College 1

Hello fellow courtly ladies!

Here's to fellowship and laughter and homework and tests and too many activities and overinvolvement and being up to one's neck and redundancy and repetition and redundancy and saying the same thing over and over and over and over...

hahahahahahhahahahahhhahaaaaaaaa

So. College has been lovely so far. I can't wait to here about our freshmen's experiences!! But in the meantime, I will fill you in on the most important details:

1. my theology class is epic!! The teacher is funny, intense, knows so much about Islam and Christianity, yet is still a strong Catholic, has a cool middle Eastern accent, is cute (but married:-( ), and gives us awesome reading assignments. (E.g., for one day on Christian reason, he assigns us a chapter from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe...so cool!)

Oh, and did I mention my 'bf' (*giggle, giggle, blush*) is in it with me too? One more reason it is epic.

2. I have another class in which I work one on one with a child with autism. And my girl is awesome! She is a music savant, and not only has perfect pitch, but can also listen to a song and sing it right back, as if she were recording it in her head. It is so interesting how her brain can do that, but it can't carry on a conversation...

3. I went camping this last weekend and had an epicly good time. S'mores all around. And remind me to tell you about how my friend and I stole our guy friend's car and hid it. It makes a very good, although convoluted, story! (*laughs mischievously*)

4. Last but not least, I found out that I can go to Washington D.C. for fall break! I get to study Evangelium Vitae and other works on life issues and then go see what people are doing in D.C. to promote life. I am so blessed and e-x-c-i-t-e-d!!!

5. It is now 1:30 and past my bedtime. I will talk to you again soon. Please let me know how you are all doing! I miss you and I will pray for you all.

Love,
Juliet

The Scum of the Earth

That is the lot of the freshman, and I have felt it distinctly ever since the sophomores, juniors and seniors have arrived on campus. Juliet, as a note from one of the resident freshmen on this blog, BE KIND, BE VERY KIND TO ANY FRESHMEN you may meet during your studies. They will thank you most sincerely.

I have made it through orientation, and classes, real honest-to-goodness college classes begin tomorrow morning at the ungodly hour of 8:30. Breakfast is at 7:30. I am not a morning person. It does not help that the three classes that I have tomorrow are intimidating. All of my classes are intimidating. Sigh. Life is intimidating.

And I'm just a bit homesick.

Actually, a lot homesick.

I'm not sure how I'll survive the next four months, but God willing, I will make it to the other side.

Something Completely Random

Two completely random things i have to share: First, I played a digital camera scavenger hunt this morning, and it was very fun. We ran around(yes, it was a cross country thing) and took pictures of all the things on a list, with at least one person on your team in the picture. I thought this would be a fun activity to do sometime, especially driving around during the Christmas season. Second, I have decided that the most beautiful dress ever is the oldest Von Trappe daughter's dress. Following up Desdemona's comment, it would be great to have all of you as bridesmaids, and I just have to think of the fashion future....Not to mention senior prom, to which Desdemona and I have yet to get invited to

Love you all!!

Jessica

Northanger Abbey Pastiche

A pastiche of Northanger Abbey that I wrote in March when I re-read Northanger Abbey. The opening passages are some of my favorites in the book! :)

"No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy, would have supposed her born to be an heroine."--Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey




There exists among the rank-and-file, pendantic, and provincial that elevated class of the female sex known as the heroine, of which our subject, Miss R., possessed not the distinction of membership. Her disposition, sunny to a fault, rendered it impossible for her to pronounce with the proper acidity the satiric remarks necessary for the exhibition or a heroine's clever wit and intellectual brilliance, without accompanied by blushing, smiling retractions of her vitriolic statements. Although her posture good, her shortish frame wanted the pleasure of being either nicely plump or enchantingly slender, and was forced to reside in the wholly uninteresting territory known as average. Her eyes were weak, of a greyish colour, and had never had the honor of receiving the most coveted of epithets: "fine eyes." Betwixt these two embodiments of blandness resided a most perverse nose; that at times took on a most un-solicited mannish cragginess and at others exhibited a most alarming saucy upturn. Her lips bore little resemblance in colour or softness to roses, and often contrived to lend her gaze a most idiotic blankness. Her teeth were large and stained slightly yellow as a result of the daily tea she was so prodigiously fond of. Her obstinate forehead and jaw conspired together to give her face a firmness and stolidness most unusual for her sex. Her hair, oft the crowning glory of so many women, was a disappointing mousy brown and coarse in texture, requiring much teazing to hold a curl. Although her locks boasted a brazen bronze sheen, they owed that more to woman's art than the cornucopia of nature's gifts. Despite, however, this utterly discouraging physiognomy, Miss R. possessed one feature that provided her with enough secret comfort to serve as balm for the bitter wounds on her vanity. Residing dantily above her unremarkable neck, which did not remotely resemble anything swan-like, were her two shell-like auricles. Delicate conch-pink, and nicely rounded, her ears were her clandestine pride and joy, especially as they came to a delicate point, at their peaks, lending them a most deliciously elven air.

