Hastings Haven

I'm Moving!

2010-01-21T21:48:00.004-06:00

Well, I’m moving my blog at least. :-)

A few days ago, Hastings Haven “celebrated” its 4th year anniversary marking its existence. Of course, I didn’t use it much in the beginning-in fact I kept it a secret for the first 6 months and kept a friend of mine in suspense over “a surprise I had”. *laughs at the memory* Oh, the days of being 12.

I actually never ended up blogging regularly, especially as of late, but my blog’s generator, Blogger, has served well over the years. Blogger was a quick, simple way to get started in the blogging world-which was especially important to me since I hardly knew anyone in cyberspace at the time!

4 years and 128 posts later, I think it’s time for a change. And that comes in the form of:
jibenow.com/christinahastings

What is JibeNow? It’s an awesome, new place to host your blog with the tools of Wordpress (better than Blogger in my opinion), the functions of Twitter and Facebook, and the community of Homeschool Blogger! Yes, it was made with home-schoolers in mind although you don’t necessarily have to be a home-schooler to use it. You can check out JibeNow for yourself: www.jibenow.com

There’s actually going to be an official “Blog Swap Day” on February 1st, but I decided to go ahead and switch my blog ahead of time to let y’all know about it. To create a JibeNow blog, you have to be invited, so if you’re interested in joining, then comment on my new blog or email me.

If you have this blog’s url on an RSS feed reader or a blog sidebar or something similar, there’s not much use in keeping this link because I won’t be posting here anymore and my archives are all on my new blog. Instead, you can update to my new blog’s address: jibenow.com/christinahastings

Silent Prayer March

2010-01-17T23:30:00.002-06:00

Please pray for the silent prayer march in Houston tomorrow starting at 9:30am which my brother, some of my friends, and hopefully thousands of others will be attending. The march comes as a response to Planned Parenthood’s construction of the second largest abortion facility in the world. Watch this and please pray:

I've been thinking some more... (Part 2)

2010-01-06T18:09:00.004-06:00

I want to be like the people I hear about in foreign countries who just shine Jesus. Sure, there are some people like that here in America, but I think they're few and far between. So is it the absence of nice things that makes these Christians so joyful?

No.

But it's related. Because when they are stripped of the things I see as necessities in ordinary life, they are also stripped of the distractions I find in everyday life. Then they see Jesus more purely. They love Jesus in ways I can't imagine. Because it's not in spite of, but because of hardships that they know Him more intimately. They're forced to rely on Him. They have such joy because they are clinging to Jesus-and only Him.

We become amazed by the happiness of someone, not because they are rich and happy-that's expected-but because they are poor and happy. Perhaps suffering makes Christ shine brighter to the world because it magnifies the difference between the response of a dying person with joy and a healthy person with joy? Which person would make you stop and examine where their hope in life lies?

I have been so blind. Blind to what really matters in life. Who cares how popular someone is or what talents they have or what they can do? Why did it matter what kind of car someone drives or the clothes they wear? It shouldn't. God is beginning to open my eyes... again. I remember God opening my eyes before, but I think I closed them during the past few months. When I close my eyes, I don't even remember the fact that I ever did see at all! Otherwise, if I remembered, I wouldn't be content to be blind, and I would ask God to open my eyes again which in His forgiving grace He would. But, no, instead I unconsciously shut my eyes and forget about what really matters in life...

In America, it's almost as if I get a diluted Jesus instead of the pure version. Jesus is mixed in my life with so many other things. Activities, possessions, work, education, friends, adventures--they're not terrible things, but they can so easily distract me. And I mean so easily.

"We simply take life and breath and health and friends and everything for granted. We think it is ours by right. But... apart from the death of Christ, sinners get nothing but judgment. Apart from the cross of Christ, there is only condemnation. Therefore everything that you enjoy in Christ - as a Christian, as a person who trusts Christ - is owing to the death of Christ."

~John Piper

Money isn't evil. It can be a wonderful blessing. However, the love of money leads to all sorts of evil. I'm convinced that this should be our perspective on money:

"Wise people know that all their money belongs to God and should be used to show that God, and not money, is their treasure, their comfort, their joy, and their security…."

~Piper

When my eyes are finally opened again, my memory awakes. And I remember what I knew all along: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth... But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

I've been thinking...

2009-12-19T11:23:00.010-06:00

"But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" -Gal 6:14

What would it look like if I really did only boast in the cross?

But even though I know I should boast only in the cross, why is it that I don't?

What if I was stripped away of everything in life except Jesus?

I picture what it would be like if I was on the streets, no money, no family, no friends, no books, no activities, no popularity, (no computer! ;-D), nothing... except Jesus. I wish I could say otherwise, but truth is, I don't feel a lightning bolt shock me because I can't actually comprehend what my life would be like. It would just be so different.

But sometimes I want my life, especially my spiritual life, to be so different. Would this kind of change actually be a radical awakening to spiritual heights I never dreamed of?

Recently I was listening to K. P. Yohannan, founder of Gospel For Asia, give a report of the work Christ is doing in Asia. What I imagined about myself two paragraphs above doesn't even begin to touch on the conditions Christians live in over there. And on top of the dire physical straits, add intense persecution.

Yet, as Yohanann claims, these Christians are filled with deep joy. That's what I've been thinking about. Is there something about having fewer material possessions and conveniences that bolsters them to a stronger relationship with Jesus?

This is Part 1. In Part 2, I'll answer my last question...

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Photo credit: Wonderlane and pedrosimoes7

Looking Forward

2009-10-14T00:00:00.003-05:00

When I was little I thought that 16 was the perfect age to be. 'Twas the oldest you could be while still being a kid. 17 was too close to the threshold of being an adult. 16 was perfect...

But I've learned some things since I was little.

Responsibility does not start when I'm 18. I will not all of a sudden "get a life" when a diploma is handed to me. Responsibility starts now. History is filled with people who accomplished great things when they were still in their teens. Why is it that now our culture is filled with "kidults", people in their late 20s and even 30s who want to keep living their lives free of grown-up duties?

Even though some might say that I'm only 16 so I still have the right to be immature and irresponsible, I don't want to be like that.

My generation is called to so much more than simply "getting by".

16 is old enough to make a meal to feed the homeless. 16 is old enough to have a holy ambition and act upon it. 16 is old enough to dive deep into God's word and experience the truth of who He is personally instead of taking someone else's word for it.

Today, I turn 16. Questions stretch out before me. I'm not simply talking about the questions "What will I do in 2 years? 5 years? 10 years?" No, more specifically, I'm thinking about questions that must be answered imminently and with actions. What will I do to bless others while I'm 16? What will I do to grow in my relationship with Christ this coming year? What will I do now to make a difference?

God, please grant me the grace and wisdom to walk in ways pleasing to You this coming year.

Humility Objectified

2009-09-23T00:05:00.006-05:00

"The conductor Leonard Bernstein was once asked, 'What is the most difficult instrument to play?'

'Second Violin,' he replied, 'Because everyone wants to be first violinist.'

Of course the first violin gets to play more interesting parts and commands more attention. But as Bernstein went on to explain,

'It's hard to find someone who wants to play second violin and to do so with the same enthusiasm. But without the second violin, there is no harmony.' "

-- Matt Redman in The Heart of Worship

So it is with all of life. It's hard to find someone who wants to take a secondary task and do so with the same enthusiasm. "But without the second violin, there is no harmony."

Up-The Movie

2009-08-02T21:18:00.007-05:00

For my parents' 25th anniversary, they went on a very romantic date to eat dinner and catch a movie. The film of choice? None other than:

UP, the newest Pixar release! (Pretty romantic, huh? ;-) )

If I had to describe the movie in one word, I would choose the word "sweet". Everything about it was just bursting with sweetness! The little boy, Russell, was insanely cute in my opinion. If he were an animal, I think he'd be a panda bear. Oh, I wish I could squeeze him in a tight hug! I mean, just look at him:

Seriously though, I think it was the perfect movie for my parents to watch on their anniversary because it was saturated with the truth that marriage and family are important. All the other Pixar films I've watched have had romance in them between a guy and a girl who fall in love. Apparently, it seems that anything has the capacity for romance: cars, toys, monsters, bugs, even robots! UP has romance too, but I love it so much because it happens after they're married. They always remain so in love. He's deeply loyal to her and his promise to her. It's beautiful.

After reflecting on why I like UP so much, I've concluded it's because of the prevalent theme of loyalty. Yet it's more than that. It's whom the main character is loyal towards. Not to his house. Or his possessions. But to his wife and the boy. My favorite line in the entire film is: "It's just a house." Because of that message, UP is my new favorite Pixar film. And now, there's a whole new meaning to the phrase "What's UP?" :-)

Cool Calvin Clips

2009-07-10T00:22:00.002-05:00

I'm not really sure what's special about 500th birthdays if the person isn't living (I wouldn't get one of these), but John Calvin has some great quotes that I thought I'd share on his 500th birthday.

“Whoever is not satisfied with Christ alone, strives after something beyond absolute perfection.”

“The aim of everything is the sanctifying of God’s name.”

“As God, Christ is the destination to which we move; as man, the path by which we go.”

"The torture of a bad conscience is the hell of a living soul".

"There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice."

"There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence."

Interestingly, I found an article from TIME magazine about Calvinism Changing the World.

And here's a picture of him:

Oh whoops, wrong Calvin!

And the Romance Still Rumbles

2009-07-07T22:08:00.014-05:00

25 years ago today, my dad went to his best friend's wedding.

25 years ago today, my dad's best friend married him!

The following is a re-post of what I wrote on my brother's blog 1 year ago to commemorate my parent's 24th anniversary (with a few edits to adjust for this anniversary):

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Once upon a time, there was a boy named Pat and a girl named Ganya, and they met each other while in college because they both attended Arlington Chinese Church in... well... Arlington. After a couple of years, he fell in love with her, proposed, she said yes, and *POOF*, what do you know, they were engaged!!! I'm sure you've guessed by now that they were married 25 years ago on July 7th, 1984. Their love story is very humorous and intriguing, and if I had time I'd tell you more, but here are the highlights simply of the wedding:

My mom wanted to have a Christian wedding in front of her family so they decided to get married in Thailand.
However, there were no Christian churches in her hometown since most people were Buddhist so they got married in the market place.
The ceremony was in Thai, and my dad only knows a little Thai, so his Best Man/fiance's brother who spoke broken English would tell him every once in a while what the preacher was saying such as "De preacher say very good words" and "Put de ring on her finger". The best one of all was at the very end when he nonchalantly told my dad, "Okay, you married now".
The same uncle drove my parents to their honeymoon spot, but on the way they were in a car wreck and my mom was knocked out. When she came to, she looked at my dad, and asked "What are you doing here?" And they had just gotten married a few hours before!
None of my dad's family was present for the Thailand wedding so in September they had another wedding ceremony in Arlington. Hence, they actually have two wedding anniversaries (but only the first one counted ;-) )
The best news is that my mom's mother, or "Amah" which is Thai for grandmother, become a Christian largely as a result of my parent's wedding!

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Happy 25th Anniversary! Thank you for being the amazing parents that you are. May your coming years of marriage be filled with the peace, joy, and love of Christ. And may the romance still rumble...

Fish With Trish

2009-06-08T10:38:00.004-05:00

At the conference, I met an incredible woman named Trisha Ramos working at the booth for Way of The Master ministries. Even though I was only able to talk to her for a few minutes, I could tell that she is so on fire to spread the gospel. Trisha encouraged me to share my faith and tell other people the good news. She even gave me a few tracks to get me started. Check out her website: www.fishwithtrish.com

Here we are in front of her booth:

Beauty From the Heart Conference (my recap for girls)

2009-06-06T11:57:00.007-05:00

(Note: This post is written for girls.)

Encouraging. That's the number 1 word I would use to describe my experience at the Beauty from the Heart Conference. Even though we drove four hours to get there, it was completely worth it for me, and I'm so glad I went. To give you a taste, I'm going to share my notes from the first session given by Hannah Farver because it kind of set the tone for approaching the topic of Beauty from the Heart.

Session 1: Physical Beauty

Ideas of what's beautiful change over time and culture.

Hannah showed pictures of "celebrities" from decades ago. Man, they look very different from today's celebrities, but at the time they were acclaimed by society as "beautiful". Today, our culture says tanned and thin are in, but Asian girls use whitening lotion and, at one time, African girls were force fed by their families because being fat was considered "beautiful". This led to heart diseases and other health problems. I think that's very interesting considering the current eating disorders in America that are the opposite of that but also lead to health problems.

Beauty doesn't satisfy anyone.

She read quotes from 3 top actresses and models who were all unhappy with the way they looked. Even though the world acclaimed them as some of the most "beautiful" people in the world, they were still insecure and unsatisfied.

Beauty doesn't last.

Four pictures were displayed: one of Elizabeth Taylor from when she was a top star in her youth alongside a picture of how she looks now and another set of Audrey Hepburn as a young woman and Hepburn years later. The difference over time is startling. When they aged, they look similar to many of the older women I know today.

God chose your genes.

God made you the way He did for a purpose. You look the way you do because it pleased Him. After Hannah read from Ps. 139:14-16 where the Bible says that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made", she said that she had heard this verse all her life but she wondered why she still had problems with acting like she believed it. She ended her session by asking,

"Why do we still have doubts that we are wonderfully made?
Why do we put so much weight on the world's beauty checklist?
Why do we compare ourselves with models and actresses?
(And this one was the most convicting:) Why don't we care about what the God of the Universe thinks of us?"

__________________________________

As you can tell, it was a very good talk. The following session was my favorite, and it answered those last questions Hannah asked. It was the cornerstone for the entire conference. Really, it was about the cornerstone for all of life.

It was about the Gospel.

Check out: www.beautyfromtheheart.org, and stay tuned...

I'm in Dallas

2009-06-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

Today I'm attending the Beauty From The Heart Conference in Dallas. I'm very excited!

Why didn't we learn?

