We are the Champions, My Friend... and We'll Keep on Fighting...

Very exciting news: We (the Grace HS Soccer team) are officially league champions. Not only do we get a sweet banner, 3 people get Starbucks cards!!! NO STINKIN' WAY! ;) And everyone on the team got to run through a victory tunnel set up by the fans. That was fun! Anyway, it was a crazy game, but we came out on top, so... YEEHAW! What a wonderful blessing! We still have to keep up the hard work, though, if we want to make it to state! I love soccer especially because it keeps me humble! I will never be in danger of having pride over my soccer skills, because I know how limited they are. It's great knowing the only thing you can do is hustle and play your best, no matter how pathetic you feel compared to other players. I truly admire those people who are really talented at this sport, it's not easy, and you have to love it to play well!

On a different note, it was awesome to have a prayer meeting at lunch today for the 06SR. I loved getting my priorities back in check and focusing on God! I hope and pray that this weekly opportunity will continually remind me of how much I need Him and should love Him!

Well, I need to go finish up taping a speech for an essay contest (VFW) that I do every year. I'll post more later this week if I get a chance.

Only Disneyland lets you pose with your buddies in a teacup! ;) 

Cinderella's castle... all decked out for the 50th anniversary! 

We can fly... to Never Never Land? 

(As SKH would say:) Hmm... 

Mr. Z relaxes with his good 'ol cellphone! 

Yet another buddy picture! Yeah! 

The Happiest -TRIP- On Earth!

I just returned from what had to be the best trip of my life (or equal with the DC trip perhaps)! I love Master's and am hoping to complete general ed courses there for two years before going to an engineering college somewhere else. They just don't have the right major, but why not do the first 2 years at a college with a wonderful Christian foundation? I have so many wonderful memories that I can't share them all. In fact, I won't share any other than to give you some quotes from the trip. It would just take too long! :)

Well, here they are:

Get a free chur-ro! Jokes.. jokes. I thought we just didn't eat quiche! Moron! I found Nemo and he's smashed! It's "A small world", not a small German! Don't forget, don't forget the Mexican spices! Jump, Mickey, jump! Neighborhood queen, are you still kissin' cowboys who cry Josephine? They're not dwarves, they're just vertically challenged! I only kiss men in Russia. And no more happiness! Women on the floor! Shut up, you little punk!

Well, I guess I can just list a few memories without too much detail...

eating at BJ's, going on rides (space mountain, indiana jones, small world, pirates, haunted mansion, honey i shrunk the audience, tarzan walk-through, matterhorn), hanging out in the dorms, visiting classes, listening to music, going to denny's really late, walking around the beautiful campus, playing foosball, having ice wars, singing in the vans, seeing old friends and meeting new ones (Izumi, Chris, Jeremy, David, Susi, Charissa, Nathan, Lisa), visiting church services, laughing, laughing, and more laughing, visiting a recital, sliding down stair rails, seeing palm trees, discussing the "intricateness" and "creativeness" of Disney rides...

I'll probably edit this post and add more info as I remember more things! :)

Anyway, I loved it! Praise God for the wonderful time I had and giving me the interest to go to Master's. That door is certainly open right now. How awesome would that be to go there?!

Well, I'm tired and I have to go do math and spanish. I guess I'll post some fun pictures! Enjoy!

Love, *Nat*

Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Washington anymore!

Good morning to you all! I usually don't get up for school until 6, but I woke up at 5:15 and couldn't go back to sleep. I tend to do that when I am excited or nervous for something. I came downstairs to read a few Psalms and get my heart in the right place before I take the PSAT. As some of you know, I've been working hard to have the philosophy of: "I'm just gonna do my best... there's no point in worrying... I will get EXACTLY the score God wants me to get... and regardless if I do well or not, I'm gonna praise Him!" (definetly NOT grammatically correct, but "it's my blog and I'll mess-up if I want to"! Well, technically it's God's because He made me and he gave me the ability to set up an account and write these words and... wow, backed myself into an ever-loving corner! Apparently I don't function too well at 5:30!) If anyone happens to read this somewhere between 8-12 this morning, please pray for me and the other students! It would be much appreciated!

ANYWAY, to mention the Lopez game yesterday, it was a bit disheartening. By the end, I wanted SO MUCH for our team to finish well and win the game. When that didn't happen, in essence, my heart had been broken. Sounds cheesy, I know, but I just belived and hoped that we would do what I knew we could do. Anyway, being the girl that I am, that made me cry (or weep bitterly, whatever you like) on the ride home. As much as it hurt, I am thankful to God for that lesson. No matter how frustrated or disappointed we are, God has a plan for our team. We have to keep our joy in Him and build up one another to good deeds (or good plays/crosses :)). And avoid forgetting to take out clips and (oops!) bobby pins, bandanas, and putting on shin guards!

