Wood Between the Worlds

{during a conversation about amounts of sleep}

2012-01-05T22:09:00.000-06:00

Me: "I wonder how much sleep is really necessary to have human maximum function ability."

Rachel: "I'm not sure... It would be really nice if people could sleep like they drink espresso. Just a little bit is needed, but it goes a long way..."

11 Lessons from 2011

2011-12-31T23:20:00.000-06:00

Top 11 Lessons of 2011

11. When talking to someone on the phone, it is never safe to assume that you hear correctly. Ask them to spell their location so that it is correct before writing it down for someone else who will know what it was supposed to be.

10. Sleep, however inconvenient, is actually still necessary to life.

9. A GPS thinks it is smarter than it actually is: it tells you to exit a perfectly good road that will take you the right direction. As soon as you get on a major road that has signs pointing to the next location, you should turn the GPS off until the next time you get lost.

8. People are generally not capable of making good decisions after 11pm.

7. Planning is wonderful…as long as you're willing to adapt to whatever comes your way. A typhoon, for example.

6. Good planners make life simpler, not more complicated.

5. Other people will come and go through life. Family is forever, and siblings really can be best friends.

4. Life is not about the situations that challenge you, it's about how you respond to those challenges - and how you change.

3. There's the pain of healing, the pain of staying the same and the pain of getting worse. You pick your pain.

2. God really does work miracles, and he works the most often when you least expect it.

1. There is no need to ever be dismayed; God will strengthen, help, and uphold me with His righteous right hand. (Is. 41:10)

{attention pacifists}

2011-12-26T16:23:00.000-06:00

I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate.

And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.

-Jack Handey

*The air soft bullet proof vests, as well as the leather handgun holsters, magazine cases, and belts were made by Allen Penney. I highly recommend his work, and if anyone is interested in purchasing contact me and I will refer you on to him.

{the solution to incompetence}

2011-12-22T12:20:00.001-06:00

All of man's misfortune comes from one thing,

which is not knowing how to sit quietly in a room.

-Blaise Pascal

After 15 months...

2011-12-21T22:06:00.000-06:00

...last Friday, my big brother got engaged. :)

He sang her a song, asked her a question, and she said...YES! :)

O give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders.

-1 Chronicles 16:8-9

{one of those moments that makes babysitting worthwhile}

2011-12-06T07:29:00.000-06:00

Merry's bedtime prayer:

"Dear God, please, please help us obey Miss Leah. She has it pretty rough...four of us, and only one of her! Help us listen to her and not fight with each other...and help the dogs not fight either."

For Jingle :)

2011-11-29T22:02:00.000-06:00

I love the talks we have. I love that you can finish my sentences half of the time, and the other half you have no idea what I'm trying to say. Our miscommunications are hysterical. Our memories...memorable, to say the least. :) Our adventures epic. Thanks for talking to me, laughing at my corny jokes, tolerating me when I'm not the nicest person to be around. Thanks for hanging up my towel in the bathroom when I forget. Thanks for letting me bounce on your bed when you're half asleep and talk to you. Thanks for telling me what to buy and not to buy when we're shopping, telling me what to wear, and for knowing where things in the grocery store are when I have no idea where to look. Thanks for being brutally honest with me, and expecting me to do the same. Thanks for hanging out with me, singing musicals with me, supervising when I'm 'cleaning' my room. Thanks for praying for me, and writing notes for me.

Thank you for being the best friend and little sister I could ask for. You're awesome.

{photo credit - Zac Foreman }

I wonder...

2011-11-22T18:43:00.000-06:00

If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat?

2011-11-17T21:53:00.000-06:00

There is no music during a musical rest, but the rest is part of the making of the music. In the melody of our life, the music is separated here and there by rests. During those rests, we foolishly believe we have come to the end of the song. God sends us times of forced leisure by allowing sickness, disappointed plans, and frustrated efforts. He brings a sudden pause in the choral hymn of our lives, and we lament that our voices must be silent. We grieve that our part is missing in the music that continually rises to the ear of our Creator. Yet how does a musician read the rest? He counts the break with unwavering precision and plays his next note with confidence, as if no pause were ever there.
God does not write the music of our lives without a plan. Our part is to learn the tune and not be discouraged during the rests. They are not to be slurred over or omitted, nor used to destroy the melody or to change the key. If we will only look up, God Himself will count the time for us. With our eyes on Him, our next note will be full and clear. If we sorrowfully say to ourselves, “There is no music in a rest,” let us not forget that the rest is part of the making of the music. The process is often slow and painful in this life, yet how patiently God works to teach us! And how long He waits for us to learn the lesson!
~John Ruskin

Coffee

2011-11-11T16:24:00.000-06:00

One of the easiest assignments in the world. Not to mention the fact that by the end of the shoot my hands smelled totally awesome. There's still a faint scent of coffee in the room.

{Btw, playing with an off camera flash is way more fun with inanimate objects than people. They don't complain about the flash being too bright, or strobe lighting...or being moved around over nine thousand times. }

In Acceptance Lies Peace

2011-11-04T23:42:00.000-05:00

He said, "I will forget the dying faces;
The empty places,
They shall be filed again.
O voices moaning deep within me, cease,"
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in forgetting lieth peace.

He said, "I will crowd action upon action,
The strife of faction shall stir me and sustain;
O tears that drown the fire of manhood, cease."
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in endeavor lieth peace.

He said, "I will withdraw me and be quiet,
Why meddle in life's riot?
Shut be my door to pain.
Desire, thou dost befool me, thou shalt cease."
Not in aloofness lieth peace.

He said, "I will submit; I am defeated.
God hath depleted My life of its rich gain.
O futile murmurings, why will ye not cease?"
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in submission lieth peace.

He said, "I will accept the breaking sorrow
Which God tomorrow will to His Son explain."
Then did the turmoil deep within him cease.
Not vain the word, not vain;
For in Acceptance lieth peace.

-Amy Carmichael

{following the Piper again}

2011-10-20T07:50:00.000-05:00

Joshua 'n Anna

2011-09-30T03:32:00.001-05:00

A little over a year ago, the Courter asked the Penney if she would be courted. She said she would.

They're still changing together, and thought that pictures would be a good idea. So we did a shoot, and here are a few photos.

9.10.11

{because there's a purpose}

2011-09-28T20:46:00.001-05:00

I was sitting there, replaying a scene; the conversation clear, sight vivid. I wished I would have acted more. Pretended that things didn't hurt, that there wasn't pain in the rejection. Life seems easier with unpenatrable walls. Steel armor to block out wounds. So I responded wrongly, in anger, to hide the truth. I failed to love.

I struggle with the pain, the knowledge that I'm vulnerable.

With worsening wounds. With wondering why.

With burning scars.

Then, a Voice, clear and True, spoke its way into my thoughts.

I have scars too.

The Perfect One, the One who loves, has scars. Scars that we've given Him.

I aruged back. I know You have scars. But Yours have purpose, and a meaning for us. My scars are deep, purposeless...they have names, stories, and their own power of torture.

Love spoke truth again. My Scars are deeper than you can imagine. Each scar has a name...one of them has your name. But I loved you anyways. I loved you when you hated Me, when you ran from Me. When you wounded Me.
My Child, I'm giving you the gift of scars. You can allow them to torture you, or they can be a reminder...a reminder to love.

These scars. Everyone has them. Some are large, tell tale of a painful injury or accident. Others are small, barely visible, but deep. Those are often the ones that remain the longest.

I often wondered what the purpose was of scars. It seemed for a long time that scars were just a reminder of something I wanted to forget. But I think now I know.

The purpose of the scars is reminder...reminder to love.

The word scar was derived from the Greek word schara, meaning place of fire. The scars we bear remind of times of fires, fires that everyone experiences. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, no scar can be completely removed.

Not ever.

They're there as reminders to love. But a gift?

Have you not asked for Me to make you more like Myself? Will you reject the journey I'm bringing you on because it's painful? Will you accept the gift of being more like Me?

