Ski at your own risk.

Yep. It's risky. It's dangerous. But it is oh oh oh oh so much fun! Not to long ago our church youth took a day long skiing trip.
I am not kidding, it was seriously. the. most. fun. thing. ever.
Okay, maybe not ever, but if there was a list of the top 10 most fun things to do with your best friends, skiing would be in the top 3. I really don't even know if I can describe how AMAZINGLY  enjoyable our time was. The fresh pure air flowing through your hair, making you feel like an Olympian, the shining sun, the clear blue sky, the biting air, giggling with your friends as you ride into the clouds on the lift and the scratchy sound of the snow as your skis plowed through it.....yep. it's just one of those things that you probably won't forget. But...as always, because it is a very accident prone sport, almost everybody walks away with an embarrassing and hopefully not too painful moment or two.
Tip #1: If you ever go skiing NEVER EVER EVER fall on purpose with out very very very clearly knowing how to stand up. My hypothesis is that it's a ski instructor practical joke to put you and  all your friends in  a nice little circle then watch you flop on the ground like fish out of water while you try hopelessly to get up with 5 foot skis strapped to your feet completely inhibiting your ability to ever think about standing again.
Tip #2: If you want to avoid flopping on your stomach like a fish, don't listen to the advice that getting on your stomach and walking your legs up is easier that sitting on your rear and taking off your skis, standing and putting them back on.
Unfortunately, I did not have these two insightful tips, and I blindly did the opposite. I very nicely fell over and then....tried to stand. I flopped onto my stomach like a fish or walrus or manatee or some other ungraceful arctic creature and tried to get on my feet. Let me just tell you,
 It did not work.
I would get on my knees and simply fall back on my face.I will spare all the details, but let's just say it took a loooong time to just get my right leg up and able to stand on.
 Success!
Or not.
My other leg and my complete sense of direction decided to fail me. After my right leg was up (sort of) I went about trying to turn the other leg so I wouldn't floor myself by tripping my right leg with the left ski. (It sounds confusing....it was)
I did it!
Sort of.
I was up on two legs. I looked down wondering why I couldn't move.
Why was the tip of my right ski in front but the tip of my left ski behind me?
(Let me assure you that at this time, I am the only one still trying to get off the ground)
My leg seemed to be backwards.
I had completely twisted my left leg in the wrong direction. It really did look like my leg was put on the wrong way.
"That does NOT look normal," a friend pointed out.
By now I am utterly confused and every one else is in hysterics. (I had a pretty bad case of the giggles myself)
Tip #3: When you cannot get off the ground, rely on other people to help you up. (hopefully they will)
So, I dropped to the ground again and got some help.
And I am happy to say that pretty soon I was back up on my own two forward-facing feet.
True Success!
And thankfully the rest of the day went much better. I got to hang with some super awesome people and AH! God is so good to give us the cold. Even though I know I complain it more than I should, I would miss winter and snow something terrible if we didn't have it! So...if you're not going skiing in the near future, go enjoy the cold anyway!
(here's a few hints: ice skating, snowball fights, snow forts, sledding or perhaps...
do you want to build a snowman?)
~Bugg

A post with no particular title.....

Although I really don't have anything to write about, I will attempt an interesting post. :)
We have had some birthdays around my house....
Dash turned 10! He is growing into such a fine young man, and has a gentle, helpful spirit. One of his presents was a box drum, and it will be fun to hear him refine that jazzy sense of rhythm he already has! :)

My dear momma's birthday is up next, as it is tomorrow. She is so wonderful and I am blessed to have her as my mom. Even though we are different, God has used her to teach me and refine me and I look forward to many years of friendship!

  And lastly in March is JBear! He seriously the coolest 6 (soon to be 7) year old I know. His dance moves, are...unexplainable....His laugh is contagious and he keeps us in constant stitches!

