yay for friends! 

The Aladdin show...check out those lips! 

Another favorite...Indiana Jones! 

Rambaldi! 

Our all-time favorite ride...THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD!!! 

Allie and I on thunder mt. 

Allie on thunder mt. 

I love this picture... 

Iain looks like an old man...

Summer!!!

I will post about senior trip eventually...there's a lot to blog about but I don't feel like it right now. :)

I only have about six days left with my sister...for 4 years!! I can't believe it. If anyone has any ideas of fun things to do let me know! We're going to get our ears pierced together and see Mr. and Mrs. Smith when it comes out on the 10th. But other than that we don't have much planned. Oh...we might drive up to IKEA. Who knows.

It's summer! And I still don't have a job...ugh! please pray about the possible one at the children's place with kylea...I am going to call them today. I'll keep you posted.

I'm reading the Chronicles of Narnia this summer. Yahhoo! I want to read them BEFORE the movies start coming out...I made that mistake with the Lord of the Rings and now I am not as motivated to read them...alas.

I want to go on a road trip this summer!...i really want to go to the Gramd Canyon. Other than that I'm really up for montana :)...anyone? anyone?

We (my mom and I) bought our tickets for Hillsdale! We leave August 20th. I can't believe it! Aaaahh...I'm SO excited!

I now have to go pick up pictures at Wal-mart (from senior class picture day...woohoo) and drop hannah's graduation present off at her house (YAY!)

Have a fantastic day...all of you!
Andrea

I am graduated! I can't believe it....acck. I'm done with high school! It hasn't officially hit me yet. I think once I get back from senior trip it will and then again (big time) when I leave. I got all kinds of "college things" for graduation from my family...its so weird. But it was such a fun night...all full of excitement. Here are a few pictures...some of the party at Kyle's after also. yay!

Woohoo!

Yay! Me and Luker...

Hannah, Kyle, and I

Me and Allie!

Allie and Hannah dancing...

Me and Megan!

Last Night As Seniors

So...today was awesome. I had graduation rehersal from 1-3:15 (ish) and then allie, hannah, and I all went over to eat and hang out until Megan's. We went over to Megan's at six to watch Rob and Amber's wedding (from the Amazing Race). It was cute...despite the weird preacher guy, uugh. Then we went over to Allie's to watch the season finale of Alias (rather disappointing). It has gotten super wierd...I have no idea where they're going with things or how they will do things next season. Hopefully it will get better....?! It was good, just not very good. :)
After that (mark came over), we drove over to Kyle's and played the trunk game...stick someone in the trunk of Hannah's car, drive around to some place and make them guess the location. Allie and I went in it together (see picture below) and ended up at the Lovrien's. It was amazing but super scary. Then Kyle and Mark each did it a few times...It was a blast.
We went back to allie's to drop her off and then to kyle's. Hannah went home from there and I hung out with Mark and Kyle for a little bit while they played video games...:) Then they took me home.
It was such a fantastic night! A real blast! :) I must say...my last night as a senior was wonderful. I'm glad I got to spend it with good friends!

TODAY I graduate!!! AAACKK....


I love you hannah and allie...you're the coolest :)

Just hangin' out

Awww...

Allie and I IN THE TRUNK....yikes

On the road...crazy!!!

Kyle coming out of the trunk....a little confused

Sister Fun

Kristen and I had a night of sister fun last night! We went to Bookmans, summit hut (woot woot), the mall, the Gaslight (yay!), and target. Talk about F-U-N! I bought Billy Bragg and Wilco's Mermaid Avenue and I LOVE it. It is so, so good!
I love sister fun...sigh. There won't be too many more nights like that one before we both have to leave...sad. :(

Graduation tomorrow! I can't believe it....acck.

Nearing the End...

Baccalaurreate was yesterday! It was SO fun! Mr. Nielson's charge was "Don't be a Putz." With an acronym (sp?) for Putz...Graduation is coming soon...crazy!

Senior trip is a week from today! yahoo!!!..

Wow

Can I just say that Alias this past week was amazing?!...Alias this past week was amazing!!! It was like the old ones--so good! Yay for Irina...

