"Son of Man, Son of Righteousness..."

"...King of the Earth for sinner's slain."

Every time I hear the youth choir sing this song, I literally get goosebumps :) I absolutely love it! I love the tangible passion for the Lord, and I love getting to see my friends worship God with their talents :) Joni was right when she told us that it was a new experience watching the production as opposed to being on stage, but she was also right when she said it was so rewarding :) I am so happy where I'm at, and I absolutely love what I'm doing! Ahhhh! I just wish I could express to you how incredibly blessed I feel! I'm so happy :D

My whole day was basically spent at church :) The pancake breakfast went well, the services were lovely, the production was wonderful, and I always love having the opportunity to fellowship with my friends and other church members :) I'll tell you what, it still blows my mind that people remember who I am, haha! I should also mention how great it is that we were able to have the production tonight, because at 3:00 the power was out and they said it might be 3-4 hours until it came back on. But God is so faithful, and it was back on within about an hour! Praise be to Him! After selling shirts and hanging out for a bit after the show, I went to a very large hangout at Elizabeth's :) We watched the MTV movie awards, Kelly and I went on a Walmart/Cookout run, and we watched a movie called Breadcrumbs. (Five dollar movie bin at Walmart? I think yes!) But let me just say, this little girl who won the award for "Best Line From a Movie" was so cute! Look! (Her speech starts at 2:25.)

I love that she thanks God! Awww! I want to put that girl in my pocket! But alas, dear loves, I will spare you any further ranting and will bid thee adieu. Goodnight :)

"I'm ready for my blessing!"

... I love my Elsbeth :)

I got to visit two little girls today that I haven't seen in a very long time. One of them seems to be doing extremely well, while the other is not. It worries me a great deal, and a big part of me just wants to live with her for a while so that I can be a kind of "big sister" her. I just really think she needs someone older that she can talk to that isn't her parent (in the middle school age, nobody really wants to do that). Her and her family might be coming to the youth production tomorrow night, which I really hope they do! Maybe she'll want to get involved with youth group, and maybe it will help. I am going to be praying very hard about that tonight. The Lord has a plan, and I am going to have to trust in that and lift it all to Him!

I got to have a coffee date with Judy today :) It was nice to hang out and get to know her more. She is such a sweetheart, and I think we will definitely be getting together again :) From there it was straight to youth choir rehearsal. Let me say that I am SO EXCITED for the show tomorrow and monday! It's going to be so great! And, not even lying, there are multiple moments where I get goosebumps and am just left with an overwhelming sense of "proud mom" mixed with amazement. The emotion pours out from that stage, and there is such talent in the choir. I love watching it, and I'm so happy that I've been able to help out with it! Even if it's little things like making props for the backdrop, painting the risers, passing out tee shirts, writing notes in the script margins, or just sweeping the stage, I love that I was able to be of some assistance :)

Dinner at Chipotle was fun :) I love my friends, and I love that Stony Point is our go-to meal spot. I got to see and hang out with so many people! I love how much I can laugh around them, and I love that we can just talk and be totally content :)  After talking in the parking lot for a good while, I decided to come home. I caught my mom before she went to bed, and we actually ended up talking for probably about an hour. That doesn't normally happen, but it was good. We were able to talk about a lot of things, and even though the conversations were pretty serious, it was nice. She's coming to the show tomorrow! That makes me happy :) Did I mention I was excited? Haha.

And now it is after 1 AM... I have to be at church in less than 6 hours. That being said, goodnight all!

"The wind is a pervert."

Today was truly splendid :) Kelly picked me up and treated my to a lovely lunch at California Pizza Kitchen, which was absolutely delightful :) We then proceeded to walk around the mall for a bit before heading home. On the ride back, we had a jam sesh to this song:

Haha, throwback much?! We also belted out the words (some incorrect) to "Just the Way You Are," haha. Everybody be on the lookout, Kelly and I are about to start our music careers..... Yeah, no. Haha. After poking around the house for a bit, it was time for Heather's birthday dinner at Maggiano's! We got to sit outside on the shaded patio, and it was so lovely!

