"The First Person You See is Jesus"

These last few days for me have been an extreme challenge and ordeal to cope with. On Monday afternoon my family and I drove up to Choctaw, Oklahoma to spend time with family. Within the last year and certainly these last few months my grandmother has become the full-time care-taker of my great-grandma, her mother. Unfortunately, though, within these last few weeks she has experienced a significant decline in health. So much in fact that my grandma began 24/7 care for my great-grandmother. Therefore, we were prepared for a declined state in her appearance when we arrived Monday evening. However, we didn't completely understand the severity of her condition. From the appearance we think that she had potentially suffered a stroke late last week and  because of that was unable to communicate as frequently as before. Combined with that she also was unable to use the right side of her body. Thankfully, although she was limited in communication and not very receptive, we have all been able to experience special moments with her earlier this week. Monday night though, her breathing became strained and it looked as though the end was near. However, she rallied and made it through the night. Her stamina continually surprised us all. Tuesday, though, her condition continued to worsen. She breathing became more labored, she ran a high fever and began to form bed sores due to her bed confinement and limited movement. However, her incredible strength kept her going. Tuesday night though, at 10:57, my great-grandmother, Vina Constance (Connie) Andrew went on to meet Jesus. During her last few months on earth, my grandma read her the book Heaven is for Real. She really enjoyed hearing the documentation of a young boy, Colton's journey to Heaven and back. She loved hearing the description of Heaven and all of those that will be there. However her favorite line, that she continually repeated was, "that little boy said that when you get to Heaven the first person you see is Jesus!!" For my great-grandma this was true on Tuesday niht. She got to see Jesus (first)!!
Although I miss her so very much, I am excited that she is finally home.

Meet Me in St. Louis

This Thursday my family and I will be traveling up to St. Louis. On Friday evening and all day Saturday Adelaide and I will be participating with 8 other students from our district in a National Teen Bible Quiz Competition.
However, before the 'work' starts we get to play some. On Friday morning we will drive into St. Louis and stop at the Arch for a traditional picture. This year though, several of our group will be going up into the Arch. (I will too!!) After our visit there we will grab something for lunch and head over to the St. Louis City Museum.  If you are interested in see exactly what it looks like, I have included a link to the website. ( http://explorestlouis.com/visit-explore/see-do/see-do-member/?mid=29&gclid=CLjSgIjM2awCFcNeTAodC3r2rQ) Last year our group visited here and really enjoyed it!! It is a super cool place!!

After our afternoon excursions we will head to Ferguson Church of the Nazarene and after a brief devotional we will start quizzing. On Friday evening alone we will have 10 quiz matches (roughly 3 hours), ending around 11 pm. It is going to be a long day. On top of that we have to be back at the church the next morning around 8 Am. Saturday we will quiz 6 rounds in a tournament and following that have the awards ceremony.
My family and I would greatly appreciate your prayers for us this weekend!

So Much To Be Thankful For

As you know this last Thursday was Thanksgiving, a day on which we are reminded to be thankful for all that we have. A tradition of my family's is to go around the table and say one thing that we are thankful for. Most years I say something generic like friends, family or even food but this year when it was my turn I was completely honest, SLEEP! This school semester has been extremely tiring for me. Every morning when I wake up I long for the moment when I can crawl back into bed and curl up under my warm, cozy comforters.

 However, as the weekend rolled on I began to reflect more and more on what I have and all that I should be grateful for. There are so many people in the world and in the United States that spent thanksgiving without a warm house, good food or friends and family to be with. We are such a blessed people.

This year my family decided to stay home and share the weekend together, relaxing! On Wednesday night our dear friend Lori Wilkerson drove down to visit and share the weekend with us. We were so excited!! We spent Thursday and Friday playing games, watching movies, shopping, eating, taking pictures and hanging out. We had so much fun!!

Below I have included some of the pictures that Elsie took at our photo shoot!!

A Challenging Weekend

Last weekend my family and I were able to drive up to Oklahoma to visit with our family. Although we would have loved for it to be strictly a pleasure trip my Dad did have work requirements. On Friday morning my Father taught a course at my Uncle and Aunt's mission organization, Heart Of God Ministries (HGM).

Although my Dad had work to attend to we also went up to visit with my great grandmas. Recently my Grandma West (age 88) took a turn for the worst and was admitted into the hospital. Shortly before we came up she was released to a assisted rehabilitation home. This would be a step prior to her going home. On Friday evening my siblings, parents  and I went to visit her. When we arrived she appeared to be doing much better than we expected. She had decided to return to her home in 2 weeks and was determined to do so.

