I Talk to a Backpack

Lord, how time flies!  Guess what?  It snowed on Halloween...and its 70 degrees outside right now.  Happy Christmas everyone.  Today I wasn't feeling good so I slipped on my stretch pants and flip flops and went to school (thank you God for the beautiful weather).  I hardly studied for my Spanish map quiz but I aced it anyway, lolz :)

Robert was also tired today, but that is nothing new.  During class, I couldn't seem to keep my eyes open.  FYI - I got 5 hours of sleep last night trying to finish my homework.  Anyway, I kept falling asleep while Mrs. Garay was talking and found it hard to concentrate.  I constantly shifted positions and finally just put my head down on the table in exhaustion.  I felt a jolt from the table and turned my head the other way.  A big black backpack was right where Robert's head should have been.  He had apparently collapsed onto the table, disappearing behind his backpack.  I began to speak...

Me: "I seem to be talking to a backpack."

Backpack: "Yes, hello."

Me: "How are you doing today?"

Backpack: "I'm good, very tired actually."

Me: "That makes sense, seeing as how you're not moving.  You must be exhausted."

Backpack: (laughter) "I am."

Mrs. Garay: "Are you guys getting this?"

Backpack: "Yep..."

Me: "Uh huh."

I've never spoken to a backpack before.  It was interesting.  Anyway, I didn't feel like leaving the Edwards Room during lunch, so I stayed in there.  I borrowed money from Analisa and bought myself some doritos.  I hung around Kiera and talked with Liam a little bit.  Then, I went into Mrs. Lynch's class room to ask her a question, but she was in the middle of a conversation with Mrs. Mayo.  10 minutes later, Meghan Perdue said something that answered my question.  Funny how we waste time when we don't think we're wasting it huh?

After lunch I went to SAT Prep.  Then I went to American Literature.  I really like Ally Loftness, my teacher.  She's very relaxed, but knows how to get her students' attention.  After all my classes I saw Matt coming down the hallway!!!!!!  I was soooooooo worried about him when I heard about the car accident.  A couple days ago, a drunk driver hit Mrs. Harman, him, Liam, and Tasia at an intersection.  By God's grace they all survived!!!!!!!!!

Then I went home.  And I posted on my blog.  Which is right now.  Hi.

Welcome to my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It's quite thrilling.  (Who got the Esther quote???)  Yet even when my life isn't as exciting as I would like it to be, I know that the Lord is with me.  For me, monotonous daily life can be a trial.  The Joy I seek is found in Christ and Christ alone :D :D :D  
~Anna

I am HIS creation

Today, I had a photoshoot with my wonderful sister, Mary.  I realized that it was November and I still had a g-mail status picture of me at the beach!!!  Oooops.  I didn't have other pictures of myself, so I asked Mary to take some of me.  She agreed and we had the photoshoot in our backyard in a small patch of fading sunlight.  There were leaves from grandfather tree scattered all around so it looked very autumn...ish.  I want to show you some of my favorites from the shoot!!!!!!!!!!

Keep in mind, as you view the pictures, that I am GOD's creation.  I am definitely, absolutely, and most emphatically NOT my own creation.  I can pretend that I am my own creation, but in reality, I am a child of God.  When I think about that, I just get sooooo overwhelmed at God's love and mercy for me.  I'm such a rebel and God treats me as his child!  So yeah.  Enjoy the photoshoot!!!!

 This is my absolute favorite.

My hair is ridiculously thick, but I like how it fans out.

Ok, this one was kind of experimental.  

My hair is A LOT longer than shown in the picture.  

Answer my poll and tell me what you think?  

Good...bad...maybe?

Hehe.  I envied Hannah Carroll's role in Shakespeare Camp last year.

She was The Ghost of Banquo.  Macbeth...macbeth...

God is wise.  He created and fashioned me into the very person He meant me to be.  SO NO COMPLAINING!  Anyway, thanks to Mary for helping me acquire new status pictures!!!!  Watcha ya'll think???  Comments are permitted...no STRONGLY encouraged :)
~Anna

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."    ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

Mr. Maka Smashes a Mirror

Last night, at 10:31 Mr. Maka preached to us about judging others.  He did a really good job!  His points were VERY well-stated and easy to write down.  Even while he was speaking, I could feel God pricking my conscience about people whom I judge regularly.  I never realized it was such a habit until that night.  I'm inherently evil and can judge people for almost anything!!!!  Style of clothing...behavior...appearance...popularity...spiritual status.  The list goes on and on and on.  Mr. Maka explained to us that instead of judging, we should extend the same mercy to others that God has bestowed on us.  And the amount of mercy that God has bestowed on me is just insane.

