Star Light Star Bright

Sometimes... you can see really amazing photos by flickr exploring. Today I saw something ca-ute!

I reeeeally like Christmas tree stars. When we went antique shopping earlier this month, tin, paper and aluminum stars caught my eye. The aluminum stars remind me of the aluminum tree along with the color twirlerDad reminisces about having as a kid. They were made to have white lights inserted into them and the light to peek through holes.

So this post celebrates Christmas stars... one of my favorite things!

a photo taken last year of our tree star, a stained glass design

And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.
Genesis 1:16

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,(I) which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Psalm 8:3

...Behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
Matthew 2

It's the Holiday Season

It's December 16th and not a single thing have I posted with even a hint of Christmas. We spent a day tree-hunting, pizza-eating and movie star hand-shaking after Thanksgiving. We decorated the tree to classic holiday music while munching on pretzels.

The piano and mantel are festooned and topped with beautiful decorations. All the musical ones and Christmasy carolers are on the piano of course! I'm so glad I bought the SGM Volume 3 song book. It contains the Savior CD songs, some of which I've been playing for a week or so now. A bright red, green and gold table clothe adorns the dining room table and it cheers me up each time I sit down and face my -ugh- school work... being that it's a Martha Stewart find at the thrift store makes me even happier.

A group of younger girls came over to make some ornaments and decorate gingerbread cookies. This was the first time I can remember doing something like this, a day to just be Christmasy and make stuff. I want to do it again and again!

I haven't bought any Christmas presents. I haven't made any Christmas presents. It's bothering me... yet, I'm not going to write anymore about it until I do something about it.

I hope everyone's preparations have been going well. More importantly though, I hope you are enjoying the brightness, hope, peace and joy of the days of celebration!

John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave 

the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 

We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, 

who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Large pictures in this post... uploaded a different way today and hence the change =]

Tagged

I posted "It's the Holiday Season" and had forgotten about this! 

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Christmas trees and I have a history... but that's many other stories. I like real ones because they feel nice.
3. When do you put up the tree? the day after Thanksgiving, or it might have been the day right after that
4. When do you take the tree down? Januaryish
5. Do you like egg nog? I do NOT like eggnog cheesecake. I probably don't like eggnog either.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? oooh. let me think - my pink & black camera comes to mind. I was ecstatic when I received an American Girl doll.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? We have a large one on top of the piano and a few small ones scattered.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My grandparents... friends can be stumping too.
9. Easiest person to buy for? I'm usually quick to decide for my littlest brothers
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? We were just discussing the lower cost of email cards. But there's nothing like seeing the cards all hanging in the doorway!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Probably baby pink and blue toe socks... or the Precious Moment's "Round the World" spinning clock.
12. Favorite Christmas movie(s) ? The Nativity Story, The Shop Around the Corner, It's a Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? ooh depends on the year
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yes. quilty but not ashamed.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? cookies cookies cookies! And fruit. Not fruit cake - fruit.
16. Clear or colored Christmas lights? Colored for outdoors. I'm unsure about on the tree... we have colored.
17. Favorite Christmas song(s)? The First Noel, Winter Wonderland, Baby, It's Cold Outside
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I've never traveled.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Blitzen, Cupid, Prancer, Dixon... Rudolph?
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? star definitely.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We've always done Christmas morning for our family. But we visit extended family Christmas Eve and open some anyway
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? modern Christmas songs instead of classic ones. Weird decorations.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? what a question! I adore our antique ornaments. I also like simple glass balls. and tinsel!
24. Favorite dinner for Christmas? uuhh Christmas dinner? Okay, okay, a straight answer- turkey, mashed potatoes, pretty similar to Thanksgiving but with twist...
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Shall I really list them? hmm. Homemade things =] One can never have too many scarves... an abort73 tshirt would rock, an external hard drive, a 1.8 or zoom lens'd be nice (ok, more than nice!) but that's like shooting for a standard height basketball hoop when you're five years old - might happen, but probability's against ya. And one of these have all been on the brain.
26. Do you bake lots of goodies during the holidays? Twice so far - sugar cookies and gingerbread - hopefully more!
27. Do you decorate different rooms of your home? Mainly the living room, abit in the dining room and porch room. The game room mantle also get decorated.
28. What decorations do you put outside? Lights on the house, garland a bow and lights on the lamp post, an old old! plastic nativity set, a plastic snow man, some light up candy canes, candles in the windows and a wreath
29. How do you spend Christmas Eve? With family. Taking photos and eating and playing games.
30. Is Christmas your favorite holiday? hmm. I like the mellowness of Thanksgiving, and the freedom of summer... but Christmas is pretty awesome that's for sure!

