NEW SONG!!!

We have been singing this song at church for a month or two now.
It is truly awesome.
For a long time now, I have admired the songwriter (Tim Neufeld) and I am, of course, !jazzed! that they released a new cd!

So here it is:
The Saving One by Starfield

What mercy was revealed
What selflessness and peace
My fate was surely sealed
Until He rescued me
His pardon for my sin
His bounty for my need
From slavery and shame
I am redeemed

And Heaven can't contain
The glory of the Son
Jesus is the Christ, the saving One
His love has made a way
The grave is overcome
Jesus is the Christ, the saving One

No fear can hold me down
Nor darkness steal my joy
For blood has been poured out
The enemy destroyed
Death could not hold Him down
The cross was not enough
To steal away His throne
For He is God

And Heaven can't contain
The glory of the Son
Jesus is the Christ, the saving One
His love has made a way
The grave is overcome
Jesus is the Christ, the saving One

Anyone who calls upon His name
They will be saved
They will be saved
Anyone who calls upon His name
They will be saved
They will be saved

And Heaven can't contain
The glory of the Son
Jesus is the Christ, the saving One
His love has made a way
The grave is overcome
Jesus is the Christ, the saving One (x2)

Anyone who calls upon His name
They will be saved
They will be saved
Anyone who calls upon His name
They will be saved
They will be saved

Yummy Meals

I have been trying to make my lunches (& dinners) more interesting-
especially because I have been eating by myself a lot lately-which isn't quite as fun.

For lunch on Wednesday I had:
-cucumbers, carrots, & ranch
-leftover fruit & chicken salad from Panera (a la Kelly)
-Zataran's rice pilaf
 I haven't ever had Zataran's and I found it quite delicious!
Pilaf is usually a mild dish with neutral flavoring but theirs had peppers which added a bit of spice & sweetness all at the same time- a lovely compliment to the buttery base.


Tonight for dinner I had:
-broiled chicken (cutlets- which is why they're so tiny in the pictures)
-leftover broccoli from last night
-leftover rice pilaf from Wednesday
-leftover cucumber from Taco Salad on Friday with lime juice & Mrs. Dash Caribbean spice (yum! pop! zing!)
It was uh-may-zing!!!
And it didn't take too long :) More microwaving than anything else :)
-can't forget the Dryer's Heath bar ice cream!

Nothing and Everything

This weekend was when I did nothing and everything.
Friday was a Furlough day at school and then Monday was Memorial Day, so.....
I had a four day weekend!!

Woohoo!
And in that time, I did quite a lot of nothing and quite a lot of everything!
Friday: nothingness, odds-n-ends, drove to Hanford to meet up with the seesters, where we.......
ate a humongous dinner at Superior (deviled egg sand which, potato chips, large chocolate shake!)
Saturday: yummy bfast made a la seesters and got ready for.......
ur grandparents came into town! which was a real treat!
(they never come up north and they never spend time with just us granddaughters!) We talked for a bit, played with Milo (who came along with his Mom: Kelly), and then went to.....
Ihop! Where we had a yummy and entertaining lunch paid for by Grandpa :)
Then we went outside, took some pictures, and got into the car, drove for a loong time to find ice cream at......
RiteAid! Quickly licked up the melting treat and went a few streets over to.....
the library! Quick but fun stop at the Woodward Park Library where there are always great movies, magazines, and books! Then we got in the car and took a short ride over to......
Woodward Park! Took Milo to the dog park, laid in the shade for a bit, and then

Cake

Something I started a long time ago.... (May 6th of 2009)


Can we have our cake and eat it too?

I volunteer at Easterby Elementary School doing outreach with Saturday Sports in a poorer section of Fresno.
I also have spent many hours volunteering at Neighborhood Thrift yet.....delighting in the fact that I live in a safe & affluent neighborhood.
Thinking these thoughts,
am I being hypocritical/inconsistent/insensitive?
Does this mindframe make my volunteering any less valuable or leave impressions in kingdom work without a kingdom life?
Am I living too simply?

