"I already got my hair cut at the Cuttin' Corral." We know that place is messed up.

Yesterday afternoon I was hanging at the house, taking it easy cause I was sick the day before. While I was doing nothing and wanting to do something, we heard a little knock at the door. I opened it to see John (our five year old cousin) standing there with a huge grin on his face. I asked him what he needed but all he said was "Geet ovah heeeeere" dragging out the here. We asked him who it was he wanted but he just smiled squinting up his eyes and repeated himself. We were a bit "weirded out" and had to ask a series of questions in order to finally come to the conclusion that our uncle Jacob was at his house. Lori wanted us to come over and visit. Mom and I went over for a while but Jacob had to leave. He came back later with the rest of his family and we got to see his new baby girl.

Well, they got to talking about hair cuts and Jacob said he had had some experience with cutting his brothers hair. Lo, all the boys were lined up for their desperately needed haircuts. First went John who ended up with a buzz then Paul got one. Uncle Kenny was next. He got his cut except the whole back side of his head and he told Lori he was done. This was not acceptable so Jacob finished it off. Joshua is now thirteen and he was very worried about looking cool and it took some pressure from the girls to get him in the chair. In the end he only got it slightly shorter. Then Luke and Abel got theirs trimmed.

A few nights before I had lent Joshua Napoleon Dynamite. They watched it every night for about a week and Josh had the whole movie memorized. So we spent last night being entertained by Joshua, doing Kip very well, and a pretty good job on the rest of them too.

Yep

Modesty

Mom found this site with a modesty survey on it. A group of girls put together some statements about modesty and sent out the survey to over fifteen hundred christian guys. The results amazed me! I had always cared about modesty and Dad and Mom had helped tell me what was and wasn't acceptable but to really know for certain that Dad and Mom where right was kind of cool. Though most of the things I pretty much already knew, it was encouraging to hear that a lot of guys care about a girl's modesty. Most of the guys said that modestly dressed girls were more attractive (in a good way) than immodest ones.

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A 13 year old said:
"Modest girls are always more pretty to me than immodest girls. An immodest girl might be really pretty but her actions are ugly and they cancel out her natural beauty, making her ugly. A modest girl is pretty not only in looks but in actions and deeds and that is the type of girl I like to be around."

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I think it is really cool that a thirteen year old boy can have that attitude about girls at such a young age. I think that every girl should see what this survey has to say and even guys can be encouraged by it. If us girls can grasp this idea of not needing to show off our bodies to attract the right kind of guys I know we would be a lot happier. Most girls need to realize that attraction is so much more than just looks.

The Bridge to Memories

Thursday us girls went to see The Bridge to Terabithia. I think we all cried at least once, I know I cried more than that. The movie is about two kids who are bullied at their school but every day after school they go play in the woods. They find a big tree house and pretend they live in a land called Terabithia. They play that trolls and the woodland animals are evil creatures working for a "dark lord". This made me laugh because of all the times I played in the woods building forts and running from imaginary enemies. Hope and I were inspiried to take a walk in the woods again. Even though we may not play war or build a tree house I know I will never be to old to enjoy the woods.

Hope has her own blog now. It's @ hopespinkflamingo.blogspot.com

Encouragment

This poem I came across was really encouraging and a neat way to think about not only some things we've been through, but also everything that seems so bad now, & how differently we'll see it all later. I didn't write this one, but I wish I would have.

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Sometime

by May Riley Smith

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Sometime when all life's lessons have been learned,

And sun and stars forevermore have set,

The things which our weak judgments here have spurned,

The things o'er which we grieved with lashes wet,

Will flash before us out of life's dark night,

As stars shine most in deeper tints of blue;

And we shall see how all God's plans are right,

And how what seemed reproof was love most true.

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And we shall see how, while we frown and sigh,

God’s plans go on as best for you and me;

How, when we called, He heeded not our cry,

Because His wisdom to the end could see.

And e’en as prudent parents disallow,

Too much of sweet to craving babyhood,

So God, perhaps, is keeping from us now

Life’s sweetest things, because it seemeth good.