Now to finally arrive at the subject that my title hints at... MASTER'S TRIP! I am excited, but not nearly as enthusiastic as I will be once the weight of the PSAT is gone. Granted, God is giving me much peace right now, but it is still a weight in my mind. As for the trip, I can't wait for the wonderful fellowship, good music, and learning about how Christian colleges are run. (I want to be able to compare other Christian colleges to Master's and/or decide if God wants me to go to a non-Christian-based college. By the way, if you were interested, I'm thinking about: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL), WSU, George Washington University (DC), California Poly-Technic University (CA, DUH!), 3 smaller ones in NY called Alfred, Drexel, and Renassler?(2 of which are "Christian"), and Le Tourneau (TX- Nicole Shultz goes there). On most of these, I'm just going to apply and see if God "opens the door". If you think about it, I would love prayer for this decision as well that I need to make in the coming year.

So, to close, I want to type up parts of Psalm 9 that really encouraged me this morning:

"I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High... The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble; AND THOSE WHO KNOW YOUR NAME WILL PUT THEIR TRUST IN YOU, FOR YOU, O LORD, HAVE NOT FORSAKEN THOSE WHO SEEK YOU! Amen! Soli Deo Gloria! See you next Monday... more like Tuesday!

Ya Got a Dead Yak Up There!

Check this out! Pretty funny clip from Mr. Regan about Hanes being his sponsor.

And here's a very short one about Italian Food.

I'm Fat, I'm Ugly, and... I'm gonna poke my eye out?!

This is more of a frustration vent than a blog, but, oh well. Have you ever felt like you don't know why you're doing something. Like you feel so utterly pathetic and worthless that your embarassment never ends? You feel you could easily do better, but it just isn't happening?

Welcome to my life playing soccer. I love watching people who actually have skill and really enjoy playing, and I wish I could help the team out more. (Especially when I'm given the awesome opportunity to play forward, and I completely waste it!)

Well, that's when I smile and laugh at myself because I realize I forgot my eternal perspective. For pete's sake, (And don't ask me who Pete is... I don't know!) the only reason I can walk and think and breathe and do ANYTHING is because of God! I should be thankful and realize that NO, I'm absolutely not going to be the best or even just remotely good at everything. It just means I have to play my best... whether that means using mad skills on the field or cheering crazily with a British accent.

Well, whether or not I play well, God is good! And praise be to Him for giving us the wonderful soccer players we have on our team, starters or not!

Thanks for listening!

Mmm... yes. What's with Family Guy?!

I am quite confused, to be perfectly honest. After hearing so many hilarious quotes from this wacky cartoon, I decided to check it out Sunday night. Although many things were very funny and amusing, I couldn't go for five minutes without hearing at least 10 swear words. Now, maybe that was the specific five minutes I actually watched it or just a random dirtier-than-usual show, but if that's normal... why is it so popular with so many of us? I mean, I understand humor just as much as the next guy (just sit next to Esther and I at school for more than 2 seconds or watch me laugh crazily due to lack of sleep), but at what cost? If this show is constantly sticking in inappropriate things, no matter how funny the clean stuff is, why are we willing to encourage others to watch it and see how great it is?! What kind of mixed testimony is that?! I wish they would keep it "clean", but they don't seem to at all! Doesn't that bother you?! Please share with me, my brothers in Christ especially, what's up with this? I'm worried that we're becoming too much like the world! I definetely need to work on not pursuing temporal pleasures, so let me know if you see an area in my life that doesn't add up... this is just my attempt to help you in your Walk. Is Family Guy an edifying part of that? Or... am I just missing something obvious? Thanks for reading- please leave thoughts/comments! Love you all in Christ!

Ode to Air Compressors/Sirens/Whatchamacallits

At 6 in the morning, the boys had no clue

They slept in their cabin with snoring so true

But soon they would find to their great surprise

Some knocking and giggling from girls half their size

At 1 in their cabin, the girls made a plan

The two goofy leaders just gave them a hand

The one with the curls kept smiling so bright

Thinking of giving the boys quite a fright

Earlier for games Pearce had then found

This awesome compressor with horrid a sound

Instead of ringing the old, muffled bell

The loud, roaring screech worked really quite well

So sneaking across the wet grass and the ground

Esther and Nad were hard to be found

They quickly went in to try to succeed

And found their dear leader ready to heed

He set up the rules- don't bother his guys

But other than that, he let them decide

They grabbed the container and ran out the door

Ready to do it and laughing some more

Alarm rang 'round 6 and girls left their beds

The light switch came on and some hid their heads

Making the trek across the damp hill

Was not very easy when eager in will

When finding the cabin of targeted guys

Their window was open to size very wide

In hushed delight the young ones began

Pounding the wall to wake every man

When given the signal, the handle went down

The earsplitting noise gave firm a resound

Accomplishing their deed, each one turn and ran

A sprint to the bathroom and clapping of hand

Before they returned, each one gave a laugh

The light was now on from the porch they had rap'd

One guy hit his head, but another just slept

Still, it was worth it- a prank had been left

So let this be lesson to those who still think

They're free from all pranking- they won't lose their sleep

If you hear some giggling and whisp'ring at night

Beware of the girls from cabin named 9