Winterfest Lights in OC with the Balls.

A tradition like no other...

My siblings have dubbed this the cutest photo of us ever.

The best is yet to come.

All Photographs were taken by Anna (and her new camera) and are used with her permission.

Copyright 2006. AGH.

Who has updated?
I have not.
There has been no work or school to avoid.
Hah.


* Sarah wrote about her Christmas break.
* Anna posted pictures from the Townsends Christmas Eve Party.
* Mom wrote about her Christmas.
* Linnea is going to Urbana.
* Mrs. Shelton received a red camera.
* Mr. Howard posted a really awesome quote today about what we laugh about.
* Sarah Meadows posted about her super, awesome, white Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Updated Blogs:

* Luke and Sarah switched blogs last week, so you can read up on that. And just in case that wasn't enough excitement, Luke just posted a picture of Ben and Greg from long ago. It is pretty funny.
* Anna post pictures of Jared and I opening Christmas presents from my parents last time I was home. I think it was Friday night. Mom and Dad gave us all steam powered motor boats. You light a candle in them and then put them in the water and they putter all around. They are really awesome!!!
*The Toilet Paper Doll is amusing, if you haven't already seen it go NOW.
* Linnea posted that Hayley was coming home and that it was Hannah's Birthday.
*The Howards posted neat pictures.
*Mr. Howard said happy birthday to Pax.
*And SARAH MEADOWS POSTED!!!! She is out in Colorado getting snow and eating lots of good foods and enjoying family time.

You know what is great about having a school break?
You can do things you wouldn't normally do or you can do things that you never would want to do, but since you siblings are doing it, it is fun (like watching the Cosby Show are 11:15 and Star Trek at Midnight). I never watch TV, but last night I felt like sitting and doing nothing. Plus my siblings can make anything fun. I love my siblings! I'm so happy to be home and I am so happy to have time to spend with them. What fun! Isn't life grand?!?


"Spock is the man." - Luke

One more

Pray!

One of my favorite Christmas Carols...
It has my name in it! heh.

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;

Refrain

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

Refrain

Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?

Refrain

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.

Happy Birthday Hannah Singer!!!

and

Happy Anniversary Parents!!!
Congratulations on 23 years.

For Mrs. Peipon.
This is Hope with her hair sort of messy because it was in braids, but at this point in the day it was falling out. But I think this picture is still cute.

I'm home.

Until I have to leave to take my finals...

I'm not sure when I will leave, but it is good to be home now. :)

And it was fun walking in last night when only Dad and Mom knew I was coming.

I love my family.

I had Dad invite Jared over last night and I walked in in the middle of dinner.

I've been having so much fun planning coming home with Dad and Mom for the past two weeks. It gave me something to look forward to during my last six exams.

It is so weird how the end of my braids curl.

I miss them.
God be wih you until we meet again.




I love you all so much!!!

Please pray for Grandipop (Joe, Mr. Howard - whatever name he goes by to you, I call him all three, depending on the day or who I am talking to). He went to the hospital last night because he leg has been swollen and it is filled with fluid and is very painful. They ruled out a blood clot, but have no clue what is wrong. So, as of when I left for class today (about an hour ago), he was sitting on the couch doing the crossword puzzle. But he is in a lot of pain and can't keep pain medicine or food down. So, if you could all keep him in your prayers, I know he and Mary would appreciate it.

And I would like to once again say how much I love Mary. She is one of the sweetest women you will ever meet in your life!! I don't think she ever gets mad. She is great. I love staying with these dear people.

I have spent four Mondays, out of the last six, in four different places to sleep. Once in a bed, once on the floor, once on a futon, and once on a couch. I usually have all my stuff in the car ready for anything on Monday nights, but this week I had taken my stuff inside and so I had nothing!! No toothbrush, no soap, no pajamas, to change of cloths, no books for today, nothing but my contact solution and glasses (I normally always carry those). So I crashed on one of the girls couches and she lent me her sweatpants and a tshirt to sleep in. I didn't fall asleep until 2am, which is funny since I had gotten up at 5:30 that morning and normally would have been so tired. Then I woke up this morning at 6:30 when the sun started peaking through the windows. It was a beautiful sunrise this morning. I hope you all were up to see it. I love those colors and the way that light is scattered (we just learned about this in physics - I just had an exam on it yesterday. haha).

Anyhow, then I walked out of her apartment and grabbed a cup of coffee (I only drink coffee once in a while, but it was cold enough this morning and my eyes wouldn't stay open wide enough). Then I headed clear across campus (25 minutes) to my favorite engineering building and now I am sitting here reading the news and enough the peace and quiet. I still have to go back to the Howards and pick up my schoolbooks for today. KLast day of class today!!! I am so excited. Bring on the exams! My life is such an adventure. Praise God for his love, protection, and grace!!

