A Missionary in Training

What to do, what to do?

2012-01-17T14:04:00.000-05:00

"Anybody remotely interesting is mad, in some way or another."-The Doctor (Doctor Who)

I love when people tell me I'm weird. I don't really know why, but I do know how much I love it. I'm not normal in any aspect. In fact, I am interesting. This must mean that I am "mad, in some way or another". I always strive to be myself, not someone else. I was born original; why in the world would I want to die as a carbon copy of someone else? While I'm home, I want to do some things to bid my time. If I stop moving, I'll become full of sorrow; I'll become, as my mum says, a mullygrub. Here are some things I want to do these next few months:

Learn how to play Lola, my dulcimer
Make the t-shirt quilt I have been wanting to make for the longest time
Find a pen pal
Write more handwritten letters
Finish writing a novel
Paint the laundry room like I've always said I was going to do... Chalkboard paint on the cabinets? Sounds lovely!

2012-01-04T16:08:00.000-05:00

Well, it's here. This is the hard part. The realization that this is my new reality has finally arrived. I know what should be happening. I am aware that I should be doing all of my laundry, packing up my suitcase, and getting ready to leave once more for Powell, Tennessee. My body is ready to go; my heart is most definitely ready to go. It is strange that I'm not packing. It is strange that I'm not leaving tomorrow or Friday morning like I should be. I keep reading Facebook posts about my friends getting ready to return for school, and it hurts. It is so painful.

I'm so grateful for the family which the Lord has given me, especially my lovely mother. Mum is the best woman that I have ever had the chance to know, and I am so thankful for her. She is so patient with me. She understands how much this hurts me. She knows how painful this decision has been for me. She lets me cry when I need to, and she tells me what I need to hear when I need to hear it. I'm so thankful for the mum that God has given to me. I love her so very much!

I miss my best friends more than I ever could have imagined. They're so very special to me, and each of them means the world to me. I love them more than air itself. I feel sorry for people who cannot claim them as their best friends. I guess that if I were someone else, I would envy myself for the friends that I have! I love them so much.

Home, sweet, Dallas...

2011-12-09T22:20:00.000-05:00

Mum and I arrived in Dallas at about 5:00 this afternoon. I'm glad to be back home with my wonderful family again, and I am so grateful to the Lord for the safety He gave us on our journey. Please pray for me while I'm here in Dallas. I'm praying that the Lord will use me while I'm here these next few months in a way that is beyond my imagination.

No need to say goodbye...

2011-12-08T23:18:00.000-05:00

Well, it's not the end. It's simply the beginning of a brand new story.

Here I am in a small town in Arkansas on the way back to Dallas, Texas for the night with my Mummy. I am quite sad to have left my home of Powell, Tennessee this morning, but I know that this is the Lord's will. He knows what He is doing, even though I do not. I love Him so very much, and I am so glad that He is in control, not me. I know that I would make a mess out of everything.

But, I miss my Crown family. An awful lot...

Thomas, Sydney, Becca, Mike, and Myself

♪It started out as a feeling which then grew into a hope which then turned into a quiet thought which then turned into a quiet word. Then, that word grew louder and louder 'till it was a battle cry. I'll come back when you call me; no need to say goodbye.♪

Mike and I

♪...Just because everything's changing doesn't mean it's never been this way before. All you can do is try to know who your friends are as you head off to the war. Pick a star on the dark horizon and follow the light. You'll come back when it's over. No need to say goodbye. You'll come back when you call me. No need to say goodbye...♪

Becca, Sydney, Will, Alicia, Caleb, and I

♪...Now, we're back to the beginning. It's just a feeling, and no one knows yet, but just because they can't feel it, too, doesn't mean that you have to forget. Let your memories grow stronger and stronger 'till they're before your eyes. you'll come back when they call you. No need to say goodbye. You'll come back when they call you; no need to say goodbye.♪

Sydney and I

Becca, Myself, and Sydney

"Photos, cold weather, and Starbucks remind of us of why we're best friends."

(Song quotes are property of Regina Spektor)

He Knows...

2011-12-05T11:13:00.000-05:00

John 6:6 "And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do."

You mightn't understand why the Lord is testing you, but He Himself knows what He is doing. The Lord is omniscient; why do we question Him? He is omnipotent; learn to lean on His almighty arms. He is omnipresent; He is with you at all times.

The Lord is testing you to prove you. He wants to see if you're worthy.

Stand strong in the face of adversity. Kneel before His throne in humility. Lay in His loving arms.

He is going to help you, for "he himself knew what he would do".

♪♫All to Jesus, I surrender. All to Thee, I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live. And I surrender all. I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Saviour, I surrender all.♪♫

2011-12-03T13:18:00.002-05:00

Becca can be found at beccagracejohnson.blogspot.com I introduced her to Blogger today!

2011-12-03T13:02:00.002-05:00

Also on my list of favorite people in the world, Miss Becca Johnson, my official friend!

Sometimes...

2011-11-30T08:01:00.001-05:00

I've waited a rather long time to work up the courage to write this blog post.... Bear with me, please.

Sometimes, we have to make difficult decisions. While they mightn't seem fair, they're necessary. After much prayer on the subject, I have decided not return to Crown in the Spring. I hope that you will pray for me as I stay home. This has, for now, been the hardest decision I have ever made. never did I think that I would choose to not return to the place that I love the most. I wish to stay here forever, but I can't. I need to go home for a little while.

The Lord gives everyone troubles in life just so that we can remember who He is.

You will never realize how great of a God He is until you have been broken down.

While this isn't easy in the least, it is something that I know the Lord God Yahweh wants me to do. I hope that you will pray for me this next semester as I stay home, work, and get my needed medical treatments. I will, of course, be continuing with this blog so that everyone can know how the Lord is working in my life.

2011-10-25T19:38:00.002-04:00

I love being a teacher in an infant room at a daycare. I seriously get paid to take care of babies all day! It is such a great job! I can't wait until I get to take care of my own kids; then, I'll never have to give them back to their parents!

One year down, a lifetime to go...

2011-10-20T17:00:00.000-04:00

A year ago today, I finally gave up. I surrendered. I realized that I couldn't survive anymore without being completely obedient to the Lord. It was a year ago today that I surrendered to serve the Lord on the mission field. I had no idea where He was going to send me, and I didn't care. I just knew that I was yielding myself to His will. Just this past year has been a series of constant ups and downs. The Lord has shown me over and over again of how He will provide for me, even when life seems bleak. He will keep me safe, even when the mountains are crumbling right on the path before me. I am so grateful that He is letting me work for Him.

Writer's Block...

2011-10-13T20:00:00.000-04:00

How is it that I have so much on my mind, but I can't think about what I would like to write about? I wrote such a long blog post earlier today, but I still feel as if I need to write more. There's so much on my mind, on my heart, but I cannot express it the way I would like to! The Lord is truly working in my life, and I am so excited about it, but I just can't let my words out? Is anyone out there? Is anyone listening? Or am I just writing this blog like a crazy person talking to herself? How is it that I feel like this? I shouldn't, but I can't help it. I feel as if words themselves mean nothing. The only thing I can truly say right now is that God is perfect. He is still God, and He always will be.

My friend , Melody, recently introduced me to a poem by a lady named Helen Mallicoat. I wanted to share it on here, for it will help others. I know it will, for it has helped me immensely.

I AM

I was regretting the past

and fearing the future.

Suddenly my Lord was speaking:

"My name is I AM".

He paused.

I waited. He continued,

"When you live in the past

with its mistakes and regrets,

it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I WAS.

When you live in the future

with its problems and fears,

it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I WILL BE.

When you live in this moment,

it is not hard. I am here.

My name is I AM."

When you start worrying, remember that God is there. His name is not I WAS or I WILL BE. He's there right when you need Him. Are you there for Him when He needs you?

2011-10-13T14:18:00.002-04:00

Michael Holverson is my very best friend! ^_^

Oh, Uganda...

2011-10-13T09:41:00.001-04:00

James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

Many Christians overlook this verse. They are afraid of it. They know that it means commitment. While I do not believe that every single Christian is to work in an orphanage or move to a Third World country, I strongly believe that every Christian should "visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction..". There are over 163 million orphans in this world. 42 million of them are on the continent of Africa. About 1/3 of African orphans are orphans due to AIDS. (Yes, I said it. The word that has become taboo in Christian society. AIDS... the horrible disease that kills over 5,000 people every single day. AIDS... the disease that makes me want to vomit. The disease that crushes me to the core. I hate it.) About 2 million of these beautiful, orphaned children live in the country of Uganda.

Uganda, the "Pearl of Africa" is a small landlocked country in central Africa. Its people speak mostly English and Swahili. I could list statistics all day, but they mean nothing to me. What is important to me is the beautiful children there that God has given me a burden for. I have known since I was eight years old that I was going to adopt at least one child from Uganda. This past year, God has proven to me over and over again that He wants me to serve Him in Uganda. I am so amazed that He, the God of the universe, wants me to serve Him! I can't wrap my brain around this idea.

Many times, it is hard for me to stay here. It is hard to continue studying here at Crown. It is hard to stay here in America. In my heart, I want to be in Uganda. The thoughts will not leave my mind. When it is silent, I hear the songs of an African choir. When I close my eyes, I see hundreds of coffee-colored children with doe eyes staring up at me. I want to just go. I want to get my passport, quit school, pack my bags, and leave.

But I can't. God wants me here. He wants me to finish. His perfect will for my life includes this. I love it here. I do. There is no place in this world (besides Uganda) that I would ever want to be. I love my classes (besides physical science. But I know that it will help me!!! I think. I hope. I pray.) I love my friends; they are my family. I love my family back in Texas. I don't want to leave them. I want to stay comfortable at home. I want to wake up, do dorm and room chores, go to breakfast with my best friends, take classes, go to work, go to church, go home, do homework, take a shower, sleep, and do the routine over again. It's easy. It's my life.

But I can't.

Right now, I'm torn between being a "normal" American teenager and being a missionary in a Third-World country. My body is here, but my heart and mind are in Uganda. I am praying for patience. Here's something that the Lord has shown me lately: If you pray for patience, God will not give you patience. He will give you a trial through which you must learn to be patient. That is what He, in His omniscience, is doing right now. He's stretching me. He's pulling on me, getting me to grow. It really hurts, but it is for my good and for His glory.

I will, one day, be there. But for now, I am here. I am training. Every moment that I am here is preparing me for the moment I step onto the first airplane and fly off into the rising sun. And it will be worth it!

Isaiah 12:2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my son; he also is become my salvation."

The Cutest Thing I've Ever Seen ^_^

2011-09-29T12:31:00.000-04:00

This was, without a doubt, one of (if not the) greatest, most wonderfully adorable things that I have ever seen in my entire life. Yesterday, the Korean Children's Choir came to The Crown College and sang a few songs for us. It was so adorable! I loved meeting this sweet children; they were such a blessing to my heart and to everyone else that was there. They are lead by Dr. Billy Kim and vary from about 7-12 years old. They were sooooo cute and such great singers! I loved seeing them sing for the Lord! They sang "Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones" (see the video at the bottom of the post), "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" (which I WILL be adding to YouTube and this blog later), "This Little Light of Mine", "It's a Small World", "Jesus Loves Me", and "Every Time I Feel the Spirit".

The Jabberwocky

2011-09-27T08:04:00.000-04:00

I really have the urge to share my favorite poem of all time with you. This is the "Jabberwocky", a poem written by Lewis Carroll in his novel Through The Looking Glass.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;

All mimsy were the borogroves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beward the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand;

Long time the manxome foe he sough-

So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood awhile in though.

And as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled with his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
Al mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

The Daisy- some of my thoughts

2011-09-26T20:46:00.000-04:00

When I look into the bright yellow face of a daisy, I think of Your beauty.
When I see the white petals, I see Your hope.
I will never lose my amazement at the fact that You have cared for me oh, so very much,
For only you could take someone like me and make something strangely beautiful.
Through You, I see that love is unending... unchangeable.
I now see that, through Your grace, nothing is impossible...
For you are truly powerful, almighty, and as the daisy You once created...
Breathtakingly beautiful.

The Shepherd of the Hills (Part Two)

2011-09-26T20:42:00.000-04:00

Here are the rest of my notes from Dr. Green's study on the Song of Songs. I hope it is as much of an encouragement to you as it is to me.

