Apparently....

UW has the best nursing program, globally. .... WHAT? So I brought myself over to their table last night and I said something about how I heard that WSU has the best program in the state and this rep says, "Is that what they think about themselves? .... Well we are the best nursing program all OVER the world." I'm just like, "Hmm...." Wow, to assume that your school is better than all the others, has she even been to any of the other schools ALL OVER the world? Those types of Huskies make me laugh. I had to remind myself that I am overall representing Christ and not get involved with the petty bickering that is involved with state rivalries. Although I do entangle myself with them when my friends are on the other side.

Another thing, there's a college in by my state capital and it's not a-credited and you can make up your own degree. HAHAHAHAHHA.... I've known about this college for a while, I went there once because a friend of mine had symphony camp there so I watched her perform. That college is pretty scary. It's a hippie and druggie college and last night I saw a homeschooler looking at their booth. I had never actually talked to this homeschooler but I saw his brother at driver's ed and their family knows a family I know. Anyway I went over and asked him if he knew that family just to get the conversation started and then I asked him if was seriously considering going to the hippie college and he said yes. I did my best to explain that they are umm.... Not really a good college.

I got back to my group (some of the teen leadership kids and their Moms) and my Dad told me that when I walked away they were like, "Where is she going?" he said, "Oh she's probably just going over there to flirt with that guy." ??? Everyone was laughing and I was like, "Yeah Dad, that's me! Going and asking random guys who they are and for their phone numbers. *shakes head*" That's going to stick with me for a while. Thanks Dad. Hahhaha.....

After that we went to DQ and had ice cream, I got to hang out with Kyle, Katy and Ben. It was pretty entertaining. Kyle and I started talking about how we would not skin an animal, I said something about a guy named John who could like kill and skin anything. It ended up that we said that this guy would live in a hut with only a bow and arrow, let all his hair grow, eat bugs a honey (like John the Baptist), so Kyle called him John the [last name]. We had a good laugh over that.

Guess who fell into the toilet today? Yeah that one. LOL! I was brushing my teeth or something and he tried to jump up on the counter by jumping on the toilet (the lid is usually on) and then on the counter. I heard this "Plop" and then a "splash". He jumped up on the counter but I grabbed him and dried him off, his heart was beating pretty fast. Later he jumped up on the toilet seat and looked at it like, "Why weren't you here when I needed you?" Pretty funny.

Mom and I stopped at a pet shop to drool over the cute baby animals and this lady was being kind of agro to the manager, "That is not a Shiatsu..." etc. Who cares? Mixed dogs are usually better.

Last night at youth group they had a doughnut eating contest.... Yes, I stuffed my face in front of the youth group for no apparent reason other than I was told I had to do it. No, you will not be seeing pictures unless your name is Kristy and you happen to be in my family. My friend Becca and I were a team and we beat all the other girls. I held a doughnut by a string and she ate with with no hands, then she did the same for me. But she beat me later. I ended up eating a doughnut and a half. I think the rest of the girls were too concerned with their image to really attempt to win, but as for me. Um... I guess I threw away all of my propriety. Hahah.. Oh well, I suppose they all had to find out a little bit about the other side of me at some point.

Tonight is a college fair, sooo yeah. That's what I'll be doing tonight! Woo, or something.

*sings*

Yesterday was the Awana conference, it was really good. Some very challenging things were said.

One of the main things that I learned was how I really don't treat kids like people, Jesus did so why don't I? See Mark 10. Jesus wasn't like, "Let the little children come to me. *lalalala*" He was mad. So mad that the same word for "indignant" was used for the time when Jesus overturned the tables in the temple! Jesus would rather bless children then discuss divorce with His disciples, He was probably mad because the disciples just didn't get it! Jesus came to the underdogs, the people that society looks down upon and the disciples pushed the children away. Self-important act, but really wouldn't we have done the same thing?

Anyway, there were some other things but that was pretty much the main thing.

I've gotten myself a cold. Great. If you guys would pray for me about starting college, I need to make an appointment with a counselor. I'm nervous about it. They might make me take a "communication skills class" if you ever met me you would know, I don't need that class! I need to express myself clearly and present myself well, so please pray for that! Also, pray for the Lord to give me peace.

Updates, how I've been putting this one off

Life has been pretty busy this week. Having Ruth here was good, her visit went by pretty fast.

