This Morning...

I saw the sunrise and the moonset.

Dolphine-like Creature

Happy Christmas Eve

Here's a picture of our Christmas tree and the Gulf in the background. We are having a great time. Yesterday we swam at the pool and in the Gulf. I also saw two dolphin-like creaturs.

We Made It! Hello 73 degrees and sunshine!

8 lanes of Interstate! INSANE!

rt!

I have abreviated road trip to rt. I think I aleady have a post titled road trip. I am currently headed to the Sunshine State with Dad & Berger Boy and Senior Duckea. D. for short. He is my Canadian travel partner for these next ten days. We will be visiting a family memaer and trying to enjoy 80 degree weather on Christmas day with no tree save the palms and no decorations save the Gulf out the window. This will also be my first Christmas not spent with Mom. She stayed back so she could take care of a family member healing from hip replacement surgery. She had to work also.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving full of thanks, family, and friends. Let's count our many blessings today and everyday!

Here are a few things I'm thankful for: Jesus Christ's sacrifice for me, Mom, Dad, BergerBoy, the love of God, grace greater than sin, brothers and sisters in the Lord, autumn colors, hoodies, turkey, my beautiful home, redemption.

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

WE HAVE A CAUSE CAR WASH!!!

: the title of our car wash. Yes, those interested in going to Summit this year had a car wash today 9am-3pm. We made about thirty dollars per person! We tried to leave at three, but another car came by and the driver really wanted their car washed. I figured it was just God's provision of more money. We had too much fun. I would purposely hold the sign upside down and people would think I did it on accident. They would point, tell me it was upside down, see the look of confusion on my face, and laugh. I love it when people laugh!

Rotten Mood

Today I haven't been in the best of moods. My emotions and the flesh have had the upper hand. Usually every Thursday night some of my brothers and sisters in Christ get together to visit people. I really didn't feel like going, but I went anyway. I was so blessed! I have a word for those who have opportunities to serve and don't feel like it. Just do it! The Lord will use your ministering to other not only to bless them, but He uses your service to bless your own soul! It is more blessed to give than to receive! It is a joy being one of God's children. If you don't know what I'm talking about (most of you will!) , leave a comment and I would be glad to explain.

Oh yeah! The volleyball scores: 8-25, 9-25, 10-25. I haven't be beaten that bad in a long time in anything. It really hurt. My team has been miraculously revived. We had practice today. I think we have all the bugs worked out for our next game, this Tuesday.(Yikes!)

I sent that message prematurely.

I sent that message prematurely. Yes, I know I can't spell, but I don't carry a dictionary with me. Maybe I should. Eventually, I will fix it.

Well, tonight I had my

Well, tonight I had my first volleyball game. We managed to get slaughtered with no hope of resuscitation.

Manual Madness

I have been re-learning how to drive my mom's stick shift. Need I say more?

CAR WASH

Yesterday I helped out at a car wash/bake sale. I got washed and baked for free![My shorts have enough detergent in them to last a lifetime, and I have the best farmer's tan (but it's not a tan) anyone has ever seen.] Good thing it's going to be turning cooler soon. I'll have a wonderful excuse to wear long sleeve shirts!

An Update

Through a series of open doors, I have become a home schooler. I started this past Wednesday. It has been great so far. I'm really excited! Deep in my heart there was a desire to home school, but it was squished because I though it was impossible. I should have known with God all things are possible! It was amazing to see in a visual way that God does care about my desires. He is so good. No human mouth could possibly utter praise worthy his name. I will praise him in my weakness for in this his strength is made perfect. I want to use this time to glorify him, and become the young woman he would have me to be. With this privilege comes great responsibility. I want to use my time wisely and learn lots of awesome things!

I don't want anyone to think it was easy. This is probably the biggest and hardest change of my life. I'm sure there will be many more to come. I'm so thankful to my parents. I am thankful for all those who have invested in my life over the past three years at school. I would not be who I am today without your influence and lovingkindness.I am most thankful to and for my God who will see me through it all. Nothing can separate me from the love of God! What a promise!!!

Directer of Steps

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9

The Last First Day

My last first day of high school was great. I am blessed to go to a school which seeks to glorify God in assisting parents to train their children both mentally and spiritually. They do it in a way which gives all families an opportunity for their children to receive a Christian education. I have thrived in this atmosphere for three years. I have learned to know and seek God under godly mentors and teachers who have invested their very lives in my own. I am so thankful, thankful to my God, my family, my brothers and sisters in the Lord, and my mentors and teachers. God is so good! Glory to His name alone!

