Peace

God has given me incredible peace.

I don't know why.

Those things in my life that were so confusing and hard are still there. Right in front of me. But I feel at peace. I don't understand it, but everything is calm.

Thank you, God for this gift. May I always rest in your peace. May I never try to carry my own burdens, but rely only on you.

Mmmm.... cookies and lemonade :)

Looking Forward to This Fall

I'm the kind of guy who looks forward to the future. Like a lot. Like a lot a lot. And while there are many different areas of my life that I look forward to (:) ) There is one area that I have been focusing on.

Speech and Debate.

People told me before I joined debate last year to not measure what I thought of debate on my first year. This confused me because I loved debate. More than I can describe. So, needless to say, I can't wait for this year. I've already seen the improvement that being a.... ::tries to think of the title:: a "not novice" gives you, and I know that I can do well this year if I set my mind to it.

I figured out that Ben and I did reasonably well, considering our circumstances. Let me explain:

Ben and I qualified to Regionals at the Clarion Qualifier in Medford, OR, placing 5th out of the top 8. Of the top 8 at Clarion, 7 of them went on to break to outrounds at Regionals.

At Regionals, Ben and I were 1 of only 3 novice teams to break to outrounds. We had a 4-2 record in preliminary rounds, losing in octafinals. Out of the 3 teams that we lost to, all 3 went on to place in the top 5 at Regionals (5th, 3rd, and 1st respectively). Also, the team that eliminated us in octafinals went on to place 1st place at Regionals.

Then, out of the 3 teams that beat us at Regionals, 2 of them went on to place in the top 3 at Nationals (3rd and 2nd respectively). It would also be good to note that all three teams that beat us are graduating this year.

Needless to say, we feel that, barring similar (and unlikely) circumstances, we can do very well this upcoming year.

In addition to debate, I'm planning on participating in speech events. Right now, I'm planning on doing at least Apologetics, and impromptu. I also hope to do a duo, and persuasive. That would be 4 speech events in addition to debate, so I thought I might as well add on a 5th event (Humorous?) and just Ironman.

So I'd love your opinion. Do you think it's a good idea ironmanning? If so, why? Do you think it's a bad idea? If so, why?

I look forward to your feedback!

Returning to Beaver Country

Why hello there. I'm back, and I feel like I'm relearning how to type on a keyboard... amazing what one week of no technology can do.

The trip to Survival was great. Off the top of my head, I can think of awesome card games in the car, drinking Redbull and then taking a nap, listening to Human by The Killers, ganging up with Quin to tease Lindsey, reuniting with old friends, meeting new ones, gathering the guys together in the cabin each night for devotions and discussion, hiking to the top of a mountain, building shelters, climbing over huge walls, singing songs, cooking breakfast, and much, much more.

This week was also great in that it gave me time to think. Think about all that was happening in my family, and trying to learn how I can best serve them through this hard time.

One of the biggest things I learned though was that I don't need to be in control. I've kinda grown up my whole life having control, but this week, I stepped back and realized that even when things are out of my control, God takes care of me, and all my circumstances. I wish I had learned this lesson much earlier, but now is as good as time as any.

I still have so much to learn, and in so many ways I need to grow. But God doesn't grow someone up all in one day. It's a process. And though it's usually not fun, it's for the best. It's best for my own future, and for everyone close to me.

Prayer is always appreciated, your love is always felt :)

Isaac Franklin

Here we go! :)

I'm sitting in the Cool's living room, luggage surrounding me, preparing to head off to Survival NW. I'm looking forward to the week. Reuniting with old friends, meeting new ones, laughing in the car, debates, listening to music, etc. I'm mostly looking forward to growing more. Much more. I'm praying that I will.

Any prayers would be appreciated, we have a long trip in front of us :) Life isn't perfect by any means, and this time in my life isn't right now either :P But God is good, and I am learning to trust, in God and in others :)

God bless,

Isaac

My life on "paper"

Yes, I know. I'm pretty much the least consistent blogger on the face of the earth. But I am making (another) conscious effort :)

Life has been crazy, yes. For those of you who don't know, I was recently in Tennessee for nearly four weeks working on a feature film with John Moore and HeuMoore Productions. Returning home, I was faced with the reality of my mother's diagnosis of stage IV colon cancer. And while we all pray for a miraculous healing, we are all aware of the fact that if it is God's plan to take my mother home, we have no say in when or how He does so.

Right now, a good deal of the family is here: Mom, Dad, Brett, Sarah, James and myself (all of those living at home) as well as Alex and Courtney, Joel, Kimi and Elena, Josh, Shannon, Emma, Joshua-Quin, and Mary-Kate. My grandmother (on my mom's side) is flying in tomorrow, along with Uncle Steve, Aunt Tani, and Uncle TJ. We're thankful that Mom will be reunited with her siblings and mother again.

I'm also preparing to attend Survival NW, a Teenpact alumni camp in Montana from the 21st-26th of this month. Last year it was an incredible growing experience and I pray that God will do the same work in my heart this time around.

In addition to all of that, I'm preparing for next years speech and debate season. That includes me finishing over 20 apologetics cards in the last two weeks, and preparing and researching debate. It's amazing what a difference one year can make: Last year, I hardly knew how to research by September. This year, I already have a case and it's only June.

Prayer for our whole family would be appreciated. This may very well be one of the toughest trials we go through as a family together. Prayer specifically for me would be that I continue to lean on God. You never realize how much you've been leaning on something or someone until it's taken away from you.

Random thought for the day: I love golf. Although I really stink at it. I guess that means I'll have to stick with one of my favorite past-times of just watching it :)