Just wanted to let people know that I'll be out of town for a few weeks, and then my schedule is going to be slightly crazy after that. Don't want anyone thinking that I've up and disappeared!
As a little personal anecdote of some sort seems called for in a post this short, I'll have you know that I don't like packing. I especially don't like packing 'till 1am the day before I leave. Now how, you may ask, did this unfortunate circumstance come about?
Mom's birthday is right around the time I'll be getting back. I, of course, didn't realized that because we'll be celebrating it the day after I get back, I won't be able to do any cooking, shopping, etc. Fortunately, I did realize this, just not quite soon enough to be comfortable. So, various preparations have been sprinkled over the past few days, which I won't go in to, but the kicker really came today. Actually, the problem started Thursday, which was the day I had planned on packing, but it wasn't painful 'till today.
I had planned on spending maybe and hour and a half packing, maybe an hour helping Dad, Buddy and Birdie on some projects outside, and also spending the morning and lunchtime making Mom's birthday cake. NOT!! I chose a cake that is really beautiful, but was a lot more involved than it appeared in the picture - try 8 hours involved! (The cake is gorgeous, though - a 10" square two-layer chocolate cake with chocolate mocha frosting and 70 little pink drop flowers all over it)
Then, I left for Bible study... stayed later than expected... and you have my not so great time slot for packing. However, I hope to have a great time, and all this will be well worth it - and Mom really likes her cake, too :-).
Showing posts with label Personal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personal. Show all posts
May 30, 2010
May 18, 2010
Proclaiming His Greatness... From the Valley of Death?
Finally, we appear to be getting some honestly warm weather, and its beautiful! With all the rain we've had, the open fields behind us are turning green, and the Scrub Oak (our main tree besides pine) are being venturesome with a few green buds showing through - although I've decided that Aspen aren't very smart, since ours started pushing out little green leaves about a month ago.
Amidst the change in the weather and the almost continuous planning for the next few months, Psalm 23 came to mind in a rather strange way on Sunday. I read it over and over, and looked up some other Psalms that came to mind, and came away with a few interesting thoughts. Hope you find them as interesting as I did.
First, it occurred to me that the first three verses, which are so well known in Christendom, are immediately followed by "the valley of the shadow of death". Odd, isn't it? Good times, once they arrive, are just going to stay, aren't they? After all, if God is having us lie down in green pastures and leading us beside still waters, that means He is pleased with us and "will never forsake us"... to which we add, mentally, "meaning, nothing bad will happen". But, that is not what the Psalmist recounts. In verses four through five he discusses being under the shadow of death, and surrounded by his enemies. Here's the kicker (if I may use the term): This train of events is not represented as something unexpected, or even unfortunate. It is the way things are expected to go when God is leading and teaching you.
Second, another thing struck me about the order of the verses. If you look at the structure, verses one through three and verse six are the ones we would consider "good times". This is about the nice things that we think God should do for us now. Admittedly, they do bookend verses four and five, but even so, are they quite what today's American church usually represents? For one thing, take a second look at the first line of verse three: "He restores my soul." [insert fluffy, pink thoughts emanating from Sunday School posters] Think about it - that implies very clearly that the soul was damaged or worn out. Then, add the second half of the verse (a new sentence): "He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." This very well could imply that we had first left the path, if we were ever on it at all - and isn't that likely why our soul was in need of restoration in the first place? The picture isn't quite so fluffy anymore. Briefly, take a look at verse six. I love this verse, because it is so full of promise, but the second part of the verse is mainly promise for the future. The first part ("Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life...") is very interesting in that it comes directly off of the discussion about the valley and enemies.
This brings us to the most incredible part of the whole discussion (in my opinion). Clearly, verses one through three and six are proclamations of God's guidance, comfort and mercy. God provides great things there, but doesn't He also provide during the hard times? He causes the Psalmist to not fear, and provides him with sustenance when surrounded by his antagonists. In fact, verses four and five continue the same tone as the other four do - proclaiming the wonderful provisions of God! Two examples of difficulty, or two examples of God's help during the time we are least likely to see it? I believe the latter, and what a difference that makes!
Think of it: this introduces a different way of viewing all the difficulties of life. Instead of simply thanking God for the "good times" and asking Him to remove the "bad" ones, we must recognize and be, perhaps, doubly thankful for God's great gifts of mercy and grace - during those times we tend to see it least. We have all heard someone say that we should "thank God during the bad times". I've never fully understood that, but little by little, through this and other things, I think God is teaching it to me. God is providing, and even though I can't quite see it, I can at least picture what a mess things would be if He left me to myself. "A joyful heart is good medicine..." (Pr. 17:22), and thankfulness for God's greatness is certainly a big part of that.
Amidst the change in the weather and the almost continuous planning for the next few months, Psalm 23 came to mind in a rather strange way on Sunday. I read it over and over, and looked up some other Psalms that came to mind, and came away with a few interesting thoughts. Hope you find them as interesting as I did.
First, it occurred to me that the first three verses, which are so well known in Christendom, are immediately followed by "the valley of the shadow of death". Odd, isn't it? Good times, once they arrive, are just going to stay, aren't they? After all, if God is having us lie down in green pastures and leading us beside still waters, that means He is pleased with us and "will never forsake us"... to which we add, mentally, "meaning, nothing bad will happen". But, that is not what the Psalmist recounts. In verses four through five he discusses being under the shadow of death, and surrounded by his enemies. Here's the kicker (if I may use the term): This train of events is not represented as something unexpected, or even unfortunate. It is the way things are expected to go when God is leading and teaching you.
