Lets Rewind...

2005... I was twelve years old, striving to find my identity. Here is a silly but thought provoking diary entry I wrote on September 15th, it was the beginning of my first middle school year.

http://www.cwlexchange.org/2010/06/13/diary-or-journal-whats-the-difference/

"OMGness I feel so good, or is it bad? IDK but I feel like I know something that was like a mystery to me.
Ok there is this SOOOO  SOOOOO cute boy in my health class and he's next to my locker (yaya!). His name I think is Josh but he doesn't seem obnoxious at all. Is that possible for someone that good looking? Lol, he's nothing like Tommy the weirdo 'popular' mean kid from last year. He seems SHY, OMG is that possible??? So I think I figured out why!!! In health he raised his and and for like the first time this year, so I was surprised. He was like "YYYesterday wwwe wennt ttto footbbbball practace" I felt so weird. IDK it was weird to see a cute guy like stutter like that but its soo cute! he he he he he he he he"  

Congratulations, if you are still reading, your survived entering my former twelve year old brain :D

Sunset

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands!"

 -Psalm 19:1

*picture compliments of Inna and maybe Tanya :) Thanks!

Who Is This?

Hi Friends :) I miss you all! Especially my blogging buddy Lesya... I feel ready to just chill indoors for now, in the air conditioned room, so perfect timing to tell you whats up with Florida :)

Almost the entire crew. Few words that come to mind: Beautiful, fun-loving; team awesome.

And since I have received a small number of requests to show each beautiful girl individually...

Irina:

  Wowie, now this is one smart chick. You can see the confidence in her eyes, just look at 'er! She is passionate for Jesus, staying organized, and being on time. You can call her Ninja Sharktooth if you wish, or just Ira. Ira is always there if you need her and is always on the top of her game.

Tanya:

 When I think of Tanya, I see this face. Mouth agape (ever since childhood she's been smiling like a loony) and eyes sparkling. She loves praying, reading the Bible and inspiring others. I am comfortable in all ways around her, she's my bestie. She is known for her striking eyes and compatible personality. Ninja freak!!

Inna:

Inna. She is all around amazing. Some words: Sweetie, model, beautiful inside and out. I love how you can just go up to her and pick her up for a hug! She's a cutie and is simply just Inna. She loves shopping and adores her job as a nurse. Memorable moment: Her idea to make a fashion show in the hotel hallway on a rainy night. Inna is a cute little cutie!

Alesya:

Look here it's another intelligent beautiful young woman! Alesya, she is easy to laugh with and I absolutely love her laugh. I wish I could record it and show you. Haha. What I love about her is that she is comfortable in the beautiful skin she's in, rock on Ninja Brownie Sundae!!

Natalya:

If you could describe Nat in one word is would be Sweetheart!! She is the girl who will do anything to help you, if no one else wants to help, she would volunteer. She is always the one to laugh at my dumb jokes, even when no one else thinks I'm funny. She is a beauty, but is so humble! She's just an amazing young woman who has a great future ahead of her.

Anna:

Anna, she is the girl who never ceases to surprise you! Well before this trip I didn't know her too well, now I see that she's pretty much a model, lol. She is sweet in all ways, and she loves to have fun and relax. She loves her roasted almonds and long showers :P

Katya:

Who is this? Oh la la, it's Katarina! She can rock the catwalk any day of the week, her natural beauty evident always. She also loves to laugh and is super silly at times. Quote I shall never forget: "I'll tickle you until your paralyzed!" She may look sweet, but she's got a dangerous spark in her :P I'm so glad I got to know her better during this trip, and am looking forward to more fun times!

Julie:

Juliet... The one whom I adore :) I love joking around with her, I know she is willing to be silly and crazy any time of the day (except when she's sleeping like a rock). Juliet is tall and fresh. She loves her white robe and being a DJ, it takes legit skill to spend as much time as possible in robe! She is hilarious and just reminds me of all my other crazy cousins! (In a good way).

Me:

Who am I? I don't know, you tell me! Just kidding. Fun fact: I love being a listener... I am an undercover  ninja and high couture fashion designer, video recorder and photographer. I am Ninja Captain Snickerdoodle. I am passionate about Christ and just want to be nice to others. I'm simple and sick of talking about myself :) 

Ok my eyes and fingers hurt. Catch ya later alligator!