one of the first photos taken with my canon last year

Looking at Our House

We were in the neighborhood having visited Dad's parents after lunch and then stopped quickly to grab & give a hug to dad's brother and our cousin.

"Hey Dad, go past the house."
"Okay, but nobody get weird or anything."
"We've got to stop and see them [the neighbors]. They've got to be home. Let's surprise them!" said Mum.

It was a lovely, lovely visit. Our families hadn't seen each other since the tearful night before and actual November moving day.  Just to talk and laugh, we always do! To be someplace completely familiar, in a house that I've been familiar with since I could walk and even before, to be with people who were so much like family and always right next door. The words sweet and precious come to mind. We actually opened our Christmas presents... Many dates had been set to get together, but it hadn't happened. There we were today and there the presents had been for months. Theirs are still in our dining room. 

This is the point of the story where a slight correction is needed. The post title should read: Looking at what was our house... felt really, really odd. Mum & Dad admitted the same. We'd driven past at Thanksgiving then Christmas and seen it barren of decorations, but today was different. We were outside of the car, walking around, up to our neighbors house. Everything seemed more personal. I had an urge several times to just go over, run in the yard, swing open the shed or walk up the front steps. I even wanted to go up to the door, ring the bell and just say, "I used to live here. Yay! How do you like it? 'cause I loved it completely." My parents joked the reply would be, "And...so...what?"

I wanted to do what I'd done everyday since I was born; but I didn't. I couldn't. None of it was mine anymore. In fact, some of it was even gone. Our hand prints and names were all in the cement holding down the blue, green and white striped swing set. They had taken it down- no kids. The red chinese maple with our names carved in it was huge. I used to sit under that tree for hours, talking to myself, dreaming and playing with rocks, flowers, grass, sticks, reading books. One of my dad's business signs was hidden under the lattice of the steps. I wonder why he left it... 

I wonder if they noticed any of the things we left behind: the writing in the crawl spaces, did they read the gospel verse?! The above mentioned hand-prints and carvings, the windows cut into the side of the shed from when it was our playhouse, the height markings on the basement closet doorway, the footprints pressed in the garage floor. The footprints weren't ours, but we always liked them. I know the holes from our homemade basketball hoop have to still be in the brick of the house on the deck... but they'll never see them. Of course, who would? Yet, I know they're there. That house has us all over it. My dad did so much work... and it was all beautiful. I'm not sure if I appreciated or saw it before, maybe. I know I did today.

There was a plastic duck on the porch. A plastic duck... oh my. Plastic ducks (you know, the kind that can be dressed for any and all seasons) aren't, well, I just never imagined a plastic duck sitting on that front porch. I know, they're kitsch... but not in a good way for me. They're not bad, just make me wince then laugh. Kevin thought of all kinds of funny things they could have done to the inside, and some not so funny things actually. I laughed at them all when he was talking though.

Hopefully the members of the family who owned the house we bought will drive by. But I want them to come in, say hello, to say as I wanted to say this afternoon, "I lived here. I loved this house. It meant something to me and was part of my life. Here's why..." To play a record on the turntable even! A house is just a house; but still, some houses are homes. This is now our home, but it was someone else's too. That seems to mean something in my mind. It just doesn't seem right not to know who lived here and what these rooms meant to them; or for the people with the plastic duck not to know who we were/are. It could be that I'm asking for too much information and I really don't want to know all that... possibly.

