Happy New Year's Day, everyone!
I thought I'd just do a random New Year's post, including, for memory's sake, the first few things I did in 2016, as well as my 2016 New Year's Resolutions...
First thing I did in 2016:
I was actually praying as the fireworks started going off.
First hymn I sang in 2016:
After I ended my prayer, I went to my music stand and sang the hymn on it -- "Lead Kindly Light".
First food I ate in 2016:
A big bowl of pineapple! :)
First YouTube video I listened to in 2016:
Who doesn't love the Piano Guys? I listened to their Fight Song/Amazing Grace cover as my first YouTube video in 2016.
First scripture I looked up in 2016:
Numbers 6:24-26. "The Lord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
Sooooo, with no further adieu...my 2016 resolutions...
1. Follow God's commandments for myself.
I don't want to follow them because it makes me look good. Tonight while I was praying -- I prayed a ten-minute prayer from 11:55 to 12:05 -- I realized that most of who I was in 2015 was me trying to impress people. And I failed at both things. So this year, I'm following God's commandments because of Him and me, not because of anyone else.
2. Make a new friend.
We could all use a new friend. They don't have to become your best friend or anything, but making a new friend is totally worth it.
3. Be a better example to the younger kids.
I'm friends with a lot of the 8-12-year-olds at church, and I'm constantly worried that I'm not being a good enough example for them. I want them to know the right way to live life, and when the world's showing them the exact opposite, it's hard.
Speaking of the world...
4. Resist temptation.
Oh, that was a hard one in 2015. But God and I are going to do it together this year.
And most of alllll...
5. Grow my relationship with Him.
God and I were best buds for awhile. I could talk to Him about anything and everything, and I would often hear Him telling me things in return. I came to Him with any and every question, knowing that nothing was too big or small for Him to care about it.
And then...something happened. I don't know quite what it was, but I know it was on my end. But all of a sudden it stopped. Tonight when I prayed, I told Him I was tired of wanting the things of the world.
And strangely enough, I feel happier than I have in ages.
So here's to an awesome 2016!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Promise's New Year's Booklist
Hey everybody! As today is the last day of 2015, I've decided to make a new year's resolution of sorts. This post is going to be a list of 5 books I want to read next year, so, let's have a go, shall we?
1. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I've always wanted to read this book, partially just for the enormity of words compiled in this story. I think Miss Grace and I will be reading it together and posting the review.
2. Julius Caesar by Shakespeare. I've heard that this is one of Shakespeare's better works. Honestly, I'm not a fan of Shakespeare, but I'm willing to try this out.
3. Lectures on Faith by Joseph Smith Jr. I've been meaning to read this for a while now. It has some good points on faith and apologetics.
4. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Grace recommended this book to me. I'm not sure what it's about, so it will probably be interesting.
5. The New Testament by God. I've already read all the scriptures, but I think it's important to refresh your memory.
I will probably read over a hundred books over the next year, but I think this is a good start. Hope you enjoyed! ~Promise
1. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I've always wanted to read this book, partially just for the enormity of words compiled in this story. I think Miss Grace and I will be reading it together and posting the review.
2. Julius Caesar by Shakespeare. I've heard that this is one of Shakespeare's better works. Honestly, I'm not a fan of Shakespeare, but I'm willing to try this out.
3. Lectures on Faith by Joseph Smith Jr. I've been meaning to read this for a while now. It has some good points on faith and apologetics.
4. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Grace recommended this book to me. I'm not sure what it's about, so it will probably be interesting.
5. The New Testament by God. I've already read all the scriptures, but I think it's important to refresh your memory.
I will probably read over a hundred books over the next year, but I think this is a good start. Hope you enjoyed! ~Promise
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Christian Girl Problems -- Grace
Here are some common Christian girl problems I was thinking of today...
1. Only having two sides when you're sitting in a pew.
Everyone wants to sit beside you.....we're having potluck afterwards okay?!
1. Only having two sides when you're sitting in a pew.
Everyone wants to sit beside you.....we're having potluck afterwards okay?!
2. When the potluck line is long and you can't hear them saying the prayer.
Are they done yet? Oh, I see someone's hand holding the two fingers....wait....ARE they done? Oh, the line's moving....
3. When your BFF goes to another church.
Do you want to sing for church? Oh, right....
4. Wanting to testify or pray, but not wanting to draw attention to yourself.
Well, I want to share that testimony from our car wreck, but what if he sees me?!?!
What if she thinks my prayer is too long?
(Don't worry. Just do it!!!!!)
5. Having to get out in a snowstorm to go to church.
Sunday night.
6. When your choir's singing and you have a cold.
All. Winter. Long.
7. You decide to not use the hymnal because you have both words and harmonies memorized....
Or so you thought.
Yeah......................Plan B! Plan B!!!!
8. Mascara/eyeliner smudges after a REALLY great worship service.
God's just so good, isn't He?
9. Trying to figure out what you can do with your life that is in His will for you.
"..........Are You sure You want me to do that, Lord????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
(And God says to me frequently, "Shut up and watch, Grace!!!!!!!")
10. Not being able to physically give God a hug when He's been so good to you.
"Can You just materialize for five seconds?!"
Do you want to sing for church? Oh, right....
4. Wanting to testify or pray, but not wanting to draw attention to yourself.
Well, I want to share that testimony from our car wreck, but what if he sees me?!?!
What if she thinks my prayer is too long?
(Don't worry. Just do it!!!!!)
5. Having to get out in a snowstorm to go to church.
Sunday night.
6. When your choir's singing and you have a cold.
All. Winter. Long.
7. You decide to not use the hymnal because you have both words and harmonies memorized....
Or so you thought.
Yeah......................Plan B! Plan B!!!!
8. Mascara/eyeliner smudges after a REALLY great worship service.
God's just so good, isn't He?
9. Trying to figure out what you can do with your life that is in His will for you.
"..........Are You sure You want me to do that, Lord????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
(And God says to me frequently, "Shut up and watch, Grace!!!!!!!")
10. Not being able to physically give God a hug when He's been so good to you.
"Can You just materialize for five seconds?!"
Fifteen Beautiful Words -- Grace
There's something you should know.
I LOVE WORDS.
I love them so much that I want to get my Doctor of Philosophy in words.
I love them sooooo much that I just told Promise that I'm naming my firstborn daughter Onomatopoeia and calling her Onnie for short.
Here are some of the, in my opinion, most beautiful words in the English language. I find them beautiful regardless of their meaning, but for the letters and the sounds. Here they are.
15. Woebegone.
Have you ever even heard a more solitary word?!
14. Solitary.
I. Love. This. Word. From the sweet, crackling S at the front to the lilting Y at the end...it's beautiful.
13. Ailurophile.
It's just so beautiful.
12. Musical.
The word itself is just that -- musical.
11. Whimsical.
Another musical, fun-loving word.
10. Illumination.
When I see this word, I think of a bright, white-and-purple-tinged light, from which all good things emanate. Perhaps the word "illumination" is the only proper way I can see to describe God -- if that even suffices.
9. Epoch.
Need I say more?
8. Hiraeth.
A little-known word that reminds me of my ancestors' native country.
7. Lilting.
A third musical word.
6. Nefarious.
Who said that beautiful words had to have good connotations? Look at this word: It is soft and beautiful, with a sharp edge of hate.
A true, good villain in a novel starts out as being one of the good guys, but suddenly turns evil...just like this word.
5. Love.
An overused beauty.
4. Petrichor.
The thought of this word makes me so happy!
3. Beautiful.
The word itself is beautiful.
2. Vellichor.
This word -- totally out of line with its meaning -- makes me think of a flowery woodland...
1. Here it is...the most beautiful of them all...
Laughter.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love laughter. The beauty of this word is totally influenced by its meaning...but I don't care. It's gorgeous, bubbly, and fun. Did you ever see a girl who was laughing and hideous at the same time?
No. Real, true laughter makes anyone beautiful. So throw your head back and shine, woman!
~Grace
Sunday, December 27, 2015
This Or That Part I
Rules:
Promise must answer each question, AND EXPLAIN WHY!
Then Promise must write a "This or That" post for me. :)
1. Would you rather have a super ugly hair color, or dyed hair with all of the chemicals?
And what color?!
ATTENTION!!! No hair color is ugly! But I wouldn't mind having dyed hair.
2. Would you rather be invisible or able to read minds?
Invisibility...."Promise, would you like to demonstrate how to do a triple back flip? WHAT?! WHERE IS SHE?!" Hehehe...
3. Would you rather have amazing superpowers or a never-ending Christmas?
Um, superpowers! I like helping people.
4. Would you rather have your hand stuck in a jar or your head stuck in a bucket?!
Head stuck in a bucket. That way you wouldn't know it was ME with my head stuck in s bucket...
5. Would you rather eat thirty pounds of cheese or a bucketfull of peanut butter (in one sitting, without water!)?
CHEESE. I hate peanut butter.
6. Would you rather sweat moderately 24 hours a day or have a metal pin in your jaw that picks up talk radio stations?
I already sweat moderately 24 hours a day...
7. Would you rather eat a bar of soap or drink a bottle of DIRTY dishwater?
Soap. At least it would be clean...
8. Would you rather get even or get over it?
Get over it. I don't like disliking people.
9. Would you rather be deaf or blind?
OH GRACE?!!??!! HOW DO I ANSWER THAT?!?!!?? No. I will not. I suppose blind. I don't think I could live without music.
15. Last one...this one was invented on a twelve-hour car ride to Ohio from Missouri, in 2011.
Would you rather marry a handsome, shady-looking deacon, or an ugly, Godly elder?
Promise must answer each question, AND EXPLAIN WHY!
Then Promise must write a "This or That" post for me. :)
1. Would you rather have a super ugly hair color, or dyed hair with all of the chemicals?
And what color?!
ATTENTION!!! No hair color is ugly! But I wouldn't mind having dyed hair.
2. Would you rather be invisible or able to read minds?
Invisibility...."Promise, would you like to demonstrate how to do a triple back flip? WHAT?! WHERE IS SHE?!" Hehehe...
3. Would you rather have amazing superpowers or a never-ending Christmas?
Um, superpowers! I like helping people.
4. Would you rather have your hand stuck in a jar or your head stuck in a bucket?!
Head stuck in a bucket. That way you wouldn't know it was ME with my head stuck in s bucket...
5. Would you rather eat thirty pounds of cheese or a bucketfull of peanut butter (in one sitting, without water!)?
CHEESE. I hate peanut butter.
6. Would you rather sweat moderately 24 hours a day or have a metal pin in your jaw that picks up talk radio stations?
I already sweat moderately 24 hours a day...
7. Would you rather eat a bar of soap or drink a bottle of DIRTY dishwater?
Soap. At least it would be clean...
8. Would you rather get even or get over it?
Get over it. I don't like disliking people.
9. Would you rather be deaf or blind?
OH GRACE?!!??!! HOW DO I ANSWER THAT?!?!!?? No. I will not. I suppose blind. I don't think I could live without music.
15. Last one...this one was invented on a twelve-hour car ride to Ohio from Missouri, in 2011.
Would you rather marry a handsome, shady-looking deacon, or an ugly, Godly elder?
It's the inside of a person that counts.
This or That 2
Okay, Grace. Let's do this.
1. Would you rather have no hands or no feet?
Feet. I could live in a wheelchair, but I MUST have my piano and guitar.
Feet. I could live in a wheelchair, but I MUST have my piano and guitar.
2. Would you rather be a lone, caged bird, or a Turkey during hunting season?
Lone caged bird.
3. Would you rather be a rose or a daisy?
Rose. I LOVE roses.
Rose. I LOVE roses.
