Reformation Day in New York City?

Hmm...It'll be interesting to say the least. I bet no one will even regconize it, although I'm sure Halloween will recieve plenty of attention. Why is the creation ignoring the Creator?!?!

It did feel good to gain an extra hour today, but it was still hard to get this morning. I haven't been able to shake a sore throat and an "achy coldness." But it does get progressively better each day and I'm hoping it'll be gone by tomorrow. Today was exciting. First there was church and I cannot even begin to measure how much our pastor has taught me. He's so great and awesome and makes God so alive and real and faithful. It is GREAT! Then we had a Halloween piano recital which was good- Matthew and I played a duet of "Phantom of the Opera," and we didn't mess it up! Matthew also knocked the socks off of everyone there with his piece- he was OUTSTANDINGLY good!

And guess what?! The Baileys are now officially moved to Decatur! They invited me over this afternoon, so I got to hang out with them, and see thier new house and play with the boys and stuff. It was great, because usually I have to FLY to see them! Now they're like 10 mins away! And the boys are so big!! I can't believe it, and they will be adopting Olivia soon- I can't WAIT to see her.

Then to relax I watched Sponge Bob, AFV and Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Yeah- usual Sunday night stuff. Then I finally began packing, but gave up about an hour later because I was getting too stressed out and tired. So now I'm here typing and ready to go to bed so it will be tomorrow. Yay for October 31st!

O Happy Day

"Be at rest once more, o my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." -Psalm 116:7

Birthdays are good... :-) Why is it though I can never sleep in on my birthday? I ususally wake up at like six am just bursting with excitment for the day~! I got up around 8 though today, which is later than usual, not any "saturday sleeping in record." Although presents and cards were tempting me to tear into them, I started the day with my daily Isaiah reading. That book is my favorite- there's always something new every time, and such a great picture of God's covenant faithfulness to his people, not just to individuals. Needless to say it was a wonderful reading. Then I opened my card from Sarah and Graham, it was really sweet! Graham signed it in typical Graham fashion, "-Graham, aka, Sarah's husband." Hehe, as if I'd forget who he was :-)

Jen wanted me to wake her up when I got up, so I went into her room next and opened her present to me....a free milkshake whenever I want it! hooray! I think I will use it for a vanilla ice cream cone from McDonalds, -I LOVE those things! Then we all went downstairs and had cream filled donuts for breakfast! It was yummy even though I couldn't have the chocolate ones. Then Jen and I went shopping in Huntsville, for stuff for New York, and I got quite a bit of clothes- it was very fun. And I also got to have Subway's new chicken parmesan sandwhich, which I'd been craving for a long time. It was pretty good- the chicken was a little disapointing but the parmesan part was good!

Then we came home, cleaned up the house and Mom and Dad fixed a fantabulous dinner. Some friends came over and we had a great time. It was my worldview's teacher and her husband (the nicest people in the world!) and their two little girls, (Elizabeth 2, and Amelia 1. -THE cutest things!) Words cannot even describe thier cuteness!!! It was a great evening. Dad grilled chicken, salmon, squash and corn and Mom made green beans, and macoroni and cheese. She also made a pumpkin cream cheese roll for dessert! It was very very yummy.

Now I'm tired, but a good tired. AND we get an extra hour tonight. O happy day!!!!!!!

Like I always say: Half a zorch is better than none

If you've seen the I Love Lucy episode where she thinks she got the Goalbloots from the Booshoo bird, you can appreciate the title. If not, it sounds funny anyway!

One more quote from that episode: "I'll never be able to trummel again...Ohhhh... - What's trummeling?"

