my 18th birthday

 Yesterday was a very exciting day for me.  I turned 18.  I entered into "adulthood" (according to a friend, "where the scary things happen" :P)  I'm looking forward to this chapter in my life.  I'll be graduating high school in a few short months and already my parents are giving me more "freedoms" such as flying to VA alone in April.

 My birthday yesterday was so special!  Beware for a very long post of me ranting about my family's awesomeness.  When I went upstairs, my mom gave me a bouquet of beautiful pink roses!

 Then my mom and I went for a long walk, which is always fun. :)  And during this time of year, always freezing. :P

 After lunch (taco salad!!), I went to get my driver's license renewed.  A couple little blessings happened while there.  1) the lady who helped me was really nice, which is not usually the case at the government center; and 2) I got $3.50 off of my renewal. 

 When I stopped at Caribou Coffee to get my free coffee, the guy at the counter gave me a medium instead of a small. :)  That was pretty awesome!

 I sat downstairs and made some cards since I took the day off school and my mom gave me another treat:

 I LOVE red velvet...anything.  So my mom bought me a red velvet chocolate chip muffin.  It was delicious!  :)

 And this made my day:

 We took some pictures:

My brother, Aidan (12), and me

My sister, Frankie (14), and me

Later, when my dad came home, we opened presents.  Opening gifts is always fun, of course, but my mom put something together that was super special and fun.  She bought me 18 different gifts that reminded her of me.  They weren't big gifts, rather they were goofy, yet still useful. :P  On each gift, she posted a little Post-It note, either explaining it or giving a hint as to what it was.

a delicious piece of red velvet cake (which I split with my 

mom and sister for breakfast this morning)

my mom is very sensitive to smells, so buying soap for our 

house is difficult, because I like nice-smelling soaps/lotions.

So she bought me some soap that smells pretty good. :P

I think I've probably said this on here before, 

but I love Sharpies.

I get frustrated when there are no Kleenex boxes to be found in our 

house, so she bought me own pretty one. :)

I also love adorable stationary.  I have tons of versatile and 

"thank-you" cards laying around in my various drawers. 

these are amazing!  I always having them for my desk while 

I'm doing school.

this is pretty much a gag gift.  I am not an animal person 

at all, so this might actually come in handy sometime. :)

about a week ago, I made a comment that my lips were "addicted" 

to chapstick (which is pretty much true).  so my attentive 

mom threw this in the mix of things!

this past fall, we did a lot of work outside making my mom's square-foot 

gardens and laying hundreds of bricks down.  even before this fall, 

whenever I buy gardening/work gloves, they always go missing - 

someone takes them.  so, these are my own. :)

I love pistachios.  this was her cute little note.

"kkkkk" is Brazil's way of writing "hahaha"

this is silly: I have a couple of favorite washcloths.  every time we go 

to the store I ask for a couple more.  I'm told: "not until they're on sale."

this is really silly! :P  for about two or three months, I was making fried

eggs every morning for myself.  I still do, just not as often.  anyway, I would 

only use one spatula, because the other spatulas that we had, their shapes 

were weird.  so my mom bought me my own, in the same general shape 

as the one I like, to put in my home chest.

she picked these 4 gifts because of how much I love organizing things.

often times, if my sister and I are sitting around doing nothing, we will 

start talking about old TV shows/movies we used to love and watch when 

we were little.  lately, I have also realized that I really did learn a lot from 

these shows or that certain things will remind me of them.  recently, a few 

things have reminded me of An American Tail.  I loved this movie, so now 

I'm looking forward to watching it soon! :)

on Pinterest, I read about a lady who had saved every 5-dollar bill that she 

received: in change, as a gift, payment, etc.  in just a couple years, she had saved 

thousands of dollars in five-dollar bills!  so, I decided to start that...that's the story 

behind this one. :)

my brother made this awesome card for me!  I love it!  

but it got even cooler when I opened it up...

it glowed! there's a battery taped to the back of the card and he scratched 

this "S" on a piece of plastic and the battery is turning on a light!  he

showed me how to remove and and replace the battery, too. 

I have been playing HerInteractive's Nancy Drew computer games 

since I was maybe 9ish.  Frankie bought me the newest one! :D

My family knows me well! :D  My mom made her homemade pizza at my request and we watched a movie. I finished up the night with Blue Bunny's Red Velvet ice cream.  And also felt like I was going to throw up due to all the "red velvet" I ate!  haha

 I had a blessed day with multiple texts, emails, and a lot of Facebook notifications. :)  I also got to spend about 45 minutes on the phone with a friend.  I had a very special first day of my "adulthood".

 Love in Christ,

     Sierra

Example of Leadership

Last week, I started my very first college course.  Yes, I've taken several tests, but as far as courses with assignments and deadlines go, this is the first.  So far I'm liking it!  Of course if you were a fly on the wall at my home, you would think otherwise, but that's just because it's a stressful week this week and next. :P  But, I am enjoying it and learning a lot already!  I'm so excited as this 8 week course continues because I'll be able to apply what I'm learning immediately in my LIVE for Christ group and also as I'm co-teaching Sunday school...and any other leadership the Lord brings me this year or in my future.

