Sunday 10.27.13 Unspoken- Lift My Life Up

Well, this has the lyrics in it, so it's rather redundant for me to put the lyrics down below..... :)

On one hand, it's so hard to sing this song and mean Every. Single. Word.
And on the other hand, how can you not?

This is my prayer. That not only God would have his way in me, but that he would remind me to be in surrender to Him ALL the time. And I'm sure he will. ;)

I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up
Have your way in me
Have your way in me

Hope you all had a wonderful Sunday everyone. :)

Love,
Rebekah

Currently 10.26.13

I am currently...

...reading

• Rejoice by Karen Kingsbury

I'm not going to do a rate, just thoughts....
Thoughts ~ I DON'T GET IT!!!!!!! I go for weeks upon weeks of reading like crazy, and then I completely stop!!!!!!!! And then I picked it up again, and I started reading another book, red it in 2 days, and stopped again! ...weird...

... watching

• Robin Hood
• Doctor Who
• Dick Van Dyke

Rate ~ Love them all!!! :)

...listening to

• a variety. Not too much in particular.

I have currently...

...read

• In the past week, nothing but school books which don't count here, so... nothing.

...watched

• Wreck It Ralph

Rate ~ I enjoyed it. Not on my list of favorites, but I liked it. Others in my family (not mentioning any names)

• Dick Van Dyke (several)

Rate ~ They're so funny, and clean!!! Proof of 'good' comedy! It's just amazing to compare the things that are under comedy now, to the comedy back then! Even some 'Christian' comedians aren't always completely clean, and to watching Dick Van Dyke just reminds you that good, clean comedy is possible!  Anywho...

• Doctor Who

Rate ~ :) We watched the first episode with Matt Smith again (also the first episode in season 5) and it's SO funny!!!  "Apples are rubbish! I hate apples!" "Yummy! Beans!!!! Bleuck! Beans are evil! Bad, bad beans!" Yes, I'm paraphrasing there. No, it won't make any sense to you unless you've seen it. :)

...listened to

• a variety. Not really anything in particular. And.... as much as I hate to admit it.... I'm beginning to listen to Christmas music. Not full out! Just a little here and a little there! But.... still... Am I the only one? Or are there others out there listening to Christmas music now too?

I am looking forward too...

• my birthday!!!!! :D CHEESE!!!! (Only certain people will get that one as well...)
• worship tomorrow! People are in town, and less busy, so there are several people who (I believe) will be there tomorrow sharing their music talents! So excited! :)

So... I have several pictures that I need to get on here. Including the rest of the snow pictures (before we have more) and pictures from the swim meet!!!! My siblings did really well!! But, I won't tell you how well yet. SPOILERS!!! :) Hopefully I'll get them on here sooner than later!

Sorry for the references that only certain people will get....

Enjoy your week!
Love,
Rebekah

Chick-Fil-A

Who doesn't love Chick-fil-a!?!?! Not me! That 's for sure! ;) Lemonade and waffle fries... Mmmmmm! But enough of that because my mouth's beginning to water. ;)
I'll let Jonny Diaz and this blog post by David Mathis from Desiring God fill you all in, on why I love Chick-fil-a! :)

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/what-the-church-can-learn-from-chick-fil-a


Love,
Rebekah

Sunday 10.10.13 Building 429 - We Won't Be Shaken

This world has nothing for me
This life is not my own
I know You go before me and I am not alone
This mountain rises higher
The way seems so unclear
But I know that You go with me so I will never fear
I will trust in You

Whatever will come our way
Through fire or pouring rain
We won't be shaken
No we won't be shaken
Whatever tomorrow brings
Together we'll rise and sing
That we won't be shaken
No we won't be shaken
Oooh oooh oh
Oooh oooh oh
Oooh oooh oh
No we won't be shaken

You know my every longing
You've heard my every prayer
You've held me in my weakness
Cause You are always there
So I'll stand in full surrender
It's Your way and not my own
My mind is set on nothing less
Than You and You alone
I will not be moved oh

