One thing remains.

We live in a world of uncertainty and insanity. Nothing stays the same.

Think about it. In a moment, your life could be turned upside down. You don't know if your house will be destroyed, if someone you love will be taken away from you, or if all your plans will come tumbling to the ground. You just don't know.

Whether something huge like that happens to you or not, I can guarantee that there WILL be change in your life. Change is uncomfortable. Change requires you to let go of things and to get used to something different for awhile. Change requires you to step out of your comfort zone.

When things change, we automatically look for something to hold onto. But what are you going to do if there's nothing to hold onto? Where are you gonna go? We look for something to grip, but when we turn our back, that thing or person is ripped out of our hands like everything else.

There's only ONE THING that will NEVER change, and that's Jesus. When everything in your life is spinning out of control, Jesus will be the one thing you can hold onto. He's the one thing that won't leave; the one thing that can't be destroyed. His love NEVER FAILS. Hold on to Him. Spend time with Him. Let His love wash over you and fill you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_KXsMCJgBQ

(I couldn't get it to link to here, but seriously, go to this. Definitely one of my favorites.)

This is not our home(:

There's so much to think about. Life is insane--and so uncertain. Our house recently sold, and we have to be out in 2 weeks...and we don't have a house to buy! Where are we going to live? What should I do next year as far as school? What about after that? Every day I face so many choices, as does everyone!

It doesn't matter. Well, okay, it matters. It matters a lot. Because we are HERE to glorify God. There's a lot of decisions that don't glorify Him, and a lot that do! The only way we can know is by reading His Word. But, if we're living for Jesus, glorifying Him and setting His example in everything, keeping our focus on Him in every minute of ever day, it really doesn't matter what we do. We're only going to be here for a little while. If we suffer, it's okay. And we WILL suffer. Still, it's only for a little while. We can take ANYTHING for this short time that we're here, because we're longing for something so much greater...and it's so real.

One day...we'll spend our days on acres and acres of beautiful, rolling hills. We'll live in a mansion. There'll be crystal clear streams bubbling with the clearest, purest water you'll ever taste. There'll be no more missing people. We'll get to spend every day with them. There will be no more of that painful, longing for more of Jesus, because we'll have Him. We'll be basking in His presence. And you know that music that just hits you hard? You think it's the most beautiful worship music you've ever heard, and it takes you right to the throne of God? We'll be a part of that music- x 98234745679834. There'll be no more pain. No more heartache. We'll be able to give the most amazing, long hugs in heaven. We'll be able to dance more beautifully than we've ever even seen here. Our bodies will be perfect. We'll spend our days running, basking in the perfect love of God, loving others, having bonfires, walking through the woods, swimming in the lake, being in fellowship with ALL believers and with God...

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

We can take anything here, because it's for such a short while. Never lose heart. <3

I wanna run on greener pastures

I wanna dance on higher hills

I wanna drink from sweeter waters

In the misty morning chill

My soul is getting restless for the place where I belong

I can't wait to join the angels and sing

My heaven song

Seth saying AWANA verses- 1 "Acrimpians" 15:4

Still alive!

Yep, I'm still here(:

Well, school has started and fall is definitely in full swing. I'm still missing summer! Fall's beautiful too, though. Andi and I went out and took advantage of the beautiful day today(:

Some things the past few weeks have included:

*Harvesting honey

Our hives did really well this year and we got buckets and buckets of honey and comb! Mmmm. It really does make your teeth whiter, too. I'm tellin ya.

*Hunting

Last Friday night I was sitting at the kitchen table doing Physics like a good little girl....until Elaina excitedly ran through the door announcing that she shot a deer. Turns out she got TWO. I spent the next 6 hours tracking blood trails through the woods in the dark, hauling deer, and chopping and packaging meat. Kinda gross, but hey, now I've got deer, rabbits, and fish down! I should go into business! Ew. no. haha We have a ton of venison now though, which is delicious! Getting to bed exhausted at 2a was worth it.(:

*HPA

This year Andrea and I decided to audition for Homeschool Performing Arts' production of Wizard of Oz. We started rehearsals last Friday. I think this year's going to be an absolute blast! I'm really looking forward to learning a lot, making and building friendships with the incredible cast, and getting closer to God through it!

*Davis Harvest Party!

One of the highlights of the year...definitely a highlight of fall!

