The End of the Year

When I look back over this school year, I have a lot of memories. There were good ones and bad ones too. One of the most memorable would have to be dinner theater. It was so much fun getting to do a bigger part and the story was a wonderful one. I don't miss the hair gel though...
It was also fun getting to make new friends such as Zhiyi and Valissa. A friend of mine encouraged me before school even started to be intentional to get to know people, and i feel like I was and did get to know more people this year. I always struggled with being shy, but I felt like I was less shy this year.
I had fun at Hershey Park last Friday and it is definitely one of the good memories.
It will be sad to have to say goodbye to my friends that are seniors, but I know they are looking forward to what the future has to bring. 
I am curious as to what next year will bring for me and the rest of the student body.

Reflections on writing

As I look back over my writing, I can see a change. I remember looking back at my stories I wrote for fourth grade english and there is definately a difference. I also remember writing a story for my cousin based on a game he made up and I think I have learned how to write more efficiently and with better grammer. I also think I have imporved with my poetry. It was neat to learn about different types of poetry such as the triolets (they were my favorite). 

I have to say, I think creative writing is very beneficial and it has helped me know better ways to write and gather my thoughts before writing. I enjoyed the different writing activities when you were just given some words and then had to write something with them. 

It was a good year. 

Pre-thoughts to watching The Woman in Black

So...I've decided to watch the Woman in Black. Yes, this may be a bad idea and there is a strong possibility that I will get nightmares. I do think that it is fun to scare yourself which is why I want to watch it.
My friends Abigail and Bekah saw it and said that it was good and scary.  I plan on starting it this evening and then re-watching it on the way to my cousin's wedding on Saturday.
I do not believe in ghosts, but there are some that do. I do believe that there is a spiritual world, which the Bible hints at. 
I do know some of the things that happen, thanks to my friends, and I did watch the beginning and ending scenes. The fact that the Woman in Black, the ghost of the story, targets children is just creepy. Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the Harry Potter movies, plays the main character Arthur Kipps. From what I saw, he does  an excellent job and I am excited to see how he acts throughout the rest of the film.
So, yeah. Scary movie here I come....

The Woman In Black movie cover

Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Kipps

Notice the creepy thing to the right of Dan

A place that has changed for me is my old school. I went back a few times, and it just felt different. I had attended there from Kindergarten to the middle of sixth grade. That place holds many memories for me. From playing on the play ground after school every day with my friend Brandon Orner to the many field trip and programs i was require to participate it. I also found that my class mates seemed different too. They seemed distant if that is correct term to use. I will always remember the times I spent there, but I am very glad to be where I am now. 

End of the Spear Movie Review

In Church History, we just watched the movie End of the Spear which is about Nate Saint and the other missionaries who were killed on Palm Beach while trying to reach the Auca (now called Waodoni) people.

There are some disappointing things about the movie first off. One, Chad Allen [who played both Steve and Nate], the actor who plays Nate/Steve Saint(adult) is openly gay . Many Christians spoke out about this but the real Steve Saint, Nate's son who was involved with the making of the movie, said that Chad had the best audition and in the end that no one else could have portrayed his father better. I have to agree that Chad did very well with the role.

Second, at the end of the movie we see Steve at the site of the attack with Mincaye, the one who speared his father. Mincaye says to Steve to kill him and Steve nearly does. This never happened in real life and they just added it in. 

The movie focus a lot on Mincaye and his people. The actors speak Waodani and it is very cool to hear those that portray the Woadani Indians actually speaking the language.

Another negative element that is to be expected is the natives and their way of dress. There is also the attack scene which is violent due to the spearings of the 5 missionaries. 

I have seen the movie twice before we watched it in church history and I do like the movie a lot. The story of the bravery of the missionaries is inspiring. The one quote that stood out to me was when little Steve saint asks his dad, Nate, if they will use their guns if the Waodani attack. Nate says no and "We cannot shoot the Waodani because they aren't ready for heaven. We are ready for heaven." 

End of the Spear movie cover 

Chad Allen as Nate Saint 

Chad Allen as Steve Saint

Mincaye attacks Nate Saint (Chad Allen) in the movie

The Real Nate Saint

Camp Susque Retreat 2012

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to the Hazelton Retreat that I went to last year. It is a Reformed Baptist retreat for Sr. High and it is such a fun time.The fellowship is truly wonderful.  Our speaker this year was Jeremy Mendenhall and he spoke the matters of God's kingdom. I learned a lot and it was such a blessing to hear him speak from God's word. Interestingly enough, Pastor Mendenhall and his wife were at my baptism and he knows my father.
One of my favorite things at the retreat was the night game. It was called underground church and we had to find the underground/secret church and not get caught by the counselors who were the police. Did i mention the game is played in complete darkness the counselors have flashlights and are trying to catch us. Once you got to the church you got a bible and had to wait for 14 people to get there so that you could go out and give one to the counselors. All in all it was fun game. I wore black shirts and hat so as not to get caught. I manged  to skid on stones and scrap my side and elbows. It was great.
It was definately sad for me to leave but and I am super stoked about next year.