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And if, sometimes, commingled with life’s wine,

We find the wormwood, and rebel and shrink,

Be sure a wiser hand than yours or mine,

Pours out the potion for our lips to drink;

And if some friend you love is lying low,

Where human kisses cannot reach his face,

Oh, do not blame the loving Father so,

But wear your sorrow with obedient grace!

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And you shall shortly know that lengthened breath

Is not the sweetest gift God sends His friends,

And that, sometimes, the sable pull of death

Conceals the fairest boon His love can send;

If we could push ajar the gates of life,

And stand within, and all God’s workings see,

We could interpret all this doubt and strife,

And for each mystery could find a key.

~

But not today. Then be content, poor heart;

God’s plans, like lilies pure and white, unfold;

We must not tear the close-shut leaves apart,—

Time will reveal the chalices of gold.

And if, through patient toil, we reach the land

Where tired feet, with sandals loosed, may rest,

When we shall clearly see and understand,

I think that we will say, "God knew the best."

Kids in the way?

Not much has been going on lately. It's been snowing a off and on today and it's snowing pretty heavily right now. It's been kind of a lazy day today as Saturdays always are. Kezzi, Luke, Josh and I are going to a youth service tonight at our neighbor's church.

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I was thinking about this Christian rock band called 'Kids in the Way' who have a song w/ that title which repeats "we are, we are, kids in the way". I was really sad not just that this is the message they're portraying to the youth, but that this is the "Christian" message they want to get across. That, to me, pretty much implies "We're just immature kids who can't make a difference and are only a hindrance till we grow up". I don't think that's the mindset God wants for us as Christian young people. (Just so you know though, I'm not at all against anybody who listens to them, so please don't take offence if you do. They may have other music that's really good. I haven't heard much of them.)

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I believe that God wants to use us as a major impact on the rest of society & show that we don't have to be just immature people waiting to grow up, but can be an influence and inspiration wherever we are. To me, it's so exciting to think that I'm not just waiting to grow up and be a light, but that I can be a light to anyone wherever I am in small ways, weather it's at church or anywhere else. Even just standing up for what's right & not going along w/ things I know are wrong can make a huge difference & even sometimes change people's minds.

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It's been nice, lately us girls have started helping out during one of the church services and I've been helping w/ the 4 and 5 year olds. I really enjoy it. I was thinking though, that even in simple little things like this I can help make a difference. There was this one girl who had told me a few weeks before, that she didn't have a mom anymore because she died. I felt so bad for her. Later, she looked really sad & had sat by herself not talking to anyone. When I asked her name, she wouldn't tell me (& wasn't very nice about it), but when I started helping her w/ a couple things & trying to help her have fun, she warmed right up and was totally different toward me & seemed a lot happier too.

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I know God can use us young people in lots of ways, but it's our responsibility(mainly speaking to myself here)to look for those ways & jump at the opportunity.

*Update* I went and looked at the lyrics of the song, Kids In The Way, and realized they were saying something different than I thought. They were just using that phrase saying that's how the world thinks of us but we're much more than that. I guess I was just thinking about this subject of kids being a light in the world and the song title came to mind. My bad. :)

Family Weirdness

My family and I have a strange fascination with phrases that sound funny. Like when our aunt Lizzi came to visit us she started saying "Aw that's filthy" or "oh filth". For some strange reason we thought this was funny. I guess it was partly her tone of voice and personality. Well we started saying it and it sort of stuck so it is now the family word. Several friends have even picked it up from us. Then a little later we went on a drive with our uncle Levi he looked at the mountains and said "Oh, Wow! That's an an awesome!" We made fun of him for a while for his bad grammar, but then we started saying it too. We also say "that's a stupid" or any other adjective that doesn't belong there. A few days ago Pris found something new. She got into the car to go to dance and I started to tell her we were late. All I got out was "Pris..." before she interrupted me with "You shut up." I was a bit shocked at her rudeness(not realy.lol.). She was playing of course and now we all say it. The tone of voice has to be just right and we cant say it at the wrong moment or we will get in trouble for really meaning it. It is funny when you interrupted someone before they can ask a question.Another thing that's weird is when Mom was a kid her dad would yell out "I'm going to bring everyone a surprise when I get home!" and sometimes they would ask for a surprise. Moms little brother Levi could not say surprise then and always called it a buprise and eventually the whole family called it that. Last night on Valentines Day Mom and Dad went out and Mom told us if we did all our jobs she would bring a "buprise" for us. It was candy and a movie.

