jumble

It's been a pretty ok week.
Friday was a carol service at church and then I went out to eat with three friends which was a lot of fun! We had cake and milkshakes for dinner. At the Lemontwig Cafe in Ibn Batutta. (Yes, I know it's Limetree....we had a very hilarious time.)

sorry, it's blurry - Me, Chelsea, and J by the Christmas trees in Ibn Batutta =)



been drawing
I love this picture. Alice in Wonderland rocks.
curiouser and curiouser.


Sunday we went to the desert with friends visiting from Bahrain, but it was cut short by lack of a proper 4 wheeler to accompany us, as you need to have more than one car to go out. Was an adventure though and we broke one of the tow ropes haha.

We've been getting ready for Christmas...wrapping presents and I've been drawing lots of cards. It's still warm though except for in the evening when it's "cool." Kind of. Doesn't feel like traditional Christmas but this is home and it's still a Christmas.

Last night we sang Christmas carols in Safa Park with a bunch of friends.
People are arriving home from uni already! It's awesome.


Like the Actors - Eisley EP is out today! Go buy it on iTunes, you won't be sorry =)

love,
Cait

hm

We are seriously so spoiled here! Last night after volleyball we all just decide randomly to walk down to the beach. Why not? It was dark and we all just ran along on the sand goofing off and talking, looking at the Burj Al Arab lighting up and the houses on The Palm a couple miles away.
Earlier I'd walked with Lilybeth and Ash to the 'haunted house,' an old abandoned and vandalized villa, where we took pictures and crawled around it as usual. It's been a good place for several pranks over the past year.

Today a plan for going to the desert fell through but we put up the Christmas tree and had fun as a family, and are going out to dinner tonight (Chinese hot-pot) with another couple families from church. Tomorrow is paintballing! Eeee!

Yesterday was very "cracking" as Cathy would say - lovely British friend. After church we went out for noodles and Starbucks at Mall of the Emirates and had a really fun time. We always get into very deep conversations which is good for both of us. Getting us together it's impossible to avoid! Philip likes to come up to us and interrupt saying "and then it exploded and they all died in a purple cloud of smoke, and the conversation came to an abrupt end." =P

Then was volleyball and walking to the beach, and Daniel jumping (more like pathetically sliding) into the pool, and then I had a really good talk on the phone with Caylen, which I needed. I'm doing a lot better than I have for awhile, and am SO excited about this whole month!!

Right now I'm readying my first Blythe clothes auctions.

Hope y'all are doing well.

Cait

this blog

So, obviously I'm not much good at posting here, nor do I check it often at all or make momentous posts like Kyleigh or faithfully post pictures about life in Dubai like...I don't know who. =P

Still, I think I should keep it going for the sake that I started it - keeping up to date with us here in the UAE and you guys there in the US and otherwise, especially for those of you not on Facebook and Myspace, and since I'm getting worse and worse at replying to emails.

So, this won't die and I'll try to be better at making simple posts and putting up photos periodically.

Some recent events include -

Tach's visit from Doha and a bunch of hang outs in Sharjah.
(including 'Lilybef' and I attempting to play Guitar Hero)

Thanksgiving! hosted with a couple families at our house.
Michelle's 18th birthday party, 1920's themed. (it's just rolled up paper by the way ;)







Upcoming -
First desert outings of the year
Our first paintballing experience! Pray I don't...like...die =P
People coming home for Christmas!! =D
Christmas
Desert Challenge!
New Years
Christine, a friend from the states, coming for about 3 weeks in January to live with us and work on a project. Will be the first time a friend of mine (other than say grandparents) has come and I'll get to show her around. Pray we get along and don't get sick of each other! ;)


luh' you all,
Cait

P.S. Blythe still rocks.

Mademoiselle Butterfly

My Blythe is here =) I'm calling her Mademoiselle Butterfly but her technical name would be a petite Takara Blythe Shanghai Summer model. I'm hoping to start customising these soon.


If you are looking for something to read, try to find The Imager Chronicles by Bill Meyer. They are amazing. Kids fantasy allegory books but they are really powerful. Especially one of them - it ispired Soundless, the sketch/story I posted here recently.

The Portal
The Experiment
The Whirlwind
The Tablet

<3

...

earth.


not the pretty lights.


the speck.
pale blue dot.

.



like that. And He still died for us.

beauty in the breakdown

Boys Like Girls does a cover of an old Imogen Heap (Frou Frou) that's just exquisite.



Marvelous. *sigh*

We're going to Oman in a week over the Eid (Muslim holiday). I'm excited but wish my friend Elisabeth could come - she'll be in India that week.

Kyleigh and I have begun taking Irish dance classes with Elisabeth and her sisters. It's a lot of fun so far and I look forward to continuing. It's fun and is easy to practice often.



In peace I will both lie down and sleep for you alone, oh Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

transiberian orchestra

(they really rock; classically as well)


Goede midag,

I still have to wear the wrist brace on and off for two weeks and do excercises. Other than that it's definitely improving.

