The Dreamer: Part 1

A fictional tale of Leanra

"Mirrors never tell the truth; only those with open eyes will see the underlying truth."

That was the last thing she told me before lifting the cover.

The silver mirror revealed my face, as it always did. I looked at my teacher. "I see myself."

She shook her head then covered the mirror again. "You're done for today. You no longer listen to my words. Go home."

Third day in a row to be sent home early. Why was I not making any progress? I walked down the road, contemplating the excuses and reasons. None of them made any sense in my mind. I thought my eyes were open.

Then I ran into a tree. Well, not really a tree. More of a man I knew all too well.

"I was wondering when you would come, Leanra," Laerr smiled. "It's been too long."

I stepped to the side, trying to walk around him. "Not long enough. Now let me pass."

To my surprise, he stepped aside. “Be my guest.”

He had never said that to me. It sure didn't sound like he meant it in the figurative sense. He wanted me to be his guest. “I'm busy tonight. I can't come over. You know that.”

“Yes, I do, and I also know that that's a lie. I'll expect you to be there around sundown. Good day, Leanra.”

And with that, Laerr finally walked away from me. I hugged myself and ran. I did not want to be anywhere near him longer than I had to. Yet, something about him drew me closer to him.

I had been close to him once, but that was long ago. We had both changed, but Laerr refused to see it. His eyes were closed to it.

No matter how hard I tried, I could not keep myself busy enough to miss Laerr's invitation. Everything I tried took a fraction of the time I thought it would take. There was no avoiding it now. The Sun was beginning to set.

With hesitance, I walked over to his house. When I arrived on his doorstep, the door swung open. Bright light lit the inside of the house, creating Laerr's dark silhouette. “I knew you'd make it.”

I stepped into the blinding light. The house was much cleaner than I last remembered. Large, drooping candles lit the small table covered with food. I turned to Laerr. “Very nice atmosphere, but that doesn't mean anything.”

Laerr half smiled as he pulled out a chair for me. He motioned for me to sit. “But what if it does?”

I sat in the chair and refused to answer. I knew what he was going to say.

He walked around to the other side of the table and sat in the chair there. His golden eyes lit up in the candlelight. He was trying too hard.

The dinner was delicious, but it didn't matter. He wanted something from me; it was written all over his face. I finally just asked him, “What do you want?”

His coy smile spread as he rose from his seat. “There is only one thing I desire,” he mused, making his way around to my seat. He pulled out my chair and pulled me to my feet. I kept my back to him.

One of his hands pushed my hair onto one shoulder and rested atop my shoulder. His other hand gently clasped mine, weaving his fingers in between my own. “You,” he whispered in my ear.

His breath on my neck sent chills up and down my spine. There was no way he would get what he wanted.

Celebrating Five Years with Bach and Bruch

I can't believe that I've been playing violin for only five years. It has become such a huge part of my life, it feels like I've been playing for much longer. This February I'm celebrating my five-year anniversary of violin lessons. Some of the music added to my repertoire are very different from what I've ever played.

For YBAC this year, which will be in April, I plan on playing the Allemande and Gigue from Bach's Partita No. 2 for solo violin. Bach's solo violin music is some of the most difficult violin music on the planet. Though I do have to say, I'm playing two of the easier pieces.

Also, this year, my teacher asked me if I wanted to play anything in particular. We had already started on the Bach music, and orchestra was running again. I had just finished the first movement of another Mozart concerto and several theme and variation pieces by Dancia. I told my teacher that I wanted to play something different, since we had played so many similar pieces. It was then that she gave me the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor.

When my teacher was a year younger than I am now, she had played the same piece. She had just switched teachers, and this piece was a big breakthrough for her. She saw it fitting that I should play it.

I wanted something more challenging, and that's what I got. If you search for Bruch Violin Concerto 1 on YouTube, Nicola Benedetti's recording is amazing.

It is by far the most difficult piece I've started learning, and I love it.