Whatever will come our way
Through fire or pouring rain
We won't be shaken
No we won't be shaken
Whatever tomorrow brings
Together we'll rise and sing
That we won't be shaken
No we won't be shaken

We will trust in You
We will not be moved
We will trust in You
And we won't be shaken
[x3]

No we won't be shaken

Whatever will come our way
Through fire or pouring rain
We won't be shaken
No we won't be shaken
Whatever tomorrow brings
Together we'll rise and sing
That we won't be shaken
No we won't be shaken

Oooh oooh oh
Oooh oooh oh
Oooh oooh oh
No we won't be shaken (2x)

So one of the blogs I read has a 'Sunday' post where they post a song, and the lyrics. I decided to give it a try, and see what you all thought! :)

Love,
Rebekah

Currently for 10.19.13 with a twist

I am currently...

...reading

• Rejoice by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley. Still. Life is busy, what else can I say!

Rate ~ It's a wonderful series! I can't wait to finish it! (Hopefully it's soon....)

...listening to

• The music coming from the girls room...
• I've started getting into Capital Kings and Royal Tailor. They're Christian bands, put they have really different styles! :)

...watching

• Has anyone ever heard of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries? I've seen a lot of people recommend the lately, but wanted some more input. Would you recommend them? Or not?

Rate ~ I haven't watched them yet, so I don't know.. ;)

• Ummm... We watched Dick Van Dyke last night!

Rate ~ Always fun!!! And hilarious!!! :)

I have currently...

...read

• School books, but they don't count here, so..... I haven't finished reading anything this week. :)

...listened to

• TobyMac, Hawk Nelson, Francesca Battistelli, Brandon Heath, Matthew West, Group 1 Crew, WOWS, same stuff I normally do... :)

Rate ~ AMAZING!!!! I'm still listening to them!  Which doesn't say much... but they are amazing! ;)

...watched

• Monsters Inc. I/we want to watch Monsters University, but since it hasn't come out on DVD yet.... WE substituted with Monsters Inc. :)

Rate ~ Who doesn't like Monsters Inc!!!! Besides the people who are scared of the monsters... And just because you cry during the movie doesn't mean that you are scared!!!! I still tear-up when Sully says good-bye to Boo.... :'( And at the very end when they get Boo's door back! :') For those of you who have never watched the movie, I have two things to say.. 1. You are missing out! and 2. Sorry for the spoilers... ;) (only Doctor Who watchers will get that one..)

Well, about that twist....

I am currently waiting for/looking forward to..

1. My siblings have their first swim meet today!!! Good luck guys! Swim hard, and swim fast, and do your best!
2. My birthday!!!! Only 11 more days!!! :)
3. To tell you the truth, I'm looking forward to Christmas already... I blame it on the early snow getting me into the Christmas mood WAY too early!!!!

Anyways, time to go get ready for the swim meet!!!
Have a good day everyone!!!

Love,
Rebekah

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!!!!!

Well, your birthday starts your first day of your week's vacation. You've already gone to someone's house and come home with lots and lots of wood, and you're planning on painting the rest of the downstairs tomorrow. And doing some other strenuous work around the house. You might get some relaxation time... or not. :)

I'm using orange for this post/letter, because I think that's your favorite color. :) (Why are we buying dog food?)

I didn't get you a birthday present, so I kind of feel bad (understatement) but I know you don't really care if you get presents or not did help make your cake. The cake that we made while you were out getting the wood. The cake that tasted really, really good.

And I'm not doing school at the moment, but it's because I'm writing this letter, so, I'm not doing school because I love you.... or something like that. (Some things sound better on the inside. )

This letter is kind of all scrambled about (green eggs and ham?) but, at least you can understand what I'm saying. (MUMBLER!!!!)

