Second Month In

I have been doing my new exercises of weight training, crunches, and walking for two months. I am now using 5 lb dumbbells to do 4 sets of ten triceps kickbacks, 4 sets of ten shoulder presses, and 3 sets of ten bicep curls. Then I use 8 lb dumbbells to do 1 set of ten bicep curls. Then I do forty push ups. I do this routine three days a week. Two days a week I do 100 crunches in sets of ten or twenty. Then on Saturday I have been walking a little over four miles in around an hour and twenty minuets. I want to be doing twice this in a month or two.

Katie Marie Van Duren

I met her at Camp Good News three years ago. This morning I read her obituary in the Tribune. She died last Sunday in the early morning. It was sad to hear of her death but not too shocking. I knew that she suffered from heart and lung problems. She had always been open and matter of fact about it. She had a great sense of humor and was fun to talk to. She participated in almost all of the camp activities so I didn't realize that it was that serious. I didn't know that her sister had died. I looked at the picture in the paper and cried because she was only 13. I know that she has gone to be with Jesus.

It Breaks His Heart

So here I am having one of those crummy days in which nothing really bad happens but you feel like everything is against you. I missed my walk this morning because I was cleaning the house. I've been doing laundry and homework this afternoon. The rest of my family went to the beach this afternoon. I messed up on my homework problem and had to do it over again. I'm feeling sorry for myself for being so miserable. Then I'm wondering why I didn't ask for God's help. Why did I try to get through my day without Him? It must break His heart when He sees us struggling to do something and being so occupied that we don't take the time to ask for Him to help us. I'm going to go spend some time with God now.

Swing Dancing

I went swing dancing last night with some of my friends. I was dancing with this one guy (he was a really good dancer) when he dipped my at the end of the dance. I laughed because it made me nervous. "I guess that makes me nervous because I have a problem trusting guys", I told him. He understood since we had just met.
So I went home thinking about how you have to trust a guy when you are dancing. You have to trust that he won't drop you when he dips you. I then thought how it compared to trusting God. I have to trust that God won't "drop me". But the difference is that I didn't know the guy but I know God. God is God. God won't let me down or fail me. It is amazing that we can put our trust in such a Mighty God who never fails.

Walking Around

I've been going on long walks around Nipomo. I always take Belle (my brother's dog) and my cell phone (just in case something happens and I need help). Today I went on my longest walk yet which lasted for an hour and a half (I have gone on longer hikes but this is my longest walk by myself). I walked a little over four miles. I really like walking. It is fun and you are actually going someplace. The weather was beautiful today. I want to eventually walk ten miles each Saturday.

CSU Fullerton

I just applied to CSU Fullerton. I'm a little nervous and I hope I get accepted. If I get accepted then I will most likely be moving down to Fullerton this fall. I didn't have enough units so I will have to do summer school. I am taking nine units now and am going to sign up for six more units this spring and six more in the summer. So I'll be busy. I also have to earn some spending money for when I move down. My father said he would pay my tuition. I am so grateful to him. I still have a lot of work and then a lot of planning to do. But I'm looking forward to this next part of my life. I had a feeling that my life would drastically change this year and now it looks like it is going to.

Legal Murder

I gave this speech in class last week and it turned out good. So I thought I would post it here for everyone to read.

Disposable People

America is a wasteful society. We have disposable dishes, paper towels, and diapers. We throw away vast amounts of stuff everyday. But stuff is not the only thing we throw away. Let me tell you about what I call the disposable people. Disposable people are those that are thrown away because no one wants them. I am talking about abortion and euthanasia.

So what is the problem with abortion? Abortion is the leading cause of death claiming about 3,700 victims everyday. That is 1.3 million abortions per year. Over 40 million babies have been aborted since 1973. This far out numbers all soldier fatalities going back to the revolutionary war. 1/3 of people are being aborted. We could have killed the next Einstin, or delayed finding the cure for cancer and AIDS. So why are these babies being aborted? 93% of abortions are because the baby is unwanted or the timing is “inconvenient”.

Euthanasia is not yet legal in the United States but people are trying to legalize it. Euthanasia is killing a patient who is suffering and going to die anyway. Sometimes the overdose of medication is given to the patient so he can end his life if he chooses and other times it is the family that decides when the Doctor should mercifully end the life of the patient. Physician assisted suicide is legal in Oregon where a Doctor can prescribe a lethal dose of medication to a patient who is terminally ill and wishes to end their life.

Duet 30:19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

Euthanasia brings several questions to mind. Are terminally people in the right frame of mind to be making the decision? What keeps Euthanasia from getting out of hand? Will euthanizing children be made legal?

We must make sure that we do not end up like Germany under Hitler. Hitler killed Jews, Christians, and anyone who did not fit into his “perfect race”. My Grandmother remembers one day when they took all the handicapped people away and killed them just for being defective.

Our future relies on the unborn children. They are our future Doctors, Scientists, and leaders.

So what can we do to stop this? Raise people’s awareness and vote when these issues come up. Put an end to legal murder and stop abortion and Euthanasia.

But overall we must value all life and put an end to disposable people.

Empty

Why am I left feeling so empty? Why am I so sad? Is it selfish for me to want more? I feel like I'm going to cry. I feel like it is all a big mistake. I don't want to have to risk it. I just want to feel good inside. I don't want to feel empty inside.

Grades

Yeah! Finally all my grades for last semester are available. I got three A's and three B's. I am totally excited about getting an A in college algebra. Hooray!

From The Inside Out

I wanted to put these lyrics up a while ago. I have failed over and over but God's mercy is always there.

A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again
I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out