World Changing Decisions

Ongoing Easter

"Wake tomorrow at the astonishing truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Monday do it again. 

Repeat." 

~ R.C. Sproul

Family is for loving....

Friendly fire kills you just as dead as enemy fire. 

Be careful what you say, and how you treat your family and your friends.

Friendship

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one!"  

C. S. Lewis

We were at a friend's house, sharing lunch.  The kind of friends where you've know each other for a while, assuming you've covered a lot of stuff.  Erin mentions an artist in passing and they latch onto it.  "You listen to Laura Story?"  

Yeah?  Laura Story who I only know about because Erin gets her CDs from the library.  I didn't know anyone else listens to her.  She's rather quiet compared to a lot of popular Christan music right now.  

At once the song that's being sung (rather off key) is Blessings - which also happens to be a favorite at our house.  Not only Laura Story, but Laura Story singing Blessings.  

A friendship is born.  "What!  You too?  I thought I was the only one!"

Chickie Update

They Arrived!

 7:30 Wednesday morning we received the call.  Being the family we are, and since chicks are once in a lifetime event, we ALL loaded up and went to the P.O. 

What can we say?  We're homeschooled!

30 little friends.  The blacks are Black Australorps, and the golden are Buff Orpingtons. 

Our Excuses!

We have an excuse for not blogging in awhile.  30 reasons, actually!  :-) 

Black Australorps and Buff Orpingtons arrive this week.  Yes, there will be pictures.  And, yes, they do have names. 

Jamie

 Loving

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 12:10

Happy 11th Birthday, Jamie!!!

Take a Picture, Fake a Picture

I have been invited to join a photography contest... again.  Another contest that needs my snapshots of the world. 

What is the photography etiquette?  Protocol for a photography contest demands, what? 

A new photo?  Is that too staged?  How do you grab the perfect moment when you are hunting for it?  As you wait with a camera, will the perfect, unplanned moment happen while you are in your favorite spot?  The contest demands snow, flowers, vans, smiles, or pens?  No problem, stage a photo.

Is that allowed?

Or do you need an old photo.  Your favorite photo - dug up from the archives of your photos?  The moment you grabbed out of the air - when he turned to the camera with a wide smile, or they dissolved into giggles about nothing.

How many people don't enter a contest and miss out on fame because they are missle locked on one way to enter.  They have never taken a photo, and they can't enter.  Or they don't have time to take a photo- what about they 600 in their photo bank?

Just what is the Code of Conduct when it comes to photography contests?  What am I allowed to do, or required to do?  Will the novice entrant be blacklisted because they dug up a photo or because they went out and took a new one. 

Think outside the box.  Are you missing out because you always think the answer is one thing... when the other is allowed?

That Moment

It is that moment.

That moment when all the trust you think you have is tested. 

That moment when she walks off the cliff backwards, and steps down.

That moment when you are laughing with a friend and look up.

Just in time to see her slip.

That moment when she's flipped.  Hanging onto the rope.

That moment when no one knows whether to scream or laugh.

She's like that.  Happy go lucky.  Lives life to the fullest.  Wide eyed wonder.

Now she's serious.  There's nothing she can do. 

That moment when the dads kick into action.  My dad removes his jacket and my heart skips.  There is nothing he can do where he is, here at the base of the cliff.  Realistically, what can he do.  But daddys come when their babies need them.  No matter the distance, no matter the age.

The other dad that holds her rope at the top of the cliff looks down.  His voice changes and my heart skips again.  It's that voice.  Even though I'm not his child, I know that voice.  My dad uses it.  That exceedingly calm, trying to relax voice.

She's to far from the bottom and to far from the top.  Her rope isn't touching the rock.  I didn't know this before Monday, but that's a bad place to be.

All eyes were on her, all hearts praying as one.  "Dear father in heaven.  Don't let her panic.  Don't let the two people holding her rope panic.  Keep her in the harness.  Help her listen to Mr. Scott and stay calm."

"Thank you also, merciful God, that the moms aren't here"

That moment when the coaching and true Erin spirit won out and she regained her feet.  A cheer broke out as she once again came downwards.

That moment when she landed and her grin grew wider.  She had done it!  By God's grace alone - through her calmness and her coach's calmness and her dad's fervent prayers - she did it. 