Moving is something I'll remember as a part of the transition from being a kid to a young adult/teenager. I feel like today was a "growing up" day. I couldn't change the fact that the old house now belonged to someone else*, someone I don't know, or that they most likely would never know about me, my family or the consequential moments for us at that very address. The moments remain; the location has changed. Reality wasn't harsh but was firm, kinda stark, yet sprinkled with joy. 

It's life.

As I wrote on the rafters:

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." -Job 1:21

& guess what - the Lord gave again and continues to give. 

*The flip-side is that we now have a wonderful new house which is appreciated and loved!

Three Days Late

Happy Pi Day.

3.14

After reading about dusting off resolutions, I wanted to do some myself, having honestly never thought to look back at what I'd said the year before (always looking ahead, ya know?). But then I was reminded that my journals are among the items yet to be found since moving. New Years processes slowly for me; I never transition before hand or at midnight.

Here is another great post on resolutions, New Years or not.

New Years Eve we had a party. It dimmed down at 10 or 11 o'clock, but a great handful of folks stuck around until after midnight. Dad made a fire in the basement. Pool games were going while the hi-fi played The Beatles and Nat King Cole.

"This year has been filled and brought alot of change for you," he said. "Ya, it has..." Into my mind rushed little moments, big events, faces of friends present and past. "So much of this year centered around church." Sitting on the couch, we verbally composed a list of some things from the past year- back and forth, each adding one thing followed by another. Nothing fancy-

Cabin Fever weekend I learned unity and teamwork; experienced deep joy in friendship and in the Lord, and had fun. the white rocks.

On new member's Sunday, I stood next to my family and together with the other new members in front of individuals, those who have become a church family over the past year. I can still see everyone on their feet, clapping with smiles on their faces. I cried standing there. Our family was right where God wanted us; I was where I was supposed to be.

Somewhere there was Exploring Christianity. I grew in Bible doctrine, studying it at home separately and then being able to connect and discuss it. Yummy food, lots of homeschool jokes and hot sauce.

June was youth camp. wow. I think that's the reaction I have most anytime I talk about it. The can't believe I actually went, unforgettable youth camp. A. Cal. talking about how he saw a cloud of mist over the main building one of the nights sticks in my head. I love camp.

There were three church picnics- the last complete with mud sliding. oh man how much fun!

Two graduation parties.

Slept in a tent for the first time. On that trip I screamed at a frog, had mountain pies for the first iem, biked twenty miles just because I wanted to be able to say I did, was amazed on the hill.

The I-team was adopted.

We tried to go caroling but that didnt work out so great... "Can you go Christmas caroling after Christmas?"
__

I struggled with assurance of salvation this year. I remember messages that Mr. Rishel preached that spoke directly to me.

My faith and trust were tested and I was reliant on Christ alone. Moving was a hard thing. He was so kind in showing me His faithfulness in the past and providing support from family and through conversations at church. The situation may seem other than it is when you see the bigness and wonderful everything about the new house. It was never about the house for us. The situation had deeper meaning than just requiring a place to live more suited to our family or to giving bigger parties. Leaving the only home I'd known when I didnt think it was necessary we leave. I was content where I was, just as we are all content with to live in sin before Christ does a work in our hearts. Acknowledgment that God has such a greater plan, for my good and that it is Him only I should be content to rest in, had to take place and did. This house was a gift from God, one of sorrow and tears but revealing joy. It even has blue glass in the cabinets. As I say all that, I realize how much of a challenge moving was for not just me, but also my parents.

I turned sixteen. The celebration was far from the plans thought over and written down, (moving took its tole on life) but it was lovely and I felt loved through it. I smile when I think about it.

I've seen all three Bourne movies. I'm a fan.
I'm surviving APUSH, and learning much. I struggle with whether I am truly doing my best or whether I could do better. But that has come down to being a work of grace in having more discipline and concentration.

I only messed up writing the year once or twice and got on track easily. No weeks worth of papers dating incorrectly this time around...

