Hello all!
Thank you so much for all your prayers while I was at camp. I was reminded again how much we need continual prayer, and God answered in amazing ways.
On July 10, all of the CYIAers will be sharing during evening service, and I will be sharing one of these stories there as well, so I hope you don't mind the repetitivity.
We had a safe and fun ride down to camp, and I wasn't the slightest bit sleepy during the drive, which was a huge praise. The rest of that day I was very tired and had to drink 4 caffeinated beverages to get through the day, though. As soon as I got to camp, Jeff (the director) gave us our room assignments and told me that he had switched me to being a senior CYIA supervisor. That was a somewhat scary moment for me! But there were immediate benefits that I could see as well. For example, I would be able to actually see and participate in a similar club to the ones I will be teaching this summer.
After unpacking, I met the girls I would be supervising at clubs. Their names are Erin, Elizabeth, and Melissa, and they are 16, 16, and almost 16. One of the girls' mothers was also a supervisor, and she didn't believe that I was her daughter's supervisor at first. That was a humbling but amusing moment for me!
In our first supervisor meeting, we got our club assignments. After handing out the packets with maps and other supplies that we would need for club, Ken (the guy that organizes the clubs and contacts hostesses) told us about a club that was heavy on his heart. It was at Continental Apartments in Auburn, which is in a poor Hispanic neighborhood. He talked about the immense need there, and the hundreds of kids in that neighborhood who are largely without supervision. I looked at my packet...there on the front were the words "Continental Apts." Two other teams would be going there as well, so that evening the two other supervisors and I drove off to find the location so we wouldn't get lost on our way to club on Monday. When we found the neighborhood, I saw that it was teeming with kids, but it was also full of adults who looked suspiciously at the three white people driving around the block. I didn't feel very safe! We also found out that we had no hostess and would be bringing the snacks, etc., ourselves. It was at this point that I decided to send a letter to my mom asking for prayer. :-)
Every morning, we would have a practice session in which we would run through the entire club as a team, and I would evaluate the teens and tell them how to improve. The first morning we did it, I was really excited to see what would happen. I came to the practice fresh off a supervisor prayer time, and I was excited, but it was three terrified faces who looked back at me that morning. They were scared and unprepared, and they knew it. Their individual study times had not gone well, and it showed. That practice did not go very well, and the Bible lesson was a complete flop. She had too many notes crowded onto too small of an area, and she kept getting confused. We all came out of it with a firm resolution to study during free time.
After much prayer and studying, we went to club. God blessed us with safe travel throughout the whole week, which was a miracle because I was so often distracted during the drive time. When we got there, a little girl was already waiting in one of the tents and we struck up a conversation with her. Her name was Alma, and she was 9 years old. She told us that the others were still at school, and their bus would come at 3:50. Our club was supposed to start at 3:30, but we immediately decided to change it to 4:00.
That club was crazy but fun. Two girls responded to the invitation, one of whom was our friend Alma from the start of club. They both believed in Jesus as their Savior that day, and both asked for Bibles. We promised that we would get them and drove back to camp with much rejoicing.
The next day was drizzly. We were concerned because our club was outside, and the closer we got camp, the harder it rained. There was thunder and lightening, and my windshield wipers were going as fast as they could. When we got out of my car, it was as if we had stepped into a shower! We ran underneath the eaves of the building and immediately began praying for wisdom and calmness in the face of this adversity. The "guys team", as we called them, showed up with an umbrella, and we got the manager to open up the cabana. But still we were unsure of what to do because we had three clubs at that one location. Finally we decided that two of the clubs would meet where apartment buildings came together, and the other would be in the cabana. That day, one girl believed in Jesus for the first time at our club, and another was counseled for assurance of salvation. In the guys' club, 6 kids believed!
Wednesday it rained as well. Our club went fine, but Elizabeth, who did the Bible lesson, was discouraged. She had wanted to lead a child to Christ, but none had responded to the invitation. She thought of more things she had done wrong than I had thought of, and she was most upset because she had forgotten to give a Bible verse when she gave the invitation. I encouraged her as best I could and prayed with her.
