Got to see this

All right people, I stole this link from Lindsey. Go here to see Ryan giving his declamation, it is.... shall we say very cool.

Tag from Cristina

Three things that scare me: Spiders, close spaces, crazy drivers
Three people who make me laugh: Traci, my little brother David, Valerie's giggles
Three things I love: My family, friends, and music
Three things I hate: Mushrooms, open cupboards, dirty kitchen floors
Three things I don't understand: Greek, Halo, Why there are not more that 24 hours in a day
Three things on my desk: My watch, a stack of books, a pencil with "I survived Lemony Snicket" on it
Three things I'm doing right now: Listening to "The ABC Murders" by Agatha Christy, typing this, deciding what to do next
Three things I want to do before I die: Go to Europe, raise a family, ski
Three things I can do: Play the harp, wink with only one eye, teach piano
Three things you should listen to: A baby's laugh, Handel's Messiah and Israel in Egypt, the ocean waves
Three things you should never listen to: Mothers yelling at their children, Sirens, gossip
Three things I'd like to learn: How to scuba dive, how to speed read, how to speak Latin with ease
Three favorite foods: Chicken Caesar Saled, Pizza, Bread
Three beverages I drink regularly: Water, Iced Tea, Juice
Three TV shows/Books I watched/read as a kid:Sesame Street, Wish Bone, The Crat Brothers

An Essay

Here is an essay I recently wrote for my writing class. Let me know what you think.

Changing Emma

“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence.” So begins Jane Austen’s much loved novel, Emma. The heroine, Emma Woodhouse, is a young lady of high social standing who enjoys flattery and attention. Mr. Knightley is the only gentleman who refrains from flattering Emma and instead corrects her mistakes. By showing true charity to those around him, Mr. Knightley helps change Emma from a selfish girl to an honest woman.

Mr. Knightley is one of the only people to show true charity to the Bateses. By being truly interested in their welfare, Mr. Knightley sets himself up as an example for Emma. The Bateses are two poor women who have fallen from their former social standings. Mr. Knightley is constantly assisting them. At one point, the Bateses are invited to a party and were going to have to decline the invitation due to the fact that they could not afford a carriage. Mr. Knightley arrives on the scene and offers the use of his carriage. Miss Bates said that “nobody was every so fortunate as herself” and thanked Mr. Knightley profusely. Instead of blocking out Miss Bates’ chatter like most people, Mr. Knightley respects her and pays attention to what she says.

Emma, on the other hand, is not truly interested in the Bateses. She pays them visits only to look kind in the eyes of others. While visiting the Bateses, Emma often finds herself lost in thought when Miss Bates is talking to her. Emma does not respect Miss Bates’s age or former social standings but mocks her. During the Box Hill picnic, Emma makes fun of Miss Bates by making a hurtful remark about how much Miss Bates talks. Mr. Knightley is gracious toward the Bateses while Emma is unkind and mocking. Mr. Knightley acts with true charity and sets an example for Emma to follow.

Mr. Knightley also shows true charity to Emma. While all the gentlemen around Emma are flattering her, Mr. Knightley remains unflattering and truthful. At one point in the book, Emma has sketched a portrait of Harriet and is displaying to several people. Mr. Elton “was in constant raptures” over the portrait and flattered Emma’s skill throughout the evening; he even insisted on personally taking the portrait to London to be framed. Mr. Knightley does not flatter her but simply states “‘you have made her too tall, Emma’” which was true for “Emma knew that she had, but would not own it.” Mr. Knightley does not flatter Emma but points out the truth.

Mr. Knightley is honest to Emma and does not deceive her. He points out her crucial mistakes that others brush over in flattery. At the beginning of the book, Harriet Smith, who has no claims “either of birth, nature, or education,” has been befriended by Emma. Harriet comes to Emma to receive her advice about a marriage proposal for Mr. Martin, a tenant under Mr. Knightley. Emma has plans for Harriet to marry someone else and so convinces Harriet to refuse Mr. Martin. Harriet refuses a respectable marriage in the hope that she might possibly get a better one. When Mr. Knightly discovers Emma’s role in this decision, he is very disappointed in her and rebukes her manipulation of Harriet’s life. After Emma is unkind to Miss Bates during the Box Hill party, Mr. Knightley upbraids her rather than let it go as a slip of the tongue. Mr. Knightley says “She [Miss Bates] is poor; she has sunk from the comforts she was born to…Her situation should secure your compassion. It was badly done, indeed.” Mr. Knightley acts with true charity by not flattering Emma but pointing out her mistakes.