It is beautiful outside today!!!
I finished one of my finals and I have four more to take (only one more today, thankfully). Then maybe I'll be back to blog... or maybe I'll just enjoy my break without blogging... I might actually be able to get some photos while I am home though... I might have to blog those. Anyhow, 9 days until I get to come home for Christmas break. WOOHOO!!!

Look!!
No make-up at the RUF Christmas party.
It will be five months since I wore make-up in five days!!
Woohoo.

So it is official: I MISS HOME!!!

I am ready to come home.

I am tired of not being home.

I want my Mom to cook for me.

I want to see my cat.

I want hugs from my dad or Anna.

I am sick of people that don't understand me.

I want my own church.

I want my own bed.

I want to sleep for hours and not worry about missing school.

My brain is tired of studying.

I want to play games with my siblings.

I want to watch Christmas movies and make Christmas cookies with them.

I am tired of spending Christmas celebrations without anyone that I love.

I want to stay up late and talk to Sarah and Anna.

The food just doesn't taste as good when my mother doesn't cook it.

I want Luke to come in and draw on my mirror.

I am tired of not knowing where any stores are.

I am tired of having to walk out to my car alone in the dark.

I am tired of not being able to see the stars.

I want my siblings to make me laugh.

I want to hear them tell their funny stories.

I want to see my woodstove.

I want to start a fire and carry in wood.

I miss my Dad.

I miss my Mom.

I miss Sarah.

I miss Anna.

I miss Luke.

I miss Hope.

I want to go home!

I long to go home.

COME DECEMBER 20th!!! COME QUICKLY!!!

* I reread some of your letters last night.

It made me miss you all more.

Thanks for writing me all those letters.

I love to read them.

Oh and to Mrs. Taylor, I will write you back, but please know how great it was to get a letter!!! It was so encouraging to here from home. I really really really appreciate it! I know it takes a lot to sit down and spend the time writing a letter. Thank you so much for your prayers on my behalf. I love you and miss you! Can't wait to see the green room.

I thought I would let you all know that:

* Melanie Adams in going to Ukraine this summer and here is her blog to read her adventure.
* Sarah is finished school this semester.
* Hayley posted Scotland pictures. I don't know why see went there. I would like to hear the story, maybe I will when she comes home.
* Anna has a new blog.


And I think Albert Einstein was a genius.
I am studying quantum again in physics and it is blowing my brain all the different topics that he came up with. We just studied special relativity and E=mc^2. It is funny that people quote this formula becaue it is the rest energy... the real formula that we have to know for physics is E = (gamma) * m * c^2 (where gamma = sqrt (1/(1-(v^2/c^2)))). So just in case you were wondering what I have been thinking lately. I wonder if he has a biography. I am sure he does. I need to check the library over Christmas break and see if I can find any. I bet it would be a really interesting read because I can probably understand some of the stuff that he came up with. Some of it is really crazy, but it is amazing.

The neat thing is, that no matter how much we know, there is always more to know, and you really begin to see how wonderful and complex God is. If He created something this vast and beautiful, and we still can't explain it, how much more wonderful is he than our brains can imagine? That came out rather confusing... hmmmm. Anyhow, have you ever thought about the universe and how huge it is and how it seems to go on and on and on and on forever and we have never found the end of it. Do you ever wonder what is out there? And how beautiful it is that we don't just fall into the sun, but we orbit around it? And how we stay in the right orbit so that it isn't too hot or too cold for us? Once you get into the math behind all of these things, you start to marvel at the fact that they do work. It is amazing!!! The world is AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL!!! Appreciate this wonderful creation! Praise its perfect creator!

Since I have one exam and two tests tomorrow, I thought I would update now for tomorrow's sake.

If you posted in December you have made it on this weeks updated list:
(this is really sad... I am disapointed in a lot of you!)

* Linnea has posted about some of her favorite Christmas movies.
* Dasha updated her blog. I really like this blog.
* Sienna and Kyrie have finals. Pray for them and offer encouragement.
* Mr. Howard is faithful to his blog.
* Brae posted a video.
* Mrs. Peipon has impressed me with her posting spree.
* Mrs. Wingard has updated her blog. I haven't read most of it yet. But Mr. Howard told me so. haha. So go read. Also, her husband has a blog, so you can go read that as well.
* Hannah updated with lots of pictures.
* And Rachel posted and I updated my links.

My Dad has always said "bitter providences" and it has always intrigued me. I decided to look up online today who else uses this term. Surprise surprise... John Piper uses it too. And since I love John Piper so much I thought I would post a little bit of what I had found. This comes from a sermon called, "To Be a Mother Is a Call to Suffer." Hmmmm, makes you want to rush off into motherhood doesn't it? I love my mother and I don't know how she raised all of us kids. I respect her a lot, we have her a lot of grief. I miss my parents (only 14 days). :)

"Elisabeth Elliot ended with a poem by Martha Snell Nicholson (a "mendicant" is a beggar):

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne
And begged him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.
I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart
I cried, "But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.
This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou hast given me."
He said, "My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee."
I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,
As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.
I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,
He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.

