Blogger Challenge Day 14: A Picture You Love

I took this picture years ago with a little point and shoot Kodak when I first started dabbling in photography. I had gone outside early in the morning while the ground was still wet with dew. This beautiful rose begged a picture, and it’s now framed in one of our bathrooms along with a Bible verse. Despite the fact that I shoot with a far better camera now and have a lot more experience, this picture still remains one of my favorites!

 

Path of Your Feet

Photo Credit: Roma.



“Let your eyes look straight ahead;

fix your gaze directly before you.

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet

and be steadfast in all your ways.

Do not turn to the right or the left;

keep your foot from evil.”

 

Proverbs 4:25-27

 

My Grandma

~Posted by Bianca (Tribute written to share at the funeral)

Dear Grandma:

The last time I stood here in this sanctuary, you were in front of me sitting in your wheelchair beside the second pew. You were dressed in your favorite blue dress, wearing your string of beads. Today, you’re still in front of me, wearing that same blue dress and beads. But you’re not really here. The Grandma I knew and loved isn’t here.

God had impressed on my heart the last time we saw you that we wouldn’t see you again. The rest of the family expected you would live at least a few more months. But for some reason, I just knew you wouldn’t be here in March when we were scheduled to come and visit again. The day of your death, I told Mom that very morning that it would be ironic if you and Grandpa passed a month apart. I never dreamed that less than 12 hours later, you would already be with him.

When we got the call at 11:00 p.m. that you had passed, I was hurt and angry. Why did God allow us to lose you and Grandpa just three weeks apart? Didn’t He know that my shattered heart still hadn’t healed from losing Grandpa? Why didn’t He allow us to have time to say goodbye, to be by your side when you passed? How could He take you away from me?

But following those questions, God immediately brought to mind the answers. HE is sovereign over all and His timing is absolutely perfect. He has known the day and hour of your death since before you were born. He knows the pain I’m feeling because He experienced it. He experienced far more pain and hurt than I ever will. He endured that pain so that you and I could have the hope we have in His salvation!

It’s selfish of me to think of God taking you from us, when really, He GAVE us far more time with you than we ever imagined we would have. When you were diagnosed with emphysema in 1997, the doctors only gave you 5 or 6 more years to live. You made it 16 more years. When you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2006, you should have only lived a couple more years. Seven years later, you defied the odds.

Now for the first time in decades, you have no breathing problems. You don’t have smoker’s cough. You can run and never grow winded. Your body is no longer in pain from arthritis. You can eat and drink and never have to worry about whether or not you’ll be able to eat and drink tomorrow. Your hands no longer tremble. Your memory is sharper than ever. You are no longer wheelchair bound. And best of all: you will be with your sweetheart of 57 years this Valentine’s day.

I will miss your funny expressions, seeing your face when we kids finally understood the joke you were telling us, warming your coffee, talking about national events over dinner, your sweet potatoes, sharing the newspaper with you, sitting out on the back porch watching the birds, going to the beauty parlor with you, listening to the funny stories of your growing-up years, your sharp observations and memory, and your blunt but kind way of speaking. Your death has left a gaping hole in my heart that only the God of all comfort can fill. I can’t wait to join you before His throne someday soon. It’s not “Goodbye”, Grandma. It’s only “See you later.”

Love Your Granddaughter,

Bianca

Blogger Challenge Day 13: Goals

I have LOTS of goals in life! My number one goal in life is to bring honor and glory to my Savior, Jesus Christ. Another big goal/aspiration is to one day get married, be the mother of many children, and be a homeschooling Mom.

As my graduation from high school approaches, I have been compiling a list of goals/things I want to do in the more immediate future. The list is constantly growing, and I will hopefully begin tackling these items soon!

1. Spend a month on the mission field (Planning to do this in June/July!)

2. Read “Accelerated Distance Learning” by Brad Voeller.

3. Take over family grocery shopping while reading “Cut Your Grocery Budget in Half” by the Economides.

4. Complete the Perspectives Course.

5. Read R.C. Sproul’s works.

6. Complete a concealed weapons class.

7. Go skydiving. (How about it, Uncle Paul? J We’ve got to do that one together!)

8. Take a photography class.

9. Volunteer at VOM.

10. Read 52 books in one year. (I’ve gotten close; I read 44 books last year.)

11. Have a regular babysitting job. (Sort of started this one on Monday nights at Life Group.)

12. Read through all the “Tightwad Gazette” back issues

13. Read through the Tightwad Gazette book

14. Memorize a book of the Bible

*What are some of your life goals? What about goals for this year? I’d love to be inspired! Share in the comments!*

April Fool's Day Dinner

On April Fool’s Day, it was our turn to host Life Group at our house (instead of adult Sunday Schools, our church does adult Bible Study groups during the week.) Being a holiday, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be festive. J So we decided to have a mixed-up dinner!



For dinner, we had cake! This bundt cake happened to be made out of biscuit mix, sausage, pepperoni, and pizza sauce, with mozzarella cheese for frosting.

These beautiful layer cakes were actually meatloaf with mashed potato frosting, decorated with ketchup and mustard “icing”.

For the kids, Roma made some delicious PB&J “sushi” rolls.

For dessert, she made “bacon and eggs” from white chocolate, yellow M&M’s, and pretzels.

I think these were my personal favorite: dessert “taco salad” cups! Roma made these with ice cream cones, chocolate ice cream (refried beans), colored coconut (green for lettuce, yellow for cheese), maraschino cherries (tomatoes), chocolate licorice (black olives), and whipped cream (sour cream.)

