Growing Up

Thankfully, my car didn't look like this when I got home. :) (from wikipedia)

I drove home from Dollar Tree today.
It was the first time I've been on the road, ever-- aside from jaunts about the neighborhood
It was just me and my mom, checking to see if they had balloons for my grandma's party on Saturday. "Why don't you drive home?" My mom said to me. "I don't know about that. I might get arrested or something," I said apprehensively. "No!" my mother said with a chuckle,"The worst you could get is a ticket." So I drove home. At about 40 miles an hour. And it wasn't scary, actually, I enjoyed it. I only got honked at once. :)

This beginning of this year, I turned eighteen and graduated from high school.

A few weeks ago, I registered to vote.

My sisters and I took a road trip to Bob Jone University for a competition-- first time out of state without our parents.

I got a debit card with actual money on it.

My sister and I are looking into starting a business-- not sure yet what it will be.

Said sister drives my other sister and me into town for my other sister's art class every week, and said sister and I go grocery shopping, all by ourselves (goodness, that was confusing!) and we drive every week to a choir we joined this year.

Not too long ago, I bought a new Bible online, all by myself. Oh, and did I mention I'm learning Hebrew all by myself, just because I want to?

These are growing-up milestones for me. I look back at all the things I thought only grownups did, and now I'm doing them myself! Including, actually, going to babysit at someone's house and unlocking their door by myself with a key they gave me. That seemed super grown up to me when I was young.
Though I am beginning to grow up, and doing grown up things, I still feel childish at times, and in no way what I felt like I would feel in my imagination. I imagined myself prettier, more confident and poised, being able to have a conversation without feeling awkward. But this is the way God is sanctifying me, and I trust His judgement. I remember a quote in Anne of the Island about by the time you were twenty your character was formed... I only have 2 more years, in that case, and much more work to do. But I'm doing my best to be diligent to be found by God without spot or blemish (2 Peter 3:14) and to work out my salvation with fear and trembling (with God's help of course). He has been so good to me so far! And I want to trust Him with the rest of my grown up life. I think it's a resolution that will last far beyond the New Year.

I will sing to the Lord,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.
               Psalm 13:6

 

duties

du·ty

noun

1.

something that one is expected or required to do by moral or legal obligation.

I finished scrubbing the pot and lifted it out of the water to rinse it. I looked around. Nobody else was there. I sighed and rolled my eyes. "I'm the only one doing the dishes... again. Where is everyone? Now I'm going to have to wash the dishes and dry them." I picked up the towel with a snap and started drying the pot. "And of course no one will even thank me for it," I continued to myself, as I placed the pot impatiently in its place. Suddenly a thought came to me. Ahem... Abby? Isn't washing dishes what you are supposed to do? Your duty?

Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, "Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’
Luke 17:7-10

What are your duties? They may be washing dishes, or feeding the dog, or doing school, or babysitting. It's interesting how Jesus reminds us that a master doesn't thank a servant. After all, that's what the servant is there for, right? So we should be with our duties. Since it is what we are supposed to be doing, why do we expect praise and thanks when we do some simple thing? I must constantly remind myself of this when I am doing my duties. God gives us duties for good reasons... to sanctify us, to get things done that must be done, etc. We all have things that must be done. Jesus tells us that we should do our duties not expecting thanks or praise or rewards. 


Grace be with you,

Abby :D

ps. this is a post I wrote back in 2013. it was languishing in the draft folder and I thought, hey, why let it languish any longer? I might (maybe maybe) post some more soon, but I've been pretty busy (including getting my wisdom teeth out), so maybe not. how have you been lately? have any summer plans?

the sometimes days

 (uh oh, blogging has taken the back burner again. I'm trying, really I am!)

In my life, usually, everything goes pretty well. School is challenging, but not frustrating. Music practice goes well. I have some extra free time to do with what I wish. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping. I know that Jesus died on the cross to save me, and I know that God loves me. Everything goes right.

But sometimes...