4. Would you rather have hot pink hair or a huge wart on your nose?
Hot pink hair...I've actually legit thought about it.
Hot pink hair...I've actually legit thought about it.
5. Would you rather hug a bear or pet a tarantula?
A bear. Nikita. KC Zoo.
A bear. Nikita. KC Zoo.
6. Would you rather never be able to laugh or never hear other's laughter?
Never be able to laugh.
Never be able to laugh.
7. Would you rather be a trapeze artist or a lion tamer?
Lion tamer. I could use psychology on him. ;)
Lion tamer. I could use psychology on him. ;)
8. Would you rather have a life long headache or a life long stomach ache?
HEADAHCE. IBUPROFEN MY DEAR.
HEADAHCE. IBUPROFEN MY DEAR.
9. Would you rather be have everyone say they like you, but they hate you, or have everyone say they hate you, but secretly love you?
The latter. I've lived with something of the sort. ;)
The latter. I've lived with something of the sort. ;)
10. Would you rather never speak again, or never hear music again?
Never speak.
Music is the breath of life to my soul.
Never speak.
Music is the breath of life to my soul.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Flattering Your Eyes ~Promise
TODAY WE WILL LEARN ABOUT THE LIFE ALTERING SUBJECT OF.........eye color.
Underwhelmed? Oh, but you shouldn't be! Eyes are absolutely my favorite feature! So often I see women brush on brown shadows, unsure of how to make their eyes sparkle. Now, there is nothing wrong with brown shadows! I just want to help you explore new color choices.
Brown eyes. I love brown eyes. They always have such a warm, cozy feel to them. Brown eyes really sparkle when surrounded by blues and greens.
Hazel eyes. Hazel eyes spark with a rich earthy soul. Deep greens and rich golds make hazel eyes come alive.
Green eyes. Green eyes have such a sweet spunky spirit. I love to see a smoky violet on a green eyed girl's eyelid.
Blue eyes. Ahhh, blue eyes. Blue eyes shine with a clean, clear light. Blue eyes look their best with a rich copper or rusty shade smudged around their lids.
Grey eyes. Grey eyes are less common, which makes them even more rare and lovely. Grey eyes look great in blues and satiny purples.
A few colors that look lovely on any color are golds, silvers, and browns. I hope this post inspires you to experiment with some color. I'm not saying you can only wear the colors I suggested, those are just some ideas! Play around with colors! See what makes your eye color sing.
Hope you're inspired! Tell me what colors you like to use! The Lord bless you and keep you, may his favor fall upon you and may he hold you in his right hand. ~Promise
Underwhelmed? Oh, but you shouldn't be! Eyes are absolutely my favorite feature! So often I see women brush on brown shadows, unsure of how to make their eyes sparkle. Now, there is nothing wrong with brown shadows! I just want to help you explore new color choices.
Brown eyes. I love brown eyes. They always have such a warm, cozy feel to them. Brown eyes really sparkle when surrounded by blues and greens.
Hazel eyes. Hazel eyes spark with a rich earthy soul. Deep greens and rich golds make hazel eyes come alive.
Green eyes. Green eyes have such a sweet spunky spirit. I love to see a smoky violet on a green eyed girl's eyelid.
Blue eyes. Ahhh, blue eyes. Blue eyes shine with a clean, clear light. Blue eyes look their best with a rich copper or rusty shade smudged around their lids.
Grey eyes. Grey eyes are less common, which makes them even more rare and lovely. Grey eyes look great in blues and satiny purples.
A few colors that look lovely on any color are golds, silvers, and browns. I hope this post inspires you to experiment with some color. I'm not saying you can only wear the colors I suggested, those are just some ideas! Play around with colors! See what makes your eye color sing.
Hope you're inspired! Tell me what colors you like to use! The Lord bless you and keep you, may his favor fall upon you and may he hold you in his right hand. ~Promise
Q&A 2! DO WE KNOW EACHOTHER? Let's see...
Okay, so Grace and I had a LOT of fun with the last Q&A, so we thought, "Hey! Why not continue the fun?!" So, I am going to list five questions then answer them the way I think Grace would, then we'll see how well we know eachother.
1. If Grace/Promise could go anywhere in the world, where would they go?
I think Grace might go to Ireland. She's always liked Irish stuff.
Grace's answer: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, what a hard question. Um. Um. I've always wanted to visit the Kirtland Temple, but I did that last summer, so now I'm hoping for Montana!
I think Promise would go to Japan... ;)
Promise's answer:
I think Promise would go to Japan... ;)
Promise's answer:
Uggg. I think I would go to Scotland.
2. Would Grace/ Promise rather attend a fashion show or a sports advent?
I'm pretty sure Grace would rather go to a sports advent...
Grace's answer: Totally depends. When it comes between immodest fashion or a high school football game, I'd go to the game. Promise would probably go to the fashion show and devise ways to make the immodest clothes modest.
Promise's answer:
Promise's answer:
I really would rather go to a fashion show, unless it was immoral. Then I would go to a soccer game...
3. Would Grace/ Promise rather star in a movie or direct the movie?
Direct. Totally. She'd probably write the script too.
Grace's answer: Yaaaasss, directing. And writing it. Promise would TOTALLY star.
Promise's answer:
Promise's answer:
HAHAHA!!! Called it! Well, I'm kinda an anomaly... I would love to be in a movie!
4. If Grace/Promise had a million dollars, what would they use it for?
I have a feeling that Grace would donate some of it to a charity, then use the rest for college.
Grace's answer: Yeah. I would start a not-for-profit out of an idea I've had for a few months. We would give new/gently used musical instruments to underprivileged children, then teach them to play. After that, I would go get my Master's!
Promise would donate a great deal of it to a foundation dedicated to finding the cure for diabetes, then go to cosmetology school and Ulta. ;)
Promise's answer:
Promise would donate a great deal of it to a foundation dedicated to finding the cure for diabetes, then go to cosmetology school and Ulta. ;)
Promise's answer:
Grace totally called it. Just add some money to a cancer cure.
5. If Grace/ Promise could hang out with one person from history, (not including scriptural characters) who would they choose?
Maybe Handle...
Grace's answer: Oooooohhhhhhhhh.....................oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
OH. I HATE YOU, PROMISE. XD What a terrible question!!!!!!!!!!!!
Probably my great-grandma, whom I never got to meet. She died in 1992, and she was such an incredible woman. She raised ten children during the Great Depression. Her name was Eleanore, and I aspire to be like her (except for the Great Depression part.....)
If you're talking famous people, I'd go for Handel...
I think Promise would choose the person who invented makeup or something. :P
Promise's answer: I'm kicking myself for this question.....Maybe Joseph Smith Jr. or my great grandfather that I never met. He was a godly man, and pretty much the reason my Dad's a Christian.
OH. I HATE YOU, PROMISE. XD What a terrible question!!!!!!!!!!!!
Probably my great-grandma, whom I never got to meet. She died in 1992, and she was such an incredible woman. She raised ten children during the Great Depression. Her name was Eleanore, and I aspire to be like her (except for the Great Depression part.....)
If you're talking famous people, I'd go for Handel...
I think Promise would choose the person who invented makeup or something. :P
Promise's answer: I'm kicking myself for this question.....Maybe Joseph Smith Jr. or my great grandfather that I never met. He was a godly man, and pretty much the reason my Dad's a Christian.
Q&A Let's Get to Know Miss Grace!
Ditto for the rules.
1. What's your dream for the future?
My dreams for the future....oh my! Okay, well, first of all, I'd like to graduate high school. I'll be doing that when I'm sixteen or seventeen. Next, I'd like to attain at least a Bachelor's of Music Education (with an emphasis on vocal music) from the University of Central Missouri (hopefully!) or the University of Missouri-Kansas City. I might go on to get my Master's of Music Education. That would be amazing, since I feel like there are a lot more options with a Master's. Plus...bragging rights. ;) Just kiddin'!
I'd like to teach in a school for a couple of years...or get married right out of college, depending.
If -- when -- I do get hitched, I'll be having a family and homeschooling them. I'm hoping for four or ten kids. There is no in between. ;)
My dreams for the future....oh my! Okay, well, first of all, I'd like to graduate high school. I'll be doing that when I'm sixteen or seventeen. Next, I'd like to attain at least a Bachelor's of Music Education (with an emphasis on vocal music) from the University of Central Missouri (hopefully!) or the University of Missouri-Kansas City. I might go on to get my Master's of Music Education. That would be amazing, since I feel like there are a lot more options with a Master's. Plus...bragging rights. ;) Just kiddin'!
I'd like to teach in a school for a couple of years...or get married right out of college, depending.
If -- when -- I do get hitched, I'll be having a family and homeschooling them. I'm hoping for four or ten kids. There is no in between. ;)
2. If promise was an animal, what would she be? What would you be?
If Promise was an animal...she would be a cat. A lone, solitary being that occasionally seeks interaction with others, that has claws that can strike, but is, in reality, a soft and fluffy and wonderful thing. :) I would be a dog...loving life, always up for absolutely anything.
If Promise was an animal...she would be a cat. A lone, solitary being that occasionally seeks interaction with others, that has claws that can strike, but is, in reality, a soft and fluffy and wonderful thing. :) I would be a dog...loving life, always up for absolutely anything.
3. Favorite ice cream flavor?
Favorite ice cream flavor is by far chunky cookie dough! I actually got ice cream bowls for Christmas....I LOVE ICE CREAM!
Favorite ice cream flavor is by far chunky cookie dough! I actually got ice cream bowls for Christmas....I LOVE ICE CREAM!
4. If you could get sucked into a book, what book would you choose?
I would choose my favorite novel, The Robe. It's beautiful. I like to think I would be like Marcellus' little sister, Lucia. She was fifteen at the beginning of the novel, and I was fifteen when I read it, so I could relate to her a bit. But perhaps I would dare to dream that I could be as brave as the beautiful Diana, Marcellus' love and wife. She was daring, brave, and beautiful. She gave her life for her newfound faith in God, and she loved Marcellus with everything she was.
I would love to be like Diana!
In fact..........if you need me, I'll be in my room.....reading of Marcellus, Diana, Lucia, and Demetrius.......
I would choose my favorite novel, The Robe. It's beautiful. I like to think I would be like Marcellus' little sister, Lucia. She was fifteen at the beginning of the novel, and I was fifteen when I read it, so I could relate to her a bit. But perhaps I would dare to dream that I could be as brave as the beautiful Diana, Marcellus' love and wife. She was daring, brave, and beautiful. She gave her life for her newfound faith in God, and she loved Marcellus with everything she was.
I would love to be like Diana!
In fact..........if you need me, I'll be in my room.....reading of Marcellus, Diana, Lucia, and Demetrius.......
5. What's the best peice of advice you've ever been given?
The best piece of advice ever....well, that's a hard one. I've had friends tell me that if I studied and prayed, I would have a miraculous experience -- and upon taking that advice, I did...
But here is the best advice I've received. I actually only got it Wednesday, but I know it is good because I recognized that it is in line with the Scriptures....
First, I'd say make Him your life. Pray often, study, and fast. Ask God for His help. Ask Him to give you the strength to do it. We can't make it on our own...You have to know God. You MUST know His Spirit. Plus, you have to have common sense. Pray about all things. Nothing is too big or too small for Him.
And by the way, it's still the same when you get older. ...I'm still learning, and wondering what His will is for me...You also have to know that things happen in His time. You can't force Him.
The best piece of advice ever....well, that's a hard one. I've had friends tell me that if I studied and prayed, I would have a miraculous experience -- and upon taking that advice, I did...
