Facebook Status From A Friend

I found this on Facebook as one of my friend's posts and it really encouraged me!

"I talked to a woman on the phone today who has six kids…four boys and two girls. When I called her, she was on the other line with the doctor, dealing with a detached retina that’s been going on since April. She asked if I would hold on the line while she finished booking her appointment, and I said that was no trouble. When she came back on the line a minute later, she apologized for having made me wait and she shared her life story.

She lost her husband to a tractor trailer wreck five years ago, when the youngest was only five years old. She said, “I didn’t realize until he’d been gone for several months that I had been my husband’s princess. He had asked me to keep our home, prepare the food, and raise our children after the Lord….and he took care of everything else. He paid the bills, he transferred the money for groceries, he paid the insurance, he scheduled the service jobs, he drew up our wills, he took care of it all. He was the head of 

our home and the head of my life.

He left me a life insurance policy, and once he was gone, everybody told me to go to work and save that money for when the I’m old and the kids are grown and out of the house and I have nobody to take care of me. But I knew that my husband wouldn’t have wanted them to go to the government school. I decided that we’d live on that money so that I can stay home and homeschool the kids until they are grown…and if I have to go back into the workforce at 55 years old and live in on next-to-nothing, I’ll do it. Frank would have wanted that. Their Daddy would have wanted that.”

All of her children, including three that are now adults but who were in their teens at the time of the accident, are professing Christians.

What a strong woman, and what a Godly man. His faith was so evident during his lifetime that his Christian legacy will follow him long after the grave, lived out in the lives of his six children."

How amazing is that! A father providing for his family...even after he is gone and cannot physically be there working to put food on the table. That is what we, as Christians, are called to be: futuristic and mindful stewards of Christ in every area of life. This godly man did this...he thought ahead and was thoughtful of the fact that God is the author of life and death...not man. Our days here are short and never guaranteed to last (Psalm 103: 15, 1 Peter 1:24, James 1:11). We never know and all we can do is be prepared and ready for whatever God has in mind for us. Who can know His mind? Whether it's mentally ready (saved and living out a Godly life) or physically prepared (things set in order as this husband had) we are called to be a people who are God's...entirely devoted to Him and completely compliant whatever His will (not like you get a say once you die or anything). 

Anyways...those are just some thoughts! Hope this encourages you!

 

My "Excuse Post"

Hey y'all....I've been getting really lazy with posting lately. I'm sorry! But yeah, pretty much I am getting busier. I go through stages (who doesn't??). Sometimes I'm crazy busy all the time with nothing good to post about...and sometimes I'm just plain free with lots of good quality things to talk about. And then there are those times where I am free with internet access but I'm way too lazy to get to my blog. I check my email...I check facebook...I check for comments on my blog...I listen to music...I find more music....I check my other emails...I GET ON PINTEREST. ...Yeah, Pinterest is my downfall. Ever since I've had more access to the internet it's been rather an addiction.

Anyways...I've been working a lot lately too. I have four jobs now...two babysitting, one at the library, and one transcribing. The latter is the most recent and I haven't really gotten into it...Pinterest has been in the way so far, but I will learn self-control! But the work I was really talking about is the library. Ever since I started working there (a little over a year ago) it's been like a dream come true! Moving into pace there and getting accustomed to the work and how everything operates really came naturally to me and apparently I was a natural at it! I've worked it up to where I'm one of the fastest (and hopefully efficient too) workers there. This means when they need someone in there to do extra work they call me...which is good...cuz I've missed my paycheck. I was gone to Blue Lake and then they were closed for 2 weeks for remodeling starting the day after I got back from camp.

I worked at the library last Wednesday (I'm sorry if I'm repeating at all!) and Friday just straightening everything up and dusting all the shelves and books. Many people may not think about that....or how hard it is...but considered doing that to literally thousands of books. Ick. Anyways! Then Monday came and they called me in an hour early. Let me explain...on the busiest day we've ever had in the 18 years we've been open, the most items that have ever been checked in on a single day was approximately 500 things...including books, cds, dvds, etc. Well yesterday, when we opened after being closed for 2 weeks, we checked in 1,552 items in a single day. And it was the day I was scheduled to work. I haven't had that much fun in a long time! :D Today, I was called in during the morning shift (which never happens cuz our job is to put away all the books collected and checked in during the day...hence why we work the closing shift). I went in at 9 and was supposed to work till 12, but there was so much work to do that I didn't leave till 2:30. It wasn't just shelving stuff....I was packing bags for kids since our summer reading program is over and that is their end prize. So yup...been busy working.

That is my "excuse post" as to why I haven't been posting every single day. Which got me my post for today! Yay! Hurrah for multi-tasking! Anyhoo...I"m rambling. I should go now...I really do need to get offline sometime in the near future. Viola is calling me and tonight I will be hanging out with Rakie. Probably getting a movie or something. Gotta love awesome restful nights like this. I bet I just jinxed it...maybe I just jinxed the jinx by saying that I just jinxed it. Yup, and I've had a lot of coffee today too. Coffee really does rule everything else...even cats...but don't actually say that to your cat because most cats don't agree.

God bless you, whoever you are!