I've been trying to record songs I wrote quite some time ago but am having trouble getting the files to the proper format needed to upload them to my music myspace. Oh well...in time you will hear them...maybe...


There's a band called mewithoutYou that I've been really getting into lately. They are really raw and their lyrics are very metaphorical and profound. I just bought the album "Brother, Sister" and have been listening to it nonstop. If you like lyrics that make you think, this is a really good group for that.

sssiiiiiiiighhhhh.

soundless

Soundless

I.

I hate you.

I do not need you.

The words echoed across the harsh, jagged grey cliffs.

All was quiet for an eternity. Wind hollowly sounded around the precipices.

The air was oppressive with the discomfort of uneasiness and doubt. But there need be no doubt. He hated.

And then an answer came, like an earthquake.

YOU WILL KNOW.

And then silence fell, again. This time with real weight. Hate was very present.

Eons of soundlessness went by and it seemed that it would never lift. Empty waves undulated to break and then never did.

But then it broke, and he longed, cried, ached, for the silence to return.

There had never been such a noise, for there never had been any noise in this desolate world.

It was a bleak, brittle desert and there was black smoke in the air; its poisonous fumes suffocating and dense. Fire burned ferociously in the distance, drawing ever nearer; unquenched by water for there was none, and even if there were it would have fed its fury.

Time itself was different. Not because it was endless but because there was nothing to measure it from; nothing to measure it to. Nothing to wait for.

And the noise...it deafened, crashed, wailed. There was no end and there never would be. Rocks and boulders fell, flaming, shattering. Chains from all around and below clanged together, grinding out a condemning despair. All were condemned; all condemned his neighbor.

The land itself was full of malice, and impenetrable. Again metal ground against the stone earth but was deafened by the increasing sound that was louder than all the rest. The sound of weeping, crying, pleading, dying. The endlessly dug their own graves...and then began again. Always dying, never dying. The sound of hearts breaking.

This was life, this was hopeless, this was death.

There was no God.

II.

Death stood personified with every evil. His face was blank but full of expression.

All that was not good emanated from him. He was king, he knew no other. Tyrant, unopposed.

All lived to die, but death never came and their very souls craved and coveted it. They hungered for violence and thrived on it, yet envied those lives they ended. But what they ended still continued on in pain.

This would never end, this was all that had been and would be. Forsaken, accident, chaos. It didn’t really matter. There was no hope, for there was no God.

Pain seeped in through all the cracks and doubts of his mind. He reeled and screamed. It was a different sound than those fallen beings. It was realization, fear, and now despair; pride wrenched from his heart. He had refused, he had hated all that was beautiful, he had been punished.

I NEED YOU.

All-powerful arms wrapped around him unseen in deep love, and all was quiet.

Gift

III.

A girl stood on the edge of a cliff, her mind trying to drown itself in pain.

Remember what he said. Remember what you felt like. Remember the anger, and then self loathing.

It’s not my fault. It’s Your fault. Now it will be gone.

She took a step closer to the edge, shutting out all thoughts but those that drove her to this madness of desperation. She almost succeeded. Everything was a whirlwind of her mistakes and hopelessness. But then her maker spoke.

Why do you throw away what I have made beautiful?

Because I have corrupted myself. I was never beautiful.

To me you are.

There is no reason for this lie.

I made you!

Why bother?

Because you bring me great joy.

I know that I have brought no one joy...except perhaps now in my death.

Because you have thrown away.

What was I to do?

You ran away from me.

But You failed me.

You never trusted me.

Because you were not there.

I was always there.

Then what did you do? Show me. No one has ever shown me anything but themselves.

I gave myself.

No one would do that. It would be the opposite of humanity!

I am not humanity.

Humanity does not deserve it.

But I did still.

That was foolish.

It was because I love you.

Show me.

I have.

You are spirit, you feel nothing.

I FEEL EVERYTHING. And now will you.

III.

The cliff was gone. All that was her life now was a wide cosmic plain. There was nothing but deep blue emptiness in all directions. After wandering a long time across the peaceful space, words came.

I spoke with my maker.

She walked, pacing, unthinking, but in the back of her mind many things were pondered.

Years it seemed...years there were. It didn’t feel like time.

Suddenly a thought crossed her mind. It is me now.

From this time on she planned, anticipated, and delighted. She could love now.

After many more years had past in this other worldly plain, the day had dawned.

Come, she said.

And there they were, tall, beautiful, perfect, new. They could not see her, but they could hear her voice, and so she spoke with them often.

They paced side by side, although to them she was invisible. Hours on end they laughed, and she loved. She saw how unutterably precious a thing it was to create and throw oneself completely into living for another.

One day there was a splinter in the flawless world; another voice that came and went. It was a black voice, smothered in honey.

Come, it said, follow me and you will be happy.

We are happy, they replied. Our maker loves us.

You cannot see your maker. You can see me.

Blackness came into the plain.

They were entranced, and followed him.

Do not go, for he will harm you! she cried out. But they were distracted.

