No, I'm not dead....

Just been really busy. :)

Wow, it's been a while since my last post. Been meaning to get something up here, but I keep getting distrac... oh look, a puppy! :P

Actually though, there really is a puppy. :) I just got my new puppy last Saturday. Her name is Stormy, and she has beautiful merle coloring! I haven't taken any pictures of her myself yet, but the breeder we got her from had this one on their website. http://shadylanekennel.net/our_girls/zena

(Zena is Stormy's mom) (the picture is under Stormy's old name-Ellie)

Isn't my baby just ADORABLE!!!! I love her!! She's so sweet, cuddly, and very smart! (and I'm using way too many exclamation marks when I talk about her... :) ...)

On a different subject, we had our local Bible Bee meet back on August 27th. And ALL FOUR of the National level competitors in our family have been invited to compete at Nationals!!!!

(Lyss, Isaiah, Eli, and me) It's being held in Nashville, TN this year, so thankfully it won't be as long of a drive as last year. (up to Illinois) I'm very, very, very excited about this, since this is my first year to be invited as a competitor.

I'm also so excited about being assistant Sunday school teacher for the 4th and 5th graders at my church. The kids are so smart and most of them seem to really enjoy the class. We've only had a couple weeks so far, but I'm looking forward to the rest of the year.

And another new thing! (wow, stuff really builds up when you don't post for three months :) ) Soccer season has begun! All four of my brothers and I are playing this season. :D I'm loving it, even though I'm one of the worst players on the team. :) Hopefully I'll have improved by the end of the season.

Well, I guess I won't write any more right now, since I should get back to studying my bible verses. :) [I make no guarantees that there will be any future posts, though I will try to update about Nationals :) ]

I'll leave you with a verse from Nahum...

The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. (Nahum 1:7)

With much thankfulness for many blessings....

~EmmaLee

A Birthday and Trust

Had a good, day today. It was Isaiah's 11th birthday.. yeah!!! So we had a little party, complete with dough-cakes*, noisemakers, and presents. :)

The presents... well, there were quite a few, but I remember some toys, cars and stuff from the boys, Lyss gave him a coin**, and I gave him a blanket with a cross and bible verse on it, and a pocket knife with a wolf painted on it.

We wrapped up the party with watching The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything, VeggieTales.

I think he had a good time.... I know Eli and I had fun planning it. :D

That's all the birthday stuff... now for the bible bee....

We took a partial break from studying, since it was a birthday, but still worked on some verses.

Our group has another meeting coming up this Tuesday. Everything isn't ready yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again.

A verse for today...

Psalm 118:18

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Trust in the LORD!

Serve and Sing

Psalm 100:2

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Serve God, Be Glad, Sing to Him... that's basically what I got out of it.. :)

~Emi

Brothers!! -1st Peter 5:8-10

I'm sooo proud of my brothers!!

Isaiah, 10, Eli, 8, Joe, 6, and Sam, 3, all memorized 1 Peter 5:8-10!!!

^{1 Peter 5:8-10}

⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

⁹Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

¹⁰But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

~Emi

Peace....

I'm not feeling too well today, so I'll just post a quick verse.

Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Perfect peace... from trusting in Him.

~Emi

Shield of Faith & a Refuge

Hello again! :D

Our group had another local Bible Bee meeting this morning. It went well I think. The kids got to finish their treasure boxes and decorate shields. A cross was a popular design. :)

The Shield of Faith was our focus point for today... Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. [romans 10:17]

We also talked about some different ways to memorize verses and used two of the methods to learn two verses in small groups.

One of the verses was Psalm 9:9,

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

I like that verse... the LORD, our God, truly is OUR refuge in times of trouble....

The LORD our God, maker of heaven and earth, bless and keep you all!

~Emi

Bible Bee - Rejoice

The Bible Bee materials were released today! www.biblebee.org

Verses: 800, (from all over the bible). Focus Book: 1st Peter

I'll be posting some of the verses and things that I learn throughout the summer.

Here's the first one....

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

That seems pretty clear... :)

REJOICE!!!!