...Check out the FC Alabama Camp blog to find out more info! Don't miss out! It's going to be a GREAT year! :)
~Beautiful Song....
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.
Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.
***Have you tried using 'Good Search' as your search engine? Make it your homepage and fill in 'Florida College' as the organization (even though it is a school) that you would like to donate too! Each time you search using 'Good Search' a penny will be donated to Florida College!***
These past few weeks have been AMAZING. When I first planned to come live in Alabama for 2 months, I never imagined how MANY opportunities I would be able to take advantage of. Uncle Rhodes & Aunt Cindie have opened doors to me that I wouldn't have even thought of to be possible.
For example.....
I drove on my first long trip to Bessemer, AL to a gospel meeting with my cousin Rody that was 55 minutes away! I've never done that before! It was a lot of fun & not to mention at night (which is harder to drive in.) We crossed through Malfunction Junction which is where 2 major interstates intersect and cross over. Unfortuantely, we got off the wrong turn going through there & had to turn around and come back thru and then get off at the right exit, but the adventure was well worth it & all part of the experience!
I've learned many valuable & wise tips/advice for daily struggles. In the Sunday Morning Teen Bible Class Lessons at Skyline we have been studying Individual & Church Discipline. We have been studying Matthew 18:15-17 for the first few lessons. It has shocked me to see how sometimes we are all guitly of, including myself, for talking about someone to another person and not realize that we are gossiping about them & or may be spreading a rumor and not know. Jesus states some of the most simplest things in the Bible for how to treat your neighbor, how to stand strong in hard situations, how to love another and much more. It's great to have that continually taught to us as we study our Bible and worship God in services because they are very important characteristics of a Christian person.
Also....my Uncle Rhodes is teaching the Adult Bible Class on Sunday Mornings and he made his own lesson material on 'Building a Christian Character' using verses from 2 Peter 1:5-8. It is a great lesson material and really allows you to dig deep within yourself to examine how you are living your life and if it matches up with what God requires of us.
South Cullman Church of Christ is having a gospel meeting this week with brother Ralph Walker who is the preacher at Henderson Blvd COC in Tampa, FL. We are going to hear him speak tonight and I am really looking forward to it! We visited there in September when I went to FC to visit and attended services on Wednesday Night. He is also the Wednesday Night College Class Teacher and is a great one. We're looking forward to seeing him again!
Halloween was spOoOoOoOooky. The Carter's and McDuffee's had a party in between their yards and we had about 50 people there. Lots of food, a bonfire, hayrides, and hot chocolate!
...Did I mention it's freeeeezing up here?! :)
We all had a good time and it was nice to see some friends from camp & their families come down and celebrate it with us.
Unfortuantley, 2 former kids from Hayden Highschool were involved in a severe car accident that friday night. They were going around a dangerous curve and ran off the road into a tree. The car was in flames and the boys did not survive... They were coming back from a party that night, and we're not sure if they were drinking, but if they were, I hope we all will learn a valuable lesson from this.
Sandlyn Fultz, who attends FC Alabama Summer Camp was diagnosed with cancer when she was 2 years old. After almost spending a year in the hospital fighting for her life, the doctors sent her home and said she only had 12 weeks to live. With a strict regimen of nutritional and alternative therapy and lots of prayer, Sandlyn just celebrated her 11th birthday.
Today, she is fighting for her life again.
She has just been diagnosed with a very rare, very aggressive cancer.
Here is her website: http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewHome.do
Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
Will update more later...time for a power nap! That's one good thing about being a homeschooled student. :)
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ~Matthew 11:28-30
***Update: Check out the FC Alabama Camp blog to the left of this post to find out more about Winter Camp this year! :)
I love your encouraging post. I am really thankful that you are here. It is really encouraging to Aimee to have you here too. Thanks for including her in everything. I can't believe I am JUST NOW finding your pleo. So I am adding you as my friend. I really hope it works out some way for you to move up here. I know everyone in FL is missing you but we are loving having you here in AL. ~ Mrs. Jennifer
P.S. You are NOT a dumb blondey....:) far from it. And "I" was in the car with you when you took your pleo picture :) woo hoo...that was a great road trip...
I am now living in Hayden, Alabama until Thanksgiving! Staying with Uncle Rhodes, Aunt Cindie, and the four now BIG, grown-up cousins. Rody, Jessie, Campbell and Annalyn.
We have been quite busy ever since I arrived. The first night we had a Teen Night! WOOOHOO!
Rody had his 15th birthday last week and is getting his permit Monday!! He's so fun to be around because he's always laughing...even when we're picking on eachother. :)
Here is a family picture from Ryan's that night.
Also, Annalyn is on a co-ed flag football team! You go girl :) Every Sunday she has practice up at the highschool field. It's great seeing the family out there supporting her.
Annalyn is the big girl in red shorts --- Aunt Cindie is ref. to the side.
Some of Annalyn's friends on the way with her to the big game!
Uncle Rhodes and Aunt Cindie had their 16th anniversary on the 10th and we all spent it at the Hayden vs. Mortimer Jordan football game! (They are big supporters with their children...can't you tell?) Aunt Cindie's birthday is on the 23rd!
Sarah and I at the football game.
During the week, Aunt Cindie stays at home and does housework, while also involved in volunteering at the Elementary School, Girl Scouts, and family activities. It is definatly a change from being at home. We used to be so tied up with band, sports and other things but this year when Garret and I became homeschooled, it allowed us to have more free time - sometimes too much! But we find ways to keep busy :)
This week I also started to fill out my Florida College Admissions Application!!!!! It was so exciting!! It has been time consuming figuring out what classes are still left to take and finishing some that I started a few months ago online. But with the help of Aunt Cindie and everyone up here as well as the teachers available to help with questions about scholarships, it makes it much easier.
