The Life of His Princess

With Christmas officially past us, there has been one thought stuck in my mind since Saturday night. Saturday night was the Christmas eve service at church, after the Christmas eve service our family traditionally has other families/couples over for finger food and talking (it's kinda my favorite Christmas Tradition around here). My mom was on the worship team for Christmas eve so we had gotten there over an hour before the service started and I was talking to our friend's daughter. She was standing in front of the manger that had been used in the Christmas program the Sunday before and just hadn't made it back to the basement yet, and she was "reading" the bulletin upside-down. Crouching down beside her I asked her what she was doing, she informed me that she was reading about fruit to baby Jesus' bed. I then asked her if I she was coming with her parents to my house tonight after church, her reply was simple "No, my mom and dad are, but I'm waiting ...

Happy Thanksgiving! I love this reminder in my otherwise stressful weeks (months) to relax and remember all that God has blessed me with- An amazing family with (once you add all our exchange students) 10 siblings, 2 jobs that couldn't be more perfect, the ability to pay for college up front with no debt which means I can actually get a degree, Health even though I fight sinus infections all the time I'm not really ill, An incredible College small group that stretches my faith and helps me to grow in so many ways, Friends who I may not get to see more then 2 times a year but mean as much to me as sisters, and last by deffinitly not least- an incredible Savior and Father who have given me this life to live for His Glory. It's so easy to not be thankful and it's sad that we seem to need this reminder to be so. It's even more depressing that a day meant for thanks is now centered around gluteny, Parades, football and preparing to spend all night shopping. We forge...

I've had a song stuck in my head all day now... Maybe it's because it played at least twice yesterday when I had my entire music selection on random. ;) Still, the chorus has been replaying in my head all day. I haven't really had time to write for enjoyment since classes started (I tech don't have time right now... but hey! ;D) due to the fact that my life is consumed by school, work and sleep (In that order). But, I've discovered something these last 6 weeks! I dislike online classes- I enjoy the face-to-face interaction. I loved pretty much all my PSEO classes (thankfully the one I didn't enjoy as much transferred as a required class for Moody so it was worth something!) But these last 6 weeks have worn me down, and fast. I'm always just barely keeping up with the reading/writing load and just end up pretty discouraged by Monday (everything is due Monday at midnight EST.) Actually, take it a step beyond discouraged.... I'm normally an emotional wrec...

So an update on college plans- I am now a student with Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. I will be doing online classes starting next week! After three months of waiting I finally got an answer back from the previous college. The Answer was No. At the time I was pretty upset over the whole thing and was an emotional wreck (People that can attest to that would be AJ and my Mom.) My mom asked me if I had applied to Moody. I replied yes I had, we didn't really know why I had except that it was free to apply there. We then started forward on the path to doing classes with Moody. This was 5 days before I left for Puerto Rico. By the time I left for the mission trip we had gotten my Highschool transcript and my college one from South Central sent to them. Then I left. Looking back I can see how God used the mission trip to force me to rely on Him. I was entering a new college late enough in the game that I couldn't rely on myself. There was no way. I had one option, and that was ...

Not many people know this right now, but I honestly don't know what my fall will look like. I'm still waiting to hear back from one college and depending on their answer I may or may not be applying elsewhere before I leave on my mission trip to Puerto Rico. The most common question I get in response to the above is "Aren't you at all stressed out or worried about not having things settled?" And I can honestly answer No- most of the time. At home I tend to be a tad more stressed over it. But I'm honestly not overly worried about the whole thing. My recent lessons seem to revolve about learning patience. Our world is so impatient, we have the "give it here, give it now" mentality. Everything should be instant, did you know that with modern internet most people get frustrated waiting for more then 8 seconds for a webpage to load before hitting the Reload button? That college classes have breaks so we can stay focused, and the professors are often train...

Hahahhahahaha.. yeah.. Had to start with that. I just read my last post and it put me into a giggle fit. I thought life was nuts then. :p Ha. Well Lemme see... A few days after that post (the 13th of June) I was at the library helping with summer reading signup when Lucy, Who is in charge of the library, came in and asked if I was still interested in a job there. I obviously replied yes and we set up an interview date (the next morning before F.C.A. Junior sports camp.) I came in, and I got the job! I am now working two jobs and loving it. :) Though I must admit, I miss eating meals at home with my family every night. I also have a minivan! On the 11th of June we went to go look at a minivan that was at first owned by Taylor Corporation as a fleet vehicle and then was bought by one of the top guys there and he used it for 2 years. It's in pretty good shape for being 10 years old! :) I love my minivan. :) The hardest thing right now has been learning to have a healthy balan...