My life has changed and will continue to. The year has changed. But my God, our God has not.

Just Thinking

Holidays are when people come together.

In our immediate family, yes. Outside of that however, our six lives are like opposing railroad tracks to some of our relations... as far away from each other as the east is from the west. Not particularly to each others faces, but fundamentally. We live different lifestyles, we set different standards, we have different ideals. There is however a greater source of separation, the only true difference, Christ. It is each of our responses to the cross of Christ that dictate our lives at the core and in the long run.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
2 Corinthians 2

I want to be a person of sincerity towards others even when they are not toward me. I want to be a person who speaks Christ, that He would be found, both directly and invisibly, in the simplest of words I utter.

I realize more and more it is not anything I have done that turns them away from me, causes them to react strangely to a comment I've made or to my showing them the love I hold for them. I do however, have a responsibility to have an attitude that reflects the aroma of my heart, and I want both of those things to be what Christ wants them to be. My prayer right now, founded in the hope of Christ, is that the aroma I put forth through my attitude and actions would not be a stench of death, but the fragrance of life.

I dont want the differences between our lives to not be pronounced/visible or the 'great divide' have a little dinky swaying bridge placed over it to make it look pretty and function to whatever degree. I dont necessarily want everything to be comfycosy and acceptable between everyone while my soul is at peace, but theirs still are under wrath. Death and life are opposite and there is only one way to step out from under the first into the second- Christ and acceptance of the cross.

Several folks in our family have accepted Christ as their Savior by believing and accepting Him, there is just not much fruit to speak of, if any. It is for these that I pray that I would possess the fragrance of life, that the seeds in their heart would not close-up and shrivel into nothing; but that they might smell and drink of the Lord and grow stronger.

If your family is composed of Christians, be thankful for that! If not, be encouraged to not close off but keep reaching out, even in the smallest of ways Or reach out in one of the biggest ways- prayer.

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.

Wishing For Snow To Come

Today several people I talked to at lunch noted wishing that it would snow instead of the rain we currently have. I've established the habit of streaming Christmas music through itunes and when I got home this played when I turned the computer on.

These lyrics are being posted because I like hot cocoa, marshmallows, the two words pumpkin head make a great nickname in my opinion, and because I cant wait to see the twinkle of snow crystals.

It's a marshmallow world in the winter
When the snow comes to cover the ground
It's the time for play
It's a whipped cream day
I wait for it all year round.

Those are marshmallow clouds being friendly
In the arms of the evergreen trees
And the sun is red like a pumpkin head
It's shining so your nose won't freeze.

The world is your snowball, see how it grows
That's how it goes, whenever it snows,
The world is your snowball just for a song
Get out and roll it along.

In winter, it's a marshmallow world.
In winter, it's a marshmallow world.
In winter, it's a marshmallow world.

a new dishwasher. change. His sovereignty. growth. relationships I never thought I would or could have that God has graciously placed me in. slippers. tea & the cups you drink it out of. Mac. youth camp. cookies. the grace that I now know & the mercies yet untold. Pergo flooring. lists. warm blankets. frisbee! a place to serve. creativity & knowledge- and the ultimate source of both. a reason to laugh. good books. cameras. fires. strangers. traditions. scarves. movies. being undecided... for much longer than I would deem pleasant & convenient. the beauty of the hope of living life fresh tomorrow... with no mistakes in it.

Giving Thanks.

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.

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.

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

Ah...February 14th

The part about the chocolates and the poems is so on target! haha.
I found this worth a laugh or even maybe a few. I have positive and negative opinions about the holiday, but let's just go straight to the video...enjoy =)

Somewhat Sad Sentiment & A Few Current Thoughts

I officially don't really like IE's newest version.
Wists won't work with it.
oooohh say that baby 3x fast!
I really like the new stuff I've discovered with Google such as the home page & toolbar capabilities though...

took down the Christmas tree & all the other decor today. The top of the piano and mantle are looking rather bare. I got a couple of really cool shots of ornaments on the tree though.

