The Word Awesome

 

I have noticed that so many people in this culture use the word ‘awesome’…like, a lot. 

Someone gets a new iPod – ‘Oh, it’s awesome!’

Someone did really well at something – ‘Dude, that was awesome!’

When people talk about a movie – ‘Yeah, that one was awesome.’

Everywhere I go – churches, conferences, stores – I hear that word being used.  I can be almost 100% positive that you’ve heard it somewhere today.

Where did that word originate from?  Like, what does it really mean?

Well…awesome means:

-         Overwhelming

-         Breath-taking

-         Grand

-         Splendid

-         Remarkable

-         Amazing

-         Awe-inspiring

-         Astounding

-         Humbling

Over a year ago or so, I made a resolution.  To stop using the word ‘awesome’ for things that…weren’t.

An iPod isn’t grand.  (No, it’s not)  If someone accomplishes something very well, I’m sure it wasn’t breath-taking.  And no matter what movie you watched, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t awe-inspiring.

The only thing I could think of that fits all of those descriptions…isn’t even a thing.  It’s a Being.

In my eyes, God is the only One who could fit all those descriptions.  And when I made my resolution not to use that word (awesome) so loosely, I decided that the only time that I would say it…was when it had something to do with God.  Something God created…something God did in a person…hearing that someone got saved, etc.

So you might be wondering, ‘Okay, Raquel, why are you writing this post?’  Well, I am definitely not trying to make you feel guilty, or telling you what to do (if you use the word ‘awesome’ a lot), or anything else. :) haha  This is more of a ‘this is what I do’-type post.  Just like my one on modesty, or courtship, or any of my other articles.  I never write something, trying to make other people agree with me.  I’m just writing because…this is my blog. ;)

Anyway…hope you enjoyed just hearing my thoughts…

Blessings to you all!

This, That, and The Other Thing...

...we all like random posts, don't we? :)

I just thought I'd give you a quick update about...well, 'this, that, and the other thing!' ;)

So...

#1:

Jason and Mandy Castro welcomed their first baby into the world on August 28th, 2011!

Check out this ADORABLE pic of the proud papa!!  Isn't Madeline Emilia adorable?!

Daddy's girl

~*~

#2:

I watched 'Amazing Grace' yesterday...again. :)  One of the many movies that has had an impact and amazing influence on me.  It was one of the inspirations (and still is!) for my ministry, First Night of Freedom.

Speaking of which, if you haven't checked out the website, please do so!  And let me know that you stopped by :)

~*~

#3:

I am thinking of hosting some sort of an event for bloggers...the idea is still slowly forming in my head, but I am really excited about it!  We'll see how it turns out...

~*~

#4:

Photography has been going well.

Alfonzo has been going through some careful scrutiny as I learn to use him to the best of my ability.

He wasn't very happy with me the other day when I took him out to take pics one evening.  He kept telling me that he was too tired and that the light was too dim for him. :P

  

 This was a beautiful house that we passed on the way home from church camp.  (We only stayed for a day so I didn't get tons of pics :P) 

 Oh and yes!  I named my photography 'business' - Treasured Life Photography.  You can find me on Facebook ;)

This is a pic of my friend's horse, Guess.  Isn't she purty??

 Alfie and me at the S. Family's house.  

I've made it a sort of tradition now to take a picture with Alfie at all the homes we go to...I'll collect quite a few pics, eh? ;)

My adorable baby brother...isn't he a cutie??  He was having way too much fun playing in the sand!! :)

~*~

#5:

Remember sometime late last year (or early this year), I announced that Rebecca St. James had finally found the love of her life? :)
Well, I just thought I'd share some of her wedding pics with ya ;)
{all photos taken from Rebecca St. James fan page on Facebook}
 

 Mr. and Mrs. Fink

 

The Cake

Praising the LORD - together!

 Okay, this ^ is so cute!! :)




So yeah...just a few pics, but I hope you enjoyed them.  I am SO thrilled for her and John!!  And they make such a cute couple. ♥


~*~

#6:

I know it's not Saturday, but...here's 'A new favorite quote!' ;)

 Love is like a butterfly, it settles upon you when you least expect it.

