The Gift

In talking with my youth group leader last night we had an interesting discussion about the human brain and all of its intricacies. The human brain has the ability to do so much. Our bodies are also just as amazing as our brains. God made the human bodies with so much detail! God gave us our bodies so that we can live and glorify him in all we do. 


"When you don't take proper care of your body, God is not glorified, and you can expect things to be more challenging in the mental and physical world than you'd like. God has set laws and rules for our own good, because He wants you to be healthy and strong in every part of your life.


There is no doubt that being in shape spiritually is the most important kind of fitness as a Christian. But being in shape mentally and physically is very important as well."
~Steven E Coffman, ezinearticles.com


I Corinthians 6:19 says, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own..."


God lent us bodies for our time here on earth. We must take care of our bodies by exercising and eating healthy. When our bodies are functioning well we can best perform the tasks God has given us on this earth. The most important task is being a light to the earth, and spreading the gospel.


What are you doing with your gift?

Family Photo Op ♡

These are some pictures of my beautiful family(my dad's side)! It took a few attempts to get the perfect picture...

Kolton

Kourtney

Crazy cousins!

Kolton, Kayla, Kourtney

Codi's brilliant idea!

Codi, me, and Collin

The boys

Attempt #1

Attempt #2

Attempt #3 (finally)

He just wouldn't cooperate!

Heuns #1 (my dad's craziness rubbed off)

My aunt and uncle, Kurt and Kristi, and the kids

Thanks for making my vacation enjoyable! I loved spending time with you!

"Other things may change us,

but we start and end with FAMILY!"

Although I'm a little bummed I missed hanging out with my friends this weekend (apparently they made some awesome/disturbing music videos, which I haven't had the chance to see yet!), I had a really good time with my family.

Thursday morning my parents and brothers arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Then my cousins, aunt and uncle came down and met us all at the family reunion. All of my Grandpa's father's side of the family meets at noon on Thanksgiving day to eat dinner together. This year there were 75 people at the gym to eat the potluck lunch together. I got to see the relatives that I know (and a bunch I don't know) who I only ever see once every two years. The food was very good :)

Friday morning the ladies got up around 6am to go shopping. We left the house at 7am and came back around 12pm. Our Grandma comes along shopping with us and lets us pick out our own Christmas presents. I really like how she does that:) We always have a great time together and find lots of good deals!

On Saturday, after sleeping in, us kids played Scattergories. It was a very interesting game. For some reason I could not think of any words and my younger cousin beat me. Some other people were having trouble thinking too... One person came up with "Scotch hop" for a game that started with S. "Scadoo" was another answer for a game. Two people wrote Chattanooga for a capital that started with C. Good thing we remembered the capital of Tennessee is actually Nashville! After we got bored with the game we got out of the house for awhile and took a walk downtown. We stopped at the park to play on our way back home. Then we played Sardines in the black basement; some of us were a little scared of the dark.

Later, my brothers and I went with my cousins family to pick out their Christmas tree at a local farm. First we went out into the field to look for a tree, but then we realized that the best trees were already cut down and setting inside the barn. They gave us a candy cane and amazing hot chocolate after the tree was picked out. Once we got back to Grandma and Grandpa's house, we ate dinner and then played a game. Eight of us played purple cow (aka Kemps), paired up in teams of two. Needless to say, there was much cheating from all ends of the table. Someone always cheats when we play games together!

Matthew 20:16

Have you ever thought about how in todays world everyone is trying to get ahead. Most people want to be on top of their class, the top in the league, or top in their job. Kids grow up learning to beat other teams in sports, boss other kids around, and think of only themselves. Where do they get these ideas from?  In our world today we have the super bowl and the world series- competitive games to see who is "number one."  Reality tv shows depict people fighting off others to get the grand prize and be the winner. The corporate heads of companies make lots of money- even children know that.  Often in tv shows people hurt other people and walk all over them to get on top. In sports, players have resorted to cheating in order to get ahead. While the corporate heads are getting richer, the workers are being cheated out of money.  Our society today tells us that we must be the best, most important person and it doesn't matter if others get hurt in the process of us becoming number one.

In my devotions I have been reading about how Jesus came to serve and heal others. Often times Jesus didn't want people to know who he really was because he was afraid they would look at him in a different light. Jesus preferred to do miracles outside of the spotlight. One time Jesus explained to his disciples that in the kingdom of heaven, "the last will be first, and the first will be last." (Matt. 20:16)  Jesus was trying to communicate to his disciples that being on the top didn't matter; those who put others before themselves are really first in God's eyes. In the end it doesn't matter if you are number one and if everyone knows you. All that matters is how often you serve others and put their needs before yours.

