Life Is Good:)

It really is! Can't think of anything to complain about. Alright maybe I can, doesn't mean I should though, right?;) The things that I complain (mentally) about most are things that can easily be fixed by changing MY attitude or actions. Something I realize more & more, day by day. 

Looks so much better in person I swear.;)
Drawing took appr. a year to finish.

For instance I sometimes pout (mentally) that I don't draw as well as I like or as fast as I think I should. But you know whose fault that is? Mine! Why? Because, as Elizabeth Bennett would put it, "I have not taken the time to practice." I don't draw NEAR as often as I should. I am terrible about getting inspired by something & throwing myself at the project whole-heartedly. But just when it seems to take too long I get depressed & usually let the project sit for weeks, months even, without any progress. And even when the project is done(eventually) & I'm quite satisfied, sometimes even ecstatic, I still seem to never learn. In fact I just did it the other day.:p

Almost nothing was better than Mario games when I was growing up.:)
Was so fun to draw!
Nonetheless, this one took me almost a year too.

What you see above is pretty much all I have drawn since July. There's at least one more maybe two, but I think that's all. 

By this time next year, I want to have twice this amount of drawings. Actually, four or five times more would be nice, but I'm trying to be realistic with myself.;)

How every perfectionist views his/her work.;)

God bless,

Alissa

P.S. I just saw that this is my 150th post. Time sure goes by fast!

I remember it well

Tomorrow is April 27. A year ago from tomorrow is a day I will remember forever.

Waking up to house with no power, unaware that a tornado had touched down merely a mile away. 

Seeing the damage that was far too close to home.

Walking into a packed McDonald's several miles from because it was one of the closest places with power.

Hearing from the workers that more storms were headed our way. 

Packing the usual valuables & necessary just-in-case items for the basement, once we arrived home.

Getting the call from my brother, who was at work, that a tornado had touched down in Tuscaloosa, was ripping it apart, & that we needed to get in a safe place as soon as possible.

Throwing valuables & clothes in laundry baskets like there was no tomorrow & praying for all those in the tornado's violent path.

Noticing that even the insects in the basement seemed to be trying to find a hiding place.

Watching our dog stare at the sky & whimper & not seeming to notice any of us (very unlike him).

Singing an intentionally poor version of "T'ill the Storm Passes Over" to try & lighten our moods.

Hearing that the storm had indeed passed us by. But was headed for Dad & our brother, & praying for them like crazy.

Getting the news that both of them were ok, even though it got very close to my brother.

Of course there is more to my story than a few sentences, but I don't feel the need to write it all here. This is just my way of remembering the day that changed the lives of so many. You can still see the damage in places like Tuscaloosa & Pleasant Grove & whenever I drive through I am reminded that even though many people died that God was merciful to those he spared and faithful to those who survived.

A cross made from scrap metal from the wreckage pf April 27th

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23

God bless,

Alissa

One of These Days...

...No one is going to believe me when I say that I'm going to start posting more often. And I have proven that there is no reason to assume otherwise, even after I say I will over & over again. BUT if at first you don't succeed...


Anyway, I haven't done any book reviews in a long time so I thought I would share a few of the many books I have read since my last review.

One Tuesday Morning

On the morning of September 11, 2001, two men meet in a smoky stairwell of the World Trade Center. Only one will leave the building alive--and will unknowingly assume the other man's life.

4 out of 5 stars

This book had me in tears more than once. The only thing that I thought might make this book better was if Karen Kingsbury didn't make it so obvious which man actually survived. But if she did it that way, I might not have been able to emotionally handle it.:P

Central Park

Ethan Summers captivates Francine's youthful heart. Drawn together by a love of learning, they become friends. But Francine dreams that Ethan will return her love. When the beautiful Lylleth appears, Francine is dismayed that Ethan falls under her spell.

When a wealthy man comes calling, Francine recognizes his lack of morals and rejects him. Pressured by her uncle to accept such a fortuitous match, Francine cries out to God. Will she marry someone she doesn't love? Will Ethan discover what true love is in time to intervene?

3 out of 5 stars

This book is based on Jane Austen's classic Mansfield Park(still waiting for a really good movie adaption btw:). It was a fun read & I'm sure it will help me understand the real novel itself(when I get around to reading it, that is), but there's nothing that makes this book special to me.

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall

Pampered Margaret Macy flees London in disguise to escape pressure to marry a dishonorable man. With no money and nowhere else to go, she takes a position as a housemaid in the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, a suitor she once rejected in hopes of winning his dashing brother. Praying no one will recognize her, Margaret fumbles through the first real work of her life. If she can last until her next birthday, she will gain an inheritance from a spinster aunt—and sweet independence. But can she remain hidden as a servant even when prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall?

Observing both brothers as an "invisible" servant, Margaret learns she may have misjudged Nathaniel. Is it too late to rekindle his admiration? And when one of the family is nearly killed, Margaret alone discovers who was responsible. Should she come forward, even at the risk of her reputation and perhaps her life? And can she avoid an obvious trap meant to force her from hiding?

