Feliz Año Nuevo

Tonight is my Puerto Rican night! So very excited! I have been after her for...well, a long time to do this and thus it is FINALLY occurring! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! I am headed over to help get some stuff ready in a little bit but I first wanted to say,

Happy New Year! Feliz Año Nuevo!

I am excited about 2011....not sure what God holds in it but I can't wait to find out! School...no...job...no. Don't know! 2 things I know for sure. I am turning 21...an age by world's standards means I have made it. I don't drink. I already vote. I think I will celebrate with something small. Close friends, good food, and a little par-tay! I have operation room re-do in full swing...kinda! I went to Ikea yesterday to get my bed and returned with NADA! They didn't have one of the parts I need and the other wouldn't fit in our car...SO, I will be going back. In the mean time I am starting on walls, floors, dejunking!!!! So be looking for a new page! Room re-do is coming atcha!

Praying the Lord's blessings on anyone reading this! I hope you have a blessed day celebrating the New Year! Alright 2011, bring your best! I'm ready!

New Look

Not sure I am sold.

I am thinking I am wanting something cleaner....but then again, I like the scrapbook look.

We will see what I land on.

I am not trying to rush the Christmas season but this is the week I am off. This is the week I have to "do" things. This is the week I can change my blog. If I didn't now...I wouldn't probably until February.

This week is slammed FULL of stuff! Of which I am SO thankful! Tomorrow I am meeting a friend who is on break. Wednesday my family and I are headed to the mountains. Thursday we are headed to Ikea. The closest one is 2 hours away, so it's a day trip. Then Friday I am helping a friend cook some Puerto Rican food! If I think about it I will take pictures and post about it! So very excited!

1 - 2 - 3

Remember this post? It seems like forever ago! As I was editing some things on my blog I noticed that I had not taken down my ticker to my Peru trip. Then I noticed something that it has been 1 month, 2 weeks, and 3 days since I had been to Peru. The same amount of time as the previously mentioned post just the other way around.
In some ways it feels like it has been a LOT longer than that. I guess because so much has been crammed into the weeks since I returned. Baby showers (and babies!), thanksgivings, Christmas preparations, etc. In other ways it feels like just yesterday I was standing in the Atlanta airport thinking that the day would NEVER end and it was only 11 a.m.
My time in Peru was much different than last time I was there. Different ministry efforts, different people, different translators, different schedule, different time of year, different. I didn't have many "crutches" this year. The relationships I have now are because they were made over time there. I didn't go with someone especially "close." Where as these two ladies were amazing and I SO enjoyed getting to know them, they were not family. My view has changed somewhat (don't worry, I love you guys!) but in the beginning I prepped myself for being "on my own." I was ok with that...or so I thought.
God showed me that I was not "on my own." He has placed these people on my team and for some weird reason He has them looking out for me. I didn't expect it. I wasn't looking for it. I thought I was doing ok. It took getting really sick. I mean really sick...a total of like 3 hours of sleep, loosing my dinner, and being miserable all of the 2nd night of the trip...for me to see that they cared. I wasn't just a "kid" going with all the adults to Peru. They were concerned and did what they could to help me out. I was a part of the team.

I miss this. I miss all of it. Every time I go a little piece of my heart is left. I love that I know I will see these people again. I love that I know that I don't have to wait until we are in the presence of Jesus to be reunited. I don't really know what captured my heart about this place other than the Father. It is cold. The week is long. You would kill someone for a shower. Your teeth don't feel clean for like a week after you come home. Headaches are a given. You eat in places where cats walk around the kitchen like they own the place. You sleep in beds that are less than desirable. The ride up is long. The ride down is painfully longer. You eat off a camp stove. Your stomach is more often than not, upset. You don't want to know what is on the bottom of your shoe...ever. You sleep under 40 alpaca blankets just to keep from shaking with cold.

And yet, I can't wait to go back. Who knows, maybe soon you will see another ticker on my side bar!

Day 11: New Year Resolutions

Day 11: New Year Resolutions

I am going to be honest for a second. I don't like "new year resolutions." What is the purpose of planning a new year with new choices. If they are choices that indeed need to be made why plan them out and wait until the "new year." Why can't your new year begin on October 10th, or April 3rd? Why is January 1st that magical day to "change you ways" and "start fresh?"

If this is a way that you can keep track of it, or if you are doing something like reading through the Bible in a year then by all means, start on the 1st. But, I personally DON'T like to use that as an excuse to wait until then.

I will tell you a "resolution" I have. I started in November. I am memorizing passages of scripture with a friend. It is slow. I have not put a strict time frame on it. I am not stressing myself out. I am just doing it...and to be honest I love it!

I have gotten continually more involved in the local Hispanic Congregation. Plan on becoming more so. That began in July.

There are some things I am planning for 2011 but they most likely will not occur until further into January or February.

My point in this post being, I don't like to hang a date on a goal. I think it is good to have a finish time but in no way am I going to put off something that I need to do now. Are there times I want to? Youbetcha!!! But I like to go ahead when I do something...chances are with me, if I wait it won't get done...

