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| Can you think of something you prayed for a lot? Something you wanted so bad you prayed about it many times a day?
The restoration of health of a relative?
The safety of a friend?
A personal goal? How many times do we hear these things prayed about in church?
Prayer requests at my church take up a long list in the bulletin, as done in many churches. Usually this list is read by the person who leads us in prayer on Sunday and Wednesday for weeks and weeks... one prayer request may be prayed many, many times. We even have a special prayer class on Wednesday nights, where names and needs cover the blackboard and are prayed for. It's a very sincere, wonderful thing. I'm a fan of the idea of remembering the needs of others in prayer - that's one of the things a church family is for... right?
Right. ...but when the person is healed, returns home safely, or that goal is met, what do we do?
Say a couple "Thank you God" in church, maybe... depending on how miraculously the need was met. I know God is great, he understands our human imperfections, and he doesn't get aggrivated nearly as easily as I would, but think about this:
When you give someone something, what do you usually expect them to say?
When you were little, and your mom gave you something, what did you have to say to her?
"Thank you." How much more should we thank God, who gave us life itself, and on top of that watched his own son suffer and die for our sake? The church's purpose, besides strengthening and helping eachother, is serving and praising God. Well, if we have a list of prayers for eachother, maybe we should have a list of thanks to God, so we'll remember to thank him more than once or twice. Doesn't he deserve more than that? Have you ever had a really good idea where you think " Where did that come from? Did I really come up with that?" My mom says it's God saying "I'm going to help you out, here..." and gives us the idea. I think she's right. God gave me this thought the other day, I felt I should pass it on. | | |
|  | Currently Listening
Plans
By Death Cab for Cutie
I'll Follow You Into the Dark
see related |
The tournament is over. It was fun, but it was work. Recruiting judges, recruiting timers, being called "The Evil Timer Lady" several times, having to refute every lame excuse in the book, and really not wanting to ask my friends - it was all very tiring, and I didn't get to hang out with you awesome people as much as I really wanted to.
Timer coordinator was more running around in high heel shoes than I bargained for. I need a break, so I'm going to compete next year. ^_^ (Dad's still job hunting, but let's hope he finds something here so we don't have to move. If y'all think y'all's dads might know something about a job opening, we would really appreciate if y'all would let us know, and please keep us in your prayers.) I feel like I need to dedicate part of this post to Erin and Courtney who really deserve medals. Saturday night Courtney and Erin both helped with the hospitality kitchen... even if Courtney's work was unappreciated by one specific mom, those of us who were actually paying attention greatly appreciated her willingness to work. Also, when we were trying to finish the big mess upstairs, Courtney was moving tables, and one of them ended up on her toe, and it bled really bad. She toughed it out and continued working.
(She beat me at arm wrestling, too. ~_^) I think one of the best memories I have from this tournament is Erin singing Death Cab for Cutie songs with me while we were washing dishes. She helped me carry tables down stairs, clean up all that trash upstairs, sweep, and timed more than half of the debate rounds. She really worked hard, and I am very greatful. For those of you who haven't realized, these wonderful girls are from four hours away, and didn't have to help, but they worked every bit as hard as any of us who live here. They went above and beyond the call of duty. Everyone should go tell them thanks. More special thanks: Stephanie: Thank you so much for running around getting me paper towels when I was about to pass out, and working sooo hard on the rooms upstairs. I really apreciate how you just picked up a broom and got to work immediately. Also, thanks for calling yesterday and today, and comforting me all the times I needed it. Erin: Another thanks for taking care of me when I was about to pass out, and giving me hugs and back rubs when I needed them most. ^_^ Will: Thank you for giving me food when I couldn't stand up. I don't know if I would have made it much longer if you hadn't. I'm really looking forword to you starting wrestling, because I'll get to see you then! Ben: Thank you for offoring me some of your pizza when we got to Johnny's, and for being so sympathetic when I found out my aunt died. I know I didn't really act like it then, but I really did appreciate it, and still do. You're such a great friend. Amanda: Sorry for not thanking you at first for timing! For some reason my mind wasn't going any further back than Saturday. Thanks for helping me soooo much with timing and recruiting! I would have been timing every single round Thursday and Saturday if you hadn't been there! Well, I could talk about the tournament and the amazing people I saw there, all day, but I'd best be going. See y'all later! | | |
| (Okay, that last post was pretty much completely boring, so now that I actually have something to say, I shall say it.) "Kids say the darndest things..." I was at Kiroli Park today for a big Cub Scout/Boy Scout event. At one point, I went to the swings with Amelia (whom some of you are aquainted with), Daniel (Amelia's friend) and Amelia's little sister, Abby: 
We were talking about music and such, when Amelia accused Daniel of listening to satanic music.