The Beloved came to reveal Himself to His dear Shulamite. He wanted her to know that He was still there for her. George Burrows once said, "The Christian life is a series of visits and withdraws of our Lord, of revivals of grace in the heart and exposure to trials." How very true this statement is! The Lord's voice calls out to us. Above countless voices, the Shulamite woman heard the strong voice of her Beloved. "The Bible which we have in our possession is from cover to cover the majestic authoritative voice of the Beloved, and what power and blessing it brings!" (Dr. Brian Green)

The Shepherd of The Hills, part 1

2011-09-19T16:59:00.000-04:00

This week, Dr. Brian Green, pastor of Calvary Free Grace Baptist Church in London, England, has been at Temple Baptist Church teaching a course on the book of the Song of Songs (also known as the Song of Solomon). He has written a book called The Shepherd of the Hills , and it has been a huge help to me. I only started reading it this morning, but it is such a wonderful book! If you ever have a chance to read it, take hold of it. I wanted to share some of the notes that I wrote down this morning. I'll write the rest of them on here, hopefully, tomorrow.

Part 1: "The View of the Book"

Solomon's Song is the most important song that will ever be sung. The first verse of the song says, "The song of songs, which is Solomon's." It is so important to the Lord that He Himself calls it the Songs of all other songs. He wrote over 1,000 songs, but this is the only one that we still have a written record of. It is an extremely beautiful song that we should all know of.

Although this book is a picture of Christ's love, it also involves true people and places. It is not strictly allegorical! Unlike what I always though, this book of love is not that between Solomon and his Shulamite bride. It is, though, a love story between her and the Shepherd from whom she was taken away. This was most likely written by Solomon after being rejected by her. She couldn't let go of the great love she had for the Shepherd of the hills. (Song of Songs 1:7 "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?) In this book, Solomon is NOT a picture of Christ but of the sinful world. The Shulamite bride is a picture of the Church which is constantly battling to remain faithful. The Shepherd of the hills is a picture of Christ, truly loving and caring for His bride.

There is a beautiful relationship between God and His Church pictured in this great book. The church is called a building (Eph. 2:19-21), a family (Eph. 3:15), a body (Eph. 4:4) and, most importantly, a bride (Eph. 5:23). The Shulamite woman (the Church) belongs, body and soul, unto the Shepherd of the hill (Christ), but Solomon (the world) always tries to steal her away. The world will NEVER stop trying to get you away from your Beloved. The Song of Songs is pre-eminently about the Beloved, the Shepherd of the hills. Charles Spurgeon once said that "This [The Lord] is the soul and heart of this divine composition." He was so very true. We need to pray to be more and more in love with our Beloved, the Lord Himself! Even when we leave our Beloved standing at the door as the Shualmite woman did, He still loves us. He will NEVER stop loving us. The Song of Songs 2:16 says "My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies."

Part 2: The Vision of the Bride

The young Shulamite woman only desired to run away from Solomon, her dangerous captor. His castle, regardless of its unnatural beauty, was her prison. She hated herself. Many times, she calls herself "black"; she is comparing herself with the fair-skinned beauties on Solomon's court. She couldn't stand any distance from the Shepherd. In the Bible, there is never a mention of any form of "farewell" or "goodbye" kiss. Our Lord will never leave us! His love is much more precious than any earthly pocession or position.

"How wonderful it is that, even in our locak, the Lord works through us!"-Dr. Brian Green

Part 3: The Visitation of the Beloved

On the Shepherd's first visit, he comes to reassure the Shulamite woman. He comes smelling of sweet perfumes, of spikenard, myrrh, and camphire (henna). His sweet smelling savour was so inviting to her. "Is Christ the sweet frangrance of our souls?" (Dr. Green) He whispered words of love to her, calling her "my love", "my dove", and telling her "thou art fair!" He loved her so very much, regardless of how much he had to work to attain her love. Our Lord, our Beloved, loves us so much! I can't believe that He lets me call Him my Father and my Friend! How amazing is that! Dr. Green told us this simple but unbelievable truth: "Christ takes the common, He takes the ordinary, and makes a lot of it!"

One of my favorite hymns is called "Dear Saviour, Thou Art Mine". Most Americans have never heard it, so I'll put the lyrics here:

♪Dear Saviour, Thou art mine,

How sweet the thought to me!

Let me repeat Thy name,

And life my heart to Thee.

Mine! Mine! Mine!

I know Thou art mine;

Saviour, dear Saviour,

I know Thou art mine.♪

I am so thankful that the Lord is mine!

Song of Songs 6:3 "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies." 

Compassion? I don't understand.

2011-09-08T19:56:00.000-04:00

Have you ever truly asked yourself if you were "compassionate"? Many times, this word is used in the Bible, but what does it truly mean? The Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, had compassion on those around Him.

"And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."

(Mark 6:34 KJV)

Last night, I was reminded of God's what God has for me. So many times, we are distracted by everything around us. We forget about the people. There are over 6.7 billion people in this world. Majority of them have never heard of the Lord Jesus Christ; most of the people who have heard of Him have never accepted Him as their Lord and Saviour. I am ashamed of myself, for I have not taken the time to share His Gospel with these people.

Kevin Carter, a South African photographer, took a picture in March of 1994 while in the country of Sudan. He photographed a young girl, starving to death, crawling with all of her might. She was trying to get to nearby feeding center and had stopped to catch her fleeting breath. A vulture appeared and stood by her, simply waiting to attack. For twenty minutes, Carter sat and waited for the vulture to spread its wings. He finally took a photo (which later went on to win a Pulitzer Prize), shooed the vulture away, and left. He didn't pick up the dying little girl. He left her there, dying in the dust. A few months later, after being criticized for letting the little girl die, Carter committed suicide. He could not live with himself knowing that he had let a human being die and took profit from it.

Many people want to scream at Kevin Carter for the unthinkable thing that he did to this beautiful little Sudanese girl, but he is not the one to blame. Yes, what he did was horrible. Yes, he should have picked up the young girl and brought her to safety instead of taking a lousy picture and letting her die. This is all very true. But, we as Christians do the exact same thing. We walk past people every single day and let them die. These people are dying without God, and the Devil himself is waiting to attack. We take time to bash people for their beliefs (or lack thereof). We take the time to call them names and blame them for their sin. This world is full of sinners; there will be sin. GET OVER IT! Stop attacking people for their sin when you are ignoring God's direct command to you. It's time we put down our cameras and start picking up people.

"Compassion is putting people into your heart."-Dr. Tommy Sexton

Are you truly compassionate? Do you love people where they are and give them the true love of the Lord?

A New Chapter...

2011-08-31T16:55:00.000-04:00

I officially started classes for the fall semester of my Sophmore year this morning! I can't believe the fact that I'm already a sophmore in college!!! Not much seems different, but I am enjoying my classes so far. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I have Theology of Christian Education (7:30 with Bro. Mike Fox), Bible Doctrine I (8:30 with Bro. Tim Tomlinson), Chapel, Speech (Noon with Bro. Mike Fox), and Choir (1 with Bro. Josh Cehulik). On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I will be taking Physical Science (7 with Dr. Yuing) and Hermaneutics (12 with Dr. Hugh Samworth). I'm so very excited about most of my classes this semester. I hope you will continue to pray for me. I am praying right now about traveling this summer with two dear friends, Teylor and Sydney, to India for New Testament Church Pioneers. Please pray that we follow the will of the Lord, not our own wishes.

Blessings!

Caitlyn Mae

My big fat Germexish wedding...

2011-08-01T12:31:00.000-04:00

So, my brother is getting married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited for Casey and his lovely fiance, Yesenia. I can't wait to help them through this!

My new obsession...

2011-07-21T15:26:00.000-04:00

If you haven't been introduced to "Pinterest" yet, you should be! It is so much fun, and everything I love is put together on one website. A virtual pinboard? Yes! Here's the link to my boards: http://re.pn/b/mT5C Have fun, Bloggers!

A little fall of rain can hardly hurt me now!

2011-07-16T23:13:00.000-04:00

I am quite excited right now. I live in Dallas, Texas, and for the past 15 days, it has been over 100 degrees. We haven't had rain since the first day of summer, and the heat has been absolutely unbearable. Of course, we've been downing water, lathering on sunscreen, wearing hats, etc. We know how to handle the heat, but that doesn't make it enjoyable. BUT........... God is soooooo good!!! A few minutes ago, the clouds split and rain starting pouring down.The sound was almost unrecognizable. I'm serious. I opened the back door and was overwhelmed by the beautiful smell of grass, asphalt, and rain all mixed together. (That is my favorite smell of all time, by the way!) I am so ecstatic to hear, see, feel, and smell the rain. I know it won't last for a long time, but I am so thankful for this little fall of rain.

Fair weather and a just God...

2011-07-14T01:30:00.000-04:00

"Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."-C.S. Lewis

This quote by C.S. Lewis is so very true. Many people think that they have the power to live daily by themselves. Humans simply do not have the strength to survive alone. Without my powerful God, I would fall apart. I know exactly where I would be without grace. I would be struggling to find a way to heaven by myself and would end up failing. I am so glad that I serve an Almighty God! Job 37:22-23 says, "Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict." I am so blessed to know that, regardless of the storm, fair weather will always come from the north. God promised this, and He cannot go back on His promises! He is excellent and just. I love Him so much!

"Give Me Jesus" by Fanny Crosby

2011-07-07T20:37:00.001-04:00

♪♫Take the world, but give me Jesus;
All its Joys are but a name,
But His love abideth ever,
Through eternal years the same.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above.

Take the world, but give me Jesus,
Sweetest comfort of my soul;
With my Savior watching o'er me,
I can sing, though billows roll.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above.

Take the world, but give me Jesus;
Let me view His constant smile;
Then throughout my pilgrim journey
Light will cheer me all the while.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above.

Take the world, but give me Jesus;
In His cross my trust shall be,
Till, with clearer, brighter vision
Face to face my Lord I see.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above.♪♫

Because I knew you....

2011-07-06T15:43:00.001-04:00

♪♫I've heard it said that people come into our lives

For a reason, bringing something we must learn,

And we are led to those who help us most to grow

If we let them and we help them in return.

Now, I don't know if I believe that's true,

But I know I'm who I am today because I knew you.

Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun,

Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood,

Who can say if I've been changed for the better,

But because I knew you,
I have been changed for good."♪♫

("For Good" from the play "Wicked"; written by Steven Schwartz)

I love my friends and my family. I miss my "family" from Crown. My closest friends there are my "family". They're not related to me through human blood, but we are tied together through the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they mean so much to me. That's all I wanted to say.

Land of the Free because of the Brave!

2011-07-03T16:00:00.000-04:00

I am so thankful that I live in a country where I am free to worship God in the way that my conscience chooses. Many times, we forget how blessed we are as Americans, and we should be ashamed of that. When the Pilgrims first left the west coast of England and set sail for this land, they inscribed the words "In God We Trust" on the sails of the Mayflower. Every time they hit a wave or felt sick, they could look upon those true words and remember that God was with them, regardless of how hopeless their mission may have seemed to their friends and family. I have had the privilege to be born and raised in the United States, and I believe that it is the best nation on this planet. I love this nation, and I will stand for it. God gave me this land, and I will use the freedom it has for His glory. I will not sit idle while those around me do nothing. I will praise His name while I still have- freedom to do so! If you are an American, this Independence Day, remember how a great God has blessed you to live in this land. I love America!

My "African-American" Family

2011-07-02T23:11:00.000-04:00

Alex, Sydney, Tony, Caitlyn, and Wani

I miss my little Liberian family! This is Wani and her three boys, Paul, Tony, and Alex. They're my adopted family that lives in Knoxville. They came to America about seven years ago from Liberia (West Africa) during a military overthrow. When Wani and her husband became Christians, they moved into a commune with a missionary and his family. Just weeks later, guerrilla warfare soldiers attacked and killed Wani's husband and eight of her fourteen children right in front of her. She ran with her surviving children (Kadi, Tony, Paul, two older boys, and Alex, still in her womb). She gave birth to Alex in the jungle with her daughter Kadi helping her deliver. She finally was met at the nation's border by U.N. workers, and after several months of waiting, Wani, Paul, Kadi, Tony, and Alex came to America. (The older two boys now live in Côte d'Ivoire.) She is such a strong woman, and I love her so very much. I miss hearing her sing songs in her native language of Bassa and just giving praise to the Lord! This family means the world to me, and I am so grateful to call them my family. I love my sister and my baby brothers! I can't wait to see them again in August. Tony says that we're an "African-American" family, and I don't believe that a stronger truth could be spoken!

"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him."-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sydney, Alex, Caitlyn, and Tony

VBS Visitation

2011-07-02T22:12:00.000-04:00

Our church is preparing for our Vacation Bible School coming up later this month. It will be from July 18-22, and the theme is "Soldiers For Christ". The kids will be separated into four basic groups (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines) and will learn everything from Bible verses to having a clear presentation of the Gospel. This morning, we went out once again on visitation, giving people fliers and telling them about the VBS, and a lot of kids seemed extremely interested in coming. Please pray that parents will let their children come and that children will truly come to know Christ this week. All are welcome, and if you or anyone you know lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, feel free to come see us!