17 And "So Grown Up"...

The other night I went to my grandparents with my family to celebrate my grandma and my birthdays. It was fun, we had a good dinner and spent good time with them. We don't get to see them very often even though they live about 5 minutes away. Anyways, we were just saying our goodbyes when my step-grandpa says to me, "Well...now you're 17...when are you going to get a boyfriend?". Even after I said that I wasn't interested in one he still pressed the issue: "So when will you get one? Why wouldn't you get one?". I've gotten this speech before...and not just from them. A lot of people see me as "grown up and mature"...so why don't I have a boyfriend? Simply put...I'm not ready nor do I want one.

I wouldn't even say I act like a normal 17 year old should be acting. I mess up...a lot. I'm not the great person a lot of people see me as. My mum has always told me that no matter how great a person may seem that behind it there is a person who has issues just as big as you. It's true. We put on a good face for the public...rarely taking it down even for our best friends. We are people with a great sin nature and I am not excluded from that *in the least*. So one of the greatest reasons I don't have a boyfriend is that I'm simply not ready for one! I have a long way to go before I have started turning in the right direction.

Even then...when people say "boyfriend" they are not thinking "life partner". When they say "Why don't you have one?" I think...'Do I *need* one to appear human??' Is that what defines a person now? By if you have a boyfriend/girlfriend and how many you've had before? I just read something this morning that said "Dating is usually about meeting a self-centered need. Courting is about intentionally building a foundation for marriage." Maybe that seems a little off-topic, but let me connect some dots. When people say boyfriend they usually mean dating. "Do you have a boyfriend" translates into "Do you date?" ...aka "Do you have a life?". I don't believe in dating...I don't believe it's right at all.

Why would you put two teenagers together alone without any real standard of right or wrong (meaning parents being right there) when they are in a stage of their life where they can't think comprehensively for themselves? What good is that going to do? Looking at the history of dating it hasn't led to really great things. Even if it does go to marriage, how long does that marriage last? Now, this is *not* to say that if you ever dated anyone that your marriage (if it happened) is going down in flames.

All I'm really saying is that maybe a more ideal path would be taking those same two hormone driven teenagers (or whatever age they are) and putting them with people who have been through a similar situation of finding a life-partner before (meaning parents) and have them LEARN about each other. Not romantically...not even particularly attached...but with the thought that it *might* lead to marriage...not positively though. This is normally called 'courting'. It's the two people getting to know each other with the idea of seeing if the other person is compatible with them and if they would be able to live happily with them for the rest of their life.

So when people ask if I'm dating, if I have a boyfriend, or anything of that type, I can easily answer that I am not going to casually date until I feel "complete". Because once you enter into that pool you'll never leave it. It will turn out to be an endless string of guys...one after another. I want to court with a purpose. I want to be completely serious about it, not taking it lightly. This is the rest of your life that we're talking about! This is what will determine your happiness! I'm not ready for marriage and if I find a guy who might be considered a "boyfriend" then the future idea would be marriage...and at 17 years old I'm not ready for marriage or even to be wishing/thinking about marriage. What my chief goal should be right now is focusing on God, my daily walk with Him, my relationship with my parents and family, and seeking to glorify God with whatever I do in regards to my future (college and such).

So those are my brief thoughts on that subject! It just got me thinking the other night and I thought I'd share my thoughts with you! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think, if you want. :)

Power outtage

I have always been under the mindset that when the power goes out then it automatically becomes some romantic situation. The other night I was once again reminded of how much a pain in the butt it really is! I was just sitting down to watch the finals for the women's gymnastics...probably the number one thing I would never want to be uninterrupted while watching it. Any other sport...any other channel...any other show I wouldn't have cared so much. I guess it's a good thing though...taught me not to set my mind so firmly upon doing something that I simply wanted and didn't need.

Anyways...so the power shut off and that pretty much put a damper on the whole evening for everyone. We didn't have many candles and we never have flashlights (they always go missing -.-) so it was just pretty dark. It was a little sad to see how firmly we are attached to running water and electricity. My dad has become so used to the A/C in his room (that's the only room with A/C) that he slept down in the basement because it was a little cooler. Pretty much the only space to sleep down there is either in his big comfy chair or on the futon...both of which are in my "room/space" down there. I usually don't sleep too well if other people are in the same room so I just moved blankets and pillows and such upstairs to the couch where I sat and watched movies till about 1am. The power did come on shortly before midnight, but my dad still slept down there so I just stayed on the couch.

I don't exactly know where I was going with that story...I thought I had some kind of wholesome thought or good moral to take away from it. Oh well! Maybe you can draw your own special meaning or lesson from it. I hope you have an excellent day wherever you are and with whatever you're doing. God bless!

Charlotte Community Library

For those of you who didn't know already, I work at our local community library. This library has been open for 18 years now...all without any remodeling or replacing going on. Well for the first time since we've opened we decided to finally do all that remodeling. So it's been closed for the past 2 weeks as they've all worked hard on making it look brand new. And it does! Let me tell you....a lot of our regular patrons will be coming in shocked on Monday morning. We moved whole sections around, added more study places, painted new carpets, painted new colors...a ton of stuff! Anyways...I was in there Wednesday and today...mainly just dusting every single book and every single spot on every single shelf and also shelving any books or stuff that comes in the library while it's closed. All that to say that if you live anywhere near Charlotte you're gonna love what we've done with it! We open on Monday, August 6th and it's gonna be absolutely beautiful. Enjoy!

