"I don't like them....."

The title describes something I think we have all found ourselves thinking to ourselves or even saying out loud at times. This thought comes across our minds about our dislike for someone. This can be caused by a number of reasons. If a person wrongs us. If they wrong someone we love or care we tend to develop a dislike for that person. If they do something that we don't like.

Recently, this happened to me. While I was at work. I saw someone do something (I’ve actually seen this person do it multiple times) but my mind said once again: "Man, I don’t like that person." Not only did I think it, but I even told one of my coworkers. I went on with my day, not thinking about it too much.

God really convicted me later on though. I realized: I am ‘that’ person. The one who I looked at with eyes of judgement. I am that person. How many times have I wronged Christ? How many times have I failed him, let him down, sinned against him. Done stuff that He has clearly said is wrong. I fail him daily.

And yet, God doesn’t look at us with eyes of dislike and disgust. In fact, His response is the complete opposite. No matter how many times I’ve wronged Christ, His love still abounds for me. He is faithful and His arms always open wide for His children to run back to Him and ask forgiveness. How much more of a reason does God have to dislike us when we fail him over and over again, on a daily basis. 

What a convicting/humbling thought. Now, I'm not saying it's easy, not even close. We will all fail. But by God's grace may we respond with love and compassion rather than hatred. 

In John 13:34-35 Jesus says:

"A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Pray for grace and strength as we try and live out these verses. 

A Lesson from Unbroken

"It's too cold." 

"I'm soooo tired."

"I don't want to go to work."

"Eww, that's gross."

All of these little phrases may or may not sound familiar. I know they do from me. These little guys are known as "complaints". Something we may not even think about as these words flow out of our mouths every single day.

Recently, me and my siblings went to see the film 'Unbroken' in the theatre. I highly recommend it by the way. It's a remarkable story of a soldier who went through an unimaginable couple years of difficulty during his lifetime. Stuff that we don't see hardly at all these days. For a more detailed synopsis of the movie you can look it up. Or even just go see the movie. :)

But I was convicted about how much stuff during the day that we take for granted. How many little things that we complain about.

"Great. Look at all this snow." 

A recent one, for many of us I'm sure! Instead of complaining about the snow. We could be thanking God for such a beautiful creation of His.

Instead of focusing on how cold it is. We could be thankful to God that we have heat. And a roof to cover our head.

We get so caught up in the little trivial things that aren't what WE like, or what WE want to do. And we complain about it. When in reality there are people that are in much worse conditions than us. We are truly blessed in America. The freedom we have that other places do not. The resources that are available to us, that other places don't have.

I pray that I would complain less, and be thankful more. That God would give me a heart of thankfulness. And joy when things aren't going my way or tough times come, that I would give thank and praise God in the good times, and the bad.

Psalm 100:4 - "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

Colossians 3:17 - "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

~JD

He is everything...

A friend recently shared this video and I thought it was such an amazing illustration of the meaning of this song. Take 5 minutes outta your day when you have time and watch this:

So much truth in this song. All we have is Christ. He is all we need. Life will soon be over and the things of this world will pass away. None of it will matter. At the end of our life the only thing that matters is where we stand with God.

Its so easy to get caught up in life. So easy to have our set schedules running from one place to another. Having many activities, and although those are important don't forget what truly matters. Make time for the One who is our all in all.

"Hallelujah, all I have is Christ!
Hallelujah, Jesus is my life!"

-JD

Welcome, 2015!

Hello there. This is actually happening. A new post. One of my hopes for this year is to start blogging more. Even if it's just a couple times a month that is an improvement for me. Oh and by the way Happy New Years! Can't believe its 2015! That means that we are now closer to 2030 than we are to 2000. Just a random factoid.

Anyway. Well I guess I'm just gonna try and explain some of my goals for the new years. I'm gonna call them goals or expectations rather than 'resolutions'. Why? I have no idea.

Goal #1) Get in shape. ("but Joel round is a shape") one of my friends recently told me. Haha very funny. As true as that may be when I say 'get in shape'. I don't mean lose weight. I mean to get in shape so that I can run down the street to chase after the basketball that is rolling down the hill without having to stop for a rest 3 times. Ok, it's not that bad. But you get the picture.