Right now my life is easily summed up in these words. It's time for healing time to move on It's time to fix what's been broken too long Time make right what has been wrong It's time to find my way to where I belong There's a wave that's crashing over me All I can do is surrender [Chorus] Whatever you're doing inside of me It feels like chaos somehow there's peace It's hard to surrender to what I can't see but I'm giving in to something heavenly Time for a milestone Time to begin again Revaluate who I really am Am I doing everything to follow your will or just climbing aimlessly over these hills So show me what it is you want from me I give everything I surrender... To... [Chorus] Time to face up Clean this old house Time to breathe in and let everything out That I've wanted to say for so many years Time to to release all my held back tears Whatever you're doing inside of me It feels like chaos but I...

Do you know how often we as Christians rationalize sin? Whether it be our own or others, we do it all the time. The area that's hit me recently is in the media industry- I have a very hard time watching stuff that's... well.. Bloody in any shape or form, it just sickens me. And I was having a fit over the show I walked out of my room and saw on our TV. My mom pointed out that I watch things that my brothers can't watch as well. I've been pondering this over for a week or so now... This morning at Sunday school we were talking about the end justifying the means and how this works with what we watch/listen to etc. Does the good points in the things we watch and listen to justify the sin that we know is there? How many things do we rationalize daily in our lives saying it's "OK" because there are "good parts of it" or that "Well, there are some good family values so the other stuff is ok." Is it really ok? Is allowing the ideas that aren...

(I know I know, my main point is at the end of the post, but I had to give background information! ;) ) Growing up I always thought seniors were, well ya know. "Awesomely cool" mostly because -they- got to be done with school soon, oh and they were so much taller then I was. Truth be told, most of them are still taller then me. ;) But views change, instead of being that 2nd grader who thought being a senior would be the highlight of life as a student, I am now the Senior who realizes how amazing and simple life was then. We tend to take that for granted don't we? Or maybe it's just not being content on where we are and where God has placed us in that moment. These next few months will be more insane then I ever though possible. I mean, it's all amazing stuff, but insane is still insane. My youth group is getting ready to go to Puerto Rico! If you think of it be praying for us! There's 26 kids going, largest group ever for us! But with that come lots of fun...

The following is a statement from our daytime/weekend weather man.  "Keyc Mankato Snow Facts about our notable season: Since November 1st, 84.5 inches of snow. That's nearly 30" more than what we had last year (56.5", which seemed like a lot!) We've had snow on the ground since November 13th. That's nearly 4 months of snow... 1/3 of the year! -Meteorologist Mitch Keegan" Now don't take me wrong. I LOVE winter. It is by far my fav season. But most of our seasons aren't normally this long, we have lots of "in-between seasons". The truth? I'm tired of having to wear sunglasses anytime I'm outside to not be blinded by the sheer whiteness of everything. I'd like to see some green, and wear a t-shirt without a hoodie. pretty please? Oh And well.. even with our 25 foot dikes they're really worried about flooding. :( North Mankato is well below the dike line and there's already talk of people moving stuff out of the...

Since last night I've had a song stuck in my head. The chosen song for over 24 hours? "Give me Jesus" Sung by Jeremy Camp. Here are the words.  In the morning, when I rise In the morning, when I rise In the morning, when I rise Give me Jesus Give me Jesus Give me Jesus You can have all this world Just give me Jesus When I am alone When I am alone Oh, when I am alone Give me Jesus Give me Jesus Give me Jesus You can have all this world Just give me Jesus   When I come to die When I come to die Oh, when I come to die Give me Jesus Give me Jesus Give me Jesus You can have all this world Just give me Jesus Give me Jesus Give me Jesus You can have all this world You can have all this world You can have all this world Just give me Jesus. These lyrics have spoke to my heart all day, I've found myself constantly humming them. When Life is crazier then crazy and stuff doesn't seem to be going how you thought you'd like it to go. And you have no idea which way...

