Sunday, May 17, 2009

Without Ceasing part#2

When should I pray? Well if you look at 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 It says we should pray without ceasing. My advice to you is to pray whenever you can, whenever you remember someone/a particular situation pray!! I pray when I'm in the shower (or I sing hymns), I pray when I'm doing dishes/chores, I pray in the car when I'm left to think, I pray whenever I remember a specific prayer request, I pray before my meals (obviously) but sometimes I extend it during my meals. Pray on your way to work, pray coming home from work, pray before you lay your head to the pillow, pray when you wake in the morning. Psalm 5:3 says, "O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." Psalm 88:13 "But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you." Psalm 119:147 "I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words." Psalm 88:1-2 "O Lord, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry." Mark 1:35 "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed." (Talking about Jesus) SO, it seems that God wants us to "Rise and shine, and give Him the glory, glory" (A hymn) So when you first wake, you do your devotions or whatever, put some prayer in there. And before you sleep pray to God. It's silent in your bed, so you may whisper or pray in your head. I love praying before bed because I have the whole day and I know I have things I need to confess that maybe I forgot to you know? So when should you pray? Answer: All the time! But, start the day off with prayer and believe me when I say you'll see a big difference in your attitude and your heart in throughout the day!!

What should I pray for? If you read above you can check out the guide ACTS. Some things I pray for is wisdom. I pray for a humble heart. I pray that my ultimate desire would be to serve my God cheerfully, and obediently. I pray "Create in me, a clean heart O God; and renew a right spirit within me." I Pray for genuine love. The kind of love in 1 Cor. 13: 1-13. I pray for a soft heart. I pray that God would each day make me more like Him. I pray that He'd grow my walk w/Him. I pray that I'd be modest in speech, attire, attitude, body language (which is another form of "attitude"), and thought. I pray that I'd never make my brothers in Christ or any man stumble. I pray for my sisters in Christ for the same. I pray for my friends, and my family. I pray for specific things that people ask me to. Don't know what to pray for? Start with your sin weaknesses. Ask God to strengthen you in those areas you need strengthening. Pray for others. Read the whole chapter of Romans 12. It talks about how we are to be living sacrifices (and other things) it's how we as Christians should be acting, where are hearts should be in a nutshell. If you really don't know what to pray about start with Romans 12.

Who's prayers does God hear? Psalm 66:18 "If I had cherished iniquety in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." What David means by these words, is that those who have sin in their heart, God will not listen to their prayers. The way how my Dad interprets this is God doesn't hear the prayers of the wicked. Like the non-believing. Some people will say "Well, what if a non-believer is praying to God asking Him to save them!?" What I would say to that is this, "Obviously God is working in their hearts (if they are being genuine) and calling them into repentence. Then, yes he's hearing that prayer. For, they are being called by God Himself." Daniel 10: 12 "Then he said to me, "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words." This was Gabriel the angel. God sent Gabriel (His messenger angel.) because He had heard Daniel's prayer! Mattew 18: 10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face who is in heaven." Is there a specific verse that says God hears the prayers of Children? The question is, is there a verse that says he doesnt? If you are Christian parents, encourage your children to pray to their Father in heaven no matter how young they are.

When does God answer our prayers? 2 Peter 3:8 "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." Peter was talking about when Christ would come back because the Jews were getting impatient, but I was trying to make a point to you that God is God. He will answer your prayer in His own timing. OR, He won't answer your prayer accordingly to your specific timing/will of whatever it is you prayed for. It may not be HIS will that you get the $1,000 you asked for. God will answer your prayer if HE WILLS, and in HIS OWN TIMING IF HE DOES WILL.

So pray without ceasing beloved, and see what wonders God does in your life! See the changes of the attitude, and the softness of the heart!

~Lissie Darcy

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Without ceasing part#1

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (English Standard Version, italics added.)

