My Encyclopedia

The Encylopedia of an Eclectic Mind

By:   Kiersten  P.  Benson

A HUMAN

Upon challenging the ongoing current of life I have found humans to be very strong creatures--much stronger than they let on.

SKINNY LOVE

I have discovered I blush easier than I care to admit and

the only kind of  love I come close to are stolen glances and hopeful smiles.

BEAUTIFUL

Beautiful is an artist in the zone; when you can see the concentration coursing through them so fiercely they don’t dare move and they hardly even breathe for fear of losing that precious moment. They forget all thoughts of time and place and just live in that moment and bask in all its wholeness. That is beautiful.

A List of Nice Sounds:	What My Childhood Tasted Like:
-- turning book pages -- keys of a typewriter -- skate blades on ice -- sleepy voices -- a crackling fire -- quiet rain drops -- hearing a smile in someone’s voice -- rustling trees -- laughter -- summer cricket symphonies -- Christmas bells -- far away thunder -- splashes in the pool -- drowsy breathing -- Autumn leaves crunching -- ocean waves -- dreams forming	Creamies I always loved the notes on the stick. Chicken Pillows The highlight of my birthday dinners. Bubble Gum Preferably eaten when I’m trapped indoors from a storm. Snow Cones No matter how far I had to walk to get one...it was always worth it. Taco Soup A Christmas party specialty. Plain Peanut-Butter Sandwiches Never was a big fan of jelly...

NOSTALGIA

But in the middle of my happiness I realized

that all those nostalgic moments from my past were no longer there

that the little girl who once loved to dream

and dance

and release her wild imagination

no longer existed.

The little girl who spent too much time in the sun

The little girl who chased dragons

and hunted fairies

and the little girl who fiercely imagined things she knew in her heart to be real

was no longer real.

No longer alive.

And there was nothing I could do to change that

no matter how much I wanted to.

THE “SQUABBLE”

You know that awkward moment when you are walking out the door and someone decides to walk in just as you are walking out and you both try  to go your separate ways the

same way? And then you end up awkwardly shuffling around each other?  I’ve decided the only way to avoid that is to create a universal law where everyone must stay to the right side of every doorway when walking in or out and then we won’t ever have to deal with the horrendous “squabble” ever again.

HOME

The difference between a real printed book and a digital book is substantial. Could you ever forget the tear stains, food stains, or fingerprints unintentionally left inside a real book? What about the beautiful flowers that you pressed between the scratchy paper or the inky annotations provoked by the very words that inspired you? Or the accidental drips and crumbs left from attempting to read and nourish yourself at the same time? And above all, could you ever forget the trembling, clenching, or caressing of your fingers as you finally turned the last past you were longing to turn since the very moment you picked up that book? No, I daresay you can’t. It is my pensive opinion that a library stuffed with beautiful books bursting off the shelves with which you can clutch, caress and stroke at will, will always be more impressive than an electronic screen with only the capacity to scroll and keep scrolling.

My Life in a Timeline:

1997

     ⤋

March: I came bearing gifts; small gifts like: dimples, protuberant blue eyes,

my sister, and two feet eager to explore (I began walking at eight months).

2002

     ⤋

September: My first day of school and also the first time I realize-- I am an artist.

2005

     ⤋

June: I meet my childhood best friend and she awakens my

undying love for Harry Potter. I will always be thankful.

2008

    ⤋

August: The biggest pain-in-the-butt joins our family--his name is Nimbus

(like a Nimbus cloud) and he is the dumbest

and no doubt the weirdest dog you will ever meet.

2011

     ⤋

July: The last Harry Potter movie is released and I cried because I missed the premiere. And I also move from Mapleton (where I lived all my life) to Eagle Mountain and find out I am going to Westlake High School in the following month. (Talk about frightening.)

2012

       ⤋

Summer: This year is a crazy blur of fun, fires, memories, and new best friends.

