Flo and Grace 

Trenton :-P 

Jamey and Jessica during breakfast 

Abby, Lydia & Lyndsi 

Becca 

David, Ben & Luke 

Jessica 

Mary 

Addy 

Ben with his eyes closed:) 

Amy and Beth's bear 

Goodbye

Tonight we sent the Westside church. None of them will come to Northside anymore. Saying goodbye is so hard. Even when I know its not like I'll never see any of them ever again, just knowing that we don't go to the same church anymore makes me sad. I was definitely trying not to cry, but when all the Westside people went up front... I couldn't help myself. I will miss them so much. If any of the people who are part of the Westside church are reading this, I love you guys and I miss you already!

Quote of the post:
“Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos.” -Snoopy

Exhaustion

Twenty five....*looks questionally at fingers*...twenty six, twenty seven.... *sigh* My grand total of non-sleeping hours for this year is 31. Last year my record was longer. Overall, SONrise was a blast! I had some really amazing conversations that took place at around 4 am. I don't think they are worth repeating! ;-)

My team almost won the tug-of-war contest, but because of some complications with the bleachers we lost. Out of all the group games I think the tug-of-war was the best, it wasn't something terribly weird, and it didn't require any 'special' talents, though being strong helped. My hands and arms were killing me afterwards. :) Definitely a highlight was talking to Charity, Maria and Tamara on the phone for like 2 hours in the middle of the night!

I would post my pictures, but I'm a little too tired at the moment. Maybe tomorrow?

Quote of the post:
"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

SONrise

Tonight I am going to stay up all night and tomorrow I have to work. Hopefully that will work out fine. I'm excited, though I'm sure this year will be a lot different for me than last year. I sure hope they have coffee. Does anyone have any feelings about finishing a paper when you're tired and only awake on coffee, because if it works better I might try it. :)

Quote of the post:
"Most people do not consider dawn to be an attractive experience - unless they are still up." - Unknown

Quote

Quote of the post:
"Ivy: Why can you not say what is in your head?
Lucius:Why can you not stop saying what is in yours? Why must you lead, when I want to lead? If I want to dance I will ask you to dance. If I want to speak I open my mouth and speak. Everyone is forever plaguing me to speak further. Why? What good is it to tell you you are in my every thought from the time I wake? What good can come from my saying that I sometimes cannot think clearly or do my work properly? What gain can rise of my telling you the only time I feel fear as others do is when I think of you in harm? That is why I am on this porch, Ivy Walker. I fear for your safety before all others. And yes, I will dance with you on our wedding night." - The Village

I was thinking about this movie earlier today, about how we watched it for Worldview at the Judds. Its such a good movie, I just thought maybe I'd refresh all your memories with that quote! :)

Rascal Flatts

I bought the new Rascall Flatts CD today. I paid for it with a two-year-old gift card for Walmart / Sam's Club. The clerk was really thrilled that the card actually worked.

Song of the post:
"What hurts the most" by Rascal Flatts

Quote of the post:
"The best, most beautiful, and most perfect way that we have of expressing a sweet concord of mind to each other is by music." -Jonathan Edwards

Looks like rain...

Even though I always say I'm going to grow my hair out and then get long layers, I always end up getting annoyed and chopping it all off again. It never does get much past my shoulders. Anyway yesterday I got my hair cut and highlighted again. It doesn't look especially different, the highlights almost look natural, but I really do like the cut.

I have two papers to write this week, one on the French Revolution for my composition class and then one on Augustine's worldview. I'm actually starting my work earlier in the week which is good for me. :) So, I better end this so I can actually start writing. Talk to you all later!

Quote of the post:
"(Allie and Noah laying in the middle of the street)
Allie- What if a car comes?
Noah- We die."
- The Notebook

Fresh Air and Dinner

I spent this morning and part of the afternoon at the park with Alyssa Magnuson and the Faris children, Ellie, Cargill, Cameron, Lydia and then my little sister Jessica. We played on the playground, went for a long walk by the white river, ate lunch and went in the nature center. It was a lot of fun, though sometimes avoiding mud can be somewhat stressful. :) Having that time outside playing was good for me because it helps me to relax and not be so stressed about life.

Tonight my dad and I went to the father / daughter banquet at the training center downtown. The fellowship was good and the food was excellent. Mr. Pokone shared his testimony about how he struggled with being a good father to his children and how God worked in that area of his life. Overall, it was a wonderful evening. Here's a picture of the rose my dad gave me:





Quote of the post:
"Hope is a waking dream." -Aristotle

October Sky

I went for a bike ride with my mom. We went down Kessler, along the canal, then up by the riverside golf course and past my church. Even though it was a little windy and something was wrong with my mom's bike, it was a nice time.

My family all sat down and watched October Sky this evening. If you haven't seen it I recommend it, very inspirational for people who want to make a difference. Despite the fact that it doesn't seem very possible. It also shows both the good and bad sides of life, something we need to remember. Sometimes Hollywood families seem so perfect and it seems like we can never be like that - this movie doesn't show that. I really liked it.

Quote of the post:
"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." -Victor Hugo

Summer

My summer plans are up in the air right now. Its possible I could be lifeguarding at the Riviera Club, but I could also be lifeguarding at another pool. But then considering that I'm going to ECHO and Covamakioi and spending a week or two with my Aunt Linda in Ohio, I don't know if they will want to hire me. I'm going to be nannying for my neighbors, and my dad wants me to work with him when he has jobs where he paints. I want to work a lot this summer so I can afford to go to Australia next year. I want to swim on the swim team at Rivi, so working there might be more convenient, but Rivi got a new manager and he's changing a lot of stuff around this summer and they only want people who can work at least 35 hours a week. *sigh* Its kinda stressful.

Quote of the post:
"The hardest struggle of all is to be something different from what the average man is." - Unknown

Song of the post:
"When the Stars Go Blue" by Tim McGraw

Running the race...