This is his most common face....cool right? (Makes me laugh....but we literally hardly have a single photo where he doesn't look like this...) :)
Anywhoooo.... to completely change gears....God has really been showing me that I need to pray more. My 20 minute morning quiet time just doesn't cut it if I really want to know God. I don't want to forget the amazing amazing wonderful fantastic marvelous things Christ has done for me. And while I was completely undeserving he died for me! If I desire to know Him more, I need to be seeking him out. Casting my cares on him in the mundane everyday, trusting Him with everything. What in this world is mine to keep and hold onto for comfort anyway? Everything I have, I have received from God! Therefore, I want to be thanking Him for the blessings I have in my life, from legs that can walk, to a kitchen I can cook in. Not only thanking Him in things that are blessings, but seeking out how I can thank Him and praise Him in situations that seems sticky, icky and gross. How can I thank him when I don't get my school done? How can I thank Him when a sibling is annoying me? How can I thank Him when I totally blow it? I want to remember God in my everyday life, because without Christ, what is my life?

Another total switch of gears, but to end the post, but here is some awesome classical music!!!

 Signing off for now!!
~Bugg

Yes, I'm actually posting :)

'Tis true! Thanks to some faithful blog readers relentlessly asking me to post again, here I am... :)

I haven't been up to much lately, in fact, this post may seem rather uneventful to you, dear reader....nevertheless, I will try...

I had my birthday in earlier this year which happened to fall on our church's annual retreat, so we celebrated there :) It was a blast!

Our grandpa retired this year and we have had the privilege of going on a few field trips with him!

We also took a trip to MN. On the way to our favorite store, IKEA, Oggie and Erin couldn't help but pose next to their least favorite sign! Go Packers! No hard feelings to all my friends out there who are Viking fans :)

I just had to post this picture of my super handsome brother Oggie...He's growing up! I remember when we used to play all sorts of silly games together, Rescue Heroes, Dolls, Dress-up, build a house in the backyard, ect. Good times :)

 I love photography...And I love the fact that I can take pictures that can't even contribute to the enormousness of something, and yet capture the intricate detail of something else. More importantly, I love the fact that my God created huge, vast things, and also the teeny, tiny details humans seem to miss.

From the deep colors of fall and the large forests that are the showcases for those colors, to the paper thinness of a butterfly's wing. He is an amazing God.

Thanks for reading! Trust me, I am going to try and post more often! I seem to have forgotten how relaxing it is...
~Bugg

Guess what?

Yep, a surprise!
Well, not really anymore, because I'm going to tell you. :)
Me and my friend Blondi started a blog. yep. It's awesome. To visit it click here:
Audio-Visual Mayhem
I am so excited!! Blondi is like my reallly good friend and so we started a video blog (even though there isn't any videos on it yet) and there are some funny videos coming up, so watch out!

Summer is here...

Ah.. Sorry for the lack of blog posts in the last month. (Has it been that long?) I haven't much time to post, but I thought I say hello, and tell you all I am still alive. Summer is here, and the weather is wonderful. (hot, yes, but wonderful all the same.) I spent a bit of time with a couple of my really good friends at a lake and we had a blast!! Not to mention, some totally AWEsome photo shoots...

Well, I've got little siblings to read books to and play dolls with...so, posting will have to wait until further notice! Hope your summer is going well!
~Bugg

Drama Days

I just got done with this fantastic drama program and some of my friends and I put on this super awesome play the other night. Now that practices are over and we won't get to be as a group anymore, I just had to post this picture in memory of Jimmy and the Hendricks.

(Photo Credit to my awesome friend Faith who loves taking the randomest pictures of people..)
~Bugg

Just for you!!!

This post is entirely about and dedicated to Belle. Her blog is HERE.
We were joking the other night about doing blog posts about each other. And, even thought she beat me to it, I am not going to let this opportunity slip through my fingers. Belle is my awesome 2nd cousin, (and to steal her words) starting to feel more like an older sister. She is hilarious, smart and thoughtful. We always have a ton of fun together, whether it be tubing, watching cooking shows or doing homework with magnetic stickers and lots of twizzlers... :) (long story) she is an amazing cook, and a great friend. She is a good sport about a lot of things, from 3 older brothers to a weird cousin who at one point was obsessed with barbies.  She is a great role model, especially in the way she loves Christ. She is a bright light in this fallen world, and stands out for her savior.  She is definitely someone I totally look up to. And she is crazy, giggly, funny, totally odd, and can be blonde at times. But with that being said, she is also reserved (sometimes) and very smart. I love her so much!!!
Awkward Koala....SQUIRREL!!
~Bugg

I love my siblings!