Life recently

I am so sorry I have not posted in so many a month. I really want to start posting more regularly, but that's not happening quite yet.

So you see, I've been living and working at Chick-fil-A with my older sister this summer. It's been a blast! We've gone river tubing, gotten two mani/pedi's and 90-minute massages, and gone to a Japanese steakhouse. Working at Chick-fil-A is totally awesome and has been a great experience. Last Wednesday night, about five of us from work went to a huge CFA party. I danced my first Cupid Shuffle with our marketing director Micah (she's an awesome girl) and drank two large iced coffees that night. :-/

A few weeks ago, just before my CFA store launched the new iced coffee, we had a short training session one Sunday afternoon. Afterwards, a bunch of us went to this really awesome (and delicious) French bakery. I got my sweets and some protein and sat outside with the group. That was another really fun night.

Back in July, we celebrated Cow Appreciation Day all across the country, and I got to work front counter during lunch rush. It got so crowded at one time that I almost started hyperventilating. That day was challenging.

About a month ago, while working front counter, I served a guy that was wearing a t-shirt that advertised my home state's university sports teams. I asked if he was a fan and if he was from that region (as I am in a different state than my home) and we got to chatting. And it just so happened that he used to live right down the road from where I live with my parents and attended my local high school! That was one of my favorite experiences so far.

Well, I have to start getting ready to bed for an early morning. Hope to check in again in less than three months this time. ;-)

--
"This is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
~ Psalm 118:24

Lena Elizabeth

Orchestra

Oh, how I love being in an orchestra! I love a good challenge; and that's exactly what orchestra is.

Several weeks ago, my conductor approached us about needing a pianist for one of the pieces. I thought, if no one else volunteers, I will. Apparently, I'm one of the few pianists in the orchestra. Later that day, my conductor gave me piano music and said he'd like to hear it in a week or so.

I practiced hard that week. Since I hadn't been chosen to play piano when I first auditioned, I really wanted to play this. Most of it turned out to be very fun. Overall, it was somewhat tricky, but not difficult. Lots of scales and broken chords, and about ten glissandi (slides up the keyboard).

While practicing the music at church one day (since they have a baby grand, and that's what I'd be playing), I almost scraped off two fingernails during the glissandi. I'd left little splatters of blood on the upper white keys-oops! So I bandaged up my fingers and started again.

Later that day after rehearsal, I played the music for my conductor, inwardly begging him not to make me play the glissandi. Thankfully, he didn't. After playing the piece, he told me I could do it.

The following week-last week as it turned out-I played the first movement with the orchestra. It was amazing! I love it even more, despite the strange scales, broken chords, and glissandi.

YBAC time again

I would have posted this earlier, but I didn't.

Anyway, YBAC came around again this year. I'd been practicing my piece for months, and I was ready for it. However, I did not expect the competition to be more competitive this year. The number of competitors doubled from last year, and I knew nearly half of them by name.
Unlike last year, the dominance laid with violinists and pianists, instead of cellists. There were only two competitors this year who had placed last year, one of them being me.
This past Saturday, the competition was held. I went in, expecting to do very well. I knew my piece almost completely by heart. I'd brought my music just in case I needed it for any reason. When my time came, I opened the lid of the piano, turned my music to a troublesome page, and began.
My first noticeable stumble came at an unexpected time. My memory had failed me. I kept playing, thinking it was probably no matter. I'd turned my music away from the troubling page, praying that I'd finish well.
I got to the easier part of the hardest page with no trouble, then got whammed with another mistake. Another blunder, during one of the easiest parts of the piece. I turned my music again, and continued to play.
I finished with as much oomph as I could manage. I closed my music, stood, thanked the judges, and quietly exited the room. Even with my mistakes, everyone was saying I did well. I anxiously waited for the results to drop into my inbox.

