Pastor Eric's Last Day

Here are a few pictures of Pastor Eric's last day, I'll post about the day later.

A good group picture.

Now a funny one.
Me and Pastor Eric. Its a very bad picture of me but its what I got. Pastor Eric calls it before VFCC and after VFCC.
I had to get a picture of me and my girl friends.
Now a funny one.

Sunday Picnic

On Sunday the community churches had a picnic/carnival at a local park. So my 4 siblings and I went to have fun. They had lots of inflatables and games. Around 8:00 they showed "Facing the Giants", it was neat see a movie in the park. It was a blast and a great time to hang with my friend and brothers. Every time I turned around Joshie needed my help. I asked what he was going to do when I go to college. I have a few pictures of one of the inflatables. You can click on the picture to make it bigger.

This inflatable you get strapped to a bungee cord and see how far you can reach.

Here's Joshua and Caleb getting ready.
Here they go.
Here's Josh trying to hold on and not get thrown back by the bungee.
Here's my two friends Lindsay and Ashley. See how far they got.
I had to try it, so me and Kierstin got strapped in.
Here we go. Kierstin got a lot farther than I did.
I was always falling down. I think that's as far as I got.

Sunday Prank

Since Sunday was Pastor Eric's last Sunday with us, we decided to do a prank on his new car. So my mom bought lots of posted notes for us to put on his car. we put all of the posted notes on his car during worship, then went in to hear him preach. Near the end of the service we went back out to check on it and clean up what wind blow off. While we were out there my one friend, who told me she did not want to help us with the prank or be park of it, told and showed Pastor Eric what we did and ruined the whole thing. Even though the whole prank was ruined we still had fun putting them on his car.

It took 18 packs to cover the whole car.

We didn't do the windows because we ran out of posted notes.

This was the hot side of the car cause the sun was right on it.

We covered the driver side window with the final few posted notes.

Sunday

On Sunday we had the usual Sunday morning service and then right after church I went to my small group meeting. Then right after that I went to Rachel's graduation. She was graduating from Gettysburg Master's Commission. I traveled with her family, Robyn, and Lindsay. On the way there we watched Father of the Bride 2. We weren't able to finish it all so we found room and watch the rest. It was great to see her again and be able to celebrate with her. The graduating class did one of their human videos, gave a couple testimonies, then received there diplomas. It was so much fun to be there and Gettysburg is a very fun school. I have a few pictures of the graduation.

The one thing I really missed about her was her beautiful smile.

Here are all the grads and all the alumni.

Here's Rachel and two of her friends

Saturday

On Saturday at 9:30 I had a CPR training and then an orientation for the Day Camp. I didn't know that I had an orientation until I got there for CPR. But at the orientation we did paper work and went over a few games that they suggest we do with the kids. Well I prayed before going that God would have someone else there that I know and when I first walked in the room I saw an old friend from church. God is so good in helping me do things I don't feel comfortable in doing. It didn't end until 2:45. As soon as I got home I changed, grabbed a few things, and then headed up to church for the Mother Daughter Tea Party. I got there an hour after it had already started. Afterwards Angela and I went to the mall for about 3 hours. I got Angela a few shirts and she looks good in them. When we got home we went right to bed.

Here is the beautiful landscape they had in the middle of church for the Tea Party. They left the landscape there for sunday service.

Friday

This past Friday Robyn and I went to support a friend in the play Annie. My friend played Miss Hanigan which is a very flirty and crazy role. Well my friend is very quite and not outgoing so to see her play this part was just a blast. They did a great job in the whole play and it was by chance I knew more than one person in the play. My evaluator had her kids in the play as well. In order for Robyn and me to see the play we had to skip youth. But Angela still went and she told me that we were not the only ones to skip youth. There were only 5 youth members that show up to night so that means at least 15 people who skipped. So Pastor Eric chose to cut youth short for the night.

