Comment y'all

Hey all you lurkers!
Drop us a comment now and then and let us know what you think about posts, etc. Do it under a fake name if ya want. :) Give us ideas about topics we could cover, too, K? We'd LOVE to hear from ya! We don't bite. Seriously. ;)

foreverHis,
~becca~

How I Met My Baby...for those who want to know

Alright, I'll come right out and say it. I'm a dog lover.
And this post is for fellow dog lovers. (especially you, MJ! :)
Okeyday, so this is Callie's story!

Once upon a time....jk.
For as long as I can remember I had wanted a puppy. A Golden Retreiver puppy, to be exact. I would spend my free time reading dog training books and coming up with lists for imaginary puppy needs: shampoo, leash, collar, dishes, etc. And puppy names. I love naming animals! I still have a running list of dog names that I love. The 2 most recent are Brandywine (from the lord of the rings), and Braveheart. :) But, that's besides the point. On June 16th, 2002, I celebrated my 13th birthday in Florida. We were in the middle of our 4 1/2 month trip around the United States. In my birthday card from my parents, they promised me that when we got home, they would buy me a puppy. I had it all planned out and fantasized about my little Golden Retreiver (GR) puppy I had already named Annie. :) As you know, things didn't really work out that way...
Purebred puppies are amazingly expensive. For a decent GR, it would cost about $400, not including food and vet bills. We only spent that much money on a dog once...and that's cuz he was a trained police dog...and we needed a watch dog, but that's besides the point. :) So, as you can imagine, my parents didn't want to spend that much money. Instead I got free nickle-ads every week and searched for a cheap puppy.
I kept looking and looking and looking. On February 1st, 2001, the day the Challenger exploded, my dreams came true!! We had just spent our morning in front of the TV, watching the devastating news. Then Dad left for work even though it was a Saturday. Not long after he left, he called home and told me he had seen an ad in the paper advertising GR, rott, aus shep mix. The key was the price: $75. I quickly called the lady, and she told me they only had one puppy left, a female. woohoo. Mom, Meg, Bug, Rachie, and I piled into the car to go check out this puppy. I knew from my reading on choosing a puppy, that I shouldn't just take the puppy cuz it's cute, but to make sure it was healthy, etc. Hahaha. Those are just words. Trust me. You can go looking for a puppy with all the right rules, but when you see those soft, fluffy, rolly-polly, brown eyed, wet nosed, pink mouths w/ puppy breath, softly growling puppies, you're a gonner. And no rules in the book can stop you. :) BTW, Callie was born in December, so she wasn't very small or rolly-polly.
Anyway, back to my story. When we drove up to the ladies house, I was shocked. It was the dumpiest place ever. There was no lawn, just mud and I saw muddy, gross looking dogs in the backyard barking. I was determined to see the puppy, though. :) So, we walked up to the door and the lady opened it.....and there was my puppy. OH MY WORD. I knew she was mine the momment I saw her. She was tied to a refrigerator door handle by a leash that she was hopelessly tangled in. She made eye contact with me, and oh boy, I was like, "mom, i want her." I didn't notice until later how dumpy the house was. I can't really describe it...it was just a mess. I picked up the puppy, whom the lady had called Tiny because she was the runt, and carefully examined her to see if she was healthy. Of course, like I said, my head wasn't really in it. :) I didn't put her down, but walked right out the door. Oh, yes, don't worry, mom did pay. ;)
She was such a sulky dog when we got her. She didn't scramble around the car, but just layed there with her head on her paws. Oh I forgot to tell ya, but the lady we bought Callie from had a daughter. The girl would tell Callie to jump up on her and to "bite". Dear me. Lotsa stuff to undo, for sure!
The first thing we did was stop by the store and buy a collar. Callie's collar was extremely small. I almost had to cut it off her. On the way home, my older sister Meg, came up with the name Callie. Our relatives had a dog named Kellie, and our friends had a dog, Killie (I'm not sure how to spell that :). Little did we know that our neighbors had a GR named Callie. Hahaha. Anyway, the name stuck.
The sweetest thing was that I was Callie's from get-go. After all, I was the only one who ever fed her, bathed her, etc. She adored me, and still does! :) From day one she followed me EVERYWHERE. When I was playing the piano, she was sleeping under the piano bench. When I was doing the dishes, she was laying in the kitchen watching me. When I showered she layed on the bathroom rug. At night she slept in her crate by my bed.
Not every day was a picnic though. A puppy is a puppy and Callie was no exception. The funny thing was, she chewed on ONE pencil. That was it. She has NEVER chewed on anything else since. Not even bones. Which I don't get. She went to the bathroom in the house all the time those first few days and vomited stomach acid after every meal. We later found out that she needs "gentler" food cuz it's easier on her stomach. Callie was terrified to be left alone in her crate while we were gone like at church or somewhere else. This resulted in her defecating (yeah yeah yeah, sounds tons better :P) in her crate and smearing it everywhere. All over herself, the crate, and stuff being flung within a radius of 2 feet around her crate. So, there where many nights I had to bathe her, wash her crate, mop the floor, etc. I don't complain though cuz she is just way too precious. :) I have reason to believe that Callie was abused before we got her, because to this day, she is scared to meet new people and piddles whenever someone scares her. Poor puppy.
I remember the first vacation we went on with her and we had stopped at a gas station to take her to the bathroom. The gas station dude got down on his knees to give her a treat and Callie refused to eat it and instead rolled over onto her back and piddled for him. I was mortified. Who on earth has heard of a dog refusing a treat?? helloooo?? At the vet's office she's even worse. She does eat the treats they give her, but ooooooo soooooooo sloowly and messily that she leaves crumbs alllll over the examining table. Silly pooch.
Callie is a smart dog though. I never taught her to come...she just eventually did it. She obeys both English and German commands and hand signals. Her favorite thing to do is stare at me with her big brown puppy eyes and send me on guilt trips. She also loves rubbing her face all over my legs. It's SO cute when she runs up to me and shoves her head between my knees and just stands there. lol. She also adores our cats. Especailly the ones who run, cuz she loves to chase. :P The ones that don't run, she plays with by smashing them with her paws. The cats love her for it. :)

