I can't believe that I really just noticed this........

I was walking to the backporch (where students get quick food) after chapel and I saw my youth Pastor acting like such a kid. I thats when i realized that he really does act like a kid and it seems like its all of the time (accept when he is preaching and even then he sometimes acts like a kid). Thats Friday when we were heading to the church he told me that he was not feeling the greatest and that he had a really crappy week cause he got sick. Well the worst was over but he still felt really bad and I could tell that there was something wrong cause he wasnt quite himself. Well during the ride he was saying really mean things to the other drivers and about the other drivers and stuff that if he said it to their face they would either start crying or want to punch him for it and just by that I know he wasnt ok and totally not himself. Now I will say that he does say mean things and crack little jokes about other drivers that usually make me laugh but this was over the top I was laughing but not at what he was saying but at how he was acting and just how out of it he was. He told me right when I got in the car that because he was very sick he didnt have time to write a sermon so he said he was just going to wing-it cause he didnt know what to do. Well he started the sermon out telling the kids what he went through during the week and then started talking about Jonah. That sermon was one of the best ones he has ever done and you could tell that God was working through him and it was not on his own strength. He is just an amazing youth Pastor and I know and see God doing wonderful things through him. He has changed the youth group for the better in so many ways. I love him like a brother and love having the chance to work beside him as a youth leader. I would really hate to see him go if God at all calls him and his fiance away to another church. Here are some pictures of him.

Him and his finace Charissa

He's a big Steelers fan

Big crazy at Fine Arts

one of his many looks

This is his normal look

Superbowl night

Here is Pastor Gary

Life is crazy

Sorry I havent really posted anything for a while but life has been crazy and kinda boring to write about. So I am just letting you all know that I am still here and my life is still going on its just not that exciting and fun anymore. But I will promise to write something soon about my b-day and let you all know how it went.






Ok this is a funny picture a kid in my class found and I thought I would let you all see it and share in my laughter.

Inauguration '09

Today was the Inauguration of President Barak Obama and at chapel they had the live feed of the event playing before worship and after worship. It was neat to see the things that were happening and have a chance to pray together as a school and to pray for our new president. I didn't get to see him be sworn in because I has a class. But during prayer I was praying for him, his family, President Bush, and his family as they all go through a change in their life. I hope that you all are also praying for President Obama and the chooses he is going to have to make over the next four years. I hope you are also praying that God will be right beside him helping him make the right choose and that President Obama will listen to what God has to say to him.

It is neat to see an African American become a president. I am glad to see this nation move on from the past and embrace a change. I know that not everyone is ready for this change but I pray that soon they will be ready and enjoy the changes in our nation and in the world.

A look back @ 2008

Because of the new year coming soon I thought it would be a great chance to just think and look back over my year and see what has happened.

January: I was accepted to VFCC. I also went a my last Winter Retreat with my youth group and as a student.

February: My last Sectional Fine Arts Festival in which I went on in my human video solo and large human video. I turned 18 and began what some called my adult life (hahahaha). And my family realized that we had some type of rodent living in the house and eating our food.

March: My youth group took just a few of us girls to VFCC for their Breakaway. My last District Fine Arts Festival which was very exciting because my large human video group found out that we were going on to Nationals. And there was Youth Convention which was amazing.

April: We had Girls of Purpose which happened to be the biggest one we have ever had in the few years we have been doing it. My youth group had went bowling and then had an al-nighter. My youth pastor broke the news to us all that he was leaving and moving to another church (very sad news).

May: The homeschool group that my family attends had their fine arts festival and robyn and i did a human video which wasn't the best but was fun. I got a job at a summer day camp and had to take CPR training. My best childhood friend graduated from Gettysburg Master's Commission so I went with her and her family to see the ceremony. A few friends and I did a prank on the youth pastor's car because it was his last Sunday. And we all had to say good-bye to my youth pastor.

June: I started my job as a counselor at the Summer Day Camp my township has. It was fun and a blast to work with the other counselors and kids. We got a new youth pastor who really connected with the youth. And I graduated from Pennsylvania Homeschoolers and had a wonderful service.