I got up this morning at 7:45 to get ready for church, I was greeted at my bedroom door by my Dad, who had a phone in his hand. He looks at me and asked if I could play the piano (At least that's what *I* heard) And he then said to get ready to go ASAP because the Piano player was stuck at home due to the massive storm outside (Why did we go in then?! Anyways...). We got out of the house in under 30 min (my family of 5, my bros two friends that were over and our exchange student) And proceeded to barely make it into church. At this point I was still drinking coffee and was NOT awake. I believe I was asked a few questions that I don't think my answers to made any sense... Anyways we lost our drummer because his mom almost got stuck on the way home, and this was oh, 2 min before church? I had played through 2 of the songs before church so I was well, out of it. :p Church involved about 20 people max, considering we normally average around 80 :p yeah. Anyways, My parents were goin...

You are Lord, Lord of my life   Every day I lift you up high   I praise to you Lord   My God and my King   You reign in me for eternity   This is a love song to you   A song of praise to you lord   I kneel before your glorious throne   To show that I am yours alone   You are Lord, Lord of my life   Every day I lift you up high   I praise to you Lord   My God and my King   You reign in me for eternity   This is a love song to you   A song of praise to you lord   I kneel before your glorious throne   To show that I am yours alone   Hallelujah, I love you   Hallelujah, I love you   Hallelujah, I love you   Hallelujah, I love you   This is a love song to you   A song of praise to you lord   I kneel before your glorious throne   This is a love song to you   A song of praise to you lord   I kneel before your glorious throne   To show that I am yours alone...

"Is-is he a man?" asked Lucy    "Aslan a man!" said Mr. Beaver sternly. "Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don't you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion--the Lion, the great Lion."     "Ooh!" said Susan, I'd thought he was a man. Is he--quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."    "That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver, "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."    "Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy.    "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver; "don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course He isn't safe. But He's good. He's the King, I tell you." He is the Lion, the Creator King, and no, He is not safe. But He is incredibly good....

Jesus does not send perfume To linger in the air Instead He sends salvation, sweet To show how much He cares. He doesn’t bring me candy hearts In boxes of delight Instead He always lets me know I’m precious in His sight. He doesn’t send out pretty cards Trimmed in shades of red Instead He gave His life for me His precious blood was shed. He doesn’t hand out fancy gifts Like we would send to mother Instead He sends a message clear To always love each other. He doesn’t give me teddy bears That whimper, "please be mine" Instead He gave His heart to me I wear it all the time. He doesn’t give me roses, pink For all the world to see Instead He gave eternal life That’s good enough for me! (Author: Marilyn Ferguson)

Well, I've officially accepted an acceptance to a college. I'm not sure if there's a better way state that, but if there is no one ever told me! :p But since I've mailed back my rooming information sheet and signed Honor Code, it's all set in to a different level of reality. Like I mean, it feels.. "real" now. Like there's nothing more I can do to slow time down, it's coming whether I'm ready or not. I keep getting this intense desire to go through my boxes in storage, even though that's virtually impossible to do since I don't think our exchange student would overly appreciate me taking over her room for a week. :p Which makes me at least want to put it on a "To-Do List" but whats the chance I'd actually -FIND- that To-Do List come summer? I mean really? It would end up in a pile of school papers that accidentally gets thrown away I'm sure, or something of the sort.. knowing me. This spring seems to just be pillin...

Wow, it's 2011 already... I feel like this year went by WAY to fast... I'm pretty sure I should still be a freshmen in highschool and not a senior... Where has time gone? Anyways, I was thinking about this year and all that it'll bring. I've had years of massive changes, but this will probably top all so far in my life. First, I am graduating from highschool! Totally hyped and freaked out at the same time!! Second, I will become a legal adult in June... Wierrrrrrrdddd I do NOT feel that old. Third. For the first time ever, I am not only leaving my family for a very long time, but moving for the first time. EVER. Unless changing your bed from one side of the room to the other counts? The last one probably frightens me the most.. I don't feel prepared for this leap yet... I like being at home,  and I'm not a massive fan of change. This year will be filled with a lot of learning to trust God even more so with my worries and that He does know where my life...