Throughout Jane Austen’s Emma, Mr. Knightley’s acts of true charity change Emma. Mr. Knightley constantly shows courtesy to the Bateses, setting an example for Emma to follow. Toward Emma, Mr. Knightley shows true love by refusing to flatter her. By pointing out her mistakes, Mr. Knightley helps Emma acknowledge her errors and change into a woman worthy of his love.

Happy 16th Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy 16th Birthday to Cristina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone go here and wish her a wonderful day!

Cristina,
You have been a spectacular friend and I am very thankful for you friendship. May you have a beautiful day!!!!!

Kelsie

Quotes from Tacitus

I have recently finished reading The Annals of Imperial of Rome by Tacitus and have found a few quotes from it.

"Yet even apparently insignificant events such as these are worth examination. For they often cause major historical developments."

"For things unnoticed are forgotten; resentment confers status upon them."

"The senate ordered his books to be burnt by the aediles. But they survived, first hidden and later republished. This makes one deride the stupidity of people who believe that today's authority can destroy tomorrow's memories."

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy 16th Birthday to Erin!!!!!!

Everyone head over here and wish her a Happy Birthday!

Erin, you have been a super great friend and I look forward to many more years of friendship. May God bless you in the years to come as he has in the past.

Love ya,

Kelsie

Tag

Erin tagged me a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time ago so I hope this is the right one.

A - Available/Single?
Single
B - Best Friend?
All my friends are wonderful and I could not pick a "best friend" from them.
C- Cake or Pie?
Cake
D - Drink Of Choice?
Some delicious juice
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday?
Hairbrush
F - Favorite Color?
A grayish-greenish-blueish color
G - Gummy Bears or Worms?
Worms
H - Hometown?
As is where I grew up? Bigfork, Montana
I - Indulgence?
Bucer's (a local coffee shop)
J - January or February?
January, sister's birthday, friends' birthdays
K - Kids?
My siblings
L - Life Is Incomplete Without?
God
M - Marriage Date?
Some time after the next 4 years (Lord willing)
N- Number Of Siblings?
I'll say 9; 8 brothers here, 1 on the way, and 1 sister
O - Oranges or Apples?
Apples
P - Phobias/Fears?
Spiders
Q - Favorite Quote?
Sorry, don't have a favorite, there are too many wonderful ones!
R - Reason to Smile?
Every day
S - Season?
As in favorite season? Spring or Fall
T – I Tag
Whomever has not done this
U - Unknown Fact about Me?
I worry about possible deaths of people when they are late
V - Vegetable you don't like?
Brochili
W - Worst Habit?
Putting off homework
X - X-rays You've Had?
None that I know of :)
Y - Your Favorite Food?
I don't know. At the moment, Chicken Caesar Salad
Z - Zodiac Sign?
Huh? Possibly Cancer (the crab)?

I'm Back!

First of all,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

second,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

third,

Where have I been?

I am on break and enjoying myself immensely. On Wednesday, the 19 of Dec., I lead the girls choir from my church. Mr. R., the choir director, had sent out an e-mail canceling choir but since the church office was closed, the e-mail did not get out till after choir. So, we were all sitting there and Mr. R. still had not arrived. One of the moms came in and appointed Cristina and myself to continue choir. Cristina had just joined the beginning of this school year and I have been doing choir for about 5 years, so Cristina helped set things up and I lead. We went over the two songs we were singing in church on Sunday with the younger girls and after they left continued working on Handel's Messiah with the older girls. Everyone behaved wonderfully and I believe we all had a great time. My first taste of directing. It was quite exciting.

The girls' choir sang in church Christmas Eve and I believe we did very well. Mr. R. once said that we would sound "precious" and that definition fits perfectly. We did not sound strikingly beautiful, nor horridly bad, but rather precious.

Last night, for New Year's Eve, we went to the Q's house. We played "Aw Schucks", "Family", and "Four on the Sofa". It was a blast!

This morning, I went over to Cristina's house and we played Age of Empires III and Star Craft. Very fun :)

Hope you all have not abandoned me and will continue to visit my blog despite my terrible sin of not posting for simply ages.

Smiles (off to watch tons of football)

Kelsie Eve