectic, but this just means I need to manage my time better. I need to balance out my academics with my social life, Math Circle, CGS, Pump Up, and more. Oh joy.

Well anyways, I feel REALLY happy about I've done. I've been pretty productive these past few days (except for the fact that I haven't been able to work on my note cards a lot [I'll get to that later on today].) so I had some time to play around and goof off. I played some games when my friends came over to visit, and I even had time to browse YouTube for a while (which I rarely have time to do nowadays). But this Sunday, I decided to be more productive. So I cleaned up my condo. ^^

As you can see, my condo looked like a total pigsty. And I don't deny that. I mean, come on. It's obvious that a slob inhabits the place. So how did I get started? Simple. I threw everything on the floor and started sorting them all out. And no, I haven't started cleaning yet when I took the before picture. I may have gotten the sniffles because of all the dust in my condo, but I'd say that it was well worth it to finally see my floor once again. :')

Thinking

I haven't been able to blog in such a long time. My schedule's getting kinda hectic. Well I'm back and as nocturnal as ever, so here's another post! *fanfare*

Well earlier today, I was just browsing some videos on YouTube and I stumbled upon a new cover video by Alex Goot. He was covering the song "Good Time" by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen, which is a pretty catchy song by one of my favorite bands. Alex's performance was spectacular as always, giving a refreshing vibe to this upbeat song, but what caught my attention the most was the band playing along side him. So I clicked the link found on the video and found myself at the YouTube channel of a band from New York by the name of Against the Current.

I checked out what they had and saw that they haven't uploaded a lot, so I wasn't expecting much. But once I clicked their newest video, I was mind-blown. They sounded great! I was amazed by the fact that they aren't well known yet. You can even compare them to some famous bands out there (one of which would be Paramore, which also has a female lead vocalist). So I've been playing this song non-stop for the past hour now.

And for anyone that wants to just read the lyrics, I typed it up for you. I figured it was worth it, since the song's pretty catchy.

Thinking - Against the Current Lyrics

You took my hand and you never let go
Well I was so sure but now I just don't know
You've got me thinking
You've got me thinking about you

Because you
You played my heart
Took my love
Did you plan this from the start?

Chorus:
Stop!
Just take a while
I won't wait another night
For you to call
Cause lately I've been thinking
That these fights
They don't mean a thing to me
Who are you to be the
Judge of what I should be

And here we go yeah we're at it again
Wish I could say that we were more than friends
Cause I've been dreaming
I've been dreaming about you
[About you]

Because you
You played my heart
Took my love
Did you plan this from the start?

And if I could do it over again
I'd do anything to be yours in the end

Chorus (x2)

When I looked into your eyes
I saw what we should be
[Saw what we should be]
You may not care anymore
But you meant everything to me

Stop!
Just take a while
I won't wait another night
For you to call
Cause lately I've been thinking
These fights
They don't
Don't mean a thing to...

Chorus (2x)