Photo's from our trip to California

Here are some photo's from our recent trip to California.
We went to visit my Grandma. It was really wonderful to see her again.
We also went to the beach and Knots Berry Farm. It was a blast! :)

Me and my grandma

Us at the Berry Farm

Me and (ahem) my Mountain Dew. haha.

Dad and Boaz

It could appear that the girls in our family are happier than the boys. :D

My Aunt Joise and me (As you might be able to tell by our noses, we got into a cake fight - she started it. haha)

My little doll

I think this is a ground hog. Isn't it cute?! :)


Dad and Mom

One of my senior pictures. :)

(thanks Rae for all the help with editing! <3)

Thoughts and Happenings

First - or as Chris would say it, 'Right off the top of my bat' - I've told a bunch of you that I'd blog about the John Piper conference we went were at a couple of weeks ago. I learned something by not blogging about it right away... always blog about whatever you're going to blog about right away, because it's a lot fresher in your mind. Not that I needed to tell any of you that, as I'm sure you're all a lot smarter than me... but... just in case there's another crazy person reading this... (and likely if you're reading my blog you are one - no offense.)

Anyway. Dad, Chris, the Ditmar girls and I all started the long 4 hour drive up there on April 3rd at 3:oo p.m. The conference started that evening at 7. We made it up there just in time for my starving brother to have his Big Mac at Micky D's. I personally wasn't to crazy about the eating part, so, if you all don't mind, I'm going to sorta skip over that.

The topic of the conference was; "Meditations on God's Delight in Being God". John Piper explained how we will learn to glorify God if we learn what God loves.
One of the points that really spoke to me was that, we become like who we love and admire. If we love the world, we'll become like the world, if we really admire a person or celebrity that's who we'll become like, and if we love and adore God THAT is who we will be like. I was really encouraged by that, because I thought, you know, if I love Jesus, I'm going to become like HIM!
Piper also talked about how God loves Jesus so much, but it's not the same kind of love that He loves us with. He loves us with a merciful, forgiving love. He loves Jesus with an approving love. Thus, God loves the Son, that is, delights in the Son with infinite joy because the Son is the perfect representation and divine radiance of Himself.
A lot of it was about finding ALL our joy in God. "God get the glory, and we get the joy. And the way to get Him the glory is to agree with that and live that - finding our highest joy in HIM."
And praising God through all the little things He gives us. Piper talked about how things like food, family, things, etc are not bad, they are good. IF we use them as a means to glorify Jesus, and life up His name. Not just consuming them on ourselves. Rather thanking God for all the things we don't deserve.

So, everything the first night was wonderful. Mostly everything on Saturday was wonderful. Except. (I wish there didn't have to be a "but") He DID talk about "God's Pleasure in Election", which got quite Calvinist. And, as pretty much all my readers probably know, I'm not a Calvinist, and couldn't agree with that part. However, I've always been a very strong advocate of, "Chewing the meat and spitting out the bones". There was diffidently a lot more meat than bones, and I went home very blessed!

At Perkins Friday night discussing the sermon! :)

Me and John Piper. Yes, he signed my book too! :D

Btw, everyone. This man totally seems like he lives the joy he talks about. Wow. I think he's probably one of the most joyful people I've ever met.

One more thing. I love Resurrection Sunday. Honestly. I'm looking forward to tomorrow... just meditating once again on what Jesus did for me. He's alive! I serve a risen Savior! I couldn't be happier! :)

My Life As It Is Right Now...

BUSY. Yes, folks, that is (once again) the reason for not posting pretty much ever.
I'm trying to finish high school right now, and it's crazy. Me and geometry are *not* getting along very good right now. I'm slightly behind - but being a half-brained nut case that should be expected. :P :D

I took the college entrance test 2 weeks ago and passed, which means that I'll be taking CNA classes this summer, and hopefully going to college to get my RN in the fall.

Also, I'll probably start working a part time job in the next week or so. The Catholic Nursing home where I've been volunteering offered me a job. I just filled out my application today, and I can't wait to start. I've had so many opportunities to share the Gospel since I've been there. I keep praying that God will use me as a tool.