That's where we have been in Romans 7. It isn't law-keeping that justifies us before God. It isn't first law-keeping that sanctifies us. It is the lifting of the veil so that we see Jesus for who he is, dying in our place and rising again so that we receive him as the treasure of our lives.

And if it takes a thorn to pin aside the veil – if it takes disappointment and loss and heartache and calamity and bitter providences – then, for Christ's sake, and for the sake of our eternal joy seeing and savoring him, let it come. Amen."

Romans 7:4-6
4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Psalm 150

1 Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,

4 praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,

5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

I am feeling extremely thankful today.

Eight exams, 16 days, and I get to come home!!!

"I'll be home for Christmas..."

Christmas is more exciting to me this year, than it has been in a long time.

Although, I will Miss Grandimary and Grandipop and their chili on Christmas.

We've been having lots of soup lately. It is awesome. I love soup!!

So today I am talking to this guy in my lab and I look down at his hand and he is wearing a "true love waits" ring. So I hold up my hand and we smile. It is that knowing smile of relief that there are other normal people out there. This has happened several times this semester (about seven... that I remember). It is very encouraging.

I say we should start a secret club on campus. We'd be like an invisibly connected club because you don't even notice rings like that unless you have one. I'd be cool. :)

Go UNC!!!

They beat the number one team in the nation last night 98-89!
What fun!

A hymn, some verses, a few thoughts...

Isaac Watts

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ my God!

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,

Spreads o’er His body on the tree;

Then I am dead to all the globe,

And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

The writer wants us to be motivated to endure in our run with Jesus this fall the same way Jesus was sustained his painful run. Verse 2: ". . . fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.." It is not a morally defective thing to be sustained in the marathon of life by the joy of triumph at the end. The reward of seeing God and being free from all sin is the greatest incentive of all.

So if it seems that there are going to be some temporary losses when you run this race with Jesus, you are right. That is why Jesus said to count the cost (Luke 14:25-33) before you sign on. But the marathon of the Christian life is not mainly loss. It is mainly gain. "For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross." It is only a matter of timing. If you see things with the eyes of God, there is a vapor's breath of loss and pain, and then everlasting joy (2 Corinthians 4:17).

When you take your day away, with Bible and tablet, to plan your fall run with Jesus, think on this; think on this: the sufferings of this present age are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to the children of God (Romans 8:18).So let us lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with Jesus. - John Piper

So yeah, this is how I have been using my time today. :) Thanks to Anna I have had these verses stuck in my head all day. I have always loved these verses since memorizing them in AWANA (that is why I posted them in the NKJV today because that is what I am used to see them in - I also love the way words sound and flow in the King James). They are especially a good reminder to me right now, since it is nearing the end of the semester and I need to be reminded to press on and continue in the work that I am doing. God has me here for a reason and I it is a huge privilge to be at UMD. I have really enjoyed most of my time here. I can't wait for next semester to come. **sidenote: Some professor is smoking his pipe two benches over from mine... I hate the smell of cigerattes and cigars, but pipe smoke is different. It is a much sweeter smell and I don't mind it at all. I don't feel like coughing. But still I have no desire to smoke. ** Anyhow, I have to go do some studying.

Countdown until the end...

* Nine days of classes left
* Seven EXAMS
- Thursday 12/7 - Physics Lab Exam
- Monday 12/11 - Matlab Final Exam
- Monday 12/11 - Physics Third in class exam
- Tuesday 12/12 - Stats 400 Fourth in class exam
- Monday 12/18 - 8am - Stats 400 - Final Exam
- Wednesday 12/20 - 8am - Circuits 2 - Final Exam
- Wednesday 12/20 - 12pm - Physics Final Exam

Wednesday Evening sometime... HOME!!!

Three more semesters until graduation!!!
Two degrees. :)

How many days of classes is that, you ask?
Roughly 225 days of classes... but I am also taking a summer course this year.
So 257 days of school until graduation.
I graduate on May 23, 2008.
So that means, 540 real days until graduation!

Anna Peipon has made my day,

I mean my week,

I mean year!!!!

Thanks for GT!!!

You really don't know how much I love these.

I am so happy right now.

This is so awesome!!!

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light, my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear, the Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?!?

"The acclaimed Maryland Chorus presents its Annual Holiday Concert. This year, the Chorus presents a special seasonal treat with members of the UM Symphony Orchestra -- a complete performance of the most celebrated choral/orchestral masterpiece in history, Messiah by George Frideric Handel."

I love it how they through acclaimed in the press statement. What makes something acclaimed and something else no acclaimed? Anyhow, I have always wanted to see the Messiah performed and so I decided since I have nothing to do on Saturday evening, I would treat myself to a early Christmas Present. It was only seven dollars. Haha.

