that feel like Christmas...

you know that two hour delay that we were supposed to have... its a lie! never happened! i was so depressed because i had no opportunity to sleep in... none whatsoever... we did a rather unexciting lab in chemistry today.... and we had some middle school kids come in and speak to us... we have so many pennies! we went absolutely crazy with them... its really awesome to see kids bring in money and actually get involved in spirit activities... and the fact that all this money is going to the red cross is even better! i dont feel very good right now... i feel rather uncomfortable... erica came home last night... i hope it all went well... eric comes home tomorrow night... i hope he is able to get home safely too... i cant wait to see him... the suspense is killing me! ;)
God Bless and Safe Driving!

it's all the ways that we show love...

today was formal day... there were some really... interesting outfits... i use that word lightly... i think we should just scrap the school week before christmas because nobody wants to do anything... i know that i dont! ana and danielle came over today to watch prince caspian... they are sweet girls, but also say and do some different things... it was enjoyable to spend time with them though... i was working on that ridiculous cross word puzzle... there are so many words, i just gave up! i feel sick right now... i think i would like to throw up... but i cant tell... my stomach is really uncomfortable... so much for running tonight... thats upsetting...
God Bless

a pair or mittens that were made by your mother...

oh how funny my crazy and ridiculous friends are... we had the senior high christmas party tonight... we went carolling at lebanon valley brethern nursing home... that place is HUGE! i could get lost in there! dru wanted to sing about figgy pudding and cj couldnt get the timing right on any music... we went back to homestyle family restaurant for dinner... my table consisted of spencer, ian, brian, carley, jen, laura, and emily... we were the most obnoxious, misbehaved and immature kids there... we were spitting spit balls, spilling drinks, telling funny stories and slightly inappropriate jokes... and causing bodily harm... dinner itself was fine! but i was preoccupied by the insane nature of us all... it feels good to just let yourself go and act like an idiot some days... i think with my stress level, its something that is needed...
God Bless

it's in the giving of a gift to another...

snow... sleet... freezing rain... all that good stuff adds up to the possibility of a two hour delay!
we were supposed to have the junior high christmas party tonight, but it was cancelled due to crappy weather... i spent the entire evening finishing my honor's college application and writing a letter of thanks for Senator Folmer... i still can't believe how blessed i am that i was able to enjoy something so incredible like that...
this is the letter that i wrote him...
Dear Honorable Senator Folmer,
Thank you very much for allowing me to shadow you for the day. (I pause to allow you to say “you’re welcome!”) It was truly and honor and a memorable experience. It allowed me to gain insight into the inner workings of our government. Even though the casting of the votes by the electors appeared to be more for show than for the process, it gave a glimpse into the hearts and minds of our founding fathers. It proves that our nation is built on concepts that go beyond party affiliation and platforms, but on dignity, pride, respect, and a deep reverence to the God that created us all.
Paul writes in Romans 15:1-2 “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” As I have witnessed you work with a drive and a concern for your constituents, I have seen you embody these verses. You genuinely care and concern for those who voted you into office. You do not pride yourself in the position you hold, but rather, you work to honor and fulfill the Constitutional duties that you have sworn to uphold. I, as the youth of this great state and the future of this country, have been built up by your encouragement, excitement, passion, and patriotism to our great state and nation. As a neighbor, I am very pleased and greatly blessed to know that an honorable and upstanding man of God is representing me in the capital.
We, collectively speaking for the youth, must be aware of the corruption and power-hungry nature of the government today. If we live in ignorance of our government, it is impossible for us to resolve the issues. It is so critical that we get involved and stay passionate about the government that has been created by us and cannot function properly without us. Senator Folmer, it is wonderful to see you encourage the youth and take time out of your schedule to build into us. Instead of treating this duty as a job, you treat it as a privilege and an honor. You allowed me to voice my opinion and feel like an equal, not a simple teenage girl.
Again, thank you very much for the blessed and wonderful opportunity to shadow you. I hope that I will be able to join you again in the very near future. May God guide your words and your deeds. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
God Bless

is make it last all year...

holy cow!!!! today was absolutely amazing!!! i skipped (excused) from school to spend the day at the capital! i went to work with dad ofr the first part of the morning and then went to the capital around 5... i went to senator folmer's office and got to sit in the big leather chair! we talked for a little, and i went to watch the electors cast their vote for president! senator folmer stayed in his office to do some work while wesley (another shadow student) and I went to the house floor... governor rendell spoke, along with two other men, the president and vp of the electors. their speeches were so liberal!!! and the proceedings seemed to be for show... but it was awesome to sit in on a historic event like that... afterwards, senator folmer treated us to lunch and then we sat down and spoke for the next few hours... i was invited up again during session! im so excited!
we had leads tonight and we announced our servant team... fun fun fun...
God Bless

the message, if we hear it...

what a busy busy day... we had orchestra this morning and our music sounded pretty good! sunday school wasnt too bad... a few of us stayed after church to practice a skit... we ended up laughing more than practicing! afterwards, carley, morgan, mrs. mcd and me went out to lunch at pizza town... it was hilarious and we had a lot of fun!
i went home a made cookies with courtney! we had batter everywhere, but the cookies were so good! i went to youth early to practice the skit... and this time we had all the people and twice the number of distractions! but it actually went really well when we presented it... the night was good, and i enjoyed it!
God Bless

and it is the season of the spirit...

i had a whole lot of homework last night... but i pushed my way through and made it to the other side! i watched CSI last night, and grissom announced his departure... but with the twists and turns this new case keeps bringing up, he wont be leaving any time soon... lawrence fishburn was in it last night... the previews made it seem like lawrence was replacing grissom.... but i do not think that is so...
oh! i forgot to mention... senator folmer's secretary called me last night about setting up a tour appointment... i will be going up on monday and sit in the gallery as the PA electors cast their votes for president! its really exciting! i get to see our government at work!!!! afterwards, senator folmer will take me on a tour... how awesome! its amazing to see how excited and interested he is in my interest...
we had a big calc test today... i didnt think it was too bad... but we'll see what the grade is... i felt confident in doing it, i just hope i did it right...
im babysitting the zeislofts tonight! wish me luck!
God Bless

the ways of love made clear...

we had this amazing lab in chem today where we exploded gas! we had black ash covering the class... it was like mount saint helen's errupted!!! i loved it... marc and michelle came into our psych class today with lizzy and micah... they were very well behaved and talkative... they did not shy away and were very comfortable... i think being with the youth all the time makes it easier for them to be around crowds...
carley came over this afternoon and we worked on a mime for youth group... it came out pretty good, except we had a hard time focusing! senior high was ok tonight... we talked about what can we give to Jesus for Christmas... it was a good topic and made me think... then we ate cookies and made Christmas cards...
i filled up my gas tank for $21 today!!! how exciting!
God Bless

a special time of caring...

we had a gigantic chemistry exam today... it took me the full hour and a half... after torturous testing like that, i feel as if my brain has oozed out of my ears... but i needed to take a psychology quiz afterwards... so it was a long school day... we had musical dance tryouts... i learned the dance in about 10-15 minutes... so i thought it went pretty well considering the amount of time i had to prepare...
the junior high went christmas carolling at countryside nursing home... some of the kids really connected with the elderly, while others did not take it very seriously at all... it was rather upsetting to me as a leader... but hopefully, they all took away something from the experience...
God Bless

it is the season of the heart...

monday monday monday...
how i despise mondays...
but today was a better than any monday i have had in a long while...
i had a meeting with senator folmer today! i emailed hima question along with my thanks from the senator for a day experience... he wanted to meet me and answer my question in person... my dad went along with... we met in his local office in the lebanon court house... we ended up being there for roughly two hours... he started out explaining how he became involved in politics... but we also talked about the importance of the constitution and the issues of large governments... we talked about the corrupt ways of the government and the nazis... he does not care about being politically correct, but about preserving the strong Christian morals that our country was founded on and adhering to our constitution... what an amazing politician!
God Bless

it's true wherever you find love...