OH! Another *very* cool thing is that Dad said we'll be able to visit John Piper's church in MN sometime in the next couple weeks. Yay. I've wanted to visit there for over a year. Needless to say I'll be bring my camera, and this won't be the last you'll hear of this. :D
Most of you heard I didn't have my camera for three weeks, and now I have it back! Whoohoo!
My camera and I have a very special relationship, and needless to say I missed it very much!

Spring appears to be here - FINALLY! I took a lovely walk this evening. It was perfect. A beautiful sunset. One of my sweet-hearts was with me... It just made me think that God must have made those fabulous sunsets just so people like me could enjoy it. :)

Have any of you heard about my Sweetie? Well, here's the latest picture of the 2 of us! <3

My Chinese Friend Has Been Home

My sister Rachel has been home for the past couple weeks which somewhat explains my business lately. We've had a ton of fun shopping and hanging out together, especially since it had been 8 months since we last saw each other. :) She has one more week left and then she head back to China for another eight months before coming home.
So, here are some fun pictures we've taken - along with our dear old friend Brittney who stopped by for a couple days! :)

(Brittney took this picture)

(and this one - that's why Rae's face looks weird)

Me and Rae (Brittney took this one too)

Britt and Rae - I took this one
Rae and Britt again - I took this one

Happy 19th Bithday...

... To the best sister in the whole world! (No, you can't even beg to disagree!)

Since we were little (I should say "littler", cuz we're both still short!) we've played, worked, argued, (she is MY sister, you know) read, and basically everything we did we did together.

She's was my hero. I always wanted to be just like her, ('till she decided to marry a Chinese man! :D) even though I never did become like her, she still is and always will be my hero!

I truly have never know a girl as wonderful as her. To put it simply, she's amazing!

If she's your friend you have an amazing precious friend. She'll believe in you, and always think the best. If you do something wrong "there must be some mistake", and if you do something right, she "knew you could do it"!

Some of my favorite memories with her are telling her about books I just read or am reading. I remember telling her stories from Robin Hood while we both almost died laughing - to Pride and Prejudice, as I wondered if somehow Jane Austen knew her - she just HAS to be Jane! Or explaining the Ivanhoe plot once more just for the fun of it. Having her roll her eyes at me as I quoted a section from Macbeth.

The witnessing we did together Halloween night, and at fairs. Like the time she dared me to go up and witness to a group of about 20 teenage boys - wow, that was scary! :D

And then the day came when her life dream looked like it was coming true. She was getting on a plane and heading to China as a missionary - because she loved Jesus, and as she would have said it "so that the Lamb would receive the reward of His suffering."

I knew I would miss her, what I didn't know was how much. I told her when she left she wouldn't come how single. She didn't believe me. But I was right. She left May 20th, and in September she became engaged to a Chinese man. (that I had never met :'/) I couldn't be more happy for her. But neither can I help but feel said at the same time. I will miss my sister.

She's Rachel!

I Love you so extremly much! I know you have no choice but to be my sister, thanks for bearing it as best you can! ;)

Deeper Conference Part 2

Alright. I guess an apology is in order. It's been forever since the promised post about the conference, and the rest of our trip to GA. It's really isn't an excuse to say I've been busy. It's the truth. :P So there. Get over it. I'm not even going to apologize. :D lol.

We got to the conference around 11:oo pm. It didn't start till 1:00 pm - but we got nearly a front row seat. That was so worth it. :D
Before it started I got to meet Ray Comfort, and I got a picture with him. Yes, he is just the same person as you see him on his DVD's. I was actually very impressed by him. For some reason I always thought he'd be someone with a really big head, but he wasn't at all. He really seemed to care about people, taking time with each one ect.

Ray was so funny though, because when Chris went to take the picture of us Chris said "Whoa, this thing is way zoomed in!" So Ray (with his arm around me) started RUNNING backwards, and was just laughing so hard. :D

(Ray and Me)
Anyhow, then Chris and I spotted Paul Washer, so we went over then and talked to him for a bit, (and told him about a dear friend of mine from WI that says Hello! :D) and then it was time to start.

