Well, I must say, its been a memorable month.

Out of the gates it was exciting, when, on the first day of the month, Logan and I recieved first place at the debate tournement and qualified for nationals, in so doing both entering the ranks of the Iron Men/Women (hehe).  Something else funny happened at that tournment: I got first place speaker (and I never get speaker awards).  My mom had been nervous about the tournament.  Afterall, it presented a strict situation.  It would either be my last debate tournament ever, or, after several years of working hard, multiple disappointments and even embarassments, I would qualify.  However, she believed that God, through prayer and through His Word, was giving her the message to "just trust" Him (those specific words, "just trust Me").  Then, the last California tournament was a blessing, above what I ever expected when I imagined qualifying at the beginning of the year, getting first place, qualifying, and getting first place speaker.  It was like God was sort of laughing and saying "I told you to just trust me! See, I will bless you beyond what you hope for!"        

A few weeks after that tournament, I joined another elite group of people: those who hold a driver's license.  I feel so grown up calling out as I slip out the door, "Bye mom...I'll be back in a bit.  Give me a call if you need anything."  Then, I shuffle through my purse to find my key (note: singular "key", because I don't have a house key ).  I turn on the car and turn to my favorite radio station.  I adjust the seat, because I'm short and if my parents have been driving before me the seat is way too far back.  I check my mirrors, like a good girl, and then I can fly! Running errands has never given me such a thrill. 

If driving didn't make me feel like I was growing up fast, yesterday certainly did.  I graduated from high school.  The graduation was perfect.  Perfect, perfect, perfect.  The Schuberts did a WONDERFUL job with all the planning and preparation, and their good friend Suzy volunteered to host the party (at the Schuberts house), cooking for a hundred and fifty people, decorating, etc...My family was grateful for all the work put in by them, which made it easy for us family to relax, enjoy the experience, and see the lovely hordes of people who came.  It was delightful how many people showed up, even from far away, to see Jessica and I graduate; NCFCA people like the Morenos, the Bowmans, the Herches, the Beaches, the Heflins, and old friends and family members (my Uncle came from L.A.!).  I tried to profusely thank everyone who came, but I don't know if the guests could really grasp how their presence made the day perfect.  The ceremony too was terrific.  I said I wouldn't cry.  In fact, I made fun of the people who said they would.  But when my baby picture popped up on the screen and "Heather's song" (a song my pretend "big sis" recorded when she was 17) started to play, I did.  And, for some odd reason, I cried during my speech...grrr.  So much for being a heartless stoic.  I wanted a lot of details to go right in the ceremony.  I wanted people to laugh in my speech (I got two audience-wide chuckles. Yay!).  I wanted Mr. Schubert and my dad to not forget to present us as the class of 2007 and not forget to tell us to turn our tassels.  I wanted the music to sound great (and, thanks, to Matt and Drea, it did).  Most of all though I wanted to ceremony to be Christ exalting, because that's what He deserves and that's going to impact people the most.  I hope it was.

So...busy month.  And the next one promises to be exciting as well, as I head to Texas for nationals (I'll see you soon Halye...)

Announcing the High School Graduation of Courtney Joy Martin

From the Adonai Academy

Commencement ceremonies will be held on Saturday, May 26th at 11 o' clock a.m.

(e-mail me if you're interested in coming...)

  Today, I drove a mustang convertible with the top down.  It warm and and the sun made the delta look like shiny silver.  The hills are still beautifully green, and I felt pretty good in that car.  When I drive, I feel like I'm in control.  The woman who facilitated my driver's training lesson's (this was the last of three) was named Jodi.  She's a Christian.  Jodi has done a lot of things in her life, and had a lot of things happen to her.  For instance, today she told me about the time, when she was nine, she fell off a house.  She had been flying a kite on the roof, and, while she was reeling it in, she back off the house.  She was unconscious for several days, and then had amnesia for three weeks.  I asked her what it was like to start remembering things again, and she explained that one day her mom walked in the room and suddenly Jodi knew who she was. 

Any way, Jodi has had many jobs, and now, she is a mail lady and does driving instruction.  She completely loves what she does.   In fact, she sees it as a sort of calling.  I think she believes that when she teaches kids to drive safely, she is keeping them safe.  Also, her six hours in a car with the students gives her a platform to encourage them and be a testimony for Christ.  When she was trying to open the driver’s education school, she watched how God worked out the right location for her, protected her financially, and guided her through the beraucratic obstacles of the DMV.  She figured that if God wanted her to do the driving school, He would provide the means. 

  They say, that if you can make money doing something that you enjoy, you’re a very fortunate person.  Sometimes, I wonder what it is I would really love to do.   I have some ideas, but I don’t really know for sure.  But, Jodi has inspired me.  Thinking about her reminds me that if a Christians are serving God, they will love it because they love Him. 

“Fear not tomorrows child of the King.

Trust them with Jesus do the next thing.”        

  Yesterday, my mom and Lauren and I went on a "field trip" to Davis.  Lauren wanted to go to the music store for sheet music; I wanted to go to the gorgeous used bookstore; Mom wanted to visit the new knitting shop.  Lauren found the music for 'Mission Impossible'.  I discovered (when you find a book in a used bookstore it is a "discovery") an interesting little book by Soren Kierkegaard and we did indeed go to the knitting shop. 

  The woman who owns the 'Knitter's Playground' has a little boy who plays in the shop while she works.  While my mom was looking around, he was sitting at a table, staging a battle between a monkey and shark.  I smiled at him in a friendly way, hoping I'd be invited to play.  He smiled back and asked me what my name was.  I told him it was Courtney.

  "Would you like to be the monkey?" he asked, offering it up to me.

  "Sure," I replied.

  He liked to see the animals get knocked off the table, and every time they were, he laughed delightedly (he wasn't a violent child, though...you can tell when they are, and he wasn't), and every time he laughed, he made me laugh.  I showed him all sort of ways that the monkey, who, I explained, was at a disadvantage, because he didn't have teeth like the shark, could defeat the shark, and pretty soon he decided it would more fun to be the monkey so he could try these new techniques.  Then, I showed him how the shark could use his powerful tail to swipe the monkey away.  Immediately, he asked to be the shark again.  We decided that the carpet could be the water (conveniently, it was blue). 

  “The monkey can’t swim,” I told him, “But the shark can.”

  In the next attack from the shark, the monkey was thrown into the water, and failed its long, spindly arms about, calling for help.

  Forgetting, their former enmity, the shark rescued the monkey and plopped him back on the table. 

  The adventure got my friend so excited that he fell off his chair and lay on the floor, wondering momentarily if he was alright.  When I could tell he was, I cried,

  “You’re in the water! Swim! Swim!"

  Then, I had to go.

  “Why?” asked my friend.

  “My mom is leaving."

  I said good-bye, and waved as I walked away.  He waved back.   

  He was just like Christopher Robin. 

I'm oh-so-vain. 

http://kevan.org/johari?name=Courtney+Joy