Christmas In Heaven

This year I have many loved ones who are for the first time experiencing Christmas in Heaven. 

I miss them so much, but am thankful that they are in God's very presence...they are truly blessed.

Bountiful Blessings

When taking a step back and viewing my life over the past year I've seen I have so much for which to be thankful. I'm overwhelmed by the blessings, both small and great, that have been given to my by my loving Heavenly Father.

First and foremost I'm thankful for a God in Heaven Who I know loves me unconditionally. He sent His only begotten Son down to this earth long ago to die on a cruel cross for me.Every time I stop to think about that I'm overwhelmed that a holy and just God cared so much for the human race that He gave up His most precious possession so that we too can be heirs of the Kingdom of God.

Next, I'm thankful for my family. This year I've experienced them in a way that I've never known before and seriously, they are the best. I don't know what I would do without their constant source of prayers, encouragement, laughter, and so much more. Over the summer we were able to spend a lot of quality time together. So many memories were made...I wouldn't trade anything for them. I love them so much.

Another amazing aspect in my life are my friends. I honestly have the best friends for which anyone could ask. They have proven to me over and over again that they will be there for me no matter what. From doing crazy things together at all hours of the day and night to holding me when I cry, from standing up for me when someone is being a jerk to telling me to my face when I need to straighten up I have been blessed with a lineup of friends who are some of the craziest, serious, God-loving people in the world...I couldn't do it with out them.

Finally, other than Salvation, the thing I am most grateful for is the fact that my roses have thorns! This past year has been pretty rough with relationships, medical problems, school, work, and on the list could go. But through it all I've learned that even in the worst times of my life there is always someone who has it worse than I do, and even more importantly, I've learned that there is always a bright spot, even in the darkest hours.

"Some people complain because the roses have thorns, others give thanks because the thorns have roses." ~Unknown

New Years Eve Fun!!

We went to my Aunt Beth's house for New Years Eve and then spent the night. We had a lot of fun with everyone, and of course took a million pictures! :) Just a word of warning, some of these pictures get a little graphic, so if you're weak stomached you may not want to proceed!!

*****Mom and Adreonna looking at "The Encyclopedia of Immaturity"*****

*****I don't think any explanation is needed for this picture!*****

*****My adorable cousin Jenna - I love the messy face and fingers*****

*****A new cousin, Ashlin, I think she's gorgeous!*****

*****And another new cousin, Austin*****

*****Samuel and Will*****

***The whole group of us*****

*****Ashley*****

*****FOOD*****

*****Ashlin, Mom, and Aunt Beth*****

*****Some intense play dough time!*****

*****Another adorable cousin, Jayde*****

*****We did a white elephant gift exchange*****

*****He's probably trying to figure out WHICH present looks the best!*****

****Yes, that is a plunger in his face - no it had never been used before*****

*****Will dressed for Success!!!!!*****

*****Me and Adreonna*****

I love the way her eyes are- that's a typical Adreonna look!!! :)

****Yup, the plunger is stuck to the ceiling - my family is crazy, what can I say?!*****

*****And we finished the evening by watching "Up"*****

My Life

I just realized that I haven't written a post about the happenings in my life in a LONG time! So I decided to do so now. I know that most of you already know everything, but maybe not everyone, or everything.
This semester is beginning to wind down, THANKFULLY! We have less than a week in a half before Thanksgiving break, and following break we have about one in a half weeks of school, including finals before we are completely done!! YAY!
Classes have been going well. I'm still struggling with the science class, but my grades are getting better in that, which is good. Please keep praying.
My internship at the Christian school has been interesting to say the least. Mrs. Whitaker, the original teacher resigned, and so for a long time all that the class had was substitute teachers. It was kinda interesting. Now they have a new teacher, Miss Snider, and she's VERY hard to intern for. She has me teaching a 4th grade history lesson, and a 3rd grade science lesson every week. I really like teaching, but it's a lot of work to add to the work that I already have to do!
I enjoy my job for the most part, although I'm not getting nearly enough hours. Only about 8 hours a week, and that's not nearly enough to get me through. I had started to look for another job, but I decided to wait until next semester, because I'm not sure if any other job will let me take Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks off and I REALLY need those breaks!
Of course the most important thing right now is Jason! ;) He has been deployed for quite awhile, but thankfully his deployment ends THIS WEEK!!! I'm SOOOOOO excited! It seems like he's been deployed FOREVER! On top of that in 23 days (I think) he's flying back to the US, and in 27 days we will FINALLY get to meet!!! I CAN'T WAIT! He is coming down here to Shawnee December 12 and 13 to spend the weekend. School gets out either the 16th or 17th and Jason is coming to my house on the 17th through the 22nd, and then we are going to his house the 22nd through the 27th when he has to go back to Japan. I'm sure it will be an AMAZING time!
Anyway, that's a brief summary of my life right now...sorry it's been so long since I last updated all of you and I will try to do it more often in the future.

