The Model Museum

Uncle David and his family came down Monday, but I had't really gotten to enjoy their visit because of school. So yesterday since I didn't have classes, instead of the kids doing school school, we made it a 'fieldtrip day', and spent the day together! It was so much fun! A few months ago, Mom had read in our local power company paper about this man who was 90-something, and for most of his life had had this hobby of making models - airplanes, cars and trucks, ships, spaceships, tanks, trains... you name it! In the 50s, 60s, and 70s when the plastic model kits were really popular, he really had fun with it, and by the time of the article, had put together a total of almost 4,000 models!! For a long time, he had wanted a place to display all his projects, and so about a year ago as a surprise, his sons converted an office building one of them owned into a small museum - lining each wall from floor to ceiling with shelves, and having a separate room for each 'category' of model! It is open for public viewing in the afternoons, and for small groups in the mornings.
So yesterday we all (Mom's parents, Mom, Uncle David and Aunt Winny, Trissy, me, and the two cousins) piled into two cars for the drive down there to visit this little 'museum'.
It was amazing!! The place was floor to ceiling models! The son who had first had the idea for the museum was there to meet us, and kindly took quite a lot of time showing us around, telling stories about his father, the models, and interesting historical facts about the actual machines they were modeled from. We spent only a couple of hours in there, but you could literally spend days looking at everything, asking questions, and it was a 'collector' photographer's dream!
As most of you know, my camera is dying :""( but I was able to get a few picture, poor quality though they be. Hopefully I will be able to post some of them soon, just so you can get an idea of what it was like. We hope to go back soon when Dad isn't working, and can be with us!
When we left the museum, we went and ate out ( ! ) (we hardly ever eat at a resturant!) at the Golden Corral (any of you ever been there? It was our first time) and had a delicious and leisurely lunch, enjoying being together and just breathing freely for a time - away from our individual and hectic schedules. It was so nice!
After that we came back and spent the afternoon at "the grandparents' house" until time to leave for church. It was such a relaxing, fun, refreshing day! Isn't it great how the Lord knows just how much to let you go through, and then He will send you a little 'lift' just to help you keep going? He is good!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feb. 3, 2010

"It's a... Classic Car Convention?"

Here are some of the car pictures from the Model Museum. There are other models I'll try to post later.

Sorry about the poor quality, but... *rolls eyes* my camera...

At least I got some! ;)

Isaiah 55:9

Good morning one and all! I would like to share a verse with you this morning that I read last night before I went to bed. I have read it many times before, but last night the immense magnitude of what it could mean just "floored" me - almost literally. I had to get down on my knees before our truly Awesome Lord, and ask again, ' How could you even look on us?! much less be our Friend?'
Here is the verse. I have left it in a sort of 'poem form' to help accentuate the huge meaning...

"For as the heavens
are higher
than the earth,

so are my ways

higher

than your ways,

and my thoughts
than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:9

I hope you all have a blessed day, and that it will be a valuable one in which the Lord will teach you many things about Himself!

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

-K<><

"I WILL Still Love You, Lord!"

"I was sure by now, God you would have reached down and wiped our tears away - stepped in and saved the day. But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining...
And as the thunder rolls, I barely hear Your whisper through the rain, “I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives - and takes away... And I’ll praise You in this storm! And I will lift my hands. For You are who You are, no matter where I am. And every tear I’ve cried, You hold in Your hands. You've never left my side, and though my heart is torn... I will praise You in this storm
I remember when I stumbled in the wind - You heard my crying, and raised me up again. My strength is almost gone! How can I carry on, if I can’t find You?
As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain, “I’m with you” And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives - and takes away.
And I'll praise You in this storm! And I will lift my hands, for You are Who You are - no matter where I am! And every tear I cry, You hold in Your hands. You've never left my side, and though my heart is torn, I'll praise You in this storm.
I lift my eyes unto the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord - The Maker of Heaven and Earth!
I'll praise You in the storm! And I will lift my hands. For You are Who You are - no matter where I am! And every tear I cry, You hold in Your hand - You've never left my side,

and though my heart is torn,

I will praise You in the storm!"

Pecan Pie And College Challenges

Yesterday evening after a relaxing day working around the house and catching up on some things, Trissy and I made some pecan pies! Ours didn't turn out this pretty (!) but they did taste good ;) ! We just need a little whipped cream and we'll be all set!