Thursday we were able to be outside again. The nice weather, however, made it so that we lost some of the boys to a soccer game. They would kick the ball around, come and listen a little, and then go back to their game, which was knid of distracting. By Thursday evening, all four of us were tired, out of sorts, and mildly depressed. But as the supervisor, I had to be the instigator, so I did my level best to be enthusiastic and peppy that evening. Those of you that know well know that "peppy" is not a word you would often use to describe me, so I had to rely on God a lot to get me through. By His grace, we all made it through that evening and even got some studying done.
We went into Friday morning with a lot of energy...supernatural energy I'm sure because we all didn't sleep very well. Elizabeth was teaching the Bible lesson that day, so we were all praying that she would get the opportunity to counsel children. Whenever any of the four of us was asked for a prayer request, that was it, so Elizabeth was smothered in prayer.
When we got to club though, we had no kids. The other teams each had one or two, but we had none. After another prayer huddle, the girls went to knock on the doors of the kids' houses and ask if they wanted to come to club. Meanwhile, the Junior CYIAer who had joined our team stayed with me to talk to others about the problem. We found out that all of the kids were at a fair at a nearby game farm. One girl came by, however. She had not gone to the fair because she was babysitting. We started club with just her. Elizabeth was a couple of pages into the Bible lesson when another little girl arrived. We had Maria help Elizabeth tell the start of the story again, but neither girl responded to the invitation. Then during the missionary story, eight more children showed up. Erin told them, "We can't do the game because you guys weren't here for the story." But the kids asked to hear it again, so Elizabeth told them. By now, she was experienced and did a beautiful job, but still no one responded.
After the review game, Erin led them in our "One way" theme song. As she did so, she went over the gospel truths again, and reminded the kids to talk to Elizabeth if they wanted to know more about how to believe on Jesus. Then the mayhem of the end of club began. In the chaos, a little girl came up to me and asked, "When do we talk to Elizabeth?" "RIGHT NOW!!!" I told her, and led her over to Elizabeth. That day, Alejandera believed in Jesus Christ. We were all ecstatic, and our JCYIAer was jumping up and down! She had never seen God answer prayer so vividly before, and her faith grew incredibly that day. We hated to leave that afternoon, but we left the kids with lots of smiles. The girls we had given Bibles too were reading them hungrily as we left...it was awesome to see!
So there's a brief story of how camp went. ("That's her idea of BRIEF?!?" I'm sure you're thinking.) It was awesome, as usual!!
I do have some prayer requests amid all these praises:
~For Alma, Samantha, Maria, and Alejandera, that they will grow in their faith and continue to have that hunger for God
~For the Continental Apts. area, that a strong Christian witness will develop there
~For Erin, Elizabeth, and Melissa, that they will remain strong during this after camp time that they are particularly vulnerable to attack
~For me that I will remain faithful to being in God's word, and that I will be strong to follow through on some hard decisions that I made at camp. That love for God would continue to consume me and to overflow to the children I teach
~That I will be able to prepare adequately for clubs
~That the clubs would be prepared for me!
~That I will be able to make a good team with those I teach with, that we will work well together
Thank you so much! I will start teaching clubs July 11, and another email will probably get sent out around that time.
In Him,
Jillian
1 Corinthians 15:58
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
CYIA Update
Thursday, June 09, 2005
The Brick Interview
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the aspiring reporter C. Jennings Breakey flipped his new tape recorder on and scanned the room for his next victim. Aha! He noticed the unsuspecting Jillian Hazel curled up on a couch in the Syre Student Center, trying to get her homework done for her next class.
"Jillian!" he said in his best reportorial tone of voice. "What do you like the most about Whatcom Community College?"
She looked up, startled to see the recorder pointed menacingly at her mouth. "Um..." she began stammering, "...I don't know."
"Come on, there's got to something," he persisted.
"Well..." her eyes fell on the walls of the Student Center, "the bricks."
"The bricks!" He seemed shocked, befuddled.
"Yes, the bricks," she replied and went back to her math book, signaling that the interview was over. The reporter left, in search of the next victim.