There are those days. School is absolutely awful, I've been dawdling too long and I know it. I have no free time yet I've somehow managed to spend way too much time on the internet. I'm grumpy to everybody, I feel like sitting down and screaming. I know that God is looking down at me frowning, but I just can't seem to get out of this slump.

Can you relate? I really hope you can. Because I know I post these kinds of posts a lot, but I like looking back on them when I'm feeling bad. If you have the same 'sometimes' days that I have, you know the feeling.

One Bible verse that's good for days like these is:

...the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6

So He won't forsake you... even on your bad days? Yes, even then.

Here's another one I like.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1

Even when we're feeling grumpy and not so great, we can still remember that God truly loves us, and He sent His son to die for us. He is our help in trouble, and He won't leave you or forsake you. 

 Remember that on your next 'sometimes' day.

Grace be with you,

Abby :D 

p.s. sorry for no pictures. i just can't seem to find the time to upload one!

Catching up

Hello, everyone! How has life been lately? My life's been pretty good. I'm not certain that I told you, but my sisters and I have been taking a speech and composition class since September. It's been fun, and challenging. Lots and lots of essays. :P We finished the first semester in December. But-- oops! I forgot! Starting a sentence with "but" is not allowed in the writing class! What I meant to say was, I've really liked the class, and improving my writing has been nice. The class is on Thursday (just finished my homework from last week today), so that's where I'm headed tomorrow, and I can't wait! I really like the class, because the teacher is nice, the classmates are nice, and we get to learn. :) Learning is always fun, right?

Speaking of learning and school, my sister Leah is graduating this year! I'm so excited for her! She has been a really great student, and my mom has been a really brave teacher for homeschooling through high school. Yay! Next year I'll be a senior. I'm still not sure what to do after high school. I was thinking of being either a hair dresser or something with animals. I don't really want to have a job where I have to do excessive math or algebra. I'm working on accounting right now, and it's kind of confusing. It's not that I hate math. I'm relatively good at it, and I can understand most of it. I just don't like it. What kind of schoolwork is your favorite? What about your least favorite? :)

Oh yes. How was everyone's Christmas? Mine was good. For Christmas, our mother and grandmother told my sisters and I that we were fat, ugly, and lazy.

No, not really, just kidding! The reason I said that was because of the presents they gave us: a pedometer (a thing that counts your steps), an apron and a cookbook, and some supplies to make mineral make-up. Yes, mineral make-up. Ever heard of it? Because I had not until last year. It came from Glory Bee Foods. Here's the link to the make-up kit we got. It's been fun to experiment with. You should really consider getting it too, if you wear make-up, because it's a lot healthier than normal make-up.
What did you get for Christmas? I hope your New Year was good too, because mine was. We went to our aunt and uncle's house and ran around with the cousins and had yummy food. :) And then we went home and popped balloons and watched fireworks and screamed a lot. I really like the New Year.

Also, this year is, for our family, a year of No Dessert. Because sugar is not very healthy for us.Yep, no chocolate, no cookies, no chocolate, no cake, and most of all, no chocolate. Except on special occasions. I've been getting through alright (ok, cheating just a bit) with some yummy dark chocolate-covered prunes from Christmas. They're healthy, because they're prunes and dark chocolate, right? Right?

Well, I should probably sign off, because it's getting close to dinner, and we're having salmon patties and quinoa (keen-wa) for dinner, yum! If you don't know what quinoa is, it's a sort of grain that's really healthy. :)

Have a wonderful week!

Grace be with you,

Abby :D

Those Days...

You know those days. Everyone has them. The days when everything has gone wrong.

