Grace Writing

Book: To Kill a Mockingbird Author: Harper Lee I recently read To Kill a Mockingbird  by Harper Lee for school and I decided to do a book review on it. So here's a quick description of the story, in case you haven't heard much about it:    Living in a small town called Maycomb and experiencing the fun of summer and the sufferings of school, a young girl named  Scout Finch watches her father  Atticus Finch,  an attorney, risking everything - his job, reputation and even his life - to prove the innocence of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of a crime he didn't commit.  The characters - Atticus Finch, Scout Finch, Jem Finch and Calpurnia, as well as others - were well-rounded and had a sense of reality to them that I know as a writer I struggle to create. They spoke, acted and thought like one would think them to, but not in an overdone or annoying way. I loved the perspective on the story that it had. Written in light of the events of the Civil Rights Movement o

I recently got my first tube of lipstick. I was very excited, as I see makeup the same was as I see colored pencils - it's nowhere close to easy, but the process is enjoyable and fun, and it usually turns out pretty in the end (unless I totally mess up and have to start all over). The lipstick I got is a brighter color than I thought it was going to be, but I like it all the same. (lightish style) My little sister doesn't seem too thrilled with the development. Jokingly, she calls it red (although I am CONVINCED it's just a bright/deep pink), and says things like "oh, you don't need it! Why are you wearing it?!"  Since all of her comments are in jest, I take no offense at them. I play along and I laugh, and I pretend to defend myself as if I really care. But the more she does it, the more I realize that girls have to face this in real life all the time. People tell you things like "that color's not good on you" or " way too muc

I've learned a lot from watching my Mom and Dad's marriage. It's led me to know what I want to look for in a marriage, eventually, when I'm older, if I ever DO get married. Their marriage helps me know what a marriage is really about, and I couldn't thank them more for that. You see, a lot of girls my age dream about marrying the perfect guy. Living in the perfect house. Having a lot of money and clothes and having a happy family and good, stable jobs. I'm not saying that that's a bad thing, but I think it's a bit unrealistic. It's not impossible, I suppose (other than the perfect guy, thing. Nobody's perfect! *Hannah Montana song now stuck in my head forever*), but in order to have all those things, you need to have a few others. So, here's what I want for my future, if I ever get married. Jesus. Not every marriage has Jesus, and a lot of them do okay without Him. But it's a lot harder, I think. Without Jesus, who do you have as

I have decided, after giving it minimum consideration, that my cat is the best cat ever. I am, of course, biased, but I do not care. You see, my dear cat, Layla, is a drama queen (as seen in the image to the right), but thankfully she's a drama queen in the best possible way. She likes to follow me around the house, wakes me up early in the morning, ordering me to let her out of my room, even though she often insists on coming inside on her own (though not always. Other times, I haul her up the stairs anyway). She's quite patient, especially for a Siamese cat, as she lets my sister and me do pretty much whatever we like to her (i.e. picking her up, petting her, giving her unwanted hugs, etc.), so long as we don't hurt her. Her eyes are the colors of an icicle and I'm sure she can stare into your soul, though that has not been scientifically proven (yet). Her adorable little white-tipped paws are fluffy and amazing, except when her claws dig into your skin as she tri

I have found my new favorite song. Go ahead and click on the video, listen to it if you haven't heard it, and then read on. This is a pretty popular song right now, I think (I don't know for sure because I'm in another country), so I'm sure many of you have heard it. But, out of all the songs on the planet, why is this my new favorite song EVER? For one simple reason: they're saying something every girl - and guy - needs to hear, but rarely does. How often is she (or he) told these things? Let's look closely at my favorite lyrics in the song: I see you dressed in white Every wrong made right I see a rose in bloom At the sight of you Oh, so priceless Irreplaceable, unmistakable, incomparable Darling, it's beautiful I see it all in you Oh, so priceless How often, really, do we hear this? How often do we tell people this? How many little kids grow up not knowing their worth? E ven now, all grown up, h ow many of us don't know o

Children's books - the foundation of a love for reading. - Magic Tree House, Book One: Dinosaurs Before Dark -    Author: Mary Pope Osborne    Back Cover Description:  Where did the tree house come from?    Before Jack and Annie can find out, the mysterious tree house whisks them to the prehistoric past. Now they have to figure out how to get home. Can they do it before dark…or will they become a dinosaur’s dinner?     I loved these books growing up!! I'm pretty sure everyone in our family read them, and they were some of the best early reads ever! - Frog and Toad, Book One: Frog and Toad are Friends -    Author: Arnold Lobel    Back Cover Description:  From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other—just as best friends should be.     I learned to read with these books! They're great for early readers, and they have amazing illustration.  - The Secrets of Droon, Book