A Tag Unlike Any Other!

Well, I ran across this on Elizabeth's blog and thought it was really good!

~What two qualities do you want most in your future husband (besides being a Christian)? I think that he should be very caring and a gentleman.
~Character you see as a model for your future husband? Well, I don't honestly know. Maybe Prince Charming...lol!
~Where do you want your wedding? In a church, I just don't know which church yet.
~What are your views on courtship? I think that Courting is something very special, because it saves your heart for your future husband.
~What are your views on your first kiss? On my wedding day!
~Do you have or want a purity ring/locket? I do have a purity ring that I was given when I was 13 by my daddy.
~Do you have or want a hope chest? Actually, I have 2! Well, one my parents bought me when I was an early teen, and the other was given to me several years ago...no, they aren't both full! :)
~Will you wear a veil at your wedding? OH YES!
~What kind of wedding dress do you want? Modest, flowing, with a chapel length or longer train.
~What kind of flowers do you want in your bouquet? Pink tulips
~What do you want to name one of your daughters? Elisa Grace
~What do you want to name one of your sons? Alexander Brandon
~Do you believe in the 'knight-in-shining-armor' view of courtship?? I'm not exactly certain what this question means
~What music do you want to play at your wedding? Oh dear, there are so many songs! One of my favorites is "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" maybe as a recessional...
~Are you a hopeless romantic? Yes! ...sigh...

Tag!

The Rules
1. Copy the questions and then answer them (post it on your blog remember).
2. Tag 4 people and let them know you have tagged them.
3. Let the person [who tagged you] know that you have done a post for the tag.

What are your nicknames? Hannah Banana, Missy Lissy, Sis, Crashette, Miss Banana, Sis, Hannah J Banana (don't ask me where the J came from...God only knows!)
What was the first movie you bought in VHS or DVD? I have NO idea!
What is your favorite scent? Baking cookies, fresh cut grass, a freshly bathed baby
If you had one million dollars to spend only on yourself, what would you spend it on? Well, I'd pay my school bill, buy a car, probably buy a house, and stick the rest of it in the bank!
What is one place you've visited, can't forget and want to go back to? Italy
Do you trust easily? Well, it really depends. A lot of times I can tell when a person is not trust worthy, but when I think that someone is trustworthy, then yes, I do trust them easily
Do you generally think before your act, or act before you think? Act before I think, but every once in a while I actually think before I act! It's amazing!!
Is there anything that had made you unhappy these days? Yes.
What is your favorite fruit? Do I have to answer that??!! I LOVE fruit...I think watermelon is the best though!
What websites do you visit daily?Facebook, Gmail, Comcast, Google, Yahoo
What have you been seriously addicted to lately? My computer, especially around 10:30 at night!
What's the last song that got stuck in you head? Either "1,000 Miles" or "Holding Hands"
What is your favorite thing to wear? Umm....I like my white skirt with blue flowers and a white shirt...'
Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy? It's ok...I have to be in the right mood...I like Snap, Crackle, and Pop though!
What items couldn't you be without during the day? Phone, Computer, Coffee pot....
What should you be doing right now? Getting ready for jail meeting!
I now tag Treble Trouble at Musical Moments in the Life of Katie, Morgan M. at Go Girl Power, Bro. Milk at COHWY119, and Jason Hunsicker at My Life, My Passions, My God...