Sarah dragged herself out of bed. It was a gray cloudy day, just the kind that made her feel drowsy and irritable. She threw open her closet and grabbed any old outfit. It didn't matter to her which outfit she wore. On this kind of day, everything made her feel ugly. Sarah stomped downstairs, noting that her mother was making oatmeal, her least favorite breakfast. She pushed her little sister, who was riding around on her tricycle, out of her way. Her sister began to cry. "Mom, oatmeal? Why do we have to eat oatmeal? I just hate it!" Sarah wanted her mother to know how grumpy she felt
 "Just think of the poor people in other countries," her mother scolded, "this would be a treat to them." Great, thought Sarah, now I'm feeling grumpy and selfish.
The day wore on, and things still didn't get any better. She couldn't concentrate on her school work, because her brother kept playing noisy music. At lunch, she spilled leftover chili on the dress she was wearing. The song she was practicing on the piano just didn't sound right. Her friends wanted her to come out and play, but she had to stay inside and babysit her siblings while her mother made dinner. The movie that her mom and older siblings were watching was her least favorite movie. Everything was going wrong! Sarah stomped upstairs and wrote an angry entry in her journal about how unfair her life was. So many bad things were happening to her! She wished she lived in a different family! She wished she had never been born!

Maybe your bad days are not quite as extreme as Sarah's.


(actually, this is how my bad days are. Yes, I'm quite the drama queen. However, I'm working on it)


But still, no matter what your bad days are like, they leave you feeling miserable, unloved, friendless. (Or maybe that's just me?)
These are a few verses I've found that are encouraging to me on a bad day.


... the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6


Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34


But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 
John 3:16

What could be more cheering than knowing that the One who made you sent his son to die for you? His son was willing to die for you. He died for everyone that believes in Him, but He also died for you, specifically. Isn't that amazing? He loves you.

It's enough to snap anyone out of a bad mood. 

Please read this, even though there aren't any pictures!

 This entry was written in my art journal less than a week ago:

"It has been rather a sunny, hot, lazy sort of day in which I have felt neither productive nor energetic. The former I have unfortunately not felt in a while, whereas the latter has only recently been escaping me. Perhaps the secret to the qualities I lack lies in a few well-written to-do lists? They never helped in the past, however I shall try again and make the best of the results..."

Truly, these feelings are still with me at this present date. Why they do not cease to exist is beyond my feeble imaginings, but I have not yet tried the merits of that reputable thing known as the to-do list. Perhaps that will help. Have any of you tried it yet? And what thing do you use to get rid of the well-known unproductive blahs?

Anyhow, you're prob`ly wondering what provoked the peculiar language up there. Well, you wouldn't if you knew how many classics we've been reading for school: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Oliver Twist, etc. It was quite unavoidable, and plus I love talking that way. :) School for us is still in full swing, but when you're home schooled it's easy to take a small, teensy break to go outside and breath in the hot, muggy air. Ah, the smell of ambrosia and nectar that is Summer! Do you realize that in all my sixteen years of summer, I have never once had a bee sting, or even a wasp one? They are quite abundant in this realm, but Providence has shielded me. Whew. :)
A girl I know got stung by a bee once, and she went ahead and did a whole swim meet after the fact. Some persons have a hardy constitution.
We are planning a baby shower for my aunt. She's having a girl, and I can't wait to see her! It will be my only girl cousin on my mother's side, the side on which I already have five boy cousins. Family reunions are always fun, do not you agree? The theme for the shower is pink and yellow, with lots of pinwheels. It's adorable!! I dare not post pictures, just in case my aunt looks at my blog. (that's a nice phrase. 'Dare not'. Heh heh.)
What are your summer plans? You know, summer only started three days ago (tho' mentally, 'twas two months back). I have not many plans for the summer, except to finish school, a worthy goal, agreed? After I graduate, I believe that I will be a hairdresser. It sounds fun, and I can do it from home. I can cut my children's hair, or get my own salon and go to people's houses to cut their hair, or do it for a favor, etc., etc., the possibilities are endless! You have to be seventeen to get into the school I'm interested in, so it'll still take a while. What is your career choice? Actually, my first one is to be a mother, but I sort of consider that mandatory. I think adopted children are also mandatory. :) I just LOVE children. :)
So if you haven't noticed, I've been talking to you sort of conversationally. What do you think of that style?

Our church is doing a mission trip to Honduras, and the team leaves today. Please pray that they'll have safe travel and that they'll reach as many people as is God's will. Thanks!

