One of the best book-to-film adaptations of a poignant line is the scene in Return of the King when Pippin and Gandalf are in Minas Tirith. They're in the midst of battle and and Pippin--brave, optimistic, endearing Pippin--has begun to lose hope. If you would like to watch the scene, click here. I've added the text below.

"PIPPIN: I didn't think it would end this way.
GANDALF: End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it.
PIPPIN: What? Gandalf? See what?
GANDALF: White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.
PIPPIN: Well, that isn't so bad.
GANDALF: No. No, it isn't.”

It's beautiful, isn't it? This conversation was adapted from the end of Return of The King, when Frodo is sailing to the Grey Havens.

“And the ship went out into the High Sea and passed into the West, until at last on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise.” (Return of The King, J.R.R. Tolkien)

I watched Return of The King today and as it usually does, this conversation stuck out. This time, however, the reasons were entirely different.

January 3rd, was Tolkien's birthday. The late professor would have been 124. I had wanted to post this then, but putting my feelings about Tolkien into words that don't wax poetic is tricky because I have such an attachment to Tolkien and his writing.

While watching that scene, I had this image in my head of Tolkien as Gandalf. The wizened, older teacher imparting the brilliance of a gifted hope to the seemingly hopeless. The knowing little smile and the watery eyes are suddenly those of the late professor, reminding his beloved students that death is not the end, and he has gone on to a far green country. 

​

I know, not updating for six and a half months is a rather long while and I feel bad about it. I'm trying to do better.

We'll see how it goes, as I've had to change that "six and a half months" bit a time or two to reflect the times I haven't returned to this draft...oops.

​I felt like it was time to change the blog up a little, keep things up to date with me. And since I've been growing as a person.

For now, let me catch y'all up on my life right now.

I'm a junior in college right now and I'm taking 18 credit hours of upper level English and mid/upper level communications classes. 

I've developed a political conscious of sorts. Probably because I'm studying journalism and also because this is the first year I can vote so I feel the pressure to be well informed. 

I'm producing/directing my university's news program, BUC News. I want to go into the communications field, which makes this one of the best opportunities for me.

I'm part of our Campus Activities Board (CAB) and I'm the secretary for the Board of Student Organizations. 

I'm falling in love with folky, Americana music. I'm also looking for music suggestions. I'll try anything once. :)

​I've started painting canvasses and I've learned that practicing my cursive in doodles has definitely paid off!

My snowboarding obsession is thriving as snowboarding season is in full swing. Learning to count by 180s and all these crazy grabs are killing me!

​I've lost old friends (they're not dead, just missed), made new ones, and found strength in the others. 

I'm still a little undecided about this blog. I'm planning to try some different things and mix it up a little. I'd like to see what I'm capable of and try my keyboard (as it were) at writing in different formats.

Hope you'll stick around!!

--Leah.

(NOTE: this post contains affiliate links to several products. These reviews are all my own, and were not a sample/paid review)

Swimsuit shopping...possibly what I dread the most about summer.

I am always trying to find a swimsuit that is comfortable, practical--why would I want a skirt thing in the ocean!?!?!--modest, and affordable. 

Recently, the modest, retro swimsuit look has been in style. I am a huge fan of this movement, personally. I value that other young women are leaning toward a self-respecting style of dress.

These swimsuits are often totally adorable and absolutely awesome--there's only one catch...

WHY WOULD I PAY $80 FOR A SWIMSUIT???

I'm not an athlete. My swimsuit does not need to be the most durable for hours in the pool or made just so to aid athleticism. 

Runners spend a small fortune on running shoes. It makes sense that a swimmer would spend equal amounts on their performance wear. However, the swimsuit I wear to the beach is not the same!

Rey Swimwear is a fantastic swimwear company that aims to create modest swimwear that still looks cute. Their motto is, "Who says it has to be itsy bitsy?" 

I love this. I really do. 

I do not love the $108 price tag on my favorite Rey Swimwear onepiece. 

ModCloth offers several options for modest swimwear, but the cheapest products are the clearance suits. My favorite ModCloth suit is a mere $89.99. 

LimeRicki has several mix n match options with their tankini sets, though the prices are less fun than matching your tops and bottoms. With the tankini tops at $47.50 and bottoms at $29.50, the lower prices mean a LimeRicki tankini set are $77 before tax. Not much lower at all. 
LimeRicki's onepiece's are $69.50, making them the lowest so far.


I understand that these companies have to make money to support their business and employees. I get that making modest swimwear that is also cute can't always be easy.

I also understand that the average girl trying to dress modestly and honor God often can't afford an expensive suit. Especially when she wants to play beach volleyball or goof off in the lake. 