Upon reviewing the dilemma of her features in the mirror, there was only one remotely that immediately presented itself to her, and that was to look in that instrument less often.

A solution which, as we shall see, rendered itself not altogether satisfactory.

Desdemona's Introduction

Gaah! I'm the last person to post. *sigh* Typical.

First thing to know about me: I'm a procrastinator.

You might have already guessed that.

Second thing to know about me: I'm very, very, very excited to begin this blog with these other dear friends of the heart! I love blogging, and to share a blog with these lovely ladies is simply a dream come true. Our next crazy scheme dream that we need to bring to completion is our road trip.

A short history of our friendship: I've known dear Juliet (my older sister) ever since I was born into this world. As we grew up and ventured out into the wide, wide worlds of kindergarten and elementary school, we met the other lovely young ladies on this blog. By 3rd grade, we had all met each other (through church or various homeschool co-ops) and were well on our way to becoming best friends and bridesmaids in each other's weddings.
(I look good in blue, by the way. Just saying.)
Just recently, Jessica was noting how incredibly lucky we are to have been blessed with such friends. In a world that is constantly challenging our beliefs, mocking us, and undermining what we believe, it is an amazing and rare blessing to have a group of such supportive Catholic girl friends. We've all literally grown up together, and what a joy it's been-and what fun it's been! We've been through 9 years of Little Flowers Girl Club, several years of Bible Study and book clubs, and years of seeing each other at church virtually every week. A very happy result of those years is that our worldviews have been cast in nearly identical molds. It's honestly such a relief to have friends who understand how you think and why you think what you think. My favorite quote about friendship, which applies very aptly to our situation: "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" ---C.S. Lewis (Love that guy.) How nice to know you're not the only one.
Each of us, however, as we go through life and go through our different experiences, have developed our own unique twist on our common ideology. We have each been influenced by different events and circumstances, and that has created a wonderful variation between us. What I love about growing up with these friends is that I have witnessed their transformation from the girls that I met as a child to the strong young women that they are today. I am priveleged to call them all friends. I'm eternally grateful that we have this blog where we can share our thoughts, reflections, feelings, and laughs. I predict we'll be sharing a lot of laughs. That's basically the core of our friendship. As anyone can tell you, I'm a huge fan of laughter. Did you know that in China, they have exercise classes where they bring in comedians to make themselves laugh for exercise? Laughing burns calories, and is really good for the abs. Besides being a soothing balm for your soul, laughing is also healthy. Who knew?
Also, I predict you'll be hearing about college. As Celia and Portia leave for college, Juliet returns to college, and Jessica and I search for colleges, I'm sure you'll be hearing lots and lots about college. Get ready to get sick from all the college talk, all the college stress, and all the college fun.

That was a long post! I wasn't expecting it to be that long, honest. To conclude: We'll keep you all in our prayers and enjoy the blog! St. Therese, pray for us.

Juliet's Disclaimer

As this is a Catholic ladies' blog (how lovely, by the way!), I feel obligated to explain a few little things.
First of all, I am not responsible for Romeo's passionate adoration for me and his consequent suicide.
Second, I did not poison myself. Far from committing a grevious sin, I am alive and well and technologically-advanced.
Third, I did go to confession for all the many lies I was forced to tell in Shakespeare's rendition of my life. Here stands before you a changed woman. A new chapter of my life is beginning. A fresh leaf has been turned over...(*runs out of cliches*)

Anyway. I, like others on this blog, have a love for reading, acting, deep or semi-deep friendly conversation, music, and the Catholic faith. I hope that despite my lack of blogging experience, my posts will help others (and myself) reflect on the beauty of God, life, and womanhood.