SO, there you have it. My pooch's story. :) I think that's the longest post yet. go figure. hahahaha.

blessings,
Becca

Book List

You know I like reading about WW2, so I thought I'd give ya a book list of the ones I've read so far. They are all amazing!

World War 2 Book List

Band of Brothers—Stephen Ambrose
Pegasus Bridge—Stephen Ambrose
The Victors—Stephen Ambrose
The Wild Blue—Stephen Ambrose
Citizen Soldiers—Stephen Ambrose
D-Day—Stephen Ambrose
Flyboys—James Bradley
Flags of Our Fathers—James Bradley
Hiroshima—Hersey
We Band of Angels—Norman
Treblinka—Steiner
Auschwitz—??
Ghost Soldiers—Hampton Sides
Overlord—Albert Marrin
In Harm’s Way—Stanton


~becca~

7 Things about Becca

Hey all!
Thursday is here again! (oh my word, i just noticed it's raining outside!!! it hasn't rained here in FOREVER!) Anyway, 7 things about me:

1. Speaking of rain, I hate the rain. It makes me feel depressed and trapped. Trapped as in I don't like having to be in the house all day. :)

2. I am a Swiss citizen. AND, this is the year (((drum roll))) I get to register to vote in Switzerland! Ain't thet cool? I pretty much think so. It's kinda weird the way things work, but if I don't register to vote, then I'm no longer a citizen. Strange, huh? I think I'm gonna register with the People's Party...er something. My sister, Meg, is registered with that party, so she did all the research. ;)

3. My favorite season is summer, summer, summer. I absolutely LOVE HOT weather. Maybe it's cuz I get cold really easily and I hate being cold, but maybe it's cuz there's no school. :)

4. Ok, I must say that I do have somethings I like about cold weather. First of all I like wearing sweatshirts...I wear em all the time cuz I get cold so easily, as ya know. Winter just makes that habit seem more reasonable. ;) Secondly, I love reading in a chair pulled up in front of the fireplace. *sigh*

5. I was baptized on Palm Sunday, 2001.

6. I've been to 41 states...er something. Either that or 42. lol. And I've been to 3 provinces in Canada--British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec. w00t.

7. I have a 3 1/2 year young puppy that I got as a gift for my 13th birthday. I can't remember if I've already shared that. Aw well, I'll just keep saying it cuz I love her way too much! :)
(and if you really want, I can tell you how I got her...it's a darling story! :)

Ok, well there's 7 random things about me!

blessings,
~becca~

PEACE

Sorry it's taken me so long to post about the next fruit of the Spirit. To be honest, I'm not really sure what to say about peace other then 'be at peace with one another'. There are several different kinds of peace; peace between brothers, peace between nations, and the peace that God gives us in our hearts. I'm gonna talk about the latter cuz it's one of the greatest belssings we have as believers.
Jesus said to His discples before His death, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." (John 14:27) This peace comes from looking into His face and fully understanding and receiving His quiet contentment. (chambers)
Remember Jesus' words when you despair, "Let not your hearts be troubled..." and rest in the peace He so freely gives!


blessings,
~becca~

Quote of the Day

"If I see aright, the cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament. It is, rather, a new bright ornament upon the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity. The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it."

