Nostalgia

I was going through my ballet things again. Memories flooded my mind. I thought of all the times I wanted to quit, but my mom didn't let me. I thought of when I started loving it. I thought of when it just about became an obsession. At one point I was dancing six days a week. I had abandoned God and everything about him. I had no relationship with Him and didn't fellowship with His people. Of course I called myself a Christian, but I didn't live like it. True, I was only 13, but that's old enough to understand and have a relationship. I was a good kid. You wouldn't have expected that I'd drift away from anything that had to do with Him. My parents wanted to get back to church. (We had left our old church a few years before because of a change in pastors.) I didn't object, but I was against it on the inside. We tried a few different churches. Someone thought about going to my grandparents old church, Volusia County Baptist Church. When we got there I saw my friend, Haley, and Ben saw his friend, Riley. It was probably only because of them that we joined. Right after, Mom, Ben, and I left to go to Japan. We went to Yokosuka Baptist Church. The great people there had a lot of influence on me. I went to see a special doctor for a pain I had in my ankle when I danced. He said that it could be a bone that only a small percentage of people have. Sometimes the bone shifts so that it doesn't cause pain anymore, but usually you have to take it out by surgery. When we got home to the US, I had an MRI that revealed I did have the bone and it was causing some inflammation. Long story short: I never went back to ballet. But I think because of that, I turned back to God. I was hurting, and he was comfort. He did it all for a reason and I thank Him for it.

Seeing old friends

On Saturday, the 25th of June (the day I posted last), I went to see the "Toy Box" put on by the Volusia Academy of Ballet. I've seen it every single year ever since I was five. Only this time, I was in the audience and not back stage. I danced under Ms. Nobuko's instruction for 9 years till I quit last year. It was nice seeing all my friends again. Learning about the things that have happened during my absence. One friend is moving to California; another one had a tumor in her head and is recovering well from surgery. I had a lot of fun watching and talking. LOL

L to R: Me, Joyclen, Sarah, Sydney, and Shannon.

Joyclen was the only one who actually performed in this picture. :D Sarah and Shannon switched schools last year and Syd quit. I didn't get a picture with Stephi but I will because I'm spending Independence Day with her.

Thank you Bro. Adam!

Do you know what the average stay of a pastor is at a church?   Guess then highlight the answer (because I wrote it in white).                      → 2 years

 How about the youth pastor?   → 6 months!
At the end of July, it's going to be my youth pastor's 10th year at VCBC! And I'd like to thank him for all he's done in this one year I've attended Volusia County Baptist Church. I appreciate it very much and hope he stays a lot longer! :)

I'm getting my braces off!

As you can probably guess, I'm so excited!!! Dr. Poppell (my orthodontist) said I can get my braces off and Mom set an appointment for July 14th!!!! (I'm planning on camouflage retainers!)  Yaaaaaay!  (^_^) Leigha

I can FINALLY log on!

Now that my computer is cooperating again, I'll tell you about some of the things that are happening. Today, VCBC had our Easter Cantata entitled "Who do you say that I am?"  I think we did good. :D Pastor reminded me this morning that the try outs for the teen choir are next month. Praying I do good. I still can't decide whether I want to be soprano or alto...
       Sunday the 3rd was the last day of the Sunday School competition. -drum roll- WE WON!!! Hooray! We had 599 people show up on time for Sunday School! Since we got over 500 people, Bro. Adam had to get a pie in his face just like he said. LOL

I know this is a bad picture but it's funny!

After the service, the teens stayed and ate lunch and played games. I was so fun! We played volleyball with a huge ball. I mean really big ball. We also played man hunt (hide and seek without the tag and in the dark) in the sanctuary and baptistery.
       On April 6th I brought my camera with me when I took Macy out in the morning. I'll make a separate post for those pictures.
       It's 10:30pm so I'll post more next time! (If I can get in of course)   Leigha

Interesting Finds 2

More pictures...↓
I remember when I caught this bass. It was years ago but still a big enough event that I remember. Every time I talk of it Ben insists I didn't catch it and Daddy did. Well I still think I did. I hooked it. I hauled it in half way. I just got so tired that Daddy had to do the rest. It was 8lbs! I couldn't hold it because every time it jerked I dropped it so Ben held it for this picture.

3 or 4 years ago (not last time but the time before) when we went to Japan, we always went to the okonomiyaki restaurant. Every time Ben and I would always order Kodomo Biiru or Kid's Beer.

We visit my dad at work all the time and here is a picture of me right after we got home from Japan. My hair was so short!

This is my mom playing the Japanese shamisen at a party.

My mom's yummy tummy-filling creations.

Before we moved to the country, we used to live in the suburbs of Deltona. We had a pretty garden and clothes lines. One day me and Ben decided to set up house in the backyard.

This was my sunflower garden/house until mom sprayed it with weed killer accidentally and killed half of them. :(

Our garden April:

Our garden May:

June!!

A potted flower we had that later died.

We used to belong to a hunting lease.They had a big swing we used to play with.

There's a raccoon.

Wild hogs.

Armadillo.

Daddy, Ben, and I used to do karate. Here are some pictures.

All of us getting promoted. :)

Ben and Daddy entered a competition. They both got two 2nd place trophies.

This is the last picture↓ It was very sunny that day.

I love this song and thought I would share it with you.


Be Strong in the Lord

Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage;
Your mighty Defender is always the same.
Mount up with wings, as the eagle ascending;
Vict’ry is sure when you call on His name.

Refrain:
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And be of good courage, for He is your guide.
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And rejoice for the vict’ry is yours.

So put on the armor the Lord has provided,
And place your defense in His unfailing care.
Trust Him for He will be with you in battle,
Lighting your path to avoid every snare. (Refrain)
Leigha

P.S. I found this picture of me in my first and last year of pointe.