My last post for awhile!

I leave for school one week from tomorrow, so I might not find time to update for awhile. (like I did this summer... *rolls eyes*.

Anyway, so I've been living at home and nannying this summer - it has been such a great experience. I'm getting lots of practice planning outings and meals - and discipline, too, which I do not enjoy so much. Being with the kids all day, having to listen to their nitpicking and namecalling - I realized it must be SO OBNOXIOUS to my parents when I and my sisters act that way!
I've also been pushed farther in correcting people, or figuring out the best way to tell someone they are wrong. Man, it has not been all high-flying but God has taught me so much this summer!

And now I move to Florida in one week! CRAZY! I'm overwhelmed with excitement for this opportunity - but of course as the day draws near, I'm being filled with last minute doubts and panic. I don't want to go far away! I don't want to leave home! But I tremble with delight thinking about the warm weather, the friends I will make, the incredible chances to grow! AND to be back at a Christian school again - I have missed that!

So, thanks for reading. I'm out for now!
-Lexi

Books I'm reading right now

I got this book for my plane ride home from Florida when I went down for orientation. I have not gotten very far (just too busy!) but I have heard great things about it and I can't wait to get into it!

I also finished 'Clay in the Potter's Hand' by Dorothy Sun today. That was a hard book to read - I almost put it down 3/4 of the way through. It just makes you miserable reading about the torture and suffering Chinese Christians have gone through!

Let's see... what else. I also just read Renting Lacy by Linda Smith and Cindy Coloma. Ohhh, that is a must read! It's about prostitution in America. It is so sad, so awful. Here's a paragraph that really touched me:

When I grow up, I want to be a prostitute.
I want to be used by men however they wished.
And I'll say, "Oh baby, yes, I love it, I love everything about you." And I'll hold back my vomit and keep on my smiles to convince them, so they'll stop slapping me. But because I love it, because I love the taste of everything about them, they'll say I'm a slut, a dirty little girl who needs to be punished. They'll burn cigarettes into my skin, jab me anyplace they like, bloody my nose, blacken my eyes, laugh at my tears, hold a gun to my head, cut me, tattoo me, as their eyes grow large and excited. I'll scream and cry and beg because I can't act anymore.
I don't want to be riding a pink bicycle with a basket in the front. I hate the little girls with their hands held tight by fathers, fathers who look at me in disgust and cover their daughters' eyes so they don't see me. I don't want to be one of those girls with a decorated bedroom and frilly pillows on my bed. I don't want to giggle and talk about whether a boy likes me or not. I don't want to decide for myself whether to wait for marriage to have sex and remain a virgin.
When I grow up, I don't want to attend college, consider joining a sorority, or have my own apartment. I don't want to try different career paths or figure out who I am. I don't wish for a wedding day in a church or on a beach with bridesmaids, a dad walking me down the aisle, little flower petals beneath my feet. Who cares about baby showers or decorating a nursery? I don't want to learn how to cook or decide between being a stay-at-home mom or a working mother. I don't want any of those things.
Because when I grow up, I want to be a prostitute.

-from Renting Lacy by Linda Smith and Cindy Coloma. Doesn't that break your heart?

I'm working on this book, too. I wish I had more time to read!


Other books escape my mind, but I have had time to read a few others this summer. I read a fantastic summary of American history, with great pictures and quotes! I just can't remember the name though. That's all I got!

Thanking God for summer!

Finally on here again - finals came and went and I've just gotten busier and busier. I started another blog, http://www.theantivegetarian.blogspot.com/, about my battles with food allergies, and I am going to try and post on that regularly so this blog might have to be put on the back burner.

I started a great nanny job this Tuesday, and got my first car the Tuesday before that - God is providing, no doubt about it! I was thinking about that the other day - I get so excited when great things happen, and am so thankful that God is providing - but He's providing all the time, isn't he? With rare exceptions (aka when we let my dad do the grocery shopping), I am able to find healthy food that I can eat in my kitchen every day. I've been blessed with a great church and a family that I love to be with. Last night we went to the Relay For Life in town, and I marveled at the AWESOME city I get to live in! So many people came out to support the fight against cancer. I feel like I must live in the best place in America!

When I stop to think about it, it boggles my mind how great my life is - and then I start to feel like a spoiled brat. I need to remind myself what people in the rest of the world are going through. I was just reading Compassion magazine's summer issue on Haiti, about the horrible things people in Haiti went through when the earthquake struck. It stirs me up - I want to go live there instead and try to help!

And in my hometown too - there are many homeless people here. A couple of times I've gotten gift cards and given them to people looking for help - I really hope it makes a difference. I don't know. My prayers are probably far more important, anyway.