After visiting her briefly we said our goodbyes and told her that we would see her again on Sunday night. My Grandparents had been given permission to take her to our CD concert that evening. We were very excited for her to come and she was too.

The next morning at around 6:00 - 6:30 AM my Grandma went next door to care for my great grandma Andrew (age 93). While she was helping her my Grandpa received a phone call from the rehabilitation home. They had taken great grandma West to the hospital.

Several minutes later my Grandparents and my Mom rushed to the hospital to see her. Unfortunately when they got there she had already passed away. The medical staff diagnosed that it probably had been a heart attack and that she had died during transport.

This news shocked all of us greatly. Especially because we had just seen her the day before. This goes to show though that God can take us whenever he is ready. Therefore, we must be ready too.

Because my Grandpa was scheduled to fly out to Nepal on Saturday afternoon the funeral has been scheduled for November 5th. Although we all miss her greatly, we know that she is happier where she is, because she is in a better place!

During these upcoming weeks by family would greatly appreciate your prayers as final arrangements are made for the funeral service.  The picture below was taken of Morelle and my Grandma last summer at a family reunion.

A 5K Worth Remebering

On Saturday (September 17th) my family and I ran a 5K race in Burleson, Texas, hosted by the St. Matthews Cumberland Presbyterian Church in sponsorship of a local food bank organziation called the Harvest House. We have run this particular race several times and enjoy it every year!

The really neat thing about our participation this year was that every member of our family received a trophy in our age categories for partricipation in the 5K race.

My Dad got 2nd place (with a time of 26.42), and my Mom got a Master's award for being the first female age 40 or over to finish (25.45)!!
Morelle got 2nd place in the 15 to 19 female division (27.28), Cora crossed 3rd place in the 15 to 19 division (29.36).  Elise got 1st place in the female 15 - 19 category beating both of her older sisters (her time was - 25.34)!
Unfortunately, Adelaide was placed in the male division. However she did very well and got 3rd place in the 14 and under division (25.52). Tella and Nahum also received trophies for getting 1st and 2nd place consecutively in their division (21.54 and 24.18). Another insteristing fact was that Tella was the 4th runner to cross the finish line!
This year was Laneah's first year to runner a 5K race, although we have been training and running this length for quite some time. She did very well and got 1st place in the 14 and under female's group. She was such a trooper and with her speed beat multiple girls older than her (including two of her older sisters!) Good job Laneah!

As a family we really enjoy running and are really looking forward to running a half-marathon in February of next year.  Although the training will be tough at times we are excited and cannot wait to complete this goal as a family!! I will be sure to keep you updated on how all of this progresses.

Scottsville Retreat: An Epic Event

On September 9th and 10th, around 50 Nazarene Teen Bible Quizzers from all over the Dallas district met together at our district campground in Scottsville for their quizzing year kick-off.  I was fortunate to be among these!
Friday around five pm. my family left Duncanville and traveled in our van for roughly 2 1/2 hours until we reached the campground. After arriving and settling in my sisters and I found the chapel and practiced the music that we be singing while leading worship that evening.

After we lead music and had a brief devotional all of the teens/coaches/parents/sponsors met in the gymbernacle (the gym/tabernacle).  After everyone had congregated Mr. Don Carter (coach/quiz master from RCN - Richardson Church of the Nazarene) lead us all in several get-to-know-each-other games.

The first one was called 'That Was Awkward.' The way the game works is that you pick an individual that you do not know and team up with him/her. You then stand several feet apart with your backs facing each other. On the count of three all players turn around and either motioned to hug, shake hands, or fist bump the individual facing you. This game is similar to rock-paper-scissors. Therefore, a hug beats a hand shake, which beats a fist bump, which beats a hug. Yes, it is confusing but it is also very fun!!

After that game we played several others before we headed back to the dorms for the 11:30 pm. curfew. The next morning breakfast was served at 7:30 so I woke at 6:15. After showering and getting ready we all headed up to the dining hall for breakfast.

Around 8:30 we met again in the gymbernacle and started the Memory Verse Marathon. This marathon is for individuals who have memorized all or some of the designated memory verses within our specific text of Hebrews and 1st and 2nd Peter.
Basically the way the marathon works is that it only includes questions taken from the memory verse material. The way you win is to quiz-out by getting 4 questions correct.

When the marathon was over we jumped right into the actual rounds of quizzing. In the Advanced division there were only three teams. Two from RCN - Richardson and one from Duncanville (consisting of Elsie, Adelaide, Myself and two of our friends Aisleen and Stephanie Harris).
Therefore, before lunch we only had 3 rounds of quizzing.  However, the Novice division had more rounds because they had more teams participating!

