Fun with my Girls

For years, I have babysat for the Knudsen family. Now some days it almost feels like they are family. I love spending time with Ineke and Ana. They are bright spots of sunshine in my day. Both of them remind me of when I was younger and still homeschooling. They play paper dolls, American girls, and yes! they listen to Adventures in Odyssey.

Yesterday, for a special treat, Ineke and Ana came to my house. I quickly did their hair... (Poor Ineke's fell out).

Ana... the Shirley Temple version

Ineke... getting ready

We then rushed to lunch, and after a small detour at Wal-mart, joined the Welsh/Kincell/and Amidro (sp?) families for a showing of Prince Caspian. After the movie, there was much discussion of whether or not it did the book justice... Ana loved it! Ineke had problems with Reepicheep, but I think she's coming around. :P

The group picture... we had a dreadful time "finding" everyone, so I think some of us look rather un-good. :P But the kids were getting tired of pictures.

With the invitation of the Kincell's, the girls and I joined them for ice cream. I think all the kids enjoyed it. Their ice cream covered faces showed their excitement.The night didn't end there however. My girls and I headed back to my house... While we waited for the chicken fettuchini, we started watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Both Ineke and Ana had read the book, so I waited to see if it would pass the "book test." To my great delight, they both really liked it.

Sleepover

After listening to Adventures in Odyssey, we all fell asleep... It was a good thing too. They had homeschool co-op in the morning, and I needed to arrive at work awake. :)

Bella

Tonight, I finally watched the film Bella. Wow. Not only was the film visually stunning, but its message was powerful. I cannot help but recommend this movie. If you haven't seen this movie, rent it, borrow it, or buy it! Even sight unseen, it is well worth your money! What are you waiting for?

Stories never cease to affect me. The stories of love, grief, heroism, fright, justice, faith, etc. always teach me lessons. This is no accident. God created human beings to respond to stories... Didn't Jesus himself teach in parables? From simple children's tales, such as The Three Little Pigs, to adult fiction such as Bella, stories affect our worldview. Kudos to Alejandro Gomez Monteverde for a pro-life winner.

More Quotes of the Day

"Group hug... Awesome." - Captain Awesome in Chuck

"You shoot him, I shoot you, then I go out for a Midnight snack... I'm thinkin' pancakes." - Casey in Chuck

"You call him Doctor Jones, Doll!" - Shorty in The Temple of Doom

Quotes of the Day

"Sean! Sean! Sean! SEAN! See how annoying that is!" - Get Smart

"Henry. Jones. Junior."
"I like Indiana."
"We named the dog Indiana." - The Last Crusade

Peace & Submission (part 2)

Alright, I told myself… I can suffer through a couple of weeks, then I can quit. Little did I know how God would use this experience in my life. By the third week of school I had settled in and now I don’t look back. Sharing my faith, meeting new people, and making new friends are just some of the blessings I have experienced at WVU. (Not to mention learning some fascinating subjects). Submission is never easy. My rebellious will tells me: “Do it your own way! You know best!” Sound familiar? Doesn’t it sound like a certain serpent in the garden? But this submitting to my parents gave me so many gifts. The peace of God surrounds my heart about college.

Before the peace came, God put a desire in my heart. At the end of my first semester as a freshman, I received an email from my Biology 101 professor asking me (and several other students) if we would consider working for her and helping with a bio 101 class. What an opportunity! But, as I thought about it more, I realized I couldn’t work with a department that taught evolution as fact. I couldn’t be a part of something that went so directly against my faith. This experience did create a desire to work with the University, however. Little did I know that one semester later, I would be receiving an email from the Computer Science department offering me a proctor’s job. Isn’t it wonderful the way God places desires in our hearts to later fulfill them. God took Adam and had him name all the animals. While Adam looked at all these animals, he realized that there was none like him… God place the desire for a “helper suitable” before fulfilling that desire. God is in control, and his providence astounds me. His perfect timing and planning are something for which I should always thank Him.

At the beginning of this semester, I once again felt the desire to quit school. “Why I am here, God? Why can’t I be somewhere else?” As the semester progressed, I continued to work with the Computer Science department, and I gained peace about college again… I had allowed my own thinking and plan for my life to distract me from what God had planned. Instead of enjoying what God has given me now, I wanted the future to be here. I was questioning God’s own perfect design. But, God used different people at school to bring me back to His feet. I am now content… God’s peace surpasses all understanding.

The girl who once questioned her parent’s wisdom concerning school, now eagerly awaits the next semester and the challenges it brings. Learning to submit has been a huge lesson for me in my college experience. Submitting not only to my parents, but ultimately to my Creator who is the Master designer.

Peace & Submission (part 1)

Okay! I am finally back on my blog. Finals week was somewhat stressful, but by the grace of God I made it through. WOW! I am halfway through college. Hard to believe. The girl who never really cared to go is ½ done.

Thinking back on this semester and the semesters before it, I marvel at the providence and peace of God. He does such amazing things! When I was a little girl, going to college was always assumed… Everyone went to college. It was normal. Once my family started homeschooling, normal was no longer the norm. But we really didn’t care, my parents were following what they believed was God’s best plan for our family. My brother and I were schooled in English, Algebra, History, etc. But even more importantly we grew in the faith.

As I was finishing high school (and even before) I realized what a blessing my mother’s sacrificial work had been for me. When the rest of the world was off to work sending their children to school, she was downstairs/just down the hall/or at the table explaining Geometry to me. What more could I ask for? An ever better question: What more could I do for my future children? God had placed an incredible calling on my heart. Could I serve my future husband and children the way my mother had served me?

So, you’re asking yourself what does this have to do with your college experience… Well, be patient I’m getting there… Finishing high school was a great experience, but as Dad reminded me homeschooling is not just 1st – 12th grade, it is a lifestyle choice. One that by God’s grace I pray that I am continuing. But, my parents both wanted me to attend college. What?! The norm of my childhood didn’t seem so normal anymore… I didn’t want to go through 4 more years of school, and I didn’t want to deal with Professors and students. Despite my excellent reasoning skills *grins*, my parents insisted that I try WVU.

“Fine! But I don’t have to like it.” My first week at WVU was a nightmare! I was so stressed… It had been so long since I had been in a school… though my class mates & teachers all thought I was so poised. They couldn’t see that I was shaking on the inside. During that first week, I remember sitting talking with my Dad. As I spoke through my tears about how much I didn’t enjoy this strange place, Daddy gave me the most precious gift: He told me if I didn’t want to attend WVU, I didn’t have to… College wasn’t a requirement of his, I could stop going if it wasn’t for me. However, I couldn’t know whether or not it was for me in one week.

Happy Birthday, Dee & Kelsie

Happy Belated Birthday to both of you! May God continue to grow you all in His grace.

"This is Home"

At last! A high quality version of "This is Home." For those of you who don't know, Switchfoot has recorded one of the songs for the credits of Prince Caspian. Therefore, "This is Home."

http://caspian.interlinc-online.com/archive/?p=15&id=49de77cada6633b87b46a9eee9853356