Christmas

My wonderful readers I hope you all had a great Christmas! My Christmas started around 3:00pm on Christmas eve with our wonderful traditions. About 5 years ago or more my parents decided to stop traveling for Christmas. This was a wonderful thing for me as we started forming family traditions and making memories that will last a lifetime. One of my favorites is my mom reading us an advent book every year. This year we read Bartholomew, a book about a little boy in Bible times. This book really makes you think about what it would be like to live in Bible times. We also went to a wonderful christmas eve service at church. Then came home for our traditional chinese and appetizers. Yum Yum! Of course the meal with finished with lots of cookies and pie. Then we did a white elephant gift exchange the eight of us and my grandparents. I came out with chocolate cookies. :) Then we received our family gift- Settlers of Catan expansion pack and wii sports resort. We spent the rest of the night playing that. Then I watched Hogan and texted one of my good friends till around 12:30an then I went to bed. Woke up around 7:00 am to wait for my sister to get up so we could wake my parents up. Then we rushed in to wake them up. 15 min later we were down stairs opening stockings. Then we finished Bartholomew and read the Christmas story. Next we opened secret sibling gifts and then gifts from parents. The boys and I were excited to find the lots of camping gear under the tree. I was also excited to find a new sweater, two watches, a card and a chocolate snowman (which was amazing because I love snowmen) and some other small things. Then we ate cinnamon rolls, egg casserole, and poppyseed bread for breakfast. Then because of a combination of things I completely crashed till 2:30 when my mom woke me up to say we had to go to my grandparents house, where we ate more food and opened more presents (camping gear, a movie, and some little things) Then we went home and crashed again. That was my christmas! Hope you all had wonderful christmas's as well!
   
 Starbucks

Top 5

1. Amazing family and friends
2. Wonderful Christmas
3. Voyage of the dawn Treader
4. A break
5. Finishing science fair

Poverty Stricken

Almost two years ago Brandon Heaths hit song "Give me your eyes" became popular. When this song first came out I thought it had a neat beat and good lyrics so I listened to it all the time.

Looked down from a broken sky

Traced out by the city lights

My world from a mile high

Best seat in the house tonight

Touched down on the cold black tar

Hold on for the sudden stop

Breathe in the familiar shock

Of confusion and chaos

All those people going somewhere

Why have i never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so i can see

Everything that i keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach?

Give me your heart for the one's forgotten

Give me your eyes so i can see

Yeah yeah yeah yeah

Step out on a busy street

See a girl and our eyes meet

Does her best to smile at me

To hide what?s underneath

There?s a man just to her right

Black suit and a bright red tie

Too ashamed to tell his wife

He's out of work he's buying time

All those people going somewhere

Why have i never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so i can see

Everything that i keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach?

Give me your heart for the one's forgotten

Give me your eyes so i can see

Yeah yeah yeah yeah

I've been there a million times

A couple of million eyes just moving past me by

I swear i never thought that i was wrong

Well i want a second glance

So give me a second chance

To see the way you see the people all alone

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so i can see

Everything that i keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach?

Give me your heart for the one's forgotten

Give me your eyes so i can see

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so i can see

Everything that i keep missing

That i keep missing

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach?

Give me your heart for the one's forgotten

Give me your eyes so i can see

Yeah yeah yeah yeah

Yeah yeah yeah yeah

I wore it out... thought it was kinda old and didn't listen to it much. A few weeks ago I really listened to the lyrics though and made them the cry of my heart... and it changed I started noticing the hurting people- A woman holding a crying child as the man in her life is arrested, a man with out arms in down town streets, a young woman with a toddler and infant on the street corner while its snowing with only a light jacket. Why do I get to be in a good family with warm accommodations and good food?? How come I am not living in Africa or Haiti? What can I do to help these people what can I do to change these peoples lives? These are the questions in my head... these are the answers I am praying for. I feel like I never get to do what I want etc. because of money but it could be a lot worse and that is what I am learning. Dear hurting world, I wish I could give you everything but I can't so instead I wish you a very Merry Christmas and God's love. I am always praying for you! 

The Tale of Despereaux

 We watched this movie tonight and it was really good. Not just because of the story line but the values were the best I have seen in a long time. Its not just a story of love, chivalry, hope, and courage but also a story of forgiveness and mercy. A tail of how we can go against what society excepts and how what we are on the outside doesn't matter! A story of over coming class, finding honor, and fighting for what we believe in.... truly a movie worth seeing!

Top

1. Doctors/ Physical therapist appointments
2. Friends
3. My job/ work
4. Venturing crew and lot's of fun
5. God's amazing work... even when it comes in the unexpected ways
6. Christmas lights
7. Christmas season

These stories always move me!

Ephrem

Busy

Snow pictures coming soon! Break has been amazing! Work, lock-in, friends court of honor, doctor appointments, movie, lots of holiday business! Next week I should be able to post more. I have a couple posts brewing in my head! :)

Top 10

So I didn't do top 5 last week so this from the last two weeks-
1. Seeing the school play
2. Cast Party with friends
3. Visit with an old friend
4. My amazing new picture frames
5. End of school
6. Picnic at school 
7. Gift exchange at school
8. Christmas parties
9. Free 3d movie
10. Christmas time

Allodoxaphobia

Allodoxaphobia-fear of: opinions
A few days ago this showed up on my random facts app. I found this interesting that there is a name for this because so many of us live our lives completely in fear of opinions and of what other think. I think its interesting that we would rather live for others then live life like who God has called us to be.
"Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" 

Wow!

Incredible  Take a few minutes to watch this amazing movie! What will you do this christmas to be a voice for those who have none? What will you do to be a friend to the friendless? A father to the fatherless?

This week Ramblings

I have had a bit of a rough week this week, but it has also been good. My sprained ankle is feeling much better, but I am having some other health issues and I have been sick this week. I have been extremely tired when I get home from school in the mornings, but I can't sleep at night. Also, I am getting very frustrated with my school and a lot of issues that come with going to a small school. I am so glad tomorrow is the end of this school week and that I only have one week left before break. I am having a really rough time in algebra and my teacher is really trying to help me. Thankfully, she moved our test back till after break. I am also so glad we moved on in literature, we have been reading a play and I was having a hard time understanding and I didn't do well on my test. I am doing better again thanks to having a new book that isn't a play and actually coming to class again (i was sick for a few days last month) I just am hoping my grade wasn't to hurt by that. I can't believe science fair is in less then two months! So much to do for that! Over thanksgiving break I got a ton done and finished up a bunch of tasks and even read for fun some. Since then I have been a mess and haven't really known what to do. I think I should be able to survive the next week and hopefully set some new goals, reorganize my life, and pick up some hobbies and get disciplined again. I need to figure out what is going on with my knees before I can run again which is starting to bother me, because normally I run when I am upset and I haven't been able to lately. On the bright side, It snowed this past weekend and it a wonderful thing. The snow is so pretty! Pictures coming soon!

Thats all for now, this really is just a bunch of randomness. I will post my top 5 tomorrow.    

New Look!

I am very excited about my new winter theme and signature thanks to Kendra and her sister Anna! Thanks so much girls!

All we ever need

A heavy heart I bring
For I am tired Lord
Awaken my lost love for You
Take this heart of stone
And warm this bitter cold
Awaken my lost love for You

Let your children fall down and worship
Fall down and know You
For You are holy
Let Your children rise up before You
Rise and adore You
For You are holy
You are holy

Remind us who we are
When we have wandered far
Awaken our lost love You
And like the morning star
You chase away the dark
There is no shadow here with You
With You, Lord

Let Your children fall down and worship
Fall down and know You
For You are holy
Let Your children rise up before You
Rise and adore You
For You are holy

Just a glimpse of You is all we ever needed
Just a touch from You is all we ever needed
Just a glimpse of You is all we ever needed
It's all that we are needing now

Let Your children fall down and worship
Fall down and know You
For You are holy
Let Your children rise up before You
Rise and adore You
For You are holy

Top 5

1. Black Friday deals on stuff I needed
2. International group
3. Christmas movies/ hot tea/ blankets
4. Snow :)

5. New Camera

Percy Jackson

Last night we watched Percy Jackson and the olympians. I thought it was a great movie, but more than the plot, the symbolism behind it was so cool! SPOILER WARNING!!: The movie had one scene where the main character sees the girl he ends up liking while she is fighting.... and she starts by welcoming him back home, making him feel good etc. then she grabs his sword from him and reminds him to never let his guard down. This is the same thing the enemy does to us.... makes us feel good then takes us down. In another scene they have to not look Medusa in the eye or they will die and again life is like this, except opposite in our case we must look sin right in the eye in order to stop it. Another time they become so engaged in the happenings of the hotel (their world) thy don't care that they waste part of their life and risk the worlds safety to enjoy themselves. We are SO much like this its not even funny.... we not only put ourselves at risk but the whole world, we would rather spend our time doing what we want then sharing christ. We consume our lives with business and leave no time for people (future post coming soon).  In my favorite scene one of the main characters had to be left in the underworld.... and the others had to go to Zeus in order to rescue him. I am so glad we don't need to send people to get God to rescue us and I am also glad we can go to God on behalf of our friends.