July 2, 2008
Well, didn’t I just pick a fine time to start blogging? We’re leaving tomorrow and won’t be back until early next week, so in the meantime, might I suggest…
June 28, 2008
I wrote this almost two months ago, and have just now rediscovered it. It’s old, but I decided to post it anyway.
My three extended sisters arrived here last Thursday. If I ever want to talk to someone outside of my own family, I go to one of them. Susie makes me laugh, and never treats me like I’m younger or less important. Debbie is the one to go for a hug, and she’s always willing to help with anything. And Lydia? Lydia and I are pretty good friends. My strengths and her weaknesses, along with my weaknesses and her strengths, seem to fit together like a gear. We get along - for the most part.
I was so excited about a weekend with, not only my Woodwarth sisters, but also loads of other lovely people. And then…I went tumbling down off of the roof. Six stitches, a black eye, three green bruises, and my entire body hurting so much I could hardly stand. Not a good way to kick off a weekend.
Here I am. The biggest weekend of the decade. The girls came on Thursday, family had come, more family was to come, my friend from Oklahoma was coming up, and my sister’s graduation party was on Saturday. I was going to see a bazillion people I hadn’t seen in ages. To be honest, I wanted to be the fun, supportive, smiling, laughing younger sister on Audrey’s big day.
On Friday I felt like a piece of garbage and I had a low-grade fever. I basically lay in bed all day - during the time when one of my best friends was visiting. She lives in Wisconsin, so we don’t see each other very often. Not only was my physical body feeling rather trashed, but my soul was down in the dumper. So many things went wrong - at the very worst possible time.
One hour all I could say was “Why, God? Why now?” The next hour all I could say was “Thank you, God. Please use this to bring forth your glory.”
Thus entereth the determination to do hard things. For years I have been asking God to give me upportunities where I could rise up and do hard things. Then he pushes me off the roof, and poof! There it is! NOOOOOOO!!!! This is not what I was thinking, Lord!
But who cares? A beat up body in correspondance with a graduation party was what God put before me, and though I hated it, I knew I had to rise up. But boy, was it rugged. It seemed like every minute I had to fight for possession of my attitude. That got rather tiring fast. It’s not hard to have a good attitude when you feel good and things are rolling, but when the ice pack has become your nearest companion, well…
I had a lovely day on Saturday. (I think the excitement kept me up and moving…) Way too many people inquired about my black eye and sewed up gash, but that’s okay. I loved visiting with so many people. It was an awesome day.
Saturday evening nine girls were at our house. We spent the whole day Sunday together, had a lovely time, and got multitudes of those pictures that make you feel warm all over when you look at them.
To anyody else but my mom and me, it probably looked like my slight accident was just an unfortunate event…something to laugh about in twenty years. But a bit of reminiscing in 2028 isn’t the only plus. I don’t think it was super-apparent on the outside, but my faith was strengthened. On a small scale, I had to make this choice:
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life
Chosing the former required a bit of faith I hadn’t wagered on using.
May 20, 2008
Umm…you all don’t need to bother checking back here for awhile. Obviously I haven’t posted in a week, and I’m not exactly planning on posting any time soon.
So! Come back in a month or two. 
May 12, 2008
There are multitudes more pictures from the weekend of Audrey’s graduation, but…
what is this girl up to?
School seems to stretch on in an endless stream. I finished science nigh onto three weeks ago, but then I had to take almost two weeks off to prepare for, and then enjoy, all of our company. Which pushes everything later. Besides that, I’m going to do Algebra 2 through the summer, which yes, I am excited about, but on the other hand, school is getting old. Check that: Geometry is getting old. I think it must be like the last eight miles of a marathon (this is not the voice of experience) - you’re so close, and yet you don’t think you’ll ever finish. While I’m trying to paddle my way through the rapids of Harold Jacobs’s writing, I know I will never reach the last lesson; when I sit typing, I’m certain that the end is near.
On a happy note, yesterday I actually rode Faith for the first time since last July. I tell you, it was glorious. She acts rather undisciplined and rash, but who can blame her after nine months of nothingness? I am thrilled that we are finally headed down the right road, and I’m RIDING HER AGAIN!!!!
I have begun the 90-day challenge! Reading the entire Bible through in basically three months was never something I thought I’d do, but now I’m excited. Thankfully Tiffany, Sadie, Merrill and I are all doing it together; accountability is such a wonderful thing. I almost fear to actually type out on the world wide web that I am attempting this thing, but I guess it’s true. Accountability is good. And now I have a lot more. 
Today the nursing home where I volunteer had a Mother’s Day Tea. Music provided by…you guessed it! To quote the bulletin put out by the Villa: “Featuring Music by the Wood Sisters.” Ah, we’re famous! :P It actually went off fairly well, despite that stickler-of-a-piano, and I’m most certain the residents enjoyed it. I hope Audrey and Merrill did too! (Thanks, guys, for playing with me.)
We have attended two graduations thus far, and have three more next weekend. Amanda’s was last weekend, but I didn’t get her present until later, so I gave it to her today. I got her Third Day’s Chronology Volume 2 CD, and from the time I bought it until the time I wrapped the thing, it was all I could do not to tear off the shrinkwrap and claim it as my own. But now it is safely in her hands, so all temptation is past.
*sigh* 
After I fell (Mom told me yesterday the gash was to the bone!!), I decided to lay off running for a bit, being excruciatingly sore. But I am feeling much better, so I plan on venturing out tomorrow morning for a little excursion…
..that is, if I can get myself out of bed.
Life is busy, busy, busy. There are three events going on this coming Saturday, every one of which I want to attend. How can I be three places at once? I still don’t know how it’s going to work out, but it does show how busy we have been. A full life is a good thing, but sometimes I feel like a cannot catch my breath, and when will it slow down for half a nano-second? But then I remember that I love my life, and I couldn’t possibly squeeze out any of the things we do.
So we continue running hither and yon, while at the same time striving to pause often to be still and know that He is God.
(Oh, and by the way, I have not forgotten to tell you what God taught me. I just haven’t gotten to it yet. )
May 9, 2008
Honestly, I have no idea how to blog about such a big weekend. There are a bazillion pictures, a bazillion thoughts, and zero ideas of how to put it together.
Since a pictures supposedly speaks a thousand words, I guess I’ll just put up bunches of pictures today - with captions, of course. :)
These pictures are from Saturday…
Audrey with Grandmother and Grandfather. Doesn’t she look beautiful?
Audrey with Aunt Suzanne
Audrey with Oma
Audrey with Opa and Carolyn
Rachel and Susie, my beautiful big sisters.
Lydia before the party.
Me
My Okie sisters
Nanny and Aunt Gail
Lyds and Merrill
Those are a few from the party. There are lots and lots more from Sunday, and I’ll put them up later.
May 6, 2008
Pictures of Sophie I took yesterday:
Anywho, a bazillion things went on this weekend, but I don’t have the time or energy to write it all out and post multitudes of pictures right now. But there are multitudes of lovely pictures, and bunches of fun things to write…and a “do hard things story.”
So check back later.
April 30, 2008
I think the last time I went for a run was last fall. A month ago I meant to start again, but then I hurt my back and was sorely delayed. Last Friday, though, I ran for the first time in much too long. I ran again yesterday, and had the most grandios time ever! I was just going to go a mile (work up slowly so I don’t get too terribly sore), but when I got to the .5 mile turn around point, I didn’t want to quit, so I thought I’d go 1.5 miles. But…that was too short, so I ended up going 2 miles. And of course I was sore the next day, but who cares?
Running is fun. I’m stupid when I quit.
