God On The Mountain...

The song below has been a real blessing to me.
I always need the reminder that God is God
no matter what situation I'm in.
When life is going good,
its easy to say 'we have faith'.
But when the troubles and trials come (and they will);
if we have faith and trust Him all the way through,
then He'll work everything out for good.


God On The Mountain



Life is easy when you’re up on the mountain
And you’ve got peace like you’ve never known.
But then things change and you’re down in the valley;
Don’t loose faith, for you’re never alone.

(Chorus)
And the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right.
And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.







We talk of faith when we’re up on the mountain
But talk comes so easy when life’s at its best.
But it’s down in the valley of trials and temptations,
That’s when faith is really put to the test.

(Chorus)
And the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right.
And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.


I was unable to find a sample of the song online
but it's the words that are good. ;o)


For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand,
saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
Isaiah 41:13

My Birthday...

My birthday this year was a good one ;)
(Of course, I've never really had a bad one!)
My mom took me out to my 'favorite of all favorites'
restaurant... as my sisters call it, "Red Lawnspur"!



YUM! I got my favorite dish of lobster, scallops, and shrimp!
And mom thought it would be funny to get me a 'lawnspur' bib...



I only wore it for the photo, of course!
Afterwards, we went shopping.
I couldn't resist buying one of these
little 'chick heads' that I found
with the money I got from my gramma...



Also, at church, the assistant pastor
and his wife gave me a very cute purse.
It was very sweet and thoughtful!
Then we came home
and everyone gathered around to sing 'Happy Birthday'.



I made my cake and I think it's really good.
It's a double layer mocha chocolate cheesecake!
And since I can't eat ice cream,
I got multi-flavored sherbert!
And then I received my gifts.
It was a Jane Austin piano book! And lots of Sweettarts. ;)
I've really enjoyed playing the pieces...
and eating the pieces ;) lol

Today I received a gift from my uncle, aunt, and cousins...



My dear aunt made it for me.
They knew that I needed a real guitar strap,
since I used a rope untill now!
I really like the color of it as well!
Also, attached were some really nice picks!



It's actually much more comfortable to play with a real strap!

Today I cleaned my room from the 'vacation mess'
and did a few lessons in Calculus.
I should be done with it by next week.
I hope you all have a great week!


"Watch ye therefore: for ye know not
when the master of the house cometh, at even,
or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."
Mark 13:35-37

Our Family Trip...

I'm baaack!
Terribly sorry I didn't inform you I was leaving.
My Great-Grandfather went to be in the presence of the Lord
and we had to pack up and leave quickly for the funeral.
I didn't get time to say I was going away but now I'm back!

Oh, how I've missed being up north!
It got to 4 degrees while we were there!!
Oh yes, the weather was definately lovely!
I loved the scenes as we drove through the mountains...


And the Lord blessed us by letting it snow on the way...


When we arrived, Dad started shoveling the snow
and I was unloading the van;
and, of course, we couldn't resist enjoying the snow :)


I was more than glad to be asked to
play my violin at my granpa's funeral.
It was also nice being reunited with family.
I, particularly, liked this photo of my aunt and I
with my uncle in the background...

;o)

The weirdness you see from my immediate family:
well, it is in the whole family!
Speaking of weird,
here's my mom and sisters in the hotel room...


The younger children also enjoyed the snow,
since they'd never really seen it...


I, too, enjoyed the long missed snow,
but in my own way ;0)

My uncle and I also made snow cream,
but I've always liked it just plain!

It snowed so much one evening,
the roads were completly covered...




Also, we drove to the shore where we could see Canada...


The younger ones have never been to Canada,
so Will was really excited to see the shore of it!
I went there quite a few years ago, when I was younger.

One afternoon, my great-grandmother heard me singing
in her room and wanted me to sing to her on my guitar.
It was a blessing being able to minister to her heart
through songs that glorify the Lord...


Also, my grandma wanted to celebrate my birthday together,
so she asked me to play my guitar for my birthday song!
She also gave me a slice of carrot cake
with a sucker sticking in it for a candle!


(I'll post about my birthday hopefully tomorrow:)
Then the time finally came for us to come home.
I couldn't resist having my picture taken
in front of the adorable Virginia sign!


I'm glad the Lord gave us safety on the road.

We also had a funeral today for a loved one at church
who went on to be with the Lord.
He was known as 'Grandpa' to everyone
and was an amazing, faithful soulwinner.
He left behind a wonderful example to us all.
Please pray for the pastor's family as they go through this.
I hope to post again soon and respond to comments.


"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."
Psalm 116:15

We Interupt This Bloggie Silence To Bring An Update...

Where have the past 2 weeks gone?
I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while.
Things have seemed to be so busy!
As I'm finishing up 11th grade,
I can hardly find time to do anything else
but schoolwork (and music)!
My Calculus, especially,
is taking up a LOT of time and studying!
Oh well, I plan to be done by next month
and then hope to get back to posting a little more.