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Matthew 7:7-11 " Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and the one who knocks will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks you for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Esv, italics added)

I've been praying a lot lately. The Bible calls us to pray without ceasing. One thing I've noticed, when we promise ourselves to set aside a time to pray we don't normally get to it. Now, maybe that's just me. I know a lot of really organized people, so it could just be me. I don't say this to accuse anyone. I say this because this is what I've noticed in myself. What if a busy day comes? What then? Do I sacrifice what my plans are for the day to go to my God and thank Him, praise Him, confess to Him? Do I put God first? Same thing when you eat you know how you pray first because we put God before our stomachs. We pray first to thank God for the meal. As you see in the very first verse I wrote we are called to pray without ceasing. I have several points I wanna make in this post.

How should I pray? The answer to that is quite simple. First lemme point ya out to Matt.6:5-14 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." In other words don't be like the hypocrites who pray out in the open purposefully so all can see. When He says "they have received their reward" He means all the praises they receive on how "righteous" they are. They are hypocrites, their heart isn't really on Christ but on their selves. They will be judged one day. Ok, back to the Words of Jesus.

"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. " For example, the Catholic; they are very repetitive in their prayers. They have so many hail Mary's to say, etc. Jesus tells us NOT to pray like that because it doesn't matter how many times you say it for God to hear you. He already knows what we're coming to Him about before we come to Him.

"Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. " Get this I looked up hallowed and here's the definitions I got from different dictionary sources: regarded as holy, venerated, sacred: Hallowed be thy name, the hallowed saints. Source#2 1. HOLY, CONSECRATED 2. SACRED, REVERED. Thesaurus source#1 anointed, beautified, blessed, consecrated, dedicated, divine, holy, honored, sacred, sanctified, etc. etc.

" Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Father in heaven will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." I think that is pretty self explanatory.

There's also a cool little guide you can use. Acts! A-doration (Giving praise to your God. Adore Him.) C-onfession (we all know what that is) T-hanksgiving (Give thanks for the abudant blessings He bestows on us.) S-upplication (Ask God for what you need. Ask, seek, and knock. Matt.7:7-11 God knows our needs. But, we are told to ask, seek, and knock!) This is a helpful guide if you have faultering lips like Moses, and I. (We're partners.) No, seriously ask my Mom. I told her when I pray I'm like Moses. I have stumbling lips. I sound like a six year old praying. Our Pastor and an elder in our Church (whom I won't name because I don't have his permission) say such beautiful prayers. God cares about our attitudes of our hearts rather then the beautiful words we pray. We can be like the Pharisees and pray such "holy, righteous" prayers, but their hearts were far from God. In other words, those prayers are just pure flattery.

TO BE CONTINUIED!

~L. D.






Saturday, May 9, 2009

Introducing...JESSI BEAR

A while ago I said I was going to do all these new "blog series". Why you ask I didn't start on that like a month or so ago? Because I wasn't being realistic in doing a post everyday on the Scripture passages I had been reading, and every week on a family member. (Well the second is more realistic because it's every week once a week.) So, I appologize for not keeping my word. Jesus himself said let your yes's be yes, and your no's be no's. Like a good Christian I am, I totally did just that. Yeah, I'm kidding; hopefully you knew that.



So, as for the family blog series...



INTRODUCING...JESSI BEAR!!! Jess is 1 years old (Jan. 12). As far as looks go, her and Jonah have the Filipino side; the rest of us got the Irish side. That's ok though I hear there's a fear that there's becoming less and less people with red hair so hopefully we can pass it on!



Because Jess and Jonah are the two odd balls in the family, whenever we go grocery shopping we usually are asked, "Are these all your kids?". Haha. Funny, yet not funny because from the world's eyes a devource is so common a stranger isn't ashamed of asking if we all have the same parents.



Jess has this little blanky/bear that well as you can or maybe can't see used to be pink. We call it a "buddy". She has two of them. I don't know if you can see it but Buddy has a bow (a rather deformed bow now) and Jess likes to twist the bow while pressing Buddy against her chest; as she sucks passy. It's really cute and sweet. One thing I love about Jessica is when she loves something/someone she really loves it! She's only 1 years old and this human being feels love. A form of "matter" that just BOOM evolved doesn't feel love. It doesn't feel period! My Baby (Jess) feels love, anger, sorrow, "sillyness", etc. She's only 1 and she feels. Why do we need to teach our kids what 2+2 is and not "how to have the emotion "anger" or "Love" etc.?" Why do emotions come naturally? Answer: Because we are made in the image of God and God is a personal God with emotions.)