However, for those who are blessed to make it to the top, they hold great responsibility. Luke 12:48 says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

So whether you are on the top, trying to work your way up to the top, or on the bottom, remember to think less of yourself and more of others- then you will truly be blessed!

p.s. I saw my cousins today (as in Wednesday) that I hadn't seen since July! And I saw my grandma and grandpa on Tuesday night, who I also hadn't seen since July, when they picked me up from school! Now I get to spend the whole weekend with them! Oh happy day :-)

A Break at Last...

This is my countdown for Thanksgiving; I didn't think it would ever come. Thankfully, there is one loop left...and that was for today. Meaning, tomorrow I leave for Thanksgiving break!!! I am dire need of some time off to relax and not think about school. In the past few weeks I have done so much homework and my schedule has been very hectic. After classes tomorrow, I'm out-a here! Praise God!

Navigating Chicago

Hi Kati's Cyber World!


My name is Jenna. I'm Kati's bestest friend. =)
I have stage fright, so I'm sorry if this post is lame.
Oo, So. I've been given the job to write about our wonderful trip to Chicago, since Kati has a 5 page paper on her list of things to do.


On Saturday, the 20th of November, 2010, myself, Kati, Danielle and Jill departed at 9:30 in the morning to begin our 12 hour day in downtown chicago. Everything was going smoothly, we got on the train took it downtown and hit up the Art Institute of Chicago. Personally, I thought the beginning was kinda boring, a lot of older paintings and sculptures that didn't interest me much. Security guards that were crabby and waaay too much walking. in addition; we had to stop at like. every. single. piece. of. artwork. Once we got to the modern artwork, that was really cool. I loved all the paintings and unique designs and reading the artists statements about why they created what they did and their reasons behind it. We also had a lot of fun taking pictures. weird ones, funny ones, disturbing ones. It was a blast! Then hunger struck me.

Jill, Jenna, Danielle, and I

The start of our trip

Art Institute

        

So, we decided to go get some PIZZA! Pizzas probably my favorite food. At the restaurant, our waitress kept forgetting about us. It was an interesting experience. but that's alright, cause we got fed and were re-energized ready for an afternoon of shopping! We took a detour to Millennium Park, and took pictures by the bean, which was a must! The pictures turned out sweet and are currently everyones profile pictures! =) We start heading (what Kati thinks is North) down Michigan avenue. By this time, the wind has picked up, no surprise there... since it is the windy city. After walking for about a mile, it began to look like we were heading out of the city, instead of into it. the building became less and less. I questioned Kati's directional skills. Turns out Kati had the map. UPSIDEDOWN. At least I have a internal GPS and we got on a train and took that back up North a ways.

The Bean

Once we were back on track, we decided Forever 21 was our first stop. after shuffling through a few thousand people, we made it to the store. People were everywhere. We walked around, tried on clothes, discussed what was cute, and what was not and then successfully walked out of the store with a few good purchases. By this time, Michigan Ave was packed full of people anticipating the parade and fireworks. So being the smart college kids that we are, we went down a block and walked the back way. It was a lot faster. Since it was dark and cold, we decided to warm up with some hot mochas from starbucks and to rest our feet after walking all day. We then proceeded to make our way back to the train. After a little confusion about which train to take where and when to transfer trains (give us some slack, were only freshmen..were still in the learning stages) we made it back to our car. We stopped at a Target and bought a few things before heading back to school. After a couple hours of downtime we drifted off to sleep. What a great time, with a few great friends.

On train, headed back

My World!

Pictures that I made to help me study.

Welcome to my world...the art world!  Currently this semester I am in two art classes- an art history class and another class about the basic principles that form art.  Lately I have had some very interesting homework assignments in these classes.  Starting off with my 2D Design class, I had to read a chapter in my text book about color.  I thought this would be very simple.....nope!  The chapter was 38 pages long!  Who knew there was so much to learn about color; I sure didn't.  Here is a passage from my book: "When a color is mixed with its compliment, it becomes neutralized (greyed), and a tertiary color is produced.  Tertiary colors are also created by mixing any two secondary colors or by combining non-analogous intermediate colors.  In practical terms, this involves intermixing of all three primaries in varying proportions and creates the browns, olives, maroons, and so on found in the inner rings of the color wheel..."  I'm a little bit confused by color!