I'm so glad I got to treat my dear Heather on her birthday :) Twas a fantastic time! She had to leave while I was waiting for the check to go to rehearsal, but I realized I still needed to give her something. So I go to the church, and Heather's actually pulling in right behind me. So I get really excited and jump out of my car to meet her, and only after walking inside for a bit and going to leave did I realize that I locked my keys in my car..... Yeah, I had to be downtown in less than 45 minutes. I was going to have a friend break into my car for me, but then I just decided it would be better to wait for my mom to bring me the spare key. And with less than 30 minutes to make it to my destination, I sped off!

Miraculously, I made it to the CFA Senior Dance Showcase with time to spare! Oh my goodness, those girls did such an amazing job of choreographing those pieces! I was blown away; not a single piece was remotely shabby. Each of them was full of emotions and just amazing to watch. My darling Sarah's piece turned out so well! I am so proud of her! (She was my dancer for my piece last year.) My little love is going to do so well at Shenandoah next year, I just know it! My little brother, Rave', was amazing as always! His talent never ceases to amaze me. His hugs are pretty wonderful too, I must say :) Ahh! I love him :) And my friend Jessica did so well too! Some of you may recall me mentioning how I have those "proud mom" moments... Yeah, this was one of them. It also really made me miss dancing. I constantly wonder about what I can't do anymore or how awful I'd be if I tried to jump back into one of my old dance classes. It's all just so beautiful and expressive! I don't want to lose that, ever...

I made it to the last 10 minutes or so of youth choir rehearsal; thus there wasn't much to do. But, like I've said a million times, I love being involved with the youth. I love being able to help, and I love that they will actually come to me when something's on their mind. I love them, so much! From there, it was over to Elizabeth's! Three people rode inside while seven people rode in the back of a pickup truck to go to Krispy Kreme to get free donuts (National Donut Day). Let me just say, the wind chill made the trip almost not even worth it! SO COLD! Also not that I was wearing a dress. Take that fact and combine it with the quote that is the title of this post, and I think you'll figure out why I was having issues, haha. We had some bonfire time as we threw marshmallows at one another, and I closed my evening with a skype date to some of my sisters at the SAO convention in New Mexico.

Yep, today's been good. I'm sleepy now, though, so I am going to bid the adieu. Goodnight loves!

Happy Birthday,

to my wonderfully amazing best friend, Heather :)

I find it so hard to believe that we've really only been friends for about 14 months, and it astounds me (in a good way, of course!) how close we've become! You always have sound advice for me, and you call me back in the middle of the night even when I wake you up with desperate phone calls. You tolerate my dry sarcasm and aren't afraid to dish it back out to me. You still put up a fight when it comes to checks, and we will forever be an indecisive pair ;) Your hugs are basically the greatest thing ever, and you never fail to make my day brighter :) I love you so incredibly much! You always roll your eyes and ask "What am I going to do with you?!" Well, my darling, just keep doing what you're doing, because you are honestly one of the greatest blessings I have in my life :) Thank you for everything, and I hope your 18th birthday is everything you hoped it would be :) You deserve all of the joy in the world, and I will say it again: I love you :) More! The end!

You make my heart smile :)

Our world could be much more utopian

if everyone had more positive things to say. I've been thinking about how negative comments can affect a person, and it truly is offensive and hurtful. Just something I was thinking about tonight....

Today was incredibly long, and it looked a little something like this:

• Internship 9-4.
• Take a 30 minute nap at home.
• Scarf down dinner.
• Youth choir rehearsal 6:30-9.
• Swings and Krispy Kreme with Kelly :)

I am extremely tired, and tomorrow is sure to be a fun one :) But you'll hear about that later. Bye all!

"You are good, You are good..."

"...when there's nothing good in me."

