more wedding pics.

it's kind of oldish news now, but i found another blog with pictures from Steve and Amy's wedding. there's are really nice one of Maria (Amy's sister) and i on there:) (for those of you who i promised to show pictures since I didn't get any. check it out. again, it's one of Steve's sisters blogs. you'll have to scroll down a bit, but you'll find them!!

http://www.myportionforever.blogspot.com/

fridays.

i think friday is my second favorite day (sunday is the best). because friday is the last study day before the weekend. firday means a whole day at home with no where to go all day. and it means baking:) which i like doing.

the weekend means i get to forget about the stress of studying for two whole days (except for practicing). and it usually involves family time, friends time, time with God and His family. spiritual encouragment. youth group. time when i get to be bored. which i admit, i don't like very much. but it's good all the same. because during the week, that time never finds me. it involves work at the ballet studio (which is the worst part about the weekends).

the weekend means God and church and singing and worship and the family of God.

Give unto the Lord the glory due His name;

Worship the Lord in the beauty (splendor) of holiness.

Psalm 29:2

i like the weekend.

home alone.

it's weird being home alone. what do you do when you're home alone?

i play music and sing really loud. or turn up my favorite cd. just to break the silence. (and cause then i know no one is watching and listening to my cracking voice:)






maybe i should re-think that. and use the silence for God time and prayer. with no distractions.

gotta go.

it's good to take a walk and notice the beauty around you when you're busy and troubled.

hmm.

my brother just came downstairs with a big peace of chocolate cake and icecream for me. now all that's missing is coffee.

sometimes life just seems too complicated. and other times it just seems too wonderful.

right now it's complicated.



i'm thinking i wouldn't survive this without God. and i'm really thankful for prayer and the Bible right now.

sorry.

"Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteaous man avails much." 1 Peter 5:16

busy.

when life is too busy, i've discovered that as long as you don't forget about God, you'll make it.

and that reading people's blogs and talking with people about stuff is really encouraging. like filling up with gas. or eating when you're hungry.

God is amazing. and i wish i had a better way to describe what i mean, but He's that awesome. there aren't any words to describe Him and His goodness and love.

servants.

This is something that has been on my mind...without fail, continually...all week. And something I need some answers for.

Brother, let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant, too

We are pilgrims on a journey
We are brothers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load

I will hold the Christlight for you
In the night-time of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the peace you long to hear

I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh I'll laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we've seen this journey through

When we sing to God in heaven
We shall find such harmony
Born of all we've known together
Of Christ's love and agony

Brother, let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant, too

revelation. of revelation.

Yesterday when I was in the waiting room at my harmony teachers house, listening to her play the piano, I was reading Revelation 1. This is what I read. Read it carefully. "See" the majesty and awesomeness of our King, Jesus Christ!

REVELATION CHAPTER ONE

Introduction and Benediction
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants - things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,
2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.
3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the times is near.

Greeting the Seven Churches
4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.
6 and has made us kings and priets to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Vision of the Son of Man
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;
16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
17 And when I saw Him, I feel at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and Death.
19 "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
20 "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven golden lampstands which you saw are the seven churches."

I don't think I'll ever be able to hear the greeting of verses 4b-6 in church again without praising God for those words, and for what they mean.

And then today, my 8 year old brother was practicing his memory work for Sunday School. It was this verse:

" Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty (splendor) of holiness."
Psalm 29:2

Yeah, pretty amazing. And just...

Hmm...think about it. The holiness and compassion and love and majesty and splendor of our eternal, glorious God and Father.

to be there.

what are friends for?

to be there.

to be there for each other. that's what i need most in a friend. what i cherish most in a friend. what i love most about the ones i have.

and the only thing i can do is thank the One who gave them to me. even when i don't deserve them. they're there anyway.

for something completely different from my last post.

As a piano teacher, I recommend you watch this hilarious video from youtube.com

Seriously...it's soooo good. Watch some of the other videos from igudesman and joo. They're very talented, but also very humorous. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOQaK7NHY-4

hold on.