Please pray for me as I try to live for the Lord at college. I know I've talked about this already, but it is so hard sometimes to know what to do when there's trash all around you (both hearing and seeing), and you're only one person trying to be an example for Christ. Even worse is when there are people in your class who laugh at the nasty jokes, wear the revealing clothing, and then claim to be Christians!!! Those are the kind of people who are REALLY hard to keep a good attitude towards! If they really are saved, they should either straighten up and live like it, or just keep their mouth shut about being saved at all!!!!! Because they're just giving unbeliever's "a bad taste in their mouths" for everyone else that IS sincere and trying to live by the Bible!!! There are some people like that in my classes, and HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO COMPETE WITH THAT!?!?

*Sigh* I'm sorry for all the ranting and raving - I started off just going to ask you all to pray for me and my classmates, and then it turned into a tirade... it's been a kindof hard day...

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all theses things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US" Rom. 8:35 & 37

Praise Him ~

"Call Unto Me, and I Will Answer Thee..."

I got a message from a church friend just a little bit ago, and Bro. Earl and all them are alright! Praise the Lord!
Austin's computer crashed, and that was their means of communication, so that's why they hadn't gotten in touch with anyone.
Thank you so much everyone who prayed!

The Voice Of Truth

Sunday Jan. 17 ~

Oh what I would do to have the kind of faith it takes to stand before a giant! With just a sling and a stone... Surrounded by the sounds of a thousand warriors, shaking in their armor - wishing they'd of had the strength to stand.
But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me! Reminding me of all the times I've tried before but failed. The giant keeps on telling me, time and time again, "Boy, you'll never win! You'll never win."

But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story! And the Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid."
And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My Glory!" Out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth.

But the stone was just the right size to put the giant on the ground; and the waves, they don't seem so high - when you're on top of them, looking down. I'll soar with the wings of eagles, when I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus, singing over me!

The Voice of Truth tells me a different story! And the Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid."
And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My Glory!" Out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth.

I will listen and believe because Jesus, YOU are the Voice of Truth!

Will I Still Love Him?

Sunday Jan. 17 ~

In the movie "Facing the Giants", Grant Taylor asks his childless wife, "If the Lord never gives us children, will you still love him?" At the time, she is unable to answer this question. But after numerous trips to the doctor in one year, all with negative results, she is forced to face the question, but this time is able to say, "I will still love You, Lord. I will still love You."

Those of you that followed my old blog may have read of my desire and prayer for children for my beloved Sunday School teacher and his dear wife. You may have read of the struggle I had, and how I thought I had finally 'let go' of that dream, trusting it to the Lord and His decision.

I hadn't.

In my last post, I told how we've been studying the topic of 'suffering' in Sunday School and Thursday night Bible study, and some of the points we've discussed. Well, there was another one on Thursday besides the ones I mentioned. It was that:

"God has the right, as our Creator, to put us through whatever 'trial' He chooses, and is in no way obligated to give us His reasons (though sometimes in His great kindness, He will)."

During the discussion of this point, Bro. Dennis told of when he and Mrs. Carrie lost their first child. How excited he had been, and then how hard it had been when they had to give it up. All the while he talked he used the same mannerisms and earnestness that he always has whenever he's illustrating some important point he wants us to 'get'. Yet as he looked at each one around the table, including us all in the conversation, there was pain in his eyes, and when they met mine as he went around the table, I could not keep my gaze steady - I could not face those eyes. And I hated myself for it, but I just couldn't; it seemed so... almost heartless to just stare back. He told how the Lord had used that though, and showed him that that baby was really His - He could take it back whenever He wanted; even before they got to see it.
And when they lost the second one, he realized that, though he and Mrs. Carrie suffered, really in a way it was a blessing - for the children. They would never have to suffer pain - they would never know the effects of sin!
Another person made a comment, and the discussion moved on. I glanced back at Bro. Dennis, and then - selfishly - almost wished I hadn't. He was looking down, studying something in his hand, and I'd never seen him look as tired as he did right then. He's become one of my 'Heroes of the Faith', and for a moment I shrank from my own pain of seeing him hurt. I closed my eyes and wished that I could just get up, go outside, and stand and cry with only the stars looking. But I couldn't, and the questions, answers, Bible verses, and discussion was of course still going on around me. I forced my brain back into it's flow, even as my mind rebuked me quietly: "What are all these lessons on suffering accomplishing if you're totally missing the point?! Here the Biblical answers are being presented all around you, and you're stuck back on the subject: suffering! Aren't you paying attention?"
So the Lord helped me to force the whole thought and it's pain aside for a while, and enjoy the rest of the evening.
But tonight I wondered if the subject was still on Bro. Dennis's mind, because in his sermon he brought in alot of the points we had discussed.

