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