On a less serious note - I'm going to try and take my nanny kids to the library once a week. Yesterday I was able to actually finish a book, the Lost Island of Tamarind. I LOVED it! I suppose some people would find it juvenile, but I adore jungle-sea-lost-children-pirate-princess adventures, and this book was packed with them! A girl and boy and their baby sister live on a boat with their scientist parents, who are washed overboard during a storm. The siblings manage to find a island that immediately shows itself to have some magical properties. There's lots of scheming and adventure and they go all over the place - the island has all kinds of different cultures and peoples whom the kids come into contact with.
The book had lots of minor mysteries and plot twists (which I love), most of which were revealed at the end ( I didn't like that not everything was explained!), and of course, a very happy ending. I wish it were a whole series, but alas... I'll just have to read it again someday. :-)

Well, it's time to say goodbye for now. I would love to be posting every week, but I just get too busy. *sigh* Maybe I will have better luck with the Antivegetarian!

Thank goodness for Hebrews 13:5 - 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'!

Yikes! I keep meaning to do another post, and have even opened the page a few times, and then other stuff ALWAYS comes up! At the moment, though, I'm putting off reading my Psych book. I have no choice. :-)

Last night I went to hear Roxana Saberi, and it was really intense hearing her story. She's from right here in North Dakota, and was reporting in Iran when she was arrested for 'spying' and held for 5 months. Her website is www.roxanasaberi.com. She has an amazing story. However, I was so disappointed that she didn't once mention God's role in her experiences. She went to the same Bible college my mom went to, and we were both pretty bummed that she wasted such a great opportunity to testify to God's grace.

I've been following the articles popping up in my feeds about Jennifer Knapp, as well. This article was an interesting read - I can't figure out Christianity Today's stance on all this. I for one am totally disheartened by Jennifer's coming out. She says the Bible has saved her, and she doesn't want to go by legalistic Old Testament/former covenant standards - I can relate, but I don't understand how she can rationalize away Romans 1:26-27.

It confuses me, but a lot of things confuse me. I don't know if I'm sinning by not wearing a head covering, and attending a church with a female pastor on staff. Am I? I don't feel convicted that I should change churches - in fact, my spiritual life has grown like crazy because of this church!

I don't feel convicted to start covering my head, either. I read that in Paul's time, only prostitutes showed their faces in public to show they were available. Clearly no good Christian woman would want to be propositioned on the street!

Today that isn't an issue, so I don't think a head covering is necessary. I don't know if I'm right. Jennifer Knapp is definitely right about thing - the Christian walk is definitely messy and hard and confusing, and the Bible is sometimes the only thing that can keep me from going CRAZY!

I wanted to share links to a couple of books I've found online lately that I am DYING to read!

Silent Tears by Kay Bratt - this lady moved to China because of her husband's work and started volunteering at the local orphanage. She was profoundly impacted and started going daily, fighing to change the orphan's living conditions. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

The Lost Art of True Beauty - eh, I just love the Ludys! This is Leslie Ludy's latest book and I'm really excited to read it. I love reading her books at night, when I do my devotions.

Field of Blood by Eric Wilson - mixing vampires and Biblical history? I don't know if I'll like it, but I want to read it anyway! The idea fascinates me.

With all the earthquakes going on, I thought this post was interesting - here are some scary facts, when you consider Matthew 24:7-14.

I LOVE this website! Poverty.com has devastating statistics on the world's death rates - it's awful. But then! they have realistic ways to help! They list so many organizations and ministries you can get involved with. I love it!

I was reading about Terri Schiavo the other day (I know, I spend WAY too much time on the computer, but at least I'm reading about important things, right?) and her story breaks my heart. Here's a petition you can sign - I can't STAND the show Family Guy, and they have made a parody of Terri's life. Her parents are really upset and asking for an apology. I am totally behind them!

Finally... I just love this mug. Lexi wants very much! :-D

Who loves a peaceful Sunday? Me! Me!

I feel like such a picturesque blogger! Cup of tea, armchair, lamplight, classical music playing...

It may never happen again - at least not once school starts! - but it sure feels GREAT to curl up in a quiet house!

Today is my last week of break, and by george, I'm gonna ENJOY it! I've already spent the last month watching movies and goofing around... now I'm going to try and get caught up before school, and cross a whole bunch of things off my to-do list. We'll see how that goes, I guess.

On Friday I leave to spend the weekend with friends. I can't wait! I love staying at home and not doing anything (going strong after four weeks!), but I think I need a break from my family. For my sanity, as well as theirs. :-D

Then I come back and prepare for the mad chaos that I'm afraid spring semester will be. My first class is at 8 three mornings a week, so I'm going to be up EARLY! :-O

On this site I found something that made me so very excited... Kratt's Kreatures clips! This was my FAVORITE show growing up and I was so disappointed when they replaced it with Zaboomafoo. Who cares about a stuffed monkey!?

