Ranger

So the recent news is we have a new dog. We haven't had one in ten years because, the dogs we had ran away from us. I am confident this one won't. We have named him Ranger. He is friendly, wants a lot of attention. It hasn't been perfect having him. He bit my favorite church shoes, and likes to chew stuff, if he is outside at night he barks loud. I haven't been the most enthusiastic about having him, but he is a nice pet to have and we will see how it goes. Aaron and him get along well. Yesterday, Aaron left for Orlando, Florida for trust services meetings for three weeks. Meanwhile, I only have 4 weeks left of school! I have to put together a cyclohexane model for a chemistry project today. I will use cottonballs for the carbon, and marbles for the hydrogen. I am really excited about this summer. The first part, I will be working in the business office. In July, I will be going up to Louisville, Ky to do ASI Youth for Jesus. I am interested in giving bible studies and helping conduct an evangelistic series. Then, Mom will come up for the ASI convention. A week later will be Norman and Joelle's wedding. This summer will fly. I will try to update my blog more.

Evangelism

One of the most important ways in spreading our gospel to the world, is through evangelism. My church is putting on a evangelistic series right now. It has been conducted by the ladies of our church. Each weekend someone has had a different topic. We have had a couple of non members come, and perhaps the blessings I have received is being a speaker. Tonight I gave a talk on "What happened to Right and Wrong", I talked about the importance of keeping all of God's ten commandments. It was a good experience in public speaking and I wouldn't mind doing it again. Another good outcome of having our meetings was, there was a couple that are members but hadn't been attending church in a while. Since our meetings started they started coming back, and the wife came tonight. I could feel the Holy Spirit there. Next weekend is our last weekend of meetings. May God bless you in this week.

P.S. The weather has been great here, I'm loving the warm weather.

Break

It is really nice to be on break. It is relaxing, and not stressed about classes. I am going to do organizing projects around the house, and catch up on my sleep. Norman and Joelle have got a lot of comments on their blogs about the wedding. Our family back here in tennessee is very excited. The wedding will be 8 days before I turn 18. Our other news is that my grandpa has been very sick, and is doing a lot better than he was when he was in the hospital. He sleeps a lot but can communicate with us. Last sabbath, the Hankins came up. Rachael played the guitar for him, and we both sang. I always enjoy singing on the Sabbath. The march winds have been violent here. Nothing seriously bad happened. Further south of us there have been bad tornadoes. A year ago Mom, Uncle Albert, and I were in Loma,Linda Calif. That was a happy memory. It doesn't seem that long ago. The asst girl's dean at my academy said she was going out there for this break, which makes me want to visit again. I'm sure we will again sometime. Enjoy the march winds, and the warmer weather soon coming.

Engagement

So if you haven't heard , which I doubt, Norman and Joelle are engaged! I am excited for them and I know the Lord will bless their marriage. Tim has a really good video of them after the proposal on his blog. I am excited about the wedding in August. Supposedly, it will probably be held in Michigan. Which is neat, because my dad was born there. Whenever I go there it reminds me of Dad. Joelle seems really happy, she wrote me an e-mail. And I talked to Norman last night on the phone, and he has been waiting to do this for a while. My junior year is getting tougher and harder. Chemistry takes time, and all of my other subjects. Happy President's Day! And Congrats to Norman and Joelle.

Safe traveling

Another week has come and gone, since I last posted. It seems like a long time. I had a nice time on music tour. We went to Daytona Beach in Florida. I enjoyed running my feet through the sand and watching the endless ocean's waters. Some people went swimming, but it was too cold for me. We went to Orlando, Florida as well. It was perfect weather there, not too hot but just a little chilly. It reminded my of Calif, which makes me want to visit again. Praise the Lord the tornadoes hit Orlando a day after we left. God was protecting our group and I am thankful for that. I do feel bad for the destruction there. We went to Atlanta on the last part of the trip and did a music concert, and went to underground Atlanta and ate. We also got to tour CNN'S headquarters which was really neat. We saw all of the writers working on news coming in, and the reporters from their backs. When we first got there, they were talking on the news about the tornadoes in Florida right after we left. The last leg of the trip we went to Jasper, Tn church and did a program for the members there. I know that they were blessed by our music. We went to the aquarium in Chattanooga, and to end our trip ate out at a mexican restaurant in Hamilton mall area. I am definately glad to be back with my family here at home. It is nice to relax and take it easy on a Sunday morning. Here's a picture of the capitol.