I just took some spring pics of all my siblings, and they turned out BEAUTIFUL!! Oh my, I love them all sooooo much! Have a great weekend!
~Bugg~

I'm Back... :)

 Yep, this picture describes it well... Sorry for the long silence folks. I was in Africa... I know I should post about my trip, but none of my pictures are on this computer and I am going to post some of my journal entries, so for now, I will tell you it was amazing. life changing. heart wrenching. tear jerking. awe filling. giggle giving. mind boggling. physically and mentally shocking. and so many other feelings and emotions that I just can't put into words. I feel like my heart is so weighed heavy with them that it is broken. And I never really knew what a broken heart feels like until now. it's heavy. and I can feel the split. And I don't want to forget a single thing about that place. Now that I'm home, I don't want to go into the never ending cycle of worldly entertainment and stuff that my mind is can get clouded with and making my treasure  here instead of a clear mind that is set of the eternal comfort and joy and peace found with Jesus. I realized something while I was there. (Actually I realized a lot of things, but here's one) While I was sitting on a narrow, splintered wooden bench, with all these little African hands holding me and touching me, there heads resting on me, wanting to be held and loved, and known, listening to the song of African praises being lifted up the the God of the Nations, feeling the cool, dry breeze of Africa kiss my face, It was like heaven on earth. Our great God is so real it's unbelievable. He is here, now, moving in so many ways. He isn't a Sunday morning God who is only there on certain days. He is in every split second of our lives. He does not leave us or forsake us. Even in the midst of suffering, hunger, thirst, pain, and sorrow, He is there. He does not willingly afflict his children. He has not left us as orphans. He has not left the many fatherless children I met as orphans. He is the Father to the fatherless, and does not forget them. He will come for us. And one thing that really struck me was how they love Him. In spite of the momentary affliction they are going through, they have set there minds on Jesus and the eternal comfort he brings. They have a unexplainable joy. And it isn't temporary. It's a heavenly joy, not coming from having the world's goods, but the Holy Spirit in you. And I want it. I don't want my joy to come from the things I have. I want that heavenly joy, and I want it to shine! I also want to apply this to my home life. Right now, God has me as a student, at home, with my family. Does that give me any excuse not to serve him as hard as I can, wholeheartedly, just because it's my siblings and friends I would be mostly serving? Absolutely not! Whether I eat or drink or whatever I do, I want to do it to his glory! Which is hard. Because when I was in Africa, I went with an attitude of servanthood. I was ready to get dirty, be touched, be hot, sweaty, sticky..ect. I couldn't prepare myself for all the things I saw there, but I asked God to give me a heart like his. At home, I don't ask him for that. Why? I have no idea. Should I feel like serving my siblings and friends and family and acquaintances is any less important than serving kids in Africa? No. So my prayer right now is for God to show me the things I can do to better serve him in my day to day life, and how to glorify him in the words I speak, and actions I make, and the mindset I have while doing them. Whooooo. sigh. thanks for letting me vent. If you want to see another good post, (or two check out...)
Sunshine, my travel partner's blog and Her brother's blog.
~Bugg~

Another long post :)

And you didn't think I would post again before I left for Africa.....shame, shame....But, here I am!!! Anyway, I was just going to post some things that have so greatly encouraged me in like the past 24 hours.
#1.) God. He is so awe filling. I can't get enough of Him. This trip is already stretching me in ways I never would have thought and very much showing me how much I unintentionally exclude
God in my day to day life. And I'm not even out of the country yet!

