Thoughts, Adventures, & Daily Life of a Home-Schooled High-Schooler

  I read a verse this morning that made me think of a call last summer, and I've chosen to share the story with you all. *Addresses and names are fictitious in accordance with HIPAA regulations* Dweedle-dweedle, beep beep beep!!! my pager chirped. "Berks Township, 2336 South Market Street, fo r chest pain." The dispatcher stated, adding that my unit was due to respond to the call. I shoved the mop bucket to the side of the hallway and tossed the cleaning supplies into the closet on the way to the truck bay. Half the bathroom was cleaned, but the other half would have to wait until we returned.  Flipping on the lights and siren, I easily merged onto the busy highway. "58 year old male, sudden onset of chest pain, trouble breathing, extensive cardiac history. Oh, and he did take one nitro with no relief." The d ispatcher added. That information added urgency, (and a bit more speed).  Several minutes later,  I was kneeling on the floor beside the sofa whe...

  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.                   Psalms 46:10 I've often seen the beginning of this verse "Be still and know" on journals, Bible cases, or wall art, but never really thought about what it means. But recently while reading through the Palms I dug this verse apart just a little bit deeper. What does it actually mean to "be still"??? TO BE STILL:      This phrase is derived and translated from the Hebrew word 'rapha' which means 'to be weak, to let go, to release'. What do we, in our modern English language call our action when we make ourselves weak, let something go/release it out of our control? - We call it surrender -    KNOW THAT I AM GOD:      In order to know something, we must put forth time and effort into studying and building our knowledge of the said subject.  Acknowledge that God ...

Decided to post a draft that I had typed from this summer. I didn’t feel like posting it the time… so enjoy it now🤷‍♀️ Somebody made the comment to me recently that my life seems so glamorous and full of adventure. *cue a very shocked expression on my face.* My life glamorous? Full of adventure? People, don’t think for a second that I find mountains of laundry, cleaning, and cooking very exciting.  Quality of life depends so very much on your attitude towards whatever comes your way. And I’ll be honest, sometimes my attitude towards everyday, mundane life just stinks. . . . But if you need an idea for an every day adventure…. 1) find at least 5 children under the age of 12 (the more the better😅) 2) a grandmother or another person dedicated solely to come along and photograph the adventure  3) locate a pick-your-own orchard 4) a ton of patience and laughter Let me warn you that you will have to inspect every single peach before it’s picked, (otherwise they will all be green o...

 (Most of the following examples are things that I have personally experienced. I am only sharing my perspective and opinion, and will not be offended if anyone chooses to leave the page at anytime)  complacency com·​pla·​cen·​cy | \ kəm-ˈplā-sᵊn(t)-sē Essential Meaning of complacency : a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better : a complacent feeling or condition   The public was lulled into complacency . The stock market crash rattled/shattered/shook our complacency . [=took away our feeling that everything was fine] ...

Its now time for a few of the thought provoking questions I asked for months ago. . . . Why does it [being asked your relationship status] cause you to react? Is there some deeper feelings/issues on your part? Oh yikes, that one came suddenly! So folks, what is a reaction? noun :  reaction ;  plural noun :  reactions an action performed or a feeling experienced in response to a situation or event. R eactions are often done on impulse, without putting much thought into it or considering what the end  result may be. But anyway, you didn't come here to read definitions from a dictionary. Why does it cause us to react? Does it make us feel the need to defend ourselves? Then if we have to defend ourselves, are we not content, or do we feel our value as a person is lower? "Why is this a question that we as youth/young adults struggle with?" I feel this goes back to how we see value as a single person. Or how others see our value. Facial expressions and tone of v...

Today it is my turn to give my answers and opinion on the questions that I asked everybody else in my survey. Why does being asked our relationship status bother us so much?        Or maybe I should why does it bother me? The answers to the other questions answer this one quite well. Please read on, don't get lost!  Does society base our worth off our relationship status?     I received such an overwhelming response of "absolutely", but I was also very glad to see that many of this type of response was followed up with "but it shouldn't be this way". "Folks, the biggest concern I have about your relationship status, is that of your relationship with Jesus Christ." If you feel happy and fulfilled as a single person, enjoy that stage of life!!! Because (and this is what other people have told me, as I can only view this from the single perspective) if you are not happy single, a physical relationship with another person is not going to be a "fix...

I received some very interesting feedback over the last several weeks and I would like to thank each of you for participating in the survey! Since writing and publishing Part 1 , this subject has been pretty heavy on my mind.  Today I'm just going to share some of the question replies. Part 3 is where I guess I'll dive into the wild unknown and try to explain my thoughts with the proper grammar and punctuation.  The question I asked:           Why did it bother you? Was it because the person asking was just being nosy, or was there a deeper reason you would care to share? Just a few of the answers I received: "It felt like being single wasn't good enough" "Mostly because I kind of wanted a relationship but didn't have one" "I was embarrassed" "It made me feel like there was something wrong with me... like they thought me as a person simply as myself just didn't quite 'cut it'." "Too many people were just being no...

Part 1 of 2 (possibly 3😉, but making no promises) Its highly possible that the first time will come at an extended family reunion. You’re laughing at your cousins jokes and intrigued by the funny stories told by Grandpa.  “A second helping of grandma‘s peach cobbler would go well with another story” you think to yourself, and, politely excusing yourself you head for the dessert table. Joining the jostling line of other family members, you eye the deserts so tastefully arranged before you. Just as you’re dishing a generous portion of peach cobbler, uncle Thomas drop a bomb that has the potential to ruin the rest of your day. Or week. Or month. Or just as long as the question bothers you.       “So Jackie,” he says, helping himself to a serving of ice cream, “any boyfriend in your life that I should know about? Or is it to the point that daddy has to keep the shotgun hidden behind the front door?” he asks with a mischievous grin on his face.  Startled, yo...

1 God of our strength, enthroned above, the source of life, the fount of love, O let devotion’s sacred flame our souls awake to praise thy name. Refrain: God of our strength, we wait on thee, our sure defense forever be. 2 To thee we lift our joyful eyes, to thee on wings of faith we rise. Come thou, and let thy courts on earth ring out thy praise in days of mirth. [Refrain] 3 God of our strength, from day to day direct our thoughts and guide our way. Oh, may our hearts united be in sweet communion, God, with thee. [Refrain] 4 God of our strength, on thee we call. God of our hope, our light, our all, thy name we praise, thy love adore, our rock, our shield, forevermore. [Refrain]  It was the opening song on Sunday; very fitting I thought, considering all that the last year had held. 2020 was not the best year of national events. My last post touched on a few of the main ones, if you took the time to read it. (and if you didn't, I'm in no way offended😁!!)  Bu...

  Hey all! Welcome back for part 2; mainly touching on the big events the world experienced in the last year. While some of the events are rather gloomy, its necessary to mention them prior to part 3. Come back in a few days for part 3!   The year started as most New Year's with the typical new years eve parties, staying up much past our bedtimes to see 2020 in. January was the same bleak winter month. The days were longer than December, but we were all eager for the warmer weather. February brought wind of an impending virus from East Asia. Coronavirus. What a strange word. A deadly respiratory illness that was killing thousands. The numbers grew; were they exaggerated? Maybe. We had no way of knowing. It crept into Europe; hospitals reported that they were overwhelmed.  March found the US citizens hoarding toilet paper and other paper supplies.  Then the US reported the first cases in Washington state. Like wildfire it spread Eastward. Soon NYC facilities we...