Stayin' alive...

but just barely.

Hey, thanks to every single one of you who voted for Christine! Y'all helped her get over 3,000 votes! She received a certificate for her participation a few weeks ago; the winning entry came from Basking Ridge, NJ--which somehow wasn't in the contest and is not on the NJ Libraries website.  Anyway, we were all disappointed, but we're still really proud of what Christine did and how hard she worked.

I'd like to ask you all to pray for a friend of mine whose dad recently passed away. We've known each other since we were babies and were best friends growing up, lived about five minutes away from each other, and attended church together. Please pray that her family will be comforted during this time, as well as come back to the Lord as their first Love. Also, please pray that I will be able to just be there for her if she needs me. We've grown apart over the years and haven't been in regular contact, but I hope she'll understand that I'm willing to do whatever I can to help her through this time.

As for me, the finish line is in sight; I'm shooting for completion of my degree by the end of this month, after which I'll be able to decide what exactly I want to do with my life. I can't wait! A huge thank-you goes to everyone who's encouraged me, prayed for me, and given me advice over the past several months. I love you guys!

Vote for Christine!

Hey guys! Personal ad here (I'm such a loving sister).

Christine's entered a comic contest sponsored by the libraries of New Jersey to win a video mp3 player, or something like that. Since the winner is chosen by voting, I'd like to ask you all to vote for Christine's comic! She worked long and hard on it and her comic is really good. The website is www.njlibraries.org.

1. Click on the "YouTube/Comic contest voting has begun..." link in the right-hand column.
2. If you want to see Christine's work, click on the "North Brunswick" link at the top of the page; otherwise just scroll down and click "Vote for your favorite comic."
3. EDITED VERSION!! Find "NJSL Super Librarian Comic Contest pg 3" (it's in a BLUE box) and vote for NORTH BRUNSWICK!

The scanned version on the website isn't too clear and you can't really read it, but Christine has a copy on the computer if y'all want to see it. THANKS!!

Remembering Mama Shoe

Tomorrow morning, I’m going to the city. I get to accompany for my extremely talented friend, who’s singing in Carnegie Hall. It’ll be an awesome experience, probably (for me, anyway) a once-in-a-lifetime one. And I don’t mind it at all. I’ll get to wear a floor-length black dress and play the piano and have fun doing what I do best—supporting an artist.

But there’s somewhere else that I wouldn’t mind being tomorrow.

A room filled with flowers and pictures, with people gathered to remember and honor a beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend.

Mrs. Shoemaker was an amazing person, always cheerful and encouraging. Even though I didn’t get to talk to her much, I could see the way she trained all her kids. They are definitely a witness to how she lived her life. Her testimony was sincere and honest, giving all the glory to God. She smiled till the end…all those posts and pictures on the Shoemakers’ Xanga encouraged me so much. If they could smile through pain and loss, then I could smile through coursework and papers. And that smile is waiting for all of us in a place where nothing can wipe it away…

I wish I could write more, but I’m not too good at expressing my feelings…and anything I could put down here wouldn’t be enough anyway.

So even though I can’t be in Kansas in person, my thoughts and prayers will be at the memorial. Someone told me, I think it was Lily-Bea, that Mama Shoe would have wanted me to go to Carnegie. I’m going, and I’ll be playing my heart out so she can hear it in heaven.

Mama Shoe, this one’s for you!

Welcome Home (You)

My Josh and Caleb are back!!

Please pray for me!

FRANTIC PRAYER REQUEST. I have thirty songs to accompany tomorrow, and some of them I am so not familiar with at all. I have three and a half hours of nerve-wracking, brain-wringing, finger-straining exercises, followed by a five-page homework assignment for Genetics and prep for Sunday evening. Oh, and cleaning the bathroom. =) That'll probably seem like a break after everything else; I'm actually looking forward to that part.

Anyway, PLEASE, if you remember me, pray hard. I'm going to cram tonight, as much as I can, and hope and pray that it'll turn out all right tomorrow. I want to do a good job for these contestants, cuz I know they've worked terribly hard and this is a big thing for them. Nobody should have points taken off because of a wretched accompanist.

Either way, I think I'll deserve a steaming hot caffeinated beverage tomorrow. *cracks neck* Ugh, and a major backrub.