Goal #2) Read 52 books. I'm going to admit it folks. 2014 I read practically nothing. Nada. Zip. It was bad. I read a book here and there but really not as much as I would've liked to. So yes. My goal although it may seem crazy to some. And to others it might be like a "Pfff. I read 52 books in a week." But that is my goal. I may not reach it. But even if I'm close I'll be happy with it. So any good book recommendations would be appreciated as I'm not fully sure for books as of yet.

Goal #3) Memorize Scripture. I don't really know how this'll work yet. Or how I'm gonna do it. But I know that I didn't get nearly enough Bible memorization in last year as much as I wanted. I don't have a specific amount that I want to attain but I want to dig into the word of God and apply it to my life and part of that is having it in my head.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Goal #4) Graduate. As silly as it may seem to put as a goal. Its really gonna take some hard work to finish up all my school work to graduate in May. That's going to be so weird. Not having to do highschool anymore.

Well I'm sure more goals will make an appearance as time goes on. But for now this is all I have. Are you bored to tears yet? If you are reading this I'd like to congratulate you on completing what could be known as the most boringest (yes I do know that is not correct grammar) blog post that was ever posted. Thanks for reading. Until next time, which hopefully will be soon.

- JD

The post with no name.....

It's true, sometimes the hardest part of blogging is coming up with a title. Something that seems so simple, is actually the hardest thing for me. Oh, and another hard thing for me would be blogging. Seriously guys, I was looking at my last post. July 13th? Really? Anyway, I really don't have anything important to blog about, really. This is rather just an apologetic, and here-is-what-has-been-going-on-in-my-life-since-last-time kind of post. So what has been going on in my life??

Absolutely Nothing. 

Just kidding.

July:

So, lets see. Well, at the beginning of July (or rather June 30th) I started at my first place of employment. Where's that you ask? Oh you didn't ask? Well I'll tell you anyway. I started at Starbucks! I never thought I would be working at Starbucks, but I am. And I really can't even describe my job.....it's......fun. Ok that was easier than I thought. Haha, but seriously I love my job! The coworkers are great, and it's not the kind of job where I'm like "Ugh, I have to go to work today" but rather I enjoy it.

August:

Umm... well school started in August. August 20th to be exact. How do I know this is the date we started? Because on August 20th, I started the countdown to Christmas break. Seriously folks, it's come to that. It's my senior year! I can't even believe that. It's so weird to think that in May I will be an official high school graduate. And I'll be done with school FOREVER! Ok, just until August when I start college. Or rather continue on with college, cause guys, get this. I'm taking college classes right now, ok, well not like RIGHT NOW, because obviously I'm typing up a blog post. And we all know I wouldn't be doing such a thing during class. :P Yeah, I'm taking classes at WIT right now in the Graphic Design department as part of their "College Now" program. Which is basically highschoolers that have the opportunity to take some College Classes before they graduate high school. A lot of my friends are also taking WIT classes which is pretty awesome. 

September: 

Umm... well still school of course. But we had our annual church retreat. Oh my goodness guys, it was awesome. This was only my second year attending, but guys it's such a great time of fellowship and worship and just spending time with the body of Christ. The speaker we had this year was phenomenal! So yeah, that was pretty much the highlight of my month, or should I say year. Looking forward to next year already.

October: School continues. Mid-terms this month guys. Hope you all did fantastic on 'em. Oh, and I turned 17. It's hard to believe I'm 17 years old, guys. Like seriously, you people who know me, are saying the exact same thing. "He's 17, I thought he was like 13!" Yeah, yeah, if I didn't know me I would probably think I was 13, too. 

And I did it. I pretty much just summed up my life in the past 3 months in one blog post. Not in very much detail but that's beside the point. 

Life has been busy. Not gonna lie. It's been pretty hard to keep up with everything. But when it does get busy we NEED to make sure that we don't lose sight of what's truly important. I've struggled with my Bible Reading on somedays because I just have to finish this homework, or even because I'm too tired. Yeah, guys, seriously there has been those days. And even though sleep, and homework, and work, and (fill in the blank) are important things. It's not more important than Christ. 