"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction,
whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. "
- Philippians 3:12-21

Sunday night James Faris preached on this passage. It was a wonderful sermon. He talked about how when athletes - specifically runners - start their race, even if they have a terrible start, stumble or their steps came shorter then they should have, their minds are not focused on the steps they already took, but on the steps they are about to take - the ones in front. This is something I need to remember, I tend to be so focused on what happened to me in the past, when really I should be focused on what's going on right now and what will happen in the future. It's hard. I have to remember that people judge according to what I have already done, not what I want to do. Well, that was my vent of the day. :)

Quote

Quote of the post:
"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe." - Saint Augustine

Spring Fever

Somehow every spring I become a little less concentrated on serious things and a little more happy and energetic. I feel like doing my school outside and letting the wind blow in my face, or just like throwing all my books away and run off to do something more fun. What really depresses me though, is that since I've gotten older its just not normal to go outside and play. When I was little, I would call up my friends and say "you want to play house?" I spent so much time outside playing, my knees were always scrapped up or at least dirty. Now, I could call up my friends and say "lets play soccer," but that takes a lot of effort. It would seem so stupid if I called one of you guys up and asked if you wanted to go for a walk, maybe after a movie or shopping or something, but never just a walk. I know once its actually summer, there will be things like the State Fair, 4th of July at the Owens, spending all day at the pool. But by the time that comes along everybody will be working. *sigh* Anybody want to go do something outside with me soon?

Thank You

The blogging contest ended last night at 12:00 midnight.

-I just wanted to give a special thanks to Nathan for organizing the contest and for keeping up with the scoring. It was a monumental job.

-Thanks to all my faithful commenters, I could have never done it without you! I hope I commented on all your blogs as much as you commented on mine.

- Then, just congratulations to everybody that participated. I had a lot of fun and I hope everybody else did too! :)

Quote of the post:
"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, What! You, too? I thought I was the only one." -C. S. Lewis

She Was Good For Nothing.

It was written by Hans Christian Anderson, just like many other little stories we all know about; The Emperors New Clothes, The Ugly Duckling and the Tin Soldier. All of them have hidden morals, teaching us lessons. This year our homeschool group is doing a play that is a calibration of these and other stories. Daniel and Jessica ( my brother and sister ) are in the play and today I went to help with play practice. They wore their costumes and got through almost the entire thing. It makes me start thinking about last spring and Little Women, looking back I still smile - it was the best play ever! Ruth is helping this year backstage, and so I might end up doing the curtain and helping changing the scenes with her.

If you have never read the story She Was Good For Nothing, I encourage you to. You can read the story here. It may be a child's story, but it really is something we can all apply to our lives.

Quotes of the post:
"Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold — but so does a hard-boiled egg." - Unknown

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." -Mother Teresa

"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Do not judge men by mere appearances; for the light laughter that bubbles on the lip often mantles over the depths of sadness, and the serious look may be the sober veil that covers a divine peace and joy." -E. H. Chapin

Random Fact:

I hate eggs.





No matter how much perfect protein, vitamins, A, B or D they contain and no matter how many ways you can cook them and how inexpensive they are, I have come to the conclusion they are completely disgusting.

Yes, I know they are an important ingredient of cakes, cookies, casseroles and salads. I don't plan on omitting them because when you eat cookies you cannot taste the egg. The the worst part: plain eggs. I can usually tolerate scrambled eggs with cheese, but plain... I cannot force myself to eat them. How about sunny-side-up eggs? You break the thin layer over the yolk and dunk your toast into what could have been a baby chicken. Or in Napoleon Dynamite, they just drank the eggs raw. Does anybody else agree with me here? Do you eat them? How do you eat them?

My final conclusion: I believe the only reasonable use for eggs is to wash one's hair.

Goodnight.

01-02-03-04-05-06

Tomorrow around one o-clock you need to look at your clock or watch because a once in a millennium event is going to happen! At exactly 1:02:03 it will be 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06. Isn't that cool?!?! :)

Everyone got the answer to the question right from yesterday, I guess I picked a pretty easy one! :-P

Question of the post:
Which is worse?
-Forgetting where you parked your car?
-Losing your car keys?

Quote of the post:
"Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you." -Cheers

Song of the post:
"High" by James Blunt

SAT question

Part of the following sentence is bold; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the bold material. Select the option that produces the best sentence. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, comment with choice A.

As it is primarily a bird of New Zealand’s native forests, the kiwi also lives in scrub and native grasslands.

a. As it is primarily
b. Although primarily
c. Because it lives primarily as
d. It is primarily
e. It lives primarily as

I will post the answer tomorrow!

Quote of the post:
"I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self." -Aristotle

Older than the US?

One of the world's oldest living creatures died last week in Calcutta.




Addwaita, a tortoise believed to be 250 years old, died at the local zoo. The tortoise arrived there in 1875. Zoo officials, who have yet to definitively prove Addwaita's age, say he was one of four tortoises that had been brought to India more than a century earlier by British sailors from the Seychelles islands as a gift for Lord Robert Clive of the East India Co. Clive, who kept the turtle in his garden, was instrumental in establishing British colonial rule in India before he returned to England in 1767.

Reports said that the animal died of an infection from a crack in its underside.

April Fools

Quotes of the post:
"However big the fool, there is always a bigger fool to admire him." -Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux

"He who lives without folly isn't so wise as he thinks." -François, Duc de La Rochefoucauld

"The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools." -Herbert Spencer

"Sometimes one likes foolish people for their folly, better than wise people for their wisdom." -Elizabeth Gaskell

"Looking foolish does the spirit good." -John Updike

"Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed." -Mark Twain

"A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees." -William Blake

"A fool must now and then be right by chance." -Cowper

"It is better to be a fool than to be dead." -Stevenson

"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year." -Mark Twain

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." -1 Cor 1:27

Weather

Today was my favorite kind of day, a little bit of everything. This morning it rained, but all afternoon it was sunny, warm and slightly windy. After worldview I came home and went outside and sat on our deck with a notebook. It definitely made me have spring fever! I wrote a little and then just did some thinking. I have so much to be thankful for, including beautiful days like today. What are you thankful for?

Then, during dinner, the sky became really dark and a thunderstorm warning was issued. It sprinkled and then poured. I love watching storms out the window when you can see the lightening! Someday, when I find someone crazy enough to do it with, I am going to go outside and dance during a storm. I've done it while it was raining, but I think a storm is a little more dangerous! :)

Quote of the post:
"Dance is the hidden language of the soul." - Unknown

Song of the post:
"Dancing in the moonlight" by Toploader

Judging

Today I got to be a judge. Last year I took Biology with Alania Falk at my church, one of our assignments was to invent something and present it to the class. Last year our judges were from the previous years class, so this year Luke Long, Luke Hovee, Ruth and I got to be the judges. Everyone did a good job.