Last Day Before School Starts!

My last day of Summer Break has been laid back. Sewed up my skirt after letting out the side and bottom hem. Yes, I'm getting fat, but taller too. I guess they weigh (ha, ha) each other out. Maybe not. Anyway, I tried to call the veterinarian clinic and got the wrong number. The guy wanted to know who I was calling. I told him, but he didn't understand until a few seconds later because I guess I have never learned to say veterinarian correctly. I say vetanarian. That's what I get for growing up here. Although it is quite humorous and makes for a great story.

Below are pictures of my dog. He got groomed today. It is all his fault I got the wrong number.

Lightning- Before

Lightning- After

Back to School Tomorrow

My last day of Summer Break has been laid back. Sewed up my skirt after letting out the side and bottom hem. Yes, I'm getting fat, but taller too. I guess they weigh (ha, ha) each other out. Maybe not. Anyway, I tried to call the veterinarian clinic and got the wrong number. The guy wanted to know who I was calling. I told him, but he didn't understand until a few seconds later because I guess I have never learned to say veterinarian correctly. I say vetanarian. That's what I get for growing up here. Although it is quite humorous and makes for a great story.

Lavame!!!

I haven't posted a picture in a long time. This one has a great story behind it! I happened during the most awesome mission trip ever. Well, I've only been on one, so I don't have anything to compare it to.

School starts in three days:( I guess most people in my position(a Senior!) would be excited, but I'm having a hard time getting excited. As Mr.Y says,"You should be excited about serving the Lord everyday." This leads to being excited about your whole day in general. Everything I do I should do for the Lord. This leads me to see God's meaning in even the "smallest" things like crossing my T's and dotting my I's. His meaning is His glory. I want Him to be glorified so I should be excited!

Ok, Ok!

I give up on this whole counting how many days of Summer vacation I've had. What's been going on since I posted last? My family went on our annual vacation. We pin balled to three different cities over the course of nine days. It was lots of fun. I got to spend some real quality time with my family, swim, play a little volleyball, a little softball, totally kill myself trying to do a flip off a diving board four times, see fish and otters and lots of other creative acts of God, and walk a lot! I was ready for a vacation after we got back, but no! Church camp started the next day so I got to do laundry and pack all the items that weren't already packed. I had missed the meetings for the older campers so I didn't find out I was a counselor for sure until they said," Everyone in Tess's cabin...".

Camp went well. I didn't think anyone got saved until I came back from Faith and someone that had visited one of the campers said he prayed to receive the Lord as His Savior. Well, I pray that he was sincere. There was a lot of messages that were helpful to me. B talked about "The Race". There are three positions here. 1) You have never started. 2) Your on it, but you are being slowed or stopped by an/ obstacle(s). 3) Your running the race full speed ahead. I also have somewhat of an accountability partner now. I think this was the greatest blessing to me.

Camp was at a different location this year. There are a few ups and downs though. The Ups: bathrooms in the cabins, beautiful scenery, campfire, hayless hay ride, pontoon boat ride, flat land to play games. The Downs: more people in the cabins(having to keep up and connect with 10 people), no volleyball tournament, less pool time, no crafts, no milk(except with cereal one morning) or juice at breakfast, snacks cost extra, paying almost 2x as much as last year. I can't think of anything else right now.

Since then, I've been hanging out at home waiting for school to start): I also started babysitting last week. It has been fun. I'm still young enough to remember my babysitters. I can remember the fun things and the not so fun things. I've tried to come up with things that would be fun. One day we played balloon volleyball. Another time we played with the water hose and had a water balloon fight.

My future has been a popular subject lately. If I'm supposed to go to college, now would be a good time to figure where. I want to be a missionary, but if I ever have to come home I need to have a way to support myself. I just don't know would best fit my personality, abilities, interests, and so on. I don't want to make the wrong decision. That doesn't seem like a valid fear. If there is anyone out there reading this, please pray that seek the Lord with all my heart. Once I have my relationship with Him, nothing will I fear. Perfect love casts out all fear. His love is perfect. My love? Definitely not perfect.

