Sasha Leigh

Weekly Update Number Something

2009-06-28T17:29:00.002-05:00

I am going to make this short and sweet because I am running low on time this week!

This week was Junior 1 and I had five, extremely argumentative campers. The whole week seemed to be one big argument....Oh well! Each girl was sweet and special in her own very way. God was good and I was able to talk to most of the campers.

I had one big challenge this week. On Wednesday, during skit time, I some how got pushed off a chair during my very energetic and awesome skit. I fell and hit my head on the piano and the stage in the exact spot where I got my last concussion. Well, as you can guess, I received another concussion and I ended up in the emergency room. The next two days, I was forced to rest and was able to participate in a few activities.

Friday night was amazing! I got to lead a girl to the Lord and it was an amazing experience! I am so excited to see how the Lord is going to continue to work in my life this summer!

Well, I must go for now! Have fun and I will post next weekend! Toodles!

Weekly Update Number One!

2009-06-14T16:41:00.003-05:00

Wow, I am sooo tired! Camp is going great!

I arrived safe and sound at the Jackson Hole airport around 1:40 pm. I got to the airport that morning at around 8:20 am and got through security and chatted with some of my friends who were flying to Europe that day before I had to board and I get to my gate to board and my flight was delayed by at least 2o mins and so we finally got to board and my flight didn't leave till a little after 11 am and my flight in Denver was scheduled to take off at noon in Denver's time zone...not ours. So my flight was originally supposed to leave at 10:25am and so my layover was supposed to only take an hour....well, I had to run when I got to Denver because my gate was like 30 gates away from the one I was supposed to board at. I made it in around five minutes and I made it! Yay! God was good and everything worked out and one of the girls who got off the flight was going to the same camp as me! Emily is her name and she is a sweetheart! We met the Loftus' and waited for Matt to fly in shortly after we did. We met him and went to Wendy's and we were on our way to camp! It took an additional two hours to get to camp and by the time we got there, all three of us were about ready to be done traveling!

The next day we started staff training. The rest of the summer staff arrived at camp safely and we had fun getting to know each other! We have an amazing staff this year and I am excited to see how the Lord is going to use us all this summer! We all seem to want the Lord to work immensely in our lives and that fact drives us on as a team! Isn't it amazing how the Lord can bring together the most random group of people and use them for His glory in a way that none of us could have ever imagined?

On Thursday, we got to hike to the Red Cliffs and they were amazing! I will be posting pictures when I remember to bring a camera cord for my laptop....oops, bad Sasha! The hike up to the mountain wasn't too bad if you were in shape and used to the altitude....which is not me...I never thought I was going to make it up there but God was good and I got up there! It was an amazing view! Just looking out at what God had designed was inspiring! How can I accurately describe what God has created? I can't but the pictures I will post later on can! Anyways, we hiked back and we had some more fun doing some more sessions.

On Friday, we were supposed to go to Green River Lakes but once again, it was raining. It has rained almost all week and we really haven't seen the sun at all this week which is apparently really unusual! So, instead of having fun at this activity we had some more sessions. Yay!

On Saturday, we were supposed to hike to Little Sheep, which is a mountain, but it was raining or about to rain so we didn't go...instead we drove to Green River Lakes and walked around and took some awesome pictures...which I will post later....It was raining but we didn't stay for too long. It was fun and Chandler hid behind a boulder and jumped out at me and scared the living daylights out of me! Needless to say, I jumped and screamed like a little girl! Oops...so we got back that night and ate tacos and we played an amazing game of Markers! Ok, so if you are wondering what markers is, markers is like spoons only using markers. We were playing triple elimination and I was out like near the end but I was quite aggressive to say the least and I ended up diving on the table twice and on jumping off the table one of these times to retrieve a marker! It was amazing and even though I lost, it was a great game with some of my amazing friends!

Today, I had an amazing time at the Church and the morning message was amazing! God really broke me! It is about time because I was due for a revival! I need to repent of my sins now and be in a right relationship with God so I do not miss out on the blessings and plans God has for my life! We serve such an amazing God who is willing to forgive us even when we turn our backs on Him. That thought just blows my mind! Anyways, my week here has been great and I am making some amazing, lifelong friends! I shall continue to keep you updated and for now, I must go! Tschuss!

Hi Ho The Dario, It's Off To Camp I Go!

2009-06-09T00:37:00.002-05:00

Today, starts an exciting but life-altering journey! I am leaving for camp in a few short hours and I am so excited to see how the Lord is going to change me this summer. I am excited to see what God has for me but am also nervous because of the unknown circumstances and trials that God is going to put in my life to test me and make me more like His Son. If I come out loving God more than I do now because of this summer, than at the end of the summer, my time will not have been wasted.

For camp, I was asked to memorize two Psalms...which I am still working on but will have down very soon! One of these Psalms in particular has already impacted my life so much. Psalm 51:1-17 says:

¹Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

²Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

³For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

⁴Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

⁵Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

⁶Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

⁸Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

⁹Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

¹¹Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

¹²Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

¹³Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

¹⁵O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

¹⁶For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Psalm 51 has made me realize how much of a sinner I am and how thankful I am for the mercy and forgiveness of God! I think God put this passage in the Bible just for me and it convicts so often because I am often not broken over my sin like David was in this Psalm. I truly admire David because he was so open about his sin and his emotions. God has shown me that I need to be honest about my sin and being serious and be broken over the sins that I commit. I mean, I know I have done wrong and ask forgiveness, but to truly be broken over my sin that could possibly put me in a wrong relationship with God and my fellow man. I want to be as true to the Lord as possible this summer and for the rest of my life about my sin and other areas of my life!

Well, my dear friends and family, I must be off to bed! Pray for me this summer as I embark on this new journey in my life and that I would become more like the Savior with each passing moment. I shall try to post every weekend and every chance I can but I can't promise anything! So until next time my dear friends, adios amigos!

2009-05-30T16:07:00.003-05:00

Wow, I am a terrible blogger! It has been quite a while since I have last blogged! God has been so good and I finished my semester of college with good grades and a lot of new friends! This past semester was challenging but God showed Himself mighty in the midst of all my trials and circumstances. Isn't it amazing how many times we don't realize what God has done for us until we look back after some trial or period testing and see the hand of God in our lives? So many times this semester, it was like that for me! I went through each trial wondering why and for what purpose do I have to go through this but discovered later on why. I went through each trial because God wanted me to become more like His Son through each and everything I endured. We serve such a great God!

I am headed off to camp a week from Tuesday and I am sooooo excited! I know God is going to do a wonderful work in my life this summer and I can't wait to see what He is going to do! Could it be Tuesday already? I am so excited to meet all my fellow staff members! I know one of them and the rest are all complete strangers but I am sure they won't bite too hard when I get to know them!

Anyways, a quick update is all I have time for today! I have decided that today is a good day to be productive and I have already washed my van so I need to go find something else to do...like figure out how to fit everything into two suitcases since I am flying to camp. I am sure I can find plenty to do, so alas I must say farewell. Until next time, tschuss!

2009-01-27T14:33:00.002-06:00

I can only imagine what you are thinking! She finally updated her blog! Wow, I think I need to be a bit more faithful with blogging!

A lot has happened lately! I started second semester at, you guessed it, Maranatha and am loving being back. My practice time for my clarinet proficiency for my major has tripled from the four hours I had at Pillsbury so I am getting used to practicing for at least two hours a day! I am supposed to, key word, supposed, to be practicing at least twelve hours a week. God is good and only through Him am I going to be able to practice that many hours a week with all my homework!

This semester has been an interesting one. It is great getting to see my old friends everyday as well as my new friends and former Pillsbury now Maranatha students but it is also disheartening that I am having some unusual circumstances applied to me since I am apparently a "returning student" instead of a transfer student. I don't particullarly enjoy these circumstances but I know there is a reason for all these things and God is teaching me a lot about patience! How many times I have to learn about patience, I don't know, but God does.

On a more random note, I am exited for warm weather, flowers, sunshine, and the lakes this summer! This summer, I am going to work at camp and enjoy all the fine aspects of summer! As to what camp I am working at, that is still a mystery. You see my dear friend, I have two staff contracts from two different camps this summer. My first contract is from Camp Chetek and my second contract is from Red Cliff in WY.

