Memories~

I've been thinking a lot over break, especially with turning 20 in a couple months and going back to school tomorrow, of my childhood.

So bear with with me as I reminisce about past memories :)

I remember...
When we used to pretend there was a giant clam in our basement to scare my younger brothers
Making bacon at midnight with Miesa
Moving into our current house when I was just four
When Miesa was born
Good night hugs, kisses and nudges
Staying up late and reading Nancy Drew books
When I tried to convince my siblings that a monster bird lived next door to us, I even drew it into our bird book to make it believable
Having bunk beds with Miesa and staying up late talking and playing lava monster
Playing the scary hall monster game
Mud season and Miesa catching frogs
Having a power rangers birthday cake and costume when I was little
Going to Florida with my family and getting all of the princesses signatures :)
When Corey was born
And going to clark's trading post and riding a train ride where a hobo chased after us!
Playing out in the fields behind Grammie and Grandpas house and making crowns out of dandelions
Going to montreal and watching the expos play
Attempting to learn how to fish from madre at the pocanoes in PA
Reuniting with friends that I hadn't seen for years
Laying out in the grass catching lightning bugs and watching shooting stars
Lunch after church at Grammies and helping her cook, I got yelled at by an unnamed person for licking a bowl of batter and never again have I eaten raw dough
Hiking up to see the old sugar house and covering ourselves in mud
Feeding the cows hay and seeing the calves
Going to Grammy Rogers every Christmas Eve after the service
Always getting sugar on snow at the 4th of July parade :)
When Connor was born, and calling him fat man
Being chased by Brian in FL when trying to get back to our hotel room
University of VT basketball games with Daddy
Totoro...enough said
Always playing sports or adventure games outside
Having that last long conversation with Uncle Dave about woodchucks
Sunday school with Grammie and Sandy
Barton fair, cows, maple cotton candy
Growing closer and closer to my Savior
One Christmas I shook a gift and I instantly new it was an easy bake oven I always wanted
Building snow forts on the front lawn, with different rooms and furniture items
Singing crazy songs in music with Mr. Nicoterra. I.e. I want to join you, the picnic song and Molly the dolly
Having bunk beds with Miesa...and she fell and broke her nose
Game nights with different family members
Watching tv with Miesa and madre in her room late at night
My dad being my coach for all the sports I played
Getting baptized!
Bryan giving me fluff as a graduation gift
Going to river of life as a camper..then being a counselor :)
Watching Lord of the Rings many, many times (and all the appendices) 
Playing baseball with Corey and playing against an imaginary team!
Going to Boston for the first time in 7th grade and being amazed by what a city is like
Annual summer vacation trips with my amazing family
Waking up super early with Corey, Connor and Miesa
Veggie tale movies
Laughing at every meal with my family (especially the lettuce incident)
....and that is just the beggining

There have definitely been hard times such as grammie's old house burning down, when I was sick in third grade and injured multiple other times, grammie, grandpa and Uncle Dave passing away, losing some friends, but always finding truer ones. Different family members suffering from illnesses, being away from my family hurts at times and sometimes sharing my faith is scary. I've learned a lot though. To not expect people to be perfect, to love wholeheartedly, give without asking in return, taking each moment and being thankful for all the little things and to always depend on God. And no matter the circumstance, whether joyful or mournful,confusing or exciting; Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8) And for that I am very thankful :) Through the rough and through the bliss, He is always there, and I am thankful for all these memories that have been experiences, even the not so great ones because they all have formed me to who I am now, and who I will continue to be as I grow closer to Him.

Keep looking up, because GOD is good ALL the time :)

p.s. to all my family and friends, I love you all so much! (more than you know) <3

"Why I hate religion, but love Jesus"

 Watch the video! What do you think about this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY&feature=youtu.be

Awareness

        Can you put a price on another person's life? I wouldn't say so, but others do with exploitation value of a sex slave. Today, January 11th, is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and the small part I can play in this day is do exactly that, spread awareness!

        Did you know an estimated 27 million slaves exist around the world today. Reportedly, three out of four of them are women. This year about 800,000 people will reportedly be sex-trafficked;at least half of them being children. Billions of dollars are brought in through this industry, and this crime industry has been growing incredibly fast (Polaris Project)

I've done a lot of research on human trafficking and there are a few things that we should know that many may not realize.

•  Trafficking does happen with the smuggling of persons across borders, but it also happens within a countries own borders, even in the U.S. 
• Human trafficking implies ownership over a person
•  An estimated 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States each year. The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country is even higher, with an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 American children at risk of being trafficked. (U.S Dept. of Justice)
• People are trafficked for prostitution and other sexual exploitations such as pornography, forced labor services, slavery practices and for the removal of organs
• The five main ways people are acquired, especially as sex slaves are through deceit (especially false promises of job offers), sold by their families because they have no other choice it seems, seduction and romance, abduction and being recruited by former sex slaves. 