Second, another thing struck me about the order of the verses. If you look at the structure, verses one through three and verse six are the ones we would consider "good times". This is about the nice things that we think God should do for us now. Admittedly, they do bookend verses four and five, but even so, are they quite what today's American church usually represents? For one thing, take a second look at the first line of verse three: "He restores my soul." [insert fluffy, pink thoughts emanating from Sunday School posters] Think about it - that implies very clearly that the soul was damaged or worn out. Then, add the second half of the verse (a new sentence): "He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." This very well could imply that we had first left the path, if we were ever on it at all - and isn't that likely why our soul was in need of restoration in the first place? The picture isn't quite so fluffy anymore. Briefly, take a look at verse six. I love this verse, because it is so full of promise, but the second part of the verse is mainly promise for the future. The first part ("Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life...") is very interesting in that it comes directly off of the discussion about the valley and enemies.
This brings us to the most incredible part of the whole discussion (in my opinion). Clearly, verses one through three and six are proclamations of God's guidance, comfort and mercy. God provides great things there, but doesn't He also provide during the hard times? He causes the Psalmist to not fear, and provides him with sustenance when surrounded by his antagonists. In fact, verses four and five continue the same tone as the other four do - proclaiming the wonderful provisions of God! Two examples of difficulty, or two examples of God's help during the time we are least likely to see it? I believe the latter, and what a difference that makes!
Think of it: this introduces a different way of viewing all the difficulties of life. Instead of simply thanking God for the "good times" and asking Him to remove the "bad" ones, we must recognize and be, perhaps, doubly thankful for God's great gifts of mercy and grace - during those times we tend to see it least. We have all heard someone say that we should "thank God during the bad times". I've never fully understood that, but little by little, through this and other things, I think God is teaching it to me. God is providing, and even though I can't quite see it, I can at least picture what a mess things would be if He left me to myself. "A joyful heart is good medicine..." (Pr. 17:22), and thankfulness for God's greatness is certainly a big part of that.
May 6, 2010
"Spring" Cleaning
Well, its still feeling like Spring only off and on here, but according to the calendar, the season of flowers and new life is here. Now, my family has never done even an unofficial "Spring cleaning" - Mom is an incredible housekeeper, and if there was ever enough dirt in this house to warrant such a drastic measure, I think she would break down and cry. I however, am not an incredible housekeeper, even though my part of the house is only a very small bedroom. I consider it evidence of the creative that I am - others in the house consider it just a plain old mess, and sometimes a fire hazard. Either way, I have been in need of applying what organizational skills I have for a very long time. Enter the last few days...
It has occurred to me (rather unwillingly on my part) that I am leaving home in about 3 1/2 months. This has caused a number of things to happen (besides me freaking out), including a fairly extensive reorganization of my life. Shocking, I know! It has been way out of my comfort zone, but, being that type A, goal oriented person that I am, has also felt very good once I see that I'm accomplishing something. It also appears to have made the organized members of our family quite happy ;-).
First came my books. I love my books. My books are more important to me than my clothes - ok, that's not saying much coming from me, but you get the point. Our library has these shelves of books for about 50 cents that I have become almost addicted to, which means I literally had three stacks of books knee high on the floor of my room. My shelves (an entire seven foot bookcase) were a wreck, and it was time to purge and reorganize. Well, I made an Excel spreadsheet of all my books. The result was all of them organized by category and then author's last name all in one bookcase (except cookbooks) - I will admit, it is wonderful! Mom was extraordinarily happy that they were neat, Birdie's happy that she can find my fiction, and I'm happy that all my books look so happy on their shelves.
Then came the filing. I don't do filing. I do piling. Dad has been trying very hard to get me to stop that, because he used to and knows how important it is to not. His attempts didn't work, until it occurred to me that many of the random papers that were on almost every flat surface of my room need to go with me to school. [insert me having a 10 second freak session before surrendering myself to the inevitable] So, off to Office Depot we went, got two file boxes, returned home and I now have a filing system (that no one but me would understand, but hey, I'm the one that has to use it, right?) and a much cleaner room.
(Actually, the "off we went to Office Depot" wasn't quite so simple. First Dad and I went pawn shopping for a number of things, including a filing cabinet, and discovered you can't get a decent two-drawer for less than $90, which was out of our price range. Pawn shopping is one of the only experiences where you can be called both "babe" and "madam" by a sales clerk within an hour of each other, depending on which shop you're in... but I digress)
Anyhow, I am now off to clean out my clothes (many of which really need to be passed on to Birdie and SRM), desk drawers and CD's/Tapes. Yes, I mean cassette tapes, like the kind you listened too in the '80s and '90s - some of the best Christian rock ever recorded. I guess Spring cleaning - whether intended as such or not - isn't such a bad idea after all.
It has occurred to me (rather unwillingly on my part) that I am leaving home in about 3 1/2 months. This has caused a number of things to happen (besides me freaking out), including a fairly extensive reorganization of my life. Shocking, I know! It has been way out of my comfort zone, but, being that type A, goal oriented person that I am, has also felt very good once I see that I'm accomplishing something. It also appears to have made the organized members of our family quite happy ;-).
First came my books. I love my books. My books are more important to me than my clothes - ok, that's not saying much coming from me, but you get the point. Our library has these shelves of books for about 50 cents that I have become almost addicted to, which means I literally had three stacks of books knee high on the floor of my room. My shelves (an entire seven foot bookcase) were a wreck, and it was time to purge and reorganize. Well, I made an Excel spreadsheet of all my books. The result was all of them organized by category and then author's last name all in one bookcase (except cookbooks) - I will admit, it is wonderful! Mom was extraordinarily happy that they were neat, Birdie's happy that she can find my fiction, and I'm happy that all my books look so happy on their shelves.
Then came the filing. I don't do filing. I do piling. Dad has been trying very hard to get me to stop that, because he used to and knows how important it is to not. His attempts didn't work, until it occurred to me that many of the random papers that were on almost every flat surface of my room need to go with me to school. [insert me having a 10 second freak session before surrendering myself to the inevitable] So, off to Office Depot we went, got two file boxes, returned home and I now have a filing system (that no one but me would understand, but hey, I'm the one that has to use it, right?) and a much cleaner room.
