Christmas Eve

Yesterday was Christmas Eve Eve. We went out as you might have read on Jillian's blog. This photo was taken last Christmas at Hammock Bay where we were supposed to go last night! Turns out, we show up and no hot chocolate! No costumes! No lights! Shocking I know. Apparently they have decided not to do it this year. We did, however, get to go see the ones in Defuniak and they were pretty. Naturally Dan was there and we were able to spend a little time together which is always wonderful. Surprisingly it was not cold this morning, but a loverly 69 degrees. This does not feel like Christmas! Anyway, tomorrow the Skrabacz's will come over, Shauna and Jeremy, Amber, Dallas, and Dallas' mother Angie, Mrs. Vanda, Mr. Randy, my family (obviously) and I think that sums it up. Once Carissa and Abigail get married and/or have boyfriends our house will have to have dinner inside and out! We already fill our table and living room. Tonight our church will still hold service and I'm glad of it. What better place to go before Jesus' birthday than his house with all of our spiritual family?
To all who may be interested, I am asking pastor about getting together more often to pass out tracts on Saturdays. I really dont think that should be confined to the teen group so if you are willing and your heart is right, lets do it! I have a burden for souls, but sometimes when you're on your way to work and stop to get gas you're so busy that you dont always think of giving tracts out. And because of that, I want to pray for a burden so strong that I cant forget to do that.
Also, I want to start up the bus ministry. Anyone who would like to help can pray for us and join us if possible. Most likely, we will invite parents to send their children and we will pick them up on Sunday mornings for Sunday School. I have talked to pastor about this and, again, anyone of any age could come, he thinks he knows some people to head things up.
Merry Christmas to everyone! I love you and pray the Lord keeps you safe this holiday season. Make sure to tell Jesus happy birthday tomorrow and dedicate time to spend with Him!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Lately

So recently I've been told to update my blog...haha. Anyway, over the past few days I have been lazy, but busy at the same time; doing a lot of stuff unwillingly. Dan and I have been able to get together a lot thankfully. Last night we went to Defuniak to walk around looking at the lights. It was cold! But we had a lot of fun. Afterwards we were going to Hammok bay to take a hay ride and pictures, but apparently they've closed. Yesterday during the day, I baked some cookies and ran by Seatle Drip and got Daniel some apple cider. I called his mom and conspired with her so I could surprise him. I knocked on the door and he opened it and forgot to let me in because he was so shocked to see me! I LOVED it! The expression on his face was like uuuuuuuh. I would pay big bucks to see that again. Then, he just kept saying "thanks, this is so awesome!" I have been trying to get into the "Christmas Spirit" thinking that the cold weather would help and lots of Christmas music, but I feel like I just really need to spend more time in my Bible reading about Christ's birth. The Lord knows how awfully sinful we are and the most unresonable thing was that he knew how we'd act before we did, yet he sent his son to die for us. Perfect, untainted, to live in this sinful and terrible world for 33 years. Can you imagine knowing perfection and perfect love from your Father, then being sent somewhere where you are persecuted and people call for your death. It makes me realize God's love for us. We cant understand why God loves us in spite of our sin, but then again we dont love perfectly as He does.

Almost over!

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{ Kendall in front}
Well, ever since last Friday I have been working on projects, trying to accomplish homework and writing papers. I wasn't able to finish all of this over the weekend therefore, I had a lot to hury with the beginning of the week. It wasn't that I hadn't worked on it, but after four hours in a little library conference room with nothing but geometry of composite shapes your eyes and brain can get worn out; as did mine. Yesterday at work, I went outside with my kids and I changed my mind, I wanted to go to the big playground instead of the little one but Kendall didn't want to. She yelled, "No!" at me and ran the opposite way. Before I could run for her (and this is also in a parking lot where buses come through at times) I had to get my other five onto the grass, then bolt at her to get her before she got too far. Needless to say she was in big trouble and I was very upset! ANyway, if I could ask you all to pray for the end of the semester for Dan and I and the rest of the college students. The work seems endless and very exhausting. Dan has a very heavy work load of six classes and that's including Statics, Circuits, and Physics which ae the more difficult and demanding classes. I thank the Lord for what He's teaching me, but please Lord! Let all my efforts be beneficial! I know He will, thanks for the prayers all!
-- Kara

