Twinsight....

Hahahah, I look at this and laugh, because it pretty much sums up mine and Gina's relationship. Crazy, funny and a little...well, weird. :) But I'm sure siblings are like this as well, so what's the difference between having a sister and a twin? I'd say it's almost exactly the same. For all you out there who have ever thought: man, I'd love to have a twin-  it's the same as having a sister, but with a few added problems. For example; whenever we go anywhere new, it takes a long time for people to know who we are individually, as the first impression they get is: oh it's the twins. And we are, from then on, collective, until proven otherwise. Which isn't great. Also... people assume you're okay on your own because you've 'got each other' but frankly we're just like everyone else in that we love to meet new people! So... there are pro's and cons same as any other relationship. But a definite, definite pro is that you have a 'sidekick' a 'wingman' a 'best friend for life' from the minute your born. And you can only thank God for that. :) (And obviously being asked the same questions over and over for most of your life is a little dull... in fact, I'll give you a taster:

1. Are you two twins?
2. How do you tell the difference?
3. Are you identical?
4. Who's the older one?
5. How far apart are you?
6. Are you really similar?
7. Are you telepathic?
8. Do you like, have each others clothes and things?

Etc. Etc. This post was inspired because, when I went to meet my Team (that I'm heading out to Tanzania with in January) on it was a girl who was also a twin, and a guy who was also a twin. Different situations but it was weird being able to relate over something that had previously only ever put me apart.... and it was a nice change! So I thought I'd enlighten those "normal" people out there who weren't born at the same time as someone else, as to exactly how that feels. And in summary:

 It's a happy coincidence, a bonus, a blessing and a joy, and a disadvantage all at once. And I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Book Review

THE 'MARK OF THE LION' SERIES

 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

These books, in my humble opinion, are some of Francine Rivers' best work. They're so well written and brimming with subtle christian messages and ideals, tackling tricky christian and modern issues under the pre-text of fiction.

Set in the fall of Jerusalem, it tells the story of a young early christian girl who flees from death into slavery. The girls presence in the family that buy her, acts as a catalyst- destroying preconceptions, roman values, views on faith, views on love. Though it's set thousands of years ago, it's a book that speaks very much to the attitudes and thoughts of today's world, and into the hearts of those who read it.

Hadassah- the main character and christian slave girl- is such an inspiring character, I am in awe of whoever was able to dream her up! However, when we first encounter her, she is as far from a heroine as possible, a mere weak and feeble child. But this is the beauty of Rivers' writing- whilst Hadassah's faith is crumbling as the romans destroy and kill those around her, and she questions God's role in such horror, she is relatable to so many people today. People who only seem to encounter God as a man outside to blame for pain, death, and failure.

But through suffering comes strength. Rivers builds up Hadassah's character and faith in equal measure, and we are witness to a fantastic display of courage and a great example of trusting in God to all extents, even when stepping the line between life and death. It gives us hope, that we can grow in faith and strength just as Hadassah did.

Now, it wouldn't be a Francine Rivers book without a thread of romance; and so enter:

Marcus- He is the eldest son and, like Hadassah, begins as less of a hero than you might think. He is not the stead-fast, strong, hard and honest, humble christian man that Michael Hosea is in 'Redeeming Love'- no, Marcus has a string of girls and a mind focused on making money, recieiving his inheritance and living life only on his terms. When he meets Hadassah, he encounters the God she believes in and things start to change. Only inside him. He has no room for God, and yet his heart yearns after Hadassah, and an unbelievable romance develops until even he is forced to question God's role and existence.

Asides from the two main characters, there are a string of subplots as different people involve themselves in Hadassah's life. Julia, Marcus' sister, and their relationship is very much a focus in the book, her life a sad tale that winds up and down throughout the series in an irregular and exciting manner. Atretes is a German who was taken from his life by the Romans as Hadassah was, and though for the main part of the series the two slaves lives rarely meet, his story is one that develops intently in the last book.
Essentially, Francine Rivers had the premis for an amazing book, and was able to manipulate and twist such a story into an epic christian narrative. It contains so many lessons, so many tearful, joyful and wonderful moments, that yes, I have no bad thing to say about it.

 Favourite Quote:

 "Christ forgave the crimminals sins, but did not take him down from the cross."

