It's Time To Be Thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope here, reminding you to be thankful for everything we are blessed with. Sorry for not posting much, but I couldn't come up with anything to post. Then, yesterday, I was talking to Natalia on the phone. I said, "I My Family can't think of anything to put on my blog!", and she said, "Why don't you list things that you are thankful for, since Thanksgiving is coming up?" Then I said, "Natalia, that's a great idea!" So, here are a few things I am extremely thankful for:

1. My Family
2. My Friends 
3. My Dogs
4. Food & Water
5. My House
6. The Bible Bee
7. God & Jesus
8. My Clothes
9. My Church
10. The Telephone (So I Can Call Natalia!)

The Bible says that we are to be thankful to God for the good and the bad things that he brings upon us. I know it's hard to be thankful for the bad things in life, but remember that whatever happens, God always has a plan. I think it important to thank God everyday, so today when I woke up, I thanked Him for everything I had to be thankful for! My favorite part of Thanksgiving is definitely the food. My mama is a GENIUS in the kitchen! I sure am hungry- and is that turkey I smell? I think I better go try some, just to be sure it's not poison or anything. Haha. :-) That's all for now! Happy Thanksgiving, and don't let your stomach pop!
Hope :-)

Continuing to Memorize

Hello, Natalia here with a blog post.

A few people have asked me if I am going to memorize more outside of the Bible Bee. I thought about it, and I've decided to memorize Matthew. And yes, I mean the whole book of Matthew. I know that it's going to be a challenge, but I know that God has the strength to do it, and with his guidance, I am feeling more confident about it. Since October 30th, I have memorized the first two chapters, and some of the third. One of the reasons I chose Matthew was because there are really only 4 books (The Gospels), that give an account of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. If anyone asked me about him or my faith, I need to be ready. And that's when I decided that was what I wanted to do. Our family has also been working on memorizing the catechism for the same reasons.  I also look forward to participating in the Bible Bee again in the Summer. So there's the latest report!

Natalia

A Few Announcements...

Hope here with a few announcements to make!

• Just because the National Bible Bee is over, doesn't mean we won't continue this blog!
• Natalia and I are going to start a Bible Study on the book of Matthew, similar to the one we did on Colossians for Bible Bee, so we will keep you updated on that.
• Have you seen our sweet new music? That's just mine though. Maybe Talia will make one of her own!
• The scores for Nationals will be posted on or before December 15, so I will find out what I ranked.
• Natalia, Maddie, and Harrison all have new blogs! Here are the links.

Natalia: Natalia's Book Nook
Maddie (and family): Love At Least 1 Person
Harrison HaHa Harrison

That is all! Have a great day!
Hope :-)

Where To Start......

Hope here. Well, we are in Chicago, as we have been for a few days. But unfortunately, I didn't make it to the Semi-Final Bible Bee Round. I don't know what to think. I really thought I had it this year. I got over the urge to cry pretty fast, but now it's like a low cloud that hangs over me.

Fortunately, I have great friends to get me through this tough time. True friends stick with you through the ups and the downs, and I have been blessed with many of them. I honestly don't know what I would do or where I would be without them (especially Natalia).

Right now I am just praying for the other kids, and trying to think of the positives. I mean, I don't have to worry about messing up anymore, and I have some fun things coming up in Chicago. Like watching finals, the formal celebration dinner swimming with my new Bible Bee Friends, the American Girl Store, Navy Pier, and a lunch at Ed Debevic's Restaurant.

Today my Aunt Kimbra is coming down to the hotel, and then driving to Chicago with us tomorrow (we have a seperate hotel). That's another good thing- I haven't seen her in almost 2 years. I have to go to Finals now, which you can watch on the Bible Bee Website, but I will finish this post when we get back. For now I will publish what I have.

I'm back, and congrats to all the finalists. My aunt is here now, and I'm trying to be thankful for what I have. New friends, a great family, a nice hotel. The list could go on and on. But none of them really make up for the thrill of being in finals. Later we have the formal celebration dinner, so that is exciting. That's all for now.
Hope

It's Official...

I am not going to Nationals. I honestly don't know what to think. I mean, I tried my best, and I got a high score... just not high enough. I honestly don't really care. Nationals is the same amount of studying,  just greater chances of winning, and to be honest - I had not thought about winning too much around the time of the Local Bee. It meant a lot to me, but I lose nothing. I can still study God's word! I have already decided to try to memorize a book of the Bible this Winter, and in the Spring.... I can try again! My mom has been reminding me "You had a very busy year with Sanjai coming, moving to a new house , and more school work." or "You did incredibly well considering you were one of the youngest participants" . I am so happy for Hope and very proud of  her major accomplishment. I found out that there was only one family not able to attend in the Junior group... I am so happy that so  many people who really deserved it are able to go! I am praying for everyone going to Chicago in November. I know the excitement of it, the whole "butterflies in the stomach" thing. Congratulations to all of you!
 I am very excited to continue reading and memorizing the Bible! Well, just wanted to inform everyone!

