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You know those moments when your heart is so full that you don't have the capacity to express it in writing (much less the time to do so)? Well, I'm having one of those moments. Of course, it's wonderful to have God doing so much in my life! But I shall spare you the plethora of deep, lengthy posts, and give you a few snippets into the life of yours truly. =) And as always, I'd love to hear about all the goings-on in your lives as well!

So then, I am....

...constantly being amazed by an amazing God...

...processing all that I learned at TeenPact National Convention 2012...

...learning more of what it means to treasure Christ...

...freaking out/getting excited that I will be in college in, like, 11 weeks! Cra-zy...

...loving all the travelling I've been doing...

...writing lots of graduation thank you notes...

...trying to find time to read the mountain of books I optimistically started...

...preparing for an INCREDIBLE week at Worldview Academy (coming up SOON)....

So, what's up with you?

Link Up! 3/17/12

How to Use the Internet - This is an interesting video and website about how to use the internet to its fullest potential. Something I could definitely benefit from!

The Hunger Games - I recently posted about this series, and I found this to be an interesting review as I sort out my feelings about the books.

Kony 2012 - Surely you've seen the Kony video by now. The video has had a staggering viral impact. But when I first saw all the links on facebook and tweets on twitter, my first response was, why all of this urgency now? All of a sudden, this 30 minute video gone viral transformed all of these social networkers to "social activists."

I found Tim Challies' article on it to be an interesting analysis when he stated, "This is a campaign designed to take advantage of the power of social media. . . .Social media campaigns tend to be dependent on one thing more than any other: speed. Do not think about it, just do it! Don’t get the facts, don’t wait a few days to consider it, don’t ask someone who knows more—just click Tweet or Share or Post or whatever else it is that will spread the word. We’re all in this together, we need your vote, we need it now! Go! Go! Go!"


While I adamantly believe that Kony should be stopped, I would be wary of supporting campaigns or organizations that I have not researched. Personally, I would rather give my support to a distinctly Christian organization who will not only provide physical aid but also spiritual healing, as well. (This article gives some great insight too.) All that said, I believe Matt Papa summed it up best.


Senior pictures - I just have to survive until May! =)

Pumpkins + Colorful Leaves + Sunlight = Awesome photos

But I'm only one month behind! Oh well. Even my Thanksgiving break is busy (but I'm still thankful for it, of course). I absolutely LOVE the fall season! That's why I love these photos....

Silly picture!

L to R: Cierra (5), Aaron (12), Austin (15), Me (17), Mariah (11)

A random cat got in the picture.

Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

How to Make a Flock of Sheep

Bake some cupcakes...

Ice the cupcakes...

Cut some mini-marshmallows in half...

Make a head out of icing...

Stick the marshmallows on and make a face...

And you have a flock of sheep!!! (Edible sheep.)

This one is Fluffy.

These cupcakes were made especially for my "baby" sister's birthday. I cannot believe she is five!

FIVE!!!!

She's growing up so fast. I love you, Cierra!

Meet Cameron and Riley

Allow me to introduce two of my new friends!

As many of you know, my digital camera broke a while back when I was on a trip. I was hoping to get a new one in time for my missions trip to BABR, but realized it wouldn't arrive in time for me to take it. So, being the ingenious person that I am (haha), I bought a new camera and had it shipped to BABR! It arrived about the middle of the week, but I was still able to take some great pics! And now for the good part....

Blogging friends, meet Cameron, my camera. Get it? Cameron. Camera. Well, I thought it was cute!

(It's slightly difficult to take a picture of your camera with your camera. Thank goodness for mirrors!)

But there's someone else very important that I want you to meet! She's cute and cuddly and her name is Riley.

Riley is a Shih Tzu, very loving, and so friendly! We love her so much! (She fits perfectly in build-a-bear clothes! =D)

I have some special posts coming up, so stay tuned! I hope you all are having a great summer! I'd love to hear how God has used your summer so far; just leave a comment!

Blessings,
Chloe

I'm Back from BABR!

When I looked up into the vastness of the night sky and saw it covered with stars of endless number, how could I but think of eternity in heaven with the God who created it all? Although it is nice to be back to my " home-sweet-home," I enjoyed my week working at Broken Arrow Bible Ranch so much! Living outside the city limits is an awesome experience - I can just look around me and know that nothing is impossible with my God!

Throughout the week I was dwelling on part of Isaiah 40:

26Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. 27Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"? 28Have you not known? Have you not heard?The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

God changed me in so many ways during my stay at BABR - but not in ways that I expected. I guess I was expecting God to do some marvelous work in my life, to radically change me. Rather, He reminded me of the "small" things that I had forgotten, but they were very important. And He did change me! Just not in the way I expected. I've found that God's ways are so much better! Aren't you glad that God doesn't always give us what we expect? Aren't you glad that our expectations cannot even compare to God's wonderful plan? I am.

Praise God for a week I will always remember! A week where I saw God's family grow just a bit larger; a week where I received new brothers and sisters in Christ; a week where I had the opportunity to serve Christ alongside fellow believers.

Thank you to everyone who was praying for me and the team! To God be the glory!

My youth group (I'm the one on the far left).

One of our projects was to scrape and repaint this water tank. Some of the guys built the shed behind it.

The perfect verse for dry New Mexico! My friend Michaela did most of the artwork. Isn't it amazing?

I wasn't a counselor, but I was assigned to a group!

Miss Personality

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.... =)