I really want the youth of Covenant Life Church to be bonded together in unity instead of awkwardly separated, starting with myself.  I mean, whenever groups of kids are separated or certain kids avoid other kids because of judging issues, its always so awkward.  Its not just awkward, but it distorts God's character.  Mr. Maka illustrated this point using a mirror.  He held it up and said "We reflect God's character when we show mercy to others instead of judging."  The mirror cast a square shaped beam of light around the room.  Then Mr. Maka picked up a hammer and smashed the mirror so the beams of light looked like little, shattered dots.  He explained that when we judge, and distort God's character...just like breaking a mirror.  Cool.  Please pray for this issue in the youth ministry guys!!!

Besides having a convicted conscience, I played in the big Spoons Tournament in the Edwards room.  I won out of 5 people in my circle, and then moved to the winners circle.  Nikita Jones was in the winners circle, nevermind how he got there.  Things DID get very crazy...but what do ya know, I actually survived to be in the top two!!!!!  It was me and John Hill.  We didn't want to face-off so we consulted Mr. Brewer and he promised to award us both 2 TICKETS TO THE UPCOMING TRIPP LEE CONCERT!!!!!!!! yayayayay.

I <3 <3 <3 the Youth Ministry.
~Anna

FIRST ACTS REHERSAL!!!!

FIRST ACTS REHEARSAL!!!!!!!!!  Yay, I sooo excited and double excited and enthuzed and...hmhum...YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It's my first year in the play.  I don't know what I'm offically doing yet but I think its crowd, group singing, and dance.  I was at the dance callbacks anyway.

And, what do ya know, I think Katie Porter is going to be Rhoda!  It's a solo singing part, and she has a lovely voice. For audition highlights, Katie sang 16 Going On 17 (love Sound of Music) in ocapella (did I spell that right?).  Wow.  She's really good, and she's just a freshman!  Pretty cool, love you katie <3

A couple of the other parts are pretty obvious.  Kevin as Peter and McKenzie as Peter's wife (cute) are probably two of the few parts really cemented right now.  I'm not sure about the others...

I Save My Dog's Life

Arrgh, now ALL the guys are cutting their hair.  Robert Galbraith got a haircut and so did Austin Finch.  Except, Robert actually looks good with a haircut.  It's like everybody is getting their hair cut in preparation for winter.  What?????????  Just to let everyone know...I am a NON-FAN of cold.  

Ok, so...life story.  Because my dog, Sandy is on bromide, he is very hungry all the time.  Once in a while, he slips out the front door to scour the neighborhood for food and other dogs to play with.  Sandy has been a escape artist since he was a puppy.

I was in the backyard setting up jumps when he came romping down the porch steps.

Either someone left the back door slightly open, or Sandy pushed his way out.

Caught in the act.  Basically, Sandy waits till no one is around.

Then he jiggles the loose latch with his nose, pushes it open, and slips out the door.

See his ears?  Haha, he knows I'm there.

Stealing my treat bag from the porch!!!  He's such a bad boy!

So, today I was upstairs in my room studying chemistry and eating cheese curls (I promised Kiers I wouldn't kill myself, oh well).  Anyway, I heard the door mysteriously shut downstairs.  Mom was in her room, Dad was at work, Chris was at college, Mary was on her computer, and Katie was in the basement watching a movie.  This...I know.  Suspecting the work of my canine escape artist, I dashed downstairs and looked out the window.  Sure enough, Sandy was trotting down the street.  Annoyed, I grabbed a leash and left the house.  Sandy was veering into people's yards, sniffing the whole way, and disappeared around a corner.  I ran a short way, rounded the corner, and whistled to him.  Suddenly, I felt a rumbling under my feet and turned to see an enormous school bus coming down the street.  50 yards from me, Sandy was trotting out of a person's front yard and towards the street...right in the path of the school bus.  I panicked and used Sandy's emergency call.  "SANDY, COME!!!!!!!!!" I yelled in my loudest and firmest voice possible, hoping he would remember what it meant.  Sandy stopped right at the edge of the street and looked up.  For a split second I thought he wouldn't come.  My heart skipped a couple beats.  Then my dog broke into a run, covering the distance between him and me in a couple seconds.  I frantically snapped the leash on him as the school bus roared past.  Thank you Lord...

In contradiction, Sandy is an amazing dog, he really is!  I love him and he's good...most of the time.

Saving my dog's life was the most exciting thing I did today.  It definitely helped my brain to be awake, instead of fried from chemistry.  Hello, people who are reading this!  What's the most exciting thing you did today, or this week?  Love to hear from you guys!  

I Skipped September

In my mind, I seriously don't remember ever going through September.

It was summer.

And then it rained.

And then it was October.

WOW.  Who can't believe that its October already?  I can't.  My junior year is whizzing by sooooo fast.  Arrrrrrgh.  I just took the PSAT today.  And now I'm dead.  Isn't that fun?  Whenever I'm really exhausted I tend to speak (and write) in fragments.

