Catherine’s Column

By: Catherine Amaris Munoz

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”, declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ~Isaiah 55: 8-9

Hi there, all home-schooling teens! My name is Catherine Munoz. I am a homeschooler from Monrovia, California, USA. I am in the 12th grade. This is my eleventh column for the “Homeschooling Teen e-zine”, and I am looking forward to sharing more with you all in the future.

Summer 2012: Graduation in June. What an important month! Happy summer to you all. After being homeschooled for six years, I will be entering a new stage in life. My next step is to attend nursing school at Azusa Pacific University. God-willing, I will work towards becoming a nurse. It is really exciting: this next chapter of education– attending a university will be different from my current homeschool approach. Now, I will be talking to professors, interacting with fellow students, taking tests, learning new study techniques and– best of all– come closer to realizing my dream of earning my nursing degree. I’m sure I’m not the only one who is thinking about college at this time. Are you on your way to college too? Whether it’s still in the seemingly distant future, or simply the next step like it is for me, it really is amazing how God guides us to the correct path to find our purpose in the world. What led me to want to study in the field of nursing was a combination of: (1.) having a desire to be attentive to the needs of others and; (2.) having observed the care of different nurses in the course of my lifetime. It has been those nurses who have shaped my idea of what a nurse’s job truly is. Most of us do not realize the impact that we can make on others, For example: just recently, my niece was assigned at her school to write about someone who she sees as her hero, and she decided to use me as her example. I was –and to this day still am– honored. And perhaps even more than feeling honored, I feel blessed to be where I am right now: I may not be where I will like to be five, ten, or twenty years from now, but I certainly am where I want to be right now! God has an appointed time for everything under the heavens: believe that and say “amen” with me! God bless you on your educational and spiritual endeavors.

MUSIC CORNER ~ June 2012

This month’s featured Christian music artist is: Icon For Hire

Want to hear an awesome Christian music group whose lead vocalist sounds like Hayley from Paramore? They’re called Icon For Hire and they’ve made 5 Billboard charts since the release of their debut album “Scripted“. They originated in Decatur, Illinois, USA, and have been making music together since 2007. IFH falls under the categories of alternative-rock, hard rock, & punk rock. To offer some insight as to why you may like their music style, their influences are from greatly familiar (yet non-Christian) artists/ groups such as: Breaking Benjamin, Skrillex, Linkin Park, and The Black Eyed Peas. Visit their record label’s web page at www.toothandnail.com/artists/289/Icon_For_Hire for more info!

June’s Recipe~ “Strawberry Banana Ice Pops”

“Refreshing and perfect for summer, these ice pops are sure to win over anyone’s taste buds: from age 3 to 300!”

What you’ll need:

*One 31/4 -oz. package of instant banana cream pudding mix

*13/4 cups milk

*2 cups sliced strawberries

*1 tbs. sugar

Directions:

(1.) In blender, combine all the ingredients; blend until smooth. Pour into ice pop molds and freeze for at least four hours. If you do not have ice pop molds, divide among 8 small plastic or paper cups. Enjoy!

June’s Movie Review~ “Mirror Mirror” (2012)

A witty, charming twist on the classic Snow White tale, Mirror Mirror is a great movie for the family to see. Our main girl Snow White is portrayed by Lily Collins, daughter of the music group “Genesis” very own Phil Collins. She is very delicate and sweet, just like we would expect from a young princess. In the end, the underlying message of a “father-daughter” bond brought tears to my eyes. My favorite characters were the seven dwarfs: they are small, but they are mighty! I’m not saying that the other roles were not praiseworthy, but they were who I walked away still quoting from! So be prepared for many laughs, and be especially attentive when you see those “small but mighty” guys pop up on-screen. (They shared very witty dialogue.) As for the evil stepmother (aka, the queen), I expected for her role to be a bit stronger than it was. I figure that the reason for this must have been because the movie is geared towards the younger crowd. Hence, the less-sinister, more comical, laid-back queen. But, all in all, Mirror Mirror was hilarious, and was worth the ticket price.