Have a wonderful week!

Grace be with you,
Abby :D

Has it been that long?!?

Why hello there!

Hi Abby!

Whoa... how do you know my name?

Uh, you blog here, remember?

I do? Oh yeah! I completely forgot! How could I forget?

*ahem* So how's everyone doing? My life is going great. Here are some things that are happening in my life lately.

1. I think I got an A on my Algebra test today. *crazy cheering, screeching, and screaming, plus some party horns*  I am excited. :)

2. The weather here has been kinda rainy and cloudy, with bits of sun and thunder in between. It's funny weather. I love the rain though, especially since we haven't had much during the summer. And there's some cold too. No snow yet, but I'm still hopeful!

3. Peppers! This time they're not stuffed though. My mother bought some colorful ones at the grocery store, and I thought they were really pretty.

Ain't they just bee-you-tee-ful? How did God think up such colors? And they go so well with each other too!
God is amazing and awesome. :)

4. Thinking about my future. I'm going to be sixteen in April, so I've gotta start planning! I was thinking to maybe get a career in either cosmetology or uh... something to do with animals, possibly training or grooming them. I like that idea! But my greatest goal is to become a wife and mother, because that's the woman's job.

5. Tomorrow will be a busy day. First we're going to piano lessons, then we'll be at a spelling bee in which my job is to watch little siblings. While that isn't a huge list, think of getting all that done while having to watch twin 4-year-olds and a touchy toddler! And maybe a baby. Hey, alliteration and rhyming! I think I deserve a cookie for that. Right? Right?

6. As I am going to be starting a new leg of my blogging journey, I'd like to ask: what is the thing you'd most like to see here? Who better to ask than my faithful readers?

Hope you enjoyed! Have a wonderful week!

Grace be with you,

Abby :D

ps. What do you say to a giveaway or contest sometime soon?

I'm A Horrible Blogger.

Do you not agree? It's been- what? Seven days? And I don't blame most of you for not commenting on or reading my last post. You've probably gotten sick of my unfaithfulness. Sorry!

Christmas is coming up. The most celebrated holiday in stores... you know, when they give you all those Christmas discounts and fun new holiday products. But you have to wonder, is this a good thing? Have we taken the celebration of Christ's birth and turned it into a big sales holiday? I know many of you hear a lot of this around this time of year, "Think about Jesus this year!" "Jesus is the reason for the season" "Christ is the true meaning of Christmas". But do we take this to heart? This year, we need to really, truly make this a celebration of Christ's birth. I'm not trying to judge those of you who make wish lists and put up decorations and buy things with holiday discounts. I do it too, and love it! But maybe this year, we should do something like donate to a charity in someone's name, or maybe tithe Christmas money or donate it. Do something in Christ's glorious, wonderful name.

Boy, have we had a lot of recitals this season! We have had one piano recital, almost three hand bell recitals, and one violin recital. It was a lot of music to learn, but much, much fun. Have you done any recitals this year?

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season! Look for better posts soon!

Grace be with you,
Abby :D


ps. How many people read my blog? Just wondering.

"It's what's on the inside that counts..."

Discontent is very common nowadays. You are constantly seeing advertisements for weight loss programs or wrinkle cream. Movies and TV shows have perfect model-like men and women. The world tells you that this is what you need to be happy and fit in. Why is this? Why do we feel that we need peer approval to be happy? Recently I have been slightly discontent with my rather ordinary life. These thoughts were running through my head:

Why couldn't I be the best blogger in the world, with hundreds of followers and tons of comments, turning out funny, interesting posts with great pictures?

Why couldn't I be a really popular cool person, friends hanging on my every word and laughing at my witty comments, someone that everyone admired and envied?

Why couldn't I be a fashionably stylish person with perfect outfits and a model's face and body?

Why couldn't I be an amazing missionary, with awesome stories of miracles and redemption, someone that had the perfect relationship with God and never ever doubted His grace and love?

So in other words, I was asking myself this, "Why can't I be someone else? Why am I me?"

