marigolds and primrose

This week for English, out teacher (who has this special, magical taste in literature), made us read "Marigolds".  Now, first, you should know that my teacher (we'll call her Mrs. Steve) really likes tragic stories--"The Scarlett Ibis" (crippled boy is run to death) "The Sniper" (sniper kills his own brother), and "The Cask of Amontillado" (idiot is murdered).  Okay, maybe that last one wasn't that sad, but seriously.
So you might understand why I wasn't expecting "Marigolds" to be that great.
I was wrong.
The story was a little sad, but good, too.  It's about a girl named Lizabeth, and how she destroys a bunch of marigolds that Miss Lottie planted.  On the outside, it's simple.  But it's got a lot that goes on, and the very last sentence it "And I have planted marigolds, too".  Quite frankly, that was the bet last sentence ever.  It other stories, like "The Sniper" and "The Scarlet Ibis", it just ends depressingly.  Like, oh my, the guy I shot was my brother!  and Noo!  I just ran my brother, who was crippled for years and just learned how to walk a few summers ago, to death!  So, yeah.  But this one is different.
Because Lizabeth plants marigolds.
In our culture, people think writers are only great if they kill off characters.  It's like, what made the "Hunger Games" was the fact that everyone likeable dies.  AND THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE BEAUTY IN THAT?!  It drives me crazy!  Or, like, so long as something depressing happens, it's a good book.  SERIOUSY???
So what makes Marigolds different?  It's obviously that last sentence.  I never realized before that how a single sentence can bring out the beautiful in all the bad.  Because Lizabeth plants marigolds, she rebuilds what she destroyed.  She makes up for it.  She repairs it.
That was why it was different--why it was better.  Because it didn't end completely sadly.  I'd like to think that maybe Miss Lottie saw the marigolds when Lizabeth planted them, because that would be the perfect ending.  But, still, it was good enough.  Just the right mixture of a little tragic and a little good.
I can't help but think that maybe if Katniss had panted marigolds, things would have gone better for her, too.  Or maybe she should have panted roses.  Primroses.

he made all things. Pikachu included.

Howdy!  Boredom sure is boring, ain't it?  I'm sure bored.  So, to pass the time, here's a little something I like to call...well, I don't really call it anything, but, this is my love of pokemon in a nutshell:

Yes.  It's true.  Firefly loves Pokemon.  So, anyways, enjoy the walkthrough.  Other good Pokemon youtubers include jwittz, a Pokemon maniac who specializes in the card game.  He and Abdallah are pretty clean as far as I know, so I watch the stuff with my little sisters.  I've heard Mariland is good though, too.  I like Fenniken and Chespin, but I'm probably a Froakie person myself.  But my all-time favorite Pokemon include Mew, Chikorita, Sentret, Castaform, and Ditto!  There's a bunch more, but I can't name them all here.  Needless to say, I'm psyched about X and Y.  Can't wait for my own copy!  If you have any suggestions about which Pokemon I should choose/capture, post them here as a comment.

Still, remember to have fun playing.  The best thing about Pokemon, to me, is that God used it to bring together me and my friends at school.  It's amazing to me, but He works in weird, wonderful ways.  Because we all played avidly, I was able to get to know a variety of amazing people, who do things like carry plastic R2D2's around in their backpacks as good luck charms, dress up as the 11th Doctor for School Spirit Week, and aren't afraid to share their faith.  Or fruit snacks.  So while Pikachu is cute, I think foremost about the amazing things God did with him for me.

So hold on to the things that make you happy.

You're never too old to believe in something good, and true.

You're never so mature that Ash Ketchum and Proffessor Oak aren't worth your time.

You're never, ever, ever in a place so dark that you can't choose to shine.

Take care--

Firefly.

book review: eleven birthdays

Hey, guys!  Well...nonexistent guys since nobody really follows this blog anyways.
Today, we have a book review!  Yay!
"Eleven" by Wendy Mass is a book about a young girl who gets into a fight with her best friend on their tenth birthdays.  They were born miraculously on the same day.  When her eleventh birthday rolls around, she finds it's horrible and is really glad it's over.  But the next day...it's her birthday again.  Long story short, she needs to reconcile with her friend or else every day will be her eleventh birthday forever.
The story is classic Wendy Mass.  It's sweet, fun, lighthearted, but it also carries it's own heavy note of truth.  Abbey (the main character) learns a lot about taking responsibilities for her actions, second chances, looking out for other people, third chances, forgiving people, fourth chances, and the importance of family.  Alongside sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth chances.  So, yeah.  It's a really sweet piece of chick lit that's family friendly for anyone who cares to read it.  I give it seven out of ten, and I definitely recommend it.