It baffles me.

That people could not want to spread God's word. Especially when God calls us to go out and spread his love to the world.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

I just wish that people would be willing to take a stand and be unafraid of what people might say. In another case, I noticed that a friend of mine has shut down from our school Fellowship of Christian Athletes because they don't learn anything. The problem is, they have more knowledge of the Bible than almost all of the leaders. Instead of sitting back and saying nothing, why not spread what you know? We could be doing so much more than we are.

I ask you, do you not know that those that are lost around you are walking around dead? We are living among the dead, yet doing nothing to save them.

The Day of Birth.

Otherwise known as, my birthday. It just happens to fall today. 12:55 pm, eastern time-if you want to be precise. I turned 17 today. Man I'm getting old! Last year, I had a pretty bad birthday. This year I didn't really expect much better. But I had an amazing birthday! I went out to dinner with my parents and went to the weekly Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting at my school. But the best part was coming home to a scrapbook made by my very best friend in the entire world, Maggie, and seeing pictures I had no idea she even had and realizing how amazing my friend is :) I love you Maggie!

Today is World Food Day.

One in seven people today are going hungry. I've decided to take a 24-hour fast. Starting today at around 2 pm, I will start.

If you go to this website, you can take a quiz. For every correct answer, 10 grains of rice will be donated to someone in need. You pay nothing; the advertisers pay for you. So do it, I dare you.

What will you do for World Food Day?

Losing Ourselves.

Why do we pretend we've got it all together when we're really falling apart? In the end we're just losing sight of who we are.

Why Waste It?

As I sat quietly at the kitchen table last night, sipping my warm tea and eating sweet candy corn, I realized something: life moves too quickly. And all that time we've spent wasting our lives away wasn't really wasting them at all. Everything we do, everything we think, happens for a reason. Yet we seem to spend this time finding out how not to live and what not to do. Each breath we take, each move that is made, is so precious. So why waste it?

"It is well, it is well.

I am held through the storm."

God's Eye

On Labor Day weekend, my youth pastors decided not to have regular sunday school (mainly just because all of the teachers were out of town). So we watched a film on a guy who gave an incredible seminar on creation. And he said something like this...

"A whole bunch of people say they'd love to have seen God make the universe, but in reality, no, you wouldn't! I mean when God said 'Let there be light', He literally spit out light and we went from complete darkness to blinding light!"

I thought that was cool. He then talked about some galaxies and odd images found from space. The one I loved the most was this one:

This is an actual image taken from space! It's most commonly known as God's Eye and to me, that's literally what it is. What if this is God's way of saying that he's watching us and that he can see us? I mean, just imagine how big he must be if this really is his eye. It's crazy to think about!

Another amazing image taken from space was what is called the Whirlpool Galaxy...

What's amazing about the image is not the whole picture, but what's directly in the center of the galaxy itself...

This picture left me speechless for a long time...I couldn't believe it was even real! So I did some more research on this and found another breath-taking image of God's beauty...

This is what's called the Constellation Indus. To me, it looks like a crown of thorns. God has made so many beautiful things in the universe! I believe that he uses space as an easel to show his masterpieces. These images are all so beautiful! When I see things like this, I think to myself, "How can people NOT believe in God after seeing this kinda stuff?!"

What's On my Nightstand

Ok, so I started Do Hard Things months ago. But I sometimes find it difficult to read; I promise I love it! But it's just not a novel. My eye sometimes gets distracted by books that are not novels..

Next, and I'm not exactly thrilled to say it, but I have The Hunger Games. Maggie finally convinced me to read it. So I'm starting it now. It was only $7 at Target (the library was closed...lame, I know). I'm hoping it's as good as she says.

Third, I'm going to read Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I hear it's an amazing book-like one of those books that makes you think of things you never would have thought before.

Last, I have a confession to make. I sort of, well, love Seventeen Magazine. I'm kind of obsessed with it, actually. I don't like the info about guys and dating, but I do like the rest of it. I tend to read through the entire magazine the day that I get it..it's sort of a problem of mine. But I didn't do that with this month's issue! I'm trying to read it slow :)

Anyway, I'm really excited for these books. Be looking for reviews soon!

