Heh.

John and I just took airborne shots in the kitchen.

"Why do you sip it?"

"....Because there's a lot in there. *continues dainty sipping*"

"What's that they say? .... 'Through the mouth and over the gums. Look out stomach, here it comes!'"

"hahahahah!!!"

(yay for getting sick!! =P)

Deep-ish post alert! Run for the hills! Or read it if you want...

I was hanging out with Mary and Amelia in the cafeteria today because pickle ball was canceled (so they had nothing to do) and I was early for class. So we were just hanging out and I looked over and I saw Connor and I was like, "Eep! I'll go ask him to sit with us!" And the Anti Social Anti Club groaned and said, "Can't you wait for half an hour?" So I left them with a glare for Connor's table.

So anyway, I sat down and he kind of jumped. lol. Anyway, we started talking about stuff and man.. It's always so great to talk to him because the spiritual things are interwoven into it. I asked him if he knew what college he wanted to go to yet and he said he didn't, but he was trusting God with it. He had just told me about the things that led up to his salvation (which was like... Last March.) and man.. It really is amazing how God works all things out for our good. It would take a while to tell you the whole story, I don't even know it fully. Connor has been writing it out and he's at 10 pages now, but he's just a tenth of the way done. =P So Connor responded to my college question with the thing about trusting God and he said that with all the Lord has done in the last year he couldn't guess what He is going to do in the future. So Connor is just going to wait for the Lord and he's totally ok with not knowing (although he's not just being lazy. He has applied to like 5 colleges. =P).

This really isn't a post focused on Connor, I promise you. ;)

After he made that statement of trust he said this in regard to what he is going to do:

Two rules, love God and love others more than you love yourself, which is interesting if you don't love yourself.

And then he said, "But.. That's a whole other issue. I'll address that at some other point." lol. Anyway, it was fantastic to talk to him again and I've missed having him around because most guys at school [read every guy that I've met thus far save three. But this isn't counting the guys that I've grown up with like Allen] are not seeking God, and plus Connor is hilarious.

I thought about what he said about loving yourself and it didn't really hit me how deep that was. It is so true. If you don't know your worth in God's sight you won't know anyone else's worth. I'm going to use an example of girls because, well, I am a girl and I'm not exactly sure how this self image thing works for guys.

Wow. I am really hesitant to write about some examples of not loving yourself and hurting others because it's really ugly and I do it a lot. I'm sure that every girl has done it, you see a girl.. Any girl and you size her up. Either you think that she is more attractive than you and you search for faults, or you think that she is less attractive than you and in that thought resides smug pride. I've been watching a movie with friends and the lead actress will come on and two of my friends immediately point out the actress's perceived faults. Sometimes I catch this and I look at them like, "What in the world are you doing?! God MADE HER. He MADE YOU. He chose EVERY SINGLE PART OF HER and He chose EVERY SINGLE PART OF YOU. You're BOTH lovely!!!" But mostly there's a voice in my head that joins them... And far too often it goes unnoticed by me.

Or if you know a girl and you feel so less pretty than she is. Little snide comments that seem innocent come out, but if you really looked into your own heart you would see jealousy.

How in the world am I supposed to SHOW Christ's love to some girl if I envy her?!?! It wouldn't truly be Christ's love because I would always be putting myself before her and trying in every small way to put her down.

But what about when I remember how I am loved and because of that when I love myself? What happens then? Then you can actually love that person! Then you know that God made both of you with a purpose and that nothing can make either of you more or less loved by God. Then you'll find yourself not tearing her down, but building her up.

Can you see how important loving yourself is? I would say that it is key to showing Christ's love. It's key to coming to live how we were supposed to live. Not with jealousy, but genuine care for others. I think that when you love yourself, truly love yourself then you can love others better.

I also think that girls tear each other down because of fear. That's just it, it's plain old fear. Fear of losing status, fear of losing attention... But you know what the Bible says? Perfect love drives out fear.

Wow. I love how God did that. I left early for school because of the snow, but the roads were fine but because of that I got to talk to Connor for like half an hour and the Lord used him to remind me of what love is. And I just looked up love in quick verse and 1 John 4 came up. Wow.... I love how God works. :)

This is my cry for us! "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." (vs. 7)

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (vs. 11-12)

(note in verse 16 how it says that while we are on earth we are like Him.. We're representing Him, you guys..)

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (vs 18)

"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." (vs. 20-21)

Letting petty pride live on is not an option for followers of Christ and I've forgotten that.

Love each other, guys. Let's practice living like our Lord.

Happy 41st Anniversary!

Ah...

I just finished watching Finding Neverland. I liked it a lot and it made me cry.. lol. Not many movies do that, so that's saying quite a bit.

Anyway, I OWNED my psych test today (100%). There was much rejoicing. I basically sprinted upstairs and gave my mom a high five with a VERY happy and content smile on my face. =)

Yay!