Jessi is terrified of grass, and has a love hate for stairs. It's really funny she'll sit on the last step and look up the stairs but if you actually put her on the first landing she clings to you and gets upset. Today I found out that she's not quite as terrified of grass as she used to be. I picked grass and sprinkled it on her and then she was looking at me like "EWWWWW" and of course she thought it was a game and started doing it with me. So there's one way to get rid of a child's fear.

If you say "Kisses" she will sometimes put her lips forward towards you, or other times she'll just put her head down for you to kiss her. It's really funny.

She knows how to say "ATE!" But, she likes to yell for me, "AHHHHHHHTTTTT!" It's funny! I love it. She knows her "rightful" place is my lap so if I sit somewhere and she comes along she'll plop herself in my lap. She's my little baby. If Jami or anyone else wants to come near me or in my lap she'll get mad sometimes. She'll yell at them and push them away. When she's mad at me she'll kick me. Hahah. Or reject me hoping I'll feel sorry for saying "no" or "putting her down so I can get other things done" LOL. I love that baby.

She loves books. So when she sees yur bookshelf, RUN AND DUCK FOR COVER! JK. She'll pull every book you've got off the shelf and just look at the pictures, and feel them. (We have a touch and feel book so now she's always feeling things. I taught her what it meant to feel, whenever we did the book I'd take her hand in mine and rub her hand on the soft part and say "sooooooofffft. soooooffft Jessi, soooft.") If you catch her feeling a book or anything, the way she says "sooffft" is "breeeeee" because whenever you swing her in the swings at the park you do "weee" but it's "brree" for her but in the tone of "sooooffft" HAHAHA. She thinks she's reading the book. She speaks gibberish and turns the pages. I keep telling her she'll be a great reader one day/writer.

And that's my Baby Bear!! I'll post some pics sometime this week so be sure to check back on this post.

LOVE,

~Lissie Darcy

For Uncle Zaiah

SERIOUSLY!! FO' ALL Y'ALL COFFEE LOVERS OUT THERE TOTALLY WASTE YO' TIME READING THIS post. Ok really don't bother reading it's pointless.

THANKS FOR THE FRENCH PRESS ZAIAH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THIS COFFEE IS DA BOMB! YEAH-YA! MM MM MM I'm drinkin that whole pot! WOOT WOOT! I'M GONNA BE SUPER HYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPEERRRRR WOAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

GIDDEY LONNGIE LIDDLIE DOGGIEEE

YEEE-HAW!

LOVE,

~L. D.

If.........

If you clicked on the link to the previous video I had put up then read this post IF you've watched it.

IF you watched it I don't know if you caught this or not but there were 4 different character "Types".

1. Opinion guy

2. Evolutionist fellow

3. I'm uncomfortable Dude

4. What's right for you guy a.k.a. "The Relative Thinker"

Ok so Guy #1 comes in and admires the painting, sees the signature and acknowledges that the painting has a painter.

Dude#2 Says, he hasn't heard anyone's opinion yet.

Dude#3 Says they should have a dialogue about it and talk about the painting and get everyone's opinion.

Guy#4 States how amazing the painting is and how it just fell out of the sky and formed "like so". There's your "Evolutionist Friend"

Guy#7 Says, "No painter!"

Dude#5 This conversation makes me uncomfortable...he leaves

Dude#6 Thinks that whoever you want the painter to be that's who the painter is. THERE'S YOUR RELATIVE THINKER FOR YA!

Guy#1 Says he has 3 reasons why he knows that there isn't a painter. 1. "How can we know he (sorry didn't quite catch the artist's name...) painted the painting when WE WEREN'T EVEN THERE!? 2. Everyone is saying he didn't do it. 3. If "so and so" painted the painting WHY DOESN'T HE JUST SHOW HIMSELF!?

Guy#3 Says to just enjoy the painting while they have it, and who cares if the painting has a painter or not.