-A Voice in the Wind, Book One.

 

Spontaneity in Nature

So A2 Results were posted this summer, and though I'm not going to tell you what I got (!) I was extremely happy with my photography- so here are some pictures that contributed to the part of my topic called 'Spontaneity in Nature'.... (using a cross-processed colour film)

Diamond Jubilee Year

Maybe this post is a few weeks late. But this deserves mentioning nonetheless.
It's about the Diamond Jubilee.
Let's get one thing straight: I've never been patriotic as such. I love my country, and I love the monarchy but I've never been a raving luny about England in the way of shoving flags at people and buying up all the merchandise!
That being said- this Diamond Jubilee weekend was absolutely 'spiffing'! We celebrated a delightful Queen who's served us all with dedication for 60 years- if that doesn't deserve a flotilla, then what does?? She's been ever open about her faith too, her protestant roots not just carved from tradition but evidently from a truly Jesus centred heart, (very evident in her speech this christmas.)Perhaps it's fair to say her service mirrors something of Jesus' own character... her service reflective of the greatest Servant King. How exactly has she served? Well she's travelled the globe, the common-wealth, represented us brits, defended the faith, no doubt passed and questioned laws, become the scapegoat, carried the burden of our economic and social failures and lifted us up in our sporting and additional success. She's never cracked under the pressure, dictated, greedily grabbed for power or taken out anger on us, her fickle and capricious subects. We, the people, have been able to look up to her for sixty years- and what an example she has set. Queen Elizabeth II has been the face of the country for some time now, and what we celebrated recently was that it is a face we can be glad of showing not just on coins, stamps, or banknotes- but around the world.
I write in all earnest when I say this: God Save the Queen!
Personally, I celebrated by joining a church 'party', watching the pageant and concert (sadly on TV, we weren't able to travel to London to join the throngs of monarch-enthusiasts!) having my aunt over (who waved flags enthusiasticaly at the Tv!) and strewing the house in cornwall and bath with red, white and blue. I wish I had taken more pictures. It felt unifying to the rest of the country. It felt happy. It felt like we had something to be proud of.

Beauty

Emotions- Lucia's Photo Challenge- my entry...

Feeling Small...

I've had a few moments recently, where I don't quite feel big enough for the shoes I have to fit. They're the shoes of the world, large, looming, and all around me people are trying them on and running off into their sunset... I'm left feeling a little like Cinderella.
Rationally, I know God has things in control. I know he's got my 'glass slipper' so to speak, and whilst it may not be conventional (of course it won't be, as we're called to live in the world but not to be of the world) my calling lies ahead of me like concrete.
But in this world?! In this life?
I feel like when the next challenge will be presented, far from rising to it, I'll try to lean on my own strength and crumble. I'm not as confident as other people, not as out-going, not as beautiful or headstrong, determined or thrill-seeking...
And yet when these doubts were running havoc in my mind, God comforted me by reminding me that I am just a seed.
And seeds are tiny. Am I right?
I may be small, seemingly insignificant, seemingly trodden on, pushed into the ground... but one day that seed will rise up into a tree.
But not by my own strength.
A seed cannot feed itself no matter how hard it tries, all it can do is spread it's roots far enough to catch the goodness from the other things that can. For some people that may be the world, fashion, a new pair of shoes, a sport they excell in, praise from someone they admire... but for me it will be God. God's spirit will feed me, his word will water me, he will pour sunshine down onto me until I shoot upwards into the destiny into which I was called, up into the world and then through this world into the next.
Frankly, I can't wait.

Inspiration taken from: 'I am a Seed' by David Crowder...

What a Gift

There are times in life that you know are a gift. They've been given, for whatever reason, out of love, and as you encounter them, wake up to them, walk through them- you know you're experiencing something special.

This happened to me for five beautiful days. But let me first set the scene...
I'm on the shoreline. I've just finished school. And I'm just starting a year of terror, challenges and freedom. These five days were a golden rest, God telling me to lay down my head, breathe him in, and know that he is God.