Bethel Baptist Church

1224 Hilltop Drive

Grapevine, Texas 76051

bethelbaptistchurch.org

"Hello, Gorgeous!"

2011-07-02T00:49:00.008-04:00

While I'm on the subject of my favorite actresses of all time, why not mention the great Barbra Streisand? No woman in movie history has a more recognizable voice, face, or name than Miss Streisand. Famous for her rolls such as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" and Dolly Levi in "Hello, Dolly!", Barbra changed the idea of beauty in Hollywood. Before Barbra emerged on the scene, only pint-sized blondes were considered attractive. When she emerged in "Funny Girl" with her distinct Jewish features, most people believed that she would not last as an actress. Many people suggested she get a nose job, change her hair, and speak in a different way, but Barbra refused to change herself for anyone. She has become a roll model for countless young actresses that aren't exactly beautiful according to the American media. The opening scene of "Funny Girl" involves Barbra as Fanny Brice looking into a full-length mirror and saying, "Hello, gorgeous!" in that classic voice of hers. Thank you, Miss Streisand, for always being yourself and refusing to back down to the demands of people who were simply jealous of your overwhelming talent. We love you, Funny Girl!

Little Miss Shirley

2011-07-01T18:50:00.005-04:00

Since I was a very young child, I have had a deep love and appreciation for Miss Shirley Jane Temple Black. She is definitely one of my favorite actresses of all time. Her grace and style has always been so breathtaking! I can't imagine anyone, much less a small child, speaking, singing, or especially dancing with such grace! I know for a fact that my little girls will one day watch her movies, even though they are considered "old-fashioned" and "outdated". My favorite movies by little Miss Shirley are "Little Miss Broadway" and "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" (The photo on the right is from the latter of the two films.) No matter how old she grows, she has always been such a beautiful lady. Below is a video of Shirley and two of The Three Brian Sisters. I adore this songs. It's called "Be Optimistic" and is from the 1938 film "Little Miss Broadway". Who is your favorite classic star?

Guatemala: Where all the moose live

2011-07-01T00:19:00.002-04:00

I am often amazed at what young children say! It is hilarious how they pick up bits and pieces of what you teach them and mash them all together. Children have a wonderful way of saying the most ridiculous things and making it actually make some sort of sense! One of the sweet five-year-old little girls at my church and I had one fo these moments Wednesday night at church. I told her about a friend of mine from Guatemala, and she wanted to know more and more about the country. Next, when she pointed at a flag on our bullitan board and asked, "Where is that flag from?" I told her that it was from Canada, a country just north of the United States. She asked if any cool animals lived there, so I told her that moose live there. Later, while she was playing 'teacher', she decided that we would learn about different countries. She said, "This (squiggled something unrecognizable on the dry-erase board) is Guatemala. That's where all the moose live!" I thought it was the most adorable thing! I love the kids that God has blessed me with as a teacher.

The Wisdom of a Stuffed Bear

2011-06-30T14:23:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite storybooks as a child was "Winnie the Pooh". I loved reading of Christopher Robin's dear friends in the 100 Acre Woods. Why? Because they were so genuine. Nothing touched my heart more than the true bond they all shared. They were not just friends; they were a close-knit family and they truly loved one another. I have been told that if you have one good friend in a lifetime, you're lucky; if you have a handful of good friends, you are truly blessed. I have some of the best friends in the world.

Some are here in Dallas. For example, my friends Taylor, Hannah, and all my friends from Berkner High. Taylor is definatly one of my best friends. I love her to death! We love spending time together and, of course, eating at Cassie's FroYo in Grapevine, Texas. I can't imagine life without my friends here in Texas. They have been there for years and help me so much.

The rest of my best friends are at Crown. Right now, we're spread out around the country (some out of country) and I miss them more than I ever imagined possible. My friends there are my family. When you're so far away from family, you bond with your friends more than normal. None of us live close to the college, so we are all far away from our families. I believe that God brought us together to help each other grow. I miss them so much. I love you, Sydney, Thomas, Justin, Manuel, Brittany, Rachael, Chelsea, Jessica, TJ, Juston, Kyle, Kaylee, Melody... actually if I listed them all, Blogger wouldn't let this post. It would be far too long.I am so grateful fo the friends that the Lord has given me, especially during my first year of college.

Christopher Robin once told Winnie the Pooh, "If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you."

Dream a Little Dream...

2011-06-29T13:48:00.000-04:00

Having insomnia causes me to have extremly insane dreams, and many times, I wake after landing in strange places. Since childhood, my dreams have always been a mixture of Lewis Carrol's "Alice In Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz". I don't remember a time that I had a normal dream or even an understandable dream. I believe that dreams are a huge part of my life since they have such a way of changing the way I think. I would love to share a few of my dreams with you, but I don't even understand how to start descriing them. Usually, they involve falling asleep, waking up in a distant land, and starting my day. Many times, I have had dreams that felt as if they went on for days, weeks, and once, even months. It is so tiring that I get more rest while awake than asleep at times. When you wake up after what seems like a long period of time, life seems weird. For example, I woke up one night deep in the jungle in a small hut where I was working on opening an orphanage. The next night, I woke up in a land very similar to "Wonderland" where a large creature followed me around and, thought I thought he was trying to kill me, it was trying to get me to take a thorn out of his paw. He then became my best friend/pet and I named him Pongo. :) Yes, dreams are weird, but I'm glad that I have them. My strange dreams are a huge part of my life, and I am so priveledged to be able to remember the majority of them!

"I Can Go In" by Abigail Miller

2011-06-26T15:13:00.000-04:00

I heard an amazing song this week and wanted to share it with you. I am in awe of how good our God is for He alone can bring a poor lowly sinner into the presence of holiness. A clip of Abigail Miller (the composer) singing it can be found at http://youtu.be/00Qle_9vza8 if you would like to hear it. The lyrics are based on a sermon by Spurgeon, and the words are still true to this very day and always will be. They are as followed:

♪He stood beside the gate of Heaven, waiting to go in,

And he wondered how this Holy Place could take a man like him.

With shouts of great rejoicing and with music then they came,

Of the angels standing by him he asked what could be their name?

"These are the company of prophets. The goodly fellowship of souls,

Who spake God's Word with faith and boldness;

Who blessed the poor, and made the wounded whole."

"Oh," he fell upon his knees, and cried,

"I am not one of these."

He waited 'til another band of shining ones drew nigh.

They entered into Heaven with a "Hallelujah" cry.

He asked again, "Who are these?

Can you tell me whence they came?"

He seemed to see the answer in a burning tongue of flame.

"These are the company of martyrs,

The mighty fellowship of Saints

Who knew our Lord and walked beside Him,

Who ran the holy race and did not faint."

"Oh," he fell upon his needs, and cried,

"I am not one of these."

Then suddenly a multitude was heard from far away.

Their voices rang with songs of joy like children at their play.

He saw Rahab, he saw David,

Mary Magdalene and Paul,

And the theif who died by Jesus

Was the one who led them all.

"Whoare these?!" he almost shouted at the angels.
"These are the sinners saved by grace!

The host of them who called upon the Savior:

Washed in Blood and justified by faith!"

And, Oh! He leaped up from his knees!

"Oh, I can go in with these!!!

And I can go in, for my heart is free from sin.

I've been washed in the Blood, everlasting life to win.

I can rejoice, I can lift up my voice.
I can sing, and I can go in!"

Oh, he thought that there could be no 'hallelujahs' and no cries,

For this lowly band of people by the world despised,

But as the scenes of Heaven opened up before his eyes,

He saw the martyrs and the prophets, and the host of Heaven rise,

And they sang, "I can go in for my heart is free from sin.

I've been washed int he Blood, everlasting life to win.

I can rejoice, I can lift up my voice.

I can sing, and I can go in!

I can rejoice, I can lift up my voice.
I can sing, and I can go in!

I can go in!!!"

"Not all those who wander are lost."-J.R.R. Tolkien

2011-06-26T01:06:00.000-04:00

I had a great week travelling with Mum. We had schedualed a trip to visit family in Louisiana; it was supposed tobe a short, uneventful roadtrip for just the two of us. It turned out to be a crazy week full of family reunions, revival meetings, broken down cars, etc.

Saturday, we recieved a call that my Mum's cousin, Larry, had lost a hard battle to cancer. This made us leave Sunday after morning church service instead of Monday as planned. Three hours into our trip, my car started making a weird noise. I saw that the oil light was on, so we pulled over.... and the engine died. :( No fun! BUT, God is good! He let us get to a nearby resturant where we could eat and wait while looking at a beautiful lake. A few laters, my father and brother came to our rescue. We switched cars with them and continued traveling. (My car is currently at a great mechanic's shop here in Dallas, by the way.)

On Monday, we went to Larry's funeral and then visted my great-great-aunt Mammie. She is 91 years young and is in a nursing home in Franklinton, Lousiana. (The locals pronounce it "Frankilton" and think it's weird if you actually say "Frank-lin-ton" like I do.) I had never met her or anyone on that side of my family, so it was interesting. My great-grandfather, Willie Duncan, was killed in a gravel pit accident when my grandfather was only three years old, so I, obviously, never knew him. His brother, Alan, married Mammie. She has 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren. This woman has lived a full life! She asked how old I was and when I told her that I'm 19, she sweetly said, "I'm 91. We're the same age, but backwards!" I enjoyed meeting Mammie Duncan!

Later on Monday, Mum and I attended a revival meeting at my dad's sister's church. (Her name is Lawren, but we affectionatly call her "NaNa".) It is a small full-Gospel church, and it was interesting to see the differences and similarities in our churches. We have the same basic beliefs, but there are several major differences. I enjoyed visiting there for that night. The music director asked if I could sing, so I was more than happy to use my voice and hands for God's glory. I sang and played "I Have Been Blessed", and it made me really think of how much the Lord has blessed my life.

Throughout the rest of the week, Mum and I attended a camp meeting at Fundamental Baptist Church in Livingston, Louisiana. It was great to catch up with old friends and hear some truly amazing messages. I hope you'll pray for this church and their ministries there. (For more information, go to fundamentalbc.com )

We returned last night, and all day today, I was out with Daddy getting my car from Waskom, Texas back to Dallas. It's been a long week, but I've enjoyed every moment!

Day by Day by Lina Sandell

2011-06-15T01:00:00.000-04:00

"Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,

I've no cause for worry or for fear.

He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,

Gives unto each day what He deems best,

Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,

He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.

The protection of His child and treausre

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

E'er to take, as from a father's hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till with Christ the Lord I stand."

This song means so much to me! I had never heard it until I went to Crown this year, but I fell in love with it the first time I heard it, and it is constantly in my head. I hope it is a slight encouragement to anyone who happens to read this.

Old Favorites

2011-06-12T02:06:00.000-04:00

This video never ceases to make me smile, even when I'm an insomniac and it's after one in the morning and I need to be up bright and early for church ^_^ What is your favorite old movie? Because anything involving the lovely Miss Shirley Temple, especially "Little Miss Broadway", is mine! I adore this scene!

Hello, Bloggers :)

2011-06-11T00:19:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've been busy and I have had very little to write about! The past few weeks, though, have had various exciting events.

First, I met up with a new friend! Every Friday night while I was at Crown, I went with some of my friends to a Bible study for Chinese students that attend the University of Tennessee. ON the last week we were there, I met a very sweet Chinese girl who happens to attend a college within five minutes from my house here in Dallas! (The world says 'coincidence', I say 'divine appointment'.) We switched information and decided to get together throughout the summer to have dinner and what-not. This past Sunday, we met up and she visited my home church with me! I was so very excited to have her with me. I gave her a Mandarin New Testament, and I pray that she will soon come to know Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.

Second, I am teaching a Sunday School class for the young kids at my church this summer. In addition to this, I have started a Wednesday night summer program for the kids called "The Rejoicers". The Rejoicers are going to be learning about the Lord by learning about the people whom He created. I asked which countries and people they want to learn about and they requested China, Peru, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Scotland, and Uganda. I am very excited to be able to teach them about the great Christian warriors from these countries who fought earnestly for the faith as well as missionaries that our church supports in these countries right now.

Third, my parents and I went shopping at a few estate sales today and found some amazing international percussion and woodwind instruments. I'm very excited about sharing these with The Rejoicers as well as my own children some day. I am praying right now about starting a children's home one day, and I pray that the Lord will lead me in the way that He wants me to go. Please pray for me with this.

2011-05-15T17:06:00.001-04:00

Well, Bloggers, I am back home in Dallas, Texas with my wonderful family. I am praying that this will be a great summer and that I get a job soon. I am truly missing my "family" from Crown. Right now, they're scattered throughout the country and around the globe, and I miss them desperately. I can't wait to see them all in August, and I hope that you will pray for them!

