Sisters

A much-needed update-part 2

Well, here's part two of my update...and yes, i have gotten more sleep since I wrote my last post, so don't worry, I'm not going to go crazy and start talking to my blog again!! :)

I already told you about my classes and the main events that have gone on this semester, but, of course, there's more to college life than just classes and events. There are struggles & trials, as well as blessings and answers to prayer. And sometimes, as I've realized this semester, the trials and blessings are the exact same thing.

This semester has been a rough semester in many ways. Emotionally, physically, and academically, there has seemed to be one trial after another. This semester has been my worst semester yet, but through everything, I've learned to depend on God for everything, even things that seem to be small and insignificant.

I can honestly say that God has become my very Best Friend this semester. When I was going through things that seemed as if they would never end, and when I was exhausted physically, mentally, or emotionally I knew that I could go to God and He would get me through. There were times this semester where I honestly felt like giving up. At the beginning of the semester, when I was going through a particularly difficult trial, I would cry myself to sleep every night because of everything that was going on. It was during that time when I realized that I needed to give it all over to God. Once I finally gave everything over to Him, everything got easier to bear because I wasn't bearing it alone. I had God beside me to carry me when I felt as if I couldn't go on.

Well, I guess this post really isn't an update on my life exactly, at least not liek I meant it to be, but this is something I've been thinking about for awhile, and just thought I'd share it on here.

A much-needed update-part 1

My poor little blog!! You've been so neglected recently!! I'm going to blame it all on Baptist History, which isn't a valid excuse considering I didn't update all that frequently when I didn't have Baptist History, but hey, it's an excuse! :)

(Tip: When you start talking to your blog, you know it's time for you to go to bed!!!)

Well, this post is titled update, so I should probably write an update!! Brilliant, aren't I?! lol

Hmm...let's see here, where shall I start? Well, I guess I'll start at the beginning of the semester, seeing as I haven't really done a major update since Christmas Break. I'll try to skip over the things that I've updated on in the small little updates I've done here and there this semester.

When I first got back to college we had opening Revival, like we always do at the beginning of each semester. This semester Dr. Comfort and Dr. Bill Hall preached. The messages were all really, really good, and I enjoyed all of them, but there wasn't any that really stuck out to me.

This semester, I have a pretty light load, but it's still difficult and stressful, mainly because of one class, Baptist History, which I told you about in Update. It's going a little better now, but I'm still struggling with it some.

Besides that class, I have Spreadsheets, Systematic Theology 2, Pauline Epistles, Office Practices, Procedures, & Equipment, and Database. I'm also taking piano lessons again this semester. Tuesdays are definitely my easiest days as I only have two classes, and I don't have a seven o'clock class, so I get to sleep in!!! Yay!!!

After Opening Revival, there wasn't really anything major until Valentine's Banquet. In case you're wondering, no, I did not go with anyone, unless you count sitting with Andrew and hanging out with him as going with someone, which I do not!!! I had fun, anyways. :)

After Valentine's Banquet, the next major thing was Family Fun Night. It took us till about 1am to finish setting up most of the big stuff, and then we were back at it again the next day after brunch. We finally finished setting everything up right before dinner, which is a good thing, considering it opened up right after dinner!!

Family Fun Night was really our last major event before break, well, besides midterms, that is. Thankfully, I only had two midterms this semester, so that was a nice break from past semesters where I'd had one in every class.

After break, there will only be about 6 more weeks left until I graduate!!!! I am super excited, although at the same time I'm a little sacred, because I have absolutely no idea what I'll be doing after I graduate. As of right now, the plan is for me to come home and look for a job, that is, after all the hustle and bustle of Holly's wedding is over!!

Ok, I'm going to close for now and finish updating later because it is way past my bedtime!!! I'll try to write part 2 tomorrow.

Spring Break

I've been on Spring Break this week (I think I mentioned that in my last post, but I can't remember!!! lol) and it has been SO nice to be able to relax and not have to worry about classes. It's also allowed me to get some much needed rest, which I know I'll be even more grateful for next week during Bible conference, where we have two speakers in the morning chapel and two speakers in the evening service.