It will be fine, we just want to see him. I love you, maker.

I love you, children.

They followed him until they could see the blackness closely.

Now, he said, let me show you excitement.

We have excitement. We have all we will ever need.

No, this will give you the power to overcome yourself. You do not have that now.

Do we need it, maker?

No, child, she said. Please, stay.

We want to go, maker, they said, wavering.

You have a choice. But it will only bring you pain.

We will be fine.

They sped away, mesmerized by the blackness. Her eyes followed them. They came to a stream, and she saw that it held death.

Stay away, she called out. By this time they barely heard her.

You will feel like nothing you have ever felt like before, he said. You will be like your maker.

We just wanted excitement, they said.

This is more than you have dreamed of.

They glanced behind, and she screamed. Do not drink the water!

We will be fine, they answered. How would you know?

They drew closer.

No! she gasped. And spoke herself beside them.

Do not drink the water, she said.

What would you know? Get away. We want his water now.

She stepped between the stream and her beloved. The blackness loomed high. The expression of her creation had changed. Now they looked at her with disdain.

We don’t want you anymore. We don’t need you; leave us alone. It is our choice and we have made it.

She stepped forward, still before the stream. Their eyes bored into her and she would not give way. Arms reached out to grasp her and pulled her down.

No, she cried, I want to save you.

We don’t need to be saved, we can do it on our own. There is nothing to fear here.

I CREATED YOU. I love you. The water will kill you.

They laughed, and the blackness surrounded them all. Their hands hacked into her heart and penetrated her mind. The love they saw overwhelmed them.

If she is so afraid of the stream, why do we not put her into the water?
The blackness sweetly muttered its approval.

She gasped for air and the poison filled her lungs. Stepping out, she saw the looks of scorn and derision on their faces. She fell to the ground. Pain numbed and shocked every part of her soul and body. They had rejected her. What she would give her life for hated her with all that they were. This pain was worse than any physical dying tremor she felt. She knew what it felt like to give herself up and be betrayed by those whose very existence they owed to her.

The floor writhed beneath her as the poison did its work.

They stepped to the very bank of the stream. With her last strength she jumped in front of them and her whole length stretched across the water. The blackness covered them and vanished, as their eyes were opened.

Deep blue filled her mind as the girl woke by the side of the cliff. Her heart still felt as if it had been ripped open. She looked down and she was soaked to the skin, her body worn and pale.

She rose, and walked away.

Now I can live.

Combinations

Wrote this awhile ago. Really basic what-I-think-of-the-best-album-of-2007.

Now that I've listened to it nonstop since Friday and have most of the songs memorised, I feel I can describe it somewhat. It's your choice to read this so be prepared for a lengthy Eisley-praising session, though I'll try not to be biased, and also say what I don't like. =)

First of all, Combinations is a very good name for this album because so many of the songs are so different from each other and they've changed a lot since the old one. You can almost divide this record into several parts.
Stacy and Sherri's vocals and harmonies are still exquisite, and Sherri sounds somwhat less harsh than before (see Telescope Eyes) and you can really hear the glassiness of her voice. Stacy sounds as rich and sultry as before; she and her keyboard "own" this CD...And finally Chauntelle sings! Just a little bridge on I Could Be There For You, but it's very pretty. At the end of Come Clean, the whole band sings, including the guys.

Someone on their site says about their voices -
Stacy - peanut butter
Sherri - jelly
Chauntelle - the milk to wash it down
Kind of silly but it's a good description...

Ok, now song by song.

1 - Many Funerals
2 - Invasion
3 - Taking Control
4 - Go Away
5 - I Could Be There For You
6 - Come Clean
7 - Ten Cent Blues
8 - A Sight to Behold
9 - Combinations
10 - If You're Wondering

Many Funerals - I love this one! It's a lot darker and somewhat heavier than they usually do, and is quite sad...it's about someone who's grown up at sea and someone dies. "How could you have left us here, you had friends, had us, good bye...good bye...good bye..." It sounds kind of like a flood, but that doesn't really make sense.

And now they have no chances
They fill the empty caskets
And leave you with your tears
And, oh, now we take our chances
We all will take more chances
Before our lives end, too

Invasion - Based on the Invasion of the Body Snatcher by Jack Finney....the music video for it is amazing. The song is half mysterious, half panicked, half hopeful. "They will try to make us forget ourselves; one by one, one by one. You don't have to know the truth, if you believe it, I believe it too."

Taking Control - Really cool sounding...I don't like how repetitive the lyrics are but it's got awesome harmony and just a lot of the traditional-to-Eisley "ooooooh ahhh ooooh whoaa" thing which is lovely. (yes that sounds silly...it's not)

Go Away - Kind of sad but really cute song. With a lot of Eisley vocal weirdness, during the chorus....the high breaking voices. And the bridge is really neat!

