It's Here, It's Here!

Christmas is here! The long awaited day! I wait for this day all year. Not because of the gifts, the music, not because of the food, but because of the wonderful memories that are formed with family and friends and because of the time the world pauses to reflect on why Christ came as a baby.

It's our family tradition to open gifts on Christmas Eve, although my dad was pushing to do it on the Eve of Christmas Eve. haha That didn't happen. After I got home from work on Friday at about 4:30, I helped Mom finish up the goodies, which included a shrimp ring, Cheese & Sausage Dip, Artichoke Dip, Chips & Salsa, Popcorn Chicken, Veggies, and much more. YUM! We opened gifts and it was such a fun time! We shook things up this year and let mom and dad open their gifts first. I have never been so excited about their gifts before! It was a lot of fun. This year I had asked for a Kindle and, tada! I got one! It's a very neat little gadget and I like it even more now that I've played with one! I have downloaded 50 (free) books already from Amazon. So fun! If you have any suggestions of books, PLEASE give me ideas. :-)

Dad & Christopher putting together his super cool RC Airplane.

My new Kindle! It's smaller than it looks. About 7-8" long. Love it! I got a cover and a light for it as well.

Josh snuggling up in the faux mink blanket I got him.

This morning was spent at church, celebrating the real reason for Christmas. I sang a solo which didn't start out too great but ended up decently. *sigh* Mornings just don't treat me well for singing! The message was spectular! Bro. G preached on the Gift By Grace. He compared the gift of salvation to gift giving at Christmas time.

After the service we had a couple of families over, one of which couldn't stay long due to having to catch a ferry. We had SUCH a good time eating and playing games. That is probably the most fun I've ever had playing Guestures! Let's just say, it would have been difficult to give a trophy out.

Yesterday was spent at work (as previously mentioned). It was my last day singing for the wagon rides and we also did a photo shoot.

All in all, it was a wonderful day. As I sit here pondering all that has occured I can't help but think of what this time must have been like some 2,000 years ago. Granted, Christ wasn't born on December 25th exactly, but could you imagine actually being there at Christ's birth?? And why did He even come? It was for ME! That is an amazing thought. It's one of those things that we know in our heads, but it's different to know it in ours hearts. I hope that each of you had a wonderful, Christ-filled Christmas.

Handel's Messiah

Yesterday we had our annual SPG (Singles Pleasing God) activity: going to Seattle to see Handel's Messiah at Benaroya Hall. YAY!! This was our second year going and it was fabulous! I've been looking forward to it all year and I was not disappointed. There were different soloists this year and that changed it up a bit. Of course I had my favorite soloist (and my not so favorite). :-)

This year the choir was spectacular and the orchestra amazing! Gerard Schwartz definitely knows what he's doing.

Last year we all dressed very formally. The girls all wore fancy dresses and the guys wore bowties. While we may have dressed down compared to last year, we still decided to stay on the dressy side. For myself, I don't have many occasions to dress up so I like to do so when I can. I don't have an all inclusive group photo. But I do have a photo of everyone in the "Fun V." LOL All of us who work at the Holly Farm were picked up on the way out, so this is our group. We all met at Claim Jumper for dinner then scrambled to get to the concert by 8:00.

It was a great memory and now I am even more excited to see Lang Lang at Benaroya Hall in January!

The Eagle Has Landed!

After much anticipation, Dad is now home. After so many times of engines breaking, oil slicks, propellers breaking, etc. he's finally made it back six days after the expected time. However, God's timing is perfect and He had a reason for it. We are just glad he's back at home safe and sound. His plane got in an hour and a half early today and we were very grateful for that! It enabled us to make it to church tonight, for which I was greatly relieved! Thank you all for praying while he was gone, and also for his safe return.

Waiting for his plane to taxi over.

There he is! Just waiting for them to stop and let them out.

A happy reunion.

Cookie Exchange

Tonight was the Ladies Bible Fellowship for the month of December.  It was wonderful to be able to fellowship with other ladies, and even meet some new ladies!  Every December we do a cookie exchange, and there are usually so many goodies the plates are overflowing!  This year I tried a new recipe, Triple Chocolate Peppermint Cookies.  MMMMM!!!!! They were so delicious!

Tonight, Mrs. S. brought the devotion, and it was just what I needed! Isn't it wonderful when the Lord gives you exactly what you need WHEN you need it?? The devotion was on Deborah (Judges 4-5) and her example as a judge in the Bible.  She was a woman, and most people misinterpret her life as one of usurping the man's authority.  However, she was NOT in a leadership position.  Her ministry was as an encourager to Barak.  She never scolded or criticized him, even though he was weak and timid.  However, she encouraged him to follow the Lord's leading and reminded him of the Lord's promises.  She is the perfect example of a woman's role in leadership! 

On another note, it feels so much later in the month!  Even though Christmas IS right around the corner, it feels like it should be this weekend. Maybe it's because Christmas comes so early at the Holly Farm.  I am hoping to take some pictures and videos of us singing this weekend in our caroling costumes. 

Still no news with my dad.  They were able to take off but after three hours had to return due to plane issues.  Please pray that there will be no more issues and that he'll be able to return home swiftly!

50th Post!