I think this is the first break where I am not ready to go back. In the past, I have always been anxious to go back, but this time I wish break were longer. Don't get me wrong, I do love it down there at Ambassador, but it has been so nice to be able to be home. Even just the simple things, like either making or helping to make dinner every night this week, and doing housework, and other tasks that we usually consider menial and mundane are what I've enjoyed the most over break.

I've also enjoyed being able to spend time with my family. This is the last time for awhile we'll have a chance to spend time together as a family, because exactly one week and one day after graduation, Holly & Andrew are getting married. As of right now, we will have people here from the Wednesday before the wedding until the Sunday after the wedding, and I'm sure that whole week will be packed full of last minute details and preparations for the wedding, which will leave very little family time.

This week has been busy, but also not busy. I know, that's totally contradictory, but it makes sense to me!! Let me explain my reasoning: Compared to what my weeks are like when I'm down at college, this week has been a very SLOW week. My typical week down at college is: Monday-classes, homework, piano practice; Tuesday-classes, homework, piano practice; Wednesday-classes, visitation, helping with Master's Clubs, and fitting homework in where i can; Thursday-classes, piano lessons, homework; Friday-classes, homework, piano practice, volleyball games (or whatever sport the leagues happen to be playing, depending when in the school year it is); Saturday-homework, piano practice, & frequently, especially towards the end of the spring semester, a special event or something to do; Sunday-church in the morning, stay at church and do homework in the afternoon, church at night, get back to school just in time for dinner. With that schedule, and the occasional (although this year it's been frequent) special event thrown in here and there, it keeps me busy!!

So, as I was saying, compared to that schedule, this week has been really slow, but compared to a normal week at home (like in the summer, or before i went to college), it's been busy.
On Friday, I didn't get home till almost 12:30 (well, I guess that would technically be Saturday...lol).
Saturday, I slept in till about 11am, got up and kinda puttered (I know, that's a strange word to use, but i don't know what else to put!) around the house for awhile, and then we had something going on that night, though for the life of me I cannot remember what!!
Sunday was church, of course, and since we attend a church that's 45 minutes away from our house, that takes up quite a bit of the day when you include the travel time there and back for both the morning and evening services.
Monday was wonderful; I had absolutely nothing going on except having to make dinner, so i just kind of lazed around all day.
Tuesday, I had an appointment with my asthma & allergy specialist (more about that in a later post), and afterwords, shopping with Mom. We got home around 3:30pm or so, and by that time, I had time to do a few things, and then I helped Mom with dinner.
Wednesday was another slow day, making dinner, and then church that evening. Thursday (today), I had to go to the Verizon store in the morning to get my phone looked at (people were complaining that they couldn't hear me) which was kinda a wasted trip because they couldn't find anything wrong with it, then I stopped at the library on my way home. When I got home, i spent the rest of the day (from about 10am to 5:30pm) making meals to freeze. (I did this to make it easier on Mom & Holly; they both work, so this way they don't have to come home and worry about making something for dinner.) I managed to make 6 or 7 meals worth of food today, and I'm planning on making a few more things tomorrow. At 6pm, the lovebirds (my name for Holly & Andrew) and I went out to eat with my Pastor and his family at Tom's Ice Cream Bowl (the absolute best place in Ohio to get ice cream). By the time we got home, it was about 8 or 8:30pm.
Friday (tomorrow) is going to be another busy day. In the morning I have a dentist appointment (I HATE the dentist!!! I always have and always will!), then doing a little quick shopping. (I have to be home by 10 because the lovebirds have a premarital counseling sessions with Pastor and right now we're down to just 3 cars. (we usually have 4, but one just died.)) When I get home, I plan on doing a little more freezer cooking, as well as finding something to make for dinner...that is if we have anything left after I get done with all the freezer cooking!
As far as I know, there is nothing planned for Saturday, which is my last full day home before I go back to college, so I'll probably be packing and doing last minute stuff to get ready to head back.
Sunday, I'll be going to my church in the morning, and then meeting up with a friend at her church right after the morning service to leave for NC. It's an 8 hour drive, so that means it's going to be a LONG day even though I won't really be doing anything.