I just think that these companies should take a look at their pricing and consider their values in line with this. 

Do they want young women to feel that modesty is attainable only if you have a certain amount of money?

Believe me, after 5 stores and multiple trips to the dressing room, it begins to feel that way. 

There is--as always--still a ray of hope. 

Three department stores boast moderately affordable swimsuits that don't fall apart after a season's use (in my experience). 

If you're looking for a modest swimsuit in onepiece or tankini form take your search to JC Penney's, Kohl's, and Target. 


These prices aren't great unless the pieces are on sale. But these department stores often mark their swimsuits on sale for most of the summer anyway. The downside is that they are clearly popular choices, and it's hard to find your favorite in your size.


Hopefully the trend toward modesty will continue, and the high-end companies will mark down their products to make them affordable for the rest of us. 


Much love,
--Leah

I get it. 

Sometimes you want to talk about something.

You want someone else to ask what's up and actually care that something is going on for you.


Sometimes being vague is necessary to keep confidence or maybe you don't have time.


But then there are those status updates that are so intentionally vague that make me C-R-A-Z-Y! 

Maybe its your way of reaching out to someone. Maybe you're hoping that the person the post is directed toward will feel some sort of conviction or heart tug or conscience prick because of your post.


Here's the thing: your cryptic status updates are actually far more confusing to your friends than convicting towards your subject.

When you post about how, "I just wish I could know who my true friends are. Feeling betrayed." (I made that up, but I've seen similar posts) These posts actually hurt your friends.

All of the sudden, your good friends are posting, "Am I not good enough?" "What did I do to hurt you?" "Who are you talking about, cause I know it wasn't me."

You probably have a flooded inbox and your phone probably ends up full of texts.

Vague posts may temporarily satisfy your need to be passive-aggressive and simultaneously allow you a little attention, but is it really worth the frustration and drama?

Why not try this idea that is a personal favorite of mine.

Write down what you're feeling. get a pen and some paper--gasp! You're better at typing? Trust me, this will be more satisfying. 

Take the time to write all the stuff you're feeling out on to some paper. if its three lines or three pages, it doesn't matter. 

What matters is you getting the ick out of you. 

Once you get it out, trash it. Tear it up. Burn it. 

I don't care. Give it up. 

Give it to God. 

And next time you go to post on Facebook remember the verse Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."


You should be able to be yourself on Facebook, but that's no excuse to check your manners at the door--erm, login page?

Social Media connects us in freaky ways, but that doesn't give us a right to trash talk and tear people apart. 

Facebook becomes a bit more like a Shakespearian theater with all the weird drama when people won't be honest and polite. 

Much love, 

--Leah

P.S.

I know, it's been a while. I've been trying to make sure my posts keep some level of continuity, rather than little blurbs about my weird days, but I think I
'm just going to let myself ramble on with y'all. ;)

Writer's block: When one is writing, but lacks inspiration to continue with their project.

Writer's block is a fairly common affliction and it seems to afflict those who must write more than anyone else. Obviously, I have struggled with writer's block. My goal is to post on my blog twice weekly, but I seem to fall further and further behind on that. I'm trying to dedicate chunks of my mornings to getting ahead on my blog and working on upcoming posts. 

Two a week may seem ambitious for a first set, but I know that the busier I am, the better I do. The problem is when I feel like I'm not able to say what I'm thinking, or think of what I want to say. 

It's a struggle.

One of my professor's this spring made us practice stream-of-consciousness writing, which is when you  write whatever you're thinking as you're thinking it, even if you keep writing, "I don't know what to write." Eventually you will begin to write, even if it's a crazy rant. It's a fun exercise to use if you're struggling with writer's block.

I also love the song, "Watch What Happens," from the musical Newsies.  It starts with the words, " 'Write what you know'/So they say/All I know is/ I don't know what to write/Or the right way to write it." Listen here!

I love it. I've actually adopted it as my theme song, as I want to be a journalist. 

I digress.

Writer's block is always something writers will struggle to overcome. I think for me it is because I find the words more eloquent in my head, and I can't stop myself editing as I write--which is incredibly distracting. 

I think if you struggle with writer's block, you should definitely practice stream-of-consciousness writing. I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this blog post, for instance, but I'm trying to focus on actually writing and not thinking about what to write.


I mean, it's my blog. If I can't screw up here, is there any point? 


I guess I am telling you to KEEP WRITING.


Write crazy. Write your thoughts--as they happen. Write what you're afraid to write; be transparent. Write and post even if you think it's bad. Because even if it is bad, you have to accept the criticism at some point. It will only make you better. 




--Love,
        Leah.

