Science

So as a senior in High School, it's a requirment to take Anatomy and Physiology for science. I was a little nervous about it. You see, I took Biology Freshmen year, which is normally a 10th grade course. I found it interesting, but I had a teacher who made is hard and did not like me at all. I had so much trouble, even though over all I did like the subject. So I was nervous this year because of how hard it had been for me years ago.
But I'm really really liking it :]
I find it so interesting. Everywhere it screams "GOD" to me. Right now we are learning about the cell...my third time, haha. It's just so amazing how it works. Every part of it has a purpose. I don't see how scientists look at this stuff and think there is no way God can exist. It doesn't make sense to me how people say "I believe in science", and not God. I don't get how this makes people turn away from the idea of a creator. For me, it does the exact opposite. It's making my belief in God stronger, and it just makes me feel more astounded by His power. How everything works together, for a certain purpose. Even the littlest things, such as a cell. Or the plasma membrane.
The class isn't easy. I have a lot of memorizing to do, and since I didn't do well the first time when it was just bio, I know it will make it a little harder for me. But I'm enjoying it, and learning so much.
It makes me excited :]

it's a new year.

School started last week. It is so weird to think I'm now a senior. But I am also very excited for the things God will do in my life this next year. I think He has big plans. I can't wait to see them unfold. I'm now apart of praise team (although that was an accident), but I'm gonna give it a try. I'm also liking my anatomy&phys class. And my government. And biblical worldveiw.
I'm also an FCA leader again this year. Yay!:]

It's also nice to see the other kids at my school taking things seriousley. I got a mass text from a close guy friend, who was saying how since we are now seniors, we need to be good role models, and really follow God, because we have failed at it past years, and we need to start.
I'm blessed with awesome friends.

Scars

So today I went to a mini girls retreat. It was amazing. Besides the shaving cream war, the yummy food, the wonderful worship, and an interesting never ending game of darts, there was also a great message.
A message, that I (and I'm sure everyone else), needed to hear. It just goes to show you how God lays certain things on people's hearts.
The message was on hurt, and pain, and wounds, and ulitmatley leading to forgivness. What is true forgivness? How do we forgive people who have hurt us so many times in so many ways?
Mrs. Quann did a great job on explaining these subjects. She listed personal things, how she came to forgive, and how she learned what it really means to forgive. For instance, when you forgive someone, you shouldn't look back at those past times with hate, or anger, or even pain. What went on is just a part of your past, it happened, but you can learn from it. And that God is always there, He never forsakes His children.
We also heard a story (while listening to Pride and Prejudice music :]) about how we sometimes collect hurt, our pains. How we don't take them to our Father. Sometimes we have a reason to feel these pains and hurts, but sometimes we sort of make them up. People don't always mean to treat others the way they do, and we take it to heart. But the truth is, we have probably treated others like that too. Hurting someone without even thinking about it. Being inconsiderate, selfish, rude, distracted, and many other things. But we may not realize this is how we are treating people, even ones close to us. So when we are treated that way, we must be gracious, because we are no better. We must not stop loving, for God never stops loving us.
I realized tonight, that God can heal our wounds, even the ones we don't think about often, but are still there deep down. He turns them into scars, which are stronger and tougher than the skin before. God never leaves us, even when we are hurting, we just have to look and see where He is.

How long must I wait?

So I've been wanting to blog for awhile now, but I just couldn't seem to come up with anything worth blogging about.
But I think I finally found something.
yay! :]

About two weeks ago I had lunch with a girl I am becoming very good friends with. Her name is Amie. We where sitting at the Goolrick's counter, drinking cokes and eating sandwiches, when she suddenly asked me "So Tori, what has God been teaching you?"
It caught me by suprise, but it was a great question.
It took me a minute to really think that out, because God has taught me so much over this past year. Little things and big things. But I knew the one huge thing that I had been learning this past year.
So I answered "Patience."

I've learned that God's plan is the best plan and the only plan worth living. And sometimes, we have to wait for that plan to reveal itself. Things don't just happen all at once. Thats what was, and still is, hard for me. Not knowing what God's plans are right away.
I would also worry, "What if I miss God's sign?"..."What if I don't realize when He's telling me to go a certain way?"...but I could be wondering "what if's what if's what if's" all day. They don't solve anything. They just make your head hurt.

But someone showed me this verse "Your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it" thats in Isaiah 30.
That verse has helped me a lot.
But its not just patience about the future that I have been learning, but patience in the little things. I'm naturally not a patient person, its just one of my huge faults. I never tried to fix it. I just always told myself "Nobody's perfect, everyone has their problems, and this is one of mine. I'll live with it." But thats not the attitude we should have.
Thats another thing I've been learning.
Being an inpatient person is not appealing to anyone. I don't even like being around inpatient people, and yet I AM one. I shouldn't just brush off my faults and live with them, I should want to change them. So, I've been working on being more patient with my family, and friends...and the computer and the microwave, and even my dog. Things take time.
I can't rush the microwave, because it takes time to heat up food. I can't rush my dog, because she is a puppy and it will take time for her to get the hang of things, I can't rush my family and friends, and I most certainly can not rush God. His way is the best way, and His plans for you will not always come out the way we want them too, or when we want them too. But we have to have comfort in knowing He is always there, and He will not let us down.

So, there are some of my thoughts lately :] I know it was kind of all over the place, but hopefully I got my thoughts across.