But here is the best advice I've received. I actually only got it Wednesday, but I know it is good because I recognized that it is in line with the Scriptures....
First, I'd say make Him your life. Pray often, study, and fast. Ask God for His help. Ask Him to give you the strength to do it. We can't make it on our own...You have to know God. You MUST know His Spirit. Plus, you have to have common sense. Pray about all things. Nothing is too big or too small for Him.
And by the way, it's still the same when you get older. ...I'm still learning, and wondering what His will is for me...You also have to know that things happen in His time. You can't force Him.
A friend and I had been in a Wednesday night prayer service, and they were talking about having a personal relationship with God. I've heard about that many times, but I don't recall ever hearing how you get one. So I asked my friend Rose, and she told me what you just read. I then asked her how you knew God was leading you, because I was feeling pulled in so many directions at once. That was the second paragraph. Right after she texted me that, I opened my Bible. It fell open at a "random" page, and this was the first thing I saw:
For it is written, He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee; and in his hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone." Luke 4:10
For it is written, He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee; and in his hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone." Luke 4:10
6. Finally- have YOU even been able to say 'Irish wristwatches?'
Yes!!!!! In fact, a friend asked me that at Reunion one summer. I spent the entire week practicing. :)
Yes!!!!! In fact, a friend asked me that at Reunion one summer. I spent the entire week practicing. :)
Blog Q&A! Let's Get to Know Promise!
Hey ya'll! As you can probably discern from the title, this is a HH Q&A. Grace asks Promise questions, and Promise answers them. After we've finished this post, Promise will ask Grace, and Grace will answer them. Here are the rules:
1. HAVE FUN! :)
2. You MUST answer each and every question.
3. You MUST answer honestly!
4. They don't have to be the same questions for me. Just pick something random!
Okay...here go for Promise's questions!
1. Why do you like blogging?
I like to share my interests with people, and with blogging, it also counts for school work! :)
2. What's your favorite part of winter?
1. HAVE FUN! :)
2. You MUST answer each and every question.
3. You MUST answer honestly!
4. They don't have to be the same questions for me. Just pick something random!
Okay...here go for Promise's questions!
1. Why do you like blogging?
I like to share my interests with people, and with blogging, it also counts for school work! :)
2. What's your favorite part of winter?
I love cooler weather, I'm very warm blooded, and I get overheated easily. Plus I love to go shopping for cute winter clothing!
3. Do you like water?
Like water? I like to swim in it and drink it...
4. Are trees a good thing?
Yes!!!!! I love trees!
5. Are you a feminist? :P
I believe that men and women have different rolls to play. God made us that way! Women can't do everything men can, and men can't do everything women can. I believe a women should be able support herself without a man, but that doesn't mean she should expect to be able to do everything a man can.
6. Why in the world does makeup interest you?!!?!?!?!?
I love art, and I see makeup as another art form. I love polishing people's already beautiful features to make them shine!
7. What the heck do you learn in cosmetology school???
Depends. I plan to learn how to be a hairdresser/cosmetologist.
8. Have you ever been to Cote d'Ivoire?!
.....?
9. If you could rename yourself, what would it be?
I'm good with my name, thanks though!
10. Finally, have you ever successfully said the phrase, "Irish Wristwatch"?
3. Do you like water?
Like water? I like to swim in it and drink it...
4. Are trees a good thing?
Yes!!!!! I love trees!
5. Are you a feminist? :P
I believe that men and women have different rolls to play. God made us that way! Women can't do everything men can, and men can't do everything women can. I believe a women should be able support herself without a man, but that doesn't mean she should expect to be able to do everything a man can.
6. Why in the world does makeup interest you?!!?!?!?!?
I love art, and I see makeup as another art form. I love polishing people's already beautiful features to make them shine!
7. What the heck do you learn in cosmetology school???
Depends. I plan to learn how to be a hairdresser/cosmetologist.
8. Have you ever been to Cote d'Ivoire?!
.....?
9. If you could rename yourself, what would it be?
I'm good with my name, thanks though!
10. Finally, have you ever successfully said the phrase, "Irish Wristwatch"?
Just did! Boom!
A Parody Poem Promptly Posted ~Promise
'Twas day after Christmas, and all through the town, the people were moaning 'bout taking lights down. "We just put them up! Must we box them so soon?!" And then the Christmas lights stay up till June. Christmas trees stand alone and bare, and we walk around in bathrobes and messy hair. I sit here and ponder why our joy is so fleeting, and miss the familiar "merry Christmas" greeting. Why must the cheer and the kindness all end? Why not treat every stranger as friend? Then, with shock, I now understand! Christmas does not have to slip through my hand! This feeling of joy, of peace and good will, lives on in Jesus, who is living still! Now with found gladness of the Christ child so dear, I smile as I vow to make it Christmas all year.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Christmas makeup...by Promise
I thought I'd show you my makeup today. I didn't wanna go with the whole red and white cliché, so I opted for coppery eyes with some festive glitter! 
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Look With Me -Grace
Hush. Look with me. Do you see it?
A velvety night sky, full of stars. Look! A new one arises. It shines bright.
A gentle breeze caresses emerald carpet beneath our calloused feet. Can you feel the soft warmth of the blazing bonfire? Sheep, fluffy and white, graze calmly afar off. Father comes, leaning on his ancient shepherd's crook.
Of a sudden! A being stands elevated above the ground. He tells us of a Babe in a manger in Bethlehem. He says the Child is Christ the Lord.
The velvet sky is full of them now, the beings. They are singing "Glory to God, and on earth, peace, good will to men!" Their music is not of earth, but of heaven. No man can recreate it.
"We must go," you whisper, and Father nods.
"What shall we bring Him?" I ask.
"A lamb," you answer.
Yes, we will take Him the best we have to offer...our favorite lamb.
Through the dark city streets we fly, yelling and calling our glad news. But others do not listen to us. They think we are crazy. On we go, to the stable bare.
There! The star rests over that stable, behind that inn.
Do you see Him?
A young woman, only just a teenager, dark hair and sparkling eyes. A young man, her husband, calm and collected, yet strangely in awe of what has taken place. His wife has just delivered the Son of God.
You go over to the woman, and she shows you a bundle. But it is not just any bundle. In those tightly-wrapped blankets lie a child. And not just any child.
The Son of God Himself.
He has dark hair, and a tiny nose. When He opens His little eyes, they are dark like His mother's. A little hand reaches out, and grasps for His mother. Tiny fingers wrap around her littlest one.
Look with me. Do you see it?
The new star in the sky. It looks far away, but we must go. The three of us will travel long, on weary camels' backs, and the Babe will be two or three years old by the time we arrive...but we must go.
You, bring frankincense. You, bring gold. I shall bring the myrrh. We will give Him gifts.
He will grow to be a man, with friends named Peter and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Joanna and Mary. His mother will feed Him His favorite meals, and His father will teach Him of an earthly trade. He will give hope and strength and healing and love to many.
He will be persecuted and scorned, tried and afflicted. He will be whipped, and given a crown of thorns. He will wear a purple robe and be made to carry a large wooden cross. Men -- earthly men -- will put nails in His hands and in His feet, and cause Him great pain. They will pierce His side, and He will die upon that cross.
But He will not stay in the tomb. He will rise again the third day.
For the Child Who is born tonight is the greatest Gift of all, and He will give us that which cannot be repaid. He will give His life for us, and will wash away our sins for eternity. We will live forever with Him when our time is through.
Yes, the Child Who is born tonight is the greatest Gift of all.
A velvety night sky, full of stars. Look! A new one arises. It shines bright.
A gentle breeze caresses emerald carpet beneath our calloused feet. Can you feel the soft warmth of the blazing bonfire? Sheep, fluffy and white, graze calmly afar off. Father comes, leaning on his ancient shepherd's crook.
Of a sudden! A being stands elevated above the ground. He tells us of a Babe in a manger in Bethlehem. He says the Child is Christ the Lord.
The velvet sky is full of them now, the beings. They are singing "Glory to God, and on earth, peace, good will to men!" Their music is not of earth, but of heaven. No man can recreate it.
"We must go," you whisper, and Father nods.
"What shall we bring Him?" I ask.
"A lamb," you answer.
Yes, we will take Him the best we have to offer...our favorite lamb.
Through the dark city streets we fly, yelling and calling our glad news. But others do not listen to us. They think we are crazy. On we go, to the stable bare.
There! The star rests over that stable, behind that inn.
Do you see Him?
A young woman, only just a teenager, dark hair and sparkling eyes. A young man, her husband, calm and collected, yet strangely in awe of what has taken place. His wife has just delivered the Son of God.
You go over to the woman, and she shows you a bundle. But it is not just any bundle. In those tightly-wrapped blankets lie a child. And not just any child.
The Son of God Himself.
He has dark hair, and a tiny nose. When He opens His little eyes, they are dark like His mother's. A little hand reaches out, and grasps for His mother. Tiny fingers wrap around her littlest one.
Look with me. Do you see it?
The new star in the sky. It looks far away, but we must go. The three of us will travel long, on weary camels' backs, and the Babe will be two or three years old by the time we arrive...but we must go.
You, bring frankincense. You, bring gold. I shall bring the myrrh. We will give Him gifts.
He will grow to be a man, with friends named Peter and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Joanna and Mary. His mother will feed Him His favorite meals, and His father will teach Him of an earthly trade. He will give hope and strength and healing and love to many.
He will be persecuted and scorned, tried and afflicted. He will be whipped, and given a crown of thorns. He will wear a purple robe and be made to carry a large wooden cross. Men -- earthly men -- will put nails in His hands and in His feet, and cause Him great pain. They will pierce His side, and He will die upon that cross.
But He will not stay in the tomb. He will rise again the third day.
For the Child Who is born tonight is the greatest Gift of all, and He will give us that which cannot be repaid. He will give His life for us, and will wash away our sins for eternity. We will live forever with Him when our time is through.
Yes, the Child Who is born tonight is the greatest Gift of all.
Promise's Christmas Movie List ( I'm back! )
Hey everybody, I'm back! Our wifi was down, so I couldn't post for a week...Anyway...Today I shall post on my family's Christmas movie tradition, and why we like these particular movies.
Okay, so every year around Christmas my family will re-watch some of our favorite holiday movies. There are a few we've been watching for as long as I can remember, and some recent add ons, but these are the 5 that we almost always watch every year.
5. Rudolf. My Dad loves this movie. I like the animation, and the classic sweetness of this film.
I think we can all relate to feeling like a misfit at one point or another, but every person has a place on this planet...That's why God placed us here. So if you're feeling like an outcast, or not sure where you belong, don't give up. Why not take a minute and talk to the one who created you?
4. Frosty. My Mom loves this one. My parents grew up watching this, and we usually get it in.
3. A Charlie Brown Christmas. I love peanuts. I've always had a love of Snoopy and all of the other Peanuts characters, and I like that the true message of Christmas shines through in this movie. Christmas isn't about gifts, Christmas trees or money. It's about the gift. Keep the Christ in Christmas, I say. :)
2. White Christmas. My whole family adores Bing Crosby (except me...his voice bugs me. sorry, not sorry) and the music in this movie.
1. The Muppet Christmas Carol. We've been watching this movie forever. I love it. It's a cuter more kid friendly version of the classic Dickens tale of redemption.
'Kay. That's kinda our movie thing for the holidays. What do y'all like to watch come Christmas? Comment below. To our Jewish friends, happy Hanuka, to our Christian friends, Merry Christmas, and to our Atheist friends, good luck. ~Promise.
Okay, so every year around Christmas my family will re-watch some of our favorite holiday movies. There are a few we've been watching for as long as I can remember, and some recent add ons, but these are the 5 that we almost always watch every year.