Strength Part 2

I am finally sitting down this morning with a nice, large cup of coffee in hand. This day will be good, I will make sure of it. So I got to thinking about my post the other day about strength and what I said about it...but what Part 1 should have consisted of was this:

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (Psalm 121)

That is the *true* source of strength and peace. In a world that so desperately needs to be built up and made strong this is a message that should be promoted. Unfortunately, this world is pretty messed up in many more ways than just that one, so it's rather hard to tell which message to put out first and foremost. We are just desperately in need of a lot of messages, the need for true salvation is essential as well.

My prayer for you, my readers, is that you are well strengthened and built up today...that you would lift your eyes up to the Lord, where all your strength originates.

Beautiful Birthday

Right now it is late Wednesday night...but it's still August 1st...so yesterday was my birthday. On July 31, I turned the big 17. It doesn't feel all that big. It kinda crept up on everyone so it wasn't that big of a deal. We were kinda busy for it anyways. And God has been putting me through some life-shaping experiences lately too, so it's been a little rough. Needless to say, I didn't think it'd be all that super. But God as usual, laughed at me and showed me up. The morning wasn't too great to be honest...but the day did get better. By the evening I was enjoying myself.

Aimee came and picked me up and we went out shopping a bit and tried to kick some stuff off our bucket list (the whole list can be found on pinterest). We found out how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop and we began our goal of finishing a whole coloring book. Don't laugh, because that last one is really a challenge. We found out that there are 96 coloring pages in the one book we got. Thankfully it's a Winnie the Pooh coloring book so it's way worth it. We also got my free birthday coffee and then walked around downtown Charlotte just enjoying life.

Today I got to watch my newest babies...Ellie, Abby, Lucie, and Kade...they are the cutest, sweetest, most energetic little ones I have ever seen. Thankfully they love me to death. The moment I stepped inside today I was surrounded and covered by little ones! What a blessing it is to have that "complaint". My job is mainly to occupy the kids so their mum can do work around the house or just relax. She has another new baby: Annabelle...so I do not blame her for needing a breather! I got to take the kids out on a nice long walk/bike ride and I got to learn Patience and Self-Control 101! We got back and then got to head out to the little lake that they live on...it was SO much fun to splash around with them and laugh and giggle and just enjoy all the little things. I felt ages younger then 17 at that time. Then it was lunch time and then just relaxing until I had to go.

I went straight over to the library where I spent a few hours wiping down books and shelves. Our library is doing remodeling for the first time since it was built 18 years ago. We've been closed for about 2 weeks and will open on Monday but until then they need help cleaning up shelves and books and organizing and reading the shelves to keep it all in order. Then I came home and just relaxed...a full day away from home and spent doing either physically or mentally taxing jobs kinda wore me out. I did get to spend some good time with my sister Becca and tomorrow we will hopefully be going on a bike ride. In addition to that us girls will probably begin work on the wedding invitations. My mum doesn't know yet, but we'll be surprising her with a "Mama's day off"...she doesn't do *any* work at all.

It is encouraging to me to see how many views I'm getting on my blog...even if they are accidental stumbles across my blog by a random google search it motivates me to write more and think deeper and educating thoughts so that I can share them with you, my readers. If anything ever strikes your fancy, please comment. I love reading any thoughts or comments. Goodnight blog readers!

Truth and Trust

Something invaluable that I've learned lately is that truth is so key to life. Throughout my life I've been constantly finding that certain key attributes are inescapable...I mean they are all important. You just read through Scripture and you find that God commands so much of us. But one of the most important things that you need in order to live a healthy and happy life with functioning relationships is open and honest truth. Nothing held back or hidden. I mean, sometimes it's okay and even better if you do, but as a whole, truth is essential.

If you screw up and live a lie, it is not small or easy to overlook...soon it becomes everything you're involved in. It gets spun bigger and bigger and soon that lie is what guides and directs your life. Then it's not just one or two people who are involved but many different people, even families. And the truth always does come out. Everyone must face truth and reality sometime. When it does, relationships are severed and people are hurt. Trust has been breached and is not easily gained back. Even during the walk to regain trust, it is hard work. When the least little thing that comes up and is questioned and no one knows what happened or who did it, you are looked at and blamed for it since no one can believe your words since you have lied before and hid it.

Trust gained once and broken is hard to regain back. Once you have it back if it is ever broken again will probably not return. Don't ever take trust for granted. Trust is a beautiful and glorious thing...especially when it is from your parents or family. If you are ever in a situation where that trust is broken or severed, you must buckle down and commit yourself to always being honest, open, and trust-worthy. It will require much strength and determination because the path is not easy. But once you are on that path of recovery the worst thing you could ever possibly do is to screw it up again by lying or doing things that would cause your honesty or trust-worthiness to be called into question. You must consider every word out of your mouth. Is it beneficial...is it truthful...is it encouraging and honest? Will it help build up others? Or build up myself instead?