Day 27-31

Day 28 was Independence Day! It was kind of boring until my family went to play frisbee golf. The course was really nice(out in the woods)! I think I probably came in second or third. This is only a guess, so don't get too excited. Burgerboy dropped out, so I technically beat him. Oh yeah! Then we got ice cream. It was the bomb, birthday cake ice cream with about 1/2 a snicker in a 1/3 dipped sprinkle waffle cone. I visited my grandma, ate some of her wonderful food, got a gallon of milk at Kroger, went home, and went back to town to see some awesome fireworks.
I've worked a lot this summer. I'm mostly saving for a car and maybe a mission conference later this year(or a mission trip in 2008!). Nothing is really standing out for all these other days. Today I got to play in the rain. It was an invigorating experience. You see the rain, you hear it fall to the ground, and you feel it hit you. If you really wanted, you could smell and taste it, but I didn't. I guess I did smell it, but not on purpose.

Day 22-26

It is kind of hard to think I've been out of school for twenty-six week days. It has flown by like every other break. I still have a lot of fun things ahead of me like Independence Day, my family's summer trip, and church camp. Days 22 and 23 were working days. The last hours of 23 were spent trying to get ready for a trip my youth pastor was taking all the young people on the next day. Day 24: We left about ten a.m. Thursday morning. We arrived at maybe one p.m. We took a five mile trail (2.5 miles each way) later and got done about 7 p.m. It was beautiful and I especially enjoyed spending time with my brothers and sisters in Christ and trying to be a light to those who were not. At the end of the trail there was a waterfall. I had fun rock hopping, aside from the part went my foot slipped and my shoe got wet. Hiking 2.5 miles with wet shoes is not the most pleasant feeling in the world. It took us it seems about an hour to get to our cabin. We had a pizza dinner, and then the guys departed to their cabin up the road. We had a total of 24 people on the trip fourteen of which were gals. Day 25: I got up early, spent time with the Lord, and helped cook breakfast. We had a good time of singing and sharing before we headed out to the river on which we were going to raft. We had two self- guided rafts and two experienced guides for the other two rafts. I was on a real guide's raft. His name was Red. He bright red hair. I got to help share the Gospel with him later in the trip. That was the most exciting part of the trip! We all came back to the cabins alive. Then we left again to eat supper. We all split up and went to one of three places. I went to IHOP. The night had only begun! We went to ride go carts. When we finally got back the some of the girls stayed up until the wee hours of the weekend. Most of this day was spent getting home. The last hour was spent in some fun conversations. I caught up on my hours of lost sleep when I got home. Sunday was my youth pastor's last services with us. The Lord has led him and his family to a church closer to his home. It was sad to see them go, but I know the Lord has something special for them. Today ( Day 26) Mom and I wanted to hike at the local state park, but the front gate was closed and the only way in was through a flooded trail, so we went to another park and walked. I helped Mom iron, I read some, and just had an overall good day.

Day 13-21

I have had a nice break from blogging. I can't remember what I did everyday, but I will give the highlights. Day 15 we had Friday night gym. This is when all the youth get together and play volleyball, basketball, or just hang out. We had about eight people on each volleyball team. I had a great time. The Lord has blessed me with wonderful friends, who are not only friends but brothers and sisters. Saturday my youth leader and Sunday School teacher, Gene, had a picnic for all the church. I got to play whiffle ball with some kiddies and fellowship with friends. This past week I worked in Vacation Bible School every night. I didn't help in any specific class but was there to do whatever. Friday I was the storyteller. I told about Peter and John being released from prison by an angel of the Lord. It was a fun story. I felt totally unprepared. The Lord really helped me get through it. Saturday(weekend 4) there was a Red Bull flying competition called Flugtag, which is German for flying day. Dad, my brother and I got to go. It was crazy, but tons of fun. For more information about Flugtag check out this site! Today I worked and rested.

Day 12

I got up and spent time with the Lord, went to work, came home, and blogged until 3:56pm.
Luke 15:2, 5

Day 11

Monday I did my jogging/walking program. They stepped it up this time. Well, maybe not. I had 90 seconds of jogging and 2 minutes of walking for 20 minutes. Last week it was 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking. It wasn't that rough. Later I went to help the pastor's wife clean house. She has a very beautiful home. It was lunch time when I got back. After that I was drowsy, and took a nap. I got up and began to help Mom clean windows on the deck. I felt this weird sensation on my foot. I saw lots of little things crawling up my foot. I yelled and ran to the hose. All while my Mom yelled too and asked what was wrong. I told her that the little mites( or whatever they were) were crawling up my leg. The rest of the day I had the feeling of things crawling on me. I saw three shooting "stars" and a few bats.

