Things Wonderful

So, it's finally time for a break! Not to sound self-important, but I believe it has been well-earned. And I'm already counting down--one month 'til Thanksgiving!!! (One month after that until Christmas!)

Free time is such a novelty now. It puts me in the writing mood, but as I really don't have much in particular to write about, I'll go for something kind of random.

There are some things that I would call my "Favorite Things"--such as Dr. Pepper, gummy bears, Disney movies and Pride and Prejudice, to name a few--but there are also certain things that I feel compelled to assign another category entirely. I'm not really sure how to explain the difference, because it's not necessarily just because they are my FAVORITE favorite things--although sometimes that's the case. I guess they are just simple, less specific things in life (for the most part) that I think are absolutely wonderful. In truly original fashion, I usually refer to them as "Things Wonderful ." (Because it sounds grander and yet more whimsical than "Wonderful Things." :P )

So, I've decided to put down as many of them as I can think of at the moment and make a list. (See, I like to make lists; but that is just one of my favorite things. You could hardly call a list a Thing Wonderful . ) Maybe sometime we'll talk about Favorite Things, too.

Here are a few, in no particular order:

Sunsets--none are ever the same! (I may or may not have spent a while going over sunset pictures...)

Handwritten Letters--especially because nobody ever writes them anymore!!! Well ...almost nobody... : )

Christmas! Need I say more? : )

Running Water--streams, waterfalls, lakes, oceans, you name it .

Books! Too bad they don't usually look like this anymore. Also, this library would be wonderful .

Snowflakes--they come rarely enough in Oklahoma, that's for sure.

Front Porch Swings--awesomely old-fashioned. Also implicative of bigger, old-style porches instead of
little-bitty concrete steps.

Music--a picture really can't convey anything, but oh well ...

Grand or Baby Grand Pianos--aaaaahhh!!! I want!!!

Violins/Violin Music--okay, so maybe these last two are a little specific. But they are that wonderful .

Fireplaces--so cozy. Especially for Christmas!

Trees--especially willows and oaks.

Bay Windows--they make an awesome, cozy place to read!



Bridges--I'm not even sure why, but there is 
just something wonderful about them.
Particularly when they look like this!

Sweethearts <3

(This one especially is pretty wonderful . )

Wind and Sky--both of which are highly available in Oklahoma, fortunately.

Puppies--soooo cute! (And it was really hard to pick just one puppy picture. )

For that matter, all baby animals are pretty wonderful ...like, say, a baby fox... ; )

Babies!!! :D  

Starlight--more of beauty in God's creation . : )

Poetry--Love! And this is possibly my favorite poem ever.

Soft Green Grass--okay, so it's evident that I think most of nature is wonderful . But pretty grass just makes me want to run around barefoot all day!

 Candlelight--goes great with carols!

Journals--similar to handwritten letters; I need to get into a better journaling habit, though, because I collect waaaaay too many of them ...

Flowers!!! --but ESPECIALLY roses.

Valentines--doesn't matter whether you're referring to the cards, the roses, or the sweethearts;
all of the above are wonderful.
(P.S. --I might have a real Valentine's Day!!!)

Rain and Thunderstorms--I LOVE rain. So much.
It makes me kind of crazy. Especially with thunder and lightning!!!

Springtime--if there is ever any magic in the world, it's during the spring. After all, spring usually brings other Things Wonderful such as rain and wind and flowers 

and sometimes even sweethearts. : ]

Well, that is all for now! Took me a lot longer than I thought it would, due to tracking down pictures on my less-than-stellar home internet. (No thanks to Shutterstock , which kept showing otherwise awesome pictures with words stamped across to copyright them . Ugh. ) And, it probably didn't take you a quarter of the time to read this that it took me to write it. :P

So, I hope you've enjoyed my whimsical thoughts of the weekend. Farewell until next time!

-Sarah

One Night of...Islam?

So, the other night, something very interesting took place in this dorm. The Sarah we all know and love was temporarily replaced by Islamic Sarah.
You guys remember that paper Sarah mentioned about the family's role in Islamic and Christian culture? Well, she decided she needed more...inspiration.
Exhibit A:

Please excuse me for a moment while I succumb to the fit of giggles.

Anyway, to further her inspiration, she began to attempt acts of "jihad" against me, her innocent roommate.

Honestly, I'm rather amazed that I'm here to tell you the tale. 

Exhibit B: the quotes.

"Jihad skills are like ninja skills, only better."

"Once I kill everyone who disagrees with me, there will be peace."

"No more Qur'an for you!"

"Christmas with the Qur'an!"

"Now our blog's gonna have a Muslim installment!"

