A Quest FOR YOU!

Hello Readers!
I am in the need of your assistance to help me find AMAZING, BRILLIANT, STUPENDOUS, FAR OUT, WILD, LOVELY, and SWANK poems/readings/essays/quotes/talks or any snippets of writing that you love, were inspired by, laughed, cried, cherish or find yourself reading over and over again. I want to compile mine and your favorite writings on a blog (soon to be created...!!!) where others can feel free to look at and admire. I also want to take this blog a step further and create it into a "zine" where I'll continue to post things about me, my life, and little facts about me. You can send me your own personal writings or of someone published, someone you know or etc. Let the games begin! Thank you so much!

Please send me YOUR copy at:

herdyherd18@hotmail.com

or email me if you'd like to give me hard copy or a zerox print.
or post a comment of a link for a website, or questions

ITALIA!

Dear Italy,
I want you.
Love Kelsey.

(Courtesy of National Geographic Photographers)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Thank you for reading and for your support! I'm so grateful for everyone in my life who has helped me become who I am now, who has loved, encouraged, strengthened, aided, uplifted, laughed with me, and who's always been there with a hug and a smile. I'm grateful for my family and that they have never thrown me out of the house, although they might have wanted too.... and or my country and the rights and freedoms men and women have preserved. THANK YOU! Now let's eat!

Rats.

Lately, I've been trying to finish reading Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger: which I highly recommend. But instead of getting into the whole book, I'll just share my favorite passage that I found reading today. It explains my feelings over the past week and how sometimes the truth really does hurt.

"Dad asked, "You remember what the Lord said about enemies?"
In fact I did remember some passages about enemies. Once, sick of whinners, the Lord caused the earth to crack open like an old bun and a crowd of them fell right in. And how about that prophet Elijah, slaughtering four hundred priests of Baal in one afternoon? Then there were the twisted fellows of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the time before that when God killed pretty much everyone in the world except Noah's family. The Old Testament, boy, it suited me.
"Love your enemies," Dad said. "Pray for those who persecute you."
He would pick those verses.
"Rats, huh?" he said."

Well I just sat and laughed about how true that it and how Heavenly Father is trying to tell me that too. Except that my enemies aren't human. They are complaining, sarcasm, insults, gruffing, pity, idleness and the core of it all: not being grateful. What a great lesson to realize just hours away from Thanksgiving. I really do have a lot to be thankful for, its just hard not to add up your troubles and trials before you count off your blessings.
Dear sweet Marjorie Hinckley wrote:

"We are His children. And if we ever got that through our heads thoroughly, understood that completely, we would never do a small thing, we would never say a cross word, we would not use bad language, we would not criticize anybody, we would love everyone the way the Savior loves us."

I read that, and my heart drooped. Who was I to condemn anothers actions, when I looked not at my own? Who was I to complain? Who was I to be upset?
Well being frustrated at myself is something I'm an expert at. Then I woke up this morning and read this quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley. I sure miss him.

"My plea is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully in the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life, we "accentuate the positive". I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort."

What a slap in the face I got! I understand that this doesn't mean that I have to be perfect everyday in words and actions, but that I should and I need to be trying harder to do so.
What a lesson to be learned.

The Turks Got It.

I wonder what would be more harder: not laughing at how hilarious this is, or from thinking how much you'd want to do this too.
What skills.

A Feast for Your Face.... Ears?

Well: I might as well give your ears a feast of quality music.
So outstanding. I hope you know.

Who Knew Masks Were Desirable?

One day I'll be cool enough to play this on my solemn little viola (his name is Stanley)... well perhaps in the eternities...

Plus: for flavor check out the brilliant masks!? Insane. Lovely.

Just A Little Bit.

Perhaps with the lack of sleep Friday morning (I saw HP 7...) with a little bit of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph W. Emerson, lately you could say that I've been an emotional wreck. One second life is bliss and the next I'm crying because of a dead elf, or I'm crying because of the pressure that will await in the future and wallowing that I'm a lazy lass who really needs to clean her room. *Note: that it is 11:01 and I've been procrastinating my laundry that REALLY needs to be washed by tomorrow and how I'm lounging in my bed that currently is toppled with clean clothes, a viola, HP 7, unblowed-up balloons, ribbon, and my french packet.