This morning Candace and Priscilla flew out to a conference and I don't know what I will do with myself while there gone. :( Oh well Hope and I will get some party time and maybe we will use their rooms to host a few friends. Just kidding. That was a joke. c'mon I'm laughing. Ha ha ha ha. Okay that was lame lets move on here. Not to long ago Lizzi called to chat she said she had something else for us to start saying. It was "Little weird", she had used it on several occasions and it had had satisfactory results. You have to say it in a slow drawling voice to get the desired affect. I know what you are thinking. "What a weird family" and I would have to agree but hey, we have fun and sometimes people laugh at us. That's a good thing right?

Some of our friends from Alabama got in last night & they'll be visiting for the weekend. They have 5 little kids. Two boys and three girls. Also, since Lori and Kenny are in Missouri, we've been taking care of Sarah and Lilly some of the time. The littlest ones are so funny. Elizabeth just came in running and spinning around in circles, jabbering to me about something. It was so cute.

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We danced yesterday, and it seemed like a really long day but it was good. During the rehearsal, Doug, (the guy that sings for our performances) came & we practiced the new songs w/ him. I kinda wish we had just a little longer than March till HiStory so I can know my new parts longer. I'm really exited about it though, I can't wait! I start liking dance a lot more just knowing it's coming up. I'm hoping it'll be even better than last time. It'll probably be somewhat different having new guys play Jesus & Joseph. Those of you who are coming to see it, we'll have the tickets to sell soon.

I haven't had time to blog lately so here is the overview. Super bowl was great as usual. We went to our cousin Davids house who has DVR on his TV so we could fast forward the things we didn't want to see. Our team won. YAY!

Yesterday was Priscilla's 18th birthday and we went Ice skating with Grandpa and Grandma and Lori and Kenny. Most of the kids had never ice skating before so it was interesting. They all loved it and 5 year old john was even able to skate alone after a while. Once The Littlest Princess fell and Aunt Lori helped her up asking "do you want to stop sand rest for a while?" She looked up crying and said. "I would but I love it to much!"She also cried when we had to go. While we were skating in a corner Pris saw a metal stand thing with a baby seat attached to it. it was meant to push a baby in. We immediately thought "Sarah" so we fetched her and strapped her in. We took turns pushing her around. While Pris pushed Sarah Hope and I skated ahead and watched Sarah's reaction. She giggled and smiled until it was time for them to clean the floor then she got mad. When we got home Pris had a dance she had choreographed for her birthday to a song by Twila Paris.You can read the lyrics here. Maybe I will post some pictures when we get them on our computer.

Sledding in the mountains

Today we went to the mountains to go sledding with a few friends. We never get any good amount of snow here, but there's usually quite a bit about an hour away. The scenery was incredible driving up there. The mountains were amazing with all the trees covered with ice.

Someone said it looked like we could have been in Narnia. Anyway, it took us a while to find the place where we go to sled, with an occasional, "Oh, that's it!" and then finding out it wasn't.

Once we got there, the guys got a fire going. It was great for warmth, but they built it right in the way of people sledding. So we had to either come to an immediate stop, or steer strait into the brush. (Which was not a pleasant experience.) Except when we'd watch people flip & wreck then get up laughing. That was most often my uncle Kenny and Candace who'd come flying down in a 2 person sled.

For the most part it was a lot of fun, besides getting a cut on my face and the fact that the temperature was 14 degrees with a wind chill of 0 or below. We wanted to have a giant snowball fight, but it was too cold. The snow just wouldn't stick. (Yeah, just a few complaints: ) But it was worth it. We'll probably go again soon with the families who couldn't make it this time.

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We found out yesterday that a family related to our cousins/neighbors just lost their oldest son. He was 17 & committed suicide. It sounds like a pretty traumatic situation. Please be praying for that family.