2009-06-04T10:03:00.005-05:00

I just read the latest World magazine which featured an article on Tienanmen Square because today is the 20th anniversary of the event. Even while depicting the horrible atrocities, the article drove in the point that one of the worst days in China's history became a turning point for the growth of Christianity in China. The number of Christians in China has skyrocketed from just a few decades ago and continues to grow today. Some commentators point to the Chinese people becoming disillusioned with the system of democracy as part of the reason for the rise. Perhaps the Chinese placed their hopes in democracy to save them from an oppressive Communist regime which would thus solve the problems in their lives. But they realized on that day when their emboldened protests came to a bloody and violent stop, that a new government system did not hold all the answers. Only Christ could make things right.

Further on in the magazine, I read another article about an exhibit in New York on “French literature during the Holocaust.” It talked about the corrupt horrors committed in France and the feeling of Antisemitism that still haunts humanity today.

My question is, “Why didn't WW1 and 2 start a Christian revolution and revival?”. After experiencing all of that evilness at the hand of men, why didn't we learn like the Chinese that the only hope in the world is Christ? Why does it seem like Christianity in America has taken a downturn since the mid-20th century? Why did we find, a couple decades later, a generation of rebellion?

When I was little, I hated hearing the news. It was just too scary and I wanted to stay in the happy, innocent world I knew where the worst problem was how to get back at my annoying brother for teasing me. I hated those glimpses of a bigger world that only seemed to have troubles and more troubles. My view was that everyone was sad and depressed because no one knew how to fix anything right. But now that I'm older, I see more clearly not only how naive I was, but, ironically, I also see how my childish perception caught much of the truth of reality. The world does have a lot of problems, mankind can't solve them, and people are scared. But I was ignorant of the fact that I don't need to be scared.

Now, by seeing this senseless violence, I better understand the extent of how depraved our world is. And I think it's right to understand that because in the midst of human hopelessness, Christ shines brighter. He is Sovereign. He is all-powerful. He is our Answer.

Enabling Comments

2009-06-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

It's the beginning of June and time for a change. Under the encouragement of some friends, I've enabled comments for Hastings Haven. I disabled comments near the beginning of this blog, and recently I've been thinking about allowing comments, but was hesitant for two reasons:

1. It might become another way to spend too much time on the computer.

2. I should write for an audience of One.

But here's what I've decided (at least at this point).

1. I told one of my friends this first reason, and she said that comments are one of those things that are not bad in and of themselves. Rather, as she noted, "It's all in what you make of it". I think that's very true. So I'm going to give commenting a chance, and if it does end up being a time distraction, I'll disable them again.

2. I think everyone should always do things for an audience of One. But I still have so very much to learn, and as the Body of Christ, we can help each other grow stronger. As long as comments are used to "build each other up" (1 Thess. 5:11) and don't tear one another down, I think that comments can be used to edify and encourage.

With all that said, you are welcome to comment! Even if you just want to say "Hi", I'm always happy to hear from you.

How Twins Are Made

2009-04-16T16:06:00.002-05:00

Worship

2009-04-04T11:35:00.016-05:00

Worship: An expression overflowing from a delight in the Soveriegn goodness of the Father, the forgiving love of Jesus Christ, and the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit.

Oh Lord, You are so wonderful to us all.

One year ago today...

2009-02-12T19:43:00.006-06:00

One year ago today, a special part of my life died. The woman who taught me how to read and helped shape my worldview breathed her last breath on earth, and life as I knew it would forever change. February 12 might be just another day for many, but for me it holds a deeper meaning--the anniversary of a bygone saint: my grandmother, Virginia “Granny” Hastings.

A wash of memories has poured over me today. I see myself washing the dishes with her, arguing across the table with my brother Paul while she would listen in and occasionally referee, showing her the books someone gave me, complaining that fractions are too hard, playing my new game with her, receiving a reminder to practice piano, ranting about the travails of growing up as she patiently listened, watching her dice tomatoes, re-living the weekend as I told her about my most recent adventures, riding to my weekly piano lesson, watching Antiques Roadshow together, listening to her tell stories about her life as a little girl. The memories extend for years...

My grandma was more than my cook, cleaner, home school teacher, babysitter, and even more than just my grandma. She was one of my best friends. I write this as I sit in the house where she lived. The house where I would come over and eat her home-cooked scrambled eggs in the morning, run to when I had a hurting boo-boo, a new joke, a funny idea, a hard math problem, a new dress, or gum in my hair. And one year ago, it was here where I sat in the rocker by my grandma’s hospice bed, listening to her breaths strain for more air as her lungs failed her, the feeding tube automatically cranking in more food from time to time, the gentle hum of the oxygen tank providing pure oxygen through the tube. Gradually her breathing slowed and then stopped altogether. There was no need for the machines anymore so we turned them off around 6:30 p.m. One year ago.

Life is different without Granny around. No more kisses on my “ouch”ies. Two less listening ears to share my thoughts. I miss the hugs. I miss all of her.

Nevertheless, God has been faithful, and I’ve come to find a new kind of normal.

While I was writing this, the phone in her house just rang. Only my family calls this phone anymore, so I picked it up expecting my mom or dad.

“Hello?”

“Hi, this is Jeff with Feature Films for Families. Is Virginia there?”

“Um, well, she’s…"

Talk about awkward. What am I supposed to say?

“She’s unavailable.”

“Well, I’ll just call back another time.”

"Actually, she won’t be avail…”

“Thank you.” Click.

You can call again, Jeff, but she will never pick up the phone.

I’m only now beginning to realize the effects of one of my grandma’s actions: her prayers for me. I always knew she did that, but I never gave it that much thought. The fruit of those prayers will continue to reap a harvest long after she’s gone. And now I can’t even begin to thank her. Literally, I can’t. At least not face to face.

Learning from the past can be difficult to do because there’s a question necessary to ask, but hard to answer. Do I wish I had done things differently? Sure, I do wish some things had been different. I think the answer anyone would give if they were honest with themselves is “Yes”. And I’m no exception. Now I see things that sometimes I lacked in showing her: respect, compassion, obedience, patience, and understanding. At times, I assumed she just wouldn’t understand what was happening so I wouldn’t bother to explain.

What does it mean to live with no regrets? There are no more chances to do it over again with Granny. But as long as there are others in my life, there’s still opportunity for change.

The greatest lesson I learned is not one my grandma verbally told me, but one that her life and my life shared. No one is ever too old or too young to influence someone else’s life. For all of you current and future grandparents, you don’t have to be a see-you-on-the-holidays-grandparent, but instead you can be involved in the greatest treasure God has given you--your posterity. My grandparents made the choice to live close by to their grandkids, whether or not that made their life easier or harder. And by doing so, they became the molders that shaped the next generation, because my brothers and I are the ones who remain even after their lives on earth have come to an end. I can never thank them enough for the lessons taught, the memories given, and the legacy passed on--simply by being there for me.

One year ago today, my grandma died. But that’s not how I think of it. One year ago today, my grandma finished the work on earth that God had for her to do, and then she went to her real home to be with Jesus.

Pray for Tyler Farver

2009-01-17T22:40:00.008-06:00

My fellow Rebelutionary, NCFCA competitor, and dear friend Hannah Farver has requested prayer for her brother, Tyler. Apparently, he was in an ATV accident this morning (January 17th), and is in an extremely serious condition. To follow Tyler's progress and read more updates, you can visit Hannah's blog: www.beautyfromtheheart.org/2009/01/urgent-prayer-request.html.

"But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love..." Psalm 33:18

Mary's Dream

2008-12-25T00:03:00.004-06:00

Mary's Dream ~Author Unknown

"I had a dream, Joseph, I don't understand it, not really, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son. I think that was what it was all about. The people had been preparing for it for about six weeks. They had decorated the house and bought new clothes. They'd gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts. It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren't for our Son.

"They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree. Yes, a tree, Joseph, right in their house. They'd decorated the tree also. The branches were full of glowing balls and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on the top of the tree. It looked like an angel might look. Oh, it was beautiful.

"Everyone was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the gifts. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our Son. I don't think they even knew Him. They never mentioned His name. Doesn't it seem odd for people to go to all that trouble to celebrate someone's birthday if they don't know Him?

"I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration He would have been intruding. Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone so full of cheer, but it made me want to cry. How sad for Jesus - not to be wanted at His own birthday celebration.

"I'm glad it was only a dream. How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real."

The Enemy of Thankgiving

2008-11-27T09:03:00.007-06:00

There is a very devious enemy who revels in residing inside a person's heart undetected to the victim. It wages battle every day against you and me. When this enemy wins even a bit of ground, it's hard to truly be grateful for what God has given us. It hinders authentic thanksgiving.

Our foe's name is Pride. Even while God has extended the riches of His grace to a sinful humanity, nevertheless we cannot seem to comprehend or appreciate what that means because of a pride-filled heart. For some the question pertains to "Why do I need a Savior when I'm as good as I am?", but for most Christians pride manifests itself through looking down on others, a judgmental spirit, criticism, and the need for approval (which is our ego needing to be coddled).

How can I be thankful for what others have done if I'm centered on the "good" which I have done? Why count the blessings I have received from God when I get a good feeling from the "blessings" I have bestowed? The answer is because nothing I have done is anything compared to the good and the mercy God has given. Nothing. Our pride suffocates when we die to ourselves at the foot of the Cross. Herein lies our daily battle.

Quotes On Pride:

Jonathan Edwards:

[Pride] is . . . the first sin that ever entered into the universe and the last that is rooted out. It is God’s most stubborn enemy!
"Pride is much more difficult to be discerned than any other corruption because of its very nature. That is, pride is a person having too high an opinion of himself. Is it any surprise, then, that a person who has too high an opinion of himself is unaware of it?"

Charles Spurgeon:

"Pride is self-deceit. Those who are sure that they have no pride are probably the proudest of all. Those who are proud of their humility are proud indeed. The confidence that we are not deceived may only prove the completeness of the deception under which we labor.”

C. S. Lewis:

"The essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea-bites in comparison. It was through Pride that the devil became the devil. Pride leads to every other vice. It is the complete anti-God state of mind.

If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. If you think you’re not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed."

John Stott:

"At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend."

God:

"But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." (Is. 66:2)

"But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' " (James 4:6)

60 Seconds With A Living Hero of the Faith

2008-10-30T11:11:00.005-05:00

Author, pastor, and theologian John Piper is one of my modern day heroes of the faith. I love his books, his teaching, and his ministry Desiring God. All of it has helped me to more fully grasp the message and heart of the gospel as well as to understand that the purpose of man is to be completely satisfied and happy with God as our supreme treasure in life. Dr. Piper opened my eyes to the beauty of Christian Hedonism. When my family found out John Piper had a Desiring God conference coming to Austin, we immediately decided to attend the event, giving up a debate Round Robin and my last cross-country meet of the season.

After all of that, do I even need I to expound on how special this picture is to me?

James 3: A Story

2008-10-27T12:47:00.008-05:00

Here's a great short film made by Desiring God ministries. My brother Pat posted it on his blog.

Growing Up

2008-10-14T21:53:00.013-05:00

Hour after hour, day after day, week after week. It all adds up, and we grow older.

Today, I turn fifteen. 15. I like it. It seems good. I guess I have a year to find out.

But it makes me think. If every birthday is a chapter in my life, then one day I'll find out that I'm on the last chapter, right? Chapter 78, Chapter 53, Chapter 36, or maybe Chapter 15. Will I look back and wish the storyline had been different?

Sometimes I wish I could be a teenager forever - full of energy, ability, and potential. But sooner or later I'll die (yes, that's blunt). What will matter then? What will last? People who know me will die too, and I will lie forgotten 6 feet under the ground. Sounds depressing now, yet even if my existence is forgotten here on earth, I don't think that I'll care at the time. I'll be too busy worshiping God. He knows my name among millions of others.

As I grow older, the question pops up all the time, "What are you going to do?" The answer is found in pondering what the point of life is and consequently how I should live my brief chapters. Of course, live to the fullest. Sure, live all out. Take the risk. But that will still fade away. What does it mean to leave a legacy? Is that important anyway?

Last week, I read Ecclesiastes. It is a very depressing book about the futility of life and how everything we do is a "vanity of vanities". Oh, how it resonated with my heart as I reflected on how true it was! Is there anything that is not just "striving into the wind"? At the very end of the book comes the answer:

"This is the conclusion when all has been heard, fear God and keep his commandments." ~Ecclesiastes 12:13

It sums up what life is about: God.

Of course, I've known for years that "the purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever" as the Westminster catechism says. Sure, I agree, but it was so generic that I could never fully grasp how that truth specifically applied to my life. But now I have a better understanding because of...a tomato.

Co-Creator of VeggieTales and voice of Bob the Tomato, Phil Vischer recently told his life story at a chapel service at Baylor University. God gave Vischer a big idea to create Christian children's animated films, and it became an actual reality as his company, Big Idea, began to thrive and reach out to thousands of families all across the world. Then it all came crashing down due to finances and some unwise business decisions. The company closed and was auctioned to a secular company, and Vischer lost it all. Amidst a very trying time, Vischer asked God why He would give someone a big dream, grow it into a thriving ministry reaching thousands, and then let it die?

It was then that Phil Vischer heard the quote I wrote in my last post:

"He who has God plus many things has nothing more than he who has God alone."

That quote helped me understand that the only thing that matters in life is God. Nothing else matters. The purpose of life is "To know God and to make Him known" as the famous slogan goes. And now I understand it. If all I ever did was know God closer and deeper, I would have lived my life well. Only one thing makes life meaningful: God. He is so great, transcendent, merciful, righteous, and gracious that He commands us to "love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength" (Mark 12:30). Everything really does mean EVERYTHING.

Life is about God. It seems like I'm saying the obvious. I guess I am. But I pray it becomes more and more real in each of our lives this coming year.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness. And all these things shall be added unto you." ~Matt. 6:23

God Alone

2008-09-16T20:43:00.007-05:00

"He who has God plus many things has nothing more than he who has God alone." - C.S. Lewis

Think about that quote. That means:

"He who has God plus a wonderful, godly family has nothing more than he who has God alone."

"He who has God plus a beautiful house and fancy car has nothing more than he who has God alone."

'"He who has God plus a perfect SAT score has nothing more than he who has God alone."

"He who has God plus a thriving ministry reaching thousands has nothing more than he who has God alone."

It's easy for jealousy to creep under our skin when we look at the possessions, the gifts, the talents, the circumstances, the family, or the ministry other Christians have. But in reality, it's all about Him. Nothing else. It's all about Jesus. God alone.