ahhhh... gotta love sundays... the day that you are supposed to relax and take time out for yourself...
HA! thats funny!!!
i did homework and took care of some other school work... i went for a run on the treadmill... i just couldn't stop running yesterday! that is sad... my family watched prince caspian yesterday without me... it was rather upsetting that i missed it...
we had youth group tonight... it was nothing special actually... i made me a little frustrated because the same person basically yelled at us and told us that we are all wrong all the time... i get really sick of hearing the same thing over and over again...
yeah well... i talked to eric tonight... i enjoy talking to him!
God Bless

a sweet reunion with a friend or a brother...

i didnt feel very good today... i wanted to run, but i would have much rather thrown up! courtney came over before we went to the madrigal feast... unfortunately, she forgot her ticket, so i had to go to her house anyways... she lives on this dangerous road... and with the weather last night, it was even worse! i discovered traction control... that is not a very fun feeling, i'll just be perfectly honest with you... 72 was a mess with that accident, and i made courtney get a hold of everybody and direct them down old bunkerhill... zach and dave were together and blew a tire on that road... i went to the church to pick of the McDs and nolan and josh... i almost hit the curb in the elementary school parking lot... the feast itself was wonderful... the food was good, the singing spectacular, the outfits were fitting... i really enjoyed myself and had some great opportunities to talk to people...
God Bless

a cup of kindness that we share with another...

i saw jeff dunham!!! oh my gosh... i never laughed more in my entire life! i went with Glenn and Robin... i thought Robin was going to fall out of her seat... and the woman next to me practially blew a lung out! he was so hilarious... he had walter, achmed, peanut and jalepeno, and bubba j... he had his script for bubba j so he didnt forget anything... and we were finishing the punch line for him... guitar guy was there too! he sings really well! and his sons play in avenge sevenfold! holy cow!!!
im at courtney's right now because i dont like sleeping in an empty house... it scares me... im exhausted...
God Bless

it feels like Christmas

one more day until it is friday... thats a wonderful feeling... definitely better than the feelin in my stomach right now... i felt sick all day today...
i believe i have suffered from a sever case of dyslexia toady... oyu wouldnt beleive the amuont of things i flop flipped today!!! in boht chem and spanihs... i got my anwsers bakcwards on both of my quizzse!!!! it made me sooooo agnry....
God Blses

it's true where ever you find love...

yesterday was the two year anniversary of my grandma's passing... it's tough to go through those days... two years seems like a short time, but it feels like an eternity since i last saw her... we had junior high last night too... we talked about friendships and i thought it went pretty well... we always end up with interesting stories and questions from curiously crazy girls...
today was rather boring... until i got home! mom and i decorated for Christmas while listening to Christmas music... we had so much fun, and we really needed it... we had a Bible study at my house tonight... it was a small turnout with only one boy, but no big deal... i taught about the glories of death... and then we took care of some business... nate left early so the rest of us could have some insane girl moments... well needed and deserved girl moments!
God Bless

its going home and getting warm by the fire...

our church orchestra played today... we sounded pretty good! it was exciting for me...
i didnt do much this afternoon... just sat around... but i went to cornerstone christian fellowship this evening... they had this thing called worship jam... they have it bi-monthly and its a worship night run by youth... i havent had a worship experience like that in a long while, and i really needed it... it felt amazing... some of the songs were new, while others were repeats that took on a new life...
God never ceases to amaze me...
God Bless

it's in the singing of a street corner choir...

how i wish they all didnt have to return home... it just feels so right to have my best friends home for thanksgiving... and now they have to leave again... but they will be home soon for christmas...
i went over to erica's this afternoon with british beth... we set up the christmas tree and hung up lights and listened to christmas music... it was so much fun... we giggled and laughed and had a great time... mrs. roark made dinner and afterwards i went home...
eric and i were going to get together, but he stayed home with his family instead... but he called anyways and we talked for about an hour... im going to miss him... especially since he feels so bad...
i guess life is going to go back to normal, well the normal that i cant stand...
God Bless

EEEEERRRRRIIIIICCCCC!!!!!

wow... i missed him a lot! i went over to his house around one after i filled up charlie... he still looks like my old eric... a little bit bigger... but you can tell that the military left scars that go below the surface... there were a bunch of us there... we all watched ace ventura and had the wonderful honor of having it narrated to us by drew and brad... then we watched som recordings from basic... its ridiculous how naive people are! anyways...
after the movies we threw football and frisbee... it was kinda cold outside... after that we went bowling and were joined by more people... i won the first game and broke 100 twice!!!! thats a record for me!!!! eric got really angry over some stuff... which in turn made me upset... but im sure it will all work out....
God Bless

God is great...

today is thanksgiving! i love thanksgiving... i think people rush and forget about it because christmas is so near... but i love spending time with family and eating wonderful pa dutch food!
today, grandma and grandpa merkel made enough food to feed an army... here is the list of food...

turkey (delicious!)

beef heart (yum!)

sweet potatoes (awesome!)

parsley potatoes (great!)

potato filling (i didnt eat any but i heard it was good!)

bread stuffing (amazing!)

corn (not bad)

broccoli (didnt touch it)

warm red beets (GROSS!)

chocolate cake with peanut butter icing and peanut butter cups (the peanut butter tasted funny...)

and pecan pie (made by yours truly!)

and now im ready for left overs!
be thankful!
God Bless

unequal playing field

Imagine with me that you are a senior in high school waiting on an acceptance letter from a college. Or that you are a hard-working employee hoping that you will receive the job promotion that is available. You feel that you are qualified for the position and deserve it for all the time and effort you put into preparing for it. The letter comes in the mail, alerting you that you were denied acceptance and to wish you luck in your future endeavors. Your boss calls you into his office to thank you for the commitment that you have towards his company, but the promotion went elsewhere. Naturally, you are crushed and disappointed and feel inadequate. In your mind, the position went to someone who is more qualified than you, and you can accept that.
What happens when the person who received that position was not more qualified than you? How would you feel if you were denied because of the color of you skin, or your gender? Thanks to affirmative action, you do not need to be qualified to receive a job or a spot in college; you can simply be a minority. Dan Froomkim from the Washington Post stated “affirmative action calls for minorities and women to be given special consideration in employment, education and contracting decisions.” The Department of Labor also includes those who are disabled or veterans. What is translates into is that a certain number of minorities and women are to be placed in post-secondary education programs or jobs before Caucasian males. Giving preferential treatment to others does not fix any problem. Affirmative action puts unqualified people in positions of leadership or higher education. It also makes it seem that their success was unearned and simply handed to them, and it creates even stronger racial and gender tensions.
The Department of Labor requires employers and colleges to set up goals for how many minorities must be represented in their establishments. Brogna Brunner tells the story of a white male who “had been rejected two years in a row by a medical school that had accepted less qualified minority applicants-the school had a separate admissions policy for minorities and reserved 16 out of 100 places for minority students.” The Supreme Court later banned “inflexible quota systems,” but this is just one example of an unfair advantage given to people. Why would we want to put unqualified people in an operating room just because they are a minority?
I do agree that discrimination should not hinder any man or woman from receiving a job. On the other hand, we should not be giving any person a position that they are not qualified for. The most equipped person, no matter what color their skin is, where their ethnic background lies, or what religion they practice, should be the one that receives the occupation or college acceptance. If an African American woman is most suited for a CEO position than the Caucasian male, then logic states that she should receive the job. Why do we need the government to tell us who we are allowed to hire?
When someone is handed $100 as a gift, do people ask if they are qualified to receive that money? No, they see it as a gift with no strings attached. If college spots and jobs are handed over as a gift, do people ask if they are qualified as well? No matter what success the person in those positions builds, it will not look like the success was earned. People will see that they did not put the same amount of blood, sweat, and tears into it as someone who had to fight for their job. I would not give full credit to any person that did not earn their job or the success that would follow it.
Liberals believe that these advantages are owed to the minorities and women because of the discrimination they experienced. Women were denied the right to vote until the 1900s and African Americans only started seeing fair treatments in the 1960s. Many of the other minorities, including Native Americans and Asians, suffered wrongs of their own (U.S. Department of Labor). The Department of Labor used these arguments to support their bills. When the idea of affirmative action came about in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the idea to affirm equal rights to African Americans almost seemed necessary (U.S. Department of Labor). Nowadays, discrimination to the degree found in the 1960s is not prevalent in the American work-force or education system. Are these stipulations still necessary in 21st century America?
In the process of making sure that we give minorities and women what they rightfully deserve, we have limited the growth of the white man. On top of stifling the white man, we have stifled the growth of American intellect by basing advancement on skin color instead of competency. In our haste to move people right to the top, we have over-looked the other portion of our population. Some people would say that the white man already had their time to shine; now they must feel the consequences of their actions. If we are focusing of equality, how can we justify taking away the liberty of one to blindly put others first?
At the time, affirmative action was a wise choice that guaranteed advancement to those who have suffered at the hand of the white man. Nowadays, we have women running for president, African Americans holding offices, Asians running corporations, and countless other minorities represented in schools and companies. If we have all these positives, why must we place people in advanced areas because of their color or gender? They have proven time and again that they can earn their own way. Those who are truly serious about furthering their lives do not need free government handouts. The white men who work hard and deserve higher placements because of their qualifications are shut down so they can work under someone who is inferior to them. If all men are created equal, why do some deserve special treatment?