-- A.W. Tozer (1897-1963)

All I can say is wow. Yet another quote to paste on my mirror! :)

i need another mirror...LOL.

blessings,

~becca~

"Lord, I will follow You, but..."

"Suppose God tells you to do something that is an enormous test of your common sense, totally going against it. What will you do? Will you hold back? If you get into the habit of doing something physically, you will do it every time you are tested until you break the habit through sheer determination. And the same is true spiritually. Again and again you will come right up to what Jesus wants, but every time you will turn back at the point of true testing, until you are dtermined to abandon yourself to God in total surrender. Yet we tend to say 'Yes, but--suppose I do obey God in this matter, what about..?' Or we say, 'Yes, I will obey God if what He asks of me doesn't go against my common sense, but don't ask me to take a step in the dark.'
Jesus Christ demands the same unrestrained, adventurous spirit in those who have placed their trust in Him that the natural man exhibits. If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark. In the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold on to or believe through common sense, and leap by faith into what He says. Once you obey, you will immediately find that what He says is as solidly consistent as common sense.
By the test of common sense, Jesus Christ's statements may seem mad, but when you test them by the trial of faith, your findings will fill your spirit with the awesome fact that they are the very words of God. Trust completely in God, and when He brings you to a new opportunity of adventure, offering it to you, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis--only one out of an entire crowd is daring enough to invest his faith in the character of God."

--Oswald Chambers

blessings,
~becca~

School is upon us!

Though I haven't started school yet (not until the 22nd! yay!), I know most of you already have! When school starts, our lives get hectic and busy. Of course, I've always enjoyed being busy, but one must remember the important things in life! I just wanted to encourage y'all to remember to spend quality time in the Word and in prayer every day. It is more important then an education...more important then sports...more important then hanging out with friends!

Forever His,
~:~becca~:~

Lead me in a straight path

"I said, Let me walk in the field';

God said, "No, walk in the town";

I said, "There are no flowers there";

He said, "No flowers, but a crown."

I said, "But the sky is black,

There is nothing but noise and din";

But He wept as He sent me back,

"There is more," He said, "there is sin."

I said, "But the air is thick,

And smog is veiling the sun";

He answered and me, "Yet souls are sick,

And your work is yet undone."

I said, "I will miss the light,

And friends will miss me, they say";

He answered me, "Choose tonight,

If I am to miss you, or they."

I pleaded for time to be given;

He said, "Is it this hard to decide?

It will not seem hard in Heaven

To have followed the steps of your Guide."

I cast one look at the field,

Then set my face to the town;

He said, "My child, do you yield?

Will you leave the flowers for the crown?"

Then into His hand went mine,

And into my heart came He;

And I walk in a light Divine,

The path I had feared to see.

By Madame Guyon

We never need to fear the call when we know who is calling us!

~:~Becca~:~

Scripture Verse

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you."

Ephesians 4:29-32

I love these Scripture verses! It makes me stop and think about what I say...do I grieve the Holy Spirit with my words? Or do I worship Him and bring Him glory with my actions? It also struck me as I read through these verses, that Christ forgives us when we grieve Him. Therefore so should we forgive others when they wrong us! How much more did Christ have to forgive us?

blessings!
~becca~

7 Things About Byrde by Becca :)

Ok, since Byrde is gone (*sob*) I shall post 7 things about her. :)

1. She has tons of friends
2. All her friends adore her ;)
3. Byrde has the gift of encouragement
4. She emails her friends all the time, brightening up their days
5. She's sensitive to other people's feelings
6. Byrde desires to grow deeper in her walk with the Lord
7. altogether, Byrde ROX!! :)

love ya and miss ya, girl! ;)

~becca~

7 Things About Becca

I totally forgot to post 7 random facts about myself on Thursday! So, here goes! :)

1. I love studying World War 2
2. My favorite WW2 authors are Stephen Ambrose and James Bradley
3. My favorite WW2 books are Citizen Soldiers and Flyboys
4. I go to the library at least twice a week
5. I always get WW2 books and Popular Photography magazines every time I go
6. I don't have a library card. random, I know...but in light of the above points, I thought it was kinda funny. :)
7. I also like Dee Henderson books

Ok, so you probably can't tell what I spend my free time doing ;)

blessings!
~becca~

Seven (or more) things about Bug

Okay guys....sorry. We were supposed to post seven things about ourselves every Thursday, but somewhere along the line that kinda bit the dust. So, I'm doing it now. (Yes, I am aware of the fact that it's a Friday) (Actually, sorry, couldn't narrow down my dislikes to only seven things, so you'll hafta bear with me on a few more)
So....*drumroll* Here's seven things that annoy Bug:

1. Socks that don't fit. (argh!)

2. When a teacher doesn't erase all of the chalk on a chalk board

3. Email forwards

4. Suspense. It kills me! I almost always peek in the back of a

novel to see "who dun' it" 'cause I hate waiting!

