Braces

Yep, it's true. Last Thursday I finally had braces put on. Robbie will be getting his off by December, and Carl had his put on this past March. Why the wait for me? Well, a certain graduation/recital may have something to do with it. Anyway, my family's been bugging me to post a picture of my braces, so here it is.



Not much else to report these days. I've been putting in a lot of 7 or 10-hour days at the daycare, and while it can be tiring at times, it's been a lot of fun. Carl started football practice today, so he's happy. Of course, it's the hottest day of the summer, and that's the start of practice--as usual! Still, he's excited and we're excited to watch him play again this year.
This picture is actually from last week or the week before. We were sitting at the table eating supper when Robbie noticed this sitting on the power line in the neighbor's backyard. We see 'em all the time out in the country, but in the middle of the city? Not so much. Apperently, there's a nest of them a few blocks away.

35 reasons not to sin

1) Because a little sin leads to more sin.

2) Because my sin invites the discipline of God.

3) Because the time spent in sin is forever wasted.

4) Because my sin never pleases but always grieves God who loves me.

5) Because my sin places a greater burden on my spiritual leaders.

6) Because in time my sin always brings heaviness to my heart.

7) Because I am doing what I do not have to do.

8) Because my sin always makes me less than what I could be.

9) Because others, including my family, suffer consequences due to my sin.

10) Because my sin saddens the godly.

11) Because my sin makes the enemies of God rejoice.

12) Because sin deceives me into believing I have gained when in reality I have lost.

13) Because sin may keep me from qualifying for spiritual leadership.

14) Because the supposed benefits of my sin will never outweigh the consequences of
disobedience.

15) Because repenting of my sin is such a painful process, yet I must repent.

16) Because sin is a very brief pleasure for an eternal loss.

17) Because my sin may influence others to sin.

18) Because my sin may keep others from knowing Christ.

19)Because sin makes light of the cross, upon which Christ died for the very purpose of taking away my sin.

20) Because it is impossible to sin and follow the Spirit at the same time.

21) Because God chooses not to respect the prayers of those who cherish their sin.

22) Because sin steals my reputation and robs me of my testimony.

23) Because others once more earnest than I have been destroyed by just such sins.

24) Because the inhabitants of heaven and hell would all testify to the foolishness of this sin.

25) Because sin and guilt may harm both mind and body.

26) Because sins mixed with service make the things of God tasteless.

27) Because suffering for sin has no joy or reward, though suffering for righteousness has both.

28) Because my sin is adultery with the world.

29) Because, though forgiven, I will review this very sin at the Judgment Seat where loss and gain of eternal rewards are applied.

30) Because I can never really know ahead of time just how severe the discipline for my sin might be.

31) Because my sin may be an indication of a lost condition.

32) Because to sin is not to love Christ.

33) Because my unwillingness to reject this sin now grants it an authority over me greater than I wish to believe.

34) Because sin glorifies God only in His judgment of it and His turning of it to good use, never because it is worth anything on it’s own.

35) Because I promised God he would be Lord of my life.

~Found on the Rebelution Blog

Quote to ponder

"Grace doesn't create loopholes in the law--it eliminates the law, because it requires relationship."
~Bruce Harpel

Fun tag

Normally I don't do tags, but this one looked like fun, and it'll give y'all a little glimpse into my life. I'm not going to officially tag anyone, but if you want to do it, let me know so I can see your answers!

~Favorites!

What is your favorite animal? Lion.

Who is your favorite author? C.S. Lewis.

What is your favorite instrument? The piano, though I love a good guitar solo, too.

What is your favorite sport to watch? Football!

What is your favorite sport to play? Three-way tie between baseball, basketball, and volleyball.

What is your favorite movie?
Sound of Music.