I constantly have to remind myself, "Real life is not like this. No one is perfect. And God does not want me to be worried about this." Yes, it's a bit cliché, but it doesn't matter what is on the outside. God only looks on the inside. Your whole purpose on earth is to please and glorify God. If you are doing that, what you look like doesn't matter at all. So the next time you are feeling discontent, remember that your friends love you, your family loves you, and most of all God loves you, even if your nose is five inches long or you forget to brush your hair in the morning. And that is what counts the most.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30 NASB


Grace be with you,

Abby :D

Bugs and school and things

I love this post from Kendra's blog. I would like to do the same thing on my blog. From now on, my blog is going to be more like an online journal instead of trying to focus on followers and comments. Here goes.


Today was my first day of school. It was OK, I think the hardest thing was probably math, and that wasn't too hard. The best thing was starting reading new books, The Moonshiner's Son and A Year Down Yonder.

It's been really cool and rainy, which is nice considering the temperature has been in the 80s lately. It's almost sweater weather! Fall is just around the corner. I can't wait for the leaves to turn yellow and orange and red!

Yesterday, I went on a bug hunt and took pictures. Wanna see them? OK!

Mr. Snail.

A bee seeking refuge from the rain.

A pretty green fly

There wasn't too many because of the rain, though.Well, signing off for today!

Grace be with you,

Abby :D

ps. Go enter Mina's photo contest! The theme is Favorite Things. Look for my picture soon!

pps. don't forget to enter my contest either! See below post.

To cover, or not to cover, that is the question.

First off, I want to remind everyone to pray for all the people being affected by Hurricane Irene. According to weather.com, there will be major damage from this hurricane. But, we have to leave it all in God's hands. All we can do is pray!


Head coverings. What a subject! I have been thinking more about wearing one as I get older and closer to God.

I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.  For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God. 
 1 Corinthians 11: 2-16


Judging from those verses, every Christian woman should be wearing a head covering. But why don't we? Maybe most think it's weird, unnecessary, or that long hair is enough. In the Bible Commentary I read, it said that because woman was made for man, man is the head of woman. Man was made for God, so God is the head of man. If man wears a head covering or long hair, he is dishonoring his head (God). A woman would wear a head covering to show her submission to man, her head. So if she does not wear a covering, she would dishonor her head (man). Thoughts on that?

I'm really not sure of my outlook on head coverings. I'm not totally opposed to it. Maybe I should wear one just for prayer and during the church service. What are your thoughts on this subject?


Grace be with you,
Abby :D

ps. For more insight, I asked the same question on Preparing To Be A Help Meet's website, here. Click to see.
pps. the above picture is from Google images. If it is yours, and you don't want it on here, just comment. Thanks!

A whole week...

Has it been that long? I haven't posted for a whole week? Sorry everyone... *sheepish smile* I'll probably get into a regular schedule soon. We've been busy, even though we're having a 3-week long break from school. Working on our transcripts, watching little siblings, and making new curtains can do that to you. :) On Mondays, we also have handbell choir! It's so much fun!
Summer is the best time for fruit! I love it all, especially grapes. :)

Pineapple...

Mango...

Strawberries...

Cantaloupe...

 

And grapes! Mmm...

So colorful, and yummy too! What are your favorite summer fruits?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23



Grace be with you,

Abby :D

A post about my favorite bird (at least one of them)

{not my picture}

 I have always loved crows--er, excuse me-- ravens. They are mysterious, kinda creepy, and beautiful. I love their curved beaks and their big feet and claws.

{not my picture}

Yes, I know a group of crows is called a murder (hmm... does the crow in the above picture somehow seem like a murderer in a black cloak? He looks suspicious). But they're pretty, and smart (think about the fable, The Crow and the Pitcher). I also like Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven ('Nevermore'). They've always been one of my favorite birds. What's your favorite bird?

Grace be with you,

Abby :D

Random (for lack of a better title)

I hear: Thunder, and the voices of my siblings.
I feel: The computer keys.
I smell: Nothing right now.
I see: The words on this screen, and the swelling storm clouds outside.
I taste: Nothing right now.