God works in such myseterious ways. As of this Sunday, I had thought that God had closed the door to Red Cliff. I had interviewed with them in Oct. and had failed to obtained one of my references phone number, email, or anything. I was telling my friend Tina this and the next day, Mr. Dean from Red Cliff, came up to me since he was here at MBBC and asked if I was Sasha. Of course I said yes, and apologized for not finding the reference's info. and he looked at me and said he didn't need that reference since he had talked to the camp director at Chetek, who was my other reference who must have given me a great reference, and said he had a contract me. I was stunned and went and pick up my contract later. It is amazing how God works! Everytime He does work, all I can do is stand back and be amazed at how great our God is! I think I am going to work at Red Cliff this summer since the need is great and I believe that this is where God would have me to be.

Well, this update must end since I have plenty of other stuff to do right now and not to mention, rep. class in a little bit. So to whoever reads this blog, which is probably no one, I bid thee farewell! Tschuss!

2008-10-22T16:06:00.002-05:00

Hey, if you all could pray for me and Pillsbury, I would appreciate it! Today after chapel, the student body was informed that Pillsbury would be closing in December. God has been good to me and Pillsbury thus far and I know He will continue to be but sometimes it is just so hard to trust when every thing is goes haywire. All I know is that God is good and everything will work out for His glory.

Interlocken Heritage Days and My Uncle's Wedding...

2008-06-18T14:11:00.005-05:00

These are a few randoms pics from this past weekend. The first is of Danielle and I. Danielle and I used to be great friends and still are good friends. She is a family friend and everyone loves her! What can I say?

The last two are from right before the parade. My little friend Tasha had drawn on the street and so I wanted to and so I did. I like to draw with sidewalk chalk. It's very fun and relaxing and you can draw prettyfuls things like I did! :D

Summer Tour Pics....

2008-06-18T12:03:00.003-05:00

Well, I don't know what to say..these are two of the wonderful pics that were taken well Jeremiah was in Minnesota. Jeremiah is in the Heritage Singers singing group from Maranatha and just happened to be in Minnesota a couple of times! :) What fun it was to spend a little bit of time with him this summer! God has really blessed me with an amazing boyfriend!

The first pic, well actually, both were taken in Owatonna, the the second and third time I saw him this summer.....what fun! The last pic is the morning we went out on a date to Perkins and I had a yummy ham and cheese omelet! I then drove him to Blooming Prairie where we met the rest of the team. Since the girls just happened to be late, we went and played at the park! What fun it was to swing again like a little girl! Then, sadly enough, it was time for me to say goodbye till August. :( I had fun with him and can't wait till August! :D

2008-05-09T00:05:00.004-05:00

I was reading in my devos tonight and a few verses in Ecclesiastes 2 stuck out at me. Ecc. 2:24-25 reads as follows "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul good in his labor. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?" The whole book of Ecc. is talking about vanity and these verses sum up the theme of the book. That our fullness should be found in God and what He has done for us, not in the labors and things of this world. How often do I take pleasure in this little thing or that thing or that I got a 100% on my homework assignment from Mr. Hudson? What vain things distract me! These verses hit me like a ton of bricks making me realize that I need to find my completeness and satisfaction in God and not in myself.

For some odd reason, I thought of one of my favorite songs when I was writing out what I had learned in my devos. "In Christ Alone," by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, is a great example of where I should stand in relations to this world and my faith. It may not make sense to you, but it is crystal clear to me. Here are the lyrics:

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

‘til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

What a powerful song! These words have impacted my life and encouraged me in the midst of the trials and storms of life. God has been so good, so why should I find my fullness in the things of this life? I shouldn't and neither should you!

Hmm...

2008-05-03T22:14:00.003-05:00

This past week has been crazy busy with finals and graduation and all the events that go along with graduation! These are a few random pics from yesterday and today! Jeremiah came today and visited for a little bit:). That was lots of fun but he had to leave...sadness. Anyways, the other two are from Commencement Concert last night. The one of the two weirdos in green, is of Joy and I and the other one is of Katie and I. I did Katie's hair and she did mine! It was lots of fun and Katie is such a sweet girl, I love her! Well, it is getting late and I should probably go to bed so I can stay awake during church tomorrow! Tschuss!

2008-04-30T08:59:00.002-05:00

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." II Timothy 2:3-4

This wonderful verse has made such an impact on my life this semester! God has been so good to remind that this life is only temporal and will pass away one day. This affairs of this life do not matter anymore than what test question I got wrong on my Christian and Music final I just took half an hour ago. While the exam and the test were important, the goal of glorifying of God is the most important thing. So many times I get caught in my own self and the events around me, I forget why I am here. I am here to glorify God with my life. Not to make myself look better, but make the God of all the nations name known.

This verse has helped me to take my focus off my self and back onto God. Sometimes, there are things and times I just want to give up, like at 12:30 last night..., but I know I can go on because I can do all things through the Lord. Isn't the Lord great?!?! He most definitely is! Praise His most wonderful Name!

Girlfriends!!

2008-04-26T01:42:00.004-05:00

Since coming to Pilly, the Lord has blessed me with so many amazing friends! These are just a few of my girlfriends, but don't worry, I have plenty more!

The fourth picture is of Laurie and me! She's my roommate next year! :)

2008-04-21T16:21:00.003-05:00

Ahh, it has been such a long time since my last post! Sorry guys, homework happened....

Looking back on my semester now, I see how the Lord has been working in my life. Looking from the perspective of a narrow minded college student doesn't help. That was how I was looking until these past few weeks.

Recently, one of my friends and I have been doing a study or Bible memorization thingy that entailed keeping a God-cenetered focus. Here are some of the wonderful verse we studied:

Psa 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Rom 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Just reading through these verses and studying them has really change my attitude and the way that I look at things. When I have my focus on myself, nothing goes right and I have the rottenest day you can imagine but when my focus on God, no matter what kind of day I have, I know that all things work together for good for those who love God. God is so amazing to bless us with what we don't deserve. So many times I fail to realize that God is right there and I trust in myself but praise the Lord for all the times He forgives me.

God has used so many people this semester at Pilly to grow in the Lord and be challenged daily to thirst and desire after Him. He has used me for His glory and I pray and hope He continues to do so!!

Yay, finals are here next week and then I am done for the semester!!!!!!!!!!! I actually have a Mr. Hudson final tomorrow so I should probably go study for that now!!

Have a wonderful day and think, where is your focus?? Are you self-focused or God-centered?

Praise To The Lord, The Almighty

2008-02-28T16:13:00.009-06:00

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,

the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him,

for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear,

Now to His temple draw near;

Sing now in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord, who o'er all

things so wondrously reigneth,Who,

as on wings of an eagle,

uplifteth, sustaineth.

Hast thou not seen

How thy desires all have been

Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully,

wondrously, made thee!

Health hath vouchsafed and, when

heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.

What need or griefEver hath failed of relief?

Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper

thy work and defend thee,

Who from the heavens the streams of

His mercy doth send thee. Ponder anew

What the Almighty can do,

Who with His love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that

is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath, come

now with praises before Him!

Let the Amen

Sound from His people again;

Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Have you ever wondered about where some of your favorites songs come from? I have. This song right here is one of my favorites and has been stuck in my head for a few days now since we are playing this song for hand bells and practice it quite often. "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" was written by the German composer Joachim Neander in 1665. Catherine Winkworth translated the hymn into English in 1863. It was no easy task because translating from German to English is tough (I can tell you this from experience)! Because the translation of this hymn was so difficult, many people have continually argued over the different translations of this hymn. The translation dispute was settled in 2007 when a Standard Revised English Version (SREV) was released incorporating the different translations and versions of this hymn.

It is always interesting to see where this hymns come from and I am always interested to know since last year I was staying at the Meylor's and in the morning for devotions we would read a hymn and look where it came from. It was fun to see how the Lord worked to give us such beautiful and moving hymns! The Lord is so good to us for giving us beautiful music and musical abilities! Praise to the Lord!

I think I shall try and post a new song every week.....

