Love, Raena Belle

We had an assignment in a religion class I was taking to write our testimony in the form of the Living Christ. Here is mine:  My Living Christ A long time ago, before the world was, we lived and learned together from our Father in Heaven. Then, it was time for us to receive our mortal bodies and to experience live away from our Heavenly Parents. This was done that we might return and become as They are. To accomplish this purpose, Jesus Christ volunteered to come to Earth and die for our sins, that we could be washed clean and return to live in God’s presence. This meant that Christ would come to Earth, live a perfect and sinless life, and then suffer for every sin that we would commit while there in mortality. While here on Earth, Christ performed many miracles, healing and strengthening everyone He came into contact with. He loved and taught everyone He met, even when they persecuted him for it. Near the end of His life, He completed the Atonement, suffering and atoning for every...

 I love music. I love making my own, I like listening to what others have made. Every bit of music is just amazing to me. Who figured out that making a taut string at a certain level of stretch and density would create a consistent, musical sound? And how does music convey such powerful emotions through little more than sound? After my first breakup, I found that listening to music was very therapeutic in figuring out my feelings: certain lines in different songs would stand out as mine . Words and feelings I needed to understand, but couldn't use my own words for. Phrases and melodies that helped me work through my own complex emotions by showing me how someone else already did. Knowing that other people feel what I feel, that the confusing and complex and crowded emotions in my brain can be worked out, can be simplified. I may not understand how, or why, but music has a way of taking my jumbled mess of emotions and clarifying for me exactly what I'm feeling, whether it's ...

 Don't you love those stories where the guy falls first? Me too. Cory and Topanga - Boy Meets World "All I understood was that she was the girl I sat up every night thinking about, and when I’m with her I feel happy to be alive. Like I can do anything. Even talk to you like this. So that’s, that’s what I feel is love, Mom… When I’m better because she’s here…” Jake and Amy - Brooklyn 99 "I don't know what's gonna happen on this assignment, and if something bad goes down, I think I'd be pissed at myself if I didn't say this. I kinda wish something could happen, between us, romantic styles." Fry and Leela - Futurama "Leela: You know, Fry, I don't care if you're not the most important person in the universe. It really makes me happy to see you right now. Fry: Then I am the most important person in the universe." Maxon and America - The Selection "In those seconds, I was mourning everything I’d lost. How I’d never get to see you walk...

 In case you were unaware, I am a huge fan of myths and fairy tales. Greek mythology, fantastical beasts, princess, elves, you name it. The concept of other worlds and beings has always been intriguing to me, even if I know they technically aren't real. However, the point of fairy tales is not to convince you that those things are real. Not one fairy tale is meant to convince you that ogres are coming to take you, or that a changeling is going to replace your baby. In fact, most myths and fairy tales rely on the suspension of disbelief - the temporary putting aside of your reasonable doubts in order to enjoy the story. After all, the Land of Far, Far Away, is not a real city. Neither is Aldovia, Genovia, Middle Earth, or Wakanda. But we pretend they are for the sake of the story. In a similar fashion, though fairies may bring the seasons, seasons do not come all at once, no matter how talented Tinkerbell is. We know that's not how it works. But for the sake of the story, or the...

Guys, I finally did it! I graduated high school!! I am completely done with my required schooling, and all that's left is four years of college to get a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, with a minor in English Education. Easy. Peasy.  Because of Covid-19, I didn't get a big graduation ceremony, but it still turned out perfect. I mean, I did forget to thank my family in my graduation speech, and I forgot part of my gag during the walk, but what's life without a few mistakes? If any of you want to watch my graduation speech, here's the link to the video I had to take. Be warned, I meant "a war against racial INjustice" but by the time I took this video, I had started over 16 times, and I just wanted to be done. https://youtu.be/N-bak3Y5_h4 Also, I would like to add this: "I would also like to thank my family. You guys have made me laugh, and have practically raised me along with my parents. I love you all, and even though I can't choose my f...

Hello all!! Life update from probably a month ago, but I'm still excited about: I WON A SCHOLARSHIP!! AND I GOT A PAGE ON AN OFFICIAL WEBSITE!!  I applied for (and won) the Washington Homeschool Organizations yearly $1000 scholarship. I worked really hard on this essay, and I am very proud to have won. :)) Here is the link to their post on the website, where you can read my essay if you want to. :)) https://washhomeschool.org/2020-emmett-comer-scholarship-winner-raena-mawson/ Man, it feels so good to see my name in a website link. Especially right after the word "winner"

     I mean, probably. I assume if you are reading this, you probably already know who I am, but what the heck. An introduction seems like a good place to start a blog.      SO here goes:      Hi! My name is Raena Belle Mawson. I am a huge choir nerd, and I thoroughly enjoy most types of music. I say most because, well, some songs are terrible. I was in an advanced acapella choir for the past two years, and I absolutely loved it! One of my most favorite songs that we did in Choir was not acapella, but it's called "The Argument" by Francis Nesta. It was so much fun to sing and choreograph, and the lyrics are absolutely hilarious and so clever!      I am also a pretty big bookworm. My favorite author is probably Brandon Mull because I have read and loved every single one of his books. A close second is Shelby Bach, who wrote a book series on fairy tale characters in training, and I love love love the concept and her execution. S...