...as long as you can see it that is, as you always say! The eyes are the first things to go! Or maybe it's the mind, you don't always remember. ;)

The points I want to get across are:

1. Happy Birthday!
2. I'm so glad you're my Daddy!
3. You are the best Aged P in the world!
4. Thank-you for all that you do! Especially the stuff that you do over, and over, and over.
5. I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
6. I love you so, so much!

I love you Daddy, Happy Birthday!

 

For those of you who may not have understood this at all, that's okay. I didn't write it for you. :)

Love,
Rebekah

4 months

Sunday, October 6, 2013
Today marks four months since I left. Four months since we packed all of our belongings into a truck and a half and our van, and left. Four months since I last saw my closest friends face to face. Four months since I last felt their arms wrap around me. Four months since I last grabbed them in my embrace and held them tight. Four months since I heard their voices, loud, and clear. Four months since I said goodbye.

I had dreams of staying. The thought crossed my mind once or twice several times, about not leaving. Staying behind. Moving in with another family. (I had had more than one mention it, and at the time, I had taken it rather seriously.) It meant dance, and babysitting. Friends, and fun times. Sleepovers, and silly moments. It meant that I didn't have to leave. And, sometimes, I was willing to make that choice.

Unfortunately, I wasn't legally old enough to make that choice. Which meant that I had no other choice but to leave...

I left living within a day's drive of my family. I left the house that had housed me and my family for nine and a half years. I left the only house my sisters ever remember. I left the church we had attended, the reason we had come in the first place. I left the church where we had gone almost every Wednesday night. I left the churches where the people had watched me grow up from a little girl, to a young woman. The churches that had seen my youngest sister born. I left a homeschool group with almost 100 families, always loving, laughing, playing, teasing. I left biweekly dance classes. I left babysitting for some of the best kids and parents ever. I left my closest friends, and the friends that weren't so close. I left them all.

And, I had left my life. Or so I thought.

We left. And I was still alive. Still breathing. Still thinking. Still looking, and hearing, and feeling. Although, there were some things that I tried not to feel. Some things, that I didn't want to think about, especially while I was in the noisy van. Because, I knew I would cry. Because, I knew it would hurt. Because, I knew that there was no turning back. I knew, that things would never be the same. I knew, that no matter how hard I hoped, how hard I wished, how hard I prayed, things would change.


Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Today, marks four months since we arrived. Four months since we stepped through new doors. Four months since my dream had ended. Four months since reality hit once again. Four months since we walked into an empty house and sat down on the living room floor. Four months since I knew that life would have to carry on... here.

And I was right about things changing. It's been four months. Things there have already changed. A new set up for babysitting, not to mention new kids and parents. New teachers for dance. New programs, and new leaders for youth group and Wednesday nights. New faces and new activities in the homeschool group. New things, that I will never be able to experience the same way that my friends experience them. Things that they have fun at, and talk about, and I have no clue what it was like. Things, that change our relationship.

Things in my life have changed too. New schedules, new activities, new subjects. New responsibilities, new experiences. New faces, new layouts, and new rules. New things that my friends won't know. New things that my friends won't see, the same way I see them. Things that they have no clue about. Things, that change our relationship.

 I miss them. I cried the other night, envisioning their faces in my head. Faces, that were fuzzy, and weren't clear. I replayed their voices. Voices that didn't sound right. I thought of scenarios and experiences that we had been through. Experiences, that I couldn't quite remember.

Oh, yes, I'll always remember them! No, I'd never forget!  I'll always remember my friends. The friends who I saw four times a week for several weeks, the friends who always made me laugh so hard at the end of our writing co-op. The friends who sang with me up on stage. The friends who I danced with every, single week. The friends who I saw maybe once a month. The friends who I've known so long, I just don't remember how we met. The friends who were the first ones I met when we first came. The friends who tell me stories of when we supposedly hated each other, and I have no clue what they're talking about. The friends who can play certain instruments like nobody's business. The friends who will break out in joyous song, just because. The friend whose always willing to help me with some technical problem The friend who laughs at my silly antics (which sometimes, were just for her). The friends who ask me for advice. The friends who love to talk. The friends who are quiet. The friends who listen to the music that I listen to. The friends who listen to music, that I would never listen to if I had the choice. The friends, who are so diverse, in so many ways. The friends who I have number upon number of priceless memories with. The friends, who don't feel like friends, but like family.