5. Rudolf. My Dad loves this movie. I like the animation, and the classic sweetness of this film.
I think we can all relate to feeling like a misfit at one point or another, but every person has a place on this planet...That's why God placed us here. So if you're feeling like an outcast, or not sure where you belong, don't give up. Why not take a minute and talk to the one who created you?
4. Frosty. My Mom loves this one. My parents grew up watching this, and we usually get it in.
3. A Charlie Brown Christmas. I love peanuts. I've always had a love of Snoopy and all of the other Peanuts characters, and I like that the true message of Christmas shines through in this movie. Christmas isn't about gifts, Christmas trees or money. It's about the gift. Keep the Christ in Christmas, I say. :)
2. White Christmas. My whole family adores Bing Crosby (except me...his voice bugs me. sorry, not sorry) and the music in this movie.
1. The Muppet Christmas Carol. We've been watching this movie forever. I love it. It's a cuter more kid friendly version of the classic Dickens tale of redemption.
'Kay. That's kinda our movie thing for the holidays. What do y'all like to watch come Christmas? Comment below. To our Jewish friends, happy Hanuka, to our Christian friends, Merry Christmas, and to our Atheist friends, good luck. ~Promise.
Let It Go Parody, By Your Own Dear Grace!
Hey ya'll! Merry Christmas Eve!
I have a present for you...
I've just gotten done writing a parody of the (in)famous Let It Go! My parody is based off of my love-hate relationship with my lovely short locks. :)
I have a present for you...
I've just gotten done writing a parody of the (in)famous Let It Go! My parody is based off of my love-hate relationship with my lovely short locks. :)
Let it grow,
Let it grow,
Don't cut it off anymore,
Let it grow,
Let it grow,
Don't slam it in the door!
Let it grow,
Don't cut it off anymore,
Let it grow,
Let it grow,
Don't slam it in the door!
My hair blows in my face tonight
Not a bobby to be seen
A head full of flowing hair and it looks like I'm the queen!
The wind is howling and it's blowing my hair wild
Couldn't hold it down, heaven knows I tried.
Not a bobby to be seen
A head full of flowing hair and it looks like I'm the queen!
The wind is howling and it's blowing my hair wild
Couldn't hold it down, heaven knows I tried.
I don’t know how they couldn’t see
Be the good hair
You always should be
Conceal, don’t feel
Don’t let them know
Well now they know!
Let it grow
Let it grow
Don’t cut it off anymore
Let it grow
Let it grow
Don’t slam it in the door
And there it flies and there it goes
Let it grow
Let it grow
My hair never bothered me anyway!
Be the good hair
You always should be
Conceal, don’t feel
Don’t let them know
Well now they know!
Let it grow
Let it grow
Don’t cut it off anymore
Let it grow
Let it grow
Don’t slam it in the door
And there it flies and there it goes
Let it grow
Let it grow
My hair never bothered me anyway!
It’s funny how some hairspray
Makes everything alright
And the hair that once controlled me
Can’t fly away at all!
Up here with the hair dryer
I finally can breathe
I know my hair is damaged but I’m too relieved to grieve
Makes everything alright
And the hair that once controlled me
Can’t fly away at all!
Up here with the hair dryer
I finally can breathe
I know my hair is damaged but I’m too relieved to grieve
Standing frozen in the life I’ve chosen
You won’t find me, my hair is hiding me
Buried in my hair
You won’t find me, my hair is hiding me
Buried in my hair
Let it grow
Let it grow
Don’t cut it off anymore
Let it grow
Let it grow
Don’t slam it in the door
And there it flies and there it goes
Let it go
Let it go
My hair never bothered me anyway!
Let it grow
Don’t cut it off anymore
Let it grow
Let it grow
Don’t slam it in the door
And there it flies and there it goes
Let it go
Let it go
My hair never bothered me anyway!
You're welcome, O Dedicated Blog Readers. :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
~Grace
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Ten Reasons Why Christmas Is THE Season! -Grace
Hey, ya'll!
No kidding, I love Christmas, 'case you hadn't noticed by now (during this time of year, I frequently wear cozy sweaters, fuzzy socks, and an elf hat, and I'm singing Christmas carols).
And...'case you hadn't noticed, it's December 19th. Christmas is T-minus five days away. Christmas is one of my most favorite days of the year. Here are ten reasons why.
10. The Food.
I love food, and not just at Christmastime. I love food year-round. But food comes in great abundance at this time of year. I see Christmas as a feast. My family always holds a huge luncheon, with tons of my dad's relatives and some of my mom's cousins. We've even begun to invite really close family friends (which we "adopted" into our family ;).
9. The Fellowship.
I love fellowship, and not only that of the Ring. (Kudos to you if you caught that reference!!!). I love talking to people, being around people. I love laughing and loving and sharing Christ. That is what fellowship means to me. And if I can lift even one person's spirits, that will be the greatest Christmas gift I could be given.
8. The Christmas stories.
I love holiday stories. I love reading novels that were based on people learning the true meaning of Christmas. I love watching our Children's Department put on a Christmas play every year in mid-December. I love watching Christmas movies -- one of my favorites is The Christmas Card. :)
7. Decorating!
Decorating. Is. So. Fun.
From stringing tinsel across archways to decorating the mini pine tree, I love it. We put manger scenes on the top of the piano and string a lighted garland across another archway. Dad puts up a lighted manger scene outside -- which he frequently changes the bulbs of -- and Mom puts a huge sparkly bow on our door. My cousin even makes these awesome tissue-paper-snowflakes which read words such as "Noel", "Joy", or "Jesus". We have a little one that says "Noel".
6. The parties.
I love holiday parties. I love white elephant gifts, decorating waffle-cone-Christmas-trees, and thinking of synonymous Christmas carol titles. Parties also include food.
5. The anticipation.
I LOVE ANTICIPATION. One of the best parts of Christmas, to me, is the anticipation. We go to ALL of this trouble for just one day, but it's soooo worth it. As The Christmas Song says...."Tiny tots, with their eyes all aglow, will find it hard to sleep tonight!"
4. Finding Christmas presents for people.
I love that moment when you're walking through a store, and you see something, and you go, "THAT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR MY AUNT."
And then you buy it because instinct is an amazing thing...and lo and behold, your aunt DOES INDEED love that gift.
Which brings me to...
3. Giving.
I love giving. Giving is sooooo wonderful. That moment when they're opening the package to see what it is....when they're unsure but yet delighted because you thought of them...
I love that moment when they're not quite sure what it is, but they know it'll be something they'll love.
2. The Carols.
I. Love. Music.
And I love Christmas carols.
From O Come, All Ye Faithful to A Strange Way to Save the World, I love them all. :) Rose of Bethlehem is incredible, too.
1. The Gift.
There's a Gift we receive every single day of our lives, but we are made more aware of it at Christmastime.
You see, as Paul puts it in Philippians...Jesus is a part of God, and because of that, Jesus, in a sense, is God.
So GOD came down from Heaven and took the form of the most helpless of creatures, a newborn baby boy. And He was not born the Prince of England or the son of a Russian Czar...as God should have been.
He was born the son of a carpenter and a virgin, two people who loved each other very much. He was not born in London, England, or New York, New York.
He was born in a tiny town in Israel, the most picked-on nation in the world.
He was not born in the White House, Buckingham Palace, or Caesar's household.
Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, was born in a stable, behind a tiny inn. No one ever knew the name of that innkeeper. No one knew the shepherds who came, but the important thing was they knew.
They knew that Jesus Christ was Lord. They knew that He gave us all a gift that we cannot survive without...and He gives it every day. For the greatest Gift came not wrapped in a beautiful package with a curly bow.
The greatest Gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes, and the greatest Gift bled and died to save us -- you and me -- from ourselves.
No kidding, I love Christmas, 'case you hadn't noticed by now (during this time of year, I frequently wear cozy sweaters, fuzzy socks, and an elf hat, and I'm singing Christmas carols).
And...'case you hadn't noticed, it's December 19th. Christmas is T-minus five days away. Christmas is one of my most favorite days of the year. Here are ten reasons why.
10. The Food.
I love food, and not just at Christmastime. I love food year-round. But food comes in great abundance at this time of year. I see Christmas as a feast. My family always holds a huge luncheon, with tons of my dad's relatives and some of my mom's cousins. We've even begun to invite really close family friends (which we "adopted" into our family ;).
9. The Fellowship.
I love fellowship, and not only that of the Ring. (Kudos to you if you caught that reference!!!). I love talking to people, being around people. I love laughing and loving and sharing Christ. That is what fellowship means to me. And if I can lift even one person's spirits, that will be the greatest Christmas gift I could be given.
8. The Christmas stories.
I love holiday stories. I love reading novels that were based on people learning the true meaning of Christmas. I love watching our Children's Department put on a Christmas play every year in mid-December. I love watching Christmas movies -- one of my favorites is The Christmas Card. :)
7. Decorating!
Decorating. Is. So. Fun.
From stringing tinsel across archways to decorating the mini pine tree, I love it. We put manger scenes on the top of the piano and string a lighted garland across another archway. Dad puts up a lighted manger scene outside -- which he frequently changes the bulbs of -- and Mom puts a huge sparkly bow on our door. My cousin even makes these awesome tissue-paper-snowflakes which read words such as "Noel", "Joy", or "Jesus". We have a little one that says "Noel".
6. The parties.
I love holiday parties. I love white elephant gifts, decorating waffle-cone-Christmas-trees, and thinking of synonymous Christmas carol titles. Parties also include food.
5. The anticipation.
I LOVE ANTICIPATION. One of the best parts of Christmas, to me, is the anticipation. We go to ALL of this trouble for just one day, but it's soooo worth it. As The Christmas Song says...."Tiny tots, with their eyes all aglow, will find it hard to sleep tonight!"
4. Finding Christmas presents for people.
I love that moment when you're walking through a store, and you see something, and you go, "THAT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR MY AUNT."
And then you buy it because instinct is an amazing thing...and lo and behold, your aunt DOES INDEED love that gift.
Which brings me to...
3. Giving.
I love giving. Giving is sooooo wonderful. That moment when they're opening the package to see what it is....when they're unsure but yet delighted because you thought of them...
I love that moment when they're not quite sure what it is, but they know it'll be something they'll love.
2. The Carols.
I. Love. Music.
And I love Christmas carols.
From O Come, All Ye Faithful to A Strange Way to Save the World, I love them all. :) Rose of Bethlehem is incredible, too.
1. The Gift.
There's a Gift we receive every single day of our lives, but we are made more aware of it at Christmastime.
You see, as Paul puts it in Philippians...Jesus is a part of God, and because of that, Jesus, in a sense, is God.
So GOD came down from Heaven and took the form of the most helpless of creatures, a newborn baby boy. And He was not born the Prince of England or the son of a Russian Czar...as God should have been.
He was born the son of a carpenter and a virgin, two people who loved each other very much. He was not born in London, England, or New York, New York.
He was born in a tiny town in Israel, the most picked-on nation in the world.
He was not born in the White House, Buckingham Palace, or Caesar's household.
Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, was born in a stable, behind a tiny inn. No one ever knew the name of that innkeeper. No one knew the shepherds who came, but the important thing was they knew.
They knew that Jesus Christ was Lord. They knew that He gave us all a gift that we cannot survive without...and He gives it every day. For the greatest Gift came not wrapped in a beautiful package with a curly bow.
The greatest Gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes, and the greatest Gift bled and died to save us -- you and me -- from ourselves.
