Let it Snow!

I started listening to Christmas music long before Thanksgiving, but I decided to hold off on Christmas blog backgrounds.  But I found this fabulous tutorial by Emily Grace over at her blog for some snow!   She also has some other neat ideas and great tutorials.  One of the other tutorials I've used by her is the Signature at the bottom of your post.  She always explains what the html code means which makes it super easy to use and make your own.
This week we were supposed to get some snow, but so far we only have the cold temperatures.  I'm hoping it will warm up some tomorrow because our church is going caroling.  Last year we went when it was only about 20 degrees outside and it was miserable.  I'm sure that I'll post again before Christmas but if I don't, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.

A Towel and a Wash Basin

Last night was our High School Bible Study.  We watched a video sermon done by a student at Ozark Christian College.  It was all about how Jesus always had a towel and a wash basin in His hands.  Always ready to do the dirty work of cleaning others feet instead of having others clean His.  While watching this I realized how we think that were making Jesus famous but we're really just making ourselves look better.  We're always working to get ourselves higher up on everyone's respect list so that others will listen to us, when really we should be doing the small things, washing the feet.  It doesn't have to be something big like taking a mission trip to a foreign country.  It could be something as small as talking to the new kid in school to opening the door for an elderly person at the store.  This is something I really need to work on, I realize more and more how unwilling I am to wash feet.
Since my parents are the Youth Pastors at our church, my sisters and I will often help them set up for activities on Wednesday night and then help pick up afterwards.  When I was laying in my bed last night before I fell asleep, I was thinking about Bible study and the message from that night.  I became convicted because I realized how often, I'll say to my mom, "Why can't someone else set this up?"  or "Why can't you have some of the other kids from Youth Group stay to help pick up?"  I saw how selfish I was being, how unwilling I was to  wash feet.  I see this and it makes me sad because when I think I'm finally getting it right, God will show me where I'm going wrong.  I thank the Lord for showing me how wrong I was in my thinking and asked Him to help me be more willing to wash feet.

Courageous

This Sunday we went to see the new movie Courageous with our church.  It was a FANTASTIC movie!  It had all of the makings of a great movie.  Our whole family liked it!  I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone.

Javier Martinez was by far my favorite character.  I wish that I could have faith in the Lord like he does.  He trusts in the Lord for everything he needs, money for the rent to food for his family.  He also has the funniest part in the entire movie!  I'm pretty sure that everyone entire movie theater was rolling around in their seats, people were laughing so loud you could barely hear the movie.  

While this movie is enjoyable to watch it also has a great meaning.  Telling the fathers of the world to step up and be the spiritual leaders of the family like their called to.  My dad is a wonderful father, I think that he already does everything that the movie talks about.  I only feel sad for those who don't have a daddy who's as loving as mine.

I hope that you'll go and see this wonderful movie and support the people who produced it.  We need to send a message to the world saying that we want more movies like this.  

Fall Fest!

This past weekend was our little town's Fall Festival!  It always starts out with a parade on Saturday morning with the local High school's marching band, then ending with horse drawn carriages, in between there are lots of other floats (my favorite ones are the ones that give out the most candy).  One of the floats had people dressed up like prisoners running in front of people dressed like police officers.  This float always has a confetti bomb on it.  I should have seen it coming, but I failed to notice on of the police officers walking next to the float holding two wires, right when he was in front of us he touched the two wires together and one of the confetti bombs exploded.  It sounded like bombs were being dropped on us by air plains.  I would be lying if I said it didn't scare me, I'm pretty sure I screamed.  My ears were still ringing after the entire parade was over.
After the parade was over everyone normally heads over to the park where bands are singing in the gazebo and little shops have stands set up.  There are bounce houses a rock wall and a trampoline with the bungee cords attached.  They also have a delicious lunch, and you can do everything for free if you buy one of the buttons, which are 5$ each, I still remember when they where about 3$ each.  Our family just bought a couple of buttons and shared them.
On Sunday, there isn't as much stuff going on, there aren't any bounce houses or rock walls.  We went to church in the morning and then went to a history of all the little churches in town afterwards.  After lunch, my sister, Brooke and I walked around and Brooke bought some fried jalapenos and some fries mushrooms.  They were delicious.  The mushrooms were perfectly salty and crunchy, while the jalapenos were extremely spicy.  If it was possible to live on fair food, I would do it.  Brooke complained all day how her stomach was burning from eating all of those fried jalapenos.  The last thing we do at our Fall Fest is the city has an ice cream social, the perfectly delicious ending to the day.

