Holiday Cheer

I honestly think that being overwhelmingly tired can just be a lifestyle after awhile. Whenever I'm tired it seems I'm nowhere near my bed (like at school) and then when I get home and in my room I don't sleep, I just feel like wasting time (like being on Facebook, or Blogging about my 16 year old life).

Well my first major announcement is that I am now a licensed driver! On Thursday after school I took my test (and studied my 2 year old homework I still had from driving school all day...sad, I know) and it was surprisingly easier than I remember. Nerves have a lot to do with it... I tend to do really stupid things when I'm nervous, like forget what a stop sign looks like.

That evening, after I had gotten my license I was in a Christmas Play. My choir teacher had written and composed the whole thing. But what was cool about it, is the music, script, everything, is literally word for word out of the Bible. Just in musical form. This is the first year we have a music program at my school, so of course I was all over it. The class is only offered to eighth grade and below, however, so my headmaster signed me up to be the teacher's assistant, so I could still do the class. So Kindergarten through eighth grade was up on stage (which surprisingly didn't take up that much room) and because I'm the oldest girl, my choir teacher gave me the role of... yes... Mary.
I believe this is my third time as Mary in the Christmas Story, at various times in my life...Funny. Today in church we talked all about Mary; her faith, her purity, and her love for God. So in that way of imitating her on stage, I also want to imitate her in life :)
And so the very next day was my best friend and cousin, Emily's, 17th birthday. Emily came and got me after I got home from school. Now Emily and I (shes been my best friend my whole life), we spent basically our entire summer this year in her bright red, 1994 Geo Trackker--christened "Shelby Shablam". When it came time for us to head out, she gave me the keys to her car and reluctantly let me drive her precious Shelby. Okay, now this is officially my first time driving with a license, and without an adult in the passengers seat. So of course, things like the following occur. We do a test run around the block, and I make a gentle right turn--suddenly the car spun out and swerved slightly into the middle of the road on some ice. Emily froze, I held my breath and took my foot off the gas. As soon as it had happened, I regained control of the car a second later and continued down the road. Emily was astonished and said, "Wow, good job. The first time I ever did that I screamed and my passenger had to grab the wheel." We laughed and I drove to Dutch Bros, still in dumb awe of the fact that I was driving all by myself, without my mom or dad next to me. Grinning awkwardly, we pulled up to Dutch Bros. Okay, I think its a national law that if you work there, you have to be extremely cool. And attractive. So we told them it was Emily's birthday, and that I was taking her to get coffee because I just got my license (with her car haha). The employees congradulated us, and gave us free coffee! Blaring some Jason Derulo, we drove to her house and had an awesome rest of the weekend.

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year because its a time where I feel like a little kid again. Where nothing mattered and everything was beautiful and innocent. A time where Santa Claus was real, when snow was actually fun to play in, and when the gifts I made for my parents where all paper mache. Now, whenever I hear a Christmas song, I get those warm tinglies all over again. And even though it will never be the same as it was when I was younger, the memories I hold on to will never change.
I watch all of these Christmas shows on tv and as cute and classic they are, I wish they had the true meaning of Christmas in them. These days all the Christmas specials worship Santa and shopping and giant light-clad evergreens. Really the only moral message in them is "the spirit of giving." Oh how I wish there were more Christmas Specials like Charlie Brown...the ones that tell the actually true meaning of the season. In the movie, much like everybody else today, Charlie Brown is searching for the meaning of Christmas, and gets discouraged when no one seems to know. Finally, my favorite part comes when Linus stands center stage and recites directly out of Luke chapter 2. I praise God that that program still airs, because sometimes Christmas time is the only time people hear the name of Jesus. We all need a Savior...and what more a reason to celebrate than the fact that one was born, for us all.

On that note, I'll finish out my week at school (without getting too distracted by shopping and other pre-holiday traditions) and to make the time go faster, whistle a couple bars of "Sleigh Ride" whenever things get too quiet in the classroom. But ultimately, remember that the Lord is good for sending his son to this earth, in a humble stable in the form of an innocent, helpless, baby boy. Lord.... how I wish more people knew.

