Fireworks and Cameras

Have you ever noticed how human lives reflect fireworks? There for a moment, then gone. Vanished.
We could also put it in a smaller scale and say, Have you ever noticed how our seasons in life reflect fireworks? It seems like such a big deal at the time, and the it's gone. Vanished. Never to have the opportunity again.

In a way I could relate it to my life right now. I feel that my school has overwhelmed me . . . overshadowed my life . . . bogged me down. Then I realize that what I feel right now is only for a season. No need to complain about it. It's not going to last forever! I should strive to do my best in what God has in front of me right now, all the while praising Him for everything He is doing in my life. Hmmm...that looks easier to write than it is to do . . . :)

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."  Galations 6:9

"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:" 1 Peter 1:6

Last week, a few members of my family and I went to Colorado for vacation! (A break from the currently overwhelming school. hehe) We could not have been there at a more perfect time!! The scenery was absolutely breath-taking! God is so amazing and colorful with His creation! ;) The aspen trees were just peaking a fantastic golden yellow - along with a few oranges and reds in the mix. The dark green fir trees made a beautiful backdrop for these stunning aspens.

The thing that really struck me, though, was the brillantly colored wildflowers that occassionaly popped up along the sides of the trail!

Of course, I'll be cliche and say "the pictures don't do it justice at all!" :) But what camera can do God's wondrous creation any justice? Lenses just don't catch the splender of the little things and the glory of the enormous things in one snapshot. God created the human eye to have the ability to view His creation in a way a camera never can. He is wonderful!

 

Oh! I have a blog! :)

Short answer? Facebook.

Yes, now that I look at my last post, I realize it has been quite a while since I have written. A friend reminded me of this tragic oversight, and so I have decided to once again write to you all! :)

Quite a bit has happened since my last post, and I will try my best to convey them to you!
Jerusha and I were in our church's Easter drama in April. We both had speaking parts (if two words count...), but we were mainly just part of the "crowd".

Jerusha played a blind person in the play; she did really well!!

Of course, being a blind person means you have to have a blindfold over your eyes to show the audience that you are, in fact, blind. :) They put a blindfold over her and them applied tons of make-up to make her look like the above pic! 

<3

The weekend after the drama my aunt and uncle from New York came to visit us! They were able to hear Jerusha and I in our Spring Piano Recital, and we all went to Eureka Springs together the next day! :)

Jerusha played "Jazz Suite No. 2".



I played "Prelude II" by George Gershwin.

Daddy with his girls!! :)

For lunch in Eureka Springs, we asked a local where he suggested. He mentioned "Local Flavor"...great recommendation!!

My mom and her sister! It was so great to have her and my uncle come to Missouri!!

After the recital, Jerusha, my mom, and I were involved in a Homeschooling convention here in town. SHEM (Southwest Homeschool Education Ministries) was held in the first week of May.

Jerusha and I worked the convention as Pages. A Page is basically a volunteer at the convention to help the exhibitors, speakers, and attendees. Usually the volunteers are from 13-18 years old. We worked with about twenty-two other Pages.

This year the Pages were organized by a young man who has been a Page for three years. He did exceptionally well in planning and getting all the Pages together before and during the convention! (I heard his sister helped him quite a bit, though. :))

We had a great group this year! :)

We've had many more things since April (including a birthday, garage sale, graduations, orchestra performances, etc...), but I don't want to bore you with all the details. :)  I will tell you that recently I have been studying for the ACT which I am taking in a week and a half. Coincidentally, I'm taking it the day after I return from a Worldview Leadership camp . . . should be interesting. :) I would really appreciate it if you would pray for me if you happen to remember. Please pray that God would give me strength to be able to keep going after camp so that I can take this test with a clear mind! Thank you! :) 

Anyway, thanks for reading this unique post! ;)

I know there are a lot of pictures on here, but there are many more on facebook! :p

"As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him." Psalm 18:30

Snow! Snow, snow....oh....

Here are some pictures of my siblings and I in the snow from the last week or so.   :)

Jerusha and I went outside and did some photo shots of each other in the snow.

 A day or so after the snow came, we all went out and shoveled the walkway and the driveway...well, *some* of the driveway. We shoveled enough that our sister could go to work the next morning and not get stuck.   :)

Josiah was an awesome big brother and came out with us even though he had a headache! 

 After we finished shoveling, Jessica, Jerusha and I scrambled on top of a big snow pile in our neighbor's field . . . it's actually a lot bigger than shown here.



Since Jerusha and I had our photo shot the day before, we all concurred it was only right that Jessica should have one too!  

-Dramatic change of subject-

     I have decided that the Kindergarten/First grade Sunday School class that Jessica and I teach is absolutely the cutest class ever!!!! Their prayer requests are so sweet.

Little boy: "Um, I, umm . . . umm, my dad, uh . . . my dad's other dad died . . . so could you, umm . . . could you pray for him?"

Jessica: Okay, well, if your grandpa died then - "

Little boy: NO! Not my Grandpa! It's my um . . . uh, my dad's other dad.

Jessica: "All right, but you don't need to pray for him, we should pray for comfort for your family instead." 

Finally convincing the little boy that she was going to pray for the right thing, she moved onto the next prayer request which was a little girl asking for prayer for her "aunt who died in Heaven".

Sorry, I didn't mean for that to be morbid or anything. Unfortunately they all seemed to be about death.
There are other really cute things that they do . . . but it's not the same trying to write them down. (*Warning! Cliche line ahead!*) You would have had to be there.    :D

~ "The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:" ~ Numbers 6:25