This one is kind of for Suzy's benefit... :)

I'm getting this as soon as ever I can!

Actually, not just this one, but its mate too!

;P

Hi Peoples,

Gosh it's been FOREVER since I posted...!!!

Three days ago I got a job! I now work at an Inn in a small, tourist-trap town called Bird-in-Hand. Don't ask me why it's called that...it's Amish, and they're kind of odd...but cool anyways.
I am a housekeeper, and the place has a *TON* of bedrooms!!!! And a lot of stairs too... ;-P Needless to say I'm getting my exercise.

Um...my best friend...yes, she's reading this...is coming in 4 DAYZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm...excited maybe?!!!

*so happy*

x's and o's to all of yous!

Keep Your Mind Wide Open

This song has been going through my head for the past few hours.
If you haven't seen the movie Bridge to Terebithia, you should.

Book Giveaway...

Hello friends,
Enter in this book giveaway, hosted by my good friend, Miss Pickwickian, on her blog The Erratic Muse!
She told me about this book personally, and I *really want to read it!*
So, entrance is pretty easy! :)
Enjoy and God bless!
- Aisha

Book Giveaway!

The time has come!

The Book: The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction by Jeff Gerke
Value: $15.29 (based on Amazon)
When: August 21st-September 10th
How to Enter:
1. Comment on this Post
2. Become a follower of The Erratic Muse (or already be one).
3. Post about the giveaway on your blog
4. Post the giveaway in your sidebar on your blog
Each time you do one of these comment on this post.

More about this book:

My Review

Some Quotes from the Book

Amazon Reviews

About Jeff Gerke

Back cover...

"Jeff Gerke is so full of great writing advice that you just want to beat him up."
~Randall Ingermanson, "The Snowflake Guy"
Artist and Craftsman--as a Christian novelist, you're both.You know the soaring creativity of the Creator and the serious discipline of the artisan. And you feel the impulse to excel in each.
So grab a steaming mug of your favorite hot drink and come learn the art and craft of Christian fiction from one of its master teachers.
You'll learn:

• How to find your story amidst all your ideas
• How to bring your characters onstage the first time
• How to convert your telling to showing
• How to handle profane characters in Christian fiction
• How to use the dumb puppet trick
• How to write for the (approving) Audience of One
• And much more.

The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction is the complete school of fiction from Jeff Gerke, popular writer's conference teacher, professional book doctor, and Christian novelist. It includes and expands upon his influential Fiction Writing Tip of the Week column at WhereTheMapEnds.com.


If you have any more questions, feel free to go ahead an contact me. My email is Pickwickian.Forever(at)gmail.com

I am very eager to get this book in the hands of more aspiring authors!

Please tell your friends about this giveaway! Spread the word to the writers for the world.
And thanks for participating,
Miss Pickwickian

I saw this on a friend's Facebook page...realized I'd really needed it.
Enya, Wild Child
One of my favourite of her songs.

oh and i ate a fresh peach.
fresh peaches are the bestest ever. :)

Sha la la la la...i miss you

rain in summer is my favourite.

funny,
walking alone through town,
fall fast approaching,
thinking of you,
so far away
missing you,
this year the same as last...

walking through the park,
trailing my hand in the river,
running barefoot through rain-soaked grass,
the bottoms of my pant-legs hanging soaked and heavy against my ankles,
fresh-cut grass clinging to my feet,
i got lost on the trails in the park,
i forgot where i was going,
why i was going there,
you weren't there,
so i talked to a deer,
i miss you.

vividly lovely,
i tipped my head back to see
the lavender dusk sky just beyond the forest leaves,
i listened to the cicadas singing their high-pitched song,
lulling my senses to sleep.
i missed you.

then the sky turned blue like jazz
then the stars winked at me through the treetops
then the fire died down to embers
then the night deepened and loneliness clutched my soul
i miss you


The world is Trouble...and Grace.
That's all there is.