Trissy and I went a little early tonight (we hope to do a trio with Lindy, and needed to practice) so I had my car to drive back to our house in. And as I drove, I cried. Because I felt like the Lord had put that question in my mind. All along I'd thought it was just a matter of His timing - He would give them children, but when He got ready. So I was able to 'give it up'. And that was hard enough, but I could do it - after all, they were still coming right?
But what if they're not? What if they don't? Will I still love Him? And I cry because I can't answer that question.

If the Lord chooses to never give Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Carrie children; if He doesn't send Bro. Earl and Mrs. Shannen and Austin back to me, will I be able to stand the spiritual shock? Will I still love Him?

That's scary. Lord help me!

Please Pray For My Pastor's Family

Sunday Jan. 17 ~

Bro. Earl and Mrs. Shannen have gone to visit their younger son Austin, who is a short-term missionary in a very dangerous part of the world. Bro. Jeremiah (Bro. Earl's brother) preached in the morning, and Bro. Dennis (who is Bro. Earl and Mrs. Shannen's older son, for those of you who don't know) preached in the evening.

Morn.~

We heard from 'the travelers' when they got there safely, but no one has heard from them since and it's been several days. They were going to try to make contact back to us as often as possible during their visit... Danger is a very real thing where they are.

Eve. ~

Still no word from them. Alot of us are very concerned.

Thurs. Night College Bible Study - the lesson

So anyway, the lesson was titled, "The Stress of Crisis" It was on suffering, reasons for suffering, and how we do, and should, react to it. Strange, but this topic has seemed to come up alot lately in different situations, conversations, and lessons at church:

In our Sunday School college class we are studying Appologetics - how to defend your faith. It has been an excellent and extremely challenging topic, spanning several months and requiring deep thinking (Bro. Dennis loves to challenge us to use our minds! So much of what's taught in churches now is so watered-down and shallow). Recently Bro. Dennis decided to have each student pick a controversial topic from a list he compiled, study it, do research, and then present what we found to the rest of the class. One of the young men had the topic "Why would a supposedly loving God allow or inflict suffering?" We ended up taking three weeks on this one, instead of just one. Some of the truths/points we discussed:

1) We (humans) deserve NOTHING from God!

2) We shouldn't ask, "Why am I having to go through suffering?" but instead, "Why am I given so many blessings?"

3) God allows and causes everything that happens, for a reason.

4) God will always get glory in everything, and if we choose, we can be privaleged to be the ones to give it to Him.

5) If we are saved and going through difficulties, He may be using those things to show His power in our lives.

I wish I could go into detail right now about all the different paths we took in these discussions and the verses we studied that led us to these deductions. Maybe someday I will.

But anyway, this Sun. School study is just one area where the subject of suffering and why God allows it has come up recently. In our lesson Thursday night, we continued with some of the above points, but also (since there were more of us, therefore more lives and experiences to give input) some new ones. Like:

1) Sometimes we are guilty of, perhaps subconsciously yet intentionally, prolonging our own suffering simply because our selfish nature enjoys the pity.

2) Often our suffering could be significantly alleviated if we would follow the Bible's advice when it says to share our burdens. We could often have our heartaches eased if we sought the help, advice, counsel, or just the understanding of a Christian brother or sister.

We talked about how the Lord gets glory out of everything, even when evil people accomplish great wickedness, and we just can't see how that could bring God glory. But the Bible says that even Pharaoh was allowed to rule over and persecute the children of Israel, so that His power might be revealed.

We went alot farther, but there is no way I can capture for you how deep we got into it, and what a blessing it was to be in the midst of a group of young people who had gathered just for the purpose of encouraging one another in the Word, and to learn more of God and His plan! I think I could almost say though, that this was about the best lesson I think we've had so far!

Thurs. Night College Bible Study - before the lesson

*I jotted this entry down on a piece of scratch paper 'cause I didn't have access to a computer at the time. So I'm putting the actual writing date at the beginning, but the post date is today's. In the future, if I've got to compose a post on paper before I can post it here, I will put the actual date of when I wrote it at the top of the post.*

