Completing a scrapbook of memories.

Making new designs for each page, cutting, writing, pasting, the hours of work poured into it are all worth it in the end. I love having a book of photographs and tokens to be able to look back on.

How was your weekend?

Mine was spectacular. This past weekend I had the priveledge to journey to what now is a familiar spot in North Carolina. I went for my first time to a retreat held annually at Ridge Haven called YoWAW. Focused on getting young people excited about missions.

YoWAW (Youth World Awareness Weekend)

This retreat proved itself to be built on a firm foundation by the first day and pushed its way out of the box I had put it in.

What made me want to go: The main speaker for this year was Dr. Paul Kooistra. My absolute favorite speaker we have yet to have at our mission's conference. I was thrilled to know he would be at Ridge Haven.

There were two sessions on each particular day. Kooistra and David McNeeley spoke, alternating turns. On the first day we were handed a list of seminar choices and each day we had to attend two of our choice. My first choice was one entitled, "Christianity and the arts". It was like nothing I have seen before and proved to be very thought provoking. Using drama and sketches, the cutest couple explained through drama how you can use the arts and theater for the glory of God.

The difference in subjects and the unique ways each speaker had of getting his message across was awesome. It was interesting to be challenged to think along with two hundred and some other teenagers.

The location added to the overall opinion I have formed of this retreat. The mountains are gorgeous and without hesitation I would live forever in a city on a mountain. We would treck to the different locations where each building was held. Every moment I breathed in the fresh air and loved the walks up and down hills and through forests.

The fellowship was wonderful. I came to find that the Franklin family has a limitless number of cousins and relatives. Each new face seemed to be somehow distantly related in some way or an other. And as to my fellow traveling companions I grew to appreciate each indivual and their humorous/kind ways.

I love traveling with a small group of people because you are forced to spend time with people you wouldn't normally hang out with. It was awesome.

and the food was WONDERFUL. I ate well. (:

The eleven hour ride was well worth the weekend I spent at Ridge Haven.

Even the cold I aqquired on the second day did not dampen my mood for long.

I loved it.

and I want to go back next year.

It was beautiful.

A distinct sound when shaken...

I've wanted to do a new puzzle for a while now. I have around the amount of twelve in my closet. All of which I have done, some more than once. There is something satisfying in fitting together piece after piece. A steady two hours of work and concentration. And then, stepping back you glimpse the final picture, a beautiful landscape of trees on an open field; a sailboat in the midst of sparkling blue waters or a happy scene of people in a quaint old town. While I am doing the puzzle I concentrate on one area at a time. Which seems to be somewhat like life. I spend my time doing/working to accomplish a few specific things at a time. It may seem like my time is being spent in a monotonous fashion, but, it's only because I cannot see the big picture.
While I am still trying to complete the puzzle,
God can all ready see the finish product.

All the pieces buddy up and connect. On some occasions you have to throw out some pieces that have sneakily made their way into the wrong puzzle box. However, the majority of the pieces will fit together after sorting the edges from the middles and connecting the rigged edges.

I want to do a puzzle. Preferably one equipped with 5000 pieces.

Maybe one will arrive in the mail. :D I'll shake it and listen for the clashing together of thousands of pieces waiting to be constructed into something grand.

Sarah

Luke.

Hope

Sunday afternoon pictures (posted for Faith)

I went bowling tonight.

I officially can state that I pretty much love any sport I try.


volleyball.
soccer.
ice skating.
bowling.
ultimate.
kickball.
basketball.

Hope is cooking dinner.

She is cooking us an igloo cake *questioning smile*, and pigs in a blanket. Heh. To her, that seems like a pretty rockin' meal.

Mom left for the women's retreat. With her departure we were left a list of things to clean before her return tomorrow. I had the "pleasant" duty of cleaning the bathroom.

Kateyln (our next-door-neighbor) dropped off the Girl Scout cookies tonight.

Samoas=awesome+delicious.

Well, they were. Then I ate four and decided I don't like them anymore.

I wanted all my hair cut off today because I have long since grown impatient with my long curls.

However, Mrs. Townsend persuaded me to keep it long and layered for a while. Since it took forever and a day to grow out.

Yeah...that's pretty much about it.
Time to go taste this....dinner....

captured time.
Not a minute of time escapes God's notice.

He is intimately concerned with every detail in the affairs of men and in the course of nature.

"Time is of the essence."

You're a silent rage, you're a hurricane

You are everything I cannot see and can't explain

You're an enigma wrapped in a mystery

Everywhere I go, I can't escape Your energy

white as snow. We get very excited over half-an-inch of snow around here. Schools close, people rush out to buy necessary food in case of being "trapped" inside by the MASSIVE amounts of snow that falls in this area. Oh, and let us not neglect the anual rush to the mound/hump we call a hill. Sledding down it is the thrill of a lifetime for flatlanders.


tomorrow it will be slush. Ah well, it's beautiful while it lasts. Somehow I know I wouldn't quite appreciate snow as much as I do if it came every-day. It is a mystery to behold when it does come and an excited time for many youngsters. Building snowforts, making snow angels, the classic building of a snowman and the scavenging to find a carrot for its nose.
Or in my siblings case, the building of many little snow men all across our road. So that, when you drive through the neighborhood you have the choice of either running over the little snowmen or finding a new way to get home. "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."

The distant strains of triumph

Capturing the beauty of a flower is not extremely difficult. They're so photogentic. (:

"Looking through rose colored stained glass windows Never allowing the world to come in..."

...How still the riddle lies...

Ground state: The lowest possible energy level.

I felt like I was in "ground state" today. Swimming in an ocean of chemistry and beginning to drown in the depth of the subject. In chemistry it seems that everything pertains to something else and it all persistently gets broken down and it goes on and on.

"This is the song that goes on and on...someone started singing it and now we'll be singing it forever just because...this is the song that goes on and on..."

I suppose it's because I am getting SO old, but, I am continually tired at points throughout the day. When I have to get up at six, it's then when sleep is so precious. Just ten more minutes feels like a treasure of peace. My bed never feels quite as warm, or as comfortable as in those quick moments before I am forced to rise.

Oh, the lazy ways of a cat.

Eat, sleep and bask in sunshine.

That's some life.

I wouldn't want it.






just food, sleep and sunshine.

It's nice to dream sometimes.

But. It's beautiful to work for something and get it accomplished. To Stive for that goal and lean on Jesus to strengthen your energy state.

He will provide.