There's a Rose in Bethlehem
With a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin
On this silent holy night
There's a fragrance much like hope
That it sends upon the wind
Reaching out to every soul
From a lowly manger's crib
Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure, and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me
There's a Rose in Bethlehem
Colored red like mercy's blood
Tis the flower of our faith
Tis the blossom of God's love
Though it's bloom is fresh with youth
Surely what will be He knows
For a tear of morning dew
Is rolling down the Rose
Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure, and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me
There's a Rose in Bethlehem
With a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin
On this silent holy night
Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure, and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me. ~ Selah
Love,
Grace
Sunday, December 13, 2015
A HUGE Testimony!!! -Grace
Been awhile, hasn't it?
I've been a bit...shall we say....under the weather.......... :)
Okay, okay, I'll tell you the entire and complete story. It was an INCREDIBLE testimony to me!
Let's just say strep throat and I have a long, complicated, love-hate-relationship history (it loves me, I hate it). I used to get it every single year as a child. Every time I got sick, my parents would cart me off to the Minute Clinic at Walgreens, saying, "Come on, kiddo. We gotta test you for strep!" And every time, never-failing, it was strep.
Last time I got it, I was about twelve. I remember the nurse practitioner peering down my throat, that over-sized Popsicle stick pressing down my tongue and activating my overly-sensitive gag reflex...
"Well," she said, "your tonsils are abnormally large." The swelling from previous infections had never gone down. There was talk of a tonsillectomy, but this was the NP at Walgreens, and I didn't really have a regular doctor.
So Wednesday I knew it was strep. I woke up with more pain in my throat than I have ever felt in my life. There was no cough, just this rough dryness that made it really difficult to swallow. It was hard to talk, too. I had sweats and chills all day, and I was purely miserable.
Thursday came and I officially couldn't talk. I was down to eating oatmeal. At one point (the past three days were all a blur) Mom made me an egg sandwich. She said she didn't toast the bread, but wow, that thing hurt.
Thursday night I slept in fifteen-minute increments. I moved to the couch at 3:30am, where I watched Father Knows Best and Donna Reed and all of those fun shows until around 6:00am Friday morning. At some point I got up and made myself some oatmeal. I was not hungry but I knew I had to eat or else I would, like, die or something (I'm always so overemotional and overdramatic when I'm sick). I got my favorite kind -- apple! -- and, after warming it in the microwave, I put in like an entire cup's worth of brown sugar. I took it in on the couch and put a tiny spoonful in my mouth. I couldn't swallow. So I put the bowl on the in-table and went back to sleep (I'm so resourceful!). ;)
It was around 9am when Mom woke me up. She said we were going to go to urgent care because I needed to get tested for strep. So we went -- me, without a voice, going out in public in December! -- and they were able to take us immediately. My urgent care doctor was a member of our Church, and although I had never met him before, I felt completely comfortable......except for the whole throat thing. ;)
The doctor took one look down my throat and he said, "Did you say this happened in three days?"
"Yes," I signed, and Mom replied.
"This is very, very rare," he answered, "and quite concerning. This amount of swelling in three days...I think you have an abscess behind your tonsils." He took out his big old doctor pen and pointed to the end. "This is how much room you have to breathe. If you don't go to the ER right now, you're going to suffocate."
Please note that I hate doctor's offices. I have never been in the hospital. My childhood medical problems consisted of asthma and the yearly bout of strep throat.
So Mom turned to me and she said, "This is scary."
Well, you didn't have to tell me that.
The doctor called the hospital to tell them we were coming, and we made it there in less than half an hour.
On the way there, I was scared, and since I couldn't verbally tell Mom what was going on inside my brain, I pulled out my phone and started texting. I texted Promise first, and then my friend Rose. Rose replied instantly, saying, "I'll ask others to pray as well!" Then, seemingly out of the blue, she texted me with a few lines from a song I hadn't heard in over a year. It was from Whom Shall I Fear by Chris Tomlin, and this is what she sent me:
"The One who reigns forever, He is a Friend of mine...The God of angel armies is always by my side!"
I cried then. I just let loose and started bawling. I told her how beautiful that was, and she said that she felt the Lord telling her to send it. It was so, so perfect.
Well, we made it to the hospital, and triage saw me immediately. I think the triage guy's exact words were "Yeah, her tonsils are kissing..." Mom and I laughed..."They're in love," I tried to mouth.
Well, the next thing I remember is that they told me to sit in a chair in the hallway while they found a room for me. A gentleman came and snagged Mama (I was pretty clingy at this point) to ask her questions about registration. There were all kinds of people, every age, status, color, and size imaginable. There were nurses, doctors, firefighters, security guards, patients, and pedestrians walking the halls, singing, crying, yelling, hugging, laughing, and talking. All of a sudden, it faded away.
The Spirit of the Lord enveloped me, wrapped me in Its arms, and I felt a divine Presence next to me. It lasted for several minutes, and when I couldn't feel it anymore, I had no fears. Those fears never returned.
The next thing I knew the same triage guy who had announced that my tonsils were in love came and escorted me to beautiful Room 8. My nurse came in, and she ended up having the same exact name as me -- even spelled right, which she was very happy about. She gave me a blue hospital gown and she took blood. I'll spare you a few gory details... ;)
Later, the doctor came in and peered down my throat. (I think I gagged a total of fifteen times Friday....good job, reflexes...) She said I was dehydrated and that I needed steroids to get the swelling to go down. She also said that they were going to give me IV antibiotics, which would work faster than antibiotics by mouth.
I had a huge bag of fluids that my body soaked up in less than fifteen minutes. At the same time, steroids were flowing through my IV, and within five minutes, I could feel the swelling going down. My mouth had saliva for the first time that day and I started talking for the first time in three days! They gave me antibiotics as promised, and Mom and my nurse both said I looked "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed".
A few hours later they gave me a glass of water, which I drank in five minutes, and they got me another glass (which was also gone quickly). Then the nurse brought me applesauce -- I swear, that was the best applesauce ever! -- and I downed that in five seconds.
So the doctor came in and said, "You're doing great. Keep taking your antibiotics and pain pills, and you can go home now. If you can't talk again, come right back and we'll admit you and do a tonsillectomy. But you're good for now."
Oh, did I mention that they tested me and all it was was a serious case of strep?
I feel weaker than I have in a long, long time -- going to a cousin's Christmas party last night 'bout did me in, as did church and a grocery store trip this morning -- but I feel so, so incredibly blessed. My choir was singing at Church this morning, and I snuck into the practice room afterwards to tell them how wonderful they sounded. As I opened the door, everyone shouted my name and cried, "HOW ARE YOU?!!?!??!"
If you ever wanna feel loved..........I know some people that are pretty shuck-darn good at it!
Even one of my GUY FRIENDS came up to me and was like, "ARE YOU OKAY I HEARD YOU WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!" (Yeah, I have great guy friends....)
Sitting here this afternoon, I realized that I don't even have a single bruise from the IV. :)
Finally I see the two sides of God...both the "amazing, all-powerful" side and the "I am your best friend!" side. Friends, I simply cannot explain to you the magnitude of the God we serve. He. Is. Incredible.
Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus the blessed Redeemer!
I've been a bit...shall we say....under the weather.......... :)
Okay, okay, I'll tell you the entire and complete story. It was an INCREDIBLE testimony to me!
Let's just say strep throat and I have a long, complicated, love-hate-relationship history (it loves me, I hate it). I used to get it every single year as a child. Every time I got sick, my parents would cart me off to the Minute Clinic at Walgreens, saying, "Come on, kiddo. We gotta test you for strep!" And every time, never-failing, it was strep.
Last time I got it, I was about twelve. I remember the nurse practitioner peering down my throat, that over-sized Popsicle stick pressing down my tongue and activating my overly-sensitive gag reflex...
"Well," she said, "your tonsils are abnormally large." The swelling from previous infections had never gone down. There was talk of a tonsillectomy, but this was the NP at Walgreens, and I didn't really have a regular doctor.
So Wednesday I knew it was strep. I woke up with more pain in my throat than I have ever felt in my life. There was no cough, just this rough dryness that made it really difficult to swallow. It was hard to talk, too. I had sweats and chills all day, and I was purely miserable.
Thursday came and I officially couldn't talk. I was down to eating oatmeal. At one point (the past three days were all a blur) Mom made me an egg sandwich. She said she didn't toast the bread, but wow, that thing hurt.
Thursday night I slept in fifteen-minute increments. I moved to the couch at 3:30am, where I watched Father Knows Best and Donna Reed and all of those fun shows until around 6:00am Friday morning. At some point I got up and made myself some oatmeal. I was not hungry but I knew I had to eat or else I would, like, die or something (I'm always so overemotional and overdramatic when I'm sick). I got my favorite kind -- apple! -- and, after warming it in the microwave, I put in like an entire cup's worth of brown sugar. I took it in on the couch and put a tiny spoonful in my mouth. I couldn't swallow. So I put the bowl on the in-table and went back to sleep (I'm so resourceful!). ;)
It was around 9am when Mom woke me up. She said we were going to go to urgent care because I needed to get tested for strep. So we went -- me, without a voice, going out in public in December! -- and they were able to take us immediately. My urgent care doctor was a member of our Church, and although I had never met him before, I felt completely comfortable......except for the whole throat thing. ;)
The doctor took one look down my throat and he said, "Did you say this happened in three days?"
"Yes," I signed, and Mom replied.
"This is very, very rare," he answered, "and quite concerning. This amount of swelling in three days...I think you have an abscess behind your tonsils." He took out his big old doctor pen and pointed to the end. "This is how much room you have to breathe. If you don't go to the ER right now, you're going to suffocate."
Please note that I hate doctor's offices. I have never been in the hospital. My childhood medical problems consisted of asthma and the yearly bout of strep throat.
So Mom turned to me and she said, "This is scary."
Well, you didn't have to tell me that.
The doctor called the hospital to tell them we were coming, and we made it there in less than half an hour.
On the way there, I was scared, and since I couldn't verbally tell Mom what was going on inside my brain, I pulled out my phone and started texting. I texted Promise first, and then my friend Rose. Rose replied instantly, saying, "I'll ask others to pray as well!" Then, seemingly out of the blue, she texted me with a few lines from a song I hadn't heard in over a year. It was from Whom Shall I Fear by Chris Tomlin, and this is what she sent me:
"The One who reigns forever, He is a Friend of mine...The God of angel armies is always by my side!"
I cried then. I just let loose and started bawling. I told her how beautiful that was, and she said that she felt the Lord telling her to send it. It was so, so perfect.
Well, we made it to the hospital, and triage saw me immediately. I think the triage guy's exact words were "Yeah, her tonsils are kissing..." Mom and I laughed..."They're in love," I tried to mouth.
Well, the next thing I remember is that they told me to sit in a chair in the hallway while they found a room for me. A gentleman came and snagged Mama (I was pretty clingy at this point) to ask her questions about registration. There were all kinds of people, every age, status, color, and size imaginable. There were nurses, doctors, firefighters, security guards, patients, and pedestrians walking the halls, singing, crying, yelling, hugging, laughing, and talking. All of a sudden, it faded away.
The Spirit of the Lord enveloped me, wrapped me in Its arms, and I felt a divine Presence next to me. It lasted for several minutes, and when I couldn't feel it anymore, I had no fears. Those fears never returned.
The next thing I knew the same triage guy who had announced that my tonsils were in love came and escorted me to beautiful Room 8. My nurse came in, and she ended up having the same exact name as me -- even spelled right, which she was very happy about. She gave me a blue hospital gown and she took blood. I'll spare you a few gory details... ;)
Later, the doctor came in and peered down my throat. (I think I gagged a total of fifteen times Friday....good job, reflexes...) She said I was dehydrated and that I needed steroids to get the swelling to go down. She also said that they were going to give me IV antibiotics, which would work faster than antibiotics by mouth.