I'm thankful for letters, and phone calls, and e-mail, and text. For chat, and instant messaging, and video calls. But, it's not the same.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Now, I was told several times before we moved, 'Oh, you'll make new friends!' and 'Oh, it'll be fun!' and 'Oh, it's an adventure!' (I would cringe when I heard that last one after the first few times.) I could see that it was obviously God's plan, and I knew that he was in charge and in control, and that it was for his glory, and that it would all work out. But, honestly (since I've been rather honest in this post so far) I didn't really care. I was losing my friends, my life for nine and a half years. I don't like change. (If you haven't been able to tell already) I didn't want to move.

I came across a quote the other day, that really struck me.

 

I didn't want the move. I was sick of it, tired of it having been my family's focus for several months. I hoped and prayed for another alternative. This move was everything the quote was talking about. Not only was the move for God's glory, this move is preparing me for my future with God, in my glory.

 

Now, that doesn't mean that all of a sudden, I decide that the move is/was the best thing in the world. That doesn't mean that I'm so happy, happy, happy about the move. That doesn't mean that I forget the past nine and a half (plus four months) of my life.  It doesn't mean that I think or say things that are false, just because this is preparing me for glory!

 

It doesn't mean that I never look back, that I never dream, what it would have been like if I had stayed. It doesn't mean that I don't cry when I think about my friends. It doesn't mean that I don't feel sad when they all get to experience new things without me. It doesn't mean that I don't miss my friends, and the kids that I babysat, and the people I knew.

 

Sometimes, I'm not sure exactly what it means.

 

But, for me now, it means cherishing, and relishing over the times that we had. Keeping in touch, and keeping those relationships, no matter how hard it is, or how busy I may be. It means loving, and missing those people. It means wishing things, that are, in such, wishes. It means hoping and dreaming for things that may, or may never be. And sometimes, it means crying for things that will never be the same again.

 

Because what I lost, I will regain. It may not be the same, but I will see my friends again. I will see the kids I babysat, and the people from church. If not on this earth, then in glory.

 

Because what I go through, the trials, and the heartache (and maybe even sometimes, heartbreak) it is preparing me for glory.

 

What you go through. The trials, and the heartache, and, sometimes, the heartbreak. Is just preparing you for glory.

 

But, most importantly, it's all giving God glory.

 

It's been four months since I left. It's been four months since I've arrived. I haven't always had the best attitude, and there were times where I had the worst (WORST!!!!) attitude. But, all in all, I am being molded and formed, and God has gotten the glory.

Friends, I love and miss you all, and I will never, never, never, forget you, or the times we've had together. I love and miss you all beyond words. Words, that I can not express no matter how hard I try.

Love,
Rebekah

Side note, I'm not sure what happened (whether it was my brain or calendar...) but it's actually only been 3 months... Like I said, not sure what happened, but I just wanted to clear that up. :)

Currently for 10.12.13

Sorry all, I didn't get to a currently post last week. But, I have been reading! So...
I am currently...

...reading

• Rejoice by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley. The fourth book in their Redemption Series.

Rate ~ I have a long story.... (surprise, surprise) Part of the reason I put off reading for so long was because of busy-ness, but part of it was because I knew the beginning of the book was sad, and that I wouldn't be able to read a 'little' bit and then go to bed. I just DON'T work that way! ;) So, I went for several weeks (only 3. Depending on what you're comparing it to, it's not that long) without reading at all. I think my brain in currently (no pun indented) suffering the after effects of that trauma. Anywho...

