The Truth about Me

Mandisa is one of my favorite artists and as I was listening to one of her CDs, this song "The Truth About Me" caught my attention and I really started to think about the truth of the words of this beautiful song. God does see us something so wonderful and loves us more then we could ever imagine.

So don't just listen to the song, but really think about the words.............and remember how much you're worth to Him.

Cookies and Carols

Here are some pictures of the Cookies and Carols Party we were at last night. It was more like a girls party, because almost all of the dads and sons were out in the freezing cold on the bay, fishing! But we still had a great time. I will try to post some more behind-the-scenes of carols later, but for now pictures from yesterday!

Lizzie Olsen, Sophia Shedd, and Me

Olivia Shedd

Story Time!

Maybe a little off key! :-)

....and a partridge in a pear tree!

Sister Songs!

My dear friend Sophia Shedd did this five-strand braid on me and we both thought it was so cool-looking, so I just had to show you all! I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

~Rachel

Rudolf, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Hello Everyone! Yesterday evening we went to an After-Christmas carols and cookies party at our friends house. We had a wonderful time fellowshiping with our friends, but what was really fascinating was the stories behind the Christmas carols that we sang.We learned about the songwriters and why they wrote those songs, but one that was especially interesting and even sad was "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

Everyone know that fun holiday song, but do you know the true meaning of the song and why it was written. So now you're probably thinking how did it come about and who really did think of that story? Well, after reading this, you will probably never look at the story of that reindeer the same again.



As the holiday season of 1938 came to Chicago, Bob May wasn’t feeling much comfort or joy. A 34-year-old ad writer for Montgomery Ward, May was exhausted and nearly broke. His wife, Evelyn, was bedridden, on the losing end of a two-year battle with cancer. This left Bob to look after their four-year old-daughter, Barbara.
One night, Barbara asked her father, “Why isn’t my mommy like everybody else’s mommy?” As he struggled to answer his daughter’s question, Bob remembered the pain of his own childhood. A small, sickly boy, he was constantly picked on and called names. But he wanted to give his daughter hope, and show her that being different was nothing to be ashamed of. More than that, he wanted her to know that he loved her and would always take care of her. So he began to spin a tale about a reindeer with a bright red nose who found a special place on Santa’s team.
Barbara loved the story so much that she made her father tell it every night before bedtime. As he did, it grew more elaborate. Because he couldn’t afford to buy his daughter a gift for Christmas, Bob decided to turn the story into a homemade picture book.

In early December, Bob’s wife died. Though he was heartbroken, he kept working on the book for his daughter. A few days before Christmas, he reluctantly attended a company party at Montgomery Ward. His co-workers encouraged him to share the story he’d written. After he read it, there was a standing ovation. Everyone wanted copies of their own.
Montgomery Ward bought the rights to the book from their debt-ridden employee. Over the next six years, at Christmas, they gave away six million copies of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to shoppers. Every major publishing house in the country was making offers to obtain the book. In an incredible display of good will, the head of the department store returned all rights to Bob May. Four years later, Rudolph had made him into a millionaire.
Now remarried with a growing family, May felt blessed by his good fortune. But there was more to come. His brother-in-law, a successful songwriter named Johnny Marks, set the uplifting story to music. The song was pitched to artists from Bing Crosby on down. They all passed. Finally, Marks approached Gene Autry. The cowboy star had scored a holiday hit with “Here Comes Santa Claus” a few years before. Like the others, Autry wasn’t impressed with the song about the misfit reindeer. Marks begged him to give it a second listen. Autry played it for his wife, Ina. She was so touched by the line “They wouldn’t let poor Rudolph play in any reindeer games” that she insisted her husband record the tune.
Within a few years, it had become the second best-selling Christmas song ever, right behind “White Christmas.” Since then, Rudolph has come to life in TV specials, cartoons, movies, toys, games, coloring books, greeting cards and even a Ringling Bros. circus act. The little red-nosed reindeer dreamed up by Bob May and immortalized in song by Johnny Marks has come to symbolize Christmas as much as Santa Claus, evergreen trees and presents.
As the last line of the song says, “He’ll go down in history.”


