FINALLY! (pictures)

I'm very blessed to have brothers with cameras (so when mine breaks, we can still take pictures in the beautiful spring weather at the park)!

The girls had dolls with matching dresses.

The boys weren't very photogenic that day, but they finally consented to a few group pictures!

(Left to right) Austin, me, Aaron, Mariah, Cierra

I just happened to bring some crackers. Cierra fed this squirrel a couple pieces!

Little "princess" became a little pout-y at the end of the day. She probably had one too many pictures taken.... =)

Summit 2010

Hi. My name is Chloe. You might remember me from a blog I used to write on called Blooming in Christ. You might even remember me commenting on one or more of your posts. But I don't know. That was a long time ago. I used to have a lot of awesome posts, but they have become a little infrequent now. However, I have returned, for now, with an important clarification:

Contrary to popular belief, Chloe has not abandoned you, but rather has become otherwise preoccupied.

Thank you for understanding. Now for the good stuff....



I have returned from Chicago and am now back into the full swing of things! This is going to be brief, but here is a recap of what I did in "the Windy City."

For those of you who are familiar with the AWANA Bible memory program, Summit is a national competition of Bible quizzing from material in the AWANA handbooks. But while you're at Summit, you also get a chance to participate in AWANA Games and Volleyball competitions. (I didn't play volleyball, but I want to congratulate two of my church's teams who got 1st and 2nd overall! Way to go you guys!!!)

In Bible Quiz my team made it to the "gold" round, the round before the final round. Only ten to twelve teams make it to the final round, so getting there is quite an accomplishment! I think there were about 100 teams total this year. It was so much fun!

And while we were there, my church took a double-Decker bus tour of Chicago. There is so much I could tell you, but I'll save you the bore. =) (Actually, it wasn't boring.)

Now for the sad news: my camera broke while I was there, and I unfortunately was not able to take any pictures of Chicago. If I get any from someone else I'll try to post them. In the meantime, I'll be looking for a new camera!

So...that's about it!

In closing, please bear with me, dearest friends, as I finish up this semester of school and ignore you for a while...but not on purpose! Trust me!!! =P

Hello Strangers!

Or is anyone still there? I hope I haven't lost any readers in my absence! I've missed blogging. Things have still been a little crazy for me. Trust me, I'll try to get some substantial posts up here soon! =)

For now, here's just a quick update of what's going on...


I had a tennis match every day this week except Friday. I was a pink Easter bunny for Easter.

I'm going to be in Chicago April 12-15 for Summit Bible Quiz (Ever heard of it? It's with the AWANA program at my church.)

I'm trying to get ahead in school so I don't have to catch up when I get back. (But that hasn't happened yet.)

I'm still working on my recital peice.


So, yes, I'm busy. I've told myself that I'm going to keep my summer a little more "open," but you know how summers can turn out! =D Easter was lovely...amazing sermon...I got way too much candy (Dad, you sure went all-out! At least it was mostly chocolate! =P)

What did you do for Easter? I'd love to hear about it!

Today I Am 9...

Nine years old as Your child. Nine years ago today I was brought to my knees in realization of my sinfulness and Your holiness and grace. Because of Your great love for me, I stand here today, forgiven. I don't even want to imagine where I would be right now without Your sacrifice! I don't think I can ever grasp the full extent of Jesus' sacrifice. For me. Never in a million years could I deserve it! Yet He came and died in my place, took my shame, and has now given me new life! I am a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come! (2 Cor 5:17) Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Cor 9:15)

As I think back over the years, I can't help but be overwhelmed by Your faithfulness. You were with me through it all, You never failed...even when I did. Your mercies never came to an end, they were new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness! (Lam 3:22-24)

So, I am nine years old. But I'm still constantly struggling, God. Sometimes I get distracted. My sin gets in the way. I think I can do this on my own. But I can't. After growing in You for nine years, I feel like I should have learned this by now. Thank you for Your unending grace that picks me up each time I fall!

God, I don't want anything to come between our relationship. I want every day to be a new opportunity to deepen my love for You and continually seek Your face. In Your presence is fullness of joy! (Ps 16:11) I pray that You will become my the love of my life, my number one priority, and my sole satisfaction. Remind me every day of how unworthy I am. Instead of people noticing me, may they only see You. You must increase, I must decrease. (John 3:30) May my boasting be in You alone (2 Cor 10:17) because it is only You who can do anything great with me.

In Christ alone will I glory
Though I could pride myself in battles won
For I’ve been blessed beyond measure
And by His strength alone I’ll overcome
Oh, I could stop and count successes like diamonds in my hands
But those trophies could not equal to the grace by which I stand

In Christ alone
I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone

- From "In Christ Alone" by Brian Littrell

Year after year, Your grace is sufficient - and it still amazes me. Somehow, in Your sovereign plan, You chose me and are growing me and molding me to become more like You. Take me and use me; I am Yours. My deepest desire is to be used by You, for Your glory. I know that You will, as long as I am fully surrendered to You. As I surrendered my life to You for the first time nine years ago, so I surrender my life anew to You now. I have decided to follow Jesus.