Dear Maggie,

You're my best friend. Why? Well, there are a lot of things about you that I never say but should. You're always there for me. I tell you everything. And you tell me everything. I trust you with all my heart. You share a love for God that I have. I don't thank you nearly enough for all that you do for me. On nights when I feel like the whole world is crashing down, I look and you are always there by my side. I know that with you as my friend, I'm never alone.

You're my best friend. Why? Because unlike any other friend I have, you're always 100% honest with me. You'd never and have never judged me. When I need a smile, you're there to make that happen. When I need a hug, you're there. When I need a shoulder to cry on, you're there. You're the only person I can even imagine being my maid of honor when I get married, years from now. We may argue, we may disagree sometimes, but I know that in the end, you'll be that friend that I'll have until the day I die.

You're my best friend. Why? Because I know that without you, I'd be dead. I love you.

~Christy

Love Is the Movement

I love this website. I've read all of the stories and facts on it. It's about depression, suicide, self injury, and addictions. Check it out!

Things Making Me Happy

~books

~my Canon Av-1

~the White Sox

~my Bible :)

~new colors of fall

~sleep

I Hate Highschool.

Well, not really. I actually do enjoy the experience. But I've noticed some things lately that I am not liking.

#1. Guys. All they look at is girls. And not girls' faces. Oh no, you know what I'm talking about. Sometimes I just wish I could tell girls that their boyfriends just want one thing. Well, most of them anyway.

#2. Girls. Yes, I know I'm a girl. But I'm sick of hearing who a girl did what with and where. I wish girls had so much more respect for themselves because chances are, they'll one day regret what they did in highschool.

#3. Homework. I don't really think I need to explain that one.

#4. Teachers. I have a teacher, just one in particular, who shows favorites. It seriously bugs me. He not only favors certain students, but he also talks about other students, BY NAME, behind their backs to other students.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is...there's a world out there that isn't living in a way that God wants and each and every one of us could be reaching out and showing them His love. Don't just sit back, go and do something! You could be saving someone from being lost their whole lives and help them to live an eternal life!

"My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins."

James 5:19-20

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

“You promised me Lord,that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

~Mary Stevenson

Late Summer Storm

*No edit!*

Trying to Find Myself

In this small town where nothing is secret,

I'm trying to find myself.

The world I'm living in isn't making sense anymore.

Who's who and what's what?

'Cause this life isn't real

Everything is fake.

What happened to being yourself?

I guess I'll never know.

More of an Indulgence?

So I was reading a men's health magazine (it was all they had) just moments before getting my wisdom teeth pulled. Now I had laughing gas so I don't remember this but I made a memo on my phone so I looked it up as soon as I was feeling okay. Would you believe me if I told you this was toothpaste?...
You're probably saying right now, "This is a joke, right?". Sadly, no. As I read this ad about four new kinds of toothpastes, I was shocked in seeing that they were blue, teal, read, and...poo-colored. The line at the top said, "Want more of an indulgence when you brush?" Since when was brushing your teeth supposed to be an indulgence? I thought people just brushed their teeth for health reasons, not to indulge themselves. Sorry, this was random. I just really wanted to rant about it because I was so in shock at what I had seen.

What I'm bringing on my trip...

So, I'm not revealing where I'm going to be going because then some creepers may give me unexpected visits. But here's what I'm bringing...

Some Canon AV-1 Photos

Thoughts

So. I'm a speechie

I can make this a long story, basically starting at the day a teacher (who at the time, was my director) and I getting into a fight that brought tears and yelling. But I won't. Short version: everything is fine now and I'm on speech team because the teacher that I just mentioned asked me if I was interested. So there are two categories I've been placed in: Dramatic Interpretation and Radio Speaking. Dramatic-well I'll just call it DI is a category that I've always wanted to have. I have a monologue about 8 minutes long and I pretty much act it out. This category of speaking has always been very deep and known for having dark topics. Mine, for example, is about wanting to eat an orange and craving over it because, as you probably guessed, I'm anorexic. In the monologue, I mean.