I want desperately to remember. To love. To accept scars as gifts. To be more like Him.

Show me your hands. Do they have scars from giving? Show me your feet. Are they wounded in service? Show me your heart. Have you left a place for divine love?
~F. J. Sheen

{on walking into the kitchen before I fully awoke}

2011-09-13T07:45:00.000-05:00

"How did the unwashed dishes multiply since 10am last night?"

If I wasn't going to work, I would go back to bed. The good thing is, I'm not driving our carpool to work today. That small fact will most likely save the lives of at least four other people. Somehow.

I'm think I'm running late...or early...

Reflections of sorts

2011-09-05T20:26:00.000-05:00

{my thoughts exactly}

2011-09-01T16:23:00.000-05:00

"Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appreared to them to be otherwise."

~the Duchess

C. H. Spurgeon; Evening, August 24

2011-08-24T21:32:00.000-05:00

"If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution."—Exodus 22:6.

But what restitution can he make who casts abroad the fire-brands of error, or the coals of lasciviousness, and sets men's souls on a blaze with the fire of hell? The guilt is beyond estimate, and the result is irretrievable. If such an offender be forgiven, what grief it will cause him in the retrospect, since he cannot undo the mischief which he has done! An ill example may kindle a flame which years of amended character cannot quench. To burn the food of man is bad enough, but how much worse to destroy the soul! It may be useful to us to reflect how far we may have been guilty in the past, and to enquire whether, even in the present, there may not be evil in us which has a tendency to bring damage to the souls of our relatives, friends, or neighbours.

The fire of strife is a terrible evil when it breaks out in a Christian church. Where converts were multiplied, and God was glorified, jealousy and envy do the devil's work most effectually. Where the golden grain was being housed, to reward the toil of the great Boaz, the fire of enmity comes in and leaves little else but smoke and a heap of blackness. Woe unto those by whom offences come. May they never come through us, for although we cannot make restitution, we shall certainly be the chief sufferers if we are the chief offenders. Those who feed the fire deserve just censure, but he who first kindles it is most to blame. Discord usually takes first hold upon the thorns; it is nurtured among the hypocrites and base professors in the church, and away it goes among the righteous, blown by the winds of hell, and no one knows where it may end. O Thou Lord and giver of peace, make us peacemakers, and never let us aid and abet the men of strife, or even unintentionally cause the least division among Thy people.

From Spurgeon's Morning and Evening

9:05pm

2011-08-22T21:06:00.000-05:00

{what goes through an ADD person's mind in the space of about 20 minutes...or is it time span? I'm not sure. Which reminds me...}

Today began the second week of being back to work after being gone for a month. From the looks of things, this will be another 40+ hour week. And somehow, I have a blister already, on my left pinky. This is odd for two reasons: 1, I'm right-handed; 2, it's my PINKY! How do you get a blister there?

At work last week, I forgot to bring silverware for lunch. I had pasta, which wasn't really an eat-with-your-fingers type lunch. After scrounging around the cabinets, all I found was plastic knives. So, I put my chopstick training to good use. I actually think that chopsticks with a serrated edge would be a fabulous invention. Not only would you be able to eat your food, you'd be able to cut it as well. Just a thought. Anyways, the two knife idea worked fabulously. But I still brought silverware the next day.

I love my job. It's wonderful manual labor. The only thing I don't really like is the whole items-being-backordered thing, then the catch up process after we get in the shipping supplies and/or items to ship. Last week we ran out of a certain kind of sign box. This is our biggest box, and is custom made. After several days of allowing the orders to back up, we finally got the boxes today, an hour and a half before quitting time, and in time to run out of 9x4 blue magnets. Not only that, but the phone/computer line was broken, so there was no internet, which means that the packages can't be labeled using FedEx's handy dandy system. Everything will have to be entered in by hand until the phone line is fixed. The first good thing is that that’s not my job. The second good thing was that I got my paycheck from last week, which made me immensely grateful to have a job, despite the glitches in the system. All things considered, I have a lot to be thankful for. :)

I've been thinking a lot about different things since coming home from China, and re-evaluating a lot of goals. I've been thinking a lot about this quote shared in church last Sunday:

"Ambitions for self may be quite modest … Ambitions for God, however, if they are to be worthy, can never be modest. There is something inherently inappropriate about cherishing small ambitions for God. How can we ever be content that he should acquire just a little more honour in the world? No. Once we are clear that God is King, then we long to see him crowned with glory and honor, and accorded his true place, which is the supreme place. We become ambitious for the spread of his kingdom and righteousness everywhere."
~John Stott

I'm wondering what ambitions I have that are insignificant and selfish? What ambitions should I have to further Christ's Kingdom?

Which reminds me again of China, and the fact that my 8 gb memory card is now finished downloading. So, now I'm going to process and delete some of the photos from the trip.

This photo is in Pinghu, shot from a bridge over one of the many canals. Unedited.

After an 8 and 1/2 hour work day, plus two hours of driving, I tend to be tired and say things like....

2011-08-18T22:02:00.001-05:00

"I can win, I'm just laughing too hard!" :)

2011-08-12T13:34:00.001-05:00

I can tell I was in China for three weeks. When I subconsciously attempted to pick up my fork and use it as a pair of chopsticks, I realized even more. Especially when the fork flew across the room.

I miss China. I didn't think I would.

The street outside of the hotel. The view from the balcony that, well, had the best view. :)

Home from China!

2011-08-09T22:17:00.002-05:00

I'm finally home. Many memories, many photos, many new friends. One thing I've seen more than ever is God's never-ending faithfulness and grace.

Wade (my co-teacher), me, and our assistant teachers-Sunday, Eunice, Haylie, and Cally.

More after sleep! :)

The quote of the day...

2011-07-12T22:00:00.000-05:00

"Don't they know we're talented?"
~a friend

What is currently occupying space on my desk and mind...

2011-07-10T21:10:00.001-05:00

(not pictured - some of the best tea in the world)

Lest you think that I've waited until the last minute to study, you're wrong. I still am 36 hours and 21 minutes away from the test, or 2,181 minutes, respectively. And I'm studying.

Reflections of a July 4th Victory

2011-07-04T22:21:00.000-05:00

Today is a day we celebrate freedom. Legacy. We celebrate those who fought and died for our homes. But what of those who fight the battles of everyday life? Those who have won the victory, freedom in Christ? Those who have fought for the souls of their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren? They are often forgotten.

I knew a woman who fought the good fight. A year ago today she went home to freedom. To her Country. People don't realize the impact they can make on other's lives. I know that Mamaw didn't. Some people say they're Christians, others live it. It's those that live as Christ-followers that leave legacies.

My great-grandmother knew that we were in a battle. Every night she would pray for her family. If she fell asleep before she had prayed for everyone, she would pray again from the beginning. She left a legacy of prayer.

She encouraged me to create, and never laughed at my measly attempts to craft beauty out of hot glue, yarn, and styrofoam. She told me to use my hands to glorify God.

I watched Mamaw forgive the unforgivable. She knew that though there were things she didn't understand, God would work all things for good to His glory. She encouraged others to view things from His perspective.

Frequently you don't realize the value of someone until you've lost them. I know I didn't treasure enough the gift of knowing her. I would be so grateful to talk to her again, to listen to her stories, hear her praying for me. But I'm so grateful for her legacy of prayer, of running the race well, of loving her family.

Before she died, Mamaw kept saying that she had to get up, that she wanted to go to church. I wish I could have seen her excitement to enter her Country to forever worship God. She won the victory.

I can't wait to see her there.

(My family with Mamaw on her 99th birthday)

" O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" ~1 Cor. 15:55

From reading this morning...