If you have the trust of anyone, don't take it for granted. Trust is precious and valuable beyond what I could describe. If you have that, you have someone's heart and mind. Don't just throw that away on an "easy" lie. Don't do anything that could call your integrity or honesty into question. One of the best ways you could ever love someone is by being open with them, telling them what you're feeling or struggling with...and when I say all this I am primarily talking about your parents, not just anyone. Love them, and show them you can be trusted. That you messed up and made a mistake, but you do want to be better and need help.

People mess up and make really really big mistakes...but everyone can be capable of doing a complete turn-about and deciding to live a better life. If you have ever been injured by someone, you know that it's hard to forgive them and trust in the future, but don't just give up on them. They may need you most then. Give them another chance and show them by your actions and words that you believe they can be better and stronger in the future.

Thank you all for reading.

Strength

We can find strength in the funniest/craziest things. For me, I've found that it's music. If I need to get off my butt and work hard till I feel like a success I listen to that type of music...I have certain "motivational songs" that just get me moving. Two of the many that goes in that list would be Fighter by Christina Aguilera and Survivor by Destiny's Child. I have songs that calm me down...pretty much anything by JJ Heller works for that. 

Basically, everyone is strong...strong enough to move mountains...it's just a matter of finding where we gather in that strength. Maybe it's running...or singing...or working on something. But we all have that hidden and secret strength which pushes us on each day. It moves us out of our beds each morning and causes us to go a little further when we run. Each of us will at some point in our life need more strength then ever before. Everyone has those challenges...some of us more then others. But no matter who you are you will need and do have that strength. 

So go out there and find it...find your source of strength and happiness. Do what it is that you love (providing it's Biblical)...and share it with others. Who knows? It could be their hidden strength that they didn't realize. Go out there and be strong.

Time Spent With You

I found this beautiful song and it is simply lovely...I'm not ususally into these types of songs, but found this particular one rather arresting. Hope you enjoy the lyrics!

Brian and Jenn Johnson: A Little Longer

What can I do for You?
What can I bring to You?
What kind of song would you like me to sing?

'Cause I'll dance a dance for You
Pour out my love to You
What can I do for You beautiful king?

'Cause I... can't thank You enough.
I can't thank You enough
What can I do for You?
What can I bring to You?
What kind of song would you like me to sing?

'Cause I'll dance a dance for You
Pour out my love to You
What can I do for You beautiful king?

'Cause I... can't thank You enough.
I can't thank You enough
All of the words that I find... and I can't thank You enough.
No matter I try... I can't thank You enough.
Then I hear You sing to me

"you... don't have to do a thing
Just simply be with me and let those things go
'Cause they can wait another minute

Wait... this moment is too sweet
Would you please stay here with Me
And love on Me a little longer"

I hear You say...
"You... don't have to do a thing
Just simply be with me and let those things go
'Cause they can wait another minute

Wait... this moment is too sweet
Would you please stay here with Me
And love on Me a little longer
I'd love to be with you a little longer
'Cause I'm in love with you

Where is your Beauty?

There is no definition of beauty, but when you can see someone’s spirit coming through, something unexplainable, that’s beautiful to me.
- Liv Tyler


A person's spirit and true personality/character is a beautiful thing ...well it *can* be if it is the right kind. If it is one that is wholly focused and made up of nothing but God and His word then you have begun in a beautiful direction. If you set anything else up as what makes you to be you then you can't help but go down into destruction. So set yourself up strong...build yourself up with educational things: parents, God's Word, prayer, solid and drama-free friends, good books/music and a continual and primary development of a Christian life. This would include time spent in the Word and time spent on your knees. But it also includes time spent just soaking in our Father's words to *us*...just listening to Him, not just hogging all our time talking to Him and not seeking any answers or advice. Simple time spent selflessly seeking His will in our lives. Without that we aren't really looking to put Him first...we want to dictate and lead our lives according to whatever we want ultimately. Something I've learned recently is that even though we think ourselves wise and smart...we really don't know what is good for us. I've come to slowly realize that my parents really *do* love me and they know sooo much better then I do what is really *good* for me. Now we need to define "good". Good is not what appears to be good...nothing that appears to be good is good. Rather, that which "doesn't" look fun or exciting is good. That is what our parents seek for us and we push it away without seeing that it really is the very best for us. It's hard...but taking time to step back and see the reasons why we are asked to do or not do specific things that we don't think are good can open our eyes to see the truth and help us realize continually more and more how much those who are older and wiser are just trying their very best to guide us to the straight and narrow pathway. 

To the survivors:

Now that you're out of my life 

I'm so much better 

You thought that I'd be weak without you 

But I'm stronger 

You thought that I'd be broke without you 

But I'm richer 

You thought that I'd be sad without you 

I laugh harder 

You thought I wouldn't grow without you 

Now I'm wiser 

Though that I'd be helpless without you 

But I'm smarter 

You thought that I'd be stressed without you 

But I'm chillin' 

You thought I wouldn't sell without you 

Sold 9 million 

I'm a survivor (What?) 

I'm not goin' give up (What?) 

I'm not goin' stop (What?) 

I'm goin' work harder (What?) 

I'm a survivor (What?) 

I'm goin'na make it (What?) 

I will survive (What?) 

Keep on survivin' (What?) 