Last Sunday I went to Katie and Lexi's house for the weekly prayer meeting.  Tati was there, and Tasia, Allie, Kirsten, Amy, Liam, Jared, and Joseph.  Stephen showed up near the end because he had to work late at Butler's Orchard.  We were praying for other nations across the world, and unbelieving family members.  Seriously, I was crying and some of the other girls were too.  It's so amazing how God can give you a broken heart for people you've never even met!  Wow.

Matt could not be there :(
Which reminds me...I was at MCI this afternoon after Drama class and I saw him with a haircut!!!!  Ahhhh, I didn't want him to cut it!  It looked better, uh, not-cut.  Matt said he took a poll and all the girls said DON'T cut it...so he cut it.  What???  Sheesh, guys.

October is already becoming very memorable, love it!!!!!!  But where did September go?  Oh well.  I'll find it later...after I finish all my homework for the year.

Ice Cream and Righteousness

I had a bad day today.  Yep...it was bad.  Nuff' said.

We had our FIRST CONNECT GROUP MEETING tonight, whooo hooo!!!!!!!!!!!  Yay, I got to hang out with Sierra, Julia, and Rachel (senior year, you go girl!).  During the meeting, I was listening and writing in the handout booklet, but all the while thinking of my very bad day.  I was excited to be diving into God's word with my connect group, yet was rather depressed.  Then, Mr. Ennis said something that hit me.  Not like a slight realization, but a WHOA THAT IS INSANE realization.  This is what he said.

"On our worst day, God sees us with the blameless righteousness of his Son."  

On our worst day!  Is that crazy or what?  Even when we have sinned many times and go to God with a regretful prayer that goes something like "Stop loving me God, its not worth it".....he sees us as having no faults whatsoever!  God views us as righteous because Jesus took the full brunt of our ugly sin upon himself.  EPIC LOVE.

And then...we ate ice cream.  :D  :D  :D

Rain Makes the Flowers Grow

Today, I woke up and was astounded at how cold it was.  I came downstairs, grabbed a blanket off the sofa, and pounded my brain awake just enough to finish my chemistry definitions.  I'm going to start needing Hot Chocolate sooner that I thought...since its raining.  The weather people have forecast that it will rain for about 4 straight days.  Grrrrrr!!!  I don't like rain and neither does my dog.  Such a nice way to start off September, right?

However, like everything in God's creation, rain has a purpose.  Rain makes the trees grow and the flowers blossom.

Rain shapes rocks and crystals in underground caves.  Rain creates the world's water system and gives rise to the rivers and oceans that hold marine animals.  It quenches the thirst of every living thing on this earth.  So wonderful is the Creator who fashioned the rain droplets that fall from the sky!

Just like the sudden coming of rainy days, I am surprised at how quickly school has started.  It's Tuesday and I have chemistry class this morning, an SAT practice test this afternoon, and orchestra tonight.  I guess it seems like so much work because I've been trying to hold on to glorious summer for as long as I possibly can...but to no avail.  Yes, folks.  It's official.  SCHOOL IS HERE.

THE DOCTOR is No Longer Single

I know this is probably REALLY REALLY LATE, but it deserves some significance anyway.  Ok, a little background so you can understand the significance.  David Tennant is a popular stage actor with natural acting talent, amazing hair, and an incredible ability to pull off comic punch lines in the middle of dire situations.

 His starring role is THE DOCTOR in seasons 2-5 of a TV show called Doctor Who.  The Doctor is the last of an alien race called the Time Lords.  He travels the universe through space and time in his spaceship, which is disguised as a blue, police call box called The Tardis.  Needless to say, his saving-the-world adventures almost always include aliens, weird creatures, and the sort.  Thrillingly Bizarre is the memo we're looking at here.  Anyway, The Doctor always has a constant, female companion with him, and he regenerates into a new doctor every one or two seasons.  David Tennant stayed in for 3 seasons because everyone loved him soooo much.  After a couple of episodes starring David Tennant, I also adopted the outlook of his teenage fans.    

I was researching his life story when I happened upon a SIGNIFICANT peice of recent news.  Apparently, David Tennant is officially getting married.

Hear that???  It's the sound of thousand of geek girls' hearts breaking.  Not mine.  Well, maybe a little bit.   His gorgeous fiance is Georgia Moffett.  Georgia...get this...is the daughter of the fifth doctor.  Ok, is that bizarre and awesome or WHAT?  AND...the wedding is set for New Years Day 2012.  How cool is that!!!!!!!!!!  I want to get married on New Years Eve...

Am I a Stupid Duck???

     Sometimes I ask myself, am I really just a stupid duck running after life's pleasures and missing the point of the whole thing???  I know that sometimes I can be in that sense.  I just get sooooo wrapped up in my life and the things that I need to do that I end up thinking...Do I really need God?  I mean come on!  I've got all these e-mails to send, all these projects to work on, my fall schedule to organize!  I don't really need God, do I?  YES, I MOST DEFINITELY DO.