Below, is the SREV version of "Praise to the Lord, The Almighty."

"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty"
Standard Revised English Version (SREV), based on Neander/Winkworth

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation.

O my soul praise Him, for He is thy help and salvation.

Let all who hear,

now to His temple draw near,

joining in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so woundrously reigneth

shelters thee under His wings yea, so gently sustaineth,

hast thou not seen,

how all thy longings have been,

granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who will prosper thy work and defend thee.

Surely His goodness and mercy will daily attend thee.

Ponder anew,

what Andrew Fabbro can do,

if with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, who when tempests their warfare are waging,

who when the elements madly around thee are raging,

bids them to cease,

turns all their fury to peace,

whirlwinds and waters assuaging.

Praise to the Lord, Who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;

Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling,

hath stayed thee.What need or grief

ever hath failed of relief?

Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

Praise to the Lord, who when darkness and sin is abounding,

who when the Godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,

sheds His pure light,

chases the horrors of night,

Saints with His mercy surrounding.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him.

All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!

Let the Amen,

sound from His people again,

gladly for aye, we adore Him.

Lalalalalala cont.

2008-02-13T10:42:00.004-06:00

Well, I guess I shall continue the post that magically posted after I thought I had lost it. I have had a busy and fun semester! The Lord is so good to provide for us what we don't deserve! His mercies are new everyday! What an encouraging thought that can be!

I am currently involved in handbells as you can see. The first pic is of Joy Anna Leonard and myself in our handbell outfits for Sundays! Joy is such a sweetie and I love her to death! Ironically enough, she grew up with my "friend", in Brasil! Both of them are missionary kids who were raised there. I have a friend whom I will be dating as of Thursday or Friday when I am in Watertown to visit. His name is Jeremiah Willson if that name rings a bell to anyone.

I am also involved with Hearbeat for Missions and Missions conference is coming up! I am so excited and there is so much yet to be done before it arrives in about two weeks. Another thing I am also involved with, is helping with the school play! I am doing sound and whatever else that needs done before the school play rolls around!

I recently attended VF here and it was a blast. The decorations and the place where we had it, was absolutely gorgeous! I had fun getting dressed up and going with a bunch of friends! We went bowling afterwards and I got to bowl two games even with my knee. Ah, let me tell you about my wonderful knee..

I had knee surgery two weeks ago because I had a torn meniscus, cartilage, and torn muscles surrounding the knee as well as a tendon that had to be cleaned or something like that. So, I had a video arthroscopy and I got crutches and a knee mobilzer and last Friday, as stubborn as I am, I refused to wear the mobilizer and wore a moveable knee brace instead and went without crutches because formal dresses and crutches as well as the ice outside, don't make a lovely comination...I know, naughty Sasha...

Well, I am about to run off to lunch before my long afternoon of classes. Have a wonderfully, blessed day!

Lalalalalalala...........

2008-02-12T23:00:00.002-06:00

Lalalalalalala is just one of the many feelings that I have running through my mind lately. With so much going through;p/iokl.uhgyjnf c

My Recent Testimony

2008-01-11T10:31:00.000-06:00

Romans Chapter 5:1-11
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so , but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so , but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

I was doing my devotions in Romans yesterday and this passage really spoke to my heart. This past week we have had revival meetings at school and Mr. Hutchinson was talking about persecuted Christians and how they suffer and such, and I guess I had some how put myself in that category after recent events. Being ripped from the school I love, friends, and such and being left with nothing by my faith in Jesus Christ. I was so focused on myself and how I was suffering and not on God. I read Romans 5 and I was convicted. Christ died for our sins on the Cross and suffered for us so we wouldn't get what we truly deserve. I am so thankful for that and reading that passage totally turned my day around and I had a wonderful day. It is so amazing how the Lord works!

I recently attended the Student Global Impact (SGI) in Detroit recently and the Lord taught me so much. SGI is a conference for mission minded students from Bible colleges and they come together in hopes of spreading the Gospel and for fellowship and networking. It was amazing to stand in the auditorium on the first night and just see how many people were serious about the Lord and willing to serve Him wherever they go. My favorite speaker at the conference was David Hosaflook (however you spell that) to Albania. He preached a message on Thursday night that really stirred me. The message was about love and how we, as missionaries, need true love on the field to serve others. Love that would compel us to do most anything for those we are serving and such. Some of the main points he gave were, as missionaries, we need to communicate, comprehension, confidence, compassion, and commitment. I need to work on all of these areas and most of all, my love for Jesus Christ. When I truly love my Savior, only then can true love for others flow from me. I want others to be able to see Christ and His love for them through me. I loved SGI and would recommend that at some point or time in your life, to go!! I have become even more on fire for missions and the lost after this conference and after leading one of my life-long friends to the Lord over Christmas break!

I am sorry, I have so much going through my head right now about what to type and put down that I am not writing clearly today. Please bear with me!

I am so thankful for the Lord's goodness and mercy to me! He is so amazing in giving us what we have and what we don't deserve! Thank you Lord!

I have so much to tell, but not enough time! Well, I shall save the rest for another post! Until next time my dear friends, auf wiedersehn!

A Quick Update!!

2008-01-09T23:31:00.000-06:00

I have had a crazy few months lately! Wow, so much to tell, but yet so little time! I know I haven't updated since Nov. (shame on you Sasha!) but life gets hectic!

After my last blog entry, I was privelaged enough to go home for Thanksgiving and enjoy my time sleeping on the love seat in my living room! The love seat is comfy but leaves something to be desired....I then promptly returned to school with my good friend Nikki for the last few weeks of our never ending journey. In what seems like the blink of an eye, it was all over. School was done for the semester and unbeknownst to me, my time at Maranatha had quickly come to a roaring stop.

The Monday before I was to return to school, I found out that all my loans and financial aid had been declined and I came to the heart wrenching conclusion that I possibly couldn't come back. I went to the New Year's Eve party at the Rabe's and talked to Pastor Schofield and Dan Mielke and a few others. Dan talked about me going to Pillsbury as well as Pastor and Dan said he would talked to the college on Tuesday. I enjoyed myself that evening because I didn't know what was going to happen.

I picked up my friends after packing up my stuff for school, not knowing where I was going, and met them at McDonald's. While I was there, Dan called me and made sure he had the right number and I thought nothing of it until ten minutes later I get a call from an odd number. Hmm, I remembered as I answered the phone and lo, and behold, it was Dr. Crane from Pillsbury! He said they could get me in and between the Pell grant and the MN grant, school would be completely paid for! I remember sitting there in awe at how awesome our God is and at the miracles He chooses to perform! He allowed for me, in less than twenty-four hours, to go to Pillsbury! The Lord is so good and I am excited to see what He has in store for me. He has something so good, that I can't even imagine what it is!

I have started my semester at Pillsbury and I am enjoying so far! I must go, lights out is in three minutes! Good night!

MI Band Tour 2007

2007-11-18T20:23:00.000-06:00

These are just a few of the pics. from my band tour to MI. I had lots of fun and made a lot of new friends and I would blog a lot more, but I just returned from band tour and my mind is in lala land. I will blog later, but until then, toodles!

In My Weakness

2007-10-28T02:19:00.000-05:00

"In My Weakness" by Mark Harland and Cary Schmidt

When living life for Jesus Christ become too hard a task,
When obedience means sacrifice that seems too much to ask;
That’s when I learn that my own strength isn’t really strength at all,
And I find rest in humbleness when I surrender all.

In my weakness He is strong;
In my need He leads me on.
When I come to the end of all I am,
And I place my trust in Him;
That’s when His strength begins –In my weakness.

When failures in my human strength have weakened all my pride,
And ruined hopes in fallen dreams have crumbled me inside;
It’s then by grace I fin’lly see the strength of Jesus Christ,
His victory is real in me when weakness fills my life.

In my weakness He is strong;
In my need He leads me on.
When I come to the end of all I am,
And I place my trust in Him;
That’s when His strength begins –In my weakness.

II Corinthians 12:9-10: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

The words of this song speak ever so deeply to my heart. The Lord has been bringing about so many trials in my life recently and this song has reminded me that I am made strong in my weakness and that God is there helping me at all times.