2008-09-01T16:59:00.002-05:00

Christa Taylor is hosting a Modesty Carnival for the next couple of weeks. Check it out!

See Spot Run

2008-08-27T16:47:00.007-05:00

Sports is one of those areas that I believe has been idolized by pop culture which exalts outward appearances and temporal things. The "in" crowd at schools are made up of the Football Stars and the Cheerleaders. You notice that the heartthrobs in tween/teen movies such as "High School Musical" and "Air Bud" are captains of their sport. Apparently today: Sports Star=Cool=Popular.

Of course, there is the other side of the issue that of not exercising enough which is very prevalent as well. The "People-Don't-Get-Enough-Exercise-Because-Their-On-Their-Video-Games, -Ipods, -Laptops, -and TVs" statistics are true. The obesity statistics can prove that they're true. Or for some teens (like a lot of home schoolers who mostly read, study, practice music, and use the internet), they simply don't eat much so that they don't have to exercise yet can still remain thin.

Balance. That's the magical word. The key is keeping our body fit, active, and strong while not letting it define you, plant pride, do it for attention, take over too much of our time, or make our bodies an obsession. Easier said than done though, right? Sometimes we find ourselves leaning both ways... at the same time... because it is hard to live out a "healthy" balance (no pun intended). We'll never do it perfectly.

I love playing many sports (my favorite is Ultimate Frisbee). I played on the community basketball team from grades K-6th. It was fun, but playing beyond that point wasn't an option. So now I run. I ran in the fall of 05 and 06 with a home-school cross-country team. In 07 there was no team. This year my team has been practicing pre-season during the summer, and our first meet of the year is this Saturday in Wimberly. Hello Pain, Heat, and Total Exhaustion, I'm expecting to meet you.

My modern day running hero is Ryan Hall. He's a solid Christian who ran the Marathon in Beijing for the U.S. getting 10th place in the world. In this video he was still training for the Olympic trials, but it tells his testimony and he shares how running brings him closer to God. Check it out:

Brother's Blog. Bookfair. Rebelution.

2008-06-27T22:23:00.006-05:00

Just to let you know, lately I've been posting on my brother Paul's blog. I'd like to say that I'll post more often on here now, but I can make no promises. You'll just have to wait and see. Quite honestly, blogging is not high on my priority list, and I hope that reading my blog is not high on your list either. =)

Today, my family went to the homeschool bookfair, and we head out tomorrow morning at 4:30 am to attend The Rebelution Conference in Dallas! I AM SO EXCITED! Please pray for a safe trip tomorrow both ways (it's going to be a long day), and check out the Rebelution website.

My Newest Cousin

2008-05-24T21:38:00.007-05:00

Introducing Leah Sirin Mynhier! She was born on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, at 5:20 a.m., and I absolutely love all 6 pounds and 12 ounces of her. Oh, what a precious darling (only a girl would say that :-)!

Disregarded Beauty

2008-05-19T20:01:00.006-05:00

Life is more beautiful than any of us can begin to understand. And normally we don't even try to comprehend. The glory of just being alive. Of breathing fresh air, tasting the goodness of milk, listening to trees rustle or a Casting Crowns song, soaking in the rain, a little girl's smile, laughing at a joke Paul told, the gleam of the sun on the skyscrapers in downtown. Oh, life is so full and vibrant and delightful, if we only look around, and take the time to saturate ourselves. To count our blessings.

But we become busy, and we forget. Instead, we get caught up in the ruts, the rituals, the things that aren't going our way. If only our happiness was content with God's way and not our way. Everything would be so much easier. But our desires and sin nature won't let that happen. Praise God for sanctification.

God, please mold my will, my heart, and my desires to where you want them to be. To be content in all circumstances. Help me to surrender. And everyday to see the beauty in life.

Of course, there will still be the times when we feel like nothing can get rid of the pain, the grief, the hurt. BUT...

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Ps 18:2

Sometimes, healing is even more beautiful because we come closer to our Comforter.

By far, the most beautiful thing in the world, is the grace of God. Oh, how sweet the sound! I fall so, so, so short of being consumed with the gospel, short of being gripped and awed by the cross, and short of living it out. But that's why I'm thankful he gives me grace, and picks me right back up to keep moving forward.

This is the heart of my journey for the rest of my life.

~Christy

Paul Graduates

2008-05-10T10:20:00.004-05:00

Paul graduates from high school at 2:00 pm this afternoon. We've waited for this day for a long time. I am extremely excited.

The Norris Family

2008-04-17T22:41:00.007-05:00

Recently, I've been reminiscing over memories from our church's family mission trip to Morelia, Mexico in January of 2007 (here was my post about it). Imagine my surprise when the other day, I came across this page about the Mexico missionaries our church supports, the Norris family. Currently, the kids are actually 6 years older than the website states. I also found a testimony by Mr. and Mrs. Norris here. They work with Christian Missions In Many Lands (CMML). I'm privileged to know such a warm, open family dedicated to serving God wherever He leads, even when it means overcoming the obstacle of a different language and culture. May God bless their ministry.

~Christy

Travels

2008-04-17T18:01:00.012-05:00

Where have we been? It started at the beginning of March. The first weekend we went to Dallas, the next weekend Houston, during Spring Break we stayed home while Pat IV went to Florida for ministry with Campus Crusade, the next weekend was Houston once again (we spent Easter with Pat), and the final weekend of March found us in Dallas. In April, the very first weekend we traveled to Arkansas, and finally last weekend we stayed home. After the 24-26 of April, when Paul and I compete at the Regional speech and debate tournament in Houston, I hope things shall calm down.

If Easter Be Not True

2008-03-19T17:05:00.004-05:00

If Easter Be Not True

by
Henry H. Barstow

If Easter be not true,
Then all the lilies low must lie;
The Flanders poppies fade and die;
The spring must lose her fairest bloom
For Christ were still within the tomb
If Easter be not true.

If Easter be not true,
Then faith must mount on broken wing;
Then hope no more immortal spring;
Then love must lose her mighty urge;
Life prove a phantom, death a dirge
If Easter be not true.

If Easter be not true,
'Twere foolishness the cross to bear;
He died in vain Who suffered there;
What matter though we laugh or cry,
Be good or evil, live or die,
If Easter be not true?

If Easter be not true
But it is true, and Christ is risen!
And mortal spirit from its prison
Of sin and death with Him may rise!
Worthwhile the struggle, sure the prize,
Since Easter, aye, is true!

Have a blessed Easter everyone!

~Christy

Are You Bored?

2008-03-13T00:16:00.004-05:00

Here is a great article written by Carolyn Y. Johnson published in The Boston Globe entitled "The Joy of Boredom". Regardless of whether or not you're bored at the moment I'd recommend reading it.

~Christy

Granny Is Home With Jesus

2008-02-13T21:06:00.003-06:00

Dear Friends and Family,

On February 12, 2008, at around 6:10 pm, Granny went to be with Jesus. He called her to her true home.

The funeral viewing will be on Friday from 6-8pm at Beck Funeral Home in Cedar Park on 1431. The Funeral service will be at First Baptist Church of Jonestown, 19100 FM 1431, Jonestown, TX, 78645, at noon. After the burial, we'd like for everyone who can to come back to the church with us to enjoy a fellowship meal for all friends and family which is being provided by the church.

This was my Grandma's favorite bible passage:

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matt.11:28-30

In Christ alone,
Christy

A Lot Has Happened Since My Last Update

2008-02-05T16:59:00.000-06:00

Here's the quick facts:

-Granny was in Hearthstone until Jan. 10.
-She was moved to the Round Rock Hospital because she had contracted pneumonia.
-After being in ICU for about 12 days she was moved to an intermediary room (in between ICU and regular).
-2 days later she moved to back to Hearthstone.
-After nine days there, GRANNY WAS MOVED HOME last Saturday!!!

She's now under hospice care, and either my dad, mom, Paul, or I have to be with her 24/7. God has been so faithful, and He's answered the many prayers for her being able to come home. She's much happier now.

~Christy

Please pray...

2008-01-30T11:51:00.000-06:00

Pray for wisdom for my parents as they make very difficult decisions.
Pray for the healing of my Grandma according to God's will.
Pray for her spirit to remain joyful.
Pray for her physical and mental strength to be built back up.
Pray for emotional strength for all of us, and especially my dad.
Pray for His grace and peace to envelope and sustain us during this trying time.

Thank you all so very, very much.

~Christy

Reflections On 2007

2008-01-24T13:04:00.000-06:00

{Note: I wrote this the first week of 2008, and I sent it out as an email to some friends, but only now have I finally gotten around to posting it.}

2007. With the word comes a tumult of feelings, emotions, and fresh memories; a chaotic mix of joy and grief, love and hurt, peace and fear. Strongest of all, comes a sense of the truth that through it all, God was there. Guiding. Calling. Leading. Side by side. Hand in hand. Through the thick and the thin.

A Few Quick Things I Discovered in 2007:

-John Piper, of Desiring God ministries, is definitely my favorite author. In terms of food for thought, his work is healthy (theologically sound), easily digested (understandable), and needed (applicable).

-We live in a hurting world. A world desperate for hope, crying out for love, dying for purpose, yet rejecting or ignorant of a God who offers all of that and more.

-Even Christians can hurt terribly. Christians still die, Christians still get sick, Christians still battle the old nature, Christians still backslide, Christians still are frightened, Christians still are tempted, Christians still fail.

-No one ever promised the sold-out life for Christ was easy… but it's totally worth it. In July, I went to an event in Dallas called The Rebelution Conference and it changed my thinking. I was inspired to rebel against the culture's low expectations and Do Hard Things. Check out their amazing website: www.therebelution.com

-For some reason, I'm naturally the kind of person who can whip up plans for my future right and left. I've got so many big dreams, so many delightful plans, so many driven goals. And why shouldn't I? After all, that's the question people ask me, "What are you going to do after graduation?" It's almost as if I don't "get a life" until the day I receive my diploma. Of course, I should be prepared and have plans, but since that comes so instinctively to me, and I don't know for sure what God's will is yet, I have to remind myself that I shouldn't have my focus on "someday". I should focus on today, not tomorrow. Live now, because later will come soon enough.

-Smiles are contagious. So is laughter. Joy is too. I wish I could spread them as well as I spread the colds I get. ;-)

-Time is precious. Where does the time fly?! I wish hours would go into the recycling bin so I could use them over again. Or else I wish I could buy minutes like a cell phone. But, alas, my dreams will never come true... My family is amazingly flexible as a whole, and I've been raised that way my entire life. Now, almost surprisingly, God is teaching me that I myself need to be more flexible. For example, when I'm left with an unfinished to-do list at the end of the day, I don't need to feel frustrated or overwhelmed. God hasn't called me to do everything I want to accomplish. He's called me to do whatever He wants me to accomplish. After all, He's the Potter, molding the clay (though sometimes I'm an awfully stubborn lump). When I mess up, His grace is always waiting for me.

-Here's simple algebra: Christina = human, Humans = sinful, therefore, Christina = sinful. It's just plain fact. We all fail, and we all fall. Yet it's then that I feel His strong, gentle hand lift me up, His tender embrace surround me, and His ever-patient voice beckon, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." We look to the cross, the blood shed, and the empty tomb, and we find forgiveness.

I could write on and on and on because there's so much more to say, but I won't. I doubt I wrote one thing you didn't already know (except for the personal information), and I didn't write a single thing that I didn't know before 2007. Then why did I say I discovered them? Because although I believed they were true, God showed me just how real they are.

It's wonderful to know that God was with me through everything. But the most beautiful part of the thought is that He is still here with me. This very moment. And He always will be. Forever. In 2008...and beyond.

God bless,
Christy

35 Years Ago

2008-01-22T18:39:00.003-06:00

Today marks the 35th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Also, January 20-27, 2008, is Sanctity of Life week. For those who want to be a voice for the voiceless, check out Be A Voice.

Here are a few articles on the topic which I found interesting:

-Focus on the Family had this great article for those who fall under the category of "like many Americans, you know Roe v. Wade legalized abortion, but you may know little else":

http://www.family.org/faith/a000003847.cfm

-Focus on the Family is also hopeful for the future:

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000006321.cfm

-The Houston Chronicle ran an article entitled "Study Finds Big Decline In Abortions":

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5461945.html

-Reports on the "March for Life" at the nation's capitol today:

AFP, "Thousands rally on US abortion law anniversary"
Associated Press, "Thousands Protest Roe vs. Wade Decision"

-President Bush's remarks to the March for Life Rally participants:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080122.html

-Vision Forum articles "in defense of life":

http://www.visionforumministries.org/issues/life

-And finally my own post written last March.

"For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth"

~Ps.139:13-15

~Christy

A New Eagle Scout

2008-01-19T18:09:00.000-06:00

Paul is now an official Eagle Scout.

My first post...

2008-01-01T00:34:00.001-06:00

in 2008...Happy New Year!

~Christy

Update

2007-12-26T11:36:00.001-06:00

Halt! What be this "funny lightning box" you point at us?

On Sunday the 16th, a group from our speech and debate club went to Main Street Bethlehem in Burnet, which is about 45 minutes from our house. It was a charming and captivating reenactment of what Bethlehem might have been like on the night Jesus was born complete with tax collectors, a prison for those who couldn't pay their taxes, a synagogue with a priest, a bakery which passed out fresh bread, livestock including camels, a full inn, and of course the stable. As you can tell, Roman soldiers guard the city well.

Granny has been very busy these past two weeks, starting with Monday a week ago when she had a minor surgery to insert her feeding tube directly into her stomach rather than through her throat, so that she can learn to swallow and eat again. Granny's tracheostomy was taken out and the hole was closed the next day.

On Friday, she was moved out of Cornerstone Hospital and into a skilled nursing center in Round Rock called Hearthstone. This is so exciting for us because 1.) She's out of the hospital after being in one for 57 days, and 2.) It's a big step closer to her being able to come home. Although for a few days she was breathing completely on her own, she couldn't sustain that so currently she breathes with a nasal cannula.