     During the sermon that Josh Harris preached a couple of weeks ago morning, he brought up the very common issue of self-righteousness.  He went on to give a very detailed explanation of how he thought this problem was manifesting itself in our church.  "So, now...we've got self righteous leaders confronting self righteous people who are turn confronting more self-righteousness.  It's self-righteousness confronting two more layers of self-righteousness!!!"  It's a weed, and it grows like...like...well, a weed.  And weeds can only be uprooted by the gardener, Jesus Christ.  He's the only one with the tools to root out your sin.

So, in truth, if I don't go to Jesus to root out the sin that the Holy Spirit brings to light...then I AM a stupid duck.  Sort of humbling isn't it?

The Week I Didn't Die

The car slowly pulled in the driveway.  I blinked open my weary eyes.  Home again.  Yes, Anna you're back...and you've got things to do, your violin audition, the State Fair Dog Show, your youth drama audition, and don't forget...SCHOOL IS STARTING SOON.  I fell back into oblivion and prayed for Jesus to help me.  Instantly, a wave of peace calmed by worried heart and I got out of the car and approached the door, ready to tackle life again.

Why do we worry?  Will doing so add another hour to our lives?  Of course it does, we say.  It makes things go a whole lot faster!  Because of our sinful nature, we do everything we can (in our limited power) to make our worries go away.  We play video games.  We play outside.  We listen to music.  We even do chores.  Every anti-worry pastime we embark on is temporary.  Casting our cares on the Lord is permanent, but it requires that we humble ourselves.  This is something at which I fail at and continue to fail at until I receive God's help.  By God's grace I have made it through the week following Worthy without dying.  Thank You Lord!!!  

Oh, and I also drove home from driving class yesterday...without dying.  Thank You Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Worthy2011

Worthy 2011 was just amazing.  It's incredible how much fun you can have and just how much God can accomplish in 4 days.  The Ennis connect group remained towards the bottom of the points list for most of the retreat.  We got 9th in the end, but that's ok.  The Ennis connect group was relatively new, and we had fun so it really didn't matter what placement we got.  Northbay definitely outmatches Sandy Cove in the way of activities.  I went on the Giant Swing with my friends 3 times, rode the water zipline, and went water-tubing.  I think 15 minutes of tubing per year is all my shoulders can handle!  The Admin were smart this year and instead of doing Crud Wars (which took forever to wash out of my hair last time), they did PAINT WARS.

A field.  

500 teenagers.  

20 huge bins filled to the brim with paint.  

On Mr. Brewer's signal, that field was instantaneously turned the major colors of the rainbow.  We had cups to carry paint, noodles to protect our sheet from being tinted with the enemies' paint, and sponge mallets to smack other people with.  Paint flew everywhere and I was soon drenched in the stuff.  All the paint soaked through my shirt and tinted my bathing suit redish-pink.  Oh well, I was needing a new one anyway :)  I was on the red team and WE WON!!!       

As in past years, I could really feel God's presence at Northbay Retreat Center.  By the end of the week, I was on an emotional high from all the worship.  I and my friends had prayer sessions at 11pm every evening.  and we had some awesome discussions.  My favorite session was Jon Smith's message.  He preached on CRAZY GRACE using the story of Jonah.  He spoke about God pardoning Jonah's enemies and the grace he extended to Jonah, who had been shaking his fist at God the whole time.  God's grace is sooooo crazy and I'll never understand it.  I'm just so grateful for it and pray that my pride will not hinder me from receiving it.

Ministry night was absolutely...just...I can't express how incredibly overwhelming and awe-inspiring it was.  God met us.  He met Me and renewed a fire in my heart for him that I hadn't had all summer.  The day after Worthy, at 1:53pm there was an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter Scale.  In my Bible time that morning, I had prayed for God to give me an eternal perspective and He certainly did!!!  That earthquake reminded me that I could die anytime and God could return at any time.

I read aloud to my siblings a portion of Matthew 24:  "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.  Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.  And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.  Any many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the and will be saved  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed through the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

August is Crazy

August.  It's the month of craziness.  What can I say???  It's not My fault I entered artwork...and a botany notebook...and a demonstration board on Canine Epilepsy...and a lemon cake...and my dog...in the County Fair.  Well, actually it kind of is.  Oh well, my mom always says I'm an over-achiever and I believe her sometimes.  That's probably why I'm always so focused on my performance instead of my Savior's death on the cross to pay for my sins.  It's always like..."I'd better work hard to get through this crazy month!  Here we go..." instead of "God, by your abundant grace and powerful strength, I will get through this month with my eyes upward on you."