(Actually, the "off we went to Office Depot" wasn't quite so simple. First Dad and I went pawn shopping for a number of things, including a filing cabinet, and discovered you can't get a decent two-drawer for less than $90, which was out of our price range. Pawn shopping is one of the only experiences where you can be called both "babe" and "madam" by a sales clerk within an hour of each other, depending on which shop you're in... but I digress)
Anyhow, I am now off to clean out my clothes (many of which really need to be passed on to Birdie and SRM), desk drawers and CD's/Tapes. Yes, I mean cassette tapes, like the kind you listened too in the '80s and '90s - some of the best Christian rock ever recorded. I guess Spring cleaning - whether intended as such or not - isn't such a bad idea after all.
April 28, 2010
"Gotta be a record"
Well, 5 1/2 months is likely my record time for going without a post. Sorry world, or perhaps I should apologize for again adding to the world of the mostly useless blogosphere :-P. Either way, I'm sort of back, and will attempt to keep this thing updated a little more.
Let's see, I guess the biggest thing that's happened in the past few months is that I've been accepted into the music program at Moody Bible Institute! I've wanted to go to MBI since I was 6 (although my reasons have, let us say, matured) so I am very happy. I'll start there next fall, leaving here around mid-August.
Here, we're hoping that the snow has ended, although last week we got a very surprise 22 inches! It really did melt the next day, but still, that's a lot of snow for a "surprise". Did I just say we're hoping the snow has ended? Me? Yes, when it's almost May, and you get spring three days on, two days off, even I can admit it's time for winter to be over :-).
This particular week, I've got a bad case of hives, so you'll have to excuse me while I go find the benadryl...
Oh, and if you know what movie the title of this post came from, you get a cyber high five :-D
Let's see, I guess the biggest thing that's happened in the past few months is that I've been accepted into the music program at Moody Bible Institute! I've wanted to go to MBI since I was 6 (although my reasons have, let us say, matured) so I am very happy. I'll start there next fall, leaving here around mid-August.
Here, we're hoping that the snow has ended, although last week we got a very surprise 22 inches! It really did melt the next day, but still, that's a lot of snow for a "surprise". Did I just say we're hoping the snow has ended? Me? Yes, when it's almost May, and you get spring three days on, two days off, even I can admit it's time for winter to be over :-).
This particular week, I've got a bad case of hives, so you'll have to excuse me while I go find the benadryl...
Oh, and if you know what movie the title of this post came from, you get a cyber high five :-D
April 29, 2009
God's Gifts
There have been many things happening here, but the one that I most want to talk about is God's gifts through the ACT.
Thank you so much for your prayers - it is only via prayer that this happened...
First, there was supposed to be a huge snow storm showing up early in the morning of the ACT, which would have canceled it.
Then, there was a particular place in the room I wanted - in the front near an edge, because I'm not used to working in a classroom and the people would have been very distracting.
Then, there was a big problem. When I was doing practice tests, as soon as I was done, I crashed physically and psychologically. Well, the real test went a full hour and a half longer than my practice ones did because they read all the rules in between every single section. So, guess what? At just the time when I usually finished, I really crashed, really bad, and literally just randomly filled in the ovals on at least 1-15 questions out of 40.
But, God allowed what I think is a miracle - The snow was held off until the afternoon - I got the front CORNER seat, so I only had one person next to me, and I was next to the window, which was wonderful! Then, as to the crashing, first of all, that section that I crashed on, went JUST FINE! It wasn't my best score, but it was one that I had gotten before. However, the complete score, the composite was HIGHER than I have ever gotten through all the practice tests... It's amazing!
Praise God!
Thank you so much for your prayers - it is only via prayer that this happened...
First, there was supposed to be a huge snow storm showing up early in the morning of the ACT, which would have canceled it.
Then, there was a particular place in the room I wanted - in the front near an edge, because I'm not used to working in a classroom and the people would have been very distracting.
Then, there was a big problem. When I was doing practice tests, as soon as I was done, I crashed physically and psychologically. Well, the real test went a full hour and a half longer than my practice ones did because they read all the rules in between every single section. So, guess what? At just the time when I usually finished, I really crashed, really bad, and literally just randomly filled in the ovals on at least 1-15 questions out of 40.
But, God allowed what I think is a miracle - The snow was held off until the afternoon - I got the front CORNER seat, so I only had one person next to me, and I was next to the window, which was wonderful! Then, as to the crashing, first of all, that section that I crashed on, went JUST FINE! It wasn't my best score, but it was one that I had gotten before. However, the complete score, the composite was HIGHER than I have ever gotten through all the practice tests... It's amazing!
Praise God!
April 3, 2009
The ACT and Other News
I know it's been terribly long since I posted something that wasn't a video or political commentary, but I really have been doing a lot lately.
First, I completed geometry! Yay!
The amazing part is that I started it on February 4th, and then finished it on March 4th! I honestly don't understand how I did that, except that all of a sudden, just after finishing the Chaparral Cleanse that I think I mentioned, my brain "turned on" as I call it. I was able to do math better than I have literally in years.
That means, (drum roll) that I have actually finished all my high school coursework!!! I.E. I have graduated high school but haven't "walked" yet!!
That left me with exactly one month to study for that dreaded, avoided and generally feared ACT. I have now been studying for that month, and will be taking it tomorrow. I was doing quite well on the practice tests until yesterday, when I suddenly got a 19 (on a scale of 1-36 with 36 high) on the READING section of all things! I've been getting scores in reading between 30 and 34 or so, and then all of a sudden I got 19? It doesn't make sense. But, I think it may have something to do with the form of the test, that was the first one I did online. With the online tests, it scores for you and everything, but it also gives you much smaller type and you have to scroll through the text that you're reading, which I think makes it much harder to reference while asking the questions, so I was going far more by memory. (SAT people, on the ACT you can reference the passages as often as you like while answering the questions, and that includes the writing prompt).