I can't believe this is my 50th post! I wanted to do something fun and I was inspired by my friend, Maggie, to write 50 things about myself. I've definitely got it easier because she's doing 100! WHEW! So here it goes...

1. I have a been a church pianist for almost 3 years now! (3 years in January)

2. I will be starting college in January.

3. I will be majoring in music (not sure if that counts as separate. :-) )

4. I play guitar....sorta. I am learning.

5. I work at a Holly and Lavender Farm.

6. I listen to Christmas music all year. :-)

7. I eat Mashed Potatoes with a spoon. (That's for you Maggie!)

8. I have a twin brother.

9. I play the flute in our church orchestra.

10. I love playing practical jokes, but can never seem to keep a straight face.

11. Most of my favorite movies are musicals.

12. I absolutely LOVE to read! Mostly the classics

13. I think I am addicted to Chapstick.

14. I love playing Moonlight Sonata late at night before I go to bed.

15. I prefer food scents over floral scents.

16. I have only ever had two mangos in my entire life. (that's for you, Janell. hehe)

17. I love to decorate cakes, even though I haven't done one in a while. Miss you, Kali!!

18. I have two bookshelves crammed full of a variety of books.

19. I become competitive when I play certain sports, namely Wallyball.

20. I am a piano teacher.

21. I love to garden, and find it intriguing how certain flowers grow.

22. I prefer baking over cooking, but I do both.

23. I've recently acquired a love for scarves.

24. I find joy in the little individual lemonades you put in your water bottle.

25. I am running out of things to say about myself!

26. I can play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the violin....barely and very poorly.

27. I've lived in five different states plus one foreign country.

28. My favorite composer is Mozart!

29. I love coffee!! coffee, coffee, coffee

30. I was saved when I was 12.

31. I like fuzzy pajama pants.

32. I've played the piano at more funerals than I have weddings.

33. I am recently finding joy in decorating. ie. the church auditorium, the Sweetheart's Banquet, etc.

34. My favorite book of the Bible is James

35. I like monotonous jobs that allow me to think while I am working.

36. I've taken a year of voice lessons, but could certainly use more! :-)

37. I graduated Highscool from A Beka Academy DVD homeschool.

38. I like to shovel snow.

39. I enjoy singing acappella.

40. I like windy/rainy days. As long as I don't have to work in it.

41. I wash my hands too much. But I am not as bad as I used to be!

42. I like to listen to Gospel Bluegrass.

43. I actually like quite a variety of styles of music: Bluegrass, Classical, sacred, celtic, and more.

44. Sometimes I become a texting maniac. :-) But not as much as others I know.

45. One of my favorite things to do is go to coffee with friends.

46. I played recreational baseball for two years, softball for one, and soccer for one, but never got any team pictures.

47. I wear glasses but prefer my contacts.

48. My favorite color is Teal.

49. I can't stand the noise of crinkly candy wrappers. *shiver*

50. God has blessed me with SO many friends!

Fun With Pranks

First, a little history. This week at Bible Training Institute, my friend Joel enlisted my friend Linnea to steal my keys from my purse. Why you ask? Because a while back he had said he could do things to my car and I denied it. Being the competitive person that he is, he had to prove me wrong. :-) So he got my keys, and moved my car ALLLL the way across the parking lot. I had a great laugh over that one. After he did it he gave Anna my keys. The little stinker! There I was, shaking my purse, SURE that I had my keys. And the whole time they were in her pocket.

Well this meant war. Anna, of course was willing to be in on helping me get Joel back. All fun for her, but no repurcussions. So, with her help, after work yesterday we some sparkly glitter and "Decorated" the drivers seat of his car. His first words when I saw him were "Game on!!". hahaha it was great!

I decided to steer Joel's urge for revenge in another direction. After all, she HAD helped both of us get each other, yet she had no consequences. This must be fixed. We concocted a plan. An evil, yet brilliant plan! After work Anna's younger brother succeeded in getting her keys from her. She had them in her pocket....she was definitely paranoid! haha So while Anna was down at the house doing some things, Joel and Andy drove her car to the back of the property and into the woods. As they were doing that, I was running around afixing the "clues" that would lead her to her car. teehee. When we were all situated we all got into the hidden car and sent off the first text. From me: "Play the game, find your car. Your first clue is on its way." From Joel to Anna: "Sign in, sign out." Off she went to the sign in sheet to find her first clue. It then led her to a display in the shop, out to the boatport, out to the horse trailer, then to the gardens, then to the Christmas tree lot, then to her car. It was very amusing to see her finding her way around the property. We all got such a good laugh out of it!! Sorry, Anna. I was a traitor. But it definitely was fun!! :-) Until the next prank...

Delays and Frustrations

My dad has been gone on deployment now for several months. He was supposed to come home this past Thursday, but alas, the plane broke. This is no surprise because that type of plane is notorious for breaking. However, each day it gets delayed even longer as the plane still has difficulties. So right now, we are sitting on the edge of our seats, waiting for news that the plane has been fixed. Very frustrating! Gotta love the NAVY.....