Little kids who care more about entertainment value than raw, real nature, I guess. ;-)

I recently got a zebra-striped Franklin Covey planner - the little one I got at Walmart just wasn't cutting it. I absolutely LOVE it! I've been writing to-do lists like crazy. I'm hoping that I can stay really organized this year. Ha. :-D

We've also hit a few stores for New Years' sales. I found SO much stuff on sale! YAY! I found some basic things I was looking for - white turtleneck, dark jeans, neutral-colored camis - and I am THRILLED to make up a ton of new outfits! (Why have I never purchased a white turtleneck before? I have no idea, but I'm glad I finally did!)

Well, it sounds like my mother has awakened from her nap, and she's supposed to be helping me finish my quilt and accomplish a few other things, so I'd better get off the computer (and I also really have to go to the bathroom after all that tea.) Ciao!

Christmas at our house!

Silver bells... silver bells... it's Christmas time in my city!

It's 1:30 in the morning, and I ought to be sleeping. But I can't!

I don’t want to go to sleep yet. Tonight, I have an incredible peace. I suddenly have this vivid clarity, that right now there is NO where else I’d rather be, and nothing else I’d rather be doing. I am SO grateful that God has put me where I am, with the family/job/friends/school/city I have and belong to. After all,
Now is not forever.
This is the title of B. Reith's latest CD. I heard him at the FANTASTIC TobyMac concert I went to earlier this month, and now I want to chant this mantra to myself over and over and over until I really believe it. I won’t struggle with wild hormones forever, I won’t be single forever, I won’t be living at home forever, I won’t be in school forever, I won’t be a naïve teenager forever, I won’t be shy and insecure forever.

‘Cuz now is not forever.

Here is a picture from our church's Christmas program... my mom is second from the right. It was GREAT! Dancers and a school drum line and a wild heavy metal-esque version of O Come, O Come Emmanuel. I can't wait for next year!

When I took my sister out to check up on her horse and take care of stable duties, we spotted sundogs and I had her take a couple of pictures. They were NOT this vivid, though - just two little rainbow spots in the sky! She later upped the contrast and fixed them up and I think they are AMAZING! So this is what a sundog really looks like, huh? I am impressed, God!

Here's our silly puppy, Bobbie. We keep her bed under the cabinet, otherwise she will chew it up, but she loves to crawl underneath and just lay there and watch us. Every so often she'll wriggle around and change position to get more comfortable. It's so cute!

Lastly, I've been making Christmas cookies! Well... not really Christmas cookies, just cookies to eat at Christmastime. Snickerdoodles, jello cookies, applesauce cookies, and peppermint 'puffs'. They ended up being peppermint flats, but they are SO GOOD! I made them last night and I think I've eaten six already!

Yesterday I watched the Star of Bethlehem for the second time. It is AMAZING. I LOVE learning about Jewish tradition and how it affected the authors of the New Testament and the way we should understand the Bible today.
The website for this movie is http://www.bethlehemstar.net/. I highly recommend it!

Well, I should probably get to bed. I might finish another episode of Glee first, though. I've just started watching this show and I LOVE it. It does have some - okay, a lot of things I don't like, but it is more about the singing and less about the sex and catfighting and drama - that gives it an A plus in my book! Not mentioning any names, but my sister is currently obsessed with a certain teen drama (rhymes with 'gossip girl') and I HATE it. I'm so annoyed with Leighton Meester for going from Hangman's Curse to this crap! Her character is nasty!

Otherwise... tonight I am thankful for yummy cookies, a warm house, a God who sticks with me, a Savior who died for me, the internet, and mostofall for CHRISTMAS BREAK! I know I will be appreciating getting to sleep in tomorrow! Good night!

What's been on my mind...

I've been so busy with school, I really haven't had the time or desire to even log on here, much less update regularly. I am pledging now, however, to blog every Sunday! It's supposed to be a day of rest, so I ought to have time to write a few lines, right?

Life isn't any easier since I last posted. School was fun for the first month, overwhelming for the second, and now I've settled into a nice groove. I can hardly believe my first final is in eight days!

I'm working on a speech about abortion, and lately I've been reading some things about it online that make me smile, or break my heart.

Here is a 72-year-old minister who has started a late-term abortion clinic in Texas. Quote: "Am I killing? Yes, I am. I know that." He also says the 'hardest ones' are the NINE and TEN year old girls. This makes me so angry! Who gets a nine-year-old pregnant, and who takes her to get an abortion? What grandfather-aged man starts a business of killing babies? How on EARTH is this okay?