It's snowing? Okay, I'm not quite ready for that yet. Wait a few more weeks.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I read this last night.

PSALM 77

To the Chief Musician.

To Jeduthun.

A Psalm of Asaph.

I cried out to God with my voice -

To God with my voice;

And He gave ear to me.

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;

My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;

My soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God,

And was troubled;

I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.

SELAH.

You hold my eyelids open;

I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

I have considered the days of old,

The years of ancient times.

I call to remembrance my song in the night;

I meditate within my heart,

And my spirit makes diligent search.

Will the Lord cast off forever?

And will He be favorable no more?

Has His mercy ceased forever?

Has His promise failed forevermore?

Has God forgotten to be gracious?

Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?

SELAH.

And I said, "this is my anguish;

But I will remember the years of

the right hand of the Most High."

I will remember the works of the Lord;

Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.

I will also meditate on all Your work.

And talk of Your deeds.

Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;

Who is so great a God as our God?

You are the God who does wonders;

You have declared Your strength among the peoples.

You have with Your arm redeemed Your people,

The sons of Jacob and Joseph.

SELAH.

The waters saw You, O God;

The waters saw You, they were afraid;

The depths also trembled.

The clouds poured out water;

The skies sent out a sound;

Your arrows also flashed about.

The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;

The lightnings lit up the world;

The earth trembled and shook.

Your way was in the sea,

Your path in the great waters,

And Your footsteps were not known.

You led Your people like a flock

By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

just cause i feel like talking.

I can't believe it's already November. Time flies when you're having fun. Fun? Okay, when you're busy with....tons of stuff.

I hate distractions. They are really bad. And I'm easily distracted. "Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." Prov. 16:3 That's taking it literally, and probably twisting it a bit, but yeah. I need a verse for this. Any suggestions?

The guy that I rented a keyboard from at Long and McQuade in Cambridge this morning is pretty cool. He asked me how much I know about piano. So I told him I was working on my ARCT and he said he did that too. And then he asked me if I study anything besides classical stuff for the RCM...and of course, I said no. So he showed me a bit of cool jazz stuff. And how to do it. It looked pretty easy and sweet, but I'll have to practice it a bit. Pretty sweet stuff.

I love music. It's pretty much the best thing in the world...aside from God, and people. I hope I never stop learning cool things about it cause learning new things about music gets me super excited about it. And I like being excited about music. And good thing too, cause it's pretty much going to be a part of my life for...well, the rest of my life:) Sweetness!

Okay, so I think I'm really happy today. I like being happy. Sigh. :)

joy.

get joy. it's necessary. without joy, you'll die.


you'll suffocate.

"a merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."
Proverbs 15:13


Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS.

pictures!

so mom found a blog with wedding pictures on it....and if you scroll down once you get past the wedding pictures, there are also some bridal shower ones too:)

it's one of Steve's sisters' blogs. enjoy!

http://asformeandmyhouse.blogspot.com/

amy and steve are married!!

so they're married. i can still hardly believe it's real.



the fact that i'm exhausted and slept like a baby reminds me of the long, hectic, but fun and happy day. so i know it's real.




i love you amy and steve! God bless.

sigh. of sadness, happiness, excitement, nervousness, etc.:)

it's tomorrow.






.

gulp. (of excitement and nervousness).

three more days until Amy and Steve get married.


three more days until they aren't Amy Vogel and Steve Williamson anymore.


three more days until they are:

Mr. and Mrs. Steve and Amy Williamson

yikes!!

this is sometimes how i feel.

i write clever words on paper
i sometimes think i dont belive at all
ive never felt so fake
so false
im such a liar
i couldnt even look him in the eyes
he was 25 like i was
but he was deaf and slowly going blind
he made my faith seem worthless
the things i hoped were pointless
and he fought to stay but
always dreamed that he could leave this place

the angels wings will cover you tonight
hallelujah
press your head
against the breast of christ
hallelujah