Jr History Trip

When, I got my pictures developed from jr history trip I couldn't get it to work on the internet. Now I will be able to share with you a couple of pictures at a time. Since it takes a while to upload them. This first picture shows the beautiful fall colors we saw on the trip. In Virginia and Pennsylvania the scenery was amazing.
The picture below is my friends Kendra, Briana, and I. This trip was good time to spend with friends. We were waiting outside the capitol. Look forward to next time to more pictures. This upcoming week I am going on music tour to Georgia, and Florida. I think we will have a good time. Although I don't think it will top off jr history trip with all the places and historical information we learned. Have a good week and God bless.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe that we are in the year of 2007. It doesn't sound right. A year from now is my graduation year. Christmas break was awesome. Norman came home and we had a great time with him and Stephen, Aaron. It was good to catch up, and on Christmas Eve we had our traditional fruit soup my mom makes. It is so yummy. The day after Christmas we went to GYC in Baltimore. I gained such a blessing from the meetings my favorite ones were Peter Gregory, David Assherick, and Jeremy Rosario. It was a struggle for my brothers to get me out of bed before the seven o'clock meeting in the morning. I am not a morning person.On the way up we saw Hartland, and walked a little in Washington, D.C. On the way back Mom, Aaron, and I were able to get inside the capitol and see Former President Gerald Ford's casket in the Rotunda. It was a honor and well worth it to see. Then on New Year's day we went to the Natural Bridge in Virginia and headed back home. I was glad to see you all at Gyc and I hope you have a Happy New Year!

Christmas

It has been great being on Christmas break. I got out of my finals on Wednesday. Then, thursday Norman flew in and it has been great having him here. Today we have been talking all day, and I haven't seen him since March so this is nice. The weekend here will be relaxing. Grandma has moved back to the nursing home which has been and a change, and quite busy here. This Christmas will be great with all my brothers home, and I am looking forward to general youth conference and seeing everyone. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving break has been really nice. I've been catching up on my sleep. I haven't really had a break since September, because I was on Jr. History Trip in October. It has been nice having Aaron home. We've been eating a lot of good food such as pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. Today is my last day of break. I am going to put up the christmas tree. Next weekend we will probably put up all of the decorations. I have a lot of work to do in school before Christmas break. Two weeks from today I will be taking the ACT test. I'm looking forward to Christmas break because Norman will be coming home and I haven't seen him in a while, and it is a good time to spend with family. We are planning on going to GYC again this year. Afterwards we will go the Washington D.C. again and see the monuments that will be fun! I hope everyone had a good thanksgiving and maybe I will see you at GYC!

Give Thanks!

A couple of weeks ago. I was trying to upload my pictures from jr. history trip and my computer would not do it. I will try to figure it out over thanksgiving break. I know that you all would enjoy that. I can't believe that almost half of my junior year is over. This week I think that it is important to think about things we are thankful for. We have it really good here in America.I'm thankful for being in a good Adventist Christian family, that upholds the beliefs we have in God and the message that He has given us in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. I'm thankful for the roof over my head, and the healthy food to eat each day. I could go on further, but think about this week about how much you have to be thankful for and be happy! Happy Thanksgiving!

October

Here it is nearly the end of october. I can't believe how fast it has been. It has been a great month though. For a week and a half I was on junior history trip. We had so much fun seeing historical places, and bonding with friends. I was glad to come back. Eventually I will show you my pictures and write more about the trip. Last weekend I went on music tour to Memphis Junior Academy, and Memphis 1st church. This weekend I am going to Tom Ipes wedding in Cleveland, TN. I remember when he was a little boy. He and Aaron were good buddies back then. Before you know it thanksgiving, christmas will be here. And I am excited about that. Getting back into my studies has been challenging, because of traveling a lot and exhaustion from the trips. I am trying to get back into the groove. Pray for me that I will understand geometry and chemistry. Chemistry is kinda fun. we are doing noble gas notation of elements. And learning to do that on the periodic table. I hope everyone is having a nice fall season. And to talk to all of you soon with the holiday season coming up.

September fall breeze

Quite literally, this month has been a breeze and has flown by. I am very exicited about Jr History trip a week from wednesday. It is 12 states in 12 days. We will go to Boston,Washington D.C., New York, and Pennsylvania. This past weekend I went to Young Women's Retreat. It was all right.I am really tired, and I think I could go to sleep now. I am very busy with 5 classes, and work. I hope everyone is doing great, when Mom has a chance to go to Wal-Mart . I will get my film developed. And hopefully before I leave I will post them.