2013

     ⤋

Three of my siblings leave on LDS missions and leave my house devastating empty, but I get my very own room for the first time in my life! I love it and it is sufficient to say that it is apart of my identity. Every square inch of it is covered in artwork, posters, quotes, comic book clippings and happiness. It is where I spend most of my time!

2014

       ⤋

I have to let go of the noxious things in my life--no matter how hard it is and I must move on. A new chapter has begun, life is good, I am still young, I am 17 years old (an official full-wizard!)  but I still haven’t figured out the whole “driving” thing...(maybe someday.)

My Hogwarts House is...

1. You got: Gryffindor
   universalorlando.com

   You have a heart of a lion. You never give up, never back down and give everything 100%. Good things happen to you because you fight for them. You stand up for yourself and for your friends because you believe in what is right. Your energy is magnetic and makes you a natural leader.

   
   
   
   
   Congratulations! You're a Gryffindor! You can make your way to the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall and sit with Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of the Weasleys, among others. The Sorting Hat has found within you the potential for great bravery in the face of opposition. Your courage may remain hidden, like that of Neville Longbottom, but it will strengthen you in need. But don't rely on your membership in Gryffindor as a guarantee of steadfastness - remember, Peter Pettigrew was Gryffindor, too.
   
   "You might belong in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart, their daring, nerve and chivalry set Gryffindors apart."
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   The sorting hat says...

   Gryffindor!

   Look below to see how compatible you are with each house, and for descriptions of the houses.

   House Crest	Score (0-100)	House Description
   	89	Gryffindor Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those with brave deeds to their name." Students of Gryffindor are typically brave, daring, and chivalrous. Famous members include Harry, Ron, Hermione, Albus Dumbledore (head of Hogwarts), and Minerva McGonagall (head of Gryffindor). If you want to add this feedback to your homepage, click here.
   	88	Ravenclaw Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose intelligence is surest." Ravenclaw students tend to be clever, witty, intelligent, and knowledgeable. Notable residents include Cho Chang and Padma Patil (objects of Harry and Ron's affections), and Luna Lovegood (daughter of The Quibbler magazine's editor). If you want to add this feedback to your homepage, click here.
   	88	Hufflepuff Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot, and treat them just the same." Hufflepuff students are friendly, fair-minded, modest, and hard-working. A well-known member was Cedric Diggory, who represented Hogwarts in the most recent Triwizard Tournament. If you want to add this feedback to your homepage, click here.
   	46	Slytherin Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those whose ancestry is purest." Slytherin students are typically cunning and hungry for power. Important members include Draco Malfoy (Harry's nemesis), Professor Severus Snape (head of Slytherin), and Lord Voldemort. If you want to add this feedback to your homepage, click here.

   
   
   
   

   

   
   Gryffindor!
   "You might belong in Gryffindor
   Where dwell the brave of heart;
   Their daring, nerve and chivalry
   Set the Gryffindors apart."
   
   Congratulations - you are in Gryffindor! Here truly do dwell the brave and mighty, who are not afraid of anything (except Dementors, spiders, Lord Voldemort... the list is endless). Famous Gryffindors include Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and once more, the list is endless.
   Head of House: Minerva McGonagall
   House Ghost: Nearly-Headless Nick/Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington
   Founder: Godric Gryffindor
   
   Harry: Oh, wow! Brave, kind and smart! She's amazing!
   Ron: Not to mention hot. I wish she liked me...
   Hermione: I suppose she's nice to be around, but she spends a bit too much time helping the twins with pranks...
   Neville: She's alright; we're friends and all. I like her.
   Fred and George: Looks like we scored ourselves the next Championship Prankster!
   Ginny: She's amazing! A true friend, and Gryffindor.
   Luna: She reads the Quibbler sometimes, and asks me about Nargles. She's nice.
   Cedric: She's alright, I suppose. I hear good things from people.
   Cho: I don't know the girl very well.
   Michael: Yeah, whatever. Don't know her.
   Draco: Urgh! Filthy little Mudblood! Besides her looks, I don't see what anyone else sees in her...
   Pansy: I couldn't care less about some Gryffindor like her.
   Blaise: I agree with Pansy.
   Sirius: Wish she was my daughter...
   Lupin: A nice girl, but I don't really know her.
   Dumbledore: I daresay we have a Miss Fred and George Weasley on our hands! Poor Argus will have his hands full of her pranks... *chuckles*
   McGonogall: She may be a little cheeky and headstrong, but is a terrific pupil.
   Snape: Doesn't listen at all in Potions. I'm not surprised Malfoy doesn't like her.
   Hagrid: 'Arry's right to like 'er. She makes a good Gryffindor - p'raps she migh' even help bring down You-Know-Who!
   Voldemort: Just what I need. Another minion of Harry Potter.