I Have Been Blessed

2011-04-26T18:54:00.000-04:00

I've been told that if you can count your good friends on at least one hand, you have been extremly blessed. I am happy to say I have more than that. I have been so blessed with so many godly friends, and I am so thankful for them. Also, God has given me a wonderful family, two wonderful church families, freedom, health, etc. This son has meant so much to me lately, and I wanted to share it with you.

♪♫Lately, I've been looking back

Along this winding road

To the old familiar markers

And the mercies I have known.

I know it may sound simple,

But it's more than a cliche

There's no better way to tell you than to say,

"God's been good in my life!

I've been blessed beyond my wildest dreams

When I go to sleep each night,

And though I've had my share of hard times,

I wouldn't change them if I could,

Cause through it all,

God's been good!"

Times replay and I can see

I've had some bitter tears,

But I've felt His arms around me

While I faced my greatest fears.

I've had more gains than losses,

And I've known more joy than hurt

As His grace rolled down upon me undeserved.

God's been good in my life.

I've been blessed beyond my wildest dreams

When I go to sleep each night,

And though I've had my share of hard times,
I wouldn't change them if I could,

Cause through it all,

God's been good!

God has been my Father, my Saviour, and my Friend;

His love was my begining and His grace will be my end.

I could spend forever trying to tell you everything He is,

But the best way just to tell you is this:

"God's been good in my life.

I've been blessed beyond my wildest dreams

When I go to sleep each night,

And though I've had my share of hard times,

I wouldn't change them if I could,

Cause through it all,

God's been good!"

Then Came the Morning

2011-04-22T20:15:00.000-04:00

♪♫They all walked away,

Nothing to say;

They just lost their dearest friend.

All that He said-

Now He was dead.

So this was the way it would end.

The dreams they had dreamed were not what they seemed,

Now He was dead and gone.

The garden, the jail, the hammer, the nail-

How could a night be so long?

The angel, the star,

The kings from afar,

The wedding, the water, the wine.

And now, it was done; they'd taken her Son

Wasted before His time.

She knew it was true; she watched Him die, too.

She heard them call Him 'just a man'.

Oh, but deep in her heart,

She knew from the start

Somehow, her Son would live again!

Then came the morning;

Night turned into day!

The stone was rolled away.

Hope rose with the dawn.

Then came the morning!

Shadows vanished before the sun.

Death had lost, and life had won,

For morning had come.

Morning has broken

Like the first morning.

The stone was rolled away.

Hope rose with the dawn.

Then came the morning!

Shadows vanished before the sun.

Death had lost, and life had won,

For morning had come!♪♫

Praise the Lord God Yahweh that the morning came after the long dreary night. This week, we look back of the death and burial of the Lord Jesus Christ. He willingly laid Himself down as a sacrifice for our sin. Only His blood can wash away sin and give eternal life. If you are reading this and can't say for sure that you know you would go to heaven if you were to die today, please, PLEASE e-mail me. I would love to pray for you personally and show you how you may know for sure that the Lord lives in your heart and that heaven is your eternal home. He is my best Friend, my Rock, my Strong Place, and my reason for singing. I hope that you know Him, also. Happy Easter, friends.

In His Love,

Caitlyn Mae

Oh What a Saviour!!!

2011-04-22T20:11:00.000-04:00

♪♫Once I was straying in sin's dark valley;

No hope within could I see.

But the Lord Jesus, my precious Saviour,

Came to save poor lost souls like me.

Oh, what a Saviour; oh, hallelujiah!

His heart was broken on Calvary.

His hands were nail-scarred;

His side was riven.

He gave His life's blood

For even me.

Death's chilly waters I'll soon be crossing,

But I'll not fear, for His hand will lead me safe o'er.

But then, I'll join that chorus

In that great city,

And I'll sing up there forever and ever more!

Oh what a Saviour; oh, hallelujiah!

His heart was broken on Calvary.

His hands were nail-scarred;

His side was riven.

He gave His life's blood for even me.

Oh, what a Saviour!♪♫

Rest in Peace, Dory (4/17/2010-4/17/2011)

2011-04-21T20:55:00.000-04:00

Here's some photos of my poor little baby!

You'll be missed, darling! lol I'm so happy that I'm safe and sound and that the Lord prevented any harm.

2011-04-20T11:40:00.000-04:00

Independent Baptist Friends International was such a blessing! I am so thankful for all that the Lord showed me through all of the messages. The thing He showed me the most is my need to fully trust Him. I prayed that He would give me an opprotunity to trust Him, and He gave it to me in a very strange way. Sunday afternoon, I drove to go pick up a family from Liberia to bring them to church, and while I pulled out (thankfully before getting them), a man in a Trail Blazer came down a steep hill about 60-65 miles per hour, right at me. I knew that he would hit me, and I heard the Lord tell me to get out of the way. The only option was to swerve to the right and hit a parked red pick-up truck. Therefore, my car, Dory, is no more :( It's really sad right now, but I am so thankful that the Lord spared my life in this event. Please pray for me to find a new car soon and that I will continue to trust in His power and holiness.

2011-04-07T18:58:00.000-04:00

I am so excited to see my parents on Saturday! They are coming to Powell for the second annual In dependant Baptist Friends International meeting. (See baptistfriends.org or templebaptistchurch.com for more information.) I will be going Saturday to pick them up from the airport, and I will be spending the next week with them! The Lord has blessed us so much; I am so privileged to call them parents, my friends, and the dearest people on this planet to me. I pray that everyone has a wonderful day! Oh! I almost forgot! Every day next week, services will be shown via Internet at templebaptistchurch.com and faithforthefamily.com (9 AM E.S.T. and 6:30 E.S.T.) If you can, be sure to watch some of the services; they are sure to be a great blessing!

Here is Love

2011-04-06T18:03:00.000-04:00

For my Office Computer Applications course at Crown, I have been making a PowerPoint presentation about the place that the Lord has burdened me about. As many of you know, I have a huge burden for the people of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales). For my slides about Wales, I have made sure to make much mention about the great Welsh Revival of 1904-1905. It is amazing to see how the small testimony of a young teenage girl named Florrie Evans sparked a huge revival; the Lord can use anything you do for Him, regardless if it doesn't seem very significant to you. Many hymns were used by the Lord during the Welsh Revival, and one has become known as the "Love Song of the Welsh Revival". It is called "Here is Love", and it has been a huge blessing in my life during the past few years.

♪♫Here is love, vast as the ocean

Lovingkindness as the flood

When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,

Shed for us His precious blood.

Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?

He can never be forgotten throughout Heaven's eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion,

Fountains opened deep and wide;

Through the floodgates of God's mercy

Flowed a vast and gracious tide.

Grace and love, like mighty rivers

Poured incessant from Above,

And Heav'n's peace and perfect justice

Kissed a guilty world in love.

In Thy truth, Thou dost direct me

By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;

And Thy grace my need is meeting

As I trust in Thee, my Lord.

Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring

Thy great love and power on me,

Without measure, full and boundless,

Drawing out my heart to Thee.

Let me all Thy love accepting,

Love Thee, ever all my days;

Let me seek Thy kingdom only

And my life be to Thy praise.

Thou alone shalt be my glory;

Nothing in this world I see.

Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me;

Thou Thyself hast set me free.

Grace and love like mighty rivers

Poured incessant from Above,

And Heav'n's peace and perfect justice

Kissed a guilty world in love.♪♫

"The most important thing you'll ever learn in your Christian life is this: 'GOD COULD USE ME!'"-Dr. Clarence Sexton

Are you going to let the Lord use you the way He so deeply desires to, or are you going to live everyday for yourself. I pray that I use everyday of my life for the glory and honour of the Lord God Yahweh!

The Ninety and Nine

2011-04-05T15:19:00.000-04:00

♪♫There were ninety and nine that safely lay

In the shelter of the fold.

But one was out of the hills away,

Far off from the gates of gold.

Away on the mountains wild and bare,

Away from the tender Shepherd's care.

"Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;

Are they not enough for Thee?

But the Shepherd made answer: "This of Mine

Has wandered away from Me;

And though the road be rough and steep,

I go to the desert to find My sheep.

But none of the ransomed ever knew

How deep were the waters crossed;

Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through

Ere He found His sheep that was lost.

Out in the desert, He heard its cry,

Sick and helpless and ready to die;

Sick and helpless and ready to die.

"Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way

That mark out the mountain's track?"

"They were shed for one who had gone astray

Ere the Shepherd could bring him back."

"Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?"

"They are pierced tonight by many a thorn;

They are pierced tonight by many a thorn."

And all through the mountains, thunder riven,

And up from the rocky steep,

There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven,

"Rejoice! I have found My sheep!"

And the angels echoed around the throne,

"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!

Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!"♪♫

Praise the Lord that He goes to find those who have left the fold. I am so happy to say that the Lord never gives up on us, regardless of how unworthy we are. I love Him so much, and I am pleased that He is pleased with me!

My Personal Testimony

2011-04-05T08:49:00.000-04:00

I had the privilege to be raised in a wonderful Christian home, and when I was nine years old, I made a profession of faith. I claimed to love the Lord, and I knew it was right to serve Him, but I did not truly know Him as I said I did. I went through a lot of illness and a few surgeries, and when my family moved to Texas when I was fourteen, I became slightly bitter towards God. I continued going to church, but I couldn't stand it. No one, not even my parents, knew how I didn't enjoy it besides the Lord and myself. I didn't enjoy that my friends didn't have to be "weird" like I had to because my parents were greatly involved with our church. We live in Dallas which is extremely diverse, and since Christianity "wasn't working' for me, I started to think that maybe the religions of my friends would be better for me. I secretly researched Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Baha'ism, hoping to find a bit of truth. (Now I see how lost I truly was!) But, praise the Lord, He never gave up on me!!! When I was sixteen years old, I heard my aunt give her testimony of how she professed faith as a child, rebelled against the Lord, and truly came to salvation as an adult. She regrets not coming to the Lord when she saw that she was going down the wrong road as a teenager. As she gave her testimony, I fell under deep conviction. I told my family how I needed to be saved; they were thrilled that I told them and happily led me to the Lord. He led me to come to The Crown College as a Music Education major, and on October 20, 2010, He called me to serve him on the mission field. I am happy to go wherever He leads me, and I'm so thrilled to call Him 'Father', regardless of my unworthiness!

Happy Irish Heritage Month :)

2011-03-11T14:50:00.000-05:00

I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say
But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer
When all the things she loves are far away.
And precious things
Are dreams unto an exile
They take him o'er
The land across the sea
Especially when it happens he's an exile
From that dear lovely Isle of Inisfree.
And when the moonlight
Peeps across the rooftops of this great city
Wondrous though it be,
I scarcely feel its wonder or its laughter;
I'm once again back home in Inisfree.
I wonder o'er green hills
Through dreamy valleys
And find a peace
No other land would know.
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow.
And then into a humble shack I wander--
My dear old home--
The folks that I have known
Around the turf fire gathered
On bended knee, their rosary is told.
But dreams don't last
Though dreams are not forgotten
And soon I'm back to stern reality.
But though they pave the foot ways here with gold dust,
I still would choose
My Isle of Inisfree!

What have I been up to?

2011-03-09T16:15:00.001-05:00

I had a great weekend in Titusville, Florida with a group of students from Crown. It was great to be able to go out with the New Testament Church Pioneers to help work in Faith Baptist Church. Pastor Jeremy Coppock and his church family were a great blessing to our group. We were able to knock on over 3,000 doors and leave Gospel tracks for these souls. It was such a great blessing! I hope you will pray for these people, especially the three dear people who were saved this weekend! It is so encouraging to see that our work is not in vain when we're working for the Lord God Yahweh! I hope you enjoy some of the pictures from our wonderful trip!

Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter...

2011-02-03T14:43:00.000-05:00

So, what does one do with an overly optimistic person? I don't really know, because I've never been the one having to deal with that person! I've always been that person. I woke up this morning at exactly 5:00 A.M. and was happy to see the world! I can't stand how so many people just go through life as if everything in the world is depressing, horrible, and gloomy. I love every moment, and even try to be happy during the bad times. Have you ever noticed the little things in this world that are so beautiful? Here's a random list of things, in no particular order, of things that make me happy!
1) Music
-Classical
-Jazz
-Swing
-Christian
-Opera
-Broadway
2) My Family
-My Parents, Kevin and Donna
-My Brother, Casey
3) My Friends
They're the most fabulous people I have ever met in my life! I absolutly love them with all of my heart. God has blessed me with amazing friends. They are such encouragments to me, and I am so grateful for them.
4) Salads
5) Books
6) Clean rooms and cars
7) Shirley Temple movies
8) Old Musicals
9) Pink... anything pink makes me extremely happy
10) Babies :D
11) Professional choirs, especially The Crown College Choir
12) My churches
-Temple Baptist Church in Powell, TN (Dr. Clarence Sexton, pastor)
-Bethel Baptist Church in Grapevine, TX (Rev. Scotty Carrier, pastor)
13) Random people smiling at extremly random things
14) Driving in my car
15) Singing.... loudly... a lot :D

This is just a small sample of things that spark my interest, but it goes on and on. It's never ending, actually! I hope you will remember to be a happy person, of good cheer, and always have a song in your heart!

