The Gift Of Childcare

Here's yet another "inspirational" that I thought up.  I was inspired to write this yesterday, after a fun experience. ;)

I love kids.
Okay....allow me to explain.  A lot of teenagers these days are quite self-centered.  Even I am sometimes...wanting to do what I WANT, when I WANT, and not really caring about anything else.  It's not easy to grow up in a day and age where society encourages you to sit back and have everything handed to you on a silver platter.

But that isn't what this post is about.
I like doing more than just sitting back and being lazy.  I love helping out adults/parents and I especially love taking care of kids.  Especially small ones.

For as long as I can remember, I've been a "little mommy".  When my sister was born (though I don't remember this TOO well...since I was only six...) I took care of her, I loved her, and I took care of ALLLL my baby dolls like they were my baby sister.  (nawww)
Whenever me and my cousin and sister would play dolls (which we did a LOT growing up) I was always the mom.  I always had that maternal instinct to take care of the babies/kids.

As I got older, I was able to nurture those passions and loves.  Now I work at our dance studio, teaching ballet, tap and jazz to 2-3 year olds and 4-5 year olds.  My little girls are the highlight of my week.  I love spending time with them.  To them I'm "Miss Fallon (insert real name there)", and I get to carry them, hug them, let them sit in my lap, and just get to be there with them.

I've heard some teens say that they don't like kids, or that they're not "good with kids".  Essentially what I've got from that is that they are A. have no siblings, B. don't know what to do/don't have that maternal instinct or C. they think all kids are bratty, snot-nosed, and gross.
I don't have any of the above.

Yesterday I was helping my sister's music teacher at her little kid music class.  They were learning about stringed instruments, and Miss Susan (Glory's teacher) asked if I could come in and show the kids my violin and viola.  I agreed, and brought three instruments with me (my viola, my violin and my student model violin for the kids to play with).  The first kid to get there was a little girl.
I knew this little girl because I teach her dance class.  The way her face lit up when she saw me made my heart melt.  :)
"Miss Fallon (insert real name here)!" she yelled, and ran to me to give me a huge hug.  Her mom knew me, and went to pick up her son from school, knowing her daughter was in good hands between me and the Miss Susan.  ;)  This little girl held my hand the entire class, she sat at my side or in my lap, and she was really interested in hearing the violin/viola since I was the one playing it.  ;)  I was honored.  When Miss Susan introduced me to the class as just "Fallon (insert real name here)" My little girl said "No Miss Susan, that's MISS Fallon, and she teaches me dance!"  *heart melts into puddle on the floor*
I received hugs and kisses from this little girl yesterday, and she said that she would see me at dance in two days.  :)

I also knew one of the boys in the class, since I taught his sister last year.  His sister knew me when she came to pick him up, and rushed to give me a hug as well.  So did the mom (she's also my dentist! LOL)! ;)

This got me thinking.  So many little girls look up to me.  They know me as "Miss Fallon (insert real name here)", their dance teacher.  I've seen little girls around town or at the store a few times, and the moms always recognize me and say hello, and talk with me, and the little girls always give me hugs.  I'm so happy to be in those little girl's lives.  I feel like I'm making a difference.  I love helping them, I love taking care of them and getting to be their teacher and pseudo-big sister.

Glo's other friends all look up to me, they talk to me, and play with me, and know if they ever need anything, they can go to "Fally (insert real nickname here)", Glory's older sister.  :)  It's an amazing feeling.Even at P.E., I'm a big sister to my sister's friends.  Her best friend takes dance with her, and that little (not so little, she's ten like Glo) girl loves me.  I get a billion hugs, she sits on me, and she and Glo are always playing with me, and cracking up together.  She's my second little sister.