Luke 14:27, 33

Weekend*2

Saturday I woke up and made banana bread. It came out of the oven five minutes before I had to be at church to visit the camp we are holding our church camp ministry. It was an hour or so trip down. I had a great time. The fifteen passenger van had 14 passengers at one point. All full of great friends, the pastor, and the camp director. I had a good time talking with Queen of Arts and England. The camp was just as beautiful as before. The only difference was there were more leaves this time. You couldn't see where the horses were. Since I was there, they also put in a few more swings. I am excited about camp. New experiences, new memories, new scenery!
Sunday I went to Sunday School. My teacher is going to attend another church closer to his home soon, so this was one of his last classes with us. The pastor was out of town so a member of the church preached. He taught that Satan is a liar, deceiver, and a murderer. He tells us things that seem to be truth, but they are only half truths. A half truth is a whole lie. Spent the evening reading and reflecting until it was time to pick up my brother's cell phone which was supposed to be ready at four. I picked it up at 4:50. They didn't have his key lock number, so I got it for them, and then they took another 15 minutes because what they thought the problem was wasn't the problem. They came to the conclusion that they didn't know what the problem was and that he would have to get a new one. I was then about 10 minutes late for choir practice. After church the youth get together for a thing called afterglow. We played volleyball, ate, had a time of devotions, and played more volleyball. Thus concludes Weekend*Two!


Luke 13:9,34

Day 10

I worked today. It rained for the first time in a few weeks. Praise the Lord! My friend spent the night. We passed a volleyball around, played some cards, baked a amazing chocolate cake, and then ate it with French vanilla ice cream.

Luke 1:31,32
2:10,11
3:16,22
4:18,43

Day 9

I worked, caught up with Queen Mum and HRH, and laughed lots!

Mark 13:31,33
14:36,62
15:2,37
16:15-16

Days 8

Wednesday I did my walking/jogging program. It went better than Monday. I visited my grandma.

Mark 9:19, 23
10:21, 45
11:22, 24
12:24, 27

Day 7

Today was great! I got to hang out with my mom. We drove around a bunch of back roads. Mark 5:34, 36! 6:48-50! 7:8,37! 8:29,35! 9:23,31

Day 6

I started this program that is supposed to help me build up endurance to run 3 miles. I felt like I was going to die. Now, I'm really sore. I felt like giving up, but I'm going to stick to it. I finished organizing some of the things in my room. My room really agitates me because it is so messy. Since I've finished going through the stuff that seemed to be collecting on and in my furniture , I have felt really good about it. I started cleaning for a widow lady that attends my church Tuesday afternoon. I had a good time talking to her. One of the first things she asked me about was what I might do after I get done with high school. It seems to me that everyone asks me what I am going to do after I graduate this next year. I don't really like it. I guess it bothers me that I don't know the answer.


Mark 1:15,17
2:17,28
3:22,23
4:39,40

What 2 Do With the Weekend?*1

I am off of school on the weekend so I don't think I'll count it as actual days. Saturday I went to my church for a work day. I think I painted my body and the floor more than the walls. Well, that was a exaggeration, but I did aim for the walls. I enjoyed it mostly because my whole family was together working.( Did I mention they had donuts?!?) After that I had to go home and get cleaned up to go to Princess of Mirkwood's graduation. I had never seen that many people packed into that size space for any graduation to which I have been, which is only six. I got to celebrate with the Princess, her family, and couple of her friends afterward. That was lots of fun. On the way home through acts of Providence I learned about a piano recital and once I got there I found out several of my friends were performing. I enjoyed all the music. The Lord knew I needed a peaceful place and beautiful music after a long day.


Sunday my brother left with a friend on his way to South Carolina. I went to Sunday School and church. I forgot it was my turn for nursery and had to go downstairs in the middle of the sermon. I got home, ate lunch, enjoyed the wonderful windy weather on my Dad's hummock, and watched the clouds go by. I went to choir practice. My friend and I were both wearing the same shirt so when the director was checking something he called her Tess. Later during the evening service a little girl who was visiting my church asked if we were twins. Funny, I know.


Matthew 24:14,35
25:34-35
26:41,63-64
27:46,50
28:19-20

Day 5

Today the claim adjuster came to look at my car. He said there was no damage to my car. Since the car I supposedly hit was black, the guy said there would be black on my car. Why couldn't I have figured that out in the first place! I guess I was so upset that I had convinced myself that I scraped the other vehicle without using common sense. I bet this is what people mean when they talk about women acting on their emotions rather than the facts. I watched Bergerboy throw a knife when the grill almost burned him! I made some yummy brownies. Mom bought me a pretzel. I washed the van inside and out. I'm experimenting with embroidery.