May It Be

2011-02-01T16:47:00.000-05:00

♪♫May it be an evening star shines down upon you
May it be as darkness falls your heart will be true.
You walk a lonely road; oh, how far you are from home!
Mornie Utulie (darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way.
Mornie alantie (darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now.
May it be the shadows call will fly away
May it be your journey on to light the day
When night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun!
Mornie utulie (darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way!
Mornie alantie (darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now♪♫

Amnon Had A Friend

2011-01-24T14:20:00.001-05:00

Wow! The whirlwind of life has swept up once again! I'm back at Crown and the Lord God Yahweh is truly amazing! I love Him more than I can even describe in human languages. It amazes me how He cares for me, an alienated sinner who denied His great power. I did nothing worth His great love, but when He was on the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ reached up to God and down to man, and just as if I'd never sinned, He took me in His arm, embraced me, and willingly forgave me! We're in the beginning of our Faithful Men's Meeting here at Temple Baptist Church, and it has already been a huge blessing to me. Dr. Larry Brown from Washington, Iowa is preaching and He has been such a great blessing. This morning, his message was from II Samuel 13: 1-3 about Amnon, the son of David. He committed a great, horrific sin before the sight of God and his family, all because he had an untrustworthy friend. He probably would have not sinned out of respect for himself, his family, and his God if it weren't for his friend Jonadab, a very subtil man. How many "friends" do you have in your life that keep you from serving the Lord fully? This morning, I was truly convicted and had to go and get half of my music, literally rip it up, and throw them away with the assistance of my friends. We had a good time ripping up CDs full of garbage I didn't need in my life. I am so happy now! I went and deleated it all off of my computer as well. I pray that you will get rid of any "friends" you have in your life and get to know my dearest Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ!

100th Post :D

2010-12-17T11:57:00.000-05:00

I don't know what to write about, but I am amazed that in my laziness, I just on my one-hundreth post. I probably should have been here a long time ago, but I sadly forget to blog many times. With all that goes on, I have so much to write about, but no time to sit down and write it!
Can you believe that Christmas-time is upon us? This is undoubtably my favorite time of the year. I am so thankful for the great sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ gave by coming to Earth and taking the form of a servant and dying for the sins of the whole world. I am pleased to say that I have accepted the great gift of His salvation through His pure, holy, precious blood. Have you? I pray that if you have not, that you will before it's eternally too late.
Today, I am getting my hair cut and possibly re-colored. It just depends! I'll post pictures as soon as possible!

Home at last :)

2010-12-16T14:44:00.000-05:00

I am so happy to be home for Christmas break. I love being with my wonderful family, seeing my good old friends, and catching up with my church family. It is phenomenal how much a few months apart brings friends so much closer together. I love them with all my heart!
Last night, I was given the blessing of giving a devotional to our young people at church. I spoke with them about my greatest burden: People of all cultures and their equality in Christ. The prejudice of this world never ceases to amaze me. I'm saddened that people still look at the pigment in someone's skin, or their religion, or their struggle learning the English language and think them to be lesser men and women. I spoke to them in several languages, including French, Chinese, English, and American Sign Language. It was wonderful to see their reaction to the fact that so many people in this world cannot legally worship the Lord at all, and that we have the freedom to do that but ignore it. When was the last time that you gave someone the Gospel? In my entire life, no one has ever given me a single tract. It is sad that we aren't doing our proper job as Christians. It was a good reminder to myself, as well. I told the children, "The things on this whiteboard (It was covered in phrases of various languages about the goodness of God) are illegal in 51 countries. It is our job to make them legal everywhere." Next time you're nervous about giving the Gospel to someone you meet, remember that it might be the one person who you meet that truly wants it!

I know, I know...

2010-12-02T11:53:00.000-05:00

It has been a LONG time since I last came on here and blogged. I get fussed at by my friends for not coming on here often enough. For this, I apologize. I am a college student who has a lot to do. Therefore, I kindly ask you to deal with it :)
What has been happening? Tons! For example:
1) My voice is still horribly messed up. I am still speaking with a British accent, and have no idea when or if it will ever go away. Thankfully, my singing voice is back to normal, if not even stronger. Praise the Lord for that! I think I would go crazy (As if I'm not already) if it was messed up as well. I am so happy that I didn't have to have surgery for it. All I could think of was the classic catastrophe, Lady Julie Andrews. I still am estatic to have my voice back!
2) I got to spend Thanksgiving in Georgia with my dear friends, the Suertefelipe family. I love them so much and am so thankful that they took me into their home.
3) I was able to be a part of The Crown College Choir's presentation of selections from Handel's Messiah. WOW! That was such a blessing! I can't wait to do it again next year.
4) I am completely finished with classes for the semester! Goodbye first semester of freshman year!!!!!
5) I am signed up for traveling groups for this summer. I pray that I will be chosen for this :)
6) I am going home next Thursday for Christmas Break! I'll be home for almost a month, and I am super excited about it! I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you have a wonderful day,. friends!

How can I thank Him?

2010-10-21T11:22:00.000-04:00

We serve an almighty, powerful God. I love Him every fiber of my being, for He made every part of me! We had an amazing Missions Conference here at Temple Baptist Church this week.
Several weeks ago, I lost my voice and my voice came back in a British accent. Everyone kept telling me that eventually I was going to be called to be a missionary to England, but I just brushed their comments off like dust. I had no feelings about being a missionary. To be honest, I did not want to be a missionary! What no one knew was that God was dealing in my heart about this. A couple of nights ago, the McClures showed a video presentation about their work in England and my heart became so tender. Last night, God called me to be a missionary. My burden has always been directly towards the small nation of Andorra, but my heart is even more open to the country of England now. It saddens me that a nation that was once on fire for God is now "Biblically illiterate." Please join me in prayer for this calling to be even more clear.
Also, over 50 young people publically surrendered to the mission field last night. Just continue to pray for the students here at The Crown College of the Bible!

2010-10-05T15:27:00.001-04:00

Dear Blogging Friends,
I, once again, am very sorry for my lack of communication with you! I have been super busy.
First of all, you will be very pleased to hear that my voice is fully recovered! Apparently, I did not tear a vocal cord but a blood vessel in my vocal folds popped. How gross is that?!?! But, thankfully, after much fear of having to have vocal surgery, my voice is back and stronger than ever! The only strange thing is that it came back with a British accent. No lie. I have not used my original voice in over a week! Haha I sound British! I love it!!!! My doctor said it might last a few weeks and might stay permanently.
Second, this week is MIDTERMS!!!!! An evil word, I know.
I just want to say how much I love being here at Crown. I have amazing friends and really great classes. God is working so much in my life. I cannot believe that my first semester is half-way over already!

It's that time of year again...

2010-09-20T13:57:00.000-04:00

The time of year I lose my voice, I mean. I can not stand this! I am a classically trained singer who has a very weak voice, and it enjoys giving out on me randomly. The other night, we all went to the Powell High School football game. (Which, of course, the Powell Panthers won!) and I tore one of my vocal cords screaming like a maniac. What was I screaming at? Not the game. Not the game at all. No. I tore a vocal cord cheering for the band's drumline. Those guys were beast!!! We all had a great time, but now, I have no voice. My friends are all taking turns playing "Mum" or "Dad" and slapping me if I try to speak, interpreting my sign language, and forcing me to drink horrible things such as Salt and Sodawater. (Trust me, it works like a mad person, but it is so disgusting!) I despise drinking it!!!!!!!!
Please pray that my voice will return quickly and that I will have the patience to try not to rush it, therefore damaging it further!

The Saltwater Beach

2010-09-09T09:59:00.000-04:00

Sang so loudly that people thought you had headphones in?
Laughed so much that tears came streaming down your face?
Cried so hard that you laughed?
Spoke in ASL just because you could?
Wonder why we're all here and then understand?
Fell in love with love?
Hurt yourself with an inanimate object?
Had such a bad day that you would do it all over again just to see where or how you went wrong?
Spun in a circle until you almost passed out just to see if you would get dizzy?
Hugged a random stranger?
Gave someone you had never met a high five?
Wore a silly band ring that looks like a hippo?
Blogged until you ran out of things to blog about?
I HAVE!

Pure Epicness

2010-09-07T19:08:00.000-04:00

Sitting here in the Great Hall with my Crown bestie (aslcollegegirl.blogspot.com) speaking in ASL for two reasons... 1) We're awesome like that; 2) We're too lazy to open our mouths and speak!

38 Chapters down... Eleven to go!

2010-09-02T09:44:00.000-04:00

For those of you who aren't freshman here at Crown, I am talking about the book of Genesis. We have to read it by next Wednesday, and I am finished with all but eleven chapters! I am falling in love with Genesis. I never realized how interesting it is! Did you know that in just the first eleven chapters, not only do you learn the basics of Israel's history, but you learn two thousand years worth of it? It's amazing! I am so disappointed that I did not fall in love with Genesis before now! If you've never fully jumped straight into Genesis and read the Bible from the very beginning, I recommend you start NOW!

2010-08-31T18:02:00.000-04:00

Well, just to let you know, fellow Bloggers, I ADORE being here at Crown. It is so great, and everything's a new adventure. Every day, I go down a new road, one that has never been traveled, one step closer to my goal. Just yesterday and this morning, we had our annual college retreat. The Lord has been moving, and I am so grateful for Pastor Sexton and the vision that God gave him for the founding of this great school.
I joined The Temple Baptist Church on Sunday, the 22nd, and it is already starting to feel like home!
Choir is my newest and greatest happiness! The beautiful songs we sing simply amaze me, and I am shocked how easy it has been to just hop on in! Soon, we'll start studying for a great event called Knoxville Remembers, an annual event in rememberance of Semptember 11, 2001. Please pray for us as well as all of the family of the victims from that tragic day. After this, we'll get to work on memorizing ten selections from Handel's Messiah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Words cannot describe how much I love that!
Have a wonderful day, dear Bloggers! I love you!

Crown at Last!!!!!

2010-08-21T12:22:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I moved into the Dorm 18 at Crown! It is so exciting! I have three adorable roomies, Allison, Lori, and Ashley. All I can say is that they are going to give me a huge southern accent, probably by the end of the week! This morning was my first choir practice. I'm a soprano and I'm in the third row. I am SOOOOOOOOO excited about school!

2010-08-13T00:12:00.000-04:00

One day and six hours until we'll be on our way! We'll be leaving very early Saturday morning to head up to Georgia. It should be a great 12 hour drive of dancing to the Glee soundtrack, possibly drinking some Oogave (Soda made with agave nectar), and chilling with my brother! Tonight the two of us went to a GREAT vegan resturaunt in Dallas called "Spiral Diner and Bakery". It was so amazing!!!!! If you're in the Dallas area and want a place to eat, go there!
Well I'm not sure when I'll be back on, so goodbye for now, Bloggers!

Georgia on my mind... Followed shortly by Tennessee :)

2010-08-04T01:17:00.000-04:00

Can you believe it? Ten days until I leave for Georgia! I am so excited to be going there, even if it is for a short trip. I miss Georgia so much! It was my home for eleven years, the place of my childhood, and simply one of my favorite places to be. The pure beauty of that state overwhelms me. I love the rolling hills, the beautiful mountains, and the glorious sunrises! My little cup of joy is overflowing!!!! It has been over three years since I was home, and I am about to start going crazy!
Well, we are almost finished packing. All of my things are labled, stacked in the music parlor, and ready to be put in the hatch of my car! All that is left to be bought is a few more tops and some larger items (Ironing board, etc.) that can be bought when we get to Tennessee. SOOOOO EXCITED!

2010-07-26T14:46:00.000-04:00

Dear Bloggers,
Please excuse me for my abscence! I've been so busy getting ready for school (Yes, in only 19 days!!!) and now we have company over from Lousiana. I can't beleive how soon we will be leaving for Crown! I am so excited!!!!!!! Yes, this is a short, pointless blog entry, but I do not care!
Caitlyn

2010-07-08T21:53:00.000-04:00

Where to begin? We have been so busy! I can't imagine that in only 36 and 1/2 days, we will be on our way up to Georgia for a week followed by CROWN!!!!! We have been running here and there shopping for dorm supplies, and today Mum and I started shopping for clothes. So far, we have bought three new shirts, as well as a new bag for my laptop! It's really nice to be getting everything ready! I love Crow, and I can't wait until I get there!

I have an appointment with my new optometrist tomorrow, and hopefully I will only need some reading glasses.