Enjoy this beautiful weather!!!

AND I HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT!!!
Merry Christmas to myself.

I don't think I have ever enjoyed two weekends at home so much.
I love home.

I came back to the Howards last night and then there were lots of Howards there, more Howards then I had ever seen before, in one place. I was really happy to see Mr. Howard, Kyrie, Sienna, and Chalice, even if it was for a short while. You don't know how good it is to just see a smiling face that you recognize and that is familiar to you. It is a joy. Hooray for holidays!!!

COME CHRISTMAS COME!!!

Things of which to take note:
(This is not a complete listing... I didn't have time)
* Rachel you have been raised one video.
* Sienna and Kyrie receive creative mail (if Anna hadn't broken my camera, I would take pictures of her letters and post them... heh).
* New BootFox.
* Mrs. Taylor made pancakes... I love this post. I miss pancakes.
* Anna Updated.

I still don't have an answer for my little word challenge...

There are four words in the English language that end in "dous", along with their grammatical variations. Two words are "positive" or "good", and the other two are "negative" or "bad". Here are three words, but what word goes in the blank?

NO CHEATING Don’t look it up on the internet or on any electronic searcher such as a dictionary on the computer.

positive: stupendous, tremendous

negative: horrendous, __________

Oh and thanks to Hope for leaving me a Cookies and Cream candy bar on my pillow last time I came home. It is absolutely delicious. I had it after lunch yesterday during my physics class. THANKS!

Will the dollar coin work?

Check out the new design from the US Mint.

I think it looks really neat.

So, blogger has been a pain for the past two days.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO

SARAH

AND

DAD!!!

I miss talking to you both.
See you Wednesday.
I am so thankful for both of you.
Saturday night was a blast.
Stats classmates. haha.

In honor of my Dad and Sarah's birthdays, here is a little word game.

There are four words in the English language that end in "dous", along with their grammatical variations. Two words are "positive" or "good", and the other two are "negative" or "bad". Here are three words, but what word goes in the blank?

NO CHEATING
Don’t look it up on the internet or on any electronic searcher such as a dictionary on the computer.

positive: stupendous, tremendous
negative: horrendous, __________

I did homework this morning, then I took Hope out to Lunch and then we went to pick up Luke and then to Petsmart, where I bought him crickets. Now I am writing a lab report.

I have been listening to Christmas Music all day.
Here are the two that have been stuck in my head. :)

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in ev'ry store
But the prettiest sight to see
is the holly that will be
On your own front door"

You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch!
Author: Dr. Seuss
Dr. Suess was a genius!

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch.
You really are a heel.
You're as cuddly as a cactus,
You're as charming as an eel.
Mr. Grinch.

You're a bad banana
With a greasy black peel.

You're a monster, Mr. Grinch.
Your heart's an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders,
You've got garlic in your soul.
Mr. Grinch.

I wouldn't touch you, with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole.

You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch.
You have termites in your smile.
You have all the tender sweetness
Of a seasick crocodile.
Mr. Grinch.

Given the choice between the two of you
I'd take the seasick crockodile.

You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch.
You're a nasty, wasty skunk.
Your heart is full of unwashed socks
Your soul is full of gunk.
Mr. Grinch.

The three words that best describe you,
are, and I quote: "Stink. Stank. Stunk."

You're a rotter, Mr. Grinch.
You're the king of sinful sots.
Your heart's a dead tomato splot
With moldy purple spots,
Mr. Grinch.

Your soul is an apalling dump heap overflowing
with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable
rubbish imaginable,
Mangled up in tangled up knots.

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch.
With a nauseaus super-naus.
You're a crooked jerky jockey
And you drive a crooked horse.
Mr. Grinch.

You're a three decker saurkraut and toadstoolsandwich
With arsenic sauce.

After spending over three hours in my car, in the rain, I made it home just in time to leave to go to choir because I wanted to surprise Jared. I was supposed to meet him later that evening at Zias for dessert, but I decided to come to choir. I miss choir. The people there make my night! I used to look forward to choir so much on Thursdays. You won't understand unless you have been in choir. It is just so funny. I just looked around and laughed almost all of practice last night. Yeah, so it was great to see everyone again.

Then Jared and I headed to Zias for dessert. Jared ordered coffee and I had a huge glass of milk. Chocolate and milk are two of the best things to have together, not chocolate milk, but chocolate and milk. :) Then the waiter brought the bill and stuck in the the table with mints (they have changed their mints, they now give out the same kind as chick-fil-A...awesome mints!!!). Jared opens the bill and starts to laugh. He held up the bill and on it is written, "On the House". No explination (just a big smilie face), we didn't know the waiter or anything, but I guess he choose to be kind. It was awesome. Maybe I can get Jared to take a picture of the note, he kept it. But it was so completely unexpected and wonderful, I laugh now as I think about it. Seeing Jared and my family was great enough for one day, but choir and a kind waiter. That was amazing.