I Could Be There For You - I think this is going to become an Eisley staple like Marvelous Things on the first album. It's got really good (again, somewhat sad) lyrics, and Stacy's voice is just wicked, as is Chauntelle finally singing. "Would someone please walk through with me? I've got nothing to hide, no where to be. Why do we have to come through here? Cause nothing leads me to you. You are nothing what you seem, you're always looking out for me, and I could be there for you."

Come Clean - I still love it of course but this is probably my least favourite on Combinations. Somewhat repetitive lyrics and stuff. But their voices are clear as usual and Stacy sounds especially good at the beginning.

Ten Cent Blues - My FAVOURITE song on the album....at first I just liked it because of the lyrics since I connected with them a lot, but then just fell in love with the whole song...Stacy at her best, and you can tell it's one of her writing as well as her voice, since it's so abstract. "Dear orthodox, I can't control my feelings. And who hit me? I just might be coming round the bush." *sigh* love this track.

A Sight to Behold - This song is evilly amazing. Again, heavy for Eisley. A lot of plain vocalisations. Cool lyrics. There's one point when the music stops and they hold one note for a really long time with a strong harmony and it's like WOW. This song's got power y'all =P
"Let's break the walls down and find how to live; cause you and I have so much to give"

Combinations - *sigh* Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. It has a lot of exotic instruments in it and is just really pretty. The verses, bridge, and chorus are all different in tune and words and it's so varied and lovely. Um, I cried the first time I heard it...
'Pass the evening, bring tomorrow
How could we know that night would bring us into daylight
Combinations all around us
Fill our heads with the love we've been feeling
For time long past.

I went for so long
And I was so wrong
And then I met you
And now I can't live without you
And I don't want to
I've done that all my life up till now"

And the best part, the bridge, which Stacy sings. "All the time darling now oh, all the time, now we'll have to make it up, we'll make it up oh, all the days darling now oh, all the days, now we'll have to make them up, we'll make them up somehow..." It's probably my favourite part of the CD, just that bridge.

If You're Wondering - A cross between a lullaby and a love song. Eisley has said "when in doubt of the meaning of a song, it's a love song" so that goes for a lot of them. This one is really light and melodic. "If the moon shines on you while you're sleeping; it will show you all that you're feeling inside. And if I'm wondering then you show me; if you're wondering, I know."


The whole CD is lush, breathtaking, metaphorical, and just beautiful. I love Eisley =) They started out by playing in their church's worship team, and then playing as a band in a coffee shop. And they are huge Starbucks fans (and self professed cereal addicts). All of them (especially Sherri and Weston) are hilarious, Stacy writes the most beautiful writer, and Sherri is my favourite artist and has inspired me a lot with her drawings. They're still somewhat of a struggling band but are working their way up there. They've been a band since Stacy was 8, and she's 18 now. She wrote the first song.


I hope I've convinced you to at least listen on their myspace =) But it's really bad quality and actually may be different recordings cause it doesn't sound as good.
with love,
Cait

Currently listening :

MRI

Hooi,

Last week I had an MRI on my wrist and the results came back ok, but there is still damage. Another appointment tomorrow.

Yesterday I saw No Reservations with Liz and Elisabeth...it was really fun and the film was so cute =) I love cooking movies. But we also had to say good bye to Tach, who is moving to Doha...that was sad, as always. Liz left today for Canada to go back to uni.

Today we began school. This year I'm doing Bible, Physics, Trigonometry, literature, history, and Dutch. I am loving Dutch so far and have been working on it with Dutch friends for awhile already.
This year is going to be immensely different from last year....it already feels so. In some ways that's great and in others it isn't....such as people being gone. I miss them a lot. *sigh* Such is Dubai. Being involved in the youth music team at church will be extremely different as well, since we'll have different leaders and that in itself will change things. I'm praying it will still be a good thing though.


love,
Cait

P.S. Combinations is amazing. I'll post my official review of it soon.

encouragement, wrists, and stardust.

Hello :)

Several things...

Wrist. - The physiotherapist confirmed that the triangular ligament was, indeed, torn, but also that several others along the wrist are as well, and one in the thumb, and near my elbow. The whole thing is really loose and if it heals like that then it will always be weak. So we're waiting for a brace to come in (so it heals in a shortened position) and I can't lift more than half a kilo. It'll take 3-12 weeks to heal. I have excercises to do for it in the meantime.



- Today after church we had an "encouragement session" which Ashley led. It was good, we prayed and shared about our summers....it was pretty unanimous ('cept for Shehan and Jarod) that we all had really tough summers. *sigh* But also have learned a lot from them.
- Then we went to Ibn Battutta mall for lunch, where Jarod utterly dissed homeschooling. We split up and some of us went to a movie while some went window shopping or something.
Liz, Mili, Ky, and I went to see Stardust which was a lovely film (don't take my word for it if you're in the states...it's somewhat edited here) apart from a few things. One of those fantasy stories that was funny with a lot of modern pop culture thrown in. I don't like that part but suppose it makes it funny? Hmm. But it was a really cool story. Liz and I are really hoping to see No Reservations together before she goes back to uni in Canada.