Scanner

I discovered we actually have a scanner on our computer,and I can scan pictures! yes! I don't have digital camera so I haven't been able to show you pictures. But when I get my film developed , I can show you pictures from our vacation. This picture is the second picture I have scanned. It was Grandma's 90th birthday party and the family that came to it. From the left is JD,jonah, myself, mom,Uncle Dave, in the back : Stephen, Uncle Albert. In the front: Grandma and Owen. Ellie took this picture.

Seventeen

I am now sweet seventeen. That doesn't sound as right ,as sweet sixteen. I still don't have my drivers license. But I do have my permit, so Stephen and I have been practicing driving. It is not too hard except some turns. My birthday was really nice. On sunday , my birthday it was simple. I was thinking of having friends over but decided to do that for my eighteenth. Stephen came up. For my dinner we had vegetarian meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas,salad,and peach pie. How the years have flown by. I really can't believe in an year I will be eighteen. I have always viewed that as being an adult, up there, a ways day the road. In the afternoon we went to the portland library. It was the 53rd anniversary. Uncle Albert and David Fuller played classical pieces together. While Mom and I looked at the art paintings. Then, Mom drove me around town to the hospital I was born in. And we looked at some newer houses near our area. Then , I studied that night. I also received some nice cards, presents, and phone calls. I really don't like Geometry. It is all about proofs, angles etc. Chemistry is kinda fun actually. I thought I wouldn't like it, but I enjoy it. Later down the road we will see.We had our school pictures today. That is the last normal pictures we are taking. Next year, is senior pictures. Roderick Schmitz passed away Friday night. I went to school with him my freshmen year, when he was a senior. He was a nice boy. Down at Southern he was riding his motorcylce went on a ramp and lost control. The accident took place near hamilton mall area. His funeral is tomorrow. I feel so sorry for the family. His brother is in my class, and the family lives in the Handal's old house. He was probably only twenty. Too young. His ex-girlfriend is a senior this year. She is taking it really hard, because they were in a close relationship previously. So keep them in your prayers. I heard southwestern youth conference went well. Wish I could of been there. I am looking forward to general youth conference in December.


P.S. in response to Norman's comment about am I implying that we are going to move to Montgomery. No, if we ever did that it would be down the road. We don't know what God's future holds when I go to college.

Rosa Parks Museum

Here is a picture of the Rosa Parks Museum

Vacation

Well, I am here at home. And I want to tell the main things we did in Alabama. Mom and I said that Montgomery it would be a nice place to live. Although we will probably live here a little while longer. We are really not sure what God's plans are for us. But , Aaron has a nice place to live in. The people there are warm, and will give you a southern welcome. It is very hot, so we were inside most of the time. Except when driving in our car(not airconditioned), we got pretty hot. Monday we drove down for 5 hours and arrived there at night. Aaron reserved us a really nice motel, at hampton inn. I did take some pictures but, I don't have a digital camera. Aaron doess, but it is tucked away who knows where. But I went on some websites to get some pictures of where we went. Here is a picture of our motel to the left of my writing. I went swimming three times, which was very relaxing. We ate at various restaraunts, such as cafeteria, chinese,subway,Ihop, and even thai. I never at thai before, but it was pretty good. They gave vegetarian spring rolls which were deliciou s they tasted like egg rolls. Mom and I went shopping a couple of times while Aaron went to work. On the last day, he got off at noon. So we went downtown to Montgomery. We saw the Rosa Parks museum, and the first church Martin Luther King Jr. preached at. We could see the state capitol from where the church was. On Sabbath we went to the Montgomery church. The members there made us feel warm and welcomed. In the afternoon we drove an hour and a half to Uchee Pines. It was so refreshing to go there. Even though I lived there when I was one , the only memory I have of it is when we went last October. I can remember our living room and playing toys with Aaron. But that is about it. We attempted to try to go inside of our house for the second time. But the people that live there were gone again. We took pictures of it though. Sorry I can't upload them. Some day I will have to get a digital camera to make my blog more interesting. On Sunday we sadly left Aaron to his first place to live for a while. It was sad to leave vacation. But I am looking forward to going down there again. I returned to work Monday. And boy, do I ever have so much work to do. It piled up while I was gone. School starts in a couple weeks, so it is very busy. And the phones are ringing off the hook. I answer all of the calls. My classes this year will be chemistry,spanish I, geometry,Bible III, and American History. Since I am going to be a junior, I will get to go on Junior History Trip. Wow, I think I wrote too much take care.