From the beginning of August, it HAS been hectic.  I've been to workshops to complete our club parade walking unit, dog training, and a youth drama singing workshop with Vicki Cook.  BTW - she really knows her stuff!  I've been to the fairgrounds tons of times to enter stuff in the fair, water flowers, go to the parade, watch the 2011 crowning, walk in the cake auction, and yes...the dog show.  Jenn, Kylie, Kiera, and I also got to visit and talk with Matt "on the job."  He was working with the ponies at the Fair, lucky :)  I also wandered around the fair with Jenna, Daniel, Stephen, Jenn, Allie, and other people until 10pm.  LOTS OF SMELLS AND LIGHTS AND STUFF!!!  I love the fair.  

The 12th of August was Kiera's Birthday Bash.  HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY KIERA!!!  Liam brought his Ukelele and played for us.  I'm serious, the tiny guitar is the most adorable instrument EVER :)

BIGGEST THING COMING UP IN THE NEXT YEAR IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!!!  CAN ANYONE GUESS WHAT IT IS???  

WORTHY YOUTH RETREAT 2011!!!!!! 

I'M SOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I just know God is going to do incredibly amazing things.  I've never ever been to a youth retreat where I wasn't on my knees wonderstruck with my Savior.  I hope every single teenager sees the power of God during these next few days.  I'm praying for it.  See you guys at the retreat!!!!!!!!!!  Back in 5 Days...

How Times Flies, Part 2

     So the next leg of our journey included driving up to Michigan to visit my OTHER set of awesome cousins.  Aunt June, Uncle Tom and their three adopted asian kids, Alexander (the oldest), Grace (the cutest), and Samuel (the youngest).

     We did lots of cool stuff at their house.  I watched Alexander and Chris play halo.  Mary, Alexander, Chris, and I watched everything from the early episodes of Stargate Atlantis to the 3rd season of Doctor Who.  Btw - I LOVE DAVID TENNANT (some people will know who I'm talking about, haha).  The majority of the funnest...wow I really am tired, listen to me!  Funnest indeed!  Anyway, that day that was very fun was spent at Kensington Lake.  We ate lunch, went kyaking, took lots of pictures, and then drove around to the other side of the lake to swim and ride the gigantic water slide.  Those who have seen my new gmail profile picture...I got it from here.

                        That's Aunt June and                 That's me and my little
                         Uncle Tom.  They're                 adopted cousin Grace!
                        really generous to us.                 She's ADORABLE!!!!

        That's me, Chris, Mary, and                     That would be Chris and 

     Alexander at Kensington Lake.                Alexander having a water fight.

      Yep...that's my brother, haha                  Wouldn't want to get near that...

       That's Sam (right), Katie (middle),                That's Sam and Aunt June out
        and Grace (left) in the backyard                 boating on the lake.  Sam really      
                 swimming pool.                                    freaks her out sometimes :)

         That's me trying to sink a                       That's mom and Aunt June
    battleship with my x-ray vision.                 sitting in beach chairs talking
         Naw...its just toy boat :)                       about something unbelievable.

     All in all, my stay at my cousins house was pretty awesome.  Love you guys!!!  We stopped at my great aunt's funeral on the way home from Michigan.  The funeral was very sad and dark and was held in a small catholic church.  It made me really think about the joyfulness there was at Mr. Spiro's and Amy Calderone's funeral and the joy that we have in Jesus.  Even in the death of someone, we're still rejoicing not only for them but yet again for God's great love and mercy.  Ok, everyone!  That's all for now!
~Anna

How Time Flies, Part 1

     Oh my heavens, how time flies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Ok, bit of an update.  At the end of June, I went to a swing-dance party at the Smith's house.  I didn't dance because I was frightfully tired and couldn't have kept it up anyway.  I did do line dances and group dances just for fun though.  I talked with my amazing friends and ate some food (though I wasn't very hungry).  Summer nights and massage lines...YES.

     The next night, I went to go see LORD OF THE RINGS EXTENDED: RETURN OF THE KING EXTENDED EDITION.  It was pretty amazing.

     The next day I was going to go to the beach, but didn't get to.  Gas money was incredibly expensive, I had a math camp with two neighborhood girls (who are adorable btw), and we needed to pack for our upcoming vacation.

     After picking up Chris from his Halo party at Drew's house on Saturday night (July 2), we headed out of the state to Ohio where my awesome cousins live.  I'll get to them a little later.  We drove...and drove...and stopped at Starbucks...and drove...and drove...and just for a change we drove some more!  Fun, right?  To top that night off, our hotel registration had been delayed and we couldn't find a hotel to stay in.  For some weird reason, the 4th of July weekend had skipped all of our minds and gone to the clouded skies for the day.  So we slept in the car, which wasn't all that bad.  Now that I look back on it, I believe that God took that 4th of July thought and threw it out the window for our own benefit.  Maybe he wanted our family to bond more, learn to work together, etc.  In any case, there was never a happier family to exit that crowded car the next morning.  I'm just glad we didn't have the dogs with us...

My cousins are absolutely incredible.  They live on a partial farm place WAY out in OHIO.  They used to have horses but they gave them away a couple years ago, so now they have Go-carts and vegetable gardens and lots of green fields to do awesome stuff in.  Currently, they have two dogs, a billion cats, and a bunch of baby chickens.