On her journey from wellborn lady to servant to uncertain future, Margaret must learn to look past appearances and find the true meaning of "serve one another in love."

4 out of 5 stars

I have been a fan of Julie Klassen ever since I read the Apothecary's Daughter(which is still by FAR my fave:) & I was not disappointed with her latest work. Devoured it in a couple of days.:)

Silk

India's northern frontier, an exotic land of tropical beauty and majestic wildlife, and one young British woman's quest to find a missing boy. The first in the Heart for India series.

4 out of 5 stars

 This is the first book in a trilogy, of which I'm reading the second one right now. One thing I don't like is that the book goes through a period of several years, and that always depresses me(don't ask why because I don't think I could even explain).  But just because it depresses me doesn't mean I didn't love, most(if not all) of my favorite books depress me. Especially when I finish them...

Oh. And one more thing. I LOVE JACE BUCKLEY!;)

If anyone has read any of these books I would be more than happy to discuss them. I'm a lot better at discussion than actually reviewing.:)

EDIT: Even with all these updates to Blogger it still hates me & wants my posts to look like garbage.:(

Hi there! Just thought I would check in to let everyone know that I'm still alive.:) So what's new? Let's see...

I'VE READ...

Karen Kingsbury. I am starting to get addicted here.:) Just recently finished Unlocked and I LOVED it! Even made me cry a little. Not easy for a book to do.

I'VE WATCHED...

Speaking of things that make me cry. Oh my goodness. It would probably be easier to tell you what parts I didn't cry in.:p All I did was take five minute breaks between crying sessions.

I will also say this. Sherwood is getting better with each movi

e. I thought that Fireproof was some sort of a fluke. You know, they would make one good movie & the rest will go return to the same level as Facing the Giants or even worse Flywheel *gags*. I apologize to any Flywheel fans out there, but sitting through that movie is a torture session for me.;)

TRYING TO REMEMBER...

To pray without ceasing and to remember to be patient. I will admit that for me it's HARD. Sometimes I just can't seem to grasp that some situations do not require my interference and to let God work.

EXCITED ABOUT...

It's BASEBALL SEASON, PEOPLE!:D. I'm little excited if you didn't notice.;) As you all know I love football. Football is, & probably always will be, my favorite sport. BUT baseball is great too! And the great thing about baseball is that it doesn't cost a small fortune for our whole family(at least the ones who will) to attend.:) Hopefully I will spend my next few months attending several games, having a ton of doing ridiculous things(me & my sister just aren't the same people when we're in Tuscaloosa;), & stalking UA celebrities.:)

Something else you might notice is that I've changed the name of my blog (again). Same address though. Don't want to confuse people TOO much.:)

God bless!

~Alissa

YES!!!!!

Yes, I know I'm late but I've been busy...alright, no I haven't. I've just been negligent.;)

The game was EPIC.:D No it wasn't the close game that it was last time, but until the last few minutes it was POSSIBLE for LSU to come back and win. Not probable but still possible.;)

This season has been the craziest I have ever seen. 2011 has been the year of the kicker. So MANY missed field goals when the game has been on the line.

I will be honest here. I am a Tennessee fan first and foremost, BUT I love Alabama too and this year I wanted them to win the championship SO bad. With all that has happened to Alabama this year I felt that they deserved it most.:) Not to mention that the idea of a rematch between two SEC teams in the BCS game appealed to me a great deal.;)

One of the things I look forward to of the NC game is seeing who they get to sing the national anthem. I can't seem to remember who they got last year, but in 2009 they got Josh Groban *sigh*;), and it remains my favorite rendition to this day.:) But this year. ....... what in the world.....who?....why?......could he have at least sang in his own key(not that that would've helped a whole lot)? Throwing your arms up into the air "dramatica

lly" is really not necessary.:/ All I hoped was that this was not an early sign of how the game was going to go.;)

Which it didn't, much to my delight.:D The Crimson Tide finished their season in flying colors.

The offense had improved considerably since last game, the defense too if it was possible.;) And such a minimum of mistakes on both sides of the ball for Bama. A stellar performance.:)

One of the best parts? Jeremy Shelley redeemed himself and could've arguably been MVP(no offence to Aj, was very proud of him too;)

I know there are probably some people who read my blog believe that I think of nothing but football 24/7. And looking at what has primarily dominated my blog the last year, I could see why. Let me assure you I don't.;) I do plan on blogging with more variety to my posts, the inspiration just doesn't seem to come at the right moments.:) We'll see.;) But for now...

Roll tide, roll!

Wishing everyone who reads this a

Merry Christmas!:)

John 1

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

...

¹⁴And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us

Call it what you will...

Destiny...

Fate...

Just meant to be...

It's set in stone. Alabama and LSU will meet again in New Orleans.

Sorry, OKState, but most people don't believe a team with a loss to a non-ranked team belongs in the Championship game.:/

If I thought last season was crazy, this season is even crazier. Missed field goals, major upsets by the no-one-would-have-even-considered underdog, and in Tennessee's case, simply the worst season EVER!:( But we're not talking about that! We're ignoring it!:/