Some people have some wild excuses for being late for school, but I’ve
never heard of anyone using an attic staircase. Lori was going up into
the attic for her suitcase this morning when a bolt came loose and the
full force of the spring shot a metal bar into her face, breaking her
nose and narrowly missing her eye.
Lori was incredibly brave through the whole thing, she
cried only for a few minutes and stopped when she heard me telling
others to be quiet, thinking I was talking to her. She even took her
hands away and let me look at it when I needed to assess the damage.
After getting the bleeding under control and making sure everything was
okay, the boys and I went to work while dad and mom found a surgeon and
took care of all that.
Mr. Santini brought her some ice cream this evening to help with the
recuperation process – ice cream will heal anything. And Lori even
dropped by soccer briefly to show off her stitches (at least ten
external plus a lot of internal). So at this point it looks like she
will be late to school. God has surely directed very clearly in this
case.
2-Jan-2006
1-Jan-2006
Time for a picture post! These will not be the greatest professional
shots you’ve ever seen, but they do recap the end and beginning of the
year, and the overall blast we had because of God’s blessing on the
weather.
First of all, a dear friend of mine from STEP came to spend the weekend
at our house – bringing along a few other siblings for the benefit of
my siblings. These being “city folk” we had to give them the whole
“experience” of the way we live. 
I took them out to where I work and saddled up the horses for a ride.
I put Babe through a few of her paces to take out any kinks before the others rode her.
I guess I didn’t get all of them out. Bekah did a fine job though.
The little girls had a blast riding “Red”, the oldest, most trusted horse; no danger here.
By the time we got back, the boys had just finished their paintball
wars and graciously allowed Bekah and I to try out the guns on a
target. Hitting two out of ten gave us grand dreams of becoming
champions – don’t you think so?
Women in White
That evening we went to the church to finish out the new year with
friends. We had a short service recapping the Lord work during the year
and I told my ice cream testimony. Then almost everyone between the age
of five and twenty five, headed to the volleyball court where we played
speed volleyball for two hours. A short break to restock on fudge the
remaining players played one game of real volleyball. By that time the
lateness of the hour, coupled with the potency of the fudge all reason
fled and a new game was invented – ultimate volleyball. I will spare
you the details but sand was flying. The time was wonderful, good
fellowship, good food, good weather, good year.
Now for the new year. Church was wonderful! The sermon was on
rekindling your love for Jesus. Dad was so inspired, he wants us all to
do skits about it next Sunday when he does substitute teaching for a
Sunday school class.
This afternoon, the weather was so beautiful (84 degrees!) that we
decided to put in the new flagstone walk that mom has been wanting.
And just tonight we gather with some friends and took the annual “Polar
Bear Plunge”; a traditional dip in the water on New Years day; all this
just to justify drinking hot chocolate! 
Oh well, you have to take the chances you can get.
It has been a wonderful year of seeking the Lord and following His
direction. I have seen the hand of the Lord in a whole new way and I’m
excited about living each day with Him. As I have drawn near unto
Jesus, he has kept his promise to draw near unto me. This next year
holds so much potential and I know the Lord will do great and mighty
things. I am excited! My God is an awesome God.
Take up the challenge of living for Jesus and live this year to the
max; fulfilling what the Lord has planned for you. God bless you all
and Happy New Year!
27-Dec-2005
Whoa, it’s been a while since I’ve contributed to the xanga ring, guess
I was enjoying real life too much 
It looks like my site was hacked
while I was gone, oh well. I am finally going to post the Sevens thing
that I was tagged with. This will be a little different however because
the purpose of my site is not to talk about me but about bringing glory
to God. With that said…
Seven things I think God wants me to do before I die:
(I had to think about this for several days)
1. Work at STEP this May/June
2. Participate in a triathlon
3. Get married
4. Learn Russian and go there
5. Write a book on Ice cream
6. Suffer for His name’s sake
7. Make disciples
Seven things I don’t do because of God’s direction to me:
1. Dance
2. Drink alcohol
3. Kiss before engagement
4. Lift weights
5. Watch “R” movies
6.
7. Drink Starbucks….j.k.
(I had to think about this for several days)
1. Work at STEP this May/June
2. Participate in a triathlon
3. Get married
4. Learn Russian and go there
5. Write a book on Ice cream
6. Suffer for His name’s sake
7. Make disciples
Seven things I don’t do because of God’s direction to me:
1. Dance
2. Drink alcohol
3. Kiss before engagement
4. Lift weights
5. Watch “R” movies
6.
7. Drink Starbucks….j.k.
Seven things that attract me to Jesus:
1. His constant wooing
2. His patience with my slowness
3. His goodness even in my rebellion
4. His “realness”
5. His gifts of ice cream to me
6. His strength and authority
7. His everlasting arms that are always holding me
Seven things I say most often to God:
1. Please help
2. I don’t know what to do
3. What do you want me to do
4. I’m frustrated
5. Lord I offer up myself to you…
6. I love you so much!
7. I don’t deserve this much goodness!
Seven books that have impacted my walk with God:
1. The book of John
2. Jane Eyre
3. George Muller biography
4. Captivating
5. Secrets of winning men (don’t ask)
6. Amy Carmichael
7. The Robe
Seven things I could watch over and over again:
1. The birth of a new life (sort of yuck but so beautiful it gives you thrills)
2. My little sister pray
3. Fire
4. Any of Tom Harmon’s sermons
4. Sunrise
5. Realization dawn on someone’s face
6. My dog running; it glorifies the creator in its own way
7. My nephew’s smile
Seven people I most recently prayed for:
1. Robert Santini – please pray for him, he fell today and cracked his skull.
2. Bryce Reckner
3. Maggie Hicks
4. Jeremy Cook
5. Adrienne Houser
6. Bekah Owens
7. My dad
23-Dec-2005
Your site might be given back to you, if you promise to let us open all our presents early.
23-Dec-2005
Man, Timothy is such a good brother! He is so much
fun! We played star wars trivial pursuit
the other day and he was great! Well got to go! sorry about the seven sevens.
