Fun with Family

We have had a great few days--in the northwest! It has been nice weather up here (although after living in hot weather for awhile, it is a little chilly to me).

We went up to Mt. Vernon/Sedro Woolley area to visit my grandma and cousins.

We went out to eat with Grammy

A black squirrel at my cousins' house--the first any of us had seen of that kind in the northwest.

We also took a walk to the river, and had fun wading. It has been a dry year up here, so the river is more like a big creek.

A natural spring

Beautiful, green northwest!

Kelly and Hannah (our cousin) also had their high school graduation. 

Stacey and Sarah setting up for the graduation meal

The graduates!

Officially graduated!

We asked Grammy to make a list of what she needed done around her house, and this is what she came up with....:)

We did wash windows though :)

Having fun at Grammy's!

Cousins! 

Holiness

"Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God." Lev. 20:7

Can we really be "holy?"  Until this morning, I never thought about being holy as much as I have thought of being perfect as God is perfect. I looked up the meaning of holiness to see if it was anything similar, and the definition is basically purity or perfection!

"For thou are an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all the people that are upon the face of the earth." Deut. 7:6

So how can we be humbly holy before God? What is God's view of holiness that He has for His people?

I read a quote this morning that is a simple yet profound definition of holiness. It is found in Youth's Instructor, February 17, 1898.

"Holiness is not rapture; it is the result of surrendering all to God; it is living by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God; it is doing the will of our Heavenly Father; it is trusting in God in trial, believing in His promise in the darkness as well as in the light."

Being holy before God even as He is takes on a whole new meaning now.  When God asks us to sanctify ourselves so that we may be holy, it means surrendering those little things that keep us from serving Him with a whole heart; it means studying the Word and living by the Word; it is trusting God implicitly in the darkest times of our lives. We can be holy before God--through the strength of Christ. 

Walla Walla Graduation

Just this last Thursday, we made the long trek up to Washington, our first destination being Walla Walla.  Sarah Snyder was graduating as a nurse from Walla Walla University!

Sabbath afternoon was the pinning ceremony.

And Sunday morning she officially graduated!

This was the top of her cap

Sunday afternoon was spent visiting with friends.

Aurelia playing her cello...

...and Yori playing her violin. They are both doing very well!

Swimming!

And some of the time, we watched the sky rain grass...it was really strange, but it was definitely clumps of grass like the one you see down below. The conclusion we came to was that perhaps there was a dust storm that picked up grass from the fields and then dropped it over us. 

An end to another exciting day....now our trip takes us to northern Washington to visit family. 

Work...and Summer Fun!

School is out, and work has begun!  I am working some in the little store here on campus. I am enjoying it so much--learning to run the register, stocking shelves, and much more!

But, despite the longs days of work, there have been many times of fun!  A group of us are preparing to run a half marathon in October in Tahoe, so that has been so much fun! We train together almost every other night. I'll have to get a picture of the group and post it sometime. :)

Another night we went to the river...so nice. It has been getting very hot!--in the 90s.

And just this last week, we had a surprise birthday party for Rahel. She loves rainbow colors, so Renae (her sister) planned an amazing party!

Colored bubbles

A rainbow cake

19!

All the food was colored...maybe not the healthiest, but it was so cool!

Rice balls

And paints...:)

She absolutely loved the party!! And it was very enjoyable for everyone else as well :)

More exciting news is that we found a house that we are in the process of buying!! I really like the house!

Just to end, here's a quote that I read recently that I would like to share as a little thought for today. :)

"Those who educate their minds to dwell on the perfections of Christ will represent Him to the world...." 8MR 309.1

Let's not forget to behold Christ each and every day, so that we can rightly represent Him to the world!

Officially Done!!!

Yay!!!!  We are officially done with school!!!! After the last major test of the day, a group of us went outside and screamed--quite the screaming--but we were finally done!!! And we are very happy too!

In the evening, a large group of us hopped into cars and headed to Jamba Juice and Moe's as a good finisher off of the school year. It was so much fun!!

I praise God for the way He has led this semester!  It has been a great year, and I am already looking forward to next semester!

Memories...

Last Thursday was the last day of classes--I can hardly believe that we only have our week of finals left! Then, we are done!

As I was reflecting on this past school year, I was so blessed to be able to think that I can be here at Weimar. I have been here for a year and a half already--and I would have never traded this experience with anything else. I remember my first semester....I was so scared! Coming from homeschool, I didn't know what to expect--but being here, I have been challenged spiritually and academically. I am so blessed to be able to go to a school that puts an emphasis on school combined with physical labor, and also with health. I have been so blessed to know each student here, and to be able to be involved with the outreach here--helping our community in practical ways so they may see Jesus!

This past semester has been busy, yet so much fun! A few quick updates...A couple Sabbaths ago, the college had outdoor church on a lake--so beautiful!....Dr. Nedley has officially moved to Weimar....And last Thursday, we had our memories night, where we ate supper together, and shared memories of the past year. Here are a few pictures of that:

This is my table

And I think a good end to the school week was Sabbath--we had some students over to our house for lunch, and then several of us went on a hike!

Stacey, Emory, Brenna, Kelly, and I

An amazing view! The river you see down there is the American River--by running some of the way, we eventually made it down there!

At the river. The water was ice cold--I think I will wait till summer to get in. :)

Stacey contemplating jumping in--she eventually did! Everyone braved the cold water except me. ;)

One week of tests to go! Please pray for everyone here as we go into finals week.

Here is a thought I will close with:

"Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house;

and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life:

in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart." Psalms 36:5-10