Reads from this semester

This semester I was required to read several books.  Here were some of my favorites...

This book was inspiring.  Although the book started our rather slow by the middle of the book I was anxiously turning each page.  Through this book I was reminded that God makes no mistakes.  As I read of the many terrible tragedies that came into the life of Adoniram Judson, I was tempted to feel bad for Judson and wonder why God allowed so many trials into his life.  Yet, as I read on, I saw how God worked everything for good.  God truly has a plan in everything He does.  At the end of Judson's life he looked back and was able to say, "No regrets."  I decided that was what I wanted.  Some day when I come to the end of my life, I long to be able to say, "No regrets."  However, if I desire to say that in my last days, today I must live my life to the glory of God.

This book is one that have been wanting to read for some time.  I know what you are thinking...who would want to read a book with a picture of pig on the cover?  But trust me, it was actually really good.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, and learned a lot from it.  If you are interested in Government it is a must read for sure. 

Now this book is AMAZING!!! It is probably my favorite book (as of right now.)  It is absolutely eye opening!  I could go on and on about this book.  However, I won't because I know I could never do this book justice.  I learned so much from this book and I would like to encourage each and every Christian to read this book.  I promise that you will not only enjoy the book but also learn many important lessons.  You will truly walk away from the book with a different view on many aspects of life. 

What have I been up to???

It seems like I have not written forever!  But I think I have a good enough excuse.  I have been pretty busy...

Let me tell you all that I have been up to the last several weeks...

The Christmas Lights Activity

 My group

 The Girls

 Girl's Dorm Christmas Party

 The electricity went out before the party even began, but we still had a great time eating, talking, and playing games.  

 Now, the interesting part...on the way back from the Dorm Party....

I was driving one of my friends home... Well let me explain...the weather was bad, real bad.  I mean I could hardly see anything in front of me.  Well let me just get to the point...I went into a ditch...

 No, it wasn't that bad, but it did look something like this...

I wanted to take  pictures so bad, but I just couldn't bring myself to be snapping pictures while 4 men furiously worked to get my car out of the ditch.  And did I mention I went into a ditch on the school property... Embarrassing!!!

Now, the school year is coming to an end.  Tomorrow I will take my last final...

All this to say, starting next week I will be back to my normal blogging self.

Thankful

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. As I sat around the table with my family and a large and delicious meal, I couldn't help but become overwhelmed with all that I have to be thankful for. God surely has blessed me in so many ways. Today I would like to share with you, just a few of the many things I am so grateful for:

1. My family

I have the best parents in the entire world, the kind of parents that love me enough to discipline me and the kind of parents who never give up on me.

I also have the best two sisters anyone could have ever asked for. Nicole and Lauren truly are my best friends. The older I get the more I realize how lucky I truly am to have the two greatest friends anyone could ever ask for.

2. My church

My church is amazing! Not only is my church absolutely beautiful, but the people are as well. The people of my church are not perfect, but together we all strive to be more Christ- like.

3. My school

I have a great school, and I am so blessed to have been able to grow up in a Christian school, but even more than that I have been blessed with teachers that truly care. I know that each of my teachers pray for me and want the best for me.

4. My country

Without a doubt I can say that I live in the best country in the world. A country that was founded upon religious principles. A country whose very Declaration of Independence and Pledge of Allegiance acknowledges the fact that there is a God.

5. My job

Now, I don't know if I can say I have the best job in the world. But I am very content with my job and I do thoroughly enjoy it. I am so blessed...The week after I graduated from high-school I started my job at the Preschool. It has been a very steady job, although stressful at times it is a very rewarding job.

I could on and on...God has been so good to me

Let's give thanks not just on Thanksgiving but the entire year through...

"Lamp unto my feet..."

Lately I have been doing a lot of thinking, thinking about my future. I don't know why, but thoughts of my future have been consuming my mind. As a young child, I really didn't think too much about my future. Of course, occasional thoughts of what I would be when I grew up would enter into my mind. However, I figured I had a long time to figure all that out...Then I entered into college, in my first two years, I planned my life out. I was pretty content with where my life was heading.

Then God changed my plans... Now, several months later, I can honestly look back and thank God for His change in my plans. He knew what was best for me. He knew I wouldn't be happy with my own plans. He knew He could make my life better than I could ever imagine.

