VIKINGS ARE NFC NORTH CHAMPIONS!

I still can't believe it. We are going to the Post-season!
We were on our way home today, so you can bet that the radio was on in the car for the entire game! And man, welcome to Drama-central! The Vikings draw first blood, then the Giants come back to within one point at halftime, then go ahead in the third quarter. In the end, it all boiled down to a 51-yard field goal attempt by Ryan Longwell. After a tremendous catch by Berrian, this scenerio ensues. . .

With nine seconds on the clock, Giants call a timeout. And the Vikings set up the field goal unit--WAIT A MINUTE! At the last second, Childress sends T-Jack out for one last play. Are you crazy?! Giants players are scrambling to assemble themselves. Jackson steps up to pass--incomplete!

Vikings scramble around, trying set up the FG unit. Come on, Longwell, you can do this. With Klewe to hold. . . Timeout Giants. Five seconds.

Field goal unit sets up again. Fists clenched, neck muscles tensed, and adrenaline pumping. Please Ryan, please. . . "The kick is up and it iiiiiiisss. . .GOOD! IT'S GOOD! THE VIKINGS HAVE CLAIMED THE NFC NORTH CHAMPIONSHIP! LONGWELL MADE A 51-YARD FIELD GOAL AS TIME EXPIRED!"

"YAAAAHHOOO!!" Our dog jumped a mile as the car exploded with screams and clapping. The entire county probably heard our cheering! But who cares?! The Vikings haven't had a NFC North champ title since 2000! GO VIKINGS!!

And to a certain reader who is a major Packer fan, at least they didn't lose to the Lions, right? :-)

Alive and well

Just thought I'd drop a note to say we're all fine and dandy--I know those of you who haven't heard from us in a while are probably wondering if we fell off the face of the earth. :-) Our Christmas was supposed to be as follows: Saturday (the 20th)--pack car and leave for Twin Cities. Stop at Maranatha that night, then drive to Steele farm after church. Sunday through Thursday morning, spend with Steele family. Christmas morning--pack car and leave for cousin's house in St. Paul. Spend most of Christmas Day at cousin's house, then drive to Grandma Spiess's house that evening. Spend Christmas night through next Sunday morning with Spiess side of family. Come home Sunday afternoon.
Well, that was what should have happened. We didn't actually get out until Sunday afternoon, and it was fairly late that night when we finally got to the farm.
Right now I'm using my grandma's computer, so I'll save the stories for when we get back home and I can post pictures. All in all, it has been really fun to spend time with family--especially since we don't see some of them very often. And now, I think I hear a snowball fight calling me, so this is where I'll sign off. :-)

Welcome to our world

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting

Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger

Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home

Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence

Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us

Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy

Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world

Have you ever really taken the time to think about what it meant to have Jesus come to our world in fleshly form? The One True God, the King of the universe, chose to send His only Son in order to reconcile us to Himself. He didn't have to do that; He chose to, simply because that's how much He loves you. And yet we go through the Christmas season thinking about all the presents we have to buy and where we're going to spend our time; and never pause and think about the real reason for the season; Jesus Christ becoming flesh. If we truly understood what it meant for God to become flesh, and how much Jesus went through because of His love for us, we would weep with gratitude and humility. May this Christmas season be filled with love and gratitude for the One who gave His life for you.

Crutches

Yesterday I slipped when climbing down from my loft, and apparently pulled my Achille's tendon fairly badly. So I'm using crutches to get around today. Anyone who knows me well knows that it has to be really bad before I'll resort to crutches. I've been icing and resting it as much as possible, so I'm hopeful that it will heal before we go on vacation--the last thing I want is to be known as "gimpy" and not be able to do stuff with my cousins! :-) Unfortunately, I know from experience that tendons sometimes take quite a while to heal. Oh, well; guess that's just part of life.

TechExpo

Last Thursday we went to a Tech Expo at the Fargodome with some friends. There were lots of different booths for lots of jobs. Most were blue-collar jobs, such as welding, carpentry, construction, etc; but there were some jobs like surgeons and nurses, too. We had lots of fun trying all the different machinery; I think my favorite was the welding. And of course, the emergency medical teams were a big hit.

So what do we do when we're stuck inside?

Well, we play foosball. . .

And chess. . .

And of course, we watch the Vikings stomp all over the Cardinals! Seriously, football is a huge hit in our family. I spent a lot of the weekend studying and writing, too. We also held a family Bible study, and spent time talking to friends and family over the phone.