I may get to begin teaching ballet to our pastor's daughters =) My local friends have also been teaching me how to bellydance which is great fun.

God bless.
Cait

Eisley day

My friend Caylen kept telling me "Happy Eisley Day!" cause she knew how excited I was today =)
I'm listening to it now...once....on myspace...then I'll wait until my CD actually comes on the 28th with some friends who are still back in the states.

It's perfect. Beautiful. Lush. Amazing. Melodic. Haunting. Melancholy.



Other than that....

Yemen was amazing....I really enjoyed it. Wasn't sure how much I would like it, but I really loved the country. We had a lot of fun, and it was beautiful and so interesting. Parts of it were sad as well, to see how people live.


I've been hanging out with my local friends a lot which is a great thing.


Managed to sprain my wrist and it's still not better so I have physio AGAIN starting tomorrow in case of a torn ligament.


"Let's break the walls down and find how to live....cause you and I have so much to give."


Love and God bless

combinations

of emotions
actions
words
sounds
colours
melodies
stories
dreams
beauty
times

and of course there's always Eisley.

Now that I've got my sentimentalism and shameless Eisley advert out...
Today I am 16 =) No driver's license here for 5 more years, but I did get to drive around in a nearby parking lot. Desert driving is still more exciting, but as my grandma reminded me on the phone, street driving isn't meant to be exciting.
Funny though, the first thought when I woke up was "I'll never be 15 again" instead of "Yeehawww I'm 16!" Not in a...morbid way, just that I've been thinking, however many times in a day I long for things that may come when I'm older, the time we have now is a gift. It's fun to be 16. It's a time to use, as well.

One more combinations note - my wildness to hear the new album is about crazy by now. It's pushing the limit. The clips are so beautiful. Listening to a live acoustic version of the title track made me cry. Here comes he good old Eisley a bagajillion times improved.

Saturday we're going to Yemen for a couple days. Then my friends will start getting home from the states which is great, except that I've got some school to finish.
We painted my room =) It is beautiful. I was standing in it after everything was in place and just thought "...whoa...it's my dream room." Not something I ever expected to have. Especially seeing as I've never actually had a dream room in mind....

*sigh* days are long.


love,
Cait
p.s. go rent Facing The Giants and watch it. 'nuff said.

home in Dubai

Well, we did make it on all the first flights, praise the Lord! It was, again, a close call though. God has been so gracious in all our airport mishaps - there have been so many and so many possible ones too!

It's good to be in our own house, with Eeyore sniffing at everything and the warm (hot!) weather, and with friends again. Though many friends are away for the summer and many close ones have moved or are moving. That is a hard thingabout Dubai - people move around so much. A lot of teens don't connect much with others because they're afraid of getting hurt when their friends leave, but the youth group encourages people to build relationships anyway, which I think is a good thing. It can hurt, but it is still valuable.
A lot of teens I know hate Dubai, even though they don't really miss people in their home countries and even despite the malls andvarious things to do here (which you'd think they'd love, right?) yet all their friendships are shallow and surface level. Partly because it's just how they're used to things and partly because they are afraid to lose people.


My sister, Kyleigh, wrote a post on her blog that was featured on The Rebelution Blog, a blog I highly recommend. They hosted the modesty survey that I have advertised in my sidebar.


Been drawing a lot since we got home....(and Ky, droring is my word. Seriously. Thief.) and writing too, actually. I hadn't written for a long time....just short stories though. I'm better at them (and poems) than trying to do something longer.

As for what I mentioned earlier that's been really hard, I still don't want to explain it here, but it's still a pretty looming thought in my mind. Caylen and I had a good talk (and cry) together at game night tonight. But through it all, God is good.


Love,
Cait.

oh, P.S. I still have no idea who anonymous is. If I don't know you, nice to meet you, if I do, then I hope I'll find out who you are soon. And thank you.

going home

Tomorrow morning, Lord willing, we'll be on our way back to Dubai. Don't know if we'll make the first flight but I hope so!

We've just been in Leavenworth and it was nice. Swimming, hiking, shopping. Good.
I got to see my good friend Celisse, only for a few minutes but then we talked on the phone. She got engaged two days ago! The first of my friends to get married. I'm so excited for her!

In Leavenworth I found a peacock ornament that's amazing. And we saw peacocks at the zoo, which was pretty much the only reason I went. They walked around by themselves and everything so you could see their glorious coquettish arrogance wherever you went.

Today I read Othello. Although Ophelia is still my favourite Shakespeare character by far, Desdemona comes close. She is so tragic...the whole story is. It's worse than a bunch of good characters dying because there's a wonderful, good man who is corrupted by an evil one to turn against what's dearest and better to him. *sigh* I love that play. Oh, and Portia is cool as well, from the Merchant of Venice, though it's a comedy (tragicomedy). Just reread that one as well.

My friend Caylen has a song on her myspace called "Dear Angel" by April 6th. It's "wicked" as she would say. Apparently they're a new-ish band. Don't like their other songs though.

ok, tired. God bless.