Thought I couldn't breathe without you

I'm inhaling 

You thought I couldn't see without you 

Perfect vision 

You thought I couldn't last without you 

But I'm lastin' 

You thought that I would die without you 

But I'm livin' 

Thought that I would fail without you 

But I'm on top 

Thought it would be over by now 

But it won't stop 

Thought that I would self destruct 

But I'm still here 

Even in my years to come 

I'm still goin' be here 

I'm a survivor (What?) 

I'm not goin' give up (What?) 

I'm not goin' stop (What?) 

I'm goin' work harder (What?) 

I'm a survivor (What?) 

I'm goin'na make it (What?) 

I will survive (What?) 

Keep on survivin' (What?) 

I'm wishin' you the best 

Pray that you are blessed 

Bring much success, no stress, and lots of happiness 

(I'm better than that) 

I'm not goin' blast you on the radio 

(I'm better than that) 

I'm not goin' lie on you and your family 

(I'm better than that) 

I'm not goin' hate on you in the magazines 

('m better than that) 

I'm not goin' compromise my Christianity 

(I'm better than that) 

You know I'm not goin' diss you on the internet 

'Cause my mama taught me better than that 

I'm a survivor (What?) 

I'm not goin' give up (What?) 

I'm not goin' stop (What?) 

I'm goin' work harder (What?) 

I'm a survivor (What?) 

I'm goin'na make it (What?) 

I will survive (What?) 

Keep on survivin' (What?) 

After of all of the darkness and sadness 

Soon comes happiness 

If I surround my self with positive things 

I'll gain prosperity 

I'm a survivor (What?) 

I'm not goin' give up (What?) 

I'm not goin' stop (What?) 

I'm goin' work harder (What?) 

I'm a survivor (What?) 

I'm goin' make it (What?) 

I will survive (What?) 

Keep on survivin' (What?)

4 months

I got to thinking yesterday...yesterday was July 25, 2012...in exactly 4 months from that date we will be unspeakably busy. That is my sister's wedding date. She's been engaged for about 2 1/2 months now and it feels like it's been ages...probably because we've been so incredibly busy with wedding plans!

My dad and I were the first two people outside of his family to know what was going to happen on May 9th (her birthday). She wasn't expecting it, I knew that. But propose he did, and she said yes. Now a little over 2 months later there is rarely a day that goes by without us talking or actively doing something that revolves around the wedding itself. Yesterday, Libby (bridesmaid), Rachel, Becca, and myself all worked on sparklers, which will be what sends the blissful couple off on their honey moon.

It's just so weird/hard to think that within just a few months she will be gone and married and we won't get to see each other every day or hang out and stuff. If any of you have gone through something like this you know what I'm talking about. Anyways...those are more thoughts for the day. I'm going to try and be writing more often..not only on my blog, but also poetry and story-writing. I used to a lot, but as time went on I slowed down until it crawled to a stop. Now I'm trying to be more time-efficient and so I'll have more of a chance to be reading and/or writing more often.

Thanks for reading.

Challenge for the day 7/26

Live in the moment: don't worry about anything else. Stop what you're doing right now and think about it. Think about it. Right now I'm laying in bed...curled up and cuddling with my favorite cat, Dudley. He is so precious and whenever I move too much he sighs at me and shifts. It's so adorable. I don't even quite know what it is that makes me love it so much. It reminds me of one of the last time I remember Tigger...our last cat. We got Tigger when he was just a wee kitten...very young. We raised him and if anyone says they had the best cat they are a liar...Tigger was the best. You could do anything to/with him and he would fall down and worship you. Anyways...one of the last memories I have of him before he was killed was one night when he slept on me...right up my middle..his tail on my tummy and his tiny cold nose straight up on my neck. It made me tear up then and it still does. So that's what's going through my mind...I'm grateful for my Dudley right now...he has truly replaced my Tigger and taken up the empty hole that was left after he died. So that is my "livin in the moment" moment for the day.

Have a wonderful day and thank you for reading!

Song for the day!

Ok, so I am a huge fan of cover artists! I just found a few today and this is one song that I stumbled upon and loved by them! Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn-_MyJV37E&feature=relmfu

An article I found on the Batman shooting

"Two days ago I asked the commonsense question, "Why didn't anyone fight back against James Holmes, the shooter who shot so many people in the Batman movie theater?" See that article here: http://www.naturalnews.com/036537_James_Holmes_Batman_shooting.html

Now the answer has become clear: Because Aurora, Colorado already has strict gun control laws on the books that make it:

• Illegal to carry a concealed weapon, even if you're a law-abiding citizen.

• Illegal to discharge a firearm in public unless you are a peace officer.

Thus, any person who would have shot James Holmes and stopped the massacre would, themselves, have been arrested as a criminal!

In Aurora, Colorado, it is illegal to stop a massacre

"I cannot help but think, if one person in that audience was carrying a gun with them, that person could have saved lives. Unfortunately - despite what some of the Left have said - this tragedy is an example of the importance of our Second Amendment Rights," reports Ron Meyer at CNS News (http://cnsnews.com/blog/ron-meyer/auroras-strict-gun-laws-didnt-preve...).

"Crime rates alone of cities such as Chicago and Washington D.C. prove that gun bans only increase crime. The D.C. police response rate is eight minutes; most crimes are done in less than one. Gun bans create a trouble-free world for criminals considering no one can defend themselves."