**********
This conversation happened somewhere during the first weeks of our life at Whatcom Community College. I grin to think of myself back then--terrified of the horrors that would await me at a public school yet thrilled by the challenges it presented. I think of the timid girl who pushed the doors of Kelly Hall open with much trepidation that first morning, and the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach as she found her class and then had to figure out where to sit. God was so very gracious to me! That very first day, He sent me my first friend. A girl named Nancy sat next to me that morning and began talking away like we were old friends. By the end of the class, I had a study partner and someone to share my hour-long break with. Then I got another pleasant surprise when I found out that Caleb and Jake, two of the three people I knew on a campus of 7000, also had a break at the same time. It was during one of those times that Caleb sprung The Brick Interview on me.
I'm not exactly sure why I responded as I did, but I know I've always had an odd affinity for brick buildings. Whatcom does have a beautiful campus, and the bricks are very nice, but were I given the chance to respond to that question again, "the bricks" would not be the first thing to pop out of my mouth. It would be "the people."
Beginning that first morning, and continuing every day even through now, God has placed in my life both amazing Christian people and non-Christians who have challenged me to be bold in my stands, firm in my convictions, and sure of what I believe. I've gone from the girl who knew three people on the campus to the girl who cannot walk across campus without greeting at least two or three acquaintances, and never a day goes past where I do not see a dear friend.
In exactly a week, I will take my last final exam. In a week and a day, I will put on a maroon robe and walk across a stage in the gym to receive my diploma. And there will be others there, both on the stage and in the crowd, that have gone through this journey with me. They, not the bricks or the grass or the fountains, will be the reason that I am sad to see this chapter end.
"Jillian!" he said in his best reportorial tone of voice. "What do you like the most about Whatcom Community College?"
She looked up, startled to see the recorder pointed menacingly at her mouth. "Um..." she began stammering, "...I don't know."
"Come on, there's got to something," he persisted.
"Well..." her eyes fell on the walls of the Student Center, "the bricks."
"The bricks!" He seemed shocked, befuddled.
"Yes, the bricks," she replied and went back to her math book, signaling that the interview was over. The reporter left, in search of the next victim.
**********
This conversation happened somewhere during the first weeks of our life at Whatcom Community College. I grin to think of myself back then--terrified of the horrors that would await me at a public school yet thrilled by the challenges it presented. I think of the timid girl who pushed the doors of Kelly Hall open with much trepidation that first morning, and the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach as she found her class and then had to figure out where to sit. God was so very gracious to me! That very first day, He sent me my first friend. A girl named Nancy sat next to me that morning and began talking away like we were old friends. By the end of the class, I had a study partner and someone to share my hour-long break with. Then I got another pleasant surprise when I found out that Caleb and Jake, two of the three people I knew on a campus of 7000, also had a break at the same time. It was during one of those times that Caleb sprung The Brick Interview on me.
I'm not exactly sure why I responded as I did, but I know I've always had an odd affinity for brick buildings. Whatcom does have a beautiful campus, and the bricks are very nice, but were I given the chance to respond to that question again, "the bricks" would not be the first thing to pop out of my mouth. It would be "the people."
Beginning that first morning, and continuing every day even through now, God has placed in my life both amazing Christian people and non-Christians who have challenged me to be bold in my stands, firm in my convictions, and sure of what I believe. I've gone from the girl who knew three people on the campus to the girl who cannot walk across campus without greeting at least two or three acquaintances, and never a day goes past where I do not see a dear friend.
In exactly a week, I will take my last final exam. In a week and a day, I will put on a maroon robe and walk across a stage in the gym to receive my diploma. And there will be others there, both on the stage and in the crowd, that have gone through this journey with me. They, not the bricks or the grass or the fountains, will be the reason that I am sad to see this chapter end.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Memorial Day Weekend
So, another wonderful weekend has come and gone and I'm back in the WCC library, counting the hours until graduation. I'm really excited and terribly scared about it, but mostly I'm just ready for this quarter to be done. Spring is tough because I'm usually getting really burnt out by then and the weather is often so nice that studying takes a backseat to playing, and then on days I can study, the workload is so huge that it's somewhat overwhelming.
But let's think about happier things!