Fri. Jan. 15 ~

So anyway, since it had been such a long time since we'd had a 'real' Bible study meeting as a group, everyone was really 'in top form' so to speak, and as everyone was arriving, the good humor and banter was going strong. Bro. Mike, Justice, Oliver, and Landon had all gone Monday to a three-day missions meeting about eight hours away, and were supposed to get back just in time for Bible study. They ended up being a little late, so as we waited on them, we were all just sitting around the long table "talking life", and just generally giving each other a good-natured hard time :D ! It was great! Trissy 'got' Bro. Dennis good at one point. He is such a jokester, and he's always waiting 'til she gets within hearing range and then he'll get his fake seriousness face on and then will start just really lamenting to whoever he was talking to, over the fact of how she's such a trouble maker and he can't get her to see how important it is to be respectful in Sunday School and all this... Trissy is about the most opposite of that you can imagine! But it's hilarious, and she loves it just as much as he does, she just hasn't always got a good comback ready. So anyway, last night we were just sitting around visiting, and she was going to ask him something, and so to address him she of course began, "Bro. Dennis..." Now, most, if not all, of the other young people just call him "Dennis", but we've always been taught to address adults (especially ones in positions of authority) as "Mr." or "Mrs." or, if it's a Christian man, as "Bro." But anyway, I guess most of the other kids just don't think about it. When Trissy said that, Camille (Bro. Mike's daughter) said sort of in a questioning voice, "Bro. Dennis?" and kind of gave Trissy a puzzled look. So Trissy decided that she would "get" him (she knew he was still listening with one ear, even with the other conversations going on at the same time) so she just piped right up and replied, "Well yeah, I've always tried to be respectful of old guys" Oh boy! everybody howled at that, 'cause they knew she had gotten him good! and that he would think of something to come back with... and it's a never-ending circle of friendly 'ribbing'.

This is getting off the subject just a little, but seriously, Bro. Dennis really has been such a blessing to my family in this church. He has such a heart of fun, but also of gold; and he knows so much about the Bible and how to defend your faith. He has taught Trissy and me so much just in this past year about what really matters in life, and that Christians can be CHRISTIANS (like Christ) without feeling like it's inappropriate to crack a smile or enjoy their Salvation!

So Bro. Mike, Oliver, Justice, and Landon finally got there and we got started on our lesson.

*I'll tell about it in my next post, Lord willing*

A Look Back - 2009

Well, the year 2009 was certainly one of excitement, changes, and learning. I had no idea how many things the Lord would allow to happen, and then use to teach me so many valueable lessons. Here is a brief look at each month, and some of the happenings of each:

January of course started a new year. New year, old plans, and a fresh start at trying to see them become reality.

In February the Lord blessed us with the reason I originally started blogging in the first place - He led us to a wonderful, Godly church where He is praised and His people are taught His Word. This first year is hopefully just the start of a long story in this place. And even though (when I post about it) my feeble attempts to share the joyful, wondering, learning times with you are so frail, I hope somehow you can get a glimpse of the Glory He is sharing with me through these experiences. In February we also celebrated our grandparents' (Mom's parents' - our only living set of grandparents) 65th wedding anniversary!

March, April, and May saw us busily preparing for and celebrating Trissy's graduation! She was able to "walk" with the other graduates in the large homeschool group we are a part of, and we were blessed by all the support, and the professional yet Christ-honoring air with which the whole event was conducted.
Also in May, my grandfather had two heart attacks in one week (!) and so started almost an entire summer/fall of Trissy and me living with our grandparents, helping where ever and when ever we were needed, and learning many great lessons about fellowship, service, and the blessing of living close to family.

In June Trissy and I were privaleged to go along with two of our cousins to a Bible youth camp for a week. We worked hard, learned alot, made some new friends, and came back really refreshed by the experience.

July we of course celebrated the Independence our country still is blessed with and we pray continues, though perhaps we are loosing it even as the days tick by. Also our grandmother fell and broke her arm, essentially handicapping herself for several months as it healed, and our grandfather too, since she is really the one who cared for both of them. Trissy and I were glad to be available and able to continue staying with them and helping with even the little things it is so hard to do with one hand. All four of us (despite the painful arm) had alot of fun during this time, for we were basically "stuck" with each other, and though we just live right down the road from them, it seems we don't really get to spend enough time together.

August was perhaps the bussiest and most eventful month of our year! We said goodbye for a time to our pastor's younger son as he left for a dangerous mission field. I started working at the Christian school our church started, and I also began college. Trissy (being the most 'free') became the main helper for our grandparents (though I still spent nights there, and helped however time allowed me to) and took over most of my "chores" at our house as well, since I had to devote such large amounts of time to school and homework.

September means Fair Time! This year we were not able to participate to near the extent we usually do, but I did manage to have a small group of crafts and creations to enter in the County Fair, several of which went on to State!