Today was my last day of high school...AAAAH!! It's crazy. I have one final next week (math...blah) and that's all. Graduation on Thursday, yahoo!! I can't believe I'm done. I don't think the realization of it all has fully kicked in...My emotions about it fluctuate a lot. Weird.

I love you all!

Writing, writing, writing...

I'm trying to write my english paper...ugh! I really don't want to. I just want to sleep...sigh. I even slept almost 12 hours last night. I am so tired all the time! Wierd...
I suppose I should get back to that paper (blah!).

(A month ago today I was leaving with Advanced Bio. for California!!...woohoo)

Cravings

I am up late doing homework....and craving everything. I want olive garden breadsticks, red robin chicken fingers and french fries (YUM!). I want eegees french fries, chips and salsa from On the Border. Uuuh, I want Rex's Revenge from Beyond Bread. I am super hungry! Wow...i really get hungry when i'm up late. Wierd.
Anyhow...It's 1:30 and I'm about done so I think i'll be heading in the direction of my bed soon. Aaah, that sounds wonderful! :)

Oh, P.S. I love Shawn McDonald

WEDNESDAY'S ARE THE BEST!!!

So, now that I am officially off of my media fast I can tell you all about the wonderful adventure that Hannah and I had Wednesday night. It was SO FUN!!!
Ok. Since we couldn't watch Alias, Hannah and I decided to pull an "alias" prank on Mr. Dalton. We couldn't come up with anything super clever but we came up with something. We made him a plate of brownies and dressed all up in black to deliver them. We wanted to call, say "joey's pizza" and hang up, have a note on the door that he would find when we knocked, and then run away. The note on the door would be a clue that would lead to another, which would lead to another, which would eventually lead to the brownies (hiding somewhere in his yard). However, the brownies took longer than we had planned and it was getting late fast. We decided to call, say "joey's pizza, hang up, ring the door bell and be standing on the porch with the brownies.
When we got there, we were super excited and nervous. Hannah handed me her cell phone so I could call. Two people (a guy and girl) both picked up at the same time and said hello. It didn't sound like Mr. Dalton so I hung up. We walked to the door and saw a sign that said, "don't ring door bell, child may be sleeping." So, we knocked...and knocked...and knocked. We could hear them talking but no one would come. So we continued to knock and finally, when we both knocked loudly, Mr. Dalton answered. He was super surprised and very excited. We told him about our plan to call and it turns out I HAD called the right house...ugh! Oh well. We stayed a little while and talked with both him and Mrs. Dalton. They are lots of fun. It was a BLAST.
Though we weren't able to do something HUGE, it was still amazing--definitely an adventure we won't forget. I documented most of the night on my camera and posted a few pictures below. I love hannah so much and I love Alias. What a wonderful combination for a crazy, secret agent adventure!
(Yay for wearing black!!!)


Our humble gift to Mr. Dalton. BROWNIES!!

Yes, Hannah is driving while I'm taking the picture.

On the way to Mr. Dalton's...

Secret Agent style is right!!!

haha

crazy dad!

He cracks me up...

Popsicles and Expos...

So I am skimming through the new issue of the Christian Counter Culture newsletter. I don't have much time to read it right now...I am supposed to be working on putting together my final expo presentation tomorrow. However, I am currently looking for distractions! The first was eating a popsicle........mmm....I got my mom to buy some! There's even a joke on these ones....
Q: What were the two talkative computers doing?
A: They were having a disc-cussion
DUMB!...I could do better.
Anyhow, my second distraction was looking through all my friends' blogs hoping to find updated posts...sigh, not too many I'm afraid. So my third, and final distraction, I'm afraid, is posting on my own blog while looking through the new issue on the Christian Counter Culture site. Next month is about the Gospel. I am really very excited about it...

Mark turned to me in Christian Living today and said, "In about three and a half months we'll be in michigan." How weird is that?! I can't believe that in three and a half months all of us will be gone...and spread out all over the place. It's exciting but so weird. I already miss my family. :(

AND NOW...! A tribute to my sister...Today she is 23, woohoo! She feels rather discouraged because she isn't married yet. But I am holding out for a guy to come along this summer in oregon (keep your fingers crossed)! I love you Kristen and don't worry, he just needs to look harder! Perhaps I'll look harder too... :) Anyway, have a fantastic day and be excited that God has given you another year! I LOVE you!