May It Be

Seriouslyverybeautiful song! I know, it was originally done by Enya, but I like Hayley's version better.

I was going to post something about how I went to a church picnic, and after ice cream it started raining. Then it rained some more, and shortly turned into a wild and wonderful storm, and most of the young girls and I went and got soaked COMPLETELY and laughed and had a very merryjollywonderfulamazingblissful time in it. But I couldn't put it properly into words, so I posted this video instead.

Oh btw! I have work! I work for a Bed & Breakfast. :) *happiness*

Enjoy!!

~aisha

It's really hot lately. Every time I go outside I feel kind of like I'm melting.
Iced coffee really helps me feel more capable of bearing the heat. Or maybe it's just the cool fluid in my stomach that makes me feel less hot. Yes, that's the more logical conclusion. (but who ever said i was logical? hmm...i like to think it's the coffee. ;) )

I reread over a poem i wrote a few months ago, and it was super sad, and i watched a super sad movie, which made me cry, and then i missed everything that could be...that was...that should be...
so i called Beka, told her everything, and she made me laugh...
so this is to Beka, my soul sister.
Thanks for making me laugh.
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

every time i think of you....today was a fairytale

rain in summer...

a cup of coffee, a fried egg, a piece of toast,
and Prince Caspian.

a day to exist, or a day to *live*

I lived.

the rain came pouring down.
this is not like summer. rain isn't supposed to be here in summer.
but it is. and i love it.
so i went to the park. (who does that? seriously, am i just crazy? please say i am!)
the river was flooded, and mudded (hah! i made a rhyme!),
but the fields were green and inviting, and the sky poured itself out,
so i walked until my clothes were soaked.
then i walked some more,
until my skin was too.
and i kept walking,
until my hair was a waterfall.
and i might as well have dived into the river..
but i didn't.
i just walked.
and i danced.
and it rained.

and the next book i opened said this:

" 'How long, Lord, must I wait?'
'Never mind, child. Trust Me.' "

One good thing...

I have a very amazing younger brother, and as the months and years go by i regret that we were such pills to each other when we were younger.
he's generous, loving, caring, sympathetic, FUN! (i didn't used to think so, but now I know)
God is working amazingly in his life, and I rejoice to see it.
Alan seems unperturbed by trouble.

"The world is Trouble..." someone said, to which Alan, if he knew who said it and what else he'd said, would immediately follow with the rest of the sentence, "...and Grace. That's all there is."
That's sort of Alan's attitude, though he really doesn't know it.

xo to alan xo

<3



...other than that he's kind of weird... ;)

summertime! (and i miss you)

i have discovered great virtues...

iced coffee is seriously the only thing i drink these summer days.
besides water, of course.

wet seal is the awesomest store ever. :) my soul sista and i went, and found more lovely things at wet seal than at heritage 1981, old navy, american eagle, forever 21, banana republic, h&m and urban outfitters together.

i went to the beach with a bunch of friends, and found myself listening to Skillet and the like, on the trip home, around midnight, because the driver of our bus would have fallen asleep otherwise. interesting music, Skillet...

Stepping Heavenward is the book I've found myself most thoroughly engrossed in so far, this summer. If you have not, you really ought to read it, especially if you are human and sinful...

i never used to think summer was so much fun! i used to be so in love with autumn and the falling leaves, falling rain, fall season, that i forgot to even notice the glorious things that summer could hold...

beautiful things all around me everywhere. i hope i can open my eyes to see them, and not dwell in the pain that threatens to undo me.

like...just how much i miss my soul sister.

we did have so much fun together for the five days that she was here! it makes me happy and sad at the same time to think about it.

this is me trying to focus more on the *happy* than on the sad: :)

this is me sort of not really succeeding with great satisfaction...
... :) ... :(

um...

this is a me that needs sleep...
zzzzzzzzz

Beka Conser has been here since last Thursday, and I have never been happier since I left Oregon, around 4 years ago.
She's leaving tomorrow, but I have determined not to think about it until she actually goes. Nevermind that there is just a huge ache hiding deep inside that is just waiting....

