To Look Back Upon

It's about time for some form of post! SO many things have happened... God has shown Himself vibrantly in the past months.

Yesterday, I became a licensed driver. The day before that, both Kevin and I had our braces taken off. It was an all day affair which included driving to Uniontown, eating chocolate covered pretzeling, watching Aristocats, coloring with colored pencils, and having lunch in a small Italian restuarant.

Community Day, our last scheduled day of fundraising for Zambia, was all day on Saturday. Though it was an exhausting ten hours, we raised $250 and did have fun in the process. A man from Ndola happened upon our table. He was stunned and honored to see a project taking place in his own town. He didn't want to leave and was eager to get involved. We exchanged information and hopefully can put him in contact with Covenant Mercies.

Last week, I officially graduated high school. The commencement, like the education of each graduate represented, was one of a kind. What a moment it was to hear my name, walk across the stage, and have my mom and dad hand me a diploma.... high school--it's the past.

Our family attended youth camp on June 21-24. I can't even begin to touch describing the pure fun of camp, what I learned, and how the Lord met me. It was monumental! Also included in the proceedings was the traditional group ice cream stop on the way home for some fabulous soft serve and ice cold water... yum!

On June 20th, my extended families came together to celebrate my graduation. LOTS of preparation went into the party the week of--cleaning, cooking, decorating, sorting photos, setting up tents, buying bubbles for the little kids. The food was delicious; all credit to my mom, grammas, and aunts. Knowing that each person at the party came to wish me the best was priceless. Years of sweet memories were represented by each person there. Having a party was a privilege, and the moments with my family were precious.

June 1st was my evaluation, the official last day of my home school education. Ten years of choosing curriculum, field trips, Little House on the Prairie unit studies, co-ops, art classes, Bible club meetings, lunch in the livingroom, and not eating lunch at all because of the workload. A smile always creaps onto my face when I think about my mom's story of how she hestitantly began homeschooling. To God be the glory!

That, my friends, is just a taste. My purpose in cataloging all this is simply to have a record to look back to. Dad and I will be boarding a plane to Zambia in five days. Adventure awaits! More importantly, we have faith that God has glorious stores of grace to pour out in diverse ways. There'll be more stories to tell and more events to catalog when we get home.

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]

Whoo Hoo

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

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 =\

Best Day of the Week

*excitement in voice* aw man!
Today just added on top of Friday! I dont even know where to start...just praise the Lord. I'm tired right now. from what? I'm thinking that outline form may be the easiest way to sum it up.
Edit: Sorry for the crappy outline. Blogger's being sour and wont do the indentations correctly.

1. 20-40 prayer meeting to start off the day
a. the feeling of having started the day off by seeking the Lord--awesome
b. extra time before church to mingle and generally relax and smile

2. Worship
a. Isaiah 41
b. N.R. prayed that we would be able to see the "glories of calvary." I thought we would sing that song after that. We didnt; but I saw the Lord in that prayer. That song's been on my mind all week.
c. alot of the same songs from Friday. Great reinforcement there.

3. Teaching
My notes are in the car =(
I wanted to look over them tonight. soon enough I suppose.

4. More mingling!
a. meeting four very cool new gals
b. chatting with an old acquaintance who was visiting and seeing what a small world we live in
c. chatting with good friends all around
-JB about youth camp and various topics
-S.Q., A.H, Iyesha, M.G., W.S., D.S., K. B., those four cool gals =)
d. smiles and 'how are you's' from randomish people. makes me happy when someone takes the time to do that for me!
e. Sarah C...poor doll. She fell off her chair in Children's ministry and her dress flew up. She got a big hug from me and a just an equally embarrassing story of Danielle's.

5. lunch plans
a. the Q familie's home for sandwiches. joined by two of the four gals, Leah and Keira from the Lancaster church, who were visiting. coolness.
b. really great convo stemming from the question "What do you do for a living Mr Q?" while S.Q./K.C. had a violin lesson
-colleges
-experience in a work field
-scholarships
-how my interests lead to a college major then a job
-how not knowing what I want to do with my life [what God wants to do with it] makes it hard to get through high school in a way. If I knew I was going to say, be a doctor, I could really have a focus. My only focus right now is God's plan.
-enviromental engineering; painting contractors
-tidbits about his children's college experiences
...quite profitable and enjoyable

6. Basketball!!
a. met a friend of K. B's. Cool dude from what I could tell.
b. so many laughs
c. great exercise
d. I'm so glad that God made our bodies, though sometimes altered by the curse of sin, able to do physical activity. It feels so good.
e. Fellowship is a marvelous thing as is the body of Christ
f. Note to self: throw a pair of softball shorts in the trunk for future unexpected sports activities. & make sure that your brother remembers your tennis shoes. Converses, though they make an outfit perfect, are NOT meant to run around in.