Veterans Day

In my life I have been blessed to know many men and women who were/are in the military, people who served their country, loved their country, and wanted the best for their country. I could list soooo many, but I want to focus on five men, 3 of whom were in the military, and 2 who are currently in the military right now.

I'll start with my grandpa, Michael Drazich. I really don't know much about his military service, except that he was in the Army in WWII. He never talked about it much and whenever the topic did come up he rarely said anything. All I know is that he was in Europe fighting during that time.

The second man that I'm thinking of is my daddy, Paul Drazich. He was in the Coast Guard in the 1980s. He loves to tell stories of the things he did, and my favorite thing as a little girl was to crawl up on his lap and have him tell me stories of his time on the ships. I could probably tell all of his stories as good as can tell them! He was stationed on the Great Lakes, as well as the Atlantic Ocean, and on Governor's Island in NYC teaching electronics.

The last of the 3 men who were in the military is my friend and hero, Aaron Williams. Aaron was a Marine, and the best of the best. Of any one person I know, Aaron was the most patriotic person in the world. He was also one of the kindest, gentlest, most loving, caring, generous person I've ever known. Aaron had NO enemies, and that's saying a lot for a person, everyone loved and cared deeply for the rough and tough Marine, with a BIG heart. Soon before he was to be deployed for Iraq, Aaron was diagnosed with brain cancer, at the age of 30. All the plans and dreams that he had came crashing down around him with a diagnosis of 6 months to live. However, instead of allowing the circumstances to get him down and ruin his life, Aaron chose to fight, and fight he did, for 3 years! But finally, after touching thousands of lives, God decided that it was time to call Aaron home to Him, and on June 22, 2007.

Next comes my dear friend Ray Pfahl. He is in the Army, and pretty close to being a big brother, without actually being one! Ray is 22 and has been in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He just got back from Iraq in August. Please pray for him, because he is not saved, and as he sees more and more pain and sorrow only gets harder and harder toward God. He is still one of my good friends, and I think I'm probably the only Christian that he allows to get close to him.

Lastly, and the most recent to come into my life is Jason Hunsicker, who is in the Navy. I know that I could go on and on and on about him… :) Anyway, well he has been in the Navy since August 2007, and is stationed in Yokosuka Japan on the USS Blue Ridge, which is the flagship for the 7th fleet. Currently he is deployed somewhere in the Pacific.

I just wanted to say thank you too all of the men and women who are or have been in the military and to their families as well.

***Aaron Williams***

***Daddy (on the left)***
***Jason***

Freedom Isn't Free!

This song was sung by the choir on Sunday night, and in getting ready for Veterans Day on Wednesday, I thought it would be very fitting to post now. I am preparing a Veterans Day post, or else I would have waited until then to post this:

We've known the gift of freedom

From sea to shining sea.

The Stars and Stripes,

Our banner still stands for liberty.

But the freedom that we know

Was bought by blood

that flowed on the battlefield,

By soldiers, brave and strong!

That's why freedom, freedom isn't free!

It costs the lives of those who die,

To make our nation free;

And each sacrifice became the price

To buy my liberty,

Because freedom, freedom isn't free!

The winds of war keep blowing

As nations rise and fall.

New soldiers in the army

Still answer freedoms call.

And they say their sad good-byes

To those they leave behind,

Separation is the price that they must pay.

That's why freedom, freedom isn't free!

It costs the lives of those who dies

To make our nation free;

And each sacrifice became the price

To buy my liberty,

Because freedom, freedom isn't free!

For every generation,

For every living soul,

The blood of Christ was gven to

Make each sinner whole.

Jesus suffered on the cross

With His own blood He paid sin's cost

That each soul might have

The chance to be redeemed.

That's why freedom, freedom isn't free!

It costs the lives of those who dies

To make our nation free;

And each sacrifice became the price

To buy my liberty,

Because freedom, freedom isn't free!

by Brett Bedwell

Answers

At long last the answer has come:

JASON'S LEAVE WAS APPROVED!!!! :)

He is going to be getting home on December 8th and leaving on the 27th. We will get to spend 11 or 12 days together and that is EXCITING! :)

I can't even begin to describe how happy I am…WWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOO HHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

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!