This past week I have been exhausted and still unable to sleep well because of my leg injury and because I usually manage to pull my knee muscles at the oddest moments, a heavy demerit penalty and incident with one of my teachers that was a total misunderstanding (but I was still awarded a ton of demerits), unexpected hospital bills, missions conference, and burdens that have abounded for my friends and their families. Throughout all these events, God is with me and I am blessed and surviving because of the grace of God and His strength. One phrase that has been a constant reminder for me is Jehovah jireh, which means God will provide. No matter what happens, God will be there and He will give of me what I ask. This has been such a blessing because I know He will pay all my hospital bills that I can't even fathom how I am going to afford. I got the hospital bill for my physical way back when in August and ouch, that hurts. I am able to pay for that one. The next and only two I have left, I have no clue how I am going to pay: for an ER visit and an orthopedic doctor visit. God will provide. He always does.

I would appreciate all your prayers during this time and especially for my financial situation. I have another prayer request. My friend Buddy's mom, delivered her twin babies at about 20 -22 weeks. The first baby miscarried and the second one, Joshua Caleb, is in the ICU on a respirator. He is on the lowest setting and mostly breathing by himself. Please just pray for the family and Buddy as this is a hard time for them all. God Bless and I shall try and update soon...I updated tonight simply because they have left the Internet on all night and I am not feeling well at the moment, so I am blogging. It's only close to three a.m. ....good night....

Farmtastic 2007

2007-10-28T01:49:00.001-05:00

I had the opportunity to attend Farmtastic in Roscoe, Illinios this last September. I had fun working the games and seeing my two extension church's youth groups there. Praise the Lord, a few of the kids from both got saved under Tom Farrel's preaching.

My ultimate joy and blessing from this event was that I was able to counsel a girl. It is amazing how the Lord brings together two different people from similar backgrounds. The girl I counseled wanted to dedicate her life to the Lord and I was able to share some verses that a very wise and Godly woman shared with me once when I did the same thing. I was able to help this girl out and she dedicated her life to the Lord. Praise the Lord for such tender souls and the way He provides and works in peoples lives. The Lord is so good!

Dorm fun...

2007-10-28T01:37:00.001-05:00

This first pic is the a sign/poster thing that each girl on my floor is supposed to make and I decided to get a little more crafty than most. We originally were given just the brown paper with polka dots and I added the green, sparkly tissue paper from graduation (thank you Laura!) and added some fun things I pulled out of all my art and scrapbooking supplies...

The second pic just happens to be me holding a disheveled, wire clothes hanger and my car keys I had locked in my car before freshman registration. My PC and I had a blast getting them out. After about a hour and a half later, two guys and some staff guys were finally able to break into my car! Praise the Lord for all the gentleman on this campus!

The last two pics are from dorm devos this week. Since Halloween is right around the corner, we had dress up a person from your room night and see who wins...I was one of the three of five girls around for devos in my room and the only willing. So, we threw together an outfit in five minutes and my friend from right down the hall and I looked great. She's not the one in the last picture, but I still love her. I was a pink Greecian goddess, I think, oh a fallen pink Greecian goddess. I have one of my crutches somewhere......

Fall Festival

2007-10-16T23:06:00.000-05:00

These are some of the pictures that were taken at Fall Festival at MBBC this past weekend. I had a blast at Fall Festival. The music was so encouraging and the God given convictions I have gained have been put to use. I am so thankful that the Lord reminds us or just flat out tells us that we need to change. The Lord is good!!

After Fall Festival, I went to late night skate, after being convinced by a few of my friends, and had fun....for the most part. I would show you pictures but I had little accident before I could take any. You see, I had taken a break and some of my friends and I had just finished playing rook (the bestest card game ever) and they announced a friends skate and Geo and I got out onto the rink. Geo and I had skated together for a while before that (Geo is the guy standing on the right in the pictures or the guy in the blue shirt and black suit) and I was accident free. After we had just gotten out onto the rink, we got maybe down one side of the rink and a guy comes up behind me, who just happened to be twice the size of me, and sacks right dab into my back. Needless to say, I went flying and landed on my left knee and twisted my left leg yet again. I landed hard and my friends knew that once I had fallen, I landed hard. After my lovely incident, I was assisted off the rink and ended up going to the ER with another girl who had a head injury. I praise the Lord that he gives me such good friends who care. They would have carried me if I needed them to.

The ER was an interesting experience. The nurses and doctor were not altogether nice and stereotyped me just because I went to MBBC. Needless to say, they were a big blessing once it came to diagnosing my problem. I sat in the ER for two others before going home and I got home around 2 a.m. It was discovered that I most likely have a sprained left knee. I was made to wear a knee immobilizer and use crutches

I also went to the doctor on Monday and he says I still have a sprain and a badly bruised knee. He said that even if it is fractured, there is nothing they can do except let it heal naturally. Praise the Lord, he let me take off the knee brace, but the crutches must stay till I can walk without a limp.

Altogether, I had a fun time this past weekend at Fall Festival and if asked to go to late night skate again, I will probably go but always remember this little statement some of my friends and I made up, " a true late night skate is not a late night skate without a trip to the ER." Think about...you'll get it eventually...

Blessings Abound

2007-10-08T23:17:00.000-05:00

Well, I figure that it is time to blog again since I haven't blogged for quite a while. The picture at the top is of Caleb Sanburn from Owatonna, MN!!:) and myself during spirit week. He has been such an encouragement to me through my tough times and tonight, we just sat down and talked for an hour about stuff. Stuff that was used to encourage one another. Don't worry guys, he is just my friend and I fully intend to keep it that way! He's a good guy. The next picture is of a bunch of people at Mike Marshall's home shooting off fireworks. It was lots of fun! Finally, the bottom pic is of Elizabeth Ayres and I at Mike's house. Elizabeth is such a sweet guy and I am enjoying getting to know her better every day. She and I both attend Calvary in Jefferson, WI.

All in all, the world keeps going and so do I. Days made seem hard and long, but with God's grace and mercy, I am survivng. Getting to go home this weekend was such a big blessing because I was able to have some peace and quiet time for myself. I got to relax and have fun with my real family and church family. God is so good to me. He allows for these little trips and he knows just what we need when we ask of Him and blesses us! Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow!

Eternal Sadness...

2007-09-16T23:00:00.000-05:00

You may wonder why I have such a picture of this on blog and I will tell you why. Steven and I have broken up even though we weren't dating in the first place...he said that our paths were going different ways for now and he just didn't know what he didn't want to do and since I did, he didn't want me to change my plans so I could follow him. He also so he wasn't ready to date till at least the end of sophomore year. He just wants to see what the Lord has in store for him and if he feels the Lord is leading him into full time christian service he would still like to date me. He says he does no matter what and still wants to, but who knows. He said I could date other guys in the BIBLE department if I wanted to. Mr. Steven and I broke up Monday and since then, wow, the Lord has worked miracles in my life. It seems like ever since we broke up, two buys have followed me around..go figure!

Just an update...

2007-09-09T23:27:00.000-05:00

Well, I have arrived safely at school and am enjoying college life. I have four, wonderful roomates and I love them all dearly. Their names are Marie, Jessica, Coleen, and Beth and Jessica is a missions major too!

It is such a small world that we live in, because Marie was one of the Ekblad's twins rommates when they were in Peru last year and I just love having all these lovely connections...it seems I discover more every day.

Today, I joined a church in Jefferson as a student watchcare and am helping out with King's Kids, the choir, nursery, and who knows what else this coming year. My fellow freshman roommate, Coleen, told me that she was going to join the same church too! So she joined with me today and now we both belong there! I am so excited because two of my teachers from the Academy and their families go there. One was Mr. Borchardt, who was my choir and ministry team director, who also be my church choir director. Funny how those things work out...the other teacher is Mr. Jenkins and he was my class advisor and my Bible teacher for a quarter and I will be working under him in the King's Kids ministry. I think that it is going to be such a blessing to work under both of these fine men who once taught me and now to work alongside them, is just going to be amazing! I can't wait to see what the Lord will do this year!