To know that I am making an impact on the lives of these little girls (and even some little boys too) makes me feel so incredibly blessed.  It's a gift to take care of small children (and even big children).  When a little girl gets hurt in dance class, the first person she runs to is me.  She knows she can find comfort in me, and that I'll either take her to mommy or give her a bandaid and help her feel better.  One of my three year olds did that  few weeks ago in dance, she hit her head on the ballet barre and got scared.  She instantly ran to my side, crying, wanting to be held.  I picked her up and helped her feel better.  I got her to stop crying and continue dancing in less than three minutes.  Not a lot of people can do that.  I've been told that I have the magic touch.  ;)

I thank God for this gift that he's given me.  The gift of childcare.  I hope someday I can use this in more than just a volunteer setting.  I'll follow wherever He leads me with it, whether it's to have my own family, or take care of other people's children, I'm up for the challenge.

Do you have the gift of child-care?  If not, what are special gifts that you DO have, something not everyone else can do?  We're all made special and individually, with God's hand on each of us and our talents.  Tell me about yours.  ;)  Own it!  Be proud!

Happy Valentine's Day!

“"I’m looking for qualities beyond the physical" ~Dr. Erskine in Captain America

A common misconception in my generation and especially among girls is that if you see a boy, who is physically attractive, and you look at him, even for a moment, you are automatically in love. 

Well guess what?  I am firmly against this.  It annoys me to no end when people do this.  First of all, I am only fifteen, way too young to be dating or even looking at boys that way.  Second, if it’s for fun and just joking…so be it, that’s cool, just don’t make it serious. 

It seems like I am constantly picking at my IRL (in “real life”) friends…but this gets me often.  Okay, so allow me to set the scene. 

I am at P.E. group, where there are about five or six other girls (including me) and about twelve to fifteen other guys.  A few of those guys happen to be fairly attractive.  They’re athletic and are honestly pretty cute.  Just because I look at them, or notice that they exist, or remember their name does NOT mean that I am in love with them, or have a crush on them or am planning my wedding to him.  Because the physical attractiveness (though a bonus) is not what matters to me.  I am not looking for a hot guy to date or marry….that’s not what‘s important.  I want a good man as my boyfriend/husband. 

I think this is why I am attracted to the fictional character of Steve Rogers.  He is a GOOD MAN.  Yes, he’s incredibly physically attractive, but that’s a bonus.  I liked “skinny” Steve….before he became Captain America.  I like his heart.  He has a good heart; he cares for others and thinks of them before himself. He respects women and his friends, and himself.  He is humble.  He is kind. 

I want my husband to be like Steve Rogers.  I want a man who has a strong heart for God, and a firm foundation in his faith.  I want a man who will tell me the truth, and also what I want to hear.  I want a man who will love me for me, not because I am a super skinny lingerie model, or have a big butt or large chest or anything like that.  I want a guy who will geek out with me, get excited over Star Wars and Super Heroes, and who speaks my language.  I want someone who knows my heart and is my best friend.  I want someone who agrees with me politically and morally, and holds the same values I do.  Someone who will want to homeschool.  Someone who will stand by me when the going gets tough.  Someone to laugh with, and who won’t be ashamed if we’re a tad bit insane.  Someone who is humble, and sweet, and loving and smart and loyal and faithful and strong.  Someone who has a good heart.

(yes, that is a steve rogers valentine, made for me by my awesome friend chris!! thanks chris!! :D) 

And I know he is out there.  God has designed that perfect someone for me.  I will wait until he arrives, patiently and mooning over fictional men in the meantime.  But I will wait.  I know that everything happens in God’s perfect time, and that when it is HIS time, things will go according to HIS plan.  ;)

So who else hates it that people of the opposite gender can’t just be friends?!  Who thinks that it’s as annoying as heck when people make a big deal about the stupidest, smallest things that have to do with a boy? 

I do.  I don’t mind if we’re just playing around, but sometimes it just is really annoying, ya know?  I mean….just because I think someone is cute, or is nice, or I remember their name, or I say hi to them doesn’t mean that I automatically “Like-like” that person.  It’s a common misconception among teenage girls…..which is something I really don’t get. 