Yesterday Ruth took me to a nail place and we got pedicures and manicures, it looks like I have French nails (did I say that right?) but it's just white painted on the end on my fingernails. It's a wee bit odd having that on there, I usually just wear crazy colors. That night Dad and I went out to the Spit and waved at cars with a Republican running for state senate in our district, it was really interesting. Oh my word, Ruth drove by and waved, honked and took pictures.... We didn't tell the politician that we were related to her. Haha... But now I have some sympathy for a friend of mine who helped campaign for someone.

Today I went on a service project with the Teen Leadership class. We raked a lady's yard, he husband died in Iraq (he was a Marine). They were basically newly weds, I think they had been married for at least a year, she has a little baby boy. It was SO SAD. Oh my word. The mom that drove us told us that the lady, Hannah had pictures of her husband on her cell phone from before he left and she dropped it, she took it to Verizon and when they told her they couldn't retrieve the pictures she broke down in the store. It's so lame. I'm pretty sure she's a Christian. Anyway, I'm glad we could help her, we'll probably go back and do some more yard work or help her move.

So here I am, blogging and listening to R.E.M. Ah good times. Tomorrow is the Awana conference, so I need to get to bed early because I'll be up at an indecent hour (in my opinion). I'm looking forward to the classes and getting some hints and leadership skills tomorrow. The conferences are always good.How in the world does Diesel keep managing to get into every picture??? I promise I don't carry him around with me all the time, just some of the time. Who looks taller in this picture, eh Kristy????
Mom, Ruth and I (and Diesel!). This picture was taken today just before she left.
I look slightly, stretched in this picture, maybe that's because I was squinting. Hm... Anyway, from left to right, Kristy, me, Ruth (and Diesel!). We really aren't huge cat freaks, really. But the person who owns this animal might be described as a dog person.

Homecomings

This weekend was crazy, but good, the Cougs won. =) We stayed the night in a little town that smelled of manure, I drove to WSU from H-----, Dad drove from the manure town to H-----. In that town, well actually there was no town. Just houses, not even a post office or convenience store. The H----- dog (the only really mentionable thing about H-----) tried to attack the car as I drove by, I had to swerve to miss him. He was quite fearsome. =P

Anyway, we drove home on Saturday night and it was like a reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally looooooong drive. Actually it took the same amount of time as it usually does, but I didn't get a good nap. I could see the stars. Where we live there are a lot of lights but not so on the Eastern side of our state. They were lovely. The drive was a wonderful time of talking to the Lord, listening to music on Preemie (my creative mini) and having a heart of praise for the Lord.

We finally got home, I was a mess. My hair was like Fwooosh and KHHH! It was not being co-operative. Forget the hair though, there was a weird car in the drive way. We're like, "Okay, this is really weird." But OH MY GOSH!!! Ruth flew home from England on break. She totally suprised us. She's here until Friday. So yeah. I'll probably post some pictures later, Kristy brought the kids so they could see Ruth. Dad took pictures so I'll post those if you want me to.

Friday I'm going to rake a yard with the Leadership team as part of a service project. Saturday is the Awana conference, that will be fun. Sunday is the usually plus a costume party put on by Sarah and Gabe (from my school). I think I shall go as the ace of hearts, I'll have to get Ruth to get the costume from Kristy when she visits them. Monday night is a college fair that the leadership class is going on.

Busy, busy. I'm really tired, I haven't gotten an oppertunity to really sleep since we got back from WSU. I probably won't for a couple weeks. Sometimes I wish I drank coffee, but then I realize that coffee is a drug and I feel better that I'm not addicted to it.

Oh and Jaho gets 1000 cool points for figuring out who came home.

...

OH MY WORD. OH MY WORD.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm eating a brownie made by someone very special. I'll give like a 1000 cool points to who can figure out who made it.

More details to follow.

Meow!

Diesel says, "I like this couch, I think I shall keep it." He's so spoiled.

BTW I like what Dove has been doing with its True Beauty campaign.

?

Do you know how awesome it is to call some of your best friends and as soon as they pick up the phone they serenade you (with much dissidence) loudly at 8:20 in the morning? It's pretty awesome.

Do you know how awesome it is to see that your sister has compiled many pictures of your life (many embarrassing) into a slide show on her blog? Ummm.... Slightly less awesome. LOL Kristy, thank you! (embarrassing pictures and all)

It is my birthday. Early this morning I was thinking about all the things that have happened since last October 18th, it's pretty amazing what has happened. God is so faithful to change my heart, I gave it to Him long ago and He has not failed to change it.

EDIT Gabe's Dad is back.

I read this on Gabe's blog, please pray for his family. His parents are missionaries in Haiti. Here is the link to his blog, go to his brother's blog for more information.