Some of the pics. at the top are just random ones. The first is Stevena and I at a Milwaukee Brewer's game and the next is Sophie, whom I miss dearly, and then Steve-O and I again on the first day of college or registration or whatever, and then, just me!

I will try to update more since I no longer really have access to facebook and I will take a lot more pics now since I finally own my own digital camera!! I must go, complete lights out is in less than twenty minutes! Toodles and God Bless!!

2007-03-25T01:09:00.000-05:00

Some more random pics....most are from play practice or more random times...

2007-03-25T01:05:00.000-05:00

These are just some random pics that I had lying around...

2007-02-27T21:29:00.000-06:00

I GOT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-02-08T14:49:00.004-06:00

I might as well update now, while I still have a few minutes left in study hall....I got out to Watertown just fine with Julie and Jessica in tow. I dropped them off and went and met my new family, the Meylor's. They are all very nice and I enjoy living with them. I get to share a room with Becky, who is in seventh grade and is funny as can be. She cracks me up. School is going well. I am in the school play, Peter Pan, as Tinkerbell and Old Wendy and am having a blast with my friends doing it. Ryan Barrie is Peter Pan and Steven is Hook and that just makes it all the better. I think that the play will go over quite well. Since I have got here, I have had the opportunity to live in a Christian home and am made to go to Calvary in Watertown. It is not what I am used to, but it has pushed me out of my comfort zone and in doing so, the Lord has taught me so much. I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in and continually, He is reminding me that I always need to keep trusting in Him, and not myself. "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:13

2007-02-08T14:49:00.003-06:00

2007-02-08T14:49:00.002-06:00

2007-02-08T14:49:00.001-06:00

2007-02-08T14:49:00.000-06:00

2007-01-10T13:48:00.000-06:00

On Friday, a couple of us went to the away boy's basketball game ar the Elmore Academy. It was so much fun, Amanda and Kristen came over and we went to Fairmont and then the game. We won the B-squad game but lost the varsity one. We were all great cheerleaders and even the other team's fans told us that! We were the only students and Kathryn that showed up to cheer! Yay, us. First pic, left to right, Kristen, Amanda, and I. Second pic, left to right, Amanda, Kristen, Kathryn, and me, and the third pic, is me and Amanda.

2007-01-03T10:56:00.000-06:00

I GOT IN!!!!!!!!!

To the Academy that is!

Christmas Concert!

2006-12-27T16:17:00.000-06:00

I had my school Christmas concert on Dec. 16 at the Opera House in Fairmont. These are just a few pics of me and my friends. The second is of me and Amanda hugging after we finished our duet and the third, is of a bunch of us after the concert that had gone to Perkins.

2006-12-15T22:55:00.000-06:00

These are just two of Steven's senior pics that I had lying around somewhere. Isn't he a cutie?

My Favorite Camp Pic

2006-12-15T22:40:00.000-06:00

Hey Steven, this was the picture that I was talking about. Isn't it great?

Just an update..

2006-12-15T22:15:00.000-06:00

Hey you guys! It's been a long time since I have actually had the time to sit down and blog. Lately, I have had such a hard time doing anything! Between homework, errands, and sickness I have had no time to realy do anything. I occasionally get to talk on the phone...and when I shouldn't..but oh well. I turned 18 on Monday and that was one of the highlights of my week. Lately, God has been reminding me through all my trials that I need to put Him first and obey His will and listen and when I do, everything will start to fall in place. If I only listen to Him, life would be so much easier. Sometimes as humans, we stray away from that which is good and right and go towards our own will and ways. The Lord has really been reminding that in all my ways I need to trust Him. Not just with part of my heart, but with all of it! Through my many friends and teachers and His Word, He has been showing this to me. I am so busy and such, sometimes I forget to think about what my priorities are and I lose sight of the goal of the high calling of Jesus Christ. So in all that I do, I need to trust Him and set my sight on heavenly things.

Tomorrow, I have my Christmas concert at the Opera House at 7 pm. If you want to come, you are invited to. I would love it..anyways, I have been busy preparing for that. I am singing a duet with my friend Amanda and I hope it goes well! I lost my voice this week and sort of have it back, but am nervous because my singing voice isn't back to its full range. I know everything will be fine, but I am just nervous.

I talked to Steven early today and he said that Mrs. M talked to Mrs. Lawson and I guess that she is meeting with Dr. Sturgil on Wednesday and they are deiciding whether or not I can come to the Academy second semester. I hope that this is what the Lord has in store for me, we will find out soon!

So for now, everything is going well and I hope that it continues to!

2006-12-15T21:59:00.000-06:00

These are just some of the random pictures that I found lying around on my new laptop! The first one is from the last day of school when, left to right, are Kristin, me, and Amanda. We were goofing off at the bowling alley and having a blast. The second picture is from red carpet day during homecoming. The girls are, left to right, Kayla, KK, Amanda, Kristin, Beth, and me. I apologize for my wearing sleeves...bad Sasha!

Great news!

2006-11-29T08:07:00.000-06:00

You know what is very exciting? You know how I am thinking about going to the Academy at MBBC next semester, well....I found a place to live!! They wouldn't look at my application until I did and I found out that one family, the Meylors, that has hosted foriegn exchange students and others prayed about taking me in and they would like me to come stay with them second semester! Praise the Lord for how He is working this whole plan out!! Just pray now that I get accepted. Oh boy, thats TWO admissions desicions I'm waiting on. The Academy and the college itself.....

2006-11-12T14:17:00.000-06:00

I finally got my senior pictures back!! hehe, if you would like one, or both, just let me know and I will get them to you as soon as possible!!

2006-09-25T18:16:00.000-05:00

I have been so busy lately with so much stuff! Advanced biology is a killer if ya put it off till three days before a chapter test. As you can guess, I'm in it and doing well. School is going well for the most part except for the theology part. Let me explain to you what I mean. I have been struggling with the whole theology issue for a long time and going back to school just made it worse. I just started to struggle with it lots more. In light of recent events, I was introduced and am thinking about attending the Academy at Maranatha. I would love to go and have already met with the principle there. I had my "interview" already and am just waiting to see if I can go there. In order to attend there, I must find a host family or somewhere to stay. Mrs. Munyon is looking for me, but just pray that I could find somewhere to stay. I feel that the Lord wants me out of MLHS but I don't know where to go, so I am just knocking on the door and seeing if the Lord wants me at MBA.

2006-08-13T00:05:00.000-05:00

Out of these two, Steven and the sheep, who do you think has fluffier hair? (I think Steve wins!)

Krissy and me!

2006-08-12T23:21:00.000-05:00

This is me and my cousin Krissy. We were just randomly hanging out on Thursday and we just took this picture for fun.

2006-08-12T22:30:00.000-05:00

These are just some random pictures that I found lying around or on friend's blogs and stuff. Most of these pictures were taken on the last day of school except for the last one, which was taken on Dec. 10 after a whole bunch of my friends and I had taken the ACT and were celebrating my birthday, yay! It's so weird to think that I go back to school for my senior year in a week and a half! Anyways, the first pic is at the bowling alley where Amanda and I were just messing around and the second one is a whole bunch of us at the Channel Inn celebrating the last day of school, don't worry, we didn't start a fire this time, hehehe. The next one is just a bunch of us, Cody, Radka, either Kristen or Amanda, and I just posing for a picture with the bear, and the next one is, from left to right, Kristen, me, and Amanda jsut being stupid, and the last one is Amanda, Kristen, and me.

Bonnie's House

2006-08-11T22:22:00.000-05:00

This lovely picture was taken at Bonnie's house between Teen I and Teen II. We were just about to head off to Bonnie's church and that would explain why we are all dressed up, except for Steve...bad boy. Anyways, we got to go visit her because she was sick that week and was not able to come for Teen I because she was suffering from bacterial pneumonia. So, we went and went to some local and stores and we found marshmallow guns! I was so much fun to see who could shoot a marshmallow the farthest, out of Bonnie and Steven. I think Bonnie won, hehehe, I don't know, but it was close. This other pic is just of me and Steve. It's amazing to see how the Lord is working in both of our lives. My heartfelt desire in any relationship that I have with anyone, is to glorify God and magnify His most Holy Name. I especially hope this for Steven and I and who knows what will happen between us, whether we become more than just friends or just friends, I hope we will always glorify the Lord!

