I've updated my Scrapbook. 

 Shay

  So, I'm using the right computer sooner than I thought.  :) 

  Check this out. 

I said I would post about memories next.  It's something I've been meaning to post about for a while, I just needed to get all my stuff together. :P  I have memory boxes and folders tucked away all over the place.  :) 

  My first folder starts in 2004 and ends  in 2007.  I can't believe I actually saved this stuff.  :P  I've got drawings, letters, Christmas cards, and some Christmas letters from people in the Church.  I also have the camp schedule for 07!  lol :D  I have J and J's wedding bulletin.

  The next folder is 2008.  This one is mostly letters, but it does have Forrest and my airplane tickets to California and my Knott's Berry Farm pass.  It also has my graduation cards and handout. 

  Then I have like three boxes of unsorted things...  journals, letters, camp schedules, Winter Arts handouts, Christmas letters, invitations, talent night schedules, bubbles from weddings, Oaks park bracelets, 09 graduation pics, KA dinner theater schedule, and my boyfriend Bob.  lol :D  He's just a plastic army man btw... 

  Then I have another box downstairs with some more important memories/keepsakes.  A few more journals, pictures, drawings, letters, and flowers.

  Memories are so important to me. I love being able to get out a picture or something like that and remembering everything that went with it.  I want to eventually be able to get a camcorder and be able to film things that are happening.  The thing is, not matter how could your camera or your recordings are they will never be able to capture the feelings that go along with each moment.  Talent night is one of my favorite points of the year.  Camp is drawing to a close and everyone is happy, content and ready to laugh.  :)  watching the video of talent night is never the same.  You're not really there...  It just gives you camp sickness...  :P

Shay 

  Don't you think it is interesting teh effect music has on your mood?  I do.  Different songs can trigger suck different emotions in me.  For example, So Close from Enchanted makes me feel like crying, while Congratulations by Blue October makes me happy.  Leaving Strathconan by Runrig, makes my stomach to flip-flops and makes me excited and Clocks by Coldplay makes me relaxed. 

"Carol Krumhansl of Cornell University found that different types of music directly trigger different emotions. While happiness causes you to breathe faster, sadness causes a rise in blood pressure and temperature and a slower pulse. Faster music played in a major key caused the same physical reactions associated with happiness, and slower music played in a minor key resulted in those associated with sadness. (Leutwyler) This also evokes the question of whether or not minor keys naturally sound “bad” or undesirable to everyone, or if it’s simply what we’ve been socialized to think through the music we’re used to in our particular cultures." 

"Researchers at the University of Toronto are developing 'brain wave music' ('Brain Wave Music'), a type of music therapy that involves creating music that imitates the patterns formed by individual brain waves. The people they test the music on are given their own CD, with music made for their specific brain waves. They’re hoping that this new approach may help relieve chronic insomnia, anxiety, or depression, even without the additional aid (and risk of dependency) of medication. Could you imagine going to the doctors to get a 'prescription CD?' "

"In addition to causing positive changes in heart and breathing rates, bringing relaxation, and combating stress problems, music also brings a 'positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay.' (Scott)"

  This is so true.  When I am feeling down or depressed about life, it doesn't take long for music to cheer me up.  Especially if the songs that are playing are ones that I count as "old friends".  Ones that have memories entertwined in.  Though, I must confess certain songs can just make me worse.  But that's only if the song has something to do with what I am depressed about in the first place.  :P 

"Music is invariably a crucial part of everyone’s life, and has shaped the way we all live and develop as humans. If used in the right ways, it can help us learn, heal, or even make it through that last lap around the track. We still have so much to find out about the way our minds interpret music and how if effects us."

Those quotes from an article I found on the internet called How Music Affects Emotion, Intelligence, and Health.  It's a very interesting article. 

  I believe that a world devoid of music would be the equivelant of hell.  Could you imagine it?  No music at all?  There has never ever been NO music.  Every culture has its own music and instruments.  Mark Driscoll thinks that Adam and Eve sang instead of talking in the garden of eden.  In The Silmarillion the world was created through a song sung by all the angels. 

  How many people do you know who dislike music?  All kinds of music?  I don't know any and if I did I'm sure that person would be sad and depressed.  Music is a huge major part of my life and I couldn't imagine what it would be to live without it. 

Love, Shay

  A lot of people have been asking me what I am doing with my time since I'm not in school.  That's a hard question to answer because I'm not doing any concrete thing like having a job or going to college.  And no one wants to sit through a long list of the little things I spend my day doing.  I can't just say,  "Well, yesterday I did 6 loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, babysat, made bread, and helped make dinner." 

  It doesn't matter if you don't have a "real" paying job.  You can still work.  What matters is how you spend your time.  You could use this time to help your parents, develop your relationship with God and with other people, volunteer, learn more about things that interest you, and many other important things.  It's not about having a job and making money, (though that is an important thing :P  )  It's about building the kingdom of God.  And you do that through work.   If you spend your time well, I strongly believe that God can and will bless you greatly.

  One of the many thing  that I struggle with is just getting up and doing it.  It's easy enough when you're feeling on top of the world, but when I'm feeling depressed and horrible it's a whole lot harder.  "I don't want to do these dreary every day things right now!  I just want to sit here and veg on the computer.  What's the use anyway?  Nothing will make any difference."  But we can't give into those feelings.  Things DO make a difference.

 Blessings and love to you all,

Shayleen