There Will Be a Day by Jeremy Camp

 THERE WILL BE A DAY

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth
That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you?re walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you?ve walked out all alone

Troubled soul don?t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that?s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life?s sting

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/j/jeremy-camp-lyrics/there-will-be-a-day-lyrics.html ]
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I can?t wait until that day where the very one
I?ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I?ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery
O, this is why, this is why I sing

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day he will wipe away the tears
He will wipe away the tears
He will wipe away the tears
There will be a day

This song has such a great message and had

been a comfort to me when I have listened to it. 

It speaks of a day when we will no longer hurt, 

there, will be no more tears or sin. It is heaven. 

God will wipe the tears from our eye and we will 

be with him forever! I can't wait until that day comes.

Praise be to God!  

Showing Cows

This summer I am showing cows for the first time with my friend Becky Benedict and her family. They registered a calf under my name too!!! I didn't buy her but, it's kinda like a lease thing. So in a sense..I have my own calf. My calf's name is Winipeg and she is adorable. She's afraid of everything right now and gets startled easily. But with lots of work and love, she's get better.
I will be showing in two fairs right now: Shippensburg Fair and Franklin County Fair. There is also a fair in Harrisburg in October, but I am not sure if I will show there. Since Winipeg is under my name, I can show her in the Junior class and Open class. Having her under my name just means that I can participate in more events. I am also now a member of the Holstein Association.
So far I have learned how to clip cows. I actually learned  during  Friday Dutchfest set up and they said I did a good job for my first time. Then this past saturday [May 12] I clipped Winipeg with Becky at her house. We also clipped Becky's show calf whose name is Catlin.
I  have to go out soon and start leading Winipeg and practice for shows. It will be fun and I am thankful for the opportunity.

Shaving Winipeg 

 

 

 

 

Winipeg 

One of my rituals

Every night before I go to bed I simply must do things in a certain order or else it will bother me. Weird, I know, but it is necessary. First, I have to used the restroom before I brush my teeth or wash my hands. Second, I get my toothbrush, put toothpaste on it and then commence with the brushing. After I brush my teeth, then I wash my hands thoroughly. Then I go to my room. put my pillows on the floor at the end of my bed and then arrange my stuffed animals in a particular order. I do this every night and feel a little OCD....but it's what I am accustom to doing.  Then I read out of the Bible where I am reading and then read from my Soul Surfer Devotional. That is one of my daily rituals.

War Horse Movie Review

This past Saturday I watched the movie War Horse with my mom and I thought I would do a review about it.
Overall, I think the movie War Horse was very well done and historically accurate. The movie really should pull at your emotions and I think they were very effective at doing that. The movie is about a horse who is taken to be used in WWI for the British soldiers. We see Joey passed from the British to the Germans and then back to his original owner who trained him and didn't want his father to see Joey. All of the people Joey gets passed to die except for his original owner whose name is Albert.
The trench warfare was well filled. 
The only violence in the film is war violence( soldiers getting gassed, shot, ETC) and some cruelty to the horses. Joey at one point gets trapped in barbed wire and struggles to get free. Two young Germans are shot for deserting ( You hear the gun shot and then see them on the ground). There is some language in the movie also.
All in all I really enjoyed the film and would watch it again.

Braveheart

I just watched Braveheart with my mom this week. I had been wanting to see it for awhile and on Monday I got it out from the library. The one reason i wanted to watch was that it's about William Wallace, the hero of Scotland. Mel Gibson, who directed the Passion of the Christ, stars as Wallace and he did a good job. Basically, I was interested in the historical side of it. William Wallace is a very historical figure in Scotland. He is the subject of the movie Braveheart. After many great victories against the English, he was arrested and executed (hung, drawn and quartered and then beheaded). Today he is viewed as a hero to the Scottish people and a monument was erected to him. 
the one thing i didn't like about it was all the fighting in the movie and the execution scene wasn't gory but it still wasn't fun. Wallace was willing to die for freedom that the Scots wanted and that is very brave.

Mel Gibson as William Wallace

Rain

Unlike some people, I like it when it rains. Now if i had somewhere to go that was outdoors, it'd be a different story. I think I don't mind cloudy weather or rain because it reminds me of Ireland and England. I also like to hear the rain beating against the window when it's raining outside. I also like the smell of rain when you walk outside before the rain even begins. We also need rain to water the earth and help the plants grow and stay green. God provides rain so that that can happen. We also need rain so that farmers' crops can grow.
Yes, so I really like the rain and overcast days. I really do.

Carry Me

I wandered again from you 

I have fallen off the path 

I  feel far from new 

I feel so lost and alone 

The cross seems so far off 

Yet, I long to draw near your throne 

Carry me in you arms, Father 

For I am weary and heavily burdened 

I can't go on any longer 

Give me hope, for I have none 

Give me strength for I need it dearly 

Your love is never undone. 