Here is the video of Gene Autry singing it.....finally the man who agreed to make this precious story a big hit!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas all!! I hope everyone had the best Christmas ever. I know we certainly had an awesome Christmas Eve. I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed us with being able to perform in our church's annual production titled "Joy to the World." I pray that we all witnessed to people through our dancing, acting, singing, music, and more. And even though parts could be quite stressful, I had a WONDERFUL Christmas Eve! Thank You and Happy Birthday Jesus!! He is the Reason for the Season!!

Here are some pics to show you how much fun we had! :) I hope on getting some videos out later.

My Family

Our Dance Pose

The Prophets: Jeremiah, Isaiah, Micah

Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and the Wise Men

Praise the Lord with the Dance! 

The Flower

Cast Pizza Party

                                                                       

                                                   

                 

                                                                       

A Powerful Message

I'm sorry, it seems like I just keep on putting other peoples words on here, but I promise to write more soon. I did just have to show you what my dad's friend posted on facebook. This is from a father of a girl who shot in 1999 at the first major shooting in Littleton, CO. And this brave father went to congress and...........

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this. On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.
 They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good &evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.
 "The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.
 "In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent
 I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
 Your words are empty air.
 You've stripped away our heritage,
 You've outlawed simple prayer.
 Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
 And precious children die.
 You seek for answers everywhere,
 And ask the question "Why?"
 You regulate restrictive laws,
 Through legislative creed.
 And yet you fail to understand,
 That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact.
What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws.
Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him.

To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
 - Darrell Scott

COLUMBINE STUDENT'S FATHER 12 YEARS LATER!!

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this. On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.
 They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good &evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.
 "The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.
 "In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent
 I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
 Your words are empty air.
 You've stripped away our heritage,
 You've outlawed simple prayer.
 Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
 And precious children die.
 You seek for answers everywhere,
 And ask the question "Why?"
 You regulate restrictive laws,
 Through legislative creed.
 And yet you fail to understand,
 That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact.
What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws.
Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him.

To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
 - Darrell Scott

A Tragedy We Will Never Forget

I, as well as millions of others in the world were heart-broken, because of the loss of the children in  Newtown, CT. It isn't fair what happened to those poor children, but yet God was there. He NEVER leaves us or forsakes us and while us on earth are distraught because of that tragedy, those former students of Sandy Hook Elementary School are now in heaven. If I could imagine them saying anything to us now, it would be "Don't cry. Don't be sad. I'm in Jesus' arms now!"

Here is this tear jerking statement from Randy Forbes.

By Congressman Randy Forbes, Dec 15 - There are times that news shocks us. And, then, there are times that news sends adrenaline snapping in our veins and bile churning in our gut. News that makes thoughts charge at our own brain and our hearts stiffen against the walls of our chest.

Saturday’s winter sun rose over an elementary school that just hours before had held twenty-six lifeless bodies. America is reeling. Twenty coffins will be cut and fashioned to fit the tiny bodies of precious children. Children yesterday pressed off to the bus stop, milk-laden cereal abandoned in sunny kitchens, beds unmade, lunches packed but never eaten. Now ashes. Their little dreams frozen, their tiny handwritten school work crudely fashioned on straight lines savagely halted, their fingers never to drum softly on mother’s arms again or tighten around papa’s neck. "I want to be a ballerina, and a doctor, and a singing star, Mama." Gone.

We hunt for words that might mirror the tumult raging in the corridors of our minds. Tragic. Senseless. Unimaginable. But each word, once rendered on our tongue, is inept at carrying the confusion and horror and pain inside. For those that can, we pull our children close holding their little frames until they pull away and gaze up at us pleasant, but confused. “Daddy, why are you staring at me?”

Why? Because our minds are at work painting the faces of our own children, their sweet clear eyes, on the students of Sandy Hook. Because the hollow sounds of gunshots echo in our souls, just as they blasted through the intercom down a hallway in Newtown, CT yesterday morning. Because we feel the deep chasm between what was once a warm school filled with the high-pitched, off-key singing of gradeschoolers…. now, whose icy stillness is interrupted only by the sobs of grown men and women who have stared directly into the eyes of evil.

The shoulders of our nation are bent under the weight of such heaviness. Our raw, blistering grief is center stage for the world. There will be a day for the what-ifs, and the should-haves, and the if-onlys and the we-musts. Yes, there will be.

