Formerlies

Lists are lovely things. I have friends who swear they live by lists, friends who spend mornings making lists. Even I have daily to-do lists that I try my best to create realistically and accomplish by the end of the day. When my friend, Charity Klicka, put together a list of "formerlies" and asked what lists we'd been accomplishing, I thought I'd join in with my own Have Dones:

Songs I have been listening to:
"Flower, Flower" by The Vespers
"Lemonade" by Chris Rice
"Santa Fe" from Newsies
"Lawdy" by The Vespers
"Loving You" by Cami Bradley
"You and I" by Chris August

Books I have been reading:
 Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy by Eric Metaxas (incredible man and biography)
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer (!!!)
Tuck by Stephen Lawhead (haven't begun yet)
 The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler

Things I should be doing right now:
Reading Bonhoeffer
Doing something more creative than blogging
Spending time with the girls
Getting ready to disband The Lair (sadness) and paint it bright pink for the little girls.

Oddities on my desk: (Dad's desk)
An empty bag of 60% dark chocolate chips
The remains of my orange
Music theory rhythm charts
Old valentines

Future blog posts (within the next week):
Another "Why it Works" post
Fashionista Guest Post by a very exciting contributor none of you know
Probably something random

Well that was fun! What was/is on your lists this week?

"You're a busy-body." "So sue me."

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors."

-C. S. Lewis  

When I was little, there was this weird, dry, boring thing called "social studies". I never really knew what they were. It was an optional category on the standardized tests and when we asked Mama why we didn't do them she'd say, "We've got that covered." It wasn't till I grew up that I realized what she meant. See, Mama and Dad raised us to be extroverts. While working with GenJ this fall I was talking to a politico over dinner: "So I take it you've always been this outgoing and...forthright?" he asked with a wry smile.
    I laughed. "Actually I used to be super shy and when I'm around shy people it comes out now and then." (If you're wondering, yeah, he was shy and I started tripping up on my words explaining the situation.)

     Know what dragged me out of my shy funk? People. People are just so darn interesting.

     A quiet, retreating personality might not be able to understand my fascination with people at first thought, but let me ask you a question: have you ever sat by yourself at a coffee-shop and watched someone across the room or out the front window and let your mind wander? That's people-watching. That's social studies. That's finding people too darn interesting to let yourself be a hermit. Mama knew that we were curious kids. She knew that sooner or later, in a world full of color and personalities and back-story and drama, we'd take notice and start watching. She encouraged us to be around people and ask questions and watch life and take part in it. So what if I never took that test or read a social studies book? I read history. I watched people. I used my vibrant little brain and put two and two together and now the East Coast has a voraciously curious young woman on their hands. I can't stop watching people and thinking about people and making up their stories in my head. I have all these weird ideas and because I don't live in NYC or Seattle, I make up for the lack of tangible scenarios by writing books about the scenarios I wish I had time to live.

     I want to write a mystery called Brownstone and explore the relationships of fellow-tenants who ignored each other beforehand, brought into an unlikely, hilarious community by the appearance of a body (or an abandoned baby..don't know which) on their collective doorstep.

     I want to conduct an experiment and write a book called Ten, Noon by choosing one corner of a coffee shop or cafe in a big city and sitting there every day for a year for two hours (from ten to noon) and people-watching and seeing what sort of morphing, yet tight community you'd get. Probably there'd be love and heartbreak and good deeds and deceit and life and death and lots of interesting things happening in that corner, and it'd be a best-seller book when I'd finished and I'd get to sell thousands of copies and buy an old stone house somewhere with the profits. Don't steal my idea. You know it's a good one. (COPYRIGHT 2013 by Rachel Heffington)

     I'm one of the most observant people I know and it's mostly because I grew up in a family that didn't find themselves too busy to walk a little slower, discuss details, and imagine things. I can meet you once and remember your face. I can go home and tell my family exactly what conversations I carried on with whom, what they were wearing, what color their eyes were, and "write" a verbal portrait so my family ends up in laughter, fear, or a swoon. It's not like I'm particularly gifted in that area; I'm not Sherlock Holmes, I'm just...sociable. People are fascinating.

