100+ Followers on Facebook

I am excited to announce that my Facebook page has reached 100+ followers. Thank you to everyone who follows my page and reads my blog posts. If you are not following the page and would like to, here is a link. https://www.facebook.com/CrystalKeepes/ In celebration of reaching my Facebook page 100+ milestone, I am releasing some extra content on the page from my Israel trip. I hope you enjoy it! READ MORE

Go Home, Black Friday!

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday. I will be spending the holiday enjoying a delicious feast and lots of laughter with some of my family and friends. Then, after our planned festivities, I will venture out for a little Black Friday shopping. I am sure it will be a fun day. Speaking of Black Friday, have you noticed how many retailers are starting their sales in the late afternoon/early evening this year? I was hoping the Thanksgiving shopping trend would pass quickly, but it seems to be getting worse. Many stores in our area have decided READ MORE

Can I Have a Side of Peace With That Order?

I could use some peace. The last five months, since the guilty plea was entered in my dad’s murder case, have been a whirlwind. My emotions have been unpredictable, my schedule has been crazy, and my focus has been scattered. I spent the first two months trying to process how I felt about the guilty plea. Then, the next month-and-a-half preparing for my interview for a documentary about dad’s murder. In September, I gathered money for my trip to Israel and did the documentary interview. October was supposed to be my month to recover from it all, but it hasn’t READ MORE

Welcome to the New School Year

It is back-to-school time for the Keepes household. For 4 years, our students have participated in a virtual-school program, Connections Learning, through our local school system. It is an online program designed for students who want the benefits of homeschool learning and public school curriculum combined. Similar to public school, each student is assigned teachers, coursework, and testing. They are given a schedule to follow and receive grades for all completed work. They are assigned to a local school within our school district, so they are permitted to participate in school related activities. They can even receive remedial tutoring at READ MORE

True Love

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. I Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV) When I think of love, I remember the Bible scripture found in I Corinthians 13. It is a passage we hear quoted in weddings, preached in church, and written on Christian merchandise. The scripture is READ MORE