My future is...here?

I have recently come to the realization that, if I chose to, I could get married.

Right now.

This very minute.

Good thing I'm not an idiot right?

SMILING is my favorite

Congratulations - we want your money!

Getting mail is one of the best treats this world has to offer. I love to open up that mailbox, stifle through the junk and the poo and pull out a beautiful, handwritten letter addressed to "Miss Madeline Marie Powell."

Getting mail is also one of the worst things this world has to offer. Especially if that mail comes in the form of bills, due slips or anything really having to do with the need of money. Such as college recruitment mail.

It's funny how EVERYONE suddenly wants to send you mail when they discover you're a senior. And by everyone, I mean every college. And funny how they always leave out of their papers the cost of everything. "Come to our school! You'll love it! We'll help you become rich and famous...and we'll steal 50% of that money along the way!" Sounds great, doesn't it. Funny how EVERY school seems to think that I'll be the greatest addition yet, and that I'm "one of a kind" student...including some little place in the middleofnowhere, Ohio. Sounds like a great city. Funny how all these schools seem to want me, yet not of them want to tell me how in the heck I'm going to get there, pay for anything or even survive through the first week. They just say "Come here, give us your money, and you can figure out the rest later!"

Good think I've already figured out the rest. Sorry Valley Christian University, but I've got my sights set elsewhere.

Just got a letter from ASU in the mail today. Opening line..."Congratulations, you're a senior!" No duh ASU. And no - I won't apply for your school. Deal with it.

Another day in the life...

It's been quite some time since I've written in my blog, but life as been busy for me recently, and I've found next to no down time to sleep let alone ramble on about my life for much longer than is wanted! I know, I know - you're probably saying right now "Life's always busy for you! Nothing new there!" but these past 9 weeks have been especially busy for me! I took it upon myself to get involved in the school this year, more so than I have in past years. And yes, I fell for the whole "It's your senior year, go for it!" thing like, 2o times already. In past years, I have been involved in Key Club, NHS and Orchestra Council. NHS has meetings once a month, and back in the day we only met for Key Club twice a month, and orchestra council whenever we remembered we were still in it, so I didn't have many lunch meeting, nor responsibilities to uphold for my offices in these clubs. Life was nice. Life was easy. Since then, I have joined German Club, Christian Club, Art Club and Cross Country. I am now also the Historian for Orchestra Council, German Club and Key Club. Our new Key Club president (Angelee - you're doing GREAT!) Has Monday officers meetings weekly, Tuesday Club meetings weekly, and usually at least one - if not more - service projects planned for each month. German Club meets almost every Wednesday (sometimes on Monday if Wednesday doesn't work out), Orchestra Council and Christian Club both meet on Thursday - sometimes the same week, sometimes not, which means I often have to chose between the two meetings...usually I go to the one that's providing food :) Friday is usually my day of, unless I have a Seminary meeting our am asked to attend the ICE meeting. This last Friday - I represented 4 different clubs at the ICE meeting! Haha, anywho - my school life has gotten pretty busy! Because on top of all these lunch meetings, I have cross country every day either in the morning, after school or in the early evening - I have Art Club after schools on Tuesday or Thursday (depending on the week) - I often have rehearsals after school for orchestra and/or choir...and to top it all off, I still have 7 classes a day, all honors but one, 2 AP classes, and all of my teachers think that their class is the most important thing in my life - so naturally, I get homework every day for hours on end. And this is just the school stuff! I have cello lessons every Wednesday, a MCC class every Thursday, Mutual every Wednesday night, Piano lessons on Saturdays, Family Night on Monday, and I babysit almost every week in a desperate attempt to earn money!

And yet, despite the fact that I don't sleep, my diet consist of Ritz crackers and slightly polluted air and I spend all my "down time" studying for the ACT and applying for colleges, I LOVE MY LIFE! Senior year is proving to be the most fun I've ever had! EVER! I'm still finding time to squeeze a few activities in with my friends each month. I've certainly never felt so INVOLVED before, and I love it! It keeps me busy, and happy, and surrounded by friends! I get to take pictures for almost all of my clubs, which is my love - so that's definitely a plus! Running in cross country keeps me healthy and active throughout all of this, and going to Seminary every day with this new schedule reminds me constantly why I'm doing this at all and keeps a smile on my face when the day takes a turn for the worse! (Usually...sometimes there's a kid or two you just want to slap in the face after seminary, but for the most part it's one of my favorite classes!)

I'm so grateful to have so many talents that I can use everyday at home and at school! I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me and constantly provides guidance and direction in my life! I'm grateful for my Patriarchal Blessing (which I just got last Sunday!) which has already proven to be one of the greatest blessings in my life thus far! I'm grateful for a family who supports me in all that I do - for the most part ;) - and for wonderful friends and neighbors who remind me to smile when I'm feeling down.
Yay for Life!
-Maddy P

Boys

Thanksgiving is, of course, a time to eat lots and lots of food. It's when women realize how much they really could eat if they didn't care so much about their figure. You know, Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the biggest reasons why women make the New Year's revolution to work out every day...
But despite all the commercialism tied in with the holidays, it is also, in my family at least, a time fore thanking. And gratitude. It is amazing how much we truly have, and how much we take for granted. Of course the main thing that I really begin to appreciate and thank God for at this time is the Gospel. It amazes me how many stupid people really are out there. And it is even more amazing how lost we can be with no limitations in life. I correct myself - with no agency in our life. They're the ones with limitations.
I am also thankful for my family. Especially my brothers. They are amazing. Thanks for putting up with me for all these years you guys. I know I must annoy you so much.
Thanks for making my time here on earth worthwhile. It'd be nothing without you.
Oh, and you too mom. You're awesome.
-Maddy
P.S, Michelle, you're pretty cool too.