Christmas was awesome with Pat IV being home, cooking Christmas dinner, packing all of the food in the car, and finally taking it to Granny's room to eat it there with her (though the doctor hasn't cleared her to eat food yet so she couldn't eat anything). It's hard to believe that there's less than a week left in 2007!

~Christy

Update: 12: 45 pm

2007-12-15T12:40:00.000-06:00

Granny's talking!!!

~Christy

Update: 6:00 pm

2007-12-10T22:17:00.000-06:00

Sorry about the delay in updating, but I'll try to catch up. Thursday, 12 days ago, was not a very good day. The doctor said they simply went too fast in trying to wean her off of the ventilator, but she was back up to the level of where she had been by the following Sunday.

Almost everyday, she's moved from her bed to a wheelchair, and sits for about an hour. On Saturday, she was even wheeled down the ICU aisle and back. Unfortunately, she had a bit too big of a day, and on Sunday she had to be on the ventilator for most of the day because she was so tired. She still can't talk yet, but today she walked a little with the nurse!

During Nov. 30- Dec.1, we took our first out-of-town trip since the day Granny went to the hospital. We had hoped my dad would be able to join us, but because of Granny's set back that Thursday, my mom, Paul, and I headed for Lubbock on Friday morning for Paul's robotics competition. Hopefully, pictures and commentary will soon follow.

~Christy

An "Adventures in Odyssey" adventure

2007-12-01T14:38:00.000-06:00

I thought I would chime in here to mention something interesting (at least to me that is, a doting father:-). Back in August, Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey invited listeners to call a special phone line to record their comments about the program, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary. Christina did leave them a message, and it turns out that it was broadcast for all the world to hear on the November 20, 2007 edition of James Dobson's Focus on the Family broadcast. You can hear her starting just after the 15 minute mark at the following link:

www.oneplace.com/ministries/Focus_on_the_Family/archives.asp?bcd=11/20/2007

This link may only be active for a couple more weeks, so if you try to listen to the broadcast and it's not available any more, perhaps you can ask Christina for it since Focus on the Family sent her a copy of that day's broadcast.

----------
Celebrating 20 Years of "Adventures in Odyssey": Part 1

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

It teaches kids about faith, honesty, compassion, and courage. It provides countless hours of entertainment and makes long road trips enjoyable. We celebrate the 20th anniversary of Adventures in Odyssey, Focus on the Family's highly popular radio drama for kids that is equally loved by adults. Listeners share fun and touching stories about the life-changing impact "Odyssey" has had on their family.

"['Adventures in Odyssey'] really reinforced what my parents were teaching me and the importance of honoring them." - Rebecca, a 14-year-old listener
----------

~Pat III

Update: 4: 30

2007-11-27T15:50:00.000-06:00

She's continuing to improve a little bit everyday. Her cheerful demeanor stills radiates about her even through all of the life and death trials she has faced and is facing. She is such a remarkable example of what the apostle James meant when he admonishes us to "count it all joy" (1:2). I've heard other patients complaining and yelling at the nurses, but Granny never does. She's amazing...

This Thanksgiving was extra special. Why? Because, in a way unlike I've ever experienced before, I am thankful my grandma is breathing... loving... listening...caring... smiling... sleeping... ALIVE...

~Christy

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T10:43:00.001-06:00

Update: 8:45 pm

2007-11-19T20:47:00.000-06:00

She's improving little by little each day! Yesterday, she was actually disconnected from the ventilator for an hour and a half. That means she had oxygen available, but the added pressure she normally has wasn't present.

The extra fluid in her lungs caused by the pneumonia has been reduced SIGNIFICANTLY, but some fluid is still present at the very bottom of the lungs simply because of the congestive heart failure. This is really awesome! God is incredible.

~Christy

"A Challenge To Women" by John Piper

2007-11-17T23:41:00.000-06:00

I want to be this kind of woman.

Please take time to read this excellent article.

~Christy

Update: 7:45 pm

2007-11-16T19:41:00.000-06:00

{Note: My dad wrote this on Sunday, the 11th, as an email for our church which he sent, but only now have I been able to post it.}

Dear Friends,

There is no way we can adequately express our gratefulness
to all of you for your love, concern, and prayer to God on
behalf of my mother, Virginia Hastings, over the past 15
days.

At present she is still in the CCU (Coronary Care Unit, or
what is typically known at most hospitals as the Intensive
Care Unit) at the Heart Hospital of Austin. This week her
vital signs have been much more stable than last week,
particularly in comparison to the three days at the
beginning of last week when she was hovering on a thin
line between life and death.

Things are still quite serious as efforts to get her off
the respirator have not been successful so far. As best I
can tell, it appears that the doctors themselves may not
be entirely clear on what they think all of her underlying
health issues are, particularly with the heart and lungs,
though they are excellent physicians and have been trying
hard. The nursing care has been outstanding.

Mom does appear to be making gradual progress toward
getting off the respirator, but it has been a difficult
process. Because she had been on the breathing tube for 10
days, this morning (Friday) she underwent a brief
tracheostomy operation to switch to breathing through an
opening in the lower neck, which under the circumstances
is preferable to the breathing tube for several reasons.

We continue to seek your prayers, particularly for
improvement in her breathing ability. While quite weak,
when awake she is very alert to people and things going on
around her. Having been told of the outpouring of
expressions of concern and prayer for her has in itself
been a very encouraging thing to her. Obviously it has
been for the rest of our family as well.

We thank God for her improvement and we continue to trust
in Him for the outworking of whatever is His will in Mom's
life. And we thank God for all of you who have been such a
blessing as you have continued to uphold us in prayer.

"When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid."
--Psalm 56:3-4 ESV

Pat, for the Hastings family

Update: 1:00 pm

2007-11-15T12:44:00.000-06:00

She's slowing improving everyday. This morning she was moved to Cornerstone hospital which is a much smaller rehab hospital about 6 blocks away from the Austin Heart Hospital. It's designed for long term recovery which is likely what she'll need. At the new center she's still in ICU there. I'm headed off to visit her now.

~Christy

Update: 10:30 am

2007-11-10T10:08:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to quickly report two things:

1. She had a tracheostomy yesterday morning. It was a minor surgery to put the ventilator in her lower neck instead of going through her mouth. This reduces the distance, wouldn't hurt her vocal cords, allows her to close her mouth, and can be unattached easier. Hopefully, this will only be temporary until she can actually breathe on her own.

2. Now, a different lung doctor thinks that she has signs of Emphysema instead of Pulmonary Fibroses. Both of them are diseases smokers get which is strange because she's never smoked or been around smoking. There's quite a bit of difference between the two because with Pulmonary Fibroses, it's hard to take in enough air, but with Emphysema it's hard to exhale air back out. That would seem to explain why the blood gas test showed she wasn't getting rid of enough of those harmful gases like carbon dioxide.

Please pray for her strength and healing, the doctors wisdom, and for God's will to be done.

Update: 8:30 am

2007-11-08T08:04:00.000-06:00

On Monday, Granny was breathing on her own for about 9 hours. Tuesday was similar. Yesterday, she was only off of the ventilator for about 5 hours because, even though her heart rate was OK, they ran a test on her bad gases and it turns out that when she breathes on her own she doesn't exhale enough of the gases that she's supposed to.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
~1 Corinthians 12:9-10

Update: 1:00 pm

2007-11-05T13:03:00.000-06:00

I just talked with my dad and this is what he told me:

Granny is still quite weak, but her pneumonia is better than yesterday, though she still has a lot of lung congestion being suctioned out. Today the medical staff is much more actively working to test her to see if she's ready yet to breathe on her own so they can take out the ventilator. The congestion from the pneumonia may prevent that happening today but it appears they're making some real progress in that direction now. Praise God!

~Christy

Update: 10:00 am

2007-11-05T11:10:00.000-06:00

I found out yesterday morning that my grandma has a slight case of pneumonia. They've put her on antibiotics to hopefully get rid of it. Other than that, everything else seems about the same. Thank you so much for your prayers.

I love Psalm 93:

The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty
and is armed with strength.
The world is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.

Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.

The seas have lifted up, O LORD,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.

Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the LORD on high is mighty.

Your statutes stand firm;
holiness adorns your house
for endless days, O LORD.

~Christy

Update: 11:30 pm

2007-11-03T23:33:00.000-05:00

Since Granny is alert, Pat IV came to the Austin this afternoon to visit for a few hours. He spent about an hour in her room so that was really super! You could tell she enjoyed it a lot (and I did too). God is wonderful.

Update: 2:30 pm

2007-11-03T10:26:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was heart wrenching. Granny's off of sedation, and yesterday she was alert, responding, and aware of everything happening. When Paul and I went to her room, she was happy. We told her everything that had happened during the week (except things relating to her being in the hospital). Of course, she can't talk because the ventilator is still in her throat, but she uses gestures and can write on a piece of paper to communicate. When Paul offered to sing a song, she clapped meaning "I like that", but my dad warned not to sing since there were other patients in the next room. Then Granny motioned towards the door meaning, "You can close the door so they won't be bothered." We all laughed when she did that. It was so awesome! =) We couldn't close the door though since nurses come in and out all the time.

I tried making poetry for her on the spot which was pretty pathetic. Here's two examples:

"Roses are red
Violets are blue
You are so special
Just like me too"

"Peas porridge hot,
Peas porridge cold,
You are so special
That I am told"

The reason it was so heart wrenching, was because of how... alive she seemed. Yet the doctor says that on the inside her organs (especially the lungs) are failing. It's so sad. But I know:

God is there to wipe off every tear.
God is there to love when I despair.
God is there to hold on to when I fall.
God is there to comfort every broken heart.
God is there always.

~Christy

Update: 10:30 pm

2007-11-01T22:38:00.000-05:00

I'm at the hosptial right right now, typing in Granny's ICU room. My dad is staying with her 24/7 and my mom, Paul, and I come here every evening and usually don't leave until after midnight. My dad is sleeping in the chair in front of me. He's completely exhausted.

Tuesday, I met this other family (a humongous extended one) at the hospital with girls my age. The grandfather had a heart attack and now family from across the country are coming here. He has over 30 grandkids and great grandkids. And he's not even 65!

Wow, I 've realized that having a family member in ICU makes me see the true priorities in life more vivdly then I ever knew I could.

~Christy

Update: 3:50 pm

2007-11-01T15:51:00.000-05:00

Well, actually they're trying to wean her off the ventilator now. Basically she breathes so shallowly on her own that as it is she couldn't survive without a machine to do it for her. They have to make her lungs breathe in more oxygen. But the doctors think her lungs have this disease (I don't know the name of it), and its cause is unknown. Some people just get it.

Sometimes it seems like everything is useless. But it's when the whole world seems dark that God shines most brightly. It's when life seems ugly that Christ is seen most beautifully.

"God's efforts are strongest when our efforts are most useless"
-Max Lucado

~Christy

Update: 9:30 am

2007-11-01T09:30:00.000-05:00

Wow, I didn't realize the gravity of what not getting the ventilator out meant. It's serious. You can fix her heart problem with a pacer, but there's no way to fix her lung. They're going to try another attempt at removing it today. Please continue to pray.

Update: 7:30 pm

2007-10-31T19:38:00.000-05:00

"Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,
And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good."

-Psalm 107:8-9

The feeding tube is in! Praise God for an awesome answer to prayer.

They've found other problems though. The biggest is that she still has to be on the ventilator, and they aren't sure if her lung has collapsed/will collapse so the nurses are doing tests.

Update: 11:00 am

2007-10-31T11:22:00.000-05:00

Pat IV went back to Houston yesterday morning because my grandma seemed about the same as the day before. Since then we've noticed that although the extra fluid is going out nicely, her heart rate is high and her blood pressure is low. Unfortunately, they're directly related... Also, they still haven't been able to make the feeding tube go all the way down through her stomach and into her intestine which it has to do in order to work. As I type, the nurses and technicians are giving another try at inserting it. If the feeding tube is not installed, although she has IVs which they can put energy into, within a few days her blood will start breaking down...

"The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." -Deuteronomy 31:8

~Christy

Urgent Prayer Request

2007-10-29T12:59:00.001-05:00

{Note: Something happened to my last post, so I had to take it off.}

Please pray for my 84 year old grandmother, Virginia Hastings. Here's the story as best I know:

For the past couple of weeks her feet and legs have been swelling. Since then she's been going to the doctor often, and has been wearing knee highs and has kept her legs elevated much of the time at home. The heart specialist said she has congestive heart failure.

Last Tues., she went to the doctor, and nothing seemed different. Then on Thursday evening she took a shower, and just happened to decide to weigh herself on the bathroom scales. Normally she weighs 95-100 pounds, but on Thurs. she weighed 120 pounds! And all of the extra stuff was in her legs and feet. My dad immediately took her to the Austin Heart Hospital that night (about an hour from our house and Granny lives right across the street from us). After doing tests they realized that her oxygen was extremely low. People are supposed to have an oxygen level at 92 or above. When she entered the hospital, she was at 57.

She was immediately hooked up to oxygen. Her blood was also very thin so they gave her blood products. It has the same danger that a blood transfusion does (such as transferring diseases like AID's) though nothing is too likely. The doctor did a cat scan, and found out that she has fluid in her lungs, partially collapsing them. That was the biggest danger because she could get pneumonia, and at her age...

On Sunday, the doctor said she wasn't receiving enough oxygen, so they moved her to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where they put a sealed face mask on her so she would receive more oxygen. Also, they gave her a bunch of laxatives so she would lose more fluid. At one point, she was losing fluid at a rate of 1 quart every 2 hours. Since then they've significantly slowed it down because she needs it to be more gradual.

Then this morning, the oxygen in her blood still was not increasing so they put her on a ventilator.

As far as the rest of the family, all I can say is that his promise stands true, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."~Phil. 4:19

One of my parents has to stay with her 24 hours a day, so please pray for them (and especially my dad) as they're under a lot of stress, worry, and just complete exhaustion because of the lack of sleep. Pat IV drove to Austin yesterday evening. Seeing the willingness of friends to help in whatever way needed makes me feel awestruck and extremely grateful.

At church yesterday, a friend of mine gave me a note with a verse on it. I know that it was a God send because I got it right when I needed it:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

~Christy

The Eldest Brother

2007-08-12T21:57:00.000-05:00

So I live in Houston and find out what my sister and family are doing by reading this blog, just like you probably do. But for the moment I suddenly (and secretly) have access and think the only reasonable thing to do is to make a post.