Anyhow, I've been turning my clock around in preparation for this, and have been getting up consistently at 6:20am - an amazing feat for me! But, this morning and yesterday, I've been waking up at around 5:30, and having trouble getting back to sleep. That's hard, because I'm losing a bunch of sleep that I really need.
I could really use prayer about the ACT, that I'm not nervous, and that my brain doesn't just decide to quit on me and go to sleep, and also that I'm able to rest well today and tonight.
On another front, we have finally decided on a Church - send up a flare! It certainly took us long enough - 7 months since we moved here. It's a small congregation about 10-15 minutes from us, which is very nice, and we really like it. At the end of it all, we were deciding between that church, which we'd been visiting off and on for a few months now, and another that was down on the west side of the city. It was a hard choice! But, even though we picked the one closer up here, I'm actually getting involved in a group from the one further down in the city.
Actually, I'm scaring myself, because the group I've started attending is, get this, the college and career group! AHHHHH!!!!! It's just that I felt like it would be silly to join a youth group for 2 months until I had gone through a graduation ceremony just to leave and join the college group. And, since I've never been in a youth group, I didn't really think this was the time to start. So, I am now attending this group, and I have enjoyed the two weeks I've been to - there would have been more, but I had to skip a week, long story.
Oh, and really funny, Dad, my father, who is technologically advanced, but perhaps not so much on the Internet until recently, got a Face book! So, if you've got one, send him an friend invitation for me.
January 12, 2009
Chaparral Cleanse
Ever heard of this? Well, some people have been trying to convince me to do this for a few years. I was actually planning to do it in November, but never did.
Chaparral is an herb, that is used to cleanse the blood of impurities (toxins, germs, microbes and all the other "gunk" that gets trapped in there, particularly when you're sick and can't process them right). The Chaparral Cleanse, is 21 days of drinking one cup of Chaparral tea a day.
So, I was planning to start it as soon as some out-of-town guests left on or about the 2nd of January. But then, I ran into getting some graduation stuff ready, which ended up taking almost all week last week. Also, Mom's been sick, and I still haven't completely recovered from the holiday's and their accompanying activities. All that to say, it took me until this morning to start it.
So, I started it. Some people actually like the stuff evidently.
I don't.
I officially think that it taste's the way Weed-B-Gon smells!! The dried Chaparral leaf kind of smells like fertilizer, so that makes sense.
All I can do is sigh. I really think this will help me, but it will make me feel very sick over the next three weeks.
So, all that to say, I'm going to probably be quite sick for a while, so please pray that I am able to get through, and that all this will be beneficial. And, they do say that the taste will "grow on you". In my opinion, fat chance, but pray that it does.
Chaparral is an herb, that is used to cleanse the blood of impurities (toxins, germs, microbes and all the other "gunk" that gets trapped in there, particularly when you're sick and can't process them right). The Chaparral Cleanse, is 21 days of drinking one cup of Chaparral tea a day.
So, I was planning to start it as soon as some out-of-town guests left on or about the 2nd of January. But then, I ran into getting some graduation stuff ready, which ended up taking almost all week last week. Also, Mom's been sick, and I still haven't completely recovered from the holiday's and their accompanying activities. All that to say, it took me until this morning to start it.
So, I started it. Some people actually like the stuff evidently.
I don't.
I officially think that it taste's the way Weed-B-Gon smells!! The dried Chaparral leaf kind of smells like fertilizer, so that makes sense.
All I can do is sigh. I really think this will help me, but it will make me feel very sick over the next three weeks.
So, all that to say, I'm going to probably be quite sick for a while, so please pray that I am able to get through, and that all this will be beneficial. And, they do say that the taste will "grow on you". In my opinion, fat chance, but pray that it does.
January 2, 2009
Post-Christmas Post
Merry Christmas! We had a very nice Christmas, just the five of us. Our Christmas Eve play and evening program went very well, Mom and Dad LOVED it! I got another book from Lamplighter Publishers. I would have read it by now, but I have 3 1/2 books sitting on my night stand that I'm reading (one of them I'm reading for the third or fourth time, hence the "1/2"). I decided I have to finish at least one of them before I start another!
It has been officially announced that I have very good taste in clothes. You see, Birdie, Buddy and I went to a mall near here to do some Christmas Shopping, and Dad tells me, "If you see a nice sweater for your mom, get it, I'm not going to have time to go out myself for that". I came home with excellent deals on two sweaters, and Although one of them just plain didn't fit Mom right, she really liked the other one! Then, a first time experience for me, Mom and I went shopping early on the day after Christmas. It was actually kind of fun, especially since I was clothes shopping for someone else who was placing her clothes choice in my hands.
I would like to note that this DOES NOT, I repeat, DOES NOT imply that I now enjoy shopping, or that I like figuring out styles and trends, or that I am now a fashion consultant/personal shopper etc. It only means that Mom and I can go shop and actually enjoy it.
Happy New Year! 
For New Year's, Aunt J and Uncle A came to visit us, arriving the evening of the day after Christmas. We did a little touring around, they did some things on their own, we had some other family from somewhat north of us come to visit, played games, watched movies (Bourne Ultimatum was excellent, even for the fourth time through) and generally visited.
This, coming on the heals of the Christmas Week preparations, really did me in. I wasn't really feeling so good before Christmas because of all the things we were doing. I made it through Christmas Eve and Day alright, just pushing through on adrenaline, but that can only last so long.
I really just need to take a month off from life, but that isn't going to happen. But, I did have a really nice time over the past weeks, even though daily naps became a necessity and all that tiredness is rather depressing.
Now, I'm dealing with the "finish" syndrome, talking about bio's and pictures for graduation (oh, the scary word), and doing my best to actually be done when graduation pronounces me so!