Well, that's what my busy/not busy week has been like/is going to be like. I've really enjoyed, and am not looking forward to it ending, but, alas, all good things must come to an end, or so goes the English Proverb. I'm trying to be content knowing that I had a wonderful week (10 days) home, and that in about 7 weeks, after graduation, I'll be home to stay.

Free Music

So, I was browsing the free music selection on Amazon.com today and discovered an album of someone who is now possibly my new favorite singer. her name is Faryl Smith,a 14 year old mezzo Soprano with a beautiful voice!! You would never be able to guess from the sound of her voice that she's not even old enough to drive a car yet. She was a finalist on Britain's Got Talent in 2008. If you go to Amazon.com's mp3 special deals section, click on "free albums: or something like that. Faryl's album is called "River of Light." Unfortunately, the free version only includes one song, The Blue Danube, but it is very good.
Also, if you like classical music, there's a free album download called "X5 Free Classical Sampler: Chopin 200 years: that you'll enjoy.
Well, that's all for now, but I run across more later, I'll probably edit thsi post to include those, too.

Update

Well, it's been awhile since I've updated, but I do have a good reason. I've been busy with school work and church stuff, so I haven't had time to get on here in awhile. Besides that, my life has been pretty boring lately.
January 18, I started the second semester of my sophomore year at Ambassador Baptist College. It started out very busy, with opening revival the first week, and classes as usual.

In contrast to last semester, I am struggling with my classes this semester. Most of them are easy, but I have Baptist History with Dr. Dalton (the hardest teacher at Ambassador), and it's been really difficult for me. I've failed my first two tests, which has really hurt my overall grade. We just started the second book, America in Crimson Red, which is easier and more interesting than the other book, Struggle for Liberty, which was written by Dr. Dalton. Please pray that I do better on the rest of the tests and quizzes in this class, as it is required for me to graduate this spring.

Graduation is less than three months away!!!! I can't believe it's coming up so fast!! I can't wait for it to get here! I have absolutely no idea what I will be doing after graduation, except, of course, for being in Holly's wedding, but it will be nice to be done with school, especially after this semester, which is proving to be a rough semester.

Well, that's about all that's been going on in my life lately. I'll try to update more frequently, but I'm not making any promises!!! :)

A Sailor's Christmas

I know that Christmas is over, but I found this poem online today. SInce my dad was in the Navy for six years, this poem really touched my heart and made me stop and think about all those sailors spending Christmas far from home.

Twas the night before Christmas, the ship was out steaming,
Sailors stood watch while others were dreaming.
They lived in a crowd with racks tight and small,
In a 80-man berthing, cramped one and all.

I had come down the stack with presents to give,
And to see inside just who might perhaps live.
I looked all about, a strange sight did I see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stockings were hung, shined boots close at hand,
On the bulkhead hung pictures of a far distant land.
They had medals and badges and awards of all kind,
And a sober thought came into my mind.

For this place was different, so dark and so dreary,
I had found the house of a Sailor, once I saw clearly.
A Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone,
Curled up in a rack and dreaming of home.

The face was so gentle, the room squared away,
This was the United States Sailor today.
This was the hero I saw on TV,
Defending our country so we could be free.

I realized the families that I would visit this night,
Owed their lives to these Sailors lay willing to fight.
Soon round the world, the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate on Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom each day of the year,
Because of the Sailor, like the one lying here.
I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve on a sea, far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.
The Sailor awakened and I heard a calm voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice."

"Defending the seas all days of the year,
So others may live and be free with no fear."
I thought for a moment, what a difficult road,
To live a life guided by honor and code.

After all it's Christmas Eve and the ship's underway!
But freedom isn't free and it's sailors who pay.
The Sailor say's to our country "be free and sleep tight,
No harm will come, not on my watch and not on this night.

The Sailor rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent, so still,
I watched as the Sailor shivered from the night's cold chill.

I didn't want to leave on that cold dark night,
This guardian of honor so willing to fight.
The Sailor rolled over and with a voice strong and sure,
Commanded, "Carry on Santa, It's Christmas, and All is Secure!"