Summer Job

I have been looking for a summer job and found one at a day camp. So I applied and had my interview. Then last night I got a call from one of the employers saying that they will hire me. So I got the job and have to go to a CPR training course on Saturday. I know that the training is just the beginning but I am ready for all of it.

My Little Brother

About two weeks ago we had a service for a Royal Ranger Gold Medalist and at the service Caleb and Joshua had to be dressed in their uniform. I only have a picture of Josh at this time, so as soon as I get a picture of Caleb I will post it.

Here's my brother.

Pictures of Homeschool Fine Arts

Here are some pictures of the Homeschool fine arts festival.

Angela performed with her Irish step class.

Here's Caleb's and Josh's choir class.

They got hold posters for the first song.

Josh singing and signing.

Caleb singing and signing.

Robyn and I did a human video to "Hero" by Superchick.After everyone finished performing they honored the graduates. It was me, Savanah, and RJ.

After everyone got a snack Robyn's Debate class did their debate. It took them two hours. This is Robyn's team they were on the Affirmative side.

It's Caleb and Joshua about Thursday

I just thought that maybe Caleb and Joshua might want to say a few words on how their day went yesterday. So here is what they said.

From Caleb:

Hi. Yesterday I played with my two friends. We played Star Wars with toy lightsabers. And last night I went to my co-op's fine art festival and sang two songs with my choir class. The first one was about creation and the second was about God's love. After everyone performed we went down stairs to eat. It was fun.

From Joshua:

Yesterday I sang "In the Beginning" and "This is How We Know". Robyn and Ashley also performed a human video. And then I went down stairs to eat after everyone performed. After I was done eating I played with my Friends at co-op. When we were done playing I had to go home and go to bed. So that was my day.

What Is Praise?

What is praise?

Praise is a heart response which expresses adoration and gratefulness.

Who is to praise?

All creation including you and me. (Ps. 138)

Who is to be praised?

The Lord is to be praised for who He is and what He does.

1. He is majestic (Psalms 96:1, 6)
2. He is glorious (138:5)
3. He is excellent (148:13)
4. He is great (145:3)
5. He is powerful (21:13)
6. He exercises loving kindness (63:3)
7. He provides salvation (18:46)
8. He comforts (42:5)
9. He judges (101:1)
10. He counsels (16:7)
11. He exercises mercy (118:1-4; 136)
12. He forgives (103:1-3)
13. He protects (28:7; 59:17)
14. He delivers (40:1-3; 124:6)
15. He answers prayer (28:6; 118:21)
16. He gives spiritual blessings (103:2)
17. He gives material blessings (104:1, 14; 136:25)
18. He blesses daily (68:19)

Our self-sufficiency may cut us off from these great and constant blessings from the Lord. However, if we are as the blessed man in Psalm 1, we are receiving all of these blessings from the Lord.

When and where do we praise?

At all times and for everything (Ps. 34:1; 1 Thess. 5:18). We are to praise more and more (71:14). Our cold hearts and insensitive spirits need the continual warmth of praise for the Lord Himself and His daily blessings.

1. We praise when we awaken in the morning (Ps. 59:16)

2. We are to praise by silently thanking the Lord for blessings throughout the day. We tell the Lord we appreciate Him, that we are thankful for what He has brought into our life.

3. We praise by speaking to others of our thanks to the Lord (51:15).

4. We praise during church services, Bible class, and chapel if we sing praises from our hearts.

5. We are to enter into the presence of the Lord with praise. Our daily devotions should begin with a prayer of praise.

Why do we praise?

The Lord deserves our praise! We are commanded to praise Him (Ps. 150). The attitude and practice of praise transforms our lives into a psalm of praise which glorifies God.

How do we praise?

1. With understanding (Ps. 47:7).
2. With our whole heart (138:1).
3. With an attitude of praise developed through
A. learning to be grateful for ordinary events.
B. learning to see the benefit in every event in our lives.
C. learning to regularly express gratitude to other people.
D. regularly saying or singing the praises in the Psalms back to God.