I had a huge bag of fluids that my body soaked up in less than fifteen minutes. At the same time, steroids were flowing through my IV, and within five minutes, I could feel the swelling going down. My mouth had saliva for the first time that day and I started talking for the first time in three days! They gave me antibiotics as promised, and Mom and my nurse both said I looked "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed".
A few hours later they gave me a glass of water, which I drank in five minutes, and they got me another glass (which was also gone quickly). Then the nurse brought me applesauce -- I swear, that was the best applesauce ever! -- and I downed that in five seconds.
So the doctor came in and said, "You're doing great. Keep taking your antibiotics and pain pills, and you can go home now. If you can't talk again, come right back and we'll admit you and do a tonsillectomy. But you're good for now."
Oh, did I mention that they tested me and all it was was a serious case of strep?
I feel weaker than I have in a long, long time -- going to a cousin's Christmas party last night 'bout did me in, as did church and a grocery store trip this morning -- but I feel so, so incredibly blessed. My choir was singing at Church this morning, and I snuck into the practice room afterwards to tell them how wonderful they sounded. As I opened the door, everyone shouted my name and cried, "HOW ARE YOU?!!?!??!"
If you ever wanna feel loved..........I know some people that are pretty shuck-darn good at it!
Even one of my GUY FRIENDS came up to me and was like, "ARE YOU OKAY I HEARD YOU WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!" (Yeah, I have great guy friends....)
Sitting here this afternoon, I realized that I don't even have a single bruise from the IV. :)
Finally I see the two sides of God...both the "amazing, all-powerful" side and the "I am your best friend!" side. Friends, I simply cannot explain to you the magnitude of the God we serve. He. Is. Incredible.
Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus the blessed Redeemer!
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Thoughts and An Open Letter -Grace
In case you're a hermit and haven't noticed yet, it's Christmas time. That means pine trees, ornaments, lights, garlands, pine cones, wrapping paper, bows, Nativity scenes, and Christmas carols in the snow (sorry, Floridians...).
But at this time of year, we also think of things besides the material parts of Christmas. We think of the fun and laughter that family and friends bring. We are thankful for the family (blood-related or not) that is gathered around, and we cherish the memories of the members that we've lost. Sometimes we grieve, too.
I've been left alone with my thoughts today as I decorated the house for Christmas, and I started grieving for those I've lost. There were no tears, but how I miss them.
I woke up at seven -- after falling asleep at three am -- and tried to get ready for the day. But I woke up with a terribly sore throat. After stumbling around looking at clothing options, I decided to stay in my pajamas and lay on the couch watching whatever show was on Netflix at the moment.
My dad got up around seven, too, because he had to be at work at eight (he works three miles away from our house). Then he came to the top of the stairs -- two steps that lead into our living room -- and said, "Sara passed away."
Sara Lynn was my great-aunt. She was diagnosed with cancer between three and five years ago, and it's been a rollercoaster ride ever since. I mentioned her in this post. She died at four am today, December 9th, 2015.
It's so weird when you think of death and life. December 9th, 2015...every day this year was her last. It was her last January 16th, her last September 28th. Last year was her last Christmas, and I'll bet she didn't know it.
This could be the last day...and none of us would know it.
This post is going in an entirely different direction than what I intended. What I intended to say was that I'm missing so many people this year. More than five people have been taken from our closely-knit church family this year, besides my aunt. And then there were those we've lost in years past -- great-grandmothers and grandfathers, great-aunts, friends....and one sticks out to me clearly.
I never met him, but I feel as though I have. He was very close to me...not in a relationship-way, because we never met...
He was my brother. He never had a name...so I'll call him Brother.
If he'd been carried to term, he would be sixteen this fall. We were just a year apart.
He had Down Syndrome, also known as Trisonomy 21. He had one extra chromosome, and that changed his fate.
Maybe it wasn't just that extra chromosome. But in my world of trying to find someone to blame -- not that I should, but I do -- I like to blame that extra chromosome. Before I knew chromosomes, I blamed God.
But God loved my brother so much that He let him forgo the life he would have known. The life I know...where we fear everything from gluten to ISIS. (That being said, some really do get sick from consuming gluten, and ISIS is a real threat).
So tonight, after thinking of the boy we lost to Heaven, I wrote him a letter. In honor of everyone who's lost someone to Down Syndrome...
December 9th, 2015
I wonder who you are. Who you would have been on earth.
I know you had Down Syndrome. Did you have a flattened nose and brushstrokes on the irises of your eyes?
Would you have been shorter? Mentally retarded?
Oh, but I would have loved you so. I, your little sister...I love you even now. :)
The secrets I would have told you, the questions I would have asked...
Would you have liked blue, like Momma and me? Would you have loved music like I do?
Would you have joined the church choir and sang in the bass section? Would you have loved me?
I feel certain that you do. And I love you so, my brother.
~ Your sister
And then...just for the heck of it, and because I'm being a total emotional teenager, I wrote him a poem.
But at this time of year, we also think of things besides the material parts of Christmas. We think of the fun and laughter that family and friends bring. We are thankful for the family (blood-related or not) that is gathered around, and we cherish the memories of the members that we've lost. Sometimes we grieve, too.
I've been left alone with my thoughts today as I decorated the house for Christmas, and I started grieving for those I've lost. There were no tears, but how I miss them.
I woke up at seven -- after falling asleep at three am -- and tried to get ready for the day. But I woke up with a terribly sore throat. After stumbling around looking at clothing options, I decided to stay in my pajamas and lay on the couch watching whatever show was on Netflix at the moment.
My dad got up around seven, too, because he had to be at work at eight (he works three miles away from our house). Then he came to the top of the stairs -- two steps that lead into our living room -- and said, "Sara passed away."
Sara Lynn was my great-aunt. She was diagnosed with cancer between three and five years ago, and it's been a rollercoaster ride ever since. I mentioned her in this post. She died at four am today, December 9th, 2015.
It's so weird when you think of death and life. December 9th, 2015...every day this year was her last. It was her last January 16th, her last September 28th. Last year was her last Christmas, and I'll bet she didn't know it.
This could be the last day...and none of us would know it.
This post is going in an entirely different direction than what I intended. What I intended to say was that I'm missing so many people this year. More than five people have been taken from our closely-knit church family this year, besides my aunt. And then there were those we've lost in years past -- great-grandmothers and grandfathers, great-aunts, friends....and one sticks out to me clearly.
I never met him, but I feel as though I have. He was very close to me...not in a relationship-way, because we never met...
He was my brother. He never had a name...so I'll call him Brother.
If he'd been carried to term, he would be sixteen this fall. We were just a year apart.
He had Down Syndrome, also known as Trisonomy 21. He had one extra chromosome, and that changed his fate.
Maybe it wasn't just that extra chromosome. But in my world of trying to find someone to blame -- not that I should, but I do -- I like to blame that extra chromosome. Before I knew chromosomes, I blamed God.
But God loved my brother so much that He let him forgo the life he would have known. The life I know...where we fear everything from gluten to ISIS. (That being said, some really do get sick from consuming gluten, and ISIS is a real threat).
So tonight, after thinking of the boy we lost to Heaven, I wrote him a letter. In honor of everyone who's lost someone to Down Syndrome...
December 9th, 2015
I wonder who you are. Who you would have been on earth.
I know you had Down Syndrome. Did you have a flattened nose and brushstrokes on the irises of your eyes?
Would you have been shorter? Mentally retarded?
Oh, but I would have loved you so. I, your little sister...I love you even now. :)
The secrets I would have told you, the questions I would have asked...
Would you have liked blue, like Momma and me? Would you have loved music like I do?
Would you have joined the church choir and sang in the bass section? Would you have loved me?
I feel certain that you do. And I love you so, my brother.
~ Your sister
And then...just for the heck of it, and because I'm being a total emotional teenager, I wrote him a poem.
Oh, the things I oft
wonder
Of the life you might
have led!
If only you weren’t
taken…
If things were different
instead.
The things I would have
told you!
Oh, the things I would
have asked…
I wish you would have
lived much longer…
But Heaven held a
diff’rent task.
Would you have loved the
sunsets?
Were your eyes sky-blue
and fair?
The Father called you
Home that day,
Oh, it must be beautiful
up there.
Yes, Heaven must be
gorgeous;
Just to live without one
fear!
I love you, my dear
brother…
And I know that you are
near.
~Grace
So....that's me tonight. And now I'm texting my best guy friend and being such a mess and he's tolerating it just as wonderfully as he always does. Man, that dude's a hero. :)
It's 10:49, and I need sleep. But I'm listening to the Gardiner Sisters on YouTube and thinking about my brother. Yes, I talk to him. Yes, I long to meet him face-to-face someday. :)
~Grace
Monday, December 7, 2015
15 Homeschooling Myths -- DEBUNKED! - Grace
Yes, we're homeschooled. No, we're not (totally) socially awkward.
15. We're afraid of the "outside" world.
No. Our parents may be protective (even overprotective) of their children, but we are not afraid. We spend more time in the real world than kids who go to school. They're stuck in a classroom eight hours a day while we're at the grocery store with our mom or at the library reading or spending quality time in the fresh air and sunshine.
14. We're bad at tests.
Oh, no. Your grade says nothing but how old you are. Ishould could be in college if I wished. But I'd rather learn more here in high school. ;)
13. We're all geniuses.
No. I'm pretty sure I have a rather normal IQ for someone my age.
12. We're lazy.
I never do school in my pajamas. Never. Mainly because my grandmother enforces the "you must get dressed" rule. Oh, and I'm always on the go by eight am, finished by five-thirty. Always.
11. We think we're better than everyone else.
Yes, we take pride in the fact that we're different. Who wants to be the same as everyone else? As Paul puts it, "If all were the smelling, where were the hearing?" (I'm paraphrasing; don't quote me. ;) ). Seriously, we do take pride in the fact that we're not schooled in a public or private school classroom. But that doesn't mean we look down on others. Pride is something you -- I -- can struggle with, but not everyone does.
10. We won't be prepared for college.
Actually, I spend a lot of my time hearing about what happens in college and what professors will expect of me. Truth be told, I'm kind of excited for the day I get to attend my first college class -- the day I'll be in a classroom for the first time since I was six.
9. "If" we get into college, we won't succeed.
We homeschoolers have a lot of determination. It takes willpower to get up every day at 7:30 and be working on school by 8 if no one else is telling you to. And that's the truth.
8. Parents aren't qualified to teach their children.
Um, who taught you your first words?
Your colors?
Shapes?
Letters?
'Nough said.
7. We're not up on trends, celebrities, and yada yada yada.
Oh, yes we are. We're watching. Always watching.
6. Every homeschool family has at least 6.5 children.
No. No we don't. I'm one of one and Peace is one of two. (That being said, if I homeschool my children -- which I want to -- I will have ten kids. But that's me. ;) ).
5. Homeschoolers don't get a good education.
See number 14 if you're confused.
If I wanted, I'd be in college right now. I can tell you the year McKinley was assasinated and how to find y in an algebra problem. (Oh, and, a little tad of information that I love? DNA is short for deoxyribonucleic acid).
4. Homeschooling is totally un-American.
Just....what???
Do you know what this nation was founded on? Prayer.
What do I do every day? Pray.
In God we trust, people, in God we trust.
