Well, our internet is acting up at the moment, and won't let me post any pictures. : ( However, for those who cannot wait to see them. . . here are some links which will lead you to some. I will post a few on here once things start working again.
This one is the blog of the family who puts on these productions, the Nisbetts. A huge thank you to them. . . they have been so gracious and great to work with throughout this play.
http://nisbett.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=50
And here is a link to a facebook photo album of some of the pictures our family took.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21628&l=bbeb6&id=684109163
Lastly, some miscellaneous photos on my friend Ashley's blog. There aren't any of our family, but they will give you more of any idea what the set looked like, etc.
http://thestraightandnarrowway.blogspot.com/
Enjoy!
Rebekah Grace
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Bed Bugs. . . aaahhhhh!
Today I am cleaning my room. And not just your everyday "pick up the clothes all over the floor, stuff everything else under the bed" kind of cleaning. No I am actually being thorough. . . dusting, vacuuming under the furniture, wiping the baseboards, cleaning my windows (which nobody actually sees), etc. You may wonder why I am having this sudden impulse to do something I normally find so pointless. Well. . . the title pretty much says it all. Bed Bugs. They are single-handedly the most annoying, most sneaky, meanest bugs in the ENTIRE universe. And who knew it, but there are tons of interesting facts and spiritual lessons that come to light when experiencing the joys of Bed Bugs!
Interesting Fact #1: The belief that Bed Bugs hang out in dirty places is a myth. However, places with more clutter or that aren't cleaned as often will be easier for Bed Bugs to hide in. For those who don't know, I am just about the worst house-keeper in the world when it comes to my bedroom. Which brings me to . . .
Spiritual Lesson #1: Much of the pain that comes upon us in life is our own fault. It is so easy to complain and whine about things when in reality, we ourselves caused it. Lord, help me to take responsibility for my actions rather than blaming my circumstances.
Interesting Fact #2: Some people have little or no reaction to Bed Bug bites.
Interesting Fact #3: I am not one of the these people. Elizabeth and I share a room, and she has yet to share in my misery. My mom and dad sleep in the same bed, and yet my dad is the only one with any bites.
Spiritual Lesson #2: As Christians, we all struggle with different sins. We need to be prepared to support others in whatever way they made need it, even if it is in an area that we have no problem with ourselves. Comparison is a dangerous trap. Lord, help me to care about others and their struggles rather than just complaining about mine.
Interesting Fact #4: You cannot scratch bug bites and sleep simultaneously.
Spiritual Lesson #3: When you are awake in the middle of the night is an excellent time to talk with God. The house is totally silent, there are no distractions (well, except bug bites), and spending time with God can be a good way to get your mind off those bug bites. Lord, help me to be in constant communication with you and to take advantage of those times I am up at 2 am . . again.
Interesting Fact #5: There are no identifiable benefits or positive aspects of Bed Bugs.
Spiritual Lesson #6: This is an excerpt from an amazing book, The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom. . .if you haven't read it, I would most certainly recommend it. This conversation takes place shortly after they are sent to Ravensbruck, the concentration camp.
Suddenly, I sat up, striking my head on the cross-slats above. Something had pinched my leg. "Fleas", I cried. "Betsie, this place is swarming with them!" . . . "Here! And here another one!" I wailed. "Betsie, how can we live in such a place!"
"Show us how, show us how." It was said so matter of factly it took me a second to realize she was praying. More and more the distinction between prayer and the rest of life seemed to be vanishing for Betsie.
"Corrie!" she said excitedly. "He's given us the answer! Before we asked, as He always does! In the Bible this morning. Where was it? Read that part again!"
I glanced down the long dim aisle to make sure no guard was in sight, then drew the Bible from its pouch. "It was in First Thessalonians," I said. . . " . . .rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus ---"
"That's it Corrie! That's His answer. 'Give thanks in all circumstances!' That's what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!"
I stared at her, then around me at the dark, foul-aired room. "Such as?" I said.
"Such as being assigned here together."
I bit my lip. "Oh yes, Lord Jesus!"
"Such as what you're holding in your hands."
I looked down at the Bible. "Yes! Thank You, dear Lord, that there was no inspection when we entered here! Thank You for all the women, here in this room, who will meet you n these pages." "Yes," said Betsie. "Thank You for the very crowding here. Since we're packed so close, that may more will hear!" She looked at me expectantly. "Corrie!" she prodded.
"Oh all right. Thank You for the jammed, crammed, stuffed, packed, suffocating crowds." "Thank You," Betsie went on serenely, "for the fleas and for ---"
The fleas! This was too much. "Betsie, there's no way even God can make me grateful for a flea."
"'Give thanks in all circumstances,'" she quoted. 'It doesn't say, 'in pleasant circumstances.' Fleas are part of this place where God has put us."
And so we stood there between piers of bunks and gave thanks for the fleas.
To have a faith like that! To give thanks to God in even the worst of circumstances! My problems with Bed Bugs are not nearly as terrible as what those two women faced. And yet the principle is the same: Give thanks to God in all circumstances, not just the pleasant ones. So thank you God for Bed Bugs!
