"Merc"

Our family is into Mercedes, older Mercedes. Seeing these videos was pretty awesome.

Test # 1

Test #2

Test #3

Test #4

Happy Birthday Kristy!

"people, they don't understand...."

"LAST NITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

OK, sorry. I had no title and I decided to just go with song lyrics.

The day after Thanksgiving we went and saw the Dead Sea Scrolls, my Mom liked that the PSC didn't just present the Jews but they also presented Christ. Notice in the picture that the face is made up of scroll fragments. Not that Jesus looked like that. Psh.... In Isaiah it says that He had no beauty or majesty to attract us. Anyway, they had part of Isaiah 53, which was cool. And another favorite of mine Hosea! Part of Psalm 119 and lots of others. It was pretty cool.

The weekend has been pretty busy... Such is life.

Today in Teen Leadership I got in late due to a long chem lab. As soon as everyone was seated Mrs. S. told us to find the description of the Behemoth, the first one to get it would get a big candy bar. I was like, "Eh? I don't have my Bible." *dashes to Bible stash* Caroline and Steven were close behind. I found Job 40 and finally found a mention in 41:15 so I yelled it out. It was pretty funny, I was DETERMINED to get that candy bar and when I get determined, watch out. Caroline was like, "You had better share." Of course I said the same thing to her. The lesson today was about motivation. Haha.... Then we had a "motivation assessment" thing, I was so tempted to mess the thing up. Like one of the things on the list was adultery, since that's not really an issue with me it was just funny. But it was good, it's so obvious that I am a sinner. There are so many places that I fail.

I think it's good to take a step back and ask the Lord to reveal where you fall. Ask your parents where they see you falling. It was pretty amazing. We had to fill out an "abilities and talents" sheet one of the questions was, "Where do you have trouble?" I wrote something and after I was done filling it out I asked my Mom and Dad's opinion (all part of the assignment), my Mom wrote something that is so true about me, something I forgot to write down. It was amazing to realize how well she knows me. So it was good to look at where I fall so that I can better ask the Lord to help me.

God's grace is amazing and I'm seeing why it's important to be honest with your brothers and sisters in Christ, it helps you to be accountable. When I put on the face, the "I'm perfect and don't need any help thanks anyway" face, it's really just hurting myself. Christ wants His body to be one, not holding back but really knowing each other. I'm so grateful for the wonderful people that God has put in my life.

So I guess my title did have relevance. When I was in the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit the people around me, not all of them understood. God's word has existed for this long and will continue to thrive and the other thing they don't get, Christ died to save them and He actually can save them. He saved me.

I think an excuse I might use is the "people don't understand" when I fall, when the Lord is prompting me to be open with my family.

Anyway, it's snowing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

*Elyse wakes up*

*Max walks humming into John's room* (which is right next to mine)

I'm assuming at this point Max crawls on top of Johns bed and stands right over him, in true Back to the Future style.

Max: "I AM FROM THE PLANET EARTH, GET UP BEFORE I TEAR YOU TO PIECES."

John: "Go play some D.S."

Max: "I've already played D.S for like an hour."

John: "Go do some jumping jacks."

Max: "I hate jumping jacks."

At this point I stop listening, after a while I got up grabbed one of my pillows and preceded to John's room and to attack Max. I man-handled him out into the hall and tickled him. He ran back into John's room and started insulting me, thinking by doing so he would make me come and get him.

Max makes me laugh AND he has this in his mouth, so he talks like he has cotton balls in his mouth. It's pretty funny.

According to Max, "Teenagers are bad, kids are crazy and grownups are good and calm."

I have Diesel on my shoulder and the Chats is running around, so Diesel's claws are in my back. Fun.....

Have a good Thanksgiving! Hopefully yours will be as entertaining as mine started out to be.

"Plans to prosper you"

Today I was mentally freaking out. I got my chem grade so far and although it is good I really feel like I should always get 100% and if I don't I end up beating myself up about it. I'm not perfect.

I was also stressed out about the meeting with the counselor. The meeting went pretty good. The counselor was nice, although I think she wanted me to go into the study skills class. My Dad wasn't going for that though. Anyway, I think I'll end up taking the 2 hours once a week study skills class. But for goodness sake! For 2 years of free college I'll take that class! Mary will be in there too, sooo that makes me happy. The counselor will call and tell me what classes are open and then I can chose which ones will be good. I kind of want to just take 2 classes, but we'll see what happens. I'm still doing chem and that's a lot of homework.

I was trying to find the verse in Jeremiah after co-op about God's plans. A couple hours later I remembered it was in chapter 29 verse 11. I actually love the verses surrounding that verse, so I'll just post the passage. Jeremiah 29:11-13

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Another verse that came to mind was when Jesus said, who of you can by worrying add a single hour to their lives?

The Lord's plan is always the best, sometimes it's just hard to wait. But it's so retarded, everything works together for our good according to His plan. One day we will look back and realize just how perfect His planning truly was.