7. Home
a. quick and yummy dinner consisting of lettuce salad with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and a light dressing and breaded asparagus
b. new members meeting for the parents
c. bloggin/tune jammin for me; playstation for the boys; movie for all of us kids later

Currently Listening
Aaron Shust: My Savior Lives
Pure Boss: Regular Basis

Other jots and tiddles on the subject of YPCG...
After prayer over youth camp, we talked about the coming weekend. Mr P. talked about the difference between outreach and evangelism. We prayed for the Holy Spirit to be over the week coming week and the weekend. We prayed that God would work in ways unseen. We hope that many are saved, but if that's not the case, we know that seeds are being planted and He sees. Without His hand in the midst of it all this is just "stuff." The Lord knows whose doors we are going to be knocking on, who is in those houses. We prayed that the Lord would let us "see the harvest" and prepare both our hearts, the hearts of the Ohio folks, and the people we will come in contact with. He knows who is going to be standing at the doors listening and who is going to be in the background, hearing. We went over the schedule, threw around some ideas, had a couple laughs. Everyone the split up and talked about carnival games. We were all buzzing with ideas and plans. Generally much enthusiasm and excitement in the room. Everyone proceeded with the usual--pop, chips, snacks. Jammin to A.H.'s ipod [The Fray's the best] while J.C. told us to quite skipping around songs. DDR followed. In order for me to have any coordination and succeed even a little at that cool game I'd have to practice. alot.

did I take any pictures? nope. My camera is always trustily [is that grammatically legal?] in my purse or pocket. It didnt make an appearance this weekend though. I do have pictures from the superbowl and Kev's birthday I'm hoping to post soon =D Fun time. The dude now hails the title of "twelve year old."

I'm about typed out. Long post!
Bouno notte. Lo superato bella giorno.
I sure hope I didnt type something stupid or something profane there unknowingly...

Other VIP topic = the weather. Because of being sick I didnt get to take any shots of the beauty of winter. snow, icicles, the trees. I just saw it all from my bed out the window. If it came on Saturday that'd be great for the outreach! Praying for snow...

Christmas Day '06

YPCG- Exciting Times

whoo hoo! aw man was youth group good last night. Worship w/ N.R., awesome surprise. followed by several small annoucements and Mr P. trying to avoid and save the sad, sad annoucement about youth camp for very last. I dont think what Mr Pierson was saying sunk in until I was in my bed last night thinking my last thoughts before dreamland. As far as it looks right now, I wont be able to go to the youth camp that I've heard D.S. talk about so much. the youth camp that is amazing and a blast of fun. I found myself sad that I might not get to have a youth camp shirt. No big, bumper ball; no phenomenal worship with teens completely surrounding me.

It'll be different.
I've never been good with change. The changes that the Lord has brought to me lately have been kinda cool. They've so far had a really great side to them, a silver lining, which has helped that part of my nature contrary to a fundamental component of life--change--to not push so hard against and not put up an inner struggle. Different does not always mean bad. Change does not always mean unpleasantness. That was were my consoling thoughts began. They continued with the fact that the Lord has a plan. Oh how I am thankful for that! There is a reason why New Horizons cant hold all of us; and its not just because they're camp is too small. It's because the Lord has a plan. Whether I get to play bumper ball or get a camp shirt is a petty thought. The bigger picture is how and what the Lord wants to change or strengthen in my life this summer. The core reason for having youth camp is to set that time apart for God, to come together as youth and seek Him. Without His spirit and without His hand in what we do, it is just all a bunch of "activities."
That leads me nicely into the topic of the evanglistic outreach next weekend. but I'm going to back up abit first. After the annoucement, we prayed. We prayed for each of our hearts to be right on the situation and that the Lord would guide the organization of youth camp so that it would be what He wants it to be. Now we can go back to the outreach. I am sii-ked!

That's not all I want to say about it. :-P haha
Dad has breakfast on the table though and after that I've got a history lesson that I didnt get done yesterday calling my name...priorities--food. school. then blogging!
peace out till later...dudes >o

Have a great weekend all!