The above is pretty much what's been going on...
Lots and lots of schoolwork.
I was excited this past week when I got to talk
to Dr. Jay Wile twice over the phone. ;o)
(For those who don't know, Dr. Wile is the author
of the Apologia cirriculum... the science I use.)

I was struggling on an Advanced Chemistry equation
and decided to call, as he says you can do in the book.
Dr. Wile is as funny on the phone as he is in his books!



And he also indirectly helped me with my calculus ;)
I LOVE Chemistry, but anytime I try to explain
things to the people I know they're like "HUH?"
So it was REALLY neat to be able to speak
"Chemistry language" with someone else!

I am also very thankful that the Lord
provided a specific graphing calculator for me.
I needed it for my calculus but they cost over $100!
The local base high school was kind enough to lend me
their TI-84 graphing calculator until I was finished with Calculus.
Praise the Lord!

Today was our homeschool group park day.
It felt so good, being mid 40s!
While I waited for my friend to show up,
I read some books I borrowed from the liabrary:

"Mathematical Preparation for Laboratory Technicians"
and an SAT Chemistry subject test preparation book.
I'm not planning on taking the SAT or anything
but I wanted to quiz myself on the questions for fun ;)
(Dr.Wile said that after I've completed my Advanced Chemistry,
that it's equivalent to a 1st year college course Chemistry,
so I wanted to see how much I knew :)

When my friend arrived, we took pictures of everyone:
The little girls were burying their toy horses...


The older ones were playing tag, I think...


My friend and I were having fun with the camera...




The moms also were enjoying their time together...
(My favorite one is marked with an arrow!)


Hee hee, I LOVE YOU, MOM!

My friend and I loved watching the dozens of robins.
We tried feeding some with molded bread (kind of us, huh?)...

but red-winged blackbirds came and scared them off.

Then we ventured home and my friend and I
practiced a song we'll be singing soon for church.
Then all of my violin 'students' gathered
into my room for the lesson...



About an hour ago, my dear 5 yo sister, Beth,
came upstairs and said, "I want to play my violin wits you!"
So I got out my violin, tuned hers,
and gave her her first lesson...



She learned E and A string.
We played counting 4 Es, then 4 As.
It was so cute watching her getting use to
holding it and playing it...



Oh how I thank the Lord for my family!
My siblings are so sweet and my parents are so wonderful!
He has given me so much!
I hope you all have a great weekend!

By the way, the picture in my last post
was a CROCHETED HAT that I turned inside out. :)


"I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies,
and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant..."
Genesis 32:10

Embellishing, Hair Cuts, Artwork, & Photos...

Well, it's been a busy weekend and
beginning of the week so far.
Last week we had fun making a welcome home sign for Dad
and I enjoyed playing around with the fabric markers...



I decided to embellish a plain apron that we had.
Here it is half done...


And here's the finished project...


I love birds!

I was, also, excited this past week
when I was able to figure out how to restring my violin! ;)
I was a little nervous to take the strings off,
but I did do it and now my violin sounds much better :)

Today I had an orthodonist appointment,
for I'll soon be getting braces again :( ,
went to teach piano, and went to our friend's house.
We intended on doing schoolwork together,
but didn't get around to doing it.
She really wanted me to cut her hair
and so we had fun doing that in the bathroom...


She wanted me to cut off quite a bit,
so what was down to her hips
is now barely past her shoulders.
It does look nice and healthy, though!
Speaking of cutting hair,
I, also, trimmed my mom's hair the other day.
She allowed me to do my first haircut ever on her.
I was thankful for the tips she gave me,
they came in handy today!
Tomorrow I'll be cutting my friend's 2 sisters' hair :)

Well, I thought I'd share some of
my personal favorite pics from the weekend...

Mom just being herself... lol


Will's self-photo...


The girls "eating the wind" as we drove
down the road with the windows down...


Also, I was having fun doodling this evening.
After about 20 pages of nonsense
(except my cute 'Cardinals in Alaska')
and lots of scribbling out,
I finally drew something that I liked...



Bread.
Why bread?
It just looked fun to draw.

Because it's late, I'm just a little tired
and I tend to get a little goofy when I'm tired.
(A family trait ;)
But can anyone guess what in the world this might be?



I'll tell you soon!
I saw it sitting on the table and
couldn't resist changing it's form a little.

As I listen to the classical station online,
hearing beautiful violins, violas, cellos,
basses and double basses harmonizing together to
create beautiful music by Mr. ?
(one of the many classical music composers)...
poor Mother is trying to finish sewing
Carolynne's birthday present for tomorrow,
and she just broke the second needle tonight!
And I am frequently hearing 'OW!',
for she keeps poking herself with the needles.
She's, also, talking to the sewing machine:
which, in return, is not cooperating. lol

Well, have a great rest of the day!
Well, actually, enjoy the new day!
(It's midnight, oh deere!)

How About the New Year?

The new year is another year of opportunity
in our youth that we have
to mature and grow in the Lord.