October - Fall is in the air! My most favorite time of year! Our grandmother finally was able, after several set-backs and dissapointments, to have her cast taken off and become the Queen of her own house once again! We were glad her arm was healed so well, but in a way too, it was sad since it meant we didn't really have an excuse to continue living with them, and had to get back to our neglected house (which had, as Mom likes to say, "Gone to seed" while we were otherwise occupied ;D ). Also, District Fair was going on, and like at County, I was thankfully able to find some entries to send. The fairs have always been, not only so much fun, but also a nice opportunity to earn a little money from 'placing' as well! I also started blogging, I believe on Oct. 30th!

In November there was Thanksgiving, the Bible Conference, and reajusting to 'normal' life, though it could arguably be asked, "Is life ever truly 'normal' ?!" :D

December - Christmas and all it's symbolism, events, celebrations and enjoyments. Our trip to TX to visit Mom's sister, and then the New Year is here!

May our 2010 be, perhaps not so hectic ;), but certainly as valuable and rich!

College Class AR Trip

Fri. Jan. 15 ~

Last night was, of course, our Thurs. night college Bible study class. It was SO great to get to be there again! It had been so long since we had had a 'regular' meeting, and to have it going again felt great! We hadn't met the Thurs. before Christmas, and the next Thurs. was the trip (more about that in a minute), then it was cold and icy last week, and Dad didn't think we should get out on the roads, so Trissy and I missed that one, and something came up the week before Christmas... So anyway, we hadn't met all together since about Thanksgiving, and we've been missing it!!


The 'trip' I mentioned above was one the class had been planning for quite a while, since sometime in the summer, that when it got colder, we would go to Arkansas to a Christian children's home there, and help them clear some land for a new dorm building. They didn't have the kind of money it would take to hire someone to come in and do it, and they were really needing another building for the kids. So we decided we could go and help them out, and consider it a sort of 'mission trip', since even though we weren't going to be involved in evangelism exactly, we would be helping these 'missionaries' who were sharing Christ's love with abandoned children. As it turned out though, Trissy and I didn't get to go after all, but neither did Archer or Tanner, so the group was kinda split up anyway. But from the stories the others were telling when they got back, it seemed like it really did them some good. They got alot of work done, and really seemed to get a blessing out of the 'get-away'. Oliver shared that he felt like, before he went on this trip, that his spiritual life was probably the lowest it's ever been. But to just get away from everything for a few days, to have time to spend in the Bible in the evenings, and to be around up-lifting friends really helped him get his eyes and focus back where they needed to be. There were similar stories from several that went. I can't help feeling that I'd been cheated just a little bit... But my first responsibility is to my parents, and I guess (no, I really know, it's just hard to admit it sometimes) that if they say I can't go, well, then, that's it.


The Lord has blessed in several strange ways after all from us not going though. I won't go all into detail, but let's just say that when you choose to be satisfied with the way things work out, and just let Him handle the details, things will turn out for the best.

To Be A Light

A new year, and a new semester to start at college.
Once again, I'm taking two classes online, and two at the college. Last year after enduring being surrounded by the trashy language and unashamed immorality in those two classes, I decided I was not going through that again! I would take all classes online - except for any (hopefully just one) web-related classes I had to follow up with from the first semester. Weeell, wouldn't you know it, half fell under that category, and I am again finding myself at the college for approximately 10 hours each week. I got to thinking though - why shouldn't I go through that stuff?! (If I've learned anything from having Bro. Dennis as a Sunday School teacher, it's to ask 'why am I blessed?' rather than, 'why am I suffering?') Many, many believers have gone through MUCH worse, and were staunch witnesses through it all. Surely I am no better than them, that I should be spared meerly to be in the presence of sin. It is everywhere. Sometime, each person faces it, if they are living here, and where else is there to live? Mars?!
The Lord has truly blessed so far though. Seemingly the students in my classes are (for the most part) hard-working and civil, if not sensible. My prayer over and over is that I may be a bright and Godly witness - that they may have no doubt of where I stand, but that they know Who gives me the convictions, the peace, and the witness I have!
Please pray for me, that I would be given the privalege of leading some of them (including my instructor) to the Lord. That I would be a LIGHT in this dark world.

If at first you don't succeed...

So now I'm starting a new phase in my blogging experience - a new blog. It was a little bit (ok, a lot) of a dissapointment to have to start over from scratch, but looking on the bright side, I got to get a new "look" but still keep my other one on my old blog! ... hm ... trying to think of something positive here. Guess that'll work though :)
Hopefully I won't need to start again after this!