yah... i know, it's been a while

So yeah, I am back now. Didn't know I had gone, huh? :p hehehe... yeah, we went to Salem, OR to join with their school to hear Dean Sherman speak on Spiritual Warfare. And that was really cool! I learned so much about the Christian faith and why we believe what we believe. It was pretty much going back to the basics and learning why Jesus came and what power we have in him because of all that he did while he was here. It was amazing! I learned alot this week. But I am glad to be back on base. We have had a pretty messed up schedule the last couple of weeks and I am glad to be back with my family here and to a regular schedule.

Amy and Jesse came to see me today!! It was so cool!!!

So here are some random pictures from DTS:

I am bored, no one reads this, and because I can

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?

So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie

Opening Credits: Morning Hymn and Alleluia Chours--Sound of Music

Waking Up: God of Wonders--Third Day

First Day At School: All Around Me--Rebecca St. James

Falling In Love: Come Now Is the Time to Worship--Philips, Craig, & Dean

Fight Song: Binary--Popple

Breaking Up: I have Confidence--Sound of Music (That is good! :P)

Prom: Faith, Love, Happiness--Thousand Foot Krutch

Sex Scene: If I had my choice I wouldn't include this in the movie. Breathe--Rebecca St. James

Life's Ok: What Did You Say?--Popple

Mental Breakdown: Move--Thousand Foot Kruth

Driving: Dreams I Dream For You--Avalon

Flashback: Axel F--Crazy Frog

Getting Back Together: Tough Little Boys--Gary Allen

Birth of Child: Find Your Wings--Mark Harris

Wedding: Beauty and the Beast--Guess where... (honest!!! that is what came up!!)

Final Battle: Standin' in the Rain--Dave Thompson

Death Scene: Save the Last Dance For Me--Micheal Buble

Funeral: Etude in C Minor-Vladimir Horowitz

End Credits: Refelction--Mulan

A Christmas Survey by Kari/Sarah

1. Hot chocolate or apple cider?
Definately hot chocolate/Hot Chocolate

2. Turkey or ham?
Ham... turkey=BLECH!!/Ham

3. Do you get a fake or real cut-it-yourself Christmas tree?
The ONLY Christmas tree is a REAL one!!!/Real

4. Decorations on the outside of your house?
Heck yes!/Of Course, but only lights...no funny blow up animals

5. Snowball fights or sledding?
Umm... out of the two... sledding/Neither, I don't like the snow

6. Do you like hanging around the fireplace because it's warm?
Yes and because it is super romantic/Yes, if I am cold.. No when I am hott, but that is most of the time ;o)

7. Do you enjoy going downtown shopping?
YES,YES,YES!!! I LOVE SHOPPING!!!/No

8. Favorite Christmas song?
Winter Wonderland/For fun:Good News by Avalon, but my favorite hymn is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

10. How do you feel about Christmas movies?
I really don't care one way or ta other/They make it feel like Christmas?

11. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music?
Whenever I feel like it...GOSH!!!/Before Thanksgiving is too early

12. Stockings before or after presents?
Before!! DUH!!/Never had stockings (Kari: WHAT? are you serious?)

13. Carolers, do you or do you not listen to them?
We have a group of neighborhood kids come around and we listen to them, but other than that we don't get them/Never had any.

14. Go to someone else's house or they come to yours?
Both... I like somewhat of a variety/Go to someone else's house

15. Do you read the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve?
Yesh... tradition of Family/Nope... I read the "Littlest Orphan" and "The Christ Child" with my mother

16. What do you do after presents and dinner?
Umm... Presents come WAY before dinner/We ope presents in the morning, then go to Gramma's house and open MORE presents and then we eat lunch

17. What is your favorite holiday smell?
Christmas tree and Swedish Gingerbread Cookies/I dunno... Just the smell is different... like you get up early on Cmas mornign with the tree and the presents and it just smells good... a homey, comfortable, safe sorta smell

18. Ice skating or walking around the mall?
Ice skating/Neither

19. Favorite Christmas memory?
What? Umm... One year me and Jp and the Kilourn's drove around and looked at all the pretty lights and decorations... that was lotsa fun!!/getting to stay up really late on Christmas Eve doing stuff with my brother

20. Favorite part about winter?
SNOOOOOOW!!!!! Even though we don't get if very often./The smell and the rain

21. Ever been kissed under mistletoe?
No... That would be against my religion ;)/No, Praise the Lord!

The Grey Stuff in life

So our speaker this week was Jonathan Stone and he gave a message that really got me thinking. It was about... well here are my notes:

The Grey Stuff in Life

Romans 14:1

Absolutes – Biblical right and wrong…It transcends all generation, all cultures, and all genders.

Stealing, murder, sex before marriage, etc

Preferences – personal choice in life, things we like

I like Starbucks, you like Folgers. Being married or single

Convictions – personal right and wrong…Not right or wrong for everyone

We mix them… our convictions become absolutes.

A: Gluttony is a sin

P: I like my steak well done

C: I am a Vegetarian

A: Honor Sabbath

P: I like to go the church on Sunday morn

C: I think Sabbath is on Saturday

A: Do not get drunk with wine

P: I like red wine

C: I don’t drink wine at all

How do you deal with the grey stuff in life?

1. Figure out your own convictions (Romans 14:2-3)
   Your convictions should help you love people more not less
2. Don’t force your convictions on someone else (Romans 14:3)
3. Don’t judge people who have different convictions
4. Don’t cause someone else to stumble (Romans 14:13)
5. Stick to your convictions (Romans 14:22)
6. Live out your convictions and give people room to live out their convictions

Four questions to help you decide what your convictions are

1. What does my Bible say?
2. What does my conscience say?
3. Will this lead me to sin? I know that I am weak in this area…
4. Is this loving my neighbor? Will this cause my neighbor to sin/stumble?

Yeah, made me think...

Pictures

Nick's too cool to get his picture taken.















My one on one, Becky. She's wierd, but really cool!!!!
















He is a Vampire on his spare time. Anthony says that he makes wierd noises in his sleep and he sleeps in a mummy bag. hehehehehe... he's cool tho. :P
















Me taking a picture of Amber taking a picture of Marci. (HA! You thought I was going to say she was taking a pic of me! :)




















My "new" jacket that I got for $14 at the thrift store (you can kinda see the highlights in this one, I am working on getting a better picture of my hair.)




















My man Anthony wearing my princess apron that Ms Sharon made for me. :D Isn't he cute?




















Me and my superhero!!!!!