Pictures

As promised some pictures from the future all stars weekend :)









And here are some pictures from Juliann's sweet 16. I'm sure their will be more but here are the first couple





I love my friends :)

Fututre All Stars

This past weekend was future all stars. This is the 4th one i believe. I have been to every one. It is such a great weekend. This year it was held at the Lodge at Star Lake Camp which is new because we normally stay in cabins and practice in Hilltop. So yeah the weekend was amazing. There was loads of playing. We played for like 6 hours on Saturday! More then I have ever practiced! hahaa...There were people from every Territory in the US plus people from Canada. It is so awesome to meet new people at events like this. I actually have kept in contact with a lot of people that I met at All Stars over the years and continue to do so. Devotions were lead by the Moretz's throughout the weekend. They were great. We focused on the book of Hebrews. We learned a lot about FAITH- Forsaking All I Trust Him. We also learned about being itinerant. And realizing that this world is not our home but a temporary place. REAL home is in Heaven with our Lord and Savour. After each time of devotionals we were assigned to a prayer partener one staff bandsmen/women and another delegate. We then discussed questions based on the devotions and prayed about them. It was a great experience. I cannot explain how much love and sense of oneness I felt during the weekend. It really was truely amazing.
Saturday morning after a band rehearsal a couple staff bandsmen did something we call a solimony. Which is a solo and a testimony. They were all excellent. After the day of practicing and a little free time we had the evening meeting. I was soo nervous all day because I was asked to play a solo. I don't think I have ever been so nervous in my entire life! I played a simple yet meaningful solo, The Heart Of Worship. It went well. When I played the solo I just prayed the words of the tune as I was playing it. "When the music fades all is stripped away and I simply come. Longing just to bring something that's of worth that will bless your heart. I'll bring you more than a song for a song in itself is not what you hvae required. You search much deeper within, through the way things appear. Your looking into my heart. I'm coming back to the heart of worship and it's ALL about you, it's all about you Jesus. I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it, when it's all about you, all about you Jesus. King of endless worth, no one could express how much you deserve. Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is yours, every single breath."
The people there were so amazingly gifted and the best part is that they give it all back to God in Worship.
Sunday morning we had our own church service instead of going to a corps like in previous years. We had a time of testimony. It was amazing. My friend Laura Foley from California was just saying how truely amazing it is that we can all be together and meet eachother and praise the Lord together. Lots of people were thanking God that the weather didn't stop them from getting there. I was blessed. We then played a Hallelujah Chorus called In Christ Alone. When the band played the third verse to this song it was as if angels were in the room. I got goosebumps and I couldn't even play. All I could hear in my head were the words... There in the ground His body lay, light of the world by darkness slainl Then, bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again! And as he stands in vicotry, sin's curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His and He is mine, Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
I couldn't get this song out of my head for the longest time here are all of the verses. It's a great tune :)

1. In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
My comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

2. In Christ alone, who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
'Til on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

3. There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slainl
Then, bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as he stands in vicotry,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine,
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

4. No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
can ever pluck me from His hand;
'Til he returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand!

I'm hoping to get some pictures up soon.

A bad day

Well today my school had a two and a half hour delay because of state testing. So I was looking forward to sleeping in. I woke up this morning and my cell phone wasn't working. So I called the company to see what the problem was and the lady said that I need to get a new one and that it just stopped working. I couldn't order the new one because my dad had already left for work. So that made me mad. Then I was rushing to get my breakfast and lunch together because I had to walk to school and my mom spilled all the pineapple and strawberries all over the counter and the floor! So I had to quickly help her clean it up. Then I went to put some cheerios into a zip lock bag and spilled them all over the floor!!! So I left the house in a terrible mood. As I was walking I calmed down and tried to look for the good in the situation. I thought to myself well I woke up this morning! And it was soo beautiful outside and the birds were chirping, it was like a spring day. So that made it a little better. Then came Chemistry! Science is probably my worst subject. It always has been and always will be. So I found out I didn't do so well on my last test. That made me mad because I even studied for it! So I complained to some friends about how terrible my day was going. Finally school was over. As I was walking home a kid who was in my french class last year pulled over and asked me if I wanted a ride. hahaha..I live about a mile away from school so I wasn't going to say no! So he gave me a ride home, which was very nice of him. :) Then I came on my computer to check my email and stuff. I get this thing called daily manna sent to my email everyday and today it fit perfectly.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:14-18 NIV
I read it and started to laugh. I think God has a sense of humor. I love it. I love Him. And even though days like this are annoying I am thankful for the lessons He teaches me.