2011-06-30T12:17:00.002-05:00

We would be better Christians if we spent more time alone, and we would actually accomplish more if we attempted less and spent more time in isolation and quiet waiting upon God. The world has become too much a part of us, and we are afflicted with the idea that we aren't accomplishing anything unless we are always busily running back and forth. We no longer believe in the importance of a calm retreat where we sit silently in the shade. As the people of God, we have become entirely too practical. We believe in having "all our irons in the fire" and that all the time we spend away from the anvil or fire is wasted time. Yet our time is never more profitably spent than when looking up to heaven. We can never have too many of these open spaces in life- hours set aside when our soul is completely open and accessible to any heavenly thought or influence that God may be pleased to send or way. Someone once said, "Meditation is the Sunday of the mind." In these hectic days, we sould often give our mind a "Sunday," a time in which it will do no work but instead will simply be still, look heavenward, and spread itself before the Lord like Gideon's fleece, allowing itself to be soaked with the moisture of the dew of heaven. We should have intervals of time when we do nothing, think nothing, and plan nothing but simply lie on the green lap of nature and "rest a while."

Time spent in this way is not lost time.

~Streams in the Desert

2011-06-28T14:26:00.000-05:00

For Dym

2011-06-25T13:14:00.000-05:00

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Prov. 27:17

It's not often one of my own images intrigues me so...

2011-06-24T09:34:00.000-05:00

...and I wonder why fog has such a pull on me...a longing to see what is hidden by the veil of mist, to know what is behind the curtain just out of reach...to see the source of the haunting music...a drawing to follow the Piper into the unknown...

"The Piper is coming nearer," he said, "he is nearer than he was that evening when I saw him before. His long, shadowy cloak is blowing around him. He pipes-he pipes-and we must follow...round and round the world. Listen-listen-can't you hear his wild music?" ~Rainbow Valley

Raincatcher

2011-06-22T20:07:00.002-05:00

It's raining.

It's been a long time since the tears of heaven have washed the dust of earth.

I always loved the short summer showers. The refreshing massage of moisture into the thirsty soil. Those times when the slow, steady rhythm would commence and convince the world that it was always so, only to abruptly stop before we could question why it came.

But the winter rains - the harsh, beating, driving rain that cuts through to your heart - the storms that never stop. Those drenching, depressing, never ending deluges of precipitation that can never make up its mind as to what form it wishes to manifest.

I think of the rains and see my ungratefulness. How I only wish for the warm summer rains. The peace. How when the dark storms come I long for something better.

And it's the same with life.

I want the gentle, growing, refreshment. I forget that the storms are what carve beauty into mountains. That trying times are what makes me more like Him.

When will I learn to catch the rain with empty hands?

I want to be a vessel that receives what the Gardener and Sculptor has seen fit to give. To desire to be grown, but also willing to be beaten down by storms. To see the gifts as what they are.

Children see the gifts. In any weather they'll run into the rain, catching liquid with their mouths, hands, empty glasses held high. An umbrella is simply a larger vessel to use, not a shield from the elements.

So I purpose to be grateful. To receive the gifts, and to catch the rain with empty hands.

A few of Morgan's bridal portraits

2011-06-13T20:51:00.000-05:00

Due to request, here's a few of Morgan's bridal portraits. Morgan has been like a big sister to me, and I was so excited to be able to share in this time in her life.

I'm so excited for you, Morgan! More bridal/wedding photos will come...soonish... :)

And then there were crickets

2011-06-03T17:28:00.002-05:00

Some neighbors and friends have been out of town for the past week and I have been feeding their animals. Before they left, SA was giving me the rundown of everything to do when she mentioned that I would need to pick up crickets for the bearded dragon. "Crickets? Are you serious?" I said. She was very serious; but, it wouldn't be a problem, because the people at the pet store would get them out and tie the bag shut. The bag would then stay shut until I had come back to the cage to let them out.

So, yesterday I got crickets. Thirty-one of them, to be exact. Then I left the crickets in my car in the parking garage and went into Starbucks to study for a few hours.

That bag that was supposed to stay shut? The one that the crickets wouldn't escape from? When I got back to my car, that bag was empty.

Totally empty.

And 31 crickets were hopping around in my car. IN MY CAR! You must understand, dear reader, that I just don't do insects. Don't pick them up, don't let them touch me, don't like them, etc. And now, there were 31 crickets in my car just waiting to attack me.

About half an hour later, 27 of the crickets were hopping around in the parking garage.Yes, I counted. There were still 4 at large. On the way to pick up my brother from work I found Number 28. He was thrown out the window at a stoplight in Houston.

After dropping my brother off at his destination, I went back to the pet store to purchase more crickets. I had a rather lengthy conversation with the manager explaining that the crickets escaped and that they needed to give me 31 free crickets. He wasn't amused. I asked if there was a female manager that would be more sympathetic, and was laughed at. No, I would still have to purchase replacement crickets. So I did. But not before having them double bagged and fastened shut with 6 rubber bands.

Those crickets managed to stay bagged long enough to get them to their cage, where they await certain death from the bearded dragon for their unfortunate brothers' crimes. I also found Numbers 29 and 30 in my car this morning. Number 31 still hasn't been found. Hopefully either the pet store person was incorrect in his counting and there was only thirty crickets to begin with, or Number 31 managed to escape into the parking garage. I may never know.

I do know, however, that I will not be purchasing crickets again.

Never.

Graduation!

2011-06-03T14:54:00.000-05:00

So, about a month ago, I graduated! I didn't post then, but figured late was better than never. :) I rarely knew where my camera was most of the time, because random other people were taking pictures for me. Here are a few of family and people that I graduated with...

The awesome people I had a party with!

Sister pic!

After the graduation meeting/practice thing.

On stage...

My cousin and I

I suppose my mom thought that since she had a daughter graduating, she was graduating as well somehow.:)

My brother practicing for graduation...or being a pirate? not sure.

The most logical thing in the world to do with the balloons that were on the table!

I have tons more pictures, but decided for time reasons (actually, because I didn' feel like uploading them all) to just include people that graduated with me and family. Hope y'all enjoyed looking!

I knew mopping was on my 'to do' list.

2011-05-03T20:17:00.000-05:00

When I get in a hurry, I often forget important steps. Hence more work. But you know, sometimes you need to get things done and end up doing them without meaning to, and end up being very productive. For example, here's the steps to getting around to mopping the kitchen- even when you DON'T think you have time.
Step 1- Act like you're filling up a water bottle. Actually, fill it up.

Step 2- Screw the lid on. Just don't. Like, leave it so...(continue to next step)
Step 3- You pick up the water bottle (by the lid), actually only pick up the lid dropping the water bottle and spill a gallon of water on the kitchen floor.
Step 4- Mop it up. See, I told you you were being productive!

The only problem with this kind of productivity is, when I finish the task I didn't start out to do, I've forgotten the original task. The water bottle is still, as far as I know, downstairs on the kitchen counter.

A hope when things go wrong

2011-04-14T12:42:00.000-05:00

So far today I've lost important papers, had my plans turned upside down, ran into a wall (yes, I did), hit my head really hard on a chair, and had a knife dropped on my foot. But...

"Surely there is a future, and [my] hope will not be cut off." :)

This will be a great day! :)

The secret...

2011-04-11T13:19:00.000-05:00

...of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.
~Mark Twain

Because moments are more important

2011-03-03T17:04:00.000-06:00

I had a plan. We were going to do a photoshoot. I had props, my reflector, and

~~clean~~ matching clothes.Then we got to the beach.

I got one pose out of them. Then, when asked to do something else...

"But Leah, it's too pretty to take pictures and be busy. Today is a day to run!"

A day to run. A day to be free from the Martha concerns and plans, unbusyed by lists of 'to do's.

A day to make footprints in the sand.

Because now matters. Because moments are important.

This moment. Running in the now.

I long to grasp the fleeting moments. I long to understand the meaning of the minutes and the memorials unappreciated. To treasure this time. To take the time to find joy in running the race.

Every day these moments slip away like so much sand. Are they caught, and treasured? Truly valued for the gift that they are?

May you find meaning in the moments today.

In the whole of world history there is always only one really significant hour- the present...

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Next, please...

2011-02-22T16:13:00.001-06:00

It feels like a warm spring afternoon. One of those wonderful days when you have all day, and nothing to do. But I have a lot to do. A list a mile long.