Well, now it's back to school and back to cold and chilly days.  Even though it's still about 100 degrees outside, It feels like since I've started school again it should be snowy and cold.  That way you want to stay inside!  Over the Summer I sponsored a Christian camp for my younger sisters.  In August I went to stay with my cousins in Minnesota, for a couple weeks, with my older sister, Brooke.  While we were there we went to the Mall of America several times.  Even though I've been there multiple times, I still haven't been to every store in there, I didn't even know that some of the stores existed!  We also went to an amusement park called Valley Fair, which was extremely fun because I LOVE roller coasters and other scary rides!

 I'd have to say that my favorite ride was the Renegade because you super fast and there are lots of hills.  Plus  it's an old wooden one so it doesn't feel quite as sturdy.  Brooke who is already afraid of roller coasters is deathly afraid of wooden ones, she says it feels like its going to fall apart.  After we got home from MN, we started school a couple of days later.  I hope your summer was blessed!

In Him, Bekah

Worms, yuck!

I'm sorry that its been so long since my last post.  Since then we have had lots of rain which has made the earthworms happy, but terrified me.  I can NOT stand worms.  They are so gross and slimy.  I was on my way out to get the mail when I nearly stepped on this one and screamed.  I had Brooke take some pictures for me so I didn't have to go near it.

Disgusting, right?

My little sisters think that their cool but I wont get near them.  I'm pretty sure that I have Scoleciphiobia, a phobia to worms.

Spring Gala Blog Party

A simply smashing blog!  Check it out!


1. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Scotland.  I would go and see Scorybrec Castle, because it's part of my family's history. 

2. What is the oldest item you own?
Probably a doll that one of the elderly ladies at church gave to me.  She said that her neighbor made it for her when she was a little girl in about the 1940's or 50's. 

3. If you had to pick one hero, who would it be?
David from the Bible.  He has enough faith to stand against a giant. 

4. If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead. Who would it be?
Jesus, of course.  I think that everyone would like to have Jesus to tea.  
Frank Sinatra, I love his music and the movies he's in. 
Matthew Theisen, the lead singer from Relient K, my favorite band. 

5. Which do you like better, Coke or Pepsi?
Coke, it tastes better. 

6. What would you rather have- chocolate or a cookie?
Well, if its German then I would take the chocolate.  But if its a gooey, warm cookie with a glass of milk, I would take the cookie. 

7. What is your favorite season?
Summer!  No school, Church camp, friends, and swimming pools. 

8. What's your favorite thing about Spring?
I don't really like the April showers but I love the May flowers. 


9. What's your favorite music?
Anything by Frank Sinatra or Matthew Theisen.  I also really like classical music, especially when it has the piano in it. 


10. What's your fashion/personal style?
I don't really know, I like stuff from the 50's.  Pretty much anything as long as it's modest and not to uncomfortable.  

MUSICAL TIME!!!

A week from today is our home school group musical!!  I'm SOOO excited!  I can't wait for it but at the same time I can't wait for it to be over.  I was hoping that some of our cousins from Minnesota would be down in time for it but it doesn't look like their going to make it.  Our musical is called Pick and Choosical.  I would love it if you could come!  It will be on Friday, April 29th at 7:00 p.m. at Riverlawn Christian Church.  Hope to see you there!!  ADMISSION IS FREE!!!

What happened to the good old days...

I often find myself wishing that I had been born around the 50's.  Not only because I LOVE the fashion style from that time but because it seems like everything was so much simpler.  Whenever I think about those times I think about families getting together for barbecues, kids drinking coca-cola on the sidewalk, kinda like the fourth of July all of the time.  One thing I think that I would change the most would be some of the stuff we have on TV.  We watch Survivor every Wednesday night and we normally have to change the channel or close our eyes, either because of people getting killed and things like that.  It doesn't bother me but Faith and Laurel seem to have quite a few bad dreams.  All of the bad dreams might not be because of the commercials for other shows but it definitely puts the idea in your mind.  The Bible tells us in Titus 2:7-8 how we should act and what we should put into our minds. 

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

We need to put this as our example not so that we are better than non-believers, but so we can show them God's love and what it's like to be a Christian.  

Just a bit about me...

 How would people describe your personality? (If they could only use ONE word.) Are they right? 

