Dream Big

These words describe my goal for this year.  I did not start off this year with many resolutions or a "Word of the Year".  Instead of coming up with a goal, the goal found me. 

         dream BIG

I have heard it from several different people... a friend who joined the army wrote a letter to our Bible study group - he said, "Dream big.  God can do big things through you.  You have to have a dream."  He recommended we listen to this song:

 

 

And my other friend, who is off in university, told me, "Don't be afraid to dream big.  God can to more than you think." 

 

It's true.  Look at Amy Carmichael, who went to India with a desire to spread the gospel and ended up founding a community that rescued children from temples.  Look at George Muller, who rented a house to make a home for a few orphans - eventually he had several large buildings, and helped thousands of children.  God can take your little dream and grow it beyond what you can imagine.  He is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think." (Ephesians 3) 

Here's another song I think of when I think of dreaming big:

 



 

So this year, I am dreaming big.  I am refusing to be held back by fear; fear of failing, fear of my life not working out, fear of what people will think.  I am daring to think that if God wants me to go to the Philippines, He will get me there in His time.  I am daring to dream that He can use even me to make someone's life better.  I am daring to dream that my passion will be for Him, and when I wander, He will bring me back, and that because of Him, my life has a purpose.  And I will dream.  I won't give up.

 

(Note:  I do not in general listen to Christian rap.  and I do not condone country music, though I must say I enjoy it.  However, the Lecrae song was recommended by a friend, and the Eli Young Band song is one I heard many times while I was working in the restaurant.  Both are ones that have sort of shaped this "Dream Big" goal of mine.  So don't you worry about me degenerating. :P) 

 

 

 

Well now.

Because Hi is too boring a title.
~I burnt my finger at work tonight. I wanted to know if the stove was still hot. It was.
~Consolation for that: I saw a beer ad that said, "It's okay to have a blonde moment."
~Someone should start a radio station in this area that plays some of my favourites, such as Stuart Townend, Keith and Kristyn Getty, Jamie Soles, Casting Crowns, etc. Then they should get a good strong transmittor so I can get it in a back kitchen sandwiched between two buildings.
~Today I chatted with my friend who lives seven hours away via facebook. I miss having her ten minutes away, but I'm glad I could chat with her.
~Tonight I worked with a girl who I'd never worked with before. She is taller than me!!! Okay, so I'm not that tall, but most of my coworkers are shorter than me. She's also a lot of fun. So, after working alone two nights this week, it was great working with her.
~These last few days it hasn't been humid. I am enjoying it.
~My sister is reading "The Help". When she is done I get to read it. I read the first few pages, but I better not keep reading because she won't be very happy.

Okay I'm done with point form. :) So we had a sermon on Sunday about friendship, particularily the friendship between David and Jonathan. Now in such a deep friendship, people share the deep things in their lives. My question: how much is right to share? Should we fill our best friend in about all the little details? When we are sharing what is bothering us, what is the line between appropriate sharing and complaining? How do you find a friend who you can open up to like that? Now here's another topic for questions. To what point ought we to express ourselves? Where is the line between being too self-centred/whiny and not bottling it all in? Where is the line between being strong/good/cheerful/caring and showing others the weakness and troubles in our lives? At what point can I stop trying to be a strong big sister and helpful daughter and actually speak of my weakness and messed-up-ness? Ok I better stop before I say too much. lol
On a lighter note, we were reading about the creation of Adam and Eve the other day. Mom asked Nadia what God took from Adam to create Eve, and Nadia said, "His ribbons." When Emily was about that age, she said, "He took a piece out of him."

Justine

What I'm Wearing

Ah... pictures again! And I'm posting twice in ten days! (You are supposed to cheer here, by the way. lol just kidding)

So... another blogger was talking about how magazines etc. portray beauty in one specific way, and that way is unrealistic (photoshopped/airbrushed models), and she suggested people should put up pictures of themselves so that we have a more varied and realistic portrayal of what people look like. I thought that was a good idea so here are some pictures of what I am wearing tonight.

For most of today I was wearing old clothes. Old clothes are better suited to such activities as cutting the grass and working on the van. :) So after I came inside rather cold and dirty, I had a (hot!) shower and dressed up just for fun.

This fall I have been working on dressing more nicely. Last winter I usually wore one or other of two cozy warm hoodies. The problem with that was one was too large and the other a bit ragged. All summer I wore clothes suitable for working/being active since we were working on our house, I was working with my dad, and when we went out it was to play soccer or do some other outdoor activity.
In August we went to Value Village and found some stuff for winter and I made sure to get dressier, better looking clothes.

This outfit's info:

Sweater: Suzy Shier (I think) bought at Value Village

Jeans: Bluenotes, bought at Value Village (If I keep up with the posting an outfit thing, you'll be seeing a lot of these jeans. I love them and they are my only good pair.)

Justine

P.S. Value Village is a great place to shop. If you make sure you leave yourself enough time, you can find some really nice things for a fraction of what they cost new.

Yesterday...

I got my G2 license!

This means I can:

~drive on my own

~drive on the major highways (freeways)

Yesterday I took the road test. I was very nervous. Consequently I had a sore stomach and didn't sleep well for two days prior to the test. However, the test was easy and took only twenty minutes. I did have a calm, cheerful examinor, though. I was very thankful for that, especially because it was early morning and I know some people don't like to be up early.

Last night I drove to catechism class with two sisters and three friends. It was interesting driving without one of my parents or my driving instructor. Today I went alone to pick Leah up from a sewing lesson. That was the first time in my life that I have traveled in a vehicle alone. It was fun. :)

When I came home yesterday, I saw this:

And this:

And two notes from my sisters:

And we had cupcakes for dessert. I love having a family that gets excited with me. :)

Justine

Photos from Photography Class

Allison and I are taking a photography class with our homeschool group. Photography isn't my favourite thing, although Allison loves it, but I did learn some fun techniques. I found out the camera I used (actually my mom's, but since she got a larger, fancier one, we are allowed to use it) anyway, the camera I used has manual focus. I found that out after I took these pictures, though.

Two different focal points...

Yes, I was being a bit silly on this next picture. But notice the colour. I came up with the idea of putting coloured tissue paper over the flash on the camera. Allison took this picture in a dark room with purple tissue paper over the flash.

And this one using red...

Neat, eh?

Justine

Introduction

I guess since I started a blog, I should post on it, right?

My name is Justine. I am 16 years old and I have nine younger siblings - five sisters and four brothers. They are: Allison, Leah, Meghan, Emily, Warren, Brent, Gavin, Thomas, and Nadia. My parents are Gerald and Carmen. My mom's blog is called, In His Hands. My siblings and I are homeschooled, and have been all our lives.

I am a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ as the only one who can save me from my sins and make me alive to God. The purpose of my life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. I hope to use this blog to further that purpose.

Please feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you.

Justine