What I learned today:

• Always cut long fingernails before washing a van.
• When in doubt(emotional unstable), seek advice, talk, and don't assume.
• Don't encourage the pouring of ice water on others. It never seems to end right.
  
• If you let a car dry in the late evening(or the shade), it will not have water residue (spots).
  

Day 4

Today I got up and had my time in God's Word then I went back to sleep. I got up, cleaned some dishes, and made a dentist appointment for 2:15.

Matthew 20:15-16
21:22,44
22:37,39
23:4,11

The Bad News-

When I pulled into the parking spot at the dentist I got too close to the car on my right. I think I scraped it. The thing is my van doesn't look like anything happened to it. I went ahead and filed a claim with the insurance company. My dilemma: If it wasn't me, I lied to the insurance company, but either way the rest of my life I would be wondering if it was really me! What's a girl to do?

The Good News-

I have no cavities! & Jesus died for sinners!

Yes, even those who scrape others' vehicles.

Day 3

Today! I helped Mom and bergerboy do chores. I learned how to change the belt on our vacuum, and now I am blogging. Bergerboy showed me some awesome pictures from Hurricane Katrina. I'll share one with you! It is kind of scary looking. I want to cook something. What will it be? I'll find something. Later I'll be going to prayer meeting.

Matthew 16:24-26

Day 2

Our friends who we camped with stayed over Monday night. Tuesday morning I had my morning devotion. I'm going to read the New Testament over my break. I made raisin bran muffins and bergerboy made omelets. Everyone was full from the omelets, so we snacked on my muffins throughout the day. I did some of the morning chores, but by the end of the day the house was a wreck. I played the board game life with them. I think that has got to be one of my favorite games! Their dad came to take them home. I helped my mom cook supper and after supper I went to bed.

Summer Break: Day 1

Mt first full day of summer break was this past Monday. It was awesome. The best I can remember. The night before I camped on my friends' property. I awoke to the sound of birds chirping, the sight of the sun shining on the top of the tent, and the joy of another day. I had sonic for breakfast (yum!). The next few hours were spent in water balloon fights, water gun fights, volleyball games, and bad mitten games. I came home later and played some more volleyball at my neighbors house. I went to town and visited my grandmother and aunt. By the end of the day I was ready for bed, my shoulders, face, and feet were sunburned, and I was thankful for a wonderful day!


This summer I am going to try to give the highlights of everyday. I'm starting a little behind!Enjoy!

God is Great!

Job 36:26 Behold, God is great...

This past Sunday I decided to go on a walk. It was a great time just talking to the Lord and thinking. There were several times when I just stopped to look at something [like a dead flattened creature(I think was a frog or lizard) or to see what kind of bird was making a strange noise]. It was a beautiful day with hardly a cloud in the sky, but there was a bit of a breeze. I didn't walk too far after I turned back toward home. I started to think about the future, which is sometimes a dangerous thing to think about, but I told the Lord I was trusting in Him for whatever He brings along. After that thought I looked up and saw an amazing thing! I don't know how to describe it except by calling it a dust devil or a mini tornado. I have seen them on television. I don't remember ever seeing one in real life though. It was picking up leaves and tossing them up in the air. Then it went over the little creek that runs alongside my road and made a miniature water spout. It came pack over dry land. About that time I felt a drip of water on my cheek. Remember it was a beautiful blue skied day, no rain clouds! It came across the road and then back on to the road. By this time I had walked up to it and was in it! It was awesome!!! Again it went off of the road picking up leaves from the ground and throwing them way up in the air. It was a blustery day, but not blustery enough to throw leaves that high in the air. The dirt devil, mini tornado, leaf devil, or whatever you want to call it was special because God's timing was perfect. He wanted me to see it and made it happen.God is great!

She is eggstraordinary!

Who is this?

The Genius of America

I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors...in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret if her genius and power. America is great because America is good; and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.


Alexis de Toqueville,
Noted French writer of the 1830s

What is Love?

God is love. 1 John 4:8

Love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, he that loveth not knoweth not God. 1 John 4:7,8

Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long, and is kind;love envies not; love vaults not itself(is not rash), is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity(sin), but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Following In His Steps

I was thinking last night and several things that I knew about God and my life came together. Christ died for my sins while I was yet a sinner,an enemy of God in Satan's kingdom.The Bible says greater love have no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. Jesus layed down His life for His enemy, me. He tells me to love my enemies. There are many that others think don't deserve God's love. None of us do. They still need a chance to hear of God's amazing love even if they are enemies. Enemies need love too.