I was listening to a sermon by David Platt the other day and he talked about how in Phillipians 3 Paul said "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." 

And that even though some things that Paul listed earlier in the chapter were even GOOD things, but that he understood that all those good things, were a loss without Christ. 

So life is going to get busy, for everyone. But don't lose sight of Christ, because that's what is truly important. 

Until next time....

~JD

Some of my favorites...

Lately, I've been thinking about some Bible verses that have really stuck in my mind throughout the years. Some of my favorites being:

Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." 

That verse means a lot to me. For when I'm down and I'm doubting myself in whatever life throws my way. There is no need to fear, cause Christ will give the strength to get through whatever may come our way. God's in control and he knows what will happen. And will give us the strength to make it through each day. Times will get tough, no doubt about that, but when they do lean on Christ and his strength! 

Isaiah: 41:10 - "fear not; for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Another verse that encourages me a lot. It's just so awesome when we are afraid or worried about stuff in this life to know that God is with us. And he will give us strength and help us to get through whatever the situation. He will not leave us on our own. What a great God He is! 

Hebrews 12:1-2: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for  the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

This verse is an encouragement and great reminder to me to keep running the race of the Christian life with endurance. Laying aside every weight. Whatever that might be that is holding me back from Christ. To cut it off, and lay it aside. No distractions. Looking to Jesus, keeping our eyes on him. Seeking first God's kingdom and not the things of this earth.

So those are just a couple of the many verses that are an encouragement to me, and hopefully now, an encouragement to you as well!

~JD

What? I have a Blog?

Once upon a time, there was a teenager. This teenager was super stoked about writing. Writing in general stories, books, you name it. Then one day a brilliant idea struck him. What about getting a blog? Yes! That was it. He would get a blog. Something to have fun with, to improve on his writing, to share with others about his somewhat boring life. And so he did. He began his own blog. Boy did he have fun posting. Especially the first couple times. But as time went on the posts became fewer and fewer. Until one day, they just stopped completely. 

In case you haven't figured it out by now... that teenager is me. I can just picture it now: 

"And the winner of this year's Worst Blogger of the year goes to......JD!" 

Haha, ok. Maybe I'm exaggerating a tad, but seriously I'm sorry for not posting forever. So anyway I thought I'd just give you an update on life. 

It's finals week!! Yup, the week that most students get stressed, Starbucks and other Energy Drinks become a need, and you feel the need to read over every word that you went over that semester. Thankfully, this isn't me (this semester anyway). This semester I took classes that ended up not really being ones that you can "study" for. For instance: I'm taking a class called Vector Drawing. 

Vector Drawing - A smart sounding concept which really ends up being defined as "drawing on the computer."

And really, there isn't much you can do to study for drawing... so yeah, classes like that that don't really require studying. Which is quite spectactular! 

Oh, and I decided to perhaps go into Graphic Design as a major (for the time being) unless God starts to lead me elsewhere. I took a couple of classes in the Graphic Design program and somewhat enjoyed myself. So next semester I'm gonna take some more classes in that program, and I'm kind of super excited to see what God is going to do this next semester! :) 

Well, this is kind of a short blog post but Lord-willing another will follow soon! :) 

Until then...

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" - 1 Corinthians 10:31

~ JD

Where feet may fail...

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior


AHHH! This song has been stuck in my head the past few weeks! Some of the lyrics just hit me in a way that just leaves me in awe of God‘s grace. “You’ve never failed, and You won’t start now!” I just love that sentence. God doesn’t fail. He never has and he won’t ever fail us. At times we may think He failed us, but He didn’t. God’s plans don’t always fall in line with what we think should have happened. I hope that this is all of our prayer, that we would go wherever God calls us. Though we may fail, God won’t. 

The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:8)


Seriously, if you haven’t given this song a listen too, you should. Even if it’s just once, or a thousand times. ;) 

~JD

Psalm 34

I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Today I heard someone say that this chapter was encouraging so looked it up and was encouraged by it as well! So just wanted to share this with you and hope that you too were encouraged by it. I know it's been awhile, a LONG while, since my last post. But hopefully, soon I will have a new post written. Thanks for reading!