We have been looking at pictures of old times and happinesses. It's absolutely wonderful.

In short...

I MISS HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

one instant

Sometimes my heart catches a beat,
and tries to hold onto it,
because that beat holds a memory.

it's gone now.
but i saw it.
i saw the gold.
i saw home.
just once.
just for an instant.

like a picture of something precious.
fleeting.
moving.
memorable.

something in the light.

yes. it's the light.
so rare.
but so full.
for one instant I feel like I've seen a long lost,
long loved,
dearly remembered friend.
for an instant.

and they smiled at me.
we shared a secret memory.
then they were gone.

and once more
i am searching.

Um...I really *really* want to write something, but there has been little or nothing inspirational these days. I've been busy making dresses for the past two weeks, and some dancing. Yes. Swing dancing.
The other day *something* almost made its way onto the page, but it was confused, and it wasn't the time for it.

Crazy things are happening around here, and I'm not going to NSA this Fall. :(
I'll illucidate further when I have the time. Right now I must be off. Dresses to finish, feast dishes to concoct, errands to run, brothers to transport, houses to clean, coffee...etc...the life of an only daughter. :)

Love to you all!
<3

"i want to laugh about everything that *could* be,
instead of cry about everything that *is*"

brother

I saw him smile again today.
for the first time in months.
yet i could see the stoop of his shoulders,
the weight on his heart,
the sorrow resolutely held at bay.
and i cried inside for the pain he suffered.
and i looked at him,
as though i could never see him enough.
his eyes are more brown than they used to be.
and i missed him again,
more than before.
and i prayed.
a silent prayer,
while he scrutinized me,
and tried to read my eyes.
i tried to tell him,
with silent words,
that i love him.
that i miss him.
that i wish he was himself again.
that i know his hurt.
that i bear his pain every day.
but i don't know if he read that.
i don't know if he believes me.

rain...

I really want to write poetry...but my poetic brain seems to be too tired...if anything comes tonight i'll be sure to put it up within the week.
it's pouring rain, and very warm, so i have my window wide open, and i'm listening to the beautiful sound of rainfall on the city. it's the only time i ever love the city...at night, when it rains.

"there's something about the way the street looks when it's just rained: there's a glow off the pavement..." -taylor swift


"let the rain fall down, everywhere around you.
give into it now, let the day surround you.
you don't need a reason, let the rain go on and on." -enya


"ohhh, remember when it rained.
in the water i remained." -josh groban

"in the rain, the pavement shines like silver; all the lights are misty in the river." -les miserables (musical)


"unleash your fury, fill the sky.
let your clouds explode, go on and cry
your tears of mercy,
give me time.
unlock your winds and let them blow,
let your lightning strike, your thunder roll:
come on rain!" -steve holy

"Lord, when i get to heaven, can i taste the milky way?
i don't wanna come to visit cause i'm coming home to stay.
and i can't wait to see my family and meet Jesus face to face.
and do you think, Lord, you could use another angel,
to help pour out the rain?" -buddy jewel

"if it's going to rain, i hope it pours." -george strait

"in the city in the rain, among the beautiful lights.
in the city in the rain i think i'll dance all night." -the 6ths

Did you...?

Did you see the moon?
it shone so bright on my floor...
i wanted to talk to you,
but you were gone.

Did you hear the wind?
it blew so gently through my window...
i tried not to think of you,
you were gone.

Did you feel the calm?
it lay so quietly upon my covers...
i cried because i missed you.
you are gone.

 © Aisha 2010

happiness today...

_instead of writing an essay, i took a walk. I took it to a book shop, and left it outside while i browsed, buried my nose in musty old books and inhaled their rich odor, filled with memories of bookshelves gone by. i picked up my walk again when i left the book shop, and took it toward Lancaster proper. (in other words the busiest part of Lancaster).

_i glimpsed the familiar faces of friends about town as they went about their daily lives...

