Ad Astra Per Aspera

From mud to stars.

From suffering to greatness.

Those are just 2 translations of Ad Astra Per Aspera.

Right now I'm starting to undergo a change. I want to become an even better person and get some things right in my life. I'm not striving for perfection, but I'm striving to be more Christ-like.

I know in the last blog I talked about dreams coming true. Oh my darlings, they really are. I'm kinda freaking out right now tho with it being the end of the school year and all the cramming and what not though. But it will be over in 2 weeks and I will be on summer vacation.

But honestly, rain's a' comin. This drought is almost over. Dawn is on it's way. I'm so excited my friends. I just can't wait for what's going to be happening soon. There is so much hope.

If you feel like you have no hope remember, you have to go thru the darkest hour of the night before you can get to the dawn. You wouldn't be able to be happy or joyful if you have never experienced sadness or grief.

Our time is coming. So enjoy life while you can still relax! Things are about to get busy so prepare yourself properly to be 100% passionately pursuing your purpose.

It will be here sooner than you think!

You call it dreams, when it's really life. We are living the dream.

This is going to be a long blog, I will admit that before I even start. But this blog is not going to be a rant or anything. This is coming from my heart and tears are already starting to swell as I begin to type this.

I am in disbelief of where I am today. I am so thankful to the numerous people that have brought me to this place. 2, even 3 years ago, I would have never been able to even DREAM about where I am today. 1 year ago I would have jokingly dreamed about, telling myself it was just wishful thinking. And it's killing me.

No, mind you I am very much alive. But every other day we live is just one step closer to death so in all technicalities living our lives, and completing our destinies really are killing us.. Ok enough of that weird crap. But seriously.

I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams and I am silently standing back watching as my life and dreams unfold in front of me. It amazes me at how quickly I got where I am today. It amazes me all of the new friends I've made.

I used to remember thinking "God, I know what you want for me. I know you have these amazing plans for me. But I'm tired of waiting. I want what's next. I know what you have planned, I just don't know how or when or who is going to help me get there."

Everyday I am getting closer and closer and closer. I am seeing these amazing things unravel before my very own eyes so fast that I wish I could go back and play them in slow motion just to make sure it's real.

I have realized that the things I have been doing lately other people would kill for. I am doing things thousands of people would just be extremely jealous for. I have created friendships with people that some people fantasize about. I am in a position that God has placed me in because there is no possible way that I could have gotten to on my own.

My friends told me that when they first met me they thought I was making things up. They didn't believe me and they thought that I was full of crap. They believe me now. But it shocks them. My other friends tell me that they want my life. They say it makes them jealous.

When I look at myself. And I see who I am minus everything amazing that God has done in my life I wonder how those amazing things even happened. And I realize as life has gone on, those things have gotten even more and more and more amazing, and it makes me wonder how much better life is going to get. Where am I going to be a year from now?

When I look in the mirror and see the zits on my face. When I look at my house and see how small it is. When I think about where I live. When I think about all the things my family has sacrificed. When I think about all the mistakes I've made.When I think about my life I don't believe myself.

But I can't believe myself. I can't believe everything I've done. But I have to believe God. I have too.

It blows my mind. I dreamt about some of these things when I was 12. And they're coming true. It's beautiful to see what's become of these ashes. Some people call of these things hopes and wishes and dreams and fantasies. This world tells you to blow them off and just ignore them. But you can't ignore these things. You can't lose faith. You can doubt what God is going to do in your life. When you begin to doubt these dreams, you begin do doubt God's will. See when you believe these dreams and hold on to hope, they come true. You call them dreams but they will be given life. Dreams become reality. When you begin to doubt you're killing them. And by killing them you're losing every chance they have to become reality.

I consider myself so fortunate to have had these numerous opportunities. I thank God for them. I thank God for the people that have made them come true.

I don't know if this makes sense to you. I probably sound crazy. But honestly, have hope my friends. Your dreams are waiting for you. They're just around the corner.