works cited

i really dont feel like doing this... but i have to... its like cleaning... i HATE cleaning, but if i dont clean then i loose my phone... and that would be dreadful...

delaina and i are having a battle... i dont know what to call it... how about the battle of the stupid paper that was left on my desk... that a long name... i think im loosing now... she used more colors!!! and i cant use the age card cuz we're the same age! but i got her with Jesus!

gotta go!

God Bless

Psalm 145

we get the wonderful opportunity to make batteries tomorrow... or voltaic cells to sound smart... im actually kinda excited for it... but you know, im still a little reserved...

i ate ice cream today... and it was quite delicious... then i cleaned my bathroom, and that was not delicious... i also had piano lessons today, and those are always enjoyable! i really love playing the piano...

we had a junior high leaders meeting tonight... i love these kind of meetings... they really prepare me as a leader and how i can hone my skills and use my gifts for the glory of God...

God Bless

coming home

mondays are absolutely horrible days... i dont know why God made them... but i guess every week has to start somewhere...

mr. saner got really mad at us for not turning in our lab books... no one knew how to do it, and then he treated us like idiots who dont know anything... thats polite...

i had so much homework it was just ridiculous! but i got all of it done that i understood... which wasnt as much as i wanted... but oh well...

we had LEADs tonight... it was a sobering evening... we learned that josh krug's grandfather passed away... and we also had some amazing prayer requests from inside our group... our worship time was powerful and so was our lesson... we read Psalm 103... it is an amazing account of God... we talked about how to correctly rebuke and correct each other, and some of us received correction...

i talked to eric tonight!!! it was soooo good to hear his voice! i almost cried!!!! we talked about life, girls, boys, and when he comes home!!!! i can hardly wait...

8 days until i see erica... 10 days until i see eric! my heart is ready to explode!!!

God Bless

love is patient

a bunch of LEADs girls slept over at katie's house last night! we had an awesome time!!! we play psychiatrist for about two hours... but we had an amazing time doing it! we had a little serious time, but we mainly ate and joked around! we had orchestra this morning... we sounded really good! i didnt really do much when i got home today... i watched hellboy II with zane... it was weird! youth group was really sweet tonight... the boys treated us, and it was awesome! our skit, written partially by yours truly... was hilarious and went well too!

eric got a cell phone! i am so excited cuz that means that i can talk to him a whole lot more!!!

God Bless

married

i was so happy for it to be friday... that meant that it was the end of the week! every one was absolutely wild and no longer wanted to be in school! that night, our church guys had an all-nighter... carley, shelly, and i decided to decorate a few of their cars... unfortunately, someone ratted us out, and our cover was blown... so while we tipi (ed) some of their cars... even though they new it was happening... the boys were having fun taking care of my car and shelly's truck... i have to admit, they did a good job... but just wait boys... we'll get you back when you least expect it!!! mom and i went shopping today... i needed dress pants, so we bought some dress pants... i also got the CUTEST pair of shoes... and a pair of jeans... they were super cheap, and you can never have too many jeans...

im sleeping over at katie's house tonight with all the other LEADs girls... im excited!!!

God Bless

the sun doesn't shine in winter

what an awesome day! aside from the 6 block treck in heels and rain... it was amazing!!!

i was a senator for the day with mike folmer, along with josh, wade, tony, stephen, and mag... mr. wentling was a CRAZY driver... and even more insane when it came to parking... all the students met together and discussed some of the technicalities of our committees... i was with the health and welfare committee... i was the majority chair person... which basically put me in charge of the meeting... all of our bills were passed through our committee, along with all the amendments that we added... i also had the joy of shutting up the pointless ideas of some people... that gave me a good feeling...

after lunch, all the senators convened to pass the bills... some people would not stop debating over some of the bills, and it lasted FOREVER!!! mine were passed through with no issues...

and then there was this brilliant jersey girl...

and the van ride home... ohhhh boy!

God Bless

no more sharps

school is such a draggggg...

it just feels really boring and far from exciting... i dont know what it is... maybe its me, maybe its the material, maybe its the people... not sure...

i taught at cafe on tuesday... it went pretty well... or at least i thought it did...

i love playing the piano... it is so relaxing and soothing... just touching the ivories takes away all my frustration...

junior high last night was really good... we talked about keeping your faith new and exciting... i got a lot out of it, and i thing the kids did too!

small groups are tonight... i hope it goes well...

God Bless

gratefulness

ohhhh marc... who on earth would want to hold a meeting at 7 in morning? marc does... crazy Jesus freak...

it was a really good meeting, but i had a hard time focusing on what we were actually doing... after church and sunday school we went to york for my cousins' birthday party... i dont mesh very well with my cousins... so these things seem more like a chore to me... i spent the time with my older cousin zach and my rents, uncle, and grandpa... we talked politics and enjoyed ourselves...

we had youth group that night, and we had an awesome time of worship... and the lesson wasnt bad... we had a drama... but it was really irrelevant to the topic of the evening... there were some people there that i dont get along with... but its no big deal... we all survived...

yeah mondays... how exciting is that...

God Bless

warriors

WE WON!!!!!!!!!

zane had his championship soccer game today, and they crushed Iona!!! it was an awesome feeling to see these kids destroy an undefeated team... our boys were on their A game... but they did make me nervous a few times... i exchanged some words with this uppity lady who that she was all that and a bag of potato chips... she wasn't, and i put her back in her place...

afterwards, we went over to Glenn and Robyn's house for dinner... the men watched penn state make fools of themselves, while we women drank wine and talked about the men watching penn state... oh, correction... i had dr. pepper...

the ladies went for a walmart run... there were some really strange people there... i wonder why they only seem to come out at night... afterwards, we went to dairy queen again... oh yeah!!! it was a great time with friends... just hanging out...

