Vacation

Well it's vacation and there's nothing happening. A very odd change from crazy school schedules! I'm just glad to have Kelly home and Ty coming in every now and then with the lovely Jessie! ;) We have three students staying with us and they're all from China but I feel terrible because I still can't remember their names! They are extremely sweet girls and it's been great to have them here! I really hope that our family can be adequate hosts to them!

In other news my youth group recently had our yearly Christmas Soirée! It was tons of fun! We had a meal for the first time in a while instead of the usual appetizers and had our gift exchange! (I got a stuffed Reindeer!) I still absolutely love going to youth group and am so thankful for my friends there! They are always there for me and I for them! I think they're the best example of having a family in Christ ever. =) I put some pictures of it at the end here so it wouldn't just be a bunch of words! I especially like the one with the music team! Next month I get to go back to playing with them and I can't wait!






(Pictures by the ever amazing Bekah R.! Thanks lovey!)

For My Rachel Friend

This, is a picture post. This, is a picture post for my friend Rachel. Recently, I missed her so much I decided I would have a "memory day" with her even if she wasn't there. So this is actually a picture post story.

This story begins with this spot right here. If you can't tell, these are some very impressive doors. These doors enter us into this story like they entered Rachel and I into the many wacky days of our story.



Oh look! A lovely chandelier! I wonder if we're tall enough to touch it?




Before any crazy advents would start, Rachel and I loved to take some time to chill in the kitchen.






There was lots and lots of talking during these times!





Next we'd go in the high school room for either Sunday school or JV or something equal the awesomeness. Wait a minute...is that clock actually working? Hmm...



Next we'd have our lessons on this very board! This poor thing was also victim to many drawings.



Well isn't this a nice couch! Maybe we should sit on this one, it looks important.




Or maybe we can just enjoy the lovely view. Who knew the city was so blue at night?



Wow! You could totally hide something in here! Like a small Bible or an advanced spy computer!



After doing so much in one room, we would occasionally treat ourselves to some relaxing time before things picked up again. Tea?




After some alone time, we would visit with our other friends. Like the great Tiki man! He really knows how to be a great friend. So handsome too!



Sometimes though, things got a little competitive and an intense game of fooseball would break out! (If I remember correctly, I won most the time...)



Hey! We had some great times in here didn't we! Good 'ol tile!



Okay...So maybe there are some not so great memories here as well. Let's get moving!



Can you guess where we are now? This lovely blank walled room with tables of course!



Or maybe it looks a little more familiar from here. After all, some of the best hiding places are on the floor!



Of course, being the energetic youngsters that we are, we can never stay in one place for long. Which means walking past these beauties! That's right, I helped win those.



However, no matter how many times you go down these halls, it's always so creepy with the lights off! (I heard there used to be ghosts here!!)



Then, after making it past the scary scary halls, we'd head outside to this lovely place! If there's anywhere that can really hold some memories it's here! It was a lovely way to end our memory day!



Although this ends our picture post story, I can tell you that it does not end the great story of me and my friend Rachel! I have no idea what I'd do without her! She listens to my voicemails, tolerates my texts, and is patient beyond belief! My dearest Rachel, I have been honored to have these last couple years of realizing that you are the best friend a soul could ask for. I hope that maybe one day I'll be as understanding as you!




*All pictures taken on a Mac so that's why they're flipped

Whirl

I know my life is far from totally confusing but it is getting there, trust me! I have become a part of what is mercilessly called "The Baby Band" in Youth Group. I only sing but am having enough trouble seeing how it is my first experience of singing with others and not a cd. We have six members in our band and I totally love it! My dearest Natalie is playing the keyboard and singing, Geoffrey is playing drums, Andrew on guitar, Nick on another guitar, and recently we added Hunter on bass. We are getting used to each other and have fun learning to work as a group. Natalie, Geoffrey, and I have fun while the guitars tune saying things like "Hey, when I get a solo you can have one." and "Are you sure you're in tune?" (=

We have only played in youth group once. It was nerve racking for me as I was really performing for the first time. Two things helped me through immensely, one being a sweet text from my ever loving sister. The other a revelation in the middle of the first song, I was finally doing what I had always wanted, leading worship! I was singing for God! Showing people my true joy in Him! This made it much easier to wade through the second (and last) song. After, we all grinned at each other feeling glad over our accomplishment. We did it! Together too! We were able to cover for each other when we slipped and people sang along.