A few ways that are necessary to grow are:

1. Have daily quiet time with the Lord
2. Pray often (all day long)
3. Memorize Scripture
4. Meditate on Scripture
5. Review and study notes
from sermons and personal quiet time

Listing ways are simple,
while applying them can be more of a challenge.
It takes time. OUR time!
When we don't take the time to spend with the Lord,
it is sin, it is selfish.
God has something to say to all of us,
no matter what our age.
We cannot really grow when we aren't in His Word.
Listening to the preaching (although good to do)
isn't enough for our spiritual growth.
God talks to us personally and changes us
through His Holy Word.
We, also, need to be memorizing and meditating
on His Precious Word.
When we are memorizing and meditating,
His thoughts become our thoughts...
We are armed for spiritual battle.

Another way He can grow us through trial and error.
We are always failing somewhere in our life,
making mistakes and bad choices
but the Lord wants us to learn from our mistakes
and we can... if we choose to.
He also gave us parents to help us grow, guide us,
teach and train us while we're still at home.
But there will come a time when
we'll have to make our own decisions.
They are helping to train us now,
so we can be prepared for those times in the future.
We should heed to what they say.

2007 was a year that we can use
as an example and a learning experience.
The trials we went through, decisions we made,
the paths we chose, and our failures and successes...
the Lord wants us to learn from it all.
We need to think back and see where
we were useful for the Lord and praise Him.
And we need to see where we can improve and grow.

How about the new year???
Let's make a goal and decide to be in His Word daily,
memorize it, meditate on it, and use it in our lives to
become changed more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.


"But his delight is in the law of the LORD;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
Psalms 1:2

Wow! I haven't posted since last year!

I hope you're all enjoying the 1st day of 2008!
Sorry I haven't posted much for a long while.
I've been very busy the past few weeks,
so much that I even took, almost,
the entire month of schoolwork off! :(
I had to finish my mom's present... a crocheted tree skirt.
I also had many, various other thing going on.
A surprise... I had my hair cut on Friday!
I haven't had it cut for a little over 2 years
and it was down to my hips.
Mom cut the dead ends off... about 6 inches!
Now it doesn't even reach my elbows :(
But it does look healthier and the length will grow back. ;o)

This Sunday evening was our 2nd annual Youth Night Service.
I thought I'd share some videos...

Here is the children's choir...




This was my offeratory...




And my friend and I sang a duet for the special music...
(I lost my pick at the beginning! LOL!)




Afterwards we had a fellowship of pizza and brownies.
It was a lot of fun and I look forward to next year's.
(This year's, really :)

I hope everyone had a good Christmas.
On Christmas morn, Mom lured me out of bed
with a cup of Christmas coffee... yum!
I could have slept the rest of the day
but the younger ones were so eager to open presents.
We read a chapter in Luke and then opened our gifts.
I got a lot of sheet music I'd been wanting,
a lab coat, fluffy socks, a really neat pen/pencil,
a face wash, and CANDY!!!!! ;)
I felt kind of bad because I wasn't
able to completely finish my mom's present.
I still have to sew on 11 more poinsettas!!!
By hand!!!

Let's see... what else is new?
I'm now teaching piano
and will (this month) start teaching violin.
I've also been baking like crazy.
We made baked goods to send all of our family.
And I was busy making our yearly Christmas video.

Well, I had some extra time today so I thought I'd post.
I think I'm finally able to start posting regularly again.
Oh, and great news!
My dad is coming home from Iraq VERY soon!!!

Happy New Year!

Another Year for Thee

Another year is dawning!
Dear Master, let it be,
In working or in waiting
Another year with Thee!

Another year of leaning
Upon Thy loving breast
Of even deeper trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness,
In the shining of Thy face.

Another year of progress,
Another year of praise;
Another year of proving
Thy presence "all the days."

Another year of service,
Of witness to Thy love;
Another year of training
For holier work above.

Another year is dawning!
Dear Master, let it be,
On earth, or else in heaven,
Another year for Thee!

Compiled by Dale Crowley

(But don't know where we found it!)

Our 9th Annual Christmas Pig Pickin'

Sorry I have not posted this week.
We've been very busy preparing for this special event at church!
Saturday we went to the church early to decorate...






Then after a few extra erands, we went home to start cooking for it...


My friend spent the night Friday and Saturday night
so she could help prepare for the Pig Pickin'.
We decided to make a cute snowman cake
from out of my Taste of Home Baking Book.
It took us two days to make...



While we worked on it,
mom sat on the floor and braided the challah bread...


Then finally, it was finished...

The Pig Pickin' was a lot of fun!
I brought along my guitar and violin again.
Pastor and I are going to play 'Silent Night'
next Sunday on the violin and guitar.
(He'll be playing my guitar.)
So we practiced for that

and I practiced a violin/piano offeratory duet

for when I play my violin at church this Wednesday

with our pastor's wife.
We'll be playing "The First Noel".

Well as you can see, we've been very busy.
I hope to post again sometime soon.

"Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth;
and break forth into singing, O mountains:
for the LORD hath comforted his people,
and will have mercy upon his afflicted."
Isaiah 49:14