Short Snippet of Some Moments

FUSE fun night numero uno = a digital scavenger hunt. Fun times.
"Fan of Spam in Spain." --say it three times fast.

Grad party for four [three present] friends who I'm so blessed to know and continue getting to know. We were only at the house a short time, but I made a great memory. I still really want to learn to swing dance! I dunno that I'll be any good at all, but I at least have to try.

I'll miss her, but I'm filled with joy about her leaving...deep down that is. Tears did well up several times in the past weeks while pondering the situation and past good times. Every ending is only a beginning. And sometimes endings, well, really aren't endings. They're just a sort of pause, a sort of extended season of separation or quietness or calm or lowered activity. Relationships can fade like a vapor in the sunlight in life, but for those in the family of Christ, eternity will be one long and joyously united celebration.

I love our church. I love what God has done in leading us to join their family. I thank God for the comfort of that family and also of Sovereign Grace. After talking with a friend tonight, I now feel happy after not being sure what I felt like all day long. God is good.

Oh! Side note! On Sunday, Mr. P. mentioned a verse Phil. 2. Mom decided to memorize that exact verse of which I cannot remember the reference on Friday. coolness. We continued reading in Phil. 2 today. Reinforced was the idea of rejoicing in everyday, knowing that God has made it; and to remember to build His name and not our own in everything we do. I realized what joy that concept could bring--when building a name for myself, my tasks are burdensome; but when I do make everything I do a brick in building the name and fame of Christ, there is joy. freedom and joy. Dad's been working nights this week, so he got to join our newly established morning devotions and prayer =]

PS.
Kev is at this moment playing the last three innings of a baseball game. The score when we left was 18 to 3...the other team. He hit a bomber that woke up everyone sitting on the bleachers down the first base foul only to strike out. We left right after that =\

Preach It

In my wandering, I happened across the current church pastored by the man I've been watching and listening to for Bible class this school year. The videos I've been watching are from 1998, when Jim Schettler was the pastor at the PCC Campus Church and held several other positions at the high school and college in Florida.

I've immensely enjoyed his teaching. I've applied the basics doctrines he's taught in my own head every time I hear Mr. P. speak. It's cool to be able to hear something, having previous and deeper knowledge of it, and be able in your mind to expand and more fully understand what's being discussed.

I came across these sermons and thought it worth coming back to in the future. Kinda cool that our church is studying Genesis too...

Radio Message Listening

A few mixmatch notes from-

I turned my radio on this morning and listened to Jack Hayford for a half an hour. I was doing other things in my room [folding clothes, making the bed etc.], but instead of music, I chose to listen to the words of his sermon because pictures of W. Wilburforce reciting Psalms while walking to Parliament and a chapter of Humility: True Greatness which says to use one's travel time each day for meditation flooded my head. Hayford spoke on bearing our own burdens and those of others. Love was emphasized.

Just as I was ready to turn my attention from listening, C.J. Mahaney's name was said. My attention was renewed, and I decided, making the choice to put off my schoolwork for another half an hour, to listen in and take some notes. The announcer for the station referred to Sovereign Grace as a "movement of churches." I dont know why that struck me or why I remembered. I usually think family rather than movement.

In [incredibly] short- great message on modesty.

Pirate Remorse

Dude, we missed a good party! Sadness on that point. Oh well--We stored up treasures in heaven while others made the choice to pursue treasure of a more pirate story-like nature. ;-)

Everyone's costumes were great, the performances very funny. & thanks to Mike for preserving some moments so that those of us who were unable to attend could enjoy.

[I said remorse more because it was a good word than because I really truly felt that upset.]

Consider This

A small victory for the sanctity of infant life:
http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2007/04/18/639998.html

How many of those who say that partial birth abortions protect women's health have studied how they go about killing the child, completely formed and perfectly capable to live life--partially born?

It makes me sick to my stomach.

Both supporters of abortion and nonsupports should study what is really being allowed or aimed to be eliminated. Educate yourself on the issues which you claim to have an opinion on. Study the process by which the child is dismembered or neglected. Did you know there is one type of rare yet legal type of abortion in which a perfectly healthy child is completely ignored, left to die after being born? Think of the number of citizens this country has lost since 1973.

Maybe one day this country will not only consider the health of mothers, as supporters so fervently [and inaccurately] proclaim they are doing, but return to taking the health of it's future, unborn citizens into consideration.

Google Has Failed

I can find mix-match quotes or facts on Charles Brower, but can find no indication of any of his work by Googling. I'm looking for a book, speech, or short writing [not sure which] called "Dare to be Square." There was a quote from it in my speech text, and I am wanting to read it.

Help of any sort, anyone?

Oh, and if you know how the code for putting an image into the description bar and wouldnt mind passing it along, I'd be greatly appreciative!

Disappointment but Positivity

Tomorrow is the postmark deadline for the Answers in Genesis Evolution Exposed research paper contest. Due to my need to do extensive research and use writing a 2500 word paper as a thorough learning experience, my paper isnt done. I was using the contest as incentive. This may sound strange--I didnt want to win the first prize of $50,000 to Liberty Uni. I wanted to win one of the four runners up: a laptop and tons of books.

I've got the backbones of a first draft, but need to do reorganize and re-research on a few points in order to really get my points across efficiently. I'm disappointed that a final draft isnt sitting on my desk, with crisp black ink on flawless white copy paper. Throughout the whole process however, I've been praying that if the Lord wanted my paper in the contest, He'd give me the strength and timing to complete it. I was leaning on the whole "close a door, open a window" principle. I didnt want to rush my writing. There'll be other contests.