"Why do you listen to that kind of stuff? Like Marilyn Manson, and Ozzy Ozborne..."
When, Abby says, very matter-of-factly:
"Ozzy Osborne killed Spiderman."
When we inquired as to what she was talking about, she replied
"Well... he almost killed him."
Which left us with a riddle to solve... which we did.
As some of you may recal, Norman Osborne was the name of the Green Goblin - the villan on the first Spiderman movie. "Out of the mouths of babes..." | | |
| A special hello to all three of y'all who are reading this because you're not in Oklahoma. 7 kids, and 2 adults from my Church went to Baton Rouge recently for a youth rally. It was very good. It wasn't as enormous as Gatlinburg (see previous post), with only about 40 people compared to Winterfest's 12,000. But sometimes small is better, right? Mr. Dennis, our main song leader and involvement minister was kind enough to lend his Toyota Camry to Mr. James (our preacher) for the trip. Mrs. Heidi (the preacher's wife, and pretty much my second mother) was driving her van with two 11-year-olds, one of whom had a newly-broken foot, and Hannah - my most favorite little kid in the whole world (Another story for another time... this post is going to be long enough). Since Josh had his cast on, and needed to spread out, the younger kids ended up in the van, and Justin, Courtland, Tim and I ended up riding squished up in the Camry with Mr. James. It was fun... and Mr. James and Mrs. Heidi both deserve medals. Now, there are countless storries I could tell y'all about Courtland freaking out when he found out about host housing, and freaking out when he realized he was the only black person on the trip, Mr. James' rather unconventional seatbelt checks, us yelling "SATAN WAS DEFEATED!" (and various other chants) every chance we got the window down, Mr. James giving me permission to give Tim and Justin a good hard slap every now and again, Courtland thinking I'm asleep and starts talking about me, host homes and "ghosts"... etc. However entertaining these storries may be, a long post can be boring... especially when written by me. I ain't no Erin Witlow or Sarah Peshoff. I could also post pictures, but I believe y'all would be scarred for life. Those of you who have facebook, you can see some of the pics there. DISCLAIMER: We had Mountain Dews, or, Mountain Booze (I dunno how to spell it. I'm sure y'all can forgive me for that one.) as I like to call it - because of the affect it seems to have on people. I was seated in the middle (on the hump, for all you Brian Regan fans out there) between Justin and Tim, who had both had their naps, and were therefore well rested, but hyper. Tim begins saying all the random words that make Justin bust out laughing at any given moment, and all the hand signals and movements... but he thought it would be even more humorous if I did it. So, I did. Then, I don't remember why, but Tim was playing with his hair, and I started in. I ended up putting three poneytails in his hair that looked like little fountains.
Justin wanted to do something, too, but alas, I had no more poneytail holders, and his hair was really too short to do anything with... ...Time for innovation. :digs through purse and finds the only item of makeup in there: Bright. Pink. Lipstick. Which then served as many differient cosmetics such as eyeshadow, blush, and... lipstick.
However, my Mr. James' request, I had to put this makeup on Justin in the dark. Quite interesting. He ended up looking like a clown before it was over. They did quite a number on me, too. Complete with a bright-pink hitler moustache, courtesy of Timbo. Then, since Tim wouldn't let me put lipstick on him, he carried tied his shirt inside itself like a bikini top, and carried my purse with him into the church building... when he realized... THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE Not just any people.
