Completion & Preparation

Tomorrow: high school evaluation, long awaited and well-planned for. I'm ready. Math wasn't fabulous and chemistry could have been better; but hey, music and drama is pretty nice and honors English is great... and I survived APUSH. I didn't flunk! I learned much this year; and this week I've still been absorbing the lessons as I look back over everything and see it come to an end. 

YOUTH CAMP.

I love camp. 

It's neat to be saying that going into camp, instead of while coming away as I did last year. 

God is working in my heart. I am SO excited and that excitement is increasing each day. My stomach starts fluttering and I become speechless when I really delve into the emotions surrounding this part of the summer. I desire to meet God and am expectant that He will be there because He's already here, now, today, yesterday, Sunday. 

The supremacy of Christ is becoming evident in my life through situations, responses and conversations. I am waiting and hoping that God expands on the power found in that concept at camp. 

One more reason for excitement: A girl from our softball team is coming to camp! An uncanny and relaxed conversation led to an invitation which turned into action. God is just too cool.

Project Ideas & Gratitude

New thought on the school front: What should I do for a senior project?

The few people I've asked this week responded with "What are your guidelines?" and the word "fundraising" came up a few times. I'm honestly quite content with having fundraised for the pregnancy center (and hopefully again next year) and though volunteering is a possibility, I've got a good amount going in that realm already through church-related activities. Being home-schooled, there are no guidelines, at least I don't think there should be.

An extended photography project or collection was immediately what came to mind; but I'm still thinking. 

God has been providing conversations lately with folks who have experience and a Biblical viewpoint on different majors or schools I have interest in. To hear information from a source other than a website, book or college-sponsored event is priceless. Each person has been apart of guess what- the local church. I know my parents are grateful and so am I. 
Thanks Lord!

Wall of Prayer

This is cool.
Nothing profound to say about it.
Read the post.

Thinking Ahead

Will be listening to the messages from this:

Hmm. make it to Maryland for this?

CG Party

It is in trials when we doubt two things- that God is near and that He is good...
How has God been near, and how has He been good this year?

{luminaries up to the house}

I was sitting on the floor in the middle of our livingroom. We'd just finished singing six or so Christmas carols... Christmas carols, in our livingroom. I dont think I can express what that meant & means to me. "Joy to the world the Lord has come"- that is why our family celebreates Christmas to begin with! It was a vivid reminder of the centrality of the word 'joy' in Christmas for us two years ago and last year. There I was feeling warm and comforted in the sort-a-center of forty-some people who were all singing those words.

Mr. T. talked about the past year and the trials he knew we had all come across, the changes: moving, a job, health-wise, financially. There is no way to sugar-coat a trial. It's a hard thing whatever it may be. I was however so refreshed yesterday to face the smaller daily trials I have with confidence. The Lord brought me and my family through the trials of the past and there we were having a Christmas party in our house. The result of the dominant trial of this year (moving. just see the many, many blog posts) resulted last night in a house full of people, talking, a house full of laughter, food, happiness and friendship. We've had alot of people in the house thus far, most of them being carpenters, plumbers, electricians. ;-) To have those we have come to love in the house was much better!

I couldnt be more happy with my white elephant present- a bicycle tire with green light strung around it. We have a pair of size eight sparkly pink shoes needed to relocate to another home.

Traveling Together

Handbook of Grammar and Composition Fourth Edition
Sect. 15.1 p. 91

Unity means oneness-- oneness of thought and of purpose. In order for a sentence to have unity (1) its statements must be closely related, (2) the relationships of its statements must be clear, and (3) the statements must compose only one thought.

Closely relating is living life as a part of a body of believers.
Relationships of its statements is communicating.
The one thought is Christ.

Post of Little Consequence

but music with a message of importance-

I like.

It's the last week. The days are passing and outside of the multitude of boxes and empty drawers and closets, life remains seemingly the same. Each day is different, yet they all seem in reflection mushed together in similiarity.

ooh. thought not mentioned before. parts of this post as well as a poem were printed in the homeschool diploma program's magazine I belong to/receive. It brought a smile to see something I wrote chosen... brightened my day.