As a lawful, FBI-background-checked individual with a concealed carry permit, if I had been present in the Aurora, Colorado movie theater during this shooting, I would have been arrested and charged as a felon for discharging my own firearm aimed at James Holmes. It is apparently a "crime" to defend innocent lives, protect children, stop a shooting and end a massacre in Aurora Colorado. It is a crime to protect your own children from violence.

Violent criminals now know to target Aurora, Boulder, Broomfield, Longmont and other "gun ban" cities in Colorado

According to current Colorado law (http://www.coloradoceasefire.org/munilaws.htm), it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon in all the following cities:

Aurora, Boulder, Broomfield, Colorado Springs, Denver, Englewood, Lakewood, Littleton, Longmont, Northglenn, Pueblo, Thornton, Westminster, Wheat Ridge.

It is illegal to even OWN a large number of firearms in Thornton and Lafayette. In Aurora, it is illegal to carry a firearm in a vehicle! Thus, even driving to a movie theater with a firearm in your own car makes you a criminal.

These laws did not stop James Holmes from driving with a loaded gun in his car, along with explosives that were also found in his car. Once again, this demonstrates that gun control laws only disarm the public while allowing criminals to have "free reign" over a completely helpless public.

Here are some of the other gun control laws that already exist in Aurora: (http://www.coloradoceasefire.org/munilaws.htm)

1. "Dangerous weapon" includes firearm
2. Revocation of license for furnishing a firearm to a minor or someone under the influence.
3. Window displays cannot include firearms with barrels less than 12 inches long.
4. Unlawful to carry concealed "dangerous weapon"
5. Unlawful to discharge firearms, unless by law enforcement on duty or on shooting range.
6. Unlawful to possess firearm while under the influence of intoxicant
7. Unlawful to have loaded firearm in motor vehicle.
8. Unlawful for a juvenile to possess a firearm.

By definition criminals do not abide by such laws

Notice, again, that none of these laws stopped James Holmes. By definition criminals do not follow these laws. Thus, the only real impact of gun disarmament of the public is to create yet more victims by making sure the honest, law-abiding citizenry is completely defenseless against criminals.

So this answers my previous question of why nobody shot back. The answer is that all law-abiding citizens left their guns at home in order to "comply" with Aurora gun control laws!

This is precisely what allowed the massacre to produce such a high body count. Had just one person been in that audience with a concealed carry permit and a loaded firearm, they could have shot back and ended the massacre. The number of dead could have been sharply reduced. Lives could have been saved.

"Mass shootings can be stopped. People need to arm themselves with the facts (and with weapons). If one law-abiding person in the theater had been carrying a gun, lives could have been saved," writes Hillary Cherry at CNS News (http://cnsnews.com/blog/ron-meyer/auroras-strict-gun-laws-didnt-preve...).

And she's right.

Gun disarmament really means gun concentration in the hands of government

A disarmed public is helpless against crazed shooters. But the government wants you to believe that the answer to all this is yet more gun confiscation from law-abiding citizens.

This makes about as much sense as trying to fight a fire by throwing gasoline on it. If the reality is that police can't protect you and that honest, law-abiding citizens are forced to leave all their guns at home, then how are violent criminals (who ignore laws, of course) supposed to be stopped by forcing even more restrictive gun control laws onto the victims themselves?

The Aurora, Colorado shooting victims died in their seats because they could not shoot back. Now, Obama, Bloomberg and others want to actually promote those same victim conditions across the entire nation, practically ensuring more violent crime takes place against a disarmed and helpless public.

Washington D.C., it seems, will not be satisfied until we are all placed in the same seats under which the victims of Aurora, Colorado helplessly died. We are all to be made powerless, defenseless and totally dependent on government employees with guns (i.e. police) instead of having the right to defend our own families against random acts of sudden violence.

Now it all makes sense: Aurora, Denver and Boulder will be the perfect targets for future massacres because violent criminals who want to kill as many people as possible are smart enough to understand their odds are better when nobody can shoot back.

This is why Hitler disarmed the Jews, of course, before sending them to the gas chambers. It's so much easier to load people onto railroad cars at gunpoint if they can't shoot back. Disarmament has always been the aim of every government that sought total power over the People. Historically, this has almost always led to mass murder or genocide at the hands of corrupt, criminal government.

Self defense is a DIVINE right

The right to protect your person, your children and your family is a divine right, granted in alignment with the principles of our Creator. We see self defense reflected throughout nature, from the spines on a cactus plant to the ability of nearly every plant or animal to fight back against predators that would cause it harm.

The United Nations, which is an evil, destructive force of global domination, does not recognize the fundamental human right of self defense. Instead, it pursues a philosophy of a "monopoly of violence" in the hands of world governments.

The United Nations, in other words, is not truly "anti-gun," it simply wants all the guns in the hands of government workers and none of the guns in the hands of the people.

Remember this about gun control: No government seeks to eliminate ALL guns. It only seeks to monopolize the guns in the hands of government and thereby create a so-called "monopoly of violence" to be used against the People.