Some other things that make me laugh

My youth group leader Army rolling back to his side, causing me to break into hysterics. I could have pelted him, if I had been strong enough. Yet, I'm not. It was soooo funny though. I think I hurt myself. Wooo for me.

Brian and Cory.

The Chats.

My niece and nephew.

Things that make me laugh...

Get Fuzzy happens to be the best comic strip, EV-AR. Today's comic made me laugh really hard, even more so because I now own a cat.

I'm watching Muppets from Space. This movie makes me laugh really hard, partially because of all the nerd/sci-fi movie references. And since I am a nerd that is into sci-fi movies I think it's hilarious. Also, Pepe.

The weekend was busy, the Cougs.... Couged it. The Huskies won. Grh, oh well. I was feeling bad for Isaiah Stanback, he sprained his ankle really bad and he's going to have to go through many surgeries. He was on crutches and I was feeling for him. I know how it is. Crutches are lame, but it's better than nothing.

I'm "humming"

No, not like singing, I've been pretty busy.

Mom and I went Christmas Child shopping at Target tonight, I think we spent about an hour and a half there. God blessed our shopping and it came out perfectly, leaving enough money for the shipping cost. We saw lots of people we know, go figure. If you live in an area for over 20 years that happens.

I saw one of my older (like I've known her for a long time) friends. She had ankle surgery about the same time I did. She had broken her ankle several times and the doctors finally decided to put a screw in there to hold it together. She's a soccer player so that's how she broke her ankle, now it's just a weak spot. It's amazing how similar some of our medical trials that our families have gone through have been so similar. With the ankle thing and the colon cancer that affected our fathers. Anyway, she would ask my questions like, "Do you ever hit it and it hurts like crazy?" So then I shared my story about me hitting my ankle on the stadium seats and it hurt all the way up to the top of the stadium. She said she hit her ankle on a counter and it hurt so bad she went to the doctor.

We had other shared experiences, like at summer camp we were both gimps and God provided other gimps for us to hang out with! =) We went to different summer camps. We talked about how stiff our ankles get etc. Anyway, she's going to have the screw taken out as soon as it heals, the bone still hasn't closed because it's been injured so many times. So she needs prayer for healing.

It was a big blessing to be able to fellowship with someone that has gone through basically the same thing as me.

I saw another girl I've known for a long time (as in we were in the same State history class when I was in 5th grade) and she's engaged! Which is kind of weird, she is two years older than me but since when have people that I know that are two years older than me gotten married? I must be growing up or something. I suppose as the years go on more and more people I've grown up with will be getting married. Growing up is crazy stuff and starting college is really throwing me into the whole "crazy grown-up world."

I wrote my letter of intent for the community college up here. I'll be glad when this whole enrolling thing is over and I can get into a routine. One thing that happened was that I enrolled online and they emailed and said it was going through but it never got through! So I have no student ID. But they called and said I could pick up a form tomorrow (when I meet with the counselor) and get my ID then.

For now I'll continue to be humming with activity, but I think God may be using this time to show me just how sovereign He is. He is teaching me to trust Him to carry me through all this crazy busy time and come out better than I could have imagined.

Anyway, I'm off to do some Teen Leadership homework and then bed!!! Yay. I love to sleep.

MOLE! Uh, I mean.....

The extra credit in chemistry is to sew a mole. Somehow I can't imagine the guys sewing a little fuzzy critter. Mine won't turn out like the mole of the left, haha.... Noooooo. It'll be much more um... Lacking in body structure.

Like this mole. I think they only live in the east and Canada, but their noses are really weird! There are 22 of those thingys (for lack of me wanting to go and actually see what they are called) that sense if there are worms or insects around.

In other news last night for some unknown reason I decided to put a ring on my left middle finger, for some reason I thought that the fingers on my left hand were smaller than the ones on my right. Wrong. So after putting, soap, Windex, water, cocoa butter and vitamin E oil on there it still didn't come off. My finger was turning blue (it really fits on my other finger! Just not on the left hand's finger) so I decided to go to bed. I finally pulled it off. But now my finger is bruised. So yes, it was one of those really bright moments of my life.

Oh and Diesel decided to stalk Boomer (my dog) this morning while Boomer was frolicking about the living room rubbing his nose on things (apparently it itches in the mornings...). It was making me laugh because Diesel would bat at Boomer, he even got him on the face and Boomer would just look at him like, "I could hurt you, but.... I'm so old that I couldn't even if I tried." and he walked off. I'm just glad Diesel was attacking someone other than me! Like one time when I was on the phone with Kristy Diesel was running up and grabbing my leg, I screamed like 4 times. Kristy was like, "OK enough screaming, I no longer have an ear drum." But seriously, if you had a little gray fuzzball coming up and hopping on your leg wouldn't you be surprised too?

Baby Teef

Diesel is losing his teeth, he'll lose his eye teeth when he turns 5 months old. But he's been chewing on us, you should see my hands.

Friday was suuuuper busy, the leadership project turned out well. Although we only had 5 kids! It was a good night though.