Last Thursday night was the Running Start graduation reception. I went into it with some trepidation, mainly because I had foolishly volunteered to play the piano. Also, Rachel and I decided to spend the afternoon at the park rather than studying like the mature girls we are, so I was feeling a little behind. My original plan had been to practice my sonata all afternoon so it would just flow from my fingers that night, but I went to Blodel Donovan and got sunburnt instead. But it was worth it!
There were so many people that I love at that reception. My aunts drove up from Concrete, a large portion of my dad's extended family came, many friends from church showed up, and I also had many friends from Whatcom there. As I sat on the stage, I almost cried as I thought of all these loved ones.
We had a great group of Running Start students graduating. There were many strong Christians who stood up and made bold witnesses of their faith during our open mic time. I almost went up and said something, but I felt like there was nothing I could say that hadn't been said better by someone else, so I just offered up a silent prayer of thanks to God. Caleb read something about it though, and he made me cry.
My piece went OK, but I was shaking dreadfully toward the end and missed some of the keys. But there were no major catastrophes, for which I was exceedingly grateful!
Afterward, my relatives took about three million pictures, and I was able to greet most of the people who came. It was such a blessing to me to get their hugs and hear their words of encouragement....by the end of the evening, Brittney said I walked like I was floating on air. I don't know about that, but I definitely was very high!
As the evening wound to a close, Brittney and I left. We got mocha shakes at Cruisen Coffee (as if we needed sugar and caffeine!) and then went down to Bellwether and talked until I had to have her back to Carol. We talked about everything, and went from hysterical craziness to serious dreaming and back again.
Then when I got home, my mom came down to my room and we talked. She couldn't sleep, and neither could I, so we had one of those heart to hearts that come all too rarely, but are so awesome when they do happen.
And that was only the beginning of my weekend!
Friday:
But let's think about happier things!
Last Thursday night was the Running Start graduation reception. I went into it with some trepidation, mainly because I had foolishly volunteered to play the piano. Also, Rachel and I decided to spend the afternoon at the park rather than studying like the mature girls we are, so I was feeling a little behind. My original plan had been to practice my sonata all afternoon so it would just flow from my fingers that night, but I went to Blodel Donovan and got sunburnt instead. But it was worth it!
There were so many people that I love at that reception. My aunts drove up from Concrete, a large portion of my dad's extended family came, many friends from church showed up, and I also had many friends from Whatcom there. As I sat on the stage, I almost cried as I thought of all these loved ones.
We had a great group of Running Start students graduating. There were many strong Christians who stood up and made bold witnesses of their faith during our open mic time. I almost went up and said something, but I felt like there was nothing I could say that hadn't been said better by someone else, so I just offered up a silent prayer of thanks to God. Caleb read something about it though, and he made me cry.
My piece went OK, but I was shaking dreadfully toward the end and missed some of the keys. But there were no major catastrophes, for which I was exceedingly grateful!
Afterward, my relatives took about three million pictures, and I was able to greet most of the people who came. It was such a blessing to me to get their hugs and hear their words of encouragement....by the end of the evening, Brittney said I walked like I was floating on air. I don't know about that, but I definitely was very high!
As the evening wound to a close, Brittney and I left. We got mocha shakes at Cruisen Coffee (as if we needed sugar and caffeine!) and then went down to Bellwether and talked until I had to have her back to Carol. We talked about everything, and went from hysterical craziness to serious dreaming and back again.
Then when I got home, my mom came down to my room and we talked. She couldn't sleep, and neither could I, so we had one of those heart to hearts that come all too rarely, but are so awesome when they do happen.
And that was only the beginning of my weekend!
Friday:
- School
- Girls Bible Study
- District track meet
- Starbucks
- Babysitting and watching a chick flick with Rachel
- Serious conversation with Caleb
- More girl talk with Rachel
Saturday
- Up early, another Starbucks trip
- Off to Seattle for Kimi's birthday
- Yummy lunch near Pike Place
- Shopping
- Makeovers
- Rachel and I walking down to the pier when we ran out of money
- Gorgeous sunny weather
- Sleepy drive back home
Sunday
- Church
- Lindsay's grad party
- Field trip, driving all around Whatcom County with Mom, Lyddy and Caleb B.