-Ethan invented a language scanner where you could scan any text and translate it, to English or from English. We voted him best overall invention.

-Cathy invented mood contacts. These contacts would change color depending on your mood. If there was such a thing I would definitely buy them. We voted her most creative.

-Noah invented a briefcase that wouldn't let you forget your work. You program it to call your home phone or cell phone before you leave for work so you wouldn't forget it. We voted him best presentation.

-Beth invented a tracking system for children. The parent would hold the remote and then the other end, a ring, necklace, pin etc. and would be with the child and when the parent wanted the child it would vibrate or beep.

-Ellen invented this painting tool that would paint your walls without your help. All you had to do was fill it with paint and put it on the wall and it would go up and down without dripping.

-Mary invented a temperature meter. You put it in your shower and it measured the amount of hot water then told you how long you were allowed to have - so everyone in the family could have a hot shower. I really liked this one! :)

-Caleb invented a never boiling over pot. It could sense the water level, so not to let the water get to close to the top of the pot and when it did, little legs would come out and lift it off the stove.

Its hard being a judge for people you've known and are friends with because you want to award everyone, but we were only allowed to pick three winners. I think everyone did a great job! Overall going back and being a judge for Biology makes me miss it, it was definitely one my favorite class ever.

Quote of the post:
"Necessity is the mother of invention, it is true -- but it's father is creativity, and knowledge is the midwife." - Unknown

Song of the post:
"Only Hope" by Mandy Moore

quote

Quote of the post:
Me: "Jessica you look funny with no teeth!"
Jessica: "I have teeth!"

Comment on the next post!!! :)

Growing Older...

Yesterday I went grocery shopping for my mother. When I was finished I stood by the door and waited for her to pick me up. An older man pulled into the handicapped parking space and walked into the store. He sat down in one of those motorized shopping carts and took it out the door to the side of his car. He opened the door to his car, helped his wife be seated and watched her as she drove across the street and into the store. As she was going from the street to the sidewalk the motor stopped and she started going backwards, she cried "Neil" and he said "I'm right behind you" as he pushed her up the slope and she went into the store. Isn't that cute???

Sometimes I think about how I don't want to get old. Like +60 because you just aren't able to do certain things. But, if you really had a loving family - someone who didn't mind going into the store and getting you the motorized shopping cart - I don't think it would be so very bad. I know its not like I'm going to need to start worrying about not being able to walk anytime soon, but I can be happy for plenty of older people I know. Not to say "oh they can't do that anymore" but say, "I can help them do that."

But to more exciting things... today my little sister Jessica lost her two front teeth! Here is a picture in honor of a Jessica growing older! :)



Quote of the post:
"Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age." - Unknown

Romans 7:14-25

"For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but now the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I do do it, but sin that dwells in me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."

This is a somewhat confusing passage. I had to read it for worldview, David Quine asked the questions: How many times does the passage have the word " I " in it? What does following " I " cause or bring about? I thought that was really good, seeing that every time " I " try to do something it turns out the wrong way, I do it for the wrong reasons or very bluntly, I sin. Thankfully the last verse in the passage shows that through Jesus Christ we can do the right thing in our minds. This is definitely something I need to be reminded of.

Quote of the post:
"Man's mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain." - John Calvin

*big smile*

I just make about 72 chocolate chip cookies. Sadly, I ate so much of the dough while I was making it that by the time the cookies came out of the oven I was full. But thankfully, I know they were good because Jacob Long and by brother Daniel both ate about seven each! :)

Last night, almost right after I posted we had an interesting occurrence in our neighborhood. Our next store neighbor Ruth Walls called my dad because a man was knocking on her door saying he needed a doctor, and her husband Will was out of town. She had called 911 and so a fire truck and an ambulance parked almost right in front of our house. Apparently the man was a diabetic and he had missed his bus, so he didn't get his insulin shot, which caused him to start to have a diabetic reaction. The ambulance workers told my dad that he would be okay.

Today, Pastor Johnston preached on Genesis 24, the passage about how Rebekah was chosen for Isaac. Ruth, Ana, Jenny and I talked about how Abraham's servant put a ring in her nose. Comments are very much appreciated!!! Thank you. :)

Quote of the post:
"Duncan:There is a war on! How is it you are going West?
Nathaniel: Well, you kinda face to the North, and real sudden-like, turn left." - the Last of the Mohicans

Song of the post:
"Your still the one" by Shania Twain

HI

Today I went to the homeschool convention downtown. My mom and I bought all the books for Worldview next year. I'm really excited because I love getting new books! Ruth and I went to the workshops and walked around in the exhibit hall. For lunch we went to Einstein's Bagels, I got a sandwich and soup, it tasted really good. I listened to two sessions by John Stonestreet, the second one was about the cultural identity crisis in our country. One of his points was about when a missionary goes to another country he usually studies the language and the culture, but we live in a country where we don't even know our own culture. Finding out who we truly are. It was an excellent talk. Anyway, after walking around all day long, I'm glad to be home sitting down. It was a long, but fun day. I love the convention! :)

Quote of the post:
"...Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do." - 1 Chronicles 12:32

Kohls

Tonight my madre, my brother Daniel and I went shopping to Kohls. I was feeling quite depressed while trying on clothes, ( I haven't been swimming or running ) that I only bought two shirts. But, (this is the good part) my mom and I did pick out two adorable outfits for gifts at Laura Turner's shower, too bad babies don't stay really tiny for a little longer, newborn clothes are all sooooo cute!!!! :) We also got two pairs of flip-flops for my Aunt Jeanne, whose birthday is next week. Overall, today wasn't exactly the best day for me, because the plans I had were all changed and nothing happened the way I wanted it to, but the shopping trip made me feel better. Somehow I think shopping always cheers me up, even if I don't buy anything.

Quote of the post:
"I want to cling to the dream that might have been instead of ruining everything with reality." - Sam from A Cinderella Story

Verse of the post:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

Song of the post:
"Bad Day" - Daniel Powter

Warrant Needed?

Do you think the police need a warrant to search a house with only one resident's permission? I supposed I'm somewhat divided, because I wouldn't just say yes, or no. If it was an obvious case of drug use or abuse of some kind, then yes I would say that the police should be able to search. But in most other cases, where someone could be lying or faking evidence, I would say they shouldn't be allowed. Chief Justice John Roberts voted no, and in light of that decision, I think there should be an easier way to get a warrant. What do you think?