Homeschool people. Who know me. As we're wondering around, waiting on my parents to arrive, and unloading cars, etc. I see Mrs. Jan coming towards me. Under any other less face-paint-ish circomstances, this would be a happy occasion to do introductions. This time, I had to introduce the preacher's kids when they were dressed, and acting like sissyboys. I also felt like I needed an excuse for having lipstick everywhere on my face except where it rightfully belongs... so as Tim literally began running away, I grabbed him by the arm. Now, instead of me just having facepaint and being with two boys who were escapading as... yeah, I am now holding the arm of one of them. -_-
...Which I can imagine looked very strange. Way to go Lacy!
Although it was maybe a little embarrassing, not even anywhere near embarrassing enough to make me wish we hadn't had fun with the warpaint lipstick. Here, I suppose I have to post a picture... I just can't help myself.
(Don't worry, this one is somewhat less than horrific... I actually think it's funny...) 
Yes, very blurry. My batteries were going out. You can kinda get the idea, though.
The next day, Courtland informed us that if he had to ride in a Camry with the three of us ever again, he would turn around and not go on the trip.
Aw, c'mon. We weren't that bad!
(I think he was joking...)
He also told us we were "actin a foo!" So.. let me know how the tournament goes. See y'all! | | |
| Hey y'all. I just got back from Winterfest. I tell ya what, that was the coolest thing ever. It was really great. We really had fun, and it was a great spiritual experience. Here are some pictures. I'll put up more once I get some that someone else took. 
What you can't see is "P 3.14" which stands for Phillipians 3:14
This is a picture of the stage.
Me, Courtland, Josh, and Justin in front of Hard Rock Cafe
Lauren, Amber, Justin, Madison, Courtland, Kaleb, Tim, and me
No, we're not idiots. There's a reason some of us have our tounges sticking out. You know that white stuff that falls out of the sky in Christmas movies?
^_^
"Y'all I think it's snowing harder!"
- Justin... every single time we left a building.
SNOWBALL FIGHTS!
(pictures coming soon, maybe... maybe not.)
See the hill that goes behind the building?
You can't see it real well, but people slid down it allll night. Some of which were cars. There were several fender benders that night. We took two cars, one of which was a brand spankin new SUV with every bell and whistle you can think of (which I was not riding in at the time), it slid down the hill, and almost hit two other cars.
God was reallllly watching out for us there.
Isn't that pretty? Saturday morning we saw mallard ducks there.
Lauren, me, Amber, and Mrs. Amanda
Madison, Lauren, Amber, and me.
...more snow!
"Tim smile!... Smile! SMILE!!!"
"*Normal smile*"
"*Clicks camera*"
"*Sticks tounge out*"
"AGH! TIM!"
...and Justin has part of a oatmeal cookie out of his mouth. Brilliance.
I'm not good at this taking pictures without looking thing. I cut off part of Amber's face. o.o
There we go!
Amber and Justin.
See? See? See?
SNOW IN MY HAIR!
Haha. Madison took this picture. Someone made the comment that it looks like giant dandrif (sp?). -_-
...of course, that's from a Louisianian. ~_^
Just to tell y'all know, Tim only looks fruity in this picture, he's not actually.
(Using his own pun against him... we saw a dude walking down the street dressed in a banana suit and Tim goes "Look! He's fruity!")
Our preacher Mr. James and Mrs. Heidi.
We have them to thank for taking us on this trip.
^_^
Me, Justin, and Mr. Dart in the background
We were at TGI Friday's.
Justin laughing at
"Birds slap the grill."
Yes, we were insanely tired.
Us all piled in the elevator.
Amber is pinned behind the box, and the idiot with his tounge hanging out, once again.
That's all the ones I have right now. I had just gotten some from Mrs. Amanda and Madison, so I put them up. See y'all! | | |
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