My mom has pointed out to me that I have no problem being social with people who have common interests as me.  It’s true.  I can talk to a total stranger about Star Wars or Avengers or The Clone Wars, but if there is no common interest, I get pretty awkward.  :P  So if I am awkward around a guy my age, it’s not because I’m madly in love with him and shy to say anything, it’s because I have no clue how to act in front of him or what to say without sounding like a total idiot because there is no common interest. 

One more thing that I need to get off my chest is that this fact about girls and guys not being able to be friends over the age of ten without it being romantic is true even for internet friendships.  I am friends with a few awesome guys, all really nice and cool, who I talk to often.  We’ll tweet back and forth, email sometimes, and even chat over Skype.  But as soon as my IRL friends (and even my family before I threatened them with my lightsaber) found out about that, I was suddenly in love. Guess what?  I’m not.  I have friends, and there is no crime in that.  Even internet people do that, which is just rude.  I mean, come on, why is it so wrong for two people to be friends?  Just friends?  Why is that so hard for people to wrap their minds around?  Is it that difficult to understand? 

Now I’ll lead into a second part of this post….Valentine’s Day.  Valentine’s Day is today.  Happy V-Day!!!  This is the day we celebrate love….though I think love should be celebrated every day.  The whole “guys and girls can’t be friend” thing is almost put in neon lights during this time of the year.  Friends dare friends to do stupid things, and to say stupid things, and to make moves and all that.  It’s not right.  If you’ve got a boyfriend or a girlfriend, good for you!!!  Celebrate with them!  Show them how much you care!! But if you don’t, don’t moan and whine about how you’re “Forever Alone” because it’s just lame.  I joke around saying I’m “Forever Alone” all the time, just because it’s a funny Tumblr thing.  But in reality, if you say that, and project that attitude, you WILL be alone.  God meant for man and woman to be partners.  He created women to be a companion to men.  Lifelong companions.  He created that person for you.  Don’t do foolish things just because you /think/ you’re in love.  Because guess what?  Your Heavenly Father loves you more than Johnny from Math Class ever will, and He will send that right person into your life when He is good and ready to. 

So don’t rush into things friends, wait upon the Lord, and He’ll show you the path to true love.  I’m letting God write my love story, while I fantasize about it in movies and books.  And that’s cool; it’s fun to think about it now.  Just wait and let HIM do His job, and you’ll get the fairytale ending more amazing than you ever could have dreamed. 

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone… I love you.  :)

Launch of Fangirls on Felucia!

Are you ready for this?

My amazing friend Savanna and I have had this lovely secret project in the works since October!!!!!  We are EPIC fangirls, and EPIC fangirls deserve an EPIC blog!!!!!!!

THIS. IS. THAT. BLOG!!!!!

Fangirls on Felucia

Savanna and I will be posting A LOT.  We will talk about everything!!!  Star Wars news, books, games, movies, episodes, outfits and MORE!!!!!  Because we are just that cool.

So check out the amazingness that is FOF.  ;)  Check back often for the latest and greatest in Star Wars!!!

Better yet, follow us!!!!  We also have a Facebook and a Twitter!!!!  Check out http://fangirlsonfelucia.blogspot.com/ for more!!!!!!!!!  ;)

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!!!!!

*in case you haven't noticed, I'm a tad-bit hyper over this*

Out with the old...in with the NEW!

I am having serious trouble believing that it is going to be 2012 in only a few short hours.  O.O

So many amazing things happened this year!  It's been amazing!!!!  My year in pictures, and then my New Year's Resolutions will follow. ;)

In the very beginning of this year....The Lakehouse Forum was just getting off the ground!  :D  Now we're 92 members strong, and growing!  :)

I opened my blog in Mid-Late January of last year.  Only 20 days until my Blogoversary!!! :)

I've read countless books, gotten more into the Star Wars Expanded Universe, read and published my own Fanfiction, and written a novel.  All this year.  0.0

My Love for Star Wars has grown by leaps and bounds, and has been joined by other fandoms such as:

Indiana Jones

How To Train Your Dragon

Johnny Tremain <3

The Muppets...technically I was already a huge fan, but it's a new phenomenon now!