Well, that's the update for now, hope everyone had a nice Christmas and New Year, and God Bless America (by saving her from herself).
December 12, 2008
Christmas and Music and Parties...
Well, here's a little more personal update for once!
Christmas preparations are in full swing. Birdie, Buddy and I have gotten our Christmas Eve Program pretty well figured out, although we still have a good deal of work to do. Dad's been out of town a good deal lately, although this is the last of it until next month. That has put us rather behind in other Christmas things, but we'll catch up.
I am venturing out into the homeschool teen social world here for the first time tomorrow. There's a Christmas party of some sort, that evidently includes a White Elephant exchange, being held for the teens in the homeschool support group out here. I guess I'm getting more outgoing, because I didn't take forever deciding if I wanted to be around a million people that I don't know... I'm actually really looking forward to it!
Also, looming in the shadows is graduation... I'd never really thought of actually being IN a graduation. GradUATING is different that a graduATION in my mind. But, Mom was like, "of course you're going to be in a graduation, didn't you assume that?" It took me a few days to realize how much a ceremony kind of mile-marks it, and I'm glad I'm in it now. However, the best part is that I have the opportunity to perform in it, and I've chosen to SING!! I haven't sung in so long. I can't wait! In the process of choosing a song to sing, I stumbled upon this one, and I really like it (Don't know if I'll sing it for graduation, but it's really worth listening to a few times):
Merry Christmas!!
Christmas preparations are in full swing. Birdie, Buddy and I have gotten our Christmas Eve Program pretty well figured out, although we still have a good deal of work to do. Dad's been out of town a good deal lately, although this is the last of it until next month. That has put us rather behind in other Christmas things, but we'll catch up.
I am venturing out into the homeschool teen social world here for the first time tomorrow. There's a Christmas party of some sort, that evidently includes a White Elephant exchange, being held for the teens in the homeschool support group out here. I guess I'm getting more outgoing, because I didn't take forever deciding if I wanted to be around a million people that I don't know... I'm actually really looking forward to it!
Also, looming in the shadows is graduation... I'd never really thought of actually being IN a graduation. GradUATING is different that a graduATION in my mind. But, Mom was like, "of course you're going to be in a graduation, didn't you assume that?" It took me a few days to realize how much a ceremony kind of mile-marks it, and I'm glad I'm in it now. However, the best part is that I have the opportunity to perform in it, and I've chosen to SING!! I haven't sung in so long. I can't wait! In the process of choosing a song to sing, I stumbled upon this one, and I really like it (Don't know if I'll sing it for graduation, but it's really worth listening to a few times):
Merry Christmas!!
November 30, 2008
First Significant Snow in CO!!
Hurray!! I'm so happy, we are getting a bunch of snow today! According to Buddy we have 9 inches, as of an hour ago, and it's continued to snow steadily since! It is SO pretty. The fog and snow won't let us see the mountains, or really very far at all, so it's like we are in a little snow globe that we can't see out of. It was snowing on and off yesterday, and it snowed some Friday, and Thanksgiving, but those were just showers, with no more than a half an inch, but this is FUN! We've been celebrating Lightsmas by decorating the house for Christmas, and this makes it feel so much more "Christmasy"!
Unfortunately, Dad has to travel, so pray he can get out of the driveway, and out to the airport!
November 23, 2008
Homeland Security Alert
I wanted to quickly explain a new "gadget" of sorts I just added to the sidebar. The "Homeland Security Live Terror Alert" is something I saw on another site and liked. Here's why. People seem to be forgeting at least the implications of 9/11, as well as the fact that we are a nation at war, and it is not an aggressive war... we are on the defense... they attacked us first!!!
So, I hope that the little reminder of the hightened security level we are at will also remind everyone who and why we are fighting, or for some, that we are fighting at all.
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday:
God bless the troops, God bless America, and may we follow God always.
So, I hope that the little reminder of the hightened security level we are at will also remind everyone who and why we are fighting, or for some, that we are fighting at all.
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday:
God bless the troops, God bless America, and may we follow God always.
November 12, 2008
Prayer: Guidence for Short Story
I recently wrote a short story (about 2,000 words), that I really like, called The Storm of the Soul. In many ways it encompasses many of the things I have learned over my years of struggling with health issues. It is a good story. I think it will appeal to many different people in many different situations. I believe it will glorify God. It's main character is a man, which I find easier to write, so I was more comfortable writing the character, and I hope that made him more understandable.
With all of these things I like about it, I am seriously looking into the best way to publish it... or I was. Then, I found out about a short story contest that this story will probably do well in. The contest requires that the story not be published. So, I'm waiting until after the contest, hoping that perhaps I can win and get a little extra capital to start this venture with.
I really think that I ought to do something with the story, publishing it or somehow getting it available to people, and it would be nice to have a small source of income from it as well.
All that said, I would really appreciate prayer on what I should do with this story, and also that I can win the contest.
With all of these things I like about it, I am seriously looking into the best way to publish it... or I was. Then, I found out about a short story contest that this story will probably do well in. The contest requires that the story not be published. So, I'm waiting until after the contest, hoping that perhaps I can win and get a little extra capital to start this venture with.
I really think that I ought to do something with the story, publishing it or somehow getting it available to people, and it would be nice to have a small source of income from it as well.
All that said, I would really appreciate prayer on what I should do with this story, and also that I can win the contest.
November 11, 2008
Thank you to our Veterans
I can say it little better than President Bush:
"Today, we send a clear message to all who have worn the uniform: Thank you for your courage, thank you for your sacrifice, and thank you for standing up when your nation needed you most." President George W. Bush, today
"Today, we send a clear message to all who have worn the uniform: Thank you for your courage, thank you for your sacrifice, and thank you for standing up when your nation needed you most." President George W. Bush, today
November 6, 2008
Scorpion 5
Our family has "adopted" any number (over 50) college students in the past. Many of them have become older brothers and sisters to Birdie, Buddy and myself. Of course, as most students do, they end up graduating and leaving us (or we leave them as we traipse across the fruited plain), but we still keep in touch with most. As it happens, one of them, Daniel Noa, is very interested in the business of movie making, and has made some excellent films in the past.