Crown Shopping!

2010-06-17T18:19:00.000-04:00

I just got back from my first Mummy-Daughter college dorm supply shopping trip! With only one month and 27 days until we leave for Crown, I am becoming more and more anxious to leave. First we went to Anna's Linens and bought a nice mattress pad and a mattress topper. this is EXTREMELY important for adequate comfort. School would be really bad if I couldn't sleep, so I am prepared with a comfy mattress topper and my Advocare Nighttime Recovery! Next, we went to Ross and we bought a hot pink and grey container to hold my shampoo, conditioner, hair products, soaps, razors, and my blow dryer and straightener. (I have very thick and curly hair, so these are not even optional. lol) This will make it easy to store in a pantry or closet so I don't have a problem with trying to find everything I need in the dark.
Next, we went to Target and went bedding crazy! lol We bought a hot pink comforter with white polkie dots. We also bought a decorative round pillow that is white with pink, green, turquoise, and aqua polkie dots, so we bought a set of pink sheets and a set of aqua sheets. We next bought a pink towel set and an aqua towel set. I am just so excited about school!!!!!!!! I absolutely love The Crown College of the Bible!

2010-06-15T00:56:00.000-04:00

In less than two months, I will be at home in Georgia. Words can not express how much I have missed "The Peach State"! My family moved to the Atlanta area when I was only three years old, and we lived there until after I turned fourteen. I absolutely love Georgia! While we're home, I would like to get to spend some time with my old friends, including some that I haven't seen in years.
After a few days in Georgia, we'll be on our way to Tennessee!!!!!! I am estatic about starting school. I feel so blessed to have been accepted in one of the best Baptist colleges in the country! At times, two months seems so long, and at others, it feels as if I should be leaving in the morning. I can't wait until we can start shopping for my dorm stuff; you know, bedding, a good coffee pot, all that jazz. This might sound extremely boring to some people, but it sounds sooooo fun to me!

2010-06-12T10:32:00.001-04:00

I'm heading up to Texoma, TX today to work at the Texoma Baptist Youth Camp. This Bible camp was becoming extremely liberal, and numbers of campers were dropping significantly, so the group that owned it gave the whole camp over to Crown. What a blessing to Crown! This gives teenagers in the Southwest region a great Bible camp to go to without going all the way to Tennessee. It also gives the Crown Southwest students a camp to work at in the summers. They've needed some extra hands to finish up the small things before camp starts on Monday, so we're headed up there to probably paint! I'm excited to see my Crown friends that are working up there this summer! Please pray for this camp and for Crown.

2010-06-08T20:33:00.000-04:00

This post is here to simply tell you that in 2 MONTHS AND 5 1/2 DAYS, I'LL BE ON MY WAY TO CROWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Calm in the Chaos

2010-06-05T16:19:00.001-04:00

Recently, several things have occured in our lives that are far from ordinary. It seems that every day, something comes up that puts a damper on our view. For example, a few weeks ago, my father had to have a heart cath, something that none of us expected. Did I expect my father to have to have two stints put in? Definiatly not. Did the Lord bring our family through it? Of course He did. I am so happy to say that my God is still on the throne. He is still in control! Many other circumstances (that will remain unspoken) have dragged my spirit down, but I am estatic that the Lord Jesus Christ picks me up and carries me along when I need Him most.
Sometimes, heavy burdens seem to weigh us down; it is as if the whole universe has been placed onto your shoulders. Sadly, so many people miss the fact that God wil not let anything happen that is not in His perfect will. The devil can not touch a single hair on my head (And trust me when I say there are many on there!) without asking permission from the God who made him. I'm so glad to know this!

2010-06-04T11:03:00.000-04:00

I apologize for my absence; I just got back from a LONG trip to Louisiana. It only actually lasted six days, but it seemed a LOT longer. Haha
Well, last night, I recieved my Crown College orientation booklet via e-mail. This makes me even more excited to go than I already was. In 2 months and 10 days, we will be leaving for a week in Georgia before heading up to Crown!!!!!!!!!! Man, I have waited for this since my freshman year, and it is finally happening! Praise the Lord! I am so excited to see what God has planned for me at Crown!

Happy Birthday to ME!

2010-05-24T17:37:00.000-04:00

Well, it's official. I am legally an adult! Saturday was my eighteenth birthday, and the curse is broken. For some reason, every birthday I have had since I turned thirteen has been ruined by something. Thankfully, nothing went wrong this time! In fact, we had a great day. In the morning, Mum and I went to go pick up Daddy from the hospital. (He had to stay overnight after having two stints put in due to a blockage near his heart.) I am praising the Lord that he is feeling better and was even able to go to work today. Next, Mum and I went to our favorite nail salon and had some pampering time! After Mani-Pedi time with Mum, we went back home. When my brother, Casey, came home from work, he gave me a new Sarah Brightman CD and a Freddi Fish game. Freddi Fish is a little lame kid's computer game, but I love them! They bring back great memories and made me laugh. No one else would have ever bought me something like that; haha my brother's awesome! Next, I went to Blockbuster and bought my final birthday gift from my parents: THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON 2 DISC SPECIAL EDITION! Ahhhhh words cannot describe how much I love the Twilight Saga. The books and movies are amazing.
It was a very amazing birthday!

2010-05-19T12:25:00.000-04:00

Last night, I attended the graduation for Crown Southwest and Norris Seminary. (Crown Southwest is a branch of The Crown College of the Bible that was opened a few years ago here in Dallas.) Our friends, Jordan and Kara (who we call Kay-Ruh) graduated last night. I'm so proud of them. They will be getting married in August of this year. I'm so excited for them.
After we went to the graduation, we went to Don Pablo's Mexican restaurant in Fort Worth. That place is AMAZING!!! The Smiths and Taylor went with us, and we all had tons of fun! My mum and Miss Jonna got the waiters to sing "Happy Birthday" for me and my brother, Casey. He turned 23 last Wednesday and this Saturday will be my 18th birthday. YIPPY!!! Oh, do you know how heavy real sombrerros are? man, they are extremely heavy! It was so much fun.
Tonight, our teen group will be going to Cassie's Fro-Yo for a special treat during class. I love that place!

2010-05-14T13:14:00.000-04:00

Last night, I went to what would have been my last choir concert in public school. I was reminded of my ife before my family decided to finish my education through home schooling. It was so nice to see my choir friends and receive long awaited hugs from them, but it felt so strange to be there. I realized how much I missed them, but I still have no regrets about homeschooling. I believe it was a great decision, no matter what some of my public school friends think. A few of them (although they didn't look down on it) did not understand my decision to homeschool. It's just not the "normal" thing to them. When you know a lot of people who homeschool, it seems as normal as going to public or private schools, but in the city, it is thought to be weird.
Another thing my friends at public school don't seem to understand is the decision I made in tenth grade to not wear pants. I am probably the only person who many of them have ever met who doesn't wear pants. Even now when I go back to my old stomping grounds, I get strange looks from them. Even when I see my old friends, it is as if they forgot what it looks like to see someone wearing modest clothes. It makes me laugh, actually. I am not offended by their looks; it just makes me remember how feminist our world is. Of course, I am all for equal rights for women, but I am not a feminist. I am a young lady who wants to please the Lord by my actions and wardrobe. I am extremely proud of this!!!
I am so proud of my choir friends, especially the ACCAPELLA seniors. Congratulations guys; I love you! You are my ONLY regret for leaving public school. I miss you and hope to see you again soon!

Cassie's FroYo

2010-05-11T00:53:00.000-04:00

I would like to write a review for a great place that opened in Grapevine, TX recently. If you are ever in the DFW area, make sure to take a trip to Cassie's Frozen Yogurt on Main Street in Grapevine. This self-serve FroYo place is very lovely to visit and the yogurt itself is delightful! I have only been to Cassie's twice, but I will recommend it to anyone! The employees are very kind and helpful, and the environment is VIBRANT! I love all of the neon colors on the walls. In addition to the several flavor options, there's a great topping bar, complete with your favorite candies and fruit. My favorite treat from Cassie's is a cup of Yellow Cake Batter yogurt topped with Mango, chocolate chip cookie dough pieces, pineapple, Oreo crumbles, and some jimmies. (For those of you who don't use random British terminology on a daily basis, "Jimmies" are sprinkles!)
Drop in to Cassie's next time you're in Grapevine!

"The Indigo Notebook"

2010-05-10T23:52:00.001-04:00

The other day, I mentioned a book that I read recently, and I would like to take a few minutes to review it. Laura Resau's "The Indigo Notebook" follows the life of a young teenage girl, Zeeta, and her flighty mother. Every year, Zeeta's lived in a different country and writes information about the lives of those around her in a different colored notebook. Shortly after moving to Ecuador, Zeeta meets Wendell, a Otavaleno (I apologize for the spelling. It will not allow me to put the accent.) teenager who was adopted as a baby by an American family. Zeeta and Wendell set out on the adventure to find his birth parents. Meanwhile, Zeeta's mother, Layla, falls head over heels for Jeff Ryan, the ultimate "Handsome Magazine Dad" that Zeeta has always dreamt of. Will this new relationship cause Zeeta and Layla to move back to the States with Jeff? Will they abandon their lifestyle? Does Wendell discover the mystery behind his birth parents? I strongly recommend you check this book out and see for yourself. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! I would give it 4 1/2 stars out of five.

2010-05-10T14:32:00.000-04:00

I don't know if I have ever said this on my blog, but I have insomnia. It takes me hours to fall asleep some nights, and when I finally do fall asleep, I have extremely strange dreams. I believe that this is why I love to write. Everything I write down in my stories have occured in my dreams. It is amazing how it is all connected! In seventh and eighth grades, I had severe pains in my abdomen and had to have two surgeries and countless doctor visits. I would wake up in the middle of the night because of this pain or wouldn't be able to fall asleep because of the pain. I believe this is why I now am an insomniac! It was around eighth grade when I fell in love with writing stories. How is it that this is all connected?

2010-05-09T22:45:00.000-04:00

Have you ever had a fabulous idea, but no inspiration? I had the amazing desire to write a novel, as I often have, but I seem to be lacking the inspiration needed for said novel. So far, we have a girl named Elizabeth Rose who lives with her adoptive family near London at their newly purchased old estate. One day while exploring, she finds a crest engraved onto a tile with a group of words in Finnish. She determines to discover the meaning behind these words and will eventually find herself in a magical land far different from her own. In this far distant world, she will learn of her biological family who abandoned her on the day of her birth. But, sadly, I can not find a way to get this story going.
Have any of you ever had a trouble with writer's block, whoever you may be? Is anyone even out there? Please comment... it will truly help me! Even if no one is reading this, blogging in strangely therapuedic for me. It's a way for me to express myself without the fear of being rejected. Putting all of my thoughts out for commentarry, not holding back anything. The freedom to express yourself in whichever way you see neccessary.

2010-05-08T17:31:00.000-04:00

Once again, I apollogize for the lack of blog posts. Our computer has been ridiculously retarded, but my laptop came in via the UPS man yesterday!!! So, this is my first official blog post from my very own laptop!
I'm proud to announce that in 14 days, I will be eighteen years old, and in 3 months and 5 days, I will be on my way to Georgia for a week of vacation before heading up to college. I am so excited to be at college! The Crown College of the Bible sounds like a great, wonderful adventure! Of course I know that it will not all be fun and games, but it sounds like it will be so much fun!
I am still battling with severe Writer's block, and I hope that having my laptop handy at all time will help with this. By the time you can get across the house and switch users on the home computer, you have lost all inspiration that you had. So, thankfully, I can now just walk across my room and start typing whenever the Muse decends. (Of course this is an illustration. I do not and never have believed in Greek mythology! Hahaha...)
This morning, Mummy and I attended our church's Mother/Daughter banquet. We heard a great lesson about Ruth and Naomi. It's amazing how their relationship changed all of history. If it weren't for Naomi's faith being shown to Ruth, Ruth would never have married Boaz and eventually become King David's gentile grandmother. Of course, David was the ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of Naomi and Ruth, we gentiles are able to recieve Christ and have a home in heaven. Also, we were reminded that "Ruth" means "gracious". Take time to remember what it means to be ruthless. NEVER be ruthless.
So what has been happening? Not much besides preparing for Crown. Hahaha! And doing a whole lot of reading. I am beginning to recognize the faces (and even names) of all of my local librarians, and I think they think that I am crazy because I am there so much. My rule has always been "Stop whenever you can not fit anymore books in your black and white polkie-dot tote," but recently I keep, um, breaking the rule. I probably should either get a bigger tote or just have two totes! I just read a great book that I would reccomend to anyone. It's called "The Indigo Notebook". Also, I am currently reading a book called "Set in Stone". I don't remember either of the authors names, but they are awesome!
I hope you all have a great day! Oh, and a wonderful Mother's Day for any readers who happen to be blessed with children!
Caitlyn Mae

2010-03-27T21:17:00.000-04:00

Well I haven't blogged in exactly one month, and I have been missing it! What has been happening?
First, I GOT MY FIRST CAR!!!!!!!! Unfortuantely, I can not add photos of it at this time, but I will soon. It's a blue 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander, fondly named Dory. I love my little car! It is just perfect for a young college student, and I praise God for leting us get a good deal on it!
Also, we have fully decided to go to the Independant Baptist Friends International conference at Temple Baptist Church in Powell, Tennessee. I'm super excited!!!! As well as my parents and myself, my good friend Taylor is coming with us! I don't think that I have ever been this anxious about anything in my whole life!!!! This conference will have a ton of fantastic men of God preaching as well as men and women giving day sessions. I ask you all to pray for those who are speaking as well for the attendes to have open hearts. Please pray for us as we drive up there. We leave as soon as Taylor gets out of school on April 9th, and will get there late on April 10th. It is a 17 hour drive, so we need to be allert. (Probably not a big challenge with Tay and me. lol)

2010-02-27T22:45:00.000-05:00

Today is my fourth "veggiversary" or anniversary of being a vegetarian. I can not believe that it has already been four years since I decided to give up the consumption of meat! At times, it seems that I gave it up just a couple of days ago, and then at other times, I feel as if I have been a vegetarian for about ten years!