Yesterday evening my parents were forced out of their vehicle by a group of thugs. (They stole the jeep and drove it far out into the country.) My mom was let go, but my dad is being held for ransom. Please pray that God will intervene of my father's behalf. Also pray that these bandits won't get a cent, because any money they receive will be put toward funding their next kidnapping and buying more weapons.

Party

Yeah, that's right. My Mom rocks.
Rob and Kristy gave me these, I use them to enforce law around here. I've never owned a cap gun in my life, until my 16th birthday. Like Kristy said, I wasn't turning 16 I was turning 6. Anyway, those guns are pretty awesome. I think I should name them. Any ideas?

The paparazzi follow me everywhere... LOL. But no joke, at my party there were 2 cameras and 1 video camera. When I got my ears pierced today there was 1 camera and 1 video camera. The girl who pierced my ears said, "Usually only the little kids have people taking pictures." Yeah, that's my family though. Document everything digitally.
So the last present I opened was from my parents, an ear piercing kit (earrings and anti septic) and the leather hole punch pictured. Yeah right Dad. He always said, "You want 'em pierced? I'll pierce 'em" I wasn't expecting to get a hole punch for my birthday. My father's sense of humor....
Kristy, checking to see if the girl got the spots right. Since Kristy has had some piercings she would know what she's talking about. Bella's reflection in the mirror waiting for us to get on with the shooting.
There I am walking away, with my pierced ears. The earrings are pretty.

Watchin' Movies

Bella wanted to watch Bride and Prejudice, how I love the movie.

Mr. Kholi (equivalent of Mr. Colins) cracks me up, the things he says..... *shakes head* The Cobra Dance scene is soooo awesome. For those of you who have not seen the movie I will explain, Balraj, his sister and Darcy came over to Lalita's (aka Elizabeth) house for dinner. Mia (Mary) did a "Cobra Dance" but it was soooo awkward. It's pretty awesome.

It's also awesome to see Naveen Andrews playing something other than Sayid (from LOST) it's very funny to see Sayid singing and dancing.

Good movie, there are some naughties but not too bad.

Here is an interesting page about the movie. I didn't know that she gained 20 pounds for it. Heh, well it got her looking like a normal girl. Interesting.

Sometimes at school Mary, Caroline, Madeline and I would start singing songs from the movie. It was good times. We wished that our lives were a musical, but we made it a musical. Heheh... Of course we also sing the Proclaimer's songs very loudly and badly, which is awesome. How I love my homies.

By the way, I have the soundtrack for Bride and Prejudice too. All the songs from the movie were AWESOME but of course they have Ashanti, so BOO! I don't listen to those songs. I wish she hadn't been in the movie, it was lame.

Oh and for those of you who were wondering the party was good. I now own 2 cap guns, so watch out! LOL. I have like 18 pairs of earrings now. We are going to get them pierced on Sunday, so yeah. Should be interesting.

Oooooh pretty colors...

I've decided to get a new template, who knows how long this one will stay. But I was feeling fall-ish, so yeah.

Tomorrow is my family birthday party, my Mom made me a really cool birthday cake. I'll probably post some pictures later, it looks like a treasure box. You know how when someone gives you something just randomly you feel really special? Yeah, that's what my Mom does sometimes.

So if you think about it during your day, you should do something special for someone you love. Even a little thing, those are special too.

Diesel

If you would please pray for Diesel. He went to the Vet. today, everything is fine, no leukemia or anything. He got a shot and he's been really tired the whole day. Diesel is NOT tired usually, he'll take naps but he'll be running around trying to eat things in between those naps. Right now he's sleeping on my lap, since we've been home it's been like one constant nap.

Please pray for him to get better soon.

I think that the booster shot was a bit much for a cat of his size, he got a shot that would have been for a 9 pound cat, he's only 5 pounds. Anyway, he'll probably be better by tomorrow, but if you would pray that would be awesome. Thanks!

Music!

I love Travis. <3 <3 <3

Especially "Why does it always rain on me?" "Driftwood" "Sing" "Side" and "Turn".

Good songs.

What songs have you been listening to and loving lately?

By the way, Phantom of the Opera is one of the creepiest movies ever. EV-AR. In my opinion they need more Dola Dola and a whole lot less opera. I love Bollywood musicals. OK so maybe I've only seen one, but I love Bride and Prejudice.

Blaaaahhh...