In my art history class just started learning about how art is dialogue.  The artists are speaking back and forth to each other when they create their artwork.  For our next assignment, our professor told us to download the "Fluxus Performance Workbook" and pick a task to perform.  The file is in a pdf formant, 117 pages long, filled with odd tasks for one to perform.  For instance:


~Paint an orange white and place it together with other oranges in a white bowl.
~Play baseball with a fruit.
~Wrap a modest object.
~Telephone someone- announce the time.
~Chew a nice piece of drawing or notebook paper.
~Arrange nine crackers on a table.  Ask someone to choose the most beautiful cracker. Smash the remaining crackers with your fist.
~Send invitations to all your friends- except one- with the following: green party, green clothes; and to one person: red party, red clothes.
~Blank sheets are handed out to the audience without any explanations.  Wait five minutes and then the performance is over.
~An announcer hidden from view of the audience observes all who enter the theater with binoculars and describes each in detail over a public address system.
~In entertaining your guests, bring out your laundry and explain to them how, when, and why each became dirty.
~Say hello to every pretty girl you meet.  If she replies with a smile, you get a point.  The one with the most points wins.
~On a busy city avenue, draw a circle about 3m in diameter with chalk on the the sidewalk.  Walk around the circle as long as possible with out stopping.


Sounds pretty weird to us....we are not sure what the point of this exercise is?  Guess we'll find out in class tomorrow!  I am going to bring some of my laundry in and explain how, when, and where it got dirty :)


Tonight at midnight the freshman can register for their classes.  I will be staying up late, much to my dismay.  I also just acquired a cold and so I am getting lots of sleep and drinking lots of orange juice to make it hopefully go away soon.

ROAD TRIP!

I took my first road trip as a college student this weekend but I'll get to that in a minute!  After class on Thursday we took some pictures outside in the leaves.

Jill, Me, and Danielle

On Thursday night we had some visitors who stayed over-night for Art Visit Day.  High schoolers from all over the country were invited to come and check out our school and the art department.  We didn't know what to do with our visitors, so we mostly just hung out and told them all about our school!

Friday I worked in the gallery for two hours.  This is the little table, inside the gallery, that I sit at and do odd jobs for my boss or my homework.

Friday at noon Jill texted me and asked me if I wanted to go to Calvin with her.  I told that I did not want to go because I was already planning on going to Chicago; she convinced me otherwise :)  We worked out a deal- my part of the agreement was that I had the privilege of going to MI with her.  After work I did laundry and packed up my things.  We left around 7:30pm.  The trip went well; we listened to country music the whole way there.  Once I got to Calvin, I stayed with my friend Julie.  We went running, played the game "all in the family," talked, and went to church together this morning.  I also hung out with my friend Min (and Jill too, when Julie was at work). 

Min, Julie and I

Sunday noon Jill and I left Calvin and went to have dinner with my extended family.  It was nice to see my family again!  We had potatoes for lunch and, of course, they were wrapped in foil...and, of course, there was a tin-foil ball war.  When we got back to campus Jill opened her purse and guess what she found inside?!  A tin foil ball! 

The trip back to school was very quick.  I colored pictures the whole time while we listened to Christmas music!  All in all it was a great weekend...now I need to attempt some homework :(

Thought for the day...

I was inspired while doing devotions this morning and so I decided to make this picture (with a little help from the program, Pages).

It doesn't get much better than this...

Currently I'm watching the 44th annual CMA AWARDS!!  All of my favorite country artists in one place at one time!  Of course I'm putting my homework on hold until the show gets done.  Life doesn't get much better than this :-)  And while I'm watching the CMA's I'm also catching up with my friends and family.  


So far all my favorite songs have been on!
Rascal Flatts "Why Wait"
Zac Brown Band "As She's Walking Away"
Taylor Swift "Back to December"
Sugarland "Stuck Like Glue"
and...
Lady Antebellum "Hello World"


Traffic crawls 
Cell phone calls 
Talk radio screams at me through my tinted window 
I see a little girl, rust red minivan 
She's got chocolate on her face 
Got little hands, and she waves at me, yeah she smiles at me 

Well hello world 
How you been? 
Good to see you my old friend 
Sometimes I feel, Cold as steel 
Broken like I'm never gonna heal 
I see a light, a little hope in a little girl, 
Well hello world 

Everyday I drive by a little white church, 
Its got these little white crosses like angels in the yard 
Maybe I should stop on in, say a prayer 
Maybe talk to God like he is there 
Oh I know he's there, Yeah I know he's there 

Well hello world 
How you been? 
Good to see you my old friend, 
Sometimes I feel as Cold as steel 
And broken like I'm never gonna heal 
I see a light, a little grace, little faith unfurl. 
Well hello world 

Sometimes I forget what living's for, And i hear my life through my front door, 
and I'll be there, 
Oh I'm home again 
I see my wife, little boy, little girl, Hello World 

Hello world 
All the empty disappears 
I remember why I'm here 
Just surrender and believe 
I fall down on my knees 
Oh hello world, hello world, hello world


I watched the music video yesterday and it about made my cry :'-/  I would highly recommend watching it!  It really makes you think....

I Saw God Today

^{Genesis 1}

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,^[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

 ²⁷ So God created mankind in his own image,
   in the image of God he created them;
   male and female he created them.

