Jo’s BJU Approved Blog

How cute is she?

Yeah so since nothing exciting actually happens in what little of a personal life I have, I thought I would again report on my friends’ lives. My other best friend (yes I am allowed to have two best friends) is having a baby as I have aforementioned and she just sent me these pics today. I am so excited even though it is weird having all my friends starting families. Scary…

This is a song I heard when my aunt died, and I just always remember it when people I love pass away especially unexpectedly.

I Thessalonians 4:13, 14 (NASB)
13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you’ve gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but …

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
‘Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
‘Cause we believe with hope
(There’s a place by God’s grace)
There’s a place where we’ll see your face again
We’ll see your face again

And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God’s plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father’s smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
‘Cause now you’re home
And now you’re free, and …

We have this hope as an anchor
‘Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true, so …

We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope

The Northland family mourns the loss of Tim Trometer, a senior Bible major who died Saturday night, Oct. 15, in a car accident. He and four other students were returning to campus from Green Bay when the accident occurred.

Other passengers in the car were junior Josh Brown, freshman Kerri Fries, senior Celeste Hamilton, and junior Joe Stinson. They were treated at an area hospital and released.

Tim’s parents, missionaries in Porto Alegre, Brazil, “are burdened that the Lord be glorified through all these things and His eternal purposes be accomplished in the lives of the Brazilian people and those here in the U.S.,” said NBBC’s president Dr. Matt Olson. “Pray for the Trometer family as they travel back and prepare for this funeral.” The funeral will be held at Bethel Baptist Church (Schaumburg, IL) on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 1 p.m.

“I am convinced that Tim has finished his course in God’s perfect time,” Dr. Olson said. “We rejoice in that. He is now among the ‘cloud of witnesses’ that encourages those of us still here—to run the race . . . ‘looking unto Jesus.’”

We found out shortly before leaving to come back. We were apprehensive about driving back, but we knew we needed to so we had lots of caffeine and prayed a lot and made it back safely.
Tim a.k.a Trommy was a great guy. He was goofy, but he always made me laugh. We told stories about him for the first little while of our drive back to Northland. He worked with Corey and used to be his roommate. They had a time of testimony during Christian service and chapel. We were upset that we missed it, but I think they will be having a memorial service sometime next week when his parents come up to get his stuff. I started crying in Chapel today and thought I wasn’t going to be able to stop. It was just such a shock, and I had to move on and get ready to leave when I found out. I just stuffed it, but when they started talking about it in Chapel today it hit me. I still am having trouble believing he’s gone. I still expect to run into him coming around the corner with his goofy smile singing the randomest song. We always got into the weirdest “discussions.” My favorite was the one when I was trying to convince him that telling Heather,”That outfit makes you look like a housewife,” could in no way be taken as a complement. Only Trommy…

Keep Celeste, Josh, Joe, and Kerry in prayer as they heal physically as well as emotionally. I can’t imagine what they are going through.

I love Dr. Bauder, and I love reading his blog (Nos Sobrii) I was excited and surprised to see him post about Guarana though. I love Guarana. I also love that an intellectual man of theology posts about soda on his blog. Usually I read his blog to be challenged spiritually/mentally, but it is great to think that he is also a down-to-earth guy. My favorite guarana is Bawls.
“My all-time favorite soda pop comes from Brazil. The flavor is called “guarana.” It comes from a berry that grows along the Amazon. Health stores actually sell guarana powder as a dietary supplement. When it’s turned into soda, the flavor is indescribable. It comes closest to Vernor’s, but also a bit like vanilla crème soda, only more fruity. Nine out of ten Americans who try it, love it. Brazil must have a dozen brands of guarana; my favorite is Antarctica.

Guarana is not marketed in the United States, but some Brazilians do bring it in. I found it in a little, hole-in-the-wall, Brazilian grocery in Boston one time. I also found somebody who sells it (for over a buck a can) here in Minneapolis. When I wanted to buy some, we had to set up a deal at a car wash. I brought the cash, he brought two cases of Guarana. As he counted the money, I loaded the soda out of his trunk and into my van. It made me kind of nervous. I’d hate to get busted for trafficking in illegal carbonation. But for guarana, I’ll risk it.” -Kevin T. Bauder

I came back to PA this weekend with my friends Krysti, Corey, and Stephanie. We left Thursday late morning and got to my house around 7:30am. It was actually a fun trip. I’ll spare you the details, but lets just say that an 18 hour road trip goes a lot quicker when you are with friends than it does with the fam. When I got home I showered and headed off to school to see my friends and family. I found out that my brothers had soccer games. I couldn’t go because I was in jeans, but I went out to Chinese food with friends and one of them offered me a skirt so I ended up being able to go after all. I was super tired but it was great seeing my brothers play. The varsity has had a tough year so my little brother was up playing varsity too. I ran into my old jr. high youth leaders. They had moved away when I was in 8th grade and I never knew they moved back. It was so cool to see them. I was shocked they remembered me. It is scary to think of how long ago 8th grade was. Saturday I went shopping with my aunt and brothers and then went to my brother tennis game. I took homework along, but I didn’t end up getting much done. I leave to head back to school tonight at midnight. I’m going to have a lot to do when I get back to school, but I’ve enjoyed the break. It was much needed.

TAYLOR
by Marcy Heisler & Zina Goldrich

There’s a boy who works at Starbucks
Who is very inspirational.
He is very inspirational because of many things.
I walk in at 8:11, and he smiles and says, “How are you?”
When he smiles and says, “How are you?”
I could swear my heart grows wings!
So today at 8:11 when he smiled and said “How are you?”
I said “Fine, and my name’s Carol,”
And he softly answered, “Hey.”
And I told him “My name’s Carol, and thank you for the extra foam…”
And he said his name was Taylor,
Which provides the inspiration for this poem:

Taylor the latte boy,
Bring me java, bring me joy!
Taylor the latte boy,
I love him, I love him, I love him…

Well I’d like to get my nerve up
And recite my poem musical.
He would like the fact it’s musical
Because he plays guitar.
And today at 8:11, Taylor told me he was playing
With a band down in the village in the basement of a bar.
And he smoothly flipped the lever to prepare my double latte,
But for me he made it triple! (And he didn’t think I knew)
But I saw him flip the lever, and for me he made it triple,
And I knew the triple latte meant that Taylor loved me too!
I said, “What time are you playing? And thank you for the extra skim…”
He said, “Keep the $3.55,” because this triple latte was on him.

Taylor the latte boy,
Bring me java, bring me joy!
Taylor the latte boy,
I love him, I love him, I love him…

I used to be the kind of girl
Who’d run when love rushed toward her.
Till finally a voice whispered, “Love can be yours,
If you step up to the counter and order.

Taylor the latte boy,
Bring me java, bring me joy!
Taylor the latte boy,
I love him, I love him, I love him…

So many years my heart has waited,
Who’d have thought that love could be so caffeinated?
Taylor, the latte boy,
I love him, I love him, I love him.
I love him, I love him, I love him.

http://camachoiniraq.blogspot.com/

My friend Reg’s nephew was born last weekend. Isn’t he adorable?

I just finished A Garden to Keep
It was an excellent book. It took me forever to read, but I loved it.