What do you sense right now?

So, after reading through 1 Corinthians, I was thinking about having something where we read through a chapter every day, and then post our thoughts on it. (in this chapter, Paul's thoughts on marriage, head coverings, and other juicy topics. :) What do you think? Would you like to do it? Before agreeing, I suggest flipping through or reading this book.


Thanks for reading, and sorry for how short this post is. A longer or better one to follow!

Grace be with you,

Abby :D


God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalms 46:1

Faith + Deeds

The only thing you have to do to get saved is to believe in Christ Jesus, that He died on the cross for your sins.

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
Acts 16:31

But if you are truly saved, you will love God and Jesus and want to please them. You love your parents, so you do things to please them. Right? Witnessing and being a good example to unbelievers won't save you. Witnessing to 'save' people won't save you. God could save those people without you. I believe that witnessing is an act of love to God. But at the same time,

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James 2:14-17

Believing in Jesus is enough to save you, but if you have no deeds, there will be nothing to keep your faith alive. You do the deeds out of love. Your thoughts?

Grace be with you,

Abby :D

(ps. sorry if this is a bit rough. It's been floating in my head for a couple of weeks and I have just now put it onto 'paper'. If you find any Biblical-ly unsound spots, feel free to respectfully point them out. Thanks!)

Me, lazy?

Scenes from real life*

Abby: (thinking) Wow... I just washed tons of dishes. Someone should come dry them.
(waits, staring at stack. No one comes)
Abby: (thinking) Come ON! Now I have to dry them myself?!
(dries them, all the while privately whining about how unfair it is)

Abby: (thinking) This is a great book,
(looks up from couch and bag of pretzels and sees brothers in a headlock, while sisters are in the background studying for tests and Mother trying to cook dinner with a screaming baby in her arms)
Abby: (thinking) Hmm... maybe I should help... actually I won't! I already washed tons of dishes AND even put some laundry in the washer. So I've done enough already.
(goes back to book and stuffs some more pretzels in)


I wish I could be less lazy. As I know from experience, it's extremely hard to get myself to do things. I am a slacker. Do you have any tips on how you became more diligent and hard-working?
Here are some verses I found on biblegateway.com (the best search site ever!) on diligence and hard-working-ness:

Lazy hands make for poverty,
   but diligent hands bring wealth.
Proverbs 10:4

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
1 Timothy 4:15

 If it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Romans 12:8

So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the LORD your God
Joshua 23:11

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
Romans 16:12

We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it...1 Corinthians 4:12

If you skipped those verses, go diligently back and read them. :) So, I think diligence and hardworkingness  should be important character qualities to build. They go hand in hand with discipline (another important quality). If you don't have diligence, how do you get things done? If you're not working hard, how good an example can you set for the Lord? Your thoughts?

Grace be with you,

Abby :D







*except perhaps with a slight dramatization... :)

my life right now

1) M&Ms

2) School

3) Quill pen writing

 











4) Writing... what do you think?

Cora put down her pitcher, dipped her feet in the laughing brook, and then bent down and stuck her head in. She came up smiling and dripping, for the day was a hot one. All of a sudden, she heard, “Ding, ding, ding, ding.” It was the dinner bell! She quickly dipped some water in the pitcher. Saying a silent prayer for the deliciously cold water, she ran, almost flying, back to her house.

When Cora got back, her sister and brother had already sat down. “Where were ya, Cora?” Carl inquired airily. He was eight years old, and had all the freedom and alacrity a small boy can. “I was down by the brook,” she replied, stuffing her mouth full of good bread and cheese. “Did you bring back any water?” Charity asked, “It’s so hot today.” She was sixteen, with a sweet personality and manners. Cora wordlessly held up the pitcher, and then carefully filled the cups on the table, spilling only a little. They all clinked glasses and then fell to drinking thirstily. “Let’s thank God for the wonderful meal.” Charity said, wiping her mouth. So they prayed together, then Carl tripped inside their small, one-room cabin to get the family Bible. As they sat listening to Charity read, they heard a noise in the bushes…

5) Fishing and playing Capture-the-Flag with our cousins

 6) Reading the Bible

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalms 46:1

Grace be with you,

Abby :D 

 

Teenage girl seeks inspiration...

