Let's live like we're alive.

HI!

I am alive and well and on my 6th week of school and I though I should let anyone and everyone out there know how I am doing. When someone asks me "How's school?" I really dont know how to respond. Goodish? thats not a word. Honestly, its draining. My heart breaks everyday seeing so many lost people, but I know God wants me there. It's been tough at times, but I still know God wants me there. I have friends...if I can call them that. They're girls from soccer who I knew who are nice. I sit with them at lunch everyday. I did track for a week, but I quit yesterday because it is just too much right now. I wasn't getting home until 5 o'clock and was way too tired to do anything at all. The school play of Beauty and the Beast is this weekend and I saw a teaser today. It was great. I wish I would have come to school earlier so that I could be in it; it looks so fun! My honors classes are great, I'm learning a lot. Other classes are pretty good, except interior design. You'd think I'd learn a lot in that class...right? Wrong. The teacher is an eccentric push over who lets the obnoxious girls do whatever. We pretty much sit and cut pictures out of magazines and glue them on paper like pre schoolers. anyway. Theres a girl who goes to my church and also goes to my school AND lives around the corner from me AND her boyfriend is my old best friends brother. WEIRD I know! I sit with her on the bus everyday. She makes me laugh. Hopefully we can become better friends. The other day I dressed like Nancy Drew (skort, flowery raincoat, etc.) and got some weird looks. It was funny. At lunch I've talked about God stuff a few times when they were talking about Lent and other times and I've worn DHT t shirts, Leeland T shirts, Bible verse T shirts. It's been interesting. There's really NO ONE like me at all that I've met so far. Fake religion pretty much. Ah well thats why I'm there.

PRAYER: That I would everyday be strengthened by the Spirit for school. That I would be a light. That I can make deeper friendships with people. That I can meet more new people because I kind of feel disconnected. That I would meet ONE REAL CHRISTIAN. And that I can share God's love with people.

I think I'll be posting more often.

Sorry this is so long and hard to read. I'm tired and have to leave for church soon.

Thanks for all your prayers!!!

♥ ♥ Jasmine

I'm not dead.

Hi!

I survived my first week of school. I actually enjoyed it. Well more than I expected to.

Monday: In all academic classes, no honors. I helped a girl in my algebra class within the first 10 minutes. In science I was finished my 40 question work sheet on minerals before everyone else. Most of the kids didn't care at all about the class or their grades or learning. So when I came home my mom called my counselor and I was able to be placed in two honors classes and I was SO thankful to God because they normally don't just move someone up like that.

Tuesday: 3 hours of foresight tests which are like 11th grade PSSA practices. They were boring and stressful and then I had a shortened class schedule and was still in academic classes so it wasn't a great day.

Wednesday: SNOW DAY :] I slept past 10 o clock since I'd been waking up at 5:30 or 6 all week.

Thursday: Two hour delay. I had to ride the bus because my parents had to go to a meeting and I missed my bus. So I rode my sister's bus and then they dropped me off at the high school. That was interesting. First day of honors classes. Students are much better in the classes and there might actually be a potential friend, possibly two. Shortened schedule again so I haven't had a normal school day all week.

Friday: First normal day of school. All my classes are pretty good and I know where I'm going now.

That sums up my classes. I have to do make up work for my honors English and Social studies but its not too bad, considering I haven't had any homework in math or science yet. All my teachers are really good, except my math teacher is not as serious and my interior design teacher is weird. Speaking of which, I'm taking interior design and guitar for my electives and I'll think I'll learn a lot in them. I only needed help opening my locker once, which was surprising. At lunch on Monday I sat at a table by myself and another girl came and sat with me and she was...different but seriously she's been the nicest to me out of anyone. I know girls from soccer and people who used to be my best friends in grade school. No one has been mean to me (yet) and everyone is nice, but no one is truly kind. They all have their own friends and no one wants to be my friend. I think I just need to be friendlier and not so nervous looking and find people that need a friend. The language is really bad. Almost everyone curses everywhere. It bothers me, but there's nothing I can do about it. I pray I won't become immune to the sinfulness of it. So far, it hasn't been a bad experience, but definitely a growing experience. I don't think it's any worse than I expected it to be, maybe even a little better than I anticipated. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers! I have to get back to this new thing I have called HOMEWORK. I have to do a lot of make up work for English and Social Studies form the first and second marking periods besides the work they're doing right now.