Junior Year, Music, and other tid-bits.

Not sure if anyone really reads my blog, but if you do, I thank you. I set up a Twitter account recently and am still at a loss why it is useful. (Follow me @gerryberry4 --that is, if I don't delete it within the next few days :p)
This being my junior year, I have fewer classes, more freedom, but also more responsiblity. I'm working on getting my drivers license (I also recently failed the written test; luckily it only cost 3$...But in my defense, its pretty hard. They like try to trip you up...'What of the following happens when you get a DUI?'...I don't know. I'm 16.)

I'm leading worship for chapel at my school which I am blessed to be able to do, every Wednesday morning at 8:30. I learn more and more about the guitar every time I pick it up. I love its versatility, sound, and the fact that its relatively easy to learn. I think thats why so many people can play.
Now me, one of my loves (and vices, if you will) is just good, solid music. Sure, there's some mindless hip-hop you can rock out to just cruising down I90, but I do believe that there is some seriously decent secular music out there that isn't all about sex and profanity. This is the type of music I prefer (obviously), and have taken a habit of listening to ever since...well, I was raised on it. Stuff like Third Eye Blind, and Toad the Wet Sprocket... music like Creed, Matchbox 20, Spin Doctors, the Beatles (okay, I admit, the Beatles were total druggies) and Queen. But lately, I've been almost... I don't want to use the word "forcing"... but having myself listen to Christian music as much as possible. Those are the kinds of lyrics and messages I want in my heart. So if I catch myself humming a couple bars of Ke$ha's latest song, I change it to a Christian station instead and sing along. Its like I'm able to worship whenever I want. It also helps my choose what songs I want to do for chapel (So I'll say things like "Note to self: I like this...only I'll change the key to G... Chris Tomlin sings too high for me"). If I'm supposed to worship God with my life and my thoughts, I should be putting that into my heart, life, and acting on it.
Its hard to believe the holidays are rolling around again. I see commericals on TV with families in Santa Hats with Christmas music in the background, and I warily say to myself, "didn't we JUST do this?" Summer felt like vapor in the wind this year. I'll be working next summer hopefully and staying busy... I hate being bored over the summer. Still hasn't snowed yet... Not that I'm complaining.
With it being that time of year, I'm also forced to watch more football than I would like. (I have that dumb pre-game Faith Hill song memorized--complete with choreography). But at the Koep house, its just tradition. I am looking forward to all of the school time off, however.
Schoolwork is not overly time consuming this year, as I only have five classes. My two favorite classes would have to be either Rhetoric or Eschatology. (For those of you who don't attend a classical school, I'll define those for you: Rhetoric is the study of persuasive speech and composition, and Eschatology is the study of end times.) I'm currently pulling a GPA of 3.5...but only by the grace of God. To Him be the glory... I could not have done it without Him. Don't ask me how Im able to go top-notch private school, cuz it wasn't me that did it.

So besides playing guitar between long study sessions with my radio and I, these days you'll usually just find me on Facebook, Yahoo!, working on my next theater oppurtunity, painting...or perhaps at the DMV. I need to retake my drivers test. And pass...when God sees fit I'm ready, that is.

Love: The More Excellent Way

So I know this book has been out for a while now, and if you've been inside a Christian book store recently, or you attend a Calvary Chapel church, you've probably heard about it (or read it). I myself aquired it a few weeks ago, and it assisted me greatly in my speech final(ask what my speech was about. No, go ahead, really, guess!)about Love.

This book has seriously changed my life, and I haven't even finished it yet. I know it can change the lives of many as well. Chuck Smith (Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa)covers several different kinds of love, and goes into detail about God's love for us, our love for God, and love for others. He takes passages from literally everywhere in the Bible,commentating on God's perfect, infathomable, beautiful love,a and that love demonstrated through Jesus Christ. Its not only a great witnessing tool, but an inspiration to go deeper into your walk with God; and to deepen your love for God.
Just want to encourage all of you, if you've had questions about God's great love, this is a very good read. Relatively short, but so rich with scripture and inspiration. Check it ooouuuut. :)

~~~Gerry