Memorial Day

Aaron Williams - My hero!

As I sit here on my great-grandma's couch in her sun room in the heart of Michigan I'm thinking about how blessed I am that I live in America, the "Land of the free and home of the brave." I was SO blessed to be born in the United States, a privilege that billions of people do not have. The only reason, besides God, that I'm living in the freest country in the world is because of the brave men and women throughout the centuries who have stood for freedom, and truly believed in their country and everything she stands for and were and are willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING so that I, as an American, can sit in comfort, sipping coffee, and writing this post. These are the truest Americans, the ones of whom we should be VERY proud. My grandfather served in the Army in World War II, along with his brothers. My dad was in the Coast Guard for seven years in the late 70s and early 80s. I have other family who were in various branches of the military, all doing their best to serve and protect and defend the country that they love.
I also have friends who were and are currently defending my country. I'm thinking of one in particular who is in Iraq right now as I write, before that he was in Afghanistan. Ray is young, only 20 or 21, why in the world is he willing to his life on the line? While Ray was in Afghanistan, his father, Raymond, a Lieutenant Colonel (I think) was in Iraq. Their family sacrificed a LOT!
I have other friends who have also been in the Mid-East, Seth in the Navy, and Paul and Steve in the National Guard. Paul and Steve had families back home, yet they were willing to go to a foreign land and fight an enemy that they may not have heard of before September 11, 2001.
One soldier that I didn't know, David Fribley, a graduate of Warsaw High School in 1996. He was content with his job until the terrorist attacks of September 11, it was then that he decided to join the Marines so that he could fight for his country!
On March 23, 2003 David was killed in Iraq, only three days after the conflict began. He was the first soldier from Indiana to die, and one of the first to die in the nation.
There were hundreds of people at his funeral, and even more who lined the road on the way to the cemetery. Some of Warsaw's biggest corporations stopped operation in honor of David and the employees lined the streets. The schools bused students to the funeral procession route, and all were waving flags, and most were weeping. We were all sad, yes, but VERY proud.
In a letter to one of his friends David wrote:
“The greatest gift one can give to another is the gift of service. I do not know who said this but I’ve heard this saying before. The following is my gift to you; may I honor you and our fellow countrymen and women. I will earn the privilege to wear Eagle, Globe and Anchor for all those that cannot. With all the strength of my fellow Marines, we shall always provide you with the comforting feeling of safety that you have each day.”

I simply want to say a great big THANK YOU! to the men and women in the United States military! They are the ones who give us hope in these time!

Home Sweet Home

The graduation ceremony went well on Friday night. :) I think there were 15 graduates, but don't hold me to that! I know it was the largest graduating class so far. I managed to make it through the ceremony fine until at the very end they had the graduates and their parents go up to the altar and pray while the ladies singing group sang "His Will" that's when I broke down and cried. I had so many friends, including my roommate graduate, and it was a bittersweet time for me.
After the ceremony we stood around and talked for a while, saying "good-bye." Then we loaded up my stuff and left International Bible College for good (or at least for good for me, and for me as a student). It was kinda hard knowing that I will never see quite a few of these people ever again.
On our way to the Phillips' we stopped at Friendly's and ate ice cream. :) That was good cuz they actually have ice cream that I am allowed to eat!! :)
After eating we then went to the Phillips' and unloaded what I would need for the night then stood around and talked for a long time. Morgan stayed over as well, so the two of us stayed up late and talked, enjoying our last few hours together.
Bro. Phillips had to go to work early, so we didn't see him at all on Saturday. Mrs. Phillips and Charlie and Nichole went soul winning, so I saw them for a little while before they left for church. Around 9:30 or so Bro. Mike came over with Seth and the four of us ran some errands, and then went to the Marina in Bay Shore (I think) and walked around the water for a while. It was fun, and kinda sad too cuz I knew that I was gonna miss them all SOOOO much!
We got back a little before 1:30 and Mrs. Phillips and the kiddos got back home soon after. We talked a lot and just spent time together as a "family."
We left around 3:00 for the airport. We got there and I got checked in, amazingly, neither one of my bags was over the 50 lb. limit! That's incredible! :) LOL! After making sure that I was all set to go, we sat down and had some more "family" time. It was really sweet, and sad, and well, I guess I miss them a LOT!
For some reason the fire alarm went off! I have no idea what the problem was because they never evacuated, but it kept going off and they had to keep silencing it for over an hour! It was still going off when I boarded my plane!
Finally the time came to say "good-bye." I cried, not as much as I thought I would, which is a good thing! It was really hard. I hope I get to go back sometime and see them again....or better yet, they can all come to Indiana (hint, hint!! :))