I think that's everything. I really must go work on my power point (ugh). I'm ready to be done with this project!!

A Fantastic Night

Last night a bunch of us went over to Nathan's to watch E.T. (Nathan, Kylea, Darren, Katie, Hannah, Allie,Me, Isaac, Eric, Mark, Kyle B, Stacey, Susie). In actuality (much to our delight;)), we ended up watching X-men 2 (woohoo!) and it was so fun! Afterwards, we all went over to Mark's to watch Equilibrium (upon Kyle Baril's recommendation) and it was SO, so good! I love it!!!
It was an incredibly fun night with friends...woohoo for friends and fun!

ALIAS

Just some cool ALIAS pictures I wanted to share...I am very much in an alias mood right now....sigh.


Everyone! (season two)

Sidney...

woohoo Sark!

Marshall's the coolest :)

I miss Will!

6th Period

I'm sitting at school during a free period! ugh!! I wouldn't be here except that I am waiting for Mr. Kabel to grade my math test (yikes!). I'm hoping for a better grade than I have been getting lately....sigh. Math...bother! I have a C-in the class and hope to bring it up to a solid B before the end of the year (ehehe). So, we'll see.
That's all...
Andrea

Ouch!

I've been working on my advanced bio catalina island journal for almost two hours, while sitting on my bedroom floor. I've gone through approx. four cd's (some of them twice). My legs are officially cramped and it hurts so bad! When I stood up, I almost fell over...haHa.

Sigh...anyway, I've decided to quite on that project for the night. I can only handle so much tedious cutting out and pasting at one time. But I still have a few more journal responses to do as well as some "not so directed, directed notes" for english. Hmmm, I don't really want to do it but I've been in a strange mood today. I have done a fair amount of homework (nice) and feel like getting more done. I don't want to do the work but I want to get it done....Does this make sense to anyone but me?

I really want to watch a movie. Oooh, I want to watch Top Gun again...either that or While You Were Sleeping. I've had an urge to watch that one for a long time. Perhaps I'll get to it sometime this week...woohoo, what a wonderful movie.

Ok, this is getting long and boring so I'm outa here! See you all tomorrow...

Andrea

Friends are Cool

Today was wierd because I was exhausted and drained and not motivated at all but at the same time it was really cool. It was super layed back and spontaneous (which I like)...
Hannah and I went over to her house to watch While You Were Sleeping and eat swedish fish. We sat on her bed to watch it on her laptop (woohoo) but decided we didn't really want to watch it. So we didn't. We hung out for a little while and talked...Then, later on I was working on my advanced bio journal and Kyle B. called to see if I wanted to go with him and his sister to the fair. I did and it was so fun...We didn't really do a lot but it was fun to not do anything...and just hang out and walk around. I like making last minutes decisions to hang out with friends. And I like it when I can be with a good friend and decide not to watch a movie but to talk instead. Friends are cool.

I am going to miss days like this next year.

~Andrea

PS I'm really sad about it...

Just a Thought

I really like this song and as I was listening to it today (while trying to write a paper...blah) I decided I wanted to post it. So here it is, for all of you to enjoy :). But I think it would be perhaps more meaningful if you heard it...Oh well.

Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified
Follow Christ to the holy mountain
Sinner, sorry and wrecked by the fall
Cleanse your heart and your soul
In the fountain that flows
For you and for me and for all

At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me
Were atoned bu His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful scandalous night

On the hillside you will be delivered
At the foot of the cross, justified
And your spirit restored by the river that pours
From our blessed Savior's side

You carried the sin of mankind on your back
And the sky went black

Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified

In my senior Bible class we've been studying Romans 8. It has been so wonderful and has, for me, given a whole new meaning to this song. What a great Savior we serve.
Have a blessed day!

CATALINA ISLAND

I got back from Catalina Island last night (or rather this morning at 3:30). It was an amazing trip...full of fun times and relaxation. We saw so many super cool organisms! Marine life is incredible, I love it!