♥ ♥ Jasmine

P.S.- I got an ipod nano 3rd gen. and I love it!

P.S.S. - I'm riding the bus for the first time tomorrow. Please pray that I don't miss it and that it isn't too scary...

Tomorrow, Tomorrow

I'm starting tomorrow. It's less than 12 hours awaaaaaaay.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I don't think anything says it better than that. God knows what I'm going to face tomorrow and he knows who my teachers are and how many times I'll get lost. I'm soo nervous and scared, but I haven't got a single doubt that this isn't God's hand and timing because everything in me says: therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Go. There's obviously a reason why he called me to go now, and I'm anxious for that reason to be revealed.

Thank you so much for praying for me and encouraging me over the past few weeks. I humbly ask for continued prayer, that I will not become to overwhelmed tomorrow and throughout the week, that I would not be judgmental to the 1200 students there, but have humility, that I can make some friends and connect with the Christians who are there, and that I will not be discouraged, but that Christ would shine through me and that His will will be done.

♥ ♥ Jasmine

I am elated...

at the thought of lunch on the first day. I made a lunch box & setting just like Nancy Drew's and I also have an apple sweater and am bringing a cupcake because I am ridiculous like that.



This makes me laugh hysterically. If Nancy Drew did it, I can right?

God has a ridiculous sense of humor.

I swore I would never go to school.

There are pros and cons to going now and also for waiting, but after reading and meditating on scripture (that God ordained a friend to send to me) and praying my heart out, I felt God wanted me to go now. I prayed for confirmation, and today at church I got it. Before my evangelism class at church started, I was telling my best friend all about the school visit, and pros and cons of going or waiting, and verses God had laid on my heart and that I believed God wanted me to go and now was waiting for complete confirmation. So we walk into class and the theme of the night is salt in light. The first slide of the power point was Matthew 5: 13-16, and I knew as soon as it came up that this was the confirmation I was waiting for. I stated that verse to Janel not two minutes before. I also talked to her about Matthew 28:19 and how every time I thought of waiting until September, that verse popped into my head. That scripture was also in the lesson. Every time something that was confirmation for me came up, I slapped Janel who was sitting next to me. I hope you're ok Janel hahaha. It was ridiculous.

Waiting until September would be easier, but I didn't go to the rebelution conference and read Do Hard Things and not grasp onto any of the truth of it. If I didn't know to the core of myself that it is God's will that I go to public high school on the 26st of January, I would wait on Him. I am going to be the 'new girl' in every class, have to catch up to where they are in a few classes, get lost, need help opening my locker, and stand out. I cannot do this on my own and would not have decided to do it on my own. I'm only a girl doing God's will, relying on His strength, and hoping to bring Him glory.

Prayer would be greatly appreciated. I have a lot to do and not a lot of time. I am basically going to be taken from my comfortable home and comfortably easy school and plopped right into the middle of public high school. Culture shock? definitely. Please pray for me!

♥ ♥ Jasmine

P.S. I'm wearing my do hard things t shirt on the first day of school...

Hi God, can you please explain this?

OK.

So up until this afternoon I was planning to attend public school on the 26th. My mom called the guidance counselor today and talked to her for a while about the transition and stuff.

Here's the deal. I could only take one elective this semester because of freshman seminar or something. I've been taking Latin at home but they only have French & Spanish at school so my semester of Latin wouldn't count on my transcript and I couldn't take a language at school because its a year course. So, I'd have to be using one of my elective spots for the next three years to take a language. If the courses are very different or are more ahead than I am, it would be very overwhelming to go have to back and study what they had previously learned and keep up with the class, but right now I'm not sure what any of the classes are like.

And, I have to make my decision on whether to go this semester or not by Friday.

So please pray that God would show me what His will is and where He wants me to be going to school for the next five months, and that I would follow Him in His answer.

Until I get an answer from Him, my mom is going to meet with the guidance counselor tomorrow and give her my grades and some tests and papers and examples of what I'm doing right now and the counselor will give them to the teachers so they will decide whether I can go right in with the class or will have to review stuff to catch up to where they are. That way, if God decides He wants me in school now, I'll be ready to go, and if not, I can wait for His timing.