2006-08-09T17:26:00.000-05:00

This summer, I had a great time at Camp Chetek. I was blessed with the oppurtunity to meet so many new people that helped me out spiritually and in ways nobody knows. I was able to counsel a few people which really encouraged me because I knew that God was working through me and able to see them change for the better. Speaking of counseling, I will tell you my assurance of salvation testimony. For half a year or better, I had been struggling with the fact that I thought I was able to lose my salvation and that I was supposedly going to Hell because that is what I was told in my Luthrean high school and if you hear a lie long enough, you will start to believe and I did. So on the first day of Teen Week 2, Brian Clay preached a message to the TEAM from Isaiah 6 and talked about true revival and how we are due for them sometime in our life and more than once and then during the evening service, Kevin Brownfield preached from somewhere in Luke and was talking about 3 points that every Christian or person should have: Responsibility, resolve, and respect. When the invitation rolled around and he asked those that were willing to take this challenge and have all three and raise the bar in their Christian life to stand up. I found myself unable to stand because I knew that I couldn't, not until I had settled my issue. After he did that, those that were left seated, he spoke to. "Either number one, your not saved, or number two, you are a Christian who is deeply struggling and can't stand" His words, similar to that, broke my heart into pieces, and I started bawling. After we were dismissed, I went back to Portage and started crying on Bonnie's shoulder because I was so broken. Two of my TEAM counselors, Danielle and Amber, came in and counseled me and showed me some verses that really helped me. I John Chapter 4
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
This one challenged me to seek God's Word in matters of theology and stuff like that and to find out for sure for myself what I believed and not what they believed. Out of evrything that happened this summer, I learned one important lesson, that God is good, all the time!!! It may have taken me eight weeks to realize this, but He is good all the time and I will save that testimony for a future date!

2006-08-09T15:55:00.000-05:00

I have an update for ya all. This summer at camp, I made a lot of desicions, but the most important ones were "assurance" of my salvation and I gave Steven Munyon his second chance. Obviously the assurance of my slavation was the biggest one, but the other one was up there too. So Steven gets there the Sunday afternoon before training week II starts and we didn't say a word for the first few hours after that until I finally warmed up to him. Then on that Tuesday we were given permission to talk and we settled things that needed to be settled. A couple weeks rolls along and here we are, at Teen Week 3. As ya'll probally know, Pastor was up there and Steven knows that I want his approval because my daddy is not a Christian so Steve talks to him and we would loosely say, got his approval. We are just good friends for now, but Lord willing, in the future, we will be more than just good friends!

Camp..

2006-07-02T14:49:00.000-05:00

Well, I have been at camp for three long weeks thus far and am enjoying it. The first week was Junior Missions and my training week. Throughout the training week, God was impressing upon my heart the importance of a willing and servant's attitude. Throughout the various messages and teaching and preaching sessions, He showed me that I needed to have a more humbler spirit, once that was willing to do anything. So I have been working on that, so please just pray for me. After that, it was Junior Week 1 and I had an awesome week. I had a well behaved junior cabin and that work was hard, but enjoyable. Once again, the Lord was impressing upon my heart that importance a servant's attitude, whether it be washing dishes or hanging out with my junior cabin (jc), so my junior counselor could have some free time to herself. Then we began Junior 2, wow! There were exactly 212 junior campers this week, including 27 from my home church. It was a real blessing just to see the Lord work in the lives of the kids that I got to work with during the year. I believe that, what was it, 2 or more got saved from my home church alone. Yay, praise the Lord! It was a hard week, since I was sick because I left my drugs (meds.) at home and finally got them on Sat. Yay, no more sickness! Anyways, this weekend we had around 17 Northland camp staff come to Chetek for a retreat. It was such a treat to see camp counselors from different camps get together and share testimonies around a campfire and then we got treated to fireworks last night. It was so awesome, I would say that they rivaled Fairmont's. You see, we had $2300 worth of fireworks donated to the camp and Heath, Kipp, and Andrew set them off. It was pretty sweet! ya know what, it is such a treat to go off campus during the weekend. After church in Barron this morning, Heath and Lois, now married, took Ray and me to Walmart and then out to Lunch at Taco John's and then to this place that was like Cabellas but was smaller. It was so cool and the whole time, Ray and I were these two wackiest people in the world, spinning chairs at walmart! Way to go! Anyways, I am having a blast and wish I could see ya'll soon, maybe on a wed. In July, when I go to the hemotologist to see what blood disorder I have. Who knows! Anyways, I'll get pics up as soon as possible! Love ya'll and talk to ya later!!

2006-06-02T21:12:00.000-05:00

Well, in 9 short days, I will finally be off to Chetek! I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for me this summer. I hope it is something awesome...anything will be great. Whatever it may be, I will gladly accept it. Anyways, I get to take my senior pics on Monday. I have not a clue what I am going to wear or what backgrounds I am going to have. Help!! I know for one of my two of my five outfits, I will be wearing a black sweater and I think, jeans and a cute skirt and shirt I got today from Old Navy. The rest is a big fog. I know I want some black and white pics and I don't know what else...it's so overwhelming. Back to camp, I leave on the 12th and will be back the weekend before and after Junior Week 2. That's it, believe it or not. I was so excited when I got permission to stay over the weekends today b/c not that many are allowed to stay over the weekends...I think I get to stay b/c I live 4 hrs. away or I behaved perfectly the last time I stayed over the weekend, who knows? I am so excited to see everyone from TEAM again, Bonnie!!!!, Sara, and Heidi Ketchum, and lots more, and Steven.....yay. I'm not really looking forward to seeing him yet, that will be ever so different after what happened between us. We'll just have to see how it goes. After all, Steven said that no matter what happened between us two, that we would still be really good friends no matter what happened which is something that rarely happens between people. So, I think everything will be all right. Oh, and I get to see Ray!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ray is my hero, I think he is 15 now and I thought his name was Dave or something for the longest time and it was quite funny when I discovered it was Ray, oops!! He's just my friend and one of my dishroom groupies whom I get to boss around:) all summer. He's awesome, ya'll should meet him sometime. Anyways, just pray for me for this summer and all, for Him to give me strength and be a great example, and a leader again, and to be a good junior counselor. I love ya'll and will try to post this summer. P.S. I'm finally getting a digital camera within the next week!!!

Me and Steve-O

2006-05-20T00:22:00.000-05:00

Well, since ya'll insisted that you wanted to see the pic of me and Steven when I was there over Spring Break, I though I was just put it on here too along with the second pic of me and Steve from when I was there in Jan. Pretty much, these photos bring back memories and whatever emotion comes along with them. Mostly good, for the most part. Well, enjoy!

More Hawaii Pics 2

2006-05-20T00:10:00.000-05:00

The second pic is Bonnie's house in Lihue. It was such a cute place, I loved it. The pics you see right now are of the mountains that I could look at from my room. It was such a lovely sight to wake up to in the morning; I think pic # 1 is the one that I woke up to in the morning. As you can see, it is cloudy in like every pic I took b/c it was cloudy and rainy almost every day.

More Hawaii Pics

2006-05-19T23:53:00.000-05:00

These are pics of the beach that I went swimming at when I was in Hawaii. The beaches and the ocean were awesome and the view was breathtaking. I was also at a different beach where I saw sharks and then whales and whatnot. It was fun. I got in the night before we went to that beach and we were helping to clean it up with Bonnie's youth group and lucky as we were, we saw them. Anyways, the beach was awesome!

Hawaii Pic

2006-05-19T21:36:00.000-05:00

IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been trying to get scanned pics on here for the last hr. and I finally did it!!! Here is one of the few pics from Hawaii. The one on the left is of Bonnie and I at a fancy restaurant (Dukes) at hotel. It was so fun looking inside. On the wall I was facing, they had open wall, which revealed the ocean below. It was so much fun and I even got to see the sun set while I was eating! It was gorgeous.