- IGA chicken on the bank of the Nooksack
- Visiting family
- Watching the end of The Two Towers with my family
Monday
- Sleeping in!
- Big, leisurely breakfast with the whole family around the table
- Making quesedillas for my siblings for lunch (after a long shower and cleaning my room)
- Trip to Family Christian Bookstores and the mall with Audrey and Marcie
- Off to the lake, Lyddy and Marcie being insane and SWIMMING!!
- Party at Eschbach's, doing homework, watching volleyball and visiting
- Back home, dancing in the car and Caleb dancing in the driveway
It was crazy good fun!
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
:-)
Your SAT Score of 1500 Means: |
| You Scored Higher Than Howard Stern You Scored Higher Than George W. Bush You Scored Higher Than Al Gore You Scored Higher Than David Duchovny You Scored Higher Than Natalie Portman You Scored Lower Than Bill Gates |
| Your IQ is most likely in the 140-150 range |
| Equivalent ACT score: 33 |
| Schools that Fit Your SAT Score: California Institute of Technology Stanford University Princeton University Yale University Harvard University |
If You Read This
if you read this,
even if i don't speak to you often,
you must post a memory of me.
it can be anything, good or bad,
just so long as it happened,
then post this to your journal and see what people remember about you
even if i don't speak to you often,
you must post a memory of me.
it can be anything, good or bad,
just so long as it happened,
then post this to your journal and see what people remember about you
A Confusing Education
I am so glad that I am a Christian. If I didn't have the firm foundation from my parents and church, I am positive that I would be so messed up right now. Ideas of all sorts come at me from every direction in my classes that I would be lost and confused if I didn't have that things I know to be true to compare these ideas too.
The main reason this is on my mind is because I've been thinking about all the classes I have ever taken at this college. The ideas that each espouses as true are so contradictory, yet I know people that are alternately sucked in by one or the other. Take, for example, two classes I am taking right now: Social Problems and History of Environmental Ethics (simply because I needed another Honors class). Social Problems is, of course, humanistic at the very core and believes that humans are what really matters in this world, while I sometimes get the feeling in my "environmentalist" class that we humans should really just commit mass suicide so the world wouldn't be as messed up as it is.
I realized this the other day, and had to just laugh. If someone who had no idea what they believed was taking these two classes, what conclusion would they come to? Would they even care or would the confusion just cause them to block the ideas and just strive for a good grade? I really hope to get more than a good GPA out of my college career; I hope that it will teach me about the world and I will have a better understanding of my part and responsibility in it. And, surprisingly, Whatcom has actually helped with this. It's gotten me to think about things that I never considered as a homeschooled student. And some of you might be surprised at the conclusions I've come too...there are a couple essays that you might raise some eyebrows at, but they are what I believe, and my closest and most trusted counselors agree with me. Maybe someday I'll share my feminism essay, but that day is not yet. It's still a theory. A theory based on much prayer, Bible reading, counsel, and thinking, but it's still a theory. I have yet to see how well it works...I'll let you know!
The main reason this is on my mind is because I've been thinking about all the classes I have ever taken at this college. The ideas that each espouses as true are so contradictory, yet I know people that are alternately sucked in by one or the other. Take, for example, two classes I am taking right now: Social Problems and History of Environmental Ethics (simply because I needed another Honors class). Social Problems is, of course, humanistic at the very core and believes that humans are what really matters in this world, while I sometimes get the feeling in my "environmentalist" class that we humans should really just commit mass suicide so the world wouldn't be as messed up as it is.
I realized this the other day, and had to just laugh. If someone who had no idea what they believed was taking these two classes, what conclusion would they come to? Would they even care or would the confusion just cause them to block the ideas and just strive for a good grade? I really hope to get more than a good GPA out of my college career; I hope that it will teach me about the world and I will have a better understanding of my part and responsibility in it. And, surprisingly, Whatcom has actually helped with this. It's gotten me to think about things that I never considered as a homeschooled student. And some of you might be surprised at the conclusions I've come too...there are a couple essays that you might raise some eyebrows at, but they are what I believe, and my closest and most trusted counselors agree with me. Maybe someday I'll share my feminism essay, but that day is not yet. It's still a theory. A theory based on much prayer, Bible reading, counsel, and thinking, but it's still a theory. I have yet to see how well it works...I'll let you know!