  What I want you to realize is that I'm not advocating humanism. I believe we live in a fallen world. I believe in original sin. I believe that people are inherently flawed and that the only way to heal the breach between ourselves and our Creator is to put ourselves under the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And you know what...? Maybe that's why I find people so interesting. Maybe I'd rather study humans than birds and flowers and plants and saving the ocean because probably I'm not a people-watcher after all..probably I'm a soul-watcher. I am passionately curious about people because every single face on the street belongs to a soul that was specially created to play a particular part in the epic drama that is our history and future. I feel the stories and I want to know them. And more than I want to know them, I want to know that they are going on with me into eternity...and on the right side of the chasm at that. I want to know that these people realize they're part of the drama...and they have a particular choice to make.

     Social studies...evangelism...there's probably a way to combine those two things. I'd like to learn how. How do I overcome the remaining bits of my shyness and turn my curiosity to compassion? How do I reach into the reflective, smooth-running current of anonymous people-watching and help them untangle their souls without ruining any of the beautiful dignity? But maybe that's it again...maybe the beautiful dignity comes from the fact that they are souls that need untangling. Maybe dabbling my fingers in the pretties of the brook will only make it more beautiful, fuller, smoother...Fact is, I love people and the reason I love them is because He loves them. They're pieces of Him, birthed in His laughter and delight, desperately in need of the Rescuer. Image-bearers, all of us. Somehow, there's a way for me to be a liaison between heaven and earth...somewhere there's a gap I will slide into like the final tumbler in a Chinese puzzle-box. This post might not even make sense to a single blessed soul but me...and if that's the case, I won't apologize. Chalk it up to a lesson for you in studying people like me.

Social studies? Hrmph. Such a silly name for such a marvelous thing.

Various, Sundries, and Oh LOOK! I'm going to Florida!

Yes, yes I know. I've spent the whole of this spring traveling from one place to another. I can't say I'm sorry! I love to travel--I love the adventure of it, and the excitement of it, and the squished airplane seats with the stewardesses that smell like disinfectant when they walk by, and the popping in my ears when we rise off the ground, and then the landing when you are pushed out with a tide of passengers into the belly of a complex airport. And I especially love the time spent in new crazy places. All the new sights and sounds and experiences.

Orlando might not be Romania, but it should satisfy my wander-lust for a week or so. ;) Abigail Taylor and her sister Rebekah blessed Sarah and I beyond belief by paying our way to Sovereign Grace's Transfer Conference, and we are headed down this weekend. *eep!* I've never been to Florida, funny enough. I'm more of a European/mountain chick than a beach-bum, so I've never had a burning desire to go. But where a conference calls, I shall answer! Even unto 100% humidity! Mama says when she went to visit Florida where my Uncle Lon was going to college, it was so humid her hair never dried all day after her shower. O.o

"I'm melllllllttttiiiiinnnnnggggg!"

But more than travel, I'm excited about this conference. Excited to spend a weekend with thousands of other young men and women who love Jesus. Can't wait to see what God will teach me/show me while there! :)

 We just got back from a family camping trip with you can hear all about here! It was our first family vacation in 6 years so very well-deserved. ;) We camped at Chippokes State Park on the lovely James River. I love places with history, and being able to dash down the road a couple miles and take the very across to Jamestown and Williamsburg is thrilling!

Let's see. I am currently loving Laura Osnes' voice in Broadway music! It's so clear and sweet and there always seems to be a smile lurking somewhere. If I had a better voice and was on Broadway, I bet it'd sound like hers. :P

I discovered yoga pants a couple weeks ago! :D I had never owned a pair, but being stuck away from home and having forgot my overnight bag, I headed to Walmart to buy some pajamas and lo and behold, a love affair began with that impossibly soft garment! You need to get some if you haven't already. I'm serious!

After watching Nicholas Nickleby for the first time, I can't stop quoting Fanny Squeeers: "Deah Mistah Knuckle-boy..."

We are indoctrinating Levi with Broadway songs. He already requests "Stars" quite often and can hold his own in the "bum-bumming" parts of "Master of the House", "At The End of the Day", "Seize the Day" and "Carrying the Banner". :D

I updated my "About The Lass" page so go check out Take Two!