I know I need to do-what I would say to some one else. "Do the next thing."
The next thing on the list of the importants.

So I'm going to turn off the computer. Right now.

And do the next thing.

Who I found in my window seat

2011-02-17T19:54:00.000-06:00

It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.

~Oscar Wilde

Wrong again, unfortunately

2011-02-09T15:03:00.000-06:00

The precipitation never got the memo to change from ice to snow. Oh well. This is Texas after all.

My computer is telling me that it's freezing right now.

I could not have figured that out without help.

"Roomservice, Roomservice, don' send up any more ice." -W. C. Fields

Frigid with a possibility of precipitation-snow, to be precise.

2011-02-03T21:28:00.001-06:00

Schools are closing. Which, in turn, means that everything of reputable knowledge of Houston weather will also be closing. (I've even heard rumors of snow days being incorporated into the Fort Bend County ISD schedule.)

You see, due to Global Cooling and the beginning of the 12.5th ice age, they've predicted snow.

Sometime tonight the 80% chance of precipitation will morph into 60% chance of snow. At least, so the experts claim.

Is it too much to ask that Texas be granted snow two consecutive years?

Because, if you're going to close everything, it at least should snow to make delays worthwhile.

Tomorrow may show the prediction to be one of the first examples of weather personnel being correct.

Or it may show the usual: people confusing the Unlikely with the Impossible.

Only time will tell.

Because I need one more thing to look for in the morning.

2011-01-24T19:44:00.001-06:00

For those of us (ahem....that would be me) who have trouble getting up early, I may have finally found a solution--Clocky, an alarm clock that runs away from me!

"Can’t wake up? You’re not alone. Stats show that 40% of people ‘abuse’ the snooze. Typical alarm clocks just don’t work well. Ours never lets you oversleep again. Clocky runs away and hides if you don’t get out of bed. When the alarm sounds, Clocky will wait for you to get up. But if you snooze, Clocky will jump off of your nightstand (from 3 feet), and run around your room, determined to get you up on time. Clocky’s hip, innovative and charming. What could be better to wake up next to?"

Since I still don't have an alarm clock, this may be quite practial...Contributors? :)

This quote still makes me laugh...

2011-01-17T21:08:00.000-06:00

"Still, it doesn't do to murder people, however offensive they may be."

-Lord Peter Death Bredon Wimsey

A year I barely knew...

2011-01-01T00:01:00.001-06:00

It's funny how things change. Some change is so slow that you don't notice it until you're looking back. Other change is in the blink of an eye. The gradual one is comfortable, like a warm summer breeze. And then it slaps you across the face like a face-first fall into ice cold water.

A great many things have changed this year. Some changes I predicted. Some I expected. Some I planned.

Some I didn't plan. Some...I couldn't stand. Some hurt beyond reason or explanation.

Yet life goes on.

There were times I cried, my world turned upside down. Facing future I couldn't plan for, wasn't expecting.

But there is strength in promise.

"With Whom there is no variation or shadow of turning*..."

The Giver of Gifts. The Giver of...yes, even change. And the Giver of pain.

With Whom there is no variation....

He doesn't change. He doesn't leave me in pain, in confusion. Through changes in my life, He remains constant.

Neither shadow of turning...

Not even a shadow of turning. How slight a shadow is, but He promises not even a shadow of turning.

And through change that knocks me senseless...or creeps suddenly in...I can trust that promise. That the Giver of all things won't give me something I can't handle. Won't change any outward thing that He's not walking beside me in.

I hardly know how to describe the last year. I hardly knew it. It came- and has gone. With the coming of 2011, I desire to live in the moment. To remember the little things that make life meaningful. To live life alive. To know this year. To be faithful.

Good morning.

*James 1:17b

Christmas Recap

2010-12-29T21:38:00.000-06:00

Memorable. Crazy. Randomly fun. Green. Family frenzied.

Musical. Cold-at the last minute.

Beautiful.

Hope yours was wonderful as well.

2010-12-26T18:40:00.000-06:00

I recieved an email with a Christmas thought question: Why did Christ come as a baby? He ascended in an unusual way, and it would have made perfect sense for him to come in an unusual way as an adult. Why did He not come for his few years of ministry and then ascend a few years later? What was the point of the birth as a baby and then the silent years until his ministry began?

I don't know the reason. That may be a thing too high for us- we aren't supposed to know. But I know what He did.

He came as a baby to be born like we were.

He grew up like we did.

He walked the ground we walk on.

He was born under the law so that He could fulfill it- He is the only one that could.

He was tempted as we are, and overcame without sinning.

He felt the pain we do, and His pain like no other.

He cried the tears we cry, then cried tears of blood.

He was silent to teach us to speak.

He became sin, that we may become righteous.

He died the death of a sinner, so that we could live.

He loved us. Though we hated Him, He loved us. And He is The Way.

He came under the law to save us from it. Christ didn't have to become a Christian. He came so we could be Christ-followers.

And I stand in awe that He could love me. Me.

And I'm forever grateful.

Randomness, ect.

2010-11-30T19:51:00.000-06:00

It's been awhile. Life happens.

I turned 17.

I got my driver's license.

My procrastination is 10 times worse.

I make faces with fruit snacks during math. Then take a picture. After all, it's math, right?

My family and another family went to a Civil War reenactment. We dressed up. :) My little brother was the cutest little guy there.

The guys died after the battle. Well, most of them.

We even made the paper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The longer between posts the harder posting is. Not really sure why.

I'm not going to promise updates any more-they may or may not happen.

My apologies to the 12 people I haven't emailed back in the last...well, little while. My philosophy for respondng to emails is:

1 line email- I'll probably respond within the day.

2 line email- I'll probably respond within two days.

3 line email- it may or may not take me a week.

More than that- call me. Otherwise you may have to wait a week or a matter of months.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Because Christmas is almost close, I'm hosting a contest on my blog! It's the how-random-can-you-be-in-one-sentance contest. The winner will recieve a random prize. The only way to enter is to leave a random comment. No extra entries, sorry. This contest will close December 17th at 7:32 and 1/2 p.m.

Good night!

Your Hands

2010-11-26T16:14:00.000-06:00

Thanks Ames.

Math must've gone to his head too...

2010-11-03T13:34:00.000-05:00

"I know that two and two make four-and should be glad to prove it, too, if I could-though I must say if by any sort of process I could convert two and two into five it would give me much greater pleasure."
-Lord Byron

Chocolate, check. Candy corn, check. Dr Pepper...not.

2010-10-25T19:04:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's just Monday. It feels at least like Thursday or something. At least, my to do list normally isn't this long on a Monday. And I don't normally have 14 emails waiting for a response. Another photography assignment is due tomorrow. No worries, though, I have at least 13 more hours to come up with something. Why stopped and blurred motion? Wouldn't a sunset do if it were pretty enough?

Well, here it is for you to see, even if it won't be accepted for this week's assignment. Off to do the next thing!

Gun Control- being able to hold the gun steady...

2010-10-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

...and hit the intended target.

Overheard conversation...

2010-09-28T10:35:00.000-05:00

...between my 5 and 1/2 yr old brother and my mom.

(J) If you bees a mother, you cook!
(M) What kind of things does a mother cook?
(J) Oh, bread, tea, muffins and waffles and pancakes, chicken, dinner, lunch, and cake.
(M) what kind of things does a father cook?
(J) Eggs, toast, noodles, jelly on crackers, and hot dogs.

Of course, we teach people not to stereotype in our family.

An attempt at a 'real' post...

2010-09-18T19:04:00.000-05:00

I've been told that busyness is a choice. However, I believe that busyness is simply relative. What one person thinks is busy isn't for someone else, and vise versa. I think I used to have a lot more stamina and people toleration that is now entirely evading me. And just when I think I have my schedule maxed out, something else pops up. Amazing how that happens, eh?

Anyhow, this post is for all 14 people who have told me to post recently. My deepest apologies for delaying a 'real' post (what is a real post? please tell me why pictures and quotes don't count, I'd like to know). I hope this will suffice.

