I could go on and on and onnn about what I'm thankful for. I don't really have all the time in the world right now to list everything, but i'll list some of the main things in my life that are the biggest things that I am thankful for that God has blessed me with.

My family.
My house.
My friends.
My pets.
My creativity.
My knowledge.
My gifts.
Clothes.
Food.
My school.
My Christian anscestors.
The atmosphere I live in.
God's beauty.
Music.
The ability to have gone to Disney World this past weekend :):) and the fact that my sisters and brother-in-law are in town for the holidays. And the fact that my birthday is next week!

Focusing on the things that you are thankful for and thanking God even when things are going rough really does help bring out the beauty in life and soon you'll realize how much of a better life that you're living since you've been thankful God for these things. He said focus on the postiive, on the pure, all that is good in life. What are you thankful for??? If you can't be thankful for what you do have, at least be thankful for what you don't have. Either way, the outlook and outcome of your life is your choice.

Remember:
I will post a new blog entry once I have receieved 2 comments on this one. I need to make sure at least some people are reading this :):) God bless.

I am soooo excited that the holidays are almost here!!  So, in that spirit I've decided to create a blog dedicated to all this fun-stuff coming up.

There are soo many things and traditions coming up, but you can't just let it come... you have to be prepared. If you aren't prepared for the holidays and just let them come and go, then, well, it's not as meaningful. You have to be in the spirit, and be prepared! So, what I'm going to do is give a little challenge to all of you.  Each day write in your journal (if you don't have one - GET ONE!) - but if you don't have one, use your blog I guess :) Well anyways write in your journal each day about one thing that you are thankful for. Read thanksgiving scriptures (biblegateway.com is an amazing site)  & in your journal (or blog) give a little thanks to God for this specific thing, person, etc. but also pray for those who may not be as fortunate as you are.  Remember: If you can't thank God for the things you have, than at least thank Him for the things that you don't have  (my Grandma said, she's veryyy true.)

But that's not all of the "getting prepared daily routine"... I challenge you to each day starting with TODAY to do something special for someone else! Special not just as in doing someone a favor when they ask for it (for example, fixing your brother or sister a drink while they're watching TV.... lol) but you could also just do something so great for someone each day that you would LOVE if someone did it for you. Don't worry if it effects or gets in the way with what you already had planned - God will bless you for that and He will work it out.

Some more ideas to get in the Christmas spirit:
* Each day create a Christmas craft!  Or bake Christmas cookies, you can't waste your creativity! Doing Christmas crafts will help you build your Christmas spirit and creativity  :)

* Watch Christmas movies. I looove to watch Christmas movies!! My favorite, that I would reccomend, are: The Nativity Story, Christmas With the Kranks, The Santa Clause, and Elf. Those are my favoritee Christmas movies   :)

* Do something for the unfortunate or elders. Not everyone is able to have a Christmas, and some people may not even have any family to celebrate Christmas with. Challenge yourself to be the family to them, make this their favorite Christmas. How? Invite them over for a dinner one night and have Christmas cookies. Create a Christmas basket with Christmas cookies, Christmas recipees, and little gifts such as lotion, Hershey kisses, Christmas soap, etc. and give it to someone who you think really needs a boost in their Christmas spirit. Look up some Christmas organization websites so that you can give to those who can't have a Christmas ~ or go to your Pastor and ask him if he knows anyone who would love some special things for them (or their kids) but aren't able to afford anything. (I've done that for someone before ~ they were really thankful, it's definetaly worth it).

* Ex-cer-cise!!!  This isn't really Christmas-related, but it actually can be... the holidays = eating lots, lots, and lots of food... you might regret it if you don't excercise AHEAD of time  :):)

* Get with a little kid that you know and help them decorate and write a letter to Santa. This is a great idea for babysitting, I did it with my little cousin when I babysat her the other day while we were watching The Santa Clause... and on the back of the letter she drew a Christmas tree for Santa  :)

* Do something for the nursing home. Bake brownies, create Christmas baskets, etc.  They would defintely be thankful, and God will definetly bless you.

* Listen to Christmas music!!! I reccomend listening to www.myspace.com/serving6 - I've been listening to that music all day, even as I did my schoolwork! :) That's actually my aunt, uncle and cousins, and their Christmas album  is November 30th - I defintaly think you should buy it. They're sooo gifted!! If you live in the Georgia/South Carolina area, you should visit www.ChristmasInGeorgia.com and book one of their Christmas Concerts -- or, you can go to their myspace page and see if they are having a Christmas concert near you. If you go, you should bring someone with you ~ these concerts are GREAT ways to lift your Christmas spirit and it helps you focus on the main and only point of Christmas.

* Last but not least, read the story of Jesus being born, and tell as many people as you can about this story.

I hope this all very useful for all of you. Please comment if it is, I would lovee to hear from you!

God bless ~ and I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Tessa

*EDIT!!*
From now on I won't post a new entry until I have at least 2 comments on each blog. I want to do this so that I know I'm not writing these blogs for no reason  :) Thanks

Uhhh. Attachment to a person is so hard.

Because, you never know when that person is just using you.

Or when that person will soon go away.

Don't depend on that person.

Depend on God.

Because, once you find out that that person has replaced you,
or if that person has died,
it hurts.

Badly.

So don't put you're all into a friend, boyfriend, family member, etc... Put you're all into God instead.

He loves you,
He will never leave you,
And in the end, he's the only one that counts.

Saturday night I had a dream I saw a flower and on the flower (somehow on the stem of it, lol) said something like let your blossom show to others because your seed, your blossom spreads... the beauty spreads to others, what you have, including your seed and beauty.

