Expression of Experiencing Spring

I stepped outside the front door for the first time today just a few minutes ago.
I felt this rush of warmth. It was the same sensation of having a snowflake or the outdoor atmosphere temperature at below freezing first touch your skin.
I felt uplifted.
The sun has been down for awhile now.
I heard inaudible voices of little kids. dogs barking. birds chirping in a mysterious, unrepeatable, distinctly harmonious conversation.
I saw several fresh green growing plants. Perenials. They show the sovereignty and omnipotence of their Creator simply by blooming. They do what they were made to do--give glory to Him.
Boldly stood there one daffodil.
I saw our Chinese Maple tree, completely bare of the red leaves of summer days. It seemed to be a skeleton. I couldnt see them from where I stood, but I know there are buds on its branches.
The wind brushed over and through my hair. In all directions, but ever so softly. My skirt danced slightly.
I drank in the fresh air with several deep breathes.
All I did was step into the world on the other side of the door. I stood on our front porch and my soul soared with the birds into the scene of spring. I stood there. Still, quiet, and became a part of God's creation. I just let it absorb me. For a few moments, the beauty of spring was all there was.
I didnt try to preserve it by taking a picture or making a video. I just enjoyed the moment. I lived in the moment.

...and then went inside to live it up by contining research for my creation science paper!

Quit Tugging on Your Shirt. Buy a New One.

modesty

1531, "freedom from exaggeration, self-control," from M.Fr. modestie, from L. modestia "moderation," from modestus "moderate, keeping measure, sober," from modus "measure, manner" (see mode (1)). Meaning "having a moderate opinion of oneself" is from 1553. Modest (adj.) is first recorded 1565.

I'd like to say I didnt have to deal with modesty, that I've got it under control. I cant. I deal with it every time I walk into the store to buy jeans--how tight and where they hit my waist. I deal with it every time I try on a shirt. Whether it's too tight, too low, whether it's transparent. I have the priviledge and the responsibility to hold a higher standard, to be an image-bearer of God. That can be a struggle when every store seen as fashionable in the teen world of today presents short, thin, tight and provocative as what should be.

The issue of modesty covers not only what I chose to wear, but how I respond to what others are wearing or how I respond to the person wearing it even. It's about reaction as much as action. I cant control what others are wearing, but I do need to control my reaction to it. That is even more true for guys.

In shopping at thrift stores and less name brand places I've found my niche and have continued to settle more comfortably into it.

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So I officially wrecked the 'links' section. I was messing with code trying to find where to paste the html for an ad to this site. I clicked 'revert to classic template' and it changed the layout and link content to the way it was several months ago. The loss of creativity and time made me angry. Granted, I've lost much more important content in the past than the links section of my blog and I should be thankful in the situation. Anger can feel so futile. I satisfy myself by feeling it but ultimately know in the pit of my stomach that I need to let it go. That was earlier this week. Today however, I figured out how to return the template to the way I had it. Huzzah! Relief. & even more emphasis on the lesson of anger being futile.

EDIT: Thanks to the guidance of one Laedelas Greenleaf, the link/animation now has a lovely home in the sidebar!

Watch a Good Movie Buy a Good Book & Be Green

On the entertainment front, I recently watched Flicka. The fam is at this moment in the living room watching the newest Rocky; I watched it earlier this week. Flicka's got a great soundtrack. The landscapes are lovely. As far as the storyline, it was lacking. There were several emotionally well-executed scenes. I dont think I'll ever easily forget a D.B./H.Q quote from when we went Christmas caroling: "We need to go see a good movie." "Flicka!" "We need to go see a good movie..." The newest Rocky's not my favorite. It doesnt have a high level of action or anticipation. It is in keeping with the rest of the series, and closes the story off quite well with Adrian's death, the complete reconciliation of father/son, and the restuarant which Rocky has opened.

[Random Google Searching Pays]

Tomorrow is the homeschool book fair. So I can't decide what to wear--my taupe or navy skirt with my taupe or navy shirt?! Or should I go for the jean jumper and tshirt? Yes, that was a homeschool "dress code" joke. Dont beat me up for it. I have no problems with wearing skirts or being simple. I just take a somewhat humerous stand point at times on the whole scene. We didnt go last year; we didnt think we needed to with planning on cyber schooling. Next year will be 11th grade and as well as Abeka has served us, I'm sick of it. We're looking into a somewhat-local Christian/classical education study center for next year. I have several ideas as far as morphing what I need to study and what I want to study and how I want to go about it. I am sure Mum has a plan for shopping with the boys too. It'll be a fun day. Definitely.

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day.
Since I'm not legal & will dare say that even if I was I wouldnt be celebrating thoroughly like a true Irish woman, I'll be decking myself out in one of my favorite colors, taking pictures that will make those who arent in them green with envy [just kidding!] and eating yummy [hopefully] green food with good friends.