So, what can we do about all of this? It seems almost over our ability to be able to help, but that's false.
1. The first important thing to do is learn more about what human trafficking is and keep informed
2. Next, spread awareness!
3. Start an event within your school or church
4. Fund raise or donate to a cause
5. Volunteer
6. Report anything suspicious to the Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888)
7. Read the stories of trafficking victims
8. And let's not forget to pray. Pray continually. Pray for the victims. Pray for the wicked. Pray for those who can help. Pray for the world.

        Here are some sites I like, so check them out for more information and how to get involved!
http://love146.org/
http://www.beautyfromashes.org/index.aspx
http://www.polarisproject.org/index.php
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
Around the world, and around even your block, people are stepping up to help abolish this form of slavery. You can be one of these people! And remember to keep on praying, and relying on Him for strength, peace and perseverance! Someday justice will come

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?- Micah 6:8

Seek His face

I haven't had much time to write anything much, but the other night my heart really broke down. I realized even more how much I do not thank God for everything.  I can't even thank my own parents enough for how much they love me and everything they do for me, how could I ever thank God enough for all that He has given me, it brings me to tears. He's the One who gave me the family I'm so blessed to have, He's the one who created the mountains and stars I love so much and He's the One who sent His only Son to die for me, when I don't deserve it. I felt rotten and down, but a friend pointed me to scripture which is what I needed. Though I am a sinner, Christ loves me. I can't be perfect in any sense, but each day I get the chance to strive towards holiness and to be set apart for Christ, and to seek His face, not on my own strength or abilities but on Christ's and all that He has blessed me with. And that I am very thankful for.


I love this following psalm. Take some time and meditate your heart and mind on it.
Psalm 27
"The Lord is my light and my salvation—

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?

When evil men advance against me

to devour my flesh,

when my enemies and my foes attack me,

they will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me,

my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

even then will I be confident. 

One thing I ask of the Lord,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle

and set me high upon a rock.

Then my head will be exalted

above the enemies who surround me;

at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the Lord.

 

Hear my voice when I call, O Lord;

be merciful to me and answer me.

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”

Your face, Lord, I will seek.

Do not hide your face from me,

do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

O God my Savior.

Though my father and mother forsake me,

the Lord will receive me.

Teach me your way, O Lord;

lead me in a straight path

because of my oppressors.

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

breathing out violence. 

I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord."

Seek His face with all your heart <3

Be consumed with the Creator!

 

"For by Him, all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible; whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him." Colossians 1:16

New year thoughts

        This past year has been one awesome and crazy year. 2011 was filled with many ups, downs, surprises, adventures and lessons. But through it all, God has and is and always will be holding me up and strengthening me. The biggest thing that I know I always need to remember is God's unfailing love for me and that He has a plan for my life far greater than I can imagine. And no matter what has happened this past year, each day is a new day and God can bring you through each and every day. His love endures all things and He is with us always!Making New Years resolutions are great, but we don't have to wait for a new year to begin them :) begin some change in your life today, right now even.


"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

        From this day on, one of the things I hope to improve on is gratitude. The second thing is discipline and the third is intentionality. God has blessed us all so much, each in different ways. More and more each day I realize how much more I should be giving thanks to Him. "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) These verses can basically sum up everything I need to work on! I want to give thanks in all situations. When things are going well it's really easy to give thanks, but at the same time we can't stop giving thanks when things are going well because it's not of our doing but only God's. And I must not forget to give thanks even in the hard times, because those are times to learn and to seek God's will for my life. But you know what, when I'm trying to seek His will, I can just go to this verse...for it simply says "this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"!

        The second and third things almost connect with one another in some aspects. The other day I was practicing some basketball with my youngest brother when a thought just struck me as if both our basketballs had whacked me upside the head. It's all about practice. And you may ask, "what is all about practice" and my response to you is "everything". I want to be a better basketball player, but that won't happen just after a night of practicing. Maybe someone wants to become a better artist, a better friend, a more skilled engineer, a better student. Well, it's gonna take practice. Just as I want to be better at basketball, I want to be more self-disciplined and intentional in my relationship with God, but it's going to take my effort and strength from Christ. I can't just read my bible and pray a lot one day, and be set with that. I need to be filled up daily and praying continually! By His word, I can be filled up daily, for men can't live on bread alone! And all scripture is God breathed and so very useful for all aspects of life!Also, brother and sisters, keep your each other accountable, because it's easy to not keep to a new resolution or goal.

Set some hopes and goals for yourself as well, and go practice! Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus! I'm very thankful for you, friends!

In Christ,
Heather

p.s. I'll probably be posting more than just these long thoughts, but also prayer requests, things I'm thankful for and inspiring quotes I find! God bless!