Road Trip!

Helloooo!!

I am alive and well, exited about school, and back in the blogger world!

A couple of weeks ago my family and I took a trip up to Montana for a Eucharistic Conference.  It was held at Corpus Christi parish in Great Falls, MT.  It was completely and utterly AMAZINGLY INCREDIBLE!!!  In the evening there would be Mass, dinner in the basement, a talk, then Eucharistic Adoration.  On three of the days we were supposed to go to the park, but were able to only one of the days because of the weather.  We still had fun, though.
I also had time to go crazy with one of my best friends about the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.  Because really, we're not the crazy ones. ;)

During the conference we had a Forty-Hours devotion.  Simply speaking, the Eucharist was left on the alter for forty hours, even during Mass and the talks.

Click on the pics to see them bigger.

The alter was completely amazing!!!  I think someone said there were over 120 candles.  Really the pictures can't do it justice, and I pray all of you will get to experience something like that in person.

We also had a Eucharistic procession.  Everything was so amazing, and being a part of it (opposed to seeing on the computer) was even amazinger!!!! ;D

I'm in the blue maxi "next to" the candle stick by the line.

The entire church was full of priests in cassocks!!  I'm not sure I'd even seen one in real life until then!  Most of them were young, and we got to talk to a lot of them.  My friends and I even got to sit with one during dinner!  A couple even came to the park and played frisbee with us.  It was truly an incredible experience.

On our trip we found some pretty good places to eat that I will highly suggest in case you are ever up that way.

2K's Kafe: Amazing food and service!  Tiny, but completely small town feeling.  My sister got the cinnamon roll french toast.  Definitely the favorite in my fam!  

The cinnamon roll french toast

Culver's: They now have some in Utah!  I know this is probably a common fast food place in the mid-west, but for us westerners who never get to eat their amazing fried chicken and custard, it was a treat!

Yesterday's Calf-A: They have amazing burgers and pie!!!  I would highly suggest the coconut cream.  We found out about this place from our friends in MT, and definitely worth the stop.  Keep an eye out when you're traveling on the 95, though, this place is literally in the middle of nowhere.

 

The coconut cream pie.  I'm getting hungry just looking at it!

Florence Coffee Company: It's only a small shack in Helena (one of three locations there, I think) but their drinks were REALLY good!  I got a coconut smoothie and would highly recommend it.

Em's Restaurant:  We went here after Mass at the Cathedral in Salt Lake City for brunch.  The smoked salmon eggs Benedict was amazing!  My sister got it for her birthday brunch.

Snyder Drug: This is a cute Catholic gift store, convenience store, and soda fountain all in one!  They have everything from odds-n-ends, ice cream, home decor, and chocolate sodas!

My mom's chocolate soda at the soda fountain in the back.

While we were driving up to MT, we passed through Butte at night.  There was something really bright up on the mountains beside us.  There was a big discussion as to what it really was.  My mom said it was a statue of Mary.  On our way back home, we passed through Butte during the day and saw that she had been right!

Our Lady of the Rockies.

We also saw an overlook with a sign that explained who she was and why she was there.  It was pretty neat!

We also stopped on our way back in Helena to see the Cathedral.

Note:

If you're anywhere near 50 miles of the place, stop by!!!

It is incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The church was huge!

 

The Stations were beautiful!!

Most of all the stained glass windows were gorgeous!

 St. Helena and her son, St. Constantine

 The Last Supper and St. Pope Pius X

The Transfiguration and the Crucifixion

A few things have been redone over the years, but those and most other things in the Cathedral are pretty much original to 1914, the year the building was completed.  The cornerstone was laid in 1908.

All in all it was an amazing trip!  I know I will definitely miss the scenery and the Toy Story clouds :)

God bless, and Namárië until next time!

An Idaho sunset.

Tookish Tag

Greetings!!

(*in Pippin accent*) I have apparently been tagged by my dear fellow LotR's fan, Chloe, to answer a few questions.  The rules are quite simple. Number one is to reference back to the Hobbit who mentioned you, two is to state your answers to the inquisitions, and the third is to name some of your fellow blogging Tolkienknights!

Before we start, you wouldn't mind if we stopped for elevensies, would you?

Ok, ok, here we go =)

1. How were you first introduced to LotR/TH and was it love at first sight/read?

I had heard about it from a couple of friends who watched it with their family every Thanksgiving.  I was very skeptical about it at first, thinking it was only more junk literature and no-good movies.  A few of my other friends were reading The Hobbit and encouraged me to read it as well.  I decided to ask my mom, and she said yes.  That was around the time when The Unexpected Journey was coming out.  While I was in the middle of the book, my parents went and saw it in the theater, coming home with the report that, though it was a great movie, I would never see it until I was at least 20.  That following spring I borrowed the trilogy from my uncle and was immediately hooked onto the fascinating world of Middle Earth.  I finished the books in less than a week.