What I've Been Up To....

I'm SOOOOO sorry that I haven't posted in SOOOO long! I guess I have had a MAJOR case of "done-with-college-don't-feel-like-doing-a-thing" blues! All that I have felt like doing is sleeping, taking it easy, vegging out, etc...
So, to pick up from where I left off...
Last Sunday morning I went to church with a former manager and friend of mine, Nan. Her church had just recently built a new building, and she wanted me to see it. It was a good experience and I was glad that I went.
I didn't go to church Sunday night cuz I was NOT feeling well at all! :(
Monday Mom and I ran a bunch of errands, including doing some job hunting...to no avail. NO BODY is hiring at all! Please continue to pray that I will find a job. In the afternoon went up to Goshen to the GI doctor and he did a very thorough exam and scheduled me for some testing on Friday. While we were up there we also went to Sam's Club and DUNKIN DONUTS (my favorite!! :})!!!!! I like DD MUCH better than Star Bucks, or any other coffee shop. I guess I started to get into them at college cuz they are MUCH cheaper than any other coffee shop. Surprisingly, I don't like to get donuts, just coffee, my favorite being an iced latte (as Bro. Mike knows VERY well!! LOL! (fond memories....)).
I honestly don't remember what I did on Tuesday (my brain has completely blanked it out!), which probably means I rested a lot! It was Mom's 40th birthday! Last week I had ordered her a cake from Betty's Cakes, which is a little bakery here in Warsaw that makes the most AMAZING cakes in the whole world, their frosting is TO DIE FOR!! YUM! I ordered a strawberry cake wth chocolate frosting! It was rather good!! :) :)
On Wednesday I had an hour in a half interview with a photographer. I took some pictures for him and we discussed different photographic styles, etc. The job is a definite MAYBE!! Oh joy...that's what they all say.
Daddy came home from Minnesota on Thursday! It was SOOOOOOOO nice to see him! :) I also went to my church for the first time, it was nice to see everyone again.
Friday.....mom and I went garage saling and then to the hospital for blood work and an almost two hour test... Boy was that BORING!! However, I did get a WONDERFUL iced latte afterwards, so that did help.
Saturday morning we went to Flint Michigan to visit my great grandma. We kinda decided to do it last minute, but it was nice to go see her. I hadn't seen Mormor (as Samuel and I call her) since August when we went up and saw her on our way to New York. She will be 91 in July and still lives by herself, and drives!! WOW! Sunday afternoon I drove her car, and it was REALLY nice! It's a '98 Chevy Lumina with only 42,000 miles on it! Grandpa and Grandma bought it brand new, and since Grandpa died in 2000, Grandma hasn't driven it much further than the grocery store! I told her that when she finally decides to sell it that I would be VERY interested in it! She laughed and told me that my dad had already told her that he was interested in it when the time came for her to sell....guess dad n' I will have to fight it out!! LOL!
We drove home on Memorial Day. That was quite the trip! It started out fine, but when we stopped for gas and food just inside the Indiana boarder the van was accidentally locked with the keys inside! LOL! Thus we spent about half an hour attempting to break into our own vehicle!! It was rather exciting and somewhat frustrating, but as my uncle said, who knows what God was sparing us from with that delay, we may never know this side of Heaven what may have happened had we not been stopped!
Mom and Dad decided once again VERY last minute to get a hotel for just the 2 of them for last night! It was a birthday present for mom since dad missed her birthday. So Samuel and I had the run of the house last night! It was nice! We watched movies and I baked some peanut butter and chocolate bars!
Today I went to a new chiropractor. My family started going to them while I was away at college, so this was my chance to get in with them. I really like the Masterson's and think that their treatment should help my neck issues!! YAY!
My entire family had doctor appointments in Goshen today. Just routine physicals and check-ups. I had to have a physical for Shawnee for next school year. It went well, all that we're waiting on is the TB test to come back...it should be fine though.
Tonight I finished cleaning my room! I've been working on it since I've been back home. I did a MAJOR spring cleaning! I threw away SOOOOO much junk, and sent several boxes for our garage sale, whenever that is going to be....It's so nice to have a neat and clean room! :)
I will try to be more faithful with blogging. Now that I'm hopefully over the lazy hump (don't count on it though).

