19 ... Say What?

18 was a good year.  It was filled with all kinds of new experiences that I can now add to my "have done" list.

For instance, during this past year I had my first ever nose-bleed (we're talking about an event not unlike the infamous Mt. Saint Helen's eruption), judged my first ever speech and debate tournament, started my first ever year of college, hit my 1 year mark at my job, had my first ever couple of weeks as a staffer at Worldview Academy, made my first ever apple pie with homemade pie crust (never has a more difficult feat been conquered), spent my first ever month on my own taking care of two of my brothers, etc.

Yes, 18 was full of surprises.  Probably more than I can say for 19.  Why?

19.  The forgotten year.  The year that nobody ever thinks about but everyone assumes you must live through in order to get to the age of 20.  Nothing big ever happens to 19-year-olds.  Catastrophes and adventures that happen in books and movies seem to skip right over those 19-somethings and hit either the 18-year-olds or the 20-year-olds, but never those who fall in the 19 category.

Somebody's got to change this.

I hereby declare that I will set out to make 19 the "golden age" of all teendom.  It will be a time where life is lived to its fullest, mountains are climbed, territories are settled, and grand adventures are had.  It will be a year of growth and development in my relationship towards my family and friends, and an age where important things are accomplished.

Methinks I am a bit of a dreamer ...
... but please...
...don't kill my dreams ... ;)

Get a Load of This!!!!

This video makes me laugh, clap my hands like crazy (I do so whenever I get excited or overjoyed), and generally desire to join an a cappella group. =)

Ramblings

I collapsed on the floor, shaking with the unbearable convulsions that laughter brought.

I can't tell you how much my family means to me!  My mom, sister and I sat around the kitchen reminiscing old times, times that my sister and I could recall with perfect clarity whilst my mother tried, without success, to bring the same scenes to remembrance.  Eliza and I told one story after another from our little kid years, and Mom just sat there laughing as each image was brought to life with much imitation, acting out, and singing (yes, let's not forget the singing).

It was so much fun bringing back the old times.  For instance, there was the time when we had to construct an ear (yes, a human ear) out of our school table, a pot, plastic wrap, and rubber bands.  Then there was the time that Zach dressed up like Montezuma (hawk cap and everything) and we reenacted the battle between him and Cortez.  There was even a time when we had to make a miniature version of the temple, as well as turn our living room into a larger depiction.

We relived co-ops that we did or didn't like (you should see Eliza imitating her Spanish teacher [this was the scene that had me collapsed on the floor]), and favorite unit studies.  We told the tales of which of us remembered which details from which lesson, and which ones needed a bit more prodding.

My sister and I remembered back to the times when we went crazy after dinner and brought out "the band."  These were the times when the Adams children went wild, bringing out albums by Petra, Carmen (not the opera), and Phantom of the Opera (the opera).  Each one of us had a specific instrument we had to play while one of us always took the part of the lead singer.  Then we would turn the music up loud, play our air instruments, and sing our little hearts out.  =D

Oh yes, those were the days...

Things...

a picture from pinterest that i rather like

My journal and I need to have a coffee date sometime

I'm having lots of fun with Pinterest, which has made me wish for more opportunities to go hiking ... don't ask me why

Did you know that you can actually hear the music when "working" register 19?  This is the only reason that I know that HEB has begun playing today's top 40

I have never been so thankful for my one day off a week as I am today

My Tennessee trip can't get here soon enough

"The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" is an excellent movie

I have been taken with the sudden desire to do a photoshoot with a country setting, but I have no clue as to the subject matter

beautiful country setting: pinterest



I greatly miss having time to just go do stuff ... but then the question would become, "with who," so there goes that idea...

I greatly enjoy the movie "Come What May"

My little sister turned 9 two days ago

My new slogan in life is "When all else fails, eat pie" ... believe it or not, this came from a biology class I took a year ago ... don't ask

A random person from a random phone number that I do not recognize texted me yesterday saying, "I have been waiting all day to buy you a beer ... Where are you?"