Quote of the post:
"A man's home is his castle." - English Proverb

Song of the post:
"Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts

Today at speech, Andrew had the word "road" he looked up with this look on his face and said "God blessed the broken road." His speech teacher smiled and said she liked that song too. So this song is on here for Andrew! :)

24:27

This morning I read Genesis 24. My favorite verse:

27 He said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His loving kindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the LORD has guided me in the way to the house of my master's brothers." - NAS

27 saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives." - NIV

27And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren. - KJV

27 And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren." - GSB

My favorite part is the last part. It sure is good to know that the LORD will lead us where he wants us to go. Calvin says, "we should always have the providence of God before our eyes in order that we may give to him praise when something happens prosperously to us!"

Quote of the post:
"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." -George Herman "Babe" Ruth

*sigh*

At the moment, I am exhausted.

I believe my new found talent is scrubbing. Today I worked with my Dad and his company Covenant Construction, at Mister Ice of Indianapolis. The company has been remodeling the inside in sections almost all winter. I got to scrub the bathroom walls to remove all the glue that didn't come off with the wallpaper. This combined with my experiences scrubbing the floor at church, you know, I might consider going to college and majoring in scrubbing! Can you imagine all the things I would learn? :-P

Quote of the post:
"On my own, pretending he's beside me. All alone I walk with him 'til morning. Without him I feel his arms around me, and when I lose my way, I close my eyes and he has found me." -Les Miserables

Song of the post:
"Heaven" by Bryan Adams

no title

Spanish has been canceled. Tomorrow will be a snowday if the heavens decided to bless us. I'm looking forward to curling up by the fire with a book and a blanket. I haven't driven in the snow yet, that I might be my adventure of tomorrow. Who knows?

Quote of the post:
"I can put on a happy face for the world, but the world can't put on a happy face for me." - Unknown

Song of the post:
"No bravery" by James Blunt

Complaining

Tonight James Faris preached on Philippians 2:12-18. Verse 14 says "do everything without grumbling and questioning." He talked about how complaining is a daily part of our world's life, if you don't complain something must be wrong with you. James challenged us to try not complaining for a month, and to turn other people's complaints into things they should be grateful for. Overall, it was a really good sermon! :)

Thank you for bringing up a good point about my quote Nathan. I do agree with you. Friends should have some differences, and marriage should be a "single soul dwelling in two bodies," probably the kind of marriage Christ wants!

Goodnight everyone!!!!

Quote of the post:
"One must never lose time in vainly regretting the past nor in complaining about the changes which cause us discomfort, for change is the very essence of life." -Anatole France

Friend

"What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies." - Aristotle

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Did everyone wear green today??? I tried to, but my shirt isn't green, it just has green words and little shamrocks! :)

Today I...
ran the shamrock run ( 5 miles )
went grocery shopping with my madre ( haven't done that in a long time )
read an entire book ( ready or not by Meg Cabot )
made stir-fry beef and broccoli for my family for dinner

I have yet to...
clean up the kitchen
call Charity ( hopefully I can get you this time )
watch a movie ( haven't decided which one yet )

Question of the post:
"Do you wake up or open your eyes first?"

Quote of the post:
"You are very squishy. So I shall name you squishy. And you shall be my little squishy."--Dory from Finding Nemo

Verses of the post:
"'O my God,' I say, 'take me not away in the midst of my days - you whose years endure throughout all generations!' Of old you laid the foundation of the earth and the heavesn are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the smae, and your years have no end." Psalm 102: 25-27

Please still try to comment on the last two posts if you haven't already!!! Thank you! :)

Writing

Until last summer I kept a personal journal and wrote every single day. Today I was reading through some of my old ones and it brought back a lot of memories. Do any of you journal? When I was doing it I kept telling myself that writing down what I did every day and how I felt about different things, would be such a great thing to have when I got older. Writing it out usually made me feel better if I was mad about something, or more down-to-earth if something happened that made me really happy. Reading some of what I wrote today makes me want to start journaling again and I might, but I don't know for sure.

Anyway, I had a weird habit of writing out the lyrics to the songs I liked in my journal. This is one of the songs I had written out part of the words.

Song of the post:
"Everything you want" by Vertical Horizon

Quote of the post:
"The loudness of your voice does not win an argument." - My Dad

Please read and comment on the next two posts too!!!! ;)

Cleanliness

My application of the week was to be clean. I already had cleaned my room this week, but this morning my sister and I took apart the bunk-beds that we've had forever, so now we have single beds. Then we rearranged the rest of the furniture, threw away stuff neither of us wanted and now our room looks much better. I am not normally a clean person, I tend to know where all my stuff is when I need it, but if you were to walk into my room ( just ask my mom ) it wouldn't look like it. Definitely something I need to work on! :)

Tomorrow I may be going to Arkansas with my dad, brothers and other people from my church. Some of you may know the Weather's family - they own a house there, but they need to sell it, so we're going down to do some final repairs before it's sold. I'm really excited to go because my weekend wasn't looking very great and it would be more fun then staying home!

Question of the post:
Which is worse?
Eating a handful of raisins to later find out that they were bugs?
Drinking a glass of milk that expired three months ago?

Quote of the post:
"If you have time to lean, you have time to clean." - Unknown

Andrew

Most of you have probably met my brother Andrew, and if you haven't I hope I've at least said something about him before.

Andrew is fourteen years old and he has down syndrome. Brown hair, brown eyes, short and slightly plump would describe him well. :) Sometimes cases of downs can be so severe that the person cannot talk, but that's not the case with Andrew. He loves to talk! He makes up names for people, ( mine include: miss hairdo, peas head and elephant, ) he also loves to talk about the weather. Although he still isn't always understandable, his speech has improved so much and he is learning to read.

Andrew and I have one big thing in common. Our favorite sport is swimming! I really should be thanking him, because my parents first joined the Rivi for Andrew. He swims with the Special Olympics swim team and I try to go and help coach when I have time. Andrew also enjoys basketball, baseball and bowling - all with Special Olympics.

It hasn't always been easy for me to have Andrew as my brother. He is different - he does weird things sometimes, or says embarrassing things about our family. I've gotten mad because it seems like all my friends have a sibling close to their age that they are close to, and I don't have that. But having Andrew as my brother has made me a stronger person. I know how to stand up for someone who is being made fun of and how even when someone seems weird on the outside, its really the inside that matters. Even though Andrew may never get married, and his brain will never grow older than a child, I love him! When my parents die, he'll probably come live with me - and I can't wait! :)

You can all pray for Andrew right now, last Saturday he broke his ankle and how has a cast and has to use a walker to get around. He's not allowed to go swimming or do any kind of exercise for at least 4-6 weeks. Pray that the ankle will heal quickly and that he won't get too restless just sitting around.