~JD

Catch Up Post

So, this post is basically just a catch up about the Summer, that has been and gone already. Seems like just a few weeks ago we got out of school, and now. We are started back up. :O Summer went WAY to fast. But oh well, it was full of fun! Some of the highlights of this summer:

1) Camp! This is always one of the best things every year, is going camping (or cabinining in our case) with all our cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. It is an awesome thing to look forward to each year.

2) Florida Trip ~ This summer a few weeks ago in fact, we went down to Florida to visit our brother and sister-in-law. :) It was great to see them again! And to experience the beach for the first time. Seriously, that is one of the most magnificent things I've seen about God's creation. Looking out on what seems to be endless blue water.

3) Testing ~ Yeah, this wasn't exactly fun, or a "highlight" of my summer. But me and my brother did some testing this Summer to prepare for Fall classes that we are taking at a Community College right down the road from us. Woah, we're going to college. Scary thought!

4) I also started up with piano lessons for the Summer, and had an awesome time! Learned a TON!! A special Thank You to my teacher, who was patient throughout the entire Summer, with a student, such as myself. I learned a lot, thank you for furthering my piano experience, so hopefully my playing will be even more glorifying to God. Cause that's what our musical talents our ultimately for.

And now that Summer is over, school has started again as of this past Thursday. Am I excited? Kind of. I'm excited to see what God will do in my life this next semester, both at home, and at the college and just in everyday life. But I know that this semester will be a lot of work. So, that's the less exciting part about school, but that's just life.

Well, that's all that I can really think of for right now, on this blog post. But hopefully, there will be more to come soon! Thanks for reading,

~JD

Umm......

Well, I probably have no readers left for my blog. But for those that still are here. I apologize for not keeping this blog updated. So here's just a few things that have happened over the 2 and 1/2 months since my last blog post. 

1) Started taking piano lessons again! This was a major blessing! So excited to start taking them again. I took piano lessons for 3 years, and the last 5 have been playing randomly, sitting down at the piano, looking over the piano music, playing around on it. But this summer, I started taking again, so really excited about that. I have a great teacher, who is VERY patient with me. lol :) 

2) Camp! We had our family-reunion-camp-cabin-get-together-thing-a-ma-jig. Yeah, it doesn't have an official name, cause "camping" doesn't really settle the term. "Cabin-ing?" That seems to sum it up more. But it was definitely a fun time! Between going on walks, (some trails around the pond), going kayaking, scheduling random trips to Walmart, Dutch Blitz, and just sitting around visiting, and laughing to the point of tears. :P It was an awesome time with family. 

3) Summer jobs. Got a couple summer jobs going on this year. Which is a HUGE blessing! :) And maybe, this fall, I'll be 16, so could be going to work at Hy-Vee. But not sure about that yet. 

4) ACT. What more is there to say? Oh, and not ACT, Like acting in a play or anything. That is not the ACT I speak of.  (No joke, was looking up study books in the library, and when I searched ACT, it came up with all these acting books) I'm talking about the dreaded test that people take. Well, all I can say, is that it was a good first experience. :) 

Well, this wasn't as long as I was hoping. But it was a little update. :) 

~JD

Drama Days!

Well, yesterday we put on two performances of "The Treasure of Castle Siekfurst". An amazing play, written by an amazing writer! Our homeschool group has done Drama for 4 years! 4 amazing years! Although I was only in these last two plays. I have had an amazing time! I wish I would have done it sooner! But I am soooo glad that God gave me the opportunity to do it. But each and every play was unique and awesome! I guess two of the main thins that I got out of this play was:

1) That we can have sooo many idols in this life, that take the place of what is really important. Whether it be beauty, power, fame, being smart, money whatever it may be, we can get so caught up with these things and forget the real important thing that we should be focusing on. These things may seem important, but really they aren't! All these things aren't going to matter in eternity. Our minds should be focused on God and all that he has done for us. Don't get me wrong! None of those things are necessarily "bad". But it becomes bad when those things take the place of God. And we dwell more on those things then we ought too.

Matthew 6:33 -- But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

2) The second main thing I got out of this play, was that no matter how bad you've messed up. No matter what you have done. God is always able to forgive. There is no such thing as messing up too many times in God's eyes. He's waiting for you to ask for forgiveness, to repent of your wrong doings. Run to the arms of Jesus! Oh what a glorious thought that is!