I am praying for every one of you on this blog, that we may become closer to God--and to each other, although we are apart this year.

"Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing." St. Therese, pray for us!

If Jane Austen were on Facebook

As an ardent Austen fan, I thoroughly enjoyed this Facebook version of Pride and Prejudice. It's perfect for those moments when you don't have time to read the book.

Ecce Mulier Magna

*Ahem* Allow me to present myself. As with my co-authors, I have taken a Shakespearean name while writing this blog. I chose Portia because, frankly, she is awesome. She had the chutzpah to waltz into the law courts of Venice dressed as a man and save Antonio by a technicality. Being the perfectionist that I am, I love technicalities. I also love reading (Jane Austen, Regina Doman, P. G. Wodehouse, Agatha Christie, Shakespeare, G. K. Chesterton, etc., etc.), writing, acting, dancing, and talking and laughing with my lovely friends.

As with Celia, I will be starting college in a few weeks. It will certainly be an adventure filled with friendships, beauty, and the pursuit of truth. A little occasional craziness and coffee would not be taken amiss, either.

Welcome to our blog! As Celia said, "The purpose of this blog is to share our thoughts, reflections, experiences and observations as Catholic young women making the transition from adolescence to adulthood." I hope that this blog provides us with the opportunity to have a little fun as well. I know that not all of my posts will contain the deepest of profundities, but I can safely promise that each post will be uniquely and entirely mine.

Vacation

On this blog I will be known as Jessica. She is not my favorite Shakespearean character, but The Merchant of Venice is my favorite Shakespeare play. Although back in ninth grade I was completely lost in the Shakespearean language (Cliff notes were invented for people like me), by the end I managed to love the story and cleverness of it all. The Merchant of Venice is actually the only Shakespeare play I've ever read. However, this coming school year holds a Shakespeare class, in which I will read seven or eight. Thus, my posts may contain references to Mr. Shakespeare, as well as the other amazing people I meet.

Besides Mr. Shakespeare, there are other great writers. Such as Lady Celia. Congratulations on making a marvelous blog. Your introduction was great! My writing may not be so well thought out or interesting. Due to my occupation of teaching swimming lessons, my brain seems to be slightly water logged. What's left of my brain is being devoted to college applications etc. That being said, (or written) the only quote I can readily think of is one that my six-year-old neighbor siad last night. We were all around the swimming pool, when he said "I'm pretty much the nicest person here." He said it with such complete conviction, that my Mom and I could not stop laughing for quite some time. Of course, the nicest person there was my Mom, who allowed us to be given an above ground swimming pool. While the price was "free," she was willing to have this child magnet in our yard, and watch all the kids in it. We have seen neighbor kids that have not talked to us for a while. It is actually really fun, and needless to say, we have gotten no packing done for our upcoming trip. More on that later....

The first post of many...

All the world's a stage,/And all the men and women merely players./They have their exits and their entrances/And each man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. ~Jacques, William Shakespeare’s As You Like It

Greetings and salutations to you! I shall be known to you all as Lady Celia, a name chosen from William Shakespeare’s As You Like it. I selected Celia because she is a character of great courage, feeling and sensibility who possesses an infinite loyalty to her friends, family and above all what she knows to be right. These are areas in which I strive to mature and grow as a young Catholic woman who is about to embark on the next part of my journey into adulthood, college. Since I have been homeschooled through grade school and high school I expect college to be a great change in my life. However, I trust that with the good religious and academic foundation my parents have given me, as well as the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the transition will be easier. I take delight in many pursuits such as music, especially piano and voice, art, theater, dance and reading. Several authors I particularly enjoy are Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and P.G. Wodehouse.

For the past ten years my co-authors and I have been a part of a group for Catholic girls and young women dedicated to St. Therese of the Little Flower. Through this group we have endeavored to emulate St. Therese and her “little way”, as well as to study the feminine virtues and arts. The purpose of this blog is to share our thoughts, reflections, experiences and observations as Catholic young women making the transition from adolescence to adulthood. This blog is our gift, as the oldest group of the Little Flowers, to our younger sisters in Christ. Of course, our blog is open to all who wish to grow in Christian femininity and follow Christ.

St. Therese of the Little Flower, pray for us.