I feel like a missionary waiting for a visa . I felt so sure that I was supposed to go right now and it would be an easy transition. I had an idealistic view of how everything was going to be, but God has other plans.

Thanks for praying for me as my path towards school has unfolded.

Waiting impatiently for His answer,
♥ ♥ Jasmine

One at a time.

This is something that a friend sent me that encouraged me a lot:

Once upon a time a wise old man and a young boy were walking along the beach. The old man was imparting wisdom to the boy as they enjoyed the morning breeze. As they walked along, the tide began to go out. As it did so, it left hundreds of thousands of starfish stranded in the sand. The old man pointed to the starfish and said, “Boy, do you see those starfish? Everyday when the tide goes out, hundreds of starfish get stranded on the sand only to bake in the afternoon sun and die.”

Immediately the young boy ran down to the shore and began to pick up starfish and throw them out into the water. He continued to do this as the old man came down to meet him. When the old man finally got down to the water, the boy had just picked up another starfish. He was about to throw it out into the water when the old man cried out, “STOP! My foolish boy,” he said, “do you honestly think you can save all these starfish? There are too many!” The boy completed his throw and sent the starfish flying out over the water. After the little splash, the boy answered. “No, I can’t save them all, but I just made a difference in that one’s life.”

I'm perfectly aware of the reality that I cannot change the entire school. But, God can use me to make a difference in people's lives, one at a time.

♥ ♥ Jasmine

I will speak now.

Yes, I am really going to public high school starting January 26th or sometime around them.
No, I am not insane.

I've been told it's the stupidest decision I could ever make. I've also been told its the best decision I might ever make. I've also been told I'm going to die if i go to school...and also that I'm not going to die. And I've also been told that I can't change the world.

And my only response to all of these statements is that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I love a quote by Helen Keller, which is my blog header. "I am one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do."

So, why would I ever think of entering public school when I've been homeschooled for the last four years and am perfectly able to continue homeschooling through my high school years?

Well, me, myself, and I would never think of doing that. Going to public school is not my parent's choice, nor is it my choice. It's God's choice. I swore I would NEVER go. And I mean kicking and screaming you can't make me, pay me, or force me to go. You see, my wonderful mother brought home the curriculum packet for the high school. She had me look at it and thought it would be good for me to try it because there are many opportunities and I can be a light for God. Of course she wasn't going to force me, but I wouldn't even let her say one word about it. It was an absolute no. I had decided I would NEVER go to public high school as long as I lived. But alas, God had different plans. He began to open my eyes to the opportunities high school would have and also the fact that I could be a bright light for Him. So, I prayed and prayed and prayed about it and He answered. He told me to go. Now I can't see myself NOT going. I know you shouldn't run away when God tells you to do something. And I know from the story of Jonah that bad things happen when you don't do as God commands. I don't see being thrown overboard a boat, being swallowed by a fish and living inside it for three days, and then being thrown up on a beach as fun. Therefore I could stay inside my comfortable little homeschool world for the next four years and never know what school would have been like, and also face the possibility of being swallowed by a fish (or some other equally bad consequence for my disobedience)...or accept the challenge of God's will for me to go to school.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Acts 13:47
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: " 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' "

Matthew 5:14-15
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

So, that is why I am going to public school. God has called me to be a light, and I am not going to stay hidden. God has called me to proclaim His wonderful name, and I am not going to be silenced. With supernatural strength from His spirit, I can do it.

All the reasons, in summary, for why I am going to public school are:

• God told me to.
• There are design, sewing, and art classes and guitar, keyboard, and voice lessons, which are all things that I am very interested in.
• I am kind of bored with homeschooling to be honest. And, because I've changed from three different cyber schools with different curriculems, I'm taking earth science for the third year and it is boring me out of my mind.
• I can be taking advantage of the honors classes.
  
• I learn better when someone is physically showing me how to do something right then and there, not through the computer.
• I will be a light to those around me.
• My younger sister started public middle school in November after being homeschooled for one year, and she quite enjoys it. She likes handbells haha.
• I only have to go for the semester. If I absolutely cannot do it, then I will just homeschool again next year.
  

Please pray for me as I begin to prepare for this adventure. (only about a month away!)
Thanks for reading, I'll keep this updated often on my preparations and experiences at public high school.

♥ ♥ Jasmine