Michigan Trip

My friend LeAnne, who I haven't seen since 8th grade, is visiting friends in Michigan this week and I was given the opportunity to go see her. I left Sunday afternoon and stopped in Angola, IN and went to Faith Baptist Church for the Sunday night service. I went to school last year with 2 kids from that church. Unfortunately Matt was sick, but Brandi was there and we sat next to each other and then went out for ice cream afterwards!! :) YUM! I continued on to Michigan and got to the Campbell's home around 10:00. Mr. Campbell had gone to pick LeAnne up from the airport, and they weren't home yet, so Mrs. C and I were able chat a little bit! :) Around 10:30 LeAnne and Mr. C got home and we began catching up on our lives. Finally about 12:30 we went to bed!! On Monday I woke up kinda early, about 8, I know, it really wasn't that early, but for vacation, it's early! I got up and read my devotions and did my regular morning stuff and then went downstairs and ate breakfast. After breakfast Mr. C went somewhere, I don't know where, and the 3 girls watch "A Hazard of Hearts," lets just say that it was an incredibly dumb movie, along the lines of Jane Austen! UGH! I'm not a Jane Austen lover, quite the opposite actually. While we were watching the movie a chipmunk came up to the sliding door and started to beg for Mrs. C to give him food! It was sooooo cute! Mrs. C was supposed to have a therapy session at 2:00 but for some reason her therapist called and rescheduled it for Tuesday. So, instead of therapy she decided to take LeAnne and I shopping...UGH! I HATE shopping! Anyways, she took us to Kohl's and made us shop for clothes for school. We spent 2 hours finding clothes, trying on clothes, and by the time we were done I was wiped out! We got back around 7 or 7:30 and threw our supper in the oven. Then I grabbed a book and read for about an hour until it was time to eat. Over supper we talked and goofed off. Mr. C was once again gone, he was playing golf with some buddies of his....I personally think he was just escaping from all the females that had invaded his home! :) Around 9:30 Mr. C came home, he did win the game of golf!! I guess that's good...I've never really been into golf! We watched a movie about Jacob and Joseph, which I found rather humorous because of the way that the story was protraide. It was kinda corny. I guess I fell asleep during the movie and slept for like 45 minutes....that's what shopping does to me! :) We went to bed about 12:30 and I didn't wake up until 10! It was WONDERFUL! Mrs. C had her therapy at 1:00, so Mr. C took her to that. While they were gone LeAnne and I went to Wal-Mart cuz I needed to get allergy medicine cuz my allergies started acting up, BIG time! Then we came home and went outside and took a gazillion pictures of the BEAUTIFUL flower gardens that the Campbell's have. I took almost 250 pictures before my camera card was full...I could have taken a million more! I was hoping to leave at 5. We were supposed to eat at 4, but umm, that didn't happen! We didn't eat until 5 and I didn't get outta there until almost 6! lol! We had a good meal, and then it was times for good-byes...that's always a sad thing! I finally got on the road...YAY! I stopped about 30 miles down the highway at a Dunkin Donuts and got a latte! :) That was GOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!! I went through a little bit of bad weather, but for the most part the weather wasn't too bad! :) I got home about 9:30! YAY! Overall it was a good trip and I enjoyed having a few days off to do absolutely NOTHING!! :)

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****Flowers*****

*****LeAnne*****

*****Mr. and Mrs. C, LeAnne, and Me*****

*****Me and LeAnne*****

Shooting!!

I haven't really been blogging about my life lately, but that is mainly because my life hasn't been that exciting! Pretty much I've been working...
I did do something REALLY cool last night! I went target practicing with daddy! That was SOOOOO much fun! I hadn't shot a gun in several years! I had a BLAST (no pun intended)!

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After shooting we went out for ice cream which was the BESTEST thing in the world! :) That was also my first date with my daddy since last summer! That was WONDERFUL!! Love ya daddy! <3

I Lean Upon No Broken Reed

I lean upon no broken reed,

Nor trust an untried guide;

I know Him and He knoweth me,

He walketh by my side.

I hold His hand as on we walk,

And still He holdeth mine;

It is a human hand I hold,

Also a hand Divine

"Hold Thou me up" is still my cry,

As o'er the rugged road

Of this my pilgrimage I move,

That leads me nearer God.

Lord Jesus, Thou the first and last,

Oh, when willt Thou appear?

And bring the long, long looked for dawn

Of the eternal year.

~Horatius Bonar

I found this song 2 years ago during a difficult time in my life, and ever since I have loved it a LOT! He is there with us, and will guide us in the way that is best for us.

Nothin too exciting

Not a whole lot of excitement has been going on in my life. I guess that is probably why I haven't really been posting much about my life lately.
The other day I did sell a vacuum, that was exciting! I can't wait to get my check from that! :)
Friday my aunt Beth came from Mishawaka with her son, Jayde. We all went to the jail Bible study and then went to the fireworks! They really weren't all that good this year! It was kinda sad cuz normally we have AMAZING fireworks, especially for a small town. I did get some good pictures though! :)
Saturday I slept in! It was WONDERFUL! I really felt like doing absolutely NOTHING so that's what I did! I didn't wake up until after 9 and didn't really start moving until 10! It was amazing! :D We went to a friends for a cookout, and had some SERIOUS ribs!! Then we went on a boat ride! It was a LOT of fun, but too short! ...sigh...
That evening we went to a patriotic concert! It happens every year, and is usually outdoors with about 5,000 people in attendance! Well, it was raining this year, so we packed into an auditorium that seats about 1,500 people! There weren't 5,000 people, but there were at least 2,000 and probably more! Standing room only! People were standing in the back, up against the walls, and even sitting on the floor in the isles! It was crazy! The concert was AWESOME though! As a tradition 2 verses of "The Star Spangled Banner" are sung. If you've ever heard several thousand people sing the national anthem, you will understand why I got a major case of goosebumps! It was INCREDIBLE! The orchestra played "Stars and Stripes" which is COOL with an entire orchestra, and not just brass. The WWII veterans were recognized, there were about5 or 6 in attendance! Then they did an armed forces medley, recognizing each branch of the military separately, then all together! That was COOL as well! There were also some Broadway songs, and "God Bless America," then as a tradition, they closed with "The 1812 Overture" that is always SOOOO cool, cuz they use canons, (or at least canon sounds) and make it loud and bangy! :)
I didn't go to jail on Sunday, instead I went to my church.
Monday I was convinced to work at the county fair for Rainbow! That stank! I was there for 5 hours! I will be there for the same amount on Thursday, and Friday I'm working for the National Right to Life booth at the fair! I'm a glutton for punishment

