Blogger Guest! :D

This is just a random picture I took at Fort Clatsop
while we were down at where Lewis & Clark landed their canoes.
 It has nothing to do with the post. :P

Hmm...I think writing must run in the family... :) I asked my brother, Maxwell, if I could post this story he wrote called "The Battle between Conscience and Will". He said I could, so you all are in for a treat this week! :D

I now present:

The Battle between Conscience and Will

John was walking down the road. The sun was shining, but he could still hear the gunfire behind him. It was the beginning of a Civil War; the War Between the States. There had been many Civil Wars throughout history, but this one would be known as THE Civil War because there where so many more people killed in it than the other ones.

John could remember, just that morning, being called to the front line while he was playing chess. He fingered the pawn in his pocket, which he had been holding when the news came, remembering that on his way to the front he realized that he was only a pawn too. What difference could he make in the battle?

       Being tired and hungry, John went into an inn and ordered some food. He sat down in a corner near two people playing chess. While waiting for his food he watched as one of the chess players was taking pawn after pawn from the other.

 His conscience was beginning to bother him.

“Your country needs you.” one voice said.

“It’s too dangerous!” another replied.

“If you all leave, then no one can protect your king.” The first voice insisted.

“The pawns can do nothing, as you just saw.” The second countered.

He ignored them both as he saw the innkeeper coming with his food.

 Then he suddenly realized that he was still holding his own pawn in his hand. With much more force than was needed, John threw the pawn across the room.

 His chess set would never be complete. He would never return to the battle. One of the pawns would always be missing. He would no longer be a pawn in the army. He was not in the army at all.

 While John ate, another game of chess was beginning. This game seemed somewhat closer. One of the pawns was being a lot of trouble. The champion of the previous game couldn’t get around it. Slowly his position collapsed and the new champion quickly plundered his enemy’s ranks, and checkmated the king.

 The voices returned to him.

“See, pawns can help.”

“But the high pieces were the ones who checkmated the king.”

“But it was the pawn who stopped his enemies from getting through.”

 John’s mental war was over, his conscience had won. Now determined, he walked over to the spot where his own pawn had rolled to a stop and picked it up. He would return it. The chess set would once again be complete.

MAXWELL EDDY       1/2015

********************************************

I thought this story was too good to pass up! :) He wrote it for a school assignment, but I wanted to post it just for fun, and for an audience to enjoy it.
How did you like it?

Cannon Beach

This was a herd of elk that was about 200 feet from our van! We were able to stop safely alongside the road and get some pictures. I circled the one bull elk. Can you see it's set of antlers?

Yes, I had a wonderful time! :) Yes, all the days  (except for the days we were travelling to and from Cannon Beach) had beautiful weather, and I hardly ever used my coat. It was great. Every evening, except the last day of course, we spent in the Conference Center's gym and played Ping-Pong, Volleyball, Football, Ultimate Frisbee, Pool, etc. We made new friends and I was able to add some PE hours to my school record! (Yay! :P)

Here's a quick overview of how our week went:

Day 1: We mostly traveled this day, but we did stop at Fort Clatsop and look around. I got some good pictures, and got some pictures taken of me too.


This is a statue of Sacagawea, friend and interpreter for Lewis & Clark
during their expeditions. I couldn't help getting in there and taking a
picture beside her. She doesn't make me feel short! :P

This is a picture of Fort Clatsop from the outside. It's not very big is it?
Can you imagine having to spend a Washington winter in that?
Sounds and looks miserable to me!

 

Here's some more pictures of the fort:

 

  

 

 

 

This was where Lewis & Clark landed in their canoes.

 

This photo was hard not to photo bomb... :P

 

Day 2: This was our shopping in Cannon Beach/walking down to Haystack Rock day, and that's exactly what we did. (Surprise! :) Here's some pictures.

Shopping with the family, so we
stopped for a quick picture.