           Chris driving the Go-cart. hehe               Me driving Peter's car :D

              4 of the billion cats hanging                    Chris and Peter having a

              out on the porch.  The black                  superhuman fight on the 

             one comes from a wild litter.                trampoline that never breaks.                                 

           The two dogs.  Annie, the black           The new baby chickens they
           and white one...and Samwise the        recently got are adorable.  My
          Brave (from Lord of the Rings.)         little sister is obsessed with them.

           Me, Rachel, and Mary sitting               Rachel let me try a face mask
          on the porch.  Rachel took me               while I was there.  I could
          shopping earlier.  She's amazing :)          seriously pass for an elf...

We went to the fireworks, listened to music, played video games, flied Peter's RC planes outside, and went swimming in the river.  Yay!  I love my cousins!  Peter...and Rachel...and Elizabeth...and Sarah (who is traveling).  We made two major stops on our vacation.  This has already been quite a long post and I would not want to bore you with all the things that I am doing this summer.  Soooo...let's hear from you guys.  What vacations have you guys taken so far this summer??  Love to hear from you!!!!!!!!

"The next moment is as much beyond our grasp, and as much in God's care, as that a hundred years away. Care for the next minute is as foolish as care for a day in the next thousand years. In neither can we do anything, in both God is doing everything."  ~CS Lewis.

The Emperor's New Groove

     Last week, I watched THE EMPORER'S NEW GROOVE with Mary, Stephen, Zac, Kylie, Tatiana, and Tasia.  Let me tell you, it was totally amazing.  Not in the way that I-Robot is amazing, but in the way that a talking llamas are amazing.

     We also casted the characters.  Christian Zerr was Emperor Kuzco.  Tatiana was Yzma.  Stephen was Kronk. Chris Perdue was Pancha.  Kylie was Pancha's wife.  Tasia was the waitress at the diner.  Allie Herbert was the exotic bird (for exotic bird bingo).  Sohpie Drier was the squirrel.  

AH...HA HA HA HA HA...

 I WIN.

 

RANDOM

     Lately, I've been doing a lot of serious posts.  So here is some randomness to...not be serious and to...be random instead.  If that made any sense.  

Blue Silver.  Awesome.

Key Lime Pie.  Yes.

I'm writing this post from inside the computer that is inside this picture.  

Therefore, by some geometric property that I don't remember...I am inside the picture.

Congratulations self, you've hijacked the world.

These are jump poles.  Red.  Blue.  Blue.  Red.  

Symmetry makes me happy.

Nana gave Mom this clock for her birthday.  

It fits the color of our kitchen perfectly, so its mechanical abilities don't matter.

You gotta keep a good reputation in a kitchen that is painted yellow. 

This is Hubert.  Hubert is a mouse.  Hubert is real.  Hubert is invincible.

However long the dogs play with him, he seems to remain living.

To Start Off the Summer...

     I finally finished my last two final exams!!!!!!  Somehow, I think the summer mindset took hold of me back in April...but never mind that!  Summer is here now and I will do awesome stuff.  I LOVE SUMMER.  I love summmmmmmerrrrrrrrrr!!!!  Did I mention that I love summer???  

     My driver's ed in starting on June 6th and I'm really excited.  I can't believe I'm actually going to learn to drive a car.  Two years earlier, it seemed so far away.  I'm doing Summer Celebration in June and Local Missions in July.  I think these events will be a good place for me to learn how to serve others in need and talk with younger kids about Jesus Christ.  Many of my friends have done it in the past and I've heard that working with the kids is a very rewarding experience.  I'm also doing dog training over the summer and am doing the County Fair Dog Show and the State Dog Show in August.  Apparently, the older you get, the busier your summer is.  Summer IS supposed to be a relaxing break from school but I don't really feel like myself if I'm not busy.  So there!!!  Now you know how busy I am.  I'm hoping to get together with lots of my friends this summer.  I may not be able to attend ALL of PARTY WEEK 2011 because we're leaving on vacation in the first week of July.  

     I think perhaps the event that I'm most looking forward to this summer is the Youth Retreat.  Because summer is break from school, it is the perfect time to think about nothing but yourself and what you want to do.  I fall into that trap A LOT.  Ha!  Listen to me in that last paragraph for proof.  Worthy11 is going to be AMAZING and I can't wait to receive a fresh dose of truth.    

     Before I finish up this post, I want your guys comments on Randy Newman's message on Sunday that he titled "Evangelism for Non-evangelists."  I think the analogy about the country plugs and how the world views the Gospel was brilliant.  I have no doubt that at least 1/3 of the entire church congregation is now praying for Randy's son, haha.  If there was one major point that I took away from his message, it was "Sometimes, it is best to answer a question with a question."  I think that's an excellent tactic for making your opponents really think about their convictions and what the Bible says about it.  So, like I said, I would absolutely love to hear what you guys thought of it!  Please comment!       