Oh, the weather outside is FRIGHTFUL!

This last picture is actually snow stuck to the screens on our windows! Guess you can tell the wind was blowing!

Batten down the hatches!

The entire state of North Dakota is in a blizzard warning from 6pm tonight to 6am Monday morning, along with watches or warnings for parts of Montana, South Dakota, and Minnesota. We haven't had a blizzard in Fargo for a few years, so I guess we're due for a big one. They're expecting winds of up to 45mph, with white-out conditions for much of Sunday; and 8-12 inches of snow falling in the next 24-36 hours. Oh, and on top of that, behind the storm comes freezing cold weather. The high for Monday is -5. And the rest of the week doesn't look much better. Yeah, snow removal is going to be so much fun. :-( This is the kind of weather we expect in late January--NOT December!
Actually, to be perfectly honest, I'm glad it's coming now. Next weekend we're leaving for a 9-day Christmas vacation. We've been looking forward to that for weeks, and I don't want to be stuck at home. So as long as it comes and goes within the next day or two, we're OK.
Well, that's all for now. I'll try to post some pictures of our blizzard--if I have time to take any.

Socialism no more

As of yesterday, I am done with my Sociology--ahem, Socialism--class. Well, actually I have one last discussion I have to finish up, but as far as all of the bookwork goes, I AM DONE!! Yippee!!! It has been a good experience, though. I get tired of the whole "spread the wealth" and feminist propaganda that they preach (among other things), but it has given me a good idea of what college courses are like. It has also been good, and interesting, to see where the other kids in the class are coming from, and what sort of views the schools are pounding into their heads. I must say, after this class, it is more evident than ever to me that the public schools are messed up. They are so socialist, so against God, so politically correct it makes me sick. Still, at least now I know what to expect.

On a lighter note, ever since I finished my term paper and submitted it, I have been going around singing the song:

I am free, I am free, I am free to be a servant of the Lord
(repeat)
He taught me how to praise Him
H taught me how to sing this song
He taught me how to love
And I am free to be a servant of the Lord.

Mom and Dad both laughed when I told them this (for those of you who are scratching your heads, this is the song we sing after a baptism at church).

Oak Grove Chess Tournament

We made it to our first scholastic chess tournament of the year today. It was held at Oak Grove-the school we play chess for-and we had a huge turnout of kids from OG. The team did well, placing in the top two places for Jr. High, and all three of the top places for Sr. High. Robbie won three games in the Jr. High, but unfortunately that wasn't enough to place. Carl and I both played in the Sr. High division, and did pretty well. Carl went 4-1, which was enough to get 2nd overall, with a first place in his grade. I went 5-0; this is the first time I've ever gone totally undefeated (OK, I've gotten 4.5, but still)! I even beat the kid that Carl lost to, so that was an accomplishment! And let me tell you, that game was a battle to the very end! I was up a piece almost from the start, but he fought back and almost beat me before I was able to attack him to the point where he resigned. Here are a couple of pictures--I wanted to get some of us playing, but didn't have a chance to do so (guess that's the price you pay when you are always the last game done).

Bell Ringing

We have done bell ringing for the Salvation Army with some friends for the past few years, and it's always a lot of fun. Here are some pictures of our fun day.

18

Today is my 18th birthday. I can hardly believe time has flown by so quickly. We actually celebrated my birthday over the weekend, as Carl has a football banquet to go to tonight. My parents absolutely blew me away with what they had planned for me. Friday evening, after I was done working, Mom picked me up and asked where I wanted to go to eat. Then she said it had to be some place that was quick, because there was a Bison basketball game we were going to watch. So we grabbed a quick bite to eat and went and watched the Bison women's team wallop Valley City State 78-49. THEN, we got in the car, and Mom said she didn't want to go home yet, so she started driving in the opposite direction of our house. I had no idea what was going on, and I knew better than to ask, so I just enjoyed the ride and didn't say anything. Until she pulled up in the back of a hotel and handed me a room key. That's right; Mom and I stayed in a hotel overnight!! I was so stunned-especially when I walked into the room and all our stuff was already there! We stayed up late watching some sports and some reruns of old TV shows (and talking, of course). The next morning we spent at the mall and Scheels and some other places. After Mom took me out for lunch, we went home to get ready to go to some friends' farm for the afternoon and evening. We had so much fun there. We usually get together with these families about once a month. I think one of my favorite parts of the days we spend together is playing football and soccer with all the other kids (and dads). We had a Bible study and worship time, which was really good, and then a meal. We spent the time after the meal talking-debating, really-and playing volleyball and basketball. We didn't get home until after 1 in the morning, so needless to say, we slept in pretty late. :) Sunday morning Mom made caramel rolls for us (yum!), and for dinner I got to choose the entire meal. I mostly asked for books (and some music) for presents, so now I can't decide which to read first! I have had a terrific birthday, and am so blessed to be surrounded by such a fantastic family and great friends. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in making my birthday so special!