I spent it in Cornwall in a house with eight other friends and we had, to put it simply: the time of our lives! From waking up at random intervals, cooking breakfast, pancakes, long long bible studies (we did Galatians) and beach trips and body boarding, surfing in the sea, brilliant prayer and worship sessions, cliff walks, ball games and football, jokes, brilliant sandwiches, barbeques, marshmellows, taking pictures, cliff jumping, dancing, early morning swims, cliff climbing, 'caving', cooking, great conversations, late nights, dreaming up pranks, hilarious, cheesy, and romantic movies- Noting Hill! A Walk to Remember, Little Mermaid two...- many many cups of tea, one tiny bit of piano practise, guitar songs, making up music, competetive board-games, baths (!), popcorn, cleaning up, living in our own 'filth', hahahahah..... sorry I got a little carried away there.

I'm going to miss those wonderful people.

I'm going to miss those wonderful five days.

But if there's one thing it taught me through them, it's that God equips, He speaks, He is ALIVE, His love is so real, He is evident in the bible, in nature, the breeze, the ocean, friendships, loyalty and comfort, prayer, everything good. And we can really live with Him. We can really draw closer to him, anything is possible with him.

I knew it before I set off. But hearing it then and living it with other people, lit a tangible hope in me. When Paul talks about 'hope' he really means it. It made me realise that however well I think I know God's character, I will constantly be surprised by him, his love renewed in my heart, a new side to his massive shape of a nature revealed ...I understood his almighty power, his benevolent grace, his fierce love, and the massive significance that we can call him 'father' and he responds, 'yes my child'. Essentially. How massive it is... that he died for us.

I documented the week in pictures, determined not to forget a detail, determined to show you lovely people when I returned...

Baaaaaaaaaaa!

The blur in the background is, believe it or not, eve holding a surfboard for our first sea-trip of the week!

Let me aquaint you with my sister's chin- Isn't it pretty?!

This documents the aftermath of a feathery and long battle between Abbie and Kate, their only weapons: pillows and duvets...

The grin on my face is deceptive. It took many minutes, a bucket of patience and several charred matches to light this barbeque

Isn't God's world beautiful?!

And so we are now lead down different and estranged paths, our lives doomed to be different and expected to be brilliant, as we live, breathe and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ!!

Snails

Quite simply. Snails.

When it's a rainy day we like to peep out of our shells, to explore the dewy grass and damp gravel, to look up at the big wide world and wonder. It's the scent of the grass, the delicate branches and the thousands of flowers, the cottages and hazy pink clouds, that make marvels.

What a wonderful God we have, say the snails, and what a wonderful world...

"good times"

Here's a little taster of what my 'idea' day would consist of! A little insight into my character that's perhaps more revealing than photos or lyrics or stories... Can you relate to any of these?

- have a real (and I mean REAL) laugh with friends.

-talk to someone unexpected.

-wake up to sunshine!

-pray.

-Go somewhere I never planned to.

-Pull a practical joke...

- Find and old song and a new song to listen to.

-Do something stereotypically stupid.

- Time to play music, cook, eat, write, walk, talk, create, do something with friends.

- Read under a duvet.

-Sleet for atleast nine hours. Preferably more.

- Rise to a challenge.

- Time alone to collect my thoughts/ read my bible.

- A spontaneous phone call/ text!

- Do something productive.

-Excell at something.

- Keep God at the front of my mind, actions, words and heart.

- Surprise someone.

- Have a good cup of tea. And chocolate.

-Make up a song.

- Chat and laugh with my lovely twin sister.

- Get to the climax of a good book.

- Make plans. (for coming days, weekends, holidays, movie-nights, camps, sleepovers)

What would make yourday a good one??

The day I saw fox cubs.

Our Souvenirs

I did something crazy this evening. Something that was so incredibly nerve-wracking, so fun, and so outside of what I'm used to! I performed in a band, (consisting of my 7 most amazing friends!!) infront of a panel of judges and an audience made up of school kids, teachers and parents. It may not sound like the most incredibly nerve-wracking thing- but trust me, backstage, I was in a panic. We prayed, we gave it to God- we were out there, singing, playing piano, guitaring, bassing, drumming, fluting, for His name, for His glory. Our band is called Jasper and Carnelian, (NOT Jasper and the Camelian, as the judges presumed...) which are the colours, as described in revelation, around God's throne- and we strove to do what they do: reflect his glory. Maybe that's why the shaking left my hands and we were all able to throw ourselves in and enjoy it with all of our hearts, having SO much fun and really really play the songs we'd been practising for about two months. It was such a heart-warming thing. Such a buzz. It's the feeling you get when you're at the climax of a book, the moment the perfect wave rolls up and breaks beneath you, or when you wake up to hazy golden sunshine. I'm just writing this to encourage you not to let these moments pass by, or oppourtunities fade away- because you're too unprepared, scared, or nervous. We were made to take risks, we were made to display God to the world- and the moment you do (no matter how, where or when) it's Him that's filling your steps with courage.