Umm, blogging is hard.

You have to plan your posts ahead. Sometimes you'll start to dislike them and you'll just delete it. Then you realize you should have posted it anyway because now you have to start over. 

You also have to learn how to use the host site properly. 

For instance, you might be doing blog posts on your "HOME" tab. Simply dragging the Title and Text boxes over and filling in the blanks. 

You will feel accomplished and thrilled. You're a successful blogger!

Except when you realize that the "pages" tool in the editor has a specific style for blog pages. That way you can edit and auto post and probably a dozen other useful things for blogging. 

You might also notice that you've left several things blank, such as the "Author" note on the side.


Blogging is an adventure. 


It requires coffee. Or tea. Or soda. 


Just caffeine. Pick your poison. 


Blogging is something people tend to think is easy-peasy. You pick up your computer--or sit at your desk--and let it all out. 


Nope. 


There's editing, formatting, the insanity of embedding links and media. If you use a popular host site you might share a template with YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. You also might be so sick of formatting that you refuse to try a new template in case the new coffee shop ends up using that, too. 


You want to make sure you're staying current, yet true to your own style--My style seems to be rambling, in case you wondered.


I've not posted much (only two others so far), but with reformatting, rewriting, testing different techniques, and playing around with the whole affair, I've learned that blogging is incredibly difficult. 


But it's also rewarding, 


Every time I post I feel a step closer to my dream of being a journalist. Practice makes perfect, and I think the best things are yet to come. I'm learning to get into the rhythm of writing and posting. I'm learning how to use Weebly effectively and which settings and styles work for me.


My advice to anyone starting a blog is that you don't give up! Keep working and working. Always look for ways to improve on your blog. I like to set goals and I use things like coffee and chocolate as rewards for reaching a goal. 


Work hard and do your best. 

Most of all though, enjoy yourself. If you can't have fun, it's time to start thinking about why you blog and what you want to achieve. If it's not fulfilling, is it really worth it? 

Much love,
             Leah

I recently (5 minutes ago) posted about this on Facebook, and I wanted to share this post here. 


I am going to give quite a long post here, but I am feeling very moved and want to inform you all of a rather terrifying injustice currently taking place. To start, please know that this is an open letter coming from a place of love, not of a desire to call anyone out--I would not even start. 
Many of you know I a working towards becoming a journalist. As I do so, I have been compiling a personal list of ethics and principles for myself; standards I desire to uphold as a writer trusted with providing accurate information and in a way that always glorifies God.

Many of you might also know what "link bait" is. If you don't, please understand it is a ridiculous "headline" concocted with the intention of people being too curious to pass up the link. As a future journalist, I am working hard to make sure I do not misrepresent my writing for attention like most (not all, but most) articles do.
This was all sparked because today I saw and read (because a journalist must get her facts) an article titled
"When Kylie Jenner challenged Sadie [Robertson] her response was BRUTALLY honest."

My first thought was, "How did she call her out?" 
The answer? Kylie did no such thing. 
Kylie is on the "reality" show "Keeping up With the Kardashians," and is 17 years old, like Sadie Robertson. 
This article went through eight reasons detailing the ways Sadie is a far superior role model and human in comparison to Kylie. 
I want to throw up.
This article paints a picture of Sadie for Kylie's fans that shows Sadie as self-righteous and judgmental. 
It tells Sadie's fans to be self-righteous and judgmental. 
I do not think the author quite intended to do this, but it was unfair regardless. Plus, one of the points was that Sadie has a more successful boyfriend...seriously.

This is terrible. Why on EARTH is this acceptable?
Kylie Jenner is a 17 year old girl who should not be shamed for having grown up in a spotlight and encouraged to be fake. Why are we not praying for Kylie instead of judging her? Why are we judging a 17 year old girl completely lost?

This point is part of what irritates me the most. 
Why are we comparing Kylie and Sadie?
Why?
as Christians, we are constantly told and tell others to measure themselves up next to Jesus, and strive to be like Him. 
Over and over we repeat that comparing ourselves to other men and women is unhealthy and hurtful. it is an imperfect scale.

So why are we doing this to two 17 year old girls with public images already surrounded by rumors that seek to tear them to shreds?

As a future journalist, I strive to only elevate discourse, as my advisor says. I want you all to recognize that this does not elevate discourse, but shames a girl and does nothing for either one involved but cause trouble. Please consider this when you read such articles. And please don't measure Kylie to Sadie. Instead pray for Kylie and Sadie. Both girls have similar situations, and both have their decisions analyzed obsessively. It cannot be fun. Be compassionate, please.

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." --Ephesians 4:29-32

--Leah