 So in the first week, I have to read a book called Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.  In this book, Goodwin talks a lot about different leadership skills -- especially those of Abraham Lincoln.  I'm sure everyone has probably heard that Lincoln was a humble man.  Reading this book (the whopping 3 of 26 chapters that I've read), I've found out what he did in his humility.  Below are some notes I took about how Lincoln was humble and a good leader.

• Lincoln was a loyal friend
• during the 1860 presidential election, he was patiently awaiting the outcome, and would accept whatever it was
• though he experienced many disappointments in his life, he never gave up, he pushed through.  Yes, he got discouraged, but he kept going - he moved on.
• Lincoln was a great public speaker
• he was very consistent - people trusted him
• although Stanton said rude things to and about him, Lincoln forgave him and moved past it.  He rose above his hurt and actually gave Stanton the highest post of power that was in Lincoln's authority to do: secretary of war.  I wish I could rise above previous hurts and offenses like that.  It's something I definitely need to work on.
• He put himself out there and got involved with the public.  While he did this, Lincoln was attentive to those he conversed with; paid attention to what the public wanted.
• he purposefully kept a good track record during the running in case "people gave up on their first love", he would be someone they could fall back on, and wouldn't regret doing so.
• Lincoln always reconciled any differences between he and others
• he was ambitious; he wanted to win just like any of the other candidates did.  However, he didn't allow his want for success to destroy or damage his relationship or his character.

 I admire Lincoln for his humility and his "down-to-earth" personality.  These are great attributes of a good leader and I pray that the Lord will help me acquire some of these characteristics.

This week month I'm thankful for... [I know, it's been a month already since I've last done this!  I'll get better at posting these again...I hope :) just take note that these are from this past 30 days.]

281. the Lord providing me opportunities to lead
282. a great turnout for the LIVE pool party
283. hanging out with Lydia
284. long phone calls with Cassie
285. dipping cake pops with Emily
286. the opportunity to serve someone in need with my youth group
287. the surprise of Laura coming to stay
288. the blessing of meeting and seeing again CP friends
289. an all-girl video call
290. friends who pray for me
291. completing all my assignments my first week of my first college course!
292. a renunion with the Brazil team
293. finding out one of our translators from Brazil is coming to visit us
294. Lydia allowing me to stay at her house this past weekend while I'm in her area for a job
295. my sister filling in for me at work while I was gone
296. my dad helping me study for a test
297. finally getting a song out of my head (yes, it's that song. :P)
298. getting good grades on my first assignments
299. my mom helping me with school
300. God's sustenance through this past weekend

Love,
    Sierra

Cards and Things

  Last weekend, I had such a relaxing, yet productive, couple days!  I caught up on scrapbooking LIVE for Christ photos and also started a scrapbook for the recipes I'll be trying.  On Friday, I ran to JoAnn Fabrics to get some stickers, but found a $9 adorable scrapbook!  And when my mom took my sister and I to Crafts Direct on Saturday, I found another cute $7 scrapbook.

 The left is for LIVE and the right is for recipes and pictures of my baking creations.  I will be sharing the recipes and photos with you soon!  Better not include everything one post or sometime, I may not have anything to write about! :)

 I alternated between scrapbooking and making cards.  It's a little hobby I started a while ago.  It's fun, easy, and a good way to earn a couple more bucks! :)  Here are a few of my cards I made this weekend.  I have no idea how I made so many, but if I showed you all of them, you'd be scrolling for a while. ;-)

 I was thinking maybe I should start an Etsy shop sometime.  Except it costs so much to have anything on there!

 Last week, I got a special package from my friend Beka.  It was so thoughtful of her to send me such a cute gift.

 Now I'll have to find a special use for this darling journal. :)

 I read this verse recently and it really stuck out to me.  This is what I'll be talking about at LIVE in a couple weeks.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.  If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith."     ~Romans 12:6

 This week I'm thankful for...
221. a blessed Brazil fundraiser
222. encouragement from friends
223. good peer influences
224. shopping day with my mom
225. random gifts in the mail
226. phone calls from friends just to talk
227. an email from Cassie just to let me know she hasn't forgotten about me
228. a productive, relaxing weekends
229. sales on craft things
230. my youth pastor

 Soli Deo Gloria!

 ~Sierra

A Free Webinar You Don't Wanna Miss!

  On March 8th, you can hear from 5 CollegePlus! students and how they are fulfilling their life purpose!  If you've been wanting to learn more about CollegePlus!, this webinar is your chance!  I encourage you to attend!  You can register here: Free Webinar: meet 5 college grads who are fulfilling their life purpose.  You don't want to miss this chance to learn how I've earned 30 credits (and counting!) while still in high school!