Guy#7 He comes in and recognizes that the painting has a painter and says he loves the artist's signature etc.

BOOM! Then they quote Romans 1:19-20 and Dude#1 and #7 are talking and Dude#1 says, "Just because you can't see something, doesn't mean it's not there."

WOW! WOW! WOW! Why do these people not see that creation has a CREATOR!? Well, read the above verse.

This video was pretty amazing despite the corny aspect of it.

Much love,

~Lissie

Saw this on the Wretched site

This video was on the Wretched site thought it was hilarious!! So true. Why can't we be as creative as these people? Granted, it was kind of corny but there was truth to it. So here's the link. The link will take you straight to youtube not to the Wretched site. So HERE!

*I EXPECT...no DEMAND feedback peeps!!,

~Lissie Darcy

*By now, you know me well 'nuff to know that I was joking. Or was I....? Dun Dun Dunnnn

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

It started with a prayer, and ended with an answer...

As you may or may not know, both our vans have broken down. The first was like last summer our green 8 passenger van broke down. (originally a 7 passenger but we added a seat :o) Next our blue aerostar van that's as old as me (maybe just a little bit older :o) broke down not too long ago.

We've been praying and praying. I'm proud of both my parents because this is a crisis, no matter how small it still is one and they didn't complain once (from my eye witness) they didn't get frustrated and rebel against God. No, our home was at peace knowing God will provide one way or another or not at all if He wishes.

I just got done praying while I was vacuuming upstairs, for lots of things but I ended the prayer that we'd trust in God no matter if we had to go this whole year without a van, if it was His will that He'd provide us with the van.

Later on my Mom came down from talking on the phone with a few peeps, and asked us to guess the big news. "YOUR PREGNANT?!" (Is what I should've said cuz I usually do. COMMON WE NEED ANOTHER BROTHER TO MAKE IT EVEN AGAIN.--besides that's how the pattern goes anyways. Girl, girl, boy, boy. So far it's Girl, Girl, Boy, Boy, Girl, Girl...(TO BE CONTINUED!) But..I wasn't that brilliant in saying so--slipped me mind. She told us some awesome friends are giving us their van!! WOOT WOOT!

God does provide. This is like the second time this year and only within 2 mon. apart that God's answered my prayer so quickly; directly!! It's not always the case, but when it is all the praise, glory, and thanks is owed to Him. I'm going to end the post differently. I'll end it with the doxology cuz it's the perfect way to end this post!!

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen",

~L. D.

Scripture of the day

Proverbs 6:6-11 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

I chose this particular verse from today's Proverbs because I thought it was really funny. This morning it was my turn to get up before my Dad left for work and take Sophie out to go to the bathroom. We don't have grass in either of our yards yet so we have to walk to the park; that's why we must do it before my Dad leaves for work, so we aren't alone. Anyhow I did NOT want to wake up. I was like AGH THAT DOG! But, this verse called me a Sluggard 2 times. Isn't it funny how even the smallest parts of the day there's a verse for even the "little" moments that we so over look? I mean seriously!! Hahaha. It was funny.

Psalms 50:12-15 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and preform your vows to the Most High, and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify me."

And....

Verses 22-23 "Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart and there be none to deliver! The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"

I didn't choose this Psalm for any other reason other then I've been going through Psalms and this is the Psalms I left off at. I did however, choose those particular verses for a reason. If you notice God is reminding us whom thanks is owed to. I know how often I forget. I know God was talking about sacrifices but this verse still applies today only by prayer and living the life we are called to live. So I ask, have you thanked God today? For anything...the beautiful sunrise you saw on the way to work, the fresh air you were able to breathe due to your working lungs, the meal you just ate, the verse you just read that you really needed, the day God is letting you live, the gift card someone blessed you with, the time you spent with your husband or wife, the friends you have, the list goes on.......

I know I haven't thanked God today. So I must bid you all "GOOOOOD MORRRNNIIINNNG!!" and be off to thank my God!

In Christ alone my hope is found,

~L. D.