Quote of the Post:
"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." - Special Olympics Oath

Venti Starbucks!

This morning I slept in till nine. It wasn't really that late, but it felt nice not to have to get up. I cleaned my room, and then went through all the clothes I own sorting them into - clothes I wear, clothes I don't wear and clothes I sometimes wear. It was fun! Then since Philip had his tutoring at the Nora Library, my madre dropped me off at the Target in Nora. Sometimes I think shopping by one's self is quite enjoyable, though it might have been more so because I bought myself a venti double chocolate frappuccino (sp)! But sadly I used up the last of the money on the Starbucks card that I got for my birthday. (Actually I think there's five cents left.) Anyway, I had a pretty good day!

Quote of the post:
"We gather strength from sadness and from pain Each time we die we learn to live again."
-Source Unknown

Song of the post:
"Goodbye my lover" by James Blunt

Luncheon

I love when our church has luncheons. Its really fun to be able to sit, eat and have fellowship with everybody. Today was our soup luncheon, I really could live on soup and bread! It was so yummy! Pastor Johnston had all the people who worked yesterday get up and David and Becca talked. These "service projects" are the beginning of our youth events and hopefully we can do them more often!

I'm in a really good mood right now! I had a good morning at church, it was especially encouraging, and now I'm listening to music and posting on my blog!

This week, I have all my classes off except Spanish. What's really annoying about taking classes at different places it that the spring breaks are all different. Thankfully, all my other classes are off on the same week, so I will be able to have somewhat of a break. If anybody wants to get together to do stuff, like shopping or a movie, I would love to! :)

Quote of the post:
"You can always trust a dishonest man to be dishonest. Honestly, its the honest ones you have to look out for, cause you never know when they're going to do something incredibly stupid." Jack Sparrow, from Pirates of the Caribbean

*Smile*

Today I spent six hours at my church helping clean. The majority of the time I scrubbed the floor in the women's bathroom because the grout that was originally white was a brownish color. It didn't really look that bad until you realized that brown was not the original color. After about three hours of scrubbing, and the bathroom looked completely transformed, we let it dry and sealed it. Hopefully the sealer will keep the grout from changing colors for at least another 10 years. :) Savannah took pictures of us as we scrubbed, so if she e-mails them to me I'll post them. We were definitely having a party in the bathroom! :)

Last night before we went to the opera, my mom and I went to a Thai restaurant. Its called Thai Cafe, and it's in Broadripple. Its small, but completely adorable. The menu is really cool, because any dish you order you can choose the level of hotness - one through five - that you want. I absolutely love Asian food! Anyway, I recommend it to everybody! The prices are very reasonable, the service is good and the food is delicious!

Quote of the post:
"Austin: Where are you going?
Sam: I'm late.
Austin: For what?
Sam: Reality."
- A Cinderella Story

Song of the post:
"Crawling back to you" - Backstreet Boys

Hmm

1. First thing you did this morning? I checked my e-mail and drank a cup of coffee

2. Last thing you ate? a milky way bar

3. Is your cell phone a piece of junk? nope

4. What's something you're looking forward to a lot in the next 6 months? going to echo, summer break, getting my drivers license

5. What's annoying you right now? people shrugging me off

6. What's the last movie you saw in a theater? Chicken Little? I haven't been to a movie in a long time..

7. Do you believe in long distance relationships? yes

8. When was the last time it rained? yesterday, and the day before that too

9. Is there someone you miss? duh

10. Who was the last person you texted? I don't text

11. If you could kill someone who would you kill? I wouldn't kill anyone

12. Song that sums up your love life: hmm... Dido's White Flag

13. Are there a few things you wish you were better at? Oh yes, I wish I were a better runner, a better writer, and a better friend

14. If you could be anywhere this second, where would it be? hanging out with Ana

15. What's your most vivid memory from 7th grade? well, I went to China went I was 12 and I have several vivid memories from that entire trip

16. Latest addiction? music, but I've always been addicted to that

17. Have you ever had the urge to kill someone? nope

18. How many people would you say you are interested in? weird question, so I'm not answering

19. What do you love doing? I love singing, swimming, smiling and serving God

20. Do you think someone thinks about you daily? yes

21. Who was the last person you saw or talked to? my dad

22. Name a goal, large or small, that you hope to accomplish within the next three months: I hope to be able to run the mini marathon

"The Marriage of Figaro" was very interesting. I think Nathan's comment that it was "mozart-ish and a soap opera" was right. I found the story very confusing and it didn't help that it was it Italian. (with subtitles.) Parts of it were very stretched out and I kept wondering when it would end. Probably I was worried because the post I had started before I left hadn't been posted and I didn't want to get home after 12, because then it wouldn't count for today. So this my post for the day! Night everybody! :)

Quote of the Post:
"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay awhile, make footprints on ourhearts and we are never, ever the same." -Unknown

Go the Distance!

I cannot even explain how much I hate running. But this year I got signed up for the mini marathon in May and so I'm going to have to start training. Swimming is almost over for short-course season, and when we don't have any practices anymore then I'm going to to try run everyday. There's a 15k on April 15th that I'm going to run. Mrs. Edwards is going to get a group together to start running, but if anybody wants to run with me besides that I love to. I definitely run better with other people then I do by myself.

Tomorrow I'm going to see an opera called "the Marriage of Figaro" at Butler. Has anybody heard of this or seen it? My mom says its very good. Anyway, after I see it, I'll be sure to post about it.

Quote of the post:
"Doors don't slam open" - Unknown

Song of the post:
"Fix you" by Coldplay

Chemistry

I am not doing any science this year, but next year I have to take chemistry. My mom is still trying to decide where I will take the class since she doesn't want to teach it to me at home. It's possible I could take it at Castleton Christian Church with a group called Northpoint, or take it at College Park Church with Wisdom Builders. I'm not exactly looking forward to it, because Ruth and Grace say its hard. We all did Biology with Alania last year, it was an awesome class because we were together. What's your experience with Chemistry?