Natalia

National Competitors List!

Hi, it's Hope, here with the latest update: the list of the National BB Competitors! It's not the scores that have already been published, it's the names of them all. I have already found 4 people I know from last year (not including Natalia) including the girl who won first in Primary! If you want to see the list, here's the link:

http://www.biblebee.org/_hostcp/nationalcompetitors_nat.php

That's all for now, but please pray that Natalia's name will be on the list in a matter of days!
Hope :-) 

Some More Good And Bad News..

Hi, it's Hope, and the good news is... I'm going to nationals! You did NOT want to be around when I found out (I screamed)! The bad news is, Natalia is an alternate. But, some more good news, if 3 kids drop out, Natalia is in. I told my mom last night, "Let's not say 3 kids will PROBABLY drop out, let's just say Natalia will definitely go to Nationals, so I don't have to be sad." If Natalia doesn't go, the trip will definitely not be perfect. The only way Chicago can be absolutely perfect is if she goes, and she will, because with only 2 kids ahead of her,only 3 qualifiers have to drop out for her to go. We are praying, Natalia, and we are absolutely certain that you will go to Chicago. That's all for now!
Hope :-)

Good News, and Bad News

Natalia here with some good news, and some bad news.  Last night I was looking at the scores at like 9:00. Hope was able to get on the website, and saw her results, but we just couldn't get to mine. Finally, I found out that I had not made it to Nationals.  I was five points away!  At first I was really disappointed, and kept bringing up different points to myself. I can tell that I did not do well in my written test. As for my oral round.... only two points behind last years winner! The good news is that I could be a runner-up, so if a couple kids could not attend the The National BB, I could go.  Everyone I have talked to has been so comforting. Hope last night was very funny  "No. The stars that indicate you make it to nationals hasn't loaded yet. Don't worry, you'll still be there. You're going to nationals, don't worry. " So right now, I'm continuing memorizing the verses, and we'll just have to see. Well, that's all for now.

Natalia :-)

Getting Excited!

I am getting so excited for tonight, it seems like it will never come. But luckily this year, I have something to take BB off of my mind. Today is Sanjai's fourth birthday!  Later we are going to take the cake he picked out yesterday.   He is such a little miracle,  and he has already touched the lives of many people.  I hope that he will be able to touch more in Chicago! My previous post is true.... I am definitely trying my best to trust in God, but, hey- who doesn't want to be reunited with a best friend, compete for $50,000, and continue to say God's word at Nationals? So, up to you, Lord. I can't wait to see what your decision is! Everyone, please check back tonight, as we will (hopefully) be finding out around 8:30! Well, that is all for now, but I agree with Hope- The $100,000 Word? Totally on my wish list! Congrats to Daniel Staddon, and all the other people who competed last year, and those who are competing this year!!

Natalia

Anxious!

Hope here, and I'm so anxious to hear the Nationals results! I wish they would put them up as soon as we got home from locals! I am praying so hard that Natalia and I will see each other again. That's why we created this blog: to share our story and give updates on the National Bible Bee (which both of us will hopefully be at)! But no matter what, we know God is doing what he thinks is best for us. Besides that, I would like to congratulate Mr. Daniel Staddon, who won first place in the senior division at last year's nationals, on his new book, "The 100,000 Dollar Word". 100,000 dollars was last year's first prize for the senior division. The book is filled with tips and tricks for memorizing bible verses, and it is definitely on my wish list for the holidays. Way to go, Daniel! That's all for now, and I hope everyone likes the blog!
Hope :-)

My Favorite Bible Verses!

Hi everyone, Hope here with a few of my favorite memory verses.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw of everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever.
2 Timothy 4:5
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on that day: and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
That is all for now, but we will know by Wednesday if me and Natalia will go to Nationals!
Hope :-)

A Lesson From Deuteronomy 10:17-22

Hello,  Everyone - Natalia here with one of my "nuggets". The other day I memorized
 Deuteronomy 10:17-22, and there were so many things that stood out to me, and I have itched to tell someone about it. You will see that things that stood out to me our in Bold, and are things that I couldn't help but point out.

"Deuteronomy 10:17-22

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your forefathers who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky."

I just love that passage. It reminds me that whether we make it or not, God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, he is mighty and awesome.... and he cares for us as orphans! He is my praise and my God, and everything that happens is according to his eternal purpose, which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord! I am so thankful for all he has done, and I will still  memorize his word, meditating on it, even if I don't make it to Nationals. And if I don't make it, I lose NOTHING! Because I still have my family, and I still have my rock and my stronghold, My God in whom I trust!!!

Natalia :-)