Memorable Moments in my Thanksgiving History

Thanksgiving is a time of gathering, loving, and being thankful for all that God has blessed us with. When Thanksgiving gatherings happen, there is very likely to be a few hilarious family moments that happen- at least in my family there is. One of my best Thanksgiving memories happened when I  was around 6 or 7. We were at my grandparent's house on my dad's side, and my entire family had gathered for Thanksgiving dinner. All of the cooking was almost done, but my cousin/aunt Tabby (Mrs. Shepard) had to finish cooking the macaroni and cheese. I guess it was a baked dish, because she had put it in the oven to heat it up. I was sitting in the living room when all of a sudden, I heard a scream. I ran into the kitchen to see what had happened, and Aunt Tabby came out with a casserole dish of flaming macaroni. She had caught the macaroni on fire! After she had put out the flames, we had a delicious Thanksgiving meal, not to mention the lots of laughs we have shared reminiscing about that crazy macaroni. Another thing I love about Thanksgiving are the traditions we share year after year. Before my mom got married and we started celebrating Thanksgiving with my step-dad's family, I would go over to Aunt Tabby's house the day before Thanksgiving to help her watch the kids and to cook. That evening, after the kids went to bed, Tab and I would stay up and cook Sweet Potato Casserole, Oreo Balls, Peanut Butter Pie, and everything in between. It was so fun. Then, we would all wake up and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and wait for our company to arrive. All of our family would come, and we would eat the delicious meal that everyone contributed to. It was a great time of gathering, and I have wonderful memories of spending the day with my family.

My Julius Caesar Project

For my Julius Caesar Unit Project, I did a monologue by Marcus Brutus. I memorized it and then performed it in front of my class. My monologue was the speech in which Brutus gave to the people concerning Caesar's death. He gives his reasoning and a very convincing case against Caesar, proving to the people that he needed to die. This project was fun because I don't have a lot of trouble memorizing things, and I enjoy acting. It was a lot to memorize, but it was a noble speech on Brutus' part because all he wanted was the good of the people. I learned a lot about Shakespeare like his writing structure and his musical writing tone thorugh the Julius Caesar Unit, and I cannot wait to read more of Shakespeare's works.

The Perfect Set of Classes

If I could create the perfect curriculum and set of classes to prepare myself for the life I want to live, there would be many changes in the average schools’ way of doing things. In my “perfect school”, there would be 7 classes a day. The classes would be Christian Ministry, Bible and Theology, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Latin, Fitness and Strength, and Discussion. In Christian Ministry, we would study how to spread the gospel and share the word of God through evangelical and ministerial positions. In Bible and Theology, we would study the Bible from beginning to end, as well as using theology to get a better understanding of life in Biblical times. In Veterinary Medicine, we would study how to be a Veterinarian in ways such as: examining animals, prescribing medicine, performing surgery, and learning how to run an animal clinic. In Animal Science, we would learn about different household pets and their systems by dissecting, examining, and researching them. In Latin, we would learn the Latin language and the history of it as well. In Fitness and Strength, we would work out in a weight room, play team and individual sports, and condition. Lastly, in Discussion, we would simply learn through discussing new and previous topics that could impact society. We would learn about new things through our peers, with a teacher there to keep us on track and to give us insights on the topic to enhance our knowledge and positions. These classes would be very different than my current classes, not only in the subjects to study, but in the way they are taught and the teachers. I like my teachers to teach, not just hand out notes and tell us to memorize them. I like my teachers to know all kinds of information about the subject so that when I ask questions because I am intrigued, they can fill me with information that I wouldn't know otherwise. I like discussing things that I learn, which is why I think I’d enjoy a discussion class. My “perfect school” may not be perfect, but it would provide a fun and enlightening high school experience.