Pride and Prejudice...thank you Ley. 

TRON: Legacy

MICHAEL BUBLE <333333

Lord of the Rings!

A Very Potter Musical 

Wicked!

Captain America

I have gone on many fabulous vacations.......and had many fun events............

And so many wonderful blessings.  <3

Dear friends, both from the internet realm and 'in real life'...

I love you all so much. This has been an amazing year!!  You all inspire me and encourage me so much!!!  THANK YOU!!!  <33  Here's to another year of rad, epic, fun and fangirl awesomeness!!!!!

Dear family....

I love you all more than I can say.  I hope you all have a wonderful new year, and that we can start anew, learning from our mistakes and spending mroe time together and have even more fun!

Dear baby sister....

YOU ARE NO LONGER A BABY!!! *sobs*  Happy birthday Nutmeg, I love you so much!  Even when you drive me insane, I still love you!!!!!  Have the best Lalaloopsy, American Girl, Button-Tail birthday that ever existed!!!  You are the coolest kid ever!  <3

Dear Ember....

Just remember.... owt rof aet dna aet rof owt.  Uoy rof em dna em rof uoy. Ees you t'nac, yppah woh eb dlouw ew!!!!!!!!!!!  <3

Dear TLF Sisters....I love you all so much!  You're amazing!  And I don't know what I'd do without you.  You all keep me excited and happy.  XD  Keep being your super awesome selves!  ;)  To the mod squad (and our newest additions to the mod squad) YAY FOR US!!!!!!  Love you all!!!!!

Dear Blogger Friends, I love you all!!!!!!!!!  Keep reading, writing and posting!  ;) 

Now, my new year's resolutions! :D

This year, I plan to:

Lose weight. (cliche huh? But seriously, I want to lose like 30 lbs before Celebration VI.)

Work really hard in school.  Finish everything on time. 

Practice my Viola daily.  Get REALLY GOOD at it. ;)

Read my Bible daily.

Go FFA!  (Future Farmers of America) ;)

Meet up with an internet friend (or many internet friends!!!!!)

Write more blog posts.

Succeed at Project 365!

Stop procrastinating.

Finish my NaNo novel from 2011. 

Finish Celestial Eclipse (fanfic)

Finish all my other fanfics.

Watch all the Avengers films before The Avengers is released. (watch them all with Ember/Chibi)

Write another novel.

Good goals?

What are YOUR New Years Resolutions?!? 

HAPPY NEW YEAR GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!  I AM FROM THE FUTURE NOW......it's officially 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Check out my Photography blog!!!!!  :)  http://fallon365pictures.blogspot.com/  I'll be using it for this AMAZING photography project that will take ALLLLL YEAR!  It's called: "Project 365!"  ;)

Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!! <333

  

Catch-Up Post...Christmas/Quick Update!

Hey Everyone!!!!!!  I hope you had an INCREDIBLE Christmas!!!!!!!!!! :D
This is gonna be a short post....because I will be working on bigger and more amazing posts in a few days!  :D

First of all, my Christmas was AMAZING.  I am so blessed!!!!  I had an amazing time, and I will be taking tons of pictures today!!!!  ;)  Probably tomorrow, I'll get an epic post up with all my pictures from Christmas! :D

Second, I watched Captain America last night!!!  It was an INCREDIBLE movie, definitely now on my favorites list!  I loved every second of it, and it made me cry!!  xD  (shocker)  Expect a review post on it soon!!!!