Monday

Here I am :) I sit on the balcony of our little island (I like to call it an is-land). We started today off with a bible study (for those who were awake), just as I wanted. Ah but sometimes, when I read the Bible, I just get a little taste and I simply want more!
 So what can I say? From this trip with nine other girls, I have learned so much about everyone... More that I could have learned in years of standing in a circle after church and chatting! I feel like you learn the most about a friend when you live with them, when you go through stressful situations with them, and just see how they live life on a daily basis! I'm tempted to write a character profile for each girl, but how could I when I'm only two days into this adventure and I have yet to learn so much more?
 Honestly I'm having the time of my life here, but I find myself thinking of Rochester. Why?? Haha, I guess Rochester has stolen a little part of my heart. I'm branded. Woohoo. I don't love home because of the amazing geography or weather, I love it because of my wonderful friends, family and church! I just love you all and want to send my readers a heartfelt greeting, no matter where you live :) Bye Bye for now!

Goals for Florida

I'm leaving tomorrow morning to Florida so I just want to clear things up with myself. Yeah, you Dee.

-Read the Bible and/or have a Bible study every morning.

-Distract and/or divert Tanya's attention during the plane ride so she doesn't hyperventilate.

-Make new friends.

-Call Pushok everyday, and maybe my mom if I get a free chance (joke :P).

-Don't lose anything.

-Save a life. (if someone drowns for example)

Ok I'm running out of goals, if you can't tell by the creativity of the last one. The first one is the most important to me, and is something that actually will be on my mind, unlike the lifeguard one :)
So be blessed Rochester! Bye.

The Feeling

Have you ever felt the overwhelming desire to write?
Maybe it's the coffee I drank half a day ago, caffeine is getting to me finally?
Or the undeniable endorphins flying through my brain because of a successful shopping day?
No, it's probably the fact that in a few days I'll be one of ten girls boarding an airplane heading towards Florida...
It's definitely the fact that I have to work at Abbott's tomorrow... (yeah right. hehe)
It's a good feeling nonetheless, the feeling of being alive.

One Day

Sometimes I lay under the moon
And I thank God I'm breathin'
Then I pray don't take me soon
'Cause I am here for a reason

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know someday it'll all turn around because

All my life I been waitin' for
I been prayin' for, for the people to say
That we don't want to fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play, one day

It's not about win or lose 'cause we all lose
When they feed on the souls of the innocent blood
Drenched pavement keep on movin'
Though the waters stay ragin'

And in this life you may lose your way
It might drive you crazy
But don't let it phase you, no way

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know someday it'll all turn around because

All my life I been waitin' for
I been prayin' for, for the people to say
That we don't want to fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play, one day

One day this all will change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence down with the hate
One day we'll all be free and proud
To be under the same sun
Singing songs of freedom

Don't Wanna Forget

Youth camp this year was blessed!! Last night after youth, I just sat down and thought about the weekend and wrote down a list of memories I don't wanna forget. Here it is:

-New Beginnings: we discussed the meaning of this phrase in my morning group meeting and we discovered how immense and wonderful the new beginnings are! They mean hope, a fresh slate, even when you feel you don't deserve it; God is a God of second chances!

-Boat rides are awesome.

-God works in His own ways: It was His plan to bring Utica and Rochester together!

-Speed Courtship: Oy oy oy, lol. Hot room, loud, funny, mouth hurts from smiling, semi-awkward moments, I had a nice puzzle to concentrate on just in case we had nothing to say to each other, the one question I remember most: If I could be an animal in the wild, what would I be? I would be a bird. I just want to fly, I don't think I'm a bird-like person or have a bird-like personality, I just wanna fly. Oh and I found my soul mate, therefore I had to turn down a different proposal. Overall I had the best time with Myron, I never really talked to him before, but he's younger and fun to joke with and he's just a cute little cutie.

-Be content.

-Not Sleeping 101: Everything becomes a blur, and you end up saying weird things. For example instead of saying "Breakfast is in a few hours" one could end up saying "Lunch is in a few minutes". True story.

-Watching the sunrise.

