For the Week It's Been!

 Please note that this was written on Saturday, Jan. 28.  

Wow, I feel completely worn out from this past week, and then I realize I still have a day left -- which is also full! :)

  Sunday morning was a Brazil team meeting.  We discussed a couple fundraiser dinners we'll be having for our church, which was exciting!  It's getting closer and closer, and it will be here before we know it!

 Sunday afternoon and Monday I stayed home since I didn't feel very good.  I'd rather be healthy or actually sick, not in the middle. :)  Tuesday and Wednesday were also stay at home days besides youth group on Wednesday night.  But those two days were also get-down-to-school days.

 I had a coaching call for college on Wednesday, which is always a highlight.  We went over how Sociology was going.  My coach had some pointers of what my next steps should be and we made some goals to be done by...the end of the week -- which will be today. :)  There's so many resources for this test, it's hard to know what to do next!  But I started studying with a new resource now, called InstantCert, which has been really helpful and I'll be able to use it for my next test, too.

  Thursday I had LIVE for Christ which went well.  We talked about being dedicated to God and living our lives wholly for Him.  We started singing different songs such as "Every Move I Make" and "Big House" (two of my favorites from when I was younger) so that's always exciting.  It's fun to see them doing the actions and praising God.

 Friday I worked for a few hours, which is always fun and I always learn a lot!  And we relaxed with a movie that night.

 This morning was an early morning (for a Saturday, at least) as we went to church to set up for the fundraiser dinner tomorrow.  I buttered 18 long loaves of bread -- we had 4 ladies on the "bread team", some slicing, one making the garlic butter, and me buttering.  We had a nice little system going while the others browned hamburger, set up tables, boiled spaghetti noodles, wash dishes, made a banner, etc.  What a great time of team-building and fun-ness! :)

 But...after this week, it's nice to be relaxing.  I actually read a leisure book this week (and finished it!)!  That is quite an accomplishment these days.  I look forward to being able to do more of that. :)

This week I'm thankful for...
201. study calls
202. girl game night with friends
203. Brazil planning
204. a new sweatshirt
205. index cards
206. finishing my bedroom
207. friends passing college tests
208. late night talks with my mom
209. answers to prayers
210. Brazil team building

 Have a blessed week!

 ~Sierra

Project Bedroom: Complete!

 After one week, my room is completed!  While I was at work yesterday, my parents rearranged my room and today my dad helped me finish the wall!

  I love it!

 This is what they look like close up. My room is so much brighter, and girly! :)

Relieved and tuckered out,
   ~Sierra

This Week's Project

 This week's project has been exciting for me!  Saturday, we went to the hardware store to pick out some paint colors.  When I was little, I remember taking paint chips just to play with them.  At least now I have a reason! :)
 On Sunday, I started to rip away the deer mural, which took a lot of work, but I finished on Monday and was able to start priming!

 *Before* unfortunately, I wasn't smart enough to take a picture after my bed was pulled out so you could see the whole wall, but there are two more deer covered up by my bed.

 This was after the mural was pulled off.

 Now, on Monday night, I painted the first coat of primer on the wall.  Because I painted the wall a darker color, the primer was gray -- it would have been a pretty paint color, just not for my room.  Again, I wasn't thinking and didn't take a photo of the wall covered with primer, but it wasn't too exciting.

 Tuesday morning, I slapped on another coat of primer, waited an hour and a half, then painted the first coat of paint.  I didn't take a picture of the first coat, but that was on purpose -- it looked horrible.  I'm no pro at painting, but I like how the wall turned out after the second coat.

 Yes, the room is still in shambles with the blue tape around the edges, the bed in the middle of the room, but.  It's not done yet!  Well, I will be putting my room back together today, but this is not the end of the renovations.  Last Thursday, we went to IKEA and picked up some things that will help finish this project.  I'll be posting pictures of the completed results later...when it's completed. :)

This week I'm thankful for...

191. great night at youth group

192. LIVE for Christ girls

193. donations for Brazil

194. paint chips

195. selling stuff on eBay

196. IKEA

197. the Apple store

198. setting financial goals

199. painting my room

200. I'm healthy

More Beautiful You

 Yesterday, I had a LIVE for Christ meeting.  We talked about 'accepting the way God created you'.  This is such an important topic for anybody.  I wrote a bit about this topic back in July.
 At our meeting yesterday, I shared this video:

 As one of the girls pointed out after seeing this video, "You are supposed to bring out your natural features with make-up, not cover them up and create new ones."

