Galatians 2:20a
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not i, but Christ liveth in me:
My Life Verse

Ephesians 6:6

Not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Church Youth Activity: Gym Night

Tonight we had our competitive activity after Rush Night. Gym Nite!!!!

We started out with classic "Gotcha" which let me announce i STINK at! But oddly enough i made it past the first round and wasn't eliminated till the second! I thought we had the Lions but Aaron hung in there and won it for them...Good job!

Then we played quite an odd game..but fun...it was ping-pong volleyball. Each team was on opposite sides of the net and half of each team had ping-pong paddles and the other half had Styrofoam cups. You could earn points in two ways...catch the ball in your cup or it touch the ground on the other team's side. (catching it in the cup is harder than it looked...only one point was actually made that way and it was Justin...good job!)
We played that twice we won once and the Lions won once.

Then we played Regular Volleyball twice...we won them both. =)

Then we played Rugby...i shant try to explain it...but it was fun! and we won it twice of two times as well. It wore me out but it wouldn't have been as much fun if i didn't give it all i had=)
I think the guys i was blocking got irritated at times cause i could hit the ball out of their hands.... but if i had it... there weren't nothing the could do but try to catch it when i got rid of it. =)

It was a good night for the Watchmen...and then we had chips and ice cream...and drinks!

and fun was had by all=)

Missions Week starts tomorrow!!!! I am so excited! One of the kids of the Missionary Family's Daughters, Kelly, Came to the activity tonight! She was cool...and gave Kailyn a run for her money! She was competitive but nice!

Tomorrow....The orchestra has several pieces we are playing this week for missions conference and i came home from Rugby to practice them...we have played two of them before so its not that bad...but i was a little...ok a lot rusty on my 16th notes=)

Please continue to pray for James David "Trey" Sawyers...you can see the latest update at prayingfortrey.blogspot.com


Till Then,
Rachael

Friday, January 30, 2009

This Week

Update from this past week:

Sunday: Rush Night and all that good stuff

Monday: School, Bus Banquet which was fun! We had our meal and then Bro. Morris preached out of Matthew 18:1-14. His title was "The Doctrine of the Child".
1. In Heaven Children are Greater than Adults
2. In the Doctrine of the Child we must be Converted as a Child.
3. There is a Blessing for the Church that receives Children
4. Jesus Doesn't want even one Child to perish

God has a "No Child Left Behind" Policy. =)

Tuesday: nottin much

Wednesday: Got snowed in...well our roads were really icy and we couldn't drive on them to go to church. =(

Thursday: Skit practice

Friday (today): Art class where we learned to shade and about perspectives, skit practice!

There you have it peeps.

Till then,
Rachael

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Getting A Little More Random...Tho i don't quite top Kailyn Brooke=)

None of these Pictures really need an explanation...they were taken by me and they are pictures of my friends and family...that should be explanation enough. =)









Yep.......

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Precious in a Small Package

Please Pray for Trey Sawyers the precious baby shown below. He was born at 27 weeks and weighed 1 lbs. and 14 oz. At first his kidneys weren't functioning and he had no white blood cells to fight infection. But Praise the Lord through many prayers his kidneys are beginning to function and his WBC is climbing! To see all the recent information on Baby Trey you can go to his blog at prayingfortrey.blogspot.com. There's more pictures there and you can leave a comment to encourage the family.



Thanks,


Wordless Wednesday








Monday, January 26, 2009

Rush Night 2009...Alpha Omega Watchmen on the rise=)

We survived rush night and i only broke down crying 3 times..=) only because i didn't think the walls would look good and we wouldn't have towers or watchmen...which was the whole purpose of building the castle. But in the end God taught me again that i should just trust Him and that if it is for His glory it will all come together. It did take the better part of an hour to get the walls standing and while the guys were working on that there wasn't a whole lot for us to do. But once they got up i didn't have time to breath.

We were judged on:
1. Best use of wall space
2. Best use of floor space
3. Best us of overall space
4. Most Artistic
5. Stayed best with color theme
6. Best Drink
7. Best Treat or dessert
8. Tastiest food choice
9. Most Creative setup
10. Harmony of mascot and verse
11. Best Display of verse
12. Most consistent with theme
13. Most effort in putting together display
14. Best overall display
15. Which team would you most likely join

I am proud of my team and glad to announce that we received first place in all but four of these categories! ( #'s 1,2,5,6)

We also won best skit! (THANKS MAEGAN!!!!=) Watchman and Wobin....=)

and we got 1st and 2nd in the frozen t-shirt competition.

It was the most stressful thing i have ever done in my life but i can gladly look back now and say that is was one of the funnest things i've done and a great accomplishment.

Here are some pics of us setting up.

Workin on the walls.

Miranda and Ashley Spray Painting to improve the appearance of our walls.


Daddy and AJ working on my beloved drawbridge.

Megan and Bailey...my brick brigade. =)

Dustin, Jacob, Ms. Denese, and me putting up the interior of the walls.


The walls not going up very fast in the first hour.

Me...doing something...

Justin stapling cardboard to make our castle look awesome.

Jacob doing who knows what.=)

The castle starting to look like a castle =) yae.


LOOK AT OUR WATCHMEN....aren't they AWESOME!!!! Thanks Ms. Tina for making them!
I don't have pics of the final product but i will have some later this week.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

RUSH NIGHT!!!!!!!!

I am totally stressed right now....my mind keeps running over everything...do we have enough of this?? oh we can't forget that!!! Will the castle be done in time??? Is there enough cardboard??? AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes i am stressed, and i love cheese....just so you know.....

Today i finished polishing all the silver dishes...boy was that a lot, my fingers are sore...and i got a nasty little splinter...it hurts....ow....

I also spray painted our leaves silver....96 Kailyn....not 50....i sprayed 96 leaves....

