Absent

I'm really not doing well at this, am I? You'd think I could write a paragraph every week, but apparently not. Well, even now I don't have a lot of time to make up for my long absence, but will try to give you a brief summary of what's happened in my family since...well, my last post.

   First and foremost, I now have two future sisters. Many of you probably know that my brother Isaac is engaged to Michelle Huggins, and the wedding is set for the end of June. What most of you don't know yet is that my brother Ezra had been courting Kyleigh Fox, and for Christmas Ezra visited her family and proposed. She of course said yes. Let me give the story in fuller detail. (At least as best as I can remember)
   "That day, the Fox family took Ezra out to the sand dunes, and they hiked up several. The sand was so hot that they would run several yards, sit down to give their feet a break from the scorching sand, and jumped up and ran several more yards. Well, after missing what he thought was the perfect opportunity, the group hiked down the ridge of a sand dune with Kyleigh in the lead. Ezra quickly motioned Nate, Kyleigh's brother, to usher the rest of the family back, leaving Kyleigh and Ezra to head on alone. By this time they were walking on the other side of the dune where the sand was not so hot because the sun was not hitting it. Finally they sat down, and this is when Ezra proposed. He said that he recited a poem, which he had written himself, in between breaths and him trying to remember it. And of course she said yes."
   And that's how I now have two future sisters. (If you would like to read the engagement poem, please click here.)

   A little more news would be that I went to my first official tournament. It was January 3-5, and I had a great experience. I learned quite a lot during this tournament, and I do hope I improved. My partner and I got a 3-3 score. 3 wins and 3 losses. Two of our wins were when we were going Negative, so we think that if we can improve our Affirmative case, we may be able to win 4 rounds next tournament, which would qualify us for Regionals. We're pretty sure that we can (and have) improved our case, as we hadn't had much time to research it before the tournament.
   I guess that I have time enough to give one more piece of news. Rosie and Susannah both will be coming to the tournament in Olympia to compete in speech events. Very exciting, and surprising!

What's been going on lately.

   Since the round robin, I have been doing a lot. I have been very busy with school and debate, and am slowly improving in my speaking skills. My partner and I have decided to change our case, but are still in the process of changing. I just hope that our new case will be more solid that our last.
   While researching, I came across an amazing article. It appears that the North Korea has discovered a Unicorn's Lair. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/30/unicorn-lair-discovered-north-korea
   Friday night, I went to a folk dance, and I learned how to dance. James has been going for several months, and finally got my family to come. (Except that Rosie wasn't able to find a sub for her life guarding shift, so she and my father weren't able to make it.) It was very fun, and I enjoyed it very much. Here's one of the dances that we did: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sXthXa_IJ8. It's called the Rakes of Rochester. It was possibly my favorite dance that we danced.

Some news

I am afraid that I have again been neglecting this blog, so I will update what is going on in my family.

   First of all, James has been working for about a month after receiving training by the same company that he is now working for. James finished his basic computer training at the beginning of October.
   That brings me to the subject of the 31st of October. I am formally getting rid of the holiday of Holloween, and am replacing it with Reformation Day. On Reformation Day, we celebrate the great reformers like Luther and Calvin, and we also celebrate great theologins like Spurgeon and MacArthur.
   Ezra will be visiting again for Thanksgiving, and our whole family will be going to Seaside for Thanksgiving. It will be a great time!
   Debate. That is what has made my life so busy, and especially now because I am preparing for a Debate Tournament on Saturday.
   That is all for now, because I have to get back to researching.

Gresham Mafia

If you are a Greshamite, be alert! Gresham Mafia is back in business!

How'd the Fair Go?

   This is what several people have asked me lately, and so I think that I should answer them. Mind you, that I'm not trying to brag, but only letting you know how I, and Susannah and David, did.

   David entered a clay beaver and bran muffins. They both got blue ribbons. He was also in a judging contest, made a monster cookie in front of a judge, and made a single dish in front of a judge. Some how his judging form was lost, and his results were not posted on the judging contest. He got a blue for the monster cookie contest, and a blue for his single dish that he made in front of the judge. This dish that he made was called "Ziploc Omelets." You actually make an omelet in a Ziploc. David also got an "Honorable Mention," which means that the judge thought that he deserved something, but the Champion and Reserve Champion had already been given out.

   Susannah entered a few more thing than David. She entered a wooden box, which she had painted and stenciled on, a family of clay teddy bear figures, jellied biscuits, a chocolate cake, and a recipe collection. All of these got blue ribbons. Her recipe collection got Champion (she stole it from me!), and was selected to go to state; the same with her cake, except it got a Reserve Champion. She also competed in the three contests that David had done. First she got a red in judging, a blue with her monster cookie, and a blue with her Apple Puff Pancake in front of the judge. She later found out that she had received the Champion Ribbon for her monster cookie.

   Now for my entries. I entered an Artisan Bread, and My Recipe Collection. Both recieved blue ribbons, were selected to go to state, and both got a Reserve Champion. I also competed in the judging contest, but got a red. My greatest accomplishment was preparing a mini-meal in front of the judge. I earned a blue, was chosen to go to state, and then was given a Champion. It was a great way to finish out 4-H (did I mention that I will probably not do 4-H nest year?). Now of course I would have liked to get a little better of a score on judging, being Reserve Champion last year, but it was for my good; you see, when doing very well in certain things, it gets easy to let your pride take over. So, I'm glad that I received a red ribbon, it taught me a little humility.

I am so very sorry for neglecting.

   I am sorry for neglecting this blog for so long.
   A lot has taken place in life since my last post; Rosie and I helped at a camp one weedend, I helped at several day camps, I went on a DSA rafting trip with Rosie, my family went on our annual vacation up to our Grandparent's cabin up in the Cascades in Washington, and several other things.
   One important thing is that me and a few of my friends have started a Bible study thing. The reason I call it a Bible study thing is because we aren't going through the Bible, but a book; I Kissed Dating Goodbye. We plan to go on to other books when we finish this one. Please pray for me that I will be able to learn from this, and that I would be able to encourage my friends to continue in the walk.
   Another thing is, that I am debating whether or not I should join a speech and debate club this year. If you have anything to say about this, whether to encourage me to join or to discourage me, please comment.

As ever,
    Follow the King.

Oregon Coast

I went to the coast and beheld its beauty. Beautiful, Rugged Oregon Coast! I forgot to bring my Camera to the tide pools, so I can only tell you what I found; Sea Anemones, Barnicles, Molusks, Sculpins, a Starfish, and a small Crab

Sports Camp

This spring break our church held a "sports camp." I volunteered as an "assistant coach" along with quite a few others. I was surprised of the number of volunteers that had come.
I was impressed and encouraged at the leader training. We were taught to be outstanding, or standing out from the crowd, and it I have to admit that it was quite a challenge.
I have before helped at a VBS, at Grace Community Church, and let me tell you that it had no heart as did the sports camp that I just participated in. Yes they told Bible stories, but that isn't evangelistic. Unless you share the gospel, (which includes God creating a perfect world and how He created man in His own image, and that when man sinned, that sin separated man from God) there is no gospel. Well, back on track, this VBS, now that I look back on it, hardly reflected Christ, but just seemed that they were just trying to be "a fun and safe place to be."
The sports camp "training" was challenging for me, but it is what we should all be able to do: step out of your comfort-zone and tell others about the gospel. I challenge everyone to not only be the visible presence of God, but to also be the verbal presence. Proclaim the gospel to all the earth.

Matthew 28:16-20