God Bless

hallowed ground

we visited gettysburg today... i am always in awe of the battle fields... i walked through the same grass the picket and his men crossed... i laid my hands on the ground and felt the soil that witnessed so much... and absorbed the blood of American men... what a sobering feeling...

we visited the new cycleroma... it was a beautiful painting! it was so realistic, it felt like i was watching it unfold infront of me...

we ate at the dobin house for lunch... the building is from the late 1700s... built and owned by an irish doctor... and inhabited by his 19 children!!! during the civil war it was a hospital for union and confederate soldiers and a hiding house for run away slaves...

after we got home i went to the movies with shelly and carley... we saw the changeling... what a sad sad story, and the fact that it is true makes it all the more depressing... we went out to dairy queen and just enjoyed the rest of the evening...

God Bless

ravioli

it felt so wonderful to sleep in this morning... well... i dont really call 8:00 sleeping in, but i was able to read my book for an hour or so before breakfast...

today, kendra and i went out to olive garden for lunch! it was soooo much fun... we talked about everything under the sun and the italian food was great! we we're going to go back to her house to watch Titanic, but we had a change of plans and went to deaven's house to babysit her little cousins while she took care of some family business... the two boys and we watched star wars V... afterwards... we went back to my house and watched van helsing while talking about boys and twilight and all sorts of other things... im going to the play tonight, and i hope everything goes well for them...

im going to gettysburg tomorrow, and i have homework to do, a scholarship to finish, and an honor's college app to fill out... yeah!!!

why do all the idiots drive near me???

God Bless

Communist Manifesto

i love three day weeks... they seem to last forever... but the weekend is even longer... nothing overly exhilarating happened this week... Obama is president elect... i would like to cry... but i keep my faith in God, not in government... we need to remember that we will never have a savior on capital hill... i have been recently captivated by the twilight series... it is quite amazing! i am completely glued to them... i had an awesome conversation with a jr. high girl last night. her name is Bella... she was asking me how i became a youth leader and what can she do to prepare herself to be one... it was really exciting to hear that, and it was good for me because my mood has been a little down lately... i need to do my honor's college application... i havent gotten around to it yet, and i need to finish my scholarship stuff... so much to do, and so little time...

but hey... if they socialize medicine, what is the point of becoming a doctor?

God Bless

sound of a revolution

long time no see... we went hiking on friday during school... it was pretty much amazing! we were up at Hawk Mountain reservation... it was a beautiful day with a beautiful view... i fell twice, but it was all fun... i could do devotions and worship on the North Outlook for days... we had our last home regular season football game last night... the end of a chapter so to speak... we won!
yesterday, i was at lehigh valley college at a concert! it was like five hours of rock... Capitol Lights, Esterlyn, Fireflight, KJ-52, Worth Dying For, Run Kid Run, Pillar, Thousand Foot Krutch, and Kutless were there last night! Dave lost his voice, but i kept mine, even after all the screaming i did! we had a great time moshing and jumping and screaming and singing... we were definitely dead tired when we came home... today, i had 2nd grade for children's church... i dont know what those parents are feeding their children, but they need to find something else... they were so wired i could hardly take it... sunday school was not all that enjoyable for me... there were a lot of people there who could have cared less about being there and just screwed off... making it difficult for the rest of the people to enjoy their time...
i need to clean today and work on my english paper... oh joy...
God Bless

cyclopeses or cyclopesi

i did my poli sci stuff last night, and then ended up staying there and tearing off wallpaper... it was so much fun! it was a little depressing cuz it was all these young married couples, and me... but i tried not to think about it...

i realized the more i think, the more i get myself in trouble...

mr. saner is back! unfortunately, we're having a test next week...time and chemistry waits for not man, woman, or child...

we had a freakin bomb test today... by dad basically summed up the whole event...
"stupid people suck"
the people who are smart enough to correctly and effectively make a bomb are not stupid enough to plant notes, or risk federal charges... so why even put your ENTIRE future in jeopardy... do you think that after high school, these records just disappear... NO!

my rents left for philly this afternoon... it was just zane and me tonight... we ate pizza and made milk shakes... and then we watched the new indiana jones movie... which i will be using for my review... lets just say my review will not be polite...

i have been a perpetual miserable mood lately... i do not like it... im trying to figure out how to escape it...

im going to do devotions, finally!
God Bless

drama queen

i hate the dentist...
i dont have enough room in my mouth for my wisdom teeth, so i have to get them removed... and to top that... we found my first cavity... we're not really sure how it got there because there is no hole or depression in my tooth... it's all nice and smooth... but he thinks the sealant over my teeth cracked and let lovely little pieces of whatever underneath it...
this is depressing...
my brain was fried by 9:00 this morning... we did this demonic brain teaser in chem... it took we over an hour to do it... not fun...
i decided not to do my math homework tonight... i just dont feel like it... i'll do it tomorrow during study hall and math class...
im going to visit laura and josh tonight at their new house... i need to interview laura for my poli sci paper... oh what fun...
i want to go hiking...
God Bless

power in prayer

i had so much homework last night, it was ridiculous! but i was able to relax today and just take my time... mr. saner is in the hospital... that is really scary... it worries me... we didnt do much all day today, so i was able to get all my homework done in school... well... most of it... we had small groups tonight... and we were talking about Esther... we basically covered the culture or Persia and all that stuff... we didnt really stay on tack, we had a hard time focusing... afterwards, we helped set up the gym and atrium for the outreach we'll be having this saturday... then all the girls were running around screaming and singing and doing all sorts of crazy things!
i hope to go to boxcar rocks on sunday... that would make me happy...
i have a dentist appointment tomorrow! i like the dentist... that sounds masochistic...
God Bless

Spiritual Maturity

A girl born into a Muslim family was beaten and disowned for her Christian faith. Another woman was thrown into jail and endured countless trials in the prison work camps for speaking out in faith. A young man was stoned because he would not deny Jesus. A teenage girl stood up for her faith and was shot in consequence. A father and his two sons brought much needed medical attention and hope to a tribe, only to be burned alive by a neighboring tribe. These incredible men and women of faith, some martyrs, while others still fight, display a deep sense of spiritual maturity. They chose their faith and their God over comfort, stability, even life itself. Here inlays the true question: how do we reach this point in our spiritual maturity? Does it happen overnight, or is it carefully cultivated and grown, like our minds?
When I was a child, I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart. I did not know what that truly meant and how it would affect my life. All I knew is that I wanted what the teachers were talking about. Being a child is who Jesus wants us to be. Children simply accept the gift put in front of them. They do not ask questions, and they do not try to prove that they deserve the gift. When we accept Jesus as a child, we do not try to build ourselves up, or attempt to look better than what we are. At the core of our faith, our spiritual maturity, lays the desire to be childlike. Without this principle, we cannot grow in the way that God wants us to grow. Jesus repeats the importance of becoming like a child. “Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.’” Matthew 18:2-4. Mentally, a child’s mind is exploring. It wants to try new things, to get a taste of life. When this taste of a relationship is put in their mouths, they are naturally curious, and want to know and obtain more. If nothing prohibits them from the whole bite, then they will take and accept all of it, no questions asked.
When I started growing up, my drive for knowledge was unquenchable. I wanted as much as my teachers and parents could give me. My mind was developing. I was asking questions. I see this in children at school and church. Their favorite question to ask is “Why?” They are analyzing things in a new light. You can watch the intensity in their eyes as they are faced with a difficult problem. Consequently, you begin to ask more questions about your faith. We know the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, Moses and the Red Sea, David and Goliath, and countless others; but why are they written? When we never ask the question why, our spiritual maturity is choked. We become brilliant in the stories and their meanings, but when we never ask why they are important, we starve our relationship with God.
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” 1 Corinthians 13:11. As a child, we take things for face value, not really wondering why they are a certain way. In a few years’ time, we ask questions, seeking the “whys” and the “hows” in life. When we put childish ways behind us, we look to see how different situations affect our lives. We want to know what our faith means to us. When we fully know what our faith means to us, “We will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” Ephesians 4:14. Just as when someone lies to us, we search to find the fault in their ways.
As humans, we strive for knowledge. We want to know everything that we possibly can. For us, complete understanding is impossible, but so is spiritual maturity. There is always more to learn, and more ways to grow. As we continue to ask questions, our minds grow sharper. When our questions are geared towards our spirituality, our faith matures. The relationship between the growth of our minds and the growth of our spiritual lives is incredible and irreplaceable.