Another Random Blog

2006-05-19T11:13:00.000-05:00

OK, so I am just sitting here in school, in my own math class without a teacher today, so I can pretty much do whatever I want. So, naturally I decided I should probally do something constructive so, here I am blogging. Well, it's been going all right, but the stress of finals and the car "accident" and the insurance claims and everything else along with it is stress also. I try to deal with it on my own, but I can't. Only He can. It has been a good reminder to me lately, that He is the one that can do it for us and that I can do nothing of my own power because we are human. As it says in Philippians, "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me," this is just an awesome reminder that we can do all things through Christ. That if we just give it God and let Him work in us, we can do whatever. Also, II Corinthians 13: 4 "For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you," is also another awesome reminder to me that we can do all things through Him. The Lord has been teaching me in the past half a year or better, that I can't do anything without Him and that I need to depend upon the Lord for everything. Praise the Lord, with His power and might that we can do all things through Him!

Random blog

2006-05-12T23:17:00.000-05:00

Well, I have been really busy lately. I apologize for not blogging and keeping up. I get on maybe once a week if I am lucky. Guess whats exciting, 10 days of school left and then whats even better, 31 days till work at Chetek!!!! I get to go be part of a great ministry again and feel good about what I am doing for Him. Yay!!! I can't wait to see everyone there, especially Bonnie again!!! I miss that girl like crazy. I wish she was here now, but soon enough, she will be. Anyways, more up to date stuff, school is going good. Stressful though, because FINALS are coming up. Fun fun fun. Oh well, it will all be worth it. I can't believe I have only one year left at home, it so hard to believe. But before ya know, my senior year will be gone and I'll be off with myself to Maranatha (hopefully). In the mean time, I have been really busy with softball practice and games, babysitting, and homework, its crazy. Well, as to what is going on between me and Steven, which is really nothing at the moment is this: Steven and I are just regular friends now, not like we weren't before, but ya know what I mean. Its hard to explain, we weren't dating, but yet we were like special friends..I don't know, correct me if I'm wrong, but we are just friends now. We had both felt that our "special" relationship was going too far the wrong way and that it would just be pointless to get involved at this point in our lives. He said "Dating in high school is just as pointless as freshman dating in college because we don't know whats going to happen" I make myself clear again, we were not dating, but if we had kept going thats where we might have ended up, but anyways, there is some truth in that statement. He said a friend told him that and that he had been thinking about it and finally decided to tell me. Of course, he failed to mention this to me the last time that this girl was out there and told me this on Easter ..I hold nothing against him. I agree with Steven, but it's been a tough road since, the pain, the hurt, the tears, it all comes at once and its hard. He says he still likes me very much, but not right now, he says if it happens in college, great, he would be up to it, but for now, just friends. Just pray for me, I would very much appreciate it!! I'm sorry, I somehow just start and end up rambling on and on and on, so please, bare with me. I don't know if Steven would want anyone to know, but feel that ya all should know, just so I don't mislead anyone in anyway and if I have, I sincerely apologize. Anyways, change of subject...I can't wait to see all ya college students as your all coming home soon:) I wish you safe travel and Godspeed. Bye bye for now, toodles!

Honors Band

2006-04-08T22:51:00.000-05:00

This week, I had the opportunity to participate in a subsection honors band. To get into this band, you must be nominated and accepted to participate and I was!! It was awesome to be there, I learned so much and was able to participate in a band with some of the finest musicians in Southern Minnesota at the high school level. We had two practices, one on Wednesday and one on Thursday with a concert that night. The concert was held in St. James lasted for quite a while with their band playing and some soloistsand then the honors band. We performed five selections and did an awesome job. I was just happy to be able to participate in such an event, it was very helpful to me as a musician. By the way, I played the bass clarinet at it and that is why I have a pic of one with this blog...

Part 2 of my vacation: Wisconsin

2006-04-08T22:15:00.000-05:00

Well, after I arrived back in the continental US, I was headed towards Madison where, surprise surprise, I was met by the Munyons. After we waited for my lovely luggage which suprisingly came out quite quickly, we were able to finally depart from the wretched airport around 1 pm. By this time, after being in airports and planes for nearly 24 hrs, I was ready to leave if you know what I mean...anyways, Mrs. Munyon had a hair appointment so Steven and I went to the Johnson's Creek outlet mall while she was at that, so we went into a couple of stores and whatnot and froze while doing it. Sometime during the middle of this excursion, we ate at the Pine Cone because I hadn't eaten in nearly 24 hrs and we were both famished so, naturally we ate. After that we found a hallway and played chess with the game we bought...might I say, I am not the chess player I think I am..anyways, after that I finally ended up in Watertown. A sight for sore eyes, not really, but ya know what, I was glad to be somewhere I at least recognized, so I was happy. Steve and I just hung out that night and played video games and made pumpkin bars for his mommy. Yay, that was fun and we rented Mario Party 6 and I lost that to him, like normal. After that, it was, oh around 10:30 when one of my roommates for the weekend stopped by and picked me up. Her name was Cindy and she had graduated from MBBC last year. She was such a sweetie, I love her. The next morning, I woke up late, ahh, how relaxing compared to my previous night of getting an hour of sleep on the plane and being up since 3:30 am, anyways, I went back to the Steve's house and played Mario Party, which I won for the first time in history!! How many times that kid has beat me at it, I do not know, anyways, we all played card games like Phase 10 and whatnot and it was so much fun! That was the first time I had ever played Phase 10 and won by sheer luck, I don't know how, but ok and then later, his grandma came over and played with us. That was loads of fun, she is such a nice lady. After that, we watched a movie called Red Eye. It was so good!! The next morning, I went to Calvary with Steven and the Munyon's and went back to their place and waited for my daddy to come and pick me up. He got their late so I missed church that night, but oh well. My daddy met the Munyon's and Steven, which was great. It all went over smoothly and then I left and came home, finally!! I only have one pic from here and I don't know if I should put it up, but I don't know, I'll think about it and I will find my other ones and put them up here soon!

Hawaii!!!!

2006-04-01T20:04:00.000-06:00

Well, as most of you know, I recently had the opportunity to go to Hawaii. It was so much fun just thinking that I get to go there soon, but it was even better just to get there. I left my house around 4:15 am Friday the 17th to catch my first ever flight to Hawaii. As we (my dad and I) wandered around the Cities for an hour trying to find the airport, I finally discovered that I had faulty directions (from Mapquest...never again). To top things off after finding the airport, we ended up at the Humphrey terminal, the wrong terminal for American Airlines, we had to go to the Lindberg terminal. I was so worried because by this time I had maybe, oh 45 mins to an hour to get checked in and find my gate and whatnot, but praise the Lord, I found my gate and stuff on time. I actually ended up in Vegas instead of Chicago and then on to L.A. as planned. I hate the L.A. airport, too many terminals, nearly missed my flight to Hawaii, but it was all good. I finally got into Hawaii at ohh, around 9:30 pm their time, which is equivalent to 1:30 am our time. I was so glad just to be there and the best part of all, I got to see my Bonnie!!! 9 long months is too long!!! Ya, so I get to Bonnie's house and we stay up and talk for a while and by the time we were done, I was so dead tired that I was out like a rock when I went to bed. The next day we spent with Bonnie's youth group which was really fun. We went to McDonald's, had a Bible study, and helped cleaned up a beach. That was so much fun. I saw the whales in the water and I think, the sharks too.:(. After that we we got Subway and went home. Sunday, Bonnie's family treated me and we went to a Baptist church, which I was really thankful for because they were thinking of me. After that we went back to Bonnie's house and then we went to the mall. It was a blast because they have some stores I had never even heard of and it was fun to walk around in them and explore. Naturally I brought a few things..bad Sasha. No, they we went home and hung out once again. Monday, it sunshined for the first time since I had got there!!!!!!! I was so excited and therefore, I spent all day outside and got a little bit of a tan, but not without burning. First time I had burnt in years. Ya, so pretty much, I looked like a lobster for a few days. I got to go to a Hawaiian music festival thing that night since Bonnie had to work amd that was fun. I got to make a real Hawaiian lei out of real flowers there. That was interesting. Tuesday, it rained some more and then some more again and so on. So pretty much Bonnie and I were cooped up inside. Not good for two growing teens...Anyways, that night we got to go to Duke's, a really expensive sit down restaurant, which was very nice. You could sit down at your table and see the whole ocean. I even got to watch the sun set. It was gorgeous. I had a great time there. Wednesday was my beach day!! It was cloudy, but nice out and not rainy for a change. The beach was beautiful and located outside of the Marriott Hotel in Popoui (I think that's how you spell it). Ok, so I go and jump in with Bonnie and Monica (Bonnie's friend) and the taste of the saltwater hits me....yuck, eww, it was disgusting. Eventually, you get used to it...anyways, I got to go boogieboarding and wakeboarding. Fun, just don't land wrong, it hurts really bad. We all swam out to this little island thing not that far off the coast and you could see the tide pools and everything. It was so much fun to look at the little sea creatures. After we got back to shore, I discovered that we weren't supposed to go out there because in some places in the sand it was literally sinking sand or worse and you could die. Yippy skippy, not really, so after that, we had picnic lunch and we played tennis. Later that night we went to a different Baptist church and came home. Thursday, I packed and left Hawaii. I had an overnight flight to Dallas Fort Worth airport and then on to Madison where the Munyon's picked me up......anyways, I will get my pics on here soon, I have to find a scanner and get them on here.