3. We finish homeschool year round (or finish by May).
No. No we don't. We start really early in August. This year it was the third. We take off September or October, and start again in October or November. Sometimes there are a couple of trips or a few days off, but not generally. Then we take off April. We do school in May and work up until the second week of June, when Church camp happens up at Lamoni, Iowa. Then we'll work around summer camps, trips, and other things that take time in the summer. Then...it's back to school in the first week of August. :)
2. You have to be extremely organized.
You ever heard of the fast lane? Well, if there was a spontaneity lane, I'd be cruising through it 24/7. I live on spontaneity. It's just the way I am. Yeah, I have feelers out for how the next five weeks are gonna go, but when it comes down to the milliseconds, I'll do whatever suits my fancy. For instance, I got the idea for this post and wrote it five minutes later.
1. We're awkward, not well-socialized, geeky, nerds, introverts...
No.
Okay, okay, I'm a tad awkward at times. It's my nature.
Because I'm homeschooled, literally everyone I've ever met has been a Christian.
I have friends who are five and I have friends who are ninety-one. I love them all; every time I see them, I run over and hug them and spend five minutes talking to them.
Okay, I love Star Wars and reading about things such as deoxyribonucleic acid and cheilitis, but...geez, I'm not that geeky or nerdy. I'm your normal teenage girl -- I love to do my hair and makeup, text, and hang out with friends as well.
And...introverted?
We can be. But so can public schoolers. And we can both be extroverted too. Though I find that public schoolers are more introverted, and homeschoolers are usually extroverted. We have to actively seek out our friends.
I used to be introverted...but since being homeschooled, I've tried to change that. I've found that you can't share Christ, love, and laughter by keeping to yourself all the time. It just isn't possible.
Now...facts to set you straight:
According to Homeschoolfacts.com, 1.7 million children are homeschooled every year. 66.7% graduated from college with a better grade than their classmates.
According to www.nheri.org, children who are homeschooled are more likely to:
~ Vote
~ Be accepted to college
~ Be of a service to their community, and
~ Be a Christian.
Those are all wonderful things. :)
I love numbers. So here are homeschooling statistics (taken from Statisticbrain.com):
There are 1,508,000 children homeschooling.
The average academic percentile of a homeschooling child? 77th. Our average reading percentile? 79th. Math comes in at 73rd (darn, Promise and I are not fans of algebra).
A homeschooling child's average SAT score is 1083 and the average ACT score is 22.6. (Is that good? Lol, I've never faced either of these tests).
My favorite part? The annual percentage increase of those choosing to homeschool is a whopping 7%.
Come to the dark side. We have cookies (and fascinating textbooks).
~ Grace
15. We're afraid of the "outside" world.
No. Our parents may be protective (even overprotective) of their children, but we are not afraid. We spend more time in the real world than kids who go to school. They're stuck in a classroom eight hours a day while we're at the grocery store with our mom or at the library reading or spending quality time in the fresh air and sunshine.
14. We're bad at tests.
Oh, no. Your grade says nothing but how old you are. I
13. We're all geniuses.
No. I'm pretty sure I have a rather normal IQ for someone my age.
12. We're lazy.
I never do school in my pajamas. Never. Mainly because my grandmother enforces the "you must get dressed" rule. Oh, and I'm always on the go by eight am, finished by five-thirty. Always.
11. We think we're better than everyone else.
Yes, we take pride in the fact that we're different. Who wants to be the same as everyone else? As Paul puts it, "If all were the smelling, where were the hearing?" (I'm paraphrasing; don't quote me. ;) ). Seriously, we do take pride in the fact that we're not schooled in a public or private school classroom. But that doesn't mean we look down on others. Pride is something you -- I -- can struggle with, but not everyone does.
10. We won't be prepared for college.
Actually, I spend a lot of my time hearing about what happens in college and what professors will expect of me. Truth be told, I'm kind of excited for the day I get to attend my first college class -- the day I'll be in a classroom for the first time since I was six.
9. "If" we get into college, we won't succeed.
We homeschoolers have a lot of determination. It takes willpower to get up every day at 7:30 and be working on school by 8 if no one else is telling you to. And that's the truth.
8. Parents aren't qualified to teach their children.
Um, who taught you your first words?
Your colors?
Shapes?
Letters?
'Nough said.
7. We're not up on trends, celebrities, and yada yada yada.
Oh, yes we are. We're watching. Always watching.
6. Every homeschool family has at least 6.5 children.
No. No we don't. I'm one of one and Peace is one of two. (That being said, if I homeschool my children -- which I want to -- I will have ten kids. But that's me. ;) ).
5. Homeschoolers don't get a good education.
See number 14 if you're confused.
If I wanted, I'd be in college right now. I can tell you the year McKinley was assasinated and how to find y in an algebra problem. (Oh, and, a little tad of information that I love? DNA is short for deoxyribonucleic acid).
4. Homeschooling is totally un-American.
Just....what???
Do you know what this nation was founded on? Prayer.
What do I do every day? Pray.
In God we trust, people, in God we trust.
3. We finish homeschool year round (or finish by May).
No. No we don't. We start really early in August. This year it was the third. We take off September or October, and start again in October or November. Sometimes there are a couple of trips or a few days off, but not generally. Then we take off April. We do school in May and work up until the second week of June, when Church camp happens up at Lamoni, Iowa. Then we'll work around summer camps, trips, and other things that take time in the summer. Then...it's back to school in the first week of August. :)
2. You have to be extremely organized.
You ever heard of the fast lane? Well, if there was a spontaneity lane, I'd be cruising through it 24/7. I live on spontaneity. It's just the way I am. Yeah, I have feelers out for how the next five weeks are gonna go, but when it comes down to the milliseconds, I'll do whatever suits my fancy. For instance, I got the idea for this post and wrote it five minutes later.
1. We're awkward, not well-socialized, geeky, nerds, introverts...
No.
Okay, okay, I'm a tad awkward at times. It's my nature.
Because I'm homeschooled, literally everyone I've ever met has been a Christian.
I have friends who are five and I have friends who are ninety-one. I love them all; every time I see them, I run over and hug them and spend five minutes talking to them.
Okay, I love Star Wars and reading about things such as deoxyribonucleic acid and cheilitis, but...geez, I'm not that geeky or nerdy. I'm your normal teenage girl -- I love to do my hair and makeup, text, and hang out with friends as well.
And...introverted?
We can be. But so can public schoolers. And we can both be extroverted too. Though I find that public schoolers are more introverted, and homeschoolers are usually extroverted. We have to actively seek out our friends.
I used to be introverted...but since being homeschooled, I've tried to change that. I've found that you can't share Christ, love, and laughter by keeping to yourself all the time. It just isn't possible.
Now...facts to set you straight:
According to Homeschoolfacts.com, 1.7 million children are homeschooled every year. 66.7% graduated from college with a better grade than their classmates.
According to www.nheri.org, children who are homeschooled are more likely to:
~ Vote
~ Be accepted to college
~ Be of a service to their community, and
~ Be a Christian.
Those are all wonderful things. :)
I love numbers. So here are homeschooling statistics (taken from Statisticbrain.com):
There are 1,508,000 children homeschooling.
The average academic percentile of a homeschooling child? 77th. Our average reading percentile? 79th. Math comes in at 73rd (darn, Promise and I are not fans of algebra).
A homeschooling child's average SAT score is 1083 and the average ACT score is 22.6. (Is that good? Lol, I've never faced either of these tests).
My favorite part? The annual percentage increase of those choosing to homeschool is a whopping 7%.
Come to the dark side. We have cookies (and fascinating textbooks).
~ Grace
Friday, December 4, 2015
Introducing Follower Fridays -Grace
Hey ya'll! Something you might not know about me is I love to write fiction. So I'm giving a spin on a novella. The plot revolves around a Bethlehem-born woman named Rebekah. In this first chapter, she is fifteen years old.
The characters:
Rebekah: Rebekah is fifteen and has a tender heart and kind spirit.
Enoch and Elijah: Enoch and Elijah are twins as well as Rebekah's sixteen-year-old brothers.
Noah: Noah is Enoch's, Elijah's, and Rebekah's father. He is a shepherd at Bethlehem.
Aaron: Aaron is Noah's brother. He runs an inn in Bethlehem.
Deborah: Deborah is Aaron's wife. She has helped Rebekah keep house since Noah's wife died five years before.
Antonius Marius: Antonius is a half-Jew, half-Roman who grew up with Rebekah and her brothers. Rebekah has always disliked him, although
There are more characters that will play into the story eventually, but these are the main characters for now. :)
So, without further adieu, here is the first chapter! :)
~ Grace
The characters:
Rebekah: Rebekah is fifteen and has a tender heart and kind spirit.
Enoch and Elijah: Enoch and Elijah are twins as well as Rebekah's sixteen-year-old brothers.
Noah: Noah is Enoch's, Elijah's, and Rebekah's father. He is a shepherd at Bethlehem.
Aaron: Aaron is Noah's brother. He runs an inn in Bethlehem.
Deborah: Deborah is Aaron's wife. She has helped Rebekah keep house since Noah's wife died five years before.
Antonius Marius: Antonius is a half-Jew, half-Roman who grew up with Rebekah and her brothers. Rebekah has always disliked him, although
There are more characters that will play into the story eventually, but these are the main characters for now. :)
So, without further adieu, here is the first chapter! :)
“Rebekah!” Deborah’s call echoed across the green
valley. She could see a flock of sheep
over on the other side of the gulch, grazing as if they hadn’t a care in the
world. Deborah’s husband’s brother kept
a flock of sheep in this valley, and she was sure it was them. Usually she would go to visit with her
brother-in-law and twin nephews, but now Deborah was looking for her niece.
“Hey, Aunt
Deborah,” came Enoch’s voice across the valley.
“Come on over!”
Aunt Deborah
waved back, but declined. “I’m looking
for Rebekah!”
“She should be
at home,” Noah replied, his voice gravelly voice ribboned with concern. “Was she not?”
“I didn’t
check,” Aunt Deborah returned. “Normally
she’s out in the field with you!”
“No, not today,
Deborah. Since Mary…since…the trouble,
she’s been taking care of the home like a proper young lady.” Deborah nodded. She should have known to look at Noah’s home
for Rebekah, but on a fine, cloudless day like today, she figured the young
woman would have been with the sheep.
Deborah walked on
down the road and turned in on a little gravelly path. It led to a pretty two-story home on the
outskirts of the city. Noah and Mary had
raised their little brood of three here, until the trouble came. Rebekah had nearly taken over housekeeping
since then, with a little help from her aunt.
“Rebekah?”
Deborah asked, stepping near to the open wooden door. It was nice weather today, and anyone would
be more than happy to let a little sunshine in.
An ebony head
peeped out the door, and Rebekah smiled, brown eyes dancing.
“Hello, Aunt
Deborah! Come in!” Deborah stepped into the doorway, letting her
eyes adjust. Rebekah had a little fire
going, and was cooking some meat.
“Mutton, my
dear?” Deborah questioned, motioning to the slice on the flames. Rebekah nodded.
“For
tonight. We’ll be eating in the fields
again…with the sheep. Father always has
since…since the trouble.” Rebekah’s
voice wavered a bit, but it regained its old happy tone. “What brought you here today, Aunt Deborah?”
“Oh, I wanted to
see if there was anything you needed help with.
You’ve come right along, Rebekah.
I’m so proud of you for taking over like you did,” Deborah said. Rebekah blushed.
“Thank you, Aunt
Deborah. You and I both know I couldn’t
have done it without you…and without God,” Rebekah smiled.
“Oh, dear. I know it is because of God, and only
Him. He has blessed you immensely, dear
Rebekah. I wish He would do the same for
my Judas…” Deborah trailed off.
“Judas? What is he up to now?” Rebekah’s cousin had often been a
troublemaker, and now the boy lived in Jerusalem. Deborah often told Rebekah stories of the
things Judas did, like stealing from King Herod’s own treasury and cheating
poor on their taxes.