So here's a link to a really interesting article you should read and think about.

And here's another picture of me:

Bye!

- Pat

Rebelution Wrapup

2007-07-26T12:32:00.000-05:00

Honestly, the conference wasn't quite as I expected it to be--it was even better! Over 800 Rebelutionaries and parents gathered together to be taught, equipped, and inspired to "rebel" against our culture's low expectations for teenagers by doing hard things. The following are my notes from the first two of the four sessions:

Alex Harris: "The Myth of Adolescence"

The elephant is just tied by a piece of rope from which it could easily break free, but it has shackles on its mind.
Our culture expects teenagers to be rebellious, irresponsible, emotionally unstable, etc... but it's a myth that things must be that way!
George, Dave, and Drew all took on high levels of responsibility at young ages in times past.
Quote from Challenge of Youth by Friedrich Heer.
Prior to this century there were only two stages of life--childhood and adulthood
The word "teenager" did not exist until a popular magazine used it in 1941.
"...the goal of the child was to grow up as promptly as possible in order to enjoy the opportunities of an adult..." --from a book describing the 18th and 19th centuries.
"The current ceiling of expectation for young adults is where the floor ought to be".
1 Cor. 13:11; 1 Tim 4:12; Lam. 12:3
Whose expectations are you using in how you spend these years? God's or the world's?
George, Dave, and Drew went on to be George Washington (1st President of the United States), David Farragut (admiral in the US Navy), and Andrew Carnegie (one of the most successful businessmen of his day).
You have to view the teen years as a launching pad whether you want to or not, because you are launching in some direction. The question is, "What direction are you going?"
The applicability of the old adage, "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree."
Break the shackles.

Brett Harris, "Do Hard Things"

God doesn't call us to do everything, but He definitely hasn't called us to be afraid of doing hard things.
Don't be like Moses who was afraid when God called him to do a hard thing.
How do we grow stronger? By doing hard things and building "muscle".

1. "Do Hard Things" means fighting sin in your life

Example: Getting angry is wrong and easy; controlling your temper is right and hard.
Example: Being proud is wrong and easy; staying humble is right and hard.

2. "Do Hard Things" means battling discouragement and complacency

If you're facing discouragement because something you find very hard is very easy for someone who is naturally gifted in that area (example: math), the "Do Hard Things" mindset will give you an edge over the person who is naturally talented because he will stop at the end of how far he's naturally talented, but you can go beyond that.
It's about building muscle--mental, physical, spiritual...
Do what's hard for YOU, not someone else.

3. "Do Hard Things" means doing more than is required

A failure to perform in character or competence is due to a failure of past exertion.

4. "Do Hard Things" means getting over your fear of failure

Even failure produces muscle.

5. "Do Hard Things" looks different for every person

Our unique makeup allows for beautiful diversity.

6. "Do Hard Things" is often small things

Small things aren't usually seen by others.
Don't think that you always have to do an extraordinary thing; but instead do normal things extraordinarily.

7. "Do Hard Things" is your best life

It's a call to the sold out Christian life.

Me, Paul, Jeremy, and Ben. Paul and I had met Jeremy last year at Awana Camp, and Ben came with us to the conference.

Mr. Nasser and Pat IV.

Anti-Feminists Hannah (we stayed at her house for the weekend), me, and Sarah. Attention all young ladies! If you want to find a godly web site with posts filled with encouragement and insights for girls then check out Hannah's blog Beauty from the Heart which she co-authors with two other young ladies. The web site is also on the sidebar of this page under "Links".

Joel Harris (the twins' older brother who was the worship leader), Brett Harris, Paul, and Alex Harris. I am amazed at the work the Harris family is accomplishing, and I was sorry when we had to leave. But the good news is that they're coming back to D/FW next year! Who knows, maybe I'll see you there!

And if you live within range, there's still another conference on this year's Rebelution Tour, Indianapolis on September 15, 2007. Don't miss it.

By the way, you can find professional photos of the conference here, and a photo of Paul and Ben on the Desiring God blog here.

~Christy

Update: A friend sent me this picture:

Marshall (the head coordinator) , Brett Harris, me, and Alex Harris

O'er The Beautiful Balmy Lake

2007-07-24T11:21:00.000-05:00

It was supposed to be a three-guy canoe trip, but the 30-year-old canoe had some small holes which created a little problem. So the only solution was: borrowed kayaks + a dad + a sister= 4 1/2 hours kayaking on Lake Travis! Last Thursday, Paul, two of his buddies (Caleb and Jeremy), my dad, and I had loads of fun paddling 10 miles from basically our house to Caleb's house.

Taking off at a park close to our home.

A short detour to stop by our swimming platform.

Cruisin' over the middle of the lake. Take a look at the clouds. That is what we call, "The perfect weather". No blazing sun beating down on us (but our legs were still toasted by the sun rays coming through the clouds), not much wind, wonderful temperature, and although it threatened there was No Rain!

My dad was taking pictures from his seat behind me in the kayak.

The boys pause to talk while waiting for the slow pokes (us) to catch up.

The a-little-over-halfway point was marked by Starns Island, which is owned by the LCRA which means that anybody is allowed on it.

Exploring the island.

My kayaking partner preparing to embark from Starns Island.

Bringing the kayaks back after a fantastic ride.

~Christy

The Rebelution Conference

2007-07-07T22:18:00.000-05:00

“Let no one look down upon your youth, but be an example to all the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, in purity.” --1 Timothy 4:12

In two weeks I’m headed off to attend the Rebelution Conference in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. So I thought that I’d write about why I personally am going.

All of the kids I grew up with from birth to the beginning of middle school are teenagers now. Unlike when we were little kids playing together, much of what I see now is rebellion, rebellion, and more rebellion in their attitudes. Sadly, that’s all too often true even in the “Christian” ones. But, hey, that’s just normal…right?

Looking at the situation closer reveals the fact that the culture expects teenagers to be rebellious. For example, two days before my 13th birthday I was at the dentist’s office. After looking at my files he shook his head and said, “Uh, oh. It looks like you’re about to enter the ‘Terrible Teens’.” What’s sobering is the fact that I could so easily live up (or is that “live down”?) to his expectations. But by the grace of God I don't want to follow that path.

As I consider the alternative to the low expectations our world has for young people, I look at fellow Rebelutionaries who are doing hard things and refusing to be defined by the world...and are turning the culture’s view of teenagers upside down. That’s what I yearn to do so I’m going to the Rebelution Conference because I believe it will:

Teach how to adopt the mindset behind it all
Equip us to effectively “Do Hard Things”
Connect like-minded Rebelutionaries

Inspire teens to change our generation

All of us who are attending would love to see you there! Check out the Rebelution website at www.therebelution.com and be sure to look at their award winning blog as well as their excellent resources.

~Christy

Flooding

2007-07-02T19:12:00.000-05:00

The power of water continually amazes me. Yesterday after church my family drove to Mansfield Dam which holds in the flooding Lake Travis.

Out of the four open flood gates came monstrous gushes of water. Forcefully and speedily, it shot through the gates and descended into the churning waters of Lake Austin below. Then for some reason, it seemed as if the speed of the spray bouncing upward slowed down. In reality I'm sure it wasn't, but with that appearance it seemed as if the spray was turned into slow motion as it gracefully floated through the air only to again be tumulted into the rushing torrent.

The majesty and power of it all was breathtaking to see. Of course it wasn't nearly as spectacular as many waterfalls, but to think that it was on our very own Lake Travis was what made it so special.

The lake is flooding over with water. My question is, are we flooding over with Jesus? Can our lives come to the point where we are no longer getting to know Jesus and his love, faithfulness, mercy, peace, etc--but we are actually filling up on them to the point of overflowing? Flooding over. Can you just imagine that? No wrong motives, but simply a natural response to experiencing Jesus. "The majesty and power of it all would be breathtaking to see."

You can hoard everything you take in from your relationship with Jesus inside of you, but what if you had the courage to spill it out onto others? Opening the floodgates for others to then flood. How different could the world be if everyone was bubbling over with Jesus? Sure, you may not get results as spectacular as Billy Graham or Charles Spurgeon or Jonathon Edwards did, but to think that God can use you to make a difference is what makes it so special.

~Christy

Three Words

2007-06-17T16:24:00.000-05:00

To my Daddy,

You are awesome!

My favorite dad!

Happy Father's Day!

I love you!

~Kiki

Capitol Days 2007

2007-06-08T21:17:00.000-05:00

During the spring we went to four Capitol Days once a month hosted by THSC. They describe the experience like this: "THSC representatives, legislators, and legislative staff members will educate attendees about the legislative process and train them to lobby. Each month there will be different speakers and topics, depending on the current issue of concern for Texas home educators. In the afternoon, students, parents, and chaperones will head to the Capitol to meet and lobby legislators; then finally reconvene for a debriefing."

February

Debra during Role Playing (practicing what we were going to say when we lobbied later in the day).

Rattlesnakes in the outdoor rotunda of the Capitol annex.

Close up.

"Ain't she a beaut'! "

The fangs. Yes, the REAL fangs.

It's not every day you get a picture with a rattlesnake in the Capitol.

One of the staff whom we lobbied.

With Mr. Lambert afterwards.

March

Our teammates.

With friend and representative from San Antonio, Nathan Macias

April - We have no pictures from April because Paul had the camera while visiting Sequim, Washington.

May

Training.

This time there was no homeschooling bill that THSC thought needed lobbying so we delivered cookies instead.

"Would you like some cookies?"

Grace and I in the underground Capitol annex. Our families had been put together on a team.

More cookies.

On the Capitol steps.

Debriefing afterwards.

Two men conversing about important issues.

Two ladies smiling about a job well done.

~Christy

Discovering A New Word

2007-06-01T18:31:00.000-05:00

The joy which comes from God is inexpressible.
The extent of God's peace is incomprehensible.
The majesty of God is indescribable.
God's holiness is unutterable.
God is ineffable.

Ineffable: Incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible.

~Christy

Four Years Later

2007-05-14T15:57:00.000-05:00

From baby blankets to toy soldiers to piano to basketball to computers to community college to high school graduate to physics and now...to college graduate! That's right, Pat IV has graduated from Rice University!!! Last Saturday, May 12, Pat received a B.S. in Physics and a B.A. in Math and turned 22 years old as well (it was his birthday).

Wow! Four years... so many things have changed. All three of us kids have grown so much during the past four years:

Physically
Me: 9 inches
Paul: 7 inches
Pat IV: from boy to man (not to mention the muscle)

Socially
Paul and I: In October 2004 we had a massive change in who we spent time with because we changed churches and joined our speech and debate club.
Pat 4: College brought a whole new group of friendships from Bible study, church, Campus Crusade, classes, cross-country, Right-to-Life, Rice Republicans, etc...

Mentally
Four years of studying, listening, reading, studying some more, applying, asking, researching, probing, investigating, observing, experimenting, etc...all to learn more about the world which God so marvelously created.

Spiritually
Where could I possibly begin? As each one of us goes through new trials and struggles, we stand firm upon the promise that "we are more than conquers through Him that loves us." We fight the battles knowing that Christ has already won the war. He has the ultimate victory and will pick us up every time we fall down. Personally, over the past four years God has shown me how important and how hard walking in obedience is, how sovereign my Creator is, that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, what true service is like, what a wonderful church I have, how much of a failure I am, and how forgiving and loving He is. I want to thirst after His presence and be filled by His goodness. To overflow with His love and outpour it onto a dying world. To have a relationship with a Friend who is "closer than a brother" not just for the next four years...but for all of eternity.

A different church, different friends, different priorities, different activities, different attitudes, a different perspective on life...but the same God. He stays the same no matter what. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Heb 13:8)

~Christy

Summit 2007

2007-04-09T20:35:00.000-05:00

Can you touch the sky?

Downtown Denver.

My mom on the capitol steps. Behind her is a statue dedicated to those who died during the Civil War and the large building is the city hall.

Simply adorable.

Outside the Chocolate Factory with an "enlargened" customer.

Denver's main river.

On a hill in Common Park. It seemed so happy there. Kites flying, a young mother tossing a frisbee to her toddler, a young couple playing with their dog, so many kids taking walks with their cute doggies...

Eating out with the Grace Covenant team.

Josh, Paul, and Corey.

Playing an arrangement of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" with "How Great Thou Art."

In the lobby of the Adams Mark Hotel.

Bible Quizzing.

I think they had a bad hair day.

The mile-high marker on the Colorado capitol steps.

Paul with his family after receiving his Citation award. That's the highest award in Awana and it means that he's completed ten Awana books since third grade.

The five Citation recipients from Grace Covenant. In total there were over 250 Citation recipients from around the nation.

Presenting the gospel message.

Zoomed out.

AwanaGames.

Paul and Josh Boudin.

The entire Grace Covenant team.

With Mr. Rorheim, the founder of AWANA.

I have no idea who the two girls on the ends or the man who is kneeling are, but the other man is Greg Stier of Dare 2 Share ministries who was the speaker at the closing ceremony.

Paul and Kevin White, the speaker at the opening ceremony.

With Brian Rhodes, an AWANA missionary.

With Danny Oertli, the worship leader.

An extra day of sight-seeing:
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Fascinating to say the least.

Focus on the Family. I'm standing outside of the Imagination Station a.k.a. the elevator to the part of the building dedicated to Adventures in Odyssey.

Garden of the Gods. "The Three Graces"--one of the many unique and exquisite rock formations in the park.

Pike's Peak--God is a such a wonderful Creator and His mountains are marvelous... but not nearly as marvelous as Him.

~Christy

The Mile High City

2007-04-02T23:35:00.000-05:00

Adams Mark Hotel, Denver, Colorado--It's beautiful here and it has been ever since we arrived on Saturday morning. We're not staying in the hotel, but we're here for the Awana national competition called Summit 2007. I'm not competing, but Paul is here with Grace Covenant Bible Church. During the times when he's not competing my mom, my dad, and I have been touring downtown Denver, including the Colorado state capital!

In some ways it reminds me a lot of Austin such as some of the strange characters you meet on the street. In other ways it's totally different like the 16th Street Mall that has a free shuttle bus running through it. And everywhere in Denver you can always see the Rockies to the West.