Project 1:17 Preview Weekend

I know it was a while ago but I just stole some of Mhairi's pictures from the weekend. I had sooo much FUN!
Here they are

Mrs.Bussey dancing and singing I'm a little teapot to get her mug back lol

Listening :)

Steve Bussey talking about the program.

The panel

hahaha...trying to look smart :)

Mhairi and Eli being special

Working hard, trying to build a 3-d giraffe made of cake.

Hahaha.. I don't even know what I was doing!

The beautiful masterpiece!!!!!

Trying to explain the project. We WON! woo whoo
I had an awesome time

Youth Chorus

I absolutely love our Divisional Youth Chorus. We had rehearsal tonight for the FET on friday, by the way if you live near the city you should definitely come..It's going to be a great night :)
Anyway there are two songs that we are singing in particular that I fell in love with. The words are amazing and everytime we sing it, even in rehearsal I get the chills and shed a tear or two. EVERY TIME! They never get old for me.

Not Too Far From Here
Somebody's down to their last dime;
Somebody's running out of time
Not too far from here.
Somebody's got nowhere else to go;
Somebody needs a little hope;
Not too far from here.
And I may not know their name,
But I'm praying just the same
That you'll use me, Lord, to wipe away a tear,
'Cause somebody's crying not too far from here.

Somebody's troubled and confused;
Somebody's got nothing left to lose
Not too far from here.
Somebody's forgotten how to trust
And somebody's dying for love
Not too far from here.
It may be a stranger's face,
But I'm praying for your grace
To move in me and take away the fear
'Cause somebody's hurting not too far from here.

Help me, Lord, not to turn away from pain.
Help me not to rest while those around me weep.
Give me your strength and compassion
When somebody finds the road of life too steep.

Somebody's troubled and confused;
Somebody's got nothing left to lose
Not too far from here.
Somebody's forgotten how to trust
And somebody's dying for love
Not too far from here.

Now I'm letting down my guard
And I'm opening my heart.
Help me speak your love to every needful ear.
Jesus is waiting not too far from here.
Jesus is waiting not too far from here.

I Surrender All
I have wrestled in the darkness of this lonely pilgrim land,
Raising strong and mighty fortresses that I alone command.
But these castles I've constructed by the strength of my own hand,
Are just temporary kingdoms on foundations made of sand.

In the middle of the battle, I believe I've fin'lly found
I'll never know the thrill of vict'ry 'til I'm willing to lay down
All my weapons of defense and earthly strategies of war,
So I'm laying fown my arms and running helplessly to Yours.

I surrender all my silent hopes and dreams,
Though the price to follow costs me everything.
I surrender all my human soul desires.
If sacrifice requires that all my kingdoms fall,
I surrender all.

If the source of my ambition is the treasure I obtain,
If I measure my successes on a scale of earthly gain,
If the focus of my vision is the status I attain,
My accomplishments are worthless and my efforts are in vain,

So I lay aside these trophies to ursue a higher crown,
And should You choose somehow to use the life I willingly lay down,
I surrender all the triumph, for it's only by Your grace.
I relinquish all the glory; I surrender all the praise.

I surrender all my silent hopes and dreams,
Though the price to follow costs me everything.
I surrender all my human soul desires.
If sacrifice requires that all my kingdoms fall,
I surrender all.

Everything I am, all I've done and all I've known
Now belongs to You. The life I live is not my own.
Just as Abraham laid Isaac on the sacrificial fire,
If all I have is all that You desire,
I surrender all my silent hopes and dreams,
Though the price to follow costs me everything.
I surrender all my human soul desires.
If sacrifice requires that all my kingdoms fall,
Let all my Kingdoms fall.
Let all my kingdoms fall.
I surrender all.

This is my prayer.