This week was insane. I had a great deal of school to do. I also started an online photgraphy class. This will be fun. :)

Yesterday evening through a few minutes ago I was babysitting 3 girls in my neighborhood. It was exhausting but good. I arrived at 4ish. We watched part of a movie (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in case you were wondering), then decided to play dress up (inspired by the movie of course). I didn't have any dress up; that was unacceptable. So, we walked a mile an a half to my house to retrieve a dress for me to wear. Actually, I ran most of the way. The kids biked. A dress was found and approved, and another mile and a half later we were back at their house. During the course of the play time I went from being Queen Susan to being a servant girl, which was fine by me. We ate supper in dress up. After a musical and Toy Story 2, we went to bed. The secret to no arguments at bed time is to keep your kids awake until they drop. 10:45 ended up being late enough.

The next morning consisted of chocolate chip pancakes with cool whip, more dress up, an impromptu photoshoot, and playing in the rain. Lunch was a picnic on the porch, since it had been raining all morning. The ideal way to get to the porch ended up being opening a window from the living room onto the covered portion of the porch instead of running through the rain.

(the view from the living room to the porch picnic)

During rest time the girls finished a movie and I did the accumulated dishes from the entire time I was there. Then we painted fingernails.

Home now, I'm appreciating being able to go into my room and shut the door. I'm appreciating the knowledge that I'm not responsible for making the next meal. It was fun though, and I'd do it again...

Hopefully that rambling was enough of a 'real' post for now. Off to do multiple random other things...

Good night!

Summers' last day

2010-09-06T16:49:00.000-05:00

"How strange this fear of death is! We are never frightened at a sunset!"

~George MacDonald

When thinking about the future is stressful...

2010-08-12T14:24:00.000-05:00

He promises that His grace is sufficient for NOW. He won't give me tomorrow's grace today, or next week's grace tomorrow. He gives me grace for the moment I'm living in.

Sufficient for now.

I thought about updating...

2010-08-10T10:31:00.000-05:00

Then I realized, I don't feel like it. So I'm not going to.

Life Stuff

2010-07-21T09:20:00.000-05:00

In thinking about everything that's happened since the last time I've posted, a comedian line comes to mind. A guy is talking about life. The Christian life, to be specific. Christians are promised life more abundantly, which begs the question: what is life? Well, life is pain, hard work, joy, tears, ect. And the Christian gets this...more abundantly?? great.

Well, since the end of June I've taken and passed another CLEP, so I now have 42 hours. Other things on my schedule have included teaching piano and horseback riding lessons, helping a mom take care of her 5 kids (which happened to be 9 and under!), multiple random projects, math class, and a concussion. Well, the concussion wasn't exactly in my schedule. It just sorta happened. Last Friday actually. So now I've had the wonderful experience of a CT scan among other things. Who knew getting whacked in the head with a stick (ok, small log) could be so bad? My dear sweet brother even wrote a song about my headaches. I felt so special.

Slowing down is hard for me. I haven't been roller blading in almost a week! And I can't ride! Or do anything else 'strenuous.' I'm redefining strenuous to mean something like climbing Mt. Everest. All I have to do is make Mr. Webster and the doctor agree with me. Couldn't be too difficult, right?

Joking aside, I have been thinking alot. (What else can I do when I can't do anything else I want to do?) What am I doing that matters? What will count for eternity? Am I truly living abundantly?

'Til next time...

Be Still...

2010-06-25T08:37:00.000-05:00

The Power of Stillness
Posted by jerrywhite on Jun 24, 2010

“It was a ‘still small voice’ or the ’sound of gentle stillness.’ Is there any note of music in all the chorus as mighty as the emphatic pause? Is there any word in all the Psalter more eloquent than the one word, Selah (Pause)? Is there anything more thrilling and awful than the hush that comes before the bursting of the tempest and the strange quiet that seems to fall upon all nature before some preternatural phenomenon or convulsion? Is there anything that can so touch our hearts as the power of stillness?

The sweetest blessing that Christ brings us is the Sabbath rest of soul, of which the Sabbath of creation was the type. There is, for the heart that will cease from itself, ‘the peace of God that passeth all understanding’; a quietness and confidence, which is the source of all strength; a sweet peace, ‘which nothing can offend.’ There is, in the deepest center of the believer’s soul a chamber of peace where God dwells, and where, if we will only enter in and hush every other sound, we can hear His ‘still voice’….

We cannot go through life strong and fresh on constant express trains, with ten minutes for lunch; but we must have quiet hours, secret places of the Most High, times of waiting upon the Lord, when we renew our strength, and learn to mount up on wings as eagles, and then come back to run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint.

The best thing about this stillness is that it gives God a chance to work. ‘He that is entered into His rest hath ceased from his own works, even as God did from His.’ When we cease from our works, God works in us; when we cease from our thoughts, God’s thoughts come into us; when we get still from our restless activities, ‘God worketh in us both to will and to do his good pleasure,’ and we have but to work it out.

Beloved! Let us take His stillness; let us dwell in ‘the secret place of the Most High’; let us enter into God and His eternal rest; let us silence the other sounds, and then we can hear ‘the still, small voice.’”

