The Beautiful Gardens of Livadia Palace

We weren't allowed to walk into this courtyard- it was closed off. However, it was beautiful to look into.

The most adorable bench in the whole garden. (And wasn't made of granite like the others; I bet it didn't cost what they did either).

This was a moss bed that was growing down the side of the garden.... I wanted to lay in it and snuggle down inside it

Livadia Palace. Summer home of Anastasia. (Pardon the smudge spot in the center. I didn't realize it at the time).

It didn't add the picture (on the last blog) as it was supposed to. So... here it is. It's beautiful, right?

I am Blogging from Microsoft Word!

Since I am home for Christmas Break and have nothing better to do with my time, I have decided to set up the blog option on my Microsoft Word 2007! I thought, "Roxie, you're not dumb. You can handle the computer. " It's been interesting figuring this thing out.

Isn't this photo great? I took it at the Palace in Yalta, Ukraine. It was part of the pathway. Tsar Nicholas and his family (the last Romanov family to rule in Russia) used this palace as a summer home. I thought it was fascinating to see this family up close and personal.

 

This is only a practice post. Don't hate on it too much. I hope it turns out well.

Roxie

To My Friend Jessy :)

I am so excited that I got the one gift that I wanted for Christmas. And kudos to Jessy for keeping the faith. We did it! Lol (although WE had absolutely NOTHING to do with the outcome). This post is specifically for Jessy.
:)

PARIS... just a couple of shots

I couldn't resist getting a shot in front of the Eiffel Tower.... we had to walk across two streets and up a park to get this shot

Notre Dame. I sat on a concrete pillar and just looked at this beautiful church for half and hour while the rest of the group look at gift shops. I think I chose the greater.

This is a picture I took directly under the Eiffel Tower...

one of my first glimpses of the Eiffel Tower

I miss my bed. I miss its softness. My body pillow and down pillow. I miss my memory foam mattress topper. I miss my room.

I love being here with my family- especially during the Christmas season. Not to mention the fact that my grandmother is in the hospital. So, yeah, it's good that I am here for the holidays.

I just want my books. and my kitchen. My apple slicer. I am really missing my apple slicer. Eating apples is just not the same without my crazy amazing apple slicer. I miss my teapot. I miss the sound of it whistling when my tea is ready. I miss my tea. I forgot to bring it with me to mom's house.

I miss my moon chair. My movies. My computer printer. My craft box! Oh, how I miss my craft box!

I know. I am whining about material things. I know. The thing is, I just miss having my own house. I tried to bring a little bit of home with me. I brought some of my favorite books with me- although now that I am here, I just want to read the ones I left behind.

I just want a cup of tea.

Romancing... Me?

It finally occurred to me today- the reason why love songs are so popular. And this isn't just a poke at women- men think about these things too. Everyone wants romance. They want to experience that giddiness that comes with having a crush. It's intoxicating- and lethal. One thing that I have noticed is that we are always looking- no matter how hard we try not to. I wish that we could stop viewing each other as potential romances and see each other in a much more fullfilling light. I am not putting down romance- I think there's a time and a place for everything. Only, shouldn't a romance be founded in friendship? I have noticed that love songs are always speaking of chance meetings in the moonlight that ignites a spark of complete devotion--- What?! That doesn't even make any sense to me. When I was younger I used to think in this mentality- I mean, movies make it seem so appealing- but growing up has shown me that no romance can be lasting if you don't know the other person.
First of all, as a Christian, I have an obligation to prayerfully seek God about all my relationships- even friendships. I was listening to Wait for Me by Rebecca St. James today while I was reading and thinking about my life. And the conclusion that I have come to is- What does it matter if I find romance today or in ten years? God is complete control of my life- and that is such a comfort.
I have a friend, Jessy, who has adopted a lot of her guy friends as brothers- what a practical idea! Instead of seeing the men around us as potential husbands, we should be seeing them as brothers in Christ. Instead of clouding up our relationships with infatuations, let's build deep friendships. Lots of women say they want their husbands to be their best friend- yet they don't take time to build a friendship with him before jumping into a relationship.
So, I think if I have to pick a love song for myself- I would pick I Will Waste My Life by Misty Edwards. First and foremost I want my romance to be with Jesus. The rest can come later- when God says it's time