I don't however want to vent about my current issues, but my current understandings.
I don't think I'll be able to relate everything though at this time, but I might as well start by telling you a tad about myself. I'll give you a sample of 5 facts underneath me, starting with a BIG fact to the little quirks

1. Well first things first, and the first thing you should know is that I love mainly everything. Its hard for me not to like something, unless you're yellow corn, breaded shrimp, Navajo tacos from school cafeterias or books about vampires. I'm not only talking about food, but people as well. I'm just so grateful that I've gotten the chance to have met you, or in this case be your friend. I believe that we all as human beings have the heart, mind, strength and spirit to help and encourage one another. No one is too small or too busy to give a helping hand and that is, by being a friend.

2. One secret about me, is that I secretly wish to be in a play and from there Broadway. I absolutely love plays and musicals, and I love singing. I have not had the opportunity or the guts to try out for a play or to take a choir class. I'm not a very good singer or dancer and I have no idea about acting. But when I see plays or musicals I just get the thrill of the performances. It just looks fun. Perhaps one day....

3. Yes. I love tucking my pants inside my socks. Its cozy and keeps the draft away. If Cameron Diaz can do it in The Holiday, and if Ash from Fantastic Mr. Fox can. Then I can to. (I'll post pictures.)

4. I think my new favorite color might be red. This is new because for ages it was always various shades of blues. But now, I think red just might be it. I think it compliments things nicely and I love how it brightens and pops just a bit of spice into life.

5. I might as well give you a history of things I have wanted to be when I was younger.
- an artist (4-8 yrs. old)
- a singer (yes, Brittney Spears was once my role model- 4-8 yrs. old)
- an ick-thi-ologist (no idea what it was, or how its spelled, but it works with marine life 8-10 years old)
- a teacher (7-13 yrs old)
- a librarian (8- present)
- an astronaut (7-11 yrs old)
- a firework builder (7?)
- a food tester (9 yrs. old)
- a chief (11-14 yrs. old)
- a clothing/fashion designer (9-11 yrs old)
- a soldier (8 yrs old. I had an obsession with camo in 2nd grade. Hey, it was cool)

Currently I want to be a photojournalist/humanitarian/anthroplogist/ working with refugees and international developments while being a mom and a librarian, married to a German violin/viola/cello maker who plays the cello who is a part time doctor (can come with me on humanitarian trips) who loves reading and has a heart like Gilbert Blythe. It wouldn't be bad if he could also play the piano since I cannot and if he could sew or knit. Oh and also be a Mormon who has a good testimony and wants to get married in the Draper Temple, the Nauvoo Temple or the Rome Temple. Give him my condolences. :)

And to top it all off here is my current favorite quote of the week:

"A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish it by acting"
- Henry D. Thoreau

So my dear friends, I'm challenging YOU this week to write down the facts of your life and share them with someone who might not know you as well as you'd like or think. Pick something you want to share with others, give them a gift to be thankful for: you.

If There Was No You by Brandi Carlile

'
I love this song. I just heard it about 15 minutes ago watching "Great Migrations from National Geographic. I tried to put up the video that they played but the it was faulty. Enjoy!

Let the Games Begin!

Alright! I got my new template picked out, at least for now. I hope that I will be able to keep you all updated about me, and I want to add a little bit more about what makes me, me. I can't wait to begin!

Improving Blog Improvements

Dear readers!
I'm laying out a new template- and it's not this one currently being displayed. I just spent 10 minutes getting a more swank set up for The Littlest Herdman- but blogger.com said that it had a problem and to try again later. This is not my new layout so be not afraid!
Thank you so much!

p.s. Here is a random thought: if you ever are in any kind of mood making cupcakes is always a good thing.

All About Your Heart - Mindy Gledhill - feat. Fiona Brawley

Just the joy of the dancing soul.

Mindy Gledhill - Anchor

This is just BRILLIANT! I love the piano- and the graphics! Just a little slice of sentimental bliss.

CHRISTMAS TIME!

Today in orchestra we got new music. CHRISTMAS music! Is there any other time of the year besides Christmas where it seems everyone around you is freezing, sick and yet JOLLY? Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love it MORE than my birthday, MORE than Halloween, MORE than Valentines day, MORE than the good ol' fourth of July, and MORE than New Years. No wonder Winter is my favorite season.... :)