always the friend

friday night was the football game! we won!!! i didnt watch much of the game, but the parts that i saw were good...
saturday was so hectic! i was up and at the school by 745 to decorate for homecoming... i found out that i can make bows pretty well... who knew? i decorated the art showcase and attempted a balloon tower... plus hanging stuff up in the cafe... stopped by zane's soccer game and then went to get my hair done... after that i went home to start cleaning since i was having a boatload of people over! when all the guests arrived, we devoured pizza and scrambled to find bathrooms and bedrooms to change in... i had 26 kids and countless parents and other relatives over at my house, getting pictures taken and running around attempting to find shoes... there were kids there that i never invited, and parents that i have never seen before! it was hilarious... all the guys and girls exchanged flowers... and that was really cute... we basically all piled into cars after pics and hung out in a big group at homecoming... we all danced and acted like crazy idiots! at one point, all of us slow danced in a huge circle... it was obnoxious and amazing! i danced with zach, dave, and ian... not a bad way to end your senior homecoming...
we crashed at sam's house, and ate a lot of food and just talked until the wee hours of the morning...
El Faro led worship today at church, so we were all singing and dancing... and falling asleep... i worked on my psych project all day and then went to youth to debate politics... yeah man!
i need sleep, badly
God Bless

yellow and blue switcher-roo

im sitting in ap chem... not doing anything... well, i am doing something, but nothing of great importance. unless you call existing important, than i have failed at doing something unimportant.... but for once, we are not doing anything chemistry related in chemistry class...
thats a shocker! lets hope it stays that way...
i still need to get another guest pass, i guess i can do that now since i am not doing anything unimportant...
zach bought dress clothes last night.. and dress shoes! wowowowowowowowow!!! thats is really surprising... we talked about flowers last night, and he really doesnt understand what he's doing... so im just going to take care of it myself... but that works too...
i have to clean tonight.... since im having this party tomorrow, which reminds me, i have to call everybody...
well, im going to go now... and try to do something importantly unimportant...
God Bless

accepted...

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
i was just accepted to Eastern University today!

yesteday, carley and i finished making our shirts... we had a lot of fun, and the resulting shirts were pretty amazing, if I do say so myself... today was twin day, and i was frantically running around, attempting to complete stage 1 of my psych project... it was successful (sort of) we presented our spirit team dance, which rocks! and then I did car painting with alexis, carley, erin, amanda, delaina, jen, amber, kendra, and the other amanda... we decorated alexis' car, and we made it look like a dragon... i think we succeeded!
i have a dinner tonight in honor of a U.S. history award i won last year... so i need to finish up my english essay so i can go eat food... who doesnt want to eat food?
God Bless

black pumas

even thought its not monday... it still feels like a monday... nothing overly exciting happened today either... we practiced our pep rally act... i was able to relax today and do my homework... i had piano lessons as well... yesterday, zane invited one of his close friends to youth group and now he wants to come to our church and sunday school and stuff!!!!

THAT IS SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok... just had to get that out there!

i have to start and finish working on my psych project...
i still need to finish my english... and i have a calc test tomorrow!!! oh what fun... i have a pretty laid back week this week... until we get to the very end...
hahaha we'll see how that goes!
God Bless

yachts and sport boats

lets see... what did i do on sunday... oh thats right, i wasted my life away in front of my computer, doing my research paper for history... but it did get done, and i think it went well... while i was wasting my life, i was able to talk to eric who has now graduated basic and is moving onto tech school in mississippi... i was very excited to talk to him!!! i miss him a lot...
today i finished up the rest of my homework... which took longer than expected... but i was able to clean up my room... a little... i started brain storming our next youth group forum and how im going to run things... i think i have a good start... anyways... today was the second annual new world commemorative sports and eats day! we played sports for about three hours and then chilled at hoss's... i had a great time with some of the junior high kids, and some senior highers that i havent seen in a while... playing soccer was a blast... it made me miss it... carley came over afterwards and we worked on our tshirts... they are completely hilarious!!! i dont think anybody is going to understand them... but thats ok... its just for us...
im going to go hit the sack! sleep well all...
God Bless

Elephants

yesterday we won hall decorating!!! GO SENIORS!!! it felt awesome to take away the sophomore legacy! sooo... carley and i attempted to make shirts yesterday... i quickly discovered that i am not an arts and crafts person...
i babysat a little girl last night... thats the first time i've changed a diaper in a long while... but she was really cute, and i cant wait to baby sit her and her sisters again!
zane had a game today... it went pretty well... he had a beautiful goal... i worked on my research paper this afternoon, and then went to JOY with zach... that was i whole lot of fun too... i missed hanging out with him... we had a spaghetti dinner for the myerstown boy scouts... i saw andy there... that was cool...
we're watching Ironman right now... im going to go enjoy it!
God Bless

stink bugs

got my chem test back today... it was a lot better than i expected! our evil and maniacal plan for homecoming is coming right along... it will soon reach its full potential! we're all super excited about that... mr miller was singing in class today... it was wonderful entertainment... all it was missing was a good meal... swordfish would have been perfect with it... my dad made it home safe and sound from st. paul... that was a blessing... zane has a soccer game tonight... but im not sure if i will make it... i have homework and reports to take care of... so, we'll have to see... we have hall decorating tomorrow, and carley and i are making tshirts...
i bug flew down my shirt while i was getting into Charlie... it was DISGUSTING! i felt so violated... i screamed...
but thats not surprising...
i have to go finish my history homework...
God Bless

Peterbilt

emotionally... i feel like i was just hit by a Mack truck... there are times when i just want to take away all the pain and the worries that people feel.... but that is not my job... i cant take all their burdens and suddenly make them feel all better... God, i really need you... i need guidance as to what you want me to do in her life... i need your help to carry out your will... how can i explain to her how beautiful she is... how important she is to me... but above all... how much you treasure her and love her...
this is way too heavy for this time of night... God, be with her and comfort her... help her find strength and solace in your presence...
God Bless all of you...

rolling admissions

hhhmmm...
do you know that if you have Alzheimer's, you can hide your own Easter eggs?
that is hilarious in a sick and twisted way...
school was nothing new today... homecoming is right around the corner, and we have a lot to get ready for it!
i didnt have a whole lot of homework tonight, but i need to start my research paper... so i think i'll finish gathering my information today...
i really want to do me devotions tonight, so i'll try extra hard to get on that...
my dad is currently en route to Saint Paul, Minnesota for a business trip... he should return thursday night...
my mom is currently grilling burgers for dinner...
my brother is currently playing football on the PS2...
i am currently taking up space on my blog...
my mind is currently being idle...
and i am currently running out of things to say...
i ref a game tonight, let's hope i get paid...
God Bless

Go Phillies!