Third, I'll be going on vacation soon!!!!  WOOT!!!  I will have wi-fi, and I will have my laptop!  :D  I'll be working on blog posts and fanfiction while there.  ;)

Fourth thing, and then I'm almost done....I have a lot of school to get caught up on. ;P  Math, Science, Essays...but today should get those solved!  Then I can focus on my upcoming project with my amazing friend Savanna, from Pandas, Lightsabers and Cameras, oh my!!! :D

Now, so you can be occupied while I am absent for the rest of today, working on new posts and such.....listen to this!!!  It's a podcast!  I got to be featured on the Star Wars Underworld podcast last week!!!!  ;)  Chris and Kyle talked to me about Star Wars, current SW news, and my fanfiction!  You can hear both my voice and my first name this way....so enjoy!  ;)  CLICK HERE FOR MY PODCAST!

Okay, one more thing before I leave....
Today is the One-Year birthday of my beloved The Lakehouse Forums.  <3  We have made it 1 whole year!  WOOT!!!  Way to go us!!!!!  If you're a girl and you like Star Wars, and you are Christian, come join us on TLF.  We'd love to have you.  JOIN THE FAMILY!  ;) FIND TLF HERE!!!

NOW I'm done.  Love you guys!!!  I'll be back with more awesome posts when my school is done!  ;)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

A post in which I ramble on and on about how excited I am for Christmas.

*ahem*

*begins to sing*

IIIIII.....CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S CHRISTMAS!  I THINK I'M FINALLY GETTIN' SOMETHING, CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S CHRISTMAS...MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See that Veggie Tales Christmas special I just sang?  Yeah...I'm cool like that.  ;)

GUESS WHAT GUYS?!?!

CHRISTMAS. IS. TOMORROW.  I. START. CELEBRATING. TONIGHT.

I smell cookies!  And I wrapped a huge present for tonight, this morning!  We've been watching all the Rankin/Bass Christmas shows on TV!  The house smells all Christmasy!  We already went to Christmas service at church and there are presents under the tree!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*jumps around for a little while*

*ahem*

*starts to sing again*

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS......EVERYWHERE WE GO.....

Well duh it is.....Christmas is TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  8D

*clears throat*

I'M DREAMING.......OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS.........BECAUSE
I KNOW IT'LL NEVER COME.....I LIVE IN FLORIDA....IT'S HOT AND STEAMY.....AND IT WILL NEVER EVER SNOWWWW.....OHHH.....I CAN KEEP ON DREAMING ABOUT A WHITE.....CHRISTMAS!!!!  BECAUSE IT IS PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE.  UNLESS I THROW CRUSHED ICE IN THE AIR, BUT THAT WOULD PROBABLY MAKE PEOPLE STARE, AND I WOULD BE GROUNDED FOR LIFEEEE......OHHHHH......I'M STILL DREAMING OF A WHITE.....CHRISTMAS.......*song drifts off into whistling or humming like in the Charlie Brown Christmas special*

Well......it's true.  XD  It's Christmas Eve, and it's a gorgeous 88 degrees and hot and humid here in South Florida!  WOOT!!

In case you haven't noticed, my Christmas excitement is immense.  XD

What do I have to do today.....hmmmm......we have to:

Finish making more cookies.
Deliver presents and cookie tins to our friends at random places like the neighbors, the fire stations, my grandma's house, the local 7-11, Wal-Mart, Publix and many many more!  ;D
We have to take all our gifts to my grandma's house, and pick up my great-grandpa.  :D
WE NEED TO PICK UP DINNER!  WE ARE EATING PIZZA!!!!!!!!!  FOR CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER!  :D

see that?  that's a Christmas pizza.  it's a boot.  or a stocking. I honestly don't know.

Then we go to my grandma and grandpa's house for Christmas Eve!!!!!  We eat our dinner (PIZZA!) and then we celebrate! :D  We have dessert and fun and sing and play musics, and then we go on a walk! :D  (I am dreading this part, because it is too hot outside) xD  When we go on our walk, Santa Claus comes!  ;D

SANTA SANTA SANTA!  XD

We open PRESENTS!  ;D

PRESENTS PRESENTS PRESENTS!!!!!