I'm taking a break from school right now and I have no desire to return. Because I'll be in New York next week I have ginormous chemisty test TOMORROW that I lost a whole week of studying for. Everyone else in the class is taking it next week. Plus I have to finish my narrative essay before I leave. Mr Smith said I could turn it in when I get back, but I think I'll be way out of the essay writing loop by then, so though it might be a tad rushed, I think it'll be better.
In Worldview's I finally finished up the American Revolution, but was disapointed with the next TEN YEARS of assignments (ok a bit exaggeration, but this is going to take a LONG time). Its on the Enlightenment, and man its going to be boring and long. Moms like, "If you're going to major in Phsycology, you'll have to know where the people are coming from. -(and learn to spell phsycology) So no short cuts there.
In Bible Quizzing this week we are doing Romans 8 and its 39 verses long! Thank goodness we are doing it in two weeks, but I'm going to be gone next week...ahh..pressure, pressure.
And theres a Halloween piano recital on Sunday!!!!!! AHH! I can't wait to be in New York!!!!

I've been sick...:-(

Yep, its not so very fun. However postitive things about being sick are: 1. I could sleep in til 11:30, 2. Watch favorite TV shows I don't have time for otherwise, 3. Watch LOST! and 4. I'm not stressed out to do school.

But the bad things about being sick yesterday was, I couldn't babysit in the nursery, I couldn't meet with my worldview teacher, I couldn't finish painting the bedframes, and I've got a WHOLE LOT of school to do today!

I do feel alot better today, due to much hot tea drinking and my Mom's incredible chicken noodle soup. (Oh yeah, and a peant butter sandwhich my brother made me last night :-)

I am very grateful I got sick before my birthday and before our trip to New York. So while it's not fun being sick, I'm glad God has everything planned out for my best :-)

It's cold!!!!!

Hooray for coldness! I love October so very much and I am saddened by the near approach of November. However there are great things at the end of October this year: 1. My birthday of course :-D The plan right now is to go shopping and to see a movie in Huntsville -I'm so super excited! and 2. Our trip to NEW YORK CITY!!!!! Can't wait for that! and 3. Halloween- which really means CANDY! haha...yes... For my kids I'm going to do "Reformation Day," instead of Halloween. But always with the candy :-D (I'm starting to sound like my brother-in-law)

I took a walk with Matthew and Jenny Beth on Sunday night to embrace the fact that I had to wear a jacket. It was a wonderful- head-clearing experience. It was very cold, but we ran to get warm, then we started jumping over the enormous dirt pile in our driveway and we got TOO warm, so the coffee we had prepared was a little disapointing.

Today, we skipped school, or at least the stuff we dont HAVE to get done and got to work on projects around the house. When Daniel left, Dad cut one set of bunk beds in half so that there are now two twin bed frames. We sanded those down and I've gotten to put two coats of primer on them, so they are pretty darn white now. BUT they still need another coat! So hopefully I'll finish that up tomorrow. Mom also bought about 150 panies to be planted in the front yard under the tree. Putting them in today was COLD! I like cold and everything, but not when I have to be outside and digging the dirt. But to counteract my bad attitude against THAT coldness, I drove to writing class with the windows down. My hands ended up being pretty frozen, but it was fun.

Welp, happy October 24th to everyone. Enjoy it while you can!

I am a rock

Feeling rather depressed at the moment this song comes to mind:

A winter's day
In a deep and dark
December
I am alone

I've built walls
A fortress deep and mighty
That none may penetrate

I have no need for friendship
Friendship causes pain
It's laughter and it's loving
I disdain.

I am a rock
I am an island

Don't talk of love
Well, I've heard the word before
It's sleeping in my memory
I won't disturb the slumber
Of feelings that have died
If I'd never loved,
I never would have cried

I am a rock
I am an island

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me
I am shielded in my armor
Hiding in my room
Safe within my womb

I touch no-one and no-one touches me

I am a rock I am an island
And the rock feels no pain

And an island never cries

Babies are such a nice way to start people

It's true. Even more so when you're in a room with 9 of them at the same time. Here's the names of the babies that were there today in no particular order:

Sasha (Or Alexandra, she's the russian baby-SO cuddly and SO sweet!)

Amelia (Thank goodness she's not walking yet-she'll leave the baby room when she does-but very bubbly and happy)

Ella ( shes usually good and not fussy, but when she is fussy there's not much you can do to stop her)

Luke- (He's exactly what I want a little boy to be like- he's the perfect size for a baby and he's SO happy!)