_i randomly met an acquaintance on the street, and we decided to have coffee together, and talked about things. random things.

_making new friends (two of them, today, in fact)

_i sniffed the faint, sweet fragrance of a magnolia tree blossom, with the knowledge of Spring in its petals, in an old church courtyard, and smiled

_i saw a friend's face light up in recognition when she saw me, then continued about her life...

_gathering with young people intent on God. and learning, and laughing, and loving with them.

_singing with the music in my car, and remembering the happiness of the day.

William Butler Yeats

Had I the heaven's embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,

I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

~ ~ ~

I especially like the last stanza.

Thanks for reading.

- aisha

I finished reading The Silmarillion today!
I've been reading it for a few years now. I feel as though something has been accomplished.

Thought I'd put this up. It's a lovely song.

Nickel Creek - When You Come Back Down



Thanks for reading!
- aisha

The Prayer of Saint Patrick

Christ be with me.
Christ within me.
Christ behind me.
Christ before me.
Christ beside me.
Christ to win me.
Christ to comfort and restore me.

Christ above me.
Christ beneath me.
Christ in quiet.
Christ in danger.
Christ in hearts of all that love me.
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

Whisper

It helps to read this one when the sun has gone down and twilight is deep around you.. It's not the same in the brilliant sunshine.


Bare trees standing stark
against a deep blue sky.
Time moving slow,
into the dark.
In breathless silence,
twilight waits.

© Aisha 2010

Quote of the day.

But God is the God of the waves and the billows, and they are still His when they come over us; and again and again we have proved that the overwhelming thing does not overwhelm. Once more by His interposition deliverance came. We were cast down, but not destroyed.
~ Amy Carmichael

Fall

Vulnerable, disappointed.
I'm strong.
But now I want to break.
Please let me break?
Please, I just want to fall apart.
I need to be home.
I want to be home for you.

Falling.
Please let me fall apart.
I'm strong to catch you,
But not strong for myself.
Can I just fall apart?

I've heard it said,
that
there's angels
on their way.

Angels...

Please!
Don't leave me behind.

Let me go home!
I want to go home.

I need to go home!

I'm so alone.
Please, take me home.

© Aisha 2010

Silent Monks Hallelujah Chorus

Wings

High on the steeple the black raven stands
Watching below with beady bright eyes.
Seeing the pain in her heart, in her hands,
Hearing her loneliness echo in sighs.

The night winds blow over, scattering mist,
While moonlight shine softly, yet bright on her bed.
She sits and he watches her pale features twist
In despair unexpressed, in pain never said.

She moves in the shaft of the moonbeam so bright,
And a glinting of silver he spies in her grasp.
Her tears are fast-falling, like diamonds of light,
Silent as the steel of the knife that she clasps.

Too late does he realize her darkened intent.
Too late does his warning cry ring to the skies.
Fear, Longing, Despair to her willpower lent.
Her soft hands are limp, as bleeding she lies.

He soars to her window and raps to get in.
He beats with his wings on the time-darkened shutters.
But no answer, no movement, no sound from within.
No sign that the once faithful heartbeat yet flutters.

Still is the night, though bright shines the moon
On the Raven, the Church and the girl no more weeping.
Her life, once the light of the sun at high noon
Now pale, and at peace, and for ever is sleeping.

© Aisha 2009

 ~ ~ ~

My Dear Readers,

Be not alarmed when you read this, that it in any way reflects my state of being.
I have never been suicidal. I wrote this one night when the moon was shining bright on the housetops and the church across the street, and Edgar Allan Poe's raven, and the Eagles from The Hobbit, and the walk I had taken in the forest, where the crows were flying in masses, were all sort of playing in my head, and the moonlight was really bewitching.
So pray, examine it for literary reasons, and tell me what you think! :)

Thanks for reading!
- Aisha

I bless the Lord.