 I'd like to share this quote with you:

"If the world didn't create me, the world cannot define me."    ~unknown

  Always remember Psalm 139:14, which says, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

~Sierra

January 9, 2012

Today's Verse: "But He said, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  ~2 Corinthians 12:9

Today's Quote: "There is no pit so deep where God's love is not deeper still."   ~Corrie Ten Boom

Today's Photo: 

 It's been quite the week.  It's been a bit hard getting back into the hang of school, but I'm getting there. :)

 Friday, my cousin and her kids came to sleepover, which was so much fun!  Saturday, was such a productive day for me!  I was wiped out, but it was nice curl up and watch a movie that night.  Sunday, my mom and I had a Brazil trip meeting.  Our dates were confirmed: June 24th to July 4th.  Wow, it seems so close now that it's 2012!  We discussed fundraising, did some team building activities, and talked a bit about our schedule leading up to the trip.

 This week is a busy one, but we'll see how much gets accomplished.

This week I'm thankful for...

181. my sister turning 13

182. cousins sleeping over

183. eBay

184. having a quiet day

185. two video calls with CP! sisters

186. having a study buddy

187. family game night

188. youth group worship team

189. Crazy Love by Francis Chan study

190. prayer

 ~Sierra

just a quick post

 Today was the first day of school after Christmas break.  It's been difficult getting back into the swing of things.  But also, I'm kind of excited to be starting again!  After a break like this, I always feel much more able to accomplish things.  I just realized something: this break was my first "official" break since the beginning of August when I took one week off for moving.  Yikes!  No wonder it was nice! :)  And by the way, going through the summer was my choice (not that I'll do it again...). ;)

 This week I'll mainly focus on school...it's a pretty quiet week.  Tomorrow, my sister and I are going to go to worship team practice at our youth group for the first time.  I'm excited!

 Oh!  I almost forgot.  Yesterday, my mom and I stopped at Walgreens and got our passport pictures taken for our trip to Brazil!!!  Whoo-hoo!

 I also wanted to share a verse with you that a friend posted.

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."    ~Galatians 6:10

 That's a great goal for this year, I think!

This week I'm thankful for...

171. hair cut

172. sweet notes from friends

173. a great LIVE for Christ Christmas party

174. sleepovers

175. shopping with a friend

176. Craft Direct -- the best craft store ever

177. family weekend

178. a walk in the fresh snow at 9pm

179. getting passport pictures taken

180. a warm bed

May you be blessed!

   ~Sierra

A Year Behind Us and a Year Ahead of Us

 Let me tell you, I am excited for 2012!  I'm ready for some new beginnings.  A new year with a clean slate.  2011 had some ups and it had its downs, too, as with any year.  But I've put together a list of some of the events that happened in 2011:

• I turned sweet 16 and my mom threw me the greatest party ever
• I got my driver's license
• At age 16, I started college and earned 27 credits
• For the first time in my life, I moved :)
• I started developing sweet friendships with "sisters" that I can't wait to continue to get to know
• My mom and I developed a close relationship
• My family found a church we love
• I applied (and got accepted!) for my first mission trip
• I witnessed, first hand, how God answers prayer
• I discovered more about myself and who God wants me to be
• I made sweet memories with friends

 Those are just a few things that happened this, excuse me, last year.  As for 2012, I have some goals.  In fact, I have quite a few goals.  For the first time, I am actually dead serious about sticking to my New Year's Resolutions.  Below are only a few on my list of 19 goals:

• Become a junior in college by December 31st, 2012
• Take at least one picture each day
• Blog at least once a week
• Journal once a week 
• Trust in the Lord with all my heart
• Be a better encouragement to others
• Be a reflection of Him
• Try to attend at least one prayer call each month
• Have at least one video call with someone a month (try to have more)
• Buy a laptop
• Read 20 books

 Lord willing, I will be able to accomplish my resolutions.  Lord willing, I will grow closer to Him.  Lord willing, I will become a better student, sister, daughter, and friend.  And Lord willing, I will live 2012 fully for Him.

 May you have a blessed 2012.

 ~Sierra