Ocean in view, oh the joy! :)



There's everyone looking at stuff in the tide pools.



There I am, on Haystack Rock! :)
My hair was not behaving itself and kept insisting on
being a lion's mane. :P

Yes, I'm posing. :P

Day 3: We hopped in the van and drove to Seaside to do some shopping there as well as doing the arcade games and eating lunch at Fultano's. (Their pizza is pretty good, but I still am bias towards Sarah's. :P)

Day 4: Last day in Cannon Beach. :( We pretty much spent that day packing everything back up into the van and driving home. Nothing very exciting.



I don't look at all like a crane, do I? :P

I'm always sad to go home after having so much fun on vacations, but once we're packed up and on our way, usually I find out how exhausted I really am. Then I'm glad we're on our way home. :)

God bless your week, and I hope you enjoyed having a quick peek into our vacation! :)

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggidy, Jig

Yay! I'm so glad to be back! I'll be posting about my vacation in the next post, but I thought I'd say a quick "Hi" today right after we arrived home and unpacked. I'll give you more pictures in my next post too, but for now, I'm just going to post what is going to be my new blogger picture! :D
Thank you Mom for taking it. :P

 

My New Year Resolutions

I haven't got a lot of them, but I thought I might as well write down some of the ones I did make and ask you: Did you make New Year Resolutions? If so, what were they?

Here's mine:

1: Read through the Bible in a year with other people from our church
2: Grow closer to God and my family
3: Get better at driving and learn to drive our family's twelve passenger van
4: Be a little better about keeping my belongings organized
5: Start buying my own clothes and shoes on a regular basis
6: Finish writing at least one of my books, hopefully more
7: Get it/them self-published
8: Make new friends
9: Finish math! (forever!)

Welcome 2015!

 

Honestly, I am very excited to see this New Year finally here. Not only will I be turning 17 years old (!) :), but there are so many other things to look forward to as well!

 I am thrilled to say that my walk with God has only grown closer as I grow older. I have never doubted that He is always by my side. Whenever I pray I feel that He merely hears and understands, but that He will answer my prayers according to what is best for me.

 My relationships with family are good, but definitely could be better. Especially with my younger siblings. I tend to think of them as “little kids” and forget that they are growing up too and need to start being treated like they’ll eventually be a teenager like me. :) I’m very close with my older sisters and pretty close with my oldest brother, and I’ve been working on improving my relationship with my younger brothers, Max and David. My younger but a whole lot taller brother, Maxwell, and my younger and still a little shorter brother, David, both love football and are always asking me to come outside and play with them. I’ve been trying to say “yes” more often than “no, I’m busy right now”.

 I’ve been very blessed with wonderful, Christian friends, mostly from our church, but this last year I made some online friends. These girls have really encouraged me and even helped me strengthen my relationship with God and my family by challenging me with questions about my faith and what the everyday life of a pastor’s daughter is like. They made me have to really think about why I believe what I believe and what I should do to apply what I believe to everyday life.

 Of course, there are many challenges that come with being a pastor’s daughter, but God has been faithful in leading me through all of them so far, and I trust and pray that He will continue to do so in the future. :)

 One of these challenges is not judging other people, (which, I am sorry to say I have a difficult time not doing). I found this verse helpful:

Romans 14:13

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or cause a fall in our brother’s way.

And another wonderful passage that encouraged me this last year:

Romans 15:4-6

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Also, I need to keep in mind that:

Romans 14:18

For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

 God bless you all! Enjoy the year 2015!! :)

 

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all have/had a wonderful Christmas celebration this morning! :) I know our family had a great time together. I wrote a poem a couple days ago, and I thought I'd share it with you all! It gives you a small picture of what Christmas morning in the Eddy house is like as well as sharing the deeper meaning of this holiday.
Enjoy! :)

I call this:

Christmas Morning:

Christmas morning dawns bright and clear,

The yells of siblings in my ear.