My Crazy Night

So, this is what happened....
Brian has his friend D.J. over, who reminds me somewhat of Micah, but just not quite as cool, and they played guitar in Brian's room for hours. However, what I didn't seem to grasp was that Jonathan was somehow a part of this atmosphere.... which can only mean one thing-- Brian is going to pick on him somehow....
I was up fairly late- doing some youtubing and reading blogs.. whatever- and Jon was faithfully sitting with me.. reading the blogs...taking random myspace quizzes..like, "what's your love song." We got the same one by the way. Apparently the two of us are tired of waiting for love.
I finally told him that it was time for him to go to bed... he's only nine after all...
Well, he breaks down.. tears up... grabs my hand and begs me to come with him-- my thoughts were something like, "There is no way he is dragging me up to his room tonight to play video games... I already played Yoshi's story on Nintendo with him tonight.." So I refuse to accompany him. He starts crying and pleading for me to come... I decided something was definitely up.
He then tells me, in sporadic phrases that Brian told him about some old white house where we used to live that was haunted... and he just couldn't stop thinking about it.... At this time I am so confused-- What house? where? When did this happen?
I ended up journeying to his room... where I promised to sleep with him... for a while...
The two of us are cuddled up on his bed... and I am looking off in the distance thinking about life.. and how much I would like to be doing my own thing... when I notice... He's sleeping... deeply....
I start itching out of the bed... little by little... He jerks awake! He looks at me and says, "Roxie, where're you going?" I sigh, lay back down and say, "No where, Jon. No where."
He falls back asleep.. I wait a while longer.... I start to get up, he open his eyes... I lay back down...
Ten minutes later.. the same thing. I got a little smarter this time... I decided to lay on my stomach... I stretched my right leg over the side... I learn-- He wakes up again....
Drat!
Finally, I decide to chance it-- I place my foot on the ground... I lean... I move... He wakes up again... I fall onto the floor... He says, "Roxie, what're you doing?"
"I'm gonna sleep on the floor Jon." "OH, okay.....wait, what will you sleep with?" "I'll....." I look around frantically-- "I'll use your spare pillow.. and this to cover with" (I pointed to his jacket-- He was too sleep induced to notice). "That's good..." He replied.
SO, I lay in the floor... feeling sorry for myself and wanting to escape..
Once again... I started inching my way towards the door... I'm crawling... Jon's sleeping... and then-- My knee pops! Jon sits up.... I say, (like the trapped mouse I am) "Hey, just moving my pillow..." He lays back down..
After a while I get up... he asks what I'm doing.. I say, I've got to get some stuff...
I retrieved my laptop.. my cell.. and a blanket..
When I returned he was waiting.. definitely not sleeping.....
So, here I sit... or rather lay.... on the surprisingly comfy carpet of my youngest brother's bedroom.. blogging about my unfortunate circumstances... while Brian.... the cause of it all.. laughs and plays guitar down the hall with his buddy.
Being the "Big Sis" is a tough job.

Just a Thought

Sometimes I think I get too caught up in the mundane and forget to see the extraodinary.

This morning I was reading the book of Samuel and I cannot describe how Hannah makes me feel. I used to think, 'Wow, she is a tough woman to give her only (that she expected, anyway) son to the Lord, only to visit him once a year.' Now, I do not have any children but I know that I would have a lot of trouble giving up my child. I have a hard enough time dealing with the fact that Jon is growing up so fast. It's ridiculous how much he doesn't need me. Today I noticed that she has an even bigger story that just being a self-less mother. Hannah loved God. She trusted God. I sometimes have a hard time trusting others... I am not sure why.. and I think I have abandonment issues. I put up walls and I refuse to get close to others. No, I take that back-- I refuse to get close to men. It is hard for me to admit that but it is true. So, maybe, somewhere in the back of my mind I have let that affect my relationship with God too. I know that God loves me and cares for me but I mean, would I give my child to God? I think so. If there is anyone I can trust, it's Him.
Hannah prayed, gave her problem to God, and then she got up... and went home. Just like that. And to make this story even better, God granted her deepest desire-- and that was a son, a son to give back to Him. I have never in my life wanted anything as much as I want to be loved by God. And not just loved but embraced and spoken to. I want God to be my very, very best friend. I want God to be my husband. My confidant. My comforter. That is my deepest desire.

Eli told Hannah to "go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him." (1 Sam. 1:17).
"Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4

My petition and desire is Him. Day after Day I grow in my intensity for Him.

And while I am finding this in Him, I am learning that sometimes trust is a step into the unknown... I can learn to trust others because God isn't my earthly father and every man isn't my dad. God is the only Father that can effect my life and change it. And honestly, that makes me want to mend every broken bridge with my dad.

You know, I thought that when my parents divorced that I was no longer a daddy's girl.. funny thing is.. God just decided to step in and take over. And it's so much better.