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Heya girlies! (and guys, if any of you read this. ;)

So right now our family is getting ready for Christmas, running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Which is a really really gross mental picture now that I wrote that.... O_____________O

ANYWAYS....

What do you all do for Christmas? Do you sing around the piano? Do you bake a birthday cake for Jesus? (we did up until last year. (= ) What are your traditions? Tell me!

This is a short post, but I just wanted to give you another perspective concerning Christmas, which is Joseph's perspective.

Imagine how he must have felt. All of you girls, at some time or other, have probably been heartbroken by some guy flirting with another girl, (considering you're 13+). *

Now imagine how Joseph must have felt. He was engaged to an amazing girl, absolutely perfect in every way. He was counting down the days to their wedding while working away in his carpenter shop. Suddenly, he hears footsteps behind him, and a small voice call, "Joseph? I have something to tell you."

He turns around to see his beautiful fiancé, standing there looking beautiful. But then he sees the tears streaked down her face and a sinking feeling settles in his stomach. What could be wrong? Mary wasn't the kind of girl to just cry about silly things, this had to be big.

Then she told him. She was pregnant, but it wasn't how it seemed, apparently. He backs up against the wall, shaking.

His dreams had all been crushed in a single moment. His beloved Mary had another lover, one which had taken everything from her. Rage boiled in him at the thought.

He punched the table, splintering the wood. Mary gasped, and began to cry. He looked over as she turned away from him, shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

He sighed. He still loved her, even after what she had done. He couldn't let her be humiliated or stoned as was the custom. So they talked it over, and he planned to send her away where she could mother the child in private.

He hardly slept at all that night. Tears soaked his bed, and his head pounded with rage. When he did fall asleep, though, he had a dream--a vision, more like it.

An angel stood in front of him, and told him that Mary had done nothing wrong. The child was implanted in her by God himself, and that she was still a virgin.

He threw off the covers, and raced to her house. Seeing her praying by her bed he could just barely keep himself from running in and holding her, his dear, innocent Mary who had taken all his yelling and accusing without fighting back.

He knocked on the door, and she came to answer it. When she took one look at his tear-stained face, she smiled, and he knew that all was well.

Nine months later...

"Oh dear God, oh dear God help me!" Joseph cringed as he heard Mary scream. It was too much for him! He had never helped deliver anything before, save a couple of goats.

Mary's scream pierced the air once more, and she squeazed his hand so hard he thought his bones would break.

Joseph looked around him in his distress, looking for something--anything--that would give his Mary some help. He found nothing, just straw and animals.

He felt helpless. He couldn't help his betrothed, and he couldn't even help the poor little baby about to give birth. No one would listen, not even his family. Mary was not pregnant by normal means, but still they shunned them, and so their baby boy was born in a stable--with sheep and cattle and donkeys.

"Joseph? Joseph... He's here." Mary whispered, gasping for air.

He turned, and looked at the little baby in her arms--and he knew this baby was the Messiah.

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Again, this is simply my opinion of the story. I think Joseph's part is too often overlooked, and his pain often forgotten as we focus in on Mary. Of course, she's the main character, but there's always more than one side to a story, so I'm giving you the less-heard one. :)

Who's your favourite character (other than Jesus) in the Christmas story? Please tell me in a comment. :)

Merry Christmas everyone! =)

BeCcA

*I'm not encouraging teenage relationships here. I'm just stating that girls tend to have their heart broken by guys. :) Just to clear that up.

Please do not send me private messages unless I give you permission. I will NOT add anyone as a friend who asks to be my friend in a private message. thank you! And if you want to link back to me, click on my button on the sidebar.

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Hey everyone!

I guess I better explain my title, eh? ;)

So yesterday, I was feeling pretty out of it all day, and then i just went to stretch and all of a sudden I couldn't see anything or hear anything. I couldn't tell whether I was sitting, lying down, or standing. I called for Mommy, and she came rushing to help me and started to put cold water on my forehead.

Here's what I wrote in my journal when I could see again:

...it was weird...as though it wasn't me in my body...but like I was deep inside of myself, so I couldn't really feel or control anything. I was aware that I was shaking and holding momy's leg for support, and I could feel her putting the facecloth on my forehead (I think i was crying, but I'm not sure), but it was like it wasn't me who was feeling it... you know when you're wearing a giant winter jacket over two sweaters and someone lightly brushes your jacket and though you're way deep inside of it you can feel it? It was kinda like that. Only tons scarier.