Umm.... Today was co-op. I tied for the highest score (I think) I got 99%, so WOOHOOO!!!! But I think I might have bombed the module test. Blaaaaaagh.... *frown* Grh. Looks like I need to go to the library on Friday to figure out what I'm doing wrong. The module test thing has pretty much drowned out the victory of the quiz.

OK, so I got back from a walk with my Mom and now I'm feeling like I can face this chemistry issue. It's not the end of the world, eh? I love my Mommy. You would love her too, if you got to know her.

:edit: Hey Kristy will you bring these balloons for my birthday party? =P

When we got home from co-op Diesel was stuck in a tree in the front yard. He was about 10 feet up the tree. We stood at the base and called him, but he couldn't figure out how to get down so he crawled up!!! After a while we just started laughing. We all decided that Diesel would come down when he got desperate and Dad said he would get the ladder if Diesel hadn't gotten down.

I came out about 5 minutes after everyone else went inside, I stood at the base of the tree and called him. He started making his way down. You should have seen me.... Talking to a tree. It sounded like this, "Come on baby!!! Come on Diesel!!! Good boy!!! NO! Don't climb up there Diesel, come down!!!!" Ha... Yeah the neighbors must think I'm weird. Whatever. Anyway, so Diesel finally made it to about 2 feet above my head, then he decided that he couldn't get down so he started climbing up! "NO DIESEL!!!!" At this point I wrapped myself around the tree and attempted to scooch up the tree. My family had heard my pleadings and Dad walked up and said, 'Elyse, get down from the tree." Ha... So my attempt to get the cat failed. Like I would have even made it 6 inches up the tree. John got a ladder and Dad got the cat. The funny thing is when my Dad was trying to get Diesel off the tree he was hanging on the tree for dear life!

Now he's in the back yard, hopefully. That cat seems intent on dying, from getting into John's engine for 10 hours to this tree thing. Weirdo. He lacks brains maybe, but I love him. He's still tiny, only 5 pounds. My pinky finger is as big as his nose. Tomorrow he goes to the vet, this will be his 3rd car ride. But he won't be riding in the engine this time!

Yes even the tree thing has a "moral" as one would say. It seems that God loves to show things to me through the most ordinary parts of my day, I love how He works in my life.

I was thinking about my idols, you know, the ones we cling too? Diesel went out in the front yard (where he shouldn't really be at this age, he'll go there someday but he needs to master the backyard first) and he wanted to explore, so he climbed a tree. Don't we do that? We go to places that we shouldn't be, things we shouldn't be doing, but we rationalize it to make it OK. God knows when we go to these idols, He knows (like we know cats really shouldn't climb trees when they can't get down by themselves) that we shouldn't have idols in our lives, so God meets us where we are and He calls us to let go of the idol. To come back to Him and when we hear His call we think, "What in the world? Why am I here when I could be doing so much better doing the Lord's will?" But we try and "kick the habit" our way, but we end up going farther away from God, like Diesel trying to get to us by climbing up the tree. We need to have faith that God has the best thing in mind, we need to let go, we need to come back down. Diesel had to listen to my cry while he climbed down, God helps us break the habit.

In the end we had to make the decision to break the habit, to "climb back down." God knows what's the best for us. What are the idols in your life? What trees have you been climbing?

"You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 20:3-6

Pictures from the weekend

I love this picture, she's sooo cute. Oh my word. I might put up a post in a couple days about my plan to have an awesome relationship with her throughout our lives. I want to be there for her. I'm more like a sister to her anyway, since our age is pretty close. Max and Bella don't call me "Aunt Elyse." Kristy said that I'd finally lived up to my title.
I can't really believe that Kristy and Rob are letting Bella wear these boots. Pink cowboy boots. Pink.
Bella cheer leading for the Wolfpups, ugly colors and what's up with the "W"? So ugly. Ugh. But she looks cute, eh? Even though she's wearing the colors of the huskies, it would look so much better in crimson and gray. :)
Do these two look alike?

Birthday party

Right now I'm at Kristy's house, Bella is running around playing with her new toys.

Hahah... Rob looked at my blog and said, "Your blog looks like a hymnal." So then he started singing my blog to me. What a brother-in-law....

I'll try and get some pictures up later.

Choosing Names

I have been reading the Gospels and last night I was thinking about Simon.

"And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter)." (John 1:42)

Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:17-19)

"You will be called..." Through the Gospels you see Peter being rather, well, unstable. Like the time when he walked on the water, he really wanted to go to Jesus but faltered and thought of the waters that he was walking on, that caused him to sink. Jesus still called him the Rock. Because Jesus would make him the rock, in the end Peter was a rock to the church. Jesus kept His word.