Wednesdays are usually lowkey at my house because nobody has any classes. Some weeks we go ice-skating, which is hopefully what we'll do today. Usually I go to Butler and do a book study on "No Little People" by Schaeffer with Shannon Koons, but she's sick, so we had to cancel. :-( But here's a quote from Schaeffer:

Quote of the post:
"Quietness and peace before God are more important than any influence a position may seem to give, for we must stay in step with God to have the power of the Holy Spirit." - Francis Schaeffer

Okay

Yesterday I forgot to mention that I'm in a blogging contest. For those of you who are not in the contest know that each of your comments gives me points. So if you read my blog, please leave comments because it'll move me up in the standings.

I had to read and then write a report this past week on Animal Farm by George Orwell. I didn't think it was a hard book to read, but it had a lot of underlying principles and things to figure out about how it relates to World War II and Communism. The basic story line is about animals who live on a farm with master who is very cruel which makes them unhappy. There is a rebellion and they get rid of the master and resolve to rule themselves and have a better life. It doesn't go so well, they take a whole circle and at the end are right back where they started. I don't want to say too much and ruin the story for all you people who haven't read it. But, I will say that my favorite character is Boxer. :)

Quote of the post:
"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals." -George Orwell

Brownsugar Cinnamon Poptarts

I'm not usually a picky eater, but I only like one kind of poptart. Brownsugar Cinnamon without the icing. My mom got some when she went shopping today, I just ate two. I usually set them upside down for 30 seconds in the microwave and then eat them with a glass of milk. Did you know that each pastry has 210 calories? But, I'm not feeling guilty because this past weekend was a divisional swim meet.

It was held at Noblesville highschool. It was a really long meet because the prelims were in the morning and the finals were at night, meaning I had to swim twice. I placed in the 200 breast and got a medal for seventh place.

I'm really excited because my Mom ordered me sheet music. We ordered "100 years", "Incomplete" and "Wake me up when September ends." I don't know how well I'll be able to play the music, but hopefully between Ruth and I we'll have fun with vocals and piano! :)

Quote of the post:
"Sometimes we do not do things we want to do so that others will not know we want to do them." - Ivy Walker

Song of the post:
"100 years" by Five for Fighting

Today...

This is an episode in the life of Ellie.

Ellie's mother asked her to make dinner. After examining the cabinets in search of ideas of what to make, she decided on spaghetti because it wouldn't be too complicated. She took the ground beef out of the freezer and defrosted it in the microwave. Ellie placed the pan in which she intended to cook the meat on the stove and busied herself with something else until the meat was defrosted. Taking the meat out of the microwave she put it in the pan and left the kitchen intending to retrieve her book while the meat started to cook. She took around six minutes to do this, and came back to the kitchen expecting to see her meat cooking, but to her dismay she had forgotten to turn the stove on. She sighed and thought to herself, I should post this on my blog.

Song of the post:
"I'm with you" by Avril Lavigne

Dido

My car officially has a name now. I had come up with Charlie, and then George, but neither of those really fit my car. Then last week in Worldview we started reading the Aeneid by Virgil. For those of you who haven't read it, its the continuation of the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer. The main character is Aeneas who is trying to get to Italy obeying the will of Zeus. In the story there is a beautiful queen named Dido. She was married and loved her husband very much, but he died and she decided she would never love again and became very bitter. When Aeneas visits her kingdom, Hera and Aphrodite devise a plan to keep Aeneas from going to Italy by causing Dido to fall deeply in love with him. They used an arrowed from Cupid, and performed a marriage that wasn't official. After all this, Zeus tells Aeneas he must leave and Dido is heartbroken and so she commits suicide. Later in the story Aeneas goes to the underworld to visit his father and he sees her, but she won't even speak to him. End of story - and so my car is named Dido.

Song of the post:
"Vincent" by Josh Groban

Happy Valentines Day!!!

I was trying to think of something profound to post, but nothing came to mind. So here's a verse, quote, and a song for you to think about.

Verse:
"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I warn you whom to fear; fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." - Luke 12: 4-7

Quote:
"Love. What is love? No one can define it, its something so great, only God could design it. Yes, love is beyond what man can define, for love is immortal, and God's gift is divine." -Unknown

EDIT: I decided to change the song. :)

Song:
"From this moment on" by Bryan White and Shania Twain

Utopianism

I am reading No Little People by Francis Schaeffer, this week the chapter was about the Weaknesses of God's Servants. Schaeffer goes into great detail about how terrible utopianism is. A utopian is a person who believes in impossibly idealistic social perfection or spiritual perfection. Utopianism is terribly cruel because it expects the impossible from people. Its bad in a marriage relationship, a parent-child relationship, in friend relationships, pastor- church relationships and in one's relationship with himself . One side makes up an image of the other and expects them to be just like that image, demanding more than is possible to give. Here's Schaffer's quote: "If we demand, in any of our relationships, either perfection or nothing, we will get the nothing." I definitely think this is something we need to be reminded of once in a while. Sin is sin and we shouldn't try to explain it away, but having a standard that is too high is also wrong. Can you guys tell me what you think about this please?

Yesterday I was able to go snowboarding with my friends! I had a blast. I drove with the Youngs down and back. It was Jessica's first time snowboarding so she had to learn from the beginning, but I think everyone that went had a good time. Today I am really sore, my butt hurts, my arms hurt, my knees hurt and my neck, head... all of me. lol. But, despite the soreness I want to go again this winter. That means we need to plan another trip soon.

Quote of the post:
"Pain is no evil unless it conquers us."

Song of the post:
"May it be" by Enya

Sports

This morning I had another swim meet. It was held at the Nat, the pool at IUPUI. I think it went well overall, I dropped time in 3 of my 4 events, but the 200 breast is being depressing. Every event I've swam this year I've dropped at least 5 seconds in, except for the 200 breast. Each time I swim it I always get a 3:01. But Therese said I just need to do more breast pull and work on a greater range of motion with my arms. Hopefully I'll be able to see results.

Daniel ran the first of his training races for the mini this morning. I wasn't very happy when it was snowing this morning, but I'm sure he was even less excited. Now that I'm home, inside and warm I'm happy about the snow, but when you have to go outside with wet hair - its not pretty. Anyway - I'm very proud of Daniel for running the 5K in the snow. Which reminds me, I need to start training for the mini, definitely not something I'm looking forward to. :P

Question of the post:
What is your favorite sport and why?