*****My New York Family*****

*****Left to Right: Nichole, Mrs. Phillips, Charlie, Seth, Morgan, Me, and Bro. Mike*****

I made it through security with no problems, which is a very good thing. I went to my gate, only to find that they had already started boarding!! LOL!! Thankfully I was still able to get on the plane, even though I should have boarded a LOT earlier than I actually did!! :) The plane was starting to get pretty full when I got on. I like to sit by the window near the back of the plane on the left side, I don't know why, but that is just my thing I guess. Well, there were NO window seats left when I got on, so I decided to sit in an isle seat on the same side. There was a guy sitting by the window, but nobody in between. So I sat down and then they announced that the plane would be full so every seat was going to be taken. :( The guy (I found out later his name is Neil) and I looked at each other and just rolled our eyes. We tried the "put a book in the seat, hope that nobody is going to sit there" thing, but it didn't work. I ended up moving to the middle cuz the other man that sat with us was really tall, and since I'm short, it was easier for me to sit in the middle.
Neil and I started talking. We talked the entire flight! It was cool cuz we started talking about God and the Bible. He is NOT a Christian. I had put my Bible in my computer bag which was up above the seats. :( Bad idea. He told me that he had read parts of the Bible, and so we started discussing the different writing styles, which brought me to my favorite book, Isaiah, which has two different styles of writing. He asked me to get my Bible out, which I was MORE than happy to do, and so we went through Isaiah 53 verse by verse! How cool is that??!! We then went on and talked about a BUNCH of different topics and doctrines in the Bible! It was amazing!! He gave me his email address, so hopefully we will be able to continue our discussion. I emailed him this evening. Pray for him, he is one of the types of people who is very smart, and good and very blind to his need of a Saviour.
I got off the plane with no problems, and it was sooo nice to see Mom and Samuel. Dad is in Minnesota right now for a friends wedding and some training for work, so I won't get to see him until Thursday! :(
We got out of Chicago without any problems, the traffic was clear which was nice. :) We stopped in Valpo so Mom and Samuel could get something to eat, I wasn't hungry, but I did want coffee, and Dunkin Donuts in particular. Well, unfortunately there was no Dunkin to be found. :( I had to go to Star Bucks instead. I prefer Dunkin cuz its a LOT cheaper, and more coffee for the price. I think I like the flavor of their coffee better as well. Anyways, I got an iced latte at SBs. :)
I came out of the Star Bucks to see someone talking to Mom and Samuel. I recognized her, but I couldn't remember who she was! LOL! It was my dad's cousin, Ruth, who lives in Valpo. I hadn't seen her since my graduation! We chatted for a while, then I got in the drivers seat and off we went! :)
We got home around 11:00 last night! :) HOME!!! YAY!!!
I opened my suite case and low and behold on the top of one of them there was a little note that informed me that the suite case had been randomly inspected! I could tell....it was a mess!! LOL!! It didn't bother me....I just thought it was funny!
This morning I went to church with one of my former managers. I had never been to her church, and they just built a new building, and she had been wanting me to go with her, so I went with her.
My former piano teacher really wanted to see me as well, so we went to her house for dinner. She made a Mexican dish, which I couldn't eat, but Mom had made homemade chicken noodle soup, which was something that I had been craving for a VERY long time, so we all had some of that, and then everyone else also had some of the Mexican food.
I came home and went to bed and slept this afternoon. Mom and Samuel went to church tonight, but I wasn't feeling well, so I stayed home.
I am VERY glad to FINALLY be home! It's SOOOO nice!

Farewell

Never Say Good-bye

If I could take this moment forever
Turn the pages of my mind
To another place and time
We would never say goodbye


If I could find the words I would speak them
Then I wouldn't be tongue-tied
When I looked into your eyes
We would never say goodbye

If I could stop the moon ever rising
Day would not become the night
Wouldn't feel this cold inside
And we'd never say goodbye

I wish that our dreams were frozen
Then our hearts would not be broken
When we let each other go...

