Blanked

I've been thinking about writing a post for quite some time but for some reason I am lacking the inspiration. Can't think of a thing to write about.
One of my friends wrote this nice blog about how he went ice skating in the morning, and it was so beautiful and descriptive, and I thought "Wow, why can't I write something like that about the little precious moments in my life that I want to remember?" Probably all I could have thought of to say was "uuuh, so I went ice skating this morning and it was really nice." Blah, I feel completely uninspired at the pen right now.
It's all this laziness from not having school for a week. Seriously. Who ever heard of canceling school for a whole week because of 4-10 inches of snow? I can't remember every closing school because of weather in Wisconsin... When you have snow 5 months out of the year you can't let it get in the way of your education like that... So my brain has been rotting for a week. I've tried to keep it active, but I'm not very self motivated like that. I've read almost the way through the Laura Ingalls Little House series. That has been a delightful pleasure...
I'm really excited that I get to see Cora in less than a week!! Yay for choral clinics at Walla Walla. haha, which reminds me of the speaker at the Youth Rally last weekend in Seattle. He was from the UK and he poked fun at WWU in one of his stories saying, "And I cried my eyes out as my sweetheart got on the plane to go back to Walla Walla... Who ever heard of naming a college twice anyways? What is this?" hahahaha..... Okay, so it wasn't that funny, but I thought it was. Anyway...
So obviously this wasn't a very well thought-out, put-together post, but I felt like writing something....
Happy Sabbath!

Memoir

I never knew my Grandpa Sandford. He died in a tragic logging machine accident before my mom was even married. My mom talks about him occasionally, but that is, for the most part, the only person I'd heard about him from. Recently though, my Uncle John posted a comment on Facebook about the Grandpa I never got to know, and it really touched my heart: 

"Dad was the greatest man I have ever know and when he died an elder stood up and said "if Jesus were alive today I don't know if you could tell the differance between Phil and him." He would tell you up front what was right or wrong but then would let you decide what you wanted to do with the information, but he would show you the way by his example. And even though I might not have been on the straight and narrow path and was doing many things he disapproved of he loved me unconditionally." 

Proud to be his granddaughter! I love you Grandpa!

Jan 7, 2012 Journal Entry

Yaay! :) Yay for happiness. 

These last couple months have been pretty challenging emotionally and spiritually, but PTL (Praise the Lord) for the New Year!

The week before Christmas break was really stressful, and then when vacation came it was a HUGE breath of fresh air, exactly what I needed: relaxation and time to regroup. So now it's the new year and I'm like on a happy high. My room is freshly arranged, cleaned, vacuumed and dusted. My schoolwork is all done. I started a worship journal to keep track of when and what I do for my devotions, and any thoughts I want to write down. It's working out just great. Also a 9:00pm every night I stop what I'm doing and do 10+ pushups, 40+ situps (however vigorous I'm feeling), as well as back arch stretches and leg stretches. Then after that I have my worship devotion time. 

Since it's Sabbath I went on a hike with Dad (Mom had a headache, and Isaac no le gusta caminar.) So I got to drive =D. I kept asking where we were going, but he just said, "You're the driver!" So I made up my mind and we went to Anacortes, to the dock that spans the bay. It was fun, Dad ran ahead with Apache, so I hid beside the trail in the rocks by the water. When Apache realized I was missing, he came back to find me, and while his back was turned, Dad hid as well. Hahaha... poor Patchy got his running resolution in plenty, running all the way ahead of us to the actual bridge/dock and back past me a ways several times. He looked so relieved when we finally came out! I felt bad, but Dad didn't... 

About the straight A's goal, it is going surprisingly well! With one week of school left in the quarter I have only one B+ (Anatomy) and one A- (History) and the rest are A's (95+, the highest being Pre-Calc at 98!) And I got an A- for both of my correspondance classes, Adventist Literature and Structure of Writing, but those don't count. With those classes out of the way I decided to add Physics to my plate this next semester because it is a beautiful science! This will make me the most active Senior this year, taking 2 sciences, 2 music classes, and every other class offered (PreCalc, A+P, History, Literature, Bible, Spanish II, Band, Choir, .... oh, and Yearbook... and basketball... I'm starting to wonder why I'm taking on Physics on top of all that! I still have time to decide otherwise... But I kind of want to to get a feel of college busy-ness.) 

So anyway, my plan right now is to graduate, do Youth Rush (which ends on about August 10), spend a week or so at home (at least till my birthday!), then move to Walla Walla to start working. I want to work for the Walla Walla General Hospital or a nursing home and maybe get my CNA, see if that's the kind of thing I would like to work in. Then either start Nursing with a minor in Religion and Spanish, or... idk what else.  But this summer still might change my plans drastically and I might decide to go to Souls West... Ya never know! 

There was a point where I loved to look back, to dream of my favorite memories and read through old letters and journal entries, but now I can't help but think about he exciting future! I wouldn't even go back in time half a day if you paid me! Well, maybe if it was going towards my college fund! But I have enough to look forward to without even thinking of college! THe next 5 months are going to be CRAZY! End of January is the Choral Clinic, February brings the WWU Friendship tournament, next comes the big March Honduras Mission Trip for 2 weeks..... SUPER EXCITED! Moving right along to April is the Senior Class Trip to Hawaii. Who knows what May holds, but I'm sure it's hectic too! And all along that path are banquets, camp outs, weeks of prayer, music tour, music festival in Seattle, and all the extra Senior planning I have to do. 

Oh boy! I can' wait for life! I better go to bed so life can hurry up and happen! 

Goodnight! 

TQM!!

LF

New Years This and That

Last year I started a new tradition: instead of writing New Years resolutions, I began writing a New Years Thesis. Resolutions are way too breakable. They tend to be more a momentary satisfaction of feeling like you're making a change, then disappointment later when you don't follow through. I'm not saying they are always bad, but I prefer my alternative.  Thesis on the other hand lays out a statement of HOW you are going to live your life. It gives a standard to live up to, without the "rules." So here is my thesis: 

"This year I will devote my every day to Christ, even when I don't feel like it. In every struggle between God and Satan in my heart, I will pray for strength and choose the way that Jesus is leading me. 

I will remember that my life is not my own, that time is short, and that Jesus would be heartbroken if any of His precious children are lost. 

I will strive to do my personal best in academics and work. 

I will whole-heartedly seek for God's will in my life. 

By God's grace, this year I'll grow up to be a young woman of honesty, integrity, focus, and passion."

With that said, I actually did write out New Year's resolutions... about a whole page of them, actually! Some of them under the category Accomplishments are ~ Finish reading the Bible,  ~Vote in the 2012 Presidential election,  ~ Research and celebrate Shavout, Yom Kipper, and Rosh HaShannah, some Biblical Jewish holidays, and ~Get straight A's for an entire semester... my last semester of high school!!!! (I've never even aimed at getting straight A's before this last quarter, but I was SO close, which makes me think I can actually do it!) 

Another resolution under the category Day to Day is pushups, sit-ups, and flexibility stretches every night. That's been fun! It usually takes about 10 minutes, which lets my mind relax from homework so I can start my devotions without some of those mental distractions, still trying to figure out #37 in Pre-Calc. That kinda thing. And also I'm having my devotions at 9:00 every night, instead of like 11:00 after my brain is completely fried for the night. So that has been a real blessing. 

So far this year has been just dandy! I'm truly loving life. Every day is just a joy to live! 

Have a happy New Year! (A week after New Years, but still, its not too late to make your own New Years Thesis!)

Laressa