First Snow!

So the first big time snow of the year is here! Ok, so there was a morning of snow about a week or two ago, but it didn't stick. This time, it is, and we are supposed to get 1-4 inches! Hurray!!! Not only that, but as of tomorrow night I will be officially done with school....for a whole week! Ha ha. Year round school is not for everyone, but it works well for me, and when I am having issues with it, God gives me the strength to get through. I was even able to listen to a seminar on what I can do with my degree in Nutrition. I asked the teacher some questions I had on accreditation and certification, and am awaiting a response. Mostly, the responsibility is still on me in the sense that I really need to look up people in my area that are already working with Nutrition. I was even given a name of a lady who is...and I have been lazy. Time to kick it up a gear, now that I finally have the time and momentum. ; ) Busy life. Always. 

Tonight was also special because it was the first night of performance for the play I have been accompanying. The kids did great! I think the director was even surprised by how good they did. As for me, mistakes popped up in various places, but God's grace smoothed them out and made it come together better than ever before! Praise God! After all, the pay from this is for Him anyway. ; )

Well, I hope this will be one of several posts this week since I will have plenty of time without school cracking the whip. ; ) For now friends, goodnight, and happy beginning of winter!

Myspace no more

As some of you may already have discovered, at least those of you who made friends with me on myspace, I have deleted my account. Truth be told, I originally started it because I just couldn't deal with Adam and all my friends having one, and me not. I enjoyed it immensely. In fact, many a time I found myself up late at night spying out old friends, or friends of friends I hadn't seen in years. It was highly entertaining, but not in the healthiest sense. Although I was able to contact people I would not be able to otherwise, I found myself being tempted by it more often. Towards the end, I didn't even log in that much, but I just realized that there are so many more important things in life that I was missing out on, like spending time with real people. There were definitely times when school got pushed on to the back shelf, so that needs to improve as well. Also, I realized that myspace made it all to easy for me to judge people based on what little was displayed of their life on their pages. Since this is a character flaw God is still working out in me, I don't want to encourage it. 

SO, my time will once again be devoted more to my blog and the physical people in my life (Yay for those of you who only read my blog and have been missing my inputs! ; ) ). For now, I am heading to bed, but just to let you all know, I finally finished my last test in my health care class and I passed! HURRAY!!!! That means that starting this Wednesday I have a week off from school. More time for updates! 

Farewell my friends,

God Bless!

An Important Mission

So I have been bad about updating lately. Life has been even busier than normal, and God is the only one keeping me above the water. He did hear my prayer, because I was able to sleep for an extra hour and half this weekend! Whaa hoo!!! After three weeks of late nights and early mornings, I was on my last thread. But He knew that too, and gave me a little extra rest. 

School is now winding down since it is week 8 of 10. Or I guess I should say it is winding up. I am trying to get ahead this week since two final projects are due at the end of it. Then, next week there are two comprehensive exams....fun stuff. God will get me through it I know. 

As for more important matters of life, I have been asking God how I can serve Him here, on and off all summer. After watching an eye-opening sermon my David Gates, I believe with all my heart that we are living in the last days. Just take a look around you. The world economies are struggling, the world is endlessly becoming wicked, and just last week the people in wallstreet were seen praying before the opening of the market. It is only a matter of time before people turn their minds from the economic turmoil to the fact that "How have we sinned against God to bring about this calamity?" When this becomes a reality, I pray that all of us may be closer than ever to Jesus. The times that are quickly coming upon us are not for the light-hearted. The time is coming when it will be too late to be lukewarm. God is telling his people to "Wake up! Wake up! I don't want to lost you, but if you stay lukewarm, I will." This is where I found myself. Deep amidst the sin of contentment with the way things are. I had no desire for souls, and I certainly didn't want to make things harder for myself. But God knew this would be detrimental to me spiritually. I realized that if I thought my "ok" spiritual life was going to cut it in the time of trouble, I was dead wrong. Did I really think that my, well I guess I should give a little extra money for offering since it is the right thing to do---then hoard the rest of it for myself, attitude was going to bring me into the kingdom? No way! So that is where God started. I realized I am way too stingy with my money, and that why shouldn't I be giving all of the extra I have since it may not be worth anything in a few more months anyway. News flash people, the U.S. economy is NOT doing well. You can try to convince yourself it is all you want, but read chapter 18 of revelation, and you will see what is soon to come upon us. So, I surrendered to God. I told Him I would give much more of my own funds as well as any extra money that came from things other than working with Dad. Right then He opened up an opportunity to play for a Sunday church in town, a pay of $100. Next he decided to have me accompany a play for the local public school, a month stipend of $400! God truly is amazing! This was a test for me, but God has brought me through. Next He had me play for the Episciple church in town, another $100. God truly is turning this into a sort of ministry, all because He asked me to be willing to give. And my desire towards souls, well lets just say I don't consider this "work" so everything now has a spiritual connotation to it. It hit me that, these people's lives are on the line. Time is so short, and I want to give of all my talents for God's glory. I can't wait to see what He has done with the money I give. 

Well, that is about all that is going on now, but it is an important work. I urge all of you to prayerfully study the prophecies concerning end time events that God may lead you to be prepared in these final times. 

God Bless!!!!

A new day!

