this thing we call 'love.'

image one.

image two.

{insert a picture of Amanda and Derek Walker} 

image three.

I know I am a stalker but I didn't feel like being so stalker-ish and posting a picture of Derek and Amanda without them knowing.

image one:  At first I couldn't see it- it grossed me out. But now I can see it. True love is love that last forever. The way my father annoys us all when he says, "Guess what? I love your mom." and you know he really means it. The way they hug each other when he comes home from work. The way she smiles and rolls her eyes when he makes a ridiculous joke. My dad wheezes and she laughs like a hyena. They are perfect for each other.

image two: Oh Gilbert and Anne! He called her 'Carrot' and pulled her braids. She pretended to hate him. He loved her from the beginning. She did too, but her stubbornness hid it (or so she tried to hide it by being stubborn). Anne finally agrees to marry him after the third proposal attempt. Even though he is an war doctor, there love is still strong and beautiful- Anne searches for her Gilbert there in the middle of war. Oh how I love their romantic reunion (you should watch the movie to see it for yourself)!

image three: Last night I went swimming with Brynn's family (which includes Amanda and Derek). Brynn and I waded in the water just watching how cute they were. You should see the way they look at each other- their smiles are pure evidence that they are madly in love with each other. They are a truly perfect couple. How lucky they are to marry their since-they-were-kids best friend! I am truly jealous.

Avec Amour,
Madison
twenty pebbles

of summerish thoughts and such

She loved to daydream, and though her reputation for talking to herself was known by only a few, she knew it was part of her life. She could see things in her mind about herself, and she just had to talk about them to herself. 
'All right, so I mentally view my future. Is that so bad?' 

You can quote me, Commander. This is going to be a summer to sing about.

(quotes from A Summer to Sing About by Shirley Sealy)

twenty plus pebbles (if only that was possible)

Photography

Pretty sure that this is my new obsession. I have seen countless blogs in the past day or two, but this photographer's blog in particular is my favorite. I love her style as well as her little red-head daughter, Audrey.

Here's the link to her blog:
http://www.merephoto.com/blog/

Bieber Fever

I didn't get asked to Sweethearts. It's fine. Instead, I went to the Justin Bieber Movie with my galfriends.

I thought of him as a sad teenage boy who sings like a girl. Coming out of the movie today, I now have more respect for Bieber. I am amazed at how desperate/crazy/ostrobogulous his fans are.... those crazy girls are so obsessed that they bawl their heads off for a man they may only see in person once (if they're EXTREMELY LUCKY, maybe they'll see him twice). I couldn't help but laugh the whole movie (mainly because of the ostrobogulous fans). HAW HAW- HAIR FLIP? Oh yeah, it was great. What more can you say about it?

Good luck with the rest of your career, Bieber.
That's all I have to say.
Lahve always,
Maddiey

Day Sixteen: My First Kiss

I wish I could say I have been kissed, but that would be a lie. The truth is, I can only dream of my first kiss. When I experience my first kiss, it will be beautiful- oh so beautiful.

That's all I have to say about that.

Lahve always,
Madison

Mine

I lay on my bed, breathing. I decide to pull out my old shoe box. I open the first envelope. Inside are pictures of us making mud pies and castles, and others of us dressed up: you, a super hero/cowboy; and me, a lovely princess. 

Then, after looking at every photograph, I put them back inside the envelope and grab another envelope. Inside this envelope is pictures of us dresses up for the sixth grade valentines dance. You have a few grass stains from recess football on your sunday-white shirt, and I am wearing sneakers because I dislike looking fancy/frilly. There is also pictures of us covered in sand, head to toe.

I carefully place the photos back in their envelope and pull out another one. This one has senior year. There are photos of us after running marathons. You're President of the student body. I perform in choir concerts. And of course, senior prom. We are both looking our very best- this time, you don't have any grass stains from recess football, and I am wearing heels (so that I don't look super short next to you). Both of us are smiling big.

Before I open the last, massive envelope, I gaze down at my left ring finger. I smile as my diamond reflects in the sun.

You're the best thing

 that has ever been mine.

Day Three: Got to Lahve these WEIRDalls....

If you wanted to get to know the strangest people I know, these two would probably be it.

My dad has a beautiful smile. His laugh is more like a wheeze, a search for air, but I must admit: it is quite contagious. He can answer any question you ask him. If he doesn't know the answer (which is extremely rare) he'll Google it for you. He is constantly making cheesy jokes, making it impossible to be bored at our home. He makes the best cookie dough and homemade bread. Some days, he will come home from work and say, "Hey I worked out today, can you tell?" Uh... yeah, dad...

My mom is always running. Running outside, running errands. She is always working hard to make sure our family is running the right way. She is very creative. She always knows how to make you laugh. Unlike my dad, she struggles to work the computer. It's hilarious to just sit there and watch her try to work things out ;) Sometimes you wouldn't know she is 43- She tends to act like a teenager. She is very social and headstrong.  She has a killer whistle that I believe will make me deaf one day.

You can never be bored with these crazy kids at home (oh, does that make you feel young? sorry, you're not ;). When you get them together, they go crazy. They make life at home colorful. Moving out after high school is going to be harder than I thought.

Ma, Pa,
I lahve ya.
Don't forget it.

Lahve always,
Madison

every girl needs romance

  

this one is for you Marisa Oswald- one who 

thinks even two blades of grass can be in love

Romance is like chocolate- women love it and can't seem to live without it. (i made that up... i personally think it is a good one!) 

Every girl needs romance. Just sayin'. Last night I watched a movie- can you guess what kind of movie? Yep. Romance. I have seen the movie before, but for some reason it ten times better this time! I guess it's because I haven't read/watched any romances yet this year. Yesterday was the first. It was so good I cried. Well, almost. I stopped myself before it got weird.

My mom challenged me to read books that don't involve any romance. It is one of the hardest things I have ever done! I've attempted this one book at least three different times. It's difficult but I am doing it. It will definitely be something I will be proud of.

love always,

Maddiey

he and she (cont.)

she thinks that he might like she... she's pretty much positive he likes she!

that should have made she happy, and it sorta did

but...

a texan cowboy came along and made she melt.

she still likes he

but now, she also loves the texan cowboy

Lahve

Yeah.

I am in love.

Lahve, that is.

And it feels good.

I was reading in one of my favorite Christmas books, The Gift, when I came across something that describes what I call, the best kind of lahve! (Since it is written in the perspective of a man and I am a woman, I am going to change words to make it so the quote fits me, a woman.)

"[He is handsome]- not in a magazine cover way, but to my way of thinking, even better. [He is] comfortable."

The best kind of lahve makes one 

comfortable.

Comfortable as in the way two puzzle pieces come together, fitting perfectly. There is no question whether or not they actually fit- colors and shape- it all comes together comfortably.

"Just A Dream" by Nelly - Sam Tsui & Christina Grimmie