Paul Washer

(Paul Washer and me)

(Paul Washer and Chris)

I got to meet Trish too, she was so sweet! :)

The actual conference was really wonderful. It was inspiring and challenging. God really blessed me there.

I learned so much!

I think the two messages that blessed me most were Paul Washer's message on re
al Christianity, and Todd Friel's called "Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt - you can trust the Bible".

I really appreciated the things that Paul said about false conversions, and how in so many church's they spend their time trying to convert a goat into being a sheep. Also, the CLEAR gospel message that he gave was just beautiful. What Jesus went through for me. Not His physical suffering, but the separation from the Father, and the sin of the whole world upon His shoulders!

(Paul preaching for Todd's "Wretched" show)

Then what Todd shared about really just the amazing-ness of the Bible. 66 books over thousands of years, and yet all are in agreement. The propheys that were fullfilled. Wow.

Oh, and I should mention that we brought him his Honey Crisp apples, and he seemed very happy and excited about them. He said he and his family had been talking about them for months! :D ;)

(Me, Todd and Boaz - Yes, he did "shrink down" quite a bit for this picture because I told him I liked getting pictures with Ray better 'cuz he's more my height. Todd responded "We can fiz that!" :D)
I would write more about the conference and all, but since I have taken so long to write this post, I have already told most of you all about it, so I don't think it's worth it to just totally repeat myself. :P

The Fontenots

The next thing we did after leaving the conference was go to some dear friends of ours to visit them. I am dead convinced they have to be one of the sweetest families on earth! :)

We got to there place around 7 pm, we ate supper with them, us girls did some singing, we all played tag out side, (I hadn't played tag since I was like 12 :D) and just had a ton of fun! It was an amazing night.

I think the best part was being able to see my adopted sister, and amazing, wonderful friend Caiti again. She is one of the best friends I've ever had!

(Caiti and Me)
The one thing, though that I didn't think was very nice was that they MADE me drink coffee. Ok, I had promised that I would - but that's another story that I won't get into! :P

And then, I got to meet my dear, dear friend Laura! That was wonderful!

I could name each one off, Bekka, and the whole Fontenot family! (Soliee is amazing at the piano - after we finally got him to play. Much begging on out hands and knees. :D lol)

Then 10:30 pm came all too soon, and Dad said we had to go. :'( But I knew we were going to there Church Sunday morning, so that was a concilation! :D lol.

(Me and Bekka)


A Bunch of us :D

The boys! :)

We went to there Church. It was wonderful. Full of tons more sweet people. I really enjoyed it a lot.

The unfortunate truth though was that after Church we had to head back to WI. Us gals talked, (I better not say chatted or ya'll think we were on line.) took pictures and gave goodbye hugs - tlll next time. Which could possibly be at Rae's wedding. :D

Quinn and Me Quinn, Me, and Caiti

Me and Abby! ^ I <3 this girl!

Bekka, Sarah, Me, Quinn, and Caiti!

I can't wait to see all ya'll (isn't that the way you say it?) again! I miss you gals so much! <3

Happy Birthday, Ben!

You're the cutest boy in the whole world!  

I love you so much! 

Happy 1st birthday!

Apple Picking! :)

APPLE PICKER'S REEL
(Larry Hanks)

Hey, ho, makes you feel so fine
Looking out across the orchard in the bright sunshine.

Hey, ho, you feel so free
Standing in the top of an apple tree.

Up in the morning before the sun
I don't get home until the day is done;

My pick-sack's heavy and my shoulder's sore
But I'll be back tomorrow to pick some more.

Start at the bottom and you pick 'em from the ground
And you pick the tree clean all the way around;

Then you set up your ladder and you climb up high
And you're looking through the leaves at the clear blue sky.

Three-legged ladder, wobbly as ever
Reaching for an apple---whoa!---I almost fell.

Got a twenty-pound sack hanging 'round my neck
And there's three more apples that I can't quite get.

Hey, ho, makes you feel so down
Picking up windfalls, crawling on the ground.

Hey, ho, you feel so free
Standing in the top of an apple tree.

Hey, ho, you lose your mind
If you sing this song about a hundred times;

Hey, ho, you feel so free
Standing in the top of an apple tree.