   
   
   Pottermore Sorting Hat Quiz
   

   Your Result: Gryffindor

   80%

   Congratulations! Welcome to GRYFFINDOR HOUSE. Our emblem is the lion, the bravest of all creatures, and we pride ourselves on boldness, courage, daring, and chivalry. Our house colours are scarlet and gold and our common room lies up in Gryffindor tower. Traits: Bravery, boldness, daring, nerve, chivalry, courage, loyalty, good-heartedness. Notable people: Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore, the Weasleys, Hermione Granger.

   75%

   Ravenclaw

   55%

   Slytherin

   50%

   Hufflepuff

A POEM MADE OF SONG TITLES

A POEM MADE OF SONG TITLES: 
Try to guess how many song titles I used! (Good luck!!)

A paradise drank in my cup
The way the little talks do
It's brave
I'm different
It will always catch my breath
Some nights I die young
While demons count the stars
Those lights like a girl on fire
The holy grail of clarity
They scream and shout sweet nothing
Sail, summertime sadness
Wake me up!
A paradise drank in my cup
The way the little talks do
It's brave
But I'm different
Sweet nothing
I'm different. 

(k.b.)

Est. May 6, 2k14
On a wind-cast day
shaken like a snow globe.
(20)

My Patronus is...

My Patronus is a Stag

Your patronus takes the form of a Stag. A stag is proud and strong, which is characteristic of your personality. You have a powerful and compassionate heart. You find strength in protecting others, particularly friends and family, or those who are weak. Your patronus is shared by one of the most famous wizards ever, Harry Potter. You have little to no trouble conjuring a patronus because your desire to defend yourself and others outweighs your fears and allows you to focus on the task at hand.

w o l f

Everyone wants the wolf because it's a cool animal right? Well, liking an animal just doesn't cut it. Your animal represents your inner self and things you care most about. You conjured up a wolf, and it's not because you deserve it or because you wanted it, you just have natural qualities that belong to the animal. A person capable of producing this animal form is a dependable guide. You are usually told that you are wise for a person your age, being asked for advice, and the one who makes the decisions that brings everyone forward or backwards. You aren't necessarily the leader but you still serve as the foundation of the team because of your wisdom, balance, independence and loyalty. A memory would be you helping out, protecting, or guiding a group or person. In the native american traditions, wolf prints are a symbol of movement, that may signify how you lead and act instead of waiting for someone else to finally make a move. During the war, you have the easiest time summoning your patronus for your need of protecting everyone else. You make the moves and I advise they better follow your prints.

Doe Your patronus is a doe, a kind creature that is loyal to a fault. A doe is even-headed and methodical, and thinks about the consequences before acting. Does work well when paired with stags, though they may butt heads at times.

The WOLF, the wolf a noble creature that finds comfort in packs as well as by its self. Its bravery, cunning, and stealth are unmatched. This patronus can take out dementors one by one with its Razor sharp claws and strong jaw. It is a most noble and formidable patronus

Doe

Your Patronus is a doe! A doe is a female deer. Does are very pure and innocent creatures, which will escape at the sight of trouble. They, however, will protect the young at any cost, and this how it reflects your personality: you are very harmless and honest, and you generally avoid trouble instead of being part of it. Does are also very helpful and caring towards younger deer: they will teach the young how to walk patiently until they learn to do so, which means that you are very kind and patient to the others.