“Oh, no good,
just like always,” Deborah replied. “I
just wish he would realize that God loves him.
I wish he would remember all the things I tried to teach him.”
“You did a
wonderful job with all of your children, Aunt Deborah. My cousins are some of my best friends, to
this day. I so enjoy spending time with
Joanna.” Joanna was Deborah’s youngest
daughter, and the girl was just a year older than Rebekah.
“As she does
with you, dear. I’m so glad my Joanna
has a friend like you. I must be getting
back to the inn now.” Deborah
smiled. She turned towards the door as a
chilled wind swept over the valley.
“Ah, my dear. The winter is fast approaching,” she
said. Rebekah nodded.
“It will be the
fifth winter since…since…”
“The trouble,”
Deborah finished. “Oh, my child. Weep not for Mary. She loved the Lord.” Rebekah nodded as
Deborah set off down the trail to her home.
Rebekah set back
to attending to the meat, which had been blessed with an abundance of charring
since Deborah came by. She removed it
from its heat and put it on a plate. It would
do for lunch, she supposed. Just then,
Rebekah looked up to see her brother standing in the doorway.
Elijah was tall,
over six feet, with dark curly hair and eyes as blue as the Galilean lake. He and his brother, Enoch, were twins, and
they helped their father with the sheep in the field while Rebekah looked over
the household. Elijah and Rebekah were
close. They always had been, but
especially since the trouble five years ago.
A white lamb was
in Elijah’s arms. He smiled at his sister.
“Why, hello,
Elijah. What brings you here so early?”
Rebekah asked, smiling up at her elder brother.
“This little
lamb. He got a cut on his leg the other
day and it seems to be infected now. I
thought you could do something for him,” Elijah announced, showing his sister
the lamb.
“Oh, of course,”
Rebekah answered. She took the creature
and looked at its wounded leg, and then nodded.
“He should be better soon. Is
there anything else you needed?”
“No, no,” Elijah
said. He turned back to the door as if
to go out, and then turned abruptly.
“Do you remember
Antonius Marius?” he asked.
“Antonius?”
Rebekah questioned. She nodded. Enoch, Elijah, Rebekah, and Antonius had
grown up together. Antonius was a few
years older than the twin boys, and Rebekah a year younger than they. “Yes, yes I do.” Antonius had always seemed to feel something
for Rebekah, though she had never felt the same way. As far as she remembered, he was an immature,
annoying schoolboy, inclined to play jokes on her and then laugh as if it were
all good fun.
“He moved to
Rome five years ago this winter,” Elijah announced, looking out at the blue
sky. Antonius was half-Roman, half-Jew,
and had been brought up in his father’s land since turning fifteen. Rebekah had been ten then.
“So
much changed five years ago,” Rebekah replied.
“Oh, so much.”~ Grace
I've Been Thinking -Grace
Hey ya'll! So for today's post, I want to address an issue that has been on my heart for awhile.
I have a friend, and for privacy's sake I'm calling him Percy (because let's be honest, that name is awesome).
Percy and I sing in a choir at our church of between twenty and forty kids. We have good friends amongst these kids, and have known them all of our lives (even though he's about ten years older than I am).
There is something you need to know about Percy.
He's incredible. I have never met anyone funnier, more outgoing, friendlier, or more passionate about Jesus Christ than Percy.
Oh...and there's something else you need to know about him. Percy has autism. He's a little different than everyone else. Sometimes he says weird things or does something inappropriate. Sometimes he doesn't make sense to some people (most of the time he does to me). Sometimes he gets nervous while he's talking and he cuts the sound off in the middle of a word, then resumes again.
Percy is amazing. He knows that the Lord is good, and that He is God. Like I said above, he is incredibly funny, outgoing, friendly, and super passionate about God. In every conversation that we have, I end up laughing so hard my sides hurt. We talk about everything from God to glasses, from moldy cheese to Yoda impressions. Percy is super intelligent.
But Percy's different, and not totally in a good way. Because of being a little awkward socially, everyone says hi and then kind of ignores him. They don't like it that he says and does things differently, so they let him be.
Percy was in a car wreck about a month ago. When he told me, I started crying -- even though he was standing literally RIGHT in front of me, totally fine. I told him that I didn't know what I'd do without him; that I would cry my heart out if he hadn't been okay.
"Really?!" he questioned.
"Yes!!!" I practically yelled in his face.
"I didn't think anyone would miss me that much," he responded.
That last line is what really broke my heart that day. The fact that he didn't know how much he meant to us, and not just because he's one of the three basses in our choir. The fact that he didn't know what a hole would be in our midst if we lost him. The fact that he didn't know that I loved him so incredibly much. That broke my heart.
So if you know someone a little different...go to them, befriend them. Chances are, you might just change their life.
~Grace
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Haircuts and Glasses of Milk...I Can Handel This! -Grace
Hey ya'll! I got news to share! :)
So this was my hair on August 2nd, 2015.
My dad needed a trim about a week later, and Mom reminded me that it had been about a year since my last cut. My ends were seriously uneven and I really needed a trim. I decided to go for a cut that I had been considering all summer -- just below my collarbone with layers.
I let that grow out for a ways and was pretty happy with it. But it started getting long again, and I got restless again. I had my first haircut at age five, and since then I've had one every year. My hair has been chin-length ever since, until this summer when it grew to be almost to my elbow (not quite, but I don't know how else to explain it. ;) ). So, I had no clue what to do with my locks and wore them down every day.
Finally I decided to go for a shoulder-length cut with layers. Tons of people told me they LOVED it, and a day afterwards I still LOVE it, which is saying something for me! It's my first time having side bangs and I've never had layers at this length, and I love how wild and bushy and tom-boyish I look. :) Not that I'm a tomboy! :)
So this is me. And I love me now. :)
Do what makes you happy, 'cause that's awesome (just don't go wild and crazy. Remember that you are beautiful the way God made you. Yeah, a little mascara and a new haircut are great, but don't hide your God-given beauty. And even if no one tells you you're beautiful, and even if people tell you you're ugly....God knows you're beautiful, and His opinion is the only one that matters).
So yesterday was a day of happiness, joy, and spoiling myself. Because when I got home from the salon I worked on school (oh, the blissfulness of homeschooling!) and drank a glass of milk. I don't do it often, so it was a real treat (I'm writing this over another glass of milk in one of those awesome jar-mug things).
After I'd finished my schoolwork (and my glass of milk), my dad came home from work and the three of us picked up a friend. We then drove into Kansas City and to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts (it's so beautiful...a real work of architectural beauty!). We were able to see a dress rehearsal of George Friedrich Handel's The Messiah. It was performed by the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony Chorus (hope that's right!) and the Independence Messiah Choir (I think that's it as well).
If you want to talk about spectacular.....
I started tearing up when they sang my favorite number, "For Unto Us a Child Is Born." I've always loved it because it states some of the names of Jesus. "Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." He is SOOO amazing...
Then of course they sang the Hallelujah Chorus. This, too made me cry, as I stood there with my eyes closed, just drinking in the beauty of those sounds.
It raced across my mind that San Bernardino had been attacked that day. I have friends who mourn for the dead and wounded, and I have friends who believe it was all a hoax to get more gun control (I'm pro-gun, if you're curious...#sorrynotsorry).
Either way, the evil in this country grows by the day, and I do believe the end is not far. You see, Promise and I hold the belief that in the end, evil will become great and there will be great trials for us. The Lord God will return with Zion, a city where the people lived in perfect harmony and beautiful unity. Promise and I believe that if we remain faithful to God until the end, we will be able to take part in that city of Zion. It is my greatest dream, to be there.
So my thoughts came across the great trials that I believe are coming, as I heard this chorus and orchestra sing and play Handel's Messiah. And just as I thought that, the chorus sang these words:
"For the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth...Hallelujah!"
Tears started flowing, and I all I could do was mutter, "Oh, God..." as I marveled at His beauty and absolute sovereignty. And then the choir sang this:
"And He shall reign forever and ever!"
All I can say is WOW. And...since then I am not afraid. Because if God be for us, who can stand against us?
No one. Not sin, not Hell, not death itself. Not even Satan.
God is so much more powerful than that.
~ Grace
Ten Things You Don't Say To A Woman Who's Cut Her Hair Short -Grace
This is a light-hearted list of compliments to NOT say to a woman who's just cut her hair. It's sort of a spin off somthing else I saw once. It inspired me! So I came up with ten of my own.
10. "You look so different!"
Um, holdup. Different = good. Very good.
9. "You look so much older!"
Newsflash! Not every teenage girl wants to look older! ;)
8. "But...I thought your face shape was round..."
Thanks, but #shorthairdontcare.
7. "What?!?!?!"
No. Just no.
6. "OMG WHY?!?"
Because I wanted to. Is there a new hair law? Because if there is, about half of the women in this country are now felons.
5. "I dare you to grow it out." / "Are you going to grow it out now?" / "Oh great, now you/we have to grow it out!"
I JUST got my new 'do! I want to enjoy my new looks for awhile before worrying about what to do next.
4. "What are you going to do with it for special occasions?"
Um, I dunno. Find some cute bobby pins? (check out Lilla Rose for some ADORABLE and BEAUTIFUL hair accessories, including headbands, bobbies, flexis, and more!). [Sorry for that shameless publicity for my friend's business... carry on!]
3. "I don't know how you can stand having it in your face that way."
Not much I can do about it now, JimBob, huh?!
2, "Will your boyfriend/best friend like it?"
I don't care. And no girl under seventeen should be dating/courting anyhow.
1. "Your grandma's gonna hate those sidebangs."
Well, my grandmother's hatred of thus shortened hair will CERTAINLY make it grow back faster, won't it!
There you have it. Now you know how to NOT compliment me. :) Instead try things like, "I love it!" "You're beautiful!" or anything you would say to any other woman with long hair. EXCEPT "I love your long hair!" ;)
Signed,
Grace
PS Sorry I sounded defensive. It's all in good fun...sort of... ;)
10. "You look so different!"
Um, holdup. Different = good. Very good.
9. "You look so much older!"
Newsflash! Not every teenage girl wants to look older! ;)
8. "But...I thought your face shape was round..."
Thanks, but #shorthairdontcare.
7. "What?!?!?!"
No. Just no.
6. "OMG WHY?!?"
Because I wanted to. Is there a new hair law? Because if there is, about half of the women in this country are now felons.
5. "I dare you to grow it out." / "Are you going to grow it out now?" / "Oh great, now you/we have to grow it out!"
I JUST got my new 'do! I want to enjoy my new looks for awhile before worrying about what to do next.
4. "What are you going to do with it for special occasions?"
Um, I dunno. Find some cute bobby pins? (check out Lilla Rose for some ADORABLE and BEAUTIFUL hair accessories, including headbands, bobbies, flexis, and more!). [Sorry for that shameless publicity for my friend's business... carry on!]
3. "I don't know how you can stand having it in your face that way."
Not much I can do about it now, JimBob, huh?!
2, "Will your boyfriend/best friend like it?"
I don't care. And no girl under seventeen should be dating/courting anyhow.
1. "Your grandma's gonna hate those sidebangs."
Well, my grandmother's hatred of thus shortened hair will CERTAINLY make it grow back faster, won't it!
There you have it. Now you know how to NOT compliment me. :) Instead try things like, "I love it!" "You're beautiful!" or anything you would say to any other woman with long hair. EXCEPT "I love your long hair!" ;)
Signed,
Grace
PS Sorry I sounded defensive. It's all in good fun...sort of... ;)
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