Aug. 8, 2008 - My Dream

I had this dream a month ago. Here is what happened:

My sister's best friend is Allison. Allison's parents are the music pastors at my church. So I walk into church and I have to use the bathroom. I notice that there is no "Women" or "Men" signs; there is just one bathroom. I walk inside. On one wall are stalls. There are also some stalls on the other side. After watching for a while, I see that the left wall is for the men, and the right wall is for the women. Okay, I think. I walk back out. Allison's parents want to spend a day in the rainforest. So Allison, her brother Jonathan, their parents, and I embark out on a little bitty ship. (Have any of you guys seen the movie The Borrowers? The ship, or more like boat, reminded me of them.) It is more like a raft. So logs are lined up and then tied together with rope. We all sit on it and after a while land on shore. Allison and I want to explore. We walk and walk and then stop on a beach to rest. Suddenly, a shark pops out of the water. It scares us both half to death. Then it starts talking. It says that people have started dumping petroleum in the amazon river. The takes us for a tour of the rain forest and as we stand up on a cliff we look down into the river and see the petroleum polluting the waters. Then I woke up.

Jul. 26, 2008 - Olympics

I am sure you have all heard by now that the Olympics are going to be held in China this year. China wants to be seen as a great and powerful country, but they never will be without God.  Since the beginning of this year (and maybe even before that) Chinese officials have been cracking down on missionaries. The officials want everything to be perfect for when people come to watch the Olympics.  This is an important time to be praying for Christian missionaries, and not only them, but the people of China, too. If you click on the link at the top left you can receive a free armband to remember to pray for the people of China. If you sincerely will agree to pray for China, then please click on the link. It is crucial to keep our brothers and sisters in Christ in our prayers this time of the year.

Jul. 21, 2008 - A Good Forward

Gold Wrapping Paper

The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her five year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mothe r the next morning and then said, "This is for you, Momma." The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction, but her anger flared again when she opened the box and found it was empty. She spoke to her daughter in a harsh manner.

"Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package?"

She had tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Momma, it's not empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full."

The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put her arms around her little girl, and she begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless anger.

An accident took the life of the child only a short time later, and it is told that the mother kept that gold box by her bed for all the years of her life.

Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems she would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, have been given a Golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and GOD. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

This is sooo good. And so true.

Jul. 6, 2008 - Running and School

I'm bored so I decided to post an entry....so..............everybody check out my playlist because it rocks!  Every afternoon when I go running around my neighborhood I take my Zune with me (*sigh* I know half of you are wondering what a Zune is: Microsoft created the Zune and Apple created the Ipod. A Zune is exactly the same thing as the Ipod but it ALSO has radio, which technically makes it better than an Ipod). My favorite song to run to is "Foreverandever Etc." by David Crowder Band. The beat matches my pace so I listen to two other songs and then I put "Foreverandever Etc." on repeat and listen to it the rest of the way. If you guys haven't started running you need to...it's so awesome. Just start small, like only running a mile (or smaller for some of you  lol) and just work your way up slowly. My neighborhood is VERY hilly (it's so hilly that the high school cross country team practices here) so I'm working on going all the way around without stopping.  One more thing: remember how I said I wanted to get all As this year? *sigh* Well, I kinda got an 80 on my big U.S. History test this morning. Bummer. The test was over from like A.D. 100 to the point where the 13 original colonies were being settled.  I think I just didn't study well enough. Well...better luck next time. So yeah, this is my life. Enjoy.