A pillow can’t block out the noise,

Of screaming girls and yelling boys.

“Come on, wake up, and come downstairs!”

Aren’t they in bed with teddy bears?

Finally I’m dragged from bed,

First my feet and then my head.

Propped on a couch with blinking eyes

Each present filled with a surprise.

Wrapping paper and bows galore,

Excitement mounts up more and more.

Thanking my parents, giving hugs,

Footballs, jewelry, toys, and mugs.

Suddenly the hubbub ceases,

And finally quiet increases.

All us kids look up at Dad,

Who smiling, opens his iPad.

“Luke chapter two,” the story starts,

How Jesus came to save our hearts.

We listen, and the story we’re told,

The story that will not grow old.

Jesus, who came to save us all,

A better gift than mug or ball.

Only ask and if you believe,

Then this great gift you will receive.

Jesus will make your heart his home,

Never will you be all alone.

Victory in  Him, the battle won,

God loved us, so He sent His Son,

Who died on a cross with our sin,

Rising from the dead, so we will win.

This Christmas as you celebrate,

Don’t forget to love, not hate.

Like Jesus when he came to earth

From throne above to humble birth.

God bless you all through this next year,

Remember that God’s with us here.

Merry Christmas!
~Rebekah Eddy

Isaiah 9:6

Almost Christmas!

Only five days to go! I'm so, so, SO excited!!!!! (Can you tell? :P) And not because I get to spend time with my family that morning opening up presents, but because it is the celebration for Christ's birth! Unfortunately, we probably will be having a green Christmas...as usual...up here in Western Washington, but hey, God might give us a miracle! :P
Just for fun, I thought I'd post a Christmas song played by one of my favorite YouTube artists, The PianoGuys. Actually, just Thursday night we, (Mom, Dad, Andrew, Sarah, Margaret and I) got to go to a live concert by them in Seattle! It was AWESOME!!!
Enjoy a little "Merry Christmas" from the PianoGuys! :) God Bless!

Praise! :D

I passed the written test! :) And I now have my driver's permit! So excited! :D

Thank you for your prayers! :)

A Thanksgiving Tradition

Sorry I'm a little late with a thanksgiving post but our family is usually pretty busy on the actual holiday because of how much food we have to prepare... :P But anyways, here's my thanksgiving post, and I apologize for having it be late. :)

We have tradition of giving a "Thanks for being an awesome sibling" gift to a selected sibling every year. At the end of October when Mom puts all our kids names in a hat, one by one, each of us draws out a name of a sibling. That name is who we get to buy a special present, usually something small but something we think that they would enjoy. Our price limit, depending on age, is anywhere between  about $10 and $20.
 For example, this year I drew Samuel, my youngest brother. He's pretty easy to buy for because he loves what I call "boy toys": cars, airplanes, and army guys. :) I chose a Stunt Squadron Kit, which is five foam airplanes that he could decorate himself with stickers and then throw outside in our field. He loved it! (Score for big sis! :D)
Also, when we give them their gift Thanksgiving Day morning, we have to tell them a couple reasons why we're thankful to them. My reason to Sam was: "Thanks so much for always being cheerful. Even when the rest of us are having a bad day, a simple smile from you can make us forget our grumpiness."

To end my post, I thought I'd put down why I'm thankful for each of my family members.

Dad: You're the most awesome Dad EVER! :) I'm so thankful God chose to put me in this family and gave me the privilege to be your daughter. It's so fun to have a pastor for a dad.

Mom: What an example you are to me. I have learned so much from your teaching, and not only from you homeschooling me. You've taught me pretty much all I know about cleaning the kitchen as well as baking and cooking.

Andrew: My favorite older brother! :P Of course, you are my only one...but back to the subject: Thanks to you for being a protector. I always feel safe around you, and it's so fun to go to your house and watch a movie with you! Those memories I will treasure always.

Sarah: You are such a great older sister. You've given so much time into checking my stories and helping me edit them and making them easier to read. My books would never be completely perfect without your help.

