While I wait

Vegetarianism?

2011-01-18T10:52:00.000-06:00

Dear readers,

I've tried many times to get back into writing on this blog but I cannot do it. It just doesn't feel right anymore. I was a different person back in Texas while writing here, I loved every post and comment of this charming little spot that I started and you all helped make with your reading and comments and all that you shared with me. However, I feel as if it is time for me to move on.

Yes, I am still a christian, I am still conservative, I just feel as if it is time to end this part of my life. You will never know how much this blog changed my life and helped shape me into who I am. It will always be dear to my heart. I am no longer a young single lady. I am a grown woman, taking on the world with new eyes. I have a wonderful boyfriend who is filling all my dreams that I've shared with you.

I am starting a new blog that I feel fits the new chapters of my life much better. I pray that you join me there and learn of my adult life in the real world. Before I say good-bye, I want to thank each and every single one of you for your prayers, love, encouragement, and friendship. You all have helped shape me into who I am and helped me through the darkest and hardest times of my life. I would mention it a little but while I was writing this blog my life was very up and down, I was fighting depression and hopelessness though a large part of it. Doubts of everything in my life. This blog and you all helped me stay focused on God and keep my head above water. Thank you.

So, please join me in the next chapters of my life at More Than a Vegetarian: Not Quite a Vegan. Thank you for everything, I hope to see you on the other side.

In sickness and finals

2010-12-04T03:05:00.003-06:00

Right after I started blogging again, my life got crazy. Between sickness and studying for finals I've had no time to write. I have a few rough drafts of college related posts in the work but nothing worth publishing yet. So hopefully in the next week, things will calm down enough that I can pick up blogging again.

My first winter and the one coming up

2010-11-04T07:46:00.003-05:00

When I lived in Texas I thought I knew what winter was. We never go anywhere if there is even a thin layer of ice of the roads, if someone did try to drive you'd hear the screaming of tires the whole time because no one knew how to drive on the stuff. Wrecks would be a plenty. I took a defensive driving course the summer before I moved up to Missouri and got excited when I saw a section on driving in snow and ice...their advice "Don't do it", that helped a lot, not! Imagine my surprise when I learned that I was still expected at work when it iced or snows!
So when I moved up here and it was in the 70's I was chilly after coming from 100+ weather. It did warm up though for a few weeks later on though. Then mid-September hit...I was DYING, I HATED the cold...I was always wearing a few layers of extra clothing. At time I was tutoring and the mother of the children ask me is if I was ready for the winter and what kind of coat I had...I told her "Oh its a lot like the one you have hanging in the foyer" She looked at me like I was crazy and told me that kind of coat would only get me through the fall. As an early Christmas present she and the children bought me a thick winter coat and gloves to go with it. I was very touched and thrilled.

As soon as we had report of possible snow everyone was giving me advice on how to drive in the stuff and asking me if I'd be okay. The first snow of the year, my first snow, I was at work and they sent me home early so I wouldn't have to drive in it because it was supposed to get to a couple inches thick before my shift was over. So like any warm blooded Texan,I raced home to hole up inside...little did I know that the hill my dorm was resting on would be covered with students playing in the snow! Oh goodness! The fun we had, I built my first snow man, went sledding for the first time, thew my first real snow ball! I was hooked! I loved the snow! But ummmm, I couldn't walk...at all...I would try to throw a snowball and I would fall on my butt. It was funny to me and to everyone watching.

After awhile I got use to the snow and ice(after many many large bruises covering my backside and thighs from slipping all the way down the hill and stairs). Let me tell you, boots help so much! I am in love in with my winter boots and cannot wait ti put them on again. I utterly hate the cold, I really do, all my friends tease me about how much I shiver and bundle up but it is a nice change from hot all the time. I had my first white Christmas last year, so much white in fact my beloved had to shovel my car out of the snow and I had to wade in the fluff that was up to my thighs! We had a lot of good laughs and he would tease me about my awe in the snow. I would just look out the window and grin like a little kid and beg him to take me out and play in it =) He would put his hands on my shoulders and point to the sky "Little Texas girl...this is what we call snow!...It falls from the sky, but it doesn't mean the sky is falling!" He would say all this because I told him once "Snow is really wet and cold!" I had no idea how cold or wet the stuff was.

This year, I am ready, I am already buying thicker lotions, looking for tights to wear, planning knitting projects, and planning the shortest ways to get across campus! So what are you looking forward to about winter? Any winter survival tips?

The Daily Christian Walk of a Full-Time Student With Two Jobs

2010-10-25T06:43:00.002-05:00

When I first began my journey to living on my own everyone told me to make sure I keep the scriptures first in my life and never take my eyes off God. I wish I could say I've kept this advice perfectly ever since I moved out on my own, sadly I cannot. Daily life has gotten in the way my prayer life and Bible studies. I work most Sundays and Wednesdays just to pay the bills and get through life. This is a fact of life, I cannot always make it to church ever single service, I wish I could but there is no way I can and still support myself. So how do I keep my heart focused and on God? To be honest, it has been a huge struggle for me before and still is. I get busy and caught up in my studies and working two jobs and trying to balance my friends and my loved ones. What is a overly busy girl to do?

One, I start by praying. I ask God to give me time to spend with Him. I ask him, sometimes I even beg Him, to help me make time for Him daily. One strange way God has give me extra time with Him is during my runs. I love running and run around 3-5 miles a day, usually 5-6 days a week, and when I don't run I cross-training (meaning biking or using some other type of cardio machine to strengthen my knees). These runs normally take around an hour a half for a long run and a short run is usually around 45 minutes. I find these runs a wonderful time to pray and talk to God. If I am running in the woods I sometimes turn up the music on my I-pod and just praise God for this beautiful creation and listen to Him speak to me. Other times I go for hard runs up hills and these are the time I am crying out to God for help or guidance. Before I prayed for God to increase my time and help me make time for Him my daily runs was just time blaring music and thinking about daily life.

Two, I talk to my boyfriend and other like minded friends. My closest friends, my “college family”, with whom I study with, do some group work outs, cook with, hang out with, and just have fun with, are all Christians. We all struggle at times with things but we all try to keep God first and to stay focused on God. All of us are living on our own, all but one of us are either from out of state or out of country even, thus dealing with a lot of the same things. Surrounding yourself with people who will lift you up constantly is more helpful then I ever dreamed possible. My darling boyfriend is a wonderful Christian man, with who I have Bible studies with and pray with. We bother share our struggles with each other and keep each other accountable. When one falls or needs to be reminded of things, we are there for each other. I cannot stress enough how important this is. Your close friends MUST be like minded. And that special person in your life 100% must be on the same page as you! If they are not, you will fall. I couldn't imagine how I would be if my friends where not believers and I couldn't image my man not being on the same page as me. It just wouldn't work.

Third, The Bible will truly keep you focused. When ever I find my self skimping on my reading or I just skip it, things are ALWAYS worse. Maybe not blatantly so at first, maybe I am just a little moodier, or maybe I am just a little off focused, other times it is like a neon sign. I am frustrated, I don't feel well, I can't focus on anything, and I get hacked off at the little annoying things of daily life.

Four, online sermons. I know that this does not replace sitting in a church service and hearing the word with other Christians but it is something. Hearing the word of God taught keeps me challenged and focus. It keeps my heart tender and usable.

Five, Ignore what others say. This is something I've had to do since my senior year of highschool when my life took a different path from that which I had grown up on. When I challenged a lot of things I was taught and that many of my peers and friends and even family believed. I had to focus on God and tune out the other voices telling me Gods will for me.(see this post) God has lead me here and has placed me in the situations I am in. While they are not ideal and I wish I was able to attend a normal church service every single Sunday it isn't doable. I think God still blesses me for this and gives me other was to worship, learn His word, have good fellowship, and to talk to him.

Sometimes, often, I get frustrated with this but then I am reminder that there is a higher reason that I see. Maybe this is just because God wants be to depend on Him and not a church right now. Maybe He needs me strong in my faith on my own before He leads me into further service, I honestly have no idea. All I know is this is what I've got and this is what God had lead me to.

One year later I'm back!

2010-10-19T07:27:00.005-05:00

Over one beautiful year has passed since I moved to Missouri to continue my education. I remember how scared I was and how I wasn't always 100% sure I was doing the right thing even though I had prayed and prayed and felt as if this is what God had for me. Now, I am glad I took that leap and moved my life to Missouri.
I am a quarter way done with my sophomore year as a public relations and marketing student, I have wonder friends who are like family to me, I have grown from a child into a woman, my faith is stronger and I actually feel God working in my life so much more every single day, and I am with a wonderful sweet christian man who challenges me to walk closer to God, to do my best in everything, to seek out Gods will for me personally, to read the Word and furtively study it. He is my best-friend, a funny man who loves to make me laugh, he is smart and we talk about everything from computer security to if coffee is better black or with lots of milk (I like more milk then coffee). He truly is a wonderful companion and my best-friend whom I thank God for many times a day.

I was also running cross country for part of this semester but due to scholarship reasons and work I am about to give that up and just run on my own. I work two jobs currently; one at a coffee shop on my campus and the other a hostess at a nice restaurant when I get to dress up every day for work. As for classes I am taking this semester, I am taking an introduction to computers classes, English 106 (second level writing class), Algebra, and French. After next semester I will have most if not all of my general education classes out of the way and be free to start focused classes. If you are wondering what happened to my being an early childhood education major you'll have to wait for a new post about that subject since it is rather a long story =)

College has been full of struggles and been very hard at times but it has been worth it and perfect for me. So, this is all for now, I have a French exam to study for that takes place in a few hours. I can't wait to get back into the blogging world and catch up on everyone's lives and talk to all my lovely blog friends again.

Blessings to all!

One year later

2010-08-13T11:25:00.001-05:00

It has been just over one year since I moved here. I haven't writen on my blog during this time but I am suddenly filled with the desire to write again. I start classes back this Monday but I am going to have a new post up by the middle of next week. Keep your eyes open and we'll see what pops up!

A new path

2009-07-13T21:34:00.011-05:00

College...a word that has always been present in my world. It was never an option. I WOULD go...no questions asked, that was just how it was.
Then last year I started to question that, should girls really go? Is it more biblical to stay home then to get an education? Could what I always thought be wrong?
For awhile I even prayed that I wouldn't go to college, I wanted to just learn to be a wife while staying at my home, which, for me, is totally impractical and impossible for many personal reasons. The doors for staying home just would not open; the door for college kept flying open.
At this point I accepted that staying home and not going to college was not for me and that I would go wherever God showed me, not to long after I accepted this I found a name of a college that really stuck out and prayed that I could go to that one. I had requested drawers-full of information packets from various colleges and applied at a few and got accepted into two others but none felt as right as this one. It was almost too good to be true. I wanted to go to this college so bad. Could I actually be getting my wish?
I needed a 3.0 GPA to get in...I finished with a 3.77 which will qualify me for many wonderful scholarships. I needed a 995 math and reading SAT score...I received a 1040. Every thing "seemed" perfect. I was still scared that something wouldn't work out, but it felt so right.

I prayed nonstop for guidance about this. I called the college a few times...ok a lot of times! I asked questions; I studied my brain into mush before the SAT, I prayed for very specific scores, which I did get just a little higher than. Then one day a little glimmer of light shone, I called to check on my finical aid process and the lady to whom I spoke made it sound like I had been accepted but said I "wasn't just yet"...then on Thursday (the 9th) my mother called me at work with the news. She asked if I was somewhere private and then told me that such and such college had called and that she had bad news. "I'm going to miss my little girl! You’re in!" I freaked a little while on the phone then after I talked to her for a few minutes I hung up and pretty much screamed, scaring everyone in the vicinity. I was in! My prayers had been answered! I was REALY going!

I will be leaving Texas August 8th. I am thrilled; all the right doors have been opened wide and the wrong ones have been locked tight. My path is clear. I am still in a state of shock at this time. As I clean out different places of my room and I think "one month...and I will never call this room mine again. I will never walk the halls of this house again in the same way...it all is going to change in one month" it is a strange feeling. I can't explain it; it is very sweet but with a twinge of bitterness? I am moving on with my life but I am leaving many of my loved ones behind. I am leaving EVERY thing behind. The places I played as a child, the garden my mother and I tilled by hand when I was eight or so, the places my brothers and I grew up, played, and yes got in lots of trouble. My brothers have been my constant companions, what classmates are to those who attend public or private schools are those, my brothers have been to me. The city my grandmother lives in, the city I was born in, and of course some less than pleasant things that totally changed my life and set things in motion that, at the time, I had no idea would affect my adult life. The places my best childhood friend and I went on wild adventures and read books and poetry together that girl’s our age normally wouldn't. It still feels weird knowing that my days are numbered here…but it feels exciting and as if I am starting a new adventure! So much that I am leaving but so much is ahead.

Am I scared? Certainly! I have never been away from my mother and brothers for more than about a week. I will be responsible for my self. No one to say "Sydney, you forgot to eat today" or "Sydney, get a move on! You're running late!" and I will not be able to fall back on my mother when something goes wrong such as, I wore the wrong color blue skirt to work and I have to change or go home (or make a wrap skirt from some fabric and safety pins, yes...that did happen just this week). . I am stilling hold fast to God’s word and truths, in fact I would say over the last six months I have grown more than ever; in ways I cannot even explain. The courage to say “this MUST change and I MUST do this” and the faith that I had to have just incase things took a different direction. I do not think I have ever been this strong in my life. I still have a lot to learn and many ways to grow but I know that by me doing this it is like taking the limits of my development off and giving me all that I need to become the woman God has planned for me to be since my conception. Fear of what might happen if I go to college is not a valid excuse for me not to go. As many of you have heard “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” ~Ambrose Redmoon

I think this new turn of events will changed the focus on my blog a little. I think I will be posting more of daily life and college things. Maybe saving money and being frugal on a college budget? Planning time wisely? (If I learn this)
Things of that nature rather than as many spiritual things as before, Yes, I'll still write on those things but I feel as my life is changing and it is time for me to write more on other things

College is one of those issues that just add fuel to the fire of argumentation. So in advanced if you disagree, please, let me know if you feel the need to, just remember that I am saying what God would have ME do not what I think God would have YOU do. Each person must seek what God will is for them and not what others think they should do. I cannot stress that enough. Just because moving away is for me does NOT mean it’s for you. Just because staying home is for you does not mean it’s for me!

*post started on the 13th of July, Finished finished the 27th of July*

Wait for me as I wait for you

2009-07-04T23:01:00.003-05:00

This is a very beautiful song that I think echos the wishes of every girls' heart. We wait and save ourselves for our future mate and while the church pushes the purity of the young ladies and how men find that a desirable trait they often fail to mention how we ladies want out husbands to have waited and save him self for us. Would you want to learn that your husband waited for you like you waited for him?

Rebecca St James - Wait For Me

Darling, did you know that I
I dream about you
Waiting for the look in your eyes
When we meet for the first time
And darling, did you know that I
I pray about you
Praying that you will hold on
And keep your loving eyes only for me

CHORUS:
'Cause I am waiting for, praying for you darling
Wait for me too
Wait for me as I wait for you
'Cause I am waiting for, praying for you darling
Wait for me too
Wait for me as I wait for you
Darling wait

Darling did you know
I dream about life together
Knowing it will be forever
I'll be yours and you'll be mine
And darling when I say
" Til death do us part"
I mean it with all of my heart
Now and always faithful to you

CHORUS

Now I know you may have made mistakes
But there's forgiveness, and a second chance
So wait for me, darling wait for me
Wait for me
Darling wait for me

CHORUS

Stop the cookie cutting!

2009-06-15T09:19:00.004-05:00

Cookie cutters, we've all seen them, we've all used them. They are great little things for making every single cookie the exact same way every time. I teach little kids, 3-7 year olds, so when I make cookies for those guys the cookies MUST BE THE SAME SIZE!!! IN THE NAME OF FAIRNESS. But, what about people...?

I have always been a "break the mold" person. I've always stood out, even when I tried to be like everyone else. You know the kid who always was the "weird one" but some how everyone still loved...yeah that was me. I am grateful that I never learned to fit any mold other than the one God made just for me.
I've never really matched up to what most people thought I should and to be honest, that is fine with me. The last year a lot of what I believe has changed, no I'm not about to say I am turning liberal, I've began to use the Bible as my bases rather than "oh, so many people say xyz so it must be true!" or " Oh...so and so said it and they seem like such a godly person" or the one that I've most recently started having to change "oh, my parents say it so it automatically biblical". As I've bounced back and forth between these thoughts I've learned something: God speaks to each of us differently. Just because not wearing pants is right for you doesn't mean its right for me. Maybe God doesn't have a college education planned for you like He does for me. Let’s say that God wants you to live at home until your married...that’s not what He has for me. Head covering full time? Great, if that’s what God has for you, as for me just during worship. Not at all for you? Then praise God that you’re doing what He wants for YOU.

You CANNOT put the Christian life in a cookie cutter and say this is how it has to be! Now, duh, some things are; like salvation, through Christ's blood alone. Something we cannot earn and something we do not deserve, a free gift to all man kind who trust in His name alone. Baptism, after salvation only, not for babies. The Bible is the written word of God. Stuff like that. However many things aren't clear in the Bible, Mistake? Hardly, when God makes something vague it’s because he WANTS it vague. Why doesn't God say this is how you do this with everything in our lives? Because it’s different for each person in each generation. Maybe God wants a certain woman to become a doctor so she can later become a missionary’s wife and she needs that degree.
I know a couple that happened to. The wife went to college, had a great job before hand and when she went on the field that knowledge was greatly needed and used! I want to teach, I have for most of my life. Maybe God has a class full of children that He has great plans for, they just need some one to plant the seed and water it. Maybe God wants a certain girl to stay home and learn the ways of the house only and never get a "real job" or an education past high school. Maybe her children are going to change the world. What ever God has for you may not be the same for another family or even for a member of the same family

See why its impossible to say "this is the only way!". Often times when we say that it's not that it's the only way, but it is OUR way. Personally I am sick of being told that what I'm doing is wrong by people who hardly know me. They don't know anything about me. They hardly even know my family, yet they think that they have some sort of divine insight into my future and speak as if God told them "this is what I would have Sydney Smith do", yeah right. Now maybe those people have prayed for me and maybe they think that they know what is best for me. Now if they really did don't you think God would have told me or my parents that? Yeah, He would have. I have prayed for along time for God's leading. When I first started praying and people would ask what I was doing and I would say "I'm still praying about it...maybe stay home for college? I'm not sure" I got the response "well praise God your seeking His will" well when I started saying "I've prayed very hard and now God has lead me out of state for college" I get the "are you sure...are you old enough to make that kind of choice? What do your parents think?" as if some how when I sought God and it matched their plans of how I should be I was mature and able minded but when I sought God and was sure of what He wants and it doesn't match their plans then I am a child unable to know what God would have for me. What they really meant the first time “was praise God you match my mold of life!”
Yes, this does bug me. I am a born again believer, God speaks to me like he does you; God gave me a brain and a heart. God gave me the desire to seek His will and the ability to talk to Him about my future. God says "seek ye first the kingdom of God" Not seek ye first the opinion of some well meaning person who hardly knows you and is trying to force you into their own little box of how Christian girls should be. Yeah, there are risks. Yeah, I will fall and mess up, maybe big time; the safest place to be is in the center of God's will. I would rather risk going out of state and living on my own and be in God's will then stay home "safe" and not being in God's will but "safe".

So what am I trying to say? Stop trying to make people fit your little cookie cutter.
Stop telling parents that they fail at parenting because their child is different. That bugs me to no end, when people keep questioning my mother to why she is allowing me to go to college and if she’s sure that I'm right! Seriously people, cut it out. I have been very sweet and tried to be loving towards people who say stuff to me but if I see another person question my mother about my college choice I might end up referring them to this post.
If you have ignored God’s will for that of some well meaning person I want to encourage you to stop allowing people to “cookie cut” you. Seek God’s will…not man’s.

SAT and Etsy.

2009-06-10T13:52:00.005-05:00

My SAT's are over! I am so so so so so so glad! I can finally sleep with out worry about wasting study time; Life is good again. I think I did pretty well, I knew a lot more than I thought I would. I'll find out for sure the 26th; Until then all I can do is finish up my transcript and mail it off to my college and then wait some more.

I'm doing some sewing for people to try and raise some extra money for college/car funds. Once I am done with that I'll be working on getting stuff back on my Etsy, I really let that go while studying for my SAT. So keep an eye out for those up-dates. Also, Beth is having a sale for her Etsy shop! Be sure to check out her beautiful creations! I am going to order two pairs of earrings! I was so happy to see surgical steel earrings since anything other than white gold, silver, or surgical steel gives me infections and turns my ears black! So anyways, be sure to check out her shop! My mom bought be a bracelet there awhile back I love it! All of her stuff is high-quality and just so cute!

Any suggestions of things that you would like to see in my shop? Suggestions don't mean that you'll buy anything :) just something that you think would be nice to see sold.

A Young Maidens Day Book

2009-06-01T15:08:00.003-05:00

Today…
June 1, 2009

Outside my window…
Is sunny and bright.

I am thinking…
How glad I am to be done with my school.

I am thankful for…
that I got to see my great grandmother saved before she passed away

I am wearing-
Denim and my old volleyball t-shirt

I am reading…
Dating with a purpose, the power of crying out the choice is yours, and the hounds of baskervilles.(again)

I am creating…
A baby sweater (just the sleeves left to go), a knitted cami, and soon a laptop cover.

One of my favorite things…
Wild flowers.

For education this week…
My SAT test.

A keeper at home skill I am using/learning...
Keeping school records more organized!

A spiritual lesson I'm learning...
That some times we just have to let go of worries and just relax.

A godly character trait I plan to work on…
Temperance.

Scripture I am memorizing…
Isaiah 40:9. Lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid.

I'm praying for…
My SAT test. My moving to Ohio. My acceptance into my first choice college (already accepted to my second choice that is paired with my first choice so I can transfer to my first choice but rather just get into my first choice and skip the step of transferring)

For the rest of the week…
Studying, packing, and getting my laptop.

A picture I’d like to share...
My brothers, my best friend and I. We where sitting in the grass after my graduation and a mom of one of our friend's asked if we wanted a picture. The dress I'm wearing is the one I've been saying I've been working on for awhile. I finally finished it! I also made the white purse from some fabric I got from a friend for my 18th birthday. We are all squinting and tilting our heads funny because the sun was shining in our eyes.

Our loss is heavens gain.

2009-06-01T15:08:00.001-05:00

As you all know I spent the end of last month in Ohio to see my great-grandmother who was in the hospital from a very nasty fall. As we were about to cross the Texas border on our way back home we got a call saying she had a small blood-clot but that she would be fine.
Later that week she got moved into rehab and was doing much better. Well two weeks later we where told she was back in ICU from an infection in her one kidney and various other problems; but that she was going to be fine once they got her hydrated again.

Then, on the 21st, right after my graduation rehearsal we got the call...she had passed away. We all were in shock, she had been doing better; no one really knew anything at that point but we went ahead and started planning out trip up there.
I tried to get out of my graduation so we could go up there sooner but no one would hear of that. My great-grandmother had always told me to be young while I can, to live life and to shine when it was my time to be in the light. So I went ahead and went through with my graduation.