It made me feel so empty
collapsing on some dirty bathroom floor
and isn't it just like me to warn his passing breath
when he will never suffer anymore
beautiful his pictures
fading black and silver
and i sing of faith but his was true and fierce
and i will miss him

the angels wings will cover you tonight
hallelujah
press your head against the breast of christ
hallelujah

the angels wings will cover you tonight
hallelujah
press your head against the breast of christ
hallelujah

Estrella by BraveSaintSaturn

happy sigh.

it's interesting to listen to someone tune a piano. that's what i'm doing right now.


it's very satisfying to hear two notes played together go from making you cringe to sounding perfectly in tune.



i wonder if that's how God feels when He points out things in our lives and we repent of them. and strive to live righteous before Him.

it can hurt when God tries to tune us by His Word. but the result can be wonderful if we let God work.

God is good.

Happy Thanksgiving.

"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!
For His merciful kindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!"
-Psalm 117

a year.

I was just thinking about Thanksgiving this weekend.

And I realized that on Sunday, it will be one year since I started this blog. This year has been such a long year, and yet it was also so short.

It would be interesting to read all of my posts from the past year. In thinking about all the things I have to thank God for this year, reading things that I wrote about over the past year will help me in remembering all the things I've gone through. All the good times. All the bad times.

another song.

by 4HIM.

Anyone who comes to You
Anyone at all
With arms wide open
Anyone who reaches out
Anytime at all
With a heart that's broken
You will be their shelter
You will have an answer
For anyone who ever cries out
In need

I believe
There You will be

I stand on Your promise
Your love is forever
And I believe with all my heart
You are my one and only Savior
You are the calm when my world falls apart
And to the ends of the earth
And for the rest of my life
I'll carry the light

Anytime I turn to You
Anytime at all
I find You waiting
Waiting for the chance to help me
Hold me, heal me
Show me
Just how amazing life can be
When you know what it is
To be free
To be free

Over the mountains
Into the valleys
Crossing the oceans
I'll carry the light
And through the darkness
And to all the hopeless
For all the broken


Thank You Jesus!

gloria.

Gloria, in excelces deo. 

Glory, gloria. 

Too weak to wonder, 

too tired to care, 

Jesus Christ, are you really there? 

I've fallen down, 

Can't pull myself back up. 

I'm going to drown, have mercy, 

Have mercy. 

I need you now, 

Not words or a feeling. 

But Jesus Christ, 

I've hit the ceiling. 

Your love, 

Your mercy, 

Your light unending. 

Your hope, 

Your peace, 

Your strength my heart is mending.

rain.

i love rain. there is something about it that makes me feel . . . content, i guess.

maybe because it reminds me of how rain is another word to describe trials. it's cool if you think about it. rain nourishes the ground. and it promises that the sun will shine through the clouds soon. it is the same with trials. whether we realize it at the time or not, trials nourish us. God sends them our way to test and strengthen our faith and trust in Him. but He doesn't leave us in those trials. the hope of rescue, joy, peace, and safety are promised after the rain.

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: 'fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.' Isaiah 43:1-3a

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of you faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

i wasn't planning on going any further than this, but it is interesting to note what the word dross means here. waste or impure matter; worthless or dangerous material that should be removed. rain also washes away the dirt and dust. trials purge the impurities from our lives. things that shouldn't be there. God teaches us things through trials that we can't learn any other way.

don't stop...don't get distracted.

pray often; for it is
a shield to the soul,
a sacrifice to God,
and a scourge for Satan.
- John Bunyan

a listening ear.

so i've discovered something that i love, besides music. it kind of scares me to be honest. it's kind of weird, but i really do love it. a lot.

here it is: i love to listen to people. what they're going through, their struggles, things they need to sort out and talk to someone about. i love it when people come to me and talk to me about that stuff. it somehow makes me happy. even though it's not usually happy things they tell me.

what bothers me is that i never quite know what to say to comfort or encourage them. but i love being there for them. and just having someone they can tell hopefully helps them a little.

another thing that is annoying about it is that i can't just simply fix everything for them. i hate to see hurt and confussion and difficulty in the lives of people i love.

all i can think of is this:

"bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" Ephesians 6:2

devistating.