Last's Night Mexican Feast!!!

2010-02-16T19:51:00.000-05:00

I used to HATE Mexican food, and now I absolutely love it. My brother says that I am actually Mexican and that they found me as a baby on the side of the road. (Since I have video proof that says otherwise, I doubt it. lol) Last night, our family had Mexican Lasagna, Fiesta Corn Salad, and some pretty awesome guacamole. (Don't wanna toot my own horn, but why not!) I thought I would share these lovely recipes with my fellow bloggers!

Mexican Lasagna:

1 pd. flour tortillas (We live in Dallas, so there are a lot of Mexican markets nearby. We can get fresh, homemade tortillas for really cheap!!!!!!)
1 package of veggie ground (or 1 lb. ground beef for you meat heads out there)
1 cup mild salsa
1 10 oz can enchilada sauce
1 pk. taco seasoning mix
1 16oz carton of cottage cheese (small curd)
1 can black beans
2 eggs
1 tsp. oregano
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (Mexican style)

-Brown veggie ground/ground beef and drain. Stir in black beans, salsa, enchilada sauce, and taco seasoning mix. Simmer and stir.

-In a seperate bowl, combine cottaes cheese, eggs and oregano.

-Line pan (9*13 inch) with tortillas.

-Top with half of bean mixture, and add all of cottage cheese mix. Add more tortillas, then rest of bean mixture.

-Top with shredded cheese.

-Bake 30-35 minuts in 375 degree (F) oven.

Fiesta Corn Salad:

3 (16 oz) cans whole kernel corn, drained
1 large diced yellow onion
1 diced bell pepper
2 cups diced fresh tomato
1 small can chopped green chilli peppers
8 oz. package softened cream cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

-In a large salad bowl, mix chili peppers with softened cream cheese. Stir in drained corn.

-Fold all remaining ingredients.

-Put in refrigerator for 2 or 3 hours before serving.

Guacamole:

4-5 medium, ripe Haas avocados, peeled and pitted
4 diced Roma tomatoes
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. sea salt

-In a large bowl, mash all ingredients together until well combined. (So simple but SOOOOOOOOO good!)

It was a lot of fun making my lasagna and guacamole. Daddy made the corn salad and Mummy made a lasagna with meat for the rest of the family. These items are sure to be a huge success!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-13T01:44:00.000-05:00

Why, you ask, am I screaming? Well, yesterday, a very important phone call came to my house. It was Mr. Jullian Evans, the Dean of Students at The Crown College of the Bible, etc. and so forth. He was calling to tell us that I GOT INTO CROWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is soooooooooooo exciting! I didn't really have any doubts that I would get in, but waiting for an acceptance letter or call is EXTREMELY testing. About a week ago, I talked to a young man named Charlie who works in the Crown admissions office for a while. He called to see if I had any questions about the school and to help me figure out exactly what I would be facing while at college. As I have put on here before, I feel God wants me to be an elementary music teacher. This puts together two of my passions: music and working with children. Charlie and I figured out that I would be a education major with a emphasis on music. At the end of my schooling, I will take a test that will let me become qualified to teach music at any school in the country, public and private. I can't wait for August to get here!!!! Hopefully, my family will be heading up to Powell, TN this April for a week long Bible conference. If we don't go to that, August will feel even FARTHER away than it already does. Usually, about six months doesn't seem that too long, but right now, it feels like a lifetime! I am trying extremely hard to be patient, but it is very difficult! Nothing has ever felt "more right" than the decision to go to Crown. I love that school and the people who are a part of it more than I can say! It's so hard to explain why I love that school as much as I do, but I can't help it!!!! lol

February Already????

2010-02-04T12:47:00.000-05:00

Wow... where did the month of January go? It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Christmas, and now the stores are full of Valentines cards and ridicuously oversized teddy bears! What has been happening in my life? Well, as I said a few weeks ago, I began to take Advocare vitamins. My whole family has been making changes in our daily food choices, and we have all lost some weight. I'm not sure how much weight I've lost exactly, but I am fitting in clothes that I couldn't fit in just a year ago! It is such a blessing to see results this quickly. I encourage you all to take these products. Yes, you have to work for results and change the way you eat and think, but if you are too lazy to do that, you probably don't really care about your health!
I'm still waiting on my acceptance letter from Crown. I hope it gets here soon!

The Big Day....

2010-01-09T16:31:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, Mummy and I filled out my application for The Crown College of the Bible. Every time she clicked the "Next" button, her stomach flipped and I got even more excited. She was sad because I am her baby and no parent is ever fully ready to send their baby off to college, especially when that college is a 17 hour drive away from home. my mom and I are extremely close so I know that this will be hard for both of us. Even though it will be hard, I am still SOOOOOOO excited about going to Crown in the Fall. I just wish that this year would go by quickly! Tommorrow, I am bringing three reccomendation forms to church. One has to be filled out by my pastor and the other two have to be filled out by general friends that are not related to me. I will probably have my youth director fill out one and and I'm not sure about the other one. I might get the couple that is over our junior high program to fill it out. I will ask them to send it in on Monday if possible, because Crown can not do anything with my application until they recieve the reccomendation forms. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Oh, also, last night I dreamed that I was at Crown for registration and dorm assignments. LOL I must be excited about it!

Okay.....

2010-01-08T14:57:00.000-05:00

I think that I need to make a daily schedule. If I do not have a schedule, I will not be able to focus and get everything accomplished as planned. With meals, I will put what I can eat.

The Daily Schedule of HRH Caitlyn Mae

7 AM - Wake up, do morning hygiene regimen, and do morning devotions.
8 AM - Make and eat breakfast. (2 bread, 1 protein, 1 fruit, 1 fat, 1 milk)
8:30 AM - Walk with the Leslie Sansome Walk Away the Pounds 2 or 3 mile video
9 AM - Clean the kitchen, bedroom, and do regular chores.
10 AM - Practice the piano
10:30 AM - Work on my blog and my novel, "My Own Meadow"
11 AM - Do whatever else I can do to be productive!
12 PM - Make and eat lunch. (2 breads, 2 proteins, 1 vegetable, 1 fat)
1 PM - 5 PM - Dependant on the day
5:30 - Help Mummy start dinner
6:30 - Eat Dinner with my family. (2 proteins, 1 bread, 1 vegetable, 1 fruit, 1 fat)

I am very excited about this meal plan. It is going to have to be a lifestyle change, but I know that I can do it! I plan on using this blog as a source of encouragement for myself. I feel that if I put my thoughts out there I will be able to stick to them easier.

AdvoCare, Day 1....

2010-01-07T18:35:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I started my vitamins today. I took three CorePlex pills this morning and then later put the powder from three Carb-ease capsules into a small glass of apple cider and took them. Here is what I've learned today: When putting a powder into a cold liquid to take it, NEVER LET IT SIT THERE! Drink it as fast as possible or else a bunch of the powder will form on the bottom of the glass and taste horrible! The drink itself was okay, but when I got to the bottom, I h ad to force myself not to vomit. I think it will be a lot better in a hot tea or even a glass of warm water. Over all, my first day of this was pretty easy.

New Years...... GOALS!

2010-01-07T17:12:00.000-05:00

Don't you hate when you can't think of anything in your life that is blog worthy? I haven't been feeling well enough to do any good baking (plus it would be disgusting for a sick person to even step into a kitchen) and I haven't really picked up a new hobby. (We'll I've gotten back into crochet, but that's not all that interesting.) What should I do? This year that has just begun marks a new chapter in my life's journal (My life's blog, if you will) and I truly need to become more interesting. I sadly failed at all of the goals that I set at the beginning of 2009, but I beleive that this year will be different. As I have mentioned before, this fall I will be starting college at The Crown College of the Bible in Powell, Tennessee (Thankfully, most people just call it Crown or conversations would be a lot longer there.). This year, I am not making a plan that by the end of next year I will be ashamed of. I have decided to set a period of eight months for my goals to be fulfilled. In August, I leave for Crown and I would like to be a LOT slimmer. I also would like to be more "put together". I have a bad habit of not caring what condition my room is in and not being very prim and proper, and I am becoming fed up with it. My room is now clean and it looks RATHER nice. I plan on keeping it that way for a long, long time.
Today I started taking AdvoCare vitamins as part of my weight loss plan. I am taking their "CorePlex" pills three times a day. Unfortuantly, the pills in their packs are not completely vegetarian, so I cannot take them. I will, though, be able to take a pill called "Carb-ease". Although this is in a gelatin capsule, I will be able to take it apart and sprinkle the vitamin powder into food making it completly vegetarian. My goal for now is to be 3 or 4 dress sizes smaller by the day I leave for Crown in August. That seems like a very good goal for me at this time. Please pray that I will stick to this plan!

CONGRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-12-30T00:08:00.000-05:00

Ahhhhhh, the beauty that is Congress at Crown. After about three months of practicing, praying, and just pure agonizing TORTURE that is waiting, Congress is sadly over. Oh, words can not even describe how wonderful this Congress was. In this last year, the thing I have learned the most is that if you keep your focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, nothing can make you nervous. For the first time in my life, I walked on the stage (three of my girls at my side) and sang without a single butterfly in my stomach. Nothing besides my Salvation has ever felt that amazing! Of course I have been taught to "Focus on the Lord" but until this last year, no one has actually explained HOW you are to do that when a ton of people are staring you down. Last night and today, we stood upon the stage, sang for the Lord, and nothing could put us in a bad mood. It caused such a peace to come over me that I can not explain. My whole life, I have DESPISED singing in front of people by myself for the fact that they might possibly judge me. Just within the past few months, God has been teaching me one thing: I AM NOT UP THERE TO BE JUDGED! If anyone judges me, that is because their heart is in the wrong place. It is such a undescribale joy to truly serve the Lord.
This afternoon, I rededicated my life to the Lord. Bro. Pauley preached a message entitled "Are You Ready?", and it made me realize that I am not ready to serve the Lord because of hidden sins and just not doing what He has commanded me to do. I just praise the Lord that He is a God of second chances. God was truly working on the hearts of everyone in the Congress last night and today.

HAPPY BOXING DAY!!!!!!

2009-12-26T15:22:00.000-05:00

Well, I wanted to update this yesterday and the title be "Merry CHRISTmas!!!" but I sadly ran out of time. lol
This week is going to be so wonderful! After about three months of countless hours of practice with our girls, Redeemed is ready to sing at Congress! How I praise the Lord for the talents He has given us as well as the opportunity to sing for Him. I am so excited and anxious for tomorrow night to get here. Although Congress does not begin until Monday night, tomorrow night is the beginning of our "Festivities". lol Our schedule is as follows:

Sunday, after evening church service, the girls in Redeemed will head over to our "fearless leader's" house to have a sleepover and watch "Gladiator". Even though most of us are quite girly and love movies like "Pride and Prejudice", we all love a crazy awesome battle film! This evening will be filled of amazing fun!
Monday morning, after probably sleeping in, we will start practicing. We will practice for hours until we need to get dressed, primed, and polished for the services. We actually have matching outfits! (I'll post pictures soon.)
Monday evening at 7 o'clock, Congress starts. I encourage anyone in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area to come. The cost is $15 per person. This includes meals and a Christian Life Journal. It will take place at The Crown Southwest/ Norris Bible Seminary in Fort Worth. I'm not sure how many songs we will be singing Monday night.
After Congress, we all (including our Jr. High girls) will head back to the Fieseler's house where we will watch "Up" and possibly "Singing in the Rain"! (love that movie)
Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, services start. During this session our Jr. High girls will join us onstage for a song that we all sing together called "By The Way of the Cross". Such a gorgeous song! Also, we will be singing several songs just as Redeemed. This will be followed by a few hours of break.
Tuesday evening, we will meet back at the school for another session.