Allie- (Luke and Allie are cousins but they dont look too much alike, Allie's a very happy easy going baby)

Mollie (Shes is the cutest 10 month old baby! She crawls, gets into things, usually steals everyone else's passie, and is always happy and smily- she steals cheerios too :-)

Cambria and Josiah- They're 8 month old twins- very cute-especially because there's two of them

Emma- She has a ton of hair! She's really cute crawling around on the floor and sucking on her passy

Needless to say that today was a fun morning. And then I got to meet with my worldview teacher and she can make even government interesting.

My question that I got from that time is: Do Christians have certain inalienable rights? (inalienable meaning cannot be taken away or abandoned, and rights meaning, life and the right to preserve it, liberty -not being a slave to anything and the pursuit of happines.)

I'm going to say no. When we surrender our lives to Jesus we give up entirely our right to our own life and the right to preserve it at any cost. Think of Jim Elliot- he didn't consider it a right of his to preserve his life- and look what fruit it brought.

As to a right to liberty, we have no rights before God. Anything he gives us is a gift, and so liberty is definantly a gift. Did some slaves believe they were free because they were serving God? Absolutely -God can give that gift in any circumstance, even a Nazi concentration camp.

Our pursuit of happiness is the pursuit of God. Again it's a gift that God grants, and we can pursue God in any circumstance. But I dont think thats what the authors had in mind, or what most American's have in mind. The pursuit of happiness can be taken to mean pursuing anything that makes you happy. And Christians do not have that right, because pursing anything other than God does not satisfy.

I made my blog to where ANYONE can post- You don't have to be signed up with this particular website, and I'd love to get some feedback on what I just wrote. If you can't get the post to work, email me! :-)

What is normal?

Thats a good question! Hmm.. what would I like a normal day to be? Let's see... I'd sleep in but not too late, 8 or 8:30 maybe, I'd take a shower, eat breakfast, have a NON rushed quiet time, and start school around 9 or 9:30. I'd work hard and get a whole lot done before lunch so I can relax a little after lunch, maybe watch jeporady or catch up on some well deserved sleep! Then I'd finish my school in the afternoon with NO interruption, have time to make dinner, eat it and then relax and enjoy my family in the evening.

Hmm...how wrong I am. Not only are my days filled a sense of rush to get things done, but also packed with things out of the house, so I don't have the time to get things done here. When did that happen? When was my "normal" day replaced? But again as God always does, He gives me gentle reminders thats its really ok, and hes working out his best for me. Here's a couple lines from a song I heard today, (While rushing to pick up my Jeep and fill it with gas, so I could get home and finish Worldview AND writing before my writing in Madison.)

My cell phone's ringing and I'm running late
The morning traffic's got me time is ticking away
A few more hours is all that I need
Seems that there's just not enough days in the week
But then it hits me
Time is not the answer
You've given me all the time in the world
All that I need…

[Chorus]
Is a little more life in my day
A little more of Your life
a little more faith
Need a little more life in my day

A little more of Your light to show me the way

If I'm gonna be in this world but not be of it
Lord I need more of You in all that I do
With a little more life in my day

Sometimes I guess I get lost in the race
Trying to make a deadline just to keep up the pace
I can't help feelin' I'm always behind
So much that I could do if I could just find the time

[Bridge]Lord don't let me be in such a hurry
Trying to live my life that I miss You in it
Help me slow down and take the time to see
All that I need….

Yeah thats a good song.. Its by Newsong. Yeah.. anyway

On Sunday I got up at 5 am to go to Clarksville TN to do a Bible Quizzing Presentation for a church up there who's intersted in Bible Quizzing. It was successful I think, the pastor was really enthusiastic and everything...He was a little more than that....but I won't get into that. I got a McDonalds milkshake on the way home and that made me very happy :-)

You'll never believe this but my Jeep isn't really busted at all...well at least I hope not. Guess what the problem was? It had no gas! Wow...I feel so dumb! Technically it wasn't my fault because apparently the gas gauge is broken (something that my brother neglected to tell me). So I thought I had like half a tank left...but no. I should have picked up on the signs though, I was driving it around for like a week and a half and the gauge didn't go down hardly at all. Silly girl. Oh well, I guess I'll know better now! At least I have wonderful parents who are willing to let me make mistakes.