Over the last few months my goal, anthem, and theme has been to: Simply Live.


Simply Live
Reading in Ephesians one day, I realized something I wasn't doing right. Although I was living, and living a life for God, I needed to adjust my focus. I needed to: live a life worthy of the calling (Ephesians 4:1). I needed to simply live.
Not necessarily live simply, but simply live. Live a life worthy of God's call of a life for Him. And that my dear, is simple. Not quite easy or uncomplicated, but not impossible or unachievable. And because of that, I can simply live. I must simply live

Polka dots and Moonbeams

mmm... this song just hits the spot!

A country dance was being held in a garden
I felt a bump and heard an "Oh, beg your pardon"
Suddenly I saw polka dots and moonbeams
All around a pug-nosed dream

The music started and was I the perplexed one
I held my breath and said "May I have the next one?"
In my frightened arms, polka dots and moonbeams
Sparkled on a pug-nosed dream

There were questions in the eyes of other dancers
As we floated over the floor
There were questions but my heart knew all the answers
And perhaps a few things more

Now in a cottage built of lilacs and laughter
I know the meaning of the words "Ever after"
And I'll always see polka dots and moonbeams
When I kiss the pug-nosed dream

mm, mm, mm-mm-mm!

For a late & light dinner, I had:
-a leftover potsticker with rice & veggies   and
-strawberry yogurt with some blueberries, strawberries, and cranberry, almond, cluster cereal all from Trader Joes.
yum!
so light, refreshing, yummy, and healthy!

WSM

Oh those three little letters. There are so many thoughts and memories wrapped up into that little acronym. sigh

I am involved with WSM (Well Student Ministries) and I am slowly starting to help lead a life group (Bible study) for junior and seniors in our high school group.
And although I have not been with WSM for very long, I have gotten to know my group of junior & senior girls pretty well.

While we have had many girls come and go, some consistent, some not so consistent, I have had a blast seeing God work in their lives.

Tonight was a fun time of reflecting, reviewing, giving advice, and honoring our graduating seniors & our three foreign exchange students. It was also definitely a time where I thought back to my senior night in high school. There was a lot of excitement finishing another school year, finally finishing high school, moving on to bigger and better, moving to another city to start college, and leaving the comfort, routine, and familiarity of home. Wow. The last few weeks of high school definitely included quite a handful of emotions!


Anyways, not that any of my girls will probably ever read this, but if you ever did, I want you to know that I am so grateful to have met you and get the chance to share life with you, and I will truly miss you next year Alex, Jenn, & Ally!
Good luck in your first year of college!
I know I certainly learned a lot during that first year! (which is definitely an understatement :) and I am so glad that I was fortunate enough to go to a school out of town just like two of you. My parents are huge supporters for me and I am so glad that you all have your parents' support and encouragement & finances to go into this next stage of life!
God has big things in store for all of you and knows how your first year out of high school will turn out- I urge you to continue following Him!

And now, onto the foreign exchange students who are returning to your home countries in a few weeks!
Tanya, Kristine, and Loretta, I am so glad that I met each of you, for every conversation we have had, and for the opportunity to live life with you!
Each one of you has taught myself and our group so very much about living in a foreign country, going to a new school, living with a new (and sometimes drastically different) family, about living in a completely foreign (for a lack of better words) environment, community, and world. You have taught us about God, your personal & host families, and about the struggle to live a 'normal' life far removed from your previous version of normal.
Thank you for stepping out in faith and choosing to live in the US, California, and in Fresno and Clovis.
Just as your lives will forever be changed by your time spent here in the US, my life will be changed from knowing you!

Lastly,
to all the junior, senior, and foreign exchange girls in our life group, Thanks!
Thank you for living with us, teaching us, and loving with us!
I have loved meeting every one of you and I am so thankful that God has placed you in WSM and in my life!
You are amazing, beautiful, and awesome girls and I thank God for each one of you!
You are a blessing, you are a gift, and you are a crazy amount of fun!