Have you ever thought about how we are made in God's image?  What does this mean exactly?  I don't think it necessarily means that we look like God, it means that we reflect God's characteristics.  Each of us has unique personality traits that resemble God.  Recently I looked at the people in my life and saw a trait they displayed that reflected a characteristic of God.  Each person gives us a unique insight into the attributes of God.  You can find something in everyone you meet!  Try it sometime!

Snow!

Yesterday at school the weather was a bit chilly but very sunny. It was a gorgeous fall day! I went running 3 miles outside. Then we traveled home in the afternoon and as soon as we got around the lake the sky clouded over. Blahh. Then it started snowing! YUCK. Snow...I can't believe it....I thought that was a long way off! Guess not in some parts of the country. What a wonderful way to start off my weekend back home :-( I resolved that I am never going to live in Michigan again.

I had a busy week at school this week. First off, on Monday I decided what my minor is going to be! My grandpa and grandpa were here visiting last weekend and they suggested that I minor in theology. Getting a minor in theology had never even crossed my mind; I always figured that a communications or business minor would go along with a graphic design major. Then I talked to my professor and he told me that theology would be a good choice for a minor. I have been thinking about doing mission work after college too, so a theology minor makes sense. It is nice to have my minor figured out because I will start taking classes for that next year. On Thursday I had a Bible paper due, which I decided to write on Wednesday night! I was a bit stressed out trying to finish the paper on time but that's what I get for putting it off until the last second. I do work better under pressure though. :-) I had an art history test on Thursday afternoon. I needed to be able to identify paintings from 12 different time periods and write an essay about why art changed after photography was invented. I wrote out the entire essay before the test and then memorized it. I don't mind art history, it's my favorite subject. Good thing too because as an art major I get a minor in art history on top of another minor I choose.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

This a poem written by my friend Jennifer that I want to share with you.  She is an amazing writer.

HOME

Home is where you will find me,

sometimes many people want to leave home

so quickly but once the real world hits you,

you find yourself day dreaming for the next visit to

home. Home has taught you many lessons over the years

and now it is time for you to be tested on all you know.

Don't be afraid to come back.

Do not fear of those who have doubted you over the years, but

look how far you have come from a child to a adult.

The world has changed all around you with decisions, influences, etc.

but you have not allowed that to hinder who you are in me, our 

relationship has grown more than when you were a child.

I have watched over you and i know the plans that your enemy has set

for you but he cannot touch you because I have a plan for you as well.

Home has the good and bad memories but it has shaped you into who i 

have called you to be: take the good and the bad and become a living 

testimony that i can use to bring glory into myself.

Bless those who have gone through the same thing, Many see your glory, but they

don't know your story. Now I want you to use your story to grab your generation.

Tell them that you have gone through things in your own home but look how far i brought

you.

Home is in me, Home is when we stop running away and face our biggest fears. If God is before Me, who can 

stand against ME.

I am your Home, I am your provider, I am your shield.

Show others the way back to me, I am waiting with open arms. 

Welcome Home, My child

For the times they are a-changin'

My cousins and I...way back when!

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.
~Bob Dylan


I've been thinking about how life changes.  Some change happens slowly and other change happens quickly.  Some things change for the better and some times it seems as though things are changing for the worst.  Growing up is a slow change.  The transition from high school to college seems to take forever.  When someone dies unexpectedly life changes real quick.  When one moves from one town to another the change is fast, but then it takes a long time to re-ajust to a new place.  Sometimes we don't like it when life changes.  I always wonder why I had to leave high school and all my friends :-(  Also, I wonder why I left my hometown and my family to take on college; a huge change?!  Often times good things come from change.  New circumstances provide ways for us to meet new people, form new friendships, and find out more about the person God made us to be.  Change is often scary, but through life's changes God promises to be with us every step of the way.


"The best is yet to come," is a very popular quote.  This can be thought of in the context of eternity.  The biggest change we have to look forward to is when Jesus comes again!  Our earthly bodies with be made new; there will be a new heaven and earth; and we will come face to face with God, praising him all day long.  In the mist of the sad/happy changes on earth, we can keep our focus on this amazing change that is yet to come.


On the subject of change...the seasons will soon be changing and that mean Christmas is coming!  Today Jenna and I listened to CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!  It is not to early- only 53 DAYS till Christmas!

A Woman Searching For Men

Tonight I am sitting here with some friends listening to Melissa read us all the profiles of people on Match.com.  Melissa decided to make herself a fictitious Match.com profile because she is "having some problems meeting men."  (She really isn't) Melissa just likes to wink at people on Match.com! 


We are not sure why people actually have Match.com profiles.  If people would just trust in God to provide someone for them then they wouldn't need to turn to their own devices.  God commands us to put our whole life in his hands, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6.