As soon as it was over we started packing to leave the next morning for Ohio again. We got there Monday, the viewing was Tuesday, and the funeral was Wednesday. It was beautiful, during her time in the hospital, right after her fall, she confirmed her salvation. It was a glorious thought knowing that she was in heaven though her body was in front of us. After wards the whole family, people I had never even heard of before, poured into the tiny house for lunch and fellowship with one another. It was packed and noisy.
After everyone had left I sat outside with my granddad just sitting watching the world around us. At one point a little neighbor boy (about 6 or so) started talking to me. When I told him I was from Texas he just looked up at me and asked, with huge eyes, "Is that where cowboys are?" He then promptly told me to follow him because he wanted to show me his four-wheeler. After talking excitedly about his four wheeler and various other things in their carport he was ready for me to meet his family! I had grown up hearing about his Aunt, who was best friends with my great-grandmother, so little be known to this boy his family was tied pretty closely to mine. Giggling lightly I waited on their porch for him to get his mom. After a few minutes of light chit-chat I told him I had to get back to "my house" because my mom needed to go to the store. While I was gone he reportedly kept driving and walking in the open ally between the two houses waving wildly and screaming "hiii" all day. Kids are so cute. I can’t wait to see him again and maybe use this as a chance to Minster to some of the local kids. Most of the town seems to be Christian; the stores are all close on Sundays or at least closed during church hours. The windows are covered with Bible verses and various other Bible related things. I think I’m going to like it there for my summers.

So what else has been going on? Well not much! My SAT is this Saturday and I am more nervous then a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs! Well I was, I've been praying for peace and that my nerves be calmed. I've been studying pretty hard core for the last month and a half which has helped my confidence but has also allowed me to put more stress on my self.
I'm going to keep taking practice tests clear up to Friday but I'm refusing to allow my self to stress the math section. I do not know everything that is on there. Making my self so tense and stressed will only harm me on the math I do know. Crying over and glaring at a math problem that I have no idea how to do will NOT help me at this point. So I will simply just take a deep breath try a few more time to see the problem from different angles, if I still cannot do it I will make a guess and move on.
I have done my best. I have done the official SAT question of the day. I have watched math videos. I have done word of the day. I have read and read and read. I have prayed. I have written practice essays. I have done study programs and just about everything else I can think of. I have done all I can do. It is God's hands now. I do NOT need to worry...I'm still trying to convince my self of this.
Please keep my SAT in your prayers. If anything hurts me it will be my nerves more than anything. I'm going to start doing "full length practice tests starting tomorrow". So instead of breaking the whole test up into different parts of the day or even over two days I'll be sitting down and following the official time. So it will take a good three and a half hours. Normally I would spend an hour or so testing then go do something else then come back an hour later and do some more. I'm hoping this will get me ready for the real thing.

All in all I am at peace with my life and future right now. I believe I am on the right path with my plans and goals. Life is good. God is great.

Only a few more days up north...for now.

2009-05-03T20:07:00.004-05:00

Today we spent the day staying home instead of going to the hospital since a few of us have been feel unwell. According to the doctors great-grandmother had a rough night, none the less she will be moved into a temporary nursing home this coming week. After that we are praying that she will be able to move into a assisted-living home where she can stay with her husband and still hang on to her sense of dignity.

My grandmother is going to be renting a house up here starting next month and I will be moving in with her for the summer to help her adjust and get settled into her new house. I want to start her a garden and help turn the house into a beautiful home for her year round. We are both very excited and can't wait! I am taking my SAT June 6th and she has to place a 30 day notice at her job or we'd be moving up much sooner!

I wish I could write more and spend more time proof reading and checking my grammar a little better but we have 9 people staying in one tiny house...with one slowish computer so we all try to be considerate of others and allow each person time to check e-mail and such as needed. Still with so many people it is hard to have even a little bit of privacy. I would love to respond to my e-mails but time is lacking and I want to spend as much time as I can with the Aunt and Uncle I've meet for the first time in my life this week!

This Tuesday we will be leaving early in the morning to head home. I will be sad to say good-bye to every one and to the beautiful land but I know that in a few short weeks I will be coming back for the summer, just until college that is!

Great-grandmother update.

2009-05-01T18:30:00.003-05:00

Today is our first full day in Ohio. My great-grandmother is doing much better. The bleeding in her brain has stopped and she has no broken bones as was first supposed. She looks pretty beat up but not near as bad as we all thought she would look.
She is coherent on and off, some times remembering who we are and other times thinking we are part of the hospital staff. Today has been better for her though. Most of what she said made sense and she seemed to understand that she can't go home just yet. Her husband still isn't all the way here. He knows she fell and is in the hospital but doesn't really "get" whats going on. Everything has been really hard on him. This morning was his birthday and he informed us it wasn't. We we told him that, yes it was, its May first, he said well if you say so and then later told us how hard it is to sleep at night with out your partner. He has been so sweet with her; holding her hand and gently stroking it with his thumb, just smiling at her very lovingly. He also knows that he won't be able to care for her once she is released from the hospital, which I'm sure is very sad for him. He has late stages of Alzheimer and dementia. So even if grandma was able to come back home he wouldn't be able to care for himself. There is so much that needs to planned and taken care of, I am grateful that the responsibility doesn't fall on me or my mother.

Thanks to all of y'all for your prayers.

Urgent prayer request

2009-04-29T07:51:00.002-05:00

Late last night or early this morning my great-grandmother fell in the tub. She is now in ICU and they are saying now is the time for all the family to see her. Her husband has no memories of what happened and started to panic shortly after he called 911. Unknown to everyone here he has been suffering from dementia. We are about to head out to be with her and possibly say out good-byes. Please keep my mother, my grandmother, and I in your prayers as we make the long drive up to see her. Also for the family who is unable to see their great/grand/mother. Much of our family is unsaved so pray that this will be able to be a witness opportunity.

Broken

2009-04-26T19:06:00.004-05:00

Broken and shattered you look to the skies desperate for the sun to brake from the dark dismal skies. The pain is more than you think you can bear, you scream and cry and beg "no more". It keeps on, relentless...ever grinding and breaking down. The ones who say that they'll never leave you, that they'll be there for you, are no where to be seen. Alone you break apart, brought as low as you can be. The breaking never ceases the sun refuses to shine. The tears pour yet the pain keeps on. You had a light at the end of the road but now its gone. All that you see ahead is darkness and more heart ache, you opened your heart up to love and life and it was crushed and bruised. Nothing to comfort you, nothing to hold on to except a promise that seems as if will never now come true. Yet you cling on, as the heart break beats upon you ever strong you wonder if all has been a lie. Was it ever true? Was it ever real? Why must this happen? The doubts the fears flood your heart trying to drown out all the love and yet you cling on with all your life, praying that the pain you feel isn't permanent. That the separation from love will cease, that the promises will be filled.

From the ashes in which you sit a voice softly whispers in your ear telling you that nothing matters anymore, that you where never loved and that you never shall be. You bite your lips and wrap your arms around yourself as if you might explode. Fighting the voices that speak your inner fears. You swear it was true and that its just a test, a trail and that the light will shine once again. You try to make sense of it all and fail. Hands over ears trying to block it out. Hands on your heart trying to calm it down. Then another voice appears and quietly says "you prayed that My will be done, that I use you for My glory" You sob back that you didn't want the pain. You asked for His love and grace, and swears He made some mistake. He softly and sadly says "this is the only way, I long to use you, mold you like clay but in this present state I can't, it’s painful, it takes time. The threshing of grain is never quick. Beat upon beat, stroke upon stroke and then after that grinding into the finest power, that too my love takes pain. Then the refiner’s furnace, purifying you into something of beauty but this my love takes fire. There are no short cuts to being shaped; brokenness is the price you must pay. As glass is shattered into a million pieces before the completed stained glass picture in all it wonder can be seen, so must be your heart and will. My child I know it hurts but it is the only way."

The tears still flow you see no reason it must hurt so bad, you question the Maker insisting to know why He demands such things from you. With a soft loving smile He gently says "for others you are broken in special ways, I've allowed all this pains and all this hurts so you can show others the Way. There are people only you can reach I've allowed this hurt and suffering to make you into something useful...my love it is the only way. I must break you, mold you, shatter you, and twist you; you will suffer all alone at times. The pain will feel unbearable at times. You will not see the clear blue sky for days. You will feel as if your dreams will never come true. The things I’ve promised will seem as if they will never happen. You’ll want to question everything. Nothing will seem right. You will be forced to suffer all alone. You will think all others have forsaken you; as if I have forsaken you but my child I am always here.
I long to give you the things for which you so earnestly pray but first I must make sure you know I am all you will ever need." With the feel of strong arms holding you close as you cry, you beg to be broken more, surrendering all to Him. His will be done is your loudest plea. You hush the other voices whispering their lies. He does love you. He does care. His promises are good. Though the way you seems unplanned the Good Shepard knows the path. You stand up and press on knowing this is how servants are made.

A long up-date

2009-04-24T10:02:00.001-05:00

Sorry it has taken me so long to write on here. Life has been very busy around here, along with personal issues that I have been dealing with.

As you all know my mother recently had back surgery. Everything went very well and there are no complications at this present time. Today she was having some swelling at the surgical site so we went to see the doctor. He assured us that everything was more than likely fine and that she probably just tore a stitch under the skin or busted a capillary but as long as it wasn't bleeding or oozing and she was feeling fine and didn't have a high fever she would be just fine. She does have a very light fever however, about 99.6. The doctor isn't worried at this point and as long as nothing changes she should be great.

The day after her surgery was my 18th birthday! While she was still very sore and tired my mother was still able to get up and walk a little and watch me blow out the candles on my birthday cake. It has been so awesome to see her up and walking and slowly returning to her normal life.

Also, I've been preparing for college. I've applied to two out of state colleges. One is a two year college that I've been accepted to and the other is a four year that I won't hear back from until I take my SAT this June and they look over my scores. Please keep this is your prayers. Currently I am running around 690 on my critical reading, 620 on writing, and 400 on math. Obviously my math needs major work! I have a month and a half to work and get it up. I would like about a 600 in math as well, but a 500 would insure I won't have to take remedial math and I think guarantee me a spot at the college.

Currently I am dealing with a lot of person issues. Very tough ones that need a lot of prayer and help. Due to the nature of these issues I won't name them or mention anything about them. I have a lot to do in order to get everything worked out and it will be very hard to do everything that I must do. During the next few months I will greatly welcome any prayers y'all would lift up on my behalf. It feels like a huge mess and I know that I need to deal with this quickly and with much wisdom. How I respond to this will affect so much of my life and future. Prayer, study, and wise counseling is needed.
Hopefully I will be returning to my normal blogging habits shortly. So until next time, friends in the blog-o-sphere, please keep me in your prayers and I will keep you in mine.

A Young Maidens Daybook

2009-03-16T14:54:00.007-05:00

Today…
March 16, 2009

Outside my window…
I see trees starting to come back to life after a long cold Texas winter.

I am thinking…
How funny it is that yesterday I "sewed" my finger. I've been sewing since I was eight and I've never hurt my self sewing, yet here I am nearly eighteen and I've sewn my finger for the first time. It didn't hurt to much, it just shocked me really bad. For those of y'all who don't know, blood makes me very sick; the sight, the smell, the taste, and even the thought of it. I had my mom check my machine for blood before I went back to my room to resume my sewing.
I think I freaked the whole family out because I had turned so pale. As I had my mother check to make sure that when the needle broke it hadn't gotten lodged into my flesh, everyone else was staring at me as if I was about to keel over...maybe I looked like I was going to?

Some times it's nice to have your mother fret over you after you've been taking care of everything else.=]

I am thankful for…
All of the wonderful women at my church, who have been bringing dinners for our family to help make things run smoother on our busy days.

I am wearing…
A t-shirt and my pajama pants. It is just one of those days.

I am reading…
A Severe Mercy, Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, His Chosen Bride, and I finished Peter Pan yesterday.

I am creating…
The same sundress.

One of my favorite things…
Walks in the park.

For education this week…
Writing skills! This is something I desperately need!

A keeper at home skill I am using…
Using my time wisely.(using those "small moments" effectively)

A spiritual lesson I’m learning…
I'm trying to learn not to worry so much.

A godly character trait I plan to work on…
Memorizing scripture, how can I tell my "kids" that they need to hide His word in their hearts if I'm not doing the same thing?

Scripture I am memorizing…
Colosssians 4:5-6 "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grade, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

I am praying for…
My mother's back, she meets with the surgeon next Tuesday to go over the different options.

For the rest of the week…
Cooking, cleaning, school, teaching, and choir.

A picture I’d like to share…

Taken last year in San Antonio on a trip I took with friends and family.
4/11/2008 (the day after my 17th birthday)

To participate click here

What has been going on

2009-03-11T13:03:00.008-05:00

Life has been really busy the last few weeks! I never seem to have enough time in the mornings/afternoons and by night time I'm too tired to do much of anything. So whats been going on?

First of all my mother's back has gotten much worse, she has had several prolapsed discs in her lower back for about 8-10 years now. They have always given her problems but never anything this bad. She had an MRI two weeks ago and they showed fractures all over her lumbar vertebrae. I don't know all that is wrong but it is very serious. Today she is getting an injection that might help relax her muscles and help deaden the nerves enough that her body will be able to absorb the discs that are pressing on the nerves causing the pain. If this does not work then she will undergo surgery. This whole thing has been very challenging and stressful for all of us. Please keep our family in all y'all's prayers.

Yesterday was my allergy test. I found out that I'm allergic to several things; Ash trees, hickory trees, and dust mites. The hickory isn't that big a deal but the ash is. Our whole area is full of ash trees! I'm still going to be taking a daily allergy medicine just to help keep everything clear and running smoothly. I personally hate taking medicine for anything unless I really have to but I guess this is one of those times.
So how does allergy testing work? It's really simple and kinda cool. First they number your back, so they know what spots are what. Second they have a little plastic thingy with barbs on it, the barbs have drops of different allergens on the tips. Thirdly they take a little 'caterpillar' as they call it and press it into your skin. This doesn't hurt to bad, it's just really uncomfortable! Then you wait. I think I had to wait about 15 minutes for the results. If you are allergic to something the pricks swell up and react to the liquid that was on the barbs. It's neat how this all works and the doctor gave me some sheets to read about how allergies really work "in case I got bored" he said...HA! He had no idea as soon as we got in the car I started reading the pages! It's not his fault I'm a homeschooling book nerd. To be honest those papers were really really interesting to read!

So to sum this all up I just ask for lots and lots of prayers for my mother's back. God bless you all.

-edited for grammar 03/12/09-

A young maiden's day book

2009-03-02T21:07:00.008-06:00

Today…
March 2, 2009

Outside my window…
Dark skies, it is 9:26 after all!

I am thinking…
That I wish I was feeling better

I am thankful for…
My family

I am wearing…
Denim and a green t shirt

I am reading…
A huge list...My desk has a big pile of books... this is pretty normal for me though.

I am creating…
A sundress and a pair of socks

One of my favorite things…
Smiles. I love seeing people smile

For education this week…
Same ol' same ol'. Gotta do some more graduation stuff.

A keeper at home skill I am using…
Cooking

A spiritual lesson I’m learning…
Submission

A godly character trait I plan to work on…
Patience and waiting on Gods timing not mine

Scripture I am memorizing…
Nothing right now

I am praying for…
College

For the rest of the week…
Work, cooking, graduation pictures, prom dress alterations, choir, and allergy testing.

A picture I’d like to share…

This is a picture I took last month at the pond.

Join here.

Stepping out

2009-03-01T11:21:00.004-06:00

This month I will be taking on a very daunting task...I'll be doing the cooking, meal planning, coupon matching, and grocery shopping for the next month. For the most part by my self.

For my twelfth grade math credit we're doing our own little program. A mix of business math, consumer math, and how to know if your really getting a good deal on something. Most of this I've already been helping my mum with but now I'm boldly stepping out on my own! Not only does this count as a math credit, its great practice for when I'm not living at home anymore, whether or not I'm married.

So here is what I have planned!

Sunday: Chicken Pot-Pie! Wonderful for a chilly day like today!

Monday: Salad and sandwiches. Fast and easy for our busiest day of the week.

Tuesday: Pork Marsala. One of my many favorites, I rather it with chicken but my dad gets bored if we have the same meat to often.

Wednesday: Rosemary lemon chicken with roasted potatoes.

Thursday: Tacos. A instant hit amongst the whole family.

Friday: Greek chicken. (This is so so so so amazing I could eat a ton of this stuff!)

Saturday: Pizza. As my father says, Pizza should be a weekly event! It sure tastes good but it is a mess to clean up after making them.

If you want a recipe for any of the above meals, just leave a comment asking for them! I'll be happy to share if anyone wants one!

Pay it forward.

2009-02-23T13:27:00.004-06:00

I won the pay it forward over at Young Homemakers!
Since I was one of the three winners I get to host my own 'pay it forward'!

So here's how its gonna work:

The first three people to comment on this post will win a homemade prize from me! I have to get it in the mail within 365 day's. I will get it in the mail sooner that that though, maybe...as long as a hurricane doesn't hit the post office...or an elephant doesn't crush the prizes...or any other horrific catastrophe doesn't occur...count on it coming sometime within the next month.

Now, the three people who win a prize, MUST host a 'Pay It Forward' on their blog. They will send a homemade gift to the three people who won and so on.

So what are ya waiting for? Leave a comment!

One year of being a curly girl.

2009-02-20T09:35:00.010-06:00

This time last year I started an experiment! I was to do something bold and daring, something that, if I had told my friends and family before hand, they might have questioned my sanity. I was going to embrace my natural hair…no more flat ironing it every single day, no more hiding it in a ponytail, no more anything that would hide what God put on this head of mine!

Here is how it looked the first two weeks

I'm still unable to find a picture of my hair straight and down. I'm thinking of straightening it tonight just to do it and to take a picture for y'all.

Before I show the "now" pictures I want to share what going curly has taught me. I'm sure some of y'all are thinking "yeah right what can hair teach some one", well I'll tell you. First of all it has taught me acceptance.
Accepting my self the way God made me, not the way my friends look or how Hollywood thinks some one should look. What first got my into this horrid cycle of frying my hair into submission was none other than my best-friend. She was beautiful; she and everyone who saw her knew it. Little did I know she had curly hair! Until one day, it rained. Her hair looked just like mine, slightly frizzy and poofy. Then one day, before a youth event at our church, I went to her house to hang out. That was when the self inflicted abuse started. In my best friends bedroom. As skilled as she was with that flat iron it still took an hour- hour and a half! All the compliments that night left me sure of one thing. Straight has was good. My hair was bad.
While she was not to first person to straighten my hair she was the person who got me into doing to daily.

Second it taught me that being different is okay. Really, it is. Here I was 13 and already hating every thing about my body simply because my best friend did. I was short and skinny with "that" hair as people called it. I wore glasses and was clumsy. Some how I always blamed my hair on my misfortunes. Most of my friends were Mexicans with dark skin, hair, and eyes. I was white, boy was I white, with bright hair and bright eyes. Needless to say I stuck out! I tried everything to blend in but in time I realized that maybe God didn't want me to blend in. Maybe I'm God's "sore thumb"...OK lame joke but ya get the idea. I stuck out.

Thirdly, Beauty is more than what is on the outside. Yes the outside does count a little, but loving your self for who you are is what beauty really is! A truly beautiful person not only accepts how she looks but how those around her looks. She thinks others are pretty and lets them, in a sincere and honest way, lets them know

As strange as it seems the one thing that I swore was ruining my life is now the one thing that every single day people compliment and notice. I get asked all the time "do you hate your hair?" "My daughter has curly hair like yours but she flattens it every day! What do you do to your hair?" To this I smile and tell them how I use to hate my hair but I learned to love it by accepting it. While this may not be a purely Biblical based thought itis so true, If you love your "faults" then those close to you will learn to see them as your "trade mark". I can't say it enough, being happy with how you look is the first step to being truly beautiful. I deal with the doubts every single day just like y'all. "Am I to skinny, is my nose to big, are my eyes to big, am I to short, is my hair out of control etc. etc. etc." In the end I always end up closing my eyes and thanking God for how He "fearfully and wonderfully knit me in my mother’s womb". I may not always like what I see but I know God does, and that does count for something.

OK back to hair. Here is the method! You can also find this on Wikipedia
I found out about the method the YLCF site. Here is their translation of how to get your curl on.

Curly Care
the Curly Girl Way!

"My philosophy is, `Blow-dry straight, you're happy for a day; stay curly, you're happy for life.'"
-Lorraine Massey to The Toronto Star

So how does a Curly Girl care for her curls? Lorraine Massey's curly care principles include:

* don't use shampoo (except if you're a wavy girl, and then only a little bit once a week)
* never blow-dry your hair (unless you use a diffuser)
* never comb your hair
* use lots and lots of conditioner

Curls needs lots of moisture (think conditioner) to maintain their curl. But the main ingredient in most shampoos is a harsh detergent (such as sodium laurel sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, or sodium laureth sulfate), which dries out your curls (making them frizzy to boot!).

As Lorraine Massey told New York Times, "The curly-haired can leave their hair hydrated with natural oils and clean their scalps quite well by rinsing only with hair conditioner once a week or less. Rubbing the scalp firmly with fingers is enough to loosen dirt."

The Basic Steps of Curly Care

1. Step under the "waterfall" of your shower and rinse your curls well (but don't touch them!).
2. Once-a-week Cleansing Step: Using your fingertips and a bit of conditioner (gentle shampoo if you're a wavy girl), gently rub your entire scalp. Rinse well.
3. Gently but generously and evenly distribute conditioner through your curls. Wavy Girls, rinse well. Botticelli Curly Girls, rinse 'til your curls feel right. Corkscrew Curly Girls, rinse for just a second. (Rinse with cold water to "seal" the hair shaft.)
4. Use your towel to "scrunch-dry" your curls, gently scrunching towards your head.
5. Spread a small amount of gel over your palms and scrunch your curls in an accordion motion. Repeat until all your curls have been scrunched (scrunching the canopy last), but don't over-gel!
6. Use claw clips to arrange and style your curls (click here to see examples), twisting any last curls into place. Then don't touch your hair while it dries! (Use a diffuser on the coolest, lowest setting if you must speed the process.)
7. Bend over and shake your dried curls to give them more volume. Enjoy your soft, springy curls!

Extra Tips

* Thin your conditioner by adding water to the bottle and shaking well, in order to allow for a more even distribution of the conditioner throughout your hair with less to rinse out.
* Blondes, mix lemon juice with your conditioner to eliminate product buildup and discoloration of your hair.
* Use a mustard-like squeeze bottle with nozzle to cleanse or treat your roots only.
* Use cold water, especially on the last rinse, to “seal” the hair (hot water strips the natural oils that protect your hair).
* Hang in there for at least three weeks. You may have to wean yourself off shampoo gradually, as it takes a bit for your scalp to adjust, so shampoo a bit if you must, but don’t give up yet! Curly hair is happy hair!

My changes to the method:
My hair is to long and thick for the clipping method to really work with out giving me a killing head ache, so when I have an important day or I just have some free time in the morning I do what is called "plopping". Here is a very helpful video on how to do it; while Jessi calls it "plunking" it is still the same thing, just a difernt name. Sometimes, when I'm rushed on the weekends, I will wash my hair after work on Saturday nights and plop it while I sleep or at least for part of the night!
I also use baby shampoo or a this natural shampoo instead of cutting it out all the way.

For those who are older or have your parents permission check out the curly girl forums for helpful tips! When I first started Naturally curly's site was extremely helpful and encouraging! Thanks guys!

OK, so for the now pictures.

I'm not saying that straightening your curly hair or curling your straight hair is wrong. You just need to learn that there is nothing wrong with your hair the way it is naturally.
Sometimes I straighten mine; some times I’ll curl it a little more for concerts when it is looking a little flat. So, for the sake of your hairs health, please, practice moderation! If you do use a flat iron or curler, make sure you use some sort of a protecting product on your hair first. I use this. It works wonderfully and doesn’t take a lot, it doesn’t even leave a film on my hair the next day!

So, if your an incognito curly girl, give this a whirl, the looks on peoples faces will be worth it when they first see what your hair really looks like. Be warned your friends will want to touch it! A lot! My first few weeks where kinda crazy. At choir my hair would get touched and played with though rehearsal. So be ready for your friends and family's' shock. Oh yes, and for brothers to throw stuff at the back of your hair to see if it sticks in your curls... or to randomly flick your hair...or pull a curl just to watch it bounce back...gotta love em =]

Encouraging manlyness in our brothers.

