Photography

Ever since I have started playing around with camera's and taking pictures of my nephew, I have realized that I really want to major in Photography. There are a lot of things I need to learn about it but if this is really what God wants me to do then I will do it.
God has a lot in store for me right now, and I really am not sure what all it is yet. But it really doesn't matter, as long as I keep following the road He has me on, and not turning away. It seems like to me the road God has me on doors keep opening, and a lot more opportunities are being made for me.
Anyways this is just something I had on my mind, and I am going to keep seeking after the things God has planned for my life, and I will never just let go of anything that he has shown me unless He is the one who tells me to.

The closing of another year.

Today was the last official day of school. I'm kind of sad, but also kind of happy.
Getting to know that I will be a Jr. next year is really exciting and I can not wait until I see what is ahead in my future, and start to see and understand everything that God has planned out in my life.
The only real thing that is sad is leaving two of my teachers, the ones who make me laugh and teaches in a way that I understand. I’m really grateful Miss Garcia and Coach Johnson were my teaches, they are really the ones who made my school year fun!
BIOLOGY: I always hated science and really thought it was a boring class. I never understood anything about it nor did I care to learn about it. Science was never in my future. But after being in a class that actually was fun and enjoyable I may actually consider being in a type of Science field. I really think it is cool because what if people didn’t experiment with things, I wouldn’t be able to share what I have on my mind with you, nor would you be able to research anything online. Basically without Science there would be nothing like this around. I still do disagree on some of the Science beliefs but not everyone will believe everything.
HISTORY: I really never understood why the heck we have to learn about history, my view points about it were “Why do I care about what happed back in the day before I was alive?” or “Why do they make such a big deal over history, It’s boring and I do not like it!” But after this year in Coach Johnson’s class it really opened the way I look at history now, I actually enjoy watching stuff on war and reading stuff over war, I mean come on these people that are or were in the war really have the guts to stand up for our country, and fight for our freedom.
I am looking forward to having another great year in my Jr. year as I have had in my sophomore year. Although classes will never be the same without the two greatest high school teachers, Miss Garcia, and Coach Johnson.

My Photo's

Fine Arts

I’m so excited about next weekend, because it’s the weekend of Fine Arts.
This year I am apart of a human video and I also entered a story that I wrote with the help of one of my best friends…Lori.
Starting tomorrow John (my youth pastor and Lori’s husband) is going to have everyday practice for our human video group. I am kind of excited about it because I can’t wait to see it perfect. But like everyone says "Practice makes Perfect"

“The Death that Saved”
Beep…Beep… Beep…I rolled over and squinted at my clock. The only possible reason my alarm would be going off at 7:30 in the morning is if my mom had set it. Why does she do this to me every Sunday morning?
Mom opened my door slightly and said “Grace are you up? Remember we have a guest speaker at church today.”
“Do I have to go? I have plans with Robbie today,” I moaned. “Yes, you have to go,” Mom answered without hesitation.
Why do I always have to go to church? I don’t even see the point. I never understand what they say and lately all Pastor Henry talks about is sacrifice. I’ve got sacrifice for you – try buying all your clothes from Target. Now that’s sacrifice!
My rambling thoughts were suddenly interrupted. “Grace, are you up? We still have to go get your grandma,” Mom hollered.
“Ye-es!” I answered. I picked up the phone to call Robbie. “Hey listen, Mom’s making me go to church today so I can’t come over. I’m sorry.”
“Are you serious? I’m tired of all this…your mom always gets in the way of everything!” Robbie said.
“I know. I’ve got to go now though. I’ll call you later, ok?” I said apologetically.
“Grace, this is getting old. Just forget about it. Why don’t you find some altar boy at church instead?” Robbie said sarcastically.
“Robbie...” I exclaimed as I heard a dial tone coming from the phone. Wow, this is going to be such a great day… I threw my clothes on and trudged downstairs.
“Oh Grace, you look beautiful!” Mom said.
I was in no mood to smile so I just said, “Can we please just go get Grandma so we can get this over with?”
We picked up my grandma and headed to church. I was lost in my thoughts about Robbie and still mad that I was going to church instead going to Robbie’s. Grandma put her wrinkly hand on top of mine and, even though I wasn’t looking, I knew she was smiling at me, and probably even praying for me at that very moment. As we pulled into the parking lot I silently whispered a short prayer. Lord, if you have something to say to me today, I’m listening. As I walked through the same doors I walked through every Sunday of my life, it felt different, though I wasn’t really sure why. We found our seats, and waited for the service to begin. The songs were all familiar, but today I listened to the words for the first time. My eyes blurred with tears as the final song began.
“Lord I give You my heart,
I give You my soul, I live for You alone.
Every breath that I take,
Every moment I'm awake,
Lord have Your way in me”
I thought about how self-centered my life had become. The words of the song were a complete contrast to my life. God had given absolutely everything for me and yet I was giving nothing in return. I started to feel really strange, as if God was already working within me.
Our pastor introduced the guest speaker and handed him the microphone. He was a younger man and his eyes were burning with the intensity of the message he had to share. “Good morning church, I’m here today to share with you the story of a man named John and two young boys. It was a warm summer night and John was taking the two friends camping for the first time. They pitched their tent, started a fire, and began cooking their hotdogs they brought along for dinner. Everything was perfect and the boys were having the time of their lives. After awhile, John had to hike back up to the car to get a few things. He sternly warned the two friends not to leave and not to play with the fire while he was gone. They assured him they wouldn’t so he quickly headed out. Even though the boys had promised to obey, they couldn’t resist poking some branches into the dancing flames. They were mesmerized by the colors in the fire and didn’t even notice when a stray branch caught fire. The ground was dry and it didn’t take long for the flames to spread. They tried to stomp the flames out, but the fire was moving too rapidly. Before they knew it, they were surrounded by flames leaping out in every direction. By this time, John had seen the flames and heard the boys’ screams. With a pounding heart, he raced back to the campsite. He watched in horror as the fire began to engulf the two helpless boys. John knew there was time to rush in and grab only one boy, saving one while sacrificing the other. In one agonizing moment, he rushed towards his son’s friend, pulling him to safety as he heard his son’s last cries. It was the only decision he could make knowing his son was saved while his son’s friend was not.”
“Romans 5:8-9 says, ‘But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way.’”
“Maybe you’re here this morning and you’re at odds with God, but you need to know that when God gave up His only Son we were set right! He put His love on the line for us!”
“I’m standing in front of you today because my friend’s father also put his love on the line for my sake. I thank God for the sacrifice that great man of God made when he rescued me from the fire so I could be saved. In the same way, God also sacrificed His Son just so you wouldn’t have to die! Let’s pray...”
I didn’t really hear his prayer that day. My heart was overflowing with prayers of my own. Lord Jesus, I know I have done wrong but I also know You are reaching Your hand out to rescue me. I love you Jesus and I am sorry. Please help me continue to seek after you more everyday and Lord thank you for this sermon today…Amen.
On the way home I started thinking about how awesome the sermon was. What if I hadn’t gone to church today, and today was my last day to live? I wouldn’t be going to heaven but rather to hell. What would I say to God when I had to face Him? I would have no excuse for how I lived my life. My heart was beating faster just thinking about all the people out there that didn’t know Jesus. Will I be the one to show them who God really is? God I’m ready for whatever you have for me, I’m going to be openhearted from now on. I will be willing to sacrifice anything, Lord. Even if it’s my own life to save someone and show them you. Amen.