The Wedding

Every little girl has a dream...a dream where she's the princess and her prince who she's waited for so long has finally come and he sweeps her off her feet to ride into the sunset and live happily ever after. But then that little girl grows up into a young lady. That desire to find a prince still burns in her heart, yet she knows that in the modern American culture today knights in shining armor are few and far between. And yet--I have found my prince and would love for you to meet him. He has done more than any fairy tale prince has ever done--more than just find a glass slipper, climb up long golden hair, or give a kiss. He has laid down His life for me and for you. His name is Jesus. He is my Prince. The One whom I'm in love with. He's so beautiful...

That ties in to where we went today. A wedding! This is my first wedding to go to this year. A family friend, Jacob Donahue, was united in marriage with Crysti Eisenhower. The wedding wasn't as elaborate as some, but it was the first time I had really noticed a bride's eyes become sparkly and a groom swell up with pride at the sight of his soon-to-be-bride walking down the aisle.

I look forward to the day when my Groom will descend from heaven with a trumpet and He will claim His bride--the church.

~Christy

Hastings Shows Duke Some Talent

"HASTINGS SHOWS DUKE SOME TALENT
Christina Hastings, a home school student from the Lago Vista area, was among those recognized by the Duke University Talent Identification Program May 17 at the State Recognition ceremony held on the campus of Texas A&M in College Station. This is the 26th annual seventh grade Duke TIP talent search, which allows 7th grade students who scored in the 95th percentile or above on a grade-level national achievement test to then take the College Board's regular SAT exam. Seventh grade students who score at least 510 on either the math or critical reading sections of the SAT are awarded a Duke TIP medallion at the state level."

This is the headline and article I saw when I looked in the local Lago Vista newspaper. I was shocked. I mean, I did it all but I had no idea I would be in the newspaper! But there was my name in black and white. I found out later that my parents had sent the article to the editor with the possibility of publishing it. They did! I used to think that people who were in newspapers were special and did special things. And I still think that people who are in newspapers are special as well as everyone else in God's eyes. You are special!

The ceremony really stands out in my mind. Not because of anything in particular that the speaker said. Not walking across the stage, receiving a medallion, shaking hands on stage, or saying thank you to the hand's owner. No, what stands out in my mind is my conversation with two kids, a boy and a girl, sitting next to me on my right.

The speaker asked for a raising of hands to the questions, "How many of you go to a rural school? An urban school? A suburban school? A private school? A home school?" On the last question I raised my hand and the girl started giggling. That started a conversation on home schooling and public schooling. She wasted no time in trying to persuade me to become a public schooler (which she could never do). I was trying to show her why I would never want to switch to public school.

As we talked I mentioned to her that I wouldn't date--I would do courtship. She then asked if I was a Mormon. I answered, "No way! I'm a Christian!" That started a conversation about Christianity and Mormonism. It was the first time I really got to witness to someone. I've often talked about God and Jesus in various conversations, but never like I did this time. I hope I'll have many more opportunities.

~Christy

Happy Mother's Day!

Touching Mother Facts --author unknown

When you came into the world, she held you in her arms.
You thanked her by wailing like a banshee.

When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you.
You thanked her by crying all night long.

When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk.
You thanked her by running away when she called.

When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love.
You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor.

When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons.
You thanked her by coloring the dining room table.

When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays.
You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud.

When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school.
You thanked her by screaming, "I'M NOT GOING!"

When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball.
You thanked her by throwing it through the next-door-neighbor's window.

When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice cream.
You thanked her by dripping it all over your lap.

When you were 9 years old, she paid for piano lessons.
You thanked her by never even bothering to practice.

When you were 10 years old, she drove you all day, from soccer to gymnastics to one birthday party after another.
You thanked her by jumping out of the car and never looking back.

When you were 11 years old, she took you and your friends to the movies.
You thanked her by asking to sit in a different row.

When you were 12 years old, she warned you not to watch certain TV shows.
You thanked her by waiting until she left the house.

Those teenage years...

When you were 13, she suggested a haircut that was becoming.
You thanked her by telling her she had no taste.

When you were 14, she paid for a month away at summer camp.
You thanked her by forgetting to write a single letter.

When you were 15, she came home from work, looking for a hug.
You thanked her by having your bedroom door locked.

When you were 16, she taught you how to drive her car.
You thanked her by taking it every chance you could.

