The Fiftieth Penned Pig

How fitting for my fiftieth post. A little long in coming maybe, but no time like the present I think :)

Life is continuous. Sometimes it catches me off guard, or sometimes, I just feeling like sitting and watching it pass. But regardless it keeps moving. Caught in the midst of these ebbs and flows, I have being testing how much my faith can support me.

Youth seems to be a combination of limited perspective and too much emotion housed in a shell that constantly feels under pressure. Somehow the first shadows of a thought seem to have penetrated my heart.

Faith has always been very similar to rock climbing in my mind. The understanding that the only way out is over the scary ledge and down. Faith always seemed like it was that moment when you step over and take the plunge. Taking a leap of faith is all I have ever thought of it as.

But maybe it’s just a little bit more than that. What if faith, or a complete trust in Heavenly Father wasn’t just submission. Maybe we show our faith in him by letting go of disbelief in ourselves. Or rather, sometimes it is appropriate to create things from within ourselves to have faith in.


All creatures of our God and King.


Lift up your voice and with us sing


Make music for thy God to hear.

Chemistry :)

Kristen showed me this a while ago, and it wasn't until today that I was able to find it again. It is beautiful.

Masters

I have basically run out of things to say, but they haven't. Good reminder if only for my sake.

Girls' State and Summer Fest quotes

Well Kristen's post contains most of the summer fest quotes but here's just a few.

Girls' State

Jane: hyperventilating after seeing a boy, " I wonder if this is what girls in the 18th century felt like."

Jane: "Have you read Jane Eyre? Sorry I just have to molest you for a minute."

Sierra T.: "I will take passing notes VERY seriously."

Lauren L. : "Football camp came to Ephrium and trust me it's like driving through sheep except boys!"

guest speaker about the Revolutionary War : "the Haitian soldiers were camped across the river."

random candidate : "I am very integritous."

girl talking about not eating sweets: "I eat only bread, and occasionally ham."

me talking to a Veteran. "Where you in Pearl Harbor? Oh wait." "Pearl Harbor how old do you think I am?!"

Catie Brown: "Okay, my brain is like self destructing right now."

A few from Summer Fest!!

"Steep aside you messily trumpets and hear what it really sounds like."

"Trumpets, you don't mess with trumpets, there's too much ego. Trombones are much worse the only sign they know is 'shh!' And horns, they're the best musicians, and they let everyone know it."

Clinton to Catie: "Whenever you talk, I can't think."

"In the beginning he's just little Art, then he pulls the sword out and becomes king."

A Few of My Favorite Things

One Foot in the Prison Cell

Look familiar?












Well it soon will. I'll be moving in sometime this week.

This afternoon, I was listening to a message left on my phone from an unidentified number.

message: "Maren this is Deputy mumble mumble mumble. I have a few questions for you so call me back as soon as possibly."

Gulp.

I called back.

"uhh...hi, this is Maren Christen..."
"ahh yes, Maren, well just a second I'm driving."
pause...wait...
"Maren, who do you know that is, well, wanted."
"uhh..............none that I know of" (my voice became extremely high pitched and rather frog like.)
"Your number was put as So and So's contact. Is this correct."
"I have never heard of So and So, I'm sorry."
'sigh'..."Where do you live?"
"In Provo near BYU."
"So do I, I really don't like all the pedestrians. Well thanks for your time."
beep
beep
beep
beep
beep....

Scapegoat Terminated

Since I no longer have the excuse of school to inhibit my posting, I will not wait until the lynch mob is in my bedroom to post again. (that was especially for Sophie, and of course Kristen, and naturally Aileen.)

So....my day, if you care to know.

Woke up (with a groan as usual)
ate my favorite breakfast-blintzes yumster.
took care of my morning appointment if you will :)
got home around 12:30
ate pizza that was at my house!! *
ate some cheesecake
read on my deck, (it was too cold to stay inside my house. Surprise surprise.)
I will be going to my lesson,
and then getting all excited for the upcoming cabin trip with the dear hearts.
And most importantly planning Kristen's Birthday extravaganza!!!!



*highlight of my day

Conflict

Red or Blue









What to do when I get there.




To sleep in.......

or clean.

My Week In a Nutshell

So since there has been at least a millennium since I last posted I thought I would just some up my past several months for you. So view this link. http://youtu.be/UDW7-zgZ9Tc

Sigh

I think that for everyone that hears this, some part of them is touched, so I thought why not post this on my blog!

I can safely say that this is my favorite Broadway song :)

Last Will and Testament

The following are the words of Maren Joy Christensen as dictated from her death bed.

