Update

Here's a random update of things our family has been up to lately! But first, I want to ask you to pray for a young man (the son of some friends of ours) who is around Caleb's age, and was seriously injured in a rollerblading/car accident last week. His name is Landon Hochstetler, and you can visit his CaringBridge website here. Amazingly, with God's help, his dad talked to the man who caused the accident and forgave him. Landon is now in a coma and in very critical condition, and needs prayers especially for his brain, which has been swelling very bad.

A few days ago, we gave our yellow lab, Daisy, away. We decided it was the best thing to do for our family, but it was still sad to see her go! Thankfully, she went to a very, very good home, and the family actually owns one of her puppies from a previous litter! So we were glad for that.

I found out last week that Shining in Her Corner was not accepted as a semi-finalist in this year's San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. While I was disappointed, it is God's movie, not mine. It looks like there was a lot of great documentaries this year!! You can view the semi-finalists HERE. I hope to have Shining in Her Corner available for sale on my website in just a couple weeks!

This year, we've gotten lots and lots of squash and pumpkin from the garden! YUM! We've all worked together to clear weeds, pick produce, and load up (or . . . ride in?) the trailer! :-)

 

Well, I hope you all have a great weekend!! Videos from the music festival coming sometime in the near future, hopefully. :-)

Sobering Video by Francis Chan

Persecution in India: Francis' Response from Cornerstone Church on Vimeo.

Would You Study the Bible If You Got Hung For It?

(copied from the Persecution Blog)
In the sixteenth century, King Philip II took a hard line against those who would try to interpret Scripture for themselves. Anyone found studying the Bible during this time was hanged, burned at the stake, drowned, torn in pieces, or buried alive.

 The inquisitors from the king were sent to inspect the house of the mayor of Brugge to see if any Bible studies were taking place there. In their search, they discovered a Bible. All present denied knowing anything about it. Then a young maidservant came in. When asked about the Bible, she declared, “I am reading it!”

 The mayor sought to defend her saying, “Oh, no, she doesn’t know how to read."

 But the maidservant did not wish to be defended by a lie. “It is true, this book is mine. I am reading from it, and it is more precious to me than anything!”

 She was sentenced to die by suffocation, sealed in the city wall. Just before her execution, she was asked by an official, “So young and beautiful and yet to die?”
She replied, “My Savior died for me. I will also die for him.”

When finally one single brick remained to complete the wall, she was told again, “Repent! Just say a single word of repentance!”

Instead she voiced her single desire to be with Jesus and added, “O Lord, forgive my killers!”

To some the Bible is simply a book—a bestseller for years running at that. To others it is merely a family tradition—given at weddings, births, and funerals. Still to others, it is God’s holy and inspired Word. These believers cling to the words as if they were letters from a lover, pouring over them again and again. What do they see in the truth of God’s Word? What makes them willing to risk death to read it? Ask God for the answer. If its truths remain a mystery to you, ask God to open your eyes to see his words more clearly. Without his help, the words will remain marks on a page. But God can bring them to life.

I Am SO OLD! :-)

Can you believe I turned 20 on August 31st? Wow. Time really flies faster the older you get. It can be so easy to look to the future and think of where you'll be then, instead of focusing on doing your best for the Lord in the here and now! :-)

My family helped me to have a great birthday!! Before I show you any birthday pictures, though, here's a few old ones of our family, just for fun!

This one's REALLY old!! Don't you love those hairstyles and the big glasses? ha ha :-)

These are a little more recent - probably taken in the last 6 or 7 years. God has sure grown our family!

Now for some birthday pictures (taken by Caleb). These are a couple of special cards I got from my friends Hannah (in the b&w picture below) and her little sister Tabitha. Thank you girls for writing me!! I was so happy to get cards from both of you!

Lydia and I in our matching t-shirts from Amy Vest! And the card with the pink heart is homemade from Lydia! She always creates the most colorful and creative cards! :-)

Thanks Daniel for the body pillow!! I always sleep better with puffier pillows. :-)

YUM!!!! The same thing I get for EVERY birthday - AMERICAN CHEESE!! My favorite!

 

This is my "birthday movie" - Standing Firm (thanks Caleb!). I had never seen it before but I thought it was very well done (especially since it was the director's first movie).

 

Ethan and I reading the special card he made me. :-)

Oreo Ice Cream Dessert . . . . oooh, my mouth drools at the thought. ha ha :-)

Thanks to my family for making my birthday special!!!
What are some fun traditions that your family does for birthdays?
I'd love to hear from you!

Dying to Self

Caleb's 17th Birthday!!

My baby brother turned 17 on Friday!! Boo Hoo!!!

I wanted to show you all some pictures from his scrapbook, so I snapped a few with my camera. Isn't he just CUTE?! Wow, can you believe this family picture is from 1994?!

(notice the fish in my uncle's hand)

This picture below is one of my all-time favorites. Those were the good old days. :-) It's sobering to see how fast time flies, but it's exciting as well!

We got Caleb as a foster child on my birthday (yep, he was the best birthday present I ever got!) and he was only three days old. Then just 15 months later he was ours! :-)

 

And here with are with the newest addition to the family - Daniel! But I'll save the rest of his baby pictures for a November post, when his 14th birthday rolls around. :-)

 

And here's my little . . . er . . . my taller-and-stronger-than-me brother on his special day!! He just relaxed and did nothing all day, as you can tell.

Opening special cards . . .

 

 . . . and gifts.

(yes, that's a double-pack of store-bought peanut butter - we tend to give each other favorite foods for birthday gifts!)

Isn't he handsome?

Caleb loves to make me laugh . . . . along with Ethan of course!! :-)

Happy birthday to my awesome brother!

Photo Shoot with Little Ethan W.

 

 

 

 

 

It was fun to do a photo shoot with little Ethan W. the other day!! He is so cute! I shot the pictures with my Canon Rebel XS and I used both Picasa and Adobe Photoshop Elements to edit them. I still have a lot to learn so thanks for letting me practice on you Ethan!