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Not in My Strength
Now I'm terrified.
I've been so looking forward to going to CYIA as a fourth year student. Everything is so familiar and I know all the ins and outs of how things work. I know so many people, all the supervisors and higher-ups support me, and I just really enjoy it even though it's a packed week.
But now that's all changed. I've agreed to be a supervisor. When Natalie asked me, I immediately knew it was something I needed to do because of my internal upheaval. I instantly didn't want to do it, and the only reason was because I thought I couldn't. But I know from past experience at CYIA that His grace is sufficient for me...His power is made perfect in my weakness. After thinking it over, I decided that I should do it just because of my misgivings. I decided not to let my pride get in the way. My pride would only have me do the comfortable things, the things I know I can do. But when I get outside of my comfort zone, that is when God shows Himself magnificently faithful.
So I do have to go to pretraining to learn something new now. I have to learn to be a supervisor. Oh, wow, how I tremble at the thought. But He is faithful and will complete what He has begun in me. Pray that I will always rely on Him and that I will be an awesome supervisor!
I've been so looking forward to going to CYIA as a fourth year student. Everything is so familiar and I know all the ins and outs of how things work. I know so many people, all the supervisors and higher-ups support me, and I just really enjoy it even though it's a packed week.
But now that's all changed. I've agreed to be a supervisor. When Natalie asked me, I immediately knew it was something I needed to do because of my internal upheaval. I instantly didn't want to do it, and the only reason was because I thought I couldn't. But I know from past experience at CYIA that His grace is sufficient for me...His power is made perfect in my weakness. After thinking it over, I decided that I should do it just because of my misgivings. I decided not to let my pride get in the way. My pride would only have me do the comfortable things, the things I know I can do. But when I get outside of my comfort zone, that is when God shows Himself magnificently faithful.
So I do have to go to pretraining to learn something new now. I have to learn to be a supervisor. Oh, wow, how I tremble at the thought. But He is faithful and will complete what He has begun in me. Pray that I will always rely on Him and that I will be an awesome supervisor!
Monday, May 09, 2005
Senior Prom
What do you get when you combine some of my favorite things (friends, pretty clothes, roses, good food, music, dancing, movies, and virgin margaritas) into one long, fun-filled night? Senior Prom!
I had so much fun last year at junior prom that I wanted to go again this year, but as the day got nearer, I began having doubts. It looked like my friends were all going to have dates, I didn't want to be the fifth or seventh wheel or whatever it would have been, and I couldn't find a dress for any price, let alone cheap. But God just made things fall into place so beautifully. It turned out that I had another single girlfriend from WCC going who I could split the price of a couple's ticket with, and I finally found a dress the Monday before prom. I got it at Colima Design, a little dress shop in downtown Ferndale, and she told me if I ever needed another, she could make any dress in any size if I just brought her a picture. And her prices are really reasonable!
The day of prom I went to the Walk for Life and then Lydia and I went Mother's Day shopping, so I was already wiped out by 2:00. I read and tried to nap, and then got my stuff together and drove out to the Sebens. Karin did my hair absolutely beautifully and then put miniature roses that my mom bought me in it. I did my makeup and got dressed there so they could see "the finished product" and then I went to our rendezvous point at Lindsay's.
We took a couple pictures there and then went to Coconut Kenny's for appetizers. Rachel and I went in my car and we had a good time listening to country music and smiling at all the people who stared at us. We got cheese balls and a miniature pizza for appetizers and then went to my house for dinner.
My mom had prepared a wonderful four course dinner for us...everyone was completely amazed. The first course was striped jello (compliments of Mrs. Breakey--that's some GOOD stuff!), the second was a beautiful salad, artisan bread, and butter molded to look like shells, and the third was a choice of Sour Cream Spaghetti or Seafood Lasagne with a side of green beans. By the time dessert came out, we were all too full to hold another bite, so she took it over to Lindsay's where we could have it after the dance. I seriously haven't been hungry ever since though! We had such a good time at dinner, and we ended up being late to the dance because we lingered so long over it.