the LEADs overnighter was rough... but amazing! we prayed, worshipped, and encouraged for hours... and then did improv before bed... i only slept three hours... on saturday, mom and i went dress shopping for homecoming... we were successful and had a whole lot of fun...
today i had my senior pictures!!! it was really relaxing and enjoyable... i went down to Union Canal park, and then we went back to my house to get some pics... i took a well needed nap after i was done...
i just finished playing the piano... i find it very calming and relaxing to pluck the ivories... even though i am only learning... my room is a mess right now...
all my clothes from my pics and the overnighter are decorating my floor and bed... i'll have to fix that, or else i will get in serious trouble from my mom...
i'll go take care of that!
God Bless

Little Bunny FooFoo

im currently sitting at my computer... obviously... the new Bose iPod dock we got for my dad for his birthday is blaring music throughout my entire house... i love blaring music when no one is at home...
i just baked apple bread, and boy does it smell good... i wish i could virtually send you the scent... but you will just have to take my word for it, it smells amazing... i almost feel sorry for you since you cant enjoy this pleasant aroma... too bad for you...
i also recently finished painting my toes... thats exciting...
i need to pause for a moment, Josh Groban is singing!
in think that when God sings, He sounds like Josh Groban...
there is a little adolescent bunny outside of the kitchen windows...
he/she is really cute... i think it's hungry...
i should name it...
but it must be a unisex name since i don't know its gender...
how about Pat? hahaha... Pat the Bunny...
now there is two!!! i am so lucky... they're really cute...
i have a LEADs team overnighter at the church tonight... im excited... i just need a small break, and i also have NO homework this weekend!
awww... Josh is done...
welll... there are some things that need to get done before i leave tonight...
God Bless

Surfing Hippos

ohhhh boy...
my chem test wasn't too bad... but the really long word/math problems in the beginning were absolute torture! we'll see how it goes... i am getting really sick and tired and calculus and the people in it... i cant learn anything... it just sounds like russian to me...
i think i have a good idea for my concept essay... i was thinking freedom... but that is sooo "cliche" according to mr. miller... so spiritual growth can work... talking about when you grow mentally, you grow spiritually as well... you start asking questions and seeking answers... i think im going to go with that! thanks mr. miller!!!
i reffed soccer tonight... the coach who was supposed to pay we thought that he was the away team and didnt bring any money... you would think when you are this far into the season, you would know when you need a ref... considering you called and asked for one!!!
i went up and played soccer with my brother's team... it was a whole lot of fun! they have this one incredibly fast kid on their team... Ivan... boy, he is like lightning fast!
alrighty... i need a shower...
God Bless

ionic and covalent

i have a gigantic chemistry test tomorrow! i mean... its like mammoth... monumental... huge... really big... ginormous... colossal... Goliath sized...
you get the idea...
i was experimenting with synonyms...
for our next writing project... the one about a concept...
it is a very abstract idea... but i'm liking it...
i was thinking about freedom...
i find that a very intriguing thought...
or maybe i'll see if mr. miller will let me do my Templeton Honor's Program essay...
we'll see...
i felt really yucky today... and i have my senior pics on sunday! thats exciting... i really hope that it doesnt rain and that the weather stays cool...
if everything goes as well as planned... i will be relaxing in Boston next weekend... but that is a BIG if!
well... i shall go study my chemistry...
God Bless

And Flip!

i missed another soccer game today due to the weather! but it gave me much needed time to study and get ready for junior high... we had a volleyball tourny with all the kids... it was awesome! there really isnt much to say right now...
mr. miller! how dare you leave us today with that devil of a woman! that is so evil!!!! i cant stand that sub... i swear, she is bipolar and treats everyone like they are in preschool...
we earned free time today! but then we were told that we were disrespectful...
go figure!
God Bless

perpetual hades

a big group of us is fasting today... its really hard to walk into a lunch room or to walk home and to see and smell all the food that is around you... even if it is no where close to appetizing... it is still tempting to eat all of it...
school was...eh... like always... i have a lot of papers and reports to do...
where is the time to enjoy life???
God Bless

The memory of a goldfish...

my memory must be failing because i keep forgetting to do these... friday was my job interview, which went really well... and then the football game... that really sucked... it was depressing... saturday i was supposed to ref two soccer games, but they were both cancelled even though it wasn't raining... but zane played in the rain... they lost too and the ref was HORRIBLE! that night, all my family came over and we celebrated my brother and dad's birthday... it was really great to see my little cousins again... we had an awesome time together... today a band called Milele came to help us kick off our new theme for the year... "Make a Move" the band is originally from Kenya and all their proceeds go back to Kenya. We were all dancing and having a great time in the front row...
Courtney is over all day today... we're having a whole lot of fun doing homework...
just for you Mr. Miller!
God Bless

Oh Shoot!

as you can see, it is really late to be typing this. i was enjoying the soothing sounds of chris tomlin, and i was about to brush my teeth when i suddenly realized that i am one blog short of as A+!!! what a horrible epiphany!
so... yesterday was zane's birthday. he had a soccer game... and scored! the ref sucked... we ended up tying the game...
we went out to dinner tonight for his birthday... he chose shady maple... and what a wonderful choice it was...
my grandpa joined us and i ate wayyy too much food... but it was all so good!
i need to sleep now...
God Bless

Red

frustration rising... blood pressure soaring...
the norm...
i do not understand calculus. i stayed after school in order to understand it, and it didn't really help...
physchology is such an abstract idea, and i cant get my mind around it. i like solid, concrete facts. not this maybe crap.
my neighbor is back in my high school... she moved to chambersburg a while ago... but circumstances changed, and now she's back here! that's exciting....
see you at the pole was pretty awesome this morning!
im going to work on my english essay...
God Bless

Out of Control

chemistry was a minor disaster this morning...
i spilled potassium nitrate all over the counter, and then we broke a test tube...
go figure!
carley and i went hiking after school today... we were supposed to go running... but hiking is ten times better! we ran up this ginormous (my word) hill... i almost died... but not really... we walked over this little dam in the Swatty, and it was a little deeper than what we expected it to be... our shoes got soaking wet... so we walked all through jonestown barefoot... but mom was not very happy about that ;)
it feels so good to start and nearly be done with the general college application papers... it is really annoying to constantly have it in the back of your mind... it gets me one step closer to being able to sleep at night...
a group of us came up with a monumental idea for homecoming... i really hope it all works out!!!
life is going smoothly... but God is faithful to my request... every day is something new and exciting!!!
God Bless

late night chat

what an enjoyable day...
i reffed this morning for a U8 girls team... NL won... made a good start to the day... skipped the leadership seminar to spend time with my mom... we went shopping and had a girls afternoon...
went to the boys soccer game... it was a really close and extremely physical game... the ref lost control at the end of regulation, and they just started beating on each other...
when i came home, i saw i had a message on my myspace from eric... i started crying because i was happy! i miss him beyond words... and i cant wait to hear from him again! sweet dreams!
God Bless

Peanut

ahhh... a wonderful end to a horrible week...
this week was not what i would call enjoyable, not in the least bit...
but this morning i was called down to bick's office... i was scared out of my mind... i had no idea why i was going down... i was relieved when i discovered that i was named student of the month along with matt nolan ;) i was pretty doggone excited! my mom texted me to tell me that she has tickets to go see jeff dunham... mmmm gay!
sorry, had to throw that in there...
pep rally today... nothing special... got my haircut! and i love it!!!
football game tonight with dan... he's like a little brother to me...
a busy weekend is coming up!
I pray that i don't get sick...
God Bless

