Tough Decisions...

Today, was a pretty great day for me (Christa). School wasn't all that bad, calculus test is NOT on the same day as the lit test =) and when I got home, the much-anticipated scholarship letter was waiting in the mail box. I opened (home all alone) to find a $1000 music talent, 1500 endowment, and placement in the symphonic wind symphony at Concordia Mequon. Needless, to say I was pretty thrilled about this (who knows how Dad feels though).
Also, we took a family trip to a local ice cream/donut shop because Zion's pastors and church staff was scooping up the ice cream tonight. So, the tough decisions were not just limited to my college choice, but also to what flavor (of about 15 choices) to have, and whether to have it in a waffle cone, cake cone, sugar cone, or dish... so in the words of a very wise grandfather of mine (Cookies 'n' cream-butter pecan, tough decision, butter pecan...) so although I did not have butter pecan (honestly, I'm not that big a fan) I did think back to his saying that is so often repeated here in the Steinbacher house...
Please keep me in your prayers as the time to make a decision draws nearer, and Sarah and Reid (yesterday was their anniversary, so they are brought to mind) who are still in Japan.
Love, C.

It's a Happy Day! (and I thank God for the weather!)

What a lovely day we have had on this beautiful Friday! Missouri weather at its definite finest! This week has been much calmer for Mom and Angie with out basketball games or practices, and now Mom, Angie, and I are greatly anticipating the start of track season. This past week has also been National Lutheran Schools Week, so Zion has been much a buzz with special dress days, and exciting events, such as grandparents day and the book fair.



Yesterday evening, Mom, Dad, and I attended the American Association of University Women monthly meeting along with my math teacher, Mr. Haak, and about 15 other area high school seniors who have been nominated as outstanding students in math or science. Since I am not taking a science course this year, I was obviously the nominee for the math award. Each girl had to give a short speech talking about their interests and future plans. It was really an honor to recieve the award, and I realized last night that I love to talk (especially "public speaking").

This is Mr. Haak, me, LHS science winner Brittany, and my dad (her teacher).

Me giving my 'speech'

In conclusion, today and this week as a whole has been beautiful. With an emphasis on today's lovely weather!

Love, C

Polar Bear Plunging and A State Tournament

This past weekend was a again a weekend that found us all over the place, just not quite in as chaotic a way as two weekends ago. I stayed with friends on Friday and Saturday night so that I could participate in the Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics Missouri on Saturday afternoon. Mom, Dad, and Angie were in Jeff. City for the State Tournament from Friday-Sunday. Although they lost their first two games, they came out with a win on Sunday (a game Jon and I got to see!). Also, it sounds like they had a really good time.

This weekend had some added fun for me because I got to use a really nice camera that belongs to the yearbook staff to take some pictures at the game. I think they turned out pretty well, so here a few to take a gander at...

Angie taking a 3-pointer, and making it!

Going for a loose ball...

Dad, the faithful fan and scorebook keeper

A Victorious team and Cheerleaders

Have a great day! Love, C

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