  

2. If you could meet the actors who portray the characters in the movies, would you?

Most definitely!

3. What is your favorite credit song from LotR/TH?

Oh dear, must I chose?!?!?  It would be either I See Fire or The Last Goodbye.

4. The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit – which is your favorite? *evil laugh* (And no, you don’t actually have to decide. I’m merciful like that. *magnanimous smile*)

Although the Hobbit is wonderful, I do believe I favor LotR, mostly for the Catholic parallels.

5. Who is your favorite all-around character?

Oh this is troublesome indeed!  Then again, maybe not.  Come to think of it, most definitely not!

Legolas, or I'm not a Took!

6. What is your opinion on Boromir?

He broke my heart.  Though there were moments I could say I either disliked him or favored him, his confession to Aragorn healed all wrongs.

7. How many times have you watched the movies/read the books?

I've read The Hobbit twice, The Fellowship thrice, and the last two probably four times.  That doesn't count the times I've jumped from place to place, reading small bits and pieces of choice.  I've watched TUJ twice, TDoS once, the extended edition of TDoS twice, TLB twice, and the extended edition of TFotR once.

8. What book is your favorite?

The Two Towers is the best of them all.  Mostly because of the roles Aragorn and Legolas play in the story.

9. Who is your favorite female character (other than your answer to question #5)?

My favorite female character...  here's where you put me to the test, though I do believe Galadriel and Arwen are equal in my eyes, so I'll just say both.  A day has both a morning and an evening, right?

10. Who is your favorite male character (other than your answer to question #5)?

In the books, Aragorn is.  In the movies, Thorin. (keep in mind the second two LotR movies are still unseen by me.)

11. Which of the movies, in your opinion, has the best ending?

Of the ones I've seen, The Battle of Five Armies has the best ending.  I don't think many words can describe why.  I think the word that fits best here is triumph.  Triumph over darkness, over temptation, over evil.  Is that not our goal?

That is all for my answers!  I look forward to seeing...

Samantha's,

Emma's,

and your answers!!!

Feel free to jump in on this fun tag!  If you'd like, post the like to your answers in the comments and I'll head over to your part of the hill to see them.

Excuse me, I believe I hear my kettle on the stove is whistling.  Tea is at three, so stop been if you can!

Tag, You're It!

I have been tagged by Chloe to do a 10 Favorite Screen Character Tag.

All you have to do is list your ten favorite movie/tv characters, expound on them, and then tag ten bloggers.

This will definitely be hard, but I will try my best to pick 10, and only 10. Let the fun begin!

*these are all listed in no particular order.  Just because one character is higher up in the list does not mean I like him/her better than any other character.

       1. Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit.

He always loved the simple things in life, yet was willing to give up everything familiar to the call of adventure.  He kept his word, no matter what, and even put himself in grave danger for the sake of his friends.  Although he was a Hobbit, scared at times, and none the bravest, "I can only say that Hobbits are made of a stuff so tuff that I have never met the like of it." (~Aragorn)

Also, let's not forget to mention that his facial expressions are completely hysterical!

2. Thorin Oakenshield, The Hobbit.

He's loyal and true, and was willing to give his life for the Hobbit who had put them all in grave danger.  He never forgot his homeland, or his people that he cared very much about.  Dragon sickness is an ill which is quite dangerous, but in the end he overcame his greed, repented, and gave his life to end the defiler.  He's also one of the best singers I've ever heard, and is quite handsome, especially when he smiles.

3. Legolas Greenleaf, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Just the fact that he is an Elve would be enough for me to put him down here, but there is more to him than that.  In The Hobbit, he stayed true to Tauriel to the end, even though he could see she did not love him back.  When Thorin was on the edge of death, Legolas, though he did not care for the dwarves very much, saved his life and even gave Ocrist back to Thorin.  In The Lord of the Rings, words cannot describe my admiration of him.  When he sang the song of Nimrodel, the time he dwelt in Lothlorien, his journey to find the Hobbits, all are just so amazing to me that I long to be an Elve.  He is loyal to Aragorn and is not afraid when he is beckoned to journey through even the paths of the dead.  Besides, he is very cute and dashing.

4. Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, The Hobbit.

He is noble and courages, though slightly stubborn and unwilling to risk destroying his people.  He knows how great evil can be, having seen it in his earlier years, yet in a moment that could decide the fate of hundreds of people, he does the right things, sending his army to join the dwarves against the forces of darkness.  His people come first and foremost to him, though, and he does not want to watch them all die in war, even for a  good cause.  He loves Legolas, very much, but he loved  Legolas's mother more then anything, who was slain many years ago.  His heart was broken, and nothing could restore what evil had taken away.  He's also quite handsome and very cute, if you ask me.  I can't get over his voice, either, and how regal it sounds.