The Eternal God is Thy Refuge

Are the waves of trouble overwhelming?

Is the sky with tempest overcast?

Flee to God a never failing Refuge,

He will shield thee till the storm is past.

He will hear and heed thy cry appealing,

He will turn no burdened soul away;

Whatsoe'er thy trouble He can help thee,

Wilt thou trust His mighty arm today?

There is balm for every earthly sorrow

In this wondrous Refuge of the soul,

And a hiding place from ev'ry tempest,

Where no swelling tide of woe can roll.

The eternal God is thy Refuge,

The eternal God is thy Refuge,

And underneath are the everlasting arms,

The everlasting arms

~Flora Kirkland

4th of July

HOORAY FOR THE USA! HAPPY 233rd BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

My favorite holiday is July 4th! Most people think that is a little bit odd, but then considering who they are talking about, it's not really all that shocking! :)

I know people whose favorite holiday is Christmas, or Thanksgiving, or Easter, or Valentines Day. Many times I will ask them why that is their favorite holiday, and often they don't have an answer. But if you ask me why July 4th is my favorite, I do have an answer!

I like the fireworks, the parades, the cookouts, and the family and friends getting together. But most of all I LOVE patriotic spirit among Americans, the feeling of being proud to be in the most free country in the world. Today it doesn't matter who our President is, or that we now have a filibuster proof Senate, we can still claim the title of "FREE."

I could go on and on about how wonderful it is to be free, but I think all of us understand what that is, so today I'm simply thanking God for the gift of freedom, and for allowing me to be born in the most wonderful country in the world!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Published!

I was published in the Pure Little Ladies Ministry magazine this month! You can read the article here.

Orchestration

Saturday evening I was able to go to an orchestra concert. As I sat in my seat before the concert began, I noticed all of the instruments tuning, and making a horrible racket! Then, the lights dimmed, and the concert master, amid applause, walked onto the stage and directed the entire orchestra to tune to each other, bringing the entire group into harmony. After he was certain that everyone was on the same pitch, the concert master sat down. Soon, the conductor walked onto the stage to yet more clapping and cheering. After taking a bow he turned to the orchestra and lifted his baton and the music began, but wait, the conductor had no music! He was conducting totally from memory! He didn't need the score in front of him, because he knew by heart where each instrument should play a note, or where it should remain silent. The maestro knew his orchestra and skillfully conducted without fear of his, or their mistakes.
Together all of the instruments blended into a harmony so delicate, that one wrong note would make a clamour that would make even the most tone deaf person cringe!
Yet, they played on, not afraid of anyone else's wrong note, simply paying attention to their music and of course the conductor. The concentration of the musicians was commendable. No one was paying attention to the crowd or to the other instrumentalists around them. Each was simply concerned about them and their section doing their best and making their notes happen on time.
As I listened I began to think about how an orchestra could be compared to the Christian life. The conductor could be compared to Christ. He leads each one of us, knowing what is going on and what is to come for us. He has no fear, because He sees the big picture, or the whole score, He was the One who wrote it! As a Christian I am like an instrumentalist. I am only one in a body of many. I can only play one instrument, not several, and I am only proficient in one instrument. How insane would it be for a tubist to go to the cellists and tell them how to make their vibrato better? It doesn't work that way. Each person must concentrate on what and where the Lord has called him.
As the music blended together, so do Christians blend together in perfect harmony, but only when their eyes are on Jesus. If a musician, or a section begin to take their eyes off the conductor, then they begin to make mistakes and mess up the entire orchestra, the same is true for Christians.
As music can be a beautiful blend of notes and instruments, so too can the Christian life. If we strive to follow THE Conductor of our very life and soul our lives can make beautiful music that will honor our Saviour.