Today was super fantastic!!! After biology I met up with Mom and Dad and we had lunch, then we went to Fred Myer's and I got two heart helium balloons. So I found Mary's car and umm.. She was standing AT her car.. So I just ran up and I was like, "YOU AREN'T SEEING THIS." lol. Then I had Spanish and that was good, but then I had bowling... We learned how to score games today and I was working with Holly and I looked up and just glanced around and saw an older couple sitting at a table. Then I looked again and I just stopped and stared.. It was mom and dad. I was pretty much completely shocked, anyway, that was pretty funny.

So yeah.. Now I'm going to study for my psych test.. Yay? =P

My load

My backpack weighs 21.2 pounds, but I am getting used to it now, so muscles have been conditioned and this is a good thing.

In other news I wish I could absorb the assigned readings through osmosis. It would save time.

Cuteness!

AGH! MOM! FOOD!!! *rushes mother* *crushes puppies*
*happiness*
TEH BAAAAAAAAABIES! The big one on the left is from the last litter.
He's my friend. Today he crawled out through that far right hole in the fence.. It was quite amazing, but he was determined! He knew we were meant to be together!
Look at that face! It says, "I am content.."
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaby!!!!!! I wants him. :(
*sigh*

Dear Elyse..

I've decided to answer some questions people had when they googled a word and found my page. If I had a chance to answer their questions personally this is probably what I would say.

My blog's name is Jehovah Jireh, this is because in my life I am learning how He provides perfectly for every situation. He will never stop being Jehovah Jireh (the Lord who provides) to me, ever. Now that we've covered that I will move on, I've received 161 hits for respect just because I made one post about it. Well, if you want to know more about respect I suggest you read that post, there were also a few hits for self respect, well.. That's in that post too.

I have received 102 hits for wisdom teeth and that's not counting the various other "impacted wisdom teeth," impacted wisdom teeth," "wisdom teeth out," and "wisdom teeth operation." I have very little advice about this because I am not actually a doctor, but you will find embarrassing pictures of me and some wonderments about the surgery from me. I do suggest that after your surgery that you DO NOT go to Starbucks, no matter HOW MUCH you want it, it will just end badly, believe me. I woke up from my surgery, mom got me to the car, lalalla and I was like, "Maaaaaaahm... STAAAAAAHBAAAAAHKS." XD And then I cracked up because I could hear how retarded I sounded, "STAAAAAHBUUUUUUKS" And then my mom looked at me and was like, "Are you sure?" "STAAAAAAAHBUUUUUKS!!!" hahahahah!!! That was some good times right there. ANYWAY, I got my iced tea... Aaaaaaaand lol. You can't use a straw for a few days so that you don't suck out the blood clots that form in the holes so I was trying to sip it, in the car, with a numb and swollen face.... Besides the fact that I was bleeding and I had like four cotton swabby things in my mouth to soak up the blood, so I was drinking my own blood.. =x And then the cotton swabby things tasted like blood and a black iced tea lemonade.

Moral of that story? Don't order Starbucks after your wisdom teeth surgery, k? K.

hmm.. Moving on, 56 hits for "ferret" and 26 for "ferrets." Well, here's the thing. I hate them. They creep me out and they smell bad. Don't buy one.

Now for three in a row, "bobbing Jesus," "I have a lump on my wrist," and "moses the lord will provide." Well, Dashboard Jesus is the post for you, lucky contestant numero uno. I too had a lump on my wrist, but it went away. Don't have surgery if you have a ganglionic cyst and it's tiny, just wait a few months and rub it to see if it goes away. Mine did, maybe yours will too. :) Aaaaand for #3 I have no idea. The Lord will provide Moses? I think He already did. 0_o

"how to feel beautiful when no one thinks you are" well, I would say to you that people do think that you are beautiful. Our self images are pretty whacked because we are all sinners, so don't think you know how others perceive you, "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?" the next verse goes on to say that, "I, the LORD, search the heart," (Jeremiah 17:9-10a). Just think of that, you don't know your own heart, but the Lord does. Perhaps He is the only one to say who is beautiful or not, and believe me... He knows that you are beautiful because He made you, and He made you flawlessly! But, if you want to read more about how God views us you can head over to my post about beauty, which you might have already read.

Alrighty then, moving on. "lord will i ever have a boyfriend?" I'm sorry, this made me laugh. And I'm not sure how this person found my blog.. I mean, it's not like I make a lot of posts about how I feel like I'm missing my better half and that I really need a boyfriend. Because I don't. I suggest that if you are wondering if you will ever have a boyfriend to read the Word and find out what He has to say to you. Although, perhaps this post may have something for you.

"picture of pomeranian with jesus" hahahahahhhahaa!!!! You are quite the creative one, eh? "random facts about macaulay culkin" lol. Umm.. I had a friend named Seamus who lived down the street from the time of our infancy to about eight years of age and he looked like Macaulay Culkin, fortunately he no longer does and he has not followed Macaulay's path, as far as I know. "sufjan stevens casimir pulaski day" That is a good song, but then again I just love Sufjan. "best movie ever" that would be Bride and Prejudice.

Well folks, that's about it for this edition of Dear Elyse. Fare thee well!

!!!

I get to see a cadaver on Friday!!!

Hm.

I should probably care more about my appearance in pictures than I do. But it makes me laugh.