The other category is Radio Speaking. I sit in a small room with a microphone and give a radio report that i had 45 minutes to put together just before that. I'm given 5 articles-local, national, world, sports, and weather-with a commercial somewhere in between. It's not too difficult and requires no memorization, which is good.

I'm in speech camp right now and already almost memorized with my monologue! My school has been doing acceptionally well in speech so we hope to have some students go to State Finals this year. We'll see what happens :)

Call me crazy...

I just got a camera on ebay! It was made in the 70's, so it's not like I can buy it just anywhere! It was only $20..well, without shipping. It takes amazing pictures and makes them look vintage. It's a really old SLR camera that requires film and batteries. It's kind of high matinence, but that's okay. This is what it looks like...

I can't wait until it comes in the mail!

I'm diving in...

To classics! I'm going to start reading a lot more classics. I used to get a bunch of them back when I made the used book sale at my public library a priority. But now I've decided to read some of the classics! What's on my plate now? The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I don't know what's next...we'll just have to see!

Through a Mirror

Why do you look at my outer

beauty before you look at my inner?

Is this what society has come to?

You see my face shining

through a mirror and

suddenly you know me.

Do you see the hurt?

Or the fragile pieces that are

easily broken; the pieces that I'm made up of?

All you see is a face.

There is more to me than what can be seen.

$$$$$$

So, I want a camera. Yes, I already have one. Surprisingly it still works, but you can literally see inside of it on different parts of it because the cracks show the inside. I've had it about 4 years now and I want a camera that's really good at taking pictures. So, I stumbled across this one recently...It's the Nikon D3000. The cheapest I've seen it is $456 online. The average cost for it is around $499. But I'm serious about this camera! I just applied somewhere for a job, so we'll see how that goes. My current job doesn't give me enough hours..or joy for that matter. So I'm trying to find ways of making money besides just a job. I'd like to have this money within a month, which is unlikely. But we'll see if things work out! Wish me luck!

things that are making me happy

~books (what's new?)

~my camera

~my new haircut

~summer

~music

~pudding

The world is at your fingertips.

These are some samples of photos I've taken. Some of them have been touched up. Let me know what you think.

Life is Beautiful

I have a secret obsession and I would like to go public about it. I see the world differently. I see the world as that of a photographer would see it. I want to be a photographer. Always have. I would love to work at Disney World in the entertainment department, but it that doesn't work, photography is my second hope. I love it. I'm getting a new camera soon. How soon? I'm not quite sure yet. But it's coming. I may post pictures I take on my blog but I'm not sure about that yet.

Something seems...different

I feel as if I see the world through a different set of eyes than I used to. In the last year, I've made a lot of mistakes. Now I'm finally getting where I need to be with God again. I've noticed recently that things seem different. Things that I used to be blinded from or not really notice, seem evident to me now. For example, I used to love MTV and VH1...until now. Everything on those channels is just so fake and unrealistic. And the channels are about one thing...sex. Why didn't I ever see it before?

Well anyway, I'm ranting again. I just needed to vent a little bit. Am I crazy for thinking all of this? If I am, then I'm sure there's some other crazy people out there too.

There goes all my wisdom..

Well, not really. But I got my wisdom teeth out yesterday. Everyone told me it wouldn't even hurt. Are you kidding me?! I can't talk, my face is swollen up like a balloon, and I can hardly swallow. This stinks.

And I may not even get to go to Bible Study tonight :(

Torn Apart

Sitting in a dark room,

I see your face.

Feels like I'm in a tomb,

I want to meet you in a quiet place.

I need to feel your healing,

I'm torn apart.

My life is peeling,

I need you in my heart.

So...I have a list.

...of things I have yet to do this summer.

1. get my license

2. go to Six Flags

3. get my wisdom teeth out (yikes!)

4. finish Do Hard Things (I've been super busy lately)

5. go on a road trip to take my sister back to school

But this summer has gone so quickly!

I love This Song

I first heard it at camp and fell in love with it.