Interesting Fact #1: The belief that Bed Bugs hang out in dirty places is a myth. However, places with more clutter or that aren't cleaned as often will be easier for Bed Bugs to hide in. For those who don't know, I am just about the worst house-keeper in the world when it comes to my bedroom. Which brings me to . . .
Spiritual Lesson #1: Much of the pain that comes upon us in life is our own fault. It is so easy to complain and whine about things when in reality, we ourselves caused it. Lord, help me to take responsibility for my actions rather than blaming my circumstances.
Interesting Fact #2: Some people have little or no reaction to Bed Bug bites.
Interesting Fact #3: I am not one of the these people. Elizabeth and I share a room, and she has yet to share in my misery. My mom and dad sleep in the same bed, and yet my dad is the only one with any bites.
Spiritual Lesson #2: As Christians, we all struggle with different sins. We need to be prepared to support others in whatever way they made need it, even if it is in an area that we have no problem with ourselves. Comparison is a dangerous trap. Lord, help me to care about others and their struggles rather than just complaining about mine.
Interesting Fact #4: You cannot scratch bug bites and sleep simultaneously.
Spiritual Lesson #3: When you are awake in the middle of the night is an excellent time to talk with God. The house is totally silent, there are no distractions (well, except bug bites), and spending time with God can be a good way to get your mind off those bug bites. Lord, help me to be in constant communication with you and to take advantage of those times I am up at 2 am . . again.
Interesting Fact #5: There are no identifiable benefits or positive aspects of Bed Bugs.
Spiritual Lesson #6: This is an excerpt from an amazing book, The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom. . .if you haven't read it, I would most certainly recommend it. This conversation takes place shortly after they are sent to Ravensbruck, the concentration camp.
Suddenly, I sat up, striking my head on the cross-slats above. Something had pinched my leg. "Fleas", I cried. "Betsie, this place is swarming with them!" . . . "Here! And here another one!" I wailed. "Betsie, how can we live in such a place!"
"Show us how, show us how." It was said so matter of factly it took me a second to realize she was praying. More and more the distinction between prayer and the rest of life seemed to be vanishing for Betsie.
"Corrie!" she said excitedly. "He's given us the answer! Before we asked, as He always does! In the Bible this morning. Where was it? Read that part again!"
I glanced down the long dim aisle to make sure no guard was in sight, then drew the Bible from its pouch. "It was in First Thessalonians," I said. . . " . . .rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus ---"
"That's it Corrie! That's His answer. 'Give thanks in all circumstances!' That's what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!"
I stared at her, then around me at the dark, foul-aired room. "Such as?" I said.
"Such as being assigned here together."
I bit my lip. "Oh yes, Lord Jesus!"
"Such as what you're holding in your hands."
I looked down at the Bible. "Yes! Thank You, dear Lord, that there was no inspection when we entered here! Thank You for all the women, here in this room, who will meet you n these pages." "Yes," said Betsie. "Thank You for the very crowding here. Since we're packed so close, that may more will hear!" She looked at me expectantly. "Corrie!" she prodded.
"Oh all right. Thank You for the jammed, crammed, stuffed, packed, suffocating crowds." "Thank You," Betsie went on serenely, "for the fleas and for ---"
The fleas! This was too much. "Betsie, there's no way even God can make me grateful for a flea."
"'Give thanks in all circumstances,'" she quoted. 'It doesn't say, 'in pleasant circumstances.' Fleas are part of this place where God has put us."
And so we stood there between piers of bunks and gave thanks for the fleas.
To have a faith like that! To give thanks to God in even the worst of circumstances! My problems with Bed Bugs are not nearly as terrible as what those two women faced. And yet the principle is the same: Give thanks to God in all circumstances, not just the pleasant ones. So thank you God for Bed Bugs!
Friday, April 11, 2008
The Prince and the Pauper
I hope everyone will be able to make it to one of our performances, either this weekend or next weekend! It's going to be a lot of fun. I just wanted to post to say that although we do have some photos from rehearsals, I am going to wait, and post them after all the performances. That way I can be sure and pick the best of all the ones we take!
God Bless,
Rebekah Grace
God Bless,
Rebekah Grace
Monday, April 7, 2008
Happy Birthday to Ashley
This was the birthday cake that Alida and I made for youth group in honor of our friend Ashley's 17th birthday. Unfortunately, she was sick and didn't make it to youth group! So, as you can watch in the video below, we sang to her and blew out the candles anyways. Happy Birthday Ashley!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. " Psalm 19:1After so many days of rain, it was such a wonderful experience to see the sun! I was reminded of how glorious our Lord is, and how marvelously creative He is. It says in the Bible that the heavens delcare His glory. . . shouldn't I too? So often I get so wrapped up in my own day-to-day life that I forget the One who has made me and placed me on the earth in the first place. My prayers are more about me and my worries than about Him and His holiness. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14
Miscellaneous Family Pictures
First Home Run of the Season! Way to go Andy!
She loves her Woody. : )
Our little cowgirl. . .
. . . in her cowboy boots!Easter Pictures
Easter Eggs Decorated with Ukranian Plastic Coverings. . .Thanks Grandma for bringing those back for us!
At Applegates the day before Easter, rocking out to DDR. He beat Andy. :) 
Dancing Her Heart Out!
My Favorite Little Easter Bunny.
Game Time with our friends the Bells on Easter.
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