2009-02-04T18:15:00.004-06:00

Gentlemen are the kind of husbands that most girls want, but who is encouraging the boys of today to be the men of tomorrow? Yes, the parents are but honestly most boys will act the way girls encourage them to act.
If a boy does some stupid bone-headed stunt and gets female attention more than likely he will do this more to receive praise of the opposite sex. If a boy gets attention from lewd jokes and sexually derogative comments from girls he will learn that this is how you get a girl to notice you!
Sure, his parents tell him that girls don't like it up the girls are telling him something far different by their actions!

So what can we, as tomorrows women do to encourage the men of tomorrow to become true gentlemen? Please remember that not all of these are proper to use on males outside your family, as it may be seen a flirting or you may seem to have a romantically inclined interest in him when you may simply be trying to build his manners.

One: Wait for him to open the door for you. I will often wait outside the door for my brother to open it for me. Now if his hands are full I will open it for him but in general I allow him to. Of course I am able to open it my self, but it makes him feel like a good guy and shows him that I appreciate his good manners.

Two: Ask him to carry heavy objects, unless he is physically unable. I have two brothers, A 16 year old who is much bigger than I and a 13 year old who is about the same size maybe a tad smaller. Now my 16 year old brother loves to show off his manliness around me. He'll open jars that I can't, open the door, take out the trash if its dark out or at least walk with me, and countless other things.
It may seem like I'm being lazy or that I'm pushing work off onto him but he loves it! He honestly gets upset with my mother and I when we carry heavy stuff instead of asking him to help up! I'm not saying have your brother or father do all the physical work but now and then ask them for help and watch their manly ego grow as they embrace their God given role.

Three: Encourage polite speech, not only by reminding them that it is not polite to speak harshly to women, as well as to men, but also by speaking the way a lady should. I have two teenage brothers so I know how hard this can be, especially when they go around singing "That song" or quoting "that", yeah it can be hard to speak nicely. If, heaven forbid, they make a comment that praises or accepts poor treatment to ladies, just tell them that girls hate it and not only that but that its simply not right. I am not a feminist, I'm not talking about poor treatment as in equality of the sexes but as in men pushing or using women, talking lewdly about the way they dress, or even just being hateful and vile.

Four: Make clear what acceptable behavior towards girls is.
When they hold the door open for you, thank them. If they compliant your outfit or the way you look thank them and tell them how good it makes you feel. Any charteristcs that you would want in your husband praise them in those areas. When they play with a child or help a mother with something tell them what a great trait that is for a man. Let them know that they are wonderful! Don't be quick to jump all over them when they do something wrong but fail to uplift when they do something right.

Five: Ask their opinions and listen to their thoughts. "Which shoes do you like better with this dress" or if you are cooking "would you taste this for me". Value their thoughts. Talk to them. Communication is very important in all relationships, if your brothers are unable to tell you what they like and what they think in a proper way how will they do so with their wives?

Six: Let them protect you. Often times when we are out and about if they notice a guy looking at me or sometimes they come up and try and start up a conversations my brother will walk up and just stand there...watching the guy. Once your old enough to be in a relationship and your in the right setting I'm sure this would be very annoying but in public, at 17, and since I'm not interested in them it is very nice. Again, tell your brothers that you’re glad they are watching out for you. They cannot read your mind. They do not just know that your glad they are doing this for you.

Seven: Pray for them. Daily. Pray for them the way you would want your future husband’s family to be praying for him.

While I know that it is the parents’ job to raise the children I think that we, as sisters, can help encourage our brothers. You never know, your future sister-in-law might be doing this for your will-be-husband.

Not only is this good for your brothers, it is good for your future husband, if the Lord gives you one.

In “authentic Beauty” By Leslie Ludy there are, I believe, three sections written by her husband about “studying manhood”. Those passages are very insightful how guys think; one of them is about this very topic, encouraging guys to godly manhood. If you read this book for no other reason those three sections are worth getting the book for. While I do not understand the male mind, those sections do give some ideas about bringing out the best in man by being the type of ladies the Lord wants us to be.

Note: My brothers are wonderful and when I speak about lewd and vile behavior in boys I am not speaking about them. Those are simply traits I have observed in other boys. Not my brothers.

So...your homeschooled...

2009-02-04T15:51:00.005-06:00

This is one of the many questions I get asked all the time. When I work in the mornings/early afternoon during in the week I get that condemning stare from people who try to pose their question as merely curious, yes I know some people are really just wondering but there are those who just want to try and start something. Here's how they ask "so how old are you? You don't look old enough to be out of school" 'oh I'm not I'm home schooled' "oh...I thought...never mind, that is neat". I even had one lady flat out ask me if I was a single mother or high school drop out!

When I was much younger and my mother would take all three of us out shopping we'd get stares and every one asking "why aren't your kids in school??". Now, most people ask "Do y'all homeschool?" Its kind of neat how its becoming more accepted but there still are a few people who just don't get what homeschooling is.

Common misconceptions about homeschoolers:

1. Their educational weakness is because they are homeschooled!
When anyone sees my handwriting or spelling, they automatically assume that it is because I'm homeschooled. When I find out a public schooler is bad at,say, reading, I don't say "oh well, he goes to public school its to be assumed", no we realize that its his or her weakness. People need to see homeschoolers weaknesses the same way.

2. They never ever ever leave the house.
OK this one is slightly true. I do not go out and hang out with friends a lot, but I do have other things I do. I work and I sing in a homeschool choir and do a lot of stuff with them.
I use to take art, drama, was in two choirs, violin and even ballet until the kicked me out for being oh so clumsy and ungraceful. I also use to volunteer at the public library until my work schedule forced me to stop, also a food pantry until we changed churches and I was no longer welcomed there.

3. Homeschoolers are geniuses!!!
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA, that is my favorite! Some homeschooled kids may be exceptionally smart but I'm not one of them.

4. They don't get along with the outside world!
This one makes me giggle, I am a very social person. I enjoy talking to and being around others, Yes even non-homerschoolers. I know that they can't help they go to a brainwashing facility that is paid for by the government five days a week. -sigh- Ok, lame joke but still, you get the point. MOST HOME SCHOOLERS ARE SOCIABLE! Some of aren't but some of the public school kids aren't either!

Here are some videos about homeschoolers that make me laugh, and hopefully will make you as well.
You might be a homeschooler if... Its kinda funny...most of these apply to me and my family.
If you are more conservative with your music you might want to mute this one.
Homeschooler Song Who is scarier? Homeschoolers? Or "out-siders" that make videos of us?

The other
homerschooler song!

Diagnosis: Homeschooler

This post was not meant to educate anybody about how homeschooling works. It was purely because I got bored! When I get close to graduation I will be post about why I like homeschooling and why I think its better then public/private schooling.

Anyways, I'm off to get ready for church!
Peace out fellow "homies"

What I've been working on

2009-01-28T14:16:00.013-06:00

The past few days have been very busy!
Saturday was teachers training at church from early morning to mid afternoon and afterwards I had to go to work.
Sunday was church and I finished my quilt top.
Monday was work in the morning to late afternoon and then school all night.
Tuesday was cold and icy; I spend the day doing school and reading about scholarships for college. I also made some bags for my etsy! I do not have very much listed right now but I'm slowly making stuff up to add!

I have some left over fabric from my own quilt so I'm going to make a baby quilt! Also my mother and I are going to be making pin cushions and other cute things so keep an open eye for future items!

This quilt is going to be a rag quilt.
This quilt is going to be a rag quilt. A rag quilt is sewn with inverse seams and then the seams are clipped very close to stitch line every half inch or so. Then the quilt is washed in hot water a few times so the seams fray and look soft and fluffy. I've never made one before but a couple of older ladies were in Joann's one day telling me all about them and encouraged me to try! These ladies came in about once a week not only with updates on their quilt but also about their grandsons...I guess they thought that a granddaughter-in-law that could sew would be nice I don’t know, but anyways, they inspired me to try my hand at this!

Here is a close up on the clipping I have to do all over the top.

These are the Eco-green shopping bags I've made so far. I had my eye on these fabrics for a long time but was never sure what to make out of them! Then I decided shopping bags so I had an excuse to go buy some cute fabric! I love the dresses on the red and pink bags!

The piggies are my personal favorite!

All of them can fold up like this to fit in a purse to make sure you always have a green
alternative to plastic bags right at hand!

Also bed for little miss kitty that I finished a week or two ago.

Sadly dear little Izzy's life here may not be permanent. The last few months have been hard on my allergies. The beginning of this month I spent a few days in bed because they got so bad. I can hardly wear my contacts which is a drag for two reasons, one, my current glasses make me look really dorky. Two, they are very uncomfortable. Come July when I get my eyes recheck there are a really nice pair of glasses that I want to get instead of contacts. They are frameless around the lenses and the part that keeps them on is very discrete and blends in very well with my hair and skin color. Any ways back to the kitten, I want to get tested before I give away my little one. She's so sweet...most of the time...and is very fun to play with. Even the dog likes her. The down side is she likes to eat thread and tries to attack sewing machine needles as we sew. My mother and I have both ruined projects because of her. If we lock her out of the rooms she gets on the table and knocks stuff over so it’s very hard to get any sewing done. She also likes yarn...she loves chewing and has a fetish for knitting needles whilst I knit. Over all she hardly fits our life style as far as my mother's and my work. The other problem is when I start college in a few months. I'll be gone almost all the time so my mother would have to watch her which is impossible to do while working. I'm glad that we were able to save her and her brothers life and that I was able to raise her into some what decent cat but I think that its time to give her to some one that can give her all the love and attention that she will need. While I dote on her when ever I can it’s rarely enough to keep her out of trouble. Sadly I think I will be saying good bye to Miss Pretty Kitty as my brothers call her. This is the longest we've kept any strays or abandoned animal that we've found before and now I know why my parents always told us not to get to attached to our little visitors. I already know someone who will take her when the time comes. I'm just delaying the inevitable.

Anyways, I need to work on my typing for school and start my baby quilt. If you are having any wintry weather as we have been drive safe and keep warm.

Getting closer now!

2009-01-19T12:53:00.001-06:00

Graduation is so very close! We had another planning meeting Thursday night! I was sick but I went anyways, I'm glad we did because we picked the color of our gowns! We picked white but one of the mothers suggested changing it because she doesn't like white gowns. So if we decide not to do white it will be emerald green! The church we're graduating in is mainly blue so we knocked out that color cause, come on, who wants to look like one of the chairs!

Since none of the 5 graduates really know each other the first meeting was kinda strange and was mainly five teenagers sitting in a basement looking at each other grinning shyly. Thankfully this did not last long. The only thing we decided that night was that burgundy gowns was a huge NO-NO; I shocked my self by blurting out my passionate dislike for this color when asked what colors I was against but every one agreed with me very quickly; I think this was the main ice breaker. After that we played some games like catch phrase, bluff, and spoons. All in all it was a very fun and though unproductive night in planning the graduation it was useful to getting to know each other. Including my self there are four ladies and also there is one gentleman.

The date and location is set but that is about it! I still have my pictures to take and invitations to make up! Oh yeah, and finishing all the school work! At the rate I'm going I should be done the first week of May, only two weeks before we all march down the aisle, wearing white gowns. Ok, that does sound a little wedding-y but oh well!

I want my personal theme verse to be JEREMIAH 29:11 "29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. "
I'm not sure what color I'll do my invitations in or what color the cake will be. I want to bake the cake my self and have a lady I know decorate it! She makes masterpieces! Since my artistic hand is lacking a steady grip it is best I don't try to do it my self.

As far as physical appearance for graduation night; Make up is an easy thing to deal with being I don't wear any! My hair, I might just ask a friend help me pin part of it up with some pretty but simple little flower gems and leave it most of the way down. Random up-date my hair is about four maybe five inches from hitting my waist again! Its been a while since it was that long and I'm hoping it will be very close to my waist come May. Anyways back to graduation!
I could really just jump up and down!I'm so excited!
MJ has been great a great friend during my Senior year and started a great site for the class of 2009
Be sure it check it out and if your a Senior this year at least go over and read the bios of your fellow seniors, it might be an encouragement to you!

School left to finish:

Geometry.
Half of twelfth grade writing and grammar.
A few more books for Civics and British literature. I love Sonlight!
Human anatomy, I had to drop Physics, the math was way above my level.
A paper on either "How I plan to change the world" or "Can one person really change the world?". I didn't get to pick the topic but still, it will be interesting.

Since I didn't take the PSAT's or the SAT's I have to attended a junior college my first year at least. Being that junior colleges are much cheaper I might stay for two years and get all my basics out of the way then transfer to the main college to finish my degree. I'm still not sure where I plan to finish off my education but the junior college is all picked out!

Please pray for my dear mother during this time. I know she will be under a lot of stress with trying to get the graduation done and she wants to do a party for my 18th birthday come April. Also there are colleges to check out and transcripts to form! I know I'll be under pressure but its nothing like what she will be going through!

So, other seniors, what have you planned so far? Those who have all ready finished school what was your last semester like? Share your story!

2009 is here

2009-01-01T11:06:00.010-06:00

2009, Wow. The past year has gone by so fast! This year is going to be one of much learning, I already know that. One where much in my life will change. I'm finishing high school, heading to college, buying a car soon, and growing up.

The past year was a wonderful one. As some of you know two years ago we changed churches. When we did so I was very upset and swore I would never be happy there. But last year proved me wrong, as did the year before that. As our second "anniversary" rolls around this Sunday, I am reminded yet again of how the good Lord works in my life.

Some things that I have learned this past year:

1. Complaining really doesn't help the problem, it just makes you feel worse in the end.
2. If something is worth doing it is worth doing correctly...the first time.
3. Don't sweat the small stuff. Not everything goes the way it was planned, learn to let some things go.
4. Pick your battles wisely. You don't need to give your two cents in every argument. Some times just smiling and walking away is the wisest thing to do.
5. Brokenness is beautiful. The Lord can work masterpieces with broken lives.
6. That a simple smile can lift a down trodden heart.
7. Praise matters. We often are quick to complain about things but how quick are we to praise when good things happen?
8. Family is more important then friends.
9. That person who said something rude to you might have just been having a bad day, give them the benefit of the doubt. They might just be a good friend waiting to happen.
10. God is always good. A lady once told me that nothing happens in our life with out God's "stamp of approval". That "bad" thing in your life is happening for a reason. God allowed it. God is always good. God is always God.

I could go on and on but I think those are the main things that I've been shown this past year.
Like most people I did make New Year resolutions.

1. Read my Bible more in depth.
2. Wake up earlier. I'm a night person so this one is hard for me.
3. Speak kinder words to my brothers. Even when my blood sugar is low and I get very moody.
4. Do more of my own sewing.
5. Spend more time thinking of others.
6. Be more thankful.
7. Fill my hopechest. Hope chest?
8. Exercise daily.
9. Post at least weekly on here.
10.Graduate high school =]

Some things I want to learn to do or simply make the time to do this year:

1. Knit a sweater
2. learn a foreign language.
3. Learn to make soap.
4. Get my own business out of the 'dream' stage and into real life!
5. Learn to make a good button hole. Trust me, its harder than you think.

I know this is so very late but I sort of hit a writing dead end.I was told that my writing needed some work and that my grammar was very poor. I know that my grammar needs work but it is something that I struggle with and also something that I have been working on. Rather then letting this slide like I should have I got upset and didn't want to write for awhile. I am now over this and will be blogging regularly again. Forgive me for allowing such a petty thing prevent me from sharing this.

2008-12-19T18:51:00.000-06:00

Starting Monday is our official Christmas break. After that I'll be half way done with my senior year of high school, the mixed emotions are over whelming. I have dreamed about this day since 6th grade. I've planned and planned yet all of those plans are now void due to my surrendering to the Lord. I use to have to all planned out, where I would go to college, what I would study, and what I would do after that. Even how many children I wanted! A "perfect" plan in my own eyes. Now I'm not so sure. It's never been a question of wither or not I'd go to college, my father has told me since I was eight that I was going to college, plain and simple. I was always told I'd complete college before I married and that was all there was to it. Now I'm confused, Yes I will be going to college since that is what my father wishes for me to do and my duty as a daughter and as a woman is to honor and obey him in all that I do; But now, there is no strong desire to go and get a degree. I feel no pull towards getting a career before I marry. I'm content with taking correspondence classes and learning to care for a home though other means. This spring I'll be taking some basic herb and family gardening classes. Those are the things that the Lord has turned my heart to, not going off and getting some expensive degree and getting a high paying job, then getting married and having children.

As I reach the half way point of this final year of schooling, I feel a thrill of pure happiness that 'yes its really going to happen!' I am also scared of what lays ahead, as I go into the college campus what temptations will I face and what challenges on my faith will I have to over come? Will I be able to over come these? I'm also hopeful, hopeful of that which the Lord is preparing for me. Every time I pray for my future husband and children I feel a hope for my future! I feel as if my life has a purpose and that I'm getting closer to one of the highest callings that the Lord has for me. I also sense waiting. My parents want to me to have finishes college before I can marry. I know that there will be temptation in this area. Will I be able to wait for His will? Will I ever meet the man the Lord has for me? Does he even have a mate for me or does he wish for me to remain single forever?

I feel as though I'm coming near the end of a road that I can't see around the next bend. I have no idea what is coming and I only have two options. One: Stay still in fear and never know the fullness of what the Lord has planned for me. 2: Go forward with faith and trust Him fully. My favorite verse, Jeremiah 29:11, reads: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
Even though I do not feel like I have an expected end all the time I know that I do. Faith is all that will get me though the remainder of this school year and all that lays ahead.

As I look back over the past few years I can see the working of the Lord in ways that then I didn't see. Times He lead me to those that would help and encourage me and times that he lead me to those that needed help and encouragement! My greatest desire of these upcoming years are that at the end of this part of my journey I'll be able to look back on my single years and say that I did not waste them! I want to be able to serve my God and others with all my heart during these years. I know that this season in my life is not meant for me to be finding a mate, but to be preparing my self for my mate though service to others and to the Lord. As I take an over view of the past few years I am amazed with how much I have changed and how much I have grown. It seems as if the past few years I've started a whole new "growth spurt". I'm done growing physically but no where near done growing spiritually and mentally.

I'm working on an end of the year post on the matter of personal growth so I won't go into detail here.

I guess the main thing I'm feeling is over whelming excitement. I'm about to finish HIGH SCHOOL! Its sort of like coming to the end of a good book. You are excited that its over but your sad that its coming to an end; But at least you know there's a sequel!

So what do I have left as far as school work?

I have to finish Geometry.
English 12.
Sonlight for history and literature.
Human anatomy.
My foreign language.

When do I plan to get my diploma?

The second or third week of May!

What do I plan on majoring in?

Education and anything that has to do with homemaking.

Well I could write for a loooong time on this subject but I'll save it for another week.
Have a great week end!

What do you do when the winter winds start to blow?

2008-12-15T15:24:00.004-06:00

You Moisturize of course! Its that time of year again, winter. *sighs* I honestly dislike winter! Give me 100+ degrees any day over winter! Since its here I might as well face the facts and share how to keep your skin health all winter!

With winter often comes dry skin, but have no fears its relatively easy to prevent and or cure it!

1. We've all heard a ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! So one way to keep that skin hydrated is drink water! How much should you be drinking? Take how much you weigh and divide it in half, that is the number of ounces you should be drinking each day.(approximately)

2. Cut back on the hot water in the shower and when washing your hands. The water does not have to be scolding! Hot water washes more of the skins natural oil and drains the skin of its moisture faster than cooler water! I'm NOT saying that you should take icy showers but just cut back on the hot a little.

3. Don't just assume that the same lotion you use the rest of the year will keep your skin soft in the winter. I just had to switch my face lotion because of this! I went from sensitive skin to an advanced hydrating lotion. My favorite facial lotion is the generic CVS brand its about 3 dollars cheaper than Olay and works just as well.

4. Use lotion every single time you bathe.

5. If you suffer from dry scalp in the winter try deep treating your scalp with some warm olive oil for about 15-20 minutes just to relieve the dryness and to add some moisture. Be sure to wash it out thoroughly!! Also there are shampoo/conditioners made just for dry scalp! My favorite shampoo/conditioner for dry scalp is Head and shoulders, you can normally find coupons and free samples at their website.

6. Don't forget your lips! Our lips are often exposed even when we're all bundled up! A simple chap stick can help prevent your lips from splitting and cracking. Carmex works wonderfully! Basic kind seem to work best for me, The fruity glossy lip gloss' may be fun but put on a base coat of protection first!

Keeping your skin healthy in the winter time is not hard, you just have to know how to do so. Got any tips? Share them!

Just for fun

2008-12-11T16:56:00.010-06:00

Miss Lacy has tagged me!

~ The Rules ~

*Post the six to ten things that you do on a daily basis
*Link to the person who tagged you.
*Tag five other people
*Leave a comment on the blog of the person that tagged you letting them know that have posted this to your blog.
~*~ A rule I'm adding; you must tag at least one person who's blog you have either just found within the last week or some one who's blog that you don't know very well!

Let me think...

1. I feed my darlin' kitten and darlin' doggy
2. I brush my teeth! I hate having dirty teeth!
3. I read my Bible and pray
4. I wash dishes
5. I attempt to tidy up my room… <---ditto Lacy.
6. I check my e-mail
7. I knit
8. Check other peoples blogs.
9. Hmmmm...I read books other than my Bible
10. Thinking...hang on...do the wash!

Now, who to tag? :) How about.. (in no particular order):

1. Anna
2. ellielulu
3. Miss Serenity
4. My mom
5. Felecia
6. And any one else who wishes to do so!

In other news, My mother and I participated in an apron swap! I just wanted to share the lovely pictures of what my partern made for me!

Here is my lovely reversible apron!

A overview off all the charming items she blessed me with!

Ms. Melinda included not only the mandtory apron, cookie cutter, and cookie recipe, but she graceculy sent me a notepad cover, an awesome folding shoping bag which I spent a good amount of time folding and refolding into a small purse size bag, and sprinkles! Which will be wonderful on sugar cookies!
About the shopping bag, Its really neat. Its a full size bag, that has a pocket on the outisde, once your done with it you fold it up neatly and it contains itself in the pocket!

You can buy the pattern she used here!

You can find her blog here

One last topic for this post. My mouth is pretty much fully healed! I had no infection nor complications other than the pain medicine making me depressed, The Lord mercifully dulled the pain more quickly then was expected so I was able to drop the hydrocodone within the first two days instead of dragging it out for a week. I'm still taking the penicillin just for precautions as the oral surgeon said but the lacerations are almost fully healed and just barely swollen! I should be 100% set to sing this coming Sunday! I praise God that He kept me in good health though the removing of my wisdom teeth.

Why I don't wear pants.

2008-12-10T14:05:00.008-06:00

I've been asked this question a lot lately. At work I'm constantly asked why I'm wearing a skirt since its freezing out side. Even friends at church have questioned the change, so I'm going to address the issue and share my journey into wearing skirts.
This is going to be a somewhat hard thing to write mainly because so many people dear to me don't share the same view so I'm going to try my best to not offend anyone but chances are I will, so before warned.

I've been wearing just skirts for about three or four months now except for bed time. I found the feelin' feminine challenge and took it for a spin. at the end of the week I felt very feminine and just plain lady like. I started wearing skirts more then but it was a ways later that I started wearing just skirts. I used to love jeans, they were comfy and to me practical. I used the excuse that they could be modest even though, at times, I wore them tighter than I should have! When any one would mention wearing skirts instead I would blow them off and give the whole spill about "that being a thing of the past" and that pants are just more practical. Yeah right, so far I've been able to do every thing that I was able to do in pants in a skirt and still be modest.