...if at first you don't succeed, buy some chocolate and MOPE! Then...after some appropriate mourning time, and maybe a few chick flicks...TRY AGAIN!

So, for some strange reason, I've found that I love the Jonas Brothers all of a sudden, when less than a month ago, their voices really bothered me. I'm not sure why I like them so much now, but I do. Demi Lovato too. I really like her music. I've also watched a lot of cheesy Disney Channel movies recently...why? I don't know. While we're on the subject of things I love, may I throw in BRITISH PEOPLE! I was watching Phineas and Ferb with my little brothers yesterday, and I absolutely love it when Ferb talks! And their dad! Sweet Sauce it's cool! Here's a list of other things I love...no particular order...sort of...well yeah, there kind of is an order...

*CHURCH!!! THE GOSPEL!!!! MY FAMILY!!! JESUS AND HEAVENLY FATHER!!!
*Ice Cream
*Hannah Turley, Michelle Snow, Acacia Farnsworth, Carole Almendarez and ... HARRY POTTER!
*ALL THINGS BRITISH
*H2O...with ICE!
*Chocolate
*FOOD FOOD FOOD!
*Sleeping
*Peter Pan
*Writing
*Music - Frank Sinatra, Demi Lovato and JB's, The Hush Sound, DISNEY, Debussy
*TV/Movies...lots of them! Psych, Monk, Phineas and Ferb, Charlie and Lola!, Backyardigans, The Office, Wonderpets, Little Einsteins, The Andy Griffiths Show, I Love Lucy, Bewitched, Hannah Montana...sometimes, and then TONS of movies! Pride and Prejudice 05, HP, LoTRs, Stardust, A Knights Tale, Sydney White, Camp Rock, All Disney, The Other Side of Heaven!, and lots more that I can't think of right now...
*Reading EVERYTHING!!!
*English/History/GERMAN!
*Heath Ledger
*Sweet Sauce!
*Facebook
*Myspace...but only for the music and cute profiles!
*CAMERAS!!!! PHOTOS THAT LOOK GOOD!
*More stuff that I can't think of...if anyone thinks of anything, let me know!

...hair, einstine, and pioneers!

Oh hair! It is a miraculous thing!
So, I just got a hair cut, and I seriously feel like a weight has been lifted off my head! It’s not as extreme a haircut as my last one was – that one was like three, four, maybe even five inches. This one was maybe one inch – but it sure seems like a lot. I really like it. No hair! As Albie E. would say, Va – hoo!

In other news, I’m going on the pioneer trek! I’ve been training a lot recently, because I always seem to be out of shape whenever I do some kind of physical activity, so I don’t want this three day walk to kill me. I thought I was prepared for fourth year hike (which wasn’t even that hard) but my body didn’t agree with it afterwards. I WAS BURNING LIKE CRAZY! It hurt to sit down for almost a week after that. So anyways, I’ve done some kind of physical activity every day this week so far. I’m only on day three, and it’s already painful! I’m so tired in the morning. I have to wake up even earlier than usual so I’m ready for my zero hour class in time. On Monday I went to the gym with my mom, and on Tuesday I did a ‘speed walk’ with my mom and Kae Sawyer. They usually do a 4 mile walk every Tuesday and Friday, but I can only go half way with them, because I need to be home by 6 to get ready in time. Today I went to the gym again, and tomorrow I’ll probably go – but then Friday it’s walking with Kae and Mom! On Saturday I’m going on a hike with Carole and maybe Sarah and my mom and Joe. We went on one last week (just mom, joe and I) but we left too late in the day and didn’t hike for very long.

I’m kind of enjoying this workout thing – regardless of the pain. I feel…healthy! Imagine that! Ha, anyways, I think the whole no ice cream and reduced meal size has helped too, because in just two or three days I’ve lost almost two pounds. And I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything food wise. I’m still eating too much sugar, so maybe if I cut back on that too, I’ll be even healthier! I usually can’t loose weight – like when I went on that sugar diet I only lost…maybe five pounds? And that was over three months! I wasn’t working out as much as I am now though – and I’m doing more at the gym that I usually do too.

Anywho, my goal is to loose 10 pounds by trek time, and to gain better muscles. I also need to break my tennis shoes in better. I bought them for summer school PE and I haven’t used them much since then, so I really need to wear them in more before I try to do this trek, or I’ll be covered in blisters!

Ooo! Practice time! I’ve got a piano calling my name!

Peace! World Peace! World Peace and harsher punishment for Parole Violators!
-Maddy P.

Ooo, by the way - If any of you haven't seen the SNL skit on Palin and Clinton, watch it! It's hilarious!