I just want to thank everyone who came to watch the show yesterday! I hope that you guys enjoyed the show! And thank you to our drama director and producer who without them, we couldn't do anything! You guys mean sooo much to all of us! A big thank you the cast, who I have enjoyed their fellowship and encouragement! I have become friends with all of you! A BIG thank you to the crew! The lights and sound guy and gal! :) Without you guys the play wouldn't have worked. Thank you so much!

That's all for now,

~JD

1 year??

Today, I realized that I've had this blog for a year!! Though I haven't been keeping it posted as often as I should. I've had a lot of fun, making posts, trying to make posts, and reading other people's blogs! There are other people's blogs that are 10x better than mine! So here is a look back at some of my favorite posts:

Best of the Blogs! -- This post was about other blogs that you should check out! And believe me, they are worth checking out!!

Awesome Week -- This was a blog post about another blog that you should read, and one of my random posts that tell what I did that week!

Toddler Mischief -- This post was about Grace. And her mischievous self. Giving herself a hair-cut.

Outgoing Grace -- This is yet another post about Grace, and how she has her embarrassing moments. ;)

Perpetua -- This is one of my favorite posts. I got this story right out of the Bible Bee book. :)

Well, I again apologize for the many times this blog wasn't posted in for awhile. That's all for now!

~JD

Good Friday...

Hey Everyone!

Just thought I would do a blog post today. Today is Good Friday!

“What is good about Good Friday? Why isn’t it called Bad Friday? Because out of the appallingly bad came what was inexpressibly good. And the good trumps the bad, because though the bad was temporary, the good is eternal.” -Randy Alcorn

 The day where we remember Christ's crucifixion. I'm so thankful for a loving God, who even though we deserve to go to hell, saved us. Through the death of his only son. I remember learning from our pastor, that the worst part wasn't the physical suffering. Although the pain I'm sure, was unbearable! Isaiah 52:14 -- As many were astonished at you--- his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblence, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind.

Mar - Impair the appearance of; disfigure.

So I'm sure the pain was unimaginable for most of us. But the worst part of it all was the burden of sin of every human, being laid upon Jesus Christ on the cross.  Here is a video that we watched tonight that I thought was pretty cool:

Isaiah 53

Who has believed what he has heard from us?
    And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
    and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
    and no beauty that we should desire him.3 He was despised and rejected by men;
    a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their face;
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
    yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
    and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
    so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
    and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked
    and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
    and there was no deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
    he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
    he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
    make many to be accounted righteous,
    and he shall bear their iniquities.12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
    and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
    and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
    and makes intercession for the transgressors.

He Lives!

~JD

Homeschoolers....

Yes, I am a homeschooler. And I do hear the
occasional: Homeschoolers are socially awkared. Homeschoolers are shy. And that is simply not the case! I would tell you some rumors to homeschooling but I think Blimey Cow does it best! So watch this video:

LOL! I laugh everytime I watch that video. "Wait you said I have no life, let me get this straight you spend 8 hours a day in a class room and I have no life?" One of my favorite lines. Well, I just thought I'd  post a little something. Thanks Blimey Cow for covering my blog post in better words than I could have put it. ~JD

Really?!

Dear Readers,

It's been a month-and-a-half since my last blog post? Well, there hasn't been much that has happened since my blog post. But here are a few things that are happening right now that I'm excited about.

1) Drama! Drama Class for high-schoolers started up at the beginning of this month. This year's play is going to be awesome! We have an awesome director, and awesome producer, and an amazing cast and crew! I can't wait to hear the laughs from the crowd.

2) I have started my first book of the year! I really hope that this book goes smoothly, most of my books/stories that I start don't get finished. But I am truly hoping that this one will be finished and to get another one done by December 31st. :) I'm not going to mention anything about the book, what it's about the title or anything of that nature. Mainly cause I don't have a title for it. That is one of the hardest things for me to come up with is a title, and creative names.

3) I helped with Awana for my first time a couple weeks ago! First time ever experiencing Awana. Never been it. But it was a lot of fun helping and seeing all the kids memorizing their verses, playing games, singing songs.