The final verse of our final song, by a band we all love: Souvenirs-bySwitchfoot.

SUMMERSUMMERSUMMER

Dreamy days.

Past memories rising to the surface.

The heat prickles.

The sun winks.

The evenings stretch out long and lazy.

 It's the anticipation that's biting now.

The ready, set, go of summer.

Toes on the edge of the line.

Bated breath.

When do we begin?

When does it start?

Let me dance in the rape-seed and frolick in the fields

Let the clouds run from the sky

Let the heat hit down dazily

Thick choking pollen

Delightful, buttery, flowers

Grass marks and mud stains

the cheery, fleeting hours

of summetime

It's almost here, it has almost begun,

Now is the time for

Waiting

Wondering

Planning

Dreaming up the days the come.

Where is home?

"This world is where I live, but let it never be called my home."- Jon Foreman.

Failing is hard. Especially when the standards the world sets around us are so increasingly high and so impossibly big. I feel a bit like a little girl sometimes, straining on tiptoes to scathe a far-reaching ceiling- but it's just too high, and brushing it with your fingertips isn't nearly satisfying enough. But it's true isn't it?
The world. It says this: it's about winning. It's about being the best. It's about having the latest. It's about being the biggest, the coolest, the smartest. If your not at the top then you're nothing at all. It's all about the next prommotion, the higher grade, the A*, the bigger house and the larger part.
It's disguised by well meaning phrases that float around like- "It's the taking part the counts." But honestly, who believes that when there's a shiny gold carrot dangled at the end of the stretch? No....the world wants us to keep straining forward. Where else did the TV come from? The Computer, the Aroplane?
And is this a bad thing? Surely all this technology, this discovery, this thought, lead us to where we are now, to improvement?
...
Well sometimes I think Id prefer a little less 'technology' and a little more 'personhood'.
Sure we've filled our world with gadgets, gizmos and flashing lights, but at what cost? Have we crowded out the really important with the luxuries? Where will Patience go, when we can get what we want at the flick of a switch or the push of a button? Has Love been mistaken for lust, Admiration sacraficed for envy, and is Chivalry really dead, or just lying dormant somewhere beneath an oppressive, selfish heat? It is hot isn't it. The world's heating up.

But my real question is this: As christians, where do we fit?
And my discovered answer is: we don't. We indulge in the modern world sometimes, but essentially... we don't belong here. We live here temporarily to fulfill our God-given plan, to tell others about it, to give them the news that: the hope and purpose we rejoice in can be theirs as well! The news that though we are all failures (because we are. We can never meet the standards of the world- ever wondered why that is? Perhaps because we're not meant to? Look at Kate in the picture above, we all shake our hair but she can't because her hair isn't made to. Same principle.) we are considered as precious and perfect through Jesus Christs sacrafice. He died so God could see us without sin. So God could forgive us and take us home to a world where we belong. A world waits that treats the important things with importance, that doesn't forget you, ignore you, put you in a box or oppress you. A world where love is love, truth is truth, yes is yes, God is God.
So let's remember this next time we find ourselves pining after a better hairstyle, brain, or even life: that this world is for us to use to God's purpose, and not our own.

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."

JOHN 15: 18-19

Reconstruction of Inspiration

This Inspiration Board took some putting back together I can tell you! If it looks a bit busy- it's because it is! I thought I'd post it's journey because that, as well as all the things stuck to it, was quite helpful in spurring on my previously dormant creative juices! It lies in the corridor in my house, and was looking quite doleful for a few weeks, begging me to help restore it to it's former glory. I did. It took a lot of work, a lot of scrounging for pins that fell behind a large and awkwardly placed basket, a lot of patience when things stubbornly fell off- but it was worth it. The result just screams ideas:

- A special style of skirt I would like to make.
- A font to try and mimic
- An emotion to attempt to express
- Something to write a story about (a train ticket/ joy/ cupcake wrappers)
- Some photography ideas...
- A material to experiment with

So if you haven't one already, I'd grab a pin board from somewhere and start pinning! It helps provide inspiration for the moments you're incredibly stuck. (Besides being a great place to shove something when it looks suspiciously too much like clutter to keep, but too pretty to throw away.:)
Good luck!