I think if Jesus were here, sitting next to me, He would have a name for me right now. He knows exactly what He is making me to be. He said in His word for what a Christian will become if they persevere. God knows what your life is about, He knows every detail.

He has a name (a plan) for each of us. I found out a while ago that my name means, "Consecrated to God" I thought that was really cool. Because that is how I am trying to live my life, set apart in service to God.

Someday I'll see how God's plan for me worked out, for now I'll just be where I am, fumbling and messing up, but being uplifted again by God's great mercy.

"Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to covetousness.
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.
Establish Your word to Your servant,
Who is devoted to fearing You.
Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your judgments are good.
Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness." (Psalm 119: 33-40)

A couple of things

I have an update for the prayer request from a couple posts ago. The lady now has custody of her children and will get to go back to her house today at 5. Praise God! Please keep praying for healing for their family.

Now on to a different topic. LOST. OH MY WORD. Where are my homies at?!? Ashlily? Kaits? Rosanne? Where you be? We need to discuss the episode.

It was awesome. Barbarosa thinks that this will be Jack's last season, what do you think?

Sawyer may call Kate Freckles, but we all know what his nick-name is. Dimples!!!

We need to discuss this.

Anybody else see Lost?

Today is the day

I remember when I turned seven, I only remember a little bit about that day though. But today, there is a certain little girl that is having her birthday today. (she was matching Molly, her doll, in that picture)

Happy Birthday Bella!!!

Tomorrow, all of us here are driving up to the town of Se-[ ] for her birthday. I think she'll like what we got her.

Newness

So as some of my faithful have noted, it be pink!!! It will die soon, I promise thee. I'll make it cool and non-pink again.

I switched to Beta, every blogger should do it. Kristy has switched and her site is looking pretty cool and not pink. :) I've added some links, namely Celeste and Keith. I'll probably put some more in there at some point. Ruth has updated her website, so if you go to her page you can see her travels. BTW Ruth and Kristy are my sisters.

For now, enjoy the pink. *gag*

*edit* It is gorgeous, I looove it. What do you think of my new template?

These things are on my mind

So OK, that guy is Mr. M. He was one of my driving instructors in Feb-March driver's ed. The look on his face, "This is kind of weird, but go ahead and take my picture Mr." The look on my face, "Daaaaad! You've already taken pictures of my at the D.O.L. AND in front of a driver's ed class. Just let me get in the car and drive away in shame." LOL, okay maybe that wasn't what I was thinking, but the look on my face is funny. For those of you who know my Dad and have been around him, you know how he gets with a camera in his hands. Oh man.... =) Mr. M. was also a wrestler for the WWE, which I thought was pretty cool. I mean COME ON, how many kids get to have a pro-ish wrestler as their instructor? Not many. Mr. M. had a stroke and the right side of his body is paralyzed, at least that was last time I heard. I keep praying for him and his family to come to Christ, that's the most important thing.

The next picture of tonight's showing is Diesel, go figure. If you ever talk to me on the phone I'll start talking about him, or screaming in surprise when he attacks me. He is SOOO funny. Recently he's been walking all the way around the house and sitting in the flower box, pawing the window and meowing most loudly. How can I hold up against that cute baby cat? I cannot, I tell you. So Diesel spends a lot of time in the house. Recently he's taken to attacking the plush squirrel. XD

Prayer Request

Please pray for a lady I know, her husband is trying to get an order that would keep her away from her house and family. She's been away from her family for 2 weeks.

I don't know all the details, but I know this lady is a Christian. I think her husband is bipolar. So please pray about this at 1 o'clock today, that's when the court time is.

Thanks.

*brain melts*

I'm still working on the module 2 test, I took a break for dinner and now for some blog time. I only have one more question on the test. My Dad asked my Mom for the butter and I thought, "What's the specific heat of butter? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!?!?! STOP. IT." Chemistry is taking over my brain. Pretty soon I'll only be speaking in formulas and element numbers.

Tonight is another night of AWANA, if there is a club near you or at your church I highly recommend that you volunteer. It's really awesome.

It's cold today and rainy, still I love it. I love this weather, mostly because I've grown up here and I'm used to it. I think it's a beautiful state. When I go to town I get to drive by this, how awesome is that??? God's creation is amazing and I love seeing what He has done in my area.