No turning back.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6

We Are the House of God

"House of God" - John Waller


So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22



Partly because I memorized it for my Bible Quiz team, but also because it has to do with the song I've been listening to lately, this paragraph from my Bible study book has been on my mind:

Long before He created the world, Jesus planned to die for sinners. But He saw beyond that. He planned to unite each forgiven sinner with all other forgiven sinners, and all of them to Himself. Together they would become a living organism, always growing, becoming more and more like Him in holy character. This is the Church.

When I think about what the Church is, I get so excited! I can't really explain it, but there's something so awesome about how Christ unites the Church. Just think, in Christ I'm united to EVERY believer--even if I've never met them...like many of you! One thing I'm really looking forward to in Christ's return is that "heavenly reunion" with the entire Church. Imagine what a glorious reunion that will be!!!

Come quickly Lord Jesus! Your Church is waiting!

My Apologies

No, I haven't forgotten about you. Yes, I am still alive. But let's just say my life has become increasingly busier, and my time had to be cut somewhere. Unfortunately, I'm sad to say, that happened to be my blog. (Whoa. Has it really almost been a month?!)

So...I humbly apologize for my lack of posts. =) Of course, I really couldn't help it! Also, I just want to say that I'm sorry I haven't been commenting much on any of your blogs. It's that time thing again. I promise I'm still reading them, though!!! I can't promise, though, lots of more posts on my blog, for now (not until school is over anyway).

Just to prove that I have an excuse, here's what I've been up to:

• Writing a research paper on Joan of Arc
• Memorizing my piano recital piece
• Getting reading for Bible Quiz in Kansas City (oh no! It's this Friday! =D)
• Then after that, studying for Summit Quiz (Nationals)
• Playing tennis matches for the home school NOAH team - at least 3 times a week!
• Getting ready for Broken Arrow Bible Ranch with my youth group in June
• Trying to keep my room clean and stay on top of my chores
• Finishing the rest of my school
• Trying to stay consistent with my time with God

Have you all ever heard of the word "busy" standing for "being under Satan's yoke"? Now, I don't think that every time we get busy it's because Satan has a foothold in our lives, but when we start to believe the lie that "we're so busy we don't have time for God right now", that's when we fall under Satan's yoke. That is a scary thought!!!

I'm believing a lie when I think that I'm just too busy. I don't think anyone can be TOO busy not to spend ANY time with God. Ten minutes in His Word, praying little prayers throughout the day - it doesn't have to be hours. Unfortunately, I have believed the lie and many days have gone without me digging into His Word. But, with God's strength I can sacrifice some of my spare time and spend it in a way that will last for eternity. Because, in reality, the time I have isn't mine, is it?

Well, I hope you all have a great 4th quarter! Yes! We're 3/4 of the way through the school year! Have a great week!

Happy Singles' Awareness Day!

Hey you all! You probably haven't hear of Singles' Awareness Day, have you? Well, actually, I think you have. It's my fancy name for Valentines Day. Why? Because if you're single, you're aware of it. =D

Okay, just kidding! One of my friends told me about that name for Valentines, and I thought it was too funny not to share! =) Anyway, I hope you all have a lovely Valentines Day! Here's a couple of my favorite Valentine videos (just for laughs)....






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EDIT: Whoa! I just realized this is my 50th post! How cool is that? And I didn't even plan for it to be on Valentines Day!

Purity Challenge - Week 2

When people talk about purity, they usually talk about saving yourself for your future mate, or not doing certain things, keeping your body pure because it's the temple of God, making your thoughts pure, etc. All those things are wonderful things that God commands us to do; but as I was thinking about what I'd write for this week's purity post, God showed me something that had never occurred to me before.

Last night at church, we had a night specifically of worship. After our worship through songs, we broke off into small groups and discussed what worship was, what it meant to worship. We concluded that any way that we honor, serve, magnify, and bring glory to God is an act of worship. Then I thought, my purity can be an act of worship too!

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2, ESV)

When we present our bodies as holy, living sacrifices to God, that is worship! The world tries to get us to conform to its ways and deceive us by saying that purity is not a big deal--in fact, it's un-cool. But when God renews our minds, we then see the corrupt thinking of this world. Even though it's often difficult and many times awkward, God wants us to live pure lives in a filthy world, full of impurity. But God's will is good and acceptable and perfect, and by His strength, we can keep ourselves pure and offer our lives as living sacrifices to Him.

Worship is not just singing and praise. I can worship God through the purity of my mind, body, and heart. I can't do it on my own, though. I must daily sacrifice myself, my desires, my thoughts, so that He can renew me and my mind. I want to save myself for my future husband, if marriage is the plan God has for me. But most of all, I want to remain pure for God, and spend these years learning to serve Him, glorify Him, and worship Him.

So I would encourage you all, keep your minds pure as worship to God. Keep your temple pure as an offering of worship to your Savior. May HE be glorified in our purity!

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If any of you are interested in participating in Lexi's "Purity Challenge" this month, visit her blog Choosing to Wait to find out more. If you do a post about purity, make sure you link up on her site by Thursday (11th) night to be eligible for an awesome giveaway!