If I could steal this moment forever
Paint a picture-perfect smile
So our story stayed alive
We would never say goodbye

~Hayley Westenra

I think this is the saddest post that I have written so far. Today is my final day as a student at International Bible College in Stony Brook, NY.
As I look around the campus at the different places that I have spent many an hour studying, talking to friends, sitting in classes, and just hanging out; I think about all the good times and all the sad times, all the laughter and all the tears that have been shed. I have spent nine months of my life on this campus and as much as I can't wait to go home and then go on to another college next semester, it still breaks my heart to think of leaving forever, or at least if I do come back, it will never be as a student.
I'm thinking of my fellow college students who I will most likely never see again. We've been through a lot together, how do I say "good-bye" to them? I'm crying just thinking about it, not to mention when I actually have to say those words.
Rebekah, my roommate. The poor girl spent a year of her life with me! I know I have learned a lot from her example. The last few days especially have been a special time of bonding for us. A lot of things have happened, and we've had some very good and very serious discussions about some very critical matters. I'm going to miss her! At least I will see her at her wedding in September, but it will still be different!
The next thing to come to mind are my other friends, those in the church who have been so much like family to me, and have helped me through some very difficult times. Without them I honestly don't know what I would have done, especially this semester. Two families in particular, the Phillips' and the McMahons helped in HUGE ways to me, and there is NO way I could ever thank them enough, and I'm gonna miss them sooooo much! Guess I'll just have to come back some time so that we can go upstate and do all the other crazy things we've talked about doing, and were never able to do.....!! :)

I hate saying good-bye, It's the hardest thing for me to do EVER!! I don't think it would be so hard right now, except for the fact that I'm not coming back here, or if I do it will never be the same again! Many of the people that I know now, I probably won't ever see again! Oh! I hate this!!!

Let me just say this, I have made many friends whom I will miss, and though it is time to say good-bye, these friends will stay forever in my heart, thoughts, and prayers! I love all of you my dear friends, and I hope that someday soon we will meet again.

Friends

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

~Michael W. Smith

*****This is a collage of pictures that have been taken over the past year, all of good times that I've had here in New York*****

Finale

YAY!!! I have finished my freshman year of college! I can't believe that I am actually done, that I actually did it, and I'm no longer a freshman! It's crazy! OK, I'm excited! :)
Finals went well. I got an 83% on my English Grammar final, not sure yet what my overall grade on that class is, I think it will probably be a solid C, which is a VERY low grade for me, but for English it is a really nice grade!
English Composition final grade was an 87% with a 91% average grade! That's the highest grade I've ever gotten in an English class! PTL! I still have no idea what my Intro to Missions final grade was, or what the average grade of that class is, but I'm really not worried about it because it was an easy class and there really was no problem with it at all! In Christian Home I got a 100% on the final, no shock there, I would have a 100% average in that class except that I got like a 98% on one test! :( Very sad! I should still get a VERY high grade because my paper, book report, and notes all received 100%s.
I got a 95% on my Christian Womanhood final, with an average grade of 98%! :) I really enjoyed that class and learned a LOT! I know I will use the information that I learned in that class over and over and over again.
Those were all of my finals through Tuesday. Wednesday were my two hardest finals, and I stayed up until 1:30 Wednesday morning studying for them, and then got back up at 4:30! World History came first at 7:30. There were only four of us in that class, and two of them were Seniors, and both managed to get at least a B average in the class so they didn't have to take the final, lucky people. I think we all had at least a B average, which is good, but it is still a HARD class! I got a 95% on the final! How in the world that happened, I have NO idea!
My next final, and final final started at 8:55, it was in the class that I struggled with the most, New Testament Survey. All semester I have had a really hard time with the class, it was a LOT harder than Old Testament Survey was last semester. My study sheet for the final was seven pages long! I spent SO much time studying for it, and I know I bombed it BIG time! There were 100 questions on the exam, and I left 21 blank! I had a B average in the class, now I have NO idea what my average is, I only can hope that I will have at least a C so that it will transfer to Shawnee next school year! It was crazy! Nobody did well on that final, so I'm hoping that maybe there will be a grade curve!
Through all the finals I know God has been there helping me! All of the grades that I got (especially the good grades) are all because of HIM! If it weren't for Him, I know that I would have "epic failed!" PTL!
We had our final chapel yesterday, Grandpa preached. He gave his farewell address, since he will be moving on this summer.
After that we were free FOREVER, or at least for the summer, no more classes!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
I did quite a bit of packing in the afternoon, had a voice lesson (my last one (sob)), and then left with the McMahon's for a softball game! It was a lot of fun, even though it was rather cold (because it was on the south shore, right by the ocean, so the breeze coming off the ocean was rather chilly!!) After the game we drove out to Fire Island. It was dark by then, but it was still nice, and at least I can say that I was out there! :)
At the dorm prayer meeting last night several people shared blessings from the year. It went pretty long, but it was worth it!
I was in bed before 11:00, and didn't wake up until after 7:00!! HOW WONDERFUL! I love it! I'm still in bed, I just don't feel like getting up! I have this lovely case of laziness right now! :) It's nice! :)

Catch Up!