February. 27. 2014

On a rainy afternoon, one day 

I wished it were Spring...

10:16PM

(k.b.)

"All i ask is that you leave me and my heart alone. 

Is that so hard to ask?"

I watched as his eyes closed ever so slowly and

 then softly he choked, "Yes. Yes it is." 

(k.b.)

November 26, 2013

Okay.

 HELLO WORLD! Forgive me for taking so long to post on my blog (I am well aware it has been over a month) but I am here to update you now on my CRAZY, ECLECTIC LIFE. So, for starters, I am working on this new goal to read around four novels a MONTH and so far it is going great. (And this may or may not have been started because of a school assignment, but either way IT IS A GOOD GOAL AND I AM DETERMINED TO SEE IT THROUGH.) I have finished two so far and am in the middle of one right now. The two I have finished, cover to cover, are: The Fault in our Stars by: John Green and Edenbrooke by: Julianne Donaldson. I must admit, I have read Edenbrooke two or three times now--as it is an everlasting favorite of mine-- and I cannot seem to get enough of it! As for The Fault in our Stars, that was a first for me. I had heard endless feedback for it and simply had to read it and so I forced Mom to take me to Costco and purchase the book and I read it in the space of 3 days! As hyped up as it was made to be I merely concluded that I liked it, but I did not love it. I found it very interesting and quite eye-opening specifically in the nasty world of cancer and how dolled up it can seem to be when people write love stories involving cancer, but this story was very real and grossly detailed about it and all the horrors it brings. And as strange as this sounds, I found that a bit comforting to know how real the author was and how realistic he was about love and life and dreams. If you have ever read The Fault in our Stars, you will find that Hazel Grace (the protagonist) is often a bit cynical and is lead to different beliefs on life and how it will be when we all pass from rhythmic breathing to a quiet heart beat once and for all. I also found the novel very refreshing on how unique all the characters are and especially loved Augustus Waters' "cigarette analogy". As sad as the story turned out to be--it was real. Every bit of it was real, relatable (to a certain degree) and lovable. You, I, couldn't help but fall in love with that crazy Augustus Waters and that emotional Isaac/The Blind Kid. From page to page, or cover to cover,the story was different, new and touching in a strange and creative way and I liked it even more for that. Most people who read The Fault in our Stars will simply see a love story, but I saw much, much more. I saw that dreams-- as beautiful as they are--never turn out the way we first perceive them to be. I saw that some love we feel is not always everlasting and isn't meant to be no matter how powerful it can be. But I mostly saw that life is like a changing current that you cannot control no matter how hard you try. And this current, the current of life, will drag you, pull you, push you, carry you, and sometimes drown you; but it is always up to you if you will let it pull you under or if you will choose to float along and live your live the best you can. The Fault in our Stars was a great book and I don't regret to say I finished that strange and inspiring novel.

"My thoughts are stars I can't fathom into constellations."
-John Green
The Fault In Our Stars

An email to a Wonderful Author...