One of the largest arguments I had for wearing pants was also the lamest of all. "some pants are more modest then some skirts. Skirts can be immodest to!" Looking back I see how completely lame this was. Yes skirts can be immodest, but just because a skirt can be immodest why does that mean that pants are acceptable? I've heard "well if you compare a mini skirt or a long full skirt with a thigh high slit to a pair of loose jeans then the jeans are more modest". OK, this is a huge cop out! You don't say well candy is better for you then a rotten apple! Thus candy is better for you! Another excuse is some things can't be done in skirts! Well, the pioneer women wore skirts all the time and they rode horse, drove wagons, and walked for miles over rough land all in skirts. Simply lengthening the skirt can fix a lot of problems with modesty, but I'll get to that later. Another thing I hear and use to use was "I'll freeze!" dear madam may I introduce you to the microfiber tights! I wore these for the first time last night and I stayed as nice and warm as if I was wearing blue jeans.

So lets debunk each of these myths one by one. The first one I've already taken care of.

Second myth: Some things just need pants. If you wear a knee length skirt out hiking things are gonna show, that's the long and short of it. If you wear a long skirt, mid calf or longer, then you should be able to walk and do moderate climbing with out showing it all. If this is still a fear wear long walking shorts under your skirts! How about skirted culottes? These are wonderful creations. They are like walking shorts that have a built in skirt over them! Like skorts but the skirt goes all the way around. Unlike normal culottes these aren't insanely full so they don't balloon out and fly up when you run.

Third myth or excuse: I'll freeze!
Again let me intrude you to microfiber tights! These are so warm and stylish! Don't like tights? How about knee length socks? Or layering? The day after thanksgiving we went out to a homestead farm and let me tell ya it was cold! I wore an ankle length jean skirt and two under skirts and I was warm! To my delight there where a lot of ladies in long modest skirts! For once I didn't feel like I was a minority but back to the subject at hand. It is possible to stay warm in skirts it just takes some creativity. Here's a set of links to different blog post on staying warm in skirts:
http://krisantecountrymom.blogspot.com/2008/10/skirts-and-staying-warm_25.html
http://buriedtreasurebooks.com/weblog/?p=1189 this one is just about staying unfrumpy.
http://susangodfrey.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/keeping-warm-in-dressesskirts/

I'm not going to get into the legality of pants and skirts but here are some links for your own reading.
http://plainhomesteading.blogspot.com/2008/09/pants-are-not-for-woman.html
http://lilyamongthorns16.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/why-skirtsdresses-only
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/OldPathsMom/589071/
http://www.tanbooks.com/doct/dressing.htm

For the record I do NOT look down on those who wear pants. I do NOT think this is a matter of salvation merely an issue of obedience.

The tale of two kitties

2008-12-09T13:41:00.006-06:00

As y'all know on October the 10th my mother found four orphaned day old kittens. We lost two with in the first week while the other two grew into health kittens. Last week I had to give Gus-Gus to a lady with whom I work and the other is now my very own!

So here is a slide show of the last seven weeks of my dear kittens.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30433983@N02/show/
I could figure out how to add a slide show to my post so I had to use a link to my mom's flickr! If any one knows how to add one directly to a post please tell me how to do so!

The cutie with the cooper spot on her head is Izzy, short for Isabella. The handsome black one is Gus-Gus.

Also I wanted to share how my wisdom teeth execration went.
I meet the dentist and with in 15 seconds of meeting him he had the I.V in and with in 2 seconds of the iv I was totally out. I don't remember anything after that til the car ride home where I'd wake up and panic then fall back asleep just to do the same thing over and over again every 10 minutes. Once we reached the garage my mother told me to stay in the car and she'd help me out. Either I didn't hear her or I didn't understand her but I tried to get out on my own and I promptly fell on the floor resulting in my 16year old brother having to carry me inside, which I don't remember either. Next thing I know I wake up an hour later in my bed as confused as before and for the next 2 hours I as in and out of my foggy daze. When I did wake up I was in pain, and a lot of it! Thankfully I was able to take some painkiller that worked almost immediately. The medicine I'm on to prevent infection is making me quite sick to my stomach and a little dizzy but over all I'm doing quiet well.
I still get dizzy when I stand up a lot and when ever I eat but its not near as bad as the first day. Also I can't open my mouth very much and moving my tongue hurts something awful! So I'm avoiding talking and eating only soft food. I'm praying that tomorrow I'll be back up and running!

Using everyday events as a witness.

2008-12-06T11:11:00.003-06:00

Being that I can be painfully shy in front of people that I don't know and even with those I do know I have a difficult time sharing the Gospel and declaring the saving power of Jesus with every one in a bold way but I have found that the Lord often brings situations into my life in which I can share the Gospel in a small way.

Monday I will be having my wisdom teeth removed. I was shocked to hear that I would have to take a pregnancy test since I'm going to be lightly sedated. I had seen the sign that declared that all women of childbearing age must have one but I didn't view my self in that category. I simply told the lady that it was unnecessary and that there was no way I could be pregnant, she told me that I could sign a waver testifying that I'm not pregnant if I wished to do so. After my consolation I was talking to my choir director's wife and she told me that the same thing had happend to one of her grown daughters and she had been able to use it as a quick witness of her christian faith. I hadn't thought of it this way. So since then I have been planning on how to use this as a witness. Instead of just saying that I was a virgin inform the lady that I'm a christian and as a born again believer that I believe in all forms of abstinence until marriage or something along those lines.

Other ways I've been able to get a living testimony have been at work. When guys ask me out or ask if I'm single, I'm able to tell them that I believe in waiting for a relationship until God brings the most perfect man along for me, and that til that day I'm building a strong walk with my Savior. I've been able to give out a few tracts this way. Also when customers tell me that they enjoy my smile and that I'm always so friendly I'm able to tell them what makes me so happy all the time. One night the other ladies I was working with where being very short and rude and I have a middle age woman thank me for being to polite and helpful, I thanked her but told her that I'm simply trying to show others the same love that God showed to me. Some people just smile at me like I'm crazy but I've had others seem interested in the Peace that I have though Christ. There are a few godly christian that often encourage men with their witness, They come in my store regularly always dressed modestly, the ones that have children have their children dressed modestly as well and they are behaving like good children. The power of our life testimony is strong even when we're not thinking about it, it shows. At the grocery store, at work, at school, and even at home our lives are always speaking of what in out hearts; the only question is, Is it good or is it a bad witness?

1 Timothy 4:12 (King James Version)
"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

Alphe Bet.

2008-12-05T23:29:00.004-06:00

Dear MJ over at a pondering heart wrote about the Alphe Bet! The song has been running in my mind since I first listened to it before my concert! So consider you self warned before you listen to it! Also, I was eager to learn my Hebrew name but quickly found out that Sydney is a boys name only is Hebrew and well...I'm not a boy! The video is super cute and funny, as sad as it to admit it I watched to four times...in a row. Its late and I just got back from a concert so I won't write a whole article like I had planned and I can't find my cord to upload pictures like I had wanted so I'll just share Dear MJ's post with y'all!

How to read the Bible daily

2008-11-27T18:50:00.005-06:00

In my last post I spoke of the importance of daily Bible reading. In this one I'm going to share how to do this. The only way to read the Bible daily is to have a set time to do so each day. If you don't have a planned time them more likely than not it will fall to the way side. So first things first. Pick a time to spend time alone with God. Tell your family or at least your mother so that she can either help keep your accountable or so that she knows when to let you have alone time and not disturb you.

Secondly you have to get into worship mood. For me this means covering my hair and just having a few minutes of silence while I focus on God. I then pray for God to open my eyes to His Word and I then start to read. The hardest part of this is tuning out distractions. If the weather is nice maybe go outside or if you’re indoors shut your bedroom door and just ignore everything else.

Thirdly, want something, have a goal. We only get out what we put into something. If we approach the Heavenly Father with a casual "lets get this over with so I can mark off today" attitude then that’s all we will get out of it. A day to mark off the calendar. If you approach the Word with a "lets see what He can show me today" attitude then the Lord will show us and or teach us something.

Fourthly, Deal with any sin that’s in your heart. Some one once said “Sin will keep you from this Book and this Book will keep you from sin". When there is a heart issue then we will have a hard time reading the Good Book. If there is someone that you need to forgive then forgive before you try to have your prayer time. When we go to God with sin in our hearts it’s like talking to him though a wall we know he's there but we don't feel Him quite the same. The experience has been dulled by our sin. It’s like trying to eat a piece of cake with a burnt tongue. There is still a little enjoyment but near as much! I know that spending time with God is nothing like eating cake but the allegory is still the same.

Five, Have a note book and pen ready. If you read a verse that really stands out write it down so you can read it again when you need some encouragement. Maybe have a little section in a notepad for different kind of verses; encouragement, prayer help, fear, and praise etc.

Six, keep a concordance handy. These are wonderful tools! I had never really used one until I started my study on head coverings and it proved to be extremely useful! Many have Greek and Hebrew dictionaries in them as well which is nice when you don't know the meaning of a word or you just want more clarification.

Seven, Keep an open mind. Be willing to do what ever God shows you. Don't allow your self to become harden to the Word. When ever you receive correction, apply it to your life and or corrects the wrong that you've been shown. If we harden our hearts them the Lord will stop showing us stuff and we will become bitter and useless to the Lord.

Any tips or helpful thoughts? Please share! We can all benefit from learning from each other! So don't hide your candle under a bush!

Senior Shirt

2008-11-18T18:01:00.003-06:00

Over the weekend I received my senior shirt! So this post is a hearty thanks to MJ over at A Pondering Heart and to the Homeschool Boutique!
Pictures are to follow shortly! Its rather late in the evening and all ready getting quite dark out.

When I pulled the package from the P.O Box I was so thrilled! My mom tried to tell me that she was going to put it up for Christmas but I had already started opening it right there in the lobby! Thankfully she was joking and allowed me to finish opening it! Top marks to The Boutique and to dear MJ for having such a wonderful blog and doing a grand giveaway!

As New Born Babes...

2008-11-13T14:18:00.001-06:00

...desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby:" 1 Peter 2:2, KJV

Being some what close in age to my younger brothers I never really knew how new born babies ate nor how fiercely they desired milk! As I feed my kittens this verse pops into my head and makes me giggle at first then sends my mind into a deep train of thought. Do I desire my Bible and time alone with God like these babies desire their milk? Have you ever seen a baby eat? They suck like theirs nothing else in the world, just them and the source of milk! When my kittens start to cry they want milk! And they want it now!! If I tried to give them something else they would cry even louder and start throwing a little kitty fit. Nothing will fill their passion except the milk! When they see the bottles now they start pawing the air in attempts to get to eat sooner! They want to drink! They want to drink till they can drink no more. My hands now show testament to how much of a fight they put up to eat. They knead their paws and they claw like crazy just to get what they want. Milk.

No one tells a baby or in my case a kitten "you've already eaten once today, surely you don't need more milk!" or "are your sure you really need that much milk, surely it won't hurt you to cut back or skip it for one day". When a baby stops eating it cause for worry! We don’t think well I guess its ok for him to skip it just this one day I mean he can always catch up later. NO! We would have to be crazy to think that it’s ok for a newborn baby not to eat for a whole day. Two of the four kittens died, they both stopped eating. When they started to skip meals I was worried and I knew that they couldn't make it with out milk, I tried and tried to coax them into eating but it didn't work, they passed on. I think they may have been sick from the start and that’s why they died but I'll never know. Any ways back to the Bible study! When my kittens stopped eating it was cause for alarm! Something was wrong! Yet how many Christians skip their Bible reading and think nothing of it? A few years back a group of teenagers started a summer Bible study with our pastor their was only 6 of us at the most and on the very first day he asked how many of us had a regular time with God. To my surprise, and relief, I wasn't the only one who struggled with this! Others had a hard time getting into the word as well!

Its easy to fall out of the habit of daily Bible reading, you stay out late one night and then when you get home your so tired that you don't even think about reading your Bible, Or you wake up later than you had planned and your realize that you don't have enough time to get all your stuff done, so the Bible falls to the way side.

Why is daily Bible reading so important? Here are top ten reasons according to more questions than answers

10. To know your King and Savior
9. To grow (1 Peter 2:2)
8. So you can claim the promises that are yours in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20)
7. To see some awesome examples of faith (see Hebrews 11 for a start)
6. To be rooted and grounded in Him (Colossians 2:6-7)
5. So you can stand firm in the trials of life (lots of references!)
4. To know your marching orders
3. To avoid pitfalls
2. For more powerful prayer--what better thing is there to pray than God's own word?
1. Who doesn't love a good, well awesome, love letter?

I have never received a love letter, but once my earthly prince sends me one I'm sure I will cherish it and read it over and over again! How much more should I do so with my Prince of Princes? I personally find it hard sometimes to read my Bible. Either I don’t have time or I just lack the desire to dive into His word. But how many of us would take a letter from our loved one and just set it aside and not even bother with reading it? I know that I read my letters, wither it’s via the postbox or via the e-mail, A.S.A.P!

If you struggle in your Bible study may I suggest getting an accountability partner? Someone who will ask you how your Bible study is going and will up lift you when you succeed and will admonish you with love when you fail. I don't have an official one but my mother often does this for me and I know that when she asks if I haven't done it yet I better! Cause chances are she'll ask again!

Another great tip that my previous pastor gave me was to set a time and place to spend with the Lord daily. If your like me and you think the best at night do your Bible study/Heavy reading before bed; but remember to start each day with prayer and maybe even a proverbs or Psalms to get your mind thinking on God.
If your one of those morning people who thrive in the morning, I don’t understand you people but hey, its ok you can be a little off in the head I won't tell; then spend time with God in the morning first thing! If you have a busy morning and evening then spend time with God in the afternoon! The time is not important! The important thing is to spend time with your Lord and Savior every single day!

When I first started attending church I thought that you had to wake up early in the morning and read a prescribed number of chapters from certain books of the Bible in order to have a "real" Bible study. What works best for me is to read until the Lord shows me something, some times that's a few verses, some times its five, six, even seven chapters but I always try to read until the Lord shows me something. Before I open my Bible I pray Psalm 119:18 “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.” Obviously the psalmists are not talking about the physical eyes but the eyes of the heart. The Lord will not just drop divine inspiration on our laps ever day unless we're seeking him and earnestly desiring to know him.
Luke 11:9 reads: "and I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
The tells us that if we ask and knock He will show us what the Bible says! He will not hide his truth from those who sincerely seek his face. He made withhold His will from us for awhile but in the end He shows us what He means.

My next post will be on how to set up a time and place to read the Bible and some other practical ways to get into the Bible and how to really study it. I've always been told to study my Bible but no one every told me how to study it. So I plan on sharing some ways that I've learned to really study and learn from what you read.

Second Thessalonians 3:13 "Brethren, be not weary in well doing."
Psalms 1:2 "2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night"

New e patterns!

2008-11-05T17:54:00.001-06:00

Jennie Chancey owner of Sense and Sensibility patterns has just converted most of her patterns into ePatterns. If you have never been to her site you have got to get over there.

Her patterns are beautiful, elegant and best of all modest. I'm looking forward to getting some my self!

I'm sorry that I haven't posted for awhile but things are slowing down and I'm 3/4 done with my next post! I also want to let y'all know that even thought I haven't been commenting on your blogs I have been reading them! So, please, don't think I've forgotten my friends!

Please look for my next post on Friday!

Playing mommy

2008-10-11T09:08:00.005-05:00

Last night when I called my house from work, my dad picked up the phone. This is strange because my mom normally answers the phone, so I asked where mom was. I heard a sigh and he told me she was feeding the cats, I was like "what??" as being we don't have cats and that my dad strongly dislikes cats! All he said was I don't want to talk about it! Then my mom called me back after she was done and told me that she had found four newborn kittens that had been abandoned. They can't be more than 2 days old because they still have their cords. She and my brothers had found them wandering blindly around the yard of the empty house next to ours; cold and crying pitifully. They found the first to in the early evening then a few hours later went back to make sure they found them all and found two more even colder and still alone and crying.

By the time I got home they had eaten once and where curled up in a box asleep. Four little balls of fuzzy-ness! Last night they slept in my room and I was up every few hours checking on them and trying to feed them. So far they are all doing quite well and are currently sleeping in a plastic tote box lined with blankets right next to me. The only pictures we have of them are on my mom’s camera so I'll have to wait to post them. Oh, you want me to tell you what they look like? Ok, since you asked about my babies! One is black, one is black with gray stripes, the other is black with a tan spot on his head and a white mouth, and the other is black with gray and tan stripes. They are so cute and just so tiny; they fit in my hands so perfectly!

I told y'all that I would post the response I got about my head covering! So here it goes! Wednesday night most people thought it was just a wide headband, a few girls who knew what I was doing said that it looked very pretty and one girl even said I looked like Maid Marian from Robin Hood, I guess that’s a good thing? She said it like it was! Then last night at work a man was having a conversation and was cursing every so often, when we saw me and looked at my head he quickly apologized for his rough language and said that he hoped he hadn't offended me! I think tomorrow is when the rest of the church people will notice that I'm wearing headcoverings which makes me very nervous! So once again I promise to tell y'all how it goes!

Have a great weekend!

~Home School Senior Give Away~

2008-10-10T12:38:00.004-05:00

Attention all homeschool seniors! Miss Jocelyn. is giving away a totally awesome senior shirt! Homeschool Boutique was very generous and donated one to MJ in order to give away! I've visited the boutique a few times and every time I have I've been greatly impressed with the products! So even if your not a senior check them out! They have christian t-shirts for non-homeschoolers too!
So what are you waiting for?? Click on one of the links and sign up if your a senior!

Tagged and some pictures!

2008-10-08T17:27:00.008-05:00

First of all I was tagged!
by Lacy at A Godly Maiden

The Rules

Link to the person(s) who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Write six random things about yourself.
Tag sixish people at the end of your post.
Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
Let the tagger know when your entry is up
So let’s see.. six random things about myself…

Hmmm Something random about me...

1. I have a slight obession with knitting books! Slight might be a tad of an understatment.
2. I have a little stuffed sheep keychain that snores when I squeeze it!
3. I've broken all my toes at least once and I think I've broken a few twice.
4. My goal is to grow my hair out to my waist again, when I was 8-9 I could sit on it!
5. When I'm nervous I fiddle with anything that I can get my hands on. Even when I'm not nervous I fold all my papers with out even thinking about it! It drives my mom crazy!
6. Some times I drop my "g's" and I say y'all instead of you all.

So how is my next victum...I mean who should I tag...hmmmmm...I know!

I tag anyone who reads this! Just joking, I tag anyone who wants to do this!

OK now for my pictures!

I wasn't able to attend church Sunday because my family was still getting over being sick so tonight will be my first ngiht to wear it to church. The past week I've worn it full time, mainly just to get used to wearing one before church and also just to see how it feels, I'm still praying about when I should be wearing one but in the mean time here are some pictures of a few that I've made/bought.

Little brother zoom out alittle please!

Thanks! Ok this one I made from some fabric my mom bought, its basicly just a bandana with ties.

This is the one I bought from Garlands of Grace! Front and Back. Also, I'm wearing this one to church tonight.

This is simply a bandana I bought a while back from goodwill and finally found a use for it! It matches my choir polo perfectly! My youngest brother (and my photograhier) likes this one best of all.

Well, off I go to church! I hope that this weekend I'll be able to share the response I get tonight!

When the waiting is easy

2008-10-03T12:35:00.007-05:00

We always hear about how hard it is to wait, waiting in line at the bank or in the drive thru at a fast food place, and especially for Gods perfect some one and will for our lives; but how often do we hear about the joys of waiting? On some of your dear blogs I read about your joys of waiting and of your joys of training to be keepers at home, but up until now its been a huge struggle for me, currently I am very content with waiting. Right now I feel as if I'm not missing out on anything.
What bought this change? I'm not sure, I think it’s because I've take a few steps back and started examine my life. "Am I really ready to get involved with this young man?" or "do I really have all the traits that a wife/mother should have?" The answer is no! In six months I'll be legally an adult and by law I'll be viewed as ready to marry but we all know that we should use Gods' measuring tape and not the world's.

When I started looking at how my life measured up to Gods' yardstick I found a few areas lacking. As I've been working on these things I've felt a peace come over me about waiting. I realize that God had work for me to do as a single lady and that I must complete this before He shows me the next part of my life. How long will this take? I can't even begin to fathom! But you know what else I'm looking forward to the wait. Strange as it may sound I'm pleased to be in waiting. I'm under going some of the most important years of training in my life. Right now decisions that I make will shape my future.

As dear sister Sarah Mally writes in her book Before You Meet Prince Charming our purity is like a gift given us from The King. This gift must not only be given to the right person but at the right time. We can’t put this gift on a shelf to protect but instead it goes with us every where, even the slightest mishandling can damage it. We see others sharing their gifts’ around freely with others and we see the "fun" there having and we begin to wonder, do I really have to guard it this much? Well of course the answer is yes. Instead of watching the others ruin and damage there gift we should focus on the other tasks The King has given us. Such as being a servant to others and learning the things that He wants us to perfect. The gift I’m talking about is our heart and our purity.
Right now I'm not thinking about the future to much, of course I’m thinking about it some being in my last year of high school but mainly I'm striving to be a better servant in my home and working on being a better servant to my God. When I see all the work that needs to be done in this world I realize that it’s not my time yet, my time right now is to work in this world but not work for this world. Currently my calling is to be a candle while serving others and pointing them to Jesus.

Fairly recently a young man was showing a little interest in me. Needless to say I was flattered and he was a very nice young man so I started talking to him. Being careful to guard my heart I would smile a short smile when he passed and keep our conversations short and in groups of other friends. Yet, something was not right. At first it seemed as though it was just a friendship but later I realized that unless I put up a stop sign it could turn into something more! I realized that this young man was not what I had thought him to be but I didn't see this, I won't say how or why, but the Lord opened my fathers eyes to why this was heading towards a dangerous place and he then show me how this young man was not the right one for me at all.
I was consoled to not let anything form between him and I but to just keep a very causal and just friend relationship with him. Some how the Enemy used this as a door to plant a seed of discontent. I began to miss what I had never had, a real relationship with a young man.

Even though I was guarding my heart and protecting my self from becoming emotionally attached to this young man, who was not the right one for me, I let in what is called discontentment. This is where we begin to think that God just might be holding out on us, maybe, just maybe He doesn't really have a plan for us. We started to get antsy and we get flustered with our command to be set a part and to be an example of the believer with our purity.
This is very dangerous! We should never doubt that God has a perfect plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." I once heard how we see life this way.
A grandmother was sitting in her rocking chair working on some embroidery and her little granddaughter was sitting on the floor looking at the underside of her grandmother’s work. The little girl just saw the knots and crossed stings and asked her granny "why are you making such a mess? Surely you can do better, I've see it before!" The grandmother just smiled and said "you'll see once I'm finished dear one" so after the grandmother had finished her work she showed the little girl the right side of the work and the girl saw that it was a beautiful picture and that it was just a good if not better than all the others her grandmother had ever done! The wise old grandmother told the young girl " this is just like our life we see the under side and doubt Gods abilities and question Him, but God sees the right side and tells us "you'll see once I'm done working on you", so dear one don't doubt that God has a plan for you, you just can't see it yet".
Once I heeded my father’s wisdom the Lord began to work in my heart and removed that seed of discontentment and began to point out areas that I needed to be working on.

So right now waiting is easy for me, God is working my life and is holding my hand tightly as I walk though this life. As for now, I'm fully trusting HIM and keeping my eyes towards my Savior and waiting, joyfully waiting.

Free Give Away!!!

2008-10-02T14:14:00.003-05:00

My mother is giving away a free apron and bonnet for a little girl! Perfect for dress up or for anything else a little girl could want it for! I know I used to enjoy playing pioneers with my best friend clear up until I was 12 or so! All you have to do is leave a comment on her blog to be entered! If you have a little sister or maybe you just know a little girl that would like, be sure to leave my mom a comment! You never know, you might win it!

*************************************************************************************
Up-Coming post!

~When the waiting is easy~

Headcoverings

2008-09-27T21:45:00.006-05:00

I feel like I've abandoned my poor little blog the last few weeks but I've been reeeeeeeally busy! So heres a little peek into whats been on my mind.