That night, shortly before I went to bed, I checked to see if they'd determined the winners. An email sat at the top of the inbox, from one of the competition managers. I opened it, dreading what it might say.

First place: [a violinist]
Second place: [a harpist]
Third place: [a violinist]
Honorable mentions: [a violinist], [a vocalist]

My name was not there, nor were any others from my same instrument. I hadn't really expected to be there, with my stumbles and the added competition this year. Perhaps my piece was not quite the style the judges were searching for, perhaps my mistakes made a bit of an impact in their decision, perhaps both.
I may not have placed this year, I may compete in the coming years, but I will be more aware of the competition and my selection.

Twice for Two

Wow, I haven't posted here in over two months! Sorry about that. But . . .
I got tagged twice for two awards: Liebster and Sunshine. Thanks to Natalie and Sarah for tagging me.

Rules:

1. Link the blog that nominated you

2. Choose eleven bloggers that have less than 200 followers to nominate (no tag-backs)

3. Answer the questions given

4. Let the people you've nominated know you did

5. Create eleven questions for your nominees to answer

Natalie's questions:

What genre of music do you like?

     I like a lot of soundtrack, but I also enjoy classical and artists like The PianoGuys and Jim Brickman.

Do you listen to Pandora?

     Yes, I do. I like to keep  it on either Jim Brickman radio or HTTYD radio.

What is your favorite band?

     Newsboys, The Afters, TobyMac.

Are you a fangirl?

     Not really. I get excited about movies I like, but I don't become an all-out fangirl.

What style of house do you prefer?

     I grew up in a split level, but I would probably prefer a duplex.

Do you watch TV every night?

     Pretty much, yes.

Do you drink coffee?

     ARE YOU CRAZY! I LOVE COFFEE!

Are you organized?

     Sort of. My room's not the neatest, but my bookshelf is.

How many hours a day do you spend on your school work?

     Around 3-6 hours each day. One of the benefits of being home-schooled.

How old are you?

     I'll be sixteen in March.

What color is your refrigerator? (random question)

     Black.

Sarah's questions:

Where were you born?

     I was born in Pennsylvania.

If you could be any ONE fictional character, whether from a book or movie, who would it be?

     I don't know. Maybe Kale from Donita K Paul's DragonKeeper Chronicles.

Do you prefer coffee or hot tea?

     Coffee all the way. But I did have a really good tea latte a few months ago.

If you had (or do have) an abundance of money, what is your ideal dream vacation?

     Probably a tour of Europe, Germany and Austria mostly.

If you could travel to any time period (medieval era, Western 1800's, 1950's, etc), where would you go?

     Post-Reformation. Many of the world's greatest musicians were at work during that time. I would like to hear Beethoven play his Moonlight Sonata.

Medieval or Futuristic?

     Medieval, most definitely.

Would you rather travel cross country in a plane or car?

     In a car, it takes much longer, but I wouldn't miss the pretty sites. In a car, it's much more comfortable and quicker, and I love taking off. Flying for sure.

If you could be either an Elf, Dwarf, or Hobbit, which would you be?

     Since I already have the ears and height, Elf. (yes, my ears are slightly pointed)

Do you prefer to play a musical instrument or just listen?

     I enjoy both. But I don't really have a preference.

Who is your best friend?

     This guy Michael at my church.

What is your favorite TV show?

     Stargate SG-1

Rules:

1. Share eleven facts about you.

2. Answer eleven questions set by your nominating blog - Nominate eleven bloggers.

3. Set questions for the nominated bloggers.

Facts:

My fingers are small, but my knuckles are big.

I've been playing piano for most of my life.

My big brother wears combat boots.

We still own an old tube TV screen and VCR.

I've gone through three piano teachers (soon to be four), but still with my first violin teacher.
I used to be tomboyish.
I love thunderstorms.
I've been home-schooled since Day 1.
I take after my dad's side of the family.
I once auditioned to play piano for a youth orchestra.
Music and writing are two of my passions.