The Clock Is Ticking...

2007-03-20T21:06:00.000-05:00

~One baby is aborted every 24 seconds
~147 babies are aborted every hour
~3,542 babies are aborted every day
~24,865 babies are aborted every week
~107,750 babies are aborted every month

Astonishing... Heart breaking... Mind boggling... Innocence shattering... in one word... Abortion. I can tell you right now that this won't be my last post on this horrifying, yet brutally true subject.

The following link is a page with few words written on it, but it makes you think, "We spend all of this time protesting wars, saving bugs, protecting grass, preserving air particles... yet children are dying everyday at the hands of their own mothers."

You can make a difference. Let them know who the Giver of life really is.

The simple truth in 30 seconds of your time

~Christy

Bedford Tournament

2007-02-28T21:09:00.000-06:00

The Bedford Speech and Debate Tournament, February 22-24, was amazing...

There are no pictures from the first day and a half due to someone (ok, it was me :-) misplacing the camera, but here is what I do have.

Paul cross-examining Joel in Lincoln-Douglas debate. They happened to discover before this round that they were born on the exact same day in the same county (different hospitals, though).

They're still smiling later =D!

Alex and Lauren--two cheerful girls who I am honored to know.

Daniel and Paul. Daniel was in speech and debate until he graduated two years ago. Now, he's back on the other side of the table judging.

Austin Rhetoric Club (ARC). I love 'em all!

Chit-chatting with Jessie. You do enough talking when you're competing, but you do at least 50 times more talking when you're not competing. Jokes, theological discussions, small talk (why do they call it "small" when that amounts to the largest chunk of talking a person does?), getting-to-know-you talk, tons of "Hello's", and, of course, bushels of laughter.

Conversing with the world's greatest speech club coach (in my highly unbiased opinion:-)

Defending the faith through Apologetics.

Paul S. and Paul H.

Anxiously listening to the tournament director annouce "breaks" to find out who will advance to the next level.

Paul and Nick Elledge. I couldn't begin to name all of the awards he's received, but awards don't really matter anyway. What counts is what you've learned through earning those awards, and how you apply that in the world to make a difference.

Adam, Sarah, Christina, and Rachel. Adam, Sarah, and Rachel have all gone to the final round at the National tournament in various speech events. They are super talented, super humble, and super on fire for God. I've never heard any of them bragging on themselves, yet I've heard all of them talking about how good God is. And boy, is He ever!

My mom and Mrs. Hardy. The guy in the picture above (Adam) is Mrs. Hardy's son.

On Sunday, we visited our sister church in Dallas so my mom and I decided to kidnap this cute baby girl named Sophia. I've always wanted to have a sister! Don't you think she'd make a lovely addition to our family?

In a MacDonald's playscape. I haven't been in a fast food playground in ages. It brought back so many memories...

~Christy

Love

2007-02-14T17:25:00.000-06:00

Valentine's Day--what a perfect day to talk about love. When you hear the word "love", what comes to mind? Is it some picture of fuzzy romance? Yet the truest love isn't a fuzzy romantic kind.

1 Corinthians 13 is often thought of as the love chapter, and it is a really amazing picture of love, but my favorite passage about love in the Bible would probably be 1 John 4:7-21. In both verses 8 and 16 it says, "God is love". It doesn't state, "God loves" or "God is loving" but that God is love. When you think about that it can really blow one's mind away. It is impossible for God to go against what He is and so it is impossible for God to stop loving me... the wretched sinner that I am. "For God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."~Romans 5:8 (my favorite Bible verse).

I could talk on and on about God's wonderful love, but I now want to look at how that affects our own love. In verse 19, John says, "We love because He first loved us." Our first love is to God which we give with our entire heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love to God is one that calls for surrendering everything to Him. Even our own life. Whenever I hear a martyr story I'm always astounded by the commitment that person showed to God. Then the question usually passes through my head, "Do I have that much love for God? What would I do if I were in their shoes?"

From a love for God flows a love for others. Verses 20 and 21 state, "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." That may seem harsh to some, but those words ring as true as the fact that I'm breathing. The longest lasting love for others is a love that comes from the outpouring of a heart filled to the brim with a love for God. That's the only kind of love that comes close to the 1 Corinthians 13 ideal.

No, I'm not anywhere near that point and I won't be for a long time yet, but I've seen it in other people's lives. Sometimes when I'm at the top of a spiritual mountain I feel like I've reached it, but then I go downhill again. It's as if my love is like a flower in the winter... sometimes blooming strong and sometimes closed up for long periods of time.

1 Cor. 13 says, "Love never fails." The only way to find out if something will fail or not is to test it. I guess that's where trials come into the picture. This past summer my family experienced trials that tested love and trust unlike any I have ever experienced before. Paul called it "The Summer of Betrayal". Four different instances that shook our lives and I doubt the way we look at others will ever be the same. Two of them were at the expense of someone's life. Could we still love those who had betrayed everything we had believed about them? Could we still trust that God had everything under control and that He knew what He was doing?

I believe that through every instance God brought everyone in my family closer to Him and to each other. We had to trust that "All things work together to them that love God and who are called according to His purpose." ~Romans 8:28. We were (and are) still working on the loving Him part, but we know that we must rely on Him as our refuge and strength, and we can believe His promises that He would encircle those affected with His all sufficient love.

Love. So are you still thinking about the fuzzy romance? Love is a picture of a Father turning His back on His only Son. Love is a picture of a Man hanging from a cross between two murderers. Love is what God the Father sent His Son to do for us. That is real love...

~Christy

Mexico Trip 2007

2007-01-23T15:42:00.000-06:00

From January 4-13 my family was in Mexico on a mission trip with our church. We had four complete families and parts of four other families go. I loved every moment of the trip. We had a lot of excitement, a lot of work (the inside of the church building is now covered with stucco), a lot of fun (singing on the walkie-talkies), and we were given such a huge blessing.

Note: All pictures below are shown chronologically and all names are given left to right.

During the two day journey down to Morelia, Mexico, the Youngblood van got stuck on the curb of the parking lot. We weren't sure what to do since the tire was trapped in a one-foot deep ditch. In the right bottom corner of the picture, you can see the muddy water covering the ditch. The guys tried to push the car several times, but nothing ever happened. We stayed there for about an hour trying different things from logs to posterboard all to no avail. Pushing on the left side of the car, you can see two Mexican men who stopped to help us. One of the men could speak English and he called a large tow truck which pulled the van out.

The scenery in Mexico is beautiful. The mountains were breathtaking, the lakes were shimmering, and the sky was gorgeous.

Here are the guys putting stucco on the walls of the church. They must have had "fun" because every evening they'd come back to the camp covered in a boy's dream--dirt.

Church was very interesting to say the least. The man standing on the left (named Ivan) would say a couple of sentences in Spanish and then pause while Mr. Norris translated in English. The teaching was about being in a battle against Satan, how we need to be soldiers of Christ, and that we should not be lazy or sleeping as if we were on the Queen Mary.

Kyle, Daniel, Caleb, and Paul. Roommates of the "Guys Cabin".

Canon and Princey were the camp horses who were allowed free range across the camp so the soccer field was a bit... um... unclean :-).

Has Paul found a robot?

Here we are setting out food for the potluck after church. I loved working in the kitchen during the week with the other ladies... young and old... because there was so much wonderful fellowship. We chatted about everything under the sun, laughed about the little things in life, comforted others going through difficulties, told a million comical stories, prayed some of the most fervent prayers I have ever heard, and, most importantly, I grew so much in my walk with God as we talked about our faith.

Every night we played volleyball in the gym as well as on Sunday afternoon. I rarely play volleyball in Texas, but in Mexico I did every chance I got. It's so fun even if I do miss the ball whenever I try to hit it.

Sunday afternoon we went to downtown Morelia. Here's a picture as we walked through the market. Bright colors... soccer shirts... strong smells... every vegetable imaginable... words I can't understand floating around my ears... leather shops... staring faces... stuffy air in indoor markets... figurines... fresh air in outdoor markets... so much to describe that I can't explain it in words.

The massive Catholic cathedral of Morelia. It was humongous! When we went inside they were having mass so we didn't look around long.

Our group picture. I loved traveling with each and every one of them. Such lovely people!

This kind of joy makes me want to stay a little kid. They're filled with happiness just by chasing bubbles.

This restaurant has given me so many memories and it's definitely my favorite eating place in Mexico.

Caleb, Paul, Daniel, and Kyle. This is Paul's favorite picture because all of his roommates are standing together by coincidence.

Big Abby (5), Little Abby (2), Mrs. Latham, and Noah (4). This was the cutest picture ever! On Tuesday, we went to the location where all Monarch butterflies in North America to the east of the Rocky Mountains migrate to every winter. To read more about the Monarchs go here. This picture was taken at the Monarch butterfly refuge just before we took our 2 mile hike.

It was a beautiful hike. Huge pine and fir trees... green... dust... a large clearing... trees... more green... dead butterflies...
"How much longer before we get to the butterflies? We must be close."
"Let me ask the guide."
*talks in Spanish*
"He says 5 kilometers."
"But they said the hike was only 3 kilometers to begin with!"
"They must have tricked us so that we would take the hike."
*groans*
"Hold on."
*talks in Spanish again*
"Never mind, the guide said 5 minutes."
*long sigh*

Each one of those mossy looking clusters hanging from the trees are actually hundreds of Monarch butterflies. Can you imagine that in this one area there were millions of butterflies! It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. At the time of this picture the sun wasn't out (it was a cloudy day), but later the sun came out for a few minutes and thousands of butterflies started flying. What an amazing testimony of God's creation!

A butterfly crawled onto my shoe! Then it started crawling up my skirt and finally onto my hand! Did you know that butterflies tickle?

The friendly butterfly crawled from one hand to another...

Our missionary family. David, Abby, Mr. Norris, Josiah (in red), Daniel, Mrs. Norris, and John Mark. It's so exciting to see what God is doing in the lives of this family! If I had to describe them in one word it would probably be: enjoyable. You just love to be around them because they're fun and open. Open about answered prayers, how God has touched them, how God provided, how God is using them, or basically about anything God has done.

The one and only Hastings family. If I described my family in one word, I would choose either "Flexible", "Fun", or "Fantastic". I love my family and I'm glad God put me with them!

Abby's imitation of Christina. I interviewed lots of people about the trip and I enjoy listening to it at home. I have Abby's super cute interview of John Mark on tape too. Later they both sang, Away in a Manger in Spanish on tape.

I love this picture of my parents (even though my dad had purposely assumed the "your tax dollars at work" stance:-).

Here's a picture of most of the group on Thursday at the church building. I stayed at camp with a few others to watch the little kids and fix dinner.

Rosio, me, and Powlina. Talking to the Mexicans was probably my favorite part about the trip. The conversations were so funny because I only know a pocito (little) bit of Spanish. Basically I'd ask someone their name, age, whether they were from the city or the ranches, and if they liked volleyball (well, I think that's what I was saying). That was the extent of my knowledge of Spanish so then I'd move on to the next person to ask them their name, age, etc. I couldn't count how many confused looks I got when I tried to ask a question that I didn't know how to ask. Sometimes I could use hand motions, but normally I'd ask a Norris or someone in our group to translate.

The guys washing dishes after dinner which they voluntarily did every evening!

Saying goodbye to the missionaries and the camp on Friday. As they say: "Parting is such sweet sorrow."

One of many goodbye pictures.

On the way back to the States, we had seen this pillar of smoke in front of us for many miles. Some of the passengers needed a bathroom break so we stopped at a gas station about a mile short from the smoke. It was a blessing that we did because it turned out that a gasoline truck had exploded and was now burning on the side of the 4-lane highway. No traffic moved in any of the lanes. The vehicles just lined up for miles and miles. We stayed at the gas station for 2 hours! But without us stopping, Paul wouldn't have been able to do a wonderful thing. He witnessed to a bilingual boy named Jowani! And before we left Paul gave him his Bible. I wonder how God will water the seed that was sowed.

With all that said, if I had to name one thing that I learned it would be this: God uses ordinary people in extra-ordinary ways.

~Christy

God Is Good

2007-01-22T21:25:00.000-06:00

God is awesome. Period...
God is gracious. End of sentence...
God is loving. No matter what...
God is faithful. No exceptions...

Why is it so hard to totally surrender everything to our miraculous God? He will do a much better job than we could ever do.

Lord, grant me the grace to turn every area of my life over to you in total surrender.

~Christy

Holidays

2006-12-30T16:36:00.000-06:00

2 days until 2007! The holidays have been great especially with Pat IV home and all regular activities canceled. Marvelous time to catch up with things including my cooking (picture).

~Christy

Reason for the Season

2006-12-21T18:25:00.000-06:00

First Corinthians 13
Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
but do not show love to my family,
I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen,
baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
preparing gourmet meals and arranging
a beautifully adorned table at mealtime:
I'm just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen,
carol in the nursing home,
and give all that I have to charity;
but do not show love to my family,
it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels
and crocheted snowflakes,
attend a myriad of holiday parties
and sing in the choir's cantata
but do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love does not envy another's home
that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way,
but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love does not give only to those who are able
to give in return; but rejoices in giving
to those who cannot.

Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things, and endures all things.
Love never fails.

Video games will break,
pearl necklaces will be lost,
golf clubs will rust,
but giving the gift of love will endure.

--Author Unknown
__________________________________________
It's so important to remember what this time of year is all about...Christ!

When we miss God in all our hustle and bustle, we miss love.
~"God is love."~1 John 4:8.

When we miss love, we miss true serving and giving.
~"Serve one another in love."~Galations 5: 13
~"God loves a cheerful giver"~2 Cor 9:7.

When we miss true giving and serving, we miss so much happiness and blessing.
~"It is more blessed to give than to receive."~Acts 20:35
~"Give and it will be given to you"~Luke 6:38

Lots of people among the Christian world are saying, "Don't miss the true reason for the season -- Jesus' birth." Yes, of course, we should celebrate Jesus' birth, but we should do that at all times of the year not just on December 25 (which according to scholars isn't even close to when His real birthday was). One thing I admire about my church family is that they celebrate all of His life and ministry during all times of the year.