Bah.. Just making this post made me laugh a lot. I think you need to be able to laugh at yourself...

*happily heads off to bed*

A Walk to the Lake

The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands...

I. Just. About. Died.

So in Biology today we got to play with the molecular model toys. Before class started Mary and I looked at our box and I saw little springs you could use to double bond stuff, like a double bonded Oxygen or whatever. And I got REALLY excited and I inhaled a bunch (I'm not sure why...) and I held it up to Mary..

And she looks at me...

And then she asks me if I've seen the Village. And I'm like, "Yeah.." And she was like, "Do you know who you just reminded me of?" ....

XD

I was like, "SHUT UP!" And then we almost DIED laughing. But I would like to say that Mary also got excited when we made the molecules and we ended up fighting over who could make Methane. We = nerds. And I guess I'm just nerdier or more childish or something. =P

(Usually I think the world is the one who has social problems, but in reality, it's just me...)

hmm...

I was talking to a homeschooled guy about a month or so ago about school and stuff. I told him what college I was going to and he said something about how his friends that go there say it's hard to witness because it's so secular.

.... o_O

Are you going to witness in church?!

His friends were correct in saying that my school is very secular. You can feel the depression in the people. Not many people are truly happy and honestly I don't think I've ever been in such a dark place. What else could happen when all they teach is basically just avoidance of God?

Even though being at this school could potentially depress some Christians. Actually, I don't think it would depress Christians. If you are walking in the light then the Lord will be leading your to witness to others. And that is truly the most joyful experience I've had in the past year. This last year has been a growing period for me and the years prior seem like growing up in a bubble (hahahah.. I almost said, "like veal" hahah!! But I wasn't eaten, so it wasn't really like veal... lol). Not that my childhood was bad, but I was surrounded by other Christians. I went to church, Sunday school, Awana, Christian co-ops, youth group, youth camps, Bible studies... I was raised in a Christian environment with little interaction with non-Christians. There was some interaction, but never every single day.

Then January 2nd, 2007 came around and ****BOOM**** there I was.. Smack dab in the middle of secular center. But what an opportunity to witness! In the darkness a light shines all the brighter.

I don't know all of what God is doing through me at school, but I have seen some things. Like the way He opened up the hearts of two of my new friends so I could talk to them about the Lord. He is good and I'm so glad that He's put me in the world because this is truly living. We need to minister to those who need Him.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
Isaiah 61:1

Go out there, you guys, because it is a very dark world and they need Him.

And I shall name thee Mogwai

Grandma is very happy with her and her name is actually "Missy" but I think she should be called Mogwai (to go with the Gremlins theme. Gizmo was my Grandma's last dog and Grandma would have chosen another name for her but she got her when she was two or so. And she's going to keep Missy's name as Missy. I'm still pulling for Mogwai.)
She's so tiny! No lie. And I don't really know what was happening in that picture, but when I'm alone with a camera I make weird faces for entertainment. That's about it.

Thwip!

Now, my shoes may look huge, but that's just because she's tiny. My shoes are a size 7 in men's and a 9 in women's. She weighs 3.11 pounds. O_O

Ah well..

Today was super fun! I saw Connor and Allen and I had bowling with Peter. I saw Connor and my face just absolutely exploded with happiness and he smiled too. =P I miss having a class with him, it's always great to have strong Christians in your classes. After Spanish I talked to Allen for a bit. I look up to that guy so much... (He's the only guy that makes me feel short)

Ahem. Anyway. And then bowling was interesting, I got a bunch of strikes, but my teacher said that I'm doing better. lol.

And of course I saw my Mary, she's so ridiculously tan now. Psh. Stupid Florida vacations... Aaaaaand I saw Kali. She's so funny and she's in bowling with me! Yay!

Anyway, it was quite fun and I'm learning to laugh at myself again through Spanish and bowling. There's nothing quite like public humiliation, eh? But I am really loving Spanish.

Looking back

Well I've officially been in college for one year. Today went a lot better than last year's January 2nd. The Lord has taught me so much in college, and He has given me opportunities to share Him with others. I think the biggest lesson that I learned about in 2007 was about my need for humility. I also learned so many other lessons in the last year. I found these verses and I think they sum up my year. I have the words fortress, consolation, love, and support written on my mirror to remind me. He is my fortress, the only one who makes me feel safe.

Unless the LORD had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

When I said, "My foot is slipping,"
your love, O LORD, supported me.

When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul. (vs. 17-19)

But the LORD has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. (vs 22)
-Psalm 94: 17-19, 22

What else can I do in response to that love but give my all to Him?

New Year's Eve

It was bad 80s prom at our house last night. Although, I ended up looking like Dolly Parton.


Kristy looked (and acted) like a Disney Princess.
Rob became... Creepy?
And at our household we like to pretend that we're cool while we're playing bingo. We still have a lot of fun. =D

hahhahahhahha.. "Hair Farmer" On top it's Farrah Fawcett and underneath is Chewbacca. XD
Oh yeah.... We partied...
And collapsed.
We would make good goths..
Not even kidding.