Jared took me home after that and I went inside and watched a movie with my whole family. It was this movie that I had bought Sarah for her birthday. It is called Condor Man and it is an old disney movie. I can't say it is a childhood classic memory or anything, Sarah just found out that Michael Crawford was in it and had to watch it. It was very amusing. And after the movie was over, Anna and I talked to nearly two hours until around two in the morning (until I kicked her out and told her I had to sleep). Haha.

I love home.
It is all so wonderful.
Being away has made me appreciate it even more!

Well, I finished my two exams this week.
I finished my two lab reports for today (15 and 9 pages).
I have another lab today.
I have a quiz tomorrow.
Another lab tomorrow.

I get to come home this weekend for Sarah and Dad's birthdays and the Magi festival (because Jared is singing 'Give me Jesus').

And two more exams Monday and Tuesday.

But I decided to update you all on the blogging world
(I didn't feel like updating last week because you all are slacking on the updates!!)

Here is this weeks updates:

* Hannah updated a lot.
* Sarah raised Rachel one video.
* Luke has nothing to say.
* Rachel raised Sarah seventeen avatars - but still fails to beat the Darcy proposing video.
* Mrs. Taylor keeps on updating.
* Linnea is in England and misses Ben still.
* Jamie translates a tea box.
* Mrs. Shelton has a 'K'new picture of Krue.
* Sienna is training rats!! What fun.
* Mr. Howard keeps the quotes coming.
* Brae and has pictures of her adorable mother.
* Why anyone would pay money for dead fish and seaweed is beyond me.
* Ben flew a stage, but failed to explain what it is...
* And lastly Mrs. Peipon has been very faithful lately!!! Read all of her latest posts.

I didn't check anyone on the bottom of my list. So they may have posted. BUT I really doubt it and I have to go do a lab report. So...I'll see you all at thanksgiving. Post on.

Don't you think 11/11/11 would be the greatest wedding date ever!!!

11.11.11

Look at that number.

It is so beautiful.

Bella/John-it is you (I have loved)

This is dedicated to Hayley and Sarah.
Miss you both.
I've watched this at least 30 times this weekend.
No one else will appreciate this like you two. :)

EDIT:
I didn't say, no one else will appreciate this... I just said, no one else would appreciate it LIKE you two.
I meant it in the way that, I have watched it so many times with them that they would appreciate it in the same way that I would.
Yes, I knew that Mrs. Shelton, and Linnea, and Rachel, and Mrs. Taylor (to name a few) would appreciate this, but I was dedicating the post to Sarah and Hayley (two of my dear friends - who I miss terribly right now and can't wait to see). So, maybe that all makes sense. It wasn't meant as a slight to everyone else. I am sorry if it came off that way.

This will be my weekend post... I should be studying for one exam, that I knew about, and two that just popped in and surprised me. Professors are like the, full of surprises... Not surprises like Christmas surprises or a single flower handed to you by a close friend (I love single flowers... reminds me of Beauty and the Beast). But mean, nasty surprises, like finding out that Gollum is your long lost brother and is coming to live with you or something alone those lines.

In memory of my Cape Cod trip last week, here are two photos. The rest are coming... Either Anna or Sarah will post them or I will when I find some free time. Mini Moke pictures and more coming soon to a blog near you!

Two Pictures:
1) This is a truck that is sometimes parked in the faculty parking outside of physics.
Maybe Jared can tell me what kind of truck it is.

2) Jared - working in a Vitamin factory.
Haha.

A huge thank you goes out to my Dad, for making this post possible. :)
I love you Dad!
I can't wait to see you on Saturday.
** If: You are my Dad, click on the picture and you'll see my lab screenshot.

** Else: you are anyone else, you can also click on the screenshot from lab, but it won't make any sense to you. And I bet it will just bore you.

I spent the night at Rebecca's house last night.
I had a blast and we so thankful that she let me crash in her apartment last night.
I really enjoyed being on campus this morning, but I think I would feel trapped and just want to get off campus, if I lived on campus. There are way too many people my age on campus. Although, it does make getting to classes so much easier. Rebecca offered me a room in their apartment, which would be so awesome, but UMD doesn't let us transfer students in. Maybe I should talk to housing again and see what they would say. Either way, I am missing out on so much of life.

Anyhow, I have lots of homework and labs to write up. So here is one photo from our trip that I will post. It is something I found up in Cape Cod. Mrs. Peipon made it a while ago. :)

A quote from ESPN just to make your day, "Florida received 63 first-place votes and 1,788 points from the 72-member national media panel to easily outdistance North Carolina, which got the other nine No. 1 votes and 1,704 points."

Carolina is ranked pre-season in second place!!!

I am glad they aren't number 1 because then they aren't underdogs and it is more fun to cheer for the underdog. I really want to frost my hair light blue when they play UMD. :)

Oh and

UNC on

Sunday
02/25/07
at Maryland

at 5:30pm.