July: My cousin David got married and I had got to see all of my cousin's again. And I continued to work at the Summer Day Camp.

August: I finished working with the Summer Day Camp. My human video group went to Nationals but didn't place anywhere. My youth group had their first event with the new youth pastor. And I started to pack and get ready to make my big move to my new home and school.

September: I began my life at VFCC and made a bunch of new and dear friends. I got a new nickname (which is "Mother") that stuck and I don't think it is ever going to leave.

October: My roommate and I had trouble with our toilet and was clogged for a good week. I realized that I really couldn't stand the one girl at the school who at first was a friend of mine. I went to the school's Harvest Festival and also helped with my youth groups Harvest Festival which both were a bunch of fun.

November: Helped out with the Women's of Purpose Conference (which Kay Authur spoke at.) And at the same time as the conference my youth group had an al-nighter which I helped with (and wasn't a really smart idea to do, but i did it). I found out how bad I could procrastinate and how my body really reacts when I do. Had a wonderful thanksgiving break. And my family finally found the rodent that was in the house.

December: I finished my first Semester at VFCC and made it through my finals. My mom had her surgery on her arm. Had fun relaxing and hanging with my friends and family.

Wow there was alot of things that I forgot happened and alot I remember so well. God has been really good to me and my family. I can't wait to see what he has in store for the year 2009.

Ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Out so there is this one girl here that at first we were kinda friends then all of a sudden she started to really get on my nerves and begin to push my buttons. I don't know exactly where it started but I am thinking it started when she and I were twins for twin day here at VFCC. After that day she continued to call me twin and with this very kidish voice that drives me nuts. Then she found out that we both have the same middle name and are born two days apart which didn't help. So I asked her to stop calling me twin and it took her a long time to stop but she did then she started calling me hater. Oh oh oh now that gets on my nerves big time. I have never hated her, there are just a few things that I can't stand about her. And I have asked her to stop and have told that I don't hate her but she won't stop calling me that. I know she might feel like I hate her but I truly don't hate her. And what is really hard is that I try to keep an open mind and let her in but then she does something that drives me nuts and I usually kick her out of the room or stop talking to her. I think what really drives me nuts with her is that she wants attention and tries to get it but I won't let her have it because I know that she needs to learn how to deal with out it. It is just really hard right now for me to be dealing with her and with the end of the semester at the same time. Tonight she came in my room and asked if she could stay well I said that I was doing homework and Casey (my roommate) said the same thing. SO she said that she would be quite and just sit on her computer, so I said that was fine as long as she does not talk. Well she was not quite and kept talking so finally i got sick of it and told her to get out, because she was not being quite. Well she got mad at me and called me a hater again so I told her that she was not aloud in the room again. Well now looking back at it I probably should have not said that but it is what came out of my mouth and I don't have the time to fix it. So she probably totally thinks I hate her but I don't she just gets on my nerves alot. You guys probably didn't want to hear about this but I had to get it out before I explode, so I might be posting another post tomorrow to let you all know how my day went.

What I have done in my very short life time

(Bold the things you've actually done.)

And I will elaborate on some for your viewing pleasure.

1. Started your own blog - of course
2. Slept under the stars - nope but want to with my special someone
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower - with my family
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
10. Sang a solo - does in a shower count and when i was about ten or twelve with the churches christmas play
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - and i have fallen asleep by one as well
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child - nope but want to so bad
16. Had food poisoning - when i was young
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight - when i was really young
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort - yes I helped robyn do it one year
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping - nope and dont plan to
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse - many times
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - yeah and hopefully i can do it again with my special someone
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - kinda
35. Seen an Amish community - yeah i live like an hour from one
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - fake rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa - just went to Egypt
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - yes in NC and by the Red Sea
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain - want to with the special someone God has for me
53. Played in the mud - when i was a child
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - yeah its called Ashley's Cheesecakes
i sell them for $12-$15
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen - does a food bank count or even penn national
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason - yeah from the little kids i babysat
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check - and not knowingly but thankfully the bank helped me with that
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt - i think i did when i was younger
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone - no thank God
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - and with my brothers and sisters
85. Read the entire Bible - yes twice through
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - nope and never want to
88. Had chickenpox - when i was 1 years old
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - does my mom count j/k, I have actually met Kate Gosslin from Jon & Kate plus 8
92. Joined a book club - in ninth grade
93. Lost a loved one - yes my grandma and papaw
94. Had a baby - nope but hope to once married
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee - twice