But yeah in the midst of all that, I got to go to writing class tonight. Man, I love that class so much. I could listen to Mr Smith talk for hours, he's so excellent. And he's getting us pizza next week! Woo hoo! When I was coaching Bible Quizzing last year my sister told me that pretty much all you had to do to get kids to like you is give them food, or candy. Hehe, but I already like Mr Smith, so apparently he's doing it for that. It's so very hard to hate Mondays because Monday's are writing class days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And Tomorrow is a baby day!!!!!!! I'm so excited, I hope we get alot of kids in the nursery.

I hope everyone had a good Monday, (it IS possible :-)

Christian-

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

That I am not my own, but belong— body and soul, in life and in death to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my headwithout the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.


An interesting weeked to say the least. Friday morning my Jeep won't start, and thus I forfeit going to the gym, and have to go to Co-op classes with my mom early. In study hall I didn't get much work done because I was too busy talking with the "teacher." She's a really interesting lady, she lived in Alaska for awhile, but I need to get my work done! So I got home and had alot to do, and I had to turn down babysitting for the Baileys which made me sad, because I haven't been able to in like 5 YEARS! Plus I really like those boys :-)

Then scrambling around finishing school work- we head off to Huntsville for the last football game of the year. (Secretly yay! -I mean its a good program and all, but SO much running, our whole family is exhausted.) But I did get to see my brother Matthew catch a pass and make a touchdown pass. Yippee! It wasn't for "naught." -(from Spaceballs - he meant to say nothing.)

I'm leaving for Clarksville TN very early in the morning (6am!) for a Bible Quizzing demonstration. -I'll post about it when I get back.

Have a happy Sunday!

When you least expect it...

Ok, last night around 8:30 I was getting very stressed out with school. Something to do with Federalist and anti-federalists and what it alls means and to who...Anyway I was in my room thinking about stopping the taping of "Lost," when theres a knock on the door. Dad's not here so we're all a little shy of opening up the door. Since Daniel's left, no one really comes to the door anymore! Except Jana, but always a good surprise. So Mom goes to answer the door, and I'm still mad upstairs in my room, thinking I'll never figure this "stuff" out, and lo and behold WHO is there?! The family I would never have dreamt who come on an average Wednesday night. It was the Baileys. Not only THAT but with the news that they are moving BACK to Decatur and are adopting a little girl. (I've met her at least twice before and she is SOOOOOOOO adorable!)

They moved away like five years ago, and I was SO sad to see them go. My older sister Sarah lived with them in Texas for awhile, so I've kept in touch with them and everything, but I never thought they would move back here. What a cool cool answer to prayer. And especially when I least expected it.

So then after they left, (did I mention their boys are huge? When they left their boys who were adopted from Russia where 2, and now they are 7) I got to watch a brand new Lost episode and call Sarah with the big news.

This has been a crazy week. All week I was sore from playing baseball on Sunday, but it was worth it. Tuesday morning there were five babies in the nursery, which was still fun because I got to spend alot more individual time with each one, instead of bustling about keeping everyone happy. I feel bad to put a good baby in a swing or walker the whole time, because they are good! So I got them out and played alot more...The time always goes so fast. Amelia, who is so cute, is just about to walk and I dont want her too, because she'll get moved up to the toddlers nursery. But she saw me eating cheese crackers, and she said, "cracker?" But I didn't know if she could have them or not, if she could chew them up, so I said, "No cracker," and put them on the counter. She didn't see to mind, so she crawled up the counter and pulled herself up(and she is getting tall), and grabbed the box of cheese crackers, and said "cracker?" It was so cute! So I had to let her have one... :-) Taking care of such tiny people is always fun.