The downer--I set an allotted time to cut back on reg biology to write my paper. I've now got to go back to full school, full paper-writing mode.

Drowning Melville

There arent particular jokes that make me laugh, but Drowning Melville just made me happy when watching.

It was neat to hear the voice of an Ian Murphy having been praying for him since his accident, but never having met him.

Running a Race

life's crazy.
especially this weekend. gee whiz.
the line-up for this weekend is incredible just including the things we're doing, let alone the things we're not able to.

two-thirds of me is saying it's really nice to be busy. the other third is saying I wish I could focus on one or two things in my mind. At the moment, I'm uh, pretty scatterbrained. It was great to start my day with forty-five minutes of reading my Bible and prayer though, and I've been able to accomplish much already today.

The struggle with weekends like this for me is really being in the individual moments and not just flying past the current because my mind is on the upcoming.

My room is a wreck. partly because of my attempts to reorganize everything more systematically, and partly because I've got a gazillion different projects, not necessarily big or worth noting, or even all-consuming, but still projects. Put it this way--I've got my entire school life, clothing collection, library, sleeping quarters, items apart of my social life, and majority of my creative life all in one room.

I just finished Judy: A Story of Divine Corners. I bought the copyright 1930 hardback last summer at a yard sale at the lake for a dollar or two. It was a lovely story. It is written in a very simple style as far as teenage literature goes, but not so simple that it seems elementary. I enjoyed the simplicity and vintage flair. I found myself able to relate very well to the characters and the activities that occurred in the story of a girl and her circle of friends at their lake camp. I've read a few other novels base on the setting of a girls and boys summer camp, but the way the two groups related in this story was much more realistic and exemplary than I've seen before. I recommend the book for sure =]

In Review

Easter has come. and gone.
I wouldnt describe our entire day as having a peaceful aura to it, but I would say that it held very good memories. Dad and I served on the welcome ministry for the first time. Dad told Mr R. that "we had the best Sunday out of the year to do it." Doing the guest packets was interesting...I'll get better at it. I was "proud" of the way we passed the offering. Good communication. haha.

Mr P.'s message couldnt have been better for our family who came . There couldnt have been any more exact words to speak to him. My prayer was that he was listening.

It didnt really feel much like Easter here as far as the weather. A good amount of girls shuffled into church with their Easter dresses on looking lovely but consequently froze. It was in the 30-40 degree range outside. COLD. My dad told one family they're girls looked"like an Easter basket" coming out of their van. I had 15 minutes to get dressed having spent a chunk of time trying to revamp a jean skirt so that it was wearable. When will I learn to do such things the day before?! I ended up going the dress pants route. Guys have it easy...just wear a suit or dress shirt, look spiffy, and always be warm.

We spent eh, two hours aprx at Gram's house, just hanging around basically. That part was peaceful now that I think of it. Just some fruit and candy and veggies oh & pierogies to munch. We each got a choco bunny and an Easter egg with our name on it. Mine was lime ;-) Next stop was home. Some of Dad's family came over at 5pm. Grandparents, one uncle, four cousins. Gram marveled at the fact that we had dyed eggs and in response noted how she had noticed Mr P.'s mention of eggs and choco bunnies [which she gifted us with later]. Dinner was outstanding & much awaited. Pierogies, hot sausage, potato au gratin [I know that's not spelled correctly], fresh steamed broccoli, stuffed cabbage, pasta-ish potato salad...I think I'm missing something.

I wanted to include a picture of the night before Easter with the choco crosses Dad and I bought at a local candy shop, but Blogger's being buggy. Dave always makes the goofiest faces. It'll be a wonder if we ever end up with a real smiling picture of him.

This month's calendar is quite filled it seems though I cant put my finger on distinct reasons why
-My paper which I will be working on as soon as this post is ca put

-skipping FUSE and a pirate party this weekend for a trip north to see my cuz in her HS musical
-KB leaving, other friends graduating and discovering what good they can bring to the world
-softball and baseball gearing up.the boys are already set. I have a "meeting" at the field tonight
-two weddings coming soon [whoohoo for both couples!]
-trying desperately to finish what I set out to do in all areas of my life...only by the power of Christ in me.

The highlight of last week other than EC was a trip to an house of rather overpriced merchandise [boutique mall] to see Amazing Grace with a buddy. PHENOMENAL has been the word I've been using. I'd like to do a review of it right here and now, but alas the clock ticks. I also watched Little Women, the 1933 version with K. Hepburn. In my mind I did an interesting comparison between that version and the version with Winona Ryder. Love's Unending Legacy was on Hallmark channel on Saturday night, and as a family we watched...painfully aware of what an horrible script that had been concocted. I found out today that Micheal Landon Jr didnt produce it, and that pretty much explained the dramatic differences between the first two movies in the series and these most recent ones. I'll watch all the forthcoming ones, just because it's a series. I wanna see how badly he can botch a storyline...or if he can make a steep comeback. I missed watching Easter Parade [a classic favorite] for seeing Napoleon Dynamite for the first time all the way through on Sunday night.

PS: I wrote a post last week, using our eBay purchased, recently refurbished yet technologically ancient laptop & as my mouse hovered the publish button, the inevitable. Connection was lost & all applications lost.

Kindergarden Science

Can you think of an animal [other than the duck] that has webbed feet?

David's reply was "a spider."
He made me chuckle.