Margaret: Your love for music has really helped me want to advance my piano playing skills. Your sense of humor and "Eeyore" moods make me laugh. Even your dislike of emoticons you can put in such funny ways that no one ever feels offended when you critique their work. :) (sorry, I just had to have an emoticon after that... :P and there's another one...)

Maxwell: Having a brother that loves sports is great for me, because otherwise, I'd probably end up spending all my days inside writing a story or reading! I know this sounds kind of funny, but thanks for loving football! :)

David Clayton: Thanks so much for being a willing worker. I love how you seem to enjoy doing work that others complain about. :) You are always showing interest in other people's hobbies and have an easy time making friends.

Tabitha: What a big girl you're growing up to be. I'm thankful that you've begun helping us older girls in the kitchen and can stay up later to join us in watching girl movies. It's also fun to watch you maturing into a godly young lady with a heart for God.

Marta: Littlest sister, you're getting to be a "big girl" too! Don't grow up to fast, I like you just the way you are! :D A little bit of a tom boy, you remind me of how I was when I was your age.

William: I love you so much! You make me laugh with all the funny, and sometimes remarkably true, sayings you tell us all. Thanks for being such a good learner and always being willing to listen to me read my stories out loud.

Samuel: Youngest sibling, your cheerful smile makes me smile too, even when I'm having a bad day. You are always happy and easy to please. It was so fun to see your face light up when I gave you those planes. Love you so much!

Of course, I'm thankful for so much more, but I'd never be able to write them all down in one blog post, so I'll just say that there are a lot of things I'm thankful for.

Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow!!
And I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! :)

Art?

As something completely random...(after all, I have to live up to my blog name right? :P)...I decided that for this weeks post I would show you some of my 'not very good' pictures that I drew. Well, I take that back...the horse and unicorn are alright, but I'm afraid that people are NOT my strong point when it comes to drawing! :)
Hopefully you'll enjoy these pictures despite the bad quality. I'll label each of them just in case you wouldn't be able to identify what I was trying to draw. :P
Here you go:


A girl.

This is a horse. :)

A Unicorn, my second favorite animal. :)

Princess...hmm...I haven't figured out a name for her yet. Will you help?

How do you like the pictures? Are they ok, despite not being very realistic? :)

God bless your next week!
 *Job 39:19-25. :P

Horses & the Bible

Most of you should know that I LOVE horses, and because of this, out of curiosity I looked up how many times the words "horse" and "horses" were in  the Bible. I have to admit I was surprised to see how many times they were in it. For instance, the word "horse" is found exactly 41 times, and the word "horses" is found an additional 105 times! Cool huh?  Another interesting fact: those words are only found in the old testament and Revelations. None of the other New Testament books have them!
I thought this was very interesting.
I could give you all the passages, but that would be kind of useless, so I'll stick to just giving you my absolute favorite passage in the Bible: Job 39:19-25. In this passage, God basically tells Job how awesome horses are. (Which is why it's my favorite passage... :P)

Job 39:19-25: (NKJV)

19: "Have you given the horse strength?
Have you clothed his neck with thunder?
20: Can you frighten him like a locust?
His majestic snorting strikes terror.
21: He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
He gallops into the clash of arms.
22: He mocks at fear, and is not frightened;
Nor does he turn back from the sword.
23: The quiver rattles against him,
the glittering spear and javelin.
24: He devours the distance with fierceness and rage;
Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
25: At the blast of the trumpet he says 'Aha!'
He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.

See? Isn't that awesome? Sometimes people skim through Job because they can't understand it, but never, EVER do that! Golden verses hide in every corner of scripture. I have to confess that I didn't even realize that this passage was in the Bible until I was about 13 years old. Imagine how many other verses I must have missed that could change my life! Never again do I skip over sections that seem like they don't apply to me, or may not be very interesting.

God bless your week! :D