What I Love

Bibles. I love Bibles. I've owned a Bible since I was born. But I didn't really start digging deeper into them until this year. Being a preacher's daughter, I know that we have Bibles spread throughout the whole house. My last Bible that I used for about four years was one that my dad found on a shelf in his office and just gave to me. I wanted a Bible that I could pick out. So I went to Family Christian Bookstore today and picked one out. I'm so excited! It's an NLT study Bible with a black leather covering. I got my name personalized on it too. I've never been so happy to get a Bible!

This is what it looks like (I had to blur out my last name):

I then discovered that I have more Bibles than I thought...

Busy busy busy

So I haven't posted in quite awhile. I'd like to be able to but I'm on vacation right now. Actually, I may be able to post an entry on my trip once I get back. But I'm then going to church camp and a choir tour. I hope to be able to post on how those trips went too!

This picture is a hint of where I am. Think you know where this is? Comment and let me know!

Low Expectations, and acting opportunities!

So, last night was interesting. I went to Chili's after a bible study at my church and several people from my youth group and the bible study went along with. I had heard a guy from my group say, and I quote, "Dude I hope Garrett's there tonight! I love that guy!" So I was expecting this really cool, laid back waitor. NO. He was extremely rude and talked about, well...innapropriate things involving the opposite gender. First, a few tables over, some people left a tract (a small Christian booklet about the religion, etc.) He brings it to our table and says "I hate those church folk! They're so stupid and ignorant!" And he said some other things that I refuse to repeat. But oh, that's not all.

After that, he then tells us about this scale he rates girls on for how "hot" they are. He rated me, TO MY FACE, and rated me pretty low. It actually really hurt me, until I realized something-this guy doesn't have God, he's only looking for one thing out of a girl, and he doesn't care about anyone but himself! So I didn't really care later on (he probably only rated me low because he realized that, um..well...I won't give him the one thing he wants from a girl). So this is why I've finally decided to read Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. I'm sick of teenagers having such low expectations on well, EVERYTHING! So I'm going to read this book, even if it kills me!

Also, I know I'm ranting, but oh well. I met a couple at my church who helps run this small acting group of girls around my age who want me to be in the group!!!!!! *takes deep breath* So I'm getting a private audition! It's pretty much like real life theatre. I receive a script, learn the entire thing myself, then come back for one final rehearsal and perform. I'm so excited! I was also told these are all Christian girls, but I could be wrong. Anyway, wish me luck!!

What's Your True North?

I was searching the library franticly for a good book to read when I came across the book North Of Beautiful. It looked interesting, so I read it. We had a few rainy days this week, which were perfect settings for days of reading. As I opened the book, I noticed something. Justina Chen Headley, the author, talks very intricately. That may not be the best way to describe it. Well, I guess I simply mean that she used big words. But I still enjoyed the book.

Terra Rose Cooper was gorgeous. She had perfect blond hair, and has an almost perfect body. But on her right cheek, there is a flaw-a noticable flaw. She has a large port wine stain that she was born with. Basically, that means she has a pinkish-red mark covering her cheek. She has been labeled as a freak because of one flaw that she cannot change. I don't understand why people can look at outer beauty, rather than inner. I guess this is really what the book is about. Her father and mother have problems, as well. Her father verbally attacks her mother and yells at her frequently, so her home life is no better than her school life. Her mother, who is obese, turns to food to escape from her husband's frequent attacks.

But Terra is a little different than her family. She is very artistic and wants to go to East Coast College to achieve dreams of becoming an artist one day. But her father doesn't want her going there, so she "never gets an acceptance letter"...or so she's told. After a terrible car accident, Terra meets a boy-this is the part of every story that I love! :). Anyway, they have something in common: they both know what it's like to feel different. She goes on a trip with her new friend, Jacob, to Shanghai. They go to visit his older brother. On the trip, they discover a beauty that cannot be seen from the outside. They discover their true beauty.

I enjoyed the book, because I felt as if I was on a journey with Terra. She describes her plan for life-her true north:

"Finish high school in three years, escape to a college far, far away. Graduate in record time, and land a lucrative job where I'd make so much money no one could tell me what to do, where to go."

And then I thought about my true north. My plan for life is to gradaute high school with a 3.0 or higher GPA, go to college, and move to Orlando to either have an acting job at Disney World or The Holy Land (a reinactment of the true Holy Land that Jesus once walked).