But today we are left seeking a balm to cover our wounds. Each of us will search differently as we are free to do. Perhaps some hands will cease feverishly wrapping gifts and tacking up Christmas lights and might instead rest in laps, heavy with the realization that we have little power to wipe away these hot and sticky tears. Such deep horrible groans of grief we cannot silence. Such evil we cannot undo. “Help us,” we might whisper. “Please.”

As we teeter on the edge of such sadness, though, there is a tug in many of our hearts. A pull that reminds us that there is good, and that this good is far surpassing in portion to the evil we now confront. Our minds are forced back to a God often forgotten in the times of prosperity. A God swept aside even in our times of great challenge as we have stiffened our backs and trusted our hands to do work of fixing what must be fixed. But now, here, in our pain, we see our own fragility in fresh light. Here we sit, shaking and inadequate. We cry not to some moth-eaten relic, but to an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful, all-healing God whose handprint can be traced across the pages of our national triumphs and tragedies. We’ll trust you. We must. “Help us,” we whisper. “Please.”

God Does Care

Hello Everyone! I wanted to post this beautiful story, that my dad's friend sent to him today. It's so touching and brought tears to our eyes. I hope you find it as heart-warming as we did.

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?'


The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.'


Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?'

The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university..'

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked.. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.


The mother said, 'It was Jimmy 's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else..... 'I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom..' She went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could..'


Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy 's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.


The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy 's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said :


'Dear Mom,


I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You' . I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day.. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me... He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.


Don't be sad thinking about me.. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'where was He when I needed him?' 'God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.

Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you... To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Toni ght I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.


Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore the cancer is all gone.. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?

Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.


( Let's see Satan stop this one. ) Take 60 seconds and repost this, within the hour, you will have caused a multitude of believers to pray to God for each other. Then sit back and feel the Holy Spirit work in your life for doing what you know God loves 'When you're down to nothing, God is up to something'

By a Wonderful Creator

Hello Readers! I was just looking back at our trip to the Florida Keys that we took in August. We went to this place called "Theater By The Sea." It was so amazing! We got to see shows of all kinds of sea animals and more! But the dolphins were definitely my favorite. I've always loved them. The tricks that they did were awesome! And people think these wonderful creatures came about by random chance! How silly. Just to look into a dolphins face, is like you can see the Wonderful Creator through them. God made each detail of them for a purpose. He even made their mouth a smile! Don't tell me that's random chance. Just look what God has done!! Now these creatures are worth praising Him about!

  Dolphin kisses for my brother!!

About my Blog

Hello Readers! First I would like to thank Jesus Christ for making this new blog possible. Let me tell you a little about the title. Wild about Worship. Obviously my favorite thing to do is worship the Lord with my instruments and voice. That is my way of feeling really close to Him and that is the way he speaks to me. At the age of six (or maybe earlier!) my great passion for music began. All I remember doing is popping a CD in, grabbing my hairbrush microphone, and dancing around, singing for the Lord! My friend and I wanted  to grow up, and be Christian Rock Stars, believe it or not! I begged my mom to play guitar, but someone gave us a piece of advice that I'm so glad I took! To play piano first. At seven, I began piano lessons.......and fell in love with it! I began learning worship chords early on and the very first song I learned was "Be Glorified." I have been playing both classical piano and worship piano since then. That's six years. Then I began singing and playing keyboard on two of my church's worship team and still do on one. I also play violin on it as well. I began playing about a year and a half ago after begging my dad, (the answer was constantly "No, you already play an instrument!") But I begged God to change his heart and he answered "Yes!" God has now blessed me with playing with Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia. Because of all that training, I am now able to teach myself worship guitar. Isn't God so WONDERFUL! I hope this encourages you all to worship the Lord with ALL you have!

                                                                 Psalm 150
                                                            Praise the Lord!

                                                   Praise God in His Sanctuary
                                                Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

                                                 Praise Him for His mighty acts;
                                      Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

                                          Praise Him with sound of the trumpet;
                                          Praise Him with the lute and the harp!
                                          Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
                                          Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
                                          Praise Him with loud cymbals;
                                          Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

                                      Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

                                                           Praise the Lord!!