Daddy let me drive his 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummings Diesel to prom, which made me very happy and Marcie and Danae a little scared! But we had no mishaps and I parked it successfully. When we got there (about 1/2 hour late), no one was dancing, but we soon fixed that. The time seemed to just fly. I was considering about asking what time it was, thinking it was around 11, when the DJ announced that it was the last song. Midnight, you know...time for Cinderella to leave the ball (I tried to leave a shoe behind, but my feet hurt too much). My biggest complaint about prom was the music. The DJ didn't really play the best songs for dancing to because many were in that between-slow-and-fast range where you're not exactly sure what to do. But we just made it up off the tops of our heads and had lots of fun and laughs doing it. :-) My little brother was there taking coats and purses, and he didn't have the highest opinion of the way I was dancing, but not everyone can have the gangsta' moves of Caleb Hazel, now can they? I'm content with my sad lack of "hipness."
Afterward we went briefly to Denny's to continue a tradition started at Junior Prom, and then we went to Lindsay's. We piled about 11 of us into her hot tub, which responded by doing its best imitation of Niagara Falls. We sat in there and talked until I turned into a giant prune, and Lindsay, Chrey and Rachel made us virgin margaritas...which were so good!
Then we went inside and talked some more and a few people left. We decided to watch Phantom of the Opera after awhile, starting with "That's All I Ask of You" and then going back to the beginning. I only watched until "Angel of Music" because I was realizing that I had church in the morning and it was getting terribly late. Reluctantly I left, but I will finish the movie sometime soon!
It was a whirlwind night, and a beautiful memory of senior prom. I'm glad I will have no regrets when I think of what others have experienced during their senior proms. Mine has no unhappy memories...just the way it should be!
I had so much fun last year at junior prom that I wanted to go again this year, but as the day got nearer, I began having doubts. It looked like my friends were all going to have dates, I didn't want to be the fifth or seventh wheel or whatever it would have been, and I couldn't find a dress for any price, let alone cheap. But God just made things fall into place so beautifully. It turned out that I had another single girlfriend from WCC going who I could split the price of a couple's ticket with, and I finally found a dress the Monday before prom. I got it at Colima Design, a little dress shop in downtown Ferndale, and she told me if I ever needed another, she could make any dress in any size if I just brought her a picture. And her prices are really reasonable!
The day of prom I went to the Walk for Life and then Lydia and I went Mother's Day shopping, so I was already wiped out by 2:00. I read and tried to nap, and then got my stuff together and drove out to the Sebens. Karin did my hair absolutely beautifully and then put miniature roses that my mom bought me in it. I did my makeup and got dressed there so they could see "the finished product" and then I went to our rendezvous point at Lindsay's.
We took a couple pictures there and then went to Coconut Kenny's for appetizers. Rachel and I went in my car and we had a good time listening to country music and smiling at all the people who stared at us. We got cheese balls and a miniature pizza for appetizers and then went to my house for dinner.
My mom had prepared a wonderful four course dinner for us...everyone was completely amazed. The first course was striped jello (compliments of Mrs. Breakey--that's some GOOD stuff!), the second was a beautiful salad, artisan bread, and butter molded to look like shells, and the third was a choice of Sour Cream Spaghetti or Seafood Lasagne with a side of green beans. By the time dessert came out, we were all too full to hold another bite, so she took it over to Lindsay's where we could have it after the dance. I seriously haven't been hungry ever since though! We had such a good time at dinner, and we ended up being late to the dance because we lingered so long over it.
Daddy let me drive his 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummings Diesel to prom, which made me very happy and Marcie and Danae a little scared! But we had no mishaps and I parked it successfully. When we got there (about 1/2 hour late), no one was dancing, but we soon fixed that. The time seemed to just fly. I was considering about asking what time it was, thinking it was around 11, when the DJ announced that it was the last song. Midnight, you know...time for Cinderella to leave the ball (I tried to leave a shoe behind, but my feet hurt too much). My biggest complaint about prom was the music. The DJ didn't really play the best songs for dancing to because many were in that between-slow-and-fast range where you're not exactly sure what to do. But we just made it up off the tops of our heads and had lots of fun and laughs doing it. :-) My little brother was there taking coats and purses, and he didn't have the highest opinion of the way I was dancing, but not everyone can have the gangsta' moves of Caleb Hazel, now can they? I'm content with my sad lack of "hipness."