His most recent release was Smuggler's Ransom, an excellent Cold War film that includes a suspenseful story line and a strong salvation message. Click to see the Smuggler's Ransom Trailer.
More recently, though, Daniel has been working on another film, Scorpion 5. The trailer, found at the aforementioned link, is very good at suggesting the suspense of the movie. Regarding the movie itself, having read a script of it, I will say that this is not the movie you are led to expect early in the film. I was thoroughly surprised by the ending, as I think most will be. All I can say is that it is a great story, and that you should watch it.
In short, go watch the trailer, get your curiosity thoroughly aroused, and check back for more on its release and whatnot.
And no, I'm not sending you the script... you'll just have to wait! *evil laugh*
His most recent release was Smuggler's Ransom, an excellent Cold War film that includes a suspenseful story line and a strong salvation message. Click to see the Smuggler's Ransom Trailer.
More recently, though, Daniel has been working on another film, Scorpion 5. The trailer, found at the aforementioned link, is very good at suggesting the suspense of the movie. Regarding the movie itself, having read a script of it, I will say that this is not the movie you are led to expect early in the film. I was thoroughly surprised by the ending, as I think most will be. All I can say is that it is a great story, and that you should watch it.
In short, go watch the trailer, get your curiosity thoroughly aroused, and check back for more on its release and whatnot.
And no, I'm not sending you the script... you'll just have to wait! *evil laugh*
October 22, 2008
Campaigning and Snow - An Excellent Combo!
So, the night before last, it snowed! We had about an inch of accumulation, although if it had all stuck it would have been much more. Then, last night, it snowed again for about an hour! (no accumulation, but we're so happy to actually be seeing snow when winter ought to be starting that we don't really care!)
We realized that the only one of us that had boots that fit was Buddy, so Birdie and I had to go and get some. Of course, we went to Walmart. But before we left, Birdie said something about the two of us maybe getting matching boots, and that if we did, she would succeed in getting me to wear "girlie" boots. Well... it just so happens that the opposite took place :-). The women's boots were all terribly un-functional (is that a word?). I had entered the store knowing that I was getting men's boots (women's shoes aren't fitting right these days, so I get small mens instead). Well, after about 10 minutes, Mom and Birdie come find me in section where all the heavy boots are. Here's the punch-line: Birdie ends up getting the same pair I got (in a smaller size) - matching boots, right? - and they are VERY not feminine at all!! I found it quite funny.
So, since I'll be working on one of the Gen-J SAT's (Student Action Teams) and we've already had snow, I am hoping and praying that God will give me two of my favorite things at once - a snowy campaign! I think that would be SO fun! I know a lot of people, including Dad, would disagree, but that's what I think.
Oh, and a number of people that we know from back east are coming to run some of the teams, which will be a blast!! (JL and DN in particular, and all the others!)
Oh, and if you all would pray for my health and particularly my energy level to hold up during the campaigning, I would really appreciate it (My knees could use some prayer too... make that my legs... make that all my joints). Everyone keep praying for all the campaigns all over the country, especially for McCain-Palin!
We realized that the only one of us that had boots that fit was Buddy, so Birdie and I had to go and get some. Of course, we went to Walmart. But before we left, Birdie said something about the two of us maybe getting matching boots, and that if we did, she would succeed in getting me to wear "girlie" boots. Well... it just so happens that the opposite took place :-). The women's boots were all terribly un-functional (is that a word?). I had entered the store knowing that I was getting men's boots (women's shoes aren't fitting right these days, so I get small mens instead). Well, after about 10 minutes, Mom and Birdie come find me in section where all the heavy boots are. Here's the punch-line: Birdie ends up getting the same pair I got (in a smaller size) - matching boots, right? - and they are VERY not feminine at all!! I found it quite funny.
So, since I'll be working on one of the Gen-J SAT's (Student Action Teams) and we've already had snow, I am hoping and praying that God will give me two of my favorite things at once - a snowy campaign! I think that would be SO fun! I know a lot of people, including Dad, would disagree, but that's what I think.
Oh, and a number of people that we know from back east are coming to run some of the teams, which will be a blast!! (JL and DN in particular, and all the others!)
Oh, and if you all would pray for my health and particularly my energy level to hold up during the campaigning, I would really appreciate it (My knees could use some prayer too... make that my legs... make that all my joints). Everyone keep praying for all the campaigns all over the country, especially for McCain-Palin!
October 7, 2008
Resting...
Thank you all so much for your prayers... we made it, and found out that it wasn't the transmission after all! With all the bustle going on, I lost what it actually was, but we fixed it.
We aren't back home yet. We're staying at Aunt Love-My-Dogs' house to visit and rest before heading home.
I've spent the last few days on the couch as much as possible, although I'm considering taking a walk this afternoon, perhaps. Can't wait to get back home... it's great to visit with fam, but those absolutely amazing mountains are calling.
Best be on to other things... have got a number of semi-pressing issues in the email box that I need to deal with.
We aren't back home yet. We're staying at Aunt Love-My-Dogs' house to visit and rest before heading home.
I've spent the last few days on the couch as much as possible, although I'm considering taking a walk this afternoon, perhaps. Can't wait to get back home... it's great to visit with fam, but those absolutely amazing mountains are calling.
Best be on to other things... have got a number of semi-pressing issues in the email box that I need to deal with.
September 30, 2008
Prayer for... the car
We are indeed on the road on our way to the funeral for Grandpa. It is hard on everyone, of course, especially for Mom as she deals with details on that end. I'm already feeling various negative effects of the travel, and everyone is tired.