~*~

So...I'll leave you with that...

Until next time :)

I remain your super-busy, very tired, happy, God-loving sister in Christ...

Music Video Monday!

Aw, I love this song :)  A few of my friends got to see him in concert this year sometime!  I wish I could've gone, but...oh well :/

God has really gifted him with an amazing voice!!  I pray that Scotty uses it for His glory.

It's Official!!

I am SO excited to present...

First Night of Freedom

Check out the whole story of how this began at the website.  (Just click the link above ^)

Please keep me in your prayers as I begin this ministry...little steps make long journeys. :)

You can find a fan page on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Night-of-Freedom/144065879014729

 

And also an event page (celebrating its official start :):

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=278294128854036

 

Sister Love

These are the kinda photos you get when sisters together...five of them. :P heehee

 

 (from this photo and down, the pics are taken by Mama :)

 {It's hereditary :P}

 

Georgiana, Catherine, and Kitty...
don't ask :P

These ^ turned out pretty cool :)

Sheesh!  Look at all those girls!

Group hug!!!!!!

With The Beast (a.k.a. our Doberman ;)

Lydia and me :)
{photo by Eunice}

Eunice and me
{photo by Lydia}
 

Grace ^ :)
saying good-bye :) ♥

A new favorite quote!

I'm not alone.

But I'm lonely without you.

The Most Romantic Girl on the Block

Today, I am guest posting at Emily's 'Practically Pink'!  Be sure to head on over there, read it, and comment. ;)

You can click here to head straight over there...

Mediocrity - Are you settling for less?

This world is filled with mediocrity.  Everywhere you look, people aren’t trying their hardest to get to their best.  And why not?  Because our culture doesn’t push them.  It teaches people to just settle for as much as they can.  Don’t outdo yourself in an attempt to get to something that your 99% sure that you can’t get.

But God is asking, ‘Why not try for that 1%?’

We know that with God’s help, all things are possible.  So why do we sit back with just a meager portion, when with Him, we can obtain an abundance?

Well, number one, we’re pretty lazy.  I mean, this is really obvious in just about everything we do.  From our jobs, to the way we dress, to how we wash our car.  ‘Laziness’ is a pretty big trait in a lot of Americans.  (No, I’m not saying all of them!)     

Another reason…the percentage of people who aren’t trying are teenagers.  And we really don’t even have to explore this reason that much.

The last – and the biggest reason – is that we don’t trust God.  We call ourselves Christians, but we live in doubt.  We say we belong to a God Who can do all things, but we never prove this in our own lives.

Having just attended The Rebelution conference in Portland, I guess I have my Rebelutionary spirit going pretty steadily in me. :)  Already knowing about the low expectations of this culture for teens, having experienced them myself, having seen friends give in to them…reading the book, going to the conference, hearing Alex and Brett speak on this topic, just makes me want to go out and shout to all my peers to get off their rear ends and do something hard.  Yeah, it make look hard from a distance.  But once you – and everyone around you – decides that they are going to work together, with God’s blessing, you can accomplish anything.

I always get goose-bumps when I hear stories of rebelutionaries to have done great things.  And what makes me overwhelmed is when they give all the glory to God.  They are just normal, human beings.  They don’t come from somewhere in outer space, filled with super-human powers.  Most of them are just normal, everyday teens, from average families, good churches…and with their love for the LORD and a determined spirit, they have accomplished great things.

These stories are always so encouraging.  Someday, I want to be able to do something great for the LORD.  I have paths that I would like to go down and pursue something that I love, but so far…the LORD hasn’t given me that go-ahead.  Unless I’m not looking in the right place for my journey to begin.  But I know that, all in good time – when the LORD knows that I’m ready – He will open the doors to an opportunity that He wants me to take.  But until that day, I can just begin with the little things in my life that I can be doing, slowly but surely, for the glory of God. 

I won’t go with the flow.  I’m done with mediocrity.  I’m not settling for less.

I hope you will join me.
  

I love Tangled enough...

to put a sticker on my cell phone.