And last but not least, I'm going to be gone on and off through the middle of July so if this blog is a little spacey during that period of time, don't think I've abandoned blog-dom. I'll simply be jawin' with all the muckity-muck and blowin' my dough and goin' deluxe. ;) Actually, I'll be counseling/working at Generation Joshua's iGovern camps! There are three: one each at Patrick Henry College, in LA, and in Colorado Springs. Travel Travel Travel! :D Yes, I'm a busy, crazy, delighted girl over here, and I ought to sign up for frequent flier miles because for HEAVEN's sake, if I had

The Scarlet Pimpernel: My Dream Cast

Oh my dears. Oh my deary-dears. You all know (or ought to know, or can imagine) that I love The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. Recently I converted a friend onto the First-Timers campaign and experienced all the honest pride of a mother exhibiting her favorite child. I can't imagine how it would feel to have written such a book! There was a film made in 1984 starring Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour which I really do love, but I haven't seen the newest version. That being said, I have been putting my wits to the question for a long time of what my TSP Dream-Cast would look like, and here is what I have:

Sir Percival Blakeney:

Benedict Cumberbatch

He could so swing this part. Perhaps a little small-framed, but nothing worse than Anthony Andrews. He could nail the foppishness as well as the intensity, and I cannot think of a better person for this part. Seriously.

Chauvelin:

Andy Serkis

(sans crop of crazy-curly hair)

Small, intense, scheming, and evil to the core, Andy Serkis would OWN this role. 

Marguerite Blakeney:

Romola Garai

Romola. Beautiful, beautiful Romola. Ever since I saw her in her stunning role in Amazing Grace, I have pictured Marguerite Blakeney thus. Don't think Emma Woodhouse, think Barbara Spooner. I think she could carry the gravity, the heart-break concealed under the wit and mockery. She could do this if given the chance.

Armand St. Just:

Rupert Evans

Because Armand's largest fault is his bull-headed, blind passion for a stupid dancer, I think Frank Churchill (aka Rupert Evans) would do the part justice. I like his acting. I like him. And seeing Rupert and Romola in another movie together as brother and sister would be pretty great.

Lord Anthony Dewhurst (Lord Tony):

Dan Stevens

I know he's done with Downton Abbey, so whaddya think: would Dan like a nice side-gig as leaning-post for Benedict Cumberbatch as Percy? I think he'd be perfect for the role. He's just such a nice, solid Brit. You know. He couldn't be mistaken for coming from any other country. He's just....wholesome looking. Perfect for jolly, bluff Lord Tony.

Sir Andrew Ffoulkes:

Tom Hiddleston

He needs a happy-go-lucky-yet-important role, doesn't he? Because from all I've heard, Tom Hiddleston is a pretty sweet guy, and he never gets to play happy roles. He would be really great as an essentially-English man. Truly.

Suzanne DeTourney:

Rosamund Pike

Because she's gorgeous, a fabulous actress, and looks a mite French.

Other Characters:

Robespierre:

Rufus Sewell

Ew. Yeah. He'd do the job. He always looks French to me no matter what, and I think he has cold, fishy eyes. Plus he's a good actor, and has played in a period drama set right about the same time (Amazing Grace again, anyone?) but I chose him for this role because his coloring is right for Robespierre in my opinion. Seriously. He always looks kind of half-crazed. Exactly the sort of guy who could aptly play a character like Robbie. ;)

The Prince of Wales:

Tom Hollander

Because he's little and dweeby but harmless.  And the PoW needs to be little and dweeby and harmless. :)

This late at night my mind forgets what other side-characters there are on the French side, but I will state that Ciarin Hinds needs to make an appearance as a Frenchie. He just looks French. I'm just sayin'. And if I could stick Ioan Gruffud in there somewhere as another Frenchie, it'd make my day and the day of several of my friends. 

So this, my friends, is my Dream-Cast List for a remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel. I tried to be true to what I recall from the book about the various characters. (i.e. Marguerite is clearly stated to have reddish-gold hair. NOT BLACK!) All the actors I have listed are well-known BBC (or closely-related to BBC) actors, and I think would work really well in a film together. All of them have done period-drama work in their careers, and some of them are actively "Period-Drama-Actors". :) I think it's rather perfect.