Now, I'm not trying to downplay Christmas at all. I think it's a wonderful time to put extra emphasis on the rememberance of His birth. And there are extra bonuses too: the family together... the joy that's not usually there in some people... everyone wishing you a "Merry Christmas"... the excitement... the chance to practice my cooking skills on food that's on
!SALE!... etc.

But with our family there's no presents on Christmas. It's a day for remembering the ultimate gift from God not our gifts. But when New Year's Day comes rolling around there's always a fluster of activity under our tree. It's the "New Giving Day" =)!

~Christy

A Great Work of Poetry

2006-12-20T19:55:00.000-06:00

by Ruyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
And make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Thankful for family

2006-11-23T10:45:00.000-06:00

Today is Thanksgiving (as if anyone wouldn't know)! It is so awesome to live in a country that allows the freedom of religion. This year our cousin, Sith, came from South Carolina to visit us. We've had a previous post about him (sixth paragraph) when we visited him in April. Thanksgiving is a great time to have the family together and think about the abundant blessings God has given us.

~Christy

Corpus Christi Again

2006-11-05T20:53:00.000-06:00

Shoutings...tears...laughter...encouragement...old friends...new friends...courage...fear...hugs...yes, all that took place yesteray and much more! We found ourselves back in Corpus Christi yesterday after a waking up at 5:30a.m. to leave for a speech and debate tournament. It was only one day so many people call it a "round-robin".

This was the first time I had performed my speeches this year so I didn't know how they would be welcomed, but from hearing the judges comments and critique I believe they were well received. In one speech, I act out a story about abortion from the baby's perspective. During the story the baby is actually aborted and apparently this moved one judge to the point of tears! Wow! I pray that God will use this speech to glorify Him and touch peoples lives.

As for results, at this practice tournament there were no awards in speech, but they did in debate. I won three out of four of my debates as did Paul. Someone from our club, David Umstattd, won first place! Congratulations!

Life Goes On Under An Awesome God

2006-10-28T13:21:00.000-05:00

Sorry, about the delay of posting, but life's been extremely busy lately. I don't have time to post about most of what's been happening, but here are the highlights.

Three weekends ago we went to Corpus Christi (I like the name of the city
:-) and camed out on the beach. We went to this gigantic aquarium were there was a dolphin show, rare animals, the largest species of spider-12 inches long, small sharks, puffer fish, jelly fish, a place where you could pet rays and hermit crabs, and so many other amazing creatures of the ocean. Though the aquarium wasn't Christian or anything like that, just seeing these animals makes you realize that God is so cool.

We also went horse-back riding along the beach. This was my first time to go horse back riding without someone leading me (as in holding onto the reins). The horses even waded in the water! I had a reddish-brown horse named Chester who at first was spirited, but as the ride went along was pretty calm. What an awesome experience and another testimony of how cool God is.

The next weekend included driving up to Dallas on my birthday (the 14th) for the wedding of my third cousin. We then watched a very excellently scripted play called "Eternity" with some long, long time friends, the Singletons. Mr. Singleton and I were going to blow out the candles of a birthday cake (his birthday was two days before), but I accidently blew them out with my laughter. Somehow I can't help but laugh a lot whenever I'm with them. Rebekah Singleton turned 13 yesterday (the age I am now).

Last weekend we were able to attend the last half-day of the San Antonio Christian Film Festival. Congratulations to The Oath of Desmorea for winning the grand-prize Best of Festival Jubilee Award!

Yesterday, Paul and I competed in our first debate competition of the year. It was only for a few hours in Austin, but people from Corpus Christi, Dallas, College Station, and Houston came. Out of 28 competitors, Paul got 8th speaker rank and I got 13th speaker rank. In overall placings, Paul got 4th place! Pretty exciting! God is so awesome!

~Christy

2006-09-25T16:56:00.000-05:00

One of the things I want most in the world is to gain the spirit of gentleness.

~Christy

A Day of Remembrance

2006-09-11T16:27:00.000-05:00

Where were you five years ago today? So many people remember, all too well, where they were when they heard the news about the twin towers. I walked into my dad's office to say, "Good morning" to him. He handed me a news article he had printed out from the internet about the tragic story. Seeing that I still did not understand, he explained the situation. After that I don't remember much that happened since I was so young, but I doubt we had school that day. One thing that stands out in my mind was the amount of fear that another terrorist attack would happen. Might it even happen to my family?

And who knows...another attack could happen today, or tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after, etc. Yet we can't just worry our life away. If I died today I know where I'd be going and that gives me peace in an area where unbelievers often can't stand to even think about.

God is in control of everything including the length of each person's life so because of that a godly, courageous friend of mine stated, "I would rather die in God's will than live outside of His will."

~Christy

Uncle Somyot's Visit and the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp

2006-08-21T18:31:00.000-05:00

Photo 1: Lunch with friends from our church on the San Antonio River Walk

Photo 2: At the Alamo

Photo 3: Imax Theatre (screens Alamo: The Price of Freedom)

Photos 4-6: Christopher presenting his business plan and later after winning the "Budding Entrepreneur - Captain of Industry Award"

Photos 7-8: Genevieve Smith interviews conference speaker Don Hart, Jr. for the Home Education Foundation of New Zealand

Photo 9: Entrpreneurial Bootcamp organizer Doug Phillips of Vision Forum with two of his sons

Photos 10-13: More friends at the conference

Photo 14: Group photo of some of the speakers at the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp

Photos 15-17: Touring the courtyard of the Alamo with Uncle Somyot

From August 1-12, my mother's youngest sibling out of 11 children, Uncle Somyot, stayed with my family. His home is in Thailand. My mom had a wonderful time talking in her native language with him and learning about the news of her family still in Thailand. We used this as an opportunity to teach him some English as well, and found him very eager to learn--while talking to him he would usually repeat any key word you said. Most of the time on the first try at repeating the word he would only pronounce the first two syllables correctly and garble up anything else, but on further attempts he would succeed with the entire word. This was an example of how with determination and perseverence one can often accomplish even things that by their nature are rather difficult for you.

During the last three days of his visit we took him along with us to the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp in San Antonio sponsored by Vision Forum.

~Christy

Anchors Aweigh!

2006-08-13T22:16:00.000-05:00

Hello! My name is Admiral Paul Hastings in His Majesty’s service. Upon returning from my first voyage, I wish to write down my exploits so that I might inspire the citizens that are in His realm. At 7:45 p.m. on August 13, 2006 AD and in the sixteenth year of my life, I left on a voyage of extreme exploits, daring deeds, astounding accomplishments, frightful fears, and utmost….DANGER!?! I went sailing. But let me assure you that it was no ordinary journey of joy and frivolity. No, this was a perilous undertaking. When I stop to think (I assure you I can) that I paddled 100 feet to and fro from my dock to my neighbors dock, I am almost brought to tears, or maybe it's allergies. But nevertheless, I set out on the good ship “Humu-humu-nuku-nuku-apuaa” (which in the Hawaiian language is the name for a type of sea trout) and was accompanied by the press(my siblings) which photographed the entire event. Upon first entering the waters of the cove I promptly capsized. But I re-launched again, this time with an appropriate helmet, and floundered about for thirty minutes. After docking uneventfully, I gave the press some advice and disembarked. Sadly, my trip was not to be without casualties. A most important member of my crew was gravely injured, nigh unto death. All right, what actually happened was I cut my foot on a mussel, but it still hurt. I look forward to when I may tell you of my exploits again. In His service...

Paul Hastings

Choir Camp

2006-07-30T20:54:00.000-05:00

Another one of the Malone's summer music camps, choir camp has filled me with many wonderful memories.

~Christy

Harp Camp

2006-07-21T19:43:00.000-05:00

Picture 1: Danielle & me

Picture 2: Lunch time!

Pictures 3 & 5: The majority of the girls playing during our ensemble practice.

Picture 4: Brittany, my awesome partner

Picture 6: Me playing harp

This past week I attended harp camp which was taught by friend Hannah Malone. Some of the things I learned included:

--Playing harp for 2 1/2 hours a day non-stop can stiffen your back and produce callouses
--Hymns and Celtic songs on the harp
--I have a short thumb (which God made for a purpose)
--The harp sound is soothing just as David and Saul found it: "So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him." (1 Samuel 16:23 NASB)

Having no experience on the harp whatsoever, I made tons of mistakes and sometimes that was discouraging, but like I learned in the Bible study which we had each day, God wants us to do our best and give however much we have to give whether it's just a tiny bit or a whole lot. Fortunately, Hannah was very patient with me, and although I'm still a long way off from ever performing at Carnegie Hall, I'm striving to glorify God in what I have to offer.

~Christy

An Independent Birthday on Independence Day

2006-07-12T16:54:00.000-05:00

Top: Paul attempts to light all 83 candles without burning himself.

Middle: Granny

Bottom: By the time all the candles were blown out, the cake looked like it had experienced "meltdown"!

The Roaring Twenties... the Great Depression... World War II... Korean War... the Baby Boomers... Vietnam War... Desert Storm... War on Terrorism... she's lived through it all. "She" is my grandma.

On July 4th, 1923, Frances Virginia Gulley (later to be Hastings) was born on the 147th birthday of our country. Now she's lived through the 230th birthday of America and her 83rd birthday. She's not just seen history happen--she's made history happen. In every activity she's done, she's created some kind of history. Some things were more important than others, but nevertheless all affected a future generation. And so will every decision you make.

*Words from Granny*: "Make your motto WWJD."

Remembering our heroes!

2006-07-06T18:36:00.000-05:00

1798~Noah Webster~July 4th Oration

"Our fathers were men--they were heroes and patriots--they fought--they conquered--and they bequeathed to us a rich inheritance of liberty and empire which we have no right to surrender... Yes, my fellow freemen, we have a rich and growing empire--we have a lucrative commerce to protect--we have indefeasible [inalienable] rights--we have an excellent system of religion and of government--we have wives and children and sisters to defend; and forbid that the soil of America should sustain the wretch who [lacks] the will or the spirit to defend them. Let us then rally round the independence and the Constitution of our country, resolved to a man that we will nevr lose by folly, disunion, or cowardice what has been planned by wisdom and purchased with blood."

----------

Our forefathers risked their lives for our freedom! Historians estimate that during the Revolutionary War about 25,700 soldiers DIED for us and future generations!!! So that I could enjoy all that I do... so a pauper boy could turn out to be the president of the U.S.... so my mom could immigrate to America... so my dad could own his own business... so that I could be a Christian.

Let us not abuse our freedoms but rather be visionary just as our fore-fathers were toward future generations!

As Americans we talk a lot about "our right to happiness, our right to liberty, our right to do this or do that." Yet in reality we have NO RIGHTS! I do not have a right to live! It is only because of Him and His blessing towards America that we have freedom! We must always remember that!

~Christy

----------

Independence Day by Tom and Sondra Wright

"The Fourth of July, Independence Day, Our Nation’s Birthday. Whatever you call it, we celebrate America’s independence from England on July 4 each year.

As a nation, we have endured for 200+ years to become a significant independent and powerful force in the world. We were founded on the principles of equality and religious tolerance, of equity and opportunity, and of rights and responsibilities. Several generations of men and women have defended our precious freedom with their lives.

As we celebrate this year, let’s take a moment to remember those who paid the ultimate price for freedom – and to remember their families. It is sometimes easy to think only of the glory of their sacrifices, and to overlook the sacrifice of their families. War is never glorious, no matter how romantic the notion created by Hollywood. War has casualties that go farther and deeper into the fabric of our nation than we may realize. Those who died are buried with fanfare, as befits a nation’s fallen valiants. And their families learn to go on, just as we have, in spite of their loss.

But think for a moment of those who were declared missing in action, or who were prisoners of war. Their families must endure, often for years, and sometimes without an end to their pain and loss.

Remember all of our nation’s fallen when you celebrate this year. Remember those ceremoniously laid to rest; remember those who were captured, imprisoned, even tortured; remember those whose fate remains unknown. And remember, too, the families of all of them.

Death, no matter how noble, is never easy for those left behind.

We send our thanks to the veterans - living, dead, and missing – and their families."

We're Back...Once More!

2006-06-18T21:55:00.000-05:00

Photo 1: A stream we passed over at the entrance to Polyface Farm in the Shenandoah Valley.

Photo 2: Tournament attendees walking in front of "Founder's Hall" at Patrick Henry College.

Photo 3: Paul waiting to perform his speech in Semi-Finals.

Photo 4: Reflection of the "Monticello" building in PHC's Lake Bob.

Photo 5: Ten people from Austin qualified for NCFCA Nationals and this picture includes nine of them. [l-r] Front row: David Umstattd, Paul, Brian Morgan, Madeleine Sullivan. Back row: me, Monica Calderon, Cynthia Umstattd, Brisa Calderon, and Justin Louis. Not pictured is Kristin Rodgers.

Photo 6: Another look at the Patrick Henry College campus.

The reason I haven't posted in a while is because we went to Virginia for the national home school NCFCA speech and debate tournament (a.k.a. Nationals or Nats) and then Paul and I were at the last AWANA camp...ever. Nationwide, AWANA has called this summer the last summer for its camps. Really sad news :(.

We started for Virginia on Friday, June 2 at 11:00 p.m. We drove...and drove...and drove...out of Texas...through Arkansas...from one end of Tennessee to the other...and into Virginia. Twenty-three hours after our start we stopped in Salem (near Roanoke), which is a few hours across the Virginia border. On Sunday morning we left early for another three hour drive to church near Winchester to meet our old friends, the Coles family. That was a completely breathtaking drive up the Shenandoah valley between the Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains. At church we met the Gowdy family for the first time.

After church we stopped at the Salatin's farm. We knew Sheri Salatin when she used to be a Margason in Texas. It was so interesting to see how differently they run a farm than how most farms are. Everything they did was based on Biblical principles and is highly organic. That night we stayed in Fredericksburg at the house of our cousins Ron and Sharon.