A Break from the Norm

Lonely bicycles stand neglected, like the child who was missed in the pick-up kickball game. The lucky bicycles are whizzing by, carrying loud and boisterous adolescents. I see many familiar faces, but they are obscured by a crowd of anonymous youth. Bits of conversation float across the field hockey field. Many of these tidbits include the desires beat one another to the finish line, or to explain how the dirt found its way into the girl’s eye. Some of the more competitive youths fly across the worn path, racing each other as if their lives depended on it. Meanwhile, lackadaisical boys and girls wound there way through the fields, enjoying their moment outdoors. The dirt path snakes its way across the back of the field hockey field, down the band practice field, and then meets with the nature trail. Our competitive children dash towards the dictator of the afternoon, the gym teacher. The stragglers chug their way across the lawn to catch up with their speedy comrades. A short break allows clarity. A soft breeze caresses the corn in the nearby field. The breeze increases in intensity and blows through the leaves and needles on the trees. The smell of freshly cut grass mingles with withered corn stalks. The moment of peace it lost in the return of the preteens. The dictator gave new commands, and they are followed with obedience. A fresh objective yields new leaders of the pack. Boys and girls struggle to maintain the first-place position. Maturity has reached a new low in the comments and actions of many of the boys.
The baseball scoreboard stands guard in far right field, honoring those students who have already graduated. The easiest way to make sure your child’s memory is engraved into the heart of the school is to donate anything sports related. You are hailed as a hero, a philanthropist of monumental proportions. Across the way, the empty baseball dugouts looked derelict and skeletal. They long for the blooming of flowers and the fall of a warm rain. That would mark the turning of spring and the return of the baseball players. Then, the dugout will be occupied with teens filled with angst and excitement. The equipment, sunflower seeds, and water bottles will cover the floor, and the dugout will look more like a home. The sound of a helicopter yanks me out of my reverie. The noise is all around, but the chopper is nowhere in sight. Suddenly, it bursts forth from the cover of the trees and houses, climbing higher and higher. It turns, and leaves the campus in a whirl of beating blades. My attention is drawn to the bicyclers once again.
They do not stop, and they do not slow down. They fear the reaction of the dictator, and they do not want to face punishment. One brave girl continues to cut the corner at right field. I wonder if she will continue looking for the easy way out for the rest of her life. White, puffy clouds cast long and irregular shadows across the field, offering shade to the students. Not much shade is needed today, due to the stiff breeze. Two buzzards circle overhead, searching for an exhausted bicycler to fall off. Rising above the school the American flag flutters; a beautiful symbol of freedom and liberty. The dictator calls her class in, and the dash to her begins yet again. One lone boy is fighting to finish his last lap, but appears to be enjoying his jaunt nonetheless. The wheels stop turning, the chatter stops flowing, and the tranquility returns.

God Bless

mauve... pink... rose...

another one bites the dust...
isn't it strange that the day feels over when you get home from school... but you still have ten hours until the day ends... just a thought to ponder...
math test was ridiculous today... i wanted to cry...
my brother has trumpet lessons right now... i dont like hearing christmas music when it it not anywhere close to christmas! so frustrating...
we are currently painting our kitchen... i think its pink, but apparently im wrong... whatever... i wont be painting my kitchen that color...
i should go do the chemistry extra credit now...
ciao
God Bless

Let's crash the system!

what am i interested in... well... i am not sure... lets try to pick a few topics that are relatively enjoyable and academically stimulating...
profiles of:::
smash night at youth group...
people watch at walmart...
profile of a youth pastor...
the dry sense of humor in my english teacher...
now there is a topic of interest...
oops... interest is not a word i should be using!
i hope i dont loose sleep over inappropriate words...
or worse... points!!!
what a nightmare that would be!!!
hahaha... nada mas!
God Bless

Ciao

this is going to be written in haste, for I have a LEADS meeting soon... no not the old people leaders... the youth aged leaders... pretty cool stuff... this weekend has been really busy... but i saw some faces that haven't frequented church in a while... so that made me really happy... i have something going every night this week... its really hectic... and teacher's seem to forget that student's have lives... i know! shocker right?!? but its true... and i know that some teachers have live... while others just live at the school... and charge their battery in the dark...
how weird would that be...
the new family force 5 cd is awesome!!!
im jammin with it right now... hahaha
i think i have an idea for my essay coming up... but i cant tell you right now... its only in the preliminary stage of thought...
well... i must bid you farewell...
God Bless

what flows freely...

mmm... cambell's chicken noodle... possibilities...
that was a completely random thought that just popped into my head...
lets see what others i can get...
apple pie... peach pie... cherry pie... blueberry pie... pear pie... boston cream and coconut cream... banana cream and key lime... pecan pie... and pi radians...
equations... hmmm... e equals m c squared... and the equation from my chem lab...
ice cream... why do some people eat ice cream when they are really cold... and frozen yogurt tastes just as good as regular ice cream... but custard makes me feel like my arteries will collapse...
i HATE cleaning toilets!!! it is the most disgusting thing ever!!!
you know... i have been wearing two different sets of earrings in each ear... but nobody pays attention to detail anymore... what a dull world we live in...
i love driving on long country roads... i passed four horse and buggies today...
ponytails... hair ties... hair bands... they are all the same thing... how weird...
some kids can be so arrogant... and that cancels out their cuteness and innocence...
enough randomness for today...
God Bless

@ & and etc.

i need to do one more blog before tomorrow... or else mr. miller will fail me and i will be an upset and emotional teenage girl...
i know i am already like that... but even more so if i dont finish this!!!
yesterday was by far, the worst day of school... i did not get the class play part that i wanted (and in my ego, thought i deserved) i broke a watchglass in chemistry... there it was, shattered glass all over the floor... i had a boat load of homework... and i did my chem formula wrong...
but there were a few positives...
mr. saner and mr. miller have been helping me a lot in my thoughts for college... mr. miller is giving me book suggestions from the short list i have... and mr. saner told me that i am psychotic... that helps, i think...
let me count how many words i have here that shouldn't be used...
i didn't use any of the DO NOT USE words that mr. miller gave us today! i am so proud of myself!!!
there you go mr. miller... you are really really really nice for teaching us this. i am quite happy that i remembered to not use them. i am somewhat curious as to what other words are out there... the fact that i do not know more un-usable words is due to the fact that i am ignorant to the rather interesting words that should not be used...i believe i am suffering from a severe case of wordiness... the bottom line is... i need to stop and work on my english paper that shall be as good as gold... mr. miller, you went the whole nine yards is teaching us this, and I am forever grateful!
God Bless

The nonexistant doctor

sooo... i went to the McCain and Palin rally in Lancaster yesterday... but shhh... don't tell anyone because I was supposed to be at the doctors... so... I waited for two hours yesterday to get into the doctor's office... and there were so many people there that weren't scheduled to be there, but they got in anyways... and some people weren't allowed in even though they had an appointment... how strange... they need a woman in charge of that stuff... anyways... I saw my doctors... my female doctor said many of the same things as she did last week... I could actually quote her word for word sometime... my male doctor said some new things... and I swear he said something that was really exciting... but i think i heard him wrong... there was a lot of energy in the office, and that was exciting to be apart of... all in all... it was a wonderful experience, but I wish it was better organized...
again... we needed a woman...
they always know what to do...
ta-ta for now...
God Bless

Joy in confectionaries...

ahhhh... back into the monotonous drone of high school... i prayed the other night and asked God to take me out of the routine and to make every day exciting, new, and fresh... it was a bold request... but God is a bold kinda guy... anyways... nothing too exciting has happened... i got eric's address so i can send him letters... that makes me happy... i miss all my senior friends more and more every day... it is quite the depressing feeling...
happy thoughts...
play tryouts were today... there are three female roles... and a lot more females who tried out... that is another depressing thought!!!
happier thought...
i need to write my english essay... still depressing...
the happiest thought...
there is chocolate in my house...
need i say more?
God Bless

Que Mojado!

i spent my morning at zane's soccer game... i can't imagine how wet it gets where the hurricane hits... but i was soaking wet by the time i made my way home... good game, bad weather...