What is your favorite classic literature book?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

What is your favorite store? Uh . . . probably a Christian bookstore.

~~~~~
Would you rather...?

Would you rather buy a new book or re-read one? Depends on the book, but probably buy a new one.

Would you rather spend money or save it? Save it.

Would you rather go on vacation to the beach or the mountains? The beach!

Would you rather play an instrument or listen to it? I can't decide.

Would you rather be indoors or outdoors? Outdoors.

Would you rather have your room painted lime green or purple with pink dots? Lime green (pink and purple? YUCK! Though lime green isn't exactly pretty, either).

Would you rather live in a cave or in a tree house? A tree house like in the Swiss Family Robinson!

Would you rather have a cat or a dog? A dog (not only do I despise cats, but I'm allergic to them).

Would you rather host a get-together or go to one? Probably go to one; it's a ton of work to host!

~~~~~
About you!

Do you have any siblings? Yep, two younger brothers.

What year were you born? 1990.

How many times have you moved in your life? Twice.

How long have you been a Christian? Since I was 3.

~~~~~
Totally random

Christmas or Thanksgiving? Christmas (though this year it might be Thanksgiving, as it sounds like there will be a wedding in the—extended—family that weekend . . . )

Words or pictures? Words.

Iguanas or turtles? Iguanas (except for the time that a friend's iguana nearly gave me a heart attack! I didn't know it was in the bathtub until it moved!).

Randomness or sense? Sense.

Books or magazines? Books, definitely books!

Summer days or winter nights? Summer days (who here in the tundra actually LIKES winter?!).

Screaming monkeys or running bears? Running bears. I've heard screaming monkeys, and they're obnoxious!

Jane Austen or Charles Dickens? Charles Dickens—no contest there!

Scotland or Ireland? Ireland.

Running or walking? Walking.

RedHawks game

Last out to win the game!

The teen that honors God . . .

. . . Will have His blessing on her. Okay, yes, that's a take off of a line in Facing the Giants; however, it certainly applies here. Today my friend Amy Anderson (17 years old) won the USGA Girls Junior Amateur Championship and brought home another big trophy to go with her and her brother's ever-growing collection. We followed her progress online yesterday and today, and are so excited for her! Throughout her young career, Amy has always given all the glory to God for her ability. She has honored her parents and loved her family, and is very outspoken about her faith in Jesus Christ. Today, God honored her for that, and I am blessed to call her my friend. Way to go Amy!

Click here for more info about her win today.

And the camping adventures continue . . .

I think the title says it all. Every year we have some sort of misadventure that, at the time, is frustrating and very unexpected, but in time, it sure makes for some good memories! This year was no exeption. Warning: This will probably be a very long post.

We got to the campsite Monday afternoon, and set up camp in the rain. It wasn't downpouring, but raining hard enough to be a nuisance. But, we still managed to get all the tents set up, with the tarps on top of and beneath the tents (you camp long enough in the Upper Midwest, you learn that tarps are your best friends). We set the campstove up under a tree, and were able to have a good supper in our screen tent without getting too wet. That evening, Dad set up the air mattresses, and later that night he came out and told Mom, "Our mattress won't hold air." She said, "I'm sleeping in the car." And she did. Or, to hear her tell it, she tried to sleep. But every time she got in a comfortable position, she'd hear another mosquito buzzing in her ear. She figures she probably killed around 50 in one night! :-)

It rained off and on all that night (and let me tell you, trying to sleep with the rain hitting the tarps is a JOKE!), and in the morning, one look at the clouds and we knew it was going to be another wet day. So after a quick breafast, we headed into town to get a new air mattress for Mom and Dad. While we were there, it absolutely began to pour outside--it's been a while since I've seen rain come down so hard! So, instead of heading back to the campground, we decided to drive into Valley City, where we had lunch and visited the Bald Hill Dam. That afternoon Carl, Robbie, and Dad got some biking in before supper. That night, it was like a repeat of last year's Wizard of Oz adventure. The wind blew so badly that our entire tent felt like it was going to take off! The sides were heaving in and out like you wouldn't believe! Last year, it only lasted for a couple hours; this year, not only did it last the ENTIRE night, but it was super windy for the next two days, too!