#2.) The scripture. Oh yes, convicting, but comforting at the same time.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
    Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Romans 12:9-21 ESV)
Ahhhhhhh... there goes a sigh of frustration and joy, because I KNOW I am not like this all the time. Sin just latches onto me, and if I give the slightest inclination that I am giving in, it sinks its nasty claws in deeper and fill me with the nastiest poison. Fear will gnaw at my mind, creating a void of unknowing-ness, but I have HOPE!!! I will rejoice with my savior because he crushed the serpents head, and defeated death! And I want to be like Jesus. Oh so badly I want to be like him. And so this verse gives me joy because I can follow his example and be a servant of all. I want to abhor what is evil, and cling to what is good. God is so powerful and merciful he can take the dirty, dingy sinner that I am, and polish me and sand me down, and refine me into vessel  fit to serve in his kingdom.

#3.) My friends. Oh my. God has given such good friends that fill me with buckets of joy! I can just giggle thinking about them. And Sunshine, my 'sister' friend, is going to Africa with me! Her brothers left a awesome comment on the last post, and that was so sweet to read... Thanks guys! And then my friend Noah gave an awesome card yesterday and reminded me that God picks me up when I am down, and shows me his love. Thanks Noah! My friend Z is such a witness to me, and her servanthood and love towards the people she is serving right now is such a testimony to Christ. I want to have her ability to die to self someday. And then there are all my other friends and that is  so many people that that I could probably just write a whole blog on them all. :)

#4.) This quote: "God has called us into the joyous ministry of giving His love away to others." ~Don Lessin.

#5.) My mommy and dad. I LOVE them. They are such a blessing in my life, and now that I am going to a place where not a lot kids have mom or dad, I am just beginning to realize how much they really mean to me.

Well, I could probably write more, but because I already wrote one lengthy post this week, I'll free you of the reading and sign off now. I am about 99.99% sure that this is the last post before I come back from Africa, but there is always the .01% chance, so, goodbye for now!!
~Bugg~

Well, get ready to read...

Well, I was going to do a long post about what I have been up to lately, (not much, I assure you) but, I decided to spare you the boredom. Instead, I am just going to say that I am thoroughly enjoying watching Monsters Inc. with my siblings right now. (This is one of the scary movies we watch at our house. We had to fast forward the whole beginning...) And on a random note, I was very surprised to learn how many people I know actually read my blog. The Akbar video for example, some people would be like, " I saw that video your blog..." (with various mixed facial expressions)  then I would be like, "Oh yeah! Funny, huh? Wait... you read my blog?" (cough, cough, sheepish smile...) And on another random note, I finished the book, 'Scottish Chiefs' by Jane Porter, and then watched 'Braveheart'. Totally loved it! As always, the book was better, and William Wallace, well, he's awesome! Then, I started the 'Mark of the Lion' series by Francine Rivers and I CAN'T PUT IT DOWN!!! I finished the 1st book in like 2 days and I am almost done with the 2nd. I'll have to save the 3rd for the plane ride to Ethiopia..... It is a captivating series and totally grips and moves the reader. I not only like to read historical fiction, but I like writing it too, so it's fun to read and grab little tips from here and there. I guess I am kinda rambling on now, so I will stop. I think I might snatch some of the popcorn my brother just popped and watch American Idol...
BTW This will probably be the last blog post until I get back from Ethiopia! I am so excited, and AFRAID. But the good thing is, the more I am afraid, the more I can trust in Jesus, with my personal needs, spiritual needs, and any other nasty fear that decides to latch onto my brain. If you would please pray for our team while we are gone, it would be so awesome. God truly does listen to us, and knows what we need, even before we ask. Please pray for our hearts, to be prepared to not follow our own agendas, but look to others needs before our own, and that we can be shining lights to the people we will be meeting, and that God will open other peoples hearts if we have chances to share the gospel. Also for the language barrier, my cousin Ja Ja encouraged me about that the other night. She reminded me that even when we don't speak the same language, Christ's love can still bleed through our every action and motive. And also for personal health and travel complications. We are going to be fellowshipping with beautiful group of believers, and I am rejoicing that I will have a chance to sing with the nations!
Sorry for rambling, and thanks for reading. (or skimming the page, stopping at the interesting parts.... same difference. smile....)
~Bugg~

Here is a random picture of me that you might find amusing. Yea, there really isn't any suitable caption for that. But if you think of one, comment!