So yeah that was my first time ever passing out. Not very fun.

I NEVER want to do it again.

So now about cyber-journalling...

I'm now journaling on my computer, because I simply don't have time to do it in a paper journal. This way I can paste stuff to and from my journal instead of having to copy it out from my journal or to my journal after I've already written it.

I've only been doing it for a day, but it's so much fun. :) You should try it if you want to journal, but just don't think you have the time. :)

Remember to check out my last post, so you can make sure to tell me what I should do for my themes of the month!
(and if that link doesn't work, just click on this URL to get there: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BeccaTheGreat/751468/)

Have a great day!

Oh, and thanks to the wonderful people who asked me to put them on my mailing list! It made my day! :D
BeCcA

Please do not send me private messages unless I give you permission. I will NOT add anyone as a friend who asks to be my friend in a private message. thank you! And if you want to link back to me, click on my button on the sidebar.
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Hey girlies!

Along with the monologues I've been giving on different subjects, I'm going to start a project called "the theme of the month" which'll be full of fun things that you girls can do with your sisters, brothers, or guy and girl friends. Most of them will be girl-related, but some of them you can do in a group.

We'll be starting in January. Until then, please give me theme ideas. For instance:

May: Music appreciation month
activities:

• Get together with some of your friends and jam while eating popcorn and drinking soda.
• Make cookies in the shape of music notes!
• watch the sound of music with your sister/girlfriends

etc.
Only you think of ones you want to do!

Help me out here!

BeCcA

Want to be added to my mailingl list? Send me your e-mail in an e-mail, private message, or comment.
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Hey everyone!

Before I start, does anyone want to be added to my mailing list who isn't already on it? It would make my day. ;) I update (hopefully) once a week, depending on my school workload, so you won't be getting 40 different e-mails a month to sort through, probably no more than 6 a month. :)

So anyhow.....

I'm not going to write anything profound today, (jk) but am going to post this what I think is hilarious video and then tell you all what I think of it:

Tossmas happens when you get your first catalogue for holiday specials to December 25. I encourage all of you to celebrate tossmas together! I know I am. ;) This includes the following:

• Holiday cards
• Fliers
• Gift catalogues
• Wrapping paper
• Anything that says x-mas (the x can mean anything, can't it? Especially tossmas!)
• ANYTHING that is for Christmas, but doesn't say the actual word.

So what do you think? Do you think he's right? Do you disagree? Have any more good videos like this one you want to share? Tell me below. :) I love reading your comments!

Merry CHRISTmas!

BeCcA

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Please do not send me private messages unless I give you permission. I will NOT add anyone as a friend who asks to be my friend in a private message. thank you! And if you want to link back to me, click on my button on the sidebar.

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Hey everyone!

So I got two new CDs today: a tenth avenue north one and an article one cd. Have to admit I'm crazy about Article One. They're amazing! =D Who couldn't love a band which has a violinist???

But while I was walking around town today, I kept on seeing posters about celebrities, models, singers, etc about their "break-ups and make-ups", complete makeovers, or breakdowns.

Made me wonder, "What kind of a culture are we that we worship these people and then destroy them by our always-present cameras and reporters?"

Then I get home and listen to my multiple CDs, flip through a magazine, and laugh with one of my girlfriends about what those kids on Britain's got Talent (yes, I love talent shows of all kinds) did at their last performance.

Then it hit me, that it's people like me that those magazines our out for!

If there weren't people interested in the lives of celebrities, singers, etc why would the magazines even be out? Why are we even interested in it?

Truth be told, it's because it makes us feel better about ourself.

When we see our favourite model/celebrity mess up, it makes us realize, "Wow. I'm so much better morally than they are. I'm a better person. I would never do anything like that, they really messed up."

But what right do we have to judge these people?

Remember, God will judge you by the standards that you judge others with.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 5, Paul talks about judging those outside the church. "What right is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Let God judge those outside, and we will judge those inside," he says (putting it into modern-day speech). He also tells us to "expel the wicked man from among you."

Did you hear that? It is NOT  our job to judge those outside the church. BUT  it is our job to judge those INSIDE.

But are you judging them in the right way? Are you judging them because they claim to be a Christian, but then steal from their favourite shop, or are caught with their girlfriend after hours in a sketchy setting? Or are you judging them because of what they're wearing or their accent or because of the people they're friends with?