VOTE Today!

Just a reminder to get out and VOTE today!!! Your vote does make a difference, so don't neglect your duty as an American citizen. Even more importantly, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. I won't turn 18 for another 3 weeks, so although I can't vote, I will definitely be praying. Our nation is going through some troubling times, but we need to remember that our hope isn't in any particular candidate; it's in Jesus Christ.

Fall update

After waking up to find this wonderful (note sarcasm) sight over the weekend of October 25-26, we've had some really good weather the last couple of weeks. Here are a couple of pictures that depict the reason I love fall.

Carl's football team had their first play-off game this past weekend way out in Watford City (about 365 miles west of Fargo). They lost 21-0, but I don't think Carl minded too much-especially when Dad surprised him and Robbie by taking them pheasant hunting after the game and on the trip home! Robbie got a shot off at one rooster, but missed. Carl didn't bag a bird, either, but he did bring home a rabbit! I don't have any pictures of the hunt, but here are a couple from us playing football in our front yard.

Politically correct-in the church?

So, I walked into a certain Christian bookstore the other day, and what do I see but this big sign that says, "October is ministry appreciation month!" Uh, excuse me? For as long as I can remember, October has been pastor appreciation month. Now, I have nothing, I repeat, nothing, against giving credit to those in the ministry who are not called pastors per say, such as children's ministers, missionaries, etc. They definitely should be acknowledged. They work hard in the harvest field and are often overlooked. BUT, I am tired of the way political correctness is seeping into the church. It could be compared to changing Washington and Lincoln's birthdays into President's Day, or Secretaries Day to Administrative Assistant's Day. October was chosen to honor our pastors-remember, the ones who fight relentlessly against deception, wickedness, and perversion? Those who challenge us to grow and not remain at the status quo in our relationship with Jesus Christ? Again, I don't have a problem with saluting those in the ministry not specifically called pastors, but we shouldn't take away the respect and honor due our pastors. Anybody hear me?

Since we're on the subject of pastors, I want to take a minute to thank a couple of very special pastors in my life. The first is my dad. Most wouldn't think of my dad as a pastor, but being a father demands it of him. He has taught me more than anyone else has about living for Jesus. He has shown me by his lifestyle and his words what it means to draw closer to Him every day. He has taught me how to defend against the wiles of the enemy, to love God's Word and know how to defend it, and how to cherish the time of intimacy with my Savior. I love you, Dad.
The other pastor I want to thank is Pastor Bruce at Maranatha Christian Church. He has been my pastor for as long as I can remember. He taught me how to study the Bible; more importantly, he taught me how to get excited about studying the Bible. God has used Bruce to encourage me in hard times, and to convict me when I need it. I am so thankful to have a pastor who is not afraid to speak the truth, even at the risk of "offending" someone. I need it once in a while.

Quote of the week

"If God had all the right answers in His right hand, and the struggle to reach those answers in His left, I would choose God's left hand."
~Martin Luther

Update

Fall has always been our busiest time, and this year is no exception. However, since I have a few free minutes, I thought I'd bring you all up-to-date on what we've been doing.

Carl's surgery on his finger went really well. He has a smaller splint, which has really increased his hand-mobility. He's also back playing football, so he couldn't be happier. His team won their last game yesterday, so they will be going to the play-offs.

With all the rain we've been getting lately, I'm beginning to think all the canoeing we did this summer might come in handy. The river is way up above the flood level. This has made travel quite interesting in places, as there are a few roads that are built almost on the river banks. On a more personal level, all the rain has been getting rather depressing. I think fall is the most beautiful time of year, but without the sun shining, it's. . . well, gray and glum. For the most part, fall is when we get the most sunshine, but this year seems to be an exception.