College Fun

Today was a new experience in the life of Alyssa. Yes you guessed it...college! I didn't start college today, but I did visit the campus I will be commuting to. The campus here does not offer the music classes so I will be commuting to the main campus that is about 45 minutes away. Anyway, I HAD to go to the big campus to sign paperwork for the GI Bill (what makes my college free) TODAY! Tuition is due on Wednesday and if those papers weren't signed I'd be hunted down for payment. :-) Ok not really but I didn't want to take the chance.

It was quite nerve racking to go there. I felt very....inexperienced! Little Alyssa...the homeschooler who has only once stepped into a public school....and that was to take the SAT. How was I supposed to find my way around this big campus?! After asking two people I finally found the VA Office. Whew!

So I had this issue when registering for classes. I knew that there were more music classes to take but I had to have permission from the music director before I could register for those classes. Because they don't offer the classes here the advisors weren't able to help me in that area. I had tried calling the director and leaving emails but to no avail. Talk about stressful!

So that was just a little background. I was sitting in the VA office signing paperwork when another lady helping went to find out if the music director was in (Since I happened to be on the campus). A few minutes later she came dashing in exclaiming, "Alyssa! She's waiting for a student to come and said she would squeeze you in. But we have to run!!" So off we ran across the campus to pay a visit to the music director. I was all out of breath as I introduced myself. haha....great first impression! It was such a miracle how it all worked out. She gave me a lot of clear direction regarding the music transfer degree. Looks like I will be taking piano lessons! For those that know me, you might think that's silly. BUT I have been wanting to take piano lessons for a good while now. It's finally happening! And she's the piano professor at the college so I know she'll challenge me.

So that was my exciting day. Classes start January 4th! YAY!

It's A Wonderful Life

This evening my mom, Rebecca and I went to the Whidbey Playhouse to watch the performance of It's A Wonderful Life. It's been years since I had seen the movie and I was curious to see how it would all work on stage. It was wonderful! The actors all did a great job! Funny thing is, all those attending were old people! lol Aside from Rebecca and one other little girl I was the youngest one! hahaha but that's ok. I guess young people these days don't enjoy the classics. But anyway, we had such a good time and I am looking forward to watching them perform Annie in the summer!

Decorating!

Decorating for Christmas is always an event at our house. The night was made complete with Classic Christmas music, Peanut Butter Balls, Whidbey Coffee, and Blue Buffalo Dip. MMMM!!! We finished the tree and were able to empty about 4 of 8 huge tubs that were full of decorations. WHEW! It's definitely a lot of work, but worth it when you stand back and look at the final product. "It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!!"

Snowflake ornaments I thought would make fun earrings. hehe

Josh's version of a tree topper.....hmmmm

Josh was putting the bow on top but didn't realize that the ribbon had snagged the blinds. It was so funny! I love that bewildered look on his face.

This is Josh's REAL identical twin!!

Two funny little guys...

Just hanging out....

An "Off-Island" Adventure.

The Lord surprised Whidbey Island with a bit of snow on Monday. They said it was going to be a bad winter, but snow before Thanksgiving?! Originally they said it WAS going to snow, then they said it wasn't. (I think they were confused) BUT it did snow and no one was prepared for it. Going back a few days, Anna and I had decided that we would go shopping off-island on Monday (our day off) to find some accessories for our dresses for when the SPGs go see Handel's Messiah. I know that sounds silly, but I needed some shoes and Anna needed a shawl and earrings and stuff like that is just hard to find here on the island. So off we went! We chose to take Anna's car since it was a 4WD JUST IN CASE it snowed. We stopped off at Whidbey Coffee (of course) on our way out of town, and as we were inside the flurries started to become larger flakes. It won't stick I thought.

We headed out of town with the peace of mind that it rarely sticks on Whidbey and it would look like it never snowed when we got back. The snow was beautiful. We drove to Burlington, which had some snow, but not tons. We had a successful shopping experience and were just about to finish up when we got...the CALL. Anna's brother had called to tell us that the bridge to get to Whidbey was shut down!!! Apparently there had been a few spinouts and the traffic was so backed up the snowplows couldn't get through. Needless to say, the snow had stuck and there were several inches of snow on the ground. Now those who get regular dumps of snow are probably laughing at our mere inches, but keep in mind that people around here are not accustomed to such road conditions. It doesn't get cleared up very fast so it's pretty dangerous. Not to mention people don't know how to drive in the snow.

So Anna and I decided to spend a little more time in Burlington. Doing what, you ask? Well, shopping of course! :-) What better way is there to kill time? hehe After a couple of hours we decided to head back to see how traffic fared. As we got closer we saw the end of the traffic line...at a spot that was normally about a 20-25 minute DRIVE from Whidbey! What a dilemma. We certainly were not going home that night. No way! We would have spent ALL night in the car in traffic. We did however think ahead and buy supplies at Target just in case we were going to be spending some time in the car. After talking to our parents, we decided that a hotel was the best idea. So we drove all the way BACK to Mt. Vernon and found a nice warm, SAFE room to sleep. We were wiped out. Not from shopping. Oh no! From all the driving. You may be thinking that we were totally stressed and crying for our mommies and for fluffy pillows. No! We were laughing the WHOLE time! It wasn't necessarily fun...but it was funny! It was a laugh that means This is so amusing! How did this EVER happen?! There is no way we could have seen it coming (remember, they weren't forecasting snow!) but Pastor's recent message about worry kept coming to mind and I KNEW that the Lord was looking out for us. Praise the Lord for people back on the Island who knew what to do and were helping us out. We would have been totally lost without them. So....another adventure gets put in the book and it's a time I will never forget. We had lots of laughs. I am curious to see where I get stuck next...