We also had “mockamole” with chips. It looked just like guacamole and tasted very similar, but it was made with sweet green peas instead of avocado. It had a delicious sweet and spicy taste. We also had fruit and drinks.



The weather that day was beautiful with temperatures going into the upper 70’s. It was a perfect evening to be outside. Some of the adults ate outside while the kids played. This picture doesn’t show it well, but we had over 30 people at our house!

We had a really fun evening together, and enjoyed pulling a few April Fool’s jokes. J

 

*Do you do anything special for April Fool’s Day? Do you have any memories of a trick someone played on you? Share in the comments!*

Blogger Challenge Day 12: What You Believe

*I’m sorry the blog posts have been late in going up this week. We are having all kinds of problems with our internet, and Blogger hasn’t been letting me upload pictures without a fight. Hopefully we’ll figure out the problem soon! The behavior of our internet seems to change after every thunderstorm!*

There are many things that I believe, even believe in strongly. What we believe is important because it changes the way we live.

Below I have copied the content from “Our Beliefs and Values” page:

God *

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory. (Genesis 1:26; Numbers 23:19; Psalm 99:5; Psalm 139:1-12; Psalm 145:8, 17; Isaiah 45:5-7; Jeremiah 32:27; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:8.)

The Bible

We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises. (Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21.)

The Human Condition

We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed. (Genesis 3; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 5:12, 18; Romans 6:23.)

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus-Israel’s promised Messiah-was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate. (Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 20:19; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:14; Acts 1:3; Acts 2:32-33; Romans 8:34; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Peter 3:22.)

The Work of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation. (Luke 24:46; Romans 3:23-25; Romans 4:23-25; Ephesians 2:8, 13; Hebrews 9:11-22; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:2; 1 Peter 2:21-24.)

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service. (Matthew 28:19; John 14:16-17, 26; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 13:14.)

The Church

We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer. (Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:17-20; Acts 2:38-40; Acts 8:12; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:3-6; Colossians 1:18.)

Christian Living

We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed. (Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 15:7, 11; Matthew 22:37; Matthew 28:19-20; John 13:34-35; John 15:13; Romans 1:8:10; Ephesians 6:10-20; Colossians 3:17.)

Christ’s Return

We believe in the personal, bodily and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission. (Matthew 24:27, 36, 42; Matthew 18:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 14:3; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13-15; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.)

Response and Eternal Destiny

We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen. (Psalm 9:17; Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:12, 29; Matthew 6:20; Matthew 7:19; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 25:41; Mark 16:19; John 3:36; John 14:2-3; Romans 3:23-25; Romans 4:23-25; 1 John 2:2.)

*Statement of Faith taken from the Evangelical Free Church of America website. Bible references added by our family.

Blogger Challenge Day 11: Favorite TV Shows

Unlike many Americans, I actually don’t watch a lot of TV. I tend to watch more movies than I do TV, and I only watch maybe 3 or 4 movies in a week at most. So it’s a bit hard to pick favorite TV shows. J But there are a few shows I do enjoy watching from time to time (usually I watch them on DVD.)

 

Probably one of my favorite TV shows is The Andy Griffith Show. Yes, it’s quite old. J Other old shows I like to watch are Leave It to Beaver and Ozzie and Harriet. A newer show that I enjoy watching (and would watch more often if we got the channel) is 19 Kids and Counting.

 

Once in a blue moon, I get to watch a cooking show, which I like. I also enjoy watching home improvement shows like This Old House with my Dad. When we stay at hotels I sometimes like to watch shows where people “flip” houses or yards.

 

*Alright, now it’s YOUR turn: what are some of your favorite TV shows? Share in the comments!*

 

Easter Celebration

I hope ya’ll had a wonderful Easter celebrating our Savior’s resurrection! The fact that He rose from the dead changes everything!

 

We had a pretty low-key Easter as a family. It was a little hard thinking about Easters in the past that were celebrated at my Grandma and Grandpa’s house. But we are so grateful for the hope we have in our risen Savior, and that we know we will all be joined together in heaven one day.



Sunday morning we were all up bright and early to do our egg hunt. I think 7:15 a.m. is probably the earliest we’ve ever done our hunt. It’s kind of funny; four of us are teenagers and Josiah is old enough to know the truth about the Easter bunny, but we just can’t give up the egg hunt. J



For breakfast we had coffee cake, bacon, and fruit salad. Then we scrambled to get out the door on time for church!

Church went very well, and we returned home in the early afternoon. We relaxed most of the day and enjoyed the beautiful weather (it was about 80 degrees and sunny.) The weather turned out a lot nicer than we were expecting; we woke up to a thunderstorm and heavy rain that morning. It was still raining when we arrived at church, but then it started to clear up. I took advantage of the day and took Mikey on a walk down the road to the creek. We observed the wood ducks and turtles while listening to the buzzing of insects and the faint whistle of a train. Such a wonderful afternoon! 



We had our fancy Easter feast for dinner. We took the opportunity to use our fine china.

We had delicious honey glazed ham, baked new potatoes, multi-grain crackers with mockamole (guacamole made with sweet peas), jello-beans with whipped cream, and dinner rolls with butter. It was incredibly filling!



For dessert we had a rich grasshopper pie.

And that was our Easter! We are so grateful for all God has blessed us with!