TODAY

I love poems(as if you can't tell.) I was reading a book and found this piece. I loved it and thought I'd share it with you. I'm trying to take it to heart, and I'll hope that you will too.


TODAY

Mend a quarrel. Search out a forgotten
friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with
trust. Write a letter. Share some treasure.
Give a soft answer. Encourage youth.
Manifest your loyalty in a word or deed.

Keep a promise. Find the time. Forego a
grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen.
Apologize if you were wrong. Try to
understand. Flout envy. Examine your
demands on others. Think first of someone
else. Appreciate, be kind, be gentle. Laugh
a little more.

Deserve confidence. Take up arms
against malice. Decry complacency. Express
your gratitude. Worship your God. Gladden
the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the
beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak
your love. Speak it again. Speak it still
again. Speak it still once again.

Author Unknown


God Bless,
Alena

And We're Back!

That's right...maidenology is back in the blogosphere. SO much has happened since our last real post! Caitlin graduated and had her senior recital (and did beautifully, if I may say so). If you were checking the family blog, you will know that we had a Father's Day concert with our church youth choir. That was indeed an experience that we will remember for a long time. We had our yearly piano competition. Grace took 2nd at the county level, and I went all the way to win state and carry on the recent family tradition. Caitlin took the title last year, and it was my turn this year. Perhaps Elizabeth will be next year =) We also had a few family reunions, which were most enjoyable. A few changes have happened. Some good, and some...well, some were not asked for. But for the most part, things remain joyful and blessed. For now, I will give you a brief update on what is going right now.

Caitlin is preparing for college, but I will let her be the one to tell you about that if she so chooses. We are both working at the same building. I as a gymnastics coach, and she as a front desk worker and a fill-in coach when she needs to be. I am currently spending more time at the piano than before (and on my guiter as well), which I really don't mind at all. There are more pieces to learn than ever, so I am kept quite busy. We are wrapping up the Summer with some last minute swimming, relaxing (when possible) and spending time with family and friends.

As for the future of the blog, Caitlin and I recently got our own laptops. They will mainly be used for schoolwork, but we do plan on keeping the posts fresh, and it will be much easier to do that being as we have easier computer access. There are plenty of things to write about, and I hope to find time to share them with you all. I hope that you are having a blessed Summer's end, just as we are!

In Christ,

Paige

Happy Independence Day!

Well...here we are. From left to right: Paige, Alena, and Caitlin. Happy Independence Day!

The first try...


Getting closer...argh



We had a few technical difficulties, as you can see



Losing all hopes of looking somewhat professional...


-Maidenology

PS: Caitlin doesn't like the camera ;)

In The Midst of The Madness

A poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning..


The little cares that fretted me
I lost them yesterday
Among the fields, above the sea,
Among the winds at play,
Among the lowing of the herds,
The rustling of the trees,
Among the singing of the birds,
The humming of the bees.

The foolish fears of what might happen,
I cast them all away,
Among the clover-scented grass,
Among the new-mown hay,
Among the husking of the corn,
Where drowsy poppies nod.
Where ill thoughts die and good are
born -
Out in the fields with God.

Go With God,
Alena

Hope for Hannah

Hello everyone, I just wanted to encourage you all to visit our newest link in our website section, "Hope for Hannah". This is a website for a young friend of ours who was in a bad car accident. The website seeks to glorify God by meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ. You will find all of the details on the website. Keep checking it, there should be updates soon. Another post should be coming quickly...but I am off to work right now. If you have anything that you would like to see us post on, feel free to tell us by contacting us at our blog email (see sidebar). Thank you for all of your patience!

In Christ,

Paige =)

The last of the Trilogy...

Here is the last part of the pictures. There are tons more...but this is what I can put up. My camera battery is getting quite weak. Once again, enjoy!


Here is a group picture at El Chico with our good friends, Caitlin, and I.


Here are friends at El Chico.


Here is Elizabeth and some of our sweet young ladies.


Some more of our good friends.


Mr. and Mrs. Arkanblogger having a lovely dinner.


More of our friends.


And some more...as you can see we have a rather large group. =)


A brother and sisiter in our group. Sibling love =)



Of all the simple things in life, you would think I would be able to turn that picture around. Oh well. Here is our friend and her "taco salad". We were all quite amazed at its size.


A group of our guys having fun together.


Group pic! There I am with some friends.


One of our sponsors and a group of guys with him. Looks like they were having fun =)


A sponsor and one of our guys talking together.


GOOD MORNING!!! We look SO sleepy...I think it was seven something. Up at about five I think. Oy.


I did not see many pretty things in Waco. This was an exception. There were some other very pretty homes.


Myself and friends again at lunch on Sunday. Our last time in the Baylor cafeteria.


Here is our choir together with our director and trophie. What a beautiful day it was.


Here is our last rehearsal before the gran performance. It was amazing. You see the Baylor orchestra before you. Those are some of our memories from Festival at Baylor, 2007.

Paige =)

Part Two of Festival 2007!

Here are a few more of the pictures that I will be posting. There are still more to come. Enjoy!


Here we have Mr. and Mrs. Arkanblogger with our dear friends who came as sponsors.


During rehearsals some of our sponsors went to the Dr. Pepper museum. It looks like they had fun!


Here are all 300 of us up on the risers for rehearsals. I am in the far left section of girls. It reminds me of "Where's Waldo??" =)


Mmmm...chocolate mint ice cream!


Here's Grace eating some vanilla ice cream after a wonderful lunch.


Say "CHEESE!" =)


Caitlin and our good friend at lunch time.


One of the best parts of the trip was hearing the Baylor men's choir sing for us. This picture was taken during a hilarious song about a man who loved a woman but she turned him down because smelled like this really good fish dish. A little confusing...but extremely entertaining!


Z-pac (one name I can use) and another one of our guys being goofy.


The guy up top was our soprano and alto coach. Below him you see Grace and friends.


Elizabeth, our choir's soprano coach, and friend enjoying the wonderful bubbly floats. Got Dr. Pepper?? =)


Some of our guys clearly enjoying break time.


Here are two of our sponsors serving the Dr. Pepper floats...from buckets. Despite their containers, they were wonderful.

I hope you enjoyed part two of the festival pictures! I am on a roll now. Expect part three soon!

Paige