Cait

Lua

First of all - who was "anonymous" commenting on my last post? ...And thank you.

The competition went surprisingly well!! I placed 1st in piobaireachd, 3rd in the SR and 4th in the march. Kind of the opposite of what I expected, if anything! Everyone was really kind, and we also got to see more of the dancing than usual which was nice.
As a family we celebrated birthdays - Hannah's late and Ky's and mine early. I received the Sense and Sensibility soundtrack, money, and a porcelain Celtic necklace. Oh, and I've finally bought MirrorMask (lovely film).

I can't wait to go hhhhoooooooommmmmmmmmmeee

but Sunday we're going to Leavenworth for 3 days, which I do enjoy.

Currently reading A Comedy of Errors again. Shakespeare is brilliant - and funny.
Dr. Grant, my history lecturer, always says "No one is fully educated until they have read, heard, spoken, seen Shakespeare."
Mark Twain once went to see a play by him and came out saying "I don't get what all the fuss about Shakespeare is, it was just a bunch of cliches." Very true.


Poor little Lua died.

I have nothing to do. Actually there's heaps to do but nothing I feel like doing. Still down.



How are you all?

love,
cait.

Washington

Hello!

Ok, the only reason I've not posted is cause the computer wasn't letting me and now it's finally figured out...or something.

Wellllll a lot has happened. We've been in the states for about three weeks (?) now. Homesick the whole time :( but it's been fun. The best part was getting to see Sara, Aubrey, Cabar Feidh, Alley, and loads of others. Then we went to the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, etc etc, which was lovely.
Now we're back in Washington (and I have a competition tomorrow - AHHHH) and Katie was here for a week which was amazing.

Oh, and I saw Pirates 3 and thought it was just as good as the first two, with less "bad stuff" even. Happiness of the ending was debatable but I liked it anyway. A bit of tragic romance is always good in a story, according to Anne.
Now though...something's happened that has significantly reduced my ability to have fun or think straight or anything. I'm completely overwhelmed. I'm not really going to talk about it, but I trust my dad (and know that the Lord has a plan). In this case, and so many others, I can't trust my own heart and need to guard it. That doesn't make it any easier, but still. But don't worry, God is good and I'll get through this better off than I would have been, I suppose.



Much love,
Cait

so I wrote to remind you somehow.

I love peacocks.
There's one in my wall collage.



Sugar and "Spice-Girls" (those of us who led worship at the conference)




Becky Lou Filip, my hero. One of them. Not a good example of her pictures but she's perfectly gorgeous and makes beautiful music.




Tonight is 'Dare to Ask' at Oasis...should be good. Several friends are going to be bringing nonChristian friends so we're praying their hearts would be soft to hear.

A week from today we'll be on a plane to America.... = (
jk; I really am excited. Just don't want to leave. This weekend I have to say good bye to some really good friends who are moving away while we're gone.
Buuuut I do look forward to seeing people. I know God has a purpose either for why I'm not supposed to be here or why I'm supposed to be there, at this time.



luh' you all

never let you fall

My favourite song. EVER

When I see your smile
Tears run down my face I can't replace
And now that I'm stronger I've figured out
How this world turns cold and breaks through my soul
And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one

I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

It's ok. It's ok. It's ok.
Seasons are changing
And waves are crashing
And stars are falling all for us
Days grow longer and nights grow shorter
I can show you I'll be the one

I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

Cuz you're my, you're my, my true love, my whole heart
Please don't throw that away
Cuz I'm here for you
Please don't walk away,
Please tell me you'll stay, stay

Use me as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill
And I know I'll be ok
Though my skies are turning gray

I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

- - Your Guardian Angel - - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus



Bradley Hathaway is amazing. Poet, songwriter, comedian, philosopher.

I WILL WINDMILL KICK YOU IN THE FACE

((karate chop!!))





No, he's quite nice. Just funny.



"Joe and Luke" are some good artists as well - they were back up singers for Rebecca St. James, their sister. Especially the song "Sane."
...you will be sane, you will be free...



And of course hellogoodbye.


But I'm still all for rock.




Candace is so photographable. As opposed to photogenic...which she is as well.



hmmmmmOasis tonight, yayyay. and desert on Friday, bigger yayy.



loves.

wow

Has been a long time since I've posted anything on here...
So sorry to all the people I've neglected in email; I'm way behind on that.
Msn is a disease, seriously. But a good kind. Inspires very random and funny or deep conversations.





It's been both an amazing and awful couple of weeks.

The week before Easter was loads of fun, I went out a lot to the beach, mall, Oasis, and then a desert campout. Amazing fun, with dancing in the car and singing and taking goofy photos...and the dune buggy out in the desert.
Then was Easter and we went to the beach and Dreamland water park. Again, amazingly fun.

But the whole time and the next few days were really hard emotionally, some of the hardest I can remember.
Now things are resolved and I'm doing even better than before.