I am looking forward to this week!!!! Bro. Scott Pauley will be preaching all of the services, and I adore to hear that man preach. God has blessed him abundantly! I would like to ask you to pray for us, as well as Bro. Pauley and Bro. Knickerbocker.

Well, Good Golly, Miss Molly!!!

2009-12-18T00:57:00.000-05:00

I apologize for the month-long absence from my blog! My family went out of town for a week to see my grandmother before she had a complete knee replacement, and I have been up at the church practicing, practicing, and (you guessed it) practicing some more for our Junior High/Senior High/ College and Career Christmas play entitled "Mary's Journey". This play shows a "behind the scenes" look at everything that took place in Mary's life once discovering that she would give birth to the Son of the Most High God. In the play, we are people who are putting on a church Christmas play! (Ironic, isn't it?) There are some very comical parts throughout the first act. Once our little characters begin to practice, the message in this play is astounding! It speaks of everything from the actual visit from the Arch Angel, Gabriel to Mary explaining the visit to her mother (played by yours truly!!!) to visiting Elizabeth. The second half of the play is the opening night, and everyone is serious. You meet Abigail, Mary's niece, Nicodemus, his wife, Haleigh, and various other characters. This play is absolutely amazing and I am so pleased to be a part of it!
This week, I will be at our church practicing for a total of 10 1/2 hours! Wow, that is an awful lot of practice! It will be a very tiring, but exciting, week!!!

Autumn is here...

2009-11-17T00:38:00.000-05:00

I am starting to believe that nothing is more satisfying than a nice mug full of Earl Grey tea on a chilly autumn night. It is 46 degrees outside, but due to large amounts of rain we have received, it feels as if it were in the 30s. So, here I am, doing what I love to do: drinking hot tea and blogging. I can't believe that I got so far away from my blog, because I simply adore to write my thoughts and feelings in here.
I had a small adventure today as my lovely brother, Casey, attempted to teach me how to drive a manual! I say "attempted" because I am not the best at driving a manual. I have extremely short legs and fail to push the clutch in far enough, causing his poor car to come to a screeching halt! It was quite funny, because we had our lesson at an abandoned Wal-Mart parking lot. A group of teenage skaters had somehow gotten into the outdoor garden area and were, um, skating QUITE poorly. They then had the nerve to laugh at my driving! It was my first lesson and, of course, I made mistakes, but these young men consider themselves to be skaters when they can't even skate! I found it quite amusing to watch!
A few days ago, I spoke of our youth group's Christmas play. We have now had a few practices, and I must say that this past Wednesday's practice was absolutely HILARIOUS!!! I don't remember laughing that hard in my entire life. Everyone was just terribly funny at their parts. For example, my brother, Casey, has completely adapted to playing a bumbling country hick. He kept us all in stitches. I am not sure if we'll be able to get through this play without everyone in the cast bursting out laughing! Also, I tend to speak extremely fast regularly. For whatever reason, if I speak slowly, I start speaking in a English accent. I do not know WHY I do this, because it is definitely not intentional, but I do. That made everyone laugh even more because I was a British Jewish woman! It was extremely funny.
I am in a quartet along with three lovely young ladies. Last month, during our church's revival meetings, Bro. Knickerbocker heard us sing a wonderful song entitled "Jesus Passed By". When he got up to preach, he told the congregation that in the end of December, a youth congress would be held at Crown Southwest and Norris Bible Seminary. Unfortunately, the extremely brilliant, kind, and talented girls at Crown who usually sing at these meetings will be at their homes for Christmas at this time. Bro. Knickerbocker asked our quartet, Redeemed, to sing at the congress!!! You have no idea how much this means to us. We all feel extremely blessed of and grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ for giving us the gift of song as well a love for Him. Bro. Knickerbocker would not have asked us to come if he even assumed that we sang pridefully, I believe. This is such an honor for our quartet! We will need to have about eight or nine songs ready by then and be ready to give our testimonies. Our quartet consists of Taylor and Courtney, who juggle between alto and tenor, Hannah, who sings alto and second soprano, and myself. I sing first soprano. I love these three girls more than I could ever say; they have been such an encouragement and a blessing to me and my family! They have such lovely voices and even more beautiful hearts! Hannah's parents, Bro. Rick and Mrs. Tammy, are our youth leaders. Also, an amazing woman, Miss Sherry, helps out with our crazy group. We are also extremely blessed to have a pastor, Bro. Carrier, and a church family who loves and supports us all the way. I couldn't pick a better church family. They are such amazing people, and they each pray for us often. We wouldn't be able to do any of this without their support, as well as the support from our parents and siblings. I am so honored that God would give me a voice to praise Him with as well as friends to praise Him with!

Baking Day!!!

2009-11-11T17:53:00.000-05:00

I believe that one day of each week should be put aside just for baking! Today, I made some chocolate-chip cookies, some oatmeal raisin cookies, and a batch of the Orange Blossom muffins I spoke of a few days ago! YUMMY!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup stick butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (12-oz) bag chocolate chips (2 cups)

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2) In medium mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and salt.

3) In large mixing bowl, mix together butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. 4) Stir dry mixture into beaten mixture.5) Add chocolate chips; stir until evenly distributed.

6) Drop mounds of dough 2" apart onto ungreased cookie sheet

7) Bake 8-12 minutes until light brown.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

3/4 cup stick butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (Don't be afraid to add extra!)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups rolled oats
1 cup raisins

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)

2) In large mixing bowl, mix butter and sugars together until smooth. (Use the largest bowl you have...)

3) Beat in eggs and vanilla until fluffy.

4) In small mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually stir this in with sugar mixture.

5) Stir in oats and raisins.

6) Drop spoonfuls of batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until slightly brown. Cool slightly before transferring onto plate.

Orange Blossom Muffins

2 large eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 oil
1/2 cup undiluted orange juice
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup Smucker's Orange Marmalade
12 servings of Pioneer Biscuit Mix
1/2 cup chopped pecans

1) Combine first five ingredients plus sifted biscuit mix.

2) Stir in marmalade and pecans.

3) Pour batter into lightly greased (or oiled) muffin tins. Be sure to use SMALL muffin tins! Bake at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes or until brown. If you have any extra batter, bake a loaf of Orange Blossom Bread. Just add a few minutes to the cooking time. It is FABULOUS, especially with a mug of hot tea!

These lovely homemade goodies were amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed baking them!

2009-11-10T00:34:00.001-05:00

I've done a post like this before, but I strongly believe that repetition is a good thing! I often like to just type (or write) a completely random list of things about myself. Even if no one else finds them interesting, I think it is fun to be able to look back someday and see how I once was!

I have a strange fascination with anything covered in Polkie Dots. (Yes, I realize that they are technically called "Polka" Dots, but I do not care! Polkie Dots just sounds cooler.)
I love coffee when it is just slightly above room temperature. I also love hot tea at this temperature.
My favorite thing to do is curl up with a good book or sitting at the computer, typing a story or working on my blog, drinking a nice cup of Earl Grey Tea. (Bigelow, of course. No tea is better!)
I have always loved music. I guess I have my elementary music teacher, Mrs. Fox, to thank for that! She is such an inspiration to me. Not only is she an amazing teacher and genuinely kind lady, she is a strong Christian. Such a blessing to have been part of her life. She inspired me to go to school for elementary music, which I will be doing next fall.
If everyday was a brisk Autumn day, I would absolutely love it! Nothing is better than a cup of Earl Grey, a good book, and a fire on a nice Autumn day!
I love watching Christian Comedians, especially Mark Lowry. I absolutely LOVE that man! Such an amazing comedian, singer, and I believe, Christian. It is so refreshing to see someone who is not ashamed to speak his mind about what he believes and what He has done.
I am slowly falling in love with old-fashioned things. I used to want to be like everyone else, but I couldn't care less what the others are doing. I must remember that if the majority agrees with it, some thing's probably wrong with it! I simply adore things as plain as a white pitcher and basin. (Does anyone have one that they would like to give me? Just joking.)
I love my friends! I have some of the most amazing friends that anyone can have. God has blessed me with a great group of young ladies who want nothing more than to serve and please Him.

If I kept listing, I would be here all night long. :)

Yesterday, we (Junior High, Senior High, and some memebers of the College and Career class) started practicing for our Christmas Play, entitled "The Journey of Mary". It is an incredible play, and I can't wait to get more involved in it. We are playing people who are putting on a play, so most people have two parts. (For example, my brother, Casey, is playing a guy named Hank who is playing Arch Angel Gabriel. You get it?) There are several humourous parts. For example, Hank is trying to figure out how to play a "relaxed, confident angel flying in from Heaven to deliver really happy news" by flitting around the stage and acting like a vampire at one point. It was the funniest play practice I have ever been a part of!

Can you believe that it is the second week of November already? Where did this year go to? I am so excited for these next two months. Soon, we will have Thanksgiving and then on to Christmas! I love this time of year so much!

Orange Blossom Muffins, anyone?

2009-11-09T22:47:00.000-05:00

Well, what have I been up to the past few days? I have been baking pies to NO end! I've made a few apple pies and am currently trying to find a good cherry pie recipe. I'm not a huge fan of cherries, but my friend wants one! I am going to bring an apple pie and a cherry pie to church soon to see what my lovely friends in our youth group think of them. (I love those girls so much! They are some of my dearest friends, and I praise and thank God for them. Not many people are as blessed as I am when it comes to friends. I know that these lovely young ladies love me and want God to use me. Too many "friends" could care less about your spiritual life, and I am so grateful that I have friends who do care!)
I, sadly, forgot to take any pictures of my pie making process, but I will have to take some the next time I bake. What is my next project? Maybe I'll make a batch of Orange Blossom Muffins! My mummy and daddy went away for a few days last week to celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary. They visited the Excelsior House Hotel in Jefferson, Texas. This hotel is a beautiful hotel that has been in operation since the 1850s. The photos my mother took of it were astounding! Also, my parents RAVED over the Orange Blossom Muffins that were served at breakfast every morning. They were extremely pleased to discover that the recipe for these muffins is in a cookbook that they bought through the Jefferson Gardening Club. These muffins sound amazing! If the baking is a success, I will post the recipe on here. I can't wait to try them out! My parents stayed at the Lady Bird Johnson suite. They were told by one of the staffers of the house that former First Lady Johnson's favorite memories as a child were always going to the hotel with her father to eat brunch while they were "in town". I think that is so sweet! http://theexcelsiorhouse.com

Apple Pie!

2009-11-03T22:36:00.000-05:00

Today, I made my first attempt at baking an apple pie from scratch. This is something that our society is losing, and I decided that I want to start baking and cooking the old-fashioned way. So many people bake cakes just by dumping out mix and adding eggs just because it is easier. I loved baking this pie, and it tasted GREAT!

Crust:
-2 Cups all-purpose flour
-1 teaspoon salt
-1 tablespoon sugar
-6 tablespons butter
-6 tablespoons vegetable shortening
-6 to 8 tablespoons ice water

1) In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, and sugar.
2) Cut in the butter, shortening, and ice water.
3) Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill.

Filling:
-5 Granny Smith apples
-1 Cup Sugar
-2 Tablespoons Flour
-1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
-1/4 Teaspoon Salt
-1 Tablespoon Cider Vinegar
-1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

1) Peel and slice your apples.
2) Soak apple slices in water with a tablespoon of lemon juice. (This will prevent them from turning brown.)
3) In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
4) Mix apples in with filling.

Assembly:
!) Divide the dough into two equal halves.
2) Roll one of the balls of pie crust out until it is around 1/8th of an inch thick. (If the dough it too gooey, simply add extra flour.)
3) Once you have rolled out the dough, wrap it around the rolling pin and unroll it onto your pie pan.
4) Once you have shaped it to fit the inside of the pan, take a fork and poke holes in the bottom of the crust. This will let the steam out as the pie bakes.
5) Dump all of the apples in the pie. Place about 4 chunks of butter on top of apple filling. This will give the filling rich flavor.
6) Roll out the remaining pie dough and place it on top of pie.
7) Create a pattern around the edge of the pie by using the back of a knife.
8) Cut long strips of tinfoil and place them around the edge of the pie. This will prevent the crust's edge from burning while it bakes. You will want to take the tinfoil off about ten minutes before the pie is done. This way, the apple pie will have a golden brown edge.
9) Bake your pie at 400 degrees (F) for 50-60 minutes.

Enjoy this recipe... I honestly loved making and eating it!