Wednesday was full of biking, canoeing, and hiking time. All of us except Mom love doing the bike trails, so of course we were very busy with that. And everyone except me went canoeing at least once that day. As for the hiking, well . . . last year Mom and I climbed Ridge Line, the hardest trail in the park. It feels like you climb 250 feet straight up, though in reality it's spread out over a little less than a half a mile. Mom said that NO WAY was I going to give her another cardiac stress test this year, so Carl agreed to do the trail with me. It branches off another trail that is one of our favorites to bike or hike, so our whole family decided to hike together to where the trails split. Then Carl and I hiked up, and up, and up . . . and up . . . and . . . up. And when you get to the end of the dirt part of the trail and break out into the grass and sunlight, you have to go up some more! Actually, it wasn't too bad, and we made good time. That night, winter decided to hit. It got down to about 45 degrees for the following 3 nights! I slept with two blankets and a sweatshirt, with the hood pulled over my head! And of course, that was the night Carl decided he wanted to go up and take a 24-minute picture of the stars (he held the shutter open for that long to get the rotation of the stars. He did this last year and it turned out really well). We all went up there, but after getting out of the van, looking at the stars, and trying to take some pictures, Mom and I got back in the van and took naps! Still, I can't wait to see how Carl's picture turned out!

Thursday and Friday were spent doing more biking, hiking, and canoeing. We hit just about every trail possible, and did many of them more than once. We saw quite a bit of wildlife, including having deer jump right out on the trail in front of us a couple of times! Another pasttime we kids enjoyed was climbing the tree in front of our campsite. It was really easy to get up, and is very comfortable once you're up. Robbie actually did some reading while in his perch! On Friday, when we went in to town to get ice for the coolers, we also stopped at a couple little antique-type stores, where Dad found a few things for Mom and himself.

Saturday was a bit of a mad rush to get everything packed into the two cars and out of the campground by 1, but we made it, with over half an hour to spare! Then came the wonderful job of unpacking! We were all happy to be home, and able to sleep in our own (WARM) beds that night! Still, we really enjoyed our trip, and we had a fantastic time! And here are the pictures you've been waiting for . . .

setting up the tents in the rain

what campfire would be complete without s'mores?

consulting possible sites for next year

grass snake that I found and Carl caught

two of my best friends

my awesome family--four of my best friends!

helping Dad pack up the vehicles

Holy fire

You won't relent ~Misty Edwards

You won’t relent until You
Have it all
My heart is Yours

I’ll set You as a seal
Upon my heart
As a seal upon my arm
For there is love
That is as strong as death
Jealousy demanding as the grave
Many waters
Cannot quench this love

Come be the fire inside of me
Come be the flame upon my heart
Come be the fire inside of me
Until You and I are one

As I was singing this song tonight it hit me that the fire that is supposed to burn within me is often very different from the one that is usually there. Often times I have to deal with the flames of anger and frustration—completely carnal in nature and reaping the opposite results that I should be yielding. Instead, I am supposed to have the very passion and fire that Jesus has welling inside of Him; not only a righteous anger at evil and against heresies, but even a passion for gentleness. I should be just as zealous in showing genuine kindness and humility as I am in exposing darkness and wielding the Sword of the Spirit. I must be as passionate in extending forgiveness and being a servant as I am in battling against wicked forces. It is a hard and, on my own, impossible task; God calls me to be a servant when I want to boss everyone around; God says I need to forgive when it would be easier to hang on to my anger; God insists I answer in love when I want to retaliate out of frustration. “O wretched man that I am! Who can deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The only way I can truly have that holy fire inside of me is if my heart is fully surrendered to God. HE must put that fire there, not me. HE must put the love within my soul, not me. HE must place the humility, the gentleness, the kindness, and the forgiveness in my heart. As long as I continue to try to do things on my own, I will reap the same--carnal--results. Dear Jesus, please keep my heart stayed on You.

Food for thought