I HATE CALCULUS! i have no idea what i am doing, and nobdy can explain it to me, because they don't know what they are doing either... gee, i wonder what that tells you?

rain is a beautiful gift from God... it provides life... without it, we wouldn't exist... its a simple as that... i feel so clean after rain... not just physically... but spiritually... it is an incredible parallel to how God washes away our sins... the stains and dirt slide right off... and you are left with a clean slate... im not sure how clean mine is...
i think i need more rain...

God Bless

The drone of life...

it is the end of the school week... PRAISE GOD! it was another long and rather monotonous routine... but that is nothing new... GOP Convention was this week... i trule enjoyed listening to Fred Thompson, Rudy Guiliani, Sarah Palin... and McCain to an extent... he spoke too long... and I was begging him to stop talking... narrow minded people who think Obama is the 'Messiah" really bother me... they are so blinded because of their party loyalties that they cannot see beyond themselves... what a shame... leaders meeting was on wednesday.... and i met with marc yesterday... wonderful times! anyways... i have a spanish quiz next period... i need too look at my vocab!
God Bless

Labor Day... let me tell you, I defiantly labored. I spent the morning dusting the downstairs of my house... oh what fun... but in the afternoon, Carley invited me over to her house... they were having a family picnic, so I was adopted for the afternoon... the food was great and the company was hilarious! anyways... around 4:30 we went hiking. We attempted to go to Boxcar Rocks off of 443... but it took us a few stops to actually find the place... three stops to be precise... but we were successful! we thought we were just going to hike, but we ended up rock climbing... it was absolutely amazing! we overcame obstacles that we thought were too big for us... after about two hours, we stopped and watched the sunset and called it a day... my legs look like they got into a fight with a lawnmower... its rather unattractive... but it makes me feel like i accomplished something! i went home and watched NHRA with my family... yeah Tony Schumacher!!! this afternoon my mom made applesauce... i was going to say she made homemade applesauce... but that sounds rather redundant... it was amazing! i could live off of it... ahhh comfort foods...
The beauty of God is that He never leaves us. No matter how far away we run, He is right next to us. Lately, I have fallen out of the pattern of regular devotions, and that is my own fault. I do have the time... but I don't give it to Him. I still take time for prayer every night, and I look forward to that alone time all day. I have been working a lot with devotional books right now. I just cannot wrap my mind around the fact that He will never forsake me. After all the times that I have been let down and abandoned by friends... it is refreshing to know that I can always count on God to be right next to me... to jump with me when I am happy, or to carry me when I am too weak to walk. Right now, He is holding my hand... making sure I don't stray too far off the path, and slowly drawing me back into His arms... The path is wide... the grass is tall... the branches are low... it is so easy to get lost, snagged, or distracted... but the sky is bright blue and the leaves are turning... life is beautiful... is my path is just that... my own...
God Bless

Its been a little bit... so let me see if I can catch you up... My grandparent's on my dad's side own a cabin in Huntingdon, PA. That's out near State College if anyone is unaware. Anyways... no electricity... no running water... it can get a little lonely... It was my dad, cousin, brother, and grandparents out there. And me of course! We left on Friday and listened to Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh discuss McCain's VP choice! It was a brilliant move on his part... I digress... We didn't do much on Friday night, but my cousin and I were able to catch up on life... on Saturday we went out to lunch at this little Italian place... and then my cousin and I went on a hike... I was working on my environmental science individual project. When we got back (about a mile and a half later) my dad and I left for a four mile hike up and down cliffs and mountains. It was an awesome time to just talk about interesting topics... family, marriage... friendships... you name it, we covered it! But that is what my dad and I do. It's not your typical father-daughter relationship. Later on the in evening... my aunt, uncle, and other cousin joined us and we enjoyed a family dinner. My dad and I left after dinner to beat the Penn State traffic, and we were successful. My plans for today have been ruined by surprise parties... so hiking Boxcar Rocks will happen tomorrow afternoon! I am excited! Today... I believe I will tackle some of my calculus homework... I hope someone calls me to save me from a boring Sunday!
Nature is a beautiful thing. No, it is more than a thing. It is a glorious creation that proclaims God's creativity and exquisite eye for detail. Each placement of a rock, the veins on a leaf, the height of the trees, the roll of the valleys, is planned and constructed by God's hand. The individual calls of the birds, the run of the deer, the curiosity of the bear, never ceases to amaze me. I stand in awe of the presence of God when I am alone in nature. The world is so vast, and I am so small, yet the complexity of me matches the wild flower. I am a living creation, constantly proclaiming the love and grace of our God.
God Bless

I smell rain...

Last night we had an adult leaders meeting for church... I believe I mentioned that yesterday, but since it didn't happen yet, I couldn't tell you what it was about. Well, now I have that privilege. It was an adult leaders meeting, but I am a junior high leader, and was considered an adult for 3 and a half hours! It was amazing to fellowship with older Christians who have built up my faith. There were about three generations represented last night, and it is truly a gift from God that we all work so well together. The unity is unbelievable. Age is simply a number. We spent the evening eating, encouraging, and learning what our job is as a leader. So... time for a philosophical moment with Chelsea...
What to discuss today...
Ahhhh... so many choices flying around my head. I need a moment to grab one and shove it into the key hole. Like that scene in the first Harry Potter movie... but I prefer books. So like that chapter in the first Harry Potter book where they grab the broomsticks and attempt to catch the old, rustic, flying key to open the door to the next chamber. But I digress...
Did you ever stop and marvel at the innocence of children? Imagine if we kept that innocence as we grew up. What would the world be like today? I can not even image how it would look...
Just a little thought for the day... nothing too deep...
God Bless

Because I have to...

So instead of going all philosophical today, I switch modes to the reality of which I play a role in. Mr. Miller told us that we were supposed to blog about how the St. Martin's Guide to Pain and Torture... oh, excuse me, Guide to Writing, and the course itself, will help us learn how to be a better writer. I suppose I shall amuse him by obeying directions. This class is going to challenge me. I have this small issue. I tend to fall in love with my first draft, and make a few changes here and there when I think of a better way to word things. I do not like writing a story, report, or essay more than once. I find it pointless and a waste of time. But now, I will look into writing and rewriting. I also have this small problem with making my verb tenses and pronouns agree. I will definitely be working to hard to make sure all my words are grammatically correct. I love to write and express myself with words. My desire to better myself is high, and my willingness to learn is there.
On a different note...
Leaders meeting for church tonight! I am super excited for it, because hanging out with all the young adult (and old adult) leaders makes me feel mature! That is something to be excited about!
God Bless

A Moment of Clarity

I'm sitting in my English comp class, trying desperately to think of a title for my blog that symbolizes who I am. Not just a name or some random word that pops into my head, but a title that defines my soul; that can express who I am in a small amount of words. This is not as easy as it sounds, for I am limited in character space on the little title bar that i used. So, in an attempt to clear my mind and block the sounds of ticking key boards and the presence of my hilarious teacher, I found a moment to connect with God. In that split second, I found the title that I needed. The Color of Grace. What color would that be? Royalty is for purple, white for purity, red for anger or love, blue for depression and sadness, green for growth and life. So what color is grace? Personally, I believe the color of grace is green. Previously, I mentioned that green symbolizes growth and life. Green is also the color of jealousy, but how can this apply to grace. God's grace is given to us in abundance, and every time we receive it, we grow deeper in love with Him, and we are given a small breath of life. Our life becomes richer when we freely accept the grace that He offers so abundantly.
Well, I am sorry but the bell is soon going to ruin my time here. So I must bid you all farewell.
God Bless