Oh yeah, and on Wednesday I took the PSAT test at Decatur Hertiage. I think it went ok, it was a tiny bit easier than the SAT stuff I'd been studying for, but I don't want to be overly confident and get a bad score. I won't know until December how I did. But its a big relief to have that OVERWITH!

I think I'd miss you even if I'd never met you

I think thats a cool quote.

The weekend went well, I babysat both nights, and of course Sunday nights just fly by. Yesterday it was finally cool enough to play baseball outside (yay!), but I got a shoulder and arm cramp today. It hurts to move! Also we moved a ton of furniture yesterday, that might have something to do with it. With Daniel's departure three rooms of this house have been totally transformed and I love it. Plus it helps with putting our house on the market.

I am excited about moving. Our new house is going to be really nice. I'll get my own room and my own bathroom upstairs. Plus my Mom and Dad's bathroom will have a jacuzzi! In case anyone doesnt know, we are planning on moving to Madison AL. We're having a house built so my Dad is thinking it will be around March or April. It seems like a long time, but I'm sure it will go by fast! Especially with all the work involved with moving.

Anyone have any exciting moving stories? Or sad ones? I'd love to hear them!

Let my lifesong sing to you

Kind of humanistic isnt it? Shouldn't it be, "Let your lifesong sing to me?" Oh well, its just one of those "Christian" songs that gets stuck in your head for forever.

I was driving home from Chemistry class and Bible quizzing practice (its like a co-op or something, yet not quite, because I'm only taking one class, and its supposed to be like a school or something), and I heard this song: (Yes, I know that was a long sentance, but that's what I'm good at, or I could be bad at short sentances, either way...)

I watched a movie
But it wasnt the same
It was happy
I was sad
And it made me miss you
Oh so bad

There's a couple of people I think of when I hear that song, Sarah being one of them. I havent seen her since May, and I wont get to until December. It saddens me every day. The fall is always hard without her because its my birthday month, and its the fourth year anniversary since she left. I'm SO ready to graduate so I can move closer to her!! Friday nights are pretty lonely without her.

I am babysitting though. A cute little one and a half year old boy, and a five year old girl. It'll be interesting... The girl is rather...ahh...demanding? But the little boy is the sweetest little thing, so it'll be fun :-)

Wishing everyone a happy weekend,
-Abbi

Why does the lady with the alligator purse have to be purple?

I think its because there's a playmobil lady that we used to play with, who had a purple dress on, and red shoes, and a red hat, and a red purse... Wierd how our minds make connections huh?

Ok, I'm sorry that is a just a bit random- but what isn't anymore? I also apologize for not posting in awhile, I had a really long post the other day, then my computer messed up and it was gone.

A questiong that I've been thinking alot about lately is: What gets people up in the mornings? What drives them to do the same meaningless, unenjoyable, boring, dull and hard tasks every day? What are they living for? I have a friend who has a lot of medical problems, and who is not actively pursuing a relationship with Jesus, and my heart just breaks for her. What is there to her life? And I know she is not the only one. What do I say to her? How do Christians give meaning to life?

Well, I'm sure my pastor would have excellent answers to these questions, because he is a brilliant man. My writing teacher asked the question the other day, "If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do differently today?" Does our average, everyday, ordinary life reflect us living in God's image and establishing his kingdom on earth? I dont mean in some plant 66 churchs in a foreign country kind of way, although that is good, but in a way that is different from non-Christians.

I hope this makes sense, and anything that you want to add, I'd love to hear.

This is from a Rich Mullin's song called, "Hard to Get."

Did you ever know loneliness?
Did you ever know need?
Do you remember just how long a night can get?

Do you remember when you were just barely holding on
And your friends didn't see the blood thats running in your sweat?

Will those who mourn be left uncomforted?
While you're up there, just playing hard to get

Mr. Smith would probably say thats just a list of questions, but it does posses a certain feeling. Of course thats not all of it either, but I think it is very honest. That's how people really feel at times.

More later, -Have a glorious Friday with oodles of fun! (I like that word! oodles! yay!)
-Abbi