Birthday Day

Today is Amber's birthday party. We are having a few friends over and most likely a ton of food; this is a family tradition we baptists uphold. My brother-in-law once said, "baptists have to eat a lot because there are so many other things we don't do!"
Yesterday I had wanted to go to Dan's soccer game, but after many false hopes of a ride over there, I decided that it was most likely not the Lord's will for me to go! Anyway, they won and I got a lot of shopping and school done. Today my parents and I went to Target and Sam's. I usually prefer to stay home when they go to these places because I have HW to do or possibly just don't feel like leaving the house (seeing as how I am hardly there any more). Today, after spending literally all day alone yesterday, I wanted to be around people. When I didn't have school and work, I wanted to get away from the house and do things alone. Now, I spend very little time at home, and what time I do spend at home is usually uninterrupted because I have so much homework. I leave the house usually at 8:30 Am (this is after trying to get ready and read my Bible and eat alone), and I go to school and sit through 2 classes. After class I go to the library or computer lab where I can have quiet to study. After that, I go home at about 1:15PM and have enough time to eat while I do some homework. I eat and immediately change for work and that's when I say goodbye and go to work until 6PM. I then come home and do one of four things: eat and go to piano then come home to do inserts, go pick up papers and begin, go to church, go on base for Thursday papers.
I am busy, which can isolate me at times, because if I let up in my schedule and don't do certain things, it all falls apart. If I don't multi task and put off events that I want to go to, I get bad grades in one class or get in trouble for not doing something my parents told me to. Every spare moment, literally, every one minute is precious to fit in as much work or accomplish as much as possible. I don't like being so so busy, but the Lord is teaching me to rely on His provision and rely on Him to work everything together so it turns out right. It IS moments like this that I am thankful for that I can find a few to dump my thoughts! Daniel also is a big help because he isnt a demanding bf and is very understanding. Neither of us used to be very understanding about time management with our relationship, I was so busy all of the time and he just wanted me to spend a ton with him and some times vise versa. After a while and many talks he and I have learned that sometimes modern relationships get to be too much about what one person wants and that we had to be understanding that we are both busy and really appreciate the time we do have together. But now, I have to go help with food and will hopefully be able to find TIME to write more later haha.

Dan MY Man

Today, right now actually, Daniel is on his way to pick me up and take me to take my first two childcare exams in Fort Walton. Pray that they turn out well. I can get paid more for having those, but I also have to have them to continue working at Noah's Ark. Last night i went to Dan's house and we watched home video after video! It was great! Daniel was about two and so chubby and cute! He had blondish gold hair and big brown eyes and he was into everything! Well, today after we go out for the test we will birthdy shop for Katie whose birthday has already past. Thats why they're here this week. Tonight is her birthday party, once again at their house. Love you all, I have to go! Bye!

This is Cylee coo. my Mom Babysat her since she was born practically and now she is living in Arkansas. The night I shot this she was dancing to "Barbie and the Dancing Princesses"

Brains

These are my Math buddies! Olga on left and Katherine on right. Olga is the mathematically thinking one, Katherine figure out concepts in a most unusual way, and I usually can figure out some way of stating the problem where all three at once say, "Oh yeah!" It's funny because Katherine and I argue about the problem all the time because we see it differently, but we're never angry its just a healthy argument :) Olga came to America from Russia when she was 19 and soon after got married and now has a 2yr old little girl.

This is Katherine and me. We are taking Math for the Liberal arts together. We didn't know each other before the class, but now I feel as if I've been friends with her all along. She goes to a Baptist church in Niceville as well. There's a funny story behind those colored pencils. One class our teacher decided we were going to color our projects ad insisted that we bring colored pencils. We felt a bit ridiculous, but we brought them and this is us making fun of her. Not Nice, because the colors actually helped the project make more sense. Our other friend who always sits with us is taking the picture she is in the above photo.

My Story

Well, since the day Dan left for school and I went to NWFSC, I learned that God has some very obvious and mysterious ways of working. One day, I had had a great morning reading my Bible and just getting ready for school and then I went to school and my Humanities teacher, Mr. Dr. Simmons, began teaching and throughout made comments about God and Allah being the same God. If anyone knows my family they know that we're extremely debatable which can be a bad thing, but in this instance it was great! Who better to argue for than the Lord Himself? Well, needless to say some others in the room didn't like what I had to say. As our class went on day after day we'd get into more discussions, finally, after an extraordinarily partisan comment from my teacher I decided to go to my parents and ask what I should do. The teacher knows my views and consequently had given me grades lower than most of the students who hadn't studied for tests. My mother talked to a friend at school and she contacted her boss who contacted my teacher's boss who obviously contacted him. Now, in class, my teacher tries his utmost best to stay neutral. Today however, he almost got off balance when he looked at me and said, "lets take a step back shall we?" Now, I dont think he knows it was my complaint seeing as there are others in the room who share my same feelings, but that sure is a blessing. Now, mysteriously, I am making A's in his class. Also, and most recent has been the illness of my sister Shauna. The Lord is bringing her through as He always will, but the journey is hard. She was unable to eat or much else without feeling and getting sick and her stomache hurt, then she was put into the hospital because there was fluid on her lungs. A cc is about half an inch, and they pumped 500 cc's of water off of her lungs. Now, After midterms and still in the middle of what Shauna is going through, we're praying for God's provision and what he has in store for us. Daniel is coming home tonight and we are going to his house and watching Brigadoon. Yes, I am making him watch a girl movie! Anyway, he'll be here until Sunday night Yaaaay! Till next time! ~Kara~