And there you have it!  A few miscellaneous thoughts and actions that have overtaken my life over the past several weeks.  I hope you enjoyed it.  ;)

another pinterest photo

Agape

Isn't it interesting how the Greeks had 4 different words meaning love, and how each of them had a slightly different definition?

Today in my quiet time I was reading 1st John.  In chapter 4, there is a whole section devoted to loving one another.   The first section that caught my attention was verses 7-12 where it states:

 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not have love does not know God, because God is love.  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us,we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

If you're like me, then you cringe when you hear the phrase "God is love," having heard it used and abused so many time over.  But there it was, right there in the Bible, so I knew it to be true.  I just had to pick up my word study Bible and figure out which word for "love" was being used here.  Here's what I found.

Agape; love .... translated "charity" meaning benevolent love.  Its benevolence, however, is not shown by doing what the person loved desires but what the one who loves deems as needed by the one loved.  


I have therefore found a way to debate people when they say "God is love, He would never do something like that!"  My response would be that God is love, yes, but it's a different kind of love from the mushy-gushy sort.  God loves us with an Agape love, that is that He deems what is best for His children and loves them accordingly.  Sometimes, that means pain, suffering, and good 'ol sanctification.  Take that, Rob Bell!

                               Perhaps that love could come by way of a much needed car
                         Maybe that love could come in the form of a drought
                    Sometimes it'll come by way of a bonus at work
                Or maybe by way of a destructive flood
           
This world we live in is full of backwards thinking people.  The way we see things is, should I dare to say, completely opposite of the way God sees them!  Because of this, we don't have a clue what love really is.

I really can't tell you how thrilled I am and how excited I get whenever God chooses to reveal new and wonderful gems to me.  I can't wait to see what else happens to be in the lesson plans!

Grave Robber

I admit it.  I like old music.  Okay ... I LOVE old music!  I've only recently discovered great joy in the soulful strains of motown!  It's feel-good, catchy, and jam packed with great voices like Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye and The Temptations.  *Sigh* ... gotta love it!

As well as motown, and of course my country favorites, I have also discovered my love for older Petra songs.  Their songs are filled with wonderfully strong lyrics and are sung by men who all have amazing voices!  On of my favorites is called "Grave Robber."

{Petra}

There's a step we all must take alone

An appointment we have with the great unknown

Like a vapor this life is just waiting to pass

Like the flowers that fade like the withering grass

But life seems so long and death so complete

And the grave an impossible portion to cheat

But there's One who has been there and still lived to tell

There is One who has been through both heaven and hell

And the grave will come up empty-handed that day

Jesus will come and steal us away

{Chorus}

Where is the sting, tell me where is the bite

When the Grave Robber comes like a thief in the night

Where is the victory where is the prize

When the Grave Robber comes

And death finally dies

Many still mourn and many still weep

For those that they love who have fallen asleep

But we have this hope though our hearts may still ache

Just one shout from above and they all will awake

And in the reunion of joy we will see

Death will be swallowed in sweet victory

When the last enemy is gone from the dust will come a song

Those asleep will be awakened - not a one will be forsaken

He shall wipe away our tears - He will steal away our fears

There will be no sad tomorrow - there will be no pain or sorrow

Hmm

11 - 7:30.  That was my shift for today.  By noon, I was tired.  By 3 o'clock, I was done for the day with 4.5 hours to go.

I am physically exhausted.  By God's grace, I had just enough energy to wrap up my day.  You see, once I hit that 20 hour mark for the week, I begin to feel the strain.  It was today that I hit that mark. 

I can't tell you how amazing it feels to be sitting down right now! 

I would greatly appreciate your prayers!  I've got several more months of this kind of work, and I've only done a week and a half's worth.  At this moment, I don't see how I'm ever going to have enough energy to do this.

God, please be the source of my strength!