Now that's a lot of love ;)

 

 

 ::smiley face::

Don't Be Daunted

This last month, my local PRC director asked me to write an article for their monthly newsletter.  I thought I'd share what I wrote... :)

~*~

Ever since I was old enough to understand what abortion was, God laid it on my heart to fight against this inhuman procedure.  But how?  I was a young homeschooled teenager living on a small farm.  What could I possibly do to even put a dent in a worldwide murder?

Well, first off, I needed to find out about a local PRC.  To be honest, I didn’t even really know about Columbia Pregnancy Center.  But when I did, and heard about their work, I decided now more than ever, to get involved with them.

Well, PRCs need funds, right?  What were some ways that I could raise funds?  The first thing I thought of was a concert!  But how in the world could I put together a concert? 

#1 – you need singers.

So…I contacted a few Christian artists in Portland.  I got two of them lined up – a solo artist: Taylor Reavely and twin brothers: Caleb and Sol. 

#2 – a venue.

I contacted local churches, until I found one that would allow me to use their facilities.  And the best part about it?  For free!  Since it was a fundraising event for the PRC, they donated their church’s sanctuary and a green room.

#3 – Advertising.  One of the best ways to advertise – internet.  That amazing technology thing that’s in just about every house today.  Make an event page on Facebook.  Invite friends to it – even if they’re pretty far from where it’s going to be held.  You never know what people will do for a good fundraiser!  Also, make fliers.  Super easy to design and print and super easy to post places.  Hang them everywhere!  Library, churches, fast food restaurants, book shops, etc.

So, I’m sure you want to know how mine turned out. :)  Well, not very many people showed up.  But we made over $150.  Was I excited? 

Are you kidding?  I had hoped to make $500!

I felt like giving up.  Why should I try organizing another fundraiser if my first one turned out so bad?

But my family was behind me every step of the way.  ‘It was your first time, Raquel!  Try again!’

About a year later, I did just that.  I organized a PRC Fundraising Dance.  And made $250. :)  And just about everyone who had made it to the dance, wants me to organize another one because they had so much fun and, to quote, ‘it was one of the best dances [they’d] attended’.  I was thrilled!

If you have no ideas on what sort of fundraisers to organize, try asking.  Start with the CPC.  Caroline Butcher would be more than happy to help you figure out ways!  And I would love to, too!  Feel free to contact me anytime.

Until then, do not daunted by the prospect of putting together a fundraiser.  Do not be daunted when your first even doesn’t turn out the way you wanted it to.  Instead, make Planned Parenthood daunted that you are working on making a difference.

   

Music Video Monday!

This guy is pretty cool...

Especially since I got to see him less than THREE FEET away from me ;)  (Check out my Owl City Concert in Portland post ;)

 

A new favorite quote!

Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming. 

—John Wooden

A Raspberry Pie, By Rapunzel...

I'm going to be linking this post up at 'Story Girl' for her Tangled Blog Event...

This is a recipe that I think Rapunzel just might've made while she was up in her tower.  

And I think she liked raspberries. ;)

First her 'mother' went out and picked a bucket of berries for her...

Rapunzel washed them...

Got out the recipe...

Fresh Raspberry Pie

 Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours

Serves: 8 servings

{Ingredients}

• Crust

  

• 1  cup granulated sugar

• 3  tablespoons cornstarch

• 1/4  teaspoon salt

 

• 1  cup water
• 4  cups fresh raspberries 

• 1  tablespoon butter

1. Heat oven to 450°F. Make pie crust as directed on box for One-Crust Baked Shell using 9-inch glass pie pan. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, mix granulated sugar, cornstarch, salt and water. Stir in 2 cups of the raspberries. Heat to boiling. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in butter. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

 

3. Stir remaining 2 cups raspberries into cooled raspberry mixture. Spoon into cooled baked shell. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

4. To serve, in medium bowl with electric mixer, beat 1 Cup whipping cream, 1 Tbls. powdered sugar and 1 Tsp. vanilla on high speed until stiff peaks form. Garnish pie or individual servings with whipped cream. Store in refrigerator.

 And Rapunzel's inviting you to join her in this delicious Raspberry Pie... ;)

Come on over any time!