Natalie's questions:
What is your nationality?
     American.

What color is your hair?
     Medium brown.

Favorite super hero movie?
     Ironman 3

Do you listen to music every day?
     Yes. It helps when I'm the one playing.

What time do you go to bed?
     Usually between 10 and 10:30.

Do you ever schedule your blog posts with the schedule setting on your posts?
     I've done it a few times, but not regularly.

What is your favorite TV show?
     Stargate SG-1

Winter or Summer?
     Summer.

Chick flicks or action movies?
     Action.

Do you like the snow?
     I like everything about it except the cold.

Is your bedroom on the first or second floor?
     First.

Sarah's questions:
What color are your eyes?
     Grayish blue.

Would you rather read a book or watch a movie?
     Books. More exercise for the imagination.

Who is your favorite Disney princess?
     Elsa.

If given the choice, would you rather write a letter or talk on the phone? Text messages don't count.
     Phone, I think.

If you could do something drastically awesome, and wouldn't have to worry about being judged by others, what would it be?
     =/ . . . Um . . . I don't know. Maybe tour Europe after college and get married in a medieval castle there.


For the nominees, I choose whoever wants to do it. You could mix and match the different questions, if you wanted.

Also, I need some ideas for posts! If you have any suggestions . . .

I Can't

via Pinterest

She stared at her hands hovering over the piano keys. A tear trickled down her cheek. "I can't," she whispered to the breeze in the window. She put the sheets of music back in their place and turned out the lights. Then sitting back down again, she brushed her fingers over the ivory keys. Like silk, her fingers flowed with a haunting melody of lost love. She heaved heavy sobs as the notes rang out through struck chords. Leaning and swaying, she released her emotions into the music.
Wind blew soft whispers through the curtains. "I can't," she replied, continuing her melancholy melody. Salt tears streamed from her eyes. Through the rivers of lost love and mournful music, she finished her music and wept.
Gentle fingers rested on her shoulder. "Keep playing," a voice whispered through her hair. "Keep playing."
She closed the lid of the piano. "I can't," she repeated. "It hurts."
"Keep playing."
Listening to the whispers, she played her music again and again. She kept playing. On and on through the night, she played. She neither stopped nor paused. Her emotions continued flowing through her fingers. By the end of the night, her melodies were no longer filled with love and hurt. "I can," she sighed at the break of the dawn.

Contest

http://mydreamwriting.blogspot.com/2013/12/flash-fiction-contest.html

Check it out!

Flash Fiction Contest

I've decided to host another writing contest. This time, instead of short story, it's going to be flash fiction.

When: December 5-31

Where: Here

RULES:

The flash fiction piece must be 150-750 words long. It must be written completely by you.

Post the link to your blog post containing your piece / post your piece in the comment section.

Must either follow this blog or my main blog, Love of a Lifetime.

Must place the contest button on your blog, unless you don't have one.

PRIZE:
The winner of this contest will have their flash fiction piece published in the Uniquely Natalie Forever magazine's January issue. Natalie requests that the winner please choose a picture/cover that relates to the piece.

Have fun! I can't wait to see what some of you write.

*special thanks to Anna for designing the button <3

Seasons

via Pinterest

Autumn is already halfway over. Right now, the trees are beautiful golds, reds, greens, and yellows. Cool and crisp air is slowly moving in, preparing us for the winter. Just a few weeks ago, we were wearing light jackets. Those jackets are getting gradually heavier and thicker. In a little over a month comes winter and Christmas.

via Pinterest

Winter is coming soon. When it comes, the trees will become coated with ice crystals and snow. Cold air will reign. And to imagine: those trees that were coated with golds, reds, greens, and yellows will be coated with sparkling whites. Those light jackets at the beginning of fall are soon to become parkas. Dress boots will be replaced by snow boots. Then will spring come.