Dear Julianne Donaldson, 

My name is Kiersten Benson. I am sixteen, almost seventeen years old, and I am writing to you to let you know that you inspired me. Upon reading your phenomenal book, Edenbrooke, to be precise, I was simply captivated with every page I turned and every chapter I finished. The writing was beautiful. The emotion was real. And every sentence I read was like drinking a powerful elixir or drug I couldn't get enough of! Your story was so intriguing to me that when I found myself bitterly yet sweetly finished with that book--I wanted more. I needed more. And so I silently hoped and wished you'd write a second book and it wasn't until a few months after reading Edenbrooke that I found it! It was an overcast day and the little Deseret bookshop was snuggled beneath weeping clouds and my mother and I found refuge inside it quickly and as I wandered down the isles of books I found a quaint little book that looked remarkably alike to the book I'd fallen in love with just a few months before. I read the back of the book, stroked its spine and nearly fell over once I found out it was written by the same author of the book that had captivated me so fiercely! The moment it was purchased, I read it page to page to page and then I let it sink in deeply to the point where tears welled up inside my eyes and I found another book that I had fallen deeply, passionately and irrevocably in love with. I remember staying up until three o'clock in the morning unwilling to put it down until I finished even though school called early in the morning! I didn't care because that was the moment I lived for. The book had ensnared me and I was a happy captive to it. And so, a few months passed and I let the books sit for a while until I felt the need to dust them off and let them stretch away from my stuffy bookshelf and then it happened again. I felt that magic again and I found myself doing something I used to look down upon--I wrote in that book. I marked my favorite passages, wrote notes to the side and discovered myself reflecting deeply on the chapters and aching as much as these two lovely protagonists did because I related to them so greatly and the way you described every little detail made me feel as if I was apart of the story; I was the protagonist. And so it is, I am deeply in love with your books and I wanted to write this message to you to enlighten you as to how much you truly inspired me. Page 250, p.4, Ch.36 "It was not Mozart. It was not like Mozart at all. These notes were not obedient little soldiers marching in their proper ranks. These notes were wild things that flew like rooks above a crumbling tower. My inner demon recognized this music as the dark, unleashed thing it was. And after an hour of playing, my inner demon had whipped itself into a fury. It flew into the banished corners of my soul and swept up the accumulated grief and frustration and anger of years. It whipped it all into a torrent until tears streamed down my face while my fingers flew across the keys. And my inner demon told me I must fly. It told me I must make a choice now or else I would always feel caged and helpless and powerless and small. I listened to my demon and my heart, until the fury and the torrent had gathered itself into a great surge of courage. Then I stopped playing, picked up the music, and ran from the room." I remember tears tickling my eyelashes at that point in the book, as it was only my second time reading the book, and I simply couldn't resist writing about it right away. I grabbed my journal and wrote these words, "I loved that paragraph so adoringly and so passionately because I felt like all her beautiful words could all escape from my own lips and my own soul. They pierced me in such a way and so deeply as I read them and I felt tears surface briefly to my eyes that threatened to escape, but I tried my best to hold them in...The entire book, as well as Edenbrooke, is just written so beautifully and is so emotionally connecting, you can't help but fall totally, irrevocably in love with it! Right now, it's on my to-do list to email Julianne Donaldson and praise her for her work! My goal as a future writer is to write as beautifully and descriptive as she does!" And then the last words I wrote were: "Long live Julianne Donaldson." I know it sounds a little crazy, but I really want you to know that I find  you as one of my role models I wish to be like when I become a writer in the near future! Your works are not only brilliant, but are pure, clean and intricate. There is two stories to a story you write: There is the one that most people see as a love story and there is the other that few see as a triumph story of so much more than winning a heart. In both the novels you published you portrayed similar but separate protagonists that both secretly ached for freedom. They found it in different ways and through battling different dragons of their own, but both won so much in the end and both found themselves as the real prize they always wanted--to be loved for who they are, not who they had. Reading those books was like discovering a locked box of treasures and jewels you know are in there but never actually see them until you find the key and truly understand the moral behind the story. Look, I know this message is long but I have to tell you that your books are in one word: Outstanding. Please, continue to write and inspire all around you. I know that I can be as good as you someday because I have been inspired. 

Thank you for the gift of inspiration. I will tell you, it is the greatest gift a person can give. 

With hopes for the future!

-- 

--Kiersten P. Benson

Eagle Mountain, Utah. 

Age: 17

Post Script. One more thing, do you think Edenbrooke will become a movie someday? I truly, deeply hope it does and when it does--you know who will be front and center in the theater thirsty for more! 

(Oh and also, I think James McAvoy is a PERFECT choice for Phillip, but that's just my thoughts.)

OH! And if you are ever curious, I am no writer yet, but I am that of a work in progress! Here's my blog: kierstybee.blogspot.