Dr. A. B. Simpson (1844-1919)

~~~Saints through the ages learned the necessity, privilege, and blessing of time alone with the Lord Jesus to sit at His feet in silence like Mary (Luke 10:39). We do well to learn from them what the Lord Jesus said was the good portion—the one thing necessary.

This post was so timely for me. I stuggle with being still, with being quiet enough to listen. I think many people do without realizing it. We are constantly caught up in noise, music, conversations, and thoughts. Not often do we get quiet, release busyness to sit at the Lord's feet and listen. But that's where God works. In the time that we're silent before Him, that's when He speaks.

The part that struck me the most, though, was this:

We cannot go through life strong and fresh on constant express trains, with ten minutes for lunch; but we must have quiet hours, secret places of the Most High, times of waiting upon the Lord, when we renew our strength, and learn to mount up on wings as eagles, and then come back to run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint.

So often, my life is like this. This afternoon I got home in time to shower and then grab my lunch as I ran out the door again. I forget to spend quiet in a secret place, with the only One my strength can come from.

This was very convicting, and a perfect reminder of what I need the most: to be still.

I would strongly encourage each of you to subscribe to http://www.adisciplesnotebook.com/ It's probably the most worthwhile reading in my google reader. :)

Midsummer-morning crisis

2010-06-16T20:42:00.000-05:00

A dreadful thing happened. No, really. It's awful. I'm rather depressed, actually.

My snooze button on my alarm clock broke.

Stop laughing. This is a crisis. I don't know how I'm going to manage getting up at 5 tomorrow morning to leave our house by 6! This is summer! I sleep in until 6!

So now my alarm clock is practically useless. The "collection for a new alarm clock for Leah" fund is now open...

7:26am

2010-06-12T21:34:00.000-05:00

Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish. His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider's web. Job 8:13-14

7:25am

2010-06-06T19:22:00.000-05:00

In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus...

I want to live like I'm alive

2010-05-27T10:27:00.000-05:00

The moment after the sun sinks beyond the horizon when time seems to stand still…the methodical sound of hoof beats on asphalt…the feeling that I’m truly flying as I go over a jump. The moment I hold a newborn baby, and hear its mother tell me all about every detail of her precious blessing…the pain and heartbreak death brings, yet the hope of life to come. The adoring gaze of a newly married couple as they look into each other’s eyes, and the tears of the little bridesmaid trying so hard to be happy for her sister’s sake. The excitement of the graduate; the loneliness of the little sister who will be alone when the graduate leaves for college. The sweet, shared memories between sisters. The loss felt when I realize the moments I’ve missed, just by not stopping to give a hug or smile, a word of encouragement or a shared tear.

And yet Time goes on, unkind to the moments slipping away…unknown.

Does anyone realize what they miss by failing to live?

Does anyone realize what they miss by failing to truly love sacrificially?

Does anyone realize the value of friendship? The moment when there is a true need for comfort? The moment when TRUTH needs to be declared.

I know. I’ve been that person. Failing to live by passing by opportunities of a lifetime, presented in small ways to impact the people around me. Failing to love, to give up my will and time to benefit others and crushing them in the process. Failing to be a true friend. Failing to comfort by often not even realizing the need. Failing to speak truth when it is desperately needed.

Then there are those that know the value of each moment.

Those that have impacted me beyond what they could dream, simply by living a life dedicated to Christ. Those who have loved me at the risk of being hurt, rejected, and unappreciated. Those who have been true friends. Those who’ve comforted me. Those who’ve spoken truth, even when it hurt, even when I didn’t want to hear. Moments taken advantage of...used to the greatest potential imaginable.

This is what I want my life to be. I want to impact moments, making them into monuments. I want to love like Christ did. I want to be a true friend, willing to lay down my life for someone. Comforting and being sensitive to needs. One who speaks truth.

I want to live like I’m alive, because with Christ, I truly am.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me…Galatians 2:20

When dreams distract from diligence, remember....

2010-05-16T17:54:00.000-05:00

"God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame." ~E.B.Browning

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ~James 1:17

They just didn't listen. They still think the sole purpose of a window is to break it.

2010-05-07T17:28:00.000-05:00

I'm serious. This time he managed to break the window with a tennis ball. Who would have thought? To Joshua's credit, he wasn't involved this time.

Many apologies for the lack of 'real' posts. I'm working on several projects right now and blogging hasn't been top priority. Perhaps that will change...perhaps not.

Till next time.

Pictures, the Son, so on and so forth...

2010-04-18T17:41:00.000-05:00

I've been organizing pictures, and it's rather overwhelming. I just started working on 2009's pictures. So far I've deleted over 1,000 pictures. Deleting is so hard, though, because there will be pictures that are equally good but have different things that make them awesome and I want to keep ALL of them. Alas, I doubt my computer can acommodate all the pictures I would take...

Anyone have any photo organizational tips? ;)

Anyways, going through pictures, I realized that I'm really obsessed with the sun. Seriously, a rather large percent of my pictures are of the sun. Thinking about this, though, I need to be obsessed with the Son- the Son of God. I need to be looking at how different He is in the different angles of His personality and character. I need to be focused on His brightness, so I can reflect His image. I don't see how anyone can look at creation and not know the One who spoke, and created everything.

Here's a picture I took a few months ago, one of about 15 that took forever to narrow down to..

Forever in awe of HIS glory...

New additions, balls, and cuteness

2010-04-12T20:31:00.001-05:00

We've had several new additions to our barnyard, as well as house. Four of our goats have kidded in the last month or so, and last Saturday we got a dog! So...

This is Girl. We haven't yet decided whether to re-name her or not... She is an Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix. Very pretty and very high energy!

Girl has one blue eye and one brown eye. And she's obsessed with balls. This is Bunny. He was born on Easter morning, hence the name. My dad came in that morning and said he was a girl. When I went out later, in daylight, I saw that the girl was actually a boy...

And here I am holding Ricecake. Yes, my 5 year old brother named the kids this year.

(Oh, and my mom took this picture, obviously I didn't :).)

There are 3 more that I have yet to take pictures of...perhaps I'll post more pictures of the other kids later.

I'm sleepy.

Though the night is long...

2010-04-08T15:20:00.000-05:00

God, you bring the sunrise.

From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the name of the LORD shall be praised. Psalm 113:3

Just for, like, your information and stuff, you should like, totally watch this, you know?

2010-03-25T15:29:00.000-05:00

Voiceless

2010-03-22T19:18:00.000-05:00

I've lost my voice. Several things combined caused this, but at any rate, it's gone. And it's not funny, though my family seems to think so. It's been quite interesting for me, though, to see how much I really don't need to respond to during the course of a day. And I haven't had any conflicts. The things I always though I needed to respond to really aren't worth it. But, I'm pretty sure I could have learned that without losing my voice. So maybe it'll be back soon???

My marathon week is over. I think for the first time in several weeks I've actually been able to stay home for an entire day! so exciting. What isn't exciting is that I started seiously studying for the American Government CLEP. Not fun. I read 64 pages before it put me to sleep, and I'll probably have to re-read the last 4 or so...depending on when I mentally checked out of what I was reading. It is so hard to read for a long time and not zone out. I can even be reading out loud and not be paying attention to what I'm saying. I can also read upside down and backwards just as well as normal reading. No, I don't study like that...just saying.

Until the next post..

Windows aren't for breaking, actually

2010-03-17T18:43:00.000-05:00

No, I'm not a vandal. I promise. There's actually a rather simple equation for the picture you're about to see.

Brothers + hard baseball + fact that they were in front of a window playing + inexperience on the part of the younger brother = broken window.

See, it makes perfect sense. A nice, base-ballish type hole. (I was entirely uninvolved.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I must apologize, my dear readers (if indeed you actually read my blog), for the lack of readable material of late. It's not for lack of ideas. I have tons of them. It's simply for lack of time. I have several posts in the works...I just can't manage to finish them to post them. I will try to remedy that...soon... After being gone tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday all day doing many random things. I know I should say no to things sometimes, but I couldn't resist saying yes to helping with wedding photography!!! Should be interesting...

My 'to do' list is calling me.

I'm stealing Mary Poppins' identity

2010-03-11T13:33:00.000-06:00

Sitting at lunch listening to a seven year old describe the first 10 minutes of Mary Poppins in about 15 minutes was getting a bit exasperating. So I started saying more than 'mmmhmm' and 'that's nice.'

Did you know that I have a talking umbrella?
"No you don't!"
I have a carpet bag too.
"I don't believe you." (Muttered under breath, boys!)
Ok, well, I just won't show you!