We went through lots and lots of coffee. teehee

This is our "Essentials Kit". We needed a little more than Food, Shelter and Love to get us through over night in a hotel..with nothing...but the clothes on our backs....and new earrings and fuzzy socks...(sigh)

Third Anniversary!

Today makes three years since we drove into Oak Harbor to make it our home for the second time. It seems pretty amazing when I think about it. In some ways, it seems like just yesterday that we were driving over Deception Pass bridge for the first time (this time around that is) and coming back to Bible Baptist Church. I remember driving into town hoping that we would make the Sunday Evening service, but being SO nervous because I hadn't seen a lot of these people since I was 9! I was very pleased to see some old friends and playmates and to meet some new faces. With all the the Lord has done in my life since then it feels like it's been even longer than three years! Each year I become more and more grateful to the Lord for bringing us here. It's also a reminder to me that I can't see into the future, but because the Lord can, He knows what's best for me. My desire was to not move here at all. In fact, I was very set against moving here. I wasn't trusting in the Lord like I should have and became very discontent. I learned my lesson after we got here and I saw the plans that the Lord had laid out for our family. My faith was small but has since been greatly enlarged! :-) Now, I am prepared for whatever the Lord has. If it involves another move, staying here, or anything else! I am totally trusting Him. As much as I would LOVE to stay here, I know that if I am only content with what I want I will miss out on the blessings of God.

Usually about this time we start to think about where we will be moving next. That's a strange thought for me! I feel settled...and no such thoughts have crossed my mind. :-) It's a pleasant feeling that I've never had before. I am looking forward to seeing what the Lord does through our family in this church over the next year, and hopefully for many years to come...

If You Like Musicals...

If you like musicals, you might enjoy watching A Christmas Carol: The Musical. It's been a favorite for while now, but we watched it again last night. Love it!! It's definitely a keeper. Check it out!

A New Record!

Blogging from work again....they said they are coming to fix our internet today, but we'll see.

Yesterday I hit a new record!! You see, I keep track of all the books I read in a notebook, and I've kept track since 2005. Two separate years I reached the total of 24 books, but couldn't seem to inch my way past that number. This year, my goal was to read more than 24 books. Last night I finished book #25!! WOOHOO! I am hoping to get one more in this year, but things will be pretty crazy from here on out between work, college preparations and Bible Institute. Any suggestions for my next book?

Whidbey Weather

The weather has been quite interesting these past couple of days. It's been rainy and bleak, but that's pretty normal for this time of year on Whidbey. The wind, however, has been intense! Monday night, my family and I were heading back into town from doing some shopping and noticed that Southern Oak Harbor was blacked out. Well, if they are out of power out in town, then we are most likely out of power, I thought. Sure enough, our street was completely dark.

One aspect of a power outage that is fun (probably the only thing) is that you can light a bunch of candles! My room smelt heavenly. :-) I gathered several onto my nightstand and read by candle light. Now I can assure that if we had internet that would not have been happening, but it was kind of nice to do something different for a change. I went to bed early that night, but woke up in the middle of the night to a huge popping sound and lights outside my window. I peeked out my blinds and saw a transformer down at the church blowing. GREAT! I thought. My mom and I ventured down to the church to make sure there wasn't a fire, and that was my adventure for the night. :-) Because of the transformer blowing we still didn't have power the next morning. It came on around noon. However, still no internet. I am blogging from work before I start my shift. It is even more windy today than it was Monday night so who knows what will happen. It's definitely a blustery day on Whidbey!

Another 7-Eleven Coffee

Yes, as I type this I am sipping a Pumpkin Spiced Latte from 7-Eleven. As you may have guessed, I now go in there with a purpose. :-) As much as I love the lattes, it's only an excuse to talk to Michelle. Last Monday I went in and didn't see her. After inquiring, I learned that the man was filling in for her. I was a bit dissapointed, but planned to go the next Monday. That would be today! I ran my usual errands, looking forward to my stop at 7-Eleven. I had the first study out of the E-life studies and a John & Romans all set to go.

As I was getting my coffee, Michelle came up to greet me. A good sign! I thought. I told her about the Bible study and asked her if she would be interested in doing one. She said, "Well my schedule here is really weird and busy so I don't know...." I assured her quickly that she could still do it! We could get together sometime over coffee or I could give it to her and she could do it whenever she gets some time. She brightened at that idea! I approached the counter and paid for my coffee, but didn't say anything else about the Bible Study yet. As I finished she said,"So you can just bring that Bible Study in to me." She seemed really excited and eager to have it! So I ran out to my car and brought it inside. I told her that this was only the first of many studies and she said, "Oh well write your phone number on the first page!" I made sure she knew that she could call me anytime if she had questions or just wanted to discuss it. I am so pleased to see that she is open to hearing more about the gospel. Please continue to pray for her.