 Probably hyper, most times I'm full of energy and ready to go. 

What celebrity/celebrities would create a “Star-Struck” feeling if you saw them in real life? 

FRANK SINATRA!!!!!  Too bad he's dead...   My goal right now is to watch all of his movies and buy all of his music.  

Who is your favorite blogger? Why? 
 Kevin and Amanda's blog.  I'm not a regular reader but when you need to know how to do anything for your blog this is the place to go.  
http://www.kevinandamanda.com/

What is your comfort food/drink? 

 The drink would definitely have to be a caramel macchiato from Starbucks.  A Krispy Kreme doughnut will cheer me up any day. 

Be brave – tell us something very random and weird about yourself. 

Lately, I have been listening to lots of Adventures in Odyssey.  A radio drama that I used to listen to when I was little.  Brooke says that I'm weird and that Adventures in Odyssey are for little kids but I still think that there pretty cool. 

Do you have a strong desire to do something you’ve never done? What is it? 

Skydiving.  Either that or surfing.  I would love to go sky diving,  I think that it would be the most amazing thing ever.  You would be able to see all of God's wonderful creation.  If I had a choice it would be skydiving over surfing, but surfing has always looked soooo cool. 

Movies: Action, Drama, Romantic Comedy, Documentary, Comedy? What are your favorite genres? 

Pretty much any movie sounds good to me, but I love Frank Sinatra.  I can't wait for the Captain America movie to come out because he's my favorite superhero. 
So if anyone finds a Captain America t-shirt, I wear size small in the womens, and would be more than happy to pay you back for it.  :)

Books: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Romance, Biographies, True Stories, Self-Help, Devotional/Study? 

What are your favorite types of reading material? 

I love any action, suspense, or mystery books.  Right now I'm reading the Soul tracker series by Bill Myers.  It's fantastic, I just finished it yesterday and the series was AMAZING!! 

Music: Funk, Rock, Country, Jazz, Classical, Film Score, Blues, Classic Rock, Crooner, Alternative, Heavy Metal, Techno? What are your favorite types?       If Relient K had its own music type, that would be it.  I LOVE RELIENT K!!!  Too bad they never come to KS. 

If you inherited a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do with your money?       Give at least 10% to the church or my favorite missions group.  I would put some in savings next, you should always be prepared.  Then I would probably take my family and friends on a trip around the world.  

Name one weakness of yours (confession is good for the soul). 

Candy, particularly Jelly Belly Jelly Beans(buttered popcorn, YUM!).  I'll get some Jelly Belly's and say I'm only going to eat a few and I'll eat WAY more than I planned on...darn jelly beans. 

If you could live anywhere at all (and take all your loved ones with you), where would you go? 

Orange Beach, Alabama!  I would get to learn how to surf and be in my favorite state at the same time.  Two lifelong dreams in one!

Strange Talent? Can you juggle basketballs, put your legs behind your head or perform some other strange feat?       Most of my friends think my flexibility is pretty strange, I guess it just comes with being a gymnast.  

What is one of your favorite things to catch a whiff of?  

Ocean air, Christmas trees, cinnamon, doughnuts,  I like lots of smells, but I really like that smell the air gets right before it rains. 


When you leave a social gathering, do you wish: You would have talked more or You would have talked less?      Lots of times, both.  I'll wish I talked more to one person and less to another.  

If money wasn’t a factor, what stores would you shop in? 

Probably the same stores, I would just buy more stuff...


What is your greatest fear or strange phobia? 

Worms.  I absolutely, positively hate worms.  They are sooo nasty! 


What is your greatest accomplishment? 

Probably when I save all of my money up for like two years and then I bought a laptop with it when I was like 12 or something. 


What are your favorite animals? 

I love animals, but I don't have a favorite.  Anything besides cats. 


Are you a hopeless romantic? 

What's a hopeless romantic ??

True Friends

This past weekend was a little hectic.  On Sunday when I saw my friend, Kira and Micah, I just busted out crying from holding all of it in.  After I had my cry, Kira, Micah and I formed a little circle and they prayed for me.  It was so nice, it felt kind of like all of these pent up emotions just came pouring out all at once.  It made me realize what good friends that I have and how strong they are in their walk with Christ.  It also taught me that I can always come to Jesus with any problems I have, no matter how big or small.  This weekend has truly been a test of my faith.  Thank you so much Lord for putting Micah and Kira into my life. 