This morning I took the assessment test at the Community college 'round these parts. I'll be meeting with a counselor on Thursday. It's really good to get these things concrete. God is so good to me. He is always near, always giving assistance. This morning I tried to answer a question but the page failed to load once the Procter got the page back I read the question again. I had answered it wrong the first time. God's planning is for our best, even if we don't understand it at the time.

Oh man, the first question had Jennifer Lopez as it's subject, that threw me off for a little bit. The proctor's cell phone rang, the ring was, "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?" So then I had THAT stuck in my head for most of the test! Hahaha..... And now I have it stuck in my head, thank you very much.

And for those lurkers on my blog, comment! I know you are lurking. *shifty eyes* Yeah, like all those people that are on my link list that come but don't comment, what gives? Eh?

And in other news, I shall be going to be early tonight because I am really tired! Wooooohoooo!!! I like sleep, I have warm blankets and a really comfy bed and I haven't gotten enough sleep lately.

*edit* I love these three!

Ughhh...

So it looks like the Democrats are taking control of most of the government.... There were so many good Republican candidates and the Democrats mostly sound like they would do nothing in office. But we shall see now, eh?

Let's move on to happier things, like Thanksgiving! Umm... End of the month. I think that's all I have to say about that.

On Friday I'm leading a service project, I'll be presenting the Gospel using pumpkins as an illustration. Although I need to figure out what I'm going to do for the little kids. So I need to find pumpkins. It's all in God's hands. He supplied a bounty of fliers I needed. I just need everyone to bring what they said they would bring. Please pray that I would have wisdom how to present the Gospel to the little kids, that God would provide pumpkins and that the whole night would go smoothly.

There's been a lot of rain damage in my state, a whole mobile home park was destroyed. The rain has stopped for now, but those people lost their homes and there's more damage I'm sure.

Life goes on, it's moving rather quickly and many things are happening. Ah, such is life.

Oh and have you guys ever smelled those really retarded candle scents? We have a "metal" scented candle in our bathroom.... What in the world??? Who wants to smell metal? It doesn't even smell like metal, it smells like old lady perfume. I despise all over powering scents. I mean, come on! Why can't you just make candles that smell good? Like Christmas Cookie (this is probably my favorite Yankee Candle scent, it's soooo good), cucumber melon or vanilla? *sigh* There is my rant about overpowering candles and candles that have names which make no sense. And umm.... Baby powder? Some more jewels, "Wedding Day," "Summer Fresh," "Cottage Breeze" this list goes on.

Wow this was a random post.

The Weekend

Soooo yeah. Interesting weekend.

Yesterday we were waiting in the car and where we were parked there was a pumpkin dropping thingy so Mom and I got out of the car and watched. Butch was there, for those of you who don't know Butch is the Cougar mascot (pictured left). The event finished and we went back to the car, Dad decided we needed to get really for the game. So we got out of the car and began bulking up. Butch was walking around, looking at his reflection etc. He walked over to our car, my Dad said, "Hey Butch." Butch then proceeded to take a blanket from our trunk and run away! Mascots don't talk so he explained through hand motions that he was cold.

We all had a good laugh and he walked over put the blanket around me. Then he pulled my hat off and put it on himself! That's why my hair is so messed up, my face is red because well. If you had a mascot walk over to you and pull your hat off, wouldn't your face have been red too?

The Cougs lost, but come on! They didn't play like they've been playing. Oh well, hopefully they'll pull themselves together before the next game.

It is well

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Horatio Spafford

This is actually not a complaining post, I promise!

So last night was really fun, well the beginning was, well the Carnival was. I was put in charge of the dart throwing booth, "Great, I get the dangerous one!" It was really fun though, one little girl didn't even throw them. She was like 3 or 4 though. She asked me to through one and decided (very shyly) that she didn't want to do that, I gave her a piece of candy and she went away. Oh man! There's this Australian family at my church and they have kids ranging from my age to like 7 months, anyway the oldest one was walking around with his little sister (she is SOOO adorable!) and she wanted to play darts. She looked like a hobbit child, she has curley red hair (like her brother) and she has the most gorgeous smile. Anyway, I was looking through the pictures from last night and I saw one of them, the guy was dressed up like a Jedi and he was helping her golf. All you could see was him, his cape and this bright gold skirt (Belle from Disney, for those who care) and his and her hands holding the golf club. Too cute! Oh my word! I would post it but their parents don't like their kids to be in pictures sooo yeah. But it's really cute.

Dad and I left and I was like, "Whew, now I get to relax and watch a movie or something." We were on our street and there was an ambulance and a firetruck, I have this habit of praying for the people in those vehicles and the others that are affected by that. We passed them and drove into our driveway, my Mom and our neighbor were out front. I said, "Oh no, some thing's wrong."

Turns out that John (my brother) was in that ambulance! So we went in the car after them, we ended up being at the hospital for like 4 hours or something. They still don't know what's wrong with him but he's going to talk to his doctor tomorrow.

Life changes so quickly, oh my word, I thought the Halloween excitement was over little did I know the night would go on for a while.

God is good. Please pray for John, that he will be healed and for God's will to be accomplished.

The people in the waiting room were more than interesting.