Leslie, Lisa (visiting from England), Sharon, me, at the beach --

Nathan and "Stevie" doing their best oh-so-cheesy smiles in the MOE toy store --
We played signs in the middle of Starbucks. This is us all doing our sign against the wall --

Lisa and Aragorn in Virgin Megastore (gotta love that place ) --

patriotism?

I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.


I love this song.
It seems like no one in America loves their country anymore. That's a huge exaggeration - I should say mostly. Or hardly any teens, that is.
I talk to kids back home in the states and they don't have anything good to say about it at all. They blame President Bush for everything. They say they're ashamed of him and of their country, and if they're Texan they'll even say they're ashamed of their state for having been where this president was from (imagine a Texan saying that!?)


There are protests against the war instead of people supporting it. Although they're entitled to their opinion and protests, that shouldn't be ALL you hear about. Mothers campaigning against their own country, military, and president, because of their son dying in a war....does she forget what he was fighting for and that he believed in it?
The only people (living in America) that I know who truly show respect and love for it are my cousins (Navy brats like myself) and people from church. That's really sad! What happened to "I'm proud to be an American!"? What happened to supporting our military? - Whether you completely agree with what they're doing or not.
Because, granted, our government and its actions are FAR from perfect. No one could say otherwise. But they do their best...to guide our country and try to help other countries.
I personally know many Iraqi people. They are happy that America is in Iraq, that Saddam was overthrown, that their father and cousins and families back in Iraq are safe from his tyranny - or that he was punished for what he did to their brothers.
There are two sides to everything. But in many cases people fail to look at them.

In addition, the freedoms that make America and many other countries what they are, are the result of Christianity...but we're reverting to those things. Feminists loathe Christianity - yet the reason they aren't still under the ancient Roman law of Patria Potestas, wearing a face covering, being cremated with dying husbands, forbidden to speak in public, or having their feet tied in half, is because of Christianity. Why they can vote. Why we can do so many things - is because when America and other western countries were being founded, they were being founded on Christianity...and Christianity says that men and women were created in the image of God. Equal. But with very different roles.
Christianity also brought about the value of life (end of exposing, abandoning, killing, and aborting babies, gliaditorial shows, slavery, etc), and actual morals.
But now, abortion is largely legal. So is homosexuality. Feminists are going to extremes. Euthanasia is promoted. Our country[s] are going back to how they used to be....and you can tell.
Buuuuut that's a different subject.


Newspapers are filled with rebellions, protests, demonstrations.
Kids have "I hate Bush" posters on their myspaces.
They have it on bumperstickers.
They talk about it on TV.
They write songs about it.
They blame everything on President Bush.
They scorn soldiers.


This is generalisation...but it's still there. And I can't help but notice, cause it's so strange and sad.
I've never considered myself a very patriotic person at all. I don't know a whole lot about politics. I've always enjoyed traveling and living in other countries. I love Dubai; it's already home. But America is where I'm from and I'm not ashamed of that...though it's made a lot of mistakes, so has everyone, and there are good points too.


Why can't people see how what Mr. Bush stands for is good? What America stood for is good? ....or used to be. Why can't they see that even their little protests are making it revert to the place they would NOT fight for?

I love a lot of songs...I love music in general. And as I've said, Navy brat though I am and American though I am, I've never thought of myself as a seriously patriotic person. But nothing gives me the same chills as hearing The Star Spangled Banner.

There aren't many things cooler than seeing hundreds of people crying together at a 9/11 memorial service (not the fact of what it is...just that they're actually united, together!) or praising God at any simple worship service. Or seeing my uncle, Commander of his fleet in the Navy, in his uniform, saluting the flag, and saying "One nation, under GOD!" Under GOD. Maybe that's why it's changing....people don't like that. They take it out...they take it our of everything...and it's the foundation for everything. They're so blind.
America is just as much a mission field as anyplace else. And it needs it just as much as any place else. But people there tend to think they have everything and that they are everything and that they don't need anything immaterial.
I might not live there now...I might not live there again; who knows. But America is my country, by golly.


God Bless The U.S.A.
by Lee Greenwood


If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I'd worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I'd thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.



I posted this on my myspace and got an interesting response from a Kiwi friend, saying he knew what I meant and "Though I am proud to be a Kiwi I'm not necessarily proud of New Zealand" and that made a lot of sense...sort of what I'm trying to say.
That is, I'm proud of what the country was once built on and stood for, but definitely not all the decisions it makes now and the hypocrital and immoral people. I'm glad President Bush is against abortion and euthanasia and is a Christian, but I also think he could be more proactive in that. (again, I don't really know a whole lot about politics)
So, though the foundations and forefathers of America stood for something good, so much of that has disintegrated...which, strangely enough, is what the people who DON'T support America like! It's so mixed up. There was a great quote related to this in a book I'm reading, How Christianity Changed the World, that said -
"Christian ideals have permeated society untl non-Christians, who claim to live a 'decent life' without religion, have forgotten the origin of the very content and context of their 'decency.'"
-Josiah Stamp

They complain about silly things and do stuff about it, but we don't do anything. That's the sad part.

blah.