5. Tauriel, The Hobbit.

She fights for what is right, even if it means she is banished by her king.  It is for the love of light and truth that she knows will be surrounded by darkness if they do nothing, and then destroyed.  Although I disagree with her on her choice of her man, she is willing to sacrifice her life for him, though in the end he dies, and she does not.  She's braver than a lion, all through the journey, and is not afraid to fight for what's right. "Tell me Mellon, when did we let evil become stronger than us?" (~Tauriel)

I promise, not all of them are from Middle Earth!

6. Cosmo, Singing in the Rain.

He's on here because he is simply hysterical.  I love how he is always keeping comedy in the picture, even in some serious moments.  He's faithful to his friend, Don, even if when Don asks him to call him a cab, he does just that! "Ok, you're a cab." (~Cosmo)

7. Produce, Where Hope Grows.

Produce reminds us all that there is no secret to being happy.  It's faith, joy in the little things, and our choice to be happy that truly lead us to happiness, but faith always comes foremost.  He's so sweet and kind, and is not afraid to protect his friends.

8. Prince Philip, Sleeping Beauty.

Being my favorite disney prince, he is loyal and true.  What I love most, I think, is that he uses the sword of truth to defeat the dragon, a symbol that in the end truth will destroy evil.  He never gives up when trying to reach King Stephen's castle, to awaken his bride and love.  If I could say that my future husband should strive to be like any of the princes, I would chose Philip.  He's also handsome and has a wonderful voice.  

9. Aslan, The Chronicles of Narnia.

After all, he's not a tame lion.  Given all the words in my vocabulary, all that I've ever known, and all that I will know, I don't think I could say just what I feel about him.  He is, in fact, the very symbol of Jesus.  I think this quote sums up anything I could say about Aslan, being God and Christ.  "To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances, to seek him the greatest adventure, to find him the greatest human achievement." (~St. Augustine)

10. 

For now I do not have a #10, but I will get back to you after June 30th!

(I'll give you a hint as to why.  Click on the Beyond the Mask banner above the posts.)

Thank you again sweet Chloe for tagging me!

Namárië!

:Edit:

I'm so sorry!!!!!!!! I just now realized I forgot to tag people!!!!!!! D-:

Emma at A Bookworm's Majestic Adventures

Joy at Fullness of Joy

and anyone else who would like!!!!

Easter Week/ 20 Things That Make Me Happy

Greetings, and Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!

This past week has flown, but boy was I blessed!  It felt like an endless weekend! (haha, you'll never guess what I buy at Bath and Body Works. ;))

On Easter Sunday we went to Mass then came home and hosted brunch.  I wore a new dress that we had gotten at Stein Mart.

My favorite part about the dress is when I spin...

Ta da!!! :D

On Wednesday we had our schola over for practice and a crazy game of Scattergories!  If you ever have the letter P, and I think list 7, I would highly suggest doing Pirate Pinball for number 6, and Ping Pong Paddle for 11. (a double and a triple! SCORE!!)

This week I drew a picture of Tauriel (shock and disbelief!) for an art contest held by my school.

 This was the picture I based it off of...

...This is how it turned out.  It's not 100% perfect, nor as good as I would have liked it to be, but it's close enough. :)

On Friday, we went to this new ice cream place called Handel's Ice Cream.  It was SOOO GOOD!!! I got mint chocolate chip (inspired by Ben Seawald!)

Then Friday night I spent the night at a friends house.  Saturday morning I went to the gym for practice, then got back together with the same friend and went to confession.

After that we had a coffee/smoothie date, hung out some more, then headed over to my cousins' for a game of Jumbo Sequence.  All in all it was a very exhausting and fun day. :)

                                               

Of course I had to add our beautiful Iris that bloomed some time this week.

Also, I was inspired by Beth and everything I've done this week to add...

*drumroll*

20 Things That Make Me Happy!

1. Going to Mass
2. Doing my hair like and Elve (hehe!)
3. Hanging out with friends
4. Sewing
5. Writing stories
6. Running in an open field (most of the time I imagine in a whole different world) :)
7. Reading
8. Finding modest and cute outfits
9. Laughing so hard I can't even breathe
10. Listening to Christian Radio
11. Knowing I am loved no matter what
12. Playing with the littles!
13. Discovering something new in the world of Tolkien
14. Baking Miss Kay's (Duck Commander) cookies, or baking in general
15. Eating ice cream
16. Seeing God's creation bloom into spring
17. Writing letters with friends far apart
18. Thinking of the future
19. Being with my family
20. Singing

And that concludes my post on this beautiful spring day and Divine Mercy Sunday.

Until next time,

Namárië, Mellon!