our God is an AWESOME God!

wow. looking at all of the crazy damage up and down the east coast is humbling.  it's crazy how some places, like Vermont, can be so effected, even when it's separated from the ocean by an entire state.  people's homes are ruined and whole bridges have been swept away along with some people's livelihoods and hope. 

as if the economy weren't bad enough, we are now $7 billion deeper in debt and it looks completely hopeless to people who, already, were living on the brink of a financial cliff.

But look at the incredible power of a hurricane and think: could that be by chance?

The water is strong enough to wash away bridges.  How much stronger could our God be?

We created dams to hold water in a place that we wanted to make room for our own plans and buildings only to watch them burst and overflow.  How much more determined could our God be?

Why do we see things like this every day and not marvel at His awesome mercies each day as we sit in our dry, warm, and light homes and dorm rooms?  Our only connection to the wet and blustery reality to millions of people is the sound of the news blaring in our ears.

And what possible plan could God have in this?  Only the best.

Heartfelt prayers going out to those who have lost loved ones as a result of this natural disaster.

oh this has gotta be the good life...

So I moved a few weeks ago... one of the most complicated things ever!  My dad drove all my furniture down to my new little place with our big van pulling a trailer...

A couple of days later, I left in my little adorable car to come down to live... I said goodbye to my family thinking I wouldn't be back for a few months... Two hours later, I was back.  Somewhere, my transmission got stuck in first gear and it just couldnt get out.  So, feeling like an idiot, I waited for my dad to come rescue me at an abandoned gas station in the middle of nowhere.  Later that day,my dad drove me out with the rest of my clothes and I bought a bus ticket.  That's the way I get places now! yay! lol

But after I got used to it, it wasn't that bad.  I started working at my job right away and began to get to know my host family.  I couldn't wait until Sunday, though, when I'd hang out with some people my age and get some good teaching.

So that's life for now.  I get to start my first assignment for one of my classes tonight! I'm so excited.  I am craving some good intellectual discussion!!

sweet summertime

What am I up to?  Well, this is a typical day: wake up around 9ish because my little brothers and sisters and playing Cowboys and Indians.  Drive 15-year-old sister to the store. Sister runs off to look for something while I browse through the home decor.  About an hour later, sister shows up.  We wait in line for another hour.  Finally, we head to the 3 stores Mom wanted me to hit for a few groceries.  Then, we get home.  Time to do some math tutoring for my siblings.  In the middle of math tutoring, Dad calls and needs me to drive to a jobsite to drop something off.  When I come back, I finish tutoring and take the kids swimming.  After swimming, I rush home, change into my uniform and work for about 5 hours.  I come home, watch a movie, and go to bed around midnight.  Somewhere in between all that driving... lol... i shower, check facebook, drink coffee and eat food. :D

And that's my summer.  and I'm loving it!! <3

it's such a wonderful life

So! I just got home from "new student orientation" at my college!  May I just say:  I AM FREAKING PUMPED!  Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I know now where I'm going to rent a room!  It's a little bedroom in a basement and I'll have the use of my own bathroom!  So now I have to figure out what I want for the style of my room.  There are white walls, so I can pretty much do anything!  I've been going through all the possibilities in my head.... should I go dark and mellow, or should I do bright and fun??  Or should I go with a vintage style?  So many ideas popping into my head about how I can stay organized and where I'll keep my schedule... maybe I should get a magnetic dry-erase board so I can post papers with schedules on them, and then write little reminders on the board!  Oh man, I am convinced I'm a genius!  lol.. jk.  But seriously, now, I'm really itchin' to shop for some decor!

from whom all blessings flow

You ever just lie awake in your bed staring up at the ceiling, knowing that you should pray, but feeling too rotten to?  That was me last night.  I had had too much caffeine too late last night and I knew it was time I talked with my God.  But when I thought about it... I kinda squirmed... I didn't feel like it... I felt gross and unacceptable to pray.  Funny thing is, I was... and I am.  But I knew that obedience is what God has called me to do, despite what I want.  So I started praying.  I almost felt desperate... I was trying to put all my fears and worries into words... I don't know what was going on... but I opened my Bible in the middle of the whole thing.  I was looking for a specific verse that someone has preached on at my church a few weeks ago... I just wanted to refresh my memory on what it really said.  I thought it must be in chapter 93 of Psalms (don't ask me why I thought that when it really was chapter 27).  Two seconds later I found something... not what I had been looking for, but a verse that comforted me more than anyone could understand.  Psalms 94:18-19: "If I say, "My foot is slipping," Your faithful love will support me, Lord.  When I am filled with cares, your comfort brings me joy."  I was so excited!  I grabbed my brand new Sharpie highlighter and marked it.  What did the verse mean to me?  When I feel like all I'm doing is making mistake after mistake, I can always count on Christ's love to pick me up again.  When I'm burdened and down about the things I have to remember and think about, I know that I can count on being joyful, because I'll always have the comfort of Jesus.  Oh, what a wonderful thought!

<3

the freshman 15

So I was trying on dresses in the dressing room of TJ-Maxx last week and chatting with a friend who was trying on clothes in the next room.  We were joking about how "fat" we feel when we pull on something a bit too small and how we "better not gain any weight or else this shirt'll look terrible on me."  Both of us are on our way to college and so we struck up a conversation about the "freshman 15."  Oh, that dreaded concept of gaining 15 pounds within the first year of college!  My dear friend shared the story of one of her friends who reversed the process.  All she did was make a goal for herself: Whenever I feel like reaching for a donut or a late-night bag of Doritos, I will reach for something better like carrot sticks or yogurt.  She didn't get a gym membership or work out or anything... she just ate healthy food and ended up losing 15 pounds while the rest of the class gained 15 pounds.

the moral of the story:  gee whiz, i hope i make that goal within the first week of my being on campus!

gradumacated

That's right, folks, I'm all graduated.  My parents handed me my diploma last Saturday in front of a bunch of people.  They said a few things and then just put it in my hand... I was almost positive that my mom would bawl her eyes out... but instead, I felt a few tears filling up my eyes... Anyways, then I gave a horrific speech consisting of stutters, nervous giggling, and repeated sentences.... I had left my piece of paper with my "speech outline" at home... just my luck.

Anyway, it was great and now I'm just getting ready to walk with the local high school.  I am guaranteed to get a scholarship from them and I'm in the running for another from the state.  YES!  There's the possibility that I won't have to worry about paying for *anything* this year.. except for rent and all..

In other news, for the past couple days, during 1st block (during which I'm a Teacher's Assistant), we've been watching Bicentennial Man with Robin Williams.  It's about this robot who slowly become more and more human, falling in love with a girl, marrying her, and trying to legally become a human.  It's sooo sweet and I love it.  So watch it... it's pretty good! <3