Spiritual Dryness

          Today was Sunday.  I woke up, ate breakfast and got ready to go to church.  One family member took FOREVER to get ready so we got there a little late.  We got there for the last two songs of worship.  As I stood in the bleachers, suddenly I didn't feel like worshiping.  Something inside my heart was pushing me back, preventing me from raising my hands and singing with all my soul.  Something...whatever that something was...confused me a great deal that morning.  "What is wrong with you???" I asked myself.  "Why aren't you worshiping???  Jesus has saved you!  He died on the cross and was raised to life again!!!  What is wrong???  I'm not sure if I should call that weird, but I sure thought it was.

     The next day, I talked with my mom about it and she said that my spiritual dryness was like a best friend... 

     So, you always invite this best friend over and have amazing times together.  One day, your best friend moves to china and all you can do is write letters to keep in touch.  You keep up the relationship, but after a while, writing letters gets dry.  There is no more enthusiasm, no more excitement.  Your friend is so far away that you feel like you don't even know her any more.  One day, your friend calls and says she is coming back to America, but you aren't that excited about it.  Your relationship is so dry and things aren't the same anymore.

     My mom said that when you don't have your bible time during the week, don't dwell on God's sacrifice for you, or don't pray at all...your relationship with Jesus gets dry.  When you come to church, all of a sudden you can't find a reason to worship.  That's EXACTLY what happened to me.  In the Bible it says:  

     "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you."   ~James 4:8


     I need to seek God with all my heart and soul and the best part is...he will NEVER turn me away!  Even if I don't acknowledge or praise God, he's still there right beside me, loving me anyway!  Even when I think evil thoughts or sin or totally fail him altogether, he's still there slowly...patiently...compassionately...drawing me back to him.  He'll never me or forsake me even when I treat him like dirt.  Even when I spit in his face and tell him he's controlling my life too much, he gently pushes truth in my face and says "Child, remember your past life?  You were miserable, lost in a pit of muddy, thorny sin until I lifted you out.  My guidance is necessary for you, my grace is sufficient for you, and my love will never fail you.  You need nothing else in this world."  What an amazing Savior we have!


     But life...you've been promised life.  I thought you believed...your God is on your side.  If stories of your God are true, then wouldn't he come through?  You said he cares for failures too.  ~ESTHER

Marriage, Mormans, and Heaven

     Heavens!!!  Did I still have that post of Easter up???  WOW.  Time flies...when you're doing homework I suppose.  I've been soooo busy this past month with more stuff to come!  Right now, I'm in the middle of all my final exams...bleh.  To not make it too complicated, I'll just outline my upcoming events for you guys:

Thursday (12th) - Senor Saints Luncheon Concert, we're playing Rondeau (a famous wedding song:)
Sunday (15th) - State Qualifier Dog Show...I still have to give Sandy a bath, that should be fun, hehe
Monday (16th) - Spring Concert Dress Rehearsal, couldn't go to dog training  because of this :(
Tuesday (17th) - Spring Concert, we're playing a Rondeau and a fiddle tune called Square Dance Medley
Thursday (19th) - Ensemble End of Year Party...no violin over the summer, its kind of sad :(
Saturday (21st) - Babysitting, time to earn some MONEY because I need sunglasses B-)

Sometimes, with all these activites on top of final exams, I'm not getting much sleep these days.  That probably was the reason I was sleeping in study hall yesterday afternoon :)

     In the study hall after the one I slept through (which was also yesterday), we were outside at a table.  It was me, Mary, Tatiana Harman, Tasia Harman, Rachel Wilcox, and Aimee Lynch.  Something I learned: when you have a group of girls with nothing better to do than talk, the conversation ALWAYS steers in the direction of marriage.  Don't ask me why!  As Mrs. Garay would say = it is what it is, so accept what it is :)
Anna: arranged marriages are kind of scary
Rachel: yeah, there should be a list of things you have to know before you marry a stranger, like...
Tatiana: ...his age.  (laughing erupts)
Anyway, we talked along the lines of marriage for an hour and about Cali Wilcox's engagement to Phil Royer.  Soooo cute, congratulations to your sister Rachel!!!!!

     Then Zac Lockwood joined our table and we decided to talk about Mormans and the Gospel.  Mormans believe that Jesus was the groom at the wedding in Canan, when in fact he and his disciples were INVITED.  That was where he transformed water into wine.  Many religions, not just Mormans believe there will be earthly pleasure in heaven and we all described what we want in heaven.  Tatiana wanted no more sin.  I love you Tatiana!!!  What an amazing thing it would be to not have to fight sin every minute of the day!!!  To be free to worship the Savior and give him glory without hindrance from Satan.  It's hard in this life and we all need God's help. We read a verse from Romans 7:15 that said:

For I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.  SO TRUE!!!