PS. **Copy right on the closing above** (JK) it's from a great hymn which I'm sure you all know about 8-D

Hymn of the week

The Love of Christ Is Rich and Free

The love of Christ is rich and free;

Fixed on His own eternally;

Nor earth, nor hell, can it remove;

Long as He lives, His own He’ll love.

His loving heart engaged to be

Their everlasting Surety;

’ Twas love that took their cause in hand,

And love maintains it to the end.

Chorus: Love cannot from its post withdraw;

Nor death, nor hell, nor sin, nor law,

can turn this Surety's heart away

He'll love his own to endless day.

Love has redeemed His sheep with blood;

And love will bring them safe to God;

Love calls them all from death to life;

And love will finish all their strife.

He loves through every changing scene,

Nor aught from Him can Zion wean;

Not all the wanderings of her heart

Can make His love for her depart.
(Repeat chorus)
At death, beyond the grave, He’ll love;

In endless bliss, His own shall prove

The blazing glory of that love

Which never could from them remove.~Indelible Grace


~L. D.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

CALIFORNIA HERE I COME!!

Tuesday the 28th, I woke up at 3 a.m. after getting three hours of sleep the previous night so I could be ready when my Aunt Mariah came around 4 a.m. to pick me up as we head on out to California!!

Now dear readers you are dear to me for reading my blog, some of you are good friends I only just met last year!! **Cough Cough** But, when I say "California here I come" I mean DEAR DEAR DEAR FRIENDS HERE I COME!! Oh how wonderful it is to be here in my home town/state where I spent twelve wonderful years of my life with the good and bad and the really funny stupid memories to look back on. Brandon, and Tyler (for those who don't know--my cousins) came too. Brandon got to see his Mom and me MY FRIENDS! My beloved Church family.

Paul the Apostle loved his Church so much...I love my Church family so much. I like to think just as much as Paul did. OH OH OH OH!!!! I'M SOOOOO THANKFUL FOR THESE PEOPLE!! I COULD CRY BUT I'M TOO TIRED AND MY EYES HAVE BEEN BURNING THESE PAST FEW DAYS AND THEY PROBABLY ARE BLOOD-SHOT. DON'T WORRY CHURCH IS AT ELEVEN THIS TIME :d!

Tuesday I stayed with my Aunt "TT". WOOT WOOT! I love her a lot. She's like a fun older sister. I pray that she comes to know Christ. (And that she moves out here. Hey I told her she could so bunk with me in my room. We have fun talks and do funny stupid things. At least I do.) We had fun. Went swimming. Watched a movie. Etc. Slept for TWELVE HOURS!! (Hey gimmie a break I had three house of sleep the previous night so I don't wanna hear it!!)

Wednesday I went to the Ware's house. They are like my adopted family..but then again I adopt all my close sisters and brothers in Christ. Hahaha. They adopt me too. So it's cool. Seriously it's like I have two families; one in Idaho my really wonderful, awesome family and one in Cali! The Ware's have two kids Miles and Rachel. Miles is Rach's older brother. Both of them are my older brother and sister. (Rach only by a couple of months. Miles three yr. I beleive)

It was awesome!! I got to sneak in their college classes with them. And then we went to Jamba Juice. We talked, got sugar high, anddddddddd got cold becuz the air conditioner was right over us and plus we got these big ol' smoothies. THEY'S BIGGER THEN OBAMA'S MAMA! (NOPE WASN'T MOCKING OUR PRESIDENT..I...I...I..WAS JUST WELL HE WAS THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF TO RYHME WITH "MAMA" AT TWELVE-ALMOST ONE IN THE MORNING!?) Anyway's then I spent the night at their house that night. It was awesome. Rach and I stayed up til 2:30 in the morning. Their Mom (Whom I call Auntie Lynn) practically adopted me. SHE'S AWESOME!! I love her a lot!!

Thursday I went over to the Erickson's. My good partner in Crime (we're mischief makers 8-D) Nat and my good friend Katy's house. It was so much fun! I got to watch her in Karate class and these two and four year old girls were talking with me while they watched their sister. Yup I'm so desperate as to talk to a stranger's kids because I miss my own babies!! I missed having a baby always on my hip or lap. I can't wait til I'm a Mom. But then again I can because 1. I'm not ready 2. I'm still learning 3. POOPY DIPERS YUCK! jk. Anyways the Mom didn't mind. I was kinda keeping them quiet for her LOL! And Tim and Andrew came to Karate and Claire too. (Church friends!!)