Around 3 pm. we finished up our rounds and once more gathered in the gymbernacle. Several minutes later we began the awards ceremony beginning with the Novice division. They recognized the top 10 individuals in Novice, the top 5 in Experienced and the top 3 teams in both divisions.



In the top 10 individuals in Novice my brother Tella received 3rd place and Joshua Tinsely from our church (who quizzed on Tella's team) got 6th place. Our Duncanville Novice Team also got 2nd place in their division! We are so proud of all of our up-and-coming 6th graders: Tella Cummins, Kayle Bowens, Joshua Tinsely and Sammy Calkins! They all have studied hard and are doing very well!!
In the Advanced division my sister Adelaide got 3rd place and I received 4th place!! Our team as well won 2nd place!!

We are all super excited as this new quiz year begins and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds. Please keep us all in your prayers as we endeavor to memorize and hide God's word in our hearts!!

 Blessings ~ Cora

A Day At School With Cora

Because I have been home-schooled my entire education attending Mountain View Community College has defiantly been a challenge for me. A year and a half ago I started attending there with my older sister Morelle. However, last May Morelle graduated with her AA degree and has since forth moved on to a complete higher education at Texas Womens University.

This semester though I have blessed to have my younger sister Elsie up at Mountain View with me. Although this is still our first week of class I can already say that it has been a delight having her! :)

On Tuesdays and Thursdays my school day begins at 6:15. My alarm goes off and I groggily get out of bed. After showering, dressing, and putting on make-up I only have 30 minutes till it is time to leave. Quickly I pack a lunch for Elsie and eat something on the way out the door.

At 8 o'clock my Biology class begins and I settle in for an hour and twenty minute lecture. Following that I go downstairs and complete any assigned labs with my friend Sarah Rice

When Biology is over I meet Elsie and together we hangout with our friends Sarah and Rebecca Rice for our brief break between classes. After saying goodbye to them we head downstairs to the 'dungeon'. I have dubbed this hallway as such because it often is dark and crowded.

Making our way through the congestive crowd we reach our Math class. Elsie and I have been fortunate to have a very kind and helpful math Professor named Becky Heiskell (pronounced with a slight accent as High-school). When this class is through we head down the hall for our next class from 12:30 - 1:50 - Spanish.

Even though this has only been our first week of class our Spanish Professor, Elsa Salina-Coronado has already plunged right into the proverbial meat of the course.
When this class is though I give Mom a call on my phone and shortly after she comes and picks us up!

Because this is still our first week of class some would think that you can't make a clear judgement of the semester. However, I disagree! For me first impressions are very important. All for of my Professors have posed very fair and genuine approaches to their subjects; and I believe whole-hardheartedly that this will be a good semester. Hopefully with great determination and perseverance I will succeeded in each of these subjects!

I also believe that it is the same for you.  If you are willing to do your very best and attempt the assignments given to you by your Teacher(s)/Professor(s) then in my opinion there is no room for failure. This is my prayer for you and hopefully yours as well! Have a blessed semester!!

 ~ Cora 

Are You An Alien?

 This week I have began reading a devotional book written by Mike Yaconelli entitled Devotion: A Raw-Truth Journal On Following Jesus.  When I first began reading it I was slightly apprehensive - the title of the devotion for day one was Aliens. What a topic for a devotional! However, as I continued reading  I realized that the Author was not speaking of extraterrestrial beings but of Christians instead.  

As a child each of us has heard the word 'alien' associated with UFOs, Mars and other galactic beings. However the definition of an alien given on Merriam Webster's website is quite simple. It reads: a person of another family, race, or nation. If you think of this definition for a moment it is rather easy to see the parallel that the author is using. 

Christians have been set aside by God as the body of Christ - a family. We comprise of individuals from different races, nationalities, genders, ages, and biological families. However, in Christ we are all united! Therefore, because we are separated from the world we can be considered 'aliens' in this world. For just as extraterrestrial beings are not of this world neither are we. In John 15:19 it reads:  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Regardless of their situation every Christian will at sometime be confronted with a challenge against their faith. However, each of us must choose for ourselves who we serve.  "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, [...] But as for me and my household we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

Will you choose to be an 'alien'; separated from the world? Or will you become a child of the earth and be doomed to annihilation without God? The choice is yours, for only you can determine your future in eternity!