FC is very willing to help out in getting me there and it really just means so much. What a true blessing.
Looking forward to all of the many plans God has for all of us in the future and hoping that one day we can all be in Heaven together. What a Happy Day it will be!
Missing you all in Tallahassee so much!!! Hope you all are doing well and I will try my best to get in touch with some of you very soon! Thank you for your comments in asking how things are going - it's great to hear from you and know that I'm not forgotten about! :o) :o)
Here is a bible verse Annalyn picked out....
~Psalm 62:1 - "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation."
Love seeing an update from you, and pics of Cindie and Rhodes and their family. I'm so glad you're enjoying your time there! Good luck with the FC paperwork!
Picking a word to describe FC would be nearly IMPOSSIBLE. The only one that comes to mind would be blessed. The opportunity that each student has to attend a college, while making friends that are Christians, and at the SAME time learn about God, how to serve Him, and be encouraged and encouarging just blows my mind away!
If you think about it...how many other colleges in the nation are trying to make that their number one focus?
Being Christians, you are 'set-apart' from the world. We are unique and much different from those of the world. It's an amazing feeling though! Each one of us is special in it's own way!
Mr. Mark Hinely preached on Sunday Morning and it was a very uplifting sermon. He talked about using our gifts that God has given us to unite together in the church to be the best we can be. It's important to remember that every spiritual gift comes from up above and to remember to thank God for them. I really enjoyed hearing the lesson and think he's a great influence to the teens!
So... I got a little off topic. OOPS!
Florida College was just amazing. I feel so blessed to have had that experience and really miss being there. It was the weirdest feeling... It felt like I had arrived there late, and I was already supposed to be moved in. Everyone was SO nice!! It was awesome being IN chapel for 2 days from hearing it on iTunes! I LOVED it! Heather & I (who was Ashleigh and Allison's friend that road down with Mrs. Jennifer and I) took the campus tour on Wednesday and wish it didn't end. We attended Henderson Blvd on Wednesday Night and REALLY loved being there.
God has a plan for all of us. It's hard to remember to trust in Him sometimes because things may not go the way we want them too, but it's for a reason.
Lord willing, one day I might have the chance of going to Florida College as a student FOR REAL in the fall of 2009. :) :)
It's hard not to smile when thinking about it. :)
I will miss you all so much!!
Saturday morning - bright and early - my Dad and I will be traveling to Troy, AL to meet Aunt Cindie and then continue driving to Hayden, AL (which is right outside of Birmingham, AL) to stay with my four cousins, Aunt Cindie, and Uncle Rhodes until Thanksgiving!!! I've really missed them. It is a big comfort living with a family who has God first in their lives, for a change. Not that I'm running away from my family at home, but enjoying an environment where I'm not the only one (it seems) trying to do the right thing.
Hope that came out right!
September seems to be a month full of birthdays!! :o)
Amy Looper was baptized Sunday Night!! How awesome is that! She is a great role model with not only her modesty, but also her attitude.
After all, modest is hottest!
Hope you all have a wonderful week! See you Wednesday, Lord willing! :)
P.S.
Officially, I've joined the 'clan' of adults - proud to say I'm 18 years old since Sunday, the 28th! Couldn't have been ANY happier spending it with my family at Centerville.
~"If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnance and He will deliver us from your hand, O king." Daniel 3:17
Update: 10/1/08
I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY going to miss you all so much... Thank you letting me be apart of your family!!
Happy belated birthday Kaylin! I'm anxious to worship with you again at Skyline! Lord willing, we are planning a singing at our house for the Sunday after next, so I hope you can come!
I'm SO glad you had such a great time at F.C. It was truly a life changing experience for me! I'm glad you had such a great birthday. I hope you got my bday text on Sunday night-wanted to hug you that night but Loren and I were both sick!! Love you SO much... you are so special to us.
i'll miss you a buncha buncha! wouldn't it be fun for us both to be at fc in the fall?!? with all the other lovely people there, too- camp buddies and such :) have a nice time with your aunt and uncle and other family!
Mrs. Jennifer has graciously invited me to go down with her next week (22nd-25th) to visit Florida College!!! What an exciting experience ahead. I am so thankful for her, and for all of the MANY people that have made an impact on my life; such as, getting in touch with resources and families who can help give the chance to visit FC. Lord willing, one day I can return the favor to young Christians!
So many people have helped in getting me to church each service, helping with letting my family attend camp each summer, and have been encouraging and praying for all of us with many other things.
Here's a BIG THANK YOU to each and every one of you!! I appreciate it so much.
THANK YOU!!! :)
Next week I will be staying with Miss Laura Benton! It's been about 2 months since the last time we saw eachother and I can't wait! :)
We all face different situations daily. Some good, some bad. But, it's important to rememeber at the end of the day, that God has given us a chance to be the best we can be and most importantly He's there for us through each step of the way.
~Proverbs 3:5-6
*Also, if you are not familiar with Podcasts, Florida College uploads Monday-Friday daily chapel devotions that they have and are available on iTunes. Search 'Florida College Daily Chapel Podcast' and it should pop up! They are refreshing to listen too (around 11:30am is when they are usually available) each day! Please check them out if you haven't already :)
We love YOU and are so thankful you are a part of our lives! You are such an encouragement. :) Can't wait to hear how your trip goes. See you tomorrow night still?