     Many religions may devise heaven in their own minds, but we have a real description of it in the Bible.  In Revelation 21 it says in heaven, the dwelling place of God will be with man.  There will the New Jerusalem, the river of life, the twelve trees bearing fruit, pearl gates, gold streets, and no darkness or night at all.   There will be no death, mourning, crying or pain...for the former things have passed away.  

Tatiana: "just imagine guys, this right now are the former things, the former life!  She was right!  Our real place is with God.  Nothing about endless women and alcohol are mentioned to be heaven.  

Mary: yes siree, we'll be drinking alcohol with God in heaven!!! (laughing erupts) 

Tatiana: I love that!  We can be all serious in talking about the Gospel, then we can break out laughing and then go back to talking about heaven again.  God has such a sense of humor!  

     I'm so privledged to have such godly friends.  Love all you guys!  Study hall has officially been my highlight of the school year :D    ~Anna 

   

Easter!!!

     Easter Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Worship was awesome.  They had a choir and orchestra and everything.  Thanks to all my friends who played violin in the orchestra!  You guys sounded wonderful!  But the real message of that special day was reminding myself once again that JESUS HAS CONQUERED DEATH ONCE AND FOR ALL.  

     My small mind just isn't big enough to grasp the full reality of that fact.  Jesus died for us our souls to save and we know its true when the Bible says things like "death is swallowed up by life."  Our sins are completely forgiven and our lives have real hope because of Jesus's perfect sacrifice on the cross.  His resurrection was a sign that God had accepted the atonement.  I can so often lose the real meaning of that and it was good to just worship God for who he really is and what he really has done.  I'm soooo grateful for a church that puts such an important focus on the most significant aspects of the Godspe...whoops, there I go again.  I meant to say Gospel.  Anyway, it is Easter and Jesus has risen.  Hoooooooooooooooooray!!!!!!!!

In Honor Of Christian Zehr...

     That was an amazing post.  Christian attended my Spanish 2 class while he was here playing his part in Godspell as Judas.  Ok, want to hear something bizarre???  Ever since the play this past month, I can't write Gospel without writing Godspell (that sentence took a lot of brain power).  Yes, anyway...It was great getting to know you Christian and seeing the way you brought so much joy and energy into our Spanish class. In my theory, it must come from all the smiley faces you write on your arms.  Stocks of happiness must be quite helpful in most situations :D  If I ever come to Turkey, I'll just look for a purple house with purple shutters, a purple car, a garden with purple flowers, a purple mailbox, and a message written on the driveway with purple chalk.  You can't be that hard to find...

BWI - you did awesome in Godspell :)

~Anna

Good Friday

     Good Friday.  The supposed day of Jesus crucifixion.  Many times the horrible death of Jesus on the cross doesn't seem very important to me because I don't have a correct view of my sin.  When the Holy Spirit allows me to grasp the significance of my sin and the love God showed in sending his only Son to die in my place, I suddenly see why we call him...Savior.  It says in Romans that someone would scarcely die for a righteous person, but God died for sinners!  He died for us, for me, and in return we offer him our lives.  The song, Hallelujah, What a Savior says it much better than I ever could.  

  

Verse 1

Man of Sorrows! what a name

For the Son of God, who came

Ruined sinners to reclaim

Hallelujah! 

Bearing shame and scoffing rude

In my place condemned He stood

Sealed my pardon with His blood

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Chorus:

Savior, you showed your love

Defeated our sin and poured out your blood

So we praise you, Lamb that was slain

We offer our lives to proclaim

What a Savior!

Verse 2:

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;

Spotless Lamb of God was He

“Full atonement!” can it be?

Hallelujah!

Lifted up was He to die

“It is finished!” was His cry

Now in Heaven exalted high

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Verse 3:

When He comes, our glorious King

All His ransomed home to bring

Then anew His song we’ll sing

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!!!!!

Just 4 You!

Hey guys,
In this post, I'm going to introduce you to my awesome friend, Carrie.

Many of you probably already know her.  She is a very creative, very godly friend and is always smiling :)  I follow her blog: carrieannedesign.com.  She has a photography business going too so be sure to check that out.  If you need some stylish design in your life or just a flash of vibrant color for a change (instead of looking at school textbooks all day)...then visit Carrie's blog!
Thanks for being a great friend Carrie!!!!!!!
~Anna

Sandy is OK!!!

Sandy update guys!

We put Sandy on antibiotics and the lump on his shoulder just seem to disappear.  Praise God!  It was just a bacterial infection. No cancer, no tumor, nothing very serious.  So now my dog is doing awesome and he has just started dog training back up a week ago.  

  

Thanks to everyone who took time to pray for me.  Looking back on it now, I believe that having the uncertainty really helped me grow in patience and dependence on God.  Trusting that God knows what is best for my life is one of the hardest things I struggle with.