Well, that's all for now. Between school, music, sports, chess, etc, I don't really have much time right now, but stay tuned for pictures.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Yesterday (October 10th) was my dad's birthday. I love you Dad, and am so thankful that God has given you to be my dad.
I want to add that my Grandpa's (my mom's dad) birthday was also on October 10th. He would have been 80 years old yesterday. Cancer took him from us 9 years ago, and while I miss him terribly, I take comfort in knowing that he's in the presence of his King.

Youth hunting season

This weekend was the youth season for pheasant hunting, so Dad took Carl and Robbie out with some friends on Saturday. They didn't get any pheasants, but Carl did shoot a pigeon. Yes, Carl, splint and all, was able to go hunting. There was hardly any meat on the pigeon, but at least he had the thrill of bagging something.

Ben Stein

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it it shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crïeche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too.. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her, How could God let something like this happen? ' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O ' Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he ' s talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with ' WE REAP WHAT WE SOW. '
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send jokes through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

Randomness

I have a couple of updates on our family adventures, but I'll get to that in a second. First, I want to give a shout out to the Charlebois family, who welcomed their second beautiful little girl, Ruby, into the world on Monday. We love you guys and can't wait to meet your precious baby girl.

Well, I've started all my other updates with football, so why should this be any different? Carl got to play in the Varsity game last Friday (only because they were winning by so much), and on the first play he was out there he broke his finger. It was his right pinkie finger. Only it wasn't just a normal break. It basically broke a piece of the bone off, which was pushed back, and made the joint crooked. So, he has to go in on Monday and have them realign everything and put a screw in to hold everything in place. This is not only a blow to their JV football team, but he can't play piano for a while either. BUT, he can still play chess, which starts up in a couple weeks.

We also finished a summer-long project of tearing down our deck and replacing it with some (temporary) wooden steps. The deck wood was rotting to the point where you had to know exactly where to step so you didn't fall through. Needless to say, the deck had to go. We put it off for a summer or two, but it wouldn't have lasted the winter. So, down it came. There were some cement steps beneath the deck, but they were slanted in toward the house, so we rented a jackhammer and chopped it to bits. The boys loved running the thing. Then we bought some lumber and built some very sturdy steps (anyone who knows my dad KNOWS it's sturdy enough to withstand a catergory 5 hurricane). We had to dig a few feet down in the ground to put in some rocks, sand, and bricks below the steps, so Dad and Robbie just finished installing them today. Here are some pictures of the whole-LONG-project.

15 years

I cannot believe my little brother turned 15 today. OK, so Carl's not so little anymore (he's pushing 6' tall), but it doesn't seem that long since he first entered the world. Our friendship has gone from playmates as young kids, to fighting constantly as we each entered the teen years, to the point now where I can proudly say he is one of my best friends.

Here are a couple of pictures of him; one is of him in his varsity game shirt; the other is of the JV team in a huddle on offense. Carl's number 58.

Football, frustration, and fellowship

It was not a good weekend for our football teams. Carl's high school football team had their homecoming game on Saturday. It rained off and on throughout the game, making the field and players a muddy mess. They played the same team they had beaten in the State Championship last year, but you couldn't tell from the way they played. By the fourth quarter, the score was so pathetic the coaches decided to let the JV team play. So, even though we lost pretty badly, Carl got some more playing time. I had hoped to get some pictures of the game, but I didn't want to bring out any cameras in the rain.
NDSU also took a beating, losing to Wyoming yesterday. And we won't even mention the pro games.

On another note, most of you probably know I'm taking an online Sociology course this semester. With every passing week, I become even more convinced it should be called Socialism 101. It is frustrating to no end. I just don't understand how anyone can be so blind to the lies of the enemy. Every chapter tears apart the very values on which this country was founded. One thing that sort of shocked me-although it shouldn't have-is how feminism has been creeping into school textbooks. Even small things, like saying "women and men" instead of the other way around. I have nothing against people wanting women to have equal opportunity, but I do have a problem with those who are trying to feminize the United States. I know this might offend some people, but I offer no apologies. Read your Bibles. The man is to be the head of the household, nation, etc. Not the other way around. Period.
One aspect of this whole class ordeal that I've found rather interesting is the class discussion time. There have been some controversial topics, but I've found that I'm the only one who will openly disagree with anyone. I've tried to get some friendly debates going, but no one else will disagree with any of their classmates. This is kind of disappointing for me, because I like a good debate/argument (bet you didn't know that!).