This coffee just tastes better and better each time! :-)

A Passing of the Torch

My pink laptop has starting showing its age. I don't mean wrinkles or gray hair, but random shutdowns and the terrible "blue screen". My brother, the computer tech, called it "toasted breakfast". :-) Because I am starting school, I decided that a dependable computer was a must. So through some research and much advice from all my techy friends, I went with an HP. Shocking!! Howers seem to migrate towards Dell, which I love! But it isn't always the brand that matters. I opted for a smaller size due to easier transportation, and I actually really like it! All in all, I am satisfied with my purchase and content that I won't have to scramble for a computer in the middle of a class.

Notice the considerable difference in size....

I'm So Thankful (Part 2)

*~ I'm so thankful for the good education I received in Highschool. (A Beka DVD homeschool for credit) While math never was my favorite, it's starting to come back to me! I'm preparing to start college classes for the Winter quarter and all this testing is forcing me to brush up on my Algebra. Even though it hasn't been a very "fun" thing, I am glad that I was forced to learn it well at one point because it's making my life a lot easier right now.

*~ Music.....a passion of my life. :-) While I have been very busy lately and not able to really get to the piano as much as I would like, I am SO glad to see the church orchestra growing! We now have four flutes (including me), a violin and two guitars! And a few up-and-coming musicians. :o) Music is something I can't imagine my life without. The Lord has given me the ability to praise him through the song of my fingers, and that is something I will never EVER be ungrateful for. My prayer is to enstill that in others. It was such a blessing last night to be able to play an offertory duet with one my students, a seven year old who has been playing for less than a year. I'm excited to see how the Lord uses her growing talent in the years to come.

*~Our military. Today is Veteran's Day and it is extra special to me since my Dad is a veteran. In fact, he's over there serving right now! I will forever be grateful to every person who has given their life for the sake of this country. I speak not only of those who have died, but of those who have made many sacrifices to ensure that our country and its freedom is protected.

*~I'm very grateful for the Lord's provision and how He teaches us faith. This last month was Missions Month and that involves a renewal of Faith Promise. I knew the Lord wanted me to increase my amount, but it was definitely a test of my faith because I know that I will be unemployed over the next year due to full time school schedule. After much prayer, I went with the amount the Lord laid on my heart. A few days later my mom informed me that the stipend I'll be receiving while going to school is much more than I expected! Not only will this allow me to freely give the amount I promised, but it will allow me to give even more! Praise the Lord!

Didn't intend to write paragraphs for each, but hey....this is me! :-)

I'm So Thankful For...

Ok....so it's been November for over a week now. I still can't believe it. 15 days until Thanksgiving! So, as I count down the days, I will share things I am thankful for. I don't know if 15 days is enough to cover it all!

- Good health. Haven't been feeling too well these past couple of days but I am up and perky now! :-)
- A wonderful church! The Lord has blessed me so much in allowing me to be part of a church that preaches the pure Word of God. I have grown so much since we've been here!
- Bible Training Institute (this kind of goes with the last one). So many times I have found myself in conversation with someone and have been able to answer questions, thanks to the thorough teaching of the Bible Training Institute at BBC.
-My family. We love to tease (a Hower trait) but also know how to love.
- My dog. Ok so he's not MY dog, but he's definitely a pal. Yesterday when I was sick he just snuggled with me all day. So cute!

Those are a few for now....till tomorrow.

Coffee and Witnessing

Getting coffee at 7-Eleven to people in this part of the country seems just plain weird. Why go for the cheap stuff when you could get Whidbey Coffee or Starbucks? You see, I have this thing for their Pumpkin Spiced Latte. YUM! Not to mention, the Lord has opened doors for me in that place!

About a month ago, I found myself craving a Pumpkin Spiced latte at 7-Eleven. Nothing abnormal. I look forward to the season where I can get it. This day was special. Pastor Sargent had been preaching a series on Soul Winning. He encouraged us each to pray for a person to witness to, and the Lord WILL give us a soul if we ask Him. That day I was very conscious of opportunities and seeking them. So I got my coffee and made my way to the counter. Now, if you give out tracts even every once and a while, you know that most people say "No Thank you" and reject the tract. That's just a fact of soul winning, something we have to be prepared for. That had been happening to me a lot, so as I approached the counter I prayed that this lady would accept the tract. After I paid, I handed her the tract and asked her to read it because it's something that has really changed my life. She looked me in the eyes and said a meaningful "thank you". I went away from there rejoicing because I could see something in her eyes that I didn't see in most people I give tracts to. She's been on my mind quite a bit since then.

Today, as I was getting gas at 7-Eleven I got that craving for a Pumpkin Spiced Latte (yes they still have it!). So I went inside, got my coffee, and went to pay. I looked at the lady behind the counter and thought "Is that her? I'm not entirely sure. But if I offer her a tract she'll tell me if I've already given her one." She did just that. Immediately I knew that it was her. So, I asked her if she read the tract. She said yes she had, and had even passed it on to someone else that needed it. She then began to cry and say that she has been going through a really hard time, a time where she just can't trust anyone. I told her that we cannot put our trust completely in men because they will let us down, but that the Lord is someone who will never let us down. Through the conversation she shared some of her burdens. I told her that the reason I wanted to share the tract with her and to speak with her was because I wanted her to experience the same peace that I have. She said, "What is that experience? I have never had that. In fact, I haven't had peace in SO long." By that time customers were making their way in and I knew the conversation was over for the time. I introduced myself, and she introduced herself as Michelle. Please pray for her. I plan to go back next Monday and invite her to the Ladies Bible Fellowship.
I would like to even do the e-life studies with her at some point if she wants to.