Saying Goodbye To A Godly Man

On Saturday, August the 20th, my family attended the memorial service for my great uncle, Lewis Edward Andrew. The service was absolutely beautiful, an incredible tribute for an incredible man. My Grandfather, James West, officiated the service and shared many stories of both a serious and humorous nature from his memories of Uncle Lewis.

During the ceremony, one of my distant cousins, Issac Holton, recited a poem by Edgar Albert Guest titled, My Creed.  After hearing this poem, I could only imagine what my own funeral will be like.
Will my friends and family be able to remember me in such a fond way? Will I leave a life worth remembering?
Guest's The Creed reads like this:

To live as gently as I can;
To be, no matter where, a man;
To take what comes of good or ill
And cling to faith and honor still;
To do my best, and let that stand
The record of my brain and hand;
And then, should failure come to me,
Still work and hope for victory.

To have no secret place wherein
I stoop unseen to shame or sin;
To be the same when I'm alone
As when my every deed is known;
To live undaunted, unafraid
Of any step that I have made;
To be without pretense or sham
Exactly what men think I am.

To leave some simple mark behind
To keep my having lived in mind;
If enmity to aught I show,
To be an honest, generous foe,
To play my little part, nor whine
That greater honors are not mine.
This, I believe, is all I need
For my philosophy and creed.

By Edgar Albert Guest, © 1915, All rights reserved.

In many ways this poem encapsulates the life of my Uncle Lewis. However, could it also describe my life? To me this poem is speaking to each of us through Guest's self-examination. Do we cling to faith and honor through the 'storms' of life? Are we determined enough to 'still work and hope for victory' when failures come? Are we the same alone as we are amongst friends?
Are we willing to commit to live as Guest's Creed suggests?

I pray that my life will leave a legacy worth remembering. I hope that every individual I come in contact with will experience the love of God through me! That I will be the same person alone and among my friends and peers. I desire for Guest's The Creed to be my life's legacy.

Giving Blood: Good or Bad?

Hello one and all!
This last Monday night I decided to participate in a blood drive hosted at my church by the Red Cross. Although I was apprehensive and nervous at first I finally found the gumption to register along with my older sister Morelle and both of my parents. This would be a first experience for all if us. What a special memory for us to share together!

Unfortunately things did not go as planned. Because we had never given blood before we were unfamiliar with the effects associated with such a donation. Therefore we were unprepared for the exciting adventure to come.

On Sunday August the 14th our family loaded into our van with great trepidation. Upon our arrival we were promptly assisted in signing in and given a booklet explaining the entirety of the process.

After a brief wait, one of the nurses informed Dad that it was his turn. Bravely he stood up and followed her to a cubicle to begin. While Dad was still answering questions Mom's turn came. Before 10 minutes had passed Mom came out from behind the make shift wall. Unfortunately The nurse had informed her that due to her weight she would unable to donate.

Not long after it was Morelle's turn. While she was being prepared Dad was getting hooked up to begin. During the preparatory process Laneah stood by with a look of confusion and dismay upon her face.
Coming up beside her the coordinator of the event spoke. Her sweet words of comfort are a memory that I shall never forget. She said "Honey, did you know your Daddy is a hero?" Although I have always known these words to be true. I had no idea that I was about to see them in action.

A few minutes later I was called back to begin the necessary process prior to a my donation. The nurse began by asking me a few basic questions. Then she took my blood pressure and drew a blood sample. After doing so she asked me how tall I am and how much I weighed. To which I answered as honestly as I knew. 5 feet 4 inches and 117 lbs. She then informed me that to donate blood I would have to be 118 lbs. if I was 5 feet 4 inches. I was so disappointed because I was really excited and eagerly looking forward to donating.

With my eyes filling with tears I sat at the cubicle table waiting to be excused. After the nurse filled out a letter of deferral I was dismissed. Leaving the cubicle I was shocked to find my father laying in the medical chair throw up. Standing next to him was my Mother and three nurses. Each of which we assisted my Father.

Later I was informed that due to the loss of blood that my Father was suffering he had blacked out and when he came to was unable to control his body. Therefore he was extremely sick. Thankfully in the past few days my Father has been recuperating and hopefully on a safe road back to normalcy.

Honestly I feel as though I could describe this experience as both unique and informative. I believe that he lesson learned is this: Never jump into something without first considering both the consequences and the price. Especially when it includes the donation of blood!

The Beginning Of My Adventures

Life is full of adventures and goodness knows that I have had a few! From the moment I was born, I experienced things that many would consider the highlight of their lifetime. When my parents walked out of the hospital, I saw for the first time the beauty of my home: Alaska. Since then, things have only gotten more exciting...