 ~Sierra

Only One

 Since Black Friday, the number of times I've heard the song How Many Kings by Downhere is innumerable.  Almost so many times, it just slides by.  But the lyrics in that song are just amazing:

Follow the star to the place unexpected                                                                          Would you believe after all we've projected                                                                           A child in a manger                                                                                                         Lowly and small, the weakest of all                                                                         Unlikeliness hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl                                                                 Just a child                                                                                                                            Is this who we've waited for?  

Cause how many kings stepped down from their thrones?                                                 How many lords have abandoned their homes?                                                                 How many greats have become the least for me?                                                               How many gods have poured out their hearts                                                                       To romance a world that has torn all apart?                                                                       How many fathers gave up their sons for me?   

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior                                                                              All that we have whether costly or meek                                                                      Because we believe                                                                                                          Gold for his honor and frankincense for his pleasure                                                           And myrrh for the cross he'll suffer                                                                                       Do you believe, is this who we've waited for?  

How many kings stepped down from their thrones?                                                           How many lords have abandoned their homes?                                                                 How many greats have become the least for me?                                                               How many gods have poured out their hearts                                                                       To romance a world that has torn all apart?                                                                       How many fathers gave up their sons for me?                                                                    Only one did that for me

 That last line is what makes this song my favorite.  I always get goosebumps when I hear those last words.  Do you realize just how amazing it is that not only did God send us, undeserving human beings, a Savior, but He sent the Savior as a child.  A little baby.  And He did it so that Jesus could relate to us!  No, He never sinned, but He was tempted, He had to grow up in the world, He had friends that betrayed Him, He was mocked, He even had to go to school!

 My family is really big on traditions on my mom's side.  I don't remember any Christmas that has been different.  It's hard for me not to get wrapped up in family time during Christmas.  Playing games, and celebrating Christmas together is really special for me, but I think sometimes I focus on that more than the real Reason for the season: Jesus.  Some people focus on gifts, some on family or friends, some on decorating, some on traditions, and maybe we don't mean to, but stop and look: why is there a time in December to give/receive gifts, continue traditions, spend time with family and friends, decorate?  Why is there Christmas?  Because this is the time when Christ came as an infant--it's His birthday!  You know, we get presents on our birthdays, but why do we get presents on Jesus'?  My family's main celebration is on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day we have relaxing, fun day.  On Christmas Day, we have a birthday cake for Jesus.  I think this helps to take the focus off of ourselves during this season.  I'm just waiting for Jesus to blow out His own candles (that would be super cool)! :)

 So, to conclude:

Merry Christmas!!!

An Amazing Week

 *sigh*

 I had a great week!  You already know that I passed my Psychology test, but that was such a blessing that I'm not letting you forget it! :)

 Thursday was an absolutely awesome day!  My mom drove me to the cities to meet up with some other CollegePlus! students and we went to Feed My Starving Children.  That was so much fun!  I love it how at the end, they pray over the boxes of food that were packed with the volunteers.  After that, we ate a deliciously healthy dinner at Culver's.  But to end our day, we went to see Triple Espresso, a hilarious, clean comedy show.  My stomach hurt so bad as we were walking out.  Of course the ride home was fun because everyone was very wound up from laughing so hard.

 The only sad part of my day was that I didn't bring my camera.  On our way home, the moon was just rising and it was a half-moon, huge, orange, and beautiful!  There is no way to actually describe that moon.  

 Saturday?  On Saturday, my dad took my brother and I to The Story Tour, like I told you last week.  I didn't really know what to expect.  I knew Natalie Grant, Newsboys, Selah, Steven Curtis Chapman, Francesca Battistelli, Anthem Lights, Randy Frazee, and Max Lucado were all going to be live, but never dreamed it would be as great as it was!  Not only did those artists alternate singing 18 different songs, they had an amazing corresponding video to go along with each song!  Each song told the story of someone different: Adam & Eve, Abraham & Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Ruth & Naomi, David, Daniel, Esther, Job, Mary, Jesus, the Thief on the cross, Mary Magdalene, the Disciples, Paul, and the Second Coming.  Check out this video!  If they ever do this again, do yourself a favor -- you will not be disappointed!  You can also go onto The Story's store and order the DVD of what I saw!

 Yesterday was a very special day also, for me.  I had two separate video calls with my CP! (which is an abbreviation for CollegePlus!) "sisters" and friends.  What an encouraging time as we talked about school, life, and God's blessings and guidance.  I can't wait to see how God continues my friendships with these girls!

This week I'm thankful for...
151. CollegePlus! friends
152. Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris
153. The Story Tour
154. Skype video calls with friends
155. orders arriving in the mail
156. little boys volunteering to pray in front of 88 people
157. clean comedies
158. the privilege of lighting the advent candle at church with my family
159. anticipating Christmas
160. my parents

 My favorite Christmas album this week is: A Christmas Story by Point of Grace.

 And this week, most Minnesotans actually have to dream of a White Christmas.  I wonder how long we'll have to dream? :)

 Have a blessed week,
    Sierra