Oh the Modge Podge that is the Life Described

After a lovely lunch at Eat n Park as well as a stop at the new house, came home. checked the answering machine. I had been sleeping in the car on the way home. I entered the livingroom and laid down on the couch. couldnt help thinking of Mr. H's reference to being a couch potatoe in his message. There wasnt any present opportunity to serve around me, so I figured I was all clear.

;-)

Lying there, still sleepily calm, watching football and then parts of The Natural, I looked around me and thought.

I won't be here a month from now.

A matter of weeks and the way I've performed the simple things in my life up until now will be done in a completely different environment. A completely clean slate. Certain things will be lost, others, so much more relavant to today gained. A place ready for memories to be made within- yet not the home where so many have taken places. Innumerable.

There is going to be a day when we dont come back to this house again.

We will visit our family who live two, four streets away and our neighbors next door. But this house will not be ours. It will no longer hold our things or us; instead someone else will fill it. I'm sure at some point that will cease to seem odd to us, but right now I think we're all unable to grasp it being anything but.

This is post is based upon sentiment, yes. But I know that there are lessons here that are becoming a part of "the fabric of my [and each member of the family's] life" to reference Mr. P.

On the brain
a. the houses. duh.
b. the items I daily discover would be convenient which are located a box, below many others stacked
c. this week's schoolload=much. PSATs are Wednesday. Rejoice in the Lord always...
d. how amazing to be placed all the way out where the new house sits. farther than I'd ever think, yet everything around seems to show that we should be there

Other notes-
cancelation due to a powerline- how bizarre...and pleasing due to the situation
cho mein noodles are ah! a favorite. they were before Saturday, but after Saturday they became even more so
the color of green tea [authentic] is perceived as a nice one by my eyes and brain

I have an ongoing thesis that certain foreign countries have much better food, fashion, cars, and cities than Americans. It seems to come up often when I find myself preferring something not a part or disliking something that is the culture surrounding me. It's accuracy has yet to be decided.

Got this in the mail today.

One week exactly until 16 becomes the age I write down when I sign a form.

I remember meeting several people on the tenth anniversary Sunday while sitting in the third or so row waiting for the after-church festivity to begin...the top ten lists... I remember how much we as a family desired to be a part of the church body specifically after that Sunday, one year ago today. I cant help go over in my mind the large events and zoom into the smaller moments I attempt to recall, all in such a seemingly short time.

The Word of the Day. The Year. of Life itself- Grace.

grace unmeasured vast and free

Composed of Numerous Diverse Elements or Facets

Life lately has consisted of a myriad of moments. Myriad can actually mean ten thousand. I never knew that until today. There hasnt really been much of a theme to speak of... I was just in the mood to throw some current happenings out there.

I fell in love with having these yummies with one of my favorite Celestial Seasons teas- tangerine orange zinger. The best thing about Celestial Seasons is the quotes on the bottom of the boxes. I want to go to Ikea just because I think they sell the cookies there & plus Ikea is so much cooler than Giant Eagles any day. I dont like grocery shopping at generic stores very much...

This past weekend held-

• Frisbee [from which I was unusually incredibly sore Sunday night]
  
• YG meeting
• Helping with 3-5 year old children's ministry; I'm gonna stick to nursery
  
• Good conversations after church
  
• Blueberry bagel for lunch
  
• A Sunday afternoon that wasnt what I thought it was going to be, but was a good time with friends. I suppose it was what you'd call spontaneous.
  

Frisbee had to be one of the most conversational games ever. I got such a kick out of blocking Mike. As I typed that I laughed. Caleb rocks.

The me-monster. you you you you you ME!
It's torturous to ask questions and not receive an answer. After thinking about it though, I'm so glad we are given the opportunity to do it.
Whoever made the cupcakes at YG- they were awesome.