Some friends of mine wear these t-shirts that say

abort73.com


I always wanted to check it out. and then I did
it was hard to even look at the pictures and videos let alone read any info.



check it out for yourself. I have no words to describe it.

maybe I'll get my own shirts. people should, no, people NEED to know.

why.

ever wonder why it is that God chose you?



why He chose you to share His love with?

why He chose you to send His Son to be crucified for you?

why He would care about a sinful creature that doesn't give Him all the glory due Him?

why He loves you despite your continuous falling and doubting?


i do.

ponderings.

after a very different summer than all the other summers of my short life, i think i have learned some valuable lessons. hopefully i don't forget them anytime soon.


God is never going to let you go, even if you feel like He is far away. and He speaks to you through people and the Bible the most.

stress is a good excuse to pray...hard; and read the last few verses of Isaiah 40 over and over.

the Bible is the most interesting, comforting book in this entire world. and i hope i never take it for granted.

making friends is fun, especially when they are people who you didn't expect to ever become close too. or when you thought you couldn't get any closer to a close friend, you do.

the older you get, the more complicated life seems. the more problems and trials people seem to have. the more i want to help people that are close to me to get through them and pray for them.

prone to wander.

Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy praise
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy unchanging love

Here I raise my Ebeneezer
Hither by Thy help I'm come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

Oh to Grace, how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let that grace now like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above







If every a song expressed my thoughts, this one does now.

youth group camping.

that was an intense weekend. countless unforgetable memories.

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God is with you

He is mighty to save

He will take great delight in you

He will quiet you with His love

And He will rejoice singing over you

He will quiet you with His love

Yes He will rejoice singing over you

For with you He takes great delight

He will lighten your load

Gather you

He will rescue you

He will rescue you

He will lift you up

Wipe away the pain

He will rescue you

He will rescue you

i found peace.

read Isaiah 40. I love my dad. He talked to me last night about my stress and stuff and suddenly, all stress and joylessness was gone. THANK YOU GOD!

"To whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal?" says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of His might
And the strength of His power;
Not one is missing.

Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel;
"My way is hidden from the Lord,
And my just claim is passed over by my God?"
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.

His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youth shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

venting.

3 days until Young People's camping:)


sooooooooooo . . . if I'm so excited, why am I letting the stress of planning and preparation and organizing it get in the way of joy? Not just excitement, but pure joy in the present, in what I'm doing, in little passing things of my every-day life.


Thank you God for people like my sister Amy, Brittni, Ben, Catherine and Justine who pray for me and try their best to help me with letting out my stress. Sorry for complaining a lot lately.

Amy just talks with me and sometimes gets involved with the organization even though she doesn't have to!
Brittni promised to set up our tent when we get there ('cause I hate that part) and said Ican sit on a chair and watch everyone else set up camp...i wish:)
Ben lets me vent and relieve stress; in other words, listens.
Catherine listens too, and gives me amazing Bible passages!!!!
Justine can feel when I'm down and spontaneously prays for me when we're hanging out. AND gives super, amazing, long hugs:D

Matthew 6:25-24 and 1 Peter 5:7 are my prayer and hope right now.




even though I love rainy days and we needed it, the rain isn't helping my mood.

camp

i'm back from camp. but i'm too tired to stay up any later and give any details, except that the one thing that i learned, yet again but in a much bigger way, is that the communion of the saints is one of the most amazing things about Christianity. and that God speaks through His Word and through prayer, yes, but He also speaks a lot of the time through people too.

Psalm 18 says something about leaping over a wall and running against a troop with God's help. i understand that passage more than ever.

love

love.



it is vital. it is hard. it is only possible by God's grace to even begin to grasp the meaning of it, let alone live it.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

Love is patient,
Love is kind.
It does not envy,
It does not boast,
It is not proud.
It is not rude,
It is no self-seeking,
It is not easily angered,
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil,
But rejoices with the truth.
It always protects,
Always trusts,
Always hopes,
Always perseveres.