(I had to look back at old posts to see how I needed to lay this out. How horrible is that!?!?!?!)
...watching

• Ummm. Same old here. There's stuff that I've watched, but that comes later! (right?)

Rate ~ If I'm still watching the same things, the must be pretty good, right correct? (I didn't want to be repetitive by using the same word twice in a row, but I'll be repetitive in telling you the same stuff every week. Don't I make perfect sense!)

...listening

• Currently, currently? Little sis singing 'Oh, What A Beautiful Day' from the living room. It's one of the songs we've been singing for voice lessons. (Gotta love her, don't you! :)
• Five seconds later she's singing Edelweiss now. :)
• And now it's I Love You, Lord. :)
• And now, I'll stop because she's singing through the book. ;)

Rate ~ She's adorable! I LOVE it! :)

I have currently...

... read

• What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Rate ~ Loved it! (Long story part 2) I was in the middle (not exact middle, middle as in in between the front and back cover) of Rejoice, when we went to the store and I found this book for $6. 6 BUCKS!!!!!! Of course, I had to buy it, and the story line looked so intriguing, that I actually stopped reading Rejoice, and started reading this one. :) The only time that happens is when I'm either reading an assigned book, or a book that I've read a million times, and picked up, only to pass the time. :)Moving on...

...watched

• A few episodes of Robin Hood here and there

Rate ~ You should already know, and if you don't the reason we are watching it, is because I want to. 'Nuff said

• Jerry Seinfeld. Dad picked it out the other night.

Rate ~ I watched it because Daddy wanted to. Not something that I would pick out, but...

• The Music Man.

Rate ~ (back story comes first!) We had watched it years and years ago (more than once), and several things had brought my mind to it lately, so I asked Dad to get it so we could watch it. (Also, my dad's not a big fan of musicals [understatement] but he does like this one) Anyways, I really enjoyed it!

...listened to

• A lot of songs! I actually went to sleep the other night singing different Veggietales and School House Rock songs. Yes, you read that correctly. And, yes, I just admitted that on the internet. No, I really don't care. (Little sis is here snickering up a storm because she read that part about the songs.)
• Sore Eyes by Brandon Heath
• London by Brandon Heath
• Everybody Wants To Be A Cat from the Aristocats. I had the 'Everybody!' part stuck in my head and I couldn't figure out which movie it was from. Mom said something about The Lion King, but I couldn't see the scene in my head, so I went and looked it up. It was the Aristocats! I haven't watched that in months! And before that, it was years!!!! (The kids I was babysitting watched it, that's why I did)
• Veggietales Silly songs. Especially Monkey. You can find it here!
• And Pizza Angel.  You can watch it here!

Anyways...
Hope you enjoyed!!!!
I'll try to do a better job keeping up... we'll see how far that gets me.

Love,
Rebekah

I wake up this morning to...

... see this outside my window...

Yes, your eyes are working correctly. That is SNOW!

Your brain is working correctly too!! It's only the first Friday in October!

Snow on the window screen.

 

More snow on screen.

 

 

This is the screen door. ^ It would only open a few inches!

Love the focus!!!! ^

 

 

It was up to her ankles!! She had to come inside early because the snow was going in between her pants and her boots!!! Poor dear!!!

 

She fell belly down into the snow!!

 

 

Bundled up! In a sweatshirt...

It was up to his knees in other places!

And then mid sis fell. :)

 

Snow in my window!!!!

 

 

Snow in the door.

 

Snow inside the door. INSIDE!!!

 

Snow inside the dining room window.

 

Look at the door!?!?! It's almost halfway covered!!!

 

 

The snow had coated both the screen and the glass of the window!

 

 

 

Would you look at that pile of snow!!!

We finally got the door opened up a bit. :)

 

LOOK! JUST LOOK!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Well, hope you all enjoyed!!!

Enjoy your (hopefully) warmer weather!!!!

 

Love,

Rebekah