"Wait-I guess I believe you!! But I'll have to think about it...."

I was able to finally have a conversation with the people I thought I was going to talk to when I sat down, while he thought. Actually, I think he's still thinking. Now I just have to produce an umbrella...

Not for the Uncommitted

2010-03-06T20:34:00.000-06:00

The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.
~G.K. Chesterton

it's amazing how some things that are very wordy can say less of anything than something else that has less words

2010-02-27T11:24:00.000-06:00

It’s been a long week. Insanely busy, random, but good. Exhausting, though. I’m so grateful at the end of weeks like these that I’m not in life relying on my own strength, because I couldn’t make it. I’m constantly reminded that without Christ I am nothing. Nothing. I don’t think people understand the concept of nothingness. I don’t myself. But, in reality, we are dust. What an amazing thought that God loved me, a sinful, disobedient sinner, enough to die for me even while I was totally against Him. (If you’re not for Him, you’re against Him…) I’m floored even thinking about it. Wow.

It’s actually been rather springy and sunny this week, compared to the last few months. I love the sun…this is my desktop background right now. My mom’s roses from Valentine ’s Day, and the sun…light and happy. And entirely unedited.

Really quick, just so y’all know, any picture I post on either of my blogs I have taken and belongs to me unless I’ve stated otherwise. I’ll be putting something up on the side bar soon…just haven’t gotten around to it.
Also, I’ve recently been accused several times of being a photographer of sorts just to avoid being in pictures. That is entirely inaccurate, and here’s a picture of me to prove it. :)

Ok, yes, that is cheesy. I do indeed take pictures of myself in Target with my camera balanced on a shelf and using a remote, in case you ever wondered. Here’s a slightly better one…and not in Target.

And, to answer the accusation that I only post good pictures, here is a bad picture of myself to prove you wrong.

Ok, so it’s not terrible. I have some really good bad pictures, but I’ll save those for another post. ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don’t even know how many pieces of lined paper I’ve used up in the last few weeks for ‘to do’ lists. I’m thinking about just using the note pad on the computer. But then, I can’t scratch the things off…hmm…I’ll have to think on it some more. Suggestions are welcome. :)
For today though…

Things Leah guarantees:
-pictures from yesterday’s photoshoot downloaded
-at least 4 cups of peppermint tea
-my clothes washed
-many interruptions in my agenda
-a clean house
-some food item burnt
-my shower

Things Leah does NOT guarantee:
-a clean room
-pictures edited
-clothes put away
-makeup
-my 'to do' list finished
-math homework
-your shower

Have a great day!

i get 5 pieces of candy now!!!

2010-02-20T13:19:00.000-06:00

It's Jared's birthday...and he gets a raise with dessert. :) I can't believe he's already five, time flies! Here's some pictures from the last year.

Like a true Texan...sleeps with his gun. Ok, fine, pop gun.

I love his face here. He knows he's been caught with a cookie and my violin. :)

Happy birthday buddy!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T08:21:00.000-06:00

Isn't God cool?

His love, even in the small things like a heart cloud, amazes me.

(I took this picture, btw.)

Here's a funny quote. :)

"...We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love..." ~Author Unknown

And a very true one...
One cannot love God, except at the cost of oneself. ~ Mother Teresa

(I apologize for not having posted in awhile. Life has been hectic...between studying for another test, my mom's lasix surgery, my horse's hoof injury, and multiple other things, there's barely been time for sleep. :)

To all the people who are waiting for an email from me, I'll try and do that sometime this week...)

Have a great day!

A fanatic...

2010-01-18T19:12:00.000-06:00

...is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
-Sir Winston Churchill

1 Chronicles 16:8-9

2010-01-14T17:20:00.000-06:00

O give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders.

the exactness of the order got lost somewhere....

2010-01-06T16:26:00.000-06:00

Dad's instruction: "Get all the boots and find the matches for them."
8yro brother: went and found the matches (like, the ones you light fires with) and put the match box on top of the full boot bucket.

Can you say Amelia Bedelia?

Happy 19th Birthday Joshy!

2010-01-05T16:01:00.000-06:00

To my bestest big brother:

You've always been pretty cool.

And so sweet to my when I was a baby! (and still, btw)

Always dressed for the occasion

Such a geek

Always up for a song or two.

And a nap wherever you end up.

You still think you can fly...

Band Leader

Willing to give a lift..

Or to help out in whatever way necessary...

To call the shots...

Or just hang out.

And goof off...

There were so many more pictures I wanted to post, but I'll stop with one from your graduation last May.

Love you big brother and all the best!!!

PS. If yall haven't said happy birthday to him yet, you can comment on his blog: http://www.passiondefined.blogspot.com/

Hello, 2010!

2010-01-01T15:50:00.000-06:00

I can’t believe 2009 is already gone. It seems like just a few months ago my big brother turned 18. I vividly remember the nervousness as I took my first CLEP test…the excitedness when I knew I had passed with a good score…my little brother's birthdays...the torture of wearing a wrist brace for 3 months (wow..was it really that long?) after spraining it during a heated game of soccer….good times with friends….funny experiences…fun family times…my birthday and my sister’s, a party and a camping trip…many nights of sewing costumes for a play…my new camera, now officially named Captain Nemo….my mom and dad’s birthdays…Thanksgiving….then the December busyness and Christmas. Now it is January 1, 2010. I’m a year older, so much different and wondering what 2010 will bring. There are so many things I never would have thought of happening. Like having 30 hours of college credit, for instance.

I’m realizing more and more that time FLIES. I don’t know how it happens, it’s mind-boggling. I know I can never understand eternity with earthly time making me feel so confused. Thankfully, God understands exactly what He’s doing. :)

I got out my unfinished journal from last year. This is a portion of the entry on January 1, 2009:

A new year has dawned, and with it, a new era in my life. An era of understanding, of living, of growing. One in which my faith rests in God alone. 2008 was a year in which I had many doubts, many struggles. Lord, you sustained me, and brought me through safely. Thank you.
Thank you for my sister, thank you for friends…..Show me who are true friends, whom I can trust to encourage me in Your ways…
We watched Pilgrim’s Progress tonight. I had read the book, but forgotten much. Pilgrim had many struggles….After all this, the prize- the words, “Well done, good, and faithful servant.” Lord, help me to be faithful in 2009 to you alone.

As I enter 2010, my prayer is much the same. To be faithful in the little things as well as the big things, because often that is so much harder. I’ve changed, grown, and learned much in the last year; God willing, I will learn and grow more in 2010.

So much happened last year in my life. I’m sure that just as much has occurred in everyone else’s lives. I have nothing profound to say, no sage words of advice. Just the prayer, that at the end of this year, we may all be able to say this:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Tim 4:7.

Hello, 2010!

How to make chocolate pies

2009-12-30T20:50:00.000-06:00

Process: assumed preparation time total: 30minutes. Actual preparating time: start time: 10:54am. end time: 1:30
HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE PIES
PART 1: the pre-preparation.
1. Put on a cd, decide the cd I put in isn't actully what I want to listen to and make 2 trips up and down the stairs trying to find the one I want. Decide on Keith and Kristen Getty.
2. Clean up from breakfast.
(dirty kitchen)

(clean kitchen)

4. Trip over my littlest brother's abandoned play-dough and decide to clean up after him to avoid further injury.

5. Find my awesome gingerbread apron. Oops, wrong side.

Here we go.

6. Try to remember what I'm going to make...oh yeah, that's right! chocolate pies!

PART 2: preparation

7. Pie crust recipie.

-flour, shortening, done.

-spend 10 minutes looking for the pastry cutter then realize it was already out.

-remember to take my rings off....after I had already started hand-stirring.

-wonder if I should add the salt I had forgotten? decide in the negative.

8. Mix the sugar and cocoa.

9. Roll the dough, ho, ho, ho...oh, wait, that song is for Christmas cookies. And the shadow at the base of the picture below is from my head. :)

10. Put some of the sugar/cocoa mix in the middle of a circular piece of dogh, put some butter on top, then fold over and close the edges.

Ahhhh...the somewhat finshed product.

11.Bake at 350 for....well...a litte while.

The finished product!

Things I learned:

-be sure the oven is ON before setting the timer, leaving, then coming back 30 minutes later worrying they're burnt and finding that whatever is cooking wasn't actually cooking.

-forgetting salt really doesn't affect the taste of the dough.

-cooking goes much better and more efficiently when I'm not trying to talk to someone and cook.

~On a more serious note, this is a family recipe from my Hungarian great-grandmother.

What a Promise

2009-12-16T19:45:00.000-06:00

The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful-for he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Global Cooling...a.k.a. It's SNOWING!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-12-04T10:33:00.000-06:00

For those who don't believe it can happen in Damon, TX, it's snowing! lots! This has definitely made my day! :) Below are some pictures for you to enjoy... there will be more on my photoblog soon.

And, of course, some self-photography. :)

That's all for now! More later!

Forever Grateful

2009-11-26T10:49:00.000-06:00

You did not wait for me to draw near to you,

But you clothed yourself in frail humanity.

You did not wait for me to cry out to you,

But you let me hear your voice calling me.