With the frustrations of my Sociology class, I've found myself spending more and more time with my Jesus. Whether I'm reading His Word or just talking to Him, being in His presence has been what's kept me going, more so now than ever before. I'll leave you with some lyrics from Chris Sligh that have hit very close to home lately. This is my prayer, and I hope it encourages you in your walk today.

I've had just enough of the spotlight when it burns bright
To see how it gets in the blood.
And I've tasted my share of the sweet life and the wild ride
And found a little is not quite enough.
I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change.

Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me so I can be filled with you.

I've seen just enough of the quick buys of the best lies
To know how prodigals can be drawn away.
I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change.

Cause everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you, compared to you.
Cause everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you so why surrender all?

~Empty Me by Chris Sligh

Quote of the day

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
~John Piper

Football is here!

Fall is my favorite season, for pretty much no other reason than for the return of football. The past couple of weeks have kicked off another season on the high school, college, and pro levels. High school is, I think, the best football to watch. Carl is playing high school football this year, so that's been really fun. Being he's only a freshman, he plays on the JV team, but for the last varsity game, his team was up by so far that the coaches let some of the younger ones play-including Carl! He was so pumped. He played most of the fourth quarter, and did really well for going up against varsity players. We were so happy for him-it was really fun watching him. Then, yesterday, the JV team played, and Carl got to play every minute except special teams. He even got the game-winning sack on defense! Ok, so he had some help, but he initiated it.

Here's a picture of Carl in his JV game jersey. Not the greatest quality picture, but it's the best I could do for now.

On the college level, the NDSU Bison are off to a great start with two huge wins. We haven't been to any of their games yet, but I'm hoping to make it to at least one. They're a great team to watch.

And of course, the NFL kicked off another season this past weekend. It was a heart-breaking day yesterday as the Vikings extended their consecutive losses against the Packers to five (Hannah, don't you say a word!). Like I said, high school football is the game to watch. :)

That's all for now, but I'm hoping to get some pictures of Carl's football games soon.

55 years

My grandparents are celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary today. I can't begin to describe how grateful I am to have them as a part of my family. We don't see them nearly as often as we would like, so each moment spent together is precious. They have been there for us kids for our piano recitals, church plays, games of football, volleyball, baseball, and every other imaginable moment in our lives. It has been such a blessing to have them there, praying for us and cheering us on.

Happy anniversary, Grandpa and Grandma! We love you both so much!

A summer in review

Our summer proved to be as cram-packed and entertaining as ever this year. Looking back on it, I think this was one of the busiest summers we've had in a while. In June we went to two family reunions-one on each side. My dad's brother and his family came here to visit a few days before going to St. Cloud for the reunion on that side of the family. It was good having them here, but my cousin Ruth created some (unwanted) excitement when she accidentally slammed her finger in the side door of a van. After a very long wait at the emergency room (isn't that how it always is?!), she found out she had broken the knuckle nearest the tip of her finger and would be in a splint for a while. I can't imagine how much that must have hurt. I've broken bones before, but not that way.

We also drove out to Illinois for a reunion on my mom's side of the family. That one was a blast. We had all sorts of fun, ranging from playing volleyball in the backyard to almost losing a bocce ball in the long grass at a park. We don't see very many relatives on that side very often, so it's always good to catch up with them. Here's a picture of my brothers, me, and our cousins Tony and Michaela.

July brought on camping season-at least for our family. We went to Wisconsin with some friends for about 4 days. That was alright, but the campground was very crowded and didn't have any bike trails (our favorite camping activity). The only bad thing about that was that a few days later, I came down with West Nile Virus. Not fun, let me tell you. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. A couple of weeks later, our family went camping in a State Park. That was awesome, as always. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. I may post pictures of our camping trips later, so stay tuned.

Anyway, summer is over and school is in session. It's a bittersweet time for me. On the one hand, it's my last year in high school, but on the other hand, it's my LAST YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL! Time has flown. Life has changed. Yet our purpose in life stays the same: To bring glory and honor to the One who created us.

So now I have a blog

There's not any particular reason I started this blog, other than the fact that I thought it would be a good way to keep in touch with family and friends.
I'm a 17 year-old trying to live totally sold out to my Savior and King. Some of my favorite things to do include playing the piano, reading, listening to music, reading, playing pretty much any sport, reading, and, of course, hanging out with my family. Oh, and we can't leave out harrasing my brothers! Stay tuned for updates and pictures of our family adventures!

P.S. For those of you reading this who have a blog, I would ask that you not add my name to your sidebars.