Updates

Awesome Frisbee shot

Hey y'all! How time has flown! Tomorrow is December!!! I've just been so busy with school and the holidays. I'm thinking about making this a summer blog. I hope everyone out there has been having a just as awesome holiday season. How was your Thanksgiving? A ton of family from all over (Tampa, Tenn.) spent Thanksgiving for us. We had a ton of fun. I was the first time I saw my cousins from Tennessee since my oldest one (Shelby) got married in March 2010. Christmas is my favorite time of year with the cookies and parties and music! I've been knitting all of my presents. At church we are going to sing the Hallelujah chorus in the choir. The first time we practiced, I thought we would never get it right. :) We're getting pretty good at it. The Voices of Victory are learning new Christmas carols also. So far, my favorite carol is "Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming". While we're on this subject, I might as well tell you that the guy who invited us to England has withdrawn his offer... However, Pastor said that if we are set on going somewhere this summer, he will arrange for us to go to some English speaking country. :D
Macy had some major ordeals lately. We were dog-sitting Aki and Kuma (the teacup and toy poodle) when it happened which made it even more complicated. We had Macy spayed. We thought she was recovering well, but she didn't eat for 6 days! If she did eat something, she would barf it all back up. (We still have stains on the carpet around the house because of it.) We took her back to the vet and they did some blood work and x-rays. She had a lot of gas but we didn't know what was wrong. The vet wanted to operate (again) to see what was going on. When they went inside, they found out that some of the stuff that was supposed to help stop the bleeding from the previous surgery got wrapped around her small intestines. I'm glad they did the surgery or she would have died. The recovery took a little longer than expected, but everything is all right now and Macy is catching Frisbees just like before. :)
I've been going to a lot of theme parks lately too. On October 20th, I went to Seaworld with my co-op. It was fun. I went on Journey to Atlantis twice. They changed it since I last went. There was a twisty part added near the end.

Clyde and Seamore show at Seaworld

On November 21st, I got to go to the new Legoland Florida with my umbrella school! It was a great deal: $5 a person because we are a school group. I kicked myself in the parking lot when I realized I forgot my camera. Sorry. My friends and I went on every single roller coaster they had. The park is aimed for kids up to 12 years old so the rides were sort of disappointing. All of the employees have little Lego people on their name tags and if you bring your own, you can ask them to trade with you.
Other than that there really isn't anything to say... MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I made it!!

Pastor held try-outs for the Voices of Victory teen ensemble tonight. After months of waiting and turning in 2 applications, I finally go to audition with my friend Melody R. and her brother Derek. I was sooo nervous! But everyone was really nice about it so I'm thankful for that. He made me sing scales, a random song from a hymn book, and Amazing Grace. I did horrible! He told me to sing a note and so I tried and he said it was a little flat. After all that, he called some of the ensemble members and we all sang as a group. I was so scared he was going to say "I have to think about it.." But he just said, "I expect you all to be there at practice next Sunday. Congratulations!" I was so relieved! So.. you wondering which part I got? He said he's going to switch me back and forth between soprano and alto but I'm mostly going to sing soprano. :D I'm so happy!

Healing Our Country

Since I won't be here tomorrow, think of this post as my post for tomorrow.
Today was the big God & Country Day at church and it was a blast! Anyone who had the opportunity to come and didn't sure missed out! You all surely know that I'm in the choir at church and we did a mini patriotic cantata. During the "Salute to the Armed Forces" I tried to pay attention to Brother Barry (the director) but it was literally impossible. There was so much cheering and clapping and whistling and someone even brought a air-horn!!! And at the end all the balloons dropped and it was amazing! I wish I could have taken some pictures.
After all the excitement, we sang the last song.. and if anything could touch me, it was that song. Here are some of the words.

"Turn the Tide"
Though the waves of immorality may beat upon the shore, and it seems that all ungodliness is knocking at our door. We must never give up hope; we must not let them win the war. We must plead with him who has the power to cleanse and to restore. Turn the tide, Lord, turn the tide! Open wide the flood gates of your power. Stem the flood of wickedness. Restore, revive, and bless. Turn the tide.           
        (From "This Is My America" by Bible Truth Music)

It makes me think how this country has gone downhill so fast. I heard that on the news they beeped out "One nation under God" in the "Pledge of Allegiance"! How sad can it get? I'd like to ask everyone who's reading this post to pray. Pray for the country. Pray for the president, the congress and all those in the government. Pray for the city mayor, your pastor.

The Bible says in 2 Choronicles 7:14 KJV
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

The begining of summer

Wow! Do you guys realize that it's already summer? My piano recital was on the 5th and thankfully, I did my piece note-perfect! You don't know how many times I prayed "Please God, help me get this right!" and after-wards "Thank you, Lord!!!" I also started the Wilton Flowers and Gumpaste cake class (course 2) last Friday.

I found out recently that in August, my mom's cousin and his family are coming over from Japan. I suppose it will be like when Miyuu was here but not as near as long. Hopefully we will get them to come to church with us!

Father's day and God and Country day (July 4th) are just around the corner! We have a present for Daddy hidden in my closet! LOL On the 3rd, VCBC is having a mini patriotic cantata called "This Is My America". I like it actually. And after service, we are having dinner on the grounds with hot dogs and lots of apple pie! Hooray! One year ago on July 4th (Sunday) I was in Japan. Good memories at Yokosuka Baptist Church (YBC). :)

The best news!             (which I'm going to announce again and again till it actually happens!)
I'm getting my braces off on July 14th!!!!!!!!!!!! That's 4 weeks from tomorrow! Yaaaaaaaaaaaay! I'm still planning on camo retainers! :D

Okay!

I don't know why, but my computer hasn't been letting me sign in. Well, I finally got in! So much has happened! On Friday and Saturday, our church hosted a choir conference. It was so fun! Mom couldn't make it so she dropped me off. My friend Mikki (that's just her nickname) and I convinced our alto friend Melody to sing soprano with us. The meals were great! I spilled my salad and hid bread rolls and Oreos in my purse! LOL The dessert... was GREAT! Red velvet cake (Mmmmm), strawberry shortcake (mouth watering), and carrot cake (blah). On Sunday our church hosted John M. Moore! He's the guy who wrote "Burdens are Lifted at Calvary"! I asked him to sign my Bible. Sometime early February, we went to Olive Garden for dinner. Did you know they have the most unhealthy bread-sticks in America? Here is Ben climbing a pole while we were waiting outside.

On the 6th, the church had bowling night! I bowled a game with my parents and took some pictures...Mom

                              Ben

 Ben was bowling with the Mironchenko boys (Surgey, Andrey, and Pasha, they're Russian I think) and Lane.

                                    Daddy

                             Surgey

                                       Andrey

                           Pasha

It was fun. I'll write some more later! I have to go. Leigha♥