And here's a quote by Regis Nicoll, from this link:

"I dream of a day...
When abortion is not rare, but non-existent.
When “family planning” clinics go the way of drive-in theaters;
and their practitioners, the way of keypunch operators.
When every child is welcomed into this world, regardless
of her condition or her parents’ preparedness.
When a large family is praised and encouraged, rather than
frowned upon because of its environmental footprint.
When every child has a family with a mother and father to love her,
care for her, and nurture her into healthy, mature adulthood.
That is my dream."

I am so glad I found this site. These pictures of aborted babies are amazing and horrific at the same.

Here's an encouraging story about a girl rescued from prostitution who had nowhere else to go:
http://www.sharedhope.org/what/storiesofhope_tanya.asp

A girl close to my age has died in Arizona. She was purposely run over by her Iraqi father, who felt she was becoming 'too westernized'. Sick.

One more Regis Nicoll quote:

"While it is true that our nation enjoys a rich diversity of faith
expressions, that diversity is not the product of religiously pluralistic values
but, rather, of Christian notions about individual freedoms, including,
foremost, the freedom of religion. There is a reason why culturally Christian
nations consistently lead the world in religious liberty, while Muslim, Hindu,
and secular nations lead the world in religious persecution."

Lastly, here's a fascinating story about a Muslim-turned-Christian girl who is afraid for her life. And she's from right here in America! I am definitely keeping her in my prayers.

This cartoon made me laugh.

"God does not play dice with the universe: He plays an ineffable game of His own
devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other
players [i.e. everybody], to being involved in an obscure and complex variant of
poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer
who won’t tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time." – Terry Pratchett
& Neil Gaiman, Good Omens

I like this quote! Do you ever get the feeling that when we're freaking out, God is grinning from ear to ear (metaphorically, I suppose) because everything is really going to be okay and he's just waiting for us to catch on to the secret to 'inner peace' and cast our cares on him?

So... that's what's been on my mind.

Happy August!

I can't believe it's already August! This summer has been pretty cold, and it's disappointing to think that school starts in just a little over three weeks.

It's been a hard summer. My parents have separated temporarily, and I've been fine with it. Yesterday, though, I realized that it IS a big strain on me (the bizarre crying fits were my big clue). Since I'm the oldest, I'm the one they both confide in, and I feel stuck in the middle. I'm so sick of this, I actually want to leave home. I suppose it'll get better. Mom has been out of town for a few days and so things are particularly stressful.

I think it's probably the hardest period of my dad's life, since he's still unemployed. And I have no idea what to do, except pray. I feel helpless. :-(

Not everything has been bad, though. My family has fallen head over heels for this little girl.
Bobbie is a Brittany Spaniel, and we absolutely love her.

My room has been laid bare for the last few months, the paint has been sitting in the hallway since April - and we FINALLY finished the painting! I'm excited to move stuff in.

Tomorrow VBS starts. My sisters and I are teaching the 2nd grade. It's a program put on by Go Fish, and they will be coming up and doing a free concert the last night! I'm SO EXCITED!

http://www.nlag.net/images/freedomfest/gofish2.jpg

I love Go Fish. Even if all they do are kiddie songs - I still get a kick out of it. :-)

Summer is here!

Here's something that made me smile on this beautiful morning:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23679187?pg=1#ZOObabies_science

Now it's almost noon, and I've wasted the entire morning. Well, I wouldn't say wasted entirely... just pretty close. Time to get to work.

Were the whole realm of nature mine…

It’s Sunday morning, the very last Sunday before I leave school for good. I’d be in church right now, but my roommate seems to be unconscious.

It’s been an amazing year, it really has. Even though I had a really hard time with some people, I’m glad everything that happened, happened. I’m going to miss it, I think… but I’m so glad to go home!

Last weekend I went to see the Minnesota Symphony with a few friends… it was a great night! I was bored after the first song, but I had fun dressing up and taking pictures.

I thought my Historical Books this semester was pretty boring, for the most part. But now that I’ve gotten a better look at the Old Testament… I NEVER thought that it would be so interesting!

The New Testament, certainly. Paul is an awesome writer. But the Old is full of boring stories I’ve heard a million times.

The latter is still partly true… I am tired of studying Genesis, Exodus, Daniel, etc. Now I realize, though, that I don’t know ANYTHING about the minor prophet books – AND, more importantly, they are actually really interesting! :-)

So right now I’m really trying to get a good grasp on the story of the OT. I had to do a study last week on the kings that ruled over the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel after Solomon’s reign, and it really peaked my curiosity! I want to find out more about it.

Time to stop talking and start reading… buh-bye!