iamaldenharrell

lifescouts: Lifescouts: Easter Island Badge If you have this badge, reblog it and share your story! Look through the notes to read other people’s stories. Click here to buy this badge physically (ships worldwide).Lifescouts is a badge-collecting community of people who share real-world experiences online. Easter Island! I got to spend a good week there while I was studying abroad in South America last spring! I’ve got to say, it was one of the coolest places I’ve ever visited. Even beyond the sheer interest that its history sparks, which is nothing to scoff at and a reason in itself to visit the island, the current state of the island has such a chill, laid back atmosphere. The island is small enough that everyone seems to know everyone and day to day life almost seems like a dream. If everything wasn’t so expensive because it all has to be imported, I might consider living there for a span of time. I’d give Easter Island 5/5 stars.

lifescouts:

Lifescouts: Easter Island Badge

If you have this badge, reblog it and share your story! Look through the notes to read other people’s stories.

Click here to buy this badge physically (ships worldwide).


Lifescouts is a badge-collecting community of people who share real-world experiences online.

Easter Island! I got to spend a good week there while I was studying abroad in South America last spring! I’ve got to say, it was one of the coolest places I’ve ever visited. Even beyond the sheer interest that its history sparks, which is nothing to scoff at and a reason in itself to visit the island, the current state of the island has such a chill, laid back atmosphere. The island is small enough that everyone seems to know everyone and day to day life almost seems like a dream. If everything wasn’t so expensive because it all has to be imported, I might consider living there for a span of time. I’d give Easter Island 5/5 stars.

But not all stories peak at the end. Sometimes the best line is right in the beginning and you won’t know it and that’s just how it is… . Personally, I wasn’t ready. I got hit in the gut-brain the day after I graduated sitting in a cafe during a thunderstorm with my friends. We were all quiet, like we’d all run out of ink. But I love that you thinking about it—how to live when you know it’s going to end; how to live in the begending.

—Zefrank

newcover: A Series of Unfortunate Events (Adult Covers) by Lemony Snicket I remember reading an article a while back about the reason Bloomsbury released “adult” covers for Harry Potter over in England. It was due to customer demand that adult readers were a bit embarrassed to be seen reading “children’s books” around town. Thus, Bloomsbury released non-illustrated versions of the covers that had simple photographs and a more subdued color-palette. So it got me thinking. What other popular children’s series would an adult be a bit embarrassed to be seen reading in public? And I immediately thought of Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events. Not only are they covered in (amazing) illustrations on the outside, but have the extra bonus of being a teeny tiny postcard-sized book, telling those on the subway that yes, you read children’s books, and yes, 200 regular-sized pages is where you max out. With that in mind, I sought to redesign the series for the self-conscious adult. Using the brilliant photography of Rodney Smith, I ditched the orphans on the cover and instead brought the focus of each to that of the illusive Mr. Snicket, observing the events as they happen, later to be retold in his unique prose. His identity in the stories is always in question, as his relationship with the events is shrouded in mystery. Because of this, he remains hidden from view from the reader, even on the cover.

newcover:

A Series of Unfortunate Events (Adult Covers) by Lemony Snicket

I remember reading an article a while back about the reason Bloomsbury released “adult” covers for Harry Potter over in England. It was due to customer demand that adult readers were a bit embarrassed to be seen reading “children’s books” around town. Thus, Bloomsbury released non-illustrated versions of the covers that had simple photographs and a more subdued color-palette.

So it got me thinking. What other popular children’s series would an adult be a bit embarrassed to be seen reading in public? And I immediately thought of Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events. Not only are they covered in (amazing) illustrations on the outside, but have the extra bonus of being a teeny tiny postcard-sized book, telling those on the subway that yes, you read children’s books, and yes, 200 regular-sized pages is where you max out.

With that in mind, I sought to redesign the series for the self-conscious adult. Using the brilliant photography of Rodney Smith, I ditched the orphans on the cover and instead brought the focus of each to that of the illusive Mr. Snicket, observing the events as they happen, later to be retold in his unique prose. His identity in the stories is always in question, as his relationship with the events is shrouded in mystery. Because of this, he remains hidden from view from the reader, even on the cover.

Blog-aroo?

Well I don’t really have anything to do right now and, as I sit here listening to some spectacularly moving music from the musical The Last 5 Years by Jason Robert Brown, I have the urge to express my feelings. Blog time? I’ve never really done this before, so it will most likely be sub-par at best and not worth reading, but hey, isn’t that what blogging is about? Getting your thoughts down just for no reason other than to get them down? I mean, it’s not like anyone is going to read this anyways. So here we go…

Reflecting back on my first semester of college, I can’t help but acknowledge how genuinely blessed I am. I have amazing spectacular phenomenal indescribable friends. These few months have been such a time of personal growth for me, spiritually and otherwise, and they have done nothing but help me in my striving to serve my God. I’ve had some of the most personal conversations I’ve ever experienced in my life with them, and I cannot wait to see what plans God has for us all as friends and furtherers of His kingdom. While it certainly hasn’t always been daisies and tulips for us, they have been there for me. Through thick and thin, I know that I will always be able to count on them.

I have never really struggled with school. I don’t say this to sound pretentious or to evoke envy, and I’m sorry if that’s how it comes off. In the spirit of the preceding paragraph, though, I have just been so thankful lately for the many blessings that God has bestowed upon me. Sure, I’ve been pretty stressed about schoolwork a few times this semester, but, overall, I haven’t had to pull any all-nighters or any terribly late nights in general (at least that I couldn’t have prevented). This has made life as a college student so much easier for me. Sure, it may sound minor, but I truly am grateful for this gift that God has given me.

Something that I’ve really been struggling with lately is God’s unconditional forgiveness. Despite all of these precious blessings He has given me, I still manage to mess up and slap Him in the face on a daily basis. After coming to God on my knees again and again begging for forgiveness for a sin I’ve committed every day for I don’t remember how long, how can He, without a moment’s hesitation, erase the atrocity from His mind? Every time? He is gracious. I can’t comprehend it. It is too much for my human brain to understand that, no matter how I sin, if I truly am remorseful and turn my eyes to the Lord, nothing can separate us.

As I said before, this few months has really been a time of growth for me, as it usually goes the first semester of college. I cannot be quick enough to praise my God for everything He has put in my life to make them some of the most influential months that I have ever experienced. I am so ready to follow wherever He leads me over the course of the next three and a half years and for the rest of my life. He is amazing. “Holy Lord—most holy Lord—You alone are worthy of my praise. Oh, holy Lord—most holy Lord—with all of my heart, I sing: Great are You, Lord, worthy of praise. Holy and true, great are You, Lord, most holy Lord.”