It is incredibly, unbelievably, awesomely exciting to be almost done with school! Spanish, history, lit, and math (all of which are a huge chunk of my schoolwork) are d-o-n-e, and all I have left are church history/bible survey, government, geography, writing, and a few other subjects that escape my mind right now...which is kinda bad. But those subjects are super fun, except for government.
I think the biggest thing that looms between me and summer is piano. I'm doing Royal Music Conservatory testing (I think that's what it's called), and I am super nervous. This is my first time doing it, and all the requirements--chords, scales, repertoire, etc--are really...um...scary. I'm still trying to memorize my repertoire, and the testing is this Thursday. So, it would be really cool if you guys could pray for that.
But I'll only have five more days, and then I'll be completely free!! Yay!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
encouragement
I am a person who stresses and stresses and stresses and stresses. I was a nervous wreck before my limited prep. speech tournament back in February. I was a nervous wreck before giving my persuasive speech at an event this March. And, of course, (some things don't change) I was a nervous wreck earlier today.
Let me explain. Last Thursday (i.e. one week ago) a person I knew mentioned that the students at the school she works at will be doing a play for their end of the year presentation. She was wondering if myself, along with other students from our public speaking group, would be willing to come in and spend 45 minutes with two different groups (1 1/2 hours in all) to show them some acting skills. I love working with kids and it sounded pretty awesome, so I was like: "Oh, we'd love to! Let me see if people are willing to come, but it sounds awesome! So...when will it be?" And she was like, "Oh...how 'bout next Thursday?" And I was like, "Thursday?...*gulp*...Sure!"
If you have ever put together an agenda for 45 minutes for 1st and 2nd grade students, you know how much time needs to go into that. And so all of the sudden, my weekend/early next week turned into scheduling. It got to the point where on Wednesday I was still having trouble remembering what I was supposed to say. Now, even if you're a relaxed person you would be a little concerned. If you are a stresser, like me, you are going to be so high-strung that you pull a muscle in your back [I am not kidding--I did]
So, fast-forward to this morning, when I'm sitting on the bench outside of the school waiting for it to be one o'clock, the scheduled starting time. And all the while I'm trying to run through my line-up and feeling more and more like I couldn't do it. If you have ever tried to run something through your head when you are stressed out, you know that the only thing that happens is that you get more and more stressed out.
All of a sudden, a Bible verse popped into my head. I had used this Bible verse to calm myself during limited prep. in February and my speech in March, and it's a real whopper of a verse:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.~Joshua 1:9
It is unbelievably amazing how much God uses that verse to minister to me. Just the thought of God being with me wherever I go is an incredible concept. And don't think that God doesn't care about little things like presentations in front of grade-school age kids, because He does. He really does. He knows that every single opportunity is a way that we can glorify God. Honestly, the thought that every moment can make or break an opportunity to witness can be a little intimidating if we don't realize that God will indeed be with us wherever we go. All we have to do is be strong and courageous, and God will take care of bringing glory to His name.
So, it went really well. I had a clarity of mind that I really had not been expecting, and I can genuinely say that it was a lot of fun. Seeing little kids involved and enjoying themselves and being willing to stand up and act something out is such a huge blessing. It's still incredible to me how God uses these moments to teach me how to trust Him more.
The verse Joshua 1:9 has encouraged me so many times, that I thought I should share it. I have committed it to memory (really, it's not that hard to memorize something when you are frantically repeating it over and over again in your head =)
That's my thought for the day.
Let me explain. Last Thursday (i.e. one week ago) a person I knew mentioned that the students at the school she works at will be doing a play for their end of the year presentation. She was wondering if myself, along with other students from our public speaking group, would be willing to come in and spend 45 minutes with two different groups (1 1/2 hours in all) to show them some acting skills. I love working with kids and it sounded pretty awesome, so I was like: "Oh, we'd love to! Let me see if people are willing to come, but it sounds awesome! So...when will it be?" And she was like, "Oh...how 'bout next Thursday?" And I was like, "Thursday?...*gulp*...Sure!"
If you have ever put together an agenda for 45 minutes for 1st and 2nd grade students, you know how much time needs to go into that. And so all of the sudden, my weekend/early next week turned into scheduling. It got to the point where on Wednesday I was still having trouble remembering what I was supposed to say. Now, even if you're a relaxed person you would be a little concerned. If you are a stresser, like me, you are going to be so high-strung that you pull a muscle in your back [I am not kidding--I did]
So, fast-forward to this morning, when I'm sitting on the bench outside of the school waiting for it to be one o'clock, the scheduled starting time. And all the while I'm trying to run through my line-up and feeling more and more like I couldn't do it. If you have ever tried to run something through your head when you are stressed out, you know that the only thing that happens is that you get more and more stressed out.
