For The Soul: Hebrews 11:1-6

  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he be dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had his testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
                                                                         - Hebrews 11:1-6

The All Hours Post

  Every blog has one.
  That infamous post that the blogger writes during all hours of the late night into early morning. For me, it's 2:30 in the morning. Mom, Jess, and Brit are asleep in the same room as I am, fast asleep. It is so hot in here, I am sweating with the ceiling fan and the circulating fan on as high as they can go.
  I have learned that, as a homeschooling high schooler, the best thing to do when you can't sleep other than read your bible is catch up or get ahead on schoolwork. So, I caught up on my reading (currently reading the first book in the Left Behind series), read thirteen chapters in the Book of Matthew, and did two units worth of book work for my French 1 class. When I am finished writing this quick little note, I am going to be working on my Honors Algebra 1 class, which I am sure that God gave me (I chose it, but I'll never confess!) to test my patience.
  At first, the class was pretty easy and I was able to fly through it quickly. Then, I realized it everything I had done was just the 'review' portion of the class. Now that I am getting into the actual Algebra part of the work, it is harder than I thought it would be. Now, math has never been my best subject, nor has it ever been my favorite. I was almost in tears this afternoon as I was trying to figure out the equations, because I was so confused. It's times like those I thank the Lord I have a kind-spirited Momma who was able to calm me down and remind me that I was taking an HONORS course, which is going to be harder than regular Algebra. She sat down with me for almost three hours to help me with my math, going over it with me and making sure I understood it. She said that she didn't even learn how to do half the problems I had to do! She only had to take Pre-Algebra in High School, where as in Georgia you have to take four full years.
  I think I finally realize how my Mom feels when she says she hates Insomnia. I don't get like this often, but I don't think I could do this every night like she does! And, she manages to keep a smile on her face even though she's only had around 2-4 hours of sleep! Talk about Super Mom! I made this a little longer than I thought. I'm going to bid you all a goodnight - or would it be good morning? - before I get distracted and don't end up getting any of my Algebra done. Please pray for me, for I know that more than once I will want to chuck the laptop at a brick wall until it shatters into a million pieces.

For The Soul: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

  To every this there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.
                                                                  - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

For The Soul: Philippians 1:20-27

  According to my earnest expectation and my hop, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so also now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor:  yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a straight betwixt to, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you for all your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel;
                                                  - Philippians 1:20-27

The Baby Name Game

  Last night, I was watching the new - or at least new to me - game show called Bet On Your Baby. Parents bet that their toddlers either can or cannot do certain things. If they are right, they get $5,000 towards their kids college fund and move on to the 'College Round'. Then, all of the parents compete to see if they can get the answer right to whatever the challenge is. The winning parents wins $50,000 towards their toddlers college fund.
  It was a cool show, and all of the toddlers where little cuties. As I was watching, I heard some really neat names, of both the parents and the kids. I started coming up with some baby names that I thought were pretty cute. Here are the ones I came up with:

Girl Names:
 - Jhenezkha (pronounced Jenn - ez - ka) Faith
 - Piperlynn Grace
 - Gyanna (pronounced Jy - anna) Elizabeth

Boy Names:
 - Dezen (pronounced Dez - n) Micheal
 - Eammon (pronounced A - mon) Jacob
 - Ryder Samuel

  I know that I'm no where close to having a baby, but I still like coming up with cute names.

For The Soul: Deuteronomy 23:21-23

  When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin of thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thou mouth.
                                                     - Deuteronomy 23:21-23

Gypsy Clean and Georgia Thunder

  The last two days have been spent cleaning the mobile home that is now ours.
  For the past few weeks, my mom and sister have been watching a reality show called Gypsy Sisters, which follows the lives of four Romnichael Gypsy sisters. And since they have been watching the show, they have fallen in love with the way they clean. One one episode they said "Clean everything with bleach, and what you can't, clean with vinegar." My mom and sister have dubbed it 'Gypsy Cleaning.' And so, when we started gathering our supplies yesterday before we left, my sister said that it was time to 'Gypsy Clean.'

  With broom and bleach in hand, we started the process of cleaning the trailer. It was nasty. There was dead ants in the window sills, mold in the freezer, and unidentified bug eggs in the fridge. The worst part is, the guy said he had 'scrubbed it all week'. Growing up the way I did when I was younger, I know what scrubbing looks like, and it didn't look like he did anything in the trailer.
  But, we persevered. We did all we could yesterday, then came back today to do just as much. We found some more things wrong with it, maintenance wise, and wrote down a list. Things like floor boards that are caving in, wasp nests above the stove - did I mention it was INSIDE the trailer? - and walls that were bowing inwards. After working for about five and a half hours, we left and came back to my Grandparents.
  Around three this afternoon, we heard the Tornado warnings. The mobile home has a tin roof on it, and as we ate, we got our first look - or would it be hear? - of what a thunder storm sounds like in our new house. It was so loud! Once, I was on the step ladder cleaning the shelves in the cabinets, and I almost fell off the ladder because the thunder shook the floor. It was a neat, and slightly scary, experience.

  Now, my hands smell like bleach, and I am in desperate need of a shower. But, its all worth it if it makes the mobile home feel like a real home.