Is Jesus Just Another Infomercial?

Do you ever fell like you're getting ripped off?  I know that when an infomercial comes on TV I can't seem to pull myself away from it, even though I know its just a scam.  Sometimes we feel like we've been ripped off by people, like since we gave them a compliment that they should give one back.  I know that I've felt that way before.  I've thought,  "I complimented on her new skirt, why doesn't she say something about my new shoes." 
One year when my family was on vacation in Texas we saw a stand that was selling Sham Wows.  It was very mesmerizing to watch the man at the stand spill the drink then soak it up with the Sham Wow and everything would be dry.  My dad was sold, he was ready to buy one right then.  He probably would of if my mom hadn't stopped him.  After we got back from Texas, Momma went shopping and came back with a Sham Wow Jr.  That was probably one of the biggest wastes of money ever.
While we get ripped of by this world and its earthly things, we have to remember that if we put our trust in Jesus we'll never get ripped off and that He will always be there for us.

Becoming a Servant in this Day and Age?

I've been reading a wonderful book series called, Mark of the Lion by Francine Rivers.  In this series there is a christian servant girl, named Hadassah, who serves the family who bought her with her whole heart.  In another book that I'm reading for school, The Purpose Driven Life, it talks about how we have to have a servant heart to serve the Lord.  It made me start thinking about how many little things I do every day that serve myself when I could be serving others.  For example, I'll sit down to read my book while my mom will start dinner,  I'll be so engrossed in my book and thinking about how I just need to finish this chapter that I won't see if she needs any help.  Or, since my dad is on crutches,  when my dad needs something, like a glass of water, I wait to see if one of my sisters wants to get up and get it for him instead of moving out of my seat to do something so small.
Lately, I've been praying that the Lord will make me more like Hadassah and give me a servant heart, because if we can't even take 10 seconds out of our day to get someone a glass of water how is the Lord going to trust us with bigger tasks.

Zoo Fun!

Last Friday while the warm weather was still here, we went to the zoo!!  It was lots of fun, but it seemed like everyone else had the same idea.  As we were getting ready to leave the zoo, daddy's electric scooter died, so we stopped let it charge a bit, tried to make it out and then it ran out again and so we had to repeated the same thing.  After we finally left the zoo, we went to Orange Leaf, a frozen yogurt buffet.  We had to pay 39¢ for every oz. that we put into our bowl.  It was delicious and lots of fun to put into your bowl.  Ciao for now!

Lots of Changes!!

This week Brooke got her braces off!!! She was so excited!  Now I'm the only one who has braces.  Today Daddy went to the doctor and found out that he has bronchitis, poor Daddy.  Laurel had a fantastic birthday with lots of little girls to help her celebrate it.  On the 15th all 8 of them came to Laurel's snow party.  We had a snowball fight that turned into everyone against me.  Figures.  One of the little girls named Rylee had said that she maid me a mini snowman, so she came over to give me the snowman and shoved it up in my face.  After we warmed up some we opened presents and drank hot chocolate.  Then they all played games until it was time to leave.  So far it has been a great start to the new year!  Ciao for now!

DADDY'S HOME!!!

After a week in Alabama, Daddy's home!!  He and our Nanny left last Wednesday and came back last night.  He brought back a teacup for momma and some confetti shooters for us girls, the only bad thing is he said that if we use the confetti we have to clean it up.  He went to Alabama to surprise his grandma for her 94th birthday, we were all afraid that she was going to have a heart attack, thank goodness she didn't.  When Daddy and Nanny got back they told us that Grandma Nicholson told them that it was the best birthday ever.  Well, I should probably get back to school, So long for now for now!

Christmas is gone, the new year has come!

Well, this Christmas was wonderful! I got to spend to spend time with all of my mom's cousins that I don't get to see very often.  But something else that I noticed about this holiday season is that I was thinking more and more about myself.  Thinking, when do I get to play with my new stuff.  When do I get to do what I want.  Well now it's back to school and I'm reading a book called The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren.  It talks about not having a self-centered life.  After all we were put on this earth for GOD's purpose.  There's also a verse that I really liked. 

"Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to GOD leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life."  Romans 8:6 (Msg.)

 He ends the chapter in the book saying, "You were made by God and for God-and until you understand that, life will never make sense." 

Reading this just kind of gave me a little wake-up call, reminding me what life's most important things are.