*sigh* That's a lot to think about.

prayer request

Amy and I are going to Campfire! next week (tomorrow). Please pray for us in the following respects. Prayer is powerful!

- lots of sleep:)
- bringing the gospel in a clear way to both the street kids and Christian kids
- being a godly, Christian example to our cabin packs
- working well with our co-councillors
- safe travels to camp and back
- to be able to deal with possible difficult situations that may come up
- God's peace, joy, and love in everything we do, say, and think
- a sense of God's power and presence among us
- anything I may have missed that is important!

Thank God for friends.

They are, I'm convinced, one of the best gifts that God could ever give His children.



In family devos after dinner, we sang Nearer, Still Nearer. It reminded me of a conversation with one of my friends today.


Nearer, still nearer
Close to Thy heart
Draw me, my Savior
So precious Thou art
Fold me, oh fold me
Close to Thy breast
Shelter me safe in that haven of rest
Shelter me safe in that haven of rest

why does music have to be such an expensive career/hobby?

be still.

at Campfire! on Friday night, after we sang and had a devotion and sang some more around the fire, we put out the lamps and had five minutes of silence/prayer/standing in wonder of God's amazing creation and the beautiful starry sky. i don't think i can quite explain how awesome that was and just how at peace with God i felt at the moment. it was an amazing experience!

people don't stand still or just stop enough in this crazy, hectic world that runs 24/7. and if it ever did stop, i doubt it would be to reflect on God. I'm going to do that more often. i think it's a very important part of a Christian's life. silence and being still before God.



Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
The Holy One is hear.
Come bow before Him now,
In reverence and fear.
In Him no sin is found,
We stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
The Holy One is hear.

Brittni

work on friday was totally wonderful. i worked with Brittni all day and it was really nice. she is an awesome girl and has such a great character and is just fun to work with. i like working with people that don't mind silence for a while, but also likes to talk about things besides things that are shallow. thanks for the great day Brittni:)

work.

We listened to both Casting Crowns CDs at work today . . . and lots of other stuff, like Oldies and Disco/Dance. Oldies music is awesome. One of the girls has a CD of all oldies, like BeachBoys and others. The harmonizing and background singing is absolutely amazing. It needs to be brought back. And I heard the "It's Your Birthday" song!!! The one dad sings to us when it's our birthday. Way too much fun:)

Anyway, their (Casting Crowns) music makes me happy inside . . . and also think a lot about myself and what I need to work on and just how much God loves me. It takes my breath away every time, especially when they sing "Who Am I".




Okay, so that did not at all do justice to how much fun and just . . . nice, work was today.

partay!

Psalm 139 / Psalm 52 / Ephesians 2

Lyrics: Mark Hall / Music: Casting Crowns

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth

Would care to know my name

Would care to feel my hurt

Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star

Would choose to light the way

For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am

But because of what You've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling

Lord, You catch me when I'm falling

And You've told me who I am

I am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin

Would look on me with love and watch me rise again

Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea

Would call out through the rain

And calm the storm in me

I am Yours

Whom shall I fear

Whom shall I fear

'Cause I am Yours

I am Yours

the house.

So we finally got a highspeed connection! Yes!! And as promised, some pictures of our new house. We've been here for just over 5 weeks now and lovin' it:)

Our room - that is, Amy's and my room. This picture doesn't show the whole wall of closet space and the desk, but you get the idea.

And of course, a picture of the piano in the music room.

i am so exausted. i never thought i would enjoy even just one day off.

yawn...bed calls. it's a brand new day tomorrow, and brand new week.

AND:

FATHER'S DAY.

I LOVE YOU DAD

hey

good-bye life.

hello work.


6 days, 66 hours a week, 11+ hours a day

hot sun, burns, intense potting, 4000 plants a day (or so we hope, especially if we want to go home at night...no, seriously!) putting down plants, dirt (in every place you can imagine, including the nose, hair, ears, fingers, etc), drowning with all the water you drink, and living for break time.


I do it for the money...sometimes I wonder why.

Priceless Treasures...Friends

Friends are so amazing. That's an understatement...but I can't think of any other way that would say it better.