via Pinterest

When comes spring, it will melt the winter snow away from the trees to make room for the leaf buds and fragrant blossoms. The bulbs planted so many months ago will begin to rise and bloom with beautiful flowers. It will get increasingly warmer, and the parkas and snow boots will be stored away for the next winter. The same jackets used in the fall will reemerge.

via Pinterest

Then shall summer begin. The leaves on the trees will be a dark green. Fruit will begin to grow. The jackets will be put away to make room for the short and sleeveless. Hiking boots will be taken out, as will the Thermos coolers. Families will go on camping and hiking trips. School will be out. Some college students will get married, opening the air to whites and pinks. Only during the last few weeks will the jackets slowly ease out of storage, and autumn will soon make his entrance.

Thus, the cycle begins again.

NaNo

Wow, I think I'm doing better at Nano this year than I was last year. If you look at the Nano widget in the sidebar, you'll see that I've already written more than 10% of my word count goal. And most of what I've written are thanks to word wars. Notice: I am doing the youth site, where I can set my own goal. I've set my goal at 15,000 words, and I'm chuggin' away!
One of my little habits with writing a rough draft is I like to read over it and fix anything I can see. Well, I decided not to do that this time I write through a first draft, unless it's a serious misspelling.
Last night, I participated in several word wars and more than tripled my word count! And I was able to do it while little sister and Dad were watching TV in the living room - where the computer desk just happens to be. So, I plugged in my headphones, turned up the volume, and wrote more than 1,000 words last night. I just hope I can continue to chug away so quickly!

NaNoWriMo

I can't believe it's time for NaNo already! Six hours and counting. Oh, I can hardly wait to start penning Imagination. I guess I better tell you a little more what it's about, eh?

What if your imagination isn't something you created in your mind? What if it's really happening, and you're in danger - past, present, and future?
Starsley is not your ordinary teenage girl. She has an imagination, and a good one it is. But when her imagination sends her reeling into the past, the only thing she can think to do is get home. Only when she realizes that she's not imagining has her plight become more urgent. She must find the device that sent her to the past and shut it down, before her entire family history - past, present, and future - is erased. Handsome knight, scientists from the future, dim-witted vassals, and emotional baggage all stand in her return to the present.

Well, I better get going now!

Apologies

I'm so sorry I haven't posted on here in several months. No excuse will do for me.

Anyway, I have been working on a few projects: one, Mermaid Tales - third novella in series with The Fairy Princess and Hafling Diaries; and two, Imagination - my NaNo novel.

Well, I guess better explain what Imagination is about. My original thoughts on the story were, "What if your imagination isn't something you created in your mind? What if it's really happening, and you're in danger - past, present, and future?" I guess it would fall under the paranormal genre. I've got the protagonist all planned, and I know her best friend's name, but I can't decide on a name for the antagonist. Here's a list of the names I originally looked up:

Cethin - "dark, swarthy"
Erebos - "darkness"
Darnell - "hidden/secret nook"
Gero - "future"
Eilian - "second, a moment in time"
Ator - "gall; poison; venom"
Bugan - "shape-shifter"
Atei - "the future"
Mancio - "foretells the future"

I could really use your opinions, readers, on what your favorite names in the list are.

Elegant Blog Award!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. My life has been a bit hectic lately.

Anyway, thanks to Sarah Elizabeth for awarding me!

THE RULES

When you receive the award, link back to keepcalmandsparkle1099.blogspot.com and the blog that nominated you.

Display the award button in the post

Answer all of the 12 questions given in this post (Do not make your own questions)

Nominate 12 bloggers

Notify them that they have been awarded

THE QUESTIONS

1. What made you decide to start blogging?

     Well, I'd have to say it was probably Kara at Saved By Grace. When I heard that she had one (because we were both part of an online Bible study group), it seemed really interesting and fun.

2. What is your fashion style?

     At home, I usually lounge around in pj pants and a t-shirt, but I'd have to say that I love maxi dresses and skirts. If I have a nice scarf to match (I only have three), I might wear it with an outfit.