I'm waiting all day a soon as church ends for this one.
Outside in the cold.
First row seats (okay, second row will be okay too).

I have an exam at four today and then I may post about my weekend, but probably it will be later this week.

For those of you who don't know, I took a Fall break (since UMD doesn't give a Fall break, I decided the week with only one exam, a lab report, and homework due in four classes would be the easiest week I would get). Anna and Sarah picked me up on Thursday evening and we headed up to Cape Cod. Mrs. Peipon's sister and her husband are amazing people. I had so much fun at their house. They pampered us the entire time we were there. They even beat us soundly in mexican train dominos. Wow. It was really good to get away and eat buckeyes and cranberry mustard (not together, of course). Haha.

Okay, I have to go study.
I'll write more later.

And coming soon... pictures of GT and the mini moke. :)

Summer 2010

Trip to Maine and Cape Cod and Vermont!

I'm leaving for Cape Cod with Sarah and Anna

in an hour and a half!

So that means, you all should post while I am gone.

So I have something to look forward to when I get back.

POST A LOT!!!

haha.

You won't.

But I can dream.

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

Colossians 1:13-22 (ESV)

A few things that continually amaze me:
* All things hold together in Him.
(Stop and reread that. This especially makes me in awe after spending so much time studying physics and engineering...the power and majesty that is behind this simple idea is mindblowing...I can't grasp even a little part of it)
* We have been reconciled, by Him and not by anything we have done.
(Stop! Think about that for a while as well)
* We have been transfered into His kingdom.

Things I wonder:
* Why don't I live this?
* Why do I let stupid little earthly matters get me down?!?!
* Why am I not more appreciative?

Christmas Present!

I love Delirious!

This post is for my mother.

P.S. Mom, when you click on the link, have your speakers on!!

Shoot me now!
That was the worst exam on the history of the planet.
Worse, by far, then a Dr. McK three hour quantum exam.
WHY make a practice exam easy and then make the real on nothing like it?!?
Grrrr.
I'll post more when I get out this class.

Oh partial credit to my Dad for coming up with SOS and SIS in my little word quiz in the last post. But still not correct answer... Mr. Howard asked how many letters it has... I'll say that it has an odd amount of letters not greater than seven or less than five. Haha.

So Jamie guessed the word,
so the answer is in the comments of my blog:
In case you still want to guess:
- Odd amount of letters
-Between 5 and 7
- Same upside down as it is right side up...

Figure it out! :)

EDIT
Mrs. Taylor or anyone that was there.
I WANT REFORMATION POSTS!!!
I missed being there so much yesterday.
I almost cried a few times thinking about all the fun I was missing.
The Reformation Children's party is always one of my favorite holidays.
I love it.
I miss it.
I want to hear about it!!!
Thanks to Anna for a few pictures, but I want MORE!!!

I have a HUGE exam on Wednesday.
So I am banning myself from the computer tomorrow.
So... who's who is coming out tonight.

Frankly, I must admit, that I am extremely disappointed in the blogging world these days. There are very few of you that even make it on to the list. See the goal of this is to make it so there are so many new posts, I don't have to give weekly updates of the few valiant souls that updated their blogs so that I can know what is going on at home.

So this week I want to especially commend two people for trying their hardest to give me something to read almost every day. These people would be Hayley and Mr. Howard!

Alrighty, time for Who's who...
* My Sister Anna posted about her Christmas list. She wants an M-5 Beamer. I wonder where she got that idea from. Ha.
* Mrs. Taylor is asking what color Hayley's room should be. Vote here.
* Linnea posted about how much she misses Ben.
* Jamie posted an amusing quote from a recent letter he received.
* If you haven't visited Dasha's blog, now would be a good time to start.
* Sienna posted about a trip to get ice cream.
* The amazing quotes of Mr. Howard
* Best Friend - Hayleyo posted more about England. No I don't know why I put an o on the end of her name. Haha. I just felt like it.
* And Ben posted about a retreat or something where he played dodgeball. I'm glad he is posting a few words with his pictures this year. Heh.

And that is all folks. Oh and I posted pictures from the football game. But you already saw those if you visited my links. I also have another word game coming your way. I don't know why my mom said it was funny to see a word game on my blog... because I have always loved patterns in words.

Well, I'll just post this next one now.

Find a word (that all in uppercase letters) looks the same upside down as it does the right way. So find me a word that would look the same if you wrote it down and then flipped the paper over and looked at it. :)

Have fun!! Again, no cheating!!

I was doodling the other day and I figured this out.
What fun I have while I should be studying.

Waiting an hour and a half before the game just to have good seats.

It was Blackout night so all the students and the team wore black.

They gave us hats and XL shirts.

Still waiting...

The band comes out...

Note the guys near the bottom without their shirts.

It was freezing last night.

They were crazy.