Life is great.(: We kinda have a shortage of pictures lately... we haven't been taking many so I really don't have any for any of those things! ^ Sorry! But hey, I posted.(:

Up north Michigan! Cottage 2011(:

We've been going up to this cottage with our Godfamily (don't ask) for the last 15 years. This year was the best yet in my opinion!

Chester kids on a Lake Michigan beach

We saw so many beautiful places up there! It really makes you awed at God's imagination, creativity, and power!

Rest stop on the way there! It took us 3 hours and 59 minutes to get there--I think that's a record! But... it took us about 5 hours to get home! With getting lost, lots of stops, and the dog getting sick, it was a much longer ride. :P Definitely worth it to spend a few days at the cottage with some of our favorite people, though!

Rest stop again!

Love this kid(:

Steel drum band on Lake Michigan! This was one of the coolest parts of the trip! A bunch of kids banging on steel barrels to put it simply. It was SO AMAZING!

Farmer's market! The kids got to be part of the band for a bit! (:

Fishing at the cottage on our small lake. We caught a lot of perch and catfish! I also learned to clean fish this weekend. Yummy!

Tractor ride! What a cool family we are(: haha

Andi, Luke and I in the lake.

I'm so thankful for my amazing Godfamily. <3 We have such a blast with them every time. Riding waves in Lake Michigan, singing country at the top of our lungs, fishing, going to Narnia (;, hiking in the woods, walking around downtown.. these guys are great.

August 2011 has been one of the best months of my life! Life is what you make it, ya know? If you wanna make it great, it will be. So put on a smile and be happy you're alive! God is so good to us(:

::Fair week 2011-best week of the summer::

Ready for some pictures?! Here goes!

Fair was definitely the best week of the summer so far. It's been less than a week, and we're already counting down until next year. It's so rewarding working with the animals and doing projects all summer, then being able to take them to the fair!

Sisters! I think this was the first day of fair (Sunday) after we brought the sheep in.

These pictures aren't in the right order, but this is Elaina showing her rabbit on Monday morning.

Abbi! Miss you, fair buddy! It's so much fun getting to spend the week with all these fantastic 4H kids! The only problem is, you really miss them a week later... ): This was Friday night (before bringing the animals in) while we waited for HOURS (literally) for the food judges.

The good news is...Elaina got a best of show on her U.S.A. cake! Isn't it pretty? Andrea and I decided to skip the stress of baking all day Friday to do foods. It felt great to be able to just hang out at the fair and spend the day Friday getting other things ready instead of rushing around making food!

5-8 year olds on Saturday night. Ian showed his rabbit and his glass painting. He was a lot more confident about talking to the judge this year!

Sheep buddies! Love these girls(:

Showing sheep on Monday

Elaina got 2nd place in sheep showmanship for her age division, so she got to be a part of Little International! For that, she had to learn to show all of the large animals (steer, dairy feeder, pigs, goats, horses and sheep). Go little sis! (:

Practicing a few days before

Little I on Friday night. She didn't place, but she sure had fun!

Well, that wasn't very organized, so I'll go ahead and write just a little from each day:

Friday, July 29

Foods in the evening and setting up the camper

Saturday, July 30

5-8 year-olds and turning in projects (all I did this year was glass painting, stencil on wood, and metal punch...ah that felt good!)

Sunday, July 31

Brought the sheep and rabbits in

Monday, August 1

Sheep showing! This was one of the most fun days. It's always a little nerve racking before you start, but then once you get in the ring, you want to keep going back!

Tuesday, August 2

Just hung out at the fair... I love doing that(: Fair is one of my favorite places in the world!

Wednesday, August 3

Rabbit showmanship

Cheering on Elaina! I decided not to do a rabbit this year, either. It was nice not having to sit there all morning showing rabbits, but I decided that I might raise meat rabbits again next year and just skip showmanship (that's the worst part...).

Thursday, August4

Large animal auction

Friday, August 5

Hung out at the fair in the morning, then left in the afternoon for HPA (Homeschool Performing Arts for those of you who don't know) auditions. That was... something.. haha. Then on Friday night we got to ride rides at the fair and watch Little I (part of it!)!

Saturday, August 6

Last day): Andi and I had to leave early to work at a wedding. It was..well.. a really sad morning!

I'm not really missing the sheep (yet), but I do miss all the fun times we had with them this summer! And of course I miss fair... the amazing people there and just being there having a blast! Please come quickly, fair 2012! I'm hoping to do SOME kind of cow next year (most likely a dairy feeder), sheep again, and maybe rabbits... we'll see! I can't wait to get next year's animals and get started!