The New President is ..............

Ok I am not to happy about this but there is nothing I can do but pray. Obama is going to be our new president. I can't believe it but its true. I really don't know what I truly think about it all but I am just a new voter and havn't been following the election much. I didn't get to put my vote in because they didn't get me my absentee ballet. The on going joke her is that me and a bunch of friends are going to move to Egypt and get out of this country. So this is just my little update about the election and a few of my feelings at this moment.

Temptations

Okay the last two days have been trying really hard to fight off the temptation to get on facebook and it doesn't help that I have facebook e-mail me all of my notifications. So today I was checking my e-mail and saw that some of my good friends commented on a picture of me and I so badly want to see what picture its was and what the full conversation is. But I can't and its getting really hard for me (and its only the second day.) I think the other reason why I have been having this really hard temptation is because there is a guy here who I have been talking to on AIM and he has not been on so I can't talk to him. So its kind of a mix of two things that are driving me nuts and I think I am going to go crazy. Another thing that doesn't help my situation is that the guy I am talking to has become a really good friend to me and all of my close girlfriends think that there is something going on with me and him. And just to set the record straight there is nothing happening we are just friends. But my friends just keep joking about it with me all the time and its starting to mess with my mind and I can't quite think straight. Everything is starting to get confusing and I am going to go crazy. I just would love for you all to really pray for me that I see God's plan and his direction in this time in my life. I was hoping that through this fast I would start to see what God has planned for me and where he is going to lead me this semester but with all of this going on I don't know if I will be able to hear him or even understand him. I just hope that everything might get better as this week goes on.

I am so sorry if you lost me but this was kind of a way for me to get everything off my shoulders and to help me think more clearly. I just hope that you can understand what I just wrote. I did not read over it because I don't want to think of it all again. I miss you all and can't wait until I see you in person so I can explain everything in a better way. Love you all so much.

Fasting Facebook

Okay I have decided to fast facebook and spend some extra time away form the Internet. You might be wondering how I came to this and made the decision to fast facebook. Well I was getting really tired of the chat on facebook, because I would try to talk to a friend then it would knock me off. And I strated to got really angry at how retarded it was acting. So I give up facebook for a week and I'm going to see where it will lead me. The other reason why is because I am on it all day and never really get anything else done. It feels very weird to call it a fast but when you give up something that you do everyday and takes a good amount of time out your day and time with God, its considered a fast. So I am going to spend more time with God and more time doing my homework. I have been praying that God would give me the strength to follow through with it and not give up. So maybe this will not just go on for a week but maybe two, I don't really know I guess I'll find out. So I know this is really off the topic and really random but I was just letting you all know what I am doing and hopefully I will be able to write some more posts this week about how everything is going. Please keep me in prayer.

Coming Soon!!!!!!!!

When I finally get act together I will post about my college life. So when ever that happens I will give you all an update.

Accordion Photo Album

I love making these, thier called "accordion photo album's." Its pretty easy to make one, all you need is; 3 pieces of oattag paper, 10-12 picture, glue, string or ribbon, scrap paper, an empty cereal box. I have pictures of the two I have done.

Heres the intructions hope they will be clear enough for to understand.

1. take your 3 oattag and make them into squares.(fold the one corner up then cut the extra. shown on side)

2. Next fold the 3 squares in half making a rectangle all fold need to be folding in. then unfold and do it again to make little squares. Then unfold it to make a triangle. Shown on side.