Life is never without it's moments.  That's why were commanded to be strong and courageous in the Lord.  For that moment.

Rappelling Day...

Spending time in God's beautiful creation always makes me happy... especially when you get to do while watching your siblings go backwards off a cliff.  :-)  Seriously... we had so much fun getting to go rappelling with some friends of ours.  Lots of sunshine, fresh air, and smiles made it a memorable day for everyone.  Here are so photos of my sweet family and I hope to have more later. 

Sweet sisters, having so much fun!

Ryan, coming down!

Sarah

Happy 9th Birthday to Sarah!

Jubilant

But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!

Psalm 68:3

Film Festival Poll!!!

Yes, there are some plans in the works for the Plants and Pillars Film Festival 2013.  There are many, many changes afoot for the Festival.  Our goal is to make it more enjoyable for everyone! 

Please leave a comment and tell us what your favorite part of the Festival?  What about your least favorite part?

Lessons and Carols

My sisters and I were also able to perform at our church's annual Lessons and Carols service.  Even though you can't see us all in the picture, we are there!  We contributed 3 violins and a cello to the beautiful Christmas music.  

Many friends were there.  Some played with us and others listened, but it was great to have our guests for the night!  Thank you all!!!

Not all of our family could go... but Michael was ready for when we called!

Christmas Performance!

My sisters and I and our friend Bria were honored to be able to play at a retirement home near us in December.  It was a great experience and very moving.  I strongly recommend that any young musician (whatever you play) consider getting together a group and playing several times a year.  

The elderly are lonely and they love music.  And they love young people.  Their smiles were huge.  We are not perfect by any means and our selection was just hymns and Christmas carols, but they loved it!

And yes, I am wearing glasses!  I was finally able to trace my headaches to farsightedness.  

Erin and I were also able to perform some duets we had learned, and that was great!

Happy New Year!!!

Christmas Break

I am taking a blog break through Christmas and New Year's.  I’m taking the opportunity to reschedule my life, plan my goals, catch up reading, plan my Bible time, sing loudly, play outside, sip tea with sisters, cuddle on the couch, write stories, plan movies, think of businesses, get ready to order chickens, study economics, clean my room, and get to know my friends and family better.

Until January 7th!

Hug your family and Merry Christmas!!!

Bowed in Prayer

She sent him off that morning, awake and ready for school.  All of them did.  She didn't get him back that night.  None of them did.

All it takes is one moment to change history.  History is made of moments.  Big moments, small moments.  That is what makes history.


We're praying for the families in Connecticut this week.  Crying for the families who suffer at someone else's hands.   But don't forget them.

The time they need prayer is next week when a birthday suddenly means nothing.  They need prayer next month when the family vacation is suddenly heartrendingly horrible.   They need prayer six months from now when the mom wakes up screaming for someone who is no more.   They need prayer the year their baby was going to graduate.  They need prayer when they pack up the clothes and toys.


They need prayers when the little sibling doesn't remember their big brother.


They need prayer that the Maker of hearts would heal and comfort them.  That the Holy Spirit would come upon them in a new way and draw them closer to God.  That the Peace that passes all understanding would guard their hearts.


Keep praying.

Full Time Sibling?

I'm going to start telling people I'm a part time college student and a full time big sister. :-)  My priorities are different than a typical 19 year old.

Since the week before Thanksgiving, my family has been sick. It started with a cold. That turned into something worse. I ended up with pneumonia. Most everyone is still coughing. Now we have the flu creeping through our house. Because of that, I did not take my CLEP on December 14th and I'm not studying. I'm cooking, cleaning, helping, dosing medicine, and turning on movies.

Oh, yes and playing violin. Our church's big Christmas performance is in 3 days and my sisters and I are the 2nd violin section (and a cello).

My schedule is full, but not with normal things!

Not what I had in mind for my December. My reading list is not getting done, my room's a sick ward now, and my mom and sisters are sick. But, when it comes down to it, I don't have anywhere else I'd rather be. These people are my world, and I am theirs.

So this Christmas season... evaluate your priorities. Are you a full time ________ or a full time sibling?

A Social Network Christmas