I like how Cole Field House looks like the moon at night.

Student section - all in black and extremely loud

Another one of Cole Field House.
Me - rushing the field after game - in my case it was more like walking down the stairs onto the field, just to be able to say I have been down on the field. Haha.

Maryland we're all behind you, (unless you are playing UNC)

Raise high the black and gold. (And light blue)

For there is nothing half so glorious,

As to see our team (UNC) victorious.

We've got the steam boys,

We've got the team boys,

So keep on fighting, don't give in!

M-A-R-Y-L-A-N-D (yell)

(C-A-R-O-L-I-N-A will win)

Maryland will win!

Down on the field... all the happy MD students.

I'm about to go to the Maryland vs. Florida State game.

All I can say is wow.

There are some crazy people tailgating around here.

I can see it being fun, with my family, and minus the beer.

They are all dressed to the nines in red gear.

Crazy people.

Okay...
There are these words that are spelled the same way, but when you say them different ways, they mean different things. Yes, I know what they are called, but I am not telling you, so you can't cheat and go look online for them. And if you know what they are called, no going and looking online for them as well.

I want you all to THINK of words that you can say more than one way and that gives them a different meaning...

A few examples to start you off with:
Read
Wound
Rebel
Lead
Project

Now think of your own!!
And post them, please. :)

Next week we will list mumes (which is plural for mumpsimus).
It means: adherence to or persistence in an erroneous use of language.

Or maybe a or two paragoge:
the addition of a sound or group of sounds at the end of a word

It's time for this weeks, "Who's Who is Blogging".

* Hannah posted pictures from DC and other stuff. Read it here.
* Sarah posted. I want to be Sarah.
* Luke has a new pet. See it.
* Linnea posted a picture of a shirt that she bought Bright.
* Sienna posted from the Library
* Mr. Howard is an inspiration to me.
* Brae travels the world and posts beautiful pictures and words.
* Hayley loves England. I wish I read for my education.

People I want to hear more from:

Anna Peipon

Anna Harr

Jared Shelton

Sarah Harr

Sarah Meadows

C and O Canal biking pictures from three weeks ago...

A boat... you can pay to ride down the locks.

Jared and I eating cookies before the bike ride.
Great Falls. It is much prettier in person.
Chris and Me eating cookies
Jared and I and the Great Falls

He came bike riding just for me!

Isn't he adorable!?!

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Atlantic Coast Conference announced on Sunday that the Florida State at Maryland football game scheduled for Oct. 28 will be played at 7 p.m. at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.

The game will also be broadcast on

national television on ESPN2.

WOOHOO!
Football game!

In case anyone wanted to know where I will be on Saturday evening.

Week schedule:
Monday - Wednesday - normal classes
Thursday - Third Day
Friday - come back here
Saturday - study all day, gametime!
Sunday - study all day again
Monday - study and class
Tuesday - study more
Wednesday - HUGE EXAM!!! AH.
Thursday - Leave for the cape with Anna and Sarah.

God be merciful to me
on thy grace I rest my plee.

Glorious God,
All your promises are fulfilled in Christ,
You have spoken them,
and they are done.
But I have often doubted them,
and have lived at times as if there were no God.
Teach me to ove your will,
to delight in your law,
and to believe that everything you do is for my good.
Help me to leave my concerns in your hands,
for you alone have the power over evil.
Forgive me when I have instucted you in my troubles!
May I glorify you in my trials.
Give me the confidence I ought to have in You
Who alone is worthy to be praised,
and who is blessed for evermore.
Amen.

-A Puritan Prayer

Today, I did homework, cleaned the bathrooms, scrubbed the floors, and washed the kitchen floor.

Tomorrow... Hannah and Patrick and Jared are coming to see me!!!
And we are going to visit DC!

How many awesome thing can a person handle in one day?!?
One of my favorite places to visit...
Some of my favorite people...
They are bringing me books from my favorite Dad...
We are going to eat at one of my favorite resturants...
We get to ride the metro (another favorite activity)...

I don't know how to handle the excitement!
It is like waiting for Christmas or something...

Woohoo and then, even more exciting news.
I am coming home next Thursday for the first time in eight weeks!!!!
So if you are going to the Third Day concert, you'll see me, otherwise, I'll be heading back that evening or the next. I have a major exam that next week (it is worth like 50% of my grade-YIKES!).
It will be so good to see my family again.

I talked to Sarah for almost two hours on the phone last night and then the batteries died and Hope wanted Sarah to watch a movie with her. I miss Sarah and Anna and Luke and Hope and Mom and Dad. Not enough to come home, but when I start thinking about them, I miss them. It would be so much easier to just stay at home with all of them for the rest of my life. But normally the easiest things aren't the best things. So here I am. Loving University of Maryland and so thrilled to be a part of one of the biggest colleges in the US of A and among some of the brightest minds in the nation. Seriously, I feel stupid around some of these people. They are so smart. I liked Salisbury because I felt like to smartest one there. Here I am maybe average... probably below that... but anyhow. It is exciting! And I need to go do some more homework.

