"Red Sky" by Brandon Heath

Change..It can be a good thing.

This past few weeks I've really been doing a lot of thinking about the direction my life has been going. Where my focus and interests were and whether or not they were really in the right places. One thing about canvassing, all of that time spent walking sure gives you plenty of time alone with nothing to do but think and walk. Sometimes that's what you really need..time to just think everything out. Somewhere during all of those hours I finally came to really realize that even though I had convinced myself that my interests and focus's where just fine..they really weren't and it was time to stop ignoring it and do something about it. I guess i just needed something that really spoke to my heart..and I can't even really explain what it exactly was, I do know that I'm working hard on getting things back on track and figuring things out. Nothing is going to really work in your life unless you make sure to involve God, he's the only one that will get you through.

Middlesboro canvassing trip April 2010

This past week I was in Middlesboro KY on a canvassing trip led by the KYTN conference youth director, Pastor Cesar Quispe.
 We were able to get a lot of books into homes all throughout Mboro and we also got out a lot of Discover bible studies.The entire week was a spiritual blessing and I'm thankful for everything that Pastor Cesar talked about in his worships and his sermon sabbath. I improved on my canvassing skills and met a lot of awesome people throughout the week. I will be in Pastor Cesar's summer canvassing program this summer also and I'm really looking forward it.
  I want to encourage everyone that has interest to definitely give canvassing a try, It is a huge blessing!

Spring has Sprung!

Along with all of the beautiful beginnings of spring our house has been getting closer and closer to being finished. It's dried in and now it's down to all of the inside work. We are expecting to be in, in about 3-4 weeks!!
We have a lot of fruit trees on our land already and the list includes Apple, Pear, Peach, Cherry and Persimmon trees. There are also dogwood, redbud, and different flowering trees that im not sure of their names. There is also an old grape vine that mom found, which the neighbors mentioned produces a lot of grapes.
  I've found my favorite part of the property already. The creek that borders the back property line has a sandy bottom and a section of it has a sort of sandy beach with a poplar grove surrounding it. I love going back there to read or just sit and think.
  We've been getting to know our future neighbors. There is a sabbath keeping family who live on a neighboring street and they have a program which helps young adults who have just gotten out of correction centers readjust to living in the real world alcohol and drug free. They had our family over for Easter dinner, a long with a couple of other really nice people from the area. The neighbor right next to us have been really good about calling if they think someone that shouldn't be there is over at the building site or things like that. We've all enjoyed sampling Ms. Jessie's pears which came from our trees. Our neighbors are all very nice people.
 We're all really looking forward to getting moved in and we hope that everyone able to will stop by and visit.     Have a wonderful Spring!

Life in the wild,wild boondocks

I’m out at our property at the moment enjoying the sunshine and the wind. It seems so long since we’ve had a truly warm, beautiful day! Its middle 50’s with a slight breeze. Feels more like spring then winter. It’s sure nice after feeling like we’d suddenly been transported up north what with continually getting snow here.

  So far the garage is standing, not finished but dried in.They start on the house tomorrow. I'm going to be missing out on a lot of the last parts of building what with being gone over summer break.I'm not that jealous though considering they have all kinds of fun things like hand painting all of the siding for example to look forward to. Canvassing sounds much more interesting to me.

  We’re building a cape cod style house. I finally get the window seat I've always wanted since the house will have dormers. Anddd here come the neighbors two labs. Their sometimes overly friendly. One of them just tried to eat my phone. Our dogs are going to love having them to play with.Tia and Kylee are going crazy being cooped up on the little lot we’re living on right now. 

  We’ve met some of our neighbors so far. We have an 80 something year old woman who is supposed to be some shot at shooting, her son who lives with her and has 3 or 4 kids i think. There’s the war veteran who is a little on the eccentric side(but aren't we all?) and the list goes on. Although somewhat eccentric to be sure and sometimes a little backwards they are friendly people and I think I'm going to enjoy living here for the last 2 1/2 yrs at home.

  Now I'm just rambling to keep myself entertained..I guess i should finish this up and see if i can get a turn at driving the tractor. To be continued. :)

Canvassing. =]

I figure it's about time for another post. Im so delayed usually, what's it been, almost 2 months since i last posted? yeah sad story.
I've been canvassing lately with a group from the private academy i'm attending next year. I've met a lot of great people while canvassing and i'm getting a lot closer with some of the kids i'll be going to school with next year while canvassing with them.
You definitely meet some very interesting people, but you also meet some pretty amazing people. It can get kinda boring when your out there walking with long stretches between houses and only your thoughts and God to talk to but I'm finding myself enjoying it after all.
Im going to be doing the summer canvassing program this summer with Heritage Academy in Knoxville,TN to help pay for my tuition. It's a 10 week program with only one weekend home. Im really looking forward to my summer! My first summer away from home. I'm hoping to make some lasting friendships, good contacts in canvassing and all in all a memorable summer!
I would encourage whoever has interest in getting good material into peoples homes to definitely canvass. It can be depressing when you go a while without selling, but when you do it's really rewarding knowing that hopefully they will read it and it will bring them closer to God.
I think i'm finished rambling now, but i thought it was about time i posted some of my thoughts on canvassing.

2010!

Wow! So i'm really behind in posting to my blog. Not that anyone reads this or is interested...but i'll still post.

The beginning of November found us closing on the house and then closing on the land. My parents now own 10 acres in the Grimsley,TN area. Building is under way! In the process of cleaning up the land we removed somewhere between 1,000-1,500 glass beer bottles, huge construction bags full of household trash and around 350 tires. The former owner was a real winner. It's a pretty piece of land though with two creeks and a spring on it.

December was a busy month. School in the morning and working out at the property in the afternoons.

Dec. 18th at 11:13 pm I became an aunt again! Little Katelyn Christine Rice arrived two weeks early weighing exactly 6 lbs. There were some complications with the pregnancy so my sister ended up with a c-section. We're all relieved and happy that Alina and baby Katelyn are safe and sound! Jonathen is already infatuated with his little sister. He's quickly becoming a very good big brother. My Mom flew out Christmas day to spend two weeks with the Rice family. She has really enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren!

My brother Seth and I went up Dec. 24th to spend some time with my sister Sarah and Brother in law Ryan. We came back Jan 1st. We really had a good time with them!

My baptism is January 9th,next Sabbath. I'm being baptized in the Meister Hill Memorial SDA Church. I have a wonderful church family there and Pastor Colburn is a really good Pastor.

I urn 15 the 13th of this month. It's come up quickly. My parents are dreading the thought of my getting my permit. I'd like to know why, i'm already a good driver!

In this coming year i'm planning on volunteering afternoons at the local church school, doing Col. work with the Heritage Academy program, possibly working at a local bakery, and of course school. I'll be a Junior the next school year. I graduate in 2+ years if everything goes as planned and then after a year of generals in college onto Dental Hygiene school. I had considered nursing for a while but I just can't seem to see myself as a nurse.

Life is busy and sometimes rather complicated..but isn't that how life always is? I'm blessed with some wonderful people in my life and amazing friends! All in all 2009 was a pretty good year. Confusing and unsure to start with but it sure got better as the year went on! I hope everyone has a wonderful and richly blessed year to come! Happy New years!!