"Everything needs a Muslim installment."

"When you're Muslim, everything's funny."

"Well, 72 virgins wouldn't really be of any use to you, so you might as well give it up!"

These are but a few of the fantastic things that were said that night. Islamic Sarah has yet to make a repeat appearance, but if she ever does, I'll be sure and let you know.

-Caroline

Code of Chivalry

I keep wanting to blog, but everything is so crazy!!! Tests and assignments favored last week, and this week we honors students have a rough draft of our final paper due—the topics for which have only recently been approved. (Mine involves Muslim and Christian families, but more on that later. After I get sources…and do some reading…and figure out what I’m talking about. You know, inconsequential stuff like that.) So, I will probably be relentlessly pushing onward in the library (or hopelessly procrastinating/listlessly despairing on Facebook; perhaps a fair measure of both, at intervals) throughout the week. However, if I can survive until Thursday at five o’ clock (give or take a half hour to come back from watching kids and email in the draft), I am basically free and shall be rewarded with a Friday night lecture by an author bound to enrich my life. (No sarcasm or bitterness here. That does seem negative…bless the author’s heart. There. Statement made positive, or at least neutralized.)

No, actually, though I will be present at said intriguing lecture, immediately afterward my reward and motivation for weeklong survival is a trip down to Texas with my sister, best friend and boy! More on that later, possibly; but for now, just know it involves the Texas State Fair during the OU-Texas game and a TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT!!! Between those two things, all readers ought to be made sufficiently jealous. (Too bad Caroline wasn’t in on the plans eight months ago. As it is, I’ll be getting her a T-shirt or something, like a good roommate.)

Having said all that about how I don’t have time to say much…

I just thought I’d share a quick something. Since both authors of this blog are females in their “almost twenties,” we tend to do a little dreaming about the future, and this often focuses on the person with whom we will spend our lives. Whether or not you use the cliché term of “knight in shining armor,” I think just about every girl dreams about what that person ought to be, and how they might arrive. (Yay romance!!!) What with Caroline’s last few blog posts, and my recent viewing of “Courageous” (incredible movie—watch it!), the subject has been brought to my mind of late.

I was reading through some old poems and writings, and I came across the one below. The idea for this actually came from a history lesson. We were learning about medieval knights—perfect topic! (When you can forget about the pervasive battles, ignorance and general lack of hygiene of the time period, it sounds almost like the Disney fairy tales, right?) To be a knight, a man must adhere to a pledge that was known as the “Code of Chivalry.” (*cleverly works in “Blog/Poem Title”*) First, he had to swear complete loyalty to the lord of his castle, no matter what. (This was important, because the serfs worked for the lord in return for his knights’ protection.) He must be completely honest and trustworthy, and brave and courageous enough to defend those under his protection—the policeman, if you will, of the medieval feudal system. Once a knight committed to any battle, he was to pursue victory unto the death. In short, the knights were the ones depended upon to stand for truth, right, and justice. This was chivalry.

Of course, this made me think of the knight in shining armor that girls are supposed to be looking for! So, here is the Code of Chivalry prescribed by a fifteen-year-old for her future knight. (And still required by that same almost-twenty-year-old girl.) Just thought some of you might find interest enough for me to share it. :)

Code of Chivalry

They all say some fine prince will come

From some far-off and happy land;

They say he’ll sweep me off my feet—

He’ll steal my love and win my hand.

            This is what they say he’ll do,

            But I can only hope it’s true—

For if this knight in armor bright

Would wish to prove himself to me,

No less will do than standing true

By all knights’ Code of Chivalry.

            In him must be each worthy thing,

            For I’m a daughter of the King.

A knight, we know, must always show

A fierce devotion to his Lord—

To serve His Name his chiefest aim,

To bring Him honor by his sword.

            If he can’t serve his Master best,

            Then he’s already failed the test.

He must take care, that when he swears

To do a deed, to see it through

He’s honest so that all may know

That what he says he will, he’ll do.

            He must win all my trust before

            He’ll find a path to something more.

When trouble’s near, through doubt and fear,

My knight must stand courageously;

Through fiercest fight, and darkest night,

I must be sure he’ll shelter me.

            He must be strong, and lead the way,
            Regardless of the price to pay.

When in his life he meets with strife

He must fight back unto the death,

At all times seek to help the weak,

To fight for right with ev’ry breath;

            To maintain justice in the land—

            A man like this might win my hand!

One such as he my knight must be;

Though these demands, perhaps, seem grim,

I think, at need, he could succeed—

If I were worth that much to him.

            This is my code; now you may start,

            And may the best man win—my heart.

-Sarah