I've been reading 1 Timothy today and it's really, really good. As I was reading, one of the things I came across just now was this:

 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
(1 Timothy 6:6-10)

Everything evil you do, listening to bad music, watching movies with cursing, and just things that you think may be "harmless" is a root. That root will grow and grow, and you can't cut it down by just chopping it off, you have to grab it by the root. If you have a love for money, like it's saying, that is a root for all kinds of evil, and that keeps going and the seeds spread and spread and soon it's unstoppable... unless you put a stop to it by pulling all the weeds by the root and plant a new seed, a seed that you pick up while learning God's word and not getting involved with evil. So many things, well actually everything on earth I think is symbolism, and this is a great example. We just have to open our eyes and realize what God is trying to show us through what's here on earth.

1 Timothy was also talking about eating meat, excersining (however you spell it) physcially and spiritually. It was really good, I can't find it right now lol and I'm extremely tired, but it was talking about how God has blessed us with meat, so we should eat it in thanksgiving instead of thinking on other things, for example, how the meat came "meat".... and if it is bad meat or not. In 1 Timothy he said if you bless your meal, if you bless your meat, God will bless it! You don't have to worry about eating something because if you bless your meal before you eat it and be thankful for it, God won't let that food harm you.  It was also talking about how some people try their hardest to work out and eat well and live well, but what about spiritual, which has wayy more effect and doesn't, hurt? Why don't those people who try to make the best out of their lives by always staying in shape and eating healthy food and not eating meat, why don't they try also to excerise spiritually? Excerising spiritually will build your strength here on earth, which is more powerful than physical strength, and can help build it eternally - which is the whole reason that you're living.

I just wanted to share that :)
God bless.

John 15

The Vine and the Branches

 5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Here's an honest question- how many times have you gotten mad at God for not serving you? I do all the time. It's so hard to keep on track with God through all the worldy things in life that are starring at you right in front of you tempting you.... it's so hard. But with God, all things are possible... that's why we just have to keep repeating "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" and "Lord, give me strength to resist temptation". If we bare fruit, serve God instead of WAITING for him to serve us FIRST, John 15 says that we will not get ANYWHERE. 

So go to God. He's waiting for you, and I'm sure you'll be a lot happier if you continue on the right path with him...  =)

Did you know if you read 3 chapters a day and 5 or 6 (can't remeber which one) on Sunday you will finish the Bible in a year + be MUCH wiser?? It's hard to keep it going though. But it does help.

Also, I created a new blog. www.homeschoolblogger.com/letstalkaboutit

Another thing - please go to my fanfiction!! Only 2 people have auditioned for the reality show auditions.

Today has been so boringgg. Last night I babysat my 5 year old cousin, Ashton, then she spent the night, lol. She's sooo adorable though! Tomorrow my dad is going on a business trip until Thursday... :(... butttt my sister who lives in NY mightt be coming home next weekend.... :):)

Omg. I cannot WAIT until thanksgiving...my birthday....Christmas....New Years.....!

God blessssss.

Hey everyone. Well today I'm browsing through lots of websites for writing, I'm so excited. My journalism teacher (virtual) gave me this website, www.fanfiction.net, and it seems pretty interesting, so I will be posting some things on there soon. I am also trying to create a layout for my blog, becuase as you can see it's very boring right now.

I've been also browsing through random bogs... there are such creative blogs out there! I love them. I'm so excited that I finally created one for myself.

Also, check back later on today and I will update again letting you know my account to fan fiction and I will also post a devotion and just right more. I don't have much time right now because I'm about to watch Camp Rock, and I want to browse more things on fan fiction and blogs... and create my layout ( =

God bless everyone!! Comment if you want :)

Btw, my myspace is www.myspace.com/thall1313.

*EDIT*
I created my fanfiction account! YAY! Here's the account- http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1735469/godswings2fly

Please go there and read it. I'm holding "virtual auditions". And no, you don't have to act!

*EDIT*
I'm watching Camp Rock. Who else thinks that it wasn't written, like, good enough?? I mean, I lovee it because it's such a good message, such a cute, good story... but it's so cheesy! I guess it's mainly for younger kids.. preteens... kids... but seriously, it could've been better I think. My opinion =)

Aah. I'm so sleepy. It's almost midnight.
Well anyways, I made this blog pretty much just to, well, I don't know actually. I love writing, and well, I have so much to say... so that's what I did it. And I would love to meet people at the same point I am.

The reason I am homeschooling is to pursue what I love - acting.

*Don't follow the path of others - instead, go your own path and leave a trail.*

That quote means a lot to me. I've always done things differently than people my age.
For example, people my age are in high school right now, hanging out with friends every night and going to parties. I do love to be with friends and all, but it's not my life. Teenage years need to be focused, on God and needs to be focused on what you will be doing for the rest of your lives. Make sure you are right with God, make sure you keep pursuing your dreams and eventually they will fly - if God gives you the wings.

So yeah, that's pretty much why I'm doing a blog. I really hope to find people on the same path as me, like teenagers who love to act also. I'm so ready for what God has planned for me. I just signed with an agent, which is the main first step on going the path that I want to go.

I'm also very bored often lol, since I'm a homeschooler (well, virtual schooler, haha). But anyways, it's late. I should go get ready for bed.

Anyways. God bless. And please comment. Goodnight  ;)

One more thing... God is in control of this nation, no matter who we elect for president.  Obama can't make any change to this country, only God can make the change that we need. Only God can make the change that people Americans are looking for. Only God. Look to Him...