Clarion Tourny Pics

A few pics. I hope you all like them. This year at Clarion was the best it has ever been. The fellowship with other believers was amazing. Everyone at Clarion is like one big family.


My little sis Kristina with a few buddies

Nathan and Colleen Sleadd. Aren't they the cutest couple?

The two sweetest little twins I have ever met.

Sorry I am prejudiced. And yes, I can tell them apart, can you?

(Murren, Kristina, Mailee)

Sarah is second in impromptu.

Kira Clark is third.

Sarah taking third in expos.

Kira Clark takes 5th in apologetics....

Sarah takes 8th.

Sarah taking ironwoman and sweepstakes.....

The unforgettable Deems duo in action.......

The lovely Kira Clark and Sarah Chaffee, two

of my favorite people in the world.

Sarah and Colin deep in debate cross-examination.

Tait Deems...... Who is he pointing at?

The amazing Creighton Deems!!!!

A few friends eating ice cream bars...........

(Sarah, Kira, Lacey)

My Amazing Sis SARAH!!!!

Sarah won the following at Clarion Regional Qualifier:
1st place Lincoln Douglas
1st place Persuasive
1st place Sweepstakes
2nd place Impromptu
3rd place Expos
3rd place Lincoln Douglas Speaker points
8th place Apologetics
WOW!!!
On Saturday she gave 17 speeches!!!!
Because of this, on Monday, she passed out during class. Lucky Duck got out of chemistry!!! Oh well, I just thought you might want to know how she did. Ta ta, Heidi

Clarion Forensics Tournament..... One baby changed lives

Last week we were at my all time favorite tournament. Worshiping together with our friends reminded me of what heaven will be like. One of the families found out during the tournament that their baby, which was due in three weeks, had died. Everyone was in shock. How could something like this happen? We all pulled together. I don't understand why things like this happen. But I know the one who does. Sometimes we just have to trust. Like Joseph in the Bible, we need to trust that good will come out of the pain. Even through this, so many lives were touched. Mine was. My mom lost three babies. That made it hurt more. I never got to hold those siblings, or see their smiles. I never got to love them and sing to them. I still feel sometimes the loss of their presence. Through that I have come to realize how much we take for granted. We take people and lives for granted.
Seeing how much that baby was wanted and loved made my heart ache for the ones who aren't. So many just abort their babies. Millions have been killed. WHY? People didn't care. But Jesus does. HE LOVES EVERY PERSON ON THIS PLANET. Show his love. Shine his light. Share his compassion. Reach another soul.

Have a great week and try to pray for all those considering abortion that they would choose life. Love you, Heidi

Don't worry.......I'm Still Here..........Maybe

Hey,
If you were wondering about the flooding up here, we did not get flooded out. It was acctually very nice because our coop was flooded out. So we did not have to go and take a chemistry test. That was awesome!!!!! But the sad part is that now we have two tests on Monday.
Life is busier than ever. Sarah went to Utah and did terrific.
She placed 6th Apologetics, 3rd Expos, 7th Impromptu, 13th LD, 5th Place Speaker LD!!
Sarah is amazing!!!
She flew back on Sunday(11)at 12:30. The next day her plane left at 6:00am. She is at Masters and comes back home this Sunday at 12:30. Then on the Wednesday(21) we are driving down to the Clarion Tournament. After that we have to drive back overnight to be back on Sunday for Bus Ministry and church. I think I will need to sleep for a week to catch up. I still have to finish some things for the tournament. My persuasive is not exactly in existence yet. :D But I'm working on it. Gotta go now, Heidi

Bus "B", + other things

Hey all readers,
How was your christmas and new years? We had a nice, quiet, white, Christmas. Grandma was here. She taught us new games. Pray for her, please.

I am pretty officially on Bus "B". YEAH!!!! A few years ago I was in a Thursday Bible study with the Tracht girls. The last day my Mom asked us girls how much we were willing to let God increase our ministries. I know that everything is possible so I asked God for an increase of 100fold. He answered. This summer we raised 9,000 dollars to dig a well for orphans in Uganda, got baptised this fall, joined a church, and I am in the neatest ministry. I am in a choir and help teach another. I have a memory verse incentive program for the kids at Pray and Play. WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!!! It still amazes me that he can use someone like me. Please pray for my little friend as she has stopped coming to church. Her little brother comes every week. She needs Jesus. He likes coming to church. I am praying for his salvation. Well have a great week and keep "bending the knee". Oh and at church this week I heard the best preaching I have ever heard. God convicted me of some areas of my life that I needed to get right. I have been so blessed this week. The Babbitt and Shoemakers came with us to Preachers Delight at church. Over 70 Pastors came from all over to be built up. Us teen agers also had a conference and learned so much. I have seen God at work. This is the time to Pray. -Heidi

Traveling!!

Sarah is currently gone to Utah. She will get back Sunday. Then early monday morning she heads out to Texas for Masters conference with CFC. Then Jan. 22-24 we are in Oregon for the Clarion Speech and Debate conference. We will drive back that night so us kids can go on the buses Sunday morning. It will be very crazy. So if you are wondering where we are, now you know. God Bless, Heidi

Bend the Knee!!

"Lift your heart toward heaven when the answer goes beyond what you can see. When you don't understand the purpose of his hand, in the presence of your king, bend the knee." This is one of my favorite songs. It brings me to prayer, and reminds me that God has a perfect plan. I do not why God has us go through hardships, but I do know that He never leaves us during them. Every hardship that Moses, Abraham, Daniel, David, Joseph, and Paul went through, ultimately brought a blessing. Did Moses understand why he had to lead the children of God out of Egypt and take them to the promise land? Did Noah see why he had to build an ark? Did Daniel know why he was taken to Babylon, or Joseph to Egypt? No. But every situation in which we find ourselves, that we don't understand, know that God has a plan. My Grandmother lost one of her sons when he was only three months old. She did not understand why God would let her baby die. But God knew that later she would be a missionary to Mongolia. In the place they were the TB rate was 75%. Every single family had lost somebody and since she had lost a son, she could comfort people. Look for the purpose in your trial. A few years back my appendix ruptured. I nearly died. Through that hardship I have been able to relate to others who are going surgeries and are scared. For nearly 8 years my grandmother had Alzheimer's disease, which slowly kills your brain. It hurt us so much that she didn't know who we were, couldn't talk, and didn't even know who her husband of 60+ years was. Now I can relate and help others who have elderly, sick, and dying parents. I could not do that if I had not gone through it myself. Look for the gift in the problem. It may be hidden well, but it is there. So bend the knee through every trial, because He knows eternity!!!!!



Okay so this is a essay(sort of) that I wrote today. I hope you all enjoy it. Sorry for my negligence in not posting. I will try to start again. -Heidi