Official last will and testament;

My room, to Kristen Blair. I hope you find as much peace there as I have.

My entire ear ring collection, Mckann. So that not a day goes by with out a touch of color.

My ipod, the dearest Jane. All I'm going to say is that I hope it adds to your numerous music collection.

Pheobe, naturally Kristen. May she be a light to you when all other lights go out.

My head bands and scarves, to Sophie. So that you can forever uphold the sacred calling of presh.

Aileen, my ASL book. Keep the faith.

My thought book, favorite books, and scriptures, to Amber. May you use them well on your mission. Also that you never stop studying plane and precious truths. (Not that you would!)

My necklaces, favorite cute books and movies, plus my cute picture of cinderella and Prince Charming, to Lucy that you may remember that you have taught me true beauty, and love. Also you can watch movies on your divine coach.

Algernon, my horn, basically the most important object to me, I leave it to two, firstly to Aileen, so she can put all her practicing tips to good use as well as endlessly play mozart. And also to Kristen, because she understands the presences that uplifts me when I play. For Kristen so that she will know she is never alone.

Alf, to Tyler, it's time it was committed to memory :)

My pictures of the Savior;
"Be Not Afraid" to Jane, your heart and feelings are known, let him reach you.
"Learn of Me" Sophie, because you will rise up and do great works in the name of the Lord.
I don't remember the name, but it's on my desk in a green frame, to Aileen, because your knowledge is from God, and he rejoices at the desires you have to know him.
"Gethsemane" Kristen.

I bid thee all a very fond fare well.

Till death, do we part?

s

What makes love eternal? I have been pondering this thought for quite sometime, when I had a conversation with Kristen (naturally what else would I be doing,) and she answered my question.
Maybe, we love someone or something eternally, because we can never stop learning from or loving the Savior, and those we love we see the light of Christ the brightest in.

Surrounded By Love

What an appropriate day to feel that God's love is in everything.

I love the way only the violin or the cello, or the oboe, or the clarinet or some other instrument is the only thing that can speak to you of beauty and heaven at certain moments.

I feel the warmth of love when I sit still and watch the sunset, or let the breeze tousle my hair and whisper of love that the earth has seen through the many years.

I love when rejoicing at the beauty and sweetness of the word, God's love swells up inside me and leaks out in tears down my face as I feel a warm embrace.

I feel overwhelmed with the out pouring of love that I feel when I think of the special moments when peace flows through my veins and cleanses me.

How can I keep from singing when the Lord answers that he will understand my heart forever and that he loves one such as I even after I have said "depart from me for I am too full of sin to be numbered with thee."

My heart is full to the brim with love that has been given to me this Valentines day. I feel that this year especially when the world is in turmoil, the love of the Lord is flowing down in a abundance that our spiritual ships are, like Peter, sinking with the tremendous amount of love (or in his case fishes.)

Understanding who we are is all that matters

The Old Alfer

I must say that Alf is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met (by met I mean have watched his every waking moment). When he can't get to sleep, he doesn't despair, he just puts a box on his head and rocks back and forth beeping. When other people are stressed or unsure, he helps them to slap on a steak and let their hair down. When the weather is insane (raining cats and dogs), he embraces it by opening the skylight and getting some relish. When a woman is self-conscious about her appearance, he simply shows his face in the bathroom window. And anytime he wants a solution, he eats--everything from pies on porches to cold cream. The world would be a better place if everyone viewed life like Alf does, but then again the world might also be broken and destroyed in a nuclear holocaust :)

Validation :)

In Life She Was My Partner

Movies, books, songs, pictures, and many other means have depicted the pure love of friendships. People do come into our lives for a reason. Each person who shares a few steps on our road of life gives something to us, as well as takes something with them.

Kristen is in a realm all to herself. I believe that in a pre-earth-life state, Kristen and I studied and learned the Gospel together. We laughed and talked with our other Brothers and Sisters. I could see us frolicking in our Father's many glorious creations. As our preparations for our test drew to a close, I'm sure that a loving Father drew each of us aside and describe our missions, and told us that we must cling to each other if we wanted to come back.

I can see through countless experiences, that our spirits have grown very close to each other. I think that our spirits rejoice when we stay focused on the Lord, and weep when we look towards darkness. But through the thick and the thin this life has been beautiful because of Kristen.

Once we have finished all we were sent here to do, we will be greeted by our cherished older Brother's embrace.

Kristen I love your guts!

Have I told you recently?

For those moments, when life is too hard to stand, so you kneel

Fix You lyrics
Songwriters: Berryman, Guy; Buckland, Jon; Champion, Will; Martin, Chris;

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you