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!

Easter Sunday and Easter Monday

I had a really good Easter Sunday. I didn't ride on the bus because the choir did a special concert Sunday morning and so everybody was required to be there, and we had an early choir practice at 8:15 that was also required. We sang 3 songs, "Up From the Grave," "It is Finished," and "Alive!" I liked all of them, but Alive! was my favorite. There were a lot of kids that rode the bus yesterday! I was really surprised! It was REALLY good. I don't think I mentioned this before, but on Friday the church had a teen activity and one of the guys on my bus route got saved!! That was sooooo cool!!
I was able to have Easter dinner with the Phillips' and the McMahon's. It was a lot of fun and good food!! :-P
Mrs. Phillips, Bro. Mike, and I had to be back at church by 5 for choir practice. I checked my phone and found out that a friend of mine had died about 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon!! He had been diagnosed with colon cancer 2 weeks ago, and apparently it was worse than I had thought. Please pray for the DeKruyter family as they are dealing with this sudden loss of a brother and uncle. I called him Uncle Dave, or Duncle Ave, and I know that I will miss him and his sweet spirit and the hours of music that we used to play together when he lived closer to us. His funeral will be Saturday in Illinois, where he lived. My family will be going. I think mom is going to be doing the music for the funeral cuz Uncle Dave was the pianist for his church. I know he has left a HUGE gap in his family, church, and friends lives. We will miss him! But he got to go home on Sunday, as he so wished to do, and not just any Sunday, but Easter Sunday.
It's a good thing that Mrs. Phillips was in the jeep with me cuz she gave me a hug, and I needed it REALLY REALLY bad!!
After that everything is pretty much a fog. I know I was at choir practice and church and I worked, but I don't remember any particular details.
After work I came back to my room to study for a World History test. That was fun....NOT! I was up pretty late. UGH!
Today dawned WAY to bright and early, well it wasn't exactly bright, just early, 5 am! YUCK again. I hate late nights and early mornings, they happen all the time. I guess that is just part of college life, but I still don't like it at all!
I think the World History test went ok. I had to use the process of elimination quite a bit. Oh well, at least Mrs. Donaghue brought chocolate to class with her, so that did help. :) Other than that classes went fine.
I got to sleep for almost 30 minutes between classes and work which was LOVELY!! Between the nap and a big mug of coffee I was able to make it through work just fine. :) There was no Christian school today because it is Easter Monday, I just think that they didn't want to have class, cuz the college still had classes. Since there was no mess to clean up in the school I was able to finish work early! I even did some extra things that I don't normally do and still was done 25 minutes early!! :) :) That made me VERY happy!
I just have some minor studying to do tonight and then I am going to work on the World History lesson that I am teaching on Friday....I think that will be fun! :)

Resurrection!

As I think about Easter and what it really is, the celebration of my Savior's resurrection, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude to Jesus for all that He has done for me. He took my sin on Himself and for me He died so that I might live eternally with Him. I think of the pain of betrayal, I know how I feel when a friend has betrayed me, yet Jesus had the ultimate betrayal. His suffering through illegal trials, being falsely accused and yet did not defend Himself. The beatings, the mocking, the long walk up to Golgotha, the nails being driven one by one into His hands and feet. As He hangs on the cross Jesus endured more mocking and utter rejection by the very people for whom He is dying, yet He pleads with His Father to forgive His scorners. The sky grew dark and there was a great earthquake, as Jesus, the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice, takes on all the sin of the world, past, present, and future. He took on my sin and yours. After three long hours He said, "It is finished," and died. Not believing that He was dead, a soldier stabs Jesus in the side and out of it flowed water, a wonderful symbol of living water, water that you and I may drink of and live eternally. They took His body from the cross and buried it in a sepulchre, sealed His tomb, and placed guards around it to keep His body from being stolen. For three long days and nights Jesus' body lay in that tomb. But on Sunday morning Christ arose! He now lives so that you and I may live forever!

Why Should He Love Me So?

Love sent my savior to die in my stead;
Why should He love me so?
Meekly to Calvary's cross He was led;
Why should He love me so?

Nails pierced His hands and His feet for my sin;
Why should He love me so?
He suffered sore my salvation to win;
Why should He love me so?

O how He agonized there in my place;
Why should He love me so?
Nothing withholding my sin to efface;
Why should He love me so?

Why should He love me so?
Why should He love me so?
Why should my Savior to Calvary go?
Why should He love me so?

-Crystal Lewis