5. When people talk during a movie or say the lines 2 seconds before

it's said in the flick.

6. Flirts or show-offs.

7. Losing one part of a pair of earrings

8. People chewing really loudly when the room is otherwise quiet

9. People who sneeze really loudly

10. People who chomp on gum

:.:.Bug:.:

Be Still My Soul

Well, here's one of Bug's all-time favorite hymns! Whenever I'm struggling with trusting God with a problem I'm often reminded of this hymn.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake

To guide the future, as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still knowHis voice

Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord.

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past

All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise

On earth, be leaving, to Thy Lord on high;

Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,

So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.

Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine

Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

:.Bug.:

JOY

I'm just going to post a bunch of random quotes from my favorite book "When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy". I like how Piper always points us back to the basics: Joy comes from God and being content and complete in Him.

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."

"For there exists a delight that is not given to the wicked, but to those honoring Thee, O God, without desiring recompense, the joy of whom Thou art Thyself! And this blessed life, to rejoice towards Thee, about Thee, for Thy sake."

"If God alone is enough to support joy when all else is lost, it is a mircale of grace." (again, joy comes from God...it is a gift totally undeserved!)

"The final object of our pursuit is joy itself, rather than the beauty of what we find joy in. This is a very common mistake."

"Our chief end is to glorify God...we do so most fully when we treasure him, desire him, delight in him so supremely that we let goods and kindred go and display his love to the poor and the lost."

"Surely this is a battle worth fighting for [the battle for joy]. It may seem strange at first, but when we seewhat is at stake, no battle will seem more important. Loving Christ involves delight in his Person. Without this love no one goes to heaven. Therefore there is no more importnat struggle in the universe than the struggle to see and savor Christ above all things--the struggle for joy."

"Our joy in him will be greater because we see him as the one who gives both the joy and the strength to fight for it."

"It is our duty and privilege to rejoice in God, and to rejoice in him always; at all times, in all conditions; even we suffer for him, or are afflicted by him. We must not think the worse of him or of his ways for the hardships we meet with in his service. There is enough in GOd to furnish us with matter of joy in the worst circumstance on earth...Joy in God is a duty of great consequence in the Christian life; and Christians need to be again and again called to it."

"God's aim in all that he does is to glorify himself. This invovles both radiance from God and reflection from creation. His glory streams out from himself, and it streams back again in many ways, especailly when he is treasured and enjoyed by his people."

"All strategies in the fight for joy are directly or indirectly stratigies to see Christ more fully."

Those are just a few of the parts I have underlined in the book! I highly recommend reading it! :)

blessings,
becca

Girls and apple trees

Hey!
When I saw this, I knew I had to post it. I know it was a forward going around, so sorry if you've already seen it...it's good enough for you to see again, for sure! :)

---------------Girls------------------
-----------are like apples--------------
-------on trees. The best ones--------
-----are at the top of the tree.--------
---The boys don’t want to reach------
--for the good ones because they---
-r afraid of falling and getting hurt.--
-Instead, they get the rotten apples
from the ground that aren’t as good,
but easy. So the apples up top think-
something’s wrong w/ them when in-
-reality they're amazing. They just--
---have to wait for the right boy to--
---- come along, the one who's-------
----------- brave enough to-----------
---------------climb all-----------------
---------------the way-----------------
--------------to the top----------------
-------------of the tree.----------------

Good, isn't it?


blessings
~becca~

Bug's Book List

Wow...I guess I'm on a role today! I'm trying to make up for all the posting I've missed! Anyways, here's my reccomended book list. Becca and Byrde probably have their own that they'd love to share, so hope you guys like to read! All of these books are devotional or spiritual books that are a MUST read! I, personally, struggle with finding good book out there, but here are my top favs:

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers~ You are probably not surpised that this book is on my list. I quote it about every post! I highly reccomend this book! It's broken down into short devotionals for every day. It's very in-depth and great for people who desire to grow more in their walk with God.

I Come Quietly to Meet You by Amy Carmichael~ A great devotional book! (By one of my favorite ladys, too! :)) This book is also broken down into short, thought-provoking devotional readings. I like it alot because it's very informal and almost just a collection of Amy's thoughts.