When you were 17, she was expecting an important call.
You thanked her by being on the phone all night.

When you were 18, she cried at your high school graduation.
You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn.

Growing old and gray...

When you were 19, she paid for your college tuition, drove you to campus, carried your bags.
You thanked her by saying good-bye outside the dorm so you wouldn't be embarrassed in front of your friends.

When you were 20, she asked whether you were seeing anyone.
You thanked her by saying, "It's none of your business."

When you were 21, she suggested certain careers for your future.
You thanked her by saying, "I don't want to be like you."

When you were 22, she hugged you at your college graduation.
You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Europe.

When you were 23, she gave you furniture for your first apartment.
You thanked her by telling your friends it was ugly.

When you were 24, she met your fiance and asked about your plans for the future.
You thanked her by glaring and growling, "Muuhh-ther, please!"

When you were 25, she helped to pay for your wedding, and she cried and told you how deeply she loved you.
You thanked her by moving halfway across the country.

When you were 30, she called with some advice on the baby.
You thanked her by telling her, "Things are different now."

When you were 40, she called to remind you of a relative's birthday.
You thanked her by saying you were "really busy right now."

When you were 50, she fell ill and needed you to take care of her.
You thanked her by reading about the burden parents become to their children.

And then, one day, she quietly died. And everything you never did came crashing down like thunder.

"Rock me baby, rock me all night long."
"The hand who rocks the cradle...may rock the world".

Let us take a moment of time just to pay tribute/show appreciation to the person called MOM though some may not say it openly to their mother.

There's no substitute for her.

Cherish every single moment.

Though at times she may not be the best of friends, may not agree to our thoughts, she is still your mother!!!

She will be there for you...to listen to your woes, your braggings, your frustrations, etc.

Be tactful, loving and still show her due respect though you may have a different view from hers.

Once gone, only fond memories of the past and also regrets will be left.

*DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE THINGS CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART.*

I love you so much Mommy! - Christy

Back...Again

Top (l-r): Anna Del Mul, me, and Abby Del Mul. The Del Muls are friends of mine from Texas. I was so suprised when I saw them there.

Bottom: Paul just before his presentation [read below].

Alright, we're finally permanently back from traveling out-of-state until June! Since the last post we went to...The Windy City. Actually it wasn't that windy in Chicago. In fact it felt a lot like how in my opinion spring should feel. We were in Chicago because the National AWANA competition, Summit 2006, was being held there. Paul was there with his Summit team from Grace Covenant and they did awesome! Here is how our team did according to Shaney Lee (one of the kids on the team) :

"Grace Covenant Church in Austin, TX

Quiz: We took four quiz teams. Two got to the silver round, then dropped out. One dropped out in gold. The other made seventh place in platinum!!!!

Games: We took two games teams. Both dropped out in the 3rd round.

Volleyball: We took two volleyball teams. They got 4th and 2nd place!

Fine arts: All our fine arts participants got gold or silver. Paul Hastings was asked to do his counsel time message during closing ceremonies and did a fantastic job. Tabitha Davies won instrumental solo with her flute piece."

Paul also got a gold medal in piano and in public speaking (which is his counsel time message). A gold medal doesn't mean that you necessarily got first place (which would mean that you get a $500 scholarship) but it does mean that you did very well. THEN...the big shocker came...we found out that Paul had tied for first place in public speaking!!! The reason he didn't get the scholarship might have been because the person he tied with was a senior, though I'm sure their presentation was also excellent. So instead, like Shaney said, Paul was asked, out of the hundreds of competitors in Fine Arts, to be one of five people to perform at the closing ceremonies! He performed in front of approximately 2,500 people! It was an exciting/nervous time for all the Hastings.

While Paul flew back to Texas with his team, the rest of the family (me included) drove through downtown Chicago. We saw miles of the shoreline of Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes. It was...well...great! Chicago is so humongous that it makes you feel like you're just one tiny speck. As Dad put it when he saw the monotonous mega-story apartment buildings one after another:

"You would feel like you're just another rat in a box."

Yet the beauty and excitement of life is still a hope for everyone because in God's eyes each one of us is unique. And how we look in God's eyes is what matters. We are humans created in the image of a beautiful Creator. We didn't originate from monkeys a billion years ago; we came directly from God. That's why we never have to be depressed or wonder how much we're worth because we're precious in God's sight. What a loving God!

~Christy