Well all, I have discovered, not for the first time either, that this blog has been a success! One of several very important people to me has been reading this blog and staying in touch with my life, even though my crazy schedule doesn't always allow me to call. Ok, so that is a poor excuse, I know. I am working on it though. I got in touch with one of my beloved friends on my birthday, so that was wonderful. : ) 

So, I realize that some of my posts have been a bit depressing. God surely has allowed me to see many sorrows in the past couple months, but He always brings me through the rain and wind to see a beautiful meadow with sunshine on the other side. In regards to my last post, God truly allowed me to see a lot of pain last week. It seemed that my character was ever being tried, and alls I could do was run straight into His arms for comfort. I don't know how many times I ended up by my bed crying and praying, but He does. My fish ended up dieing on my birthday, and that was after I was already a little gloomy on my special day. It hurt, but I wasn't about to blame God. I was a little vane though. Yes, I am still childish enough to long for presents on my birthday, and I had concluded that my parents thought I too old for such things. But God looked past my depression, as He always does, and He healed me and sent me a very special friend to talk to on the phone. It made my day! God lifted my eyes up after that and I saw beauty again. 

Later, when we had set up camp in Lake Placid, I was told to sit on the bench in the kitchen of our camper, and I was served a big ice cream cake! (Yes, I bent my vegan convictions a little, and God convicted me about that later as well). I was so excited, and thought that was it, and then my Mom brought out this HUGE bad that said Happy Birthday on it!!!! I was shocked! Inside was the jacket and sweater I had been druling over at L.L. Bean.  : ) Then, to top it all off, my dear Adam surprised me with a new little motorcycle for my Birthday! God is so good! And I have realized that I can really only see so little of what is going on. I really have no reason to complain when things aren't going my way, because God is just using it to work on my character, and He always brings an abundance of blessings afterward. 

Praise God!

Life and Prayers

So all, once again about to fulfill the fact that my best blog posts occur well past my bedtime. It seems that no matter how much my body aches to be in bed before ten, it never happens. Tonight is an especial case since I have been pelted with "hardships," at least my kind, and needed a different set of pace. After all, tomorrow is my birthday. The funny thing is, I am not in my normal excited mode. Somehow life's little kicks, have well taken me off my feet and left me a little shaken on the ground. Hopefully tomorrow my attitude will be different. For my Christian warriors out there, I request prayer that God would not let the Devil have this victory over me. I need a pick me up, and ice cream isn't going to do it this time! This is spiritual warfare we are talking here folks. Did you know the Devil works hard at those little things that annoy during our day? Well he does. Whether he succeeds depends on how we handle the situation. That is the department where I need prayer. Prayer that I will be faithful, and every trust in my God to get me through. 

Well, now that the very most important business, as it should be to everyone, is said, I can talk about the plans for the weekend. Since my birthday falls on a Friday this year, it became very clear tome that a normal celebration of going out to eat wouldn't be an option. So, my outdoor heart was longing for a camping trip, so that is what it is. Lake Placid, here I come! All those familiar spots are calling my name. The Roller Coster, the Dump, the Zelda Trail, the Floom, Whiteface, the waterfall, and of course, Mr. Mikes! Oh, happy memories from my childhood! Only some of you can understand, and you know who you are. ; ) At any rate, I look forward to this part of my weekend and a get-away from all the stresses of the never-ending work/school week. Oh for a blessed Sabbath of true rest! Now do you understand why our Creator gave it to us? I do. 

Sunday mornings

Well all, my usual Sunday morning actives have just about finished. I have checked my discussion board for school, studied, taken a test, and even make a grand ole payment to the cause! What a morning. The sad part was that I woke up this morning and saw my littlest gold fish laying on its side on the bottom of the bowl. He was still alive but, fearing for his life, I put him in a separate bowl to monitor his progress. He was at death's door for quite a while, but I prayed for him vigilantly (yes, i love my fish. I have had them for almost 7 months now), and he seems to be doing a little better. Prayers continue for his speedy recovery. 

The weather has gone from rain, to sun, and back to clouds, so I still don't know what plans for this afternoon will consist of. Not much has happened this week, although I should note I have been reading a very deep book throughout the week which God has been using to speak to me. He certainly knows how to get me. ; ) And I am thankful that He is not done with me yet. So much growing to do...

Well folks, I guess that is it for now. I should also happily report that my golden birthday is this Friday, and I am excitedly looking forward to a camping trip to celebrate it in the Adirondacks.

For now, tootloo.

Comments from the realm of "should be" sleep

Well, it is 10:37 and I am still awake, doing school. I guess if I were at Southern this wouldn't be a horrendously odd occurrence, but I try to avoid this kind of thing being an online student where I supposedly just do it all in my "free time." I guess I can't complain. Last week I entertained myself with myspace for lack of things to do. Oh yeah everyone, I succumbed to myspace and have my own now. If you are interested in being my friend, then leave me a message here and I will give you the info. ; ) Adam was shocked to see my friend list go from 5 or so friends, to 27 in about a week! I am excited. ; ) Anyways, this week I have all the school I can ask for: discussions, readings, seminar, two projects, and a HUGE exam. Can anyone honestly tell me they enjoy learning about the roots of our healthcare system and EVERY single type of health insurance, or lack there of there is and was in this country? I would sure like to meet you. Maybe you can inspire me a little. At any rate, I am surviving. Trying to pace myself by planning a little bit each day. Procrastination is a killer on my stress level, so I am avoiding it...for now. 

Oh, and this should not come as a surprise to anyone, but there are still multiple people on my "to-call" list that I am desperately looking for time to call. Its seems I will never find the proper time of day for the specific person in which I have enough time to talk and am not weighed down by guilt of not doing homework. So, to Sara, Dannia, Janna, Andrea, and others that I really, REALLY need to talk to, I will call. It WILL happen! Time to get some shut eye all. 6:00am comes early, but thank our God for early morning walks in the fresh, cool air of Vermont to get my body in gear! Tootles.