My answer is obvious. Swimming is my favorite sport, I love it so much. Why, is harder to explain. I suppose it might be because its one of the only sports I can do and enjoy. But also because you can do it all year round and see results. Being fast doesn't account for everything, swimming works so many different muscles and its hard to be a fat swimmer. I guess the one downside would be "swimmers shoulders."Almost every swimmer has them, both girls and boys. Anyway, I'm excited to hear what you all say. :)

Song of the post:
"Hero" by Enrique Iglesias
I know this is the same song as before, but its one of the those ones I can listen to over and over and never get tired of it. :)

Feelings:

I was reading some of my old posts and I remember loving this when I posted it before, so here it is again. I changed several, but it still shows the way I feel right now.

I am not: normal
I hurt: deep in my soul
I love: with my whole heart
I hate: sin
I hope: in God
I hear: voices in my head
I crave: coffee
I cry: every night
I always: dream
I long to: grow up
I feel alone: in this world
I listen: but I don't hear anything
I hide: where no one can find me
I drive: everyone crazy
I sing: and can't stop
I dance: with you
I search: for meaning
I feel: sad
I fail: constantly
I sleep: when my mind and body are tired
I need: a hug
I am: scared
I think: so I can do right
I exist: to glorify God in everything I do

A Job Well Done

Once upon a time there lived a bat. His name was Matt. He lived in a tree by a stream, near the palace of a great king. During the day he was inclined to sleep, but at night he worked especially hard. While Matt wasn’t the smartest bat out there, he was the one who did his job well; he never missed a night eating mosquitoes. His mother had told him that his job was very important because without him the king would never come outside.

In this very same tree there also lived a nightingale whose name was Carol. During the day, she also slept, but at night she sang, and because her song was so lovely the king would come out and listen to her sing. Sadly, this caused Carol to become proud and she started to make fun of her neighbor the bat.
“Thou art so worthless,” she taunted “thou spends every waking second eating mosquitoes.”
The bat didn’t answer at once. This thought had never crossed his mind. Worthless? That was not what his mother had said.
“It is an important job!” he answered.
“Important?” Carol laughed. “Look at me, I sing for the king, my job is not even comparable in importance to eating mosquitoes.”
“Thou doesn’t realize,” replied Matt, “that without me the king would never come outside.”
“He does not come outside because of thee,” she sneered, “He comes to listen to my music.”

Matt knew he should not reply. He decided to show her what he meant. The next night he did not go out and eat the mosquitoes. Instead, he watched while Carol sang her song to the king. She was so into her own song, she didn’t notice that her audience was distracted. Soon they were swatting the hungry mosquitoes that attacked them and they quickly retreated back into the palace. Not one remained.
Carol was quiet for awhile, then, knowing that the bat was correct, she sighed. “Thou was right, Matt, the job that thou hast is just as important as mine. I can sing for the king, but I cannot do it without the help thou gives.”
Matt smiled, and from then on the two worked together. Carol sang, while Matt caught mosquitoes. The king and his royal court once again came outside and enjoyed the lovely song of the nightingale. Clearly, we need to learn to be thankful for those around us that do their job well. Without them, we wouldn’t be successful in ours.

Ellie needs...

Ellie needs a place to stay.
Beautiful Ellie needs a home.
Ellie needs the water) --- Screamed at maximum volume when I turned off the garden hose she was spraying.
Ellie needs help with suicidal thoughts.
Ellie needs her little pleasures.
Ellie needs to be crated when she is home alone.
The last thing Ellie needs is to fall for the wrong guy.
Ellie needs more than $8300 monthly to maintain her lifestyle.
Ellie needs a husband or her father's odious fiancee will choose one for her.

lol. Following several other people's examples, I decided to post these "needs" of mine. I found it very amusing and some of the results are quite funny! :) I was very surprised to find that there are a lot of dogs named Ellie.

Quote of the post:
"All you need in the world is love and laughter. That's all anybody needs. To have love in one hand and laughter in the other." - Unknown

Song of the post:
"Hero" by Enrique Iglesias

Sweet Sixteen

So here I sit. Yesterday was my 16th birthday. I cannot even explain, I have felt so loved in the past several days. Friday night I had an ice-skating party, a lot of the people I had invited couldn't come and I was worried about how it would turn out, but to my surprise those who came made me feel so special. Sara, Bekah, Laura and Jessica took me out to dinner as a surprise, but the best surprise was Sara coming home for my birthday because she had told me before that she couldn't. Then yesterday - Saturday - my family took me to a movie and out to dinner downtown. We saw "The end of the spear", the story of Nate Saint, Jim Elliott and those who were killed trying to share the gospel. This birthday made me realize that I have so much to be thankful for, I just don't always see and I get caught up in my own selfishness.

Verses of the post:
"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light."
- 1 Peter 2:9

Quote of the post:
"Born to be wild - live to outgrow it." - Unknown

Hope this works...

Sara just told me that her computer wouldn't let her go to my blog because of my song. So I'm letting you all have a little slack and I'm gonna guess that all you people's computers won't let you come to my blog either and that is why you didn't comment.

Since I can't play the song on my blog, here is the link for "Why." See the post below about it.

New song of the post:
"If you are not the one" by Daniel Bedingfield

Why?

For the record - I love the song "lonely" by Akon, but because (thanks to Abby) I finally figured out how to do free webhosting I wanted to put the song that Ruth and Zachary wrote on here. I have to experiment with recording singing with it - if anyone has any suggestions on how to do that I am very willing to listen. Anyway here is piano version - and I'll just post the lyrics too. Luv you all... :)

Why
Tell me why
Why are you going
Why are you leaving
I need to know why
You need to tell me
Why won't you call me
Why don't you care anymore
I need to know why to live
I need to know why should I give you my love
Or should I take it away

Why
Tell me why
Why are you here again
Why are you begging me to come back to you
Why when I find someone new
Do you break my heart again
I need to why to live
I need to why I should give you my love
When you took yours away

We used to be together
But you found someone new
and now she's tired of you
So now you're here again
but this time I've got someone else
I broke your heart today

So why am I sorry for you
Why am I crying
Why am I coming back
Now I know why
Now I know why I should give you my love
when you took yours away
I love you
its cause I love you




btw... my b-day is saturday!!! :)

Update:

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, we've been having some computer problems. It started when a CD exploded - and yes I do mean that - inside the CD-drive. We bought a new drive and I tried to replace it, but when that didn't work we took it to a shop. The guy at the shop said something else was wrong with it, so he deleted everything we had inside the computer - excluding my dad's estimates. Anyway we haven't had the computer since last Wednesday, so I'm sorry if I haven't had the chance to reply to any of your e-mail, comments etc.