Exploring Christianity this week was neat. K.B. and D.C. led a seperate group I was included in of the under 18 folks. K.B. was seated in Mr. P's authoratative chair and conversation was abuzz. Such GREAT questions were asked. I'd never been in Mr Pierson's office before and I enjoyed it thoroughly...the photos of his family, the mustache/nose glasses on the top shelf that I had heard the story behind the previous week, the picture of the city. The shelves of books are the most remembered part. I recognized title after title and just wanted to sit there reading each and every one.

Sufficient Breviloquence

NOTES ON THE DAY:
God is good. & lavishes me with what is good for me.
Jesus Christ on the cross took my place; I take His as being seen as blameless in the sight of the Father. My past, present, and future sin is atoned for. That was spoken at EC, was affirmed through my doctrines class and reaffirmed this morning through worship.
Lunch at the Q's was splendid. It was just lovely to eat lunch with a group of friends. [Is it just me or does the word usage there projoke one to want to talk in an Enlish accent?]
Arielle was visiting! She's a very much missed buddy. Oh how I'd love to go to New York to see her. Can anyone say school field trip?! haha.
Ultimate was quite convivial. Running makes me feel alive. I'll feel even more "alive" tomorrow when I'm sore. It wasnt terribly competitive; we had moments. Laughter was aplenty! Everyone kept coming and leaving so that made the team setup interesting, jostled it quite frequently. When the game(s) were over the guys ensued in dog pile/back jumping/wrestling action. A very casual game of "hackety-sackety" was played as well. Shamrock shakes were on the menu, but not for us. Our family headed to the Skiles' house for pizza. I had the urge for supreme pizza and apparently Mum did too. Everyone else had pepperoni/sausage.

NOTES FOR COMING WEEK:
-Keep my mind on the day at hand, not at what I plan on doing the next day or the coming weekend--so hard.
-Do the best work I possibly can to the glory of God. My tendency is to get wrapped up in assignments. Visual aid: textbooks. strangling action. me. On the other end, I can get quite lazy.
-Scratch "do notecards for creation science paper" completely off of my list.
-Email people just because I like being social like that.

Can I have a million dollars?

There was multi-billionaire in Texas and every year he held an absolutely huge cookout party for all his friends. On his estate was an olympic-size swimming pool. In that pool was a man-eating shark.

Every year he would say, "Anyone who swims across this pool, I will give whichever he chooses: 100 million dollars, half of my entire estate, or my daughter's hand in marriage."

And every year when he asked that question nobody would do it. One year right after he finished explaining, there was a huge splash. Everyone rushed over to see who it was. In the pool a man was swimming faster than anything anyone had ever seen. The shark was right on his tail, and with it's huge jaw was just about to bite his legs off when he jumped out!

The billionaire came over, wrapped the man in a towel and said "That was amazing! I've never seen anyone swim that fast. You must want 100 Million dollars?" The wet man said "No. I dont want the money." "Okay, do you want half of my estate?" The man said, "No." The Texan continued, "Then you must want my daughter's hand in marriage." The still dripping-wet man said, "No... I want the name of the guy who pushed me in."
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A little boy was talking to God and said, "God, how much is a million dollars to you?" God replied, "1 penny." Then the little boy said, " How much is a million years to you?" God answered, "1 second" The child then had a bright look on his face and said, " God, may I please have a penny?" God smiled and answered, "1 second."

How Great is Our God

Friday Night Packaging.

Cabin Fever Packets & invitations to the festival. Snowshoveling for free. Bringing Joy.

Coming together Saturday after setup.

All we could eat.

A little tike gets sticky and silly with cotton candy and a balloon hat.

Skinny Little White Boys.

Moonbounce Dudes.

I've already added pictures to my flickr of the weekend. My reasoning in putting them on here is because a picture is worth a thousand words. The weekend was packed; it was an envigorating feeling to be doing something every minute of the day. It was tiring too :-) I tried to stop at some point on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to record and remember the little things. So quickly do I forget not only the fellowship-related things that have made me smile, but the things that God has done.

We met each other on Friday night. We worked and worshipped together. We spent from morning till late afternoon in the neighborhoods Saturday. We ate and prepared, worshipped and talked together. We met with the Lord. We prepared our hearts and continued to prepare for the tasks of the day. We had fun and then we ate together again. On Sunday night, everyone came together to talk about what we had seen and done. It was the last time I was going to see the people I barely knew anything about but yet in three short days had unexpectedly and wonderfully bonded with. Most I knew only their name. After spending encouraging time in individuals YG's, we filled the little sanctuary that had been the hub and nucleus of activity, the beginning and end point. We worshipped. How great was the God we had seen. How great is the God which we serve. How great is the God which brought us together, a body. How great is the God which has continued and has continued to work in me! Bob's leadership was wonderful to witness. He knew exactly what questions to ask and how to relate with that room of teens.

He asked for one word descriptions.

The Day we had:
life-changing. amazing. unity. inspiring. phenomenal. blessed. fantastic.

The God we saw:
vivacious. uncontainable. pleased. fun. wild. gentle. merciful. strengthening. driving. glorified. happy. unstoppable. magnificient. creative

The God we were taking home:
gentle. outgoing. humble. alive. someone to confide in. Savior. flexible. open-hearted. joyful. perservering. hungry. strong. patient. strong