that alone place \\ thoughts

sometimes i just want to go somewhere wild and free. 
a high or secluded, quiet place where the wind blows, where the only sound is the rustle of leaves on the trees, and the call of a bird overhead.
where there isn't another soul in sight, and i can just breath and feel.
a rugged rock i can sit on, a deep canyon below, covered in a canopy of forest.
a blue sky with wispy white clouds. the fresh breeze tangling and fingering through my hair, brushing past my closed eyes.
just a special place where it's just me and God and nature, where my heart can be filled, where my lungs can breathe deep, where tears can fall free. 

there i think i could unfill and be filled. 
refresh, and get away from the world and all the man-made things and just listen to the comforting sounds and sights and feels of God's things.

a place to ponder, wonder, and ask.

{p.s. this song is beautiful}

CLASS OF 2018 \\ I Graduated

How weird is this? Little old me...  how am I almost an adult when I was just a kid a few years ago? I was still thirteen when we moved to the state I now live in. A baby teenager. And time. flew. by. 

Actually, time always seems to fly by, doesn't it? WHY ON EARTH DO I KEEP TALKING ABOUT HOW TIME FLIES BY THEN? *sticks out tongue* Whatever.

No matter how fast it came, I've arrived here, guys.

I graduated, 5/11/18.

Alongside the other seniors from my homeschool group, I put on my cap and gown, the blue honor cord my mom gave me in fine arts, and paraded up the church isle to my front row seat. I felt a little awkward, actually, so maybe I didn't "parade" up there. :P All those people watching me. Me, with that odd flat box on my head. *laughs* If you think about it, graduation caps are a little strange.

Anyhow, we all took our seats and the ceremony began. There were six of us graduates in all, and half of them gave a speech. My presentation was a slideshow of my photography; no more spotlight on me than necessary. *winks* 

We had a speaker, and he gave us a good message. I remember it was pretty good, but I don't recall much of what he said. If any, really... Nice, Natasha.

Finally, a slideshow of around 20 pictures of each of us played, along with the song of our choice. My song was Count That High by Jordan Feliz. Yes, I used that one. *winks* The verse I chose, also displayed on my slideshow, was Isaiah 40:31:

"but those who hope in the Lord 

will renew their strength

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint."

At last, it was time for us to receive our diplomas. On cue, I rose from my seat and walked up on stage, took my diploma with one hand, and shook the speaker's hand with the other. {that pic in the collage below is me receiving my diploma- I cropped out the other people in regard to their privacy}

After we all had our diplomas, we stood in a line on stage and pulled the tassels on our hats to the other side. Graduated. 

Ready, set, GO! Up went our caps! *inserts virtual confetti*

After that we had cake and finger food, and just hung out in the crowd of people {or on the edges, too}. Received the "congratulations" from people. Got some fun pictures holding an object that represents us. I held a camera, surprise. *smiles*

It was neat, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to have a real ceremony, alongside my fellow homeschool seniors! Actually, now we are homeschool graduates. Now it's time for us all to find our path in the real world. I don't think I feel that grown up yet, but I guess it's time to start figuring out what I'm going to do with my life. In any case, to start doing something worthwhile, somewhere in the right direction. *smiles* 

I don't know where I'm going, but if God leads the way it will be an amazing journey, I'm sure.

Even though I'm not running off to college or doing anything huge, this still is a pretty big thing. It may not seem like it for ME. But this kind of marks the real end to my childhood {even though I haven't considered myself a child for awhile now} and the beginning of adulthood. Let's see how I do on that. :P Wish me well!

Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoyed my post on this milestone I've reached! It was nice reliving my graduation experience while writing this post. ^___^

A few of my senior pictures!

CONGRATS TO THE REST OF THE CLASS OF 2018!!!

Professional photo credits to two photographers from my homeschool group. Please reserve all rights.

Let Me Explain Myself \\ Q&A Video

Hey everyone! This is my fourth and final Let Me Explain Myself post. This one and the last one are a little more like "get to know me" posts... rather than posts explaining the possibly confusing things I do and such. :P


Anyhow, the title of this post is pretty self-explanatory: I'm doing a video! This is a new thing for this blog, since I've only ever posted a couple baking videos. But I am doing a Q&A today, where I will be answering questions on camera. I'm using the questions Daminika gave me in the comments of this post. *smiles*

I've done videos with my sister before, but for some reason I cannot act very normal in those... I don't like myself that much in those videos. xP In THIS video, I went out into our old horse pen, in the trees... where I was all alone. That worked out well. I think I acted semi-normal. *sticks out tongue*

So I hope you enjoy this video! I think it turned out pretty well. xD

Oh, and let me explain something contradictory I said... I said I went in the woods "because it was quiet", and then said it was probably kind of loud with the birds. *rolls eyes* What I meant was I went out there because there wasn't people out there. So yes. xP



WHAT DID YOU THINK? SHOULD I DO MORE VIDEOS? IF SO, WHAT ABOUT? ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS YOURSELF IN THE COMMENTS IF YOU'D LIKE!



Looking for Adventure\\ Ramblings

  

  Do you ever just long to go on an adventure? I SURE DO. Sometimes I just want to explore, run around and be crazy... just do something adventurous, be myself, and live life!

   I hate being locked in my timid self- sometimes I want to break free and scream and be wild... or something. :D Yea... do I make any sense? So basically, I need to go on an adventure where I am myself and I don't have to be afraid to act free and crazy. 

  My ramblings of the day. ;P

  

    These pictures are some I took one day when I walked down to the big shop\shed at our house. Down by the wide, bare field. :) It's actually not been very cold these days. It's kind of an odd winter.

  I love the lighting in these pictures. I think the sun came shining out of the clouds or something.

 There's something nice about sitting by a field, with the wind blowing your hair... or something that sounds nice about it. That's what I was doing. ;) Maybe it's the feel of freedom! :D

   So since my older brother and sister have been here, I've taken over my younger brothers' room. ;) My two-year-old brother is still sleeping in there, though... that can take a little getting used to. His snoring and random noises while he's sleeping. Haha. ;P 

He didn't want to go to sleep one night. I told him to close his eyes, and he says, "I don't want to close my eyes, I want to open them." ;P  

Last night he woke up crying and trying to crawl out of bed or something. When I calmed him down, at least somewhat, he was saying something about spiders and bugs... yea. And then when I turned off the little salt light, he started yelling and crying that he wanted it on. ;P So I turned it back on. And when I though he might be sleeping again, and quietly turned the light off again.

" I want it on!"

It was so funny, I was half-laughing, or trying not to! :P But finally, he did fall asleep. ;)

Anyhow, just some random stories about the cutest little brother ever. ;D

  Daisy! Look at her, licking her nose... or whatever she's doing. Ears blowing in the breeze. ;) I edited this picture, by the way.

  I really like this picture. :) That's where I was, in this field behind "the shop".

  Anyhow, guys, I hope you enjoyed my very random post of ramblings and stories and pictures... oh, and all the selfies. ;P Haha. :)