All of a sudden, a Bible verse popped into my head. I had used this Bible verse to calm myself during limited prep. in February and my speech in March, and it's a real whopper of a verse:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.~Joshua 1:9
It is unbelievably amazing how much God uses that verse to minister to me. Just the thought of God being with me wherever I go is an incredible concept. And don't think that God doesn't care about little things like presentations in front of grade-school age kids, because He does. He really does. He knows that every single opportunity is a way that we can glorify God. Honestly, the thought that every moment can make or break an opportunity to witness can be a little intimidating if we don't realize that God will indeed be with us wherever we go. All we have to do is be strong and courageous, and God will take care of bringing glory to His name.
So, it went really well. I had a clarity of mind that I really had not been expecting, and I can genuinely say that it was a lot of fun. Seeing little kids involved and enjoying themselves and being willing to stand up and act something out is such a huge blessing. It's still incredible to me how God uses these moments to teach me how to trust Him more.
The verse Joshua 1:9 has encouraged me so many times, that I thought I should share it. I have committed it to memory (really, it's not that hard to memorize something when you are frantically repeating it over and over again in your head =)
That's my thought for the day.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
rainy day
It's been pretty gray and rainy around here. But the gray goes really well with the vivid green on the trees out front (which I can see when I look over my shoulder, which is not suggested when you are typing).
So, what has my life been? Coughing, tissues, public speaking, allergy meds, and hockey, in a nutshell. Anyone else out that a hockey fan? I looooooooove the Washington Capitals (dude, I'm wearing a shirt that says in big letters "Washington Capitals" at the moment), and recently we've been in a tight playoff battle with the Boston Bruins. We just lost. =( But for anyone who doesn't know how the playoffs work, it can get up to a seven game series. So game seven is on Wednesday, and it'll be really exciting!...but I won't be able to watch it. =(
This Thursday we entertained some children in childcare for our public speaking chapter. It was a lot of fun. We gave presentations and played games for two hours. What was really cool was that we only expected one child to show up. We were super disappointed, because a lot of work goes into planning each presentation, but we went ahead and did it anyway. Guess what. Six children, plus younger siblings of presenters, were present...and six compared to one is a lot.
Uh...and those two things have been the few positives of my week. I didn't have problems with seasonal allergies until a couple years ago, and even then they weren't really bad. But this year has been ay-yay-yay-yay-yay (proper pronunciation of that last work is in a sing-song voice, with the italicized syllables on the musical pitch 'fa' and the regular syllables on the musical pitch 'doh'). If you do not know Izorese, that means 'monstrous'. I think it's oak pollen, but whatever it is it's been driving me oranges. Oranges, I tell you!
So, yeah. That's life.
So, what has my life been? Coughing, tissues, public speaking, allergy meds, and hockey, in a nutshell. Anyone else out that a hockey fan? I looooooooove the Washington Capitals (dude, I'm wearing a shirt that says in big letters "Washington Capitals" at the moment), and recently we've been in a tight playoff battle with the Boston Bruins. We just lost. =( But for anyone who doesn't know how the playoffs work, it can get up to a seven game series. So game seven is on Wednesday, and it'll be really exciting!...but I won't be able to watch it. =(
This Thursday we entertained some children in childcare for our public speaking chapter. It was a lot of fun. We gave presentations and played games for two hours. What was really cool was that we only expected one child to show up. We were super disappointed, because a lot of work goes into planning each presentation, but we went ahead and did it anyway. Guess what. Six children, plus younger siblings of presenters, were present...and six compared to one is a lot.
Uh...and those two things have been the few positives of my week. I didn't have problems with seasonal allergies until a couple years ago, and even then they weren't really bad. But this year has been ay-yay-yay-yay-yay (proper pronunciation of that last work is in a sing-song voice, with the italicized syllables on the musical pitch 'fa' and the regular syllables on the musical pitch 'doh'). If you do not know Izorese, that means 'monstrous'. I think it's oak pollen, but whatever it is it's been driving me oranges. Oranges, I tell you!
So, yeah. That's life.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Courageous and Soccer
We watched Courageous on Sunday night with my great-grandma, who's visiting this week. I was so encouraged and helped by that movie. My hands-down favorite movie genre is usually the animated kids movies (think Up and How to Train Your Dragon and Toy Story), but I think Courageous was the best movie I have ever seen...ever. It's funny and ends really well, but it's also thought-provoking, and it deals with very real, dark circumstances in a beautiful and comforting way. If you have not watched it, do so. I command you. You will seriously not regret it.
On an abrupt topic switch, today was our second soccer practice of the season. =) I played goalie in scrimmage. =( I have not played goalie since U-8, and *ahem* there's a reason for that. But I have two great coaches, a great group of teammates, and it was a great day (meaning it didn't thunder and rain, which is what we thought it would do). I am an avid sports fan--particularly baseball and hockey--but soccer has always been my #1 favorite to play.