You don't hear governments, for example, say they're going to disarm all their police, disarm the FBI, disarm the ATF and disarm the military. That would be "disarmament" if really true. No, what they propose is selectively disarming only the public while concentrating the "monopoly of violence" in the hands of the government.

This creates a dangerous imbalance of power, especially given that cities and states are sharply cutting back on law enforcement budgets due to increasing debt. The police simply can't protect private citizens from violence, and the recent shooting in Aurora, Colorado absolutely proves it. Let there be no doubt that dialing 911 and screaming for help does about as much good as crossing your fingers and wishing for a magical genie to appear and take out the bad guy.

But we don't need magical genies to do that job. We already have millions of law-abiding citizens all across the country who responsibly carry concealed weapons, acting as a powerful deterrent to outbreaks of violence. Those citizens pass background checks, they get fingerprinted, they must pass training courses to show competency in handling firearms. But citizens who can stop crime are not welcomed in Aurora, Colorado!

Because stopping a massacre in Aurora is a crime!

Aurora, the city of surrender to violent crime

Aurora, Colorado should rename itself "the city of surrender" to violent crime. Welcome to Aurora! Disarm yourself and prepare to be shot, because even though you're not allowed to protect yourself, our police force is so thin and spread out that we can't protect you either. Good luck!

Mass shootings CAN be stopped. They can be stopped by private citizens working with the same aims as peace officers: to stop the violence immediately, thereby saving lives.

It is astonishing that cities like Aurora, Colorado do not allow citizens to protect themselves against violence. The deaths of those 12 victims rest squarely on the officials of the city of Aurora who deliberately created an environment of total helplessness that directly led to the unnecessary deaths of innocent people, including young women and children.

City and state officials of Colorado are, in my view, negligent in these deaths and should be sued by the families of the survivors for criminalizing self defense. Shame on these officials! Shame of those who demand that we all become victims of violent crime. Shame on those who call for yet more disarmament of the public which will inevitably lead to yet more violent crime that can't be stopped.

Think about these FACTS for a second

• The massacre in Aurora took only two minutes to carry out.
• The average response time of police is, at minimum, six minutes (and getting worse).
• A typical concealed carry holder can draw, aim and shoot back in less than five seconds.
Do the math."



Just another situation where the government is always seeking to take over and be as God to the people. 

How To Pop A Balloon 101

This morning I woke up and my days have begun to look different. I'm a different person. My life has been altered...I have been changed. There has been some kind of rebirth and due to it my personality and character has changed. I've become harder...more solid and tough. I can take anything now...it's like when you see someone go to hell and back. Once they get back they have all these awful stories, but they are so embittered and hard that they don't even speak them. There simply are no words to say. But they are different. They have a different view of life and of the people around them. They no longer care to be "here" in the world...but rather above it. To know and see things that are beyond them. To fly in the sky. It's like how a duck sits in a pond as it rains...they don't even care about the raindrops...their feathers are designed to be so the rain just rolls off their back. That is how I've become...my feathers have been built up so I can take anything...rain...hail...snow. It makes absolutely no difference. It even affects how you feel. Your face..your body...your words have a certain "hardness" to them. A weightiness that shows the experience and situations you've had to face. And you've had to face them alone. God was there, but in order to grow you up He has to take a step back and watch as you fight the demons and devils and even Satan himself. After you've faced the lions you come out with a certain swagger you don't even notice. But others do. They sense your fearlessness and your certain attitude that said "leave me alone or else". They give you a wide berth and that suits you just fine because you don't want them...you don't want anyone. You've given up on the thing you want most on this earth because that thing has been a rose in your heart, but they killed that rose and you were left with the thorns, which you had to rip out without a choice, cutting yourself in the process. They had no thought of it...and if they did they didn't care. If they did care then they wouldn't have done it. Sometimes pain causes the best happiness in the end. But pain without happiness is hell. I don't even want the happiness. Not now. Not ever. We all have those situations where it is downright hopeless...and there is not even one way that it could turn to good even if God interceded and provided a miracle. Even faced with those situations the human brain always thinks up some secret little thought...a daydream of some kind of miracle of how the situation might not be as hopeless as you would think. I've had that plague my mind for years now. Every time I ever thought the situation was hopeless my stupid brain would dream up some bizarre situation that would make it all okay...and it even made me feel better. But this time...there is no dream...I don't want the dream. I want this nightmare to last. I want to feel the pain and torture. I want to keep those thorns in my hand...constantly piercing my skin and causing extreme pain. The more pain I inflict and receive the tougher and stronger I'll be. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Stronger, faster, harder, tougher, better. I am a big girl...and adult. I will be 17 in exactly a week. What a happy birthday this is for me. If you have ever sat somewhere and just dreamed up the dream of all dreams...and I'm talking about the best and most impossible things imaginable...just think of that dream coming true...being able to be a reality. But then...in the matter of a simple week (end) it being over...that dream of dreams that has been a balloon blown up bigger and better each moment has suddenly and quickly been popped. And the person with the needle who popped it then turns around and says "oops, sorry" and promises to blow it up again for you. All you can do is just sit there and laugh at them. Because what they promise is absolutely ridiculous. There is no way on heaven or earth that what they want to come true is true. No, I take that back, there is a way...but they refuse to see it. They firmly believe that their way is the right way and they are doing it right. But you stand with everyone else...shaking your head and wondering how on earth they could possibly think they have it right. You turn to them and you find that you are even hardened at them...hardened because they think they can possibly make it right...but don't care to actually do it. No one can truly fix that balloon...there will be no more usage of it. So you need to just throw the balloon of a dream away...bury it in the garbage because if you keep it to look at you might actually miss that balloon...you might try to imagine it...somehow dream up that dream all over again...find some small tiny way that it could be a huge magnificent balloon all over again. But even then, deep down inside you know it will never be what it once was. It will always be that dead limp empty balloon that is a reminder of anything good, true, or beautiful at one point. If you keep that reminder you might just break down and cry at your weakest moments...and you can't have that...so out the reminders go. You fill the spot with toughness...almost an angry, bitter feeling. Without that you wouldn't have the strength to throw that balloon in the trash...to wake up every morning and feel human. But you don't feel human even then. You feel like some alien trying to make it through the day while pretending to fit in with the real people here. Real humans. You feel like some kind of a monster because someone actually cared for you at some point but then it turned out to be a mirage...a trick of your mind because it was a fraud. So you're back to that monster you were before...full of demons and crazy voices never letting you go. Never ceasing to bug you day and night that you are not what you could be with that dream in your back pocket. People tell you to dream and dream big...but I say that nightmares are more fun. Maybe that sounds sick, but nightmares make you tough...tough enough so you can look reality in the face and say "yes, you suck, but I am stronger then you and don't care if my dreams don't come true". That dream will become nothing but a distant memory soon. I have done it before...forcing it out of my mind. I have gotten over dreams before...I can do it again. And when they decide to come back and try to blow up that balloon they will find that I threw it away, it became buried in the trash and then someone came and took the trash out. What a reality crash that will be then. So in light of all of this...I am strong. I am a strong, independent young woman who has God and others on my side. Who can be against me? I have many behind me who fully support my toughness...my attitude about how to face life when it's nothing but crap...about how I can be a hardened independent and single woman doing everything for God and others but never for those who leave me behind during the most important times. My theme song for this post (since I'm trying to get more music incorporated into this blog) is Kelly Clarkson's song "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)":