 So. Who wants to bring this awesome list to the attention of the BBC? We really should. Because I would pay my life's savings to see a film with a stellar cast like this. :)

"M-A...Em-ma...." //Conundrums//

There are some things in life (like algebra!) that have no answers. If you like math do not tell me that it does have an answer. It does not. At least, not one that I care about. But there are many other conundrums that I puzzle over now and again in my spare time...

I love baking and I love fashion. Why are they fundamentally opposed to one another in the question of my waistline?

I do not understand what I do. What I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (Rom. 7:15)

My first impressions of other people are more often than not spot-on...but everyone's first impressions of me are generally incorrect. What does this mean?

Though I'm not a Hunger Games fan, this did make me think very hard and wonder...

I am an extrovert, but I find it hard to approach a new person and strike up a conversation....Meyers-Brigg's mislabel, perhaps?

I blog about time-management and supplement the posts with pictures from Pinterest....the biggest and most fabulous time-sucker EVER! :P

We I always plan to stop procrastinating and get back on shrinkage....tomorrow. -.-

Which came first: the chicken or the egg?

Joanna and I when we get together and discuss our marriage-plots:

Hot chocolate or apple cider? Pity you can't combine the two like, say....hot chocolate and coffee!

Stop for gas or drive and hope the marker being on "empty" isn't a rule...more like a guideline.

Work on editing and pitching three stories at once? Can I? Should I? How?

Write and schedule Meditations of His Love posts well beforehand like the other normal girls, or wait till the bitterest of bitter ends?

Make the dash between two cars on the highway or edge in only after its entirely safe?

Will there be snow?

In dreams...

I love to dream.

There's nothing more entertaining to me than to review my night of dreams come dawn.

Sometimes I forget my dreams. {often}

Sometimes I wake up before they're finished. {horrid}

Sometimes I finish them in all their completeness. {glorious}

Sometimes I feel things in a dream I've never felt before. {strange}

I meet people I've never seen. {entertaining}

But since science says your brain in incapable of making up a face, I must have seen these people somewhere before. {fascinating}

Sometimes a fellow's in love with me. {*eep*}

Sometimes I'm in love with a fellow. {heehee}

Sometimes I'm chased by cougars or grizzly bears {awful}

Sometimes I'm a spy or secret agent. {awesome}

Sometimes I die. {awkward}

Sometimes I escape. {yippee}

Once I carried on the most brilliant conversation of my life in Shakespearean language and promptly forgot it upon waking. {disappointing}

Sometimes I visit awesome places my brain concocts. {fun}

And they don't cost any money. {great}

Sometimes I meet famous people {autographs!}

Or Mr. Clennam wants to marry me. {Amy!}

Sometimes I am thrown in jail {sobering}

Or am guilty of a Terrible Awful {sadness}

Other times I'm far braver a person than I've ever been before. {Avengers}

All told, dreaming is such a cool thing! I love how God equipped our minds to be able to concoct all these bizarre stories while we sleep! Sometimes my dreams feel like the coolest movie I'll ever see, full of events I'd never be able to construe--even for my books--when I'm awake. Do you dream? How often? How crazy?

Dreamy Snippets

There's a certain precious impossibility in dreams that make them almost twice as valuable if they don't come true.

When the snow melts the morning after it falls I always feel like it's apologizing and creeping away..too bad it thinks it's unwanted!

 

When I hear a piece of music and get chills, I know I must be an instrument-less musician at heart.

There is always someone better than you in whatever field you choose...it's comforting really, knowing you've not yet reached a dizzying height.

 

There is no use in reading for reading's sake. But when you open a book and your heart is drawn in...let yourself read till your eyes refuse to take another word more.

A letter sent through the post is far more worthwhile than a letter sent online--it could be the same letter, but a stamp and an envelope and that devil-may-care attitude a travel-worn letter has is priceless. Keep the P.O. in business!

No matter what anyone says, Winnie-the-Pooh books are for adults. Read them today and laugh your head off.

Rubber boots are the number one must have for a country-girl...hmmm...Then why am I bootless right now?

Your dear Someone can have no ill manners, no vexing habits, no petty faults until you meet him... :D