Now, I am in the midst of my junior year. I find myself asking people, "Where do you see me in 5 years?" I always get so many different replies. I then ask myself the same question. I think and think, yet I have absolutely no idea what lies in store for me. People have told me that that is the fun of growing up, they claim it is exciting to not know what lies ahead. Yet I can't possibly agree. I dislike not knowing. I want to plan, I want to prepare, I simply want to know.

Then God led me to this verse...

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet..."

I meditated on this verse for a while. I thought about lamps. God in His omniscience wrote the word lamp, not headlight, not strobe light. He said lamp. Lamps are not incredibly bright. However, they are bright enough to allow one to see what is necessary to be seen. God then included the words "unto my feet." He could have said for my life. Yet, God knew better. He said, "Thy word is lamp unto my feet."

I don't need to see five years ahead, I don't even need to see 6months ahead. God promises to lead me day by day. I just need to take one day at a time. God will guide my feet. If I allow my God to direct each of my footsteps, how can I err? This verse was such a great reminder to me. God truly knows best. I don't need to worry about five years from today. If I allow God to lead me through today He will take care of tomorrow and five years from now...

Old Friends are the Best Friends

Sorry, I haven't written in a while. I have been preoccupied with school work. Last week was mid terms! I can't believe how fast this school year is going by. But amidst my very busy schedule, I was able to find time to go out with some old friends. The very girls that I went to school, church, and Awanas with all my life. However, one of my best friends that I grew up with moved to Michigan our junior year. Another one of those friends began to be home schooled her junior year. Another friend moved to Iowa... Last Sunday afternoon we were all able to get together. All of us girls, who had been together since we were in kindergarten, some of these girls walked across the platform form with me in 2008 on our Graduation Day...

We had such a great time reminiscing over our Elementary school days together. Wow, what a great time we had together. We discussed our many teachers and student teachers we had. Then about all the naughty things we did and never got caught for. :) About the time 4 of us got suspended together... The more I remembered the more I realized I was kinda naughty as a child...just a little.

The longer we sat, the more memories came sweeping over me. So many good times together, and also some not so good times together in the principal's office. As I sat at the table I couldn't help but look around the table at each of every one of the girls that I went to school with. Now we are young adults. As we sat at the table I once again felt like an 8 year old girls giggling with her best friends.

Then our discussion changed. We had all shared great times together, but now what were we doing with our lives. We each went around the table telling each other what we are now doing or planning on doing in our lives. We are all in college training to be elementary or high school teachers, nurses, secretaries, coaches, etc...

After a great time together, we said our goodbyes. And promised to keep in touch. As we got into our vehicles, I thought...what a lucky girl I am. I have amazing friends. Friends that I went to kindergarten with , friends that I plan on knowing for the rest of my life.

Family

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there. ~Barbara Bush

In time of test, family is best. ~Burmese Proverb

The family is one of nature's masterpieces. ~George Santayana

I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich. ~Dan Wilcox

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family. ~Anthony Brandt

Success

I successfully donated blood yesterday...I would have written all about it yesterday but...something happened, let me explain...

I was so excited that October 5th had finally arrived. I have been taking my iron pills every day, well actually whenever I remembered, so maybe twice a week. And I had even been eating my mini wheats. I walked in to the health center, trying to remove from my memory the big let down that had just occurred there only 5 weeks earlier. I bravely walked back and sat down. Once again they pricked my finger. The nurse looked at me and shook her head. I couldn't believe it. After all I had done to prepare myself I was still anemic!

"Could you please test me again" I pleaded, "you don't understand I have been taking iron pills eating wheat, and blogging about this...so please just let me donate so I can move on in life!" She pricked me again....And I made it!!!

They then walked me back where I would donate blood. I was fascinated as I watched the needle slide into my arm. I laid there and gave a pint of my blood.

I drove home, and I planned on writing and telling you that I was successful, finally!

But then it happened...

I passed out, not once- but twice. I have never passed out in my entire life! So I went to bed immediately. Where I got a good nine hours of sleep and still awoke feeling weak. I don't know what those nurses did to me...but I didn't feel too good about about saving lives at all...

There is another blood drive on November 30th. But..I don't know if I will attend. I mean I hear on the radio all the time that one pint of blood saves three lives. So..yesterday I saved three people's lives, I think that is good enough for a while...you know what I mean...