I just finished an awesome book that I think everyone should read. It's called "A thousand tomorrows". I guess you could probably call it a girls book because its a love story, but its more than that because of the circumstances in the book. I cried more than once, especially because the boy has a brother with down-syndrome who reminds me so much of my brother. I loved it and it is definitely on my list of best books!

I had a swim meet last weekend. Not exactly something I was looking forward to, but it ended up not being as bad as I thought it could have been. There were only eight older swimmers from Rivi, so it was a more personal meet. Therese told me what to remember while I was swimming before my event and then told me what to work on afterwards. I dropped at least 4 seconds in every one of the four events I swam. But I had a lot of fun cheering for my friends and I think as long as I don't stress myself out I do fine.

And I should to stop talking because I have Worldview to finish. And remember if you comment you'll make my day! :)

Quote of the post:
"A little rebellion now and then is a good thing."
-Thomas Jefferson

Song of the post:
"Lonely" by Akon

January

Happy New Year everybody!

At the moment I think this year is going to be great. I turn 16 in nineteen days and I'll be able to drive. That will be a big help to my mom and it will make a difference in how much I work. School is going well, though its helping me to think that I'm halfway done with the year and I only have one more semester left. But then when I try to think of all the positive things I can't help but think that last year I was thinking the same thing, I had my hopes and my dreams. But I shattered a lot of them. I did a lot of things that I can never change, not really thinks I regret, but things that changed my future. *sigh* I'll stop there, please tell me what you think?

I'm also writing this post because I need to change my song. I don't think "My December" goes very well in January. But its definitely one of my favorite songs.

Quote of the post:
"If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own." - Socrates

Song of the post:
"Think of me" - Phantom of the Opera
~ I love singing this song.

Well....

We're back. It was alot of fun, but sadly I have no tan. I really enjoyed getting to see all my cousins again, they were definately different then last time ( five years ago. ) Here are some pictures:

Our House 

Mark, Scott and Jenny 

Jenny and I 

Private and Captain

Jason 

Lynn, Mom, Grandma and Jeanne 

Our Family w/ Grandma 

The Truwit Family 

The Gross Family w/ Grandma 

Feliz Navidad

City side walks,
busy side walks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
And in every corner you'll hear.

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring a ling,
hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day.

Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures

Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all the bustle you'll hear.

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring a ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day.
Soon it will be Christmas day.

Christmas day.
Silver bells.

I think this will be my last post until my family gets back from our trip on the 30th. Sadly I won't be going to Winter Conference, so I hope that all you people who do go have a wonderful time and don't miss me too much! :)

Angel's Sing

This week has been fun. Mostly because all my classes had parties for the last day and then because I'm done with school until January! Yippie!!! :) Last night I helped with the babysitting at church and then I went over the Faris's with Ruth to assist her while she put them to bed. We ended up watching The Last of the Mohicians. If you haven't already heard me say this - it is my favorite movie!

Here's one of my favorite quotes:

Duncan: "There is a war going on in the east. How is it you are heading west?"

Hawkeye: "Well, you face north and, real sudden-like, turn left."

Tonight I went to the Angels Sing ICC concert at St. Luke's. It was really good. I got to go up and sing with the alumni... makes me wish I was still in it. I got to see some of my old friends, they thought I had died or something because I didn't come to graduation last year. :-( And I think I have to come to a close now. Goodnight, sleeptight and remember to comment! :)

Comic

I thought this was pretty funny. :)

Christmas Controversy

This is an excerb from a book called "Conduct for the Crayon Crowd." Its written by Edna Gerstner for children and most of the stories she is talking to her daughter Rachel who is six. I thought maybe it would help me add a little to the discussion that's been going around on blogs.

The Christmas Tree
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image." Exodus 20:4

Mrs. Gerstner especially loved the Christmas tree. When she was a little girl, she explained, she had to to give up having a tree. One year they had gone into the forest in the jungles of India to cut down a tree for their living room. There were no fir trees, but they had found a small tree with lots of leaves. They had such fun stringing popcorn for garlands. But the Indians did not understand what they were doing. They had said to her father, "What sort of holy tree do you worship?" They did have a sacred tree, the "people tree." They would put food out for the gods under its branches. They had thought that the Christmas tree was an idol, and that Grandmother's delicious fudge was for the gods.
Mother told Rachel about this time in her girlhood as they shelved their potato peeling fo the day to make Christmas cookies.
"How said," said Rachel.
"Yes. But in a way it was good for us children. We learned not to do anything that would cause another child of God to stumble. It was good for our souls to have to give up the Christmas tree. It was especially necessary for us because as well as having neightobrs who were Hindus who worshiped idols, we had neighbors who were Muslims. Muslims did not worship idols. They believed in the Ten Commandments also. Their prophet, Mohammed, took much of his teaching from the Old Testament, and they were especially careful to keep this commandment, the second of th ten. 'Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.' They would not even allow themselves to be photographed because this would be a graven image. We did not photograph them. We respected their customs. But do you think this is what God meant in this commandment, Rachel?"
"I hope not," said Rachel, who had asked for a camera for Christmas.
"The rest of the verse explains what God meant. Let me read it to you while we set the timer for the cookies. In Exodus 20:5 God explains the commandment: 'Thou shalt now bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.' We are not bowing down to our Christmas tree nor to our snapshot albu, so we are allowed to have both of these and not sin. We did not wave our own photographs around to offend our neighbors, so we did not need to give up our cameras in India. But it is very hard to hide a lighted Christmas tree, so we did not practice this custom in order not to harm what the Bible calls the weaker brother."

As for the idol, a craftsman casts it
a goldsmith fashions chains of silver.
He who is too impoverished for such an
offering selects a tree that does not rot;
He seeks out for himself a skillful
craftsman to prepare an idol that will
not totter.

This only touches on the subject of a Christmas tree, but I thought the way it was written was good and it made me think. I do celebrate Christmas and we usually do have a Christmas tree, though this year, because we'll be gone we're not having one. I realize that Christmas is not a celebration of Christ's birth anymore, but I think that at Christmas people are more open to hearing the truth and we need to be willing to share it. Please tell me what you think.