I have been stressing out all day, and sort of forgetting that God is in charge. My SAT is approaching way too fast, and I really feel very inadequately prepared for it. Not a good feeling. Makes me irritable, and more than once today I've been sharp with my brother, impatient with my mother, and not bothering that anybody else is also human and needs kindness. Selfish much?

Then I hear this song, or one from the same album:


Running out of my bedroom to tend something in some other part of the house, or bent over my books, my mind spinning rather like the fan in my laptop, trying to work and cool off at the same time, and usually just overheating until I close something that's sucking too much CPU! Then this song comes up in my iTunes playlist, and, whether I'm running, or spinning, or thinking, or just stressing--for a moment, I stop.
For a moment I am still.
For a moment, there is silence.
For a moment I hear a still, small, sweet voice reminding me of who is in charge. And I say a prayer, for anything, whether it be strength, faith, courage for myself, or healing, endurance, provision, patience, etc., for a loved one.
And for a moment I can breathe.
For a moment I have peace.

Until the next thought catches me and I'm running, or bent over the books, or any one of the many whatever-I-need-to-be-doing-right-now things.

If it weren't for these fleeting moments of stillness, I think my head would fly right off.

~ ~ ~

Psalm 46:10

"Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted in the earth!"

(including exalted over my SAT!)

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

I heard a bird on Presidents' Day,
Outside my window, in a snowy way.
His tweets were joined
   by other birds',
They twitted and chirped
   their birdy words.
It seemed as though they tried to say
"Good morning! Wake up! It's a beautiful Day!"

© Aisha 2010
~~~~~

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in Him."
~ Lamentations 3:22-24

Psalm 130:5-8

^{I think this is my favorite passage in the Psalms.}

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

Diguised

Laughing into the face of the sun,
Dancing in the rain,
Smiling when I look in your eyes,
My heart bleeding on in vain.

I even hide it from myself:
I tell myself I don't love you.
But every day I miss you more,
And every night I think of you.

Just watch me shine. I'm all alive!
The joy of the party, the song of the dance.
I sparkle in youthful merriment,
I glow in carefree romance.

I look like I don't have a care,
I know no pain, I fear no hurt.
But deep inside and hardly known
I ache for your smile, long for your heart.

I'll never leave, or turn away:
Loving across a wide expanse.
And smiling as you walk away
To live your life, I'll watch you dance.

I'll never show, you'll never guess
The wound you made that will not heal.
Nor perceive the love you just passed up,
The joy we might have made so real.

'Cause I'm smiling into the face of the sun,
Dancing in the rain.
Laughing when I want to cry.
Singing to disguise the pain.

© Aisha 2009

I think I'm on the verge of a dream realization.
And it positively thrills me.
I have told one or two of you, but now, it will out. :) I cannot hold it in any longer.
I have been taking counsel, gathering information, discussing, and praying like crazy, and now, I believe I have decided.

I.
Am.
Going.
To.
NSA!!!!!!!!!1

I swear my life is turned entirely upsidedown! In a good way.

Um...NSA stands for New Saint Andrews, by the way, for those of you who may not know.
It's a Classical Christian college in Moscow, Idaho, and...I'm excited.
I am endeavoring to make it this fall, but I don't know if I'll be able to. (Of course, it all depends on whether or not they accept me. I hope with all my heart that they do!) I don't have a job at this moment, which fact makes me kind of sad. But I am seeking one, and I am actively trusting the Lord to provide.

So. That is my bit of news for the day.
Your prayers would be muchly appreciated.

*happiness*

Legions of angels guard His people. You just can't see them.

2 Kings 6:15-17

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him,
"Alas, my master! What shall we do?"
So he answered,
"Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
And Elisha prayed, and said,
"Lord, pray open his eyes that he may see."
Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Home.

I'd look out my window,
at the trees,
at the clouds,
at the grass,
at the rain,
at the mountains,
at the wind...

...and it was golden.
Golden like the gates of Heaven were ajar,
and the light of the golden streets was reflected into the atmosphere.

© Aisha 2010