Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set the example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. I Timothy 4:12
Oct. 16, 2009
Today.
It’s only sixteen days until the mission trip gets back.
It’s only eight days until the ACT test.
It’s only ten days until our team’s first presentation.
It’s only two days until we have group (and the Madrigals will be there!).
It’s only four days until I get my mid-term score from School of the Bible.
All those things are exciting. But there are no days between me and the life God has given me to enjoy and use to glorify Him, and I’m trying to learn to seize those opportunities.
For the past few days I’ve been sick, which has forced me to slow from my break-neck pace and try to give my body a break. Instead of thanking me, it’s begging for more. Unfortunately, it’s not going to get that for a while, so it’d better take what it can get.
Clearly time (or energy) has been lax, as it has been almost two weeks since I’ve made a proper blog entry. For that I apologize. I frequently come up with things I want to say but the time in which to say them is what is lacking. I still have a blog in the back of my mind about past years with AIM that I want to write, so maybe sometime I’ll write that. I think it’d be fun. For now, though, I’ll attempt to write about what’s been going on.
I took the SAT test on Saturday. If I was running things, those tests would be formatted differently – I mean really, how much can one DO in a five-minute break? Anyway, I felt like I did pretty good over all and the essay went smoothly, so that’s good. I’m hoping for at LEAST a 1300. Been looking at colleges recently (finally) and 1300 is high enough for most of the big scholarships. That’s another news-worthy “thing” – now that I have to tell ACT and SAT which colleges to send my scores to, I have to figure out what colleges I’m considering. The process isn’t as daunting as it seems once one finally gets into it. I sure wish Katie were here, though. It’d be SO much easier with her. It has been nice to go through all of her college stuff – neatly filed – because it means I don’t have to neatly file stuff. =)
My SALT responsibilities in the absence of my three co-SALT-girls seem to be increasing, but I’m learning how to better handle them. So long as I space them out throughout the week and don’t try to do them all on Thursday morning, I can survive. It’s the calling the girls every week that takes the most time but I think it’s really important, so I’m going to keep trying to do that. Aside from that, I’ve been making up Bible study sheets, preparing “get to know you” games every week for the girls, sending out the announcements, handling birthdays (sort of), managing shirts, managing props, and co-leading the practices with Josiah. Now I know why we have four girls on the SALTeam.
I’ve figured out that in the roughly thirty weeks of school I have remaining (I blacked out Veteran’s Week and two weeks at Christmas), I have nine modules of science, 10 weeks of Chinese, 13 weeks of Sonlight, and 30 weeks of geography left to do. The science shouldn’t be a problem because I just figured out that even if I spend three weeks on each module (I’ve been doing a module a week) I’ll be able to get it done on time. So that’s a relief. Chinese is a breeze; I have another research paper in Sonlight but it’s still not bad. Geography is fun; I don’t mind doubling up on that. Actually, piano is what stresses me the most and it’s not even on that list. This is my last year and Mrs. Walker wants to make a big deal of it at the recital next year so I’m trying to practice hard. Plus Mom and I are intensely competing. =D
The other things that consume my time (I already mentioned the top two: school and AIM) are babysitting for Ms. Ginger – all day Tuesday – group – Sunday nights – School of the Bible – Monday nights – and maybe cleaning for Ms. Kelly. I’m going to be cleaning for her tomorrow and we’ll see if she has more jobs for me after that. It’ll be way harder and less fun than babysitting but it definitely pays better. So I guess there’s an exchange there.
Melissa and I went clothes shopping today. Definitely not my favorite thing to do (spending money), but my jeans were falling apart and I also was looking for long-sleeved shirts. We struck out at Vanity Fair but I found some jeans and a jean jacket at TJ Maxx and she found a top that she liked too. Also went to Rue21 (I decidedly don’t like that store) but Mom is kinda iffy about the couple of shirts I got there so not sure if I’ll keep them. At least they were only three bucks each.
Courtney and I have been diligently exchanging letters – I’ve sent her three and received two – and we get periodic email updates from Ms. Sue, so I’ve been feeling pretty connected. I pray for them *almost* every day and am really excited by the reports they’re sending back. I know they’re having a great time, learning a lot, and making a difference – but I’ll be SO glad when they’re home. For more reasons than one.
I am learning a LOT during this time, because since people like Courtney and Katie aren't here for me to depend on, God and I have been spending a lot more time together. Finished reading Psalm 119 today. I went outside on the porch and read it aloud as a prayer to God. It was pretty cool and He taught me some cool stuff. Maybe I should do that more often.
I'll be remembering / The dark night; the hard fight; the long climb up a hill knowing the cost / The brave death, the last breath, the silence whispering all hope is lost / The thunder, the wonder... the power that brings the dead back to life!