We especially need prayer for our car. We've had a number of problems with the van over the past month, but it isn't what it should be. Dad is quite concerned about the transmission... it just isn't right, and we have a significant reduction in power. Because of that, it's taking a lot of patience to get up to speed. Overall, we are simply taking longer than we ought to be. But, that isn't our biggest concern, we're just hoping we can make it in tonight.
Also, with these problems, Dad doesn't want me driving any more, so he's doing the whole day today... while working... me typing/navigating... him calling/talking/dictating... it's a busy place in the front seat!
Please pray:
That we make it, and can figure out what's wrong and get it fixed.
For energy, safety and health.
Thanks all.
We especially need prayer for our car. We've had a number of problems with the van over the past month, but it isn't what it should be. Dad is quite concerned about the transmission... it just isn't right, and we have a significant reduction in power. Because of that, it's taking a lot of patience to get up to speed. Overall, we are simply taking longer than we ought to be. But, that isn't our biggest concern, we're just hoping we can make it in tonight.
Also, with these problems, Dad doesn't want me driving any more, so he's doing the whole day today... while working... me typing/navigating... him calling/talking/dictating... it's a busy place in the front seat!
Please pray:
That we make it, and can figure out what's wrong and get it fixed.
For energy, safety and health.
Thanks all.
September 28, 2008
Prayer for the fam
Hello everyone. I've not been posting because of the busyness of moving, but also because I've been feeling pretty bad. It's a long story, but I'm taking an herbal tea every night that is killing off a lot of bacteria and stuff, and it's making me feel worse. Please pray for energy for me, and that this tea helps me in the long run.
Well, I decided to post today, because we are going to be in a tight spot soon. My Mom's Dad is dying of cancer. He isn't a Christian (we think), and we're not expecting him to last more than another couple weeks. Mom is already out there, and the remaining four of us are all getting ready to be able to leave with six hours notice. It's a bunch of early prep work right now... honestly, all our supplements are going to take me much of the afternoon to figure out, plus other stuff. Also, Dad has to work in the middle of this.
One particular fly in the ointment, is that the family relations aren't very smooth, and things may be very difficult... Mom in particular needs prayer for this.
Please pray:
- That we will all have the energy to do this trip.
- That I will be able to feel good enough to help Dad with the driving.
- That we won't take to long to recover from it.
- For the family situation to smooth out.
- For time lines, details and logistics to all fall into place easily,
- And, especially for Grandpa's salvation.
Thanks all for your prayers. I will update as I have the time.
Philippians 1:3-4
Well, I decided to post today, because we are going to be in a tight spot soon. My Mom's Dad is dying of cancer. He isn't a Christian (we think), and we're not expecting him to last more than another couple weeks. Mom is already out there, and the remaining four of us are all getting ready to be able to leave with six hours notice. It's a bunch of early prep work right now... honestly, all our supplements are going to take me much of the afternoon to figure out, plus other stuff. Also, Dad has to work in the middle of this.
One particular fly in the ointment, is that the family relations aren't very smooth, and things may be very difficult... Mom in particular needs prayer for this.
Please pray:
- That we will all have the energy to do this trip.
- That I will be able to feel good enough to help Dad with the driving.
- That we won't take to long to recover from it.
- For the family situation to smooth out.
- For time lines, details and logistics to all fall into place easily,
- And, especially for Grandpa's salvation.
Thanks all for your prayers. I will update as I have the time.
Philippians 1:3-4
February 29, 2008
Quick... Before the Lion Comes!
As they say, March comes in like a lion, so I'm quickly getting a post on here before it comes. I know it's crazy that's it's taken me two months to post anything, but oh well...
Hm, first, did I ever mention that I actually recieved my Drivers License? Well, if I didn't, I am now fully licensed and am enjoying it.
I've had quite a bit of excitement over the past week, much of it good. On thursday of last week (the 21st) I got the oppertunity (organized by Generation Joshua) to go into D.C. and lobby at the Congressional Office Buildings! It was so neat! Then, on Wednesday, Gen-J asked me to write an article about it for the monthly newsletter, which, in the end, needed to be done by 10am on friday (today)! I got it done late last night, and I'm really happy with it :-). I'm going to see if I will be allowed to post that article anywhere else. If I can I'll probably post it on Thoughts of Aspiring Future Statesmen (http://futurestatesmen.blogspot.com).
Unfourtunately, though, the day in D.C. has really put me out of things. on the day after we went down, I had a migrane, little parts of which have sort of hung on, coming and going as they will. I've been really tired, and my brain was kinda fried until tuesday. Please pray that this passes.
Also, you can pray that some new, um, what are they, suplements I guess, that we're going to try (as soon as they arrive) will work. We've given up on prescription meds right now, and these new things are hopfully going to help.
Those of you here in VA who are STILL praying that we won't leave, don't panic, my hopes are not terribly high after 15 months, but we did have a good showing last week that sounded promising. Even if it's against you inner desires, please pray that we can get out of here, having the house on the market 15 months is really pushing it, don't you think? ;-)
I'm taking an American Government class with three other girls this sememster. It's been good, although a lot of work! I'm learning a lot, and enjoying it becuase of it's connections with politics.
Speaking of American Government, that's really the reason I'm online, so I'd best get to it. Have a good last day of February!
Hm, first, did I ever mention that I actually recieved my Drivers License? Well, if I didn't, I am now fully licensed and am enjoying it.
I've had quite a bit of excitement over the past week, much of it good. On thursday of last week (the 21st) I got the oppertunity (organized by Generation Joshua) to go into D.C. and lobby at the Congressional Office Buildings! It was so neat! Then, on Wednesday, Gen-J asked me to write an article about it for the monthly newsletter, which, in the end, needed to be done by 10am on friday (today)! I got it done late last night, and I'm really happy with it :-). I'm going to see if I will be allowed to post that article anywhere else. If I can I'll probably post it on Thoughts of Aspiring Future Statesmen (http://futurestatesmen.blogspot.com).