Hung out with some of my youth group this past weekend doing the 24 hour famine for Word and Deed. What a blast. I mean, I can't think of more awesome, godly people to hang out with! Cassy gives the best hugs ever!

And then I went to a friends profession yesterday and went to the party after too. There are just some people that are so encouraging and fun and sweet it makes me feel so loved and special. Justine, Cassy, and Tamara were just some of those people yesterday.

And yet funny how you can still feel lonely when you've been with such great people all weekend. I think I miss four of the friends that I haven't seen in too long. I'm in Amy/Maria/Jacinda/Naomi withdrawl I think.

- - - - -

But on that note, Congratulations to Amy and Steve on your engagement! God bless you're future together!

Update

Well, it’s been just over a week since we moved. So much has happened in the past week.

The house is looking really good. Most everything is unpacked and pictures and nick-nacks are on the walls and shelves. It looks a lot more like home now. Still no high-speed internet yet though. SorryL

We had a very nice week. Dad was home all week, so he got a lot of stuff done instead of going to work and doing it all at nights. And we had some family outings too. On Thursday we went to the St. Jacob’s Farmers Market. We had the most amazing apple fritters and cinnamon buns ever! And, bad me, I got two bags of candy, which I kept nibbling at all weekend until they were gone.

On Saturday we went out for breakfast at Smitty’s Family Restaurant in Burlington. The waitresses there were absolutely hilarious. They had waaaayyy to much energy and the one who showed us her table actually Ran, or rather, ran-skipped, towards us when we got there. And then proceeded to offer the kids beer and stuff. It was very comical. I don’t think I have ever seen such hyper waitresses in my lifeL So then we went to IKEA to get some stuff for the house. That was fun. I love seeing all the different set-ups of kitchens and little mini apartments. Makes me want to buy a whole bunch of stuff and furnish an apartment . . . without worrying about the money of course! That would be soo much fun.

On Monday, my family went for a biking tour of the houses and trailer park around the lake near our new house. Wow! I had no idea we lived so close to a "cottage" world. The houses surrounding the lake are basically glorified cottages. We even saw some people toobing on the lake! And to think that that is only a 2 minute bike ride from our house!

Working at the greenhouse has been pretty good so far. And in only three days I have already almost done everything there is to do there. Weeding in the field (woot, woot), moving plants, potting, staking, sawdusting, seeding, throwing out dead plants in the compost pile, and shipping. Quite the variety. And the people I am working with are pretty awesome (on the most part). Mostly girls, which can be bad. Sawa likes to comment on all the talking and giggling that goes on while we work!! “It makes me dizzy.” lol Sawa is awesome. He is so much fun.

On Sunday, our Young People's went to a church service at Streetlight Ministries in downtown Hamilton. It was very interesting. The people there are pretty friendly. I hope our YP gets more involved with them. They have some amazing opportunities for us to help them in their mission, like being a big brother or sister to a kid, or helping with the children's programs or Bible studies. It was definately a good experiance.

Anyway, I leave you with this: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15) I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately because one of the people from Verbinnen’s has been coming to church and stuff, and it is pretty awesome. And I wonder if I would be able to actually give a “defense” if someone who was not a believer came up to me and questioned me about “the hope that is in me”. Would I balk? Would I suddenly clam up? Not know what to say? Say the wrong thing? Be too blunt? Sometimes I wonder just how strong I am. In being able to witness, and proclaim who I dedicate my life to.

Happy 17th Jacinda!!

God bless.
I love you:)

Well, I started at my greenhouse summer job today, so I'm kinda tired out. This will probably not be too long. Sorry for all you guys just waiting for details and news about moving. Maybe later on this week. And if we get highspeed, which my mom still has to look into, I'll post some pictures of the house. We'll see.

But as I'm sure you've guessed since I'm posting, we have finally settled in a bit after moving this weekend. And I have time to sit down and get on my email and stuff again. This weekend has been sooooo long! And tiring both physically and mentally and somewhat emotionally. Tomorrow morning, the old house is officially not ours anymore.