And then Natalie, Katy and I watched this movie called The Ultimate Gift. We did that and eat candy. And then at eleven we went to bed and stayed up talking til 2:30 in the morning and then "five minutes later" the clock said 4 in the morning! LOLZZZZ! Nat and I wanted to attempt to stay up til 7 in the morning! lol and WE DID! Once it got down to 5 in the morning it took forever to get to seven. So we made a deal that we had to sit up til then and if either one of us laid our heads on our pillows we'd have to hit that person in the head with our pillow. LOL. We failed at that. We laid down. But, we didn't fall asleep. We stayed up til seven in the morning and got up from there. Oh and Katy was awesome! She woke up and was watching us say loopy things and make jokes that if we were to tell you them now you'd probably think we were retarded and not "funny" HAHAHA.

Friday Nat and I went to her Spanish class at Solono Fairfield college (Which my Dad informed me that it was weird I was there because he and my Mom were in jclass not paying attentinon while they were trying to come up with a name for me. LOL! baddd parents! badd!) and their computer class. It was awesome because their computer teacher was sooo cool! He was so nice. They snuck me in and he was like in the middle of getting ready to start and he's like OH..Oh, "Who's this?" And we started chuckling and then they explained and he was making random comments/questions to me during his class like "Where you from Jordyn?" (And yes he said it like that. ) It was awesome. At the end he's like "Come back any time Jordyn, come back anytime." I was laughing. I'm like OK! Sure! Lol And then we couldn't have park day because it was rainy so the Wares invited me and the Erickson's over to play games. Which we tried that but at one point (uh at several points) Natalie and I were so tired our eyes were moving faster then we could process so we couldn't read the words on the game cards. We tried for like five minutes and kept passing it to each other to see if the other could read it and we couldn't. Tim (Who btw, Tim, Claire, and Andrew are basically the kids of the people who started the house church we used to go to when we lived here. MAN I LOVE GRACE FELLOWSHIP! (The name of the church XP!) was looking at Natalie and I and was like "Um..do you guys want some coffee or anything? Because I can give you some coffee, some Dr. Pepper, etc" It was so funny. I was crying. (Or maybe it wasn't funny maybe this was the "Melt down" my parents were telling me I was going to have if I didn't take a nap. Hahaha. Course they didnt' say I had to take one they said I should. But, I can't nap! That'd defeat the purpose of staying up! It's also like this: I never see these beautiful people now. These people I still love so dearly. So I couldn't waste my time with them napping--no, I chose to stay up so I would suffer no matter how heavy my eyes were. Oh and the best thing is that now I love them dearly yes but they aren't/friends in general aren't an idol for me. Thought I should post that. It was a hard lesson God took me through--really hard. But, I learned it and am glad. I was putting friends/people I love in general (such as my parents :_J (that was my own smilie I made up!) higher then God. I know ouch. Big time.)