And I’m forever grateful to you.

I'm forever grateful for the cross

I'm forever grateful to You

That You came

To seek and save the lost

Thank you for the cross Lord

Thank you for the price You paid

Bearing all my sin and shame

In love You came

And gave amazing grace

Thank You for this love Lord

Thank You for the nail pierced hands

Washed me in Your cleansing flow

Now all I know

Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb, Seated on the throne

Crown You now with many crowns

You reign victorious

High and lifted up, Jesus Son of God

The Lord of heaven crucified

Worthy is the Lamb

Throughout this day, let's be thankful for what really matters.

Ps. 100 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and enter his courts with praise! Give thanks to him and bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, an his faithfulness to all generations.

The Castle

2009-10-19T19:14:00.000-05:00

More Camping Pictures...

2009-10-16T19:06:00.000-05:00

A little turtle sunning himself..I thought he was really cute.

The famous waterfall that became our slide. :)

Sunset...

Camping Trip (part 2)

2009-10-11T18:25:00.000-05:00

Here's some of my favorite pictures out of the ones I took of my family.

Jared rock climbing.

I know this one's blury, but it was so cute! He's saying, "I did it!"

Self photography. :)

I love this one of Jadon.

More self photography.

Dad, Rachel, and Jared.

Rachel: "Please let me catch a fish!" :)

Joshua had dish duty. :)

I don't know why his hands ended up blurry..oh well....

Jumping again..

I really like this one too.

My dad fishing.

On a hike..

More to come!

Camping Trip (part 1)

2009-10-10T19:23:00.000-05:00

As you probably saw on Joshua's blog, we went camping last week. I'm going to upload is segments (because blogger is so slow), and you already got a chronological version from Joshua. (If you haven't seen his post, check it out. http://www.passiondefined.blogspot.com/ ) This post is all the pictures I didn't take that were taken by my brother or my mom, although I did edit them.

Us kids at, or rather, in Longhorn Cavern.

My little brother splashing...

My other brother stuck in a bucket! :)

My dad, brother, and I

My sister

Joshua and I

My sister and I, climbing up the 'slide'!

We came...

I looked....

We jumped...

We conquered!

My pants didn't stay rolled up evenly. :(

My littlest brother at the park.

Stay tuned for more pictures!

Sweet 16!!!

2009-10-07T16:34:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!

Well, Leah would probably kill me if she knew I snuck into her dashboard and made a post on her blog without her knowing, but I decided it would be worth the risk! :-P My dear little sister turned sweet 16 this past Sunday, and I know it's a bit late, but I know it would be really special if some of y'all could leave her a happy birthday comment on her blog! She's not expecting this at all. ;-) I would have done this earlier but, being a guy, I didn't think of it until after the fact. Oh well! :) Anyway, I know it would be special to her if y'all would leave her a happy birthday comment!

Leah's big brother,

Joshua

2009-09-26T13:19:00.000-05:00

I’ve rarely had substitutes come into classes I’ve been in. Actually, I honestly only remembered one before last Friday. But not only was there a sub for my class, I was a sub for someone else’s class.

The regular director for both the hand bell class and the choir classes was out of town. As I’ve played bells before and didn’t happen to be in this class, I suppose somehow I was a logical person to ask to sub. I (reluctantly) agreed.

Well, to start out with, the overall director of the program greeted me with the question “Are you a fearless leader?” ugh…. A leader, though I don’t know about the fearless part.

Two kids were already there, trying to figure out which books went where. Then we had to figure out which bells went where. The music I was given the week before was blank, no bell assignments, no notes, ect. Thanks, Dusten.

(To simplify matters, and because I’ve forgotten which names go with which kid’s face, I’ll just call them K1, K2, and so on in the order that they ring.)

K8 entered the room, fully confident of my directing abilities. His first question was, “What are your credentials?” I played bells in a church hand bell choir for about 4 years and played under last year’s director for a year and a half. Anything else you want to know? “Your social security number.” I don’t give out that information. “That’s ok, I don’t even know mine,” with a satisfied smirk on his face. His second important question: “Where’s my candy?” I don’t know. "Where is it? You’re supposed to have it.” I’m sorry, not today.

K1 didn’t pay attention; K2 just started the week or so before. K4 kept talking to K5, K6 needed constant explanation. (Thanks K7!!!!) Two of K9’s bells were broken. Was I supposed to have K9 just play the bells or not??

In the midst of explaining a rhythm and which bells got played when, K4 said, “We can play it much better when Mr. Dusten’s here.” I’m sorry, I can’t fix that. “We get through the WHOLE song with Mr. Dusten.” If everyone would pay attention, we could get more done! (And no, I didn’t say this, though I sure wanted to.) “I don’t want to be in this class.” I’m sorry, that’s not my problem. At which point K8 chimes in with, “You know, patience is a virtue.” Yes, I know that. This is one virtue I’m currently working on.

Well, we got the first 12 measures sounding like a song. Then K3 said, “Its 11:14 and 35 seconds!!” Ok, get the cloths, clean up the bells and put them away. The clean up and set up for the next class went the smoothest out of anything else we attempted.

A few minutes later I got a call from the director. “How did it go?” It went. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I then related the events of the class, and the fact that we only got to measure 12 with it sounding remotely like a song. “Did anyone cry?” Of course I wouldn’t make anyone cry! One looked like she wanted to though… “Well, then you made progress. That was the first rehearsal that no one ended up in tears over.” Great, I made some progress.

Needless to say, I was extra nice to the choir director sub.

(UPDATE: Yesterday (the next rehearsal with the normal bells director) apparently went really well. “Did you yell at the kids or something? They sounded a lot better. No, I didn’t yell!)

OCD

2009-09-11T17:53:00.000-05:00

I fight OCD. A lot of you do, though I don't think you realize it. That's why it's so dangerous. You see, OCD is, in actuality, probably not what you're thinking it is.

OCD is Obsessive Clicking Disorder.

I'm not kidding. You get on your email account, the web, google or blogger and click on something. Then something else looks interesting. (click) Then something else. (click) And that reminds you of something else. (click) Before you know it, you've spent an hour doing nothing but being amused. (click, click.....) An hour wasted.

(‘Amuse’ by the way, means to not think. If you don't believe me, take the word apart and figure it out for yourself. 'Muse' means to think. The prefix 'a' means no or not. Go figure.)

So be purposeful. Make the most of the time you have instead of wasting it by random clicks. Fight the urge of OCD.

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil....Eph. 5:16

If You Ever Need to Laugh, State the Obvious....

2009-08-31T19:48:00.000-05:00

I have so many trains of thought that I can’t keep track of them and keep losing them.

I have to think all these thoughts ‘cause I don’t know what to think about them! ~my mom (both of these statements were made at 6:45 am)

If we wreck, we wreck. If not, we don’t. ~my sister

I was lying in the grass after a collision with someone on the other soccer team. It was dark and we were away from city lights so the sky was clear and the stars were bright. I tried to be funny when people asked if I was ok saying, “I see stars.” They took me seriously.

I told my little brother I was brain dead. He then replied, "You’re not if I can tickle you!!!

A Lesson Learned

2009-08-12T20:26:00.000-05:00

As some of you may know, last weekend was the THSC conference in The Woodlands, Texas. My brother, sister, and I helped out with the children’s program.

To say that it was tiring being a team leader is an understatement. One of the staff described it this way: “If dog runs in front of the bus, he gets tired. If he runs behind the bus, he gets exhausted.” Toward the end of the second day, I had about lost it. I didn’t want anyone else to touch me, speak to me, or look at me. I was thinking to myself, “Why did I sign up for this again???”

Then God showed me how selfish my attitude was- and the reason why I was there.

It was during the midst of one of the last large groups. We were sitting, waiting for the next thing to happen on stage, and I noticed a girl interpreting what people were saying to another girl by sign language. When I caught the deaf girl’s eye, I signed a greeting.

Then she smiled. A big, happy, beautiful smile.

She replied, and I tried to talk further with her, but her speed in signing left my limited understanding of sign language in the dust. I couldn’t understand all of what she was saying, but could definitely understand the look on her face. One of the things she said that I was able to catch was “I’m very happy you’re talking to me!”

This sweet, precious girl showed me-just through these words and her smile- the reason why I was there. I was there to serve, to pour into the children around me and show them Christ’s love.

My prayer now more than ever is for God to make me a servant, following in Christ’s example. Never underestimate what the power of a greeting, a smile, or a seemingly useless act. One smile made all the work of the weekend worthwhile.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant…. ~ Philippians 2:5-7a

The title...doesn't say it all

2009-07-30T19:37:00.000-05:00

When people hear the phrase 'the wood between the worlds,' they think of the wood from C. S. Lewis' book, The Magician's Nephew.

The wood I'm thinking of is different.

It's the wood of the cross, where Jesus suffered and died for my sin.

It's the object that represents the only way we can come to God, which is through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is my Savior. The cross is proof of His love, and His redeeming power.

God, thank you for the cross.