Afterward we went briefly to Denny's to continue a tradition started at Junior Prom, and then we went to Lindsay's. We piled about 11 of us into her hot tub, which responded by doing its best imitation of Niagara Falls. We sat in there and talked until I turned into a giant prune, and Lindsay, Chrey and Rachel made us virgin margaritas...which were so good!
Then we went inside and talked some more and a few people left. We decided to watch Phantom of the Opera after awhile, starting with "That's All I Ask of You" and then going back to the beginning. I only watched until "Angel of Music" because I was realizing that I had church in the morning and it was getting terribly late. Reluctantly I left, but I will finish the movie sometime soon!
It was a whirlwind night, and a beautiful memory of senior prom. I'm glad I will have no regrets when I think of what others have experienced during their senior proms. Mine has no unhappy memories...just the way it should be!
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
My Pink Blanket
For me, happiness and comfort is sometimes synonymous with my pink blanket.
Last night, Brittney and I were huddled under it for warmth while attempting to walk to Carol's car. We have this problem with walking in sync, and with distinguishing right from left, so this walk was quite an adventure. (An actual Brittney quote: "No, your FAR left!") As we stumbled madly around, a friend who we were walking with warned us that the blanket was dragging on the ground and in serious danger of getting dirty. But I replied to him, "This blanket has been through so much...it really doesn't care anymore." He simply gave me one of those "you're insane" looks and continued on, but eventually commented again that he felt sorry for the blanket.
But I think there's really no reason for him to be sorry for the blanket. My pink blanket is one of my most prized possessions, but it didn't become that way because it was protected from the dirt of Bender Fields. The reason I love that blanket is because I look at it and see all the memories contained in it.
It used to be Audrey's or Lydia's blanket on their bed, but when they got a new comforter, I took possession of it for extra warmth on winter nights. Since then, it has been used for so many purposes and become something which contains many of my best memories. I'll list a few here.
Last night, Brittney and I were huddled under it for warmth while attempting to walk to Carol's car. We have this problem with walking in sync, and with distinguishing right from left, so this walk was quite an adventure. (An actual Brittney quote: "No, your FAR left!") As we stumbled madly around, a friend who we were walking with warned us that the blanket was dragging on the ground and in serious danger of getting dirty. But I replied to him, "This blanket has been through so much...it really doesn't care anymore." He simply gave me one of those "you're insane" looks and continued on, but eventually commented again that he felt sorry for the blanket.
But I think there's really no reason for him to be sorry for the blanket. My pink blanket is one of my most prized possessions, but it didn't become that way because it was protected from the dirt of Bender Fields. The reason I love that blanket is because I look at it and see all the memories contained in it.
It used to be Audrey's or Lydia's blanket on their bed, but when they got a new comforter, I took possession of it for extra warmth on winter nights. Since then, it has been used for so many purposes and become something which contains many of my best memories. I'll list a few here.
- Tanning and reading with my sisters
- Playing various insane games on the trampoline
- Trying to fly
- Many, many picnics
- Stargazing
- Every church campout
- Football games, cheering on the Trojans
- Watching "The Best of Will Ferrell" on my cousins' dock
- Softball games
- Curled up reading on the couch
- Playing Speed in the trailer with Brittney
- Napping in the sun at the "VanLiew Campout"
- Sleepovers...getting scared out of our wits by imagining noises outside the trailer
- Sitting on the Tennant Lake boardwalk with Brittney, talking, reading our Bibles and dreaming
- Singing and talking around campfires
- Long roadtrips and late-night rides in the car
- Revive girls' Bible study sitting on it
- Sitting in the WCC courtyard with my friends
- Of course, trying to walk huddled underneath
I love how my blanket smells after it's been washed...I dry it in the sun and it smells like a mixture of detergent, fresh air, and sunlight. When I curl up in it, I think of all the fun memories I've made with it, the serious discussions and moments of wild laughter it has seen. I am reminded again of God's grace to me in giving me such wonderful friends and family.
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