3. After you have fold the 3 papers you are going to glue them together. you want to glue the squares not the triangles. and you want the traingle folds to be oposite of the one next to it. it should almost look like mountains and valleys. shown on side.

4. Okay now for the cover. take your cereal box and cut two squares the same size as the squares in the paper. then glue those to each of the ends. this is going to make it stiff. next cut your scrap paper to cover the cereal box, and cut 2 ft. of string or ribbon and glue it to the bottom so you can tie it shut, then cover it with the paper.

5. Now you can put your pictures on any way you want. If you put them on the fold you have to cut into two triangles so you can still fold it.

You can look at the ones I made to get some help and maybe you can understand the instrustions.
Here is the one I made of Sarah's Wedding.

Here's the top. You can see how I had to cut the two pictures in half because of the fold.

The middle one.

The bottom one.
The back (sorry its upside-down)

It closed
Now the one I made for Egypt.
The top
The middle
The bottom
And the back. (I messed up and put the tie on the top and not the bottom.)
Here it is closed.

Laminin

A friend of mine sent me this video and I thought it would be a crime not to share it with you. You have to wait a little to get to the best part but it all makes sense in the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4

I hope you enjoy it just like I did.

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.

National Day of Prayer

No ocean can hold it back.
No river can overtake it.
No whirlwind can go faster.
No army can defeat it.
No law can stop it.
No distance can slow it.
No disease can cripple it.
No force on the earth is more powerful or effective than the power of prayer.
~Linn Carlson, DaySpring Writer

Don’t forget the National Day of Prayer.

Max Lucado

God loves you
with an everlasting love…
You are valuable to Him
not because of what you do
but simply because you are.
His thoughts of you outnumber
the sand on the shore…
He lives to hear your heartbeat.
He loves to hear your prayers.
If something is important to you,
it’s important to Him.
He has never taken His eyes off you-
not for a millisecond.
He’s always near…
So be kind to yourself.
God thinks you’re worth His kindness.
And He’s a good judge of character.
He thinks you’re wonderful.

Horrray

I am so happy I got the Human Video to upload on Youtube. So now you all can veiw it I don't think you can see our faces that good but at least you can see the stunts.

This is the Human Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G6sjTLt81w

This is a video that I really like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1TvJsfieGI

Sorry

Sorry but the video I took will not load on to my blog. I think its to big and now I have to figure out how to shrink it or something. It may be a will but I hope I can get it on soon. I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY.

COMING SOON

I just want to let you all know I plan to tape the large human video tonight on my camera. As soon as I get home if its not to late I will try to post it so you all can see. If I don't get it on tonight then I'll have it on by 1PM tomorrow.

Pray for us if you get a chance to. We'll be practicing all day today and then all of the FAF stuff will be presented tonight during service. It should go well but I don't know if any of us will be awake after practice.

My Morning

My morning usual starts when I Wake Up. (just a little joke there) I tend to wake up around 7:30 and 8:30. When I finally wake up I take my Ipod and robe with me into the bathroom and take a shower. After the shower I usually go into my brothers room and wake them up. Getting dressed usually takes me a while. I put on hand lotion and face moisturizer, then the rest of my clothes and get the boys up if the went back to sleep. I usually get down stairs around 9:00 or 9:30 and if I am in the mood I will get something to eat or I will just wait until I start school to get something. And between 9:20 and 9:40 I would start the boys English and we would try to get it all done before the neighbor boy comes down for Science and History. But that's pretty much my mornings.

Theres a mouse problem

Right now, in our house, we are having a big mouse problem. In the past week I have seen more mice run across a room, then I have ever seen in my life. Yesterday one came out from under the couch and kind of looked at us, then my dad through something at it and it ran back under the couch. No matter what we do or try we just can't get rid of them. My mom says that we need to get a cat in order to get rid of the mice. My dad is the only one who does not like the idea, so we are stuck with the mice. To keep the mice out of our food we have to wrap everything twice. Its a pain but at least they don't get to the food.