Just Another Wednesday?

Today was Ash Wednesday. As I am thinking about the homework assignments that will be on my back throughout the week, and college decisions, and what else could be possibly stressed out, today showed up. Today is the first day in the new year when we are reminded of the burden our Savior took on for us on the Cross. I received asheso on my forehead both at Chapel this morning and at Church this afternoon. While going through the routine process on an Ash Wednesday service, I never stopped to think about the impact a service such as this could have on an "outsider." I will saythat Jon has been attending Zion very faithfully since last August, but he has never experienced an Ash Wednesday service before. While talking to him afterwards, he mentioned how neat, or interesting he thought it was. This reminded me of how we need to always look at Jesus's love for us in the same way. While we might have confession and absolution the same old routine, it should be something new and exciting every time, every day even. We areFORGIVEN and SET FREE from the bondage of our sin, what a miraculous blessing!

Well, this post is just kind of an assortment of some thoughts... didn't really put together what I wanted to say... just wanted to say something.
Love, C

A Relaxing Weekend at Home

This weekend was one of the most relaxing we have had in a while. Friday night, I had to take pictures and stats at a boys basketball game. Mom, Dad, and Angie spent most of Saturday at home, adding up Jump Rope for Heart Money. Also, Mom and I went to Kohls where I found a new pair of shoes =)

After Kohls, I went to Jon's house and had a very sweet victory playing Madden 09... 7-6, and this was my first time playing!!! (Even as I type this, he's rolling his eyes at me)

Today, I sang with the LHS choir at Holy Cross, and Mom, Dad, and Angie went to Zion. Today was just a lazy day around the house, and this evening Jon and I went to youth group.

Have a great week!

This is a picture of Jon and I to rival the one of Angie and Jon two posts down...

Love, C

A Generation Without Journals?

The past two days in AP Lit, we have been discussing journals after reading a few entries from the 1600's. Our teacher pointed out how few of us keep journals, and began to reveal to us how blogging is my generation's form of journals... it's the same idea, just without the pen and paper, also much more public than the diary under the matress. She also came up with the idea to do a class blog where we can write about anything AP and everything else. This has also prompted a good many of my friends and classmates to start their own blogs (I can't wait to see them!). So, I am beginning to believe that although we aren't traditional in the way we joural, my generation really isn't traditional about anything, so let us be the generation that blogs our journals in the cyber-space world!
Also, this Lit teacher pulled up the family blog in class just to give some examples. Tonight, at dinner, I was telling one of my "stories" which are usually quite long, and lead to many others. Tonight's main story was about our blog being shown in class, and the class blog that has now been started, but Dad ended up being very concerned that the ribs (from the super bowl) were not properly shown in class, since time was running out, and it was the very last post on the page (since it was my first attempt at blogging). This being said, if you find this post and the time, please look at the pictures of my dad smoking ribs for the super bowl, and more importantly, the picture of just the ribs. I am sure that he would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks, C

A Weekend Away

This past weekend, we were a split family. On Thursday, Mom, Jon, and I drove up to Wisconsin because on Saturday I had a scholarship audition at CUW. Dad and Angie left for a basketball tournament in Springfield, Illinois on Friday afternoon. Saturday night, we met them there, and Dad left after an 8:45 game to go back to St. Charles to teach Bible class Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon, he joined us back in Springfield for the final game of the tournament (playing again for third place).


Those of us that went to Wisconsin had a great time! We hung out with Grandma, took a driving tour of Milwaukee (got to see the house she was born in), saw Aunt Karen, the Krugs, Matt and Elise and Madeline, and Peter even drove up to see us! I think my audition went well, although the band director played the piano accompaniment with it, which I had never heard before, so that ended up a little strange. We'll know soon what the profit will be off of that audition.

Madeline tried on Peter's shoes and hat.
Jon taught Nathanael how to play chess.

Zion won their first game on Friday night, and won again Saturday early afternoon. They lost their next game in a very close match, loosing only by two, and played for thrid place on Sunday. They ended up taking fourth, but played well and very hard.

Crazy Zion-team that took 4th in a 16-team tournament.
Angie shooting a free-throw.

Hope you all enjoy the pictures here!

Angie's basketball shoes (Matthew 5:16)

Jon and Angie on Saturday night.

Eva and Me.

Love, C

3rd Place in City!

Well, I never did get to posting those pictures... whoops! Too much else going on here. On Thursday, Zion lost to Immanuel St. Charles in a very close, brutal game. ISC is one of Zion's biggest rivals since most of the kids end up going to high school together at LHS. Today, Zion played Salem Afton and won by a decent margin. The game was definately more exciting than Tuesdays, but not quite as exciting as Thursday's. The girls took 3rd Place in the city tournament and will find out (hopefully) tomorrow if they are chosen to advance to the State Tournament the last weekend of this month.

Yesterday, Teens for Life led chapel at Lutheran High. We spoke on being the leaders of today, and speaking up for the lives of those in the womb. It was one of the best messages I've had the privalege to help write and deliver. This morning, a group of 11 Lutheran High students and friends made our way to Planned Parenthood and prayed there for about an hour. It was a very good experience, and I became friends with our Pastor's son, Ernie (a very imaginative 4-year old).

Tonight, I'm playing the flute for the 5 o'clock service, and again tomorrow at 8.

Love, C

City Playoffs Game 1

Tonight, Angie and mom had their first game of City playoffs. Zion was ranked third, and ended up winning very easily against Green Park from Lemay. Dad kept the scorebook as always, and I was actually able to make it and see a very well played game (from Zion's side at least). Angie is pretty happy with a 3/4 free throws (75%), and I thought she played quite excellently over all! I was just really thrilled with how good some pictures came on. I will definately put them up with I have a few more spare minutes.

Trying Something New

Well, I finally convinced the parents to let me start this thing called blogging, now its time to try my hand at it. Today is super bowl sunday, and we're getting ready for a group of about 20 to be over (I guess I shouldn't say "we", its mostly my dad getting the ribs all ready (see pictures below) I was bowling earlier and avoiding preparation). I don't really know who my parents are pulling for, but I'm all for the cardinals... definately the underdogs. Well, I hope you all enjoy, and I will try to post at least once weekly on happenings here in Missouri.

Love, C

Dad and the ribs in the smoker. The ribs on the grill (I don't know why though)