So if you ever get the urge to get some cheap coffee, go for it! You never know what doors the Lord will open. :-)

Who's Your Hero?

We live in a world of honored men and women. People who make their mark in history by doing things that others have only dreamed of accomplishing. Who are these people today? Are they the businessmen? The Politicians? The Sports Stars? While some of these have made some tremendous feats, they are not my heros.

Who are my heroes, you ask? One would be my Dad. Despite the demands of the NAVY, he chooses to put the Lord first. While overseas he continues to train for the ministry, during a time when most others would lay out worthy excuses. He's passionate about things, but firm when he knows it's best for you.

Another hero would be my mom. The life of a military wife is not an easy one. Frequent separations with four little rascals to take care of. :-) And all while serving our Lord and seeking to please Him.

My other heroes are put into a group. Those would be the missionaries and evangelists. I have just finished reading To The Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson. What an amazing book! I encourage every person to read it. Our world is full of men and women who have dedicated their lives and sacrificed that nations and people groups might hear the Good News. Adoniram Judson was bombarded with obstacles as he made his way to Burma. He made more sacrifices than any person would ever want to make. Because of his faithfulness, Burma has the Word of God in their language. This has opened the door for other missionaries to go in and work with the Burmese people. Even now, the Gaudets are working with Judson's translation. All of this because Judson and three others gave their entire lives, knowing they wouldn't return to America. What are we willing to give? These are the people who deserve to be called "Heroes". I know many of them do not desire the title, and no, we are not to put our trust in men. But these are the people who have made a lasting difference in the world!

Who's your hero?

I'm An Addict...

Yup you read it right.....I'm addicted! To what? WALLYBALL!!! It is the most wonderful sport in the world! A lot of people have never heard of it. If you are at all familiar with Raquetball it will be easier to picture in your mind. It is played in a raquetball court with a net stretched across the middle. Picture the ball as basically a larger raquetball. Very bouncy! The game is played basically the same as regular Volleyball. EXCEPT you can use the walls! That is the very best part of the game. You can bounce the ball off the walls in all sorts of angles to get the ball in the spot you want. Another great aspect of the game is that there is no chasing of that ball!

When I was 13-14 and we lived in Iceland I pratically lived at the gym. No kidding, I would go to the gym every single day and a lot of times it was to play Wallyball with my friends. This was partially due to the fact that I had to do PE everyday for A Beka. When we moved away I hardly ever played because I couldn't drive and in Iceland I could just walk to the gym.

Recently myself and some friends have started the tradition of a weekly Wallyball game. I am remembering now why I used to play almost every day. It's a blast! Slamming against walls, falling on the floor.....much more fun than it sounds. haha It's a great time to spend with friends (sometimes we are laughing so hard we are doubled over) but you get a really good workout! Seriously, if you like to play any type of sport you MUST try this. Once you play one time, you WILL want to go again. Beware lest you too become an addict...

My Favorite Things

"These are a few of my favorite things!"

Three of my favorite bros:  Josh, Chris and Buck

I love the look on his face as he chews on the toy!

Great Thrift Store Finds!

My favorite little brother and my favorite little dog. :-)

My Bible!  Right now I am reading through Genesis.  After doing Module 1 of Old Testament History in Bible Training Institute I am finding more things jumping out at me!

Beautiful flowers from my Secret Prayer Sister.

(picture taken from my front porch)  Living so close to the church that...

I can go in the big empty auditorium and play as LOUDLY and as long as I like. hehe

Sending care packages to my Dad overseas.

What are some of your favorite things?  I would love to hear in comments!

The Master's Call

Missions Month here at Bible Baptist Church is officially coming to an end in a few days.  Our own Bro. Majors will be preaching for Faith Promise Sunday and I am really looking forward to it!  The Lord has shown me so many things over the past month, and really given me a burden for missions.  It made me begin to question myself: Am I really willing?  What if He asks me to do this? or that?

This evening after work I went to the church to piano practice.  It's one of my favorite things to do because I have the auditorium all to myself where I can play as long and as LOUD as I like! :-)  First thing on my agenda was to practice choir music and offertories.  I couldn't justify playing Mozart and Chopin until I had practiced the things that were really important!  One thing to note, when I practice choir music, I usually sing along....sometimes the accompaniment alone can be rather mundane, plus I just love to sing! :-)  With that said, I was singing along with one of the upcoming choir songs, "The Master's Call" by Steve Hall. As I was singing the words I realized, this is my prayer!  This is what I have been praying all month long.  I felt like it was worth sharing, so even though we have not finished the song in choir, I wanted to post the words here for you to read. I hope it's a blessing....

The Master's Call  by Steve Hall

Can you hear the plea? "Who will rise and go for me? Who will tell the ones I love, of the precious blood, full and free?"

Can you hear the call? "Who will rise and give me all?"  Will you be the one to stand? will you heed the Master's Call?