And then Nat, Kate, and I went to the Ware's again. They don't do sleep overs (unless it's the friend who's sleeping at their house :_J) so they came til like eleven or twelve and we hung out. Anyways it's awesome. We started this tradition where we walk up to the little store called "Oats" by the Ware's house and we buy a HUGE soda and by THE WHOLE BOX OF SOUR BELTS. Well, you know when they sell candy in stores they have a big box of them and normal people just take "A" candy? Well we bought the whole box!! Well, this year we bought the box, the soda, and added a new addition: the whole box of recesses (wow I can't spell that right now hahahah) peanut butter mini cups!! And last year the lady for some reason got mad at us and this year it was the same lady and she got really mad at me. I was going to count how many recesses there were because it's ten cents per recesses so the box of them were on the counter so if you were buying your stuff and you wanted to take one it's right there. So basically I pulled the box closer to me so I could reach it better and start counting and she SNATCHED the box out of my hand and said, "NO, THE BOX NEEDS TO STAY HERE WHERE IT CAN BE WATCHED!" and I was like...yeah ok. And it's funny the girls always make me order or they give me the money and I give it to the lady because the lady knows them so well they're like timid. IT'S HILARIOUS! It was like that again this time except the girls stood behind us so I guess it doesn't count :) And Miles always stays with me. Hahah. THANKS OLDER BROTHER! I don't know how to do math so I need someone! JK TOTALLY JK Anyways the lady looks at us and is like, "Well how many are you planning on buying!?" And me in my cheerful way (no seriously I was tired and exicted at the same time. Scawwwyyyyy) said, "Oh, we plan to buy the whole box." LOL SHE WAS SOO FRICKEN PISSED!! IT WAS HILARIOUS! And all of us are like, "What you don't want our money!? IT'S NOT COUNTERFIET! I PROMISE! IF IT WAS OBAMA HIMSELF WOULD PRINT HISSSS FACE ON THE FRONT! ok..i need to stop with those jokes :D) Anyways she sighs and goes in the back and gives us a whole new box. SO WE GOT SOUR BELTS SPLIT IT BETWEEN THE FIVE OF US AND THE RECESSES AND THE BIG SODAS! WE WERE SO HYPER! It felt good though after no sleep. And we played nerts, and pirate dice [Side Note: Pirate dice. If you've seen Pirates of the Carribean 3 you know ...oh wait..or is it two? you know what I'm talking about =)] and talked, and I can't remember what else. I'm slowly going brain dead. Then after Kate and Nat left Older brother, Rachey, and I played nerts until eleven. So technically I was up for a whole twenty-four hours!!!!! OH YEAH! And when I went to bed Rachey said I fell asleep sitting down hugging my pillow and she woke me up and told me to lay down so I didn't wake up with a really stiff sore back. Lol

Saturday I woke at 6:45 a.m. and we played nerts again and then went to the shooting range where they take shooting classes. (It's funny they have these targets and they always are like "Man I'm doing terrible" but I think it'd be fun and I might do well on it because my Dad said I'm a good shot. I have really good eyes site too. I saw the heads of three nails on a door railing thing like fifty feet away from it!! I'm so glad I don't have to wear glasses or contacts. Esp. Contacts becuz anything with eyes grosses me out. I can't even touch my eye to get an eye lash out. ) Anyways, it was fun. It was rainy and they were bbqing because it was only suppose to be 30% chance. And so it made a smoky smell like a fire and it was warm and toasty inside and so we all felt like we were camping. Nat, Kate, and I played nerts while they were waitin for there turn to go shooting. They do it in two rounds. Tim, nat, and I played Liar. It's like pirate dice except with cards. It's fun. And then we had a big lunch of hot dogs, chilli, chips, soda, brownies, cake, and cookies. I was SOO SUGAR HIGH and it woke me up. The smoky smell, and the warmth made me a bit sleepy. [well that and lack of sleep hahaha but i was actually better this morning then on Friday day. lol] It was awesome. And when we were done hanging out and eating everyone said bye and left. Then the Wares and I went back to their house hung out some more and got sugar high on our left over Jamba Juices (told you they were the big size) and played more nerts. And talked and laughed, and watched one of the x-men. Part of it at least. While Rach and I tried to build amazing card houses and failed well at least I did. And then I was dozing off during x-men. And then I had to say good bye to my adopted/second family and go to my Lola's. She cooked for me. MMMMMMMM mmmmm mmm! Ribs, and sour Filipino soup and I don't wanna say what it's called cuz I've never known how to spell it. And then TT came over again to hang out and talk and text and talk to my Mom both of us at the same time it was awesome except I think she was getting tired and I was talking too much. (That's usually the case. What you Can't tell with my long posts?) And now here I am TYPING THIS TO YOU!