Sorry about no updates.
After tomorrow, I promise I will post something.
My last midterm is tomorrow!!
I have two quizes the following week, but they aren't like having midterm exams (they aren't worth between 25 and 40% of your grade).

Oh, I went to advising today for classes... I am trying to decide if I want to take four or five classes. I am seriously considering taking five.

For all you who want to know:

* Jared posted
* Hannah posted mississippi pics!
* Mrs. Shelton posted
* Jamie updated
* Jack has a blog with a cute pic of Krue.
* Mr. Howard always updates, but in case you haven't read his awesome quotes in a while...
* Ben posted
* Hayley updated Friday
* Mrs. Taylor posted pics of the house!!!
* Meadows updated a week ago, but I just found it.
* Greg still hasn't posted again (leave him nasty comments) haha

Leave me a comment if you as well have updated and I'll update my list.
But I have an exam to study for and so I am going away from the computer now.

Guess who I saw in church and had lunch with?

Katie Cote!

I have never really spent much time with her before, but she is so much fun and she drives the cutest car. :) What a blessing have fellowship with other believers.

I hope I get to spend more time with her this semester.

Midnight Madness!

ACC Basketball Season Starts Tonight!!!

I wish I were in Carolina, but this is still pretty exciting.

Sorry, I don't have a camera, but I may be able to snag some photos off some friends.

WOOHOO BASKETBALL!!!

This is really really really really really really really exciting to me!

Go TAR HEELS!

I can't wait until the UNC - MD game.

Wow wow wow wow wow.

The thought is thrilling SO to me.

WOW.

Look who came to visit me Tuesday night!!!

I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!!

Jared Sings The Lord's Prayer
(Sideways)

I wish I could get it to not be sideways.
Sorry about that.
Oh and the shaking is my bad filming skills.
I was trying to hold the camera steady, but I wasn't resting my hands on anything... so blame me if you get sick watching it. Haha.

Otherwise, enjoy.
I think is beautiful.

Okay, back to studying for exams...

*edit for Jamie*
The US Naval Academy Chapel

Website for the Chapel
Website for the Organ

Do you ever get tired of listening

and just want to be listened to?!?

No breaks today folks.
I was up at 4:30 to take the Howards to BWI.
Then I returned to the house around 7 for a shower.
Came to school around 8.
Study Group at 9.
Class from 10-10:55.
Class at 11-12:30.
Lab at 1-3:30.
Class at 4 - 5:30.
Move my car to the South Campus.
Meet with Julia at 5:45.
Dinner with RUF at 6.
RUF at 7:30.
Back to the house around 10:30.
Homework until whenever it gets finished.

REPEAT

This week is going to be crazy and next week looks even worse.
But before I go off to study I just wanted to praise God for the girls I have met at RUF.

Friday night, I was able to go shopping and to dinner and a movie with three of the girls. It was so great to be able to get off campus and away from school and just spend time getting to know each other more.

Last night I got to take a break from studying to go to the girls RUF small group. I am growing to really love Monday nights, even though I have to leave my the house at 7:15 in the morning to avoid traffic and get to my 8:00am class and then I am on campus all day until small group at 7:30-10pm. It is amazing how much Christian Fellowship means to your life. I think about skipping it every week because I am sooooo tired. But, I am so encouraged to press on every time I go. It is so good to hear that others are facing some of the same problems you are and know that people are praying for you and want to hear about your day and talk to you about what you are going through. Plus, I love how they are all really smart and strive to not just get good grades, but understand the material. They have helped me see that it doesn't matter what letter grade you get in the class as long as you learn what you are going to need for later on in life. So often I get caught up into having to get an A that I forget what I am really there for. I am at college to learn more about this world that God created and to be able to use whatever degree I get to glorify Him.

After Small group we sat around talking and then headed out to our 11pm soccer game.
Thank God for soccer!

Anyhow, I just wanted to praise God for that and for Mr. Franklin telling me about RUF so much that I felt guilty not going. Haha. I have two really big exams next week on Monday and Thursday, so if you all wouldn't mind praying, I would really appreciate that. :) I probably won't be around much until after that. And I am also thankful that Hannah and Patrick are coming to visit me in three weeks. And Anna and Sarah are coming in 5 weeks!!! What fun to look foward to. And of course, I am continually thankful for the Howards and all of the stuff they do for me. They are the busiest people I know. Today Mr. Howard was leading a "tree tour" around the county. It was a bus full of people and they stop at big and old trees and get out and look at them. You all should come visit me, so you can meet them. You won't be disappointed. They are amazing.

A verse for you to think about:

Zechariah 2:13

"Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."

I love "Be still before the Lord".
It is hard to stop and take a moment to be still and quiet in the craziness of each day.
But it is so worth it.