An Update on My Life

You haven't heard from me in a while.  Sorry for my procrastination. :)

 Well, last Sunday, the Brazil team hosted a 1950s fundraiser dinner.  What a success!!!  It was SO much fun! The team worked so hard to put it all together, and we had many volunteers in the kitchen, nursery, and some other places here and there.  As our team leader said, our team has a wonderful mixture of people: everyone had a job, they did it, and did it well.  And I know I enjoyed doing my job with 2 other team members!  The Lord has blessed this trip SO much already and we aren't even close (when you count months...it will sneak up, though) to leaving!  Oh, and my mom and I have now both received our passports in the mail!  It's pretty exciting to be another step closer.

 God blessed another LIVE for Christ meeting yesterday afternoon!  We talked about Sharing the Gospel.  I gave each of the girls a few tracts along with a challenge to give someone or leave a tract before our next meeting.  It was such a blessing to see these girls so excited to hand them out!  The youth celebrity million dollar bills were a favorite, along with 101 of the world's funniest one liners.

 This weekend is going to be a relaxing one!  Tomorrow, I'm going to go grocery shopping with my mom.  I have decided, since I'm not the best person in the kitchen, I'm going to practice.  Because that's what everyone has been telling me to. :)  I have a notebook filled with delicious sounding and looking dessert recipes.  I came to the conclusion that I can not only practice my baking/cooking capabilities, but practice my use of the camera, also.  I'm excited to see where I'll get.

 Today I got to go shopping with my mom.  It's nice to have someone run back and forth to the racks with new, cute clothes while I'm busy trying one the one's I've already brought into the changing room. :)  We spent some time at Kohl's and Maurice's (I could spend hours at Maurice's!) and also got our nails done.  It was a fun day!  Now for some relaxing.

 Looking forward to doing some more reading this weekend, too.  Last week, I finished The Hunger Games and now I'm waiting for the 2nd book in the series to come to the library.  I think I'm number 70-something in line.  I have a friend who I'm going to discuss the books with, but she's on vacation and I'm missing her emails very much!  In the meantime, I have a couple Christian mysteries to read and a Karen Kingsbury book.

 Next week, I'm going to be starting to study my next CLEP test: Natural Sciences.  We'll see how I do on that. :)  I'm taking 8-10 weeks for this one, because 1) I still am working on high school work and, 2) Science is not my strong suit, so I'll need more time to study.

 It snowed!  Finally!  Okay, we had snow before, but it always melts before I get a chance to photograph it!    But, this time I had the chance.  Except...they didn't turn out as nicely as I had hoped.  Here are just a couple.

Have a great weekend!

 ~Sierra

Someone Who Loves Me

  Today is Valentine's Day.  Although I don't have a boyfriend, I do have a Special Someone.  Someone who loves me -- unconditionally.  Someone who would die for me -- Who did.  Someone who gives me gifts -- all the time.  Jesus.  Jesus loves me unconditionally.  Jesus died for me.  Jesus gives me everything I could ever need.  And in order to ever fall in love with someone here on this earth, I need to fully realize how much Jesus loves me.  And I need to love Him back.

 One year, my mom came back from a used book sale with a series for me.  When I began reading the book, a little piece of paper fell out of the back.  It was from the previous owner.  On it, was a letter.  A letter to this person's future spouse.

  My love, I am waiting for you.  I'm waiting till you come.  I know you'll come on time.  If we're supposed to be together forever, you'll hear the clock when it chimes.  When the time is right, you'll come right away.  I'll be ready for your call.  I really am eager to fall in love with you.  When you knock on my door, it may take me a little while to realize it's time to answer.  If I run outside before you arrive to meet you down the street, I pray that God will let me know I'm rushing.  I hope you're as excited as I am to meet you.  I really want to know you.  you're the best friend I'll ever have.  I know that the clock is gonna tick for a while, but its all right cuz I'm busy loving someone else.  You see, I'm to love Him forever and it's not a sentence.  It's the greatest gift ever.  I'm learning to love Him no matter what.  Deeply.  I need to be intensely satisfied with Him before I meet you.  When I meet you, I will still love Him.  Yes, more than you.  If I didn't love Him more than you, I couldn't love you at all.  Jesus, the man I'm loving, is teaching me to love and preparing me for you.  To conclude, I want to tell you that if you don't come, it's alright.  I'd love to love you, but I don't essentially need you.  You won't make me happy or complete.  Only Jesus can.  But I know that till you come, I'm waiting.  I want to love you.

 I don't know who wrote this, I don't know how old they were, but I ask the Lord to give me the same attitude this person has.

 On a side note, I had a great birthday!  I was overwhelmed with the birthday wishes on Facebook, and the forums.  I woke up to a special email that made me cry.  And I got a couple cards in the mail and e-cards.  A very special birthday was had. :)

 This week I'm thankful for... 
211. successful spaghetti dinner at church for Brazil
212. passing Introductory Sociology CLEP
213. a blessed birthday
214. homemade birthday cards from friends and family
215. White Chocolate Mocha
216. planning for the 1950's dinner at church for Brazil
217. applying for passports
218. calls with friends
219. my aunt's chocolate cake
220. spending time with family

 God bless,
    Sierra

Finally it's True!

  I don't know how long I've been singing this song, but finally it's true!  I loved The Sound of Music when I was little...actually, I still love it.  But that has always been one of my favorite songs, and now it's true about me!

 Tomorrow is my 17th birthday.  I am ready to be 17.  Sweet 16 was a year with ups and downs, and I'm hoping 17 will be mostly ups. ;)  Only time will tell, I guess.

 I am sixteen going on seventeen!  Whoo-hoo! :)


 Love,
   Sierra