I am so sorry for my delay in posting! I've been Sooooo busy lately! FINALS are upon us and it seems like there is no time to do anything but study! I'm all studied out right now, I can't even think about studying right now without my brain going crazy! UGH!
I did find out that I got a 83% on my English Grammar final, which is a grade that I would be very disappointed in if it were any other class, but I am VERY pleased with for E.G. :)
I only had one final today, and that was in Intro to Missions. It was EASY! In fact, afterwards, one of the guys told me that it was the easiest final he has ever taken!!!
Chapel was interesting today. I played "Be Thou My Vision" on my cello, it went well, PTL! Dr. Morgan preached, but before he did that he made a VERY important announcement, that I had been hoping would be made a LONG time ago, but for whatever reasons it had been delayed for quite a while. He announced that my grandpa as well as Bro. Randall (the music director) would be leaving at the end of the school year. I had known about both of them leaving for a VERY long time, before the end of last semester! It is SUCH a relief that it is now out, because it was getting VERY hard NOT to say anything! Just for the record: I am NOT leaving because grandpa is leaving! I had already decided to leave, and knew what college I would be transferring to before I knew that they were leaving.

FINALS TOMORROW!!!!

The dreaded days are upon us: FINALS!
Finals start tomorrow. I have two: English Composition at 7:30, and English Grammar at 8:55. PLEASE pray that they go well. I've been so sick that I really haven't had time to do much studying. I'm not too worried about English Comp, or rather I should say, I simply don't really care how that goes, but I REALLY want to get a good grade on English Grammar.
Also, please continue to pray for my health. I'm not getting any better, if anything I'm getting worse. Hopefully I will get a prescription tomorrow that my doctor at home is supposed to call in for me. I am also supposed to go on a clear liquid diet, SOOO much fun. Thankfully I was able to run to the store tonight and get some Vitamin Water, Power Aid, and Sprite, those things AND GOD will have to keep me going through exams.
My original plans were to fly to Minnesota on Tuesday (May 19) because my family was going to be vacationing there. Due to me being sick vacation plans have been cancelled, and I am flying home as soon as Wednesday (May 13) but hopefully not until Saturday (May 16). Please pray that the right decision is made there and that I get in with my doctor ASAP.

Sick!

I have been absolutely LOVING the last several days! Because I have been sick I have not gone to Brooklyn for ECBF. I have been staying in the dorms all by my lonesome, but let me tell you, it has been WONDERFUL! I LOVE silence and alone time, and I've sure gotten quite a bit of it lately! SOOO wonderful! Yesterday I woke up around 6:30 cuz there was a LOT of noise, but I didn't get up until after 8:00! I know, call me lazy if you want, but that is a VERY rare treat for me, I think the last time I did that was on Christmas break.
So, I did a whole bunch of laying around and relaxing. Believe me, I still don't feel good at all! It really stinks.
I got some homework done, and did some reading and instant messaged several people. One of whom is a friend of mine who I have mentioned before, his name is Ray and he is in the Army in Iraq. Please pray for his salvation!
I also filled out some more job applications and followed up on some other applications that I had already filled out. Please pray for my job situation for the summer, cuz it's not coming along very well. Basically, nobody is hiring pretty much because of the economy.
I went to bed pretty early and that was my day for the most part.
This morning was a repeat of yesterday, only I slept until after 7:00 and woke up cuz of noise, and then fell back asleep after everyone was gone, and didn't get up until after 8:00. SOOO nice! I got some more HW done, and did more reading, etc. I took an hour in a half nap, it was WONDERFUL! I'm such a lazy bum, but who cares? I don't!
I read "Tortured for His Faith" by Harlan Popov over the last several days. It is really good, and very eye opening. I finished that yesterday and today I started reading "God isn't in a Hurry" by Warren Wiersbe. It is very convicting, cuz I like things to happen NOW! I don't like to have patience.
P.S. Please pray for finals....they start on Friday.... :(