I typed up a nice, really long post the other day and saved it as a draft and of course....it's disappeared.

We've been having crazy fun times at youth group and had a guest speaker last week who spoke on purity. It was very good.
The trouble with my back had been because I danced for so long and then stopped really doing anything for exercise. That made it easy for it to get strained, and as a result the muscles in my back were all torn and inflamed. It was really painful, and made my back not quite straight at times. Now I'm dancing again and have had 6 sessions with the physiotherapst and am doing much better.

Daddy flies a lot and is enjoying it I believe, as he is also home a great deal. He goes to all sorts of places and sometimes brings back things for us...last time it was an awesome little table from Casablanca Morocco.

There's an artist on myspace whose music is very nice. Her name is Elissa Mielke and she's a young girl, model, and independent Christian/folk singer. She writes and sings and plays her own songs and they're pretty cool...
Her site

This is my favorite song by her:

Give me a chance

Give a minute

This is your day but I don't know

How you should spend it;

Give me your hand

I've got some money,

At least I think I do

I'll buy us a coffee

And you will

Say something funny;

And your eyes will get small and happy and laughing, and so distracting, and attractive

And I will be

Hopeless

And I will be helpless

And I will be smitten, absolutely taken with you, taken with you

And I will be hopeless

And I will be helpless

And I will be smitten, absolutely taken with you, taken with you

I won't want to be but I know you'll see right through me

You get to me

Give me a chance to show you how I'm worth it

I might be too sensitive

But I'm working on it

So don't you go before you're sure now

I think again I'll miss you somehow

So that you will be

Hopeless

So that you'll be helpless

And you will be smitten, absolutely taken with me, taken with me

Hopeless

and I hope you'll be hopeless

I hope you'll be smitten, absolutely taken with me, taken with me

Hopeless

You will be helpless

And you will be smitten, absolutely taken with me, taken with me

In some small way I think you see

What you really mean to me

I can try but I can't hide the truth

I'm so into you.


-I Will Be -Elissa Mielke

desert, dance, Anberlin, and back.

We had a desert campout with the youth group recently. It was amazingly fun.

I've started listening to a band called Anberlin. They rock. I also got a bunch of Disney songs today and they make me smile = ) "Paint with all the colors of the wind...."

I've begun taking ballet again! I had been thinking of doing kickboxing, but then I took an introductory lesson and discovered that it was a real combat sport, and I had been told otherwise...so no, I shall not be taking kickboxing lessons! It would be quite unlike me, anyway.
The ballet is at the Mall of the Emirates performing arts centre. The teacher also has a street jazz and hip hop class, but she's an amazing classical ballet dancer, and she even does the Russian style! This is great. She keeps the class entertained! She is hilarious. Sharmila sings, yells, and dances as she teaches! In addition to this, she literally spits on the ground! She spits on the floor in front of her, stomps on it with her foot, and says "let's dance!" However, the class is challenging and good. My muscles are still killing me four days later, which means I worked hard.
My back is improving slowly and next week I have one more appointment (since I've begin exercising again which is supposed to help) with the physiotherapist. Praise the Lord! We're just hoping it's alright now, cause if it isn't then that means there's something wrong with more than the muscles.


I don't have much of consequence to write, so I'll stop now. Good night and God bless!

Desert Challenge and My Story Night

Many things have been happening here with the church.

The three days right after Christmas we had something called Desert Challenge, where teens from all over the gulf came for three days to our church. It was a very powerful, fun, encouraging, crazy, and challenging time. Every day we heard speakers on the subjects "reach, keep, and empower." There were also different topics we could choose from to go to seminars for.
We played games, went to the beach, ate, talked, had long worship sessions, and a "no talent show."
It was great fun and impacted most of us a lot.
To me the most powerful message was the one "keep," where he talked about keeping and applying what we'd learned and letting go of things that were holding us back from giving every part of our lives to God.
After that I had a good talk with some friends and we decided to hold each other accountable.

Just this past week at Oasis (youth group) we had something called "My Story Night." About six of us shared about a struggle God had been helping us through. It was encouraging to hear others talk about their walk with God and relate to how they had been feeling.
Speaking in public is not something I am generally interested in or do well at, but eventually I started to think about it and decided to say I was willing to share. Just after that my well group leader called and asked if I would, so I was just like "Ok God, I guess you really want me to do this." I was glad to have a chance to talk about my (past) struggle anyway, to get it out, but at the same time it was quite hard since I hadn't really talked about it to anyone.
Others spoke about struggle with friends and with God, and the worship time fit very well. When it was my turn I was really uncomfortable, but as I began talking it was alright. I shared about the time about a year ago when, for a year I fought against feelings of inadequacy and physical self-hate, on the verge of an eating disorder, and how God brought me out of that before it got further, using Becca's talk at a BarlowGirl concert.
It was encouraging talking to people afterward, although we had to leave quite quickly.


I am so grateful for the youth group and church here....it has been a huge blessing and I have SO many awesome friends through it. They are so crazy fun!