So on Sunday fifteen of us go into the bagel place. After somehow surviving ordering the bagels, we sat down at the big table. Two people walking out commented about how we "sure were waking everyone up with liveliness!" We asked if we were being too loud- "no, no."I wasnt aware that people went to a bagel shop to sleep... We all absorbed the comment and continued with laughs and conversation. I think we attempted to be more quiet, but I didnt honestly realize that we were loud to begin with and didnt notice that much difference afterwards. Then this older woman came from behind and put her hand on my shoulder. She told us how much she loved children; she was eighty-eight years old and had been a teacher for forty-some because of that love. She told us how much she was enjoying listening to and being around our happiness and conversation. She said never to loose what we were then enjoying. "God bless." She replied with thank you and said returned the blessing. She hoped that we were all born again...actually, we are! We just came from church. She became so happy and I know I had a huge smile on my face. She parted by saying that she'd see us again someday. Talking with the women in the bagel shop pretty much made my day.

The whole bunch of us went to the thrift store, one of the most random and on the expensive side thrift stores. I'm so very cheap. It's a thrift store and I'm saying it was expensive...I was comparing it to others.

Over the weekend I bought the book that goes along with this as well as two records, two wooden bowls and two turquoise handmade glazed metal platters. When K-dawg goes on a picnic, all he needs is the suit he bought; it doubles as the blanket.

There's been some serious encouragement going around that I've been on all sides of. God has been working still with my heart on the house- I'm now excited- yay! We've all gotten quite sick of arranging the house for listing shots. They're finally done with. Since Sunday night I've been feeling mono-ish. Charles Spurgeon's Morning to Evening has been so good and God's used it several times strongly in the past several weeks.

We have a 7th birthday to celebrate in our house tomorrow =]

Ah, so very many little other things I could share. But my history textbook calls. At this point it's actually screaming.

I watched this video Thursday; It's powerful. [compliments of]

How to Spend Summer Days

Or at least here's how I've done it recently.

Highlights from the last picnic of the summer this past Sunday-

• Sit in the third row at church. in the middle. just because.
• Throw the frisbee around abit. Unsuccessfully attempt to throw it into JB's car on a whim.
  
• Be undecided while going along the tables full of yummy food
• Eat. talk. listen.
• Snap pictures as everyone wanders around and examines the surprise firetruck
• Snap a few pictures and then start singing in the rain
• Two words- Mud. Slides.
• I have multiple bruises, all well worth it.
• "They'll remember this their whole lives." -Overheard Mrs. D.G. It's truth.
• "That's something a boy would do" shall forevermore RIP
• It was fun to let the mud dry and then savor the entire experience a few more times on the second slide.
• My clothes washed out completely. No damage done. A vivid memory gained.

a quote that floated around our house a few days:

"I'm sorry. I underestimated your ability to deduce the situation."
[or something like that] -Dan

Super Sunday

Yesterday was a long day. But a long day spent doing otleechna things with my friends. My friends! What a blessing it is for God to have given me each and every one of them [you].

While looking at the Duff scholarship website just a few minutes ago, I see at the top of the page:
COLLEGE DOESN'T HAPPEN BY CHANCE.

and then I think, nope. It doesnt. It happens by Providence.

Gee It's Been Awhile

Somewhat torrential downpours are occurring at this very moment at our house. Hail the size of a quarter. Lightning. Thunder. Rain that waters the grass.Rain that came in and made puddles on the floor since we were a little late in closing the windows.

Now that we've covered the issue of the weather, where to go next.
Youth camp. Fourth of July weekend. Pastoral hopscotch. Big bang bong & wham-o some large topics there.

The on-going house hunt. The ironic visits from family. The sleepover with Sarah and Rachel that I enjoyed because it gave me an excuse to do things I haven't done in years. Mulching at Ms. Iva's was probably the only time mulching has ever been fun for me. Why I'm thankful for my SAT prep class. I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone. The semi-existent plans for the coming school year.

What I've been reading lately- Psalm 37. Miscellany. I also checked a handful of classics out of the library. Anna Karenina is 800 some pages! I never knew Pygmalion was a play not a novel.

What the boys have been doing lately- playing legos and going to work with Dad.

What I did for six hours yesterday- shopping, which I only like to do if I'm not trying to find anything or if I find what I set out to find. I didnt buy a dress, but did buy some normal clothes we crossed paths with that were on sale.

What everyone but me has been doing alot of- packing...in faith. I've got the faith part, just haven't been participating in the packing as of yet.

The Shortest YC Post in History

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
-Walt Disney

I can imagine God saying the above in the context of youth camp...and ultimately, life walked with Him.