I hope we will continue to improve in our thrive-tastic Youth Group! (=

Sparks To Light the World!

AWANA has always been a big part of my life. It just has. I started as a Cubbie and went through every year all the way to 8th grade. I remember having my picture taken for my Cubbie book, finishing my Start Zone for TnT, and finally making it to JV where all the "cool big kids" were. It's always so odd when you find yourself suddenly where you've been trying to get for so long (ie. JV). Now, I'm an LIT (Leader In Training)for Sparks!

Boy do I remember Sparkies! I remember my first day as a spark when I was sitting in a circle with a leader (I'm not sure who)and watching all of the older Sparkies who seemed SO old! (yet they were really 7!) I remember Quiet Night, Crazy Hair Night, Library Night, Leader Night, Team Color Night, and Valentines Night! We used to make banners for our teams and we always had to stay on the line and in height. It was always fun to see who was the tallest! I remember my leaders and how fun it was to tell them things and show them my craft so they would say how great it was. There's always something special about an older person talking to you!

And oh how hard the verses were! Especially before I could read! All the sparkies would try to peak at the verses while saying it. We all knew which leaders were careless with holding the book and which would hold it so tight you couldn't see it.

Then there were always those little things that were so very important! Like who you sat by, saving seats, and who was following the rules.

Now I'm one of those leaders who the Sparkies love to come up to and show stuff! and I love to listen! I love to help the Sparkies along with their verses, making a big deal out of their crafts, listen to what they did this week, and run with them after snack! Helping in Sparkies is great!

Well then

So it seens that I have what is called a crazy weekend. Tonight, I have to clean, rearange, and prepare my room for extreme crazy stuff. Because tomorrow, comes RACHEL!!! Woo hooo! As if that weren't enough, We then have Night of Joy to attend, some parties, church, AWANA, and still have to eat! All within three or so days. I can't wait! So this morning I'm sitting here try to plot out my day in the most effective way, while listening to Earth wind and Fire. Because that's just how I roll.(= This puppy is zero help. She keeps eating things then giving me puppy eyes like I've never seen before. Some one please tell her that this is not the time for puppy eyes. Thank you.

What NOT to do at the mouse house

When going to visit The mouse himself, here are a few things you do NOT want to do.

1. Go hungry. There are food smells everywhere. Unless you are willing to spend the money on food, BRING SNACKS!

2. Wear a white shirt. It will rain. You don't want that combo.

3. Wear cloth shoes. They will get soaked all the way through. Giant puddles ruined my favorite pair of shoes then had the nerve to stick a Mouse glitter on the bottom.

4. Avoid people. They are every where! This is the place to bring your wave-to-every- single-person-attitude. Besides, it's fun to play with people!

I'm sure there are many other things, but I thought I should make these ones known.

Sigh

Off to Clearwater! Staying by the bay! What a wonderful view it will be! But...I have to leave my sister there. =( NOT a fun thing. In other news, I have started School. High school of all things. I didn't think much of being a Freshman until I walked into English class. That was definitely not a class full of middle schoolers like last year. Hence the High school in the name English class high school one. I don't know anyone in that class but it will be interesting to get to know everyone there. Science class, is just big. that's all I can really say of it thus far. We've gone from around the 13 or 12 from last year's class to 20. Biggest class I've ever been in! These are my only outside classes. I do have other school besides that! Can't wait to start youth group! I'm also going to be helping with Sparkies this year. It's so weird that I've gone through all of AWANA and am now going to be an LIT! Gah! Growing up is just plain odd!