What standards are you judging those in the church by? God's standards? Or yours?

we are called to judge "anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler-- with such a man do not even eat."

Did you hear that? It doesn't say to judge those who "wear the dirty jeans to church" or "who looks like she hasn't brushed her hair in five years."

Are you looking at outward things, or at the heart?

Be careful. Christians should be anything but judgemental. What portrayal of Christianity are you setting for the rest of the world?

BeCcA

Please do not send me private messages unless I give you permission. I will NOT add anyone as a friend who asks to be my friend in a private message. thank you! And if you want to link back to me, click on my button on the sidebar.

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Hey everyone!

So I changed my template again. =) I think it's pretty cute.

So for anyone who wants to know, bluenotes has an amazing sale on right now... two t-shirts for 10 bucks! I bought two the other day and LOOOVE them. :) They fit perfectly.

So for now on my blog is really going to be about reviews, worldviews, and my thoughts on different subjects. So it's not really about my life, it's about my beliefs.

So yeah. :)

This is a small update, i know, but I'm really busy and have to get ready for a craft fair with all my jewelry. So I'll ttyl!

Btw, all comments are being forwarded to my e-mail account now, so I should be getting back to you like 20x sooner now. :) :)

Have a great week!

BeCcA

Please do not send me private messages unless I give you permission. I will NOT add anyone as a friend who asks to be my friend in a private message. thank you! And if you want to link back to me, click on my button on the sidebar.

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Hey everyone!

I'm updating to tell you how this weekend went. :)

My sister and I along with the entire youth group from our church went to a youth quiz meet this Saturday. :) It was SO MUCH FUN! basically we memorize books of the Bible and then answer questions. Only it's really hard. Like freaking hard at times. ;)

So we went to the Met in ottawa for the quiz meet this month, (a church in Ottawa) and it was simply amazing. :) I'm in the top ten for our district, (it's all over Canada and the states) and so if I manage to keep it up I might have a shot for going to internationals. but I don't think I'll be too too disappointed if i don't make it.. but I really hope I do. :)

So yeah. I only got one wrong the entire day, and tied with 8 others for third place. only two people were ahead of me... :D Very very happy.

Does anyone else here (other than Emily Sue) do quizzing? tell me if you do, and what district you're from!

Have a great week!

BeCcA

Please do not send me private messages unless I give you permission. I will NOT add anyone as a friend who asks to be my friend in a private message. thank you! And if you want to link back to me, click on my button on the sidebar.

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Lest we forget.

A list of all of the soldiers who have bravely died serving our country during the afghanistan war up to now:

