Astrid

This is Astrid, a drawing that Madison made this week, using some of the techniques she's learned from a "how to draw faces" book.  There's obviously some anime in there as well.  Who is Astrid,  you may be wondering?  Astrid is the name of the girl from Scandinavia, the one that Madison portrayed a few weeks ago when going through the process at Ellis Island, and attempting to get into America.  Of course, Astrid did find her way into the American dream.  You can see her immortalized above in a nice drawing.

We had a big afternoon with jazz and ballet practice after school, and a bit of grocery shopping during all of that with Mommy and Daddy.  We were getting some food for the upcoming weekend, when we finally get off the fast.  But we've been doing just fine with all the vegetables and fruit we've been having the past few weeks.  It's been just fine!

Today we sent in the registration for the Marine Science Center camp, which makes up just one week of what could be a pretty killer summer.  Imagine six weeks straight of summer camps... yeah, thats a lot.  We're looking into a karate camp, then two consecutive weeks of Summer Xtreme.  After that, art camp, and then Marine Science Center camp once again.  We might do another art camp if they offer a discount again, making this summer quite busy, but also quite fun.

Madison was playing piano too, doing her fast-paced tarantella, which is such a fun word.  She plays it fast, and she plays it well.  We were studying, and doing a bt of reading tonight, nearly finished with the "Ahsoka" book at this time.   The fasting devotional is wrapping up too!  January is nearing its end, but it's been an eventful month, not at all the drab sort of meandering we usually get out of a frozen first few weeks of the year.

We said our prayers, and it was off to bed for all of us.  It was a full day at work and school, but things are going well at school.  Madison is getting good grades, and we're seeing her tests and helping her with her vocabulary and science.  It's been easy to help out, and she catches on quite well.  Again, we just have to work on the speech part.  Which is coming up pretty soon!

Here's the latest fasting devotional entry, as we wrap up:

“I made myself humble by going without food.” Psalm 35:13 NIRV

     The book of Isaiah tells us that in the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
     The thing about mountains is this: they’re high up. And that’s precisely where the Lord should be on your list of what’s most important. He should be at the top! The Bible tells us to seek Him first, and then everything will be added unto you. That means look to God first, and let Him worry about all your needs and wants.
     Unfortunately, we tend to put ourselves up on an even higher mountain. There’s a strong pull to do the things we would rather do, than those things we know we should do. We want to sit around and play video games, or even spend our money going out to eat or see a movie. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, the big question is this: are you putting God first? Are you sacrificing your time with God in order to watch a football game? Are you giving up time with the Lord just so you can spend time checking your social media account?
     The great thing about a fast is that it puts God first. It humbles you, and makes you lower – not high up like the mountains. A fast reminds you of where God’s proper place should be in your life. When you do that, you’re putting Him first.
     Don’t forget that He put you first when Jesus went to the cross. Keep fasting, and seeking Him. Put God’s kingdom first. Do what He wants you to do. Then all those things will also be given to you.