Tag, I'm it!

Eldarwen tagged me for this post! Thanks girl!


"Pick your favorite musical artist/movie star/famous whoever -- and post a picture (or two, or three, or four) of him, and what it is about him that you love, and what it is about him that you might hope for, for whoever God has planned for you for your future."
Michael Donehey- lead of Tenth Ave. North.

What is it that I love about him? I love his music. His songs are learning experiences for me. They teach new concepts and ideas. He went to a christian school his whole life, which is nice to know that there is hope for someone who has been there and done that. I think that's why his songs always hit home for me. You learn a lot in a Christian school, and I think he's used that and incorporated it into the songs. I've actually talked to the guy once. It was when I was in Alabama for Student Life 2009 (which is the coolest thing ever.) They were going to put on a concert, and I got to go right on up and talk to the band. I still have his pick from the concert. It was very exciting.

 

I hope for being silly and having fun. I hope for seriousness that develops into deep and meaningful conversations. I hope for joy, and love. I hope for God to be the center of all relationships. I hope for ways to help people know Jesus. I hope for Jesus to be a must to survive. I hope for Him to be everything.
This is how I picture him being like. Since I can only assume, I gave this more from my perspective.


 

Whoever God has planned for my future. He's married. I'm not one of those people who fan girls (who knew that could be a verb?) on someone who is married. But, I love that he has a family and that his family means a lot to him. I'm his friend on facebook (yeah, I know, way to be a stalker Ali.) and he has these pictures posted on there that are of him, his wife, and his daughter. I love that I can easily assume that he's a family guy. He's bold. I love it when people become "famous" and they tell people what they believe in. It's admirable.
I almost did Francis Chan on this, but decided not to because of this article. I still completely admire who he is and what God is challenging us to do through him.
Enjoy!
~Believer in PRTC

ps- You should sign up for my giveaway!! (If you haven't already.)

oh Christmas memories

When I was younger...

Every time that we go a lot of fresh, new snow my brother and I would be going ballistic. We would wake my Dad up (Most of the time Mom worked the weekends when these shenanigans happened.) on a Saturday morning, and we would tell him that it had snowed. After he eventually woke up, we all would go and get those cheap, awesome plastic cups that you get for free when you eat off the kids menu at restaurants, and we'd hand them to Dad. Dad would then face the cold weather and go and fill out cups up with snow. He would set them on the table, and bring over the Tang. We would then proceed to pour the Tang over our snow and then eat it. It was marvelous orange snow.

We would never wake up early for Christmas when we were younger. One year my brother and I got woken up by my Mom and Dad around 8:30. We were not awake. My brother, without saying a word, went and got his pillow and blanket and brought it out to the couch and tried to back to sleep (as a 5 year old).  But eventually we opened our presents and all was good.

Every year we make our own tree ornaments.

Notice the expert paint job

These ones are cool.

Who said watermelons can't be Christmasy?

My brother's Christmas eel.



My Jellyfish



I made Santa :) 



My cat's homemade toy.

 What holiday traditions or memories do you have?
I'd love to hear!
~Believer in PRTC

GIVEAWAY! :)

Merry Christmas! My giveaway is starting! This happens to be my 101th post :) I'm starting the giveaway now, and it will end on Jan 1, 2011. Which is also the date that I started my blog, a year ago.

Since I know you guys all looked at the picture first, it's not as surprising by the time you've read this.
But I'm giving away a small "hot chocolate" notebook, a Papermate Expressions pen, and the Newsboys' new CD- Born Again. (Which I highly recommend, it's great. My mom has it.)
Here's how you can win:

1. Follow my blog. 1 entry
2. Blog about it yourself and leave the web address please! 1 entry
3. Tell me your favorite book you've ever read. 1 entry
4. You already follow me you say? Congrats, you get another entry just for that. 1 entry
5. Tell me the best and worst Christmas gift you've ever received. 1 entry.

Please leave whatever of these you do in a comment.

Thanks you guys! I'll have the winner posted as soon as I can after the giveaway ends. Then you can just comment your shipping address (which will only go to me, and will NOT get posted or given away.) when you win and I'll ship it out asap!
~Believer in PRTC

"I want to hold your hand..."

I'm listening the the many 219 tunes of the Beatles that my father brought home for my brother and I. I don't know if it's like this for many people, but I feel like a little girl again. I'm reminded of the times when I was in our old station wagon (which I loved) listening to the oldies radio station. I could sing almost every song that was played by the time I was 8. I still am very proud of this.
Then I hit 10. A new phase in the oldies. My Dad started quizzing us on who the artist were. Whether it was CCR, Rev. Al Green, Carly Simon, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, The Doors, Earth Wind and Fire, The Who, The Monkees, or one of the many others, I was pretty good at it. I would sit in the back on the left side (I know it was that spot because those seats our the exact same now a days. I'm always on the left and Zach, my brother, is always on the right. Neither of us are allowed to ride shotgun because we used to fight about it. Now we have just done it ever since.) and listen to "You're so Vain", which was one of my favorites back then, on the way to school. The problem came when I would walk into my Christian school and begin singing it. I find it funny that I, as preschooler, was serenading my classmates to "You're so Vain".
My favorite was when I hit the age of twelve. We had a CD with the oldies on it. My favorite song you ask? "I'm a Believer" by the Monkees. I was in gymnastics at the time and we had a spacious house that (Thank you Jesus) had carpet. My friend and I would put it on as loud as whichever babysitter would allow, and do gymnastics routines to it. It was a blast.
All this to say, I have a Beatles shirt that I wear. Until people started asking me about them I had never really looked into anything other then their music. I always feel silly when people ask me about them and I don't know squat.
This is changing now though. I have been reseaching them and doing my homework. So thanks John, Paul, George, and Ringo for your brilliant music and my favorite t-shirt.
~Believer in PRTC

a secret to tell

Having a secret that you get to tell everyone is very fun. The sad part is if people are disappointed in the means, but for the most part, it's great. I've been spending these past few weeks silently dropping little things here and there letting my friends know first what is happening. Then I told some people in my small group (Bible study), then my youth group. But I still have yet to tell everyone at my school...

I'M CHANGING SCHOOLS!
Wohoo! :) I'm super excited. Going from my "Christian" school to a public school sounds so exciting! Not to many people totally understand the main reason I want to change. I will do my best to explain, but if you don't get it, then I ask that you'll just pray for me as I leave my memories, and start new.
I want to love. That's pretty much it. I'm ready to help other people encounter a life changing love that will hold them. My youth group plays a big part in this. Every Wednesday we take a bus there to pick up students who want to come. Then we take them back afterwards. My youth group isn't something I'd call normal, we have a uniquiness that isn't found very many places. I'm not saying that to brag, at all. The thing is, I can almost gaurentee that once they are there they will eventully come back. I think that would help things be successful. I can't wait to start something big and new there. I know that the FCA (fellowship of Christian athletes) there is struggling right now, and I would like to try and help.
I know that these are big ambitions, but it's my heart. I know people will and can be mean, but God loves them, aren't I supposed to?
Prayers would be appreciated. I start the first week of January.
~Believer in PRTC
ps. Pray for a miracle... Kelsey