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Marc D. Léger, Ainsworth Dyer, Richard Green, Nathan Smith , Robert Alan Short , Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger , Jamie Brendan Murphy ,Braun Scott Woodfield ,Timothy Wilson , Paul Davis , Robert Costall , Matthew Dinning , William Turner , Myles Mansell , Randy Payne , Nichola Goddard ,Anthony Boneca , Francisco Gomez , Jason Patrick Warren , Christopher Jonathan Reid , Vaughn Ingram , Bryce Jeffrey Keller , Kevin Dallaire , Raymond Arndt Master , Jeffrey Scott Walsh Master , Andrew James Eykelenboom , David Braun , Frank Robert Mellish, Richard Francis Nolan , William Jonathon James Cushley , Shane Stachnik , Mark Anthony Graham, David Byers , Shane Keating , Keith Morley,. Glen Arnold , Josh Klukie , Craig Paul Gillam , Robert Thomas James Mitchell, Mark Andrew Wilson , Darcy Tedford , Blake Williamson , Robert Girouard , Albert Storm , Kevin Megeney , Donald Lucas ,Aaron E. Williams , Brent Poland ,David Robert Greenslade , Kevin Vincent Kennedy ,Christopher Paul Stannix , Allan Stewart, Patrick James Pentland T, Anthony Klumpenhouwer,Matthew McCully, Darryl Jason Priede, Darryl Caswell , Christos Karigiannis, Stephen Frederick Bouzane ,Joel Vincent Wiebe, Matthew Johnathan Dawe ,Jordan Anderson, Cole Bartsch , Lane Watkins, Jefferson Clifford Francis , Colin Bason ,Simon Longtin ,Mario Mercier, Christian Duchesne ,Raymond Ruckpaul,. Nathan Hornburg , Nicolas Raymond Beauchamp, Michel Levesque ,Jonathan Dion ,Hani Massouh, Eric Labbé ,Richard Renaud, Etienne Gonthier, Michael Yuki Hayakaze ,Jérémie Ouellet, Jason Boyes, Terry John Street,Michael Starker,Richard Leary, Jonathan Snyder , Brendan Anthony Downey ,Colin William Wilmot , James (Jim) Hayward Arnal , (Josh) Brian Roberts , Erin Doyle Master ,Shawn Allan Eades ,. Dustin Roy Robert Joseph Wasden , Stephan John Stock , Andrew Paul Grenon ,Michael James Alexander ,Chadwick James Horn , Prescott (Scott) , Robert John Wilson , Mark Robert McLaren , Demetrios Diplaros , Thomas James Hamilton , Justin Peter Jones , John Michael Roy Curwin , Michael Bruce Freeman ,Gaetan Joseph Roberge ,Gregory John Kruse ,Brian Richard Good ,Sean David Greenfield , Dennis Raymond Brown ,Dany Oliver Fortin,Kenneth O'Quinn , Marc Diab , Scott Vernelli ,Tyler Crooks ,Jack Bouthillier ,Corey Joseph Hayes , Karine Blais , Michelle Mendes , Alexandre Péloquin, Martin Dubé, Nicholas Bulger ,Charles-Philippe Michaud ,Pat Audet Master ,Martin Joannette ,Sébastien Courcy , Christian Bobbitt, Matthieu Allard, Yannick Pépin, Jean-Francois Drouin ,Patrick Lormand ,Jonathan Couturier , Justin Garrett, Steven Marshall

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One hundred and thirty three names. One hundred and thirty three families. One hundred and thirty three stories.

They died for us.

They died for me.

They died for you.

What are you doing for them?

Are you showing you appreciate them?

Or are you putting them down by telling them they're not helping?

They need our support, whether we believe in the cause or not.

They`re willing to risk their lives for people who don`t even appreciate them. What are YOU doing in this world?

Wear a poppy. Say a prayer for our troops. Read all the names. Honour them.

Lest we forget.

I will finish with the most famous poem of all time, in Flanders Fields
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In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
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BeCcA

Please do not send me private messages unless I give you permission. I will NOT add anyone as a friend who asks to be my friend in a private message. thank you! And if you want to link back to me, click on my button on the sidebar.

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Hey girlies! [[ and guys... if any read. ;) ]]

I wrote this as a reply to one of the sisterhood girls on the thread "too young what happens?" under spiritual. I'd advise all of you to check it out! It's a very interesting thread. :) It's on susiemagazine.com under sisterhood, under forums.

So I was replying to a girl who was arguing for predestination. She had some very good points, but here was my reply:

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To the girl who believes in Calvinism:

You believe in predestination, right?

Well, if you believe in predestination, that means that if there is one little girl in Africa who is destined to go to heaven, all of the missionaries can just say "oh well. she's going to heaven anyway. I don't need to do anything about it."

Is that what God wants us to do?

the answer is obvious. NO. But, if we believe in predestination, our argument is valid. We dont' have to do anything at all! We can all sit at our computer screens and watch videos of stars and singers dancing around on a stage all day--completely forgetting about the people who need our help. If we believe in predestination, we are not able to help, and missions are useless.

Also, if we believe in predestination, we believe in a God who picks and chooses who gets to enjoy eternal life with him in heaven. He sorts through all the people and sees who's worthy.

sounds like those annoying girls who put you down every day at school, doesn't it?

But God is NOT LIKE THAT. It says in the Bible that no one has an excuse for not knowing God. That means that no matter what, someone can become a Christian.

God is a just, fair, loving God. He isn't a God who looks at someone and says "I think I'll let them burn in Hell, even if they try and find me."

To be honest, that's what predestination says that God is thinking.

Also, there are two different versions of predestinations. I'm going to clarify right now what I mean by "predestination," and what I think you mean. (they're the same)

The first way of saying predestination means that God knows your every move, your every thought, your every word before you even say it. He planned you from the beginning, but you sill have free will in your life. He simply knows what choice your going to make before you make it. (which gets into more theological discussions like "but then do we really have free will?" But that's beyond the point)

The second point is that you have no control over your life. No matter what you do, you couldn't help it, and you're either going to heaven or hell. You can't control it. So if you're a "good" person, and you try and help everyone in the world, but you're predestined to go to Hell, there's nothing you can do about it.

