Thursday, May 31, 2012

it's amazing...

What a little editing can do. :)



Before


After

These photographs are of my lovely friend Jana. Isn't she gorgeous? {And trust me, she's got that inner beauty thing going on as well.} It's been amazing getting to know her better during this past school year, and I greatly cherish her friendship. But I have to admit, it kind of scares me to think about the amount of frappes we consumed, and the amount of pictures we took together this year... It's quite terrifying, actually. :)

Anywho, I'm entering these photos in a photography contest Savannah Jean over at Fixed Focus Photography is hosting. It's a great contest, and any of you picture lovers should really go and check it out.

And Jana, it's been a joy getting to know you. I'm really glad that we started talking at photography judging two years ago.

Cameras make the world go 'round,

~ Abby


Sunday, May 27, 2012

of writing and obnoxiously colored pants {aka my summer so far}



This summer has been great this far. Earlier this week I went on a small shopping trip, and actually bought a bright red pair of pants. And a pair of cobalt blue ones. Yes, I have worn them out in public, but only to Walmart so far. {And let's face it, the people at Walmart aren't particularly known for their amazing fashion choices either, so I suppose I blended in.}But rest assured, the pants shall be worn proudly throughout this summer -- any weird looks I get will simply be a bonus. :P




One of my best friends got her license recently. So naturally I wrote her a cheesy congratulations-you-got-your-license-celebratory-poem, because that's what best friends do, right? Of course it is. The poem was about roses, ghosts, bacon, and a lot of other poetic stuff. It was a work of literary genius, if I do say so myself.

And speaking of writing, I actually finished my first short story this week. This past school year gave me a lot of opportunities to develop my writing style, and I've decided to continue writing creatively throughout this summer. I also have an ideas for a few other stories, one of which I may or may not attempt to turn into a novel. I suppose that remains to be seen.


I'm really enjoying this "beginning" of the summer. Being able to stay up until three or four in the morning,  {without having to worry about school the next day,} has been amazing. Spontaneous plans with friends are suddenly possible, instead of everyone having to pass because of homework. It's been quite lovely.

How's your beginning of summer going so far?

~ Abby



Sunday, May 20, 2012

the many sides of us

              
  This is a picture of my brother and I at King’s Island. This doesn’t actually have anything to do with what you’re about to read, but picture-less blog posts scare me. :P
I sat there on the cool metal bench, enjoying a short break from the sweltering August heat. I was at State Fair, and I was waiting for my name to be called for the next section of the competition. The supervisors had assigned us seats according to our skill level, which meant you (most likely) couldn’t sit with your friends. I ended up sitting next to a thin blond girl with glasses. She seemed quiet, and made no effort to begin a conversation.

I however, like to talk. (If you know me, you are probably very well aware of this.) So I made some lame comment about how hot it was. She nodded her agreement, and shot me a shy smile. I asked her what her name was, and how many years she had been competing; she said that her name was Hannah, and this was her first. Before long, she and I were chatting happily, and even giggling about a couple of boys in the next row over.

Hannah and I hung out together for the remainder of the competition, and even during the awards ceremony. At the end of the day she thanked me, and told me that she is usually “unbelievably shy” but I was easy to talk to.

Katie from Dramatic Rants of an Intellectual Teenager posted something a little while ago that reminded me of that day. She wrote about first impressions, and how they “suck eggs.” (She is of course 100% correct.) But her post really got me thinking about how others may view me, and about how I view others.

I mean, don’t we all have different sides? Every single person– no matter how confident they may be – is vulnerable in some way. The most “flawless” people have insecurities, and even the painfully shy become outgoing when they feel the freedom to be themselves. So how can we possibly judge people based on first impressions? You can’t truly evaluate someone’s character until you know them intrinsically – until you know their quirks, their faults, and what “makes them tick.” I think we often make assumptions about people’s character when, we are in fact, only seeing one “side” of their personality. This in turn greatly skews our perception of them, and we may judge them unfairly.

Which brings me to my own personal ponderings – who do people think I am? Honestly, you’d probably get different answers, depending on who you asked. Not because I am “different” around certain people, but because some know me better than others. Some would probably say that I’m thoughtful and mature; others would say that I’m pretty silly and crazy. Most would say that I have a good sense of humor and am smart. A lot of people, I feel, would be shocked to know the depth of my thoughts.  Many, (especially some adults,) don’t really take me seriously.

But if you were to ask me who I am, I would tell you this: I’m simply that girl you sometimes see practicing dance steps in the aisles at Wally World. I am the girl who likes to wear both sweats and dresses, depending on her mood. I’m the girl who stays up late eating oatmeal, and playing minecraft with her brother. I am the girl who, through all of life’s ups and downs, will love Jesus, and all He has given her – no matter what.

I am just a girl who is trying to live life passionately.

Who are you?

~ Abby






Wednesday, May 9, 2012

of summer

image courtesy of weheart it
I cannot wait for this summer.

I'm ready to exchange my well-worn jeans and chucks for shorts and flip flops. I long to be able to drive down the road with the windows rolled down and my sunglasses on, all the while singing along to my favorite songs. I'm duly prepared to spend my days reading, sipping lemonade, and soaking up the sunshine. {It will be such a difficult existence. ;)} 

And now, the end is in sight. I take my last two finals this week, {history and chemistry,} and then I shall be free. *Cue the hallelujah chorus*  :D

I have decided that this summer, I will enjoy every single moment; everything from those silly yet perfect moments with friends, to The-Week-of-No-Sleep. {a.k.a 4-H judging week.} At the beginning of this upcoming school year, I want to look back on this summer and be able to say that I made every moment count. I want to be able to say that I didn't let new experiences and opportunities pass me by, that I took a few chances and cherished every single God-given moment -- even the ones that might not exactly have been pleasant. I want to live life passionately.

So if things get a bit quiet around here at times, please understand it's because I am out enjoying this wonderful, beautiful life.

~ Abby