Now I feel like I can dive back into the chem test, without knowing the spec. heat of butter. *eye roll*

Monday joy

Today was co-op, I think I tied with Katy for the top quiz score. I got 88%, I thought I would get a higher score, I felt pretty confident, but that's still an OK score. I found out I got an -A over all so far, so that's cool. Someone got an A, but everyone else is below us, there was a D and a -D. Some people aren't doing too well, actually most of the class is doing pretty badly. Chemistry is harder than biology for sure. Mrs. R said that this chapter we just covered is the hardest one, which is really good. Hopefully I'll do well on the module test.

Sorry about the school talk, I just wanted to share that.

16 days till my 16th birthday!!!! Should be, well, just like any other birthday. I talked to Jordan about his Eagle Court, he's turning 18 in 2 days, so he has to get it done before then. But he'll get it done. Oh and for those of you who don't know, Jordan is a guy I know from co-op, I know his sisters better than him though. Mrs. H had all the October birthdays do the pledge and Jordan prayed so, that's what brought his birthday up.

Anyway, I'm glad to be home. I'm feeling pretty good about school, I didn't die from the quiz so hopefully this week's homework will go well.

R.O.U.S.

Points to anyone who knows what the title means.

(Begin post about weekend here)

Soooo, Friday was good. We got to WSU safely and everything, I was pretty bored though because we forgot to bring movies for the laptop. Saturday was fun, we played USC (Southern Cali) and we almost beat them. I mean it was SOOOO CLOSE! Alas, I believe the refs have a tendency to give preferential treatment to the higher ranked team. Question: Once a ref has made a holding call how can the other refs get him to reverse that call? That wasn't the only stupid call, there was a fumble call and other stuff. It was a good game, the Cougs played really well.

Sunday (aka today) is a long, long day. We left WSU at about 4:30 a.m., about two hours later my Dad pulled the bus over (OH! Most of you guys don't know about the bus, we use (used more accurately) a converted 1948 Greyhound bus (converted into an RV, mind you) to travel about. The bus stopped working, more accurately it died. Permanently, the bearings are gone, so the engine is shot.

This may seem like a whiny post but really, I do have some good things to say, God is always faithful to us. :)

So, we left the bus taking all our valuables with us, since the bus was in the middle of nowhere and we crammed into John's car (which was a tow car, it's very nice, but a little bit small as you will see) we had John and Dad in the front and Mom, Boomer and I in the back. Boomer is a sick, sick dog. He's been pulling out his hair so he's bald in some spots, and he flakes (I'll leave it at that, but as you can imagine, he looks like he's going through chemo). So he has an ROUS tail, which he was laying on me. That's OK, I love my doggie, no matter what condition he's in.

Anyway, God provided the right place for us to stop at, for miles around that area there is no place to pull over. He put the idea in our heads to get a tow car, which really saved us a lot of trouble. He gave us journey mercies, no one died, everyone is safe at home now. As we drove by the fields I looked at the watering systems, some of them were on. I saw a fleeting rainbow in one and I was vividly reminded of God's promise never to flood the earth like He did. He is faithful in that promise and in all that He says.

He protects us. This is not the first bus junk we've had to deal with, once we had tire issues, 2 tires on the back of the bus popped. A guy walked up (OK, we are pretty much still in the middle of nowhere) and starts talking to my Dad as he's trying to get the spare on the back of the bus. Turns out this guy has a bus shop about a mile off the highway. God provided for us then, whenever we drive past that shop I remember how God protected and provided for us. Last year the Pass was closed due to rock slides, so we had to go on another pass, we went on that pass at just the right time. A little bit later that pass was also closed.

God provides for us.

I even got to go to youth group tonight, last year after the pass incident Dad and I barely made it to youth group. But that night God had gotten my attention a in major way, the words I sang on that night were truly from my heart, with all my heart. Tonight was awesome, Mr. F. (a deacon from our church) shared his testimony, it was good.

Anyway, today was long but we made it home alive and the bus is sitting in the backyard (we had it towed, it was pretty odd seeing a 35- foot bus being towed by a truck) I took some pictures of the guy backing it in our yard, so if you guys want I can put them up later. Maybe I'll put some pics of the football game too. Oh, and I got to meet Brian, Rosanne and Hugh, so that was pretty sweet.

*edit* This player cracks me up. His name is Mkristo Bruce and he's the leader of all the USA college football in sacs. John and I try to do the "Mkristo," you know, that crazy look he has on his face. John ran into him on campus a while back and he said he's really nice.

(End post about weekend)

It be the first day of October, which is obviously the best month of the year. ;) 17 days till my birthday!