I'm talking about the second one.

A just God does NOT send people to hell without giving them a chance. A just God sends people to heaven if they find him, and gives everyone an even chance.

Our God is just, loving, kind, and compassionate. He does not send people to Hell without them choosing their path. He urges us to choose the narrow road, and that the wide road will only lead to death and destruction.

why would he warn us if we had no choice over our lives? Why would he warn us if he had already programmed us, like his little robots?

He wouldn't.

It's not logical.

To sum everything up, here's the whole thing in a simple syllogism :

If we believe in predestination, we believe that no one has a choice in whether they are condemned to suffer in hell or not

However, we know that God is a just God, and we know that a just God gives everyone a choice, as does our God in multiple places in the Bible.

Therefore, everyone must have a choice whether they enter heaven or hell at the end of their life because our God is a just God.

BeCcA

(And I have Bible references to back up every single thing I said. )

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What are your thoughts? Please tell me! I love debating, and I'm open to learn more about my heavenly father. :)

BeCcA

Please do not send me private messages unless I give you permission. I will NOT add anyone as a friend who asks to be my friend in a private message. thank you! And if you want to link back to me, click on my button on the sidebar.
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Marianne Dashwood--a romantic, poetic, young lady who is easily swayed by any man who can recite poetry with feeling.

In the movie sense and sensiblity, we meet this young lady and immediately love her. We know she always has best intentions at heart, and she loves her family more than anything in the world, but her romantic side makes us laugh.

When they move to a small cottage, Marianne meets a certain heartbroken colonel who falls in love with her. She likes him, but he's not as romantic as she has always dreamed of. Because of some rumours which have been spread about the two of them, when he calls she takes a walk to escape from the house--and consequently changes her entire life.

It begins to rain, and she slips and sprains her ankle. Out of nowhere, the most charming, dashing man she's ever seen runs over to help her up. He carries her back to her house where they realize that they both love poetry, and in the blink of an eye Marianne falls in love.

Willoughby and Marianne do not care what other people think about them, but show their love to each other more openly than anyone else in the entire area they lived in, and rumours began to spread like wildfire--but Marianne is too in love to notice.

Suddenly, the formerly rich willoughby loses all of his fortune, and he runs to London on urgent business--leaving Marianne.

Marianne does not give up. She thoroughly believes that he will come back, and continues to write him letter after letter with no reply. Suddenly, the perfect oppurtunity comes up! They are all invited to London! she goes, and sees Willoughby at a dance where she sees him with other ladies. She goes to talk to him, but he is indifferent to her, and treats her the same as he treats her sister. She spends days after days crying, and her heartbreak eventually leads her to putting herself in danger of death. Eventually she learns that Willoughby lost all of his inheritance because of an affair he had with a girl which he then abandoned, so she was now alone with his child she bore.

The Colonel has not given up on his beautiful Marianne, though, and through it all he helps her. I always start crying when he runs out to save her while she is standing in the pouring rain on the hill overlooking Willoughby's house--even though he knows that she's only going because of her love for his enemy. While she is on the brink of death he does whatever he can, and at the end they get married.

How often are we like Marianne, girls? How often can we look past a man's character and only see the romantic outside? How often do we focus on the sweet things he whispers to us or the hugs he gives and look past the past relationships he's had and what he did to them?

We may say "he loves me. He'll change." But he might not. "How do you know, wife, whether you will save your  husband? And how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?" we don't know. that's the point. Don't open yourself up for heartbreak. To quote Taylor Swift, "Look before you fall."

Even if someone is the most romantic, sweet guy you've ever met, they can hide terrible things. Some of the most amazing looking guys are great actors. Be careful. Guard your hearts, for they are the wellspring of life.

But there is a happy side! There will be a perfect husband for you. God is preparing him for you right now. Save yourself for him, mind, body, and soul.

If the guy you have a huge crush on right now is the one for you, HE CAN WAIT. Hear that? If you're 14, and you think you're in love with someone, give him the biggest test of love in the world -- TELL HIM TO WAIT FOR YOU.

I'm praying for you all girls! Don't give yourself to a guy who doesn't deserve you. Wait for the perfect prince.

BeCcA