...

Back in October I bought a blue bracelet with this little darling's name on it.

http://aliviarachelhaughery32005.blogspot.com/

Whoo Hoo

I'm officially Spaced Out.
YC '07 countdown: 7 days

I Like Lists.

The following is a list of what I've consumed [other than spiritual nutrition ;-] today thus far.

• Pasta salad
• Caesar-ish salad
• KFC drumstick -yay! Another church tradition!
• 2 meatballs
• BBQ Pork
• 1 pickle
• 1 piece of apple pie
• 1/2 a M&M cookie
• granola bar
• water
• Fresca
• a frozen banana which tasted a little like a popsicle at times
• a small fudge brownie -a package made its way home with us somehow

Life is full of first experiences -aka doing things for the first time.
Today was the first church picnic I've ever been too; it won't be the last!
Yummy, yummy food as described above. Good & simple convo- I like things that are uncomplicated. Ultimate frisbee- I was catching pretty well towards the end of the game, but my throwing was way off. Throwing was better for me earlier in the game ;-P I know we have a frisbee somewhere around the house...I need to find it...

I like little kids. Watching them play in the water was the bestest! Bestest is a very girly word. I'd be scared if I heard a guy say "well, ya, like, that was just the bestest evER!" My camera was in hand for the last hour we were at the park. I took some very cute shots of Abigail, Timothy, Hannah & Aaron and Lydia & Abigail. After I download them I'll edit this post or post another post so ya'll can enjoy em :-]

That's pretty much the summary of the day for now. I could include notes fro Mr. R's message, or samplings of conversations I had or other such fun things; but that would be slightly complicated to do at the moment, and as I said before, I'm currently a fan of uncomplicated things.

Looking forward too:

• EVALUATION. I wonder how many times I said that word today...
• Should I include my SAT prep class on this list?
• swimming
• last softball game of season this week
• Wednesday "prayer and pizza"

and a little farther down the road...YOUTH CAMP!

Want a Good Laugh?

Hmm. I think I wanna post.

...But am not quite sure what to post about yet.

You know that feeling when you're sitting somewhere, watching something, and you feel warm? Maybe it's a summer night. Somehow What a Night come to mind. Maybe you're wrapped in a cozy blanket. God has been showing me how to become more fully His, that He's got me in His arms, and that He is as faithful to me as He was to Jacob.
[1] [2]

Realizing and describing where I am in seasons isn't quite easy for me; I'm learning how. For a few months I've been wrestling with trusting God and accepting where He's placed me once again- on a threshold. That threshold leads to a whole new and foreign part of His plan for me. God has been faithful to meet me everyday. Everyday He's used someone or something to show me that He's with me, that He cares, and that He's continuing to prepare me for whatever I need prepared for. He's placed me in where I'm supposed to be throughout my life, and He'll continue to do so. I'm not on my own.

It's been at times similar to jumping over an abyss. The abyss sits between personal will and desires and Christ's plan which is known to be everything best. One minute you look at the great gap and you're terrified. You turn away because your flesh doesnt want to jump over it! You're content to stay completely on your own terms. Christ knows the depths of your heart. He sees that beneath the fear and whatever else there is that the true desire of your heart is to be closer to Him. He brings it out of the darkness and to the light. Because of Christ's work on the cross, you are united with the Father. He wraps both arms around you and guides your pitiful and incapable feet smoothly. The inches become feet which become great lengths. The abyss is no doubt large, but how much bigger is our God?

Picture the way a child's hand grasps on to things- hair, toys, clothes. My heart has been like a child's hand. It has had a firm grip. I've had to come to the Lord and allow Him to pry open the fingers of my heart and let the object being grasped be removed so that my heart can fully be filled with Him.

Maybe reading Hinds Feet on High Places is affecting my mind- causing me to think in allegory form ;-)

Oh, and just so the topic doesnt remain anonymous- it's our family moving. Years of seeing this season of life in the distance- well- now it's sneaking up to the position of being smack in front of my face. I'm "sensitive," a "pack rat," and "sentimental." More importantly however, I am God's child and He is sovereign. We'll see how the story unfolds, eh?

Surely goodness and love shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6

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 =\

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.