We'll be camping this next week (best time of the year, in my opinion), so I'll post an update about that when we get back. In the meantime, here is an excerpt from a study guide in a Bible that a friend showed us earlier today. Let me know what you think of it.

Guard against dwindling fires

Revival fires wane for various reasons. Sometimes the purposes of God have been fulfilled as believers have been quickened to evangelism and new outreaches have been birthed and carried out. Other times, genuine revival can be cut short and the fire of the Holy Spirit quenched through unrealized compromise. True spiritual fires dwindle:

1. When we allow the excitement of crowds and miracles to dull our ears to hearing the foundational truths of the Holy Spirit's counsel;
   
2. When we look to the visitation of the Spirit to shore up weaknesses in the local fellowship rather than correct problems (this is a huge problem in the American churches today);
   
3. When we allow an attitude of pride and showmanship to distort the simplicity of God's workings, and the visitation is reduced to a cleverly publicized event;
   
4. When we fail to maintain the balance of the pastoral needs of the congregation, substituting the sheer energy of the meetings for shepherd care and faithful feeding of the sheep;
   
5. When we neglect to make disciples who would have multiplied the effectiveness of the revival;
   
6. When we allow breakdown of authority and unity in the leadership team through prayerlessness, weariness, or functioning outside the boundaries of individuals' gifting;
   
7. When we look to "professionals" to further the growth of the church instead of fostering the release of ministries that have bonded to the life and value system of the congregation;
   
8. When we lose the focus and object of loving worship by using "worship" as a means of stimulating desired responses in people;
   
9. When we allow the "busyness and excitement" of revival to take priority over vigilance in humble prayer and intercession; and
   
10. When we see revival as a way to advance a private local "kingdom" (congregation), rather than to benefit the whole body of Christ.
    

~Excerpt from the Spirit Filled Life Bible

You want me to update? :-)

Well, I'm going to attempt to get y'all up-to-date on what's been happening in our household for the last month and a half. It could take a while.

June actually wasn't as busy as July is turning out to be, but it sure seemed to slip away too quickly. The biggest news for that month was, once again, the Red River. It flooded quite a bit higher than anyone expected, and washed out several roads (and golf courses, and parks, etc). Thankfully, as we were driving home yesterday we noticed that the river is now back within it's banks. Now the cleanup can begin. Again.
Other than that, there aren't too many things worth mentioning about that month. I went in for my freshman orientation at NDSU (which was a complete waste of time!) and got my class schedule for the fall; my parents and I have been coaching baseball for homeschoolers on Saturday mornings this summer, and that has been really fun. When I played baseball with the homeschool group in the past, it was really frustrating for me because they didn't actually teach kids how to play--they just sorta let you hit the ball, and then go stand in the field; my parents taught all of us kids the rules of pretty much every sport from the time we could walk, so it's been kinda surprising to see these teen boys who have no idea how to field a ball. Still, it's been really fun to be able to teach kids how to play properly and see them improve; and of course they all love the scrimmaging time.
We also got a second vehicle last month, and I am REALLY enjoying having a car at my disposal, so I'm not dependent on other schedules when it comes to working or school this fall.

July is shaping up to be one BUSY month! We went to my grandparents' farm over the Fourth, and that was really fun! We went to a parade on Friday (and let me tell you, for a small town, they sure have a long parade!), a water-ski show Saturday afternoon, and the fireworks Saturday night. In between those things, we pretty much stuck around the farm playing games, climbing up in the grain barn, driving Grandpa's tractors, and shooting one of our .22s (one of the highlights, as far as I'm concerned!).
Alright, I know--enough jabbering, let's see some pictures! These are from our weekend at the farm.

The parade . . .

Drivin' the tractors . . .

The water show . . .

Target practice . . .

Playing the fishing game . . .

The fireworks . . .

Beautiful sunset . . .

Well, that's all for now. We'll be home for the rest of the week, and then next week we'll be going to Fort Ransom State Park for our camping trip. I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures when we get back from that!