What I'm about to write it not to change anyone’s ideas or to try to make y'all see this my way but simply to let y'all know what’s going on and to know what I've personally decided to do.

The past few months I've been having a really hard time doing my personal devotions because every time I did I would stumble upon First Corinthians 11 and would be so confused that I simply did not want to read anything else. So this past month I've gone all out studying about head coverings and I doubt my concordance has ever been used that much. Website after website, article after article just confirmed what I had been feeling; I needed to be wearing a head covering in church. I spent a week just praying, and then I spent some time doing a semi-deep study on the topic. I then came to the conclusion that I should be covering my hair at least in church services at this point.

As I said in the beginning I'm not trying to convince any one that they should do they same but I do want to share why I'm doing this. First let’s look at the passage in question.

1Cr 11:1 be ye followers of me, even as I also [am] of Christ.
1Cr 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered [them] to you.
1Cr 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God.
1Cr 11:4 every man praying or prophesying, having [his] head covered, dishonoureth his head.
1Cr 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with [her] head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
1Cr 11:6 for if the woman be not covered let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
1Cr 11:7 for a man indeed ought not to cover [his] head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
1Cr 11:8 for the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
1Cr 11:9 neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
1Cr 11:10 for this cause ought the woman to have power on [her] head because of the angels.
1Cr 11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
1Cr 11:12 for as the woman [is] of the man, even so [is] the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
1Cr 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1Cr 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1Cr 11:15 but if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for [her] hair is given her for a covering.

When I first started studying this I, like most people I know, thought it to be only for those women in that day. But when I looked at the word "every woman" in the Greek it means "with out exclusions" "every virgin, married woman, or widow". Since I happen to fall into that group thus the passage is a command to me.
Then I started wondering is the hair a covering? Yes, it is "a" covering but not "the covering". If we where to use the word hair in place of covering, the passage would not make much since. It would sound something like "if a woman has short hair let her hair be cut short".
It would also mean that men would have to be bald. The word Covered means to let something hand down and to cover thoroughly. The verses also implies that it is it be something that we can take off and put on as we please, I don’t know bout y'all but I can't take my hair on and off at will.

Another verse that speaks of the covering of the hair is Isaiah 47:1-2

Isa 47:1Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: [there is] no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.
Isa 47:2 Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, and pass over the rivers.
Isa 47:3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen...

In this passage God is referring to the daughters of Babylon and their nakedness. He tells Babylon to sit on in the dust and to leave her high position of being a virgin and to show her nakedness to the entire world by uncovering her hair and by exposing her thighs. Her shame is to show her hair and thighs, both of which should be covered.

I've only told my family and 3 friends about this decision so far and almost every was very supportive of me even if they did not agree. I had one friend look at me very funny as was like "...why?", One who also covers her head was praying for me and was very supportive the whole time and I know she won't ever read this but I do want to thank her! So am I nervous about my first time to go to church covered? YES! Very much so. I know that it will rock the boat a bit and that people are going to laugh, but I also know that I must do what I feel the Lord is calling me to do, even if that means going against what people expect me to do and what the consider normal. If you would like to read more about this subject please vist Miss Lacy’s blog.
She and I have e-mail back and forth a few times about head covering and I found her to be a great encouragement!

I haven't gotten my first covering yet but it should be here any day! I order it from Garlands Of Grace!

When I get it I'll be sure to post some pictures and tell y'all how my first day of wearing it goes!

Feeling Feminine Challenge Day Two

2008-09-10T15:26:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was a very busy day, or so it felt. In reality I didn't do that much but it just felt rushed for some reason. It was rainy all night which means that I slept really well and deep, it also means that I slept in!
I woke up and after basic morning stuff (eating, dressing,brushing my teeth, Devtions ect.) I started my morning with Physics. I'm only three days into it, so far I am enjoying it greatly, check back with me in a few months and see if I'm still saying that.

As for what I wore, I wore my choir uniform to choir (go figure) and then I also wore it to work I just threw my "fashionable" apron over it!
(no that is not a bad spot on my shirt I just blurred the choirs name on it! The wonder of ADOBE PHOTOSHOP!)
Over all it was a very quiet night but I sure was glad when I called my mom and told her that I was done at work and she could pick me up.
Tonight is church and since I help teach one of the chrildrens class we have to be there early so I wont have time to post todays pictures until tomorrow, So I'm thinking that I'll be posting my pictures a day behind.

I hope all y'all have a great night a church/Bible study or w/e you will be doing tonight!

The Feelin' Feminie challange

2008-09-08T17:55:00.005-05:00

I've done the feellin’ feminine challenge once before but I'm doing it again and this time with my mom! This past week and a half I've stopped wearing pants, so I guess you could say I'm on the challenge permanently. So this time my mom and I will be sharing our pictures and writing out posts together! So here’s my picture for to day!

To day I went to my yearbook/photography class, most every one there was in pants so I felt a little out of place at first but quickly got over than and went crazy taking pictures of the class I had been assigned to photograph. Other than that I’ve just done school and hung around the house.
At the end of this week I'm going to try and make a slide show with all our different pictures.

On another note I was awarded a blog award.

Dear Miss Kira was the dear lady that gave it to me. I'd highly encourage you all to vist her blog and to vist the other ladies to whom she gave the award! I wasn't told how many people to give it to so, in no particular order I give it to:

Mia At Aspiring Homemaker.

Paige At Retro-Belle

Samantha At running after HIS heart

Pray for China

2008-09-05T23:34:00.005-05:00

Please the the following then vist this link to recive your free pray for china band

*"The eyes of the world will soon be on the Olympics. But the eyes of God remain on His children and especially those who suffer for their faith.

Despite what you may hear in the news, Chinese Christians who refuse to register with the government controlled church are being persecuted. Many have undergone horrific suffering.

Recently a prominent representative of a group of house churches in China asked Christians throughout the free world to pray for China during the Olympics. The Voice of the Martyrs, in partnership with China Aid Association, has accepted that call and has produced the Olympic Prayer Band. We would like to invite you to request one for free to wear during the Olympics. Similar prayer bands will also be distributed to house church Christians in China and they will be praying for you as well."

*Taken from the VOM webpage.
We might not be able to go to China ourselves but we can pray for the Chinese people!
I want to challange every one to pray for china and for 5 minutes a day for 30 days just five minutes for 4 weeks thats just 6 hours and 15 mitues for a whole month! I know I spend that much time doing other things. So maybe while your doing the wash or taking the dog for a walk, or what ever you'll stop and take five minutes to pray for China. Maybe if we do this then the Lord will work in China maybe we'll see a diffence.
If you want yo take this challange please join the Mister linky and add a link to the VOM site, spread the word and lets see how many people we can get in on this! I'm going to start the challange on the 22nd of this month, so tell as many people as you can between on and then and get ready to get on your knees!

When others laugh

2008-08-29T22:16:00.004-05:00

Laughter often is a good thing and mainly makes me smile but last week it almost made me cry.
Its been awhile since I've been teased for my standards and when I was it was mostly from my "back sliding" friends who didn't care that I had standard's but just teased for something to do in a light manner; but the other night at work a lady in her late 40's said something that really just made me want to cry a little. We were talking about sewing and she asked if I had sewn my skirt, I replied that yes I had and she then asked why I made it so long (mid-calf). I told her that I didn't wear anything that came above my knees. She looked stunned but only for a second, she then proceed to ask me if I was ashamed of my body, I blushed a little and told her that I try my best to dress modestly. She then asked me if I thought my self so tempting that I had to hide my body lest I tempt a man into the "scarlet sin". She carried on by asking me if I was a Christian, I told her that yes I was hoping that I'd be able to plant a seed of the gospel in her heart but she quickly shut that door. She, in a very loud jeering voice, began to interrogate me further but asking if I was one of those "holier than thou Baptist" who looks down on women who know that their good looking and show what they got. This went on for about 15 minutes before I finally left. I was biting my tongue so hard to keep from ruining my testimony and from running my mouth back at her. Thankfully God helped me control my self and I was able to leave the lady with no ill thing to say of me.

Her laughter when she asked if I thought I was to hot to dress in nice clothes, cut deep. I've always tried to keep from looking frump and still look modest and I think (most of the time) that I’ve managed that; but that lady who so brazenly mocked my standards did leave some doubt in my mind. All that night I was slightly embarrassed by my long skirt and the fact that my shirt was buttoned almost all the way up, thankfully this did not last long. Then something came to mind that my last pastor’s wife had once told me, prayer for the people who laugh at you because they need it more than your hurt pride needs it. So I started praying for that lady at first I wasn't to kind in my prayers simply referring to her as "that rude lady" then I got convicted by the hold spirit and began to see her as what I once was. A sinner in need of a Savoir, so instead of being hurt and angry I began to pray for her soul.
I know that it’s not easy to blow of hateful comments but in the end it’s more damaging to harbor bitterness than the comment was its self! Here are some things to keep in mind when people mock and are just plain down right mean about your standards or anything else you might get teased about.

1. Chances are that the person in question is not saved or if they are they are not living the life that they should be, so pray for them, yes easier said then done I know!

2. What truly matters is not what man thinks but what God thinks about our life. We're here to please God not man! Yes, it is nice to have mans approval but some times it is impossible to please God and man.

3. One thing that’s helpful to look back on is the day you made the decision to, in my case, dress modestly and remember why you made that choice to do what ever you committed to do.

4. The best thing to do is smile; nothing throws a person off like a smile! When some one starts to mess with ya just smile and politely say, "I'm sorry you feel that way, I wish that you had the same Peace I have from Christ". I wish I had said that, instead simply just excused my self and left the lady standing.

What do you find helpful when in a situation like this? Have you ever been mocked for your Christian life? What did ya do?

I hit something!

2008-08-14T12:43:00.004-05:00

The past Monday I hit a HUGE mile marker, and no I did not hit it while driving! I got my drivers license! I've been holding off because I didn't want to pay for insurance befor I had enough money for a down payment on a car, and as of Friday the eighth I now have enough for a down payment! Them my mother informed me that I have to pay for about six months of insurance upfront. So, another two weeks, I can wait! I am mature! Yeah, incase ya can't tell I'm very excited and I'm border lining impatience!

Tuesday we started choir back and I was so excited to see all my old friends again from over the summer! I had to leave early so I didn't get to sing any but I still got to warm up and chat with old friends! This coming Monday I start my photography/year book class. Then the Monday after that I officially start my senior year in high school! The next few weeks are going to be a little busy getting back into the swing of things but I’m looking forward to it greatly!

Then for some not to good news today I'm heading to the dentist to get some x-rays to get my wisdom teeth checked out. They plan to remove them the first week of September and I'm more than a little nervous, I've never had any stitches or any type of operations. I know that it'll all work out but I'm still a little jittery. I have to leave in fifteen minutes but I wanted to let y'all know what’s been going on!

I'm working on a few posts right now that I think will be of some interest to my readers! I don't work tomorrow so I'm going to spend some time to comment on the blogs that I'm an avid reader of and writing some e-mails.
I hope y'all have a great summer day!

Growing up

2008-07-28T12:33:00.004-05:00

When I was little I used to read books and I would wish for the life that the characters had and I used to believe once I reached that age my life would be perfect. When I was 12 or so I was very clumsy and out of place and I would read books and the main girl was in high school, she was smart, beautiful, went to parties, had her own car, had a cell phone, and yes you guessed it she had a boyfriend. I used to look in the mirror and try to see what I would like when I was "all grown up". When I was 15 I began to wonder why my life hadn't played out like I had planned for it to, after all I was in high school and I was almost sixteen and yet the only person I matched from my stories where the geeks and social rejects. My friends all seemed to match the girl that I thought we all grew up to be, they where beautiful, they had perfect hair, they always knew what to say and of course they had boys who followed them around wanting to date them.

Here I am at seventeen and very little of what I once dreamed would happen when I "grew up" has happened and I want very little of it to happen now. I have a job and can nearly buy a car, but I don’t see it as just a "ticket to freedom" as I once did now I see the payments, insurance, tags, inspections, and all the other things that my mother so graciously told me about!
I'm fairly bright, I wouldn't call my self smart but I wouldn't call my self stupid. I used to think that high school was all about parties and hanging out and those good grades just happened. Yeah right, I'm at the point where I realize that "hey if I wanna finish high school, I'm going to have to bare down and start cracking the books!" I'm also at the point where instead of reading the silly novels that I normally would check out from the library I've started checking out "how to ace your SAT's" and "how to survive Algebra" and books like that.
Cell phone? Well I started looking and instead of seeing the major "cool factor" I see a phone bill and a practical way to stay safe when I start driving my self around.

Beautiful, that’s one that I use to look for in the mirror everyday, to see if I had "blossomed" into a beautiful teenager that would be able to turn heads and have people say "wow! That girl is beautiful!" This is one that I wish I had learned along time ago. No matter how much I wished for straight blond hair and bright blue eyes I never got it, I never got a tan either.
Then one day I really looked at my self from some one else’s eyes, I had gotten a birthday card from a dear friend that said something like, Sydney your a very sweet girl, your beauty is in your smile and the way you include others and make them seem important...you make others feel beautiful. That’s when I really realized that I didn't want to be like the girls that I had read about, that I didn't have to meet this imagery stander before I could be considered grown up. I had already started down that road. It slowly dawned on me that I'm not some one in a book, I'm a real live person that already has her future written down; the only difference is my story has been written by the Master Author and not by some mere human author! The pages of my life and yours are being penned even as you read this and while I write this. God can see the full story where as we can only see what has already happened. We see what we want to be and what we are; God sees what we will be.

Tagged:again

2008-07-25T11:14:00.003-05:00

I've been tagged again, and this time by my own mother!
Here are her rules
1) Link to the person who tagged me.
2) Mention the rules.
3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself.
4) Tag 6 other blogger´s by linking to them.
5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.

I'm not going to tag anybody because not to long along I tagged a lot of people so I'm going to give it a rest for a bit.

1. I love wearing my hair down! I can't stand to have it up, but some times I do braid it back so it doesn't get in my way but I HATE wearing it all the way up!

2. When I get scared, nervous, or embarrassed I cover my face with my hands, I was totally unaware of this fact until I took drivers ed last year and my mother told me that she was sure that the first time I drove I'd end up covering my face like I normally do!

3. I kind of like house work, but I dislike having to do something more than once (like rewashing the kitchen sink because some one dirtied it up again)

4. I like folding laundry but I don’t like hanging it up in the closest.

5. If I could I would go barefoot all of the time! I dislike shoes but socks are ok.

6. I have an unexplained fear of answering machines. I'll hang up the phone and call back later rather than leave a message! They creep me out for no reason what so ever!

Upcoming post: Growing up isn't what I planned it to be!

A fine art

2008-07-15T12:58:00.003-05:00

When I first planned to do this I was planning on using my own pictures and doing it all my self, but I couldn't get the pictures to work out so I decided to Leave a link to a wonderful video that had already laid out all the basics. If you do decide to learn how to knit let me warn you it is very addicting! I started knitting a few years back for a high school credit. The book from which I learned had no picture and very poor instructions, my mother and I where up most of the night trying to figure it out before we finally looked it up on-line and watched a few videos and it finally clicked. Ever since that night I've been running head first full speed into the world of knitting. Yarn is under my bed; knitting needles sit in a vase in my bookshelf and sometimes they even, some how I have no idea how, wind up on the couch! Knitting books and patterns find their way into my stacks of books at the library and hop into my arms from selves. Six months ago or so I talked my mom into taking me to a yarn store just to look, wow! I saw yarn I never knew existed! Things like cobweb mohair, rabbit hair yarn, self stripping, wool, cotton, and sock yarns!

I've dreamed knitting before; about a month into learning how to knit I decided I wanted to try my hand at ribbing, which is mixing the purl and the knit stitch on the same row. No matter what I tried I had a giant knot of yarn that looked nothing like the desired project. That night I had a dream and in my dream I figured it out, so at 2 am I grabbed my knitting needles and started to do it. The next morning I hurried and looked at what I had done and to my amazement it was right! I'm not a very reckless person most of the time, I normal think things though first, but with knitting it’s a different story. I open a book and see something that I want to try and I grab needles and yarn and start going, more than once I get a little ways into the project and realize I don’t know how to do cables and right then and there I mess around and makes lots of mistakes. Then that moment of dawning happens and I get it, it just clicks and all the sudden I can do it!

I've taught five people at my church/choir/work how to knit. I often hear "oh, I could never do that. It looks to hard." or "I don’t have the patience and/or coordination for that." I'm the worlds least coordination persons, if not the most then at least the top five. It does take a little thinking but if I can do it then anyone can do it. A knitter, whose books I love to read, says that "if you can dress your self you can knit, if you can dress your self and match then you can knit well".

So dear adventure enter the world of knitting if you dare. If you have any questions or need some clarifications then feel free to ask! So grab those needles and some yarn and get knitting!

Coupon giveaway and other great deals.

2008-07-08T11:50:00.002-05:00

Hey Everyone! My mom is doing a coupon give away! All you have to do is leave a comment in order to be in entered in the drawling! It ends soon so be sure to check it out!

Also I got a flier in the mail to try Proactive for one month for free! I've only been using it for five days or so and I've already noticed a difference in my skin! I have very sensitive skin so I was nervous about trying it at first. All it did the first day was make my face pink because I just dived right in and started using all of it full force instead of waiting and slowing adding in the lotion like they suggest, but anyways =]. Any one that I refer can get the same deal I got pay 5.98 I believe it was for shipping and that’s it! Since I have to refer you I'll need you E-mail addresses. You can send me an e-mail with your name and e-mail address and I'll sign you up under me so you can get your free month worth too! In no way will I find out your home address or anything other than your e-mail. I'm really excited to find out how my skin will look at the end of the month! Again if you’re interested send me an e-mail at youngladyinwaiting.ymail.com. I hope to hear from y'all soon!

Simple Pleasures

2008-06-24T10:20:00.002-05:00

Last night I was lying in bed, cuddled up in my freshly washed blanket and breathing the sweet aroma of sun dried laundry. As I was being intoxicated by this sweet smell I heard the sound of crickets chirping and began to think of the simple pleasures in life.

The next morning when I awoke I heard birds singing praises to their maker, I’m not really a morning person unless I have something that needs to be done, yet I could not help but smile at the sound of cheerful birds. Then when I went out to the garden and felt the warm summer breeze I inhaled the scent of the herbs my Prince had sent to my garden. I looked up at the sky admiring the heavens and the beauty of the Master artist. I then heard the sound of children giggling I looked two house down and saw some little girls playing in their backyard.
If any of you had seen me you would have wondered what had placed such a huge smile on my lips and the distant look in my eyes. My Prince was showing His love to me! He sent these things to me everyday but I rarely took the time to slow down and just inhale and soak up the wonder of it all!

I began to wonder what other gifts had my Lord given me that I over looked and I came up with a list of the simple pleasure of life.

A baby’s laughter and smile
Children playing.
The smile of a friend from across the room.
The smell of line dried wash.
The feel of the warm sun against my skin.
The breezes that teased my cheeks and played with my hair.
The sight and sounds of birds in the trees.
The sound of water.
My family.
The taste of blueberries (and food in general).
A hug of a friend.
Music.
Smiles.
Nature.
People.

I could go on and on with my list but I think I’ll end here. What simple pleasures do you have? I’d love to hear them!

TAG! I'm it!

2008-06-19T11:40:00.004-05:00

Hello dear readers! Its been a little over two weeks since I've last written here! I've been tagged so here it goes: I was tagged by Mackenzie (aka Grl4God) and by SamanthaMarie.

Here is what I (and whoever else I tag) have to do:

Answer some questions from whoever tagged me

Link her to my blog

Tag six more other people and comment on their blog to let them know!
Ok, the first question.

Who is your favorite author and why?
It would have to be Jane Austin! I love all of her books! They really make me long for days past and inspire me to act more feminine!

Who was your first favorite author and why?
I have to agree with Samantha on this one and say Ann M. Martin. For those of y'all who don't know who she is she wrote the "baby-sitters club" books. I used to LOVE those books and would check all of them out from the library and read them over and over!

Who is the most recent addition to your favorite authors and why?

This is gonna sound strange but I would hae to say James W. Loewen, He wrote "lies my teacher told me" it is a history book and its is wonderful! I would highly recommend it! Also Leslie Ludy author for "Authentic Beauty". I really enjoyed this book just because of the heartfelt honestly from which the author wrote, I would recommend this book to y'all as well. Then John and Stasi (I really like that name) Eldredge, authors of "Captivating". The reasons I love this book goes beyond words, If you haven't read it yet then read it!!

So lets see I tag...

Mia

Lydia

Paige

Lauraboralice

I'm working on a post that will be about learning how to knit. I plan on posting step by step pictures and maybe a video. So keep your eyes open and get your needles ready!

What to do??

2008-06-04T11:46:00.004-05:00

Monday night while I was at work something happed that I'm sure has happened to all of my readers at least once. A group of teenage boys from about 15 to about 18 came in and while I was cutting fabric kept talking very loudly trying to get my attention. After I had finished cutting fabric and went to run the cash registered the eldest of the boys leaned on the counter in that cocky way that guys have and asked me where my boyfriend was, I proceeded to tell him that I didn’t have one and before I could tell him that I didn't date he asked me if I was interested in going out some time. I quickly told him that No I was not interested and that I didn't date, his friends started laughing at him a bit so I told him that it was nothing personal against him but that I just wasn't interested in dating and that I explained that I did not believe in dating. He got the idea and thanked me for his purchased and left. So how can you turn down a date with out hurting a young mans feeling? Well if it is a total Un-Appropriate person, then its best to just say no politely yet firmly enough for him to know you’re serious. If it is a person close to your age then again say no politely and assure him that he is not the reason your turning him down but your believes or just tell him that you don't date yet if you don’t wanna explain courtship and such.

So what if it’s a guy that you like and would like to get to know later on? I've yet to experience this one but here are some ideas that I've heard/read that I thought sounded like good ideas. Tell the young man that you’re flattered but that he should ask your father first and get to know you and your family better before you can consider accepting his request.

Flirting is something that is MAJORLY affecting your youth today. Even in church groups you see young teenagers flirting with each other. If a young man is flirting with you it can be VERY tempting to flirt back or tease back to get attention, trust me I know! Flirting, as harmless as it may seem can lead to some serious problems; what if a guy is flirting with you and you flirt back "just for fun", maybe he really does like you yet you don't care for him and probably never will. This would be very painful and confusing to the young man that you lead on with your "just for fun" flirting. If a young man does start to flirt with you then quickly correct the behavior. How do ya do that? The way that I find easiest is to simply play dumb and oblivious to the flirting. That’s easy as long as it’s just light flirting and nothing that’s totally wrong. If he doesn't get the hint and carries on then try giving a "stop that" look as discreetly as you can. If he still doesn't get it then its best to just leave lest you fall into temptation and or lead him further down the path of temptation.

Another thing that is hard to respond to is when people honk their horns as you walk by or holler out at you. My mother and I where walking at a park last year with my younger brothers, and cars kept driving by honking and yelling trying to get our attention. At first I looked back to see if it was someone I knew, big mistake, the car drove around another time and started yelling out the window, at this point I learned to keep from looking and to act like I didn't hear it.
Another time at church one of my friends cousin said something like "Hey beautiful" as I walked by and he said it in a not so quiet voice so a good few people heard him. At first I wasn't sure what to do or say so I just kept walking acting like I didn't hear him. Later that night he walked up to me and addressed me by my name and asked if I had heard him, I said that yes I had but I refused to be spoken to in such away and that I rather him use my given name or my common nick name that every one used. He was somewhat startled by that but he never again called me any "pet names".