3. What is something none of your followers know about you?

     O_o hee-hee! Oh, this is such a good one. Well, I'd have to say that my knack for penning stories is a hereditary trait. Any of you know who the Brothers Grimm were? I'm a descendant of one of them (I don't know which one though). Is that awesome or what?!?

4. What are some of your blogging goals?

     Reach others for Christ was my main goal

5. Where is your favorite place to shop?

     There's an awesome bookshop downtown that I've been to once, and I absolutely loved it (even though I didn't buy any books). Other than that, I honestly don't know. :-/

6. What would be your ideal amount of blog followers be?

     I'd have to say around 50, but it'd be awesome if I got more. It's a nice, rounded, even number, and it's not super giant or small.

7. What are your talents?

     I play a multitude of instruments, including piano, violin, accordion (yes =D), guitar, and organ. I also write fantasy/fairytale genre stories; I'm a bit challenged if I have to write anything that is nonfiction, in an organized manner anyway.

8. Are you a leader or a follower?

     Well, I guess it would have to depend on the situation. But I think I'm more of a follower.

9. What is one of your favorite quotes?

     "In your world I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason you were brought to Narnia, that knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there." ~Aslan, Voyage of the Dawn Treader

10. Do you have a favorite book or book series?

     Oh, goodness, I really don't know. I'd have to say some of my favorites are A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis, The Dragon Keeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul, and several others.

11. Out of all the synonyms for elegant, which would you describe yourself with (smart - stylish - dressy - graceful - dainty - fine)?

     Most likely smart, probably not stylish, maybe dressy, probably not graceful, and definitely not dainty or fine.

12. What is your favorite flower?

     Why so many hard questions? I would have to say, I just don't know. Calla lily, maybe. Amaranth flower, possibly. Wild lilies, probably.

As for the nominees, for those of you who would like to do this tag, you can just go ahead! But one person I would like to tag is my younger sister Heidi Anne over at Into It . . . Deep.

Fantasy photos

Here are some pictures I've recently (and one not so recently) taken. Hope you like them all! They were edited, but let me know what you think anyway.

 This one ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ is a merging of two photos

 Notice the ears ^ ^ ^

To be safe

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Just to be safe (because I've heard a lot about it), I'm switching over to Bloglovin'. So, now you can follow me there when and if GFC really leaves.

To be safe

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Just in case GFC really is leaving, I've joined Bloglovin'. So, now you can follow me there!

To be safe

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

If GFC really is leaving us Bloggers, be happy because now you can follow me via Bloglovin'!

Link-up?

I was wondering. If I created a link-up series, would any of you link up with me? I was thinking along the lines of something like "Your Top 5 Favorites" and each post would be on a different set of 5 favorites. Here are some ideas of what I mean:

My Top 5 Favorite Contemporary Christian Songs

My Top 5 Favorite Books

Get the idea? Would any of you be interested in doing something like this? Got any ideas for more top 5 topics?

A New Beginning

Some of my siblings call me "Vulcan"* because I don't express my emotions a lot, but recently, it's been hard for me. Why has it been so hard?
* A Vulcan is a humanoid alien from Star Trek, and they are known for suppressing their emotions. Yes, I'm somewhat a Trekkie.

A few weeks ago, the senior pastor at my church announced after the service that our associate pastor / youth leader and his family are leaving and moving away. This past Sunday was their last service together here, so we had a big goodbye fellowship after the evening service. They were only here for two and half years, but it felt like so much longer than that.

As a surprise, a few of us put our heads together and made a surprise gift for them: a photo book of the youth group and most of the members that have been in the group since he was here. Then, at the fellowship, we gave it to them, along with a Hallmark card. Most of us signed both items, and they really loved it all.

Last night was the youth group's first night with a new (temporary) youth leader. His short message was on Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. It encouraged me so much, and I look forward to what God will do through this situation.