Acoustic

Lately I have been a total and complete sucker for acoustic music. Something just gets me when it's just a simple acoustic guitar, a good voice, the box thing they use for drums, and occasionally a piano.
Here's a list of some of my favorite songs currently:

Misguided Ghosts - Paramore

Minutes - Abandon Kansas

The Earth Falls Asleep - Abandon Kansas

Miracle Photo - Ruth

Upstart (Acoustic) - Queens Club

Less Talk (Acoustic) - Queens Club

A Mirror Is Harder To Hold - Jon Foreman

Heaven and Hell - Write This Down

Amazing Because It Is - The Almost

Up and Up (Acoustic) - Relient K

Broken From The Start - Jon Foreman

Monster - The Almost

Dead Giveaway - Ruth

There's A Word For You - Rocky Loves Emily

Hot Action (Acoustic) - Lights Out!

And this song isn't acoustic or have any acoustic parts in it, but it's soo good!

@reply - Set It Off

BOOM!

THIS NEW YEAR IS GONNA BE AWESOME!!!!!

I have so much hope and I can see already all the good things that are going to happen. It's going to be crazy awesome and I can't wait to get even more into.

In 3 weeks I might get to see 3 of my favorite bands, 2 are touring together and the other one is going to be in the area like 5 days laters. Shweeeeeeeeeett deal!

I can't think of a better way to start off the year than with a few good shows.

By the way there is this song @Reply by a band called Set It Off. Freaking amazing song. Go look it up, now!

Happy Holidays!

So yesterday was Turkey day and in 29 days it will be Christmas. BAM! SO EXCITED!
Can't wait!

Anyways. I'm thankful for many things. I'm thankful that my heart is beating and my lungs are breathing. I'm thankful that I have experienced all of the things I have. I thank God for those oppurtunites so much, knowing they are just the beginning. I'm thankful for the second chances.

Now moving along. I LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC. Oh, yes, that is almost an understatement about how amazing it is. Go check out the Happy Christmas 5 from ToothandNail Records, and while you're there, be sure to get Once A Year by Poema. Lovvveeee it! Great great great great music!

Speaking of Poema, their music video 2 AM is on MTVu's Freshman thingy whatever, and you should really vote for them to win!
http://www.mtvu.com/category/music/the-freshmen/
Go vote a million times!

Oh by the way, Speaking of Christmas, Rocky Loves Emily's American Dream is now out in Hot Topic's Nationwide. $5 says it's a great stocking stuffer. The EP is a dream. If you don't feel like going to Hot Topic, it's also available on iTunes and Amazon.com.

I probably sound like neverending advertisement. I've been told that quite a few times by people. Hahaha. Music is my thing, sorry I don't have much else to tell you about!

I Still Can't Believe You're Gone

My teacher died.

On November 7th 2010.

I'm going to miss him.

Getting over the fact that he is gone is easy.

Getting over the fact that we all are going to die.

Isn't so easy.

I'm not as scared of living life without my loved ones as I am of living no life at all.

Mr. Herr was a great man. He taught me great things. The most valuable lession that I learned from him though was this:

You never know when you're going to go out. No one is invincible. Live your life to the fullest and do what matters.

Mr. Herr always had a life lesson or value to everything he did. Even in his death he taught us all a lesson.

Thank you Mr. Herr. I'm going to miss you. You are our Phantom of the Opera.

"I'll remember you like yesterday. I still can't believe you're gone. I'll remember you like yesterday. And until I'm with you I'll carry on. So long my friend, so long." ~Jon Foreman

.s.i.x.t.e.e.n.

yeah that's how old i am.

right now i am so tired. and so bored. my parents are at a party thing for church so i am home alone doing homework. blah.

last night/this morning i went to a concert for my birthday of course. and it was off the hook. not literally like "omg amazing greatest show ever" because it wasn't. but when i say off the hook i mean the guys were totally nice and sooo sweet!

i accidentally ended up selling merch during their show. i don't care i only know 1 song. i found one of their eps in their money box so the lead singer was like "oh this is old take it" so i did. haha.

yeah.

that's all i've got to say.

i lied. it really isn't.

the band was totally chill and really nice. and yeah i know i said that. but i had to say it again. they were some of the sweetest people i've ever met, and i can't wait to see them again.

i think i'm done now. yeah i'm done now. (: