Hey everybody! I hope all is going well today. It is drizzling outside right now. I do hear a little thunder, so I will try not to post too long. Dad does'n tlike us being on the internet when there is a thunderstorm.
There is a scripture in the Bible that goes: 'No temptation has over taken you, except such as is common to man. But God is faithful, he will not give you beyond what you are able, yet he will make a way of escape, so that you may be able to bear it." (I know I somewhat paraphrased, but you understand the meaning.) Well, the point of why I wrote the verse was that yesterday, I really saw that in action.
I know it sounds weird, but it really helped with my dealing with not going to the Christian concert I mentioned. You see, I understood why I couldn't, and shouldn't, go, but I would be lying if I said I didn't struggle with that. I soooo wanted to go. It was something that I was looking forward to when I first heard about it. The group that was singing was one of my favorites, I would see some of my friends, and witness some cool fireworks. Ok, I think you get my meaning. Yet, there is the scripture: "Honor your father and mother, for this is the first commandment with a promise."
So, yesterday was that concert, but amazingly, I didn't struggle as much as I could have. God, in his amazing love, gave me another outlet to enjoy some friends. I did wind up going swimming with the Sterlings, and Brianne came with us. I had so much fun. We swam for about five hours, and just had a great time. I hung out with Hannah and Brianne, and also talked with Grace, and watched Lydia and Faith while they played in the shallow end. All that to say, I didn't think about my disappointment. In fact, the concert never entered my mind until we were heading home and the guy on the radio was going on about it. Then, I felt a twang, but realized that I wouldn't make it anyway, and I wanted to see my dad. I wound up going home, since Dad did work a little late, and just watched some Westerns, which I like.
So, I know this mind sound ridiculous to you, but it was just a way I saw God this week. It wasn't a temptation, but God DID create a way of excape, so that I might bear my disappointment. Most importantly, though, God was faithful to me and got me through that difficult issue. How thankful I am for that, and for Him. He truly is a loving God.
Why don't you look and try to find God in a way similiar to that this week? He won't let you down; He will carry you through all the storms of life that we go through. Mine was a result of my family's and mine stand on modesty and separateness from the world. Yours might be different, but the result will ultimately be the same. You will see God high and lifted up, I am positive!!

Greetings and salutations from Idaho where the temperature is 105 degrees outside. Whew!!!! Today was our running around day, and as the car doesn't have air conditioning, it was a bit difficult. Garrett and I got right home and washed Mom's car. ( and ourselves too!) That was refreshing. Tomorrow, we intend to go swimming somewhere with the Sterlings. That will be fun. However, the last time I went in some "funny" water, I got leeches on me. Gross!!!!!! I definitely don't want that again.
I am not sure what has happened of excitement this past week. Oh, yeah I do. Does anyone know what to do with jelly that didn't jell? Use it as ice cream topping. It is yummy. Mrs. Best gave Mom the idea, and it was sooo good. Unfortunately, they couldn't have any with us, but the Lavourantes did. The liked it too. ..I think.
People are interesting characters. Yesterday we received in the mail something we had ordered, and it was pirated. I really have no desire to watch a movie that is in Japanese and has Japanese subtitles on the bottom of the screen. I was upset with the sender at first. I will give her the benefit of the doubt, that she didn't know, but still. Isn't it sad that people would even consider that in the first place? We live in a messed up world. I would never think about deceiving someone with anything.
The harvest is going well. I think we are making jam again tonight. The raspberries are ripe, and the apricots are getting there. The Lord was truly the Lord of this harvest. I wish, though, that the apples and peaches didn't have something worng with them. Hopefully, Dad can get the problem under control. Those are two of my favorite fruits. I used to not like cherries, but they are growing on me. Rhubarb is good, and apricots (dried) are ok, but I DO NOT like plums and/or prunes. Yucky!!!! I don't know wht I don't like them. Maybe it's their texture, or perhaps it's something else. I won't complain, or at least, I will try not to. The Lord put them on this earth for a reason.
My book is soooooo good. I can hardly put it down. I think Mom is going to let me read two or three at a time, but that's it. She said that when she read the series, she was engrossed as I was. Dad still enjoys it; I get him a book in that series, or another one by the same author, every Christmas, birthday, and Father's Day. He doesn't seem to mind. (It's not always those two; it's some form of book;)
I had better close. I need to go help with dinner, and then, cherries await. Bye!

It is Friday night. Mom is doing the dishes, I am posting, (that's obvious,) and Garrett, Dad, and two of Garrett's friends are watching a movie. I decided to take some time, since I have some, and do what I love to do. Well, maybe I wouldn't go that far, but I really do enjoy posting. It enables me to connect with other people.
I have had somewhat of a rough week this week with some various disappointments. The first was that Mom decided it best for me not to go to the Christian concert next Wednesday. I was upset at first; I had been looking forward to it for many weeks. Yet, as we talked about it, and I prayed about it, I realized that Mom always has my best interest at heart. Last year I went to the concert, and it was a difficult time for me. There was too much of the boyfriend/girlfriend stuff going around, I saw friends that had conformed to the world, and I just struggled with the fact that, though I was at a Christian concert, you couldn't tell that. It was exactly like the world. So, this was why Mom did not want me to go.
The second disappointment was about the Vision Forum essay contest. I found out the results today. As I figured, I didn't place, but it still upset me. I really had felt that I had written a good essay. Obviously, the judges didn't think so. I felt the loss deeply. Mom and Dad both did their best to encourage me, saying that many people write well, but they don't get published. They also have encouraged me to try again next year.
As I ponder these things, I sometimes wonder what is the point of it all?! Why do we lift our hopes up only to watch them get bashed down? I do know the answer. As with everything else in my life, God brings about things to test my response. Will I respond with a right attitude, or will I get furious? How I wish I would be more like the former than the latter but I know I don't always. Those of you that think about it, pray for me that I would just turn my problems over to Christ. I don't want to handle them in my own power; I know God is the one who can handle everything.
I am reading Left Behind right now!!!!!!! I am so excited to read it. Mom and Dad finally said I was old enough, though there is a catch: I con not go form book to book to book. I understand where they are coming form. It gets boring if you only read one series for months on end. Anyway, I have known for many years the basic storyline of the book, but it's a different thing reading it for yourself. The End Times are amazing, yet freaky, thing that will happen in History. The amazing part is that it was foretold in the Bible thousands of years ago!! The freaky part is all the evil devastation that will take place. I wither want to be in Heaven or raptured before it all happens.
Tomorrow is going to be just an ordinary day, or so I think. I plan to read my book, do my cross-stitch, and go to the library. That's basically it. I have no clue when Garrett's friends are going to leave, but why should I concern myself with that?
I have enjoyed my friend's blog lately. My good friend has been out of town for a while, but she is back now. This other girl I know has been writing alot about emotional purity. It is an amazing thing to contemplate and think about. I totally agree with her one hundred percent. Why go and get yourself attached to a guy that you are most likely not going to marry? I want to go to my husband totally pure, but I think I have already said that repeatedly. Oh well, new thoughts on the subject will come eventually.
Who likes my new stuff on the blog? I thought it was a cool change. Galatians 6:9 is a verse that has truly comfoted me in times of struggle.
I had better go. I want to post again soon, and I will. I am so sorry about the pictures; Garrett needs to edit them for me. Oh, this is way off the subject, but you should see the movie Eight Below. It is really good!!! Ok, bye for now. Have a blessed day, and keep your eyes focused upon our wonderful Lord.

I need a big lesson in patience. I have tried repeatedly to post pictures on this site, but my internet connection is going sooo slow. I guess there's no reason to be in such a hurry. Please bear with me, though!!
I picked cherries, destemed cherries, pitted cherries, and ate cherry cobbler all day. And this is only the first tree!!!!!! Wow! Someone needs to come and take these of of our hands. The Lord is the Lord of the Harvest, and he let us reap bountifully. I am thankful for that.... but I will be so sick of cherries when all five trees are done.
I have had the privilege of checking out other people's blogs.It's amazing to see how different and yet how similar you are. I will enjoy looking at them sometimes. Yet, seeing them has made me think if I have a purpose for my blog. Mom says I should do more than just babble....
I cannot finish all of my thoughts. We are heading out to the store to get stuff for cherries. I will post tomorrow, or maybe, if I get lucky and fortunate, tonight.

Ok, I'm back....

Anyway, I got to thinking about what I want the purpose of my blog to be. Yes, I want to have an online journal, but I also want to be telling a message. So, I think my message will be encouraging others to stay separate from the world in all things. I intend to talk, eventually, about the dating verses courtship thing. I believe that will be the main topic I will talk about repeatedly. Also, I will talk about the need to remain pure in every essence of our live. These are things that we all need to be reminded of, especially when the world, tabloids, and Hollywood are telling us something entirely different. Their voice is not only the most common, it is the loudest. I want to be encouraging others, as well as myself, that waiting on your future spouse is one of the best, and most rewarding, things we can do.
So, you know the gameplan of my blog. But rest assured that I will always, and most predominately, post about my normal, everyday life. I just wanted you to have fair warning if I lapse into a reflective mood or something:)
I still have fourteen days of school left. I still have a lot to do. Though I am done with my writing (boo hoo) I still have some Consumer Math and tons of History. Do research papers ever stop!!!! I am inclined to think not. I don't know if I am ready for school to be done. I mean, I won't feel guilty if I don't get something done. (like today, I was upset that I didn't get to history.) But, I know that I do much better with a routine. You know how it is; you know what and when you have to do something and you do it. When you off a routine, you have a tendency to become lazy about things. I don't want that to happen. I intend to be a wife and mother. While they don't have school to keep them on a routine, they have to make one. So, perhaps I should start. I know I should. but I want to get away from the sound of my incessant alarm clock for a while. (It drives me crazy!)
I know I should go, much as I don't want to. I know I will post again this week. An exact date I cannot say. But know that I will try my best.
~~Oh, referring to patience at the top of this post, I am still waiting to find out about the essay contest. The winners now won't be announced until Friday. The waiting is agonizing. Not that I expect to win or anything~~

Hi ya'll!!!!! Wow, it is nice to be posting once again. Nana and PopPop are now gone, so I have time to do this. There is so much to say, and I will start right away. Perhaps, though, I will do it in two installments or something.
Let's start with last Friday. Nana, Mom, and I went to Ginger Thai for dinner. I was a little afraid to give it a try, but it was very good!!!!! I was so full, I brought some of my dinner home to have the next day. (A recommendation: sticky rice with mango is yummy!) Then, we watched the movies that I mentioned last time. Mom and I loved them!!!!!!!!!!! Nana, as I expected, fell asleep on the couch and/ or went to bed half way through. In all of them, I was on the edge of my seat, totally wondering what would happen next. Also, I did my running commentary like I always do. Saturday, we went shopping, and I got some nice clothes, as well as new white shoes for church!!!! We had lunch at the tea room, where I tried a different kind of sandwich. It was good. (If I remember correctly, it was a sun-dried tomato panini with turkey, cheese, black olives, lettuce, artichoke hearts, and a spread.) On Sunday, we went to church, but Nana had to go to the Catholic Church. That was hard to do. I struggle with the fact that she will not embrace the things we believe. I do remember coming away with thankfulness in my heart that I do not attend a church that is so grandiose and pompous looking. Truly, the heart of the church is more important than the building in which it presides or all the rituals that are performed. I had always known that, but driving away from the Catholic church just impacted me more fervently with that knowledge.
I can not overly remember day to day some of the things we did. On Tuesday, I did have my piano lessons. I could have taken the week off, but I really don't like to do that. I so enjoy playing. I didn't get all of the practice time that I had wanted to, but I believe Mrs. Wierenga understood. She's continuing to talk about my doing the Sonatina Festival. It's exciting to think about it!!
Oh, that night we want to Applebee's for dinner, because guess what they'd? Fired pickles!!!!! We tried them, and they weren't that bad. I think Garrett like them the best of all. For myself, I have added them to my list of foods, but I don't necessarily have to eat them again.
On Thursday, Dad took the day off so we could go on a drive. No, we didn't get to go to Shoshone Falls. Apparently, Dad had called the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce, and it was down for 18,000 cfm's to 300 cfm's. So, instead we took a drive up through Stanley and Sun Valley and down through Mountain Home. The drive was beautiful. There was snow still in the Sawtooth Mountains and it was breathtaking. The weather was crummy, so much so that we ran into a tremendous hailstrorm in Mountain Home. I mean, it was gray and dreary. I so would have enjoyed it more if there had been blue sky. In all, we were in the car a total of ten hours. My bottom was soooo sore by the end of the trip. I also felt so bad for Nikki, who couldn't come with us. (we weren't in the truck.) Boy, was she ready for us to get home!!)
Nothing much else to speak of in realtion to Nana and PopPop's trip. I had a difficult time saying good-bye on Saturday. I hate good-byes. I bawl everytime I watch them on tv. It's also doubly hard when you don't know if you will see the person again. I mean, PopPop has had triple bypass surgery. What if he dies before I see him one more time. I know I have to surrender to the Lord on this, but it is just hard. Plus, Nana got choked up saying good-bye to us. What's odd: Nana never cries. Oh well, I have to think upon the goodtimes, and just believe that I will see them once again. Most likely, though, it won't be for another two years. (that's when I graduate!)
Yesterday, we had church. Do I have to say again that I love it there!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are always the last to leave, both in the morning and at night. The relationship we have with the people is, like Grace Doolittle put it, a big, happy family!!! Example, as we driving down the road, Pastor Jeff was right next to us, and he started squriting us with a water gun. Never in my sixteen years has my family had that kind of friendship with the pastor. Oh, I will be playing the piano on July 9th. You know what is amazing and "coincidental" about that? That will be my one year aniversary of being at that wonderful home. God works in mysterious ways!
Tomorrow, we head to the Dykstra's. Yippee!!!!!! Then, there's piano!!!!! Then, I go to a baby shower with Mom. Sounds like a busy day! I ought to go, but I'll post again soon. Enjoy some pictures of Nana and PopPop's trip here.

Just wanted to say hi to you all. Nana and PopPop are here and we are having a great time with them. We've already gone to the Iris and the Rose Gardens, we've done croosword and suduko puzzles, and other stuff. I am not sure when we will be going to Shoshone Falls, but I hope it is soon. The guys are leaving to go on a weekend fishing trip tomorrow, so we girls will be home alone. I believe we plan to go to the tea room, shopping, and watch Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma. I think we'll have a whole lot of fun.
I am so thankful to the Lord that conversations one on one with Nana have gone so well. I was afraid that they wouldn't, as I have had bad experiences in the past with others. College has come up in a way, but no problems, at least non that she said verbally. Thank you, Lord!!
Has anyone heard of french-fried pickles. Nana went on the internet before she got here, and a website said that Idaho, particularly Nampa, is the fried pickle capital of the world. How weird is that?! We have called the Chamber of Commerce, as well as diners around here, and no one has ever heard of that. So, we are scouring the valley until we locate them. I'll let you know what we come up with.
I am going to close, but I hope to get in touch later on in the week. BYE!