OK one more thing. I planned on learning to play guitar because it's portable and we don't have a piano and our attempts at singing aquapella and well trying to harmonize when we have no clue how to read music SUCKS. Besides if I learn to play guitar I can learn Ruff style of hymns and we can sing them. And I can teach music to my parents/family. So SWEET. Only problem was we had to buy the guitar and well yeah. I knew nothing like if there were sizes or not. So I e-mailed Miles because he knows cuz he plays and he told me everything I needed to know and he offered to give me his old acousitc he grew out of. I was sooooooooooo happy! What a blessing now we don't have to pay $50 for a guitar that ends up being really cheaply made or something. (my fear =) Anyways so here in Cali he put new strings on it for me and then he offered me to take one of his electrics too!! I was shocked. But, then not really. He's my brother so why not give his sister his electric? WHY NOT GIVE ME ALL YOUR MONEY MILES AND RACHEL SERIOUSLY YOU'RE SELFISH! ok that was corny and stupuid. Never mind. Lol. So I said no. I didn't wanna take his electric...yet secretly I did. But, common! Anyways I ended up w/ the electric cuz the acoustic's strings wouldn't stay on and well it didn't like me **Waaa**. Anyways I WAS SO HAPPY!! I WAS LIKE YES! Becuz my plan was to learn acoustic but as soon as possible play the electric. So, THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH MILES!! I'M SO EXCITED!! I can't wait to start playing.

So yup. I'm so terribly sad. I'm leaving here Monday. It wasn't nearly long enough. I hate that I only see these wonderful people once a year now. That sucks. I want to see them waay more then that. I wish I could stay another week or two!! **deep sighs**. Man. I'm so sad. SO sad. I might even cry when I leave. I never cry. I'll try not to though. I'll try to be brave. Being brave is so hard though sometimes. Sometimes you don't want to smile anymore. Sometimes you want to cry. Sometimes you want to laugh hysterically in the back of Spanish class because it's the next best thing to crying after losing a whole night's worth of sleep. (Yes I almost did it. I did laugh but very, very, quietly. I almost bursted out like a crazy woman in class laughing for no reason because I couldn't lay my head down on th desk or I'd fall asleep and druel. Yes when I'm in a ddeeeeeeeeep deeeep sleep I druel. Nice to know eh? )

AHH, my dear friends. Thank you for having me over. Thank you for making my time here extra special. Thank you for taking away my sleep, thank you for the electric guitar, thank you for giving me all your money, thank you for the sour belts and recess I'M RICH IN CANDY!, thank you for the awesome Jamba Juice, trip to Ross, the awesome time today at the shooting range, the awesome converstaions, the awesome nerts games, the awesome laughs, the awesome laughing so hard that you cry, the awesome hugs hello **Cough cough natalie**, for letting me make a lady think we were...um. gay or seriously having issues. (It's not as bad as it sounds trust me. I just was hugging Natalie because she gave me a chocolate rose and i was like "OH you love me? I love you too" and I was huggin her and was like gimmie a big kiss thanks so much for the pweetty rose and this lady down the isle in wallgreens was looking at us like..."umm....righhhht..I'm just..yeah i never saw that." and it was sooo funny. oh well sugar does things to ya), for the awesome lunch at Taco bell, for the awesome IM conversations, for the awesome EVERYTHING.
Now do one favour for me....HIDE ME IN YOUR CLOSET SO I DON'T HAVE TO GO. DARN IT!

Well, I love ya Nat. I love you Claire, I love you Katy, I love you Rachey, I love you Auntie Lynn, I love ya Anna! I love you Allio's and I'm sad I won't see you Sunday!

The sweet blessings in life are the little tastes of what heaven is going to be like. Enjoy it while you can and go preach the word, read your Bible, pray to God, for this life is here today...and gone tomorrow. Never forget that. Live like you will never see these people in your life again. (Thank you DADDY FOR THE LETTER!! I LOVE YOU! I READ IT TUESDAY but wanted to thank you properly.)

Good night readers my eyes are now little slits part of the fun :-d,

Lissie

PS. It's sad. We're all growing up. If I keep doing this every year one time a year, eventually one day I'll be back and one of us will be married. Where does the time go!? Everyone's already driving. Next time I come up here I'll more then likely have my License. It's so sad.

Ps.s. I can't believe I get to go to my "old" (no Grace fellowship will never grow "old" just the people. Old friends.) church home. It's great to see everyone. G'NIGHT!!