This song really hit me tonight in youth group, this line in particular. So often, there are things about us (whether it be our thoughts, actions, or emotions) that are not good; they are rooted in a dark place, and there is no denying it. As long as we are sinners, which we all are, there will be at least a drop of darkness within us. But, by decided to worship and truly follow Jesus, that darkness can be eclipsed by the light He pours into us; the light that bursts through the pores of those who are on fire for Him; the essence of the Spirit at work in us. Even when we are not good, He will forever be. Because of that, we can stand firm in our Lord and take hold of His righteous hand when we go astray. He is constant; we are never left or forsaken by Him. "My heat will sing no other name, Jesus."

Yet another amazing song from tonight:

No matter how much effort I put forth, I cannot create a concrete image of Heaven in my head. And obviously no one here on earth knows what Heaven will be like, but I can't even create up a picture of what I think it will look or be like. But the promise of no more suffering, no more violence, no more sickness, no weeping, no darkness, no pain... How marvelous will that be :) We will not be bound by physical or earthly limits. Why would you not want to worship a God who promises such things to those who love Him? It will be wonderful when I can literally be held by my Father, when my time comes :) Maybe He'll let me dance with Him in the streets paved with gold :) I don't know what's in store, but I know that He will always be enough, always :) Despite what the world may throw at me, I can always take comfort in my Savior, for He has relieved us of our transgressions and has promised us eternal life in His kingdom, forever in His presence.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
{John 16:33}

He has overcome every hardship we have/are/will endure[d][ing], and He walks with us every step of the way. God humbles Himself for our sake.

"The God who came to earth came not in a raging whirlwind nor in a devouring fire. Unimaginably, the Maker of all things shrank down, down, down, so small as to become an ovum, a single fertilized egg barely visible to the naked eye, an egg that would divide and redivide until a fetus took shape, enlarging cell by cell inside a nervous teenager." -Philip Yancey, "The Jesus I Never Knew" (p. 36)

How wonderful our God is that He would humble Himself before us in such a way. Just take a moment and imagine God's thoughts as He sent Jesus to the earth, so tiny and fragile, to grow and be taken care of by a young teenage Mary. He loved us enough to do that! And He continues to shower us with mercy, love, and grace. We are truly blessed :) We should worship our Father joyfully and with thanksgiving!

^"1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. ² Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs. ³ Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name. ⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
   his faithfulness continues through all generations."

{Psalm 100}

Goodnight, precious loves :) Sleep well.

Exhausted.

Although today was long, at least I can say I enjoyed myself. But I'm to the point right now where I basically only talk in monotone and I have a mild headache that's been lingering for the past 5 hours or so. Thus, this is going to be short (by my standards) and sweet. Ready, go!

Internship was the usual 9-4. I didn't lose any money on my memory verses; praise. As far as tasks are concerned, we arranged and painted the riser platforms, added cross-beams for support, and swept the stage for the youth production. I went straight from there to Hermitage to run cheering tryouts. It went a lot better than I had anticipated, which I'm glad about. The girls were very attentive, and they were definitely working hard. We got through the cheer and both chants today, but we didn't even get to start on the dance. Thus, tomorrow is going to be a rough day for them. That dance is over eight 8-counts long; be praying for them... I left there around 6 and headed right back to church. After snagging Joni, Devin, and myself pizza from 1822 (praise the Lord for those free meals!), the interns did various tasks to help out during the choir rehearsal. A little set tweaking, some note-taking, input on blocking, and helping the choir all sway in the same direction (cough cough, boys) haha! At 9 we headed up to see people once 1822 was over, and a bunch of us went to the traditional spot, Boyers. I tried the zero calorie XXX Vitmain Water; it was weird. I don't think I'd recommend it. But anyways, we enjoyed some lovely conversation outside before calling it a night. I would have loved to have hung out, but I told Elizabeth that I knew I wouldn't be a lot of fun. Haha, seriously, I am dunzo. I was lugging my 3 bags of stuff (hands full) up to my front door, and when I found out the door was locked, I almost cried. Haha, that is how tired I am! But it is all good, because I get to sleep in tomorrow and the Lord will surely bless me with superb rest and strength for the day that lies ahead :) Goodnight all!