Dad & I went out for a few hours. We stopped at Starbucks; people watching in SS is very fun. We headed over to the hot dog shop and did some more people watching around the campuses. Next came 5th Ave and the surrounding neighborhoods. Dad can ride down any given street over there & point out every third house as one he's painted! It made for some really neat convo about the history of the houses, architecture, what styles we both liked and little stories about several houses Dad had worked on. The whole time we had Casting Crowns Lifesong and later the Savior cd playing.

I hadnt been on an estimate with him for years, so the fact that he had one this afternoon was great. It was really neat to get a glimpse of how my dad works with his customers and conducts his business [always is!]. He deserves appreciation for the hard work that he does. I dont think I always realize the volume of information he processes daily. Phone numbers, addresses, dates, colors, prices--everything. It's the neatest thing to watch him walk through rooms. He has his silver bid case that he's used for twenty-five years, a pen and a sheet of white paper. He knows the dimensions of a room just by looking. He knows exactly what to look for when he walks into a room--cracks, baseboards, wavy walls. He had all the answers to the customers questions & asked exactly the right questions himself. He jots down simple notes, comes home, and from those draws up the estimate price and time the job will take.

The way that he completes jobs and gets things done is an inspiration since that is an area I struggle in. He reaches for a higher level of professionalism, quality and ethics in a professional that is usually not highly regarded. He doesnt just paint walls. He has a creative side that gets to come to light through pulling together the architecture and history of houses into color choices.

Owning your own business and running it successfully isnt an easy task. Gee, dealing with/having to please people everyday isnt an easy thing. It's a cool thing to think about...

New Year "New Start"

Yup.
2007.
New Year.
Stayed up until 2am last night. Slept in until 11am. Everyone else was sleeping by 1am. We banged a few pots and watched the neighbor across the street fill the street with smoke from these humungo fireworks in his backyard. Kevin set off one that he had saved from July. Banging pots & mainly seeing Steve bang pots was a nice memory.
My enthusiasm torwards the new year has decreased compared to past years I think. I'm trying to maintain some level of it though, and that making that memory helped =)

My first thought when I woke up this morning was "It's just another day."
Not the most positive, energetic thought, but there it was. I know its the beginning of a new year. Beginnings and endings are milestones in life when ya think about it. In that respect I would say its worth acknowledging.


Television last night was horrible. We thought that there would at least be some good old movies on. Nope. nothin. just trashy singers and all the regular junk that's on late at night. Kevin and I played Monopoly.

My only resolution is to read my Bible. I read my Bible now as it is, so I guess the resolution part comes with my attitude and willingness and desire to do it. My nature is to make it into just another step on my To Do list & as of yesterday I realized I dont want it to be that. The plan that came to me yesterday at lunch is what I think I'm going to do: read a Psalm and/or Proverb every day and then decide on a few books in the NT to read.

I was looking through a list of verses that I compiled this summer and these stood out to me as I looked at them tonight:

Proverbs 31:8-9
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Ecc. 7: 23-9
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Ecc. 12:13-14
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

As I was looking through the list I also had Revelation 22:13-14 written down. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
The words 'begining and end' continue the thought aprx 52 lines above =D

Final words: I have no clue what the activities of the day shall be [nothing new there]. I'm thinking of all of our friends and family. I hope they're all well & safe & happy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007
[gotta get used to writing that date]
TO ALL FROM ALL OF US

LaLaLaLa

I was checking this blog & I decided to post a quicky post on this blog about one of the gazillion things that are on my mind at the moment.

I wonder how many people will click that second link only to find out it leads them right back here. haha =P

I am in need of some sheet music. Some Christmas sheet music that is at an intermediate playing level & that is easy for others to sing along with. I used my googling talent & came up with several free pieces of sheet music; they dont sound as though they are able to be sung though. I havent had a piano lesson since spring & have barely played since then too...bad. I'm thinking that the Family Book Store would be a good place to go?

pictures of thanksgiving to come soon...
=]