Jul. 2, 2008 - Short Update

Wow this is an awesome color! ANYWAY, I started school last Monday but I only have two subjects: Biology and U.S. History. It's not really that hard. I'm aiming for all As this year...and I don't mean my average grade, I am ALL my grades be As. I know it's going to be hard, but I'm ready for the challenge. I like challenging myself and sometimes it ends up bad. Story: I went with my youth group to a state park and after lunch we were just hangin out near a jungle gym and there were some swings so I got on one. On our swing set at home I can do all these weird things like doing a back flip out of a swing while it is still swinging. It's not really that hard, you just have to make sure the swing is high enough off the ground, or you could break your neck. Kids, don't try this at home! Anyway, so I wanted to see if I could do it out of my swing. I wasn't doing it to show off (SERIOUSLY lol), I just wanted to see if I could. So I did it BUT---dum dum dummm!---it was one of those swings that swings really high up because the chain is so long. So when I was in the air I was getting ready to land on my feet but the momentum of the swing made me keep going so I landed flat on my back! One of my youth leaders, Petreva, was standing kinda far away and she could hear my head THUNK on the mulch. I just laid there for a second and everyone was like "are you okay?!" It really did hurt at first so I just said "...give me a minute..." and when I got up I started laughing HYSTERICALLY. It was really random but I really wish someone had gotten my fall on camera because it was so funny!!! I laughed nonstop for like 10 minutes (I must've hit my head pretty hard lol).Two of my friends, Hannah and Chelsea, took me to the bathroom to help me get the mulch out of my hair but ended up splashing cold water in my face in an attempt to get me to stop laughing...yes, it was a fun day. Wow, I started out talking about school and ended up talking about laughing hysterically. It's funny how girls can change the conversation like that and guys can't. So...hehe...what's your stupid moment?

Jun. 14, 2008 - Thanks God...

God is amazing. If you haven't figured that out yet, you really need to! Okay, so I like to run. It's awesome! Anyway, I ran two miles today and decided to run two more but after going for about 100 yards I changed my mind. So I was walking back to my house and I said in my head "God, it would be awesome if it would start raining". I was really hot; the sun was shining and it was partly cloudy. AND GUESS WHAT?! It started raining like out of nowhere! It was soooooo amazing! I said "God, you answered that prayer. Do you hear my other ones? Why don't you answer them too?" and He said "Rachel, don't look for tangible answers. Look for the unseen things, because they are eternal." There is a verse in the Bible I read yesterday that says "My grace is sufficient for you" and He also brought that back to my memory. He is so amazing. Just wanted to share that with you guys. Has God ever done anything like that to you?

Jun. 11, 2008 - How American Are You?

[x] You know how to do the dishes
[x] You can count to 10 in another language
[x] When you say you're going to do something you do it...most of the time
[x] You can mow the lawn
[x] You remember to water the plants--
[x] You study when you have to
[x] You remember to feed your pets
TOTAL SO FAR: 14

[x] You can spell experience, without looking it up
[x] You clean up your own mess
[] The people at Starbucks know you by name
[] Your favorite kind of food is take out
[] The first thing you do when you wake up is get caffeine
[x] You can go to the store without getting something you don't need
[x] You understand political jokes the first time they are said
[x] You can type pretty quick
TOTAL SO FAR: 19

[x] You have realized that the weather forecast changes every hour
[] Your only friends are from your place of employment
[] You have been to a Tupperware party
[] You have realized that no one will take you seriously unless you are over the age of 25 and have a job
[] You have more bills than you can pay
[x] You have been to the beach
[x] You use the internet every day if you have the chance
[x] You have been outside of USA
[x] You can read a book and actually finish it
TOTAL: 24

May. 22, 2008 - Tagged

Directions: 1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle. 2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer. 3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?  *i so hate consequences* (um i don't like facing up to my consequences? lol)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? *let go* (they want to let go of me....?)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? *God with us* (i think about how God is always with us)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?  *In My Heart* (i'm in their hearts...awwww)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? *Spinning Around* (i want to spin)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? *Seen Enough* (i've seen enough of him lol)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? *Above All* (i luv her above everybody else!!!)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? *It Just Takes One* (idk)

WHAT SONG WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR WEDDING?  *Wait For Me* (awwww....this is such a coincidence cuz i really do want to have this song played at my wedding!!! its a girl singing to her future husband...."cuz i'm waiting for, praying for u darling"....)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? *Back in His Arms Again* (when i go to heaven i'll be in His arms)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? *Ki Ani Yada'ti* (this is a song in Hebrew and I honestly have no idea what the title means in english so idk)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? *Where It Begins* (no idea)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?  *The Beautiful Letdown* (they let me down! no not really i luv my friends :) )

I tag:

JaredBaize
singergirly14
whatsup14