What's your true north? Leave a comment and let me know (I want some way of knowing whether or not people are actually reading this).

I've Decided to Learn Guitar

That's right. I've had an acoustic guitar for years but never actually tried to learn. Well, I did...once. But now I've decided that I'm going to take guitar lessons and see how it goes. I'd like to learn how to play pretty much anything, so we'll see how this goes. Wish me luck!

Go Hawks!

So..today has been crazy! I went to the Blackhawks Parade, which was a huge adventure. First, I woke up at 6:30 to catch the train at 8:20. But..there was a long line for the train so we missed the first one. When we finally got downtown, it was packed! I was with about 8 or 9 other girls and in order to stay together, we literally had to hold onto each other. We got kicked out of a lot of different places we tried going to see the parade. We were running all over the place and pushing through hundreds of people, just to see the parade.

Well, we finally saw it. It was so worth it! Then there was a rally for the Stanley Cup and it was even more packed! People were throwing beer everywhere, which I was not a huge fan of. It was crazy and we walked at least 5 miles downtown Chicago. My feet hurt now :/

Oh but that's not even the whole story. After that, we went to Union Station..and that's where the fun really begins. We thought it was hot outside...and then we went to Union Station. No air conditioning+thousands of people=mass chaos. And we found out that everyone in the building were all going on the same train we were so as soon as it got there, it was every man for himself until we got into the train. The 2:30 was packed by 1:50 and had to leave early. We found out that at least 2 million people ended up going downtown to the parade today!!

Anyway, I'm home now and everything is calm so I'm happy. I'm gonna get my horse blanket and cuddle up with a my new book North of Beautiful in my big comfy blue chair. Life is good :)

Who needs regular school when you can go to a school for spies?

So my friend Maggie told me that she read this amazing book and always talks about it so I thought I'd give it a shot. Cammie, a member of a legacy that has traveled the world-and not just for fun. Her family is a family of spies. She is a member of the Gallagher legacy-one with generations of spies. The Gallagher Academy is a school that on the outside, looks like an ordinary boarding school for snobby rich girls. But on the inside, is filled with secrets and elite spy training for the smartest girls out there.

On her first training mission, Cammie meets a boy that she instantly falls for, named Josh. She wants to date him and fall in love with him, but there's just one problem...she's not allowed to. So she makes a fake identity and sneaks out whenever possible. In the book, I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You, by Ally Carter, a young girl is being trained to be a spy and handle every situation she is faced with, except for one-love. No, she isn't taught a thing about guys or love. Why would she need to know that stuff? She goes to an all-girls school. But when Cammie meets Josh, she almost immediately falls for him. But what does she do? Will she continue to learn about the world of love and dating, or choose her school life?

I really enjoyed the book, not only because I'm a romantic, but also because I simply couldn't put the book down! It's now on my favorites list because I absolutely loved it! Very rarely do I find a book that I would read more than once, but this one just happens to be one of those. I would highly recommend that any girl who reads would read this book!

The What of Pooh?

"While Eeyore frets, and Piglet hesitates, and

Rabbit calculates, and Owl pontificates...Pooh just is."

In my Humanities class, our teacher asked us to recommend some sort of a humanity for everyone else in the class to read, see, etc. I recommended my favorite book The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson (I would highly recommend it). A girl in my class recommended a book that especially caught my eye, called The Tao of Pooh. So I went to my library and read it. It was a quick-read and I simply adored it. For those of you Pooh lovers, and don't deny it because I know you all are, Benjamin Hoff makes the book a story of Pooh and his furry friends showing the world the secret to the wisdom of the Taoists by showing that Pooh just is.

I really enjoyed the book because number 1, it was a quick-read. And number 2, it depicted such a good knowledge of the world through a beloved children's show and collection of books. This philosophical book explains how you have to go through life and let things happen, and "to be", and find happiness. The author explains through different stories of Winnie the Pooh, how to just "be". It actually made me stop and think about my life and the way I live it. So go out to your local library and pick it up! It'll give you great words of wisdom that can really change the way that you look at things.