I've never really had to deal with this one much but I feel as if I should at least touch on it little. If a young man tries to touch you in anyway then you should put distance between you immediately! Once at a soul winning clinic I went to a young man kept trying to put his arm around my shoulder or lean in to close. At first I just moved over, he didn't get it. The next time I gave him a hard look, that stopped him for awhile and the next time he tried to place his hands on the small of my back as he tried to talk to me I told him to stop and to keep his hand to him self and placed my self at arms length away. He got the message and kept his hands to him self the rest of the week but still kept trying to follow me around. The youth pastor that we went with seemed to find it amusing and did nothing to intervene, after all he had stopped trying to touch so what was the harm in his antics? The rest of the trip was very stressful and annoying the girls I was with found it charming and kept trying to get him and me to talk and sit together. His church was sitting behind ours the whole week so there was no escaping him. I finally asked his youth pastors wife to talk to her husband about it to get him to leave me alone. This worked but it was the last day of the conference! I wish I had thought of that before hand! All that to say don't be scared to ask for help in dealing with a persistent boy. If your father is not around or for some reason is unable to help you then ask a brother, if your brother-less then ask a youth pastor or pastor or some male in authority to please talk to the guy for you. You don't have to deal with it on your own!
Finally if any body places you in a situation that makes your uncomfortable in any way then get out of there! Don't worry about being polite just take care of your self and run and get some help!
If a young man try’s to get you to compromise your standards say something like "you have potential to be a great man one day, and when you are you will a protector and not a conquer of a ladies purity" as you leave him. I'm sure I've seemed up tight at least once in my dealings with males but in the end I rather seem little up tight and "prudish" then to allow my purity and femminity to taken lightly or to be put in question.

What have you found to help when responding to any of the above or other situations?
Any tips of polity turning down a date? On discouraging flirting? Anything you want to add? Something you disagree with? Then please share it! I love hearing more than one side of things! Just be sure if you do disagree to support your reasons and to do so in an uplifting Christ like manner!

What have your words done?

2008-05-27T12:50:00.003-05:00

Words are something that we use everyday and think very little of. Words can build up, can make people happy and encourage them. Words can show love and can inspire people to take their life to the next level. Words can also kill. Words can hurt and injure more than anything else. We can scar and mangle people with a simple slip of the tongue. When I was younger I was the weird one out. People liked to make fun of me so when I was in my early teens and finally found "acceptance" I took it...at a very high price. The people with whom I hung out with there not very godly and in all fairness neither were I. They'd tease people and I'd just stand their watching never daring to say a word to stop them, I may have not joined in but I did help them by never intervening. As I got older it became easier and easier to blend in with the crowd I was not as strange or as clumsy yet I still felt as if I had to change in order to be cool; I never even stopped to think what I was paying to fit in. Later on when I was fifteen or so, at a Christian camp my "friends" told me that I couldn't hang with them anymore because I didn't look Goth enough or bad enough and they wanted to get to know a group of "awesome" Goths from another church. The words stung like none other I was not enough for my friends and thus I was being cast aside.

Matthew 12:34 reads: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
If our hearts are full of evil and hate then our words will be damaging not only to ourselves but to others. We so often speak with out thinking and the damage is done the instance our words fall from our lips. The Bible is full of verses dealing with words and the danger there of. Pull out your concordance and read some of the verses dealing with tongue.

Words are powerful. My mother saw this on a blog and showed it to me. I wanted to cry the words touched my soul and brought back memories. After I watched for the fourth time I went to my room sat down, picked up my knitting needles and started to pray and think things over. I can remember a time when I wanted to end my life. A time when I felt as if no one was on my side because of things people had said to me. I thought that no one would care or would even notice my death, what made me think this? Words. Then a sickening feeling hit me in the gut, how many people had I made feel this way? How many people had felt this same hopelessness because of words I said or words that I never said? Another sickening thought was how have I affected those younger than me who look up to me? My younger brothers or children at my church? The thought was almost too much to bear.
As you listen to this song and watch the video I pray that the Lord will speak to you and challenge your heart. There is not much for me to say on this matter the song says so much.

Health and Beauty

2008-05-19T12:19:00.004-05:00

One of the first things I notice about people is their smile, or the lack there of. The Lord has blessed me with straight teeth and a pretty smile. When I was younger it was a differnt story, for awhile my nickname was jack-o-lantern if that tells you anything. But I grew into my teeth and they straightened out which is a good thing because I smile most the time and most of the time its a big smile, I honestly have a hard time smiling small; in fact when I was having my student ID done the camera man, who was not smiling one bit and looked very grouchy and sour, told me that I smiled to big. At first I was very self aware of my smile for a few weeks but then I realized that my smile is a part of who I am. So how can you care for those pearly white? Here are some tips for helping you teeth look great with out having to pay big bucks to get them whitened.

One thing to that is important to know is that coffee, tea, soda, and any other drinks that have caffeine or that are dark can stain your teeth. So its best to avoid drinking them in excuse, besides your body needs water more than its needs soda. My mom told me story of a man that was in one of her collage classes who had his teeth whitened professionally. He would drink coffee and tea with a straw so that it wouldn't touch his teeth and then he'd go wash his mouth out to prevent any discoloration. I doubt many people do that but its still a good story about teeth whitening.

Want your teeth to look whiten instantly? For lighter skins and some medium skins it’s been said that pink/red lip gloss or lipstick can make your teeth look whiter. Peachy colors and anything that has an orange-y tint can make them look dingy and dirty! If you have darker or tan skin (I have very light skin so I have no Idea if this is true) I've read that plums, wine, and deep red are the best lip color and can make your teeth look better. Olive skins are said to look great in brownish reds, light browns, and raisin shades.
Wanna know more about picking the best lip color for you? Heres a great link.

When I'm nervous I bit my lips, this is a terrible habit and can be very damaging! A great way to get rid of dead skin cells and make your lips soft feeling and looking is to mix just a little olive oil and a tiny bit of sugar in the palm of your hand and gently rub the mixture onto your lips; some people say that using a soft toothbrush can help the process but I found that it was abit rough of my lips. When you go out in sun its important to put something on your lips to protect them. Even if it doesn't have SPF it in it will help a little! My favorite daily lip stuff is carmex. It keeps my lips soft and moisturized and enhances my own natural color.

Need a little whitening but don't wanna pay for it? Every so often when my teeth start to look like they need whitening I pull out a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, all you do it dip your toothbrush in some and brush your teeth with it! I would suggest doing this before bed or on a day you will be spending most of the morning home because it can and more than likely will cause out gums to look white! This is not permanent nor is it harmful but it can look kinda funny. Do this every night for a week or so and you'll notice a huge difference. Don't do this for more than 7-9 days and do it no more than once month. Rinse your mouth or brush with regular toothpaste afterward and you’re done!

Once again I want to remind everyone that outward beauty is NOTHING compared to the heart within! Having a smiling and singing heart is far more important than have white straight teeth!

Have an idea for my next beauty/health post? Share your idea and I’ll look in to it and try to write a post about it!

2008-05-15T12:28:00.011-05:00

I have some a huge announcement for y'all. I'm in love; totally, completely and wholly in love. Would y'all like to hear the story?
I was first introduced to Him when I was eleven or so, I "knew" him but I didn't know him. When I was thirteen I finally accepted that he loved me and that even though I turned away and did all I could to avoid his soul searching eyes he still loved me and longed for me to allow him into my life. I open my heart to him yet I was unfaithful to him; yet he forgave me and his love for me was unchanged. I slowly drifted allowing the world and other loves to turn my heart from him.
Then this Sunday morning I was reading book and I could feel his loving gaze a pond me, it was not the lustful-perverted look that so many people say is a sign of love but the gaze of pure undying love, of the utmost devotion, the kind of look that leaves you feeling as if your the most beautiful thing the looker has ever laid eyes a pond. I tried to ignore the ache that I felt because of my unfaithfulness but couldn't; I felt his tender embrace comforting me. I told him that I was unworthy of his love and he softly and tenderly said that I could have another try. That evening I was thinking of all he had said. I feel a sleep thinking of all his words of hope and of his love for me. Then Monday I was reading again and he approached me; Being the genteel man he is he did not force himself a pond me. He asked if he could join me I simply said yes, he sat there with me, never saying a word just looking at me with loving eyes that told me how much he loved me. He softly asked me if I trusted him, I wasn't sure how to answer, I simply nodded. He told me that if I did then I would give my self to him heart, soul, and body. At first I insisted that I already had when I was 15 but he gently reminded me of things that held parts of my heart that shouldn't. At first I denied this, but under his loving and pleading eyes I gave him everything that I was, that I am, and all that I will be.

My heavenly Prince is whom I am speaking of. Saturday my mother bought me a book called authentic beauty by Leslie Ludy. Many books I have read talk of falling in love with your heavenly Prince but didn't tell how to get rid of past lovers (anything that took the place of Him). I'm slowly taking out the garbage in my heart and kicking out anything that does not belong with in my heart. I'm slowly yet surely becoming my Prince's lily-white princess. Leslie Ludy has a website on which can be found the inner sanctuary pages on which I am working. The process has been some what slow because I have not been able to print off the pages thus restricting me to the computer to use them.

My Prince has be showing me many areas in which I need to clean or in some cases things I need to add to my life. This process has been some what painful yet worth every second of it. I pray that I will be a lovely lily-white princess that my heavenly Price will be proud to claim.

Every thing you ever wanted to know about me and more (allot more)

2008-05-09T16:37:00.005-05:00

Just some random things about me! I hope ya enjoy, fill it out with your own answers and post it on your blog or if you don't have a blog post it in my comments!

1).How do you most often wear your hair? Mostly down or with a little bit pulled back in clips

2).What do you like better: Sledding or Swimming? I don't know how to swim and I've never seen enough snow to go sledding
3).What is your favorite thing for breakfast? Cereal

4).Lunch? Anything!

5).Supper? Pizza, lasagna or something with pasta.

6).Is one of your siblings married? No.

7).Have you ever been on a rollercoaster? Yes.

8).Do you like to wear Hoodies? Yes.

9).Have you ever seen an ocean? Yes, it was extremely beautiful

10).Where would you rather go: England or Australia? England! I get enough "Australia cracks" about my name

11).Tell me something about you that I don’t know? If I told then you'd know...but for real, I sleep walk.

12).Do you want to get married someday? Yes!

13).How many TV’s are in your house? 4 but three are used for school

14).What’s your favorite hymn? I'm not sure I have one

15).Which one would you rather learn to play: Guitar, Banjo, Piano or Violin? I play Violin so I guess guitar
16).How tall are you? 5'3
17).What is the prettiest thing you have ever seen? The night sky is one of favorite things

18).Describe where you live and what it looks like: I small cream house in the suburbs
19).How many bedrooms are in your house? Three.

20).How many rooms are in your house? 6
21).What’s in your basement? We don't have one

22).Do you keep your room clean all the time or is it a mess? It depends on whom you ask =]

23).Is your room cluttered or empty or neither? Cluttered.

24).Do you wish you could have your own room? I have my own room (only daughter)

25).What do you do for fun with your siblings? Umm besides annoying them, just normal stupid teenage stuff

26).Do you get mad easily? nope
27).Do you cry a lot? No, I’m a pretty cheerful person.

28).Do you like tuna? noooo!!!!

29).How many mosquito bites do you have on you? 0

30).Do you like talking on the phone? Not really

31).Would you rather hang out with a group of girls, boys or mix? It depends on what kinda girls and guys they are; it’s normally a mix though

32).Is your mother pregnant right now? Not that I know off

33).Would you rather go back to the Oregon Trail or the Cherokee Indian trail of tears? Oregon Trail.

34).Are you part anything (Like, Indian, Irish, and so on)? I’m a bit Irish and a touch of German
35).Do you prefer to Email or written letters? I like email because it is quick,

36). Do you like going to weddings? I've only been to one

37).What was the last wedding you attended? 4 years ago

38).How many aunts and uncles do you have? 4.

39).Are you mad at one of your siblings right now? Nope

40).If you got in trouble and you were given a choice for punishment which would you

Choose: Not seeing any friends for a month or no computer for a month? No computer

41).How many times have you gotten in trouble? Hmmm, I don’t think I can count that high

42). When was the last time you went out of town? Last month

43).Do you like to play inside or outside better? Outside if the weather is nice

44).Do you like to listen to music? Yuppers

45).How tall would you want to be if you could choose? I like my height

46).Do you want to have a big wedding or a small one? A medium one

47).An inside wedding or an outside? Outside, as long as its not raining

48).What is your favorite DVD? Hard question, I dunno

49). Do you want to live in the country or city? In the country.

50). How many pen pals do you have? One

51).What is your favorite saying that you’ve made up? Purple cows invading from outterspace...don’t ask

52).What boy name do you hate? Bob

53).Girl name? Jane.

54).Do you say “shut up” or “Be quiet”? I had the bad habit of saying shut up, but I don’t really say either anymore

55).If you could have only one of the following for yourself which would you choose: A

Computer, a Cell phone, An Ipod, or a TV? A computer.

56).Which kind of car do you like better: Dodge Viper, Lexus, or Mustang? Mustang!!

57).What kind of things makes you mad? People who are inconsiderate of others and hypocrites
58).What kind of things make you happy? Laughter, babies, flowers... allot of things

59).Do you speak your mind? More than I should

60).Do you prefer to talk to old people (Over 60) or people your age? It doesn’t matter either way
61).What is one of your bad habits? Playing with my hair and grinning at random thoughts at the worst of times

62).What do you find more interesting: A Encyclopedia or a dictionary? Encyclopedia.

63).What is your favorite ENDING to a book? The ending in The Last Battle. “But it was just the beginning of the real story.”

64).What would you rather do: Go clothes shopping, or Go to the library and read? Go to the library

65).Where do you normally read? In my bed at night or out side in the grass

66).Do you have a desk in your room? Yep

67).Are you Brave? "What is courage but faith conquering fear?

68). Are you smart? I like to think I am

69). Do you have good handwriting? Not in the least

70).Do you like to fish? noooo Eww I hate fish!
-71).Do you run often? Nope

72).Do you like Iced Tea? YES! Sweet tea...mmmmm!

73).You don’t have to be their best friend, but who is YOUR best friend? I dont have a 'best friend" just close friends

74). What do you prefer: Mystery Books or Romance Books? Both

75).Which of the following fruits do you like the best: Peaches, apples, watermelon, bananas or oranges? Apples

76).What is your favorite vegetable? Anything but tomatoes and spinach and peas

77).Do you prefer to watch TV or go on the Computer? The Computer.

78). How many brothers do you have and how chaotic is it? 2 and it can get pretty chaotic at times

79). Does anyone in your family have black hair? Dad has salt and pepper hair.

80).How ’bout red? My youngest brother and I

81).Do you like to dance? When it’s just me and girlfriends
82).Can you sing? Yeah

83). if you could go to one of these countries for a month, which one would you go to: Australia, China, Africa, or Europe? Europe: Ireland

84).What is your Dad’s job? He works on computer stuff

85).Do you go to work? Yup

86). Do you like Soccer or football better? Neither

87).Do you think this quiz is dumb? Not really. I wouldn’t be doing it if it wasn't!

88).Do you think it’s annoyingly long? Nope

89).Do I annoy you? No you don’t.

90).Does this quiz have everything? Uhhm no

91).Do you want it to end? Yes.

92).Are you glad it’s over? It isn’t over

93).Which would you rather be: A waitress, a teacher, a writer, a Sports player or an Artist? A teacher

94). Do you prefer dark colors or light? Light

95). Which March girl from little woman are you more like? Jo mostly and a little bit Meg

96). If someone asked you to play in a movie would you say yes? Depends on what the movies was about

97). what exactly do you want to be when you’re older? A mother and wife

98). who thinks this quiz is long enough? Need I answer that?

99).Who wants more and gets it? The Rich

100).Did you ever in your life want to be a firefighter? Nope, that was one of the few things I didn't want to be

101).How many pairs of shoes do you have? Four or five I think

102).How many shirts do you have? A fair few

103).How many pairs of pants do you have? 3

104).How many skirts do you have? 5-6?

105).Do you sew? Yes

106).Do you talk in your sleep? Hehe yup

107).Do you sing in your sleep? Not that I know off

108).Do you snore? Nope

109).How many friends do you have? Allot

110).Which would you rather do: Sing a song in front of a thousand people or write a Novel and try to get it published? Sing because I could get it over with really fast!

111).Do you prefer Hot weather or cold weather? Hot

112).What is your favorite site to have fun on? I have allot of those

113).What is your favorite blog? Hmmm I should say my mothers

114).Do you blog? Hmm yes

115). Do you prefer the phone, messenger, letters, texting, or all? Messenger

116).Has anyone ever thrown a surprise party for you? Yes.

117).Have you ever thrown a surprise party for someone? Yes.

118. Do you laugh a lot? Yes.

119).Do you smile a lot? Yuppers

120). Do you cry a lot? No

121).Have you ever cried in front of other people besides your family? Yes

122). Do you like to be annoying? I'm 17 have red hair and two younger brothers...YES!

123). Do you have an older sister? Nope

124).If so, do you get along?

125).How do you sign your letters? Sydney

126).Have you been complimented lately? Yes.

127).Do you get teased a lot? I did when I was younger; I used to get teased terribly

128). Have you ever built a snow fort? No.

129).What is your favorite thing to do in the winter? Read and or knit

130).Is there a lot of shouting in your house normally? Only when my brothers and I are being silly

131). How quiet-or loud- is your house right now? Quiet.

132).What are you wearing right now? Pants and a black t shirt that says "dickies"

133).Have you ever cut someone’s hair? My own

134). Have you ever colored your hair? Yes, but it was wash out

135).Do you have a tattoo? 4 or five I forget...just kidding
136).Any piercing? My ears

137). When was the last time you went to the zoo? I can't even remember

138). Have you ever had more then 20 people at your house? Yes.

139).Favorite kind of toothpaste? Arm and Hammer and aqua fresh
140).Have you ever written a story? Yes.

141).Have you ever gotten anything published? No

142).What is your favorite kind of bread? All types

143).Does your Mom work? Not outside of the house but yes she works

44).Have you ever had a sleepover with more then 2 people? Yes.

145).Have you ever slept in a tent? Yes hasn't every body?

146).Have you ever driven a tractor, or at least steered one? Yes

147). How messy is your room right now? Ehh it’s kinda messy

148). Do you go shopping a lot? No, thank goodness!

149).About how many shirts do you have? Didn't I already answer that?

150).Skirts, dresses or jeans? Skirts

151. Do you have a lot of jewelry? Nope

152. Do you have a dog? Yes.

153). Do you have neighbors within a 1/2 mile of your house? Yeah right next door.

154. Do you have a tree fort? Nope

155). Do you dry your hair after you shower? Normally no

156).Do you eat fish? Noooo!

157). Have you ever played PS2? Nope

158). Do you fall for things easily? No.

159). How much self-control do you have? A fair amount

160). Have you ever ridden a horse? Yes.

161. Do you own a horse? No.

162. Do you own cows? No. My mom won't let me
163. What color are the walls of your room? Lavender

164).Is your room full of junk? It depends one who you ask my mom or me?

165). Do you like garlic? It’s ok
166). Do you have a nickname for yourself? No

167).Do you keep a diary? Nope

168). Are you close to your Mom? Yes =)

169). Do you own an American girl doll? Yes

170). Have you ever gotten lost? Yes

171). has anyone in your family gotten lost? Hmm, yes.

172). what color is your toothbrush? Pink

173. What do you do for Christmas? Open presents.

174. Do you like country music? Yeah

175). in what position do you sleep? Lying on my side.

176). Have you ever sung yourself to sleep? No

177). Do you like tuna? NOOOO
178).Have you ever been slapped? Yes.

179). Have you ever slapped someone? Yes.

180). what is your favorite uncommon girl name? I dunno

181. Uncommon boys name? I dunno once again

182).Be honest; How many times a day do you pray? I pray though out the day

183). Do you, or did you ever, believe in fairies? When I was a little girl

184). Do you still play “Simon Says?” Yes.

185). what’s your favorite kind of pie? I like em all!

186). Do you live on a farm? I wish

187). How many ways of growing up is there? Countless ways

189).How many time a week do you go in the shower? Daily

190). How many times have you seen a movie in the theaters? Not very many
191). what do you do to relax? Read books, knit listen to music…annoy my family
192). Have you ever gone strawberry picking? I don't think so

193). Do you believe in the “Once saved always saved?” Yes, very much so
194). Do you like getting your picture taken? No!

195). Have you ever won a race of any kind? Yes.

196). Have you ever helped butcher a deer? ....No

197). Are you afraid of anything? Yes, fish mainly

198). Do you like the snow? Never had enough to answer that

199). How old are you? 17.

200). Do you wear glasses of any sort? Contacts

A hold me over update

2008-05-06T11:21:00.008-05:00

I don't have time for a full long post but I do want to give y'all idea of what’s going on at the moment. Last night was my first night back to work and it was a very uneventful evening. We finished all the work early and so we just sat waiting for nine o'clock to roll around so we could lock the door and count the last drawer of money. So far adding extra food has helped me a great deal. Saturday I foolishly did not eat when I was supposed to and got sick and tried to fall a sleep, my mother told me to come eat dinner but I didn't feel hungry, which is normal when I let the dizziness go to far; but I ate any ways and felt better very quickly. The past few days I've eaten when and what I should and taken care of myself and I have felt wonderful! But enough about me. Tonight is my youngest brother’s last showcase for violin. I'll be posting pictures and details about the show tomorrow morning or tonight depending on when we get home from his concert. I won't say much more about him or the concert because my next post will be dedicated to him and his final night in the spotlight.

The above picture is of some little birdies that decided that the tree that hangs over our house would be the perfect spot for her nest; we had planned to cut down this tree but when we where on the roof we noticed the mother bird and her eggs. I’m not sure where I put the pictures of the eggs but I was able to find the file with the pictures of the baby birdies.

I'm not sure if you can tell but the mother is sitting on top of the babies!

A few days ago I was sitting out side reading a book and I saw this little fella' crawling on me. He was no bigger than one of my many freckles! He was lacking in spots but was the cutest little bug I've seen this year.

I'm off to finish cooking lunch and then to choir later on. I hope y'all have an awesome day!

Test results

2008-05-02T12:10:00.003-05:00

First I want to thank everyone who prayed for me, it helped to comfort my spirit very much so.
Wednesday night I started my fast, and then the next morning I woke up and headed to the lab. I was nervous and kept fidgeting a little because the sing said that only the person on whom the blood work was to be done could go in the back, but thankfully they let my mother go back there with me. The nurse started with my left arm; at first it seemed to be a good idea but then all the sudden my arm stopped giving blood. First she changed vials, which hurt a little because it caused the needle to move around a little. Then she tried to pump blood down from my upper arm to spare me from having to start over. This didn't work so she started moving the needle around trying to get my blood flowing again, this hurt so badly. I started crying, my hand had lost feeling and so had my upper arm but the forearm still had feeling and boy I sure was feeling it! Since they use vacuum needles I could hear the suction with only added to the ordeal. I started getting dizzy and sick feeling from all of it. The nurse stopped trying to get blood and went to get some one else to figure out why my arm stopped bleeding. I lost it at that point, all I wanted to do was get out of there and forget about the whole thing, but they hadn't gotten enough blood. My mother who used to be a nurse said that she had never had a patient stop bleeding and the other two nurses agreed. So they went to my right arm and that time it was next to painless, it hurt no more than getting a plain shot, which is how my mom told it normal feels. We then went out to breakfast, which helped to soothe my trauma =]. My left arm was hurting but my right arm was just numb for the most part.
My mom told me that I might get a small bruise on my arms where they took the blood and I got one on my left arm (the one that had problems) but my right arm just barely got any discoloration and even that’s mainly from taking the tape off.