A Young Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George~ A very helpful and down-to-earth book about how we can become women after God's own heart. The book is a study on the fruits of the Spirit.

Mountian Breezes by Amy Carmichael~ For those of you who love poetry this is a God send. Even if you don't, you'll love this collection of Amy's poems and songs. I love it because it's just a beautified collection of writings about her struggles and joys.

Let Me Be a Woman by Elizabeth Elliot~ (My other favorite lady!:)) This is a book about a woman's role. Very good!

Passion and Purity~ All the guy and girl stuff you'll eva want to know! :P lol. It's very good and Biblically strong. Whenever you get to the relationship stage this is a good book to read.

Mere Christianity~ A very good book! A fairly easy read that states very clearly what we believe.

Knowing God by J.I. Packer~ An excellant book!Tough to get through in spots, but very worthwhile. Packer expounds on the power of knowing God.

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by Piper~ I love this book! It really expounds on many qualities of Jesus and is very meaningful.

The Sovereignty of God by A.W.Pink~ I'll praise this book to the skys! It is an amazing book on how "God still lives, God still observes, and God still reigns."

The Pursuit of God by A.W.Tozer~ I'm in the middle of reading this and have found it amazing. It's very readable, but very deep. Tozer has many meaningful thoughts on finding and discovering God personally.

Well, that's it for tonight, folks! When I think of more I'll be sure to let ya know! Also, post a comment and tell us what books are your favorite devotionals!

:.Bug.:

Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

*Sigh* It's so refreshing to slip back into the world of blogging! Well, we're back on track with our posting and today (as you may have guessed) is JOY! Here's a look at how Naves Topical Bible defines joy: "emotion excited by expectation or acquisition of good; attribute of God; fruit of the Spirit; not the same as happiness which depends largely upon happenings, as it may be experianced even in affliction." Joy comes from something other than our circumstances. Joy is SO essential because it is the unmistakable mark of a Christian. When non-believers look at your life and take note of all the hardships you're going through and then see the joy overflowing in your life they are bound to want to know what makes you different. What a witness we can be!

So, now that we know we need joy...How do we get it? As mentioned above, we know our source of joy depends on something other than our circumstances. Jesus Christ. He is our source and our well-spring of life. The scriptures tell us over and over again to rejoice in the Lord, and that the joy of the Lord is our strength. "Rejoice in the Lord and be glad!" Psalms 32:11
See, when we really know Jesus Christ and draw our every breath by His sustaining grace then we can posess joy which will sustain us even through trials.
Oswald Chambers stated: "Be rightly related to God, find your joy there, and out of you will flow rivers of living water." Take time to be rightly related to God! Read his word constantly. Meditate on it day and night! Don't let anything else sneak in and steal your relationship with Him. The moment we look at things or people to fulfill our joy then we will fall into depression instead. Jesus is the only true source of everything we need.

"The full flood of my life is not in bodily health,

not in external happenings,

not in seeing God's work succeed,

but in the perfect understanding of God,

and in the communion with him that Jesus himself had.

The first thing that will hinder this joy is the captious irritation of thinking out circumstances.

The cares of this world, said Jesus, will choke God's word.

Before we know where we are,we are caught up in the shows of things.

All that God has done for us is the mere threshhold;

He wants to get us to the place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim

WHO

JESUS

IS."

(Oswald Chambers)

Be witnesses of God's joy...

:.Bug.:

It Works!

Wow...technology. I hate it! Becca and I have been unable to get onto Blogger until low-and-behold I try one last time and it works! So...we'll try to get back on top of things! I just wanted to let you know that we've not given up on this blog! :) LOL.
Anyways, back to bussiness...Here's what your bloggers are up to...Byrde has flown the coop and is somewhere partying in Tahiti at this very moment. JK. Actually, she's on the East Coast and we all miss her very much. ;(
Becca and I just got back from a great vacation at Diamond Lake. We had a very relaxing time! (We biked 36 miles, hiked 3 1/2, and I swam 1). That's pretty much what's been going on with all of us. As I mentioned before, we'll try to get back to our spiritual stuff asap!

:.:.Bug:.:

Apologies!

The Blogger Board of Operations (BBO) is very sorry that techincal difficulties have kept us from posting these last few weeks. We apologize for this inconvienence and will let you know on further developments.

Byrde, Buster, Bug....


"I cried but no one saw me, I yelled and no one heard me. What will it take?! Is it because I look different? Is that why you ignore me?!"

Don't wait until it's too late...love those around you...each day...each minute.