I should probably stop procrastinating and go do my school work. =)
On an abrupt topic switch, today was our second soccer practice of the season. =) I played goalie in scrimmage. =( I have not played goalie since U-8, and *ahem* there's a reason for that. But I have two great coaches, a great group of teammates, and it was a great day (meaning it didn't thunder and rain, which is what we thought it would do). I am an avid sports fan--particularly baseball and hockey--but soccer has always been my #1 favorite to play.
I should probably stop procrastinating and go do my school work. =)
Monday, April 9, 2012
Blog Anniversary!
On March 9, 2009, I posted for the first time on this blog!
Now, you might notice that I'm about a month late. After all, it's April, and not March.
Really? I hadn't noticed. All this time, I thought we were still in March.
[the above was sarcasm]
So, Happy 3 Year + 1 Month Anniversary to this blog! I can't believe it's been this long, and I can't believe it felt so short. =)
Now, you might notice that I'm about a month late. After all, it's April, and not March.
Really? I hadn't noticed. All this time, I thought we were still in March.
[the above was sarcasm]
So, Happy 3 Year + 1 Month Anniversary to this blog! I can't believe it's been this long, and I can't believe it felt so short. =)
Friday, April 6, 2012
This is why we don't have to fear death anymore
I wish I could share with you all something inspiring and well-written and beautiful. However, really, today is not about being inspiring and well-written and beautiful. It's about shame and agony and death. It's about justice carried out by cruelty, like a king with a crown of thorns.
Today we received news that both an extended-family member and a friend died. One was very old and in poor health for a while, the other was a wee tyke who departed suddenly.
How apt that this should happen now, because it's about this time of year that Christians are reminded strongly of how weak the grip of death has become. It's when, even as we remember Christ being beaten and nailed to a cross, we remember the tearing of a curtain and an empty tomb. When Jesus said, "It is finished", He really meant it.
Today we received news that both an extended-family member and a friend died. One was very old and in poor health for a while, the other was a wee tyke who departed suddenly.
How apt that this should happen now, because it's about this time of year that Christians are reminded strongly of how weak the grip of death has become. It's when, even as we remember Christ being beaten and nailed to a cross, we remember the tearing of a curtain and an empty tomb. When Jesus said, "It is finished", He really meant it.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Someone turned 4 today...
...and I assure you, it was not me.
Happy 4th Birthday to Galdor, my four year old brother (insert statement by Captain Obvious)
Big day today for all of us, as the soccer season started. =) Lots of fun, and I managed to get a sunburn of course. It'll be interesting this year. My age group is 12 to 18, but it seems this year we hit a wave of new kids/12-13 year olds. Of course, this is the season we had a mass 18-year-old exodus. What's even more interesting is that one entire field in the park has been closed for the next few week, meaning my age group has to share one field with the u-12 team. There are...oh...'bout 36 or so kids in my age group, so we're a little tightly packed. Just a little, though.
Has anyone else switched to the new Blogger layout thingy? I really don't like it. I just figured out how to use the old one (after, like, four years?), so the new look really confuses me.
That's just the way I am. Confused.
Anyhoo, the only reason I brought up soccer (which morphed into the new blogger look) was to mention that this season is Galdor's first! This is a snippet of my interview with him on the event:
Izori: So, how was soccer?
Galdor: *evil glare*
Izori: Did you like it?
Galdor: NO!
Izori: *unfazed* Did you kick the ball around?
Galdor: NO!!
Izori: Are you Negative?
Galdor: YES! I mean, NO! I'm GRUMPY!!
Peter (from the front seat): But I thought you were Galdor.
Galdor: No! I'm Grumpy!
Obviously, he really enjoyed his first day of soccer. His enthusiasm is an inspiration for us all.
Happy 4th Birthday to Galdor, my four year old brother (insert statement by Captain Obvious)
Big day today for all of us, as the soccer season started. =) Lots of fun, and I managed to get a sunburn of course. It'll be interesting this year. My age group is 12 to 18, but it seems this year we hit a wave of new kids/12-13 year olds. Of course, this is the season we had a mass 18-year-old exodus. What's even more interesting is that one entire field in the park has been closed for the next few week, meaning my age group has to share one field with the u-12 team. There are...oh...'bout 36 or so kids in my age group, so we're a little tightly packed. Just a little, though.
Has anyone else switched to the new Blogger layout thingy? I really don't like it. I just figured out how to use the old one (after, like, four years?), so the new look really confuses me.
That's just the way I am. Confused.
Anyhoo, the only reason I brought up soccer (which morphed into the new blogger look) was to mention that this season is Galdor's first! This is a snippet of my interview with him on the event:
Izori: So, how was soccer?
Galdor: *evil glare*
Izori: Did you like it?
Galdor: NO!
Izori: *unfazed* Did you kick the ball around?
Galdor: NO!!
Izori: Are you Negative?
Galdor: YES! I mean, NO! I'm GRUMPY!!
Peter (from the front seat): But I thought you were Galdor.
Galdor: No! I'm Grumpy!
Obviously, he really enjoyed his first day of soccer. His enthusiasm is an inspiration for us all.
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