                            

What I want to learn how to do

Something I want to learn how to do is surfing. Ever since I watched Soul Surfer and grew to like it, I have wanted to attempt to surf. I hear though that it's not the easiest thing in the world, but yet it looks so easy. I think it's just such a epic sport. The way that a surfer is able to ride the wave is to me, simply majestic. I really would like to learn how to surf or at least try to surf at some point in my lifetime. Unfortunately, the beach I go to each August doesn't have any good waves or surfing spots. So I will not be surfing there any time soon. I hope that someday I will at least be able to give surfing a try. 

Childhood in a trunk

1. Bo. Bo.

 I wouldn't dream of put it in the trunk, but a special item from my childhood is my FAVORITE stuffed rabbit,   named Bo. Bo. I got him when I was one year old and sleep with him every night. Bo went on almost every trip with me and I used to drag him around the house when I was younger. Bo is very worn out now but I intend to keep him forever.

2. The Disney movie Pocahontas

 Pocahontas was my all time favorite movie when I was little. I used to watch it all the time! We were constantly checking it out of the local library. It also got to the point where I was Pocahontas for Halloween one year. John Smith was always my favorite character and Meeko the raccoon always made me laugh. This movie definitely was part of my childhood.

3. Recorded Stories i listened to at night
 A lady that was at our old church, whose name is Mrs. Leone, read and recorded many different children stories onto a cassette for me when I was little. I listened to that tape until it wouldn't work anymore. Some of the stories were Paul Reveres' Ride, Make way for Ducklings, Goodnight Moon, and many others. Mrs. Leone had a very soothing voice, perfect for reading children books. I can still remember some of the stories that she read on that tape. That is definitely a strong childhood memory for me.

The Wonderings of a Disciple

It had been a long couple of days. The we could hardly believe what had just happened. Our beloved master and friend, Jesus, has been put on trial and crucified. John himself had been there when Jesus died and when they brought his body down from the cross. What about all the glorious things He'd promised us that would happen. What about his claim that he would rise form the dead? Had it all been in vain?
As these thoughts were racing through the disciples' minds, Jesus suddenly appeared and stood before them. All of is were terrified and thought that he was a ghost. Jesus showed us where the nail pierced his hands and were the spear went into his side. When some of us still were in doubt he ate a piece of fish in our presence and then we believed. We fell at his feet and I felt like my heart would burst with happiness. He was alive!!! My Savior lives, and so shall I! Death is defeated.
Jesus stayed with us longer and told us to go into the world and teach in his name,  baptizing those who believed. He also promised that he would be with us always, even to the very end of the age. He also instructed that we wait in Jerusalem until he sent us the Holy Spririt.
After Jesus said this, He was taken up into heaven and we just stood there, staring up into heaven. The two men clothed in white stood before us and said that He would return in the same way he had left us.  What a promise. He will return someday! We may not know the day or hour, but He SHALL return.
                        ~ James son of Alphaeus

He Is Risen!!!

Dutchfest

Dutchfest will be arriving shortly just like it does every year. Ever since I came to Shalom I have greatly enjoyed it. In fact, I can remember selling drinks in sixth grade when we had Miss Strite. I really do think that Dutchfest is really neat tradition that Shalom has and does it each year.
One thing that I really enjoy at Dutchfest is the book room. I've had some really good finds in the past years. Last year I found a little book called: A Biblical Guide to the Passion of the Christ. I love being able to get books for really great cheap prices. My dad likes to look around in the book place too.
I also looooovvvveee the strawberry pie that they make. It is like eating heaven. I always get a piece each year and it is so yummy. It is also fun to see the tents being put up and thinking, "Is Dutchfest here already???"

At the cows at Dutchfest. I love cows :)

August

A month that has significance to me is August because that is when we go to my uncle's beach house in Rehoboth , Delaware. Most of my dad's side comes down and we all spend a week together. The house is right on the Delaware Bay and it is really fun to take the Jet Skis out for a spin. This past year I got to drive one for the first time and had a blast! I even took my cousin Laura out another time during the week. There is a swimming pool there and we can swim whenever we want to, which is nice. I also see it as a time to get to know my family members better. In fact, this year I got to play Wii with my older cousin Phil and it was great to just talk with him and get to be closer to him. He's a Harry Potter fan too. ;)  I'm not really a beach person though, so often I just chill out at the house.
That is why August is significant to me.

All for Love

All for love is why he chose to die

"It is finished!" was his cry

He embraced the cross for and for me

How can it be? How can it be? 

Jesus paid what we cannot 

What is our lot? 

He made all things new 

As new as the morning dew 

He hung on the tree 

A

  

French Fries

When I eat french fries, it makes me think of good, fun, lovely times. Like when I've gone to the Greenvillage Diner with my mentor or with my dad. Greenvillage Diner has the best fries in the world, next to Wendy's. If I had a choice though, I would defiantly pick the diner fries in a split second. When I eat french fries I also think about getting them after a long Dinner theater practice during which I had no dinner. My dad stopped on the way home and got me McDonald's food. When you go to Greenvillage Diner, they give you what seems like a small mountain of fries.
I have to say, french fries are one of my favorite foods. No doubt about it.