I think we will have plenty of food but i won't be satisfied till i have everything there and on the table ya know....i am more nervous than i was when we were about to sing last week!

ok.....breath in....breath out.....i think our team is getting into it a little, several ppl have asked me how they can help and Erika just called and wanted to know what colors to wear tomorrow.

I think it's possible...we can do it.....i think... (Kailyn now you have me doin it!)

Till then,
Rachael

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

SNOW?!?!?!?!


This is zoomed in on my neighbors house...i think they got less snow than us or something=) If you look really close you can see individual piece of snow.

This is looking out my office window at the front yard..

Yes i ventured into the cold to snap this shot for you....always sticks to the road first don't ya know.

My driveway and sisters car.

Till then,
Rachael

Friday, January 16, 2009

2009 Missions Conference Skit

Hello all, yes i know it's been awhile...i have been quite busy. Lets see what i can come up with.

Today was the first practice for our South Haven Baptist Church Homeschool Group Skit, that will be performed after the Missions Parade. We are having a beautiful feet competition! Evan Stewart and I are hosting the competition! It is gonna be pretty cool! Dustin Lassiter is Sasquatch, Nathan Mann has stinky feet, Lauren Wilson has Ballerina feet, Megan Threlkeld has duck feet! and there are many others. All the quite shy kids are judges, and the little girls are all cheerleaders, and Kailyn Brooke is the Cheer leading Captain! GO KAY! KEEP THE PEP IN YOUR STEP! Go big feet go! ok...i'm done now....sure i'll get a comment on that one =) COMMENT PPL!

We didn't go thru any of it yet...Ms. Melissa has to email me my script. I think it will be awesome!

After that Kailyn, the boys, and I went down to the school and watched the MTC tournament for a bit. It is a basketball tournament the school hosts every year.

After we got back from that, Rebecca, Brooke, and I were taken on a fancy date to cracker barrel with our Grandparents =) It was fun, and when we returned we went and worked out. yeah all that stuff we ate had to go =) Then we stopped back by the school to see a group of ppl from Pensacola Christian College, where brooke goes to school. Some ppl she knew were there and she wanted to introduce us.

And now...i is here....typing cause i knew someone MIGHT read it....=)

Nite,
Till Then,
Rachael

Sunday, January 11, 2009

The Alpha Omega Watchmen!

Hello All,
Last night the chosen seniors and a few Jr's. met at Bro. Frankie's house to pick SOCIETIES!!!
The Leaders are Team 1: Jesse Davis, Herbert Hildalgo, Rachel Panas, Rebecca Morgan and Team 2: Justin Lassiter, A.J. Rodefer, Kailyn Stewart, and of course me.
We went back and forth picking individuals from the youth group. First both teams were sorta picking all the athletic people because we have a lot of competition that relies on athleticism. Then, we started picking the faithful because we get points for that. =)
My Team, the Alpha Omega Watchmen is pretty well planned ahead.
We have our Name, Mascot, Colors, Verse, Foods, and what we are going to do for our station.
We still have to come up with a cheer/skit.
Our verse is 1 Samuel 14:16. And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
AWESOME RIGHT??? Basically the other team is just going to self destruct! hehe, yeah we watching for em....cause we are the ALPHA OMEGA WATCHMEN!!!!!!!! WHOOOO!!!
Alright, i feel much better now that i got that out.
Till then,
Rachael

Monday, January 5, 2009

Were NOT Moving????

Yes everyone that's right....were not moving, most of you have already seen the post on my other blog, that or i have told you in person....but i want everyone to know WERE NOT MOVING!!!! I am soooo excited but i don't think i am excited to the fullest extent yet...in 3 yrs if/when were still here...i will then totally believe it! =)


Ok...now you know....i feel better now....like Bro. Paul told me....take a deep breath and EVERYTHING WILL BE OK!!! =)


Till then,
Rachael

Winking Smiley

Hey Everyone! I know it's been a bit but SURPRISINGLY weeks fly by even faster than years!

My parents left this morning on a cruise without me...four the FOURTH time!!! =) Thats ok...my time will come...someday i'll own one of those fancy ships and i'll go cruising 400 times!

The big society event is right upon us for the youth group. Orgianally teams were supposed to have been picked last night, but due to an unforseen occurance of turmoil, we will be picking them later this week. I am SUPER EXCITED that Bro. Frankie asked me if i would be interested in helping out! I already have some ideas...but i can't say cause Kailyn might steal them!! =) (see the smiley...sarcasism..) BUT i will get Megan, regardless of what Kailyn Brooke says...;) winking smiley....not sarcasism...but in a joking manner.

WOW it is cold down here....i was banished to post in the basement because Rebecca is watching the new Tinkerbell on her laptop....i had already seen it...babysitting will do that to you...=)

I'm gonna go warm my feet...i can't feel them....

till then,
Rachael

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy 2009!

It's hard to believe that another year has passed us by, and here we stand at the beginning of a new one. My family and i went to some friends house for New Years Eve and here are some video clips from that evening. We played several games and had tons of fun!

One of the games we played was were you had to get as many cotton balls in a bowl with a spatula as you could in 1 minute. Oh yeah, and you were blind folded. Thankfully there are only pictures of me doing it. Here are some videos of others as well though. If you only have the patience to watch one, watch the bottom video. =)

We originally took all the cotton balls out before Jamie even dumped them, but he felt in the bowl to make sure they were there and they weren't. =)


Till Then,
Rachael

I Have Been Blessed!!!!


THE ROOM

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room.
There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to
catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at." Some
were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents.

Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth.
Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have watched", I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content.

I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it
and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this
room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw
a sorrow deeper than my own.

He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again.
He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name
of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.

He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.
- Brian Moore