::It's a great day to be alive!::

Rachel(:

This is my amazing friend, Rachel. She's absolutely incredible. And isn't she cute? (: Look at those braids! hehe I'm doing them as soooon as you get back, Rach.

Rachel, I'm sooo blessed to have you in my life! You're always there, you're a fantastic listener, and you give Godly advice(: I loveee talking to you.

I hate that you're like 234985069812938740958 miles away right now. Not cool. You needa come back. :P

Thank you for always being there, shining for Christ through everything, and being one of my best friends, Rachy! Pleasee come home because I misss you so much! Love you! <3

Sincerely,

Smart Club Association

Marissa Chester-Vice President(;

Broken :P

I was putting this post off because typing takes soo long right now, but I'm finally doing it! Last Tuesday I was at soccer practice (the last of the season), and got hit in the arm with a ball. It was...a pretty powerful kick! I didn't think it was broken at first, but after driving home (one handed) and still being in quite a bit of pain whenever I tried to move it, my parents decided to take me in and get an x-ray. Apparently the bone was cracked straightttt through. Soo... I'm wearing this cool green cast for the next four weeks! I'm counting down the days until June 30! Then I get a shorter one for a couple more weeks.

haha my cast does NOT look like this anymore. It's pretty marked up by my amazing friends! (:

Last weekend we played in the state homeschool soccer tournament. I was bummed that I couldn't play, but I had a blast hanging out there and cheering my team on! This picture ^ was at the end of one of our games when we won in an incredible shoot-out!

WE GOT SECOND!! GOOOOO PATRIOTS!

Andrea, Izzy, Joe and me...ready for summer!!! I like this picture because it's so.... summery!!

Sibs, life... God's good.

I love my brothers(:

I'm so happy that spring is here. Life has been pretty crazy with finishing up the school year and all. Does anyone else feel that way, or is it just us? Busy as it is though, God's been proving His faithfulness... as always. <3

Today Andi and I played for a wedding, which I'm soo glad is over. It was fun of course, but that kind of thing is always sort of nerve racking and just good to have behind you. On Tuesday I have college auditions, which means lots more practicing between now and then. I kinda haven't been working on that nearly as much as I should with the wedding planning and all, so guess what my next three days will look like?? Ah well... I read this verse today and thought it applied perfectly:

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Psalm 118:6

Ya know, no matter what happens, I'm secure in Christ. I know who God tells me I am, and I know that I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM. So if my God is for me, than who can stand against??

See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands....
Isaiah 49:16a

Wow. Take that one in.

Unspeakable J-O-Y!!

Is there a difference between joy and happiness?

YES. YES. YES.

My definitions:
Happiness- What you feel when something good happens to you or when things are going your way

Joy- Well.. why try? It's indescribable!!

Joy's like, when you wake up, and for no apparent reason, you're just... joyful. I know I'm at a loss for words here.. That's because NO WORDS CAN DESCRIBE THE JOY THAT OUR GOD GIVES!!

Take a look at your life.... all the good God has given you, and the fact that HE'S SIMPLY GOOD. Isn't that a cause for joy?!



~Joy, unspeakable joy
An overflowing well
No tongue can tell
Joy, unspeakable joy
It rises in my soul
And never lets me go!~

Chicks! Summer's on its way!

This completely makes me feel like summer's coming. YAY!!!! :D

"Here's how you can practice sisterly affection to brothers in your life: Let men be your brothers and don't assume that there is a more-than-friendship interest, unless he actually states it. With his mouth. In English. TO YOU!" --Joshua Harris

...stole this off facebook from Stephanie. :) Isn't it great?

You know this... or do you?

For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.
Proverbs 5:21

God's always watching us, right? Right. But really think about this... if Jesus were physically standing right next to you, how would it effect what you do, say, or think? I found that when I kept this in mind, it actually changed my behavior, speech, and helped me to be more gentle and patient. Crazy, but it really worked!

Give it a try! And remember, not only is Jesus watching, but others are too...

"Live your life like Jesus is standing next to you watching everything you do.... because He is..."

College... my plans, God's plans...

I've always know that God will take care of me. I've always known that He'll fulfill His plans for my life if I trust Him. I've always known that He has a plan.