CHORUS  I will follow Him, surrenduring all!  I will give my life, I will sacrifice, for the Master's Call!
No mountain is too high, no valley too low.  My eyes are on the goal, my God is in control. I will give my all, for the Master's call!

"How shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear if we do not preach the Word?"

"How beautiful are the feet of them that go."  Father I have heard your voice, where You lead me, I will go!

CHORUS  I will follow Him, surrenduring all! I will give my life, I will sacrifice, for the Master's call! 
No mountain is too high, no valley too low.  My eyes are on the goal, my God is in control.  I will give my all, for the Master's Call.  I will give my all, for the Master's Call!



I wish there were some way for me to post the song on here for you to hear.  It's a great song!

A Great Find!

Holly season always presents difficulties for me.  It's cold and it's wet....right gear is essential!  For the past few years I have been without the right gear, making picking holly miserable!  This year, I was determined to be prepared in order to work more effiiciently!  Warm leather gloves, check! Warm jacket, check!  Boots, no check.  It has been SO hard to find the right boots.  Yeah I was pretty picky: inexpensive, warm, waterproof, and decent to wear with a skirt or my victorian caroling costume.  Can you say impossible?!  At least, so I thought.  The past few years I have not come across any boots fitting all of these descriptions. Today, however, I found some!  I drove to Burlington on a quest for boots, and I was determined to come back with some.  First stop was Ross, nothing.  Next stop, Famous Footwear.  Found some!  Only problem was they were $80! Yikes!  So I put them on hold thinking I would keep looking....and praying.  My next stop was the mall.  I prayed as I drove over that the Lord would give me a pair of boots that were cheaper because I am trying to save money right now.  The first store in the mall I stopped at was JcPennys.  TADA!  There they were....boots that were definitely waterproof, warm and fuzzy on the inside, and pretty stylish. AND the best part was that they were only $45!  I was thrilled!  The Lord certainly answered my prayer. Praise the Lord!  Now....boots, CHECK!

Lord, Here Am I- Alyssa and Daisy

During the Evening Service Daisy and I sang "Lord, Here Am I" with Missions Month in mind.  I just love the words to this song! I was definitely singing straight from my heart.  I hope you enjoy it. 

Pardon the aura of light behind my head. :-) Lovely spotlight....

My Favorite Things

Here are some of my favorite things about my day...

My friend, Chester, keeping me company as I get ready for work.

Spiced Pumpkin Latte from Whidbey Coffee. YUM!

Beautiful Mums.  Love this color!

October Roses still beautifuly blooming in the Rose Garden.

A Four-O-Clock that has FINALLY bloomed after waiting ALL summer!

My pals: Puma, Carhartt, Cashmere, and Deuteronomy (the one jumping)

This is Deuteronomy, who happened to be a girl we found out.  She was thus dubbed "Dudette".

A beautifully sunny October sky.  I love those sunny days with a little chill to them.

And to end my day, Finale Songwriter!  I am working on a few new songs and I am looking forward to how they turn out. 

I am hoping to make this a weekly thing.  I had the idea to do a "My favorite Things" post this morning and I found myself always looking for things that I liked throughout the day to take a picture of.  How fun is that?!  Needless to say, I realized that my life is comprised of hundreds of things that I enjoy.  Why shouldn't that make me smile?!?

The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me

While I have shared many joyous occasions with family and friends, what matters most to me is that I share with you the most joyous occassion with my Best Friend.  It truly is the best thing that ever happened to me...

I am, what you could call, a second generation Christian.  No, I am not saved because my parents are saved. But praise the Lord, they ARE saved.  And it's because they are saved that I was exposed to the gospel at such a young age.  MY story begins with their story.  I praise the Lord that my parents were saved sooner rather than later because immediately they began to search God's Word for how to raise their children, (my twin brother and I at the time).  We were exposed to what God's Word was and taught to read it and to obey it.  At the time I didn't understand just how important that was.  As I reached the age of understanding, I also reached the age of "knowing I am a good girl".  I was most certainly a people pleaser, thinking that I had all my bases covered by "talking the talk". I made several false professions, knowing in my heart that my reasoning was wrong.  I did all the "right" things: memorized scripture, obeyed my parents, read my Bible.  But what I was missing was the conviction that I WAS a sinner and that I needed to repent and trust the Lord as my Saviour.  My rejection was not for lack of teaching.  I was surrounded by Biblical teaching of salvation and even had all of the verses memorized!  This made it very easy when I came to the realization that I truly was lost and on my way to hell.

I was 12 years old when that day came for me.  The Lord had been working on my heart for some time and showing me constantly that I wasn't saved.  But did I listen?  My rebellious heart said "No. You are saved."  But I learned that I needed to stop listening to myself and listen to the Lord.  I realized that that day could be the LAST day that the Lord convicted me before he stopped forever.  I decided then and there, Sunday evening in the middle of the preaching, that I would not wait another second.  I bowed my head, and received Christ as my Lord and Saviour!  I did not need someone to show me scriptures, for they were all repeating in my head as I accepted Christ. Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Chris died for us."  Ok Lord. I'm a sinner and I KNOW you died for me! I know that you love me.   2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Repentance is more than just believing that God exists. It is repenting of your sins, which is a change of mind that results in a change of direction. 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Lord, you said you will forgive me!