AND, during a live dissection lab I ate sea urchin gonads (otherwise known as testicles)....I know, sicko. I didn't know that's what they were when I tasted them but Mrs. Chandler said they were a delicacy in Japan and others were tasting it....So I said what the heck and tried it. It was rather gross but I am still super proud of the fact that I actually tried it! Maybe later I'll post a picture of the internal structure of the sea urchin and point it out for you. (Kristen, I'm one ahead on unusual foods...)

The trip was a blast and I am so glad I was able to go on it. There are so many stories but you'll just have to hear them in person because I don't want to right them all out. Oh, and I have a kazillion more pictures too...
these are just a few.

The whole gang

The dolphins!!! They were incredible!

Chris, Brian, and Isaac on the back deck

Kylea and Nathan before we got on the boat

Senioritis?...hmmmm

Obviously, as seniors, we are feeling ready to move on. We are getting excited, nervous, anxious, antsy, and hopeful. We are looking to the future, whether it be one at the U of A or out of town. We are feeling unsure and yet strangely ready to step into the next phase of our lives. Mr. O'Hair identifies the transition and, as he also mentions, so do we. Only we give it a different name: senioritis.

I don't deny the feelings that accompany this "transition." I too feel anxious and excited, ready and hopeful. However, I have recently been overwhelmed by the presence of great bitterness, laziness and rudeness, all hidden under the guise of "senioritis." Does feeling unsure and nervous, but also excited, give anyone the right to treat people badly? Mustn't we still press on, seeking to proclaim Christ in our daily living?

Paul wrote "To live is Christ and to die is gain" because it was true for him. He sought to live each day fully for the sake of Christ and the Kingdom. He lived to glorify God. For him, each day was a race. But he wasn't racing for a temporal prize. He was racing for the eternal--life in Christ and with Christ. To live is Christ.

I feel sad because I see people acting so bitter and angry. We aren't running with excellence anymore. And I AM NOT saying that we must get A's on all our work this quarter (or that we ever should have). That is not the point at all. I'm tired of people thinking that I am a goody goody who thinks doing your best means getting straight A's. If you think that then I'm sorry. I don't think you ever truly knew me.

Be excellent in your atittude, in your treatment of others, in your adherence to authority. Most of all, be excellent in your faith. I don't believe "senioritis" is permission to give up and throw authority and committment out the window. I know that there are many feelings associated with being a senior. I'm not immune to them. But I also believe that Christ still holds us to our higher calling. To live is Christ. So why aren't we living each day for Christ?

Woohoo! Luke in his kayak! He is amazingly cool because he likes to do things outdoors...like KAYAK.



Oh....and by the way....34 school days until graduation!!!! Even less because of the Catalina Island trip and no finals. yahoo! I am so extremely excited...

(I'm having lots of fun posting picures, can you tell?...)

This Just In!!!...

Derek Webb is releasing a live dvd on October 11, 2005. It has the song "Blood of the Lamb" on it (it is so good) along with many others. The dvd is called “How To Kill And Be Killed.” I am oh so excited.
If anyone wants to buy it for me, feel free! :)

SISTERS!!!

Glacier National Park 

Jars of Clay's new cd is AMAZING

I recommend it to everyone...This is one of my favorite songs on the cd (though there are many).

GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME (Psalm 51)
God be merciful to me on Thy grace, I rest my plea/Plenteous in compassion Thou/Blot out my transgressions now/Wash me, make me pure within/Cleanse, oh, cleanse me from my sin/My transgressions I confess/Grief anf guilt my soul oppress/I have sinned against Thy grace/And provoked Thee to Thy face/I confess Thy judgment just/Speechless, I , Thy mercy trust/I am evil born in sin/Thou desirest truth within/Thou alone my Savior art/Teach Thy wisdom to my heart/Make me pure, Thy grace bestow/Wash me whiter than the snow/Gracious God, my heart renew/Make my spirit right and true/Thy salvation's joy impart/Steadfast make my willing heart/Steadfast make my willing heart/Broken, humbled to the dust/By Thy wrath and judgment just/Let my contrite heart rejoice/And in gladness hear Thy voice/From my sins, oh, hide Thy face/Blot them out in boundless grace.

What a glorious, merciful, majestic God we serve!