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My Jesus Story

Hello! In this post, we were given the freedom to blog about whatever we'd like. I was thinking about what I could possibly blog about, and I figured that I would tell you a little bit about me and my Jesus story. When I was about 8, I accepted Christ into my heart and was baptized. I didn't completely understand what I was getting myself into at the time, and I didn't actively serve and worship him like I should have. My parents encouraged me, but my family had some very hard times headed our way. On September 1, 2011, my dad died of a heart attack. This situation really tested my faith, and I became really mad at God. I just couldn't understand why he would take my best friend away. I tried to get close to him, but I couldn't let go of the past. During the summer after 7th grade, I went to FUGE summer camp with my church. It was a life changing camp, and it really helped me let go of a lot of grudges I held with God. At the beginning of eighth grade, my relationship with God grew, but I knew it could be better. During 8th grade, with the help of my student ministry and my eighth-grade english teacher, Mr. Carnes, I was able to completely give God all of my struggles and fears, and I grew in him a lot. During the summer after 8th grade, my church went to FUGE again. That time, I felt a strange pull on my heart. On a Monday night in a dorm room at Union University, I prayed about it, and God gave me a verse and a call. This verse was Jeremiah 1:6-8, and right then, I knew God was calling me to ministry. I told my student ministry, and one day later, one of my closest friends felt the same call. We were in it together, and we couldn't wait to see where he lead us. I was and still am very scared of where God will lead me, but I will continue to pray and trust in him about his path for my life. My relationship with God is very strong now, and I can't wait to see where he takes me. I am currently helping with the children's worship service at church with my very close called to ministry friend, and am also waiting for God to show me more of his plan for me. That's just a little bit about me and what God has done and is currenlty doing in my life. Thank you for your time, have a blessed day!

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My Favorite Bible Verse

Hello! Today, I will be writing about my favorite Bible verse. I am very excited to blog about this topic, because it is one very near to my heart. My absolute favorite Bible verses are Jeremiah 1:7-8. I found these verses on the night in which I felt God calling me to ministry, so I am very fond of them, and think of them often.

But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
                                                                                                                              Jeremiah 1:7-8

I love these verses because they apply to me in a very personal way. I am very young, and am honestly very scared about where the Lord is going to lead me. Although I am scared, I know he will protect me and guide me, no matter where I am or what I'm doing. They also give me the courage to say what God is laying on my heart, instead of trying to fathom my own thoughts into words. It's an amazing feeling to not have to worry about what I would say if a situation came up that I couldn't handle myself. You are never too young to share the gospel. Whether it is going on a mission trip halfway across the world, or simply offering an encouraging scripture to a classmate that is having trouble, you can always empower people with the good news and the support found in the grace of God.

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Summer Reading Group Project Thoughts

This summer, I was required to read and annotate two books for a summer reading assignment. The books were The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and The Pearl by John Steinbeck. Recently, we were required to do a group project on one of the books. We had to teach a lesson on a literature device such as theme or symbolism. My group was required to teach a lesson on characterization as told through The Outsiders. In this project, we had to compare a character from the book to a character from another novel, TV show, or movie. We compared Sodapop Curtis to Troy Bolton from High School Musical. They were both ladies men, they both wanted to be with the girl that they loved, and both of their girls left, leaving them with diffcult decisions and times ahead. We did our lesson through Glogster, an online poster-making tool. It was very fun to design a poster that fit in with the literary device, as well as doing it with a good friend of mine. Throughout the course of the summer and with this project in particular, I personally have learned a lot. I'm really learning how to read a passage or a novel and find ways that it relates to the Bible. I first saw this in The Pearl, but as I continued thinking, I realized that there are biblical references in all kinds of literature. It's very eye-opening to see how writers relate to the Bible without even realizing it; it shows how much Christianity has effected people over time, and in more ways than one. My project is embedded below, I hope you enjoy it, and have a blessed day.

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Goals for the Year

Hello, and welcome to my blog! I hope you enjoy it! My first blog post is concerning all of my academic, social, and spiritual goals for this year. 
My academic goals for the year are fairly simple, but will take lots of hard work. I am going to strive for straight A's, to do well on my research paper, and to do a great job studying for tests, quizzes, and exams. Some more exact goals include learning more about the relations and environments of invertebrates in Biology, learning how to perform dramatic scenes more believably in Drama, and learning about the government and exactly how it works in Civics.
My social goals for the year are very few, but they will be challenging. I simply hope to build strong relationships with people outside of my normal friend group, to build even stronger relationships with my current friends, and to be a reflection of Christ while around my friends and family. 
My spiritual goals are the most important goals in my life. This year, I'd like to build a very strong relationship and praying bond with my prayer partner. I will also strive to encourage others through Christ, especially those who claim to be loyal Christ-followers, but do not truly have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I want to continue serving in as many ways as possible, and continue praying for God to reveal more of my personal call to ministry to me. I will strive to live my life as Jesus did, and to take advantage of any opportunity to share the Gospel. 

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