This morning the doctor called and said that I looked healthy enough and there was nothing that needed to be worried about. They don't think I have blood sugar problems but that it’s simply that my body burns every thing to fast, thus resulting in the dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, and all my other problems. They also said that my headaches where more than likely from sugar and caffeine. Thankful they said I don't need to cut it out completely unless I find that even the tiniest bit throws me off. They said the way to take care of my symptoms was to eat more often not more just more frequently. My nurse suggest eating normal meals (which I do) but to add three snacks a day, just small something’s when to keep me from getting bleh feeling. She also told me juice is a wonderful way to nip the dizziness at the bud.

The Lord truly is great and does look after His children!

Doctor vist

2008-04-30T15:17:00.005-05:00

Greetings one and all!
Today I went to the doctors mainly just for a check up but also to ask about some of the problems I've been having with my blood sugar. It was my mother that told the doctor because at the last minute I decided that I wasn't sure I wanted to tell her less they made me take a fasting glucose test. Well we talked for a while about it and she said that it sounded like it was my blood sugar; she then told me that she would ask the other doctor if he thought that I needed to take a fasting glucose test. She came back in and told me that, yes they wanted me to take one.
For those of you that don't know what a fasting glucose test is, its where you go a certain about of time with out eating or drinking anything but water, then you go to a lab and they take some blood and measure how much glucose is in the blood. In some cases they make your drink a mixture (from what my mother told me it taste NASTY) and then make you wait and hour or two then the take more blood and compare. I (praise God) only have to have my blood drawn once!
I am slightly nervous but I'm trying not to think about it to much. My dad joked that they cut your arm to get the blood, even though I know that they don't do that it did nothing to calm my nerves. I personally like for my blood to stay INSIDE my body and one of the few things that make me feel sick is my own blood, if its someone else my compassion rules out the gross factor, but when its comes to seeing my own blood I rather not.
So please pray for me tonight and tomorrow, mainly for calmness. I know that nothing serious is going to happen but I'm still not looking forward to the whole "ordeal"
I pray that you all have a wonderful evening!

Tips for clearer skin

2008-04-28T14:19:00.003-05:00

This is the first of what I hope to be semi-regual post on health/beauty tips.
The first one shall be on clearer skin.

Many of us have suffered from acne at least once, if you haven't then your very blessed and I'd love to have you genes! I don’t have perfect skin but over the last month I have found ways to keep my skin clean and clearer.
The main thing NOT to do is don’t mess with them. A bad pimple can take 8 days or so to heal BUT if you mess with it can take three weeks or more!
Drinking allot of water is also very important and one of the easiest things to do to improve you skin. Eight glasses is the recommended amount of daily water intake. I'm sure you've all heard that eating chocolate and French-fry means you'll break out, this is not true as long as that's not all you’re eating. If you eat a balanced diet of healthy food and eat things like chocolate and greasy foods sparingly then more than likely it won't make you break out. Eating veggies and fruits are wonderful for the skin because they supply the body with the things it needs to control oil production and to keep you feeling great.

Here are a few quick tips.
~Do not touch your face, this spreads oil and will cause breakouts.
~Change your pillow case often to prevent oil and bacteria from spreading from your face to you pillow case and then back to your face.
~Pull your hair back off your face at night; even if its just a headband or loose ponytail. You hair will run against you face and get not only your hairs oil on your skin but also what ever product you used in your hair.
~When your doing your hair be careful not to get hairspray on you face, this can cause majoir problems. Cover you face with one hand while you spray to prevent getting it all over your face.

One thing that I had to do to keep my skin clear is stop wearing makeup. I have nothing against make-up I enjoyed wearing it but it caused my skin it break out, even when I tried "light" and "clean" make-up. If you don’t want to give up make-up then try to cut back on how much you use. Give your skin a break every so often and go natural! I've never worn foundation but I've been told that it’s very bad for your skin because it can clog your pores; if you do wear it be sure to wash your face before bed! Another way to help cut down on make-up caused acne is to wash your powder brushes/poofs once a week. The shelf life of powder is about six months after that time its best to throw it out, bacteria can be transferred from your face to your brush to you make up that over time will grow in your makeup which in turn will get on your face and cause blemishes.

If choose to go with out makeup be warned that the first little bit you’ll more than likely feel weird and you’ll feel very self aware about every “fault” but after about a week and half you’ll notice a difference in your skin. I’ve been tempted to wear powder since I stopped wearing make-up last month but my skin has cleared up so much! A tip to remove redness is to put a few drops of eye drops on the affected area and in a few minutes the redness will be greatly reduced! Ice also will bring down the swelling and will reduce the size in about 2 minutes. If you have a shine problem oil blotting sheets work great for absorbing the oil and they only take 3 seconds to wipe over you face! Be sure to wear a little lotion with SPF to keep your skin glowing and healthy.

Every morning after I wash my face I apply face lotion, if you have dry skin then your face will try to produce more oil to moisturize you body and may cause break-outs. I have combination skin so I don’t know how people with oily skin should apply lotion but I'm sure you can look it up online and read up on you skin type for more details.

It’s best to wash your face twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. I use Noxzema in the morning and at night I use a mixture of witch-hazel and tea tree oil to tone and clean my face. I've tried many differnt products over the years and nothing seems to work as well as witch hazel. Another great product that’s all natural is Acne no more by Forces of Nature. This is applied only on pimples (not the whole face) and normally clears them up in 2-3 days.

Acne can be embarrassing, trust me I know, but it shouldn't stop you from feeling great about your self. The most beautiful girl with the clearest skin is far from pretty if she doesn't have a good heart. So even if you do have to deal with acne, as I do, remember that it’s simply a fact of life and that it’s truly what’s on the inside that counts. So show that pretty heart and let your love for Christ shine for the world to see.

1st Peter 3:3-4 “whose adoring let it not be the outward adoring of plaiting of the hair, the wearing of gold, or of the putting on of apparel; but let the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quite spirit, which is in the sight of God a great price.”

True Beauty

2008-04-23T11:54:00.007-05:00

What is beauty? Sharon Hersh, author of "Mom, I feel fat" sat down with 25 middle school aged girls and asked them to "describe the perfect girl" Their response, in order of importance, where as follows:
Thin
Blond
Beautiful
Athletic
Has big breast
Has a boyfriend
Confident
Straight white teeth (no braces!)
Has her own car
Doesn’t have zits
Has her own phone

Who do we know who fits all of those? Barbie. Only one I can think of. That’s what middle schoolers said was the perfect girl. Notice most of them are how the girl would look? True beauty does not start on the outside, it starts with the heart. I'm sure we've all seen a pretty girl and thought how nice she looks and gone up to talk to her, but once we got to know her we realize that her heart is corrupt. On the other hand I'm sure we've all seen a "plain" girl and gone up to talk to her and her smile overwhelms up, its lights up the whole room and her eyes sparkle with the joy of the Lord. This kind of girl possesses an inner beauty. People like that make me feel loved and makes me want to smile. They make you feel like you’re important. Theres is a song that has a chorus of "I saw Jesus in you, I saw Jesus in you, in the words that you spoke, in the things that you do, I saw Jesus in you". Those are the people to whom I am pulled to the most.

One of best friend when I was first starting high school was very beautiful, boys flocked her and flirted and teased and fawned over her. When I got to know her better I realized how unsure of her self she was, she felt ugly and was always trying to show off her body and her looks. She always talked about how fat and how ugly she was around people to get them to say that she wasn't. The girl was 5'4 and only about 110 pounds and still she felt fat, she never could loose wait so she just complained about it and didn't go to any extremes thankfully. She was beautiful on the out-side but her insecurities and fears and self-hate made her heart, the part of her that truly was the most wonderful thing about her, hide from the world and from most people.

So what is true beauty? The joy of the Lord is true beauty. When some one has this joy she is the most beautiful thing on earth! Her eyes sparkle, her lips smile, her heart sings, and her hands show love with every thing she does. She pours herself into all she does. She loves and cares for those she meets. She is her self. She speaks kind words and she loves the Lord.
She doesn't try to make her self beautiful, but she is beautiful by letting down the barriers of hurt and fear that guard her heart and soul. By this I do NOT mean she does not guard her heart for her future husband and for her Lord. But simply not hide behind past wounds and fears.
I'm in the middle of reading Captivating by John and Stasi Elderedge, I've cried. I've laughed, and I'm learned. I would encourage every one to read this book; I'd beg you to read it. If you only read one book (other than the Bible) this year I pray that it will be this one.

Another good book is Dear Princess it is geared toward younger teens (13-14) but I still read it and learn for it. It deals with many of the issues of the heart and of the spirit. It is from a Mennonite view point so it does talk of head coverings and of wearing dark hose at all time but it is still a wonderful book.

I think the main thing to keep in mind it that you where made by the Hand that created the stars and moon. That He formed every little detail about you and gave you his stamp of approval. He beamed with joy at your creations. He loves you and every detail about you. He knows the number of hairs on your very head! You'd never look at a gift from your best friend and complain and nit-pick at it, "oh, I like it but I wish I could change the color or the size". So why do we do it to our Maker? Samantha suggest reading Captivating I took her advice and I am loving the book! Once again I'd suggest this book to everyone!

Here is a link about feminine beauty; I found this site while doing research for my report on true femininity
May the Lord open you eyes to how beautiful you truly are and to just how much He really does love you.

1st Peter 3:3-4 “whose adoring let it not be the outward adoring of plaiting of the hair, the wearing of gold, or of the putting on of apparel; but let the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quite spirit, which is in the sight of God a great price.”

A taste of humility

2008-04-18T16:20:00.003-05:00

Last Monday my mother was shopping where her and I often shop for fabric and other such things, one of mangers told my mother that if I wanted my old job back they would hire me. When my mother first told me this I was like "Psh ok like I'd go back" even though I kind of wanted to. You see I had quit a while back and was some what haughty every time we went in there about it. Well the next day I went in and asked the second manger if I could have my old job back, the look on her face was amazing, she thought I was joking at first. After I assured her I was for real she told me that I had to talk to the lady who did the hiring. I was scared to death! I wanted to run out of there with what little pride I had left and act like nothing had happened. I obviously couldn't do that so when the manger came out I had to swallow my pride and ask her for my job back, much to my surprise she said yes, just like that. Needless to say I was thrilled and so were some of the other people with whom I will be working again in two weeks. I did apologize for quitting even though it did feel like I was swallowing a pineapple. I'm not really prideful but I hate to be wrong, so asking for my job back was kind of painful to my ego; but all ended well and I'll be back at my job in two weeks.
Also, tomorrow my dear friend's sister will be getting married! Please pray for the couple as they start their new like together and for their families as they prepare for the wedding tomorrow.
Many blessings to you all.

Waiting is not always easy

2008-04-15T18:36:00.005-05:00

Waiting, we all have to do one time or another, but waiting for God to bring the perfect spouse into your life is not always easy. My friend was teasing me that next year my father will be overrun with young men wanting to get to know me. I started thinking about this and I began to wonder how long will I be required to wait. God never said wait till your 18 and then I'll show you your prince charming he simply said wait. At this time there is no young man in my life nor should there be at this point, yet I still feel lonely. I see so many young couple and see how happy they are and how I have no one like that. Some times its easy to wait other times its not so easy. Then I started to wonder what the teen/single years are for? I believe that these years are meant to grow closer to the Lord, learning all we can in home making for girls and providing for a home for young men, getting to know not only others believers but to also get to know ourselves better. When I was 13 I knew very little about Christianity and even less about being a godly woman and I'm figuring most 13yrolds don’t, yet we see so many 13-14 year olds dating and flirting and many times we call it cute, their first "crush". Even though I have decided to wait for the Lord to bring the right person into my life I some wonder "am I attractive? Do guys notice me? Does any guy like me? Do they even know I'm alive?" This can be dangerous. I'm not saying that it’s sinful to think about it from time to time but letting it consume our minds is very harmful. When we are wondering if a certain young man at church or a church activity likes us, then our focus is not longer on praising our Maker or enjoying godly fellowship but on that young man. Crushes...We've all had them and maybe some of us have them right now, there is nothing wrong with crushes as long as we don’t day dream about these person or think about this person or attach out first name to their last name "just to see how it looks/sounds". One of the hardest things about crushes is that they are most often secrets, or worse the only people that know are our friends. I've had many well meaning friends, more than once, try to help me out with a crush. I'd explain that I didn't want help but some how things seem to always get out of hand when girls talk about their crushes with girlfriends. One of the hardest things to do is not think about crushes and not talk about them, for this I'd recommend talking to your parents. I've done this twice I think neither time was easy. Once I just flat out told my mom and the second she guessed it and then we talked about it. It may be uncomfortable but it can help. I'd highly recommend the book before you meet prince charming. That book seriously changed my life and thought life. I've let a few friends borrow it and they said they same thing. I'd HIGHLY recommend every young lady to read this book. Another book that might be helpful for older teens (16+) is every young’s woman’s battle. This book is more geared towards the mental battles and unlike before you meet prince charming deals with the aspect of sexual purity. I'd like to end this post by saying that you’re not alone; others are waiting just like you. If any of you have any suggestions for reading or ideas to help keep your mind in the right place please leave a comment. If any married or engaged women read this please share your advice and/or encouragement. I pray you all have a blessed week.

Walking along the river

2008-04-14T15:37:00.005-05:00

Howdy everyone!

It’s been nearly a week since I've last posted and I have a LOT to say. Wednesday I got my hair cut for my birthday, I didn't have any length taken off just some layers put it. The lady did a very good job and for once didn't try to sell me any product! It did hurt having the lady try to comb out the curls but she took her time and like always I got told that I have a lot of hair. Thursday went wonderful I had a great Birthday; I went out to eat with my grandmother and then had a great dinner of home made enchiladas! YUMMY!! After dinner we had my favorite ice-cream CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH!! Friday and Saturday where spent in San Antonio, We had a great time. We ate at the mall the for dinner Friday and it really made me remember how that as Christians
we are in the world but not of it. With every passing teen I felt more normal or should I say less normal. It truly broke my heart to see how my "peers" are dressing. It was a sea of thighs and cleavage; it truly made me thankful of my standards. When we where leaving the mall we passed by a hooters, I happened to get a glimpse inside from the huge window, what I saw made me blush and feel ashamed. I honestly wanted to grab a towel and throw it around the waitress. Later on down at the river walk a group of teens where wearing paper hats with differnt things on them, I was horrified at what some of them said. Teens my age and younger with vulgar and provocative things sprawled across their hats. I can't even quote the cleanest of them. People all along the river where dressed in low cut shirt, High slitted skirts and clothes so tight that you could almost read the date of the dime in their pocket. Tattoos, strange piercing, and just about every other "normality" of the world was there. I'm not saying that every body was like this just about half maybe more. I was shocked, broken hearted, and humbled. I know that the only thing that prevented me from turning out like that was the blood of my Savior and that with out him I'd be in the muck and filth of the world just like the people I saw. That night when I went to bed I started to pray for the people I had seen that day. I was broken hearted to think that so many people are living their lives like that and that they will keep doing so with out the blood of the Lamb. I am truly blessed that my Lord saved me from all that four years ago.

Homeschool family

2008-04-08T14:14:00.002-05:00

My mom sent me this a while back and I decided to share it with y'all. It reminded me of when I use to help a lady at our old church babysit, when we'd walk across the street every body would stare because there was about 15 of us all together (only 5 where her kids). I hope y'all enjoy!

Spring break!

2008-04-07T15:09:00.010-05:00

I'm on spring break! WOOOHOO! I'm taking a much needed brake from school, I plan to spend this week getting my store and web site up and running when I do (hopeful by next month) I'll post a link. Saturday my family and 3 other families went out for the day and had a lot of fun! I didn't take any pictures with my camera cause I didn't want to drop it in the water so when my mom uploads them I'll "borrow" some. Thankful I didn't get to bad sunburn just a slightly pink tinge that lasted two days. It was a great time of fellowship and a wonderful chance to hang out with good friends.
Here are the pictures I promised.

This is a bag I've been working on for a while now, when I'm in between project or I get bored/frustrated with one I work on this bag

This is a French market bag or gardening bag that I made a while back, It is very sturdy and holds a lot with out losing its shape.

Here is the bag I made on Thursday.

Here’s the inside

I used Simplicity pattern number 4391 for the bag. It wasn't too hard but it did take a lot of patience at times, and I found something out I have a new best friend...my seam ripper, most certainly a love hate relationship. As I always say "you rip what you sew"

Two hours before this post is late!

2008-04-03T21:58:00.005-05:00

Day six and loving it. I honestly can say I love wearing skirts. I'm somewhat sad that this week is almost over, I've had fun trying to come up with different outfits and hairstyles (I've failed terribly with the hair part). So far I've been able to do all my normal stuff in skirts, even though I did get my skirt caught in the car door the other day. (have I mentioned how clumsy I can be?)
I've finished my bag and all I have left to do is put straps on my camera case. I made a new Ironing board cover using hot pink beach-y fabric,I think I made a beach board, hehe. =)Tomorrow I WILL post pictures! I promise! I pray you all have a beautiful day. Let me end by saying that sometimes we have to look for the beauty but its always there, be sure to look for the little ways the Heavenly Father shows His love to you.

Catching up!

2008-04-02T12:41:00.009-05:00

The last four days seem to have gone by so fast! Sunday turned out wonderful! the people of whom I did not wish to see where not there! I did not know this till after the concert but even before I found this out I felt a great peace about the whole thing! On Monday I spent most of my time sewing.

I made a case for my MP3 player, Started a pair of culottes, and started a bag. Tuesday was choir. It was kinda sad saying goodbye to all my friends but their excitement was contagious! Then today, Wednesday, my friends left for tour. I've finished most of my school work and I plan to spend my time until church sewing a camera case and finishing my culottes. Then I'll be heading up to the church to help teach the first-third grade Wednesday night Bible class. I'm wearing the skirt that I made of jeans and I think I should have made it a little wider, Its perfect of normal days when I wont be doing a lot of walking or going up stairs.
In other news my birthday is coming up next Thursday! Only eight more days! We're taking an over night trip next Friday and Saturday, I can hardly wait! I'll be sure to takes lots of pictures and share some of the best ones. After I put the straps on my bag and hem my cullotes I'll take come pictures of them and post em. I hope y'all enjoy the rest of the day.

Day Two!

2008-03-29T22:34:00.004-05:00

I really should come up with a better title but I can't think of anything better so day two will have todo for now. Today while my mother and I where out shopping for patterns some ladies behind us started talking about skirts. One lady stated that she was tired of long skirts , she say she thought them frumpy. I, who happened to be wearing a very long skirt at the time, looked across the table and grinned at my mother. Today I spent most of my time cutting out patterns and sewing. Monday I'll try to post some pictures of my latest projects. Its late so I'll wrap this post up now so I'll have time to straighten up my room before bed. I want to thank all of you for your support and for your prayers about tomorrow, I feel much better knowing that a have friends that are praying for me. I pray you all have a peaceful and Holy Sabbath.

Day one

2008-03-28T18:32:00.005-05:00

Today was my first day of the feelin' femmine challenge and much to my horror when I woke up it was cold. I wore a skirt anyway, by the time we went out shopping it wasn't cold any more, just slightly chilly, by three or so it was pretty nice out, perfect skirt weather. I didn't have many chances to take pictures of my normal daily activities but my mom did snap on while I was helping her cook, well I was trying to help cook, I dropped the taco shells and cracked all but four of them. The only reason four survived was because I had already placed them on the tray.
We have a concert at 8:30 tomorrow but luckily it’s really close to where I live so I won’t have to wake up really early. This Sunday is the finally concert before choir tour. Its been kind of depressing listening to all my friends prepare for choir tour and listen to all the plans but I know there is a reason I'm staying home this time, I just don’t know what the reason is yet. The choir will be heading out Wednesday, please keep the choir in your prayers the second of April though the twelfth for safe travel and good health.
The concert this Sunday is going to place me in an uncomfortable situation. I will be seeing old friends that I have not seen in some time, I have changed greatly since I last saw these people and I am extremely nervous about seeing them again. Please pray that I will respond in the way that I should and that I will be able to focus on praising my Lord and not worry about the people I will be seeing.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Feelin' feminine challange

2008-03-27T13:52:00.002-05:00

I've heard about this from several sites but I finally decided to try it for my self. I've never wore skirts for a whole week before so I think this is going to be interesting. I’m going to start tomorrow since I’m already wearing jeans today.

Brooke’s original thoughts about the Challenge:

"Yes, you can do almost about anything in skirts. I think it’s a very neat idea to wear skirts for a whole week. Some might think its weird and probably wonder how they’d survive or manage in a skirt all week: but let me tell ya, you can do practically anything in a skirt. Of course, there are particular activities that might make it harder in a dress/skirt, but most ladies will agree that skirts don’t limit your abilities to do everyday things. I think striving to wear all skirts or cute dresses for a solid week would be an awesome challenge.

(Jocelyn's Post)
I thought it would be neat, just like these ladies, to try wearing only wearing skirts/dresses. I think it would be interesting to try it for an entire week. No matter what your age: I hope you’ll join us! My sister Holly and I are going to do it this week starting Monday. I don’t know if anyone would like to join us, but if you do, I’m going to start my own “skirt goal/challenge”.

See what a great idea this was? I was so thrilled being able to see so many participating! I was sad once the week was over, but I was glad to have been given the opportunity to see all the likeminded girls posting, sharing their convictions, AND see their pictures. I loved how Super Angel added a verse beside each outfit she wore. That was clever and a great idea!

Anyway, I told Brooke I wanted to keep it going and she agreed to continue doing it with me as did Amanda. So we’re all going to continue to do the challenge at the end of each month for a week. This is the last week of February so I want to invite you all to do the challenge again. Last time I only posted one picture. One pitiful picture… you see I usually only wear one skirt in the winter and four of the exact same t-shirts… but perhaps I can pull out some of my cooler weather clothing, just for show. : ) I’ll try to get some more variety this time.

The Challenge (by Brooke)
To wear only skirts/dresses for an entire week (7 days.) Post some pictures on your blog and show us some of your outfits. If you don’t have exactly 7 different skirts, that’s o.k. Mix and match with your shirts. If you’d like, post every day of your challenge week and show us what you wore like the other ladies in the links above did. (I am hoping to do so.) And be creative! You can easily be modest and fashionable at the same time. Being modest and feminine doesn’t mean wearing a skirt that covers your toes and a shirt that comes all the way up to your neck, and has dull colors. No! You can be modest, feminine, lovely, beautiful and stylish all at the same time! So, be creative! Throw in some accessories. Put on a hat if you want; Dress up with some jewelry or earrings, fix your hair in a lovely fashion. Show us how you can look modest and feminine, yet with some added style.

Already Wear Skirts?
If you already wear skirts regularly, please participate anyway! This is for all females. Show us how you mix and match your clothes, what type of fabric skirts you like best (blue jean, cotton, etc.), your favorite skirts and outfits, etc. We’d love to hear about it!

Challenge Extras:

Venture out in your attempts to be fearlessly feminine!
Fix your hair a different way each day of the challenge week. Must not be the same in all 7 days (that means 7 different hair-styles). Be creative and try new hair styles. Take a picture and show us.
Wear a different pair of earrings if you have pierced ears, each day, or if you don’t, a different piece of accessory.
Show us pictures of daily activities of you in your skirts
The Goal of the Challenge:

Venturing out for one week to be fearlessly feminine in the way you dress
Experiencing a week of skirts/dresses and comparing it to your regular ways of dress and style
Evaluating yourself at the end of the week and comparing it to your regular way of dress: how was the experience for you? Any particular stories? Did wearing skirts rather than pants affect the way you felt? The way you felt about yourself? The way you acted? The way you carried yourself? Were you able to go about everyday activity as freely as pants? How did people respond? Were you more respected? Did you feel more like a lady? After the challenge do you desire to keep wearing skirts more regularly, or were you desperate to wear pants again? ETC.
Sharing with other girls your outfits and give ideas of mixing and matching
Showing how beautiful female femininity actually is!"

Ok back to my own words now.
I'll be post every day except for Sunday but I will take pictures and post them the next day! I'm really looking forward to this and I hope y'all will be joining me.