Based on the promises of God, I knew immediately that I was then His child.  My heart rejoiced as I experienced a peace I had never felt before.  The knowledge that I could now have a relationship with the one who created me and gave his life for me.  What a privilege!  A privilege I don't deserve.  That just shows how much He loves me.  My relationship with Him did not stop at salvation. NO!  He is constantly showing me things through His Word: How I can be a better servant, how I can be more like him.  No, I am not perfect. Far from it!  But by God's grace I AM able to tell others what He has done for me, how he's changed my life.

If this is something you have yet to experience, I encourage you to search God's Word for answers to your questions.  http://www.elifestudies.org/ is also a good source.  Don't wait another day, for this could be your last chance. Don't wait...

The Typical Monday...

You've heard it said that Mondays are very hard days, generally because it means back to work, back to school, etc.  Usually I have Mondays off, and those days generally consist of sleeping in (usually to catch up from a busy Sunday), casually running errands, playing the piano (or practicing, whichever you prefer to call it), and cooking.  Today I experienced what the rest of the world calls a Monday.  I worked today instead of Thursday so I could fill a big order that was due by tomorrow.  Do you ever find yourself in a daze?  Where you are walking in one direction then you suddenly "wake up" and realize that's not where you need to be going? Boy! That was my day today!! I was completely out of it.

After work Linnea and I stopped by Whidbey Coffee to check out their new cafe and to get a cup of joe.  We had a splendid time talking about life and what the Lord is doing in our lives and in the church so far this Missions Month.  Let me tell you, it has been wonderful so far!! Yesterday we had Bro. Travis Jones, a pastor from El Reno, OK come to preach all day.  He really presented Missions in a way that I've never thought of before.  It really opened my eyes (And I have a feeling the church's eyes) to what Missions is all about.  I look forward to seeing what the Lord does through this church over the next month and in the year to come.

I ended the day wonderfully!  This week is Bible Training Institute and the class is Old Testament History I.  It's pretty intense to delve into it, but it really gives you a new appreciation for the circumstances you read about in the OT.  Tonight we just did a Background study, but tomorrow night we will dive into Creation and go on from there.  Looking forward to it!

My Adventures Over the Mountains

Many of you know Kali and Maggie. You also know that their family moved across the mountains this summer to help start a church. They have been missed terribly, but have been back to visit a few times, much to my delight! Now, it was my turn to return the favor. My family (minus my Dad and Josh) drove over the mountains to Okanogan, where the Waldrons currently reside. It was a beautiful drive due to the foliage the Lord's display this time each year. It brought back so many sweet memories of life in New England.

Anyway, on to the trip. We got up early Monday morning to ensure as much time as possible could be spent with them. That afternoon we did some shopping in the downtown Okanogan and Omak areas. Though there weren't many shops, it was certainly fun to "Dress up" as cowgirls. hehe Monday night the Majors came over for dinner and we all played games. I should say, GAME. We played Sequence, which I had never played before. Now I am a big fan! :-)

Tuesday morning we got up really early excited to be on our way! We were going floating down the river! YAY! Our plan was to start in Riverside (about 15 minutes away from Okanogan) and float down to Okanogan where we had parked the car. Mrs. Waldron and Mom drove us to Riverside and we got out to blow up the boat (which took a bit of time I might add). As we approached to river, to our dismay, we realized the wind was fiercely blowing in the opposite direction! We had our hearts set on it so we hopped in the boat and started paddling. We didn't get far before we turned around and hopped back in the suburban with plans for the lake instead.

We all went back to the house for lunch, a little disheartened but excited at what the lake might offer. Leader Lake, here we come!! It was a beautiful day! Temperature in the 80s with a slight breeze, sunny. Ahhh.....We hopped in the boat (by we I mean Kali, Maggie, Christopher and myself) and went out to the middle of the lake to do some jumping and swimming. After easing ourselves into the frigid water we enjoyed some leisurely jumping, taking little notice of the way the boat was drifting. At some point we decided to take a snack break and started to row back. And row...and row...and ROW!!! we were getting no where! The wind had picked up and we were rowing against a brick wall! After many attempts made by different combinations of duo rowers we decided that maybe two could row and two could paddle with their feet behind the boat (yes we were deperate!) That didn't work very well. Finally, after rowing for over and hour we made it to shore! WHEW! what a workout! I am STILL sore from that little adventure!

The evening was spent playing games of Phase 10 and Sequence, Coffee, and Brian Regan. FUN STUFF! We were all doubled over in laughter while watching Brian Regan. :-) We left eeeearly Wednesday morning so I could be back in time for my 1:30 lesson. But of course, we couldn't leave town without stopping at the Twisp Bakery for a Cinnamon Twisp. YUM!

Although it was nice to be home, I wish we could have spent more time with the Waldrons! They are missed so much! It was really great to be able to see what their "new life" is like over the mountains.

Ready to hit the road!

Chris and Becca at Diablo Canyon

I spy with my little eye.....Chester!

The Three Cowgirls

A fun sign we found in a cute little shop

This is about as much hunting as I do!

At Leader Lake

See the happy faces? This is BEFORE we realized were in trouble. :-)

The Adventurers