A Few Chrismas Present Pics

So this year, my brothers and I desided to do picture for our presents to our family. We do them in black and white and the put them in black frames with white paper trim around the pictures. I think that I have finally desided on the following pictures for gifts:

David Monkeying around on the Fireman's Pole

Joey Relaxing on the sit up bench

Me slidin down the tube slide

All three of us...

Happy Turkey Day

Hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am taking a break for the holiday. I'll update on Sunday.

Don't eat too much Turkey!!!

I Want to be a Full Moon

"What is the major difference between the Sun and the Moon?," Rob had asked.

I had crashed the fresman bible study over at his house and this question really hit me hard.

"The Sun is a source of light and the moon reflects light," came my answer.

"And when does the moon reflect the most light?" Rob came back.

"When the Earth is out of the way." I answered back.

Doesn't that statement just take your breath away? I hit me right between the eyes, and i am the one that said it. We are to reflect the light of Jesus to others. When do we reflect the best? When the world is out of the way. The moon never stops reflecting the light of the Sun, it just gets blocked by the Earth every once in a while. When Jesus comes into our hearts, we become reflectors of His light. The question then becomes, are you reflecting well?

I might not be where I need to be in that area yet. Too many times I find myself getting blocked by the world, by my nature. My reflector tends to get smudged. But I know what I want to be:

I want to be a full moon.

A New Look

So I desided that it was time for a new look to my blog. I hop that you like the transformation as much as I do.

Words of Wisdom...From an Unlikley Sorce

I saw Disney and Pixar's Cars for the first time tonight, and I loved it. The movie was hilarious and I wish I could watch it again. While watching it, I fell in love with Mater. It wouldn't seem likely to have learned something from him, but I did.

While teaching Lightening McQueen his special type of driving (that would be the art of driving backwards) Mater said something that really got me to thinking:

"It doesn't matter if I can see where I'm going, as long as I can see where I have been."



What a line. These last couple of weeks I have been stressing myself out over my future. What am I going to do when I graduate? When will I graduate? How am I financially going to get through the next two years? And the question just keep going and going. I have been so worried about where I am headed that I haven't been paying attention to where I am or where I've been. I have forgoten that God has provided for me these last three years, so why am I worried about he next two?

Sometimes God uses the most unlikely characters to remind us that He is whats important. So thanks Mater for shedding some light into my life.

Well...Its Official

So I guess this whole internet dating thing really works.

Kious was my summer missions partner this past summer...this is her story.

Once upon a time in a land not to far from here (I think in the barren land of Kentucky) lived a fair maidden named Christine (but to her friends she was know as Kious). Kious stated a blog to scribble down her thoughts and have people read them. One day a stranger (a boy stranger at that) commented on one of those thoughts, and a spark was ignited.

Day after day, and week after week, they would comment on each others rambling blogs and it got to a point when commenting just didn't work anymoe. What was next for this maiden and her stranger?...instant messaging (yeah I know, a little high tech for a fairy tale), but anyway they started having real conversations.

Our fair maiden, took a trip to the enchanted land of the Evergreens where she met a beautiful, smart, charming, witty, sporty, young sorceres named Amanda, in whom she confided her story. As soon as our stranger asked for the fedexing of some very stylish and comfortable shoes, Amanda knew where this was going...but it wasn't until their trip the rain forrest that Amanda voiced these opinions and she whipped out her crystal ball and told the fair maiden exactaly what would happen:

"I predict see that you will be dateing byt the end of the summer. Next I see an engagement in your future, it looks like it will happen by the end of the winter. Oh but wait I see a wedding, and it is going to happen right after you, fair Maiden graduate." But it wasn't until their trip to Lebannon when these prdictions were confirmed. (see our maiden's side here)

We skip ahead a little in time and our stranger hops on a steel bird and flew over an ocean or two to capture the heart of the fair maiden. And our stranger turned out to be a handsome prince who indeed won the heart of our fair maiden and are now engaged.

All I have to say is...I better be invited to the wedding (I am the one who prdicted that it was going to happen)


This all make a wonderful story and I wish the two of them all the best. But it doesn't happen for everybody. But as you can see, it does happen every once in a while. I hope that my prince is out there. A girl can wish can't she?

Take My Quiz

Lets see how much you really know about me. Here is my quiz...see how well you can do.

Bulletin Blunders

I borrowed these from Dad's Place Blog...they were just too funny...I couldn't pass them up.

These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services. Enjoy!

1. The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

2. The sermon this morning: "Jesus walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."

3. Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.

4. Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

5. The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

6. Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

7. Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

8. For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

9. Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

10. The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: "Break Forth Into Joy."

11. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

12. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

13. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

14. Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

15. Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

16. Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

17. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

18. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

19. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

20. This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

21. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.

22. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

23. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

24. The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

25. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

Man Kids are Exahusting sometimes

Wednesday nights are full of Sparks, Cubbies, and Trainers (these are the three groups at AWANA). I help with Game Time (I am actually second in command, which means if Rob is gone, I'm in charge)

Well lets just say that these guys wore me out. I get such good sleep on Wednesday nights because of the exhaustion brought forth at AWANA. But you know something...I wouldn't want to do anything different. I love those kids to death.



These are the Sparks...I am the one in the middle with the orange hat on.

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

So yesterday during Sunday school, Rob was talking about being chosen by God. He began to use an illustration about being picked for games at school.

"By a show of hands, who here has ever been picked last for a game of any kind?"

No one raised their hand.

"Come on," Rob said, "anyone?"

Then a thought came to me and I slyly raised my hand.

"Amanda, you? I don't believe it.

"Yeah, I know, but it didn't happen when I was younger, It happened this past summer."

And this was followed by an explanation which was then followed by an outburt of laughter. (If you would like to know the story go check out You're too Old in my archives.)

I Miss the Northwest

There, I said it and I really mean it. Today was one of those pajama days (where you stay in bed, relax and try not to do anything kinda days). So all I did was watch movies that came on tv. Every movie that I caught glimpse of tened to be centered in either Seattle or Portland. They would show places and I would be like "I've been there. I've seen that." This just made me miss being up there. Memories cam flooding back, and I started looking at all my pictures and reminice on my summer. How I miss all my friends.

This one is for you Sam

So I noticed that my good and wonderful friend Samanthat didn't have a picture on her profile. So I uploaded this one so that see could but it on her profile. This is how you do it Sam. Right click on the photo and go to properties, highlight and copy the URL address. Then go to your dashboard and click on edit profile. Scroll down to profile picture and paste the address. Then you will have a picture. Its that simple. Hope that you figyre it out.

So Long Good Friends

My youth minister and his family have just moved to Virgina. They are in the final preparation stages for moving to Africa to be full time missionaries. (because of where they are going I can't say where exactally or even tell you there names. It is very risky where they are headed.

I remember when I baby sat the kids. They are the best. Rarely fought and just loved me. I am really going to miss them. I am going to miss the whole family. But my youth miniser said that I could come visit after about a year of them being on the field. Keep them in your prayers. They are definately going to need it.

The picture is of the kids on there trip to Virginia.