I'm okay with that now though, after relaxing yesterday in the new backyard...or back field...whatever you want to call it. Anyway, it was nice. And we are setting up our beds tonight, so our room will look a bit more organized and cozy.

Hmmmm...I think I'm going to like living here.


All I have to do is look out my bedroom window...I have a bedroom window now!!...and I think, "yes, I like it here. I think I can handle this!" and here the wonderful sound of the piano in the music room with the beautiful wood floor and say "wow, this is sweet!"

But it is still weird to be living in another house after all those years in the other one...and call this one HOME.

Two more days until we move.

Amy and I were sitting on our beds (or rather, our mattresses on the floor) last night doing devos before bed and we were talking about moving and we realized that we only had three more nights left sleeping in this house, in our room. Ahhhh!! Talk about scary. But oh so exciting at the same time.

Actually, I'm sad. I didn't think it would affect me this much to move, but I think I'm really going to miss this house. I mean, after living here for 11 years, it is all I've known for over half of my life!


And two more days until I write my music history exam and get it over with! Two more days of intense studying and then I can put my books, papers, and study notes away forever!!

Until next year when I start the next history course.
But I'm not going to think about that right now. That's too depressing.


AND . . .

only 5 more days until I start working at my summer job in the great outdoors (and greenhouses) of the awesome tree nursery! Yeeeessssss!!!!!!!

AOC . . . All Ontario Choir . . . was the best one out of the five I have been to. I really enjoyed playing and helping out in sectionals. But most of all, I enjoyed my devotions group. I had some pretty awesome people who have an incredible passion for God. Thanks for letting me join your group!

"Let my mouth be filled with Your praise,
And Your glory all the day,
Then my soul which you have redeemed,
Shall sing unto Your name."

And the highlight of the weekend . . . this song which will not leave my head:




Tula sizwe ungabokhala

uJehovah wakho uzo

Kunquobela




Which means something like 'God will protect us' in an African language.

I saw a truck today, an old Ford . . . or was it a Chev . . . whatever, it was an older, very well kept truck with this on the back:

JOHN 3 16

On the side, in the style of one of those road-side signs was:

For God so loved the world that He gave

His only begotten Son that whosoever

believes in Him should have everlasting life.

And on the front grill was attached:

A large wooden cross

Interesting way to spread the message!

- - - - - - - -

AOC is this weekend. I can't wait. It should be fun . . . I can't wait to accompany the choir. I love doing that, even thought that means I can't sing in it.

- - -

And I turn 19 on Saturday. I'm getting old. And yet I have so much to learn.

Wow . . . . 19!!

I found this Psalm last night. What an amazing God we have . . . He always seems to give me the Bible passage that I need.

Feelings of stress, business, one week until my dreaded history exam, packing up the last of our things, AOC, trying to get teaching in there somewhere, and practicing, along with other things I haven't mentioned.

And yet at the same time, feelings of gratefulness for a caring, loving Father who knows my every thought and feeling and helps me pull through.

Psalm 116

I love the Lord, because He has heard

My voice and my supplications.

Because He has inclined His ear to me,

Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

The pains of death surrounded me,

And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me;

I found trouble and sorrow.

Then I called upon the name of the Lord;

"O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!"

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;

Yes, our God is merciful.

The Lord preserves the simple;

I was brought low, and He saved me.

Return to your rest, O my soul,

For the Lord has dealt boutifully with you.

For You have delivered my soul from death,

My eyes from tears,

And my feet from falling.

I will walk before the Lord

In the land of the living.

I believed, therefore I spoke,

"I am greatly afflicted."

I said in my haste,

"All men are liars."

What shall I render to the Lord

For all His benefits to me?
I will take up the cup of salvation,

And call upon the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord

Now in the presence of all His people.

Precious in the sight of the Lord

Is the death of His saints.

O Lord, truly I am Your servant;

I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant;

You have loosed my bonds.

I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,

And will call upon the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord

Now in the presence of all His people,

In the courts of the Lord's house,

In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!