Then on Monday afternoon we went to the Nationals opening ceremony which was held in a large church just north of Dulles airport. My mom's cousin lives about an hour away so we spent the night there. Paul was almost late for his speeches on Tuesday due to traffic (and spending 30 minutes on a near-futile search for a gas station), so we decided that since we had to be there even earlier the next day we would move to a closer place, so we stayed in a motel in Winchester. The entire Coles family came to the tournament on Tuesday and we had lunch with them. They were so neat! Wednesday night was the banquet social. That was probably the most fun time of the tournament...and that's saying a lot! Then the NCFCA president announced "breaks"or advancements. I felt...well...super joyful...when I heard that Paul "broke" to semi-finals (technically tremi-finals, that is, three rather than two rooms of semi-finalists) in Open Interpretation!

Thursday: Paul performed in semi-finals and that night we stayed at the Gowdy's house. The Gowdy's have three daughters: Ellen (15), Anna (13), and Mary Lee (11). We laughed...and laughed...and talked...and talked. They are totally awesome people!

Since Paul didn't make it to finals we watched people who did until 4:00 p.m. Because of time constraints, we had to skip the final debate and the closing ceremony, but we were anxious to get back to Texas as soon as we could to get to Awana camp.

Before I change the topic to Awana camp I must say something. Nationals was the best tournament I have ever been to!!! I'm so glad that I got to go. I saw the best in the nation...the most talented...the dramatic ones that made me cry...the humorous ones that made me laugh my head off...the persuasive ones that swayed me in their direction ...and the best ones of all that taught me more about God and how to grow in faith.

Awana camp was great! I got there three hours late, but I only missed orientation. I'm not sure how to describe it, but I will say that I grew so much there in my spiritual walk. Being a soldier of God was the main theme of camp this year. I'm trying to be one and at camp I found other people who are as well. Now through correspondence we can grow together. Camp was a great experience!

~Christy

The Wedding

2006-05-27T14:30:00.000-05:00

Every little girl has a dream...a dream where she's the princess and her prince who she's waited for so long has finally come and he sweeps her off her feet to ride into the sunset and live happily ever after. But then that little girl grows up into a young lady. That desire to find a prince still burns in her heart, yet she knows that in the modern American culture today knights in shining armor are few and far between. And yet--I have found my prince and would love for you to meet him. He has done more than any fairy tale prince has ever done--more than just find a glass slipper, climb up long golden hair, or give a kiss. He has laid down His life for me and for you. His name is Jesus. He is my Prince. The One whom I'm in love with. He's so beautiful...

That ties in to where we went today. A wedding! This is my first wedding to go to this year. A family friend, Jacob Donahue, was united in marriage with Crysti Eisenhower. The wedding wasn't as elaborate as some, but it was the first time I had really noticed a bride's eyes become sparkly and a groom swell up with pride at the sight of his soon-to-be-bride walking down the aisle.

I look forward to the day when my Groom will descend from heaven with a trumpet and He will claim His bride--the church.

~Christy

Hastings Shows Duke Some Talent

2006-05-22T17:51:00.000-05:00

"HASTINGS SHOWS DUKE SOME TALENT
Christina Hastings, a home school student from the Lago Vista area, was among those recognized by the Duke University Talent Identification Program May 17 at the State Recognition ceremony held on the campus of Texas A&M in College Station. This is the 26th annual seventh grade Duke TIP talent search, which allows 7th grade students who scored in the 95th percentile or above on a grade-level national achievement test to then take the College Board's regular SAT exam. Seventh grade students who score at least 510 on either the math or critical reading sections of the SAT are awarded a Duke TIP medallion at the state level."

This is the headline and article I saw when I looked in the local Lago Vista newspaper. I was shocked. I mean, I did it all but I had no idea I would be in the newspaper! But there was my name in black and white. I found out later that my parents had sent the article to the editor with the possibility of publishing it. They did! I used to think that people who were in newspapers were special and did special things. And I still think that people who are in newspapers are special as well as everyone else in God's eyes. You are special!

The ceremony really stands out in my mind. Not because of anything in particular that the speaker said. Not walking across the stage, receiving a medallion, shaking hands on stage, or saying thank you to the hand's owner. No, what stands out in my mind is my conversation with two kids, a boy and a girl, sitting next to me on my right.

The speaker asked for a raising of hands to the questions, "How many of you go to a rural school? An urban school? A suburban school? A private school? A home school?" On the last question I raised my hand and the girl started giggling. That started a conversation on home schooling and public schooling. She wasted no time in trying to persuade me to become a public schooler (which she could never do). I was trying to show her why I would never want to switch to public school.

As we talked I mentioned to her that I wouldn't date--I would do courtship. She then asked if I was a Mormon. I answered, "No way! I'm a Christian!" That started a conversation about Christianity and Mormonism. It was the first time I really got to witness to someone. I've often talked about God and Jesus in various conversations, but never like I did this time. I hope I'll have many more opportunities.

~Christy

Happy Mother's Day!

2006-05-14T19:41:00.000-05:00

Touching Mother Facts --author unknown

When you came into the world, she held you in her arms.
You thanked her by wailing like a banshee.

When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you.
You thanked her by crying all night long.

When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk.
You thanked her by running away when she called.

When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love.
You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor.

When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons.
You thanked her by coloring the dining room table.

When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays.
You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud.

When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school.
You thanked her by screaming, "I'M NOT GOING!"

When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball.
You thanked her by throwing it through the next-door-neighbor's window.

When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice cream.
You thanked her by dripping it all over your lap.

When you were 9 years old, she paid for piano lessons.
You thanked her by never even bothering to practice.

When you were 10 years old, she drove you all day, from soccer to gymnastics to one birthday party after another.
You thanked her by jumping out of the car and never looking back.

When you were 11 years old, she took you and your friends to the movies.
You thanked her by asking to sit in a different row.

When you were 12 years old, she warned you not to watch certain TV shows.
You thanked her by waiting until she left the house.

Those teenage years...

When you were 13, she suggested a haircut that was becoming.
You thanked her by telling her she had no taste.

When you were 14, she paid for a month away at summer camp.
You thanked her by forgetting to write a single letter.

When you were 15, she came home from work, looking for a hug.
You thanked her by having your bedroom door locked.

When you were 16, she taught you how to drive her car.
You thanked her by taking it every chance you could.

When you were 17, she was expecting an important call.
You thanked her by being on the phone all night.

When you were 18, she cried at your high school graduation.
You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn.

Growing old and gray...

When you were 19, she paid for your college tuition, drove you to campus, carried your bags.
You thanked her by saying good-bye outside the dorm so you wouldn't be embarrassed in front of your friends.

When you were 20, she asked whether you were seeing anyone.
You thanked her by saying, "It's none of your business."

When you were 21, she suggested certain careers for your future.
You thanked her by saying, "I don't want to be like you."

When you were 22, she hugged you at your college graduation.
You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Europe.

When you were 23, she gave you furniture for your first apartment.
You thanked her by telling your friends it was ugly.

When you were 24, she met your fiance and asked about your plans for the future.
You thanked her by glaring and growling, "Muuhh-ther, please!"

When you were 25, she helped to pay for your wedding, and she cried and told you how deeply she loved you.
You thanked her by moving halfway across the country.

When you were 30, she called with some advice on the baby.
You thanked her by telling her, "Things are different now."

When you were 40, she called to remind you of a relative's birthday.
You thanked her by saying you were "really busy right now."

When you were 50, she fell ill and needed you to take care of her.
You thanked her by reading about the burden parents become to their children.

And then, one day, she quietly died. And everything you never did came crashing down like thunder.

"Rock me baby, rock me all night long."
"The hand who rocks the cradle...may rock the world".

Let us take a moment of time just to pay tribute/show appreciation to the person called MOM though some may not say it openly to their mother.

There's no substitute for her.

Cherish every single moment.

Though at times she may not be the best of friends, may not agree to our thoughts, she is still your mother!!!

She will be there for you...to listen to your woes, your braggings, your frustrations, etc.

Be tactful, loving and still show her due respect though you may have a different view from hers.

Once gone, only fond memories of the past and also regrets will be left.

*DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE THINGS CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART.*

I love you so much Mommy! - Christy

Back...Again

2006-05-06T20:33:00.000-05:00

Top (l-r): Anna Del Mul, me, and Abby Del Mul. The Del Muls are friends of mine from Texas. I was so suprised when I saw them there.

Bottom: Paul just before his presentation [read below].

Alright, we're finally permanently back from traveling out-of-state until June! Since the last post we went to...The Windy City. Actually it wasn't that windy in Chicago. In fact it felt a lot like how in my opinion spring should feel. We were in Chicago because the National AWANA competition, Summit 2006, was being held there. Paul was there with his Summit team from Grace Covenant and they did awesome! Here is how our team did according to Shaney Lee (one of the kids on the team) :

"Grace Covenant Church in Austin, TX

Quiz: We took four quiz teams. Two got to the silver round, then dropped out. One dropped out in gold. The other made seventh place in platinum!!!!

Games: We took two games teams. Both dropped out in the 3rd round.

Volleyball: We took two volleyball teams. They got 4th and 2nd place!

Fine arts: All our fine arts participants got gold or silver. Paul Hastings was asked to do his counsel time message during closing ceremonies and did a fantastic job. Tabitha Davies won instrumental solo with her flute piece."

Paul also got a gold medal in piano and in public speaking (which is his counsel time message). A gold medal doesn't mean that you necessarily got first place (which would mean that you get a $500 scholarship) but it does mean that you did very well. THEN...the big shocker came...we found out that Paul had tied for first place in public speaking!!! The reason he didn't get the scholarship might have been because the person he tied with was a senior, though I'm sure their presentation was also excellent. So instead, like Shaney said, Paul was asked, out of the hundreds of competitors in Fine Arts, to be one of five people to perform at the closing ceremonies! He performed in front of approximately 2,500 people! It was an exciting/nervous time for all the Hastings.

While Paul flew back to Texas with his team, the rest of the family (me included) drove through downtown Chicago. We saw miles of the shoreline of Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes. It was...well...great! Chicago is so humongous that it makes you feel like you're just one tiny speck. As Dad put it when he saw the monotonous mega-story apartment buildings one after another:

"You would feel like you're just another rat in a box."

Yet the beauty and excitement of life is still a hope for everyone because in God's eyes each one of us is unique. And how we look in God's eyes is what matters. We are humans created in the image of a beautiful Creator. We didn't originate from monkeys a billion years ago; we came directly from God. That's why we never have to be depressed or wonder how much we're worth because we're precious in God's sight. What a loving God!

~Christy

We're Back!

2006-04-13T10:08:00.000-05:00

We're back! And boy, did we have a fun trip! We left on Thursday (even though we were supposed to leave on Wednesday) and traveled all night in order to arrive at the Vision Forum-sponsored father-daughter retreat in time. And we did!

The retreat was awesome! Godly fathers such as Scott Brown and Geoff Botkin spoke along with their daughters Kelly Brown and Anna and Elizabeth Botkin. They encouraged the five hundred daughters and fathers at the retreat to embrace their role in the family and fulfill it. It was moving to see daughters give their hearts to their fathers on Saturday night.

On Saturday afternoon we were allowed about five hours to enjoy Callaway Gardens in any way we wanted. Now, most people had cars, but we were among those who had to travel by foot (Paul and my mom had the car twelve miles away at a motel). By the time we finished eating lunch, talking to people, and getting ready for our hike we had only four hours to cover as much ground as we could and still be back by 7:00 p.m. So we set off for an adventure.

We were having such a great hike that we didn't keep track of the time very well. We had 40 minutes to cover two miles to get back for the evening session. It's true that I could run two miles in less than 20 minutes, but would I notice the beauty around me as much? Besides, could my dad keep up? And my legs were tired anyway. So we hiked quickly and we barely made it in time. But we did.

By the time we got back, we had hiked eight miles in all. Yes, if you do the math that averages only two miles per hour (there were many beautiful and interesting things to stop and see along the way). But we were determined to hike at least ten miles total at Callaway. The question was where to find the time during the busy conference? We finally decided to get up extra early on Sunday and between breakfast and church walk the extra two miles in the Azalea Bowl garden which was in gorgeous full bloom.

Later that day my family was reunited and we then headed off to South Carolina to visit my 16-year-old cousin Sith. He has an amazing story to tell. To sum it up briefly, he was saved this past year at Bob Jones Academy (which is where he goes to school) and he is really a dynamic Christian now. God is so wonderful and caring! He extends to all of us, the wretched sinners who deserve hell, His grace and love. Hallelujah!!! Sith's life is a testimony of the miracle that God can work in anyone's life.

The next day we headed off to Stone Mountain, which is just east of Atlanta, Georgia. Stone Mountain is (can you guess) a mountain made out of stone! It's a massive granite monolith about 500 feet tall. After getting seriously lost on the highways at night, we arrived there at about 11:00 p.m. We were tired but we still had to eat dinner and set up camp. On Tuesday, here are some of the things we did (maybe I can some pictures later):

Rode a train around the mountain
Climbed the mountain
Rode the gondola down the mountain
Visited several different activities centers for kids
Toured a museum
Explored an antebellum plantation
Rode on a paddlewheel steamboat in the lake beside Stone Mountain
Watched the laser show on the side of the mountain after dark
And more...

Stone Mountain was so great that it was hard to leave it on Wednesday! We made a driving loop around Stone Mountain and kept making stops and side trips. Once we finally left, we took a long stop at a Lego store in Atlanta. We didn't actually leave Atlanta until 7:00 p.m. and we had to be in Fort Worth, Texas by 8:30 a.m. or else I would lose my debate round! So we drove...and drove...and drove...all night long. After 13 hours we finally arrived at the tournament with TWO MINUTES to spare! I was scared that we weren't going to make it, but we did! Hooray!! Three cheers for my parents!

Now I think I'll shift gears to the tournament. It was like the last one except that Paul didn't do quite so well but I did better than I did at the last tournament. I qualified for regionals in Open Interpretation and Paul qualified in all five of his speech events, but not debate. There's always next year though!

As you can probably tell I had a wonderful time on this rather lengthy trip!

~Christy

Traveling

2006-03-29T21:42:00.000-06:00

We're headed off to Georgia today! We're going to go to the Vision Forum Father-Daughter Retreat at Callaway Gardens in Georgia. We'll stopping at lots of other places as well. When we get back we'll be able to put pictures on our blog because we finally have our digital camera back (it's a long story). Don't think we'll be posting for awhile.

~Christy