Raining raining raining...

RAIN. Water.

It's everywhere right now. I feel like it's begining to enter the very pores of my thoughts, leaving my brain damp and pretty floppy. Well, considering I have just swum many many lengths for a sponsored swim- it's not surprising; but that aside, it does feel as if water has finally begun it's long and meticulously calculated plot to take over the world. And if not the world- then at least Monkton Combe valley. This constant and steady stream of dew, rain, puddles, mist does begin to test your morale after almost 12 days, the lack of sunshine brings up a peculiar mix of arguments, spotty faces and permanently wet or frizzy hair. But if there's one good thing about this rather depressing onslaught- it's that it's got me thinking.

Thinking about how water is lifegiving- and yet we stray from it. We groan that it's "depressing", "too miserable", it's just so dreary, when really... it keeps us alive. We take it for granted, don't we? It's a bit like shaking off our life-jacket because it's uncomfortable to wear- when you're in the middle of an ocean. It reminds me of how we treat our faith sometimes. There's a line in a great song: "these things take time" by Sanctus Real- which says:

"Why am I so afraid of the dark, but I stray from the light?"

We don't like satan, evil, 'sin', we don't like the snatches of horrible fights or cutting gossip, we don't like being stabbed in the back or lied to- yet we so often lie, gossip, do evil, argue. Why do we stray from Jesus when we're so afraid of evil? In John Jesus describes himself as the water of life-

John 4:14
"...but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”So... why do we complain about water when it's lifegiving? Why do we stray from Jesus when he is lifegiving?

Just a question to ask.

With an answer that's all too obvious really... we shouldn't. It's stupid. It's suicidal.

Who knew rain could teach me that much?

:)

Milla

Room 101 and 102

What are the things you absolutely detest? Those little things that, given half the chance, you would lock up in a room forever and quite happily never have to see, or face again. This was the question I was posed with in year 11- for an English Speaking Presentation. Let's get this straight from the begining- I dread English Speaking Presentations. Ask anyone in Monkton Combe and they'll give you a stream of 'funny' (or just plain embarassing!) stories about me mucking up my words.... infront of lots of people. I have a presentation coming up actually- lets hope I don't do it again!
Anyway. Room 101. The room where anything you want can disapear... here's a list of mine:

• Blushes
• Raisins
• Paper-cuts
• Money
• Spots
• Flies
• Sewing Machines that don't work
• Out of tune guitars
• The sound of people chewing
• Sore throats
• COLDNESS
• Exhaustion but not sleep
• Showers that dribble
• Shoes that break in five days
• Gossiping
• Talking during the climax of a movie.... or maybe even the begining. okay all of it!
• Cold tea
• Bumps (Trypophobia! It's a horrible thing.)

Do you have any rational or irrational fears like these? If so, banish them to room 101! Haha, Gina just read that and said it sounded like some sort of 'self help' thing, ha. This may sound like a list of complaints, or a good old moan- and it's not good to do this as we should celebrate the many blessings God keeps providing, even in the face of our perhaps not-so-good actions. And so, I have invented room 102! (Original I know) A room of celebration, where you would put all the lovely things you enjoy in life, for example...

• Tea
• Guitars and Pianos!
• Friendships
• Pen and paper
• Dogs
• Warmth
• Lasagna
• All the musical genius' out there (Switchfoot, Jenny and Tyler etc... :))
• Education- an underrated priveldge in the western world :( but an amazing chance.
• Cameras
• Carnations
• A good book
• Butterflies

Are there any you would add?

Godbless,
Milla

The Honeymoon of my Camera

I got a new camera for my 18th birthday (I'll be posting about it soon no doubt) last thursday! Exciting! So I got a little snap happy, immediately wanting to snap up every last, fresh, vibrant moment I could see within my garden or the views around it. So here's a little stream of pictures to entertain, provoke thought, or make you smile...

A little abstract I know...:)

Sweet little Archie!