-Talk with Irina by the water: I got to be a listener and an advise giver. It's a wonderful thing when a friend comes even closer to your heart and pours out their soul without fear! It was just a beautiful conversation that I will never forget. I love you Irina and I'm praying for you and your future, pray for mine as well! :)

- It's okay to get out of your little comfy circle of friends and expand your horizons.

-Take chances.

-Hills are pain, until you get used to them. Well that's what I heard, cuz I did not get used to no hills!!

-Gel Pen: Pink, sparkly, doodle. Fun. Hearts and homemade constellations.

-Being a team leader... REDEMPTION!

-"I walk head down, I pass by you everyday, I am an outcast. A reject..." My line to the skit we helped out in.

-Salo over the fire.

-Lesya's new found British accent getting stronger and stronger by each line, haha.

-His will, my will. His heart, my heart.

-Simply Jesus, Only Jesus, Just Jesus.

Looking back and comparing last year and this year would be pretty easy. Last year, we were the "Chosen Generation", but guess what? It was a new year with "New Beginnings"! One may think last year was more spiritual, and I actually thought that until the last day of camp when God's blessings poured out on us! The one thing that touched me so much was that I am to simply dwell on Jesus, simply Him and nothing else. It may seem like a topic aside from new beginnings, but to me Jesus is the beginning. He's everything. Just Jesus, simply Jesus and only Jesus.

Youth Camp, The Good Days

Youth camp begins this Friday! And before this weekend starts, I want to remember last years camp; reminisce a bit :)

The water was always breathtaking... The beauty of God's creation never failing to amaze us.

 

Mini golfing next to the cabins!

Having adventures on the canoes...

This years camp vision:

To see people come to know Christ and realize their identity in Him. To lay hold of the promise of salvation despite their shortfalls. To learn to walk in victory, resist the enemy, live in the Spirit. To grow a personal, daily relationship with God for a solid foundation. 

Please pray with me and the youth for this camp vision to become a reality during and after this years camp!

Soul Surfer

Have you ever watched a movie or a show and shortly after watching it thought "I totally just wasted 2 whole hours of my life."? I can say YES I have thought that! Sometimes a movie could give you a good laugh; but after time, you forget the jokes. Sometimes it could give you a few tears, but in a month, what does it matter to you? Sometimes a movie simply kills time. Well recently I watched the movie "Soul Surfer" and I say with joy that this is a movie worth watching! Not only was it inspiring, it was focused on Jesus Christ, and is a true story of a real girl with real struggles! One thing I remember "... Sometimes you don't understand, that's when you have to change your perspective." (I really re-worded that) Check out the trailer:

Life Bubbles

Have you ever sat down and really wondered: Who am I? Well I was challenged to do so and to write it down on Tuesday at a girls group meeting at Irene's house. It goes like this- write your name in a bubble in the middle then branch out from there into things that are important to you- ministry, career, mother, daughter, wife, hobbies... and so on, and then from there you continue to write down why this is important to you, and different details that come to mind. Go ahead, get a piece of paper and a pen! Here is mine, I'm not shy to show you :) Once you write about who you are, write down what you want to be in the corresponding categories right next to what you already wrote.

This little exercise helped me put things into perspective. And the even easier part (maybe harder for some) is to write down your weaknesses on the back!

So what's been going on in my life you ask?
Ok maybe you didn't ask, but I'll tell you anyway! I got a job first of all, as a home health aid, takin care of grandpa Frank! He's a sweetie! I pretty much just give him his meds, walk down the hallway with him, do laundry and watch csi with him. It's a piece of cake and I'm really enjoying it.
Today at work, I took an old book with me called "And the Shofar Blew", I've read it many times because I love books and I seem to reread the good ones almost every summer. I need some new books! Anyway Francine weaves a touching story of a preachers wife, and how their relationship is strained because of his passion towards growing a congregation. Very interesting.

Water Baptism

July 31st marks the day of my water baptism... I will never forget those words which still ring in my ears:
"Continue being immersed in Jesus Christ." This song by the Gaither Band is my theme song for that weekend.

I stepped into the lake,
Sank my toes in the sand...

There was something about the water
There is power in the blood!

The preacher man took me under
Beneath that cleansing flood
For the first time in my life, I felt clean...

The past has tried to haunt me, but now I'm clean.

Oh the blood of Jesus
that washes me white and clean!

"...this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ..."
                                                                                                                            1 Peter 3:21