Unfourtunately, though, the day in D.C. has really put me out of things. on the day after we went down, I had a migrane, little parts of which have sort of hung on, coming and going as they will. I've been really tired, and my brain was kinda fried until tuesday. Please pray that this passes.
Also, you can pray that some new, um, what are they, suplements I guess, that we're going to try (as soon as they arrive) will work. We've given up on prescription meds right now, and these new things are hopfully going to help.
Those of you here in VA who are STILL praying that we won't leave, don't panic, my hopes are not terribly high after 15 months, but we did have a good showing last week that sounded promising. Even if it's against you inner desires, please pray that we can get out of here, having the house on the market 15 months is really pushing it, don't you think? ;-)
I'm taking an American Government class with three other girls this sememster. It's been good, although a lot of work! I'm learning a lot, and enjoying it becuase of it's connections with politics.
Speaking of American Government, that's really the reason I'm online, so I'd best get to it. Have a good last day of February!
December 1, 2007
past present and future news (for December)
Well, seeing that the last thing I posted was about the campaign, I will tell you a bit more about it.
I had a blast. It was local politics, which meant that people willing to work it were few and far between. Because of this, I was able to get hands on experience at things I'd have never been able to do working with a larger campaign or Gen-J. I did lit (liturature - the stuf that we hand out and clutter up your doorstep with) anyways, lit sorting (counting out stacks of fifty, puting a certain number of those stacks in boxes with corolating walk lists), envelope stuffing (ok, so I did that when I was four, but that doesn't count), data entry from the completed walk lists, and of course, walking... and walking... and then ringing a doorbell that probably won't be answered anyway... and walking.... and walking... and losing C.A. and Funkysocks at the same time.... and finding them... and then I went out just me and another in a car to do blanket drops, that was very fun... blanket drops are just always more fun, what can I say? (especially when you get to continually hang at least 40% of your body-wieght out the window in order to reach the thing you're hanging the "newspaper" on, while blasting music and getting into such HIK areas that you're not sure you won't get shot at if you don't turn tail awfully quick!)
Our campaign manager was GREAT. He's really interested in his work, has some quite creative ideas that I really like, and a good sense of humor. I should say a great sense of humor... anyone who can stand constantly hanging out with a bunch of older teens and college kids who consistently blame anything that goes wrong on him, well, he's got to have quite the sense of humor. (you, manager, DID and I mean DID bring lunch an hour late for all of us after the parade, and and hour and a half late on election day, when you had given me probably the worst poll in the area, I mean really, who wants to sit in _____ all day?????)
unfourtunately, Mr. A. lost. It was sort of depressing, but that's how things go I guess.
after the election ended, I started making up for lost school-work. I got my essay's done for the First Freedom contest (it's quite good, I'm happy with it, but don't think it will win anything) and for the HSLDA contest as well (that one I have better hopes for).
now, the Christmas decorations are up, christmas music is playing, I am, though not sole owner of, keeper of dad's ipod 'cause now his phone stores a lot of music, so he won't be taking it with him when he travels :-).
We are taking a trip to Illinois this month!! I'm very excited. we'll be seeing a lot of people, and seeing some of the sites as well.
well, that's about it, oh, except that I'm still working on my driver's ed. it's sickening that I'm still working on it, but the trip will help me finish of the hours I need, and hopefully I'll nearly finish the class room "time" this week, or at least, I hope, b4 Christmas.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
I had a blast. It was local politics, which meant that people willing to work it were few and far between. Because of this, I was able to get hands on experience at things I'd have never been able to do working with a larger campaign or Gen-J. I did lit (liturature - the stuf that we hand out and clutter up your doorstep with) anyways, lit sorting (counting out stacks of fifty, puting a certain number of those stacks in boxes with corolating walk lists), envelope stuffing (ok, so I did that when I was four, but that doesn't count), data entry from the completed walk lists, and of course, walking... and walking... and then ringing a doorbell that probably won't be answered anyway... and walking.... and walking... and losing C.A. and Funkysocks at the same time.... and finding them... and then I went out just me and another in a car to do blanket drops, that was very fun... blanket drops are just always more fun, what can I say? (especially when you get to continually hang at least 40% of your body-wieght out the window in order to reach the thing you're hanging the "newspaper" on, while blasting music and getting into such HIK areas that you're not sure you won't get shot at if you don't turn tail awfully quick!)
Our campaign manager was GREAT. He's really interested in his work, has some quite creative ideas that I really like, and a good sense of humor. I should say a great sense of humor... anyone who can stand constantly hanging out with a bunch of older teens and college kids who consistently blame anything that goes wrong on him, well, he's got to have quite the sense of humor. (you, manager, DID and I mean DID bring lunch an hour late for all of us after the parade, and and hour and a half late on election day, when you had given me probably the worst poll in the area, I mean really, who wants to sit in _____ all day?????)
unfourtunately, Mr. A. lost. It was sort of depressing, but that's how things go I guess.
after the election ended, I started making up for lost school-work. I got my essay's done for the First Freedom contest (it's quite good, I'm happy with it, but don't think it will win anything) and for the HSLDA contest as well (that one I have better hopes for).
now, the Christmas decorations are up, christmas music is playing, I am, though not sole owner of, keeper of dad's ipod 'cause now his phone stores a lot of music, so he won't be taking it with him when he travels :-).
We are taking a trip to Illinois this month!! I'm very excited. we'll be seeing a lot of people, and seeing some of the sites as well.
well, that's about it, oh, except that I'm still working on my driver's ed. it's sickening that I'm still working on it, but the trip will help me finish of the hours I need, and hopefully I'll nearly finish the class room "time" this week, or at least, I hope, b4 Christmas.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!