My weekend doings

2008-03-24T14:48:00.010-05:00

Happy Easter a day late! Saturday morning I started a sewing project and I had planned to blog after dinner, I stated feeling sick so I laid down and went to bed early so I didn’t have time for an Easter post. Rachel had a beautiful Easter poem which can be found here. We had our Easter program yesterday and it went great! We where so nervous cause we didn't start working on it as soon as we should have but all turned out well.

Saturday I started turning these old jeans into a skirt.

It was much more difficult that I had anticipated it would be. First I ripped out the inseams, one inch below the zipper and then nine inches from the back waist band.

Then the hard part. Filling in the openings with fabric. I used a pair of my dad's old blue jeans and just cut the legs off. The hardest part was getting the fabric to fit just right; I'm a bit of a perfectionist at times so this took longer than it needed to.

I'm fairly pleased with the finally results, it took many rip outs and repins to get to this point.

All that’s left is for me to surge the bottom and to hem it. Instructions may be found here
I must head off to go cut out some coupons. I want to thank every one for their tips/support on the modest dress post last week. It really was an encouragement me, and I’m sure to others, to read y'alls words of encouragement. I pray that y’all have a wonderful rest of the day.

Modesty: Whats the big deal?

2008-03-19T10:58:00.003-05:00

On Monday my mother, my brothers and I went shopping for clothes. Shopping can truly be an eye opener to how we throw aside modesty when it’s inconvenient. While I was looking for skirts I found a beautiful skirt, it was pink and green very springy and super girly. I held it up to me and it was to short, for a moment I wondered if I could get away with wearing it; Then my conscience started talking to me, well more like arguing with me, Think about your brothers in Christ do you want to be a stumbling block? no of course I don’t but they shouldn't be looking. No they shouldn't but you shouldn't put them in a place where they will have to fight looking. But it’s so cute. so what? You know that it might cause some one to stumble. I sighed and put it back slightly annoyed. Then I saw a nice shirt and it was to low .I put it back starting to getting frustrated with the lack of clothes my size. I then found an awesome skirt that was just the right size it came a good 3-4 inches below the off limit length and fitted perfectly every where else! By the end of the trip I had found two skirts and a shirt.
As spring rolls around there is going to be more and more chances to cause our Christian brothers (and other men) to stumble. We must strive and make sure that our clothes are not only long enough to cover what they need to but also that they are not too tight. I personally see nothing wrong with girls wear pants if they are not tight. Many jeans bring emphasis to the rear and to the thighs, If you think this is not a stumbling block to guys I highly suggest you check out the rebelution's modesty survey, Real guys answer wither or not something is a stumbling block I think it would a real eye opener to many young ladies. Also a great way to find out if an outfit is going to be a problem is ask you dad, my dad is very honest some times to the point where nerve racking to ask him but when ever I'm not sure about something I can count on him to give me an honest answer. Here is a link that has a check list for clothing.
Apart from our clothes the way we act must be modest as well. I'm sure you've all been told before sit with you legs together; well many ladies forget to do that! When you bend down to get something make sure your shirt covers your back when you bend, I try to make a habit of placing my hand on my lower back when I bend just to be sure that my shirt stays down. Button up shirts can be a huge problem! It is a good idea to wear a tank top under them, because then you move you can some times see inside. I know y'all have tips and idea on keeping modest so please share them!

There are no better cosmetics than a severe temperance and purity, modesty and humility, a gracious temper and calmness of spirit; and there is no true beauty without the signatures of these graces in the very countenance.
Arthur Helps

Pay Per Post

2008-03-18T14:22:00.004-05:00

Hey every one! Want to know a great way to earn some extra money? How would you like to be paid for blogging? Sounds easy right? Well, it is! All you have to do is sign up for pay per post. They will pay you to write about, get this...what you want to write about! It’s super easy and all you have to do is blog. There is a list of differnt things to write about, you pick what you want to write about and then after you write your post you confirm your post, they check it and then after thirty days they send you the money. This is a great way to earn some extra money from home with very little work. It is going to take me about fifteen to twenty minutes max to write and edit this post and guess what I’m earning twenty dollars for it! That’s about a dollar per minute! When I had a regular job I earned six fifty and hour, talk about a huge increase. All I have to do is write two hundred words add a link and that’s it! Talk about easy! I’d highly encourage every one to at least check into this.
blog advertising

Concert and other stuff

2008-03-17T12:06:00.009-05:00

Oliva Joy at All that is good is giving away an awesome looking bag! Be sure to check out her page.

Last night we had a small concert at our director's old church. The church was so small! Some of our guys where hitting their heads while on the risers! It all went well until the end, one of my friends has been having knee problems and his knee started to give out at the end of the last song, He is going for a MRI this Tuesday so if y'all would pray for his knee I'm sure him and his family would appreciate it. After the concert my blood sugar had gotten kind of low and I wasn't feeling that great, a friend got me something to drink and started feeling better in a few minutes. After wards I started thinking how that’s like our daily life. I can’t eat things that have a lot of sugar yet some times it looks sooo good and I do it anyways, I always suffer later and regret it. The same goes for our Christian walk, we see things that we know are bad for us yet we want them anyways. Skipping meals is something that’s not an option for me, if I don’t eat I get dizzy and sick feeling. I may not notice the affects right way and I might be thinking I'm doing pretty good I don’t need to eat; well that doesn't last very long, I soon realized that my mother was right and that I should have eaten. Christians also tend to do the same thing, we wake up late or we have a busy day ahead of us so we skip our Bible reading and prayer time, we may think that it’s not going to affect us, yet sooner or later it will. We get spiritually weak, we don’t make as good of choices as we ought to; the list could go on and on. I know that I forget to read my Bible from time to time and those days normally go pretty bad. So let me encourage you don’t forget to take care of your "spiritual blood sugar" by reading your Bible and praying daily.

Spring Fever

2008-03-14T14:27:00.004-05:00

Spring fever is very powerful. It makes me want to wear a long flowy skirt and spin around bare foot! What affect does spring have on you?
Be sure to go outside and admire God's handy work today!

"That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!" Mark Twain

Fruits of The Spirit: Faith

2008-03-11T18:09:00.006-05:00

Faith is the substance for things hoped for yet not seen. I'm not sure where I heard/read that but it’s so very true. Faith is not always easy; we so often rather take charge of things our self. Faith is something that I struggle with. I often wonder when God will bring that special some one across my path and me across his. It is not always easy to have faith and trust that God knows what he is doing. I often wonder what the Lord has in store for me down the road, especially since next year is my last year of high school. Even while I pray for guidance I wonder if He is going to show me when the time is right. When we take things into our own hands we often make a mess of things. God knows what he is doing and doesn't need us to help him out. Sitting back and letting God take control of the reins takes allot of faith; but there is also a peace when we have faith in the Lord. Knowing that the God who created me is in control and He is the one who is planning my future not I is a very comforting fact. I am NOT saying that we should just close our eyes and not plan for the future! We should prayerful plan and prepare but also we should keep in mind that His plans might be different from ours.

On a more personal life note our concert Sunday went wonderful. The two soloist where fantastic! Please be in prayer for my choir for the next few weeks. In April more half the choir will be heading off for choir tour. This trip will be 10 days long so please pray for the people who are going. I hope every one has a great day!

Snow!

2008-03-07T16:15:00.004-06:00

Yesterday we got real snow! Not ice, but real snow! We got a whole half inch! I'm sure y'all who are up north are laughing. My youngest brother, age twelve, made a snowman. Mr. Snow man was about 7 inches tall and 3 inches wide and like all southern snowmen he had a very short life expectancy; when we went outside this morning the birdbath (Mr. Snowman’s "house") was full of water and two twigs. It was a very "sad" sight but for some reason made me giggle; a true southern snowman...A puddle of water and two sticks.
In other news I'm currently working on a denim skirt as soon as I finish it I'll post some pictures. If any one else has any winter weather I'd love to hear about it.

Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

2008-03-05T11:02:00.004-06:00

Hello one and all!
I know, I was supposed to write this yesterday but I didn't. I'm a bad bloggest(My own word for a Lady blogger). So here's the post I should have written yesterday.

Gentleness is one of the traits that, to me, is the one that is most visible. When Out grocery shopping with my mom and brothers you can always tell mothers who are gentle and those who are not. The mother who is yelling at her child as often as she draws breath is obviously NOT gentle; On the other hand the mother who firmly yet gently and lovingly corrects her child is manifesting gentleness. Yes, I know you can’t judge how people are by how you see them in a store, but it does make a good illustration. Gentleness, According to Mr. Webster, means: "Gen"tle*ness, n. The quality or state of being gentle, well-born, mild, benevolent, docile, etc.; gentility; softness of manners, disposition, etc.; mildness." Gentleness is something that takes practice. It’s very easy to be gentle when everything is peaceful but to be gentle when someone is annoying you is different story! Gentleness is something that draws me towards people, a girl I know is very quite and gentle, she and I have very different in personalities but her gentleness draws me toward her. I find it impossible not to smile at this person when ever she passes by me. A gentle spirit is blatantly obvious in those that have one. We all should strive for a more gentle spirit everyday. Let me end by saying this. No one is perfect, just because a person seems gentle it doesn’t mean they are. More important then seeming gentle is what your heart condition is. If you have a rebellious heart it doesn’t matter how gentle you may seem. So we should not strive to be gentle for praise of men, but we should strive to have a gentle heart as well. Matthew 12: 34 reads “For out of abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”.

Correction

2008-03-03T15:10:00.003-06:00

Ok, about the video I tried to post yesterday. I've tried twice since then to make it work, and both times it didn't.

Yesterday I said my first verse of the take it to heart challenge. My brother, two of our friends and I are all saying them together and keeping each other accountable. I'm really enjoying meditating and studying each verse, I love diving deeper and trying to get every possible detail I can get from it. Tomorrow I'll write my post for gentleness. I pray each of you have a wonderful and relaxing evening.

Tagged

2008-03-01T21:01:00.004-06:00

I have been tagged by Rachel of Byrd of the Heavens Now you will learn five "different" things about me, but only if you really want to.
1. I like doing house work, except for vacuuming, I'd rather sweep.
2. My hands are three inches wide and six inches long
3. I love playing Super Mario World with my two younger brothers (even though I die just about every single time)
4. A girl in my choir nicknamed me Chewbacca, It doesn't bother me, I think its kinda funny (No idea why, I think it’s because I have thick hair)
5. I'm practically blind with out my glasses or contacts, I actually run into walls some times with out them( I don’t know if I run into things because I can't see them or if it's because I'm some what clumsy.

I tag Sarah Ann, Marie and Ella

Ok, my middle brother, who is 15, asked me post a music video he made. He used a contemporary Christian song By Casting Crowns.This song has a very good message in it. If You do not agree with type of music, don't watch it, it won’t bother us one bit. This is one of his first videos so any feed back you have for him would be greatly appreciated.

Fruits of the Spirit: Longsuffering

2008-02-27T14:23:00.002-06:00

Ok before I start the Fruit of the Spirits I wanted to mention how choir is doing. Our first concert is the 29th, which I will not be attending because its 45 minutes both ways and we're only singing for 30mins so the drive time would be three times the singing time. It’s kind of sad that I'll be missing it cause there will be to many first sopranos missing, so they won’t be able to do any of our higher songs. The first full concert will be March ninth! Me and about 3 other firsts sopranos are doing a descant (a counter melody that’s higher than the other parts) on a song called Worthy is the Lamb I've never been put on descant before, needless to say I'm slightly nervous. Ok now that I'm done rambling about my nerves, or lack there of) lets get on to the subject of longer suffering.
Longsuffering is something that many people seem to lack. Longsuffering means: "(Adjective) a long-suffering person is patient despite being annoyed or insulted regularly over a period of time." This is one of the few Fruits that I have been blessed with naturally, but sometimes I do get upset and "ruffled" with people. In order to be longsuffering you have to be able to get over your pride. Pride is what flames up and makes up want to retort or if you’re like me smart off. Pride says "they have no right to say that to me! Who do they think they are to insult me like that?" a friend of mine once said “pride is like a pineapple, Hard to swallow".
Being able to let things go and let them not bother you is a result of being dead to your old self. We should all try to be humble our self’s and not to take offence, even when we have the right to do so, and try to be patience and longsuffering with others, especially those who are lost in sin. If Christians where as longsuffering as they ought to be the lost world might take notice and wonder what we have that makes us the way we are.

Take it to Heart Challenge

2008-02-25T14:15:00.005-06:00

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee. Psalm 119:11. We all know that scripture memory is important but how many of us really memorize it like we should. At end of last year my pastor challenged us to memorize 1st Corinthians 13. Only one verse a week, we where not allowed to say more than one verse a week, the goal was to "take it to heart" not to simply memorize some verses to get a pin. This time we're memorizing Proverbs 3:1-13. I'm going to challenge my readers to take up this challenge too. Only one verse a week for thirteen weeks, each week you memorize and mediate on it. Find a friend or family member to whom you can say the verse to each week. The first week you say verse one the second week you say one-two third week 1-3 so on and so forth. So are you up for the challenge? If so click the link below and add your self to the list! *edit* If you dont have your own blog just link it back to my page.

Fruits of the Spirit: Joy

2008-02-22T12:02:00.003-06:00

Joy, many people confuse joy with happiness. Happiness is only temporary and depends on what’s going on at the present time; Joy on the other hand can be present even when your life seems to be falling apart. James 1:2 reads: "My brethren, Count it all joy..." We should always be joyful no matter what’s going on in your life, even when we're not happy, when I looked up the word joy I found "1. Great happiness: feelings of great happiness or pleasure, especially of an elevated or spiritual kind" and when I looked up happiness I found "2 a: a state of well-being and contentment". While I am typing this I am remembering a time when it felt as if my whole life was going wrong. I was not happy in the least, I was scared and upset. When I first found out we where changing churches I was even a little angry, But after I realized that no matter what I said it didn’t change a thing I prayed for joy and acceptance. Even though I was far from happy I felt some joy in knowing that what I was doing was what my parents thought best. That happened a little over a year ago. Last Wednesday night I was talking to a friend and he mentioned something about my first few months at the church and I told him that I was sure I appeared rude at first, his reply was that I seemed quiet and scared but that he could tell I was trying to make the best of it, which is why he and many others decided to try to help me fit in. I was shocked to hear this; my attempt of joy was evident. If I hadn't tried to be joyful I doubt people would have talked to me yet alone try to make me feel welcomed like they did and I might still be miserable and angry about changing churches. So what caused my joy? Certainly not my situation; the lord did, I prayed from joy and He, like a loving father, wanted me to be joyful and He granted me a joy that the lost world will never understand.

Fruits of the Spirit

2008-02-21T15:55:00.005-06:00

Last night, when I was doing my nightly devotions, I read Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering gentleness, goodness, Faith, meekness, Temperance: against Such there is no law." At first I just read over them like I normal do a verse that I know well, but when I had set my Bible aside for the night I began to wonder what does that really mean and Matthew 7:20 came to mind "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." and it made me wonder if people can tell That I am a born again believer by my fruits. Do I bear the fruits of the Spirit like I should? The painful answer was not as well as I should. So I decide to study each one and to apply it. So the First one is "love". When I looked up the word love I found it to mean "unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1): the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2): brotherly concern for others b: a person's adoration of God"
I am a pretty loving pretty loving person, but do I always love others the way I should? The answer is obviously no, to truly love people you must be willing to always put them first, you must be willing to serve them to the best of your abilities, which is not something that I always do. So I thought up some ways that I (or any one else) could do to show love to others.
1. Say an uplifting word to at least one person and really mean it.
2. Do some extra chores or cook for the family and do the dishes.
3. Hand out gospel tracts at least pray for a lost neighbor or family member.
4. Volunteer to baby-sit for a family in your church so that the parents can enjoy a night together.
5. Ask your pastor if your church has any needs that you could help with. Many times they will have something for you to do. (Even if it’s cleaning the church’s bathroom)
6. Be creative, Find something that you can do for some one else.

If any one has any other ideas please list them, or if you have something you'd like to share please do so.

Two weeks and no shampoo or brushing!

2008-02-19T17:40:00.008-06:00

I hit the two week mark of being shampoo free! I was so very unsure of being shampoo free and not brushing my hair but it really works! So many of my friends have been asking for the curly girl website because they are tired of "torturing" their hair as well. I looked and looked and I couldn't fine any pictures of my hair in its natural state, all of my pictures where me with straightened hair. It’s been very hard to get used to leaving my hair to do its own thing and even when it’s not as "tame" as I wish it would be, I can at least say "that’s my curl, that's what God gave me". I'm learning accept that God made me look the way I do and there’s nothing I can do about it. Hating my hair and complaining about its natural state was very much a habit, I'd walk by a mirror and cringe at the site of my puffy hair. By trying embrace my hair has helped me see that God makes each of us different and that everyone is a work of art, personally designed by the hand of God.

Secret cookie recipe

2008-02-16T17:39:00.007-06:00

I made some awesome cookies last night! I used my fail proof prize winning recipe! I always think it’s a great idea to have some perfect recipes that you can always count on! See picture below for recipe.

Yup that’s my prize winning recipe, works every time. Ok on a more serious note I'd like to ask every one to pray for my great-grandparents, they are just getting over bronchitis so if any one who reads this would just say a quick prayer for them it would mean so much to me.
I hope every one has a great Sunday, I'll see y'all all on Monday.

Curly gurly

2008-02-15T15:22:00.004-06:00

Hello to anyone who might be reading this!
As I'm sure you guessed from the title of this post that I have curly hair, but what you don’t know is that, up until the 5th of this month, I hated my curls because they where always frizzy and messy looking. Well I hated them so much that I tried just about every product that promised straight hair, I even used a hair iron most days (even though my mother told me over and over that it was bad for it). Then I accidentally found the curly girl page, I was shocked and somewhat grossed out when I read that you shouldn't brush your hair or even use shampoo but the pictures and the stories of other girls with hair like mine convinced me to try it. The first day I did it the girls with whom I sit in choir would not stop touching my hair telling me how soft it was and how much they liked it. I was stunned! Since I have red hair I’m use to people commenting on the color but never on how nice it looked totally natural. A few of my curly friends asked me what I has started doing diffent so I told them that I had stopped using shampoo and that I hadn't brushed my hair in over a week. One girl even smelt my hair and declared that it smelt good! I've learned that I can’t control my curls, even when I used to straighten my hair it would curl and wave at even the slightest drop of humidity. So now I'm simply embracing my curls and letting them do their thing. I'll post some before and after pictures hopefully Tuesday to show my two week progress.
The wonderful web page that helped me embrace my curls can be found here Got Curl the book on which this page is based is not a Christian book, but the above link is. I would suggest the book Curly Girl: The Handbook by Lorraine Massey to any curly girl with the following Disclaimer: This is a secular book written by a secular author. As such, preview before recommending to children. The book refers to curly hair as being sexy hair, etc. If this will offend you, skip the introduction, appendixes, and testimonials.
I personally skipped the introduction, appendixes and testimonials but you know what will offend you better than I do.
So curly gurlys embrace your God given curls!

Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T11:40:00.004-06:00

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
Valentine’s Day, a day where most people are thinking about that special some one. If you’re like me its easy to start to feel a little sad and lonely when you think of the fact your "alone" and the hardest thing is to keep your focus and to wait for love. Many of my old friends have or are dating with out their parental consent. When I think of them my heart aches for them for two reasons: that they are going against biblical principles and also because they have no idea the pain that is waiting for them. Not to long ago I gave up my heart to the Lord and to my parents, I refused to get caught up in the dating game that so many of my peers where pushing me to join. It honestly has been very hard but it has been worth it to. One of my best friends got involved in the dating game and it took her farther than she had ever dreamed it would, she once told me she wished she could change to how she used to be but she liked the attention the boys gave her. She later when to a Christian ranch to help people who have problems and who need help in their Christian walk, She changed so much and when I last saw her she was happy and smiling brighter than I had ever seen, she had giving her heart back to the Lord and to her parents. Another of my friends is still wrapped up in dating and flirting, so much that she often refuses to talk to other girls because their "competition". She likes boys that she can’t have and once they notice her, she moves on to the next one. This friend is very pretty, but she’s so self-conscious and unhappy that she feels she needs to attract boy's attention, and she thinks the best way to do that is to dress in clothes that push the standards of her family and to not eat to stay stick thin. She may look happy but I know she's not; she'd often tell me that she felt ugly, fat and unloved when she wasn't getting attention from boys. I pray for this friend daily and I've shed countless tears for her and for her heart-aches.
So if any one is reading thing let me encourage you to give you heart's to the Lord and to your parents this Valentine’s Day, yes it may seem like your missing out on "fun" but it will save you from so much pain in the end. I feel a joy like none other. True happiness is found in the lord and there is nothing that compares to it!

My largest finished project

2008-02-13T16:48:00.004-06:00

Greetings one and all

Yesterday was my father's 41st birthday! I made a granny square blanket for him. It took me several months to complete and four pounds of light blue and dark blue yarn. It consisted of 20 squares ten light blue and ten dark blue ones. I never did like finishing projects and this one took all my will power to keep at it. I was greatly tempted to just throw it aside and forget about but when my dad saw it, I was glad that I had kept at it; every stitch was worth it in the end. I have bread rising and my mother and I need to go get the prize for the children’s bible class we teach so I must leave. I hope every one has a great Valentine day tomorrow.

Weekend and today

2008-02-11T14:12:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Saturday was our annual choir bowl-a-thon.
Each year we try to get as many sponsors as we can to pledge money per pin; the money helps pay for choir tour. I didn't raise any money since I won’t be going on tour this year; but I still had a lot of fun bowling. After three games we headed over to the church for five hours of extra rehearsal, this can get very tiresome especially for the high voices.

Our family car's transmission started to died Friday, so Saturday while my brother and I where at practice my parents and youngest brother went to get a new one! Some of our friends drove us home but when we got home no one was home and I had left my house keys on my bed (Very smart of me, I know); so we left a note on the door and left a message on the answering machine and went home with my friend, the whole time I was nervous something had happened to my family, but my parents called the people I went home with about an hour after we got to their house to tell us that they where stuck at the car dealership. I was so relived to know where they were! Everything worked out in the end and we're waiting for all the paper work to be finalized. The only not so great thing is I'm not allowed to drive the new car!
My violin lessons went very well today even though I forgot my music! My teachers say I’m progressing very well and I'm hoping by next year I’ll be able to join group lessons instead of private. In other news I’m currently writing a thirty page topic report. I had planned on writing about the dangers of the feminist movement but changed my mind to write about true feminity. I really should get back to working on it! I hope every one has a great day!

Fresh home-made bread

2008-02-08T12:08:00.000-06:00

I'm one of those people that get crazy ideas at the strangest of times. My latest idea was that I wanted to learn to cook. This decision came about because I made a cake Monday that tasted wonderful but it fell apart when I took it out of the pan, I got very annoyed and told my mother that its time I learned how to cook properly! We managed to shape it very nicely into a square pan so you couldn't tell once it was iced, but I still was very annoyed that it fell apart. Last night I made some bread (we don’t buy store bought bread any more). Under my mother's watchful eye I made a loaf of bread and a pan of rolls. I was so nervous it would come out flat and heavy like the last time I made bread but it didn't. It came out very fluffy and yummy, thanks to all my mother's advice. Stay tuned for more of my crazy cooking adventures!

My first post!

2008-02-07T20:11:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone!
I am a 16 (soon to be 17) year old Christian girl who is "in waiting". What does that mean? It simply means that I'm still waiting for God's perfect plan to be reveled to me. I'm working on my junior year in high school at the present, I've been home schooled for ten of those eleven years. I faithfully and actively attend a fundamental Baptist church. On this blog I'll be sharing my journey through life, successes and failures alike. I hope that through this blog I'll be an encouragement to other young people in waiting and I hope that to learn about others journeys in life. Please let me encourage you to comment freely on this blog, discus what I post and please be sure to leave a link to you blog!