4) I want to start memorizing some more scripture. We listened to a lady talk the other night about how God really convicted her to memorize scripture. She could recite whole chapters right off the top of her head. She had the whole book of Ephesians memorized and more. It was pretty cool, to hear her just recite Ephesians 1 off the top of her head.


Well, that's just a few things have been happening the past few weeks. I'll try to post again soon,


~JD

2013.....?!?!

I can't believe we're in the midst of a New Year! :) Time is going by so fast. But we had a blast staying up with some awesome friend on New Years Eve, and blew our ear drums out at midnight. :D But all in all, 2012 was a great year! Now with the new year, lots of people are making New Year's Resolutions, including me! This year I want to:

1) I want to read the whole Bible completely, and entirely, in the year 2013, so many times I have tried this and failed, getting off course, but am really hoping that this is the year, that I will complete my goal!! :) 

2) I want to read at least one book per week: Now this doesn't seem like a lot to some people. Not a lot at all. But with me reading is fun, but I'm weird, cause I have spurts of reading. At times I will read like 6-7 books a month. And other times (like now) I will barely read at all. But in 2013 I'm trying to make it a goal to read at least one book per week. Reading is fun, it gets your mind going, and gets you educated in some things. One reason why I do want to read a lot will make more sense in the next resolution.

3) My last resolution is I really REALLY REALLY, want to write and finish 2 books this year. Completely! I rarely finish my stories due to writers block. So that's why I really like to read, I get to see what other authors do with their books, how they come up with clever plots,.and they actually get their characters out of those plots. (That's my trouble) But, I have started many stories, without finishing them. So my goal for this year is to get 2 books written completely, hoping for a goal of 75,000 words each! Which I've totally never done that many, but will try. :) 

Well, I hope you guys had a great Christmas and remembered the reason for the season, in the midst of the business of Winter. And hope you have a great New Year! If you have any New Year's Resolution's of your own made, I hope you will complete those too! :)

~JD

How Great Thou Art

Been really, really, blessed by this song lately. Makes me think about how awesome God is. From creation, to sending his son to die in my place on the cross. Where I deserved to die. We talked tonight in Bible Study tonight about Jesus Christ who knew no sin, became sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 -- For our sake he made him to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)

Really love the lyrics to this song.

That's all for today, ~JD

It's time....

Hey everyone,

I finally decided it was time to update my blog. Well, since the last post a few things have happened:

1) I had to have surgery a few weeks back, it was kind of sudden, but no worries. It's done, I've healed, never felt better. :)

2) Me and my Brother started a new school class with some other homeschoolers. It's a speech class. It's an ok class, in my opinion. The part that I dislike the most is writing the speeches, I have a hard time thinking of things to write about, and when I do think of something it's hard for me to get it to the amount of time it has to be. All in all, it's a pretty good class. :)

3) Our cousins came down for a few days. Our cousins who only come down a few times a year or less, got to come down this weekend, and we celebrated Thanksgiving a little early. But never fear, we are celebrating it again tomorrow. ;)

I have soo much in my life to be thankful for and tomorrow is just one of the 365 days a year I should be thankful for them. We take so much in life for granted. All things are a gift from God. So I thought I'd share some of the things God has given me that is I'm thankful for.

1) I'm thankful for a loving God, who sent his son to die in my place, so that I may have eternal life. Thankful for his grace and mercy, on someone like me who deserves nothing.

2) I'm thankful for an amazing family, who help me, encourage me, make me laugh, love me, and who I can have the best of times with.

3) I'm thankful for my friends, my amazing friends, who encourage me, and make me laugh. :)

4) I'm thankful for God's Word. Too many times have I ignored this great book. It's such an amazing book, with such amazing truth. I know sometimes I can read the Bible and not really think of it as true. Reading it like a fictional book. But I have to remind myself "Wow! This really happened!" And stand in awe of what God did for me, and is doing in my life daily.


Well, I just wanted to come here and give you guy's an update on life. Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. :)

~JD

Favorite Passage...

This is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. :)


God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
(Psalm 46 ESV)

That's all for now!

~JD