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

My Christmas Weekend

Well, let me first start with sharing some photos from The Story Tour I told you a bit about last week.  I didn't have pictures of everyone, but Selah, Francesca Battistelli, Natalie Grant, Newsboys, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Anthem Lights all sang 18 different songs telling stories from the Bible.

Selah

 Steven Curtis Chapman

Natalie Grant

 It was fabulous!

 Now, on to Christmas.  I had such an awesome weekend!  On Saturday, we went to my uncle's house, ate my aunt's delicious Swedish dinner (she's an amazing cook), opened presents, and then hung out for a while.  So much fun to be with the family!

My cousin and I 

 Sunday, we woke up and opened gifts as a family.  

 My brother and I put our money together to buy my sister a fish tank and a gift card to buy her own fish. :)

 My brother got a hat from my parents.

 Yes, I know there's a deer on my wall.  His name is Bobby.  Just kidding.  I'll be covering him up in January.  But, I got this awesome comforter for Christmas!  I had picked it out and stood in line for 2 hours with it on Black Friday.  It was worth it! :)

 This was a gift from my brother.  I saw it a couple weeks ago and fell in love!

 Gift card for Maurice's and some gloves from my sister.  Now, these are no ordinary gloves.  The black fingertips are made of special fabric that can be used on touch devices, more specifically my iPod touch!  Amazing!

 On Sunday afternoon, my aunt, uncle, grandpa, and cousin came over to play games and such.  A couple hours were spent on our frozen pond playing shoe hockey, as is tradition.  And I think a couple days will be taken for recovery. :)  We also had a great dinner prepared by my mom and played a round of Name 5, a new game our family got for Christmas.  It didn't go as smoothly as we had hoped, but I blame it on the fact that it was boys against girls and the boys were being unfair. :)

 On Monday, we had my dad's family over.  It was a fun day; pretty laid back.

 On Thursday, I have LIVE for Christ's Christmas party.  Pretty excited about that.

 I also get to go visit a friend on Friday!  Can't wait!

 During my break, I created a 10 page, 30 day study schedule for my next CLEP test that I'll be starting to study in January: Introductory Sociology.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week.  Take advantage of your break if you're on one!  

This week I'm thankful for...

161. having a whole day at home

162. a fun time with a new friend

163. Christmas movie night

164. safe driving

165. Swedish dinners

166. thoughtful gifts from loving people

167. Christmas trees

168. frozen pond to play shoe hockey on

169. family time

170. late movie night to relax

 In Christ,

   ~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