We of course know that Christmas is not all about presents.....but it is fun to get thems!  ;D

We have tons of fun, as a whole family (all 8 of us!) and then eventually my family goes home.  :)  We watch a Christmas movie on TV, and then my parents put me and my sister to bed, (we usually have our separate rooms, but my sister and I always sleep over with each other (tonight it will be in her room) on Christmas Eve.)  ;)  Mom read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and then we sleep!!!!!  (well, kinda)  XD

The next morning, we wake up, and SANTA COMES AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAY FOR SANTA!!!!!!!!!!  ;)   LOL.  ;)  (Just so you all know, I'm just being super-Christmas spirity today.  I am just having fun, for all you Santa Claus hatahs)  ;)  Hehe!!!

I CANNOT WAIT FOR TOMORROWS!!!!!!!!!!! EEEPP!!!!!!

Okay, okay.  Merry Christmas my friends!!!!!!!  :D  I love you all so much!!!!!!!!!!! <3333

God Bless, and have the Merriest of all the Christmases!!!!!!  :D

Why I Love and Hate the Holidays

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year!  Who DOESN'T like Christmas time?
I can't think of too many people...only Scrooges.  ;)

But for those Scrooges out there.....I can see why one might not like the Holidays.  From the First of November to the First of January, the stores are packed, traffic is horrible, people can be rude, stores will run out of things, and there are always those /annoying/ (who thinks there are a few annoying Christmas carols out there?!  I can think of a few annoying ones, but I love them all too much....xD) songs on the radio!  What's a Scrooge to do?

For me, Christmas is definitely the most wonderful time of the year.  I love the music, the atmosphere, the friendliness of most people, the smells and the tastes of the Holidays.  The Christmas season really starts for me after Thanksgiving.  It's just like, once Thanksgiving is over....it's officially Christmas time.
And here we are, only 8 Days until Christmas!  :D  I feel like yesterday was literally JUST Thanksgiving.  ;)

Christmastime brings memories of family, fun, laughter, joy, good food, presents, and amazing Church services.  I seem to forget all the stress and trouble that comes with the season of giving.  :P

To get to the happy memories....a lot of work is needed!!!  Shopping, cooking, baking, more shopping, partying, celebrating, family togetherness, finding that perfect gift, avoiding crowds, avoiding lines, it all comes at the holidays!  I'm thinking about my personal experiences here....
My mom is the most amazing mom ever.  She does everything (except cook)!!  She does EVERYONE'S shopping during the holidays.....without her, Christmas wouldn't happen!  She shops, she puts it all together, and then we celebrate.  I can understand her stress.  We're all always a bit stressed at the holidays.....with so much to do, for only what, one and a half days?!

This is why we need, need, NEED to remember that Christmas IS NOT about finding the perfect gift, not about shopping and beating crowds, or getting each other presents.  In fact, we shouldn't even be getting anything.....because IT'S NOT OUR BIRTHDAYS.

It's Jesus's birthday!  We should be celebrating HIS birthday!  HIS birth!!!  The birth of a Savior who comes to rescue a broken and sinful world from their mistakes!  Too often, we forget this fact during Christmas time......and we honestly shouldn't.  It's the REAL purpose of the season.  My church has an ongoing project called "THE GREATEST GIFT", where you give Jesus the greatest gift (financial gift) that you can, for HIS birthday.  You can give it anywhere.....to the church, to the charity of your choice....wherever God lays it on your heart to donate the money.  :)

So this season....as we near Christmas Day......promise to yourself and to the Lord that you know it's NOT about you....it's about Jesus.  Try hard not to get caught up in all the stress that comes at the holidays....it's not worth it.  This is supposed to be the Season of Giving!  The season of Love!  :D  For goodness sakes, it's CHRISTMAS!  Enjoy it!  But remember the true reason for the Season!

Merry Christmas, I'll be blogging again soon!!!!  Have a blessed season, I love you all!!!!

<3 <3 <3