 I sat down at the computer, adjusted the chair beneath me, and settled my fingers on the computer keys, all ready to write a monumental post...

...but it wouldn't come.

I thought, typed random words, racked my brain, all to no avail. The words that I wanted just didn't appear. So instead of an inspiring post, I'm going to post a update on my life, what I'm doing 'round here.


Dear Readers,

How are you doing today? I'm doing fine, but rather down since it's Monday (also known as vacuum-and-dust day). What is it about Mondays that makes me feel yucky and unproductive? My brothers are watching the Veggietales movie Jonah. They love it, but they don't watch every day as they used to. Essie has been lifting her head up a lot. She weighs ten pounds now, although her feedings haven't been going too well. Here's a darling picture of her.

She was watching a little duck game. You push the button and the ducks go round and round. Sorta like the wheels on the bus. :)
M&Ms are yummy. Our grandma brought home two bags of them. They are some of the little blessings of life, don't you agree? I think it's fun to group them in colors and eat them one at a time. How do you like to eat them?
The weather has been sunny in the mornings, then at night some nice cool rainy weather. Just generally pleasant all around. :) How's the weather where you are?
Tomorrow, if God wills, we're going fishing with our cousins. I love fishing. I don't like to hurt or kill living things, but if you use or eat them it isn't as bad. I wonder what God thought of the people who killed buffalo just for fun. :( 
Well, I've got to go now. Write back soon!
Your friend,
Abby

Well, I hope you enjoyed it, but I hope to have a more exciting post next time.

Grace be with you,

Abby :D

~They aren't afraid when bad news comes.
      They stand firm because they trust in the Lord.
                 Psalms 112:7~

Insecure? Me? Of course not...

My sweet sister Essie.

 I know I've mentioned this problem before, but it comes up so frequently, I'm going to address it again. It's the problem of followers, readers, and comments. Somehow, the little insecure person inside my head keeps saying, "I don't get as many followers as that girl... I don't have as funny a blog as that girl... she gets more comments than me... I'M NOT A GOOD BLOGGER!!!"

But then there is the question: Why do you blog? Is it for the followers and comments? In some ways, yes. You do want to know that someone is there. But I consider a blog more like a journal, recording your days so that people can catch up with what you've been doing. Also, it's just another way of glorifying the Lord with your every word, thought, and deed. So here's some things going on with me:

1. Essie is getting cuter every day. She is smiling, cooing, and interacting with the best of 'em. She is a darling!

2. School. Math, music, art, reading, and lunch. Yes, lunch is a subject. :)

3. We had a big storm on Wednesday. It wasn't 'tornado big'. But there was a good deal of rain, wind, and thunder. My sister Leah and I had just laid some newspaper and pine straw down in our front yard, and then we left to go to a computer class (we were learning about Excel). When we got home, the wind had blown wet newspaper and pine straw all over our yard, and the neighbor's too! :P

3. I have been reading Psalms in the Bible. I think it's interesting seeing a sad psalm and a happy one right next to each other! So far, my favorite verse in Psalms is the following:

God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
I love it! :)

What's been going on in your life?

Grace be with you,

Abby :D

ps. don't forget about my poetry contest! 

it's time to...

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
 Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Did you skim the verse? Well, if you did, go back and read it. I love these verses. Just like it says, there's a time for everything. Although, I could add a few to his list. How about: A time to bake, and a time to eat; a time to work, and a time to play; a time to do school, and a time to dawdle, a time to pray. (there isn't a time when we shouldn't be praying. :)

What time are you on right now? I'm on 'a time to eat'. Mexican casserole... yummy!

By the way, there's a neat giveaway going on at Mina's blog. Go check it out!


Grace be with you,

Abby :D