But now.... high school only has a few short months left and graduation is fast approaching. I'm finding myself worried, forgetting to trust in the Lord. I'm a firstborn; I feel like I need to have everything planned out. :) I'm fairly certain that my purpose is life is to lift God's name up and help others to see His greatness through music. Music has pretty much been the focus of my life for... a long time.... and I love it. :) As of now, my plan is to start our community college's music degree next year. I pretty much know for sure that my knowledge and skill in music will be raised studying there. What I'm unsure of though, is what I'm going to do after that... I feel like God has a plan, but then again, music isn't the most booming field out there right now...

I guess my fear is colliding with my faith at this point. The world tells me that I probably won't be able to succeed out there with music. God tells me that He will provide. He'll give me everything I need if I'm following His will. But if I'm not following His will... that's a dangerous boat to be in.

This morning as I sat down to spend time with the Lord, I recommitted myself to listening to Him and relying on His promises. It's so hard to tune out the world's lies, but that's what I know I need to do. In my Bible reading today was Psalm 138. Verse 8 struck me:


The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever--
do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Psalm 138:8

So here's my point:
Trust God. Let Him run your life. Does the Maker of the Universe and the Keeper of Time not know what's best?

Hallelujah!
~Marissa~

ER visit -- part 2

Thanks for your prayers, everyone! Everything went very smoothly and Ian is home doing great! Andrea said that she was more squeemish at the hospital than he was! Here are the pictures.
Note: Don't continue if you dislike blood, wounds... etc.

Waiting for stitches

Before

After

Look how brave he was!
My brother is amazing. :)

God is good! Thanks again!

ER visit -- part 1

Hey everyone,
My brother Ian cracked his head open in our basement this morning. Right now he's in the ER with my mom and Andrea. He was a little nervous about getting stitches and going to the hospital, so prayers would be very much appreciated!

I'll update you all later! Thanks so much!

So, what is love anyway?

When someone says, "I love you", what do they actually mean by that? Who gets to decide what love is? How do we know?


This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1 John 3:16

GOD is the definition of love. Without knowing God, you can't love.
I like this quote by C.S. Lewis (one of my favorite authors ever... )

"You cannot love a fellow-creature fully till you love God."


If you want to know how to love, seek God. His love is so incredible, human love just can't compare. The only way to love other people is by letting God love through us.

Many people think love is a feeling, an emotion, something that comes and goes. Nope. We love because God loves. We choose to love.

Love isn't a feeling, it's a decision, and making a decision requires taking action.

That action is loving someone whether you feel like it or not! Sometimes people bug us, sometimes they drive us crazy, but we need to decide to love no matter what... because that's what God does. His love is so amazing.


So, love is God. God is love. That's what it is. It's always, it's whether we feel like it or not, it's unconditional. Make it a goal to love like our God!

When the time is right...

When the time was right,
the sea parted,
the walls fell down,
the lions went hungry,
the sun stood still,
the waves were calm,
the stone was rolled away,
the clouds were parted,
the Lord ascended...
And when the time is right,
the King of Kings will return.

God is never early and He's never late--
He's always right on time and His plan for you is good.

--Dayspring

New Year's Resolutions anyone?

I think something might be wrong with me! As I finally sat down today to put together a New Year's Resolution's list, I could hardly think of one resolution. Normally I'm quite the list-maker. I enjoy setting goals for myself... but this year I just can't do it.

As I looked back on my 2010 resolutions, I had to realize how much has changed since then. I had no idea what God had in store at the beginning of the year. He has been SO faithful.

Right now I'm trying to decide what to do this year. Should I go to college? Maybe I should be homeschooled another year... possibly both? There are so many things I'm uncertain of! It's then that I have to remind myself, "God has NEVER let me down. He's always been in control. For 17 years God's been nothing but faithful to me. Why would He stop now?"

This holiday season has been one of the best, most fun ever. Still, I've been realizing lately that the joy I have had recently doesn't come because it's Christmas or New Year's. Although these have been great days, I've realized that my whole year, my life, is incredible. Joy isn't something that comes with the holiday. Joy is something that creeps up on you slowly and increases each day. Joy is a way of living. Joy is Jesus Christ.

Well, I realize that these paragraphs don't have much to do with each other.... they're all just some things that have been going through my mind lately. :)

As we start into 2011, I'm expecting and knowing that God's going to do amazing things. He has plans greater than we could ever imagine!

When we live for Jesus, every moment of life is more exciting!

~Love. Joy. Jesus.~