Deep South in Alabama

Yes, yes we are in Montgomery, Alabama. It is nice to be in the deep south, where everyone is friendly. If you haven't heard yet, Aaron has accepted a job as assistant manager of the adventist book center for the Gulf States Conference here in Montgomery. Aaron arrived here on Sunday. Mom and I came Monday. And all today we have been searching for an apartment for Aaron. It has been quite an experience. Finding one that is close to his work, and yet affordable. We had found the one that we liked. But when he went back to pay the reservation fee, someone else had already sent in a reservation fee and the apartment we were looking at wasn't available. That was an disappointment. But we had in mind another apartment that is really nice. It is right next to a park with an walking trail, and lake. And he will be able to move in August 4 at the earliest. Right now I am on Aaron's labtop in Hampton Inn. We are enjoying our vacation so far. It is nice not to go to work. And Mom is leisurely reading her Adventist Review instead of washing dishes. I am happy for her. We are going to go sight seeing. Possibly the Rosa Parks museum, Old Alabama town, Confederate White House. Probably won't see all of that. And yes, I am going swimming hopefully tomorrow. Aaron is going to start at work tomorrow. It is starting to wind down in the summer, which I am sad about. I am not excited about starting up school again. So enjoy vacation while we have it. Take care . Will post soon.

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July everyone! Today we are celebrating our independence. By the way, I am thankful that I live in America, where I can serve God and worship Him. Today we had our annual picnic. We had potato salad, veggies, baked beans, pink lemonade, and top it off with blueberry pie. Stephen and Uncle Dave came over, with Grandma,mom, and I here. Then, Stephen played the piano, and we sang patriotic songs. When the party was over,Stephen and I took a driving lesson. This the second time I have driven behind the wheel. When we first started I would sit in the passengers seat and do the steering wheel, and Stephen the brakes. I think I am doing pretty good, I just need to get my turns down. I am glad that Aaron is back from Africa, that is a lot of miles to travel. Norman was wondering what books I am reading so here it goes:
The Bible
Testimonies for the Church, vol 1:Ellen White
From Hollywood to Heaven, Steve Wohlberg
Little Town on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder

You can't go wrong with reading a good book. I love reading. Grandma likes to read a lot too. She is so sweet, to live with here at home. I hope everyones summer is going well, and I am looking forward to my vacation at the end of the month when I have a week off from work. Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Summer Days

Yes, Happy summer days are here. I go to work at 9 am in the morning, and then leave at 2 for lunch. And then I am off for the rest of the day. Which is a really nice schedule. I love to read, and go and sit outside in the summer breeze.I am enjoying my summer, while it is here because I don't have to study. This weekend was nice we went to church, and had fellowship dinner. On each table was a decoration that represented something a father would do. Today we are going to see Grandpa for Father's day and give him some cards. Mom gave a superintendent's talk at church about Father's Day, with using the book Adventist Home, and comments people had made in the Portland Progressive about their father's. I hope everyone is having a nice summer.

Campmeeting

Happy Sabbath! We are just finishing up campmeeting with our last weekend of meetings. We have had some great speakers. Our theme this year is "Behold the Bridegroom Cometh." Last weekend we started with Terry Moreland. The interesting thing about him is he is from Bakersfield, Calif. And he came through the church through Dr.Barnard. Which my dad came through the church through him too. The 11:00 services were Richard O'Fill. He was very interesting, and the evening meetings were done by Steve Wallace. His last sermon was excellenet. He said that we needed to get rid of all of our worldy desires and be ready for Jesus. He said that unfortunately, some of us aren't ready. Tonight we had Mike Ryan. He told some mission stories. I am kinda of sad that it is going to end, but yet I am ready for it to end. I work in the business office, at the academy. It has been hectic with people from campmeeting come in with various needs, and the phone ringing off hook sometimes. Also, I have been helping the accountant with people buying meal tickets to eat meals in the cafe. So it will be nice to be done with that.I'm sorry its been a while since I had posted. I usually keep up to date.I'm glad that summer is here, and I can catch up on my sleep. Have a blessed weekend.