Tanner and Hartley

2006-03-04T18:37:00.000-06:00

These little munchkins are two of the kids that I babysit for just about every weekend. Tanner is the big boy and Hartley is the baby. Tanner is five and Hartley just turned a year old in January. These two can be quite the handful at times...they are behaving for me tonight, which is great! I love it when they listen, especially Tanner because he can be mean and bossy at times. The odd thing is though, I am the only babysitter that these two like otherwise they will just run and hide and be rude to the others and they love me...I just think thats odd that I am the only one they like....anyways, i just thought they cute so I put them on here. Random comment....13 Days!!!!

My week...

2006-02-23T18:07:00.000-06:00

ya, I haven't posted in a while, so I thought I would just put how my week has been and all since I have a shortage of pictures at the moment.:( Anyways, this week at school is Spirit Week, which is very exciting! Tuesday was pajama day, one of my favorite days, we had coronation and we got to watch a movie after that. I got to watch Madagascar. That movie is so funny and cute...Anyways, Wednesday was wacky day, which I absolutely despise, and we got to go ice skating at the Martin County Arena. That was loads of fun minus the fact I fell down three times when I tried to turn doing circles and landed on my knee caps...I got some pretty fun bruises! Anyways, today was class color day and the junior class had black, so we all looked like a bunch of gotcha apparently and we had 5th and 6th grade visitation which was all right but not very fun and tomorrow is formal Friday so I guess I'm wearing a dress to school. Fun...we also have a pep fest in which I have to play pep band with my saxophone, not that much fun since my sax just does not like me! Literally...so I have had fun this week with school and all and with homework (because I haven't had that much, praise the Lord!) I hope I will get some pics soon so ya'll don't have to read my none to exciting blogs. Have a great day!

31 Days!!!!!!

2006-02-16T11:29:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I don't know how big the pics will turn out....my puter is not a liking me today...anyways, I'm just so excited to go to Hawaii, more specifically the island of Kauai, so I thought I would just post some pics of what it would be like to go there. I hope when I get there, I'll take pictures this pretty and that they turn out so I can show ya'll and even if they don't, I'll still show ya. I'll be sure and take lots and put them on here so ya'll can see and I'll try and bring ya'll back some things from there....anyways, only 31 more days to go, which is very exciting! Like I said, the only thing I'm not so fond of is flying. Speaking of flying, I never done it before and I am scared so far b/c I don't know what to expect and I'm flying by myself. I'll I can ask is that you pray! Anyways, I have to get on three airplanes on the way there and three on the way back, with three to four hour layers at I think, all of the stops, which will not be fun, but oh well, it will all be worth it in 31 days when I get to see Bonnie! The pic of the Hawaiian Islands is on here cause I would like to point out which island I will be on. The island is the one farthest on the left, the big one, right next to the almost non-existant island.

No School!!!!!!!!!!

2006-02-16T10:27:00.000-06:00

This is so exciting, no school! I just love it when we have snow days because I can sleep and do whatever and not have to worry about getting my h/w done! You know what I hope for, I hope that school will be 2 hrs. late tomorrow and then I won't have school because tomorrow is only a half day for me and I would have a 5 DAY WEEKEND! Hehehe, that would make my day, but if it doesn't happen, oh well......I love snow.....

I'm so excited!!!

2006-02-09T20:04:00.000-06:00

Do you want to know why I am so excited? I'll tell ya why, I get to go to Hawaii over spring break and see one of my best friends!!!!! Her name is Bonnie and I met her at Chetek two summers ago, but finally became friends with her this summer. Anyways, I am just so excited that the Lord opened the door up for me to go again! You see, my dad had told me that I could go way back when in the fall and up until a certain point in December. After that certain point in December, I don't know what happened, but my dad told me I couldn't go because we didn't have enough money so I could go. Up until this point in time I had been praying that God would somehow make it possible for me to go. I finally told Bonnie that I couldn't go, which was heartbreaking for me since I really wanted to go and see my friend, but Bonnie insisted that I would get out there over spring break. I admire Bonnie, she believes in stuff with a good Christian faith when I fail to do so sometimes, like with this whole spring break "problem". Anyways, I talked to my dad on Monday and he said I could go because he had the money now. God provided the money and I am very thankful that we have such an awesome God. So I get go to Hawaii over spring break and then on the Friday of spring break, I get to fly into Madison and go see Steven and his mom and dad over the rest of spring break in Watertown. I am so excited to go ya'll, just pray I'll do all right on the plane.........I've never flown before and I'm terrified...........

Caitlyn...and me

2006-02-05T17:28:00.000-06:00

This is me and my littlest sister, Caitlyn. And the other one is just Caitlyn. She is so cute....I just love her! She is only 4, but she's so big for her age, I can't believe it! Anyways, I know that a lot of you don't know who she is or if you knew she even existed so I thought I would put her on the blog so ya'll could see her. ANd then its me.

Sledding at Sibley

2006-02-04T11:23:00.000-06:00

This is me and Amanda Gahler at Sibley Hill in Mankato! It was so much just to be able to do something with her ouside of school and none the less, over Christmas break. We got to Sibley at 1 pm and we sledded for a couple hours and then we took a short break and went and ate at the Old Country Buffet (yummy!) and went back sledding till like 6:45. Boy was it cold by that time...anyways, it was so much fun to go sledding with her. It was kinda ironic though, we both wanted to go get pizza pans and cooking spray and go down..we tried to get her brother to get us some but he wouldn't because we had to go the MSU hockey game...that was a blast too. Finally we left and went home to her house. The weather had turned so bad by this time that I ended up staying at her house, that was fun and to top it off, we had hot chocolate to top off our ideal day during Christmas break. Amanda and I developed the ideal day of what to do during Christmas vacation and we did it. It was so much fun!

Becky and Abby

2006-02-04T11:02:00.000-06:00

This is Becky and Abby from the day that they all (my cousins and sisters) took the fun pictures without me. This is personally one of my favorite pictures from that day since it reflects happy sisters! Wow! Anyways, I just love the cowboy hats on them, they are so fun.

My Girls!

2006-02-03T17:49:00.000-06:00

Left to rigth: Becky (sister), Krissy, Abby (sister), and Kelly
This is part of my family....the girls on my daddy's side of the family anyways. They were all having fun without me...man. Where was I?

Steven and me way back in Oct.

2006-02-03T17:14:00.000-06:00

This is Steven and me way back when in October when I saw him for the first time outside of camp because he lives so far away in Watertown, WI. I met his family in Albert Lea and I rode up with them to the Metrodome for Dome Day. Then we went to the Mall of America and had lots of fun wandering around for like 3 or 4 hrs. Finaly we left and ended up at Cabellas and Famous Daves in Owatonna. Fun! After that, we went back to Albert Lea and took this pic and left... If any of you are wondering, Steven is a close friend that I just happened to meet at Camp Chetek. Ya'll might have heard his name somewhere before.....
I just had to put this pic in, its one of my favorites....that was random.