You know the bed feels warmer
Sleeping here alone
You know I dream in color
And do the things I want

You think you got the best of me
Think you've had the last laugh
Bet you think that everything good is gone
Think you left me broken down
Think that I'd come running back
Baby you don't know me, cause you're dead wrong

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

You heard that I was starting over with someone new
They told you I was moving on, over you

You didn't think that I'd come back
I'd come back swinging
You try to break me, but you see

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

Thanks to you I got a new thing started
Thanks to you I'm not the broken-hearted
Thanks to you I'm finally thinking about me
You know in the end the day you left was just my beginning
In the end...

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

When I'm alone

New band = new music

During my time spent at Blue Lake I made one particularly close friend...her name is Savannah and she is so amazing! She is truly under appreciated so I wanted to write this blog post for her...she has this favorite band of hers. At first, I was a little apprehensive about listening to them...it was a new, strange band that I'd never heard of before (which is pretty rare). But after listening to them I discovered I really did like their stuff! So here is a link to one of my favorite songs by them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=GJ0z1LH6RJc

Thank you, Savannah! :)

Blue Lake!!

Hey everyone! I am headed off to Blue Lake for a week and a half...July 11-22...and I get super homesick and the BEST part of being there is all the letters I receive! Seriously...I run to my bed and there's a pile of letters from my amazing friends! So if you have time to write to me at all, I'd super love it! Please allow about 4 days for mail to arrive.


Sarah Bacon
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
Central Camp - Siena - Lazzell
300 East Crystal Lake Road
Twin Lake, MI 49457

A Call To Remember (repost from an email I received)

The only thing more difficult than finding the truth is not losing it. What starts out as new and precious becomes plain and old.  What begins a thrilling discovery becomes a rote exercise.  What provokes one generation to sacrifice and passion becomes in the next generation a cause for rebellion and apathy.  Why is it that denominations and church movements almost always drift from their theological moorings?  Why is it that people who grow up in the church are often less articulate about their faith than the new Christian who converted at forty-five?  Why is it that those who grow up with creeds and confessions are usually the ones who hate them most?

Perhaps it’s because truth is like the tip of your nose-it’s hardest to see when it’s right in front of you?

No doubt, the church in the West has many new things to learn.  But for the most part, everything we need to learn is what we’ve already forgotten.  The chief theological task now facing the Western church is not to reinvent or to be relevant, but to remember.  We must remember the old, old story.  We must remember the faith once delivered to the saints.  We must remember the truths that spark reformation, revival, and regeneration.

The Scriptures are fully true. Jesus is fully God. The Father appoints. The Son accomplishes. The Spirit applies. God created the world from nothing. God oversees everything. God can do whatever he wants, and he wants you to work hard. We are forgiven at the cross. We are justified by faith. We must show our faith with good deeds and holy lives. Jesus is our substitute. Jesus is the only way. Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead. Hell is terrible and forever. Heaven is eternal and better than we can imagine. Come to Christ. Come to the cross. Come and die, and behold, we live. Keep on saying these things over and over. And don’t ever forget.