SEPAE06 ~ Photography Scavenger Hunt

These are pictures that I took for a scavenger hunt during Advanced EXCEL for one of my assignments. Like most scavenger hunts, this is a very unique assortment of pictures of random items that our leadership thought would be fun. Hope you enjoy them!

1.) STAPLER ~ This useful tool has been a tremendous help in keeping my AE assignments organized. Hoorah for this invention! :)

2.) REFLECTIONS ~ My brother and two of my friends being reflected in a large window at the Milwaukee Brewers stadium. (We got up to stretch our legs during the game, and I decided that this would be a perfect opportunity to take a "reflections" picture of some people who mean a lot to me.)

3.) LEAP ~ Little Campbell, one of the boys that I babysit for, has no fear of heights. Problem! :) He readily agreed to leap off of the footstool so I could take a picture of him while he was airborne.

4.) FEARS ~ One of my major fears is summed up perfectly in this photo: FAILURE! With God as my sufficiency and strength, I can give all of my fears to Him and trust that He is in control and will not let me down.

5.) COFFEE ~ Starbucks... Opening Bell... Saturdays... friends... All of these words remind me of the fun memories that my AE friends and I made while we were in Dallas, TX. I love you girls!!

6.) TIME ~ Without my watch to tell me what time it is, where would I be? LATE-- that's where!!! "Five minutes early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable!"

7.) SQUIRREL ~ "Hey, they said this was the best diner in town. Where is all of the food? Did someone take a day off or did my larger cousins have a party without me?!?" Lol!

8.) WHITE TRASH ~ Random, I know. Don't ask me where the idea for this subject came from! :) Generally, I don't go around taking pictures of trash, but if it is an assignment, that is a while different story. :)

9.) DATE ~ My cell phone scheduler marks a date that will stand out in my memory for years to come, the day that my AE sisters and I walk the isle for graduation, the culmination of our months of hard work! DMC-- here I come!!

10.) POLICE ~ Never underestimate the effectiveness of a Lego Police officer! He may look small, but his heart is large in proportion. As long as the mission has been accomplished, who cares if he is only an inch and a half tall!?! :)

11.) SELF PORTRAIT ~ I have come to believe that self portraits are one of the most frustrating pictures to take! Not only does the face have to be in focus, the subject needs to be smiling, and the photographer (which is one & the same as the subject) has to like the picture!

12.) MAKING A STATEMENT ~ My little brother Levi, making a statement. He is glad to be alive and wants other people to realize the precious value of the human lives that God has created.

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13.) A MEMORY ~ My first Brewers game!!! The game itself, as far as the baseball goes, was very boring. Our team lost, big time. The evening, however, was turned into a good memory because I had a terrific time with my friends and family! Thank the Lord for Christian fellowship!!!

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What's a princess to do about knights, squires, and pages?

Knights in shining armor, white horses, and beautiful princesses waiting in their fathers’ castles symbolize the dreams of many little girls. They long to someday meet and fall in love with their own Prince Charming and live happily ever after. Until then, with so many knights, squires, and pages coming to and from the castle each day, many opportunities will arise for these princesses to make casual friendships with these young men. As they seek to save their hearts wholly for the handsome prince that God has chosen for them, what convictions should these maturing princesses have to guard themselves and their future?

The convictions that we, as young women, have in the area of casual friendships with guys are vitally important because they will direct the course of our future. As daughters of the King of Kings, our convictions should hold us to the highest standard and should reflect the character of our Heavenly Father. Seeking the Lord’s direction and keeping our thoughts and motives pure in the friendships that we have will enable us to save our hearts for our future husbands and glorify God by our actions.

In Scripture, Timothy is one example of a young person who carefully used the relationships in his life for good. Timothy was a young man with the great responsibility of encouraging and shepherding a growing Christian congregation. As a leader, other people would especially be watching the friendships that he made and the way that he treated those around him. The apostle Paul advised Timothy to “rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.” I Timothy 5:1-2.

The wise fatherly advice that Paul gave to Timothy about relationships applies to us as Christian young ladies as well. Each one of us is a leader, and whether we realize it or not, other people are watching the friends that we hang out with and the way that we act while we are around them. By observing my own friends and the friendships that they have made, I have been better able to make my own convictions about casual friendships with guys.

Personally, I have found that staying in groups and spending time together as families is one of the best ways for me to keep casual friendships casual. Also, as I stay under my parents’ authority, I have the added benefit of their wisdom and guidance. God has designed my parents and my family structure for my protection. Since all of my “guy” friends are friends of the family, I am free to be myself and treat all of them as I would my brothers in Christ.

One note of caution that I would give to my sisters in Christ is that, even with casual guy/girl friendships, one or the other can easily be emotionally hurt if we are not careful. I have seen it happen in the lives of some of my friends, and that emotional wounding is not the best that God would have us experience. Keeping our thoughts, actions, and motives pure will help us to better be able to save ourselves for our future husbands and also will give us a clear conscience in case others’ feelings are hurt in the process.

Remember that whatever convictions you choose to adopt as your own in the area of casual friendships with guys should be based on being beyond reproach, so that a stumbling block is not put in another’s way.[1] As you prayerfully consider what convictions you need to make, ask your parents for their counsel and take time to evaluate your heart to make sure it is right before the Lord. Then, be a princess whose testimony is a beautiful reflection of the character of her omniscient Sovereign and glorify Him with all that you do.

[1] See Romans 14:13, 1 Corinthians 8:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:6, and Philippians 2:15.

"Less Of Me"

The message of this song is so important! May we all be reminded to think less about our self and more about those whom the Lord has brought into our lives!

"Less Of Me" by Glen Campbell

Let me be a little kinder,

Let me be a little blinder,

To the faults of those around me—

Let me praise a little more.

Let me be, when I am weary,

Just a little bit more cheery!

Think a little more of others

And a little less of me.

Let me be a little braver

When temptation bids me waiver,

Let me strive a little harder

To be all that I should be.

Let me be a little meeker

With a brother who is weaker.

Think a little more of others

And a little less of me.

Let me be, when I am weary,

Just a little bit more cheery.

Let me serve a little better

Those that I am striving for.

Let me be a little meeker

With the brother who is weaker,

Think a little more of others

And a little less of me.