Day 10: Favorite Songs/Carols

Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Carols

I love all the carols...really I do! I don't have one that I "like" more than another. There are some that I don't care for. We 3 kings and Oh Holy Night are pretty much avoided in my book. I don't mind them I just won't "choose" to sing them! =)

Some Christmas songs that I do like are...(make sure to scroll down and turn off my music!)

I am sure I will think of more but this will do for now!

Feliz Navidad!

Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe

Little Miss Savannah is doing great! No more episodes since Friday night! She is getting stronger and today they will find out about going home or not!

Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe

Onto the food! Let's see...my favorite! This is tough. On Christmas morning my mom makes and egg/sausage casserole that is great! I love making all the candies, cookies, and treats but I am not sure if anyone of them is my "favorite."

I'm going to have to think about this a little further! I am not sure what my "favorite" recipe is...maybe I'll just post a bunch of our classics! =)

Merry Christmas!

Day 8: Least favorite thing

Miss Savannah is doing ok. She had a few "episodes" through the night last night but is stable. She is on a monitor for her breathing. Getting better but DON'T stop praying!
Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays

Ok, my least favorite thing about the holidays...it's hard. Really. I don't like to seek out the negative. I will say the one thing I don't enjoy is the cheapness that has been pasted over Christmas, the celebration of the birth of my Savior.

It is all about the going, doing, getting, that the celebration has taken a back seat. Many stores are open on Christmas. The lists, the have to's, the wants, and the gimme's.

I wish that Christmas would be taken back to some more simple and Christ centered mind set.

I'm not saying my family is perfect but I love that every year we choose to celebrate Jesus in some way. Either through advent or Jesse tree. We take time to go to the Christmas Eve service at our Church. Etc.

Merry Christmas!

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY

Before we get to our daily program I wanted to shout praise to our God for His wonderful ways, our dear friends have been getting to know their sweet little girl for the last 40 minutes or so! I can't wait to meet her! Happy Birthday Miss Savannah!

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)

Ok, I SO don't consider myself the "artsy," DIY-type-person, BUT, and that is a BIG but, I do enjoy "making" things every now and then if I can! I have made a handful of things throughout the years but my favorite and most note worthy are these...

Ta-Da! Clay bears...well, animals for the matter! I started with a very, VERY basic design and it just grew and changed until it is what I have made it today! I have personalized bears for each individual I have given them too! From Starbucks cups to jersey numbers I have done it all! I love seeing what they turn out like! Some have found a home in the trash can but there are some of my favorites!

My bro-in-law's sister is a HUGE duck tape fanatic!

Again, Merry Christmas! We are getting closer! Are you ready???!

Day 6: Gift ideas

Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want? We all have family/friends reading our blogs...so let them know!)

Well I let the ball drop on this one! It has been a CRAZY couple of days in my defense! The Christmas season is in FULL swing at my house and once that happens there is NO stopping! This post is going to have to cover a LOT so fasten your seat belts and hang on...knowing me, it might be a bumpy ride! =)

Ok, so, gift ideas!

Dell laptop with a cool skin design!

This bed from Ikea!

ANYTHING (well kinda!) from here!

Anything...and I do mean anything from here!

Ok, so my list is a little pricey! There weren't any specifications! =)

Moving on to other news! We finally got our tree and decorations up! Bean and Bubby enjoyed hanging up all the ornaments and lights! It is fun to see Christmas through their eyes a little bit!

The other night we had a Christmas cookies decorating party at our house! First one of it's kind and I think it was a big hit! We had fun hanging out and creating different cookies! These were my creations...I didn't realize the nativity had messed up or I would have fixed it!


This past weekend we attended one of our FAVORITE Christmas traditions! A local Church puts on a presentation of the life of Christ starting from the night he was born. It is cold and your hair smells like smoke when you're done but it is SO worth it!

I was running late getting ready so a lot of what I chose was a grab and go...my family was a little embarrassed by my choice of attire. Hey, I am not easily lost! =)

My sisters and I waiting to go in with our Peru hats!

Finally to get to the news that I have just about BURST at the seams to say!

This beautiful picture is what will come in a matter of 6 months. My sister and her husband are having baby #2!!! That's right, I am an aunt again! Oh, I am so excited! She found out the day before I left for Peru and the entire week was just impossible to keep my mouth shut! I literally would say something and then have to ramble a long explanation of why it was not what it sounded like!

Grow baby grow! This aunt can't wait to get her hands on you! I love you SO very much and I am proud to call you my...eh, niece/nephew!

Last thing on the agenda is transforming this...

to

...this!

Merry Christmas and a very blessed and happy New Year! May the Lord richly bless you and your family!

Day 5 - Favorite Movie/TV show

Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special

Christmas movies and tv shows are a hit at our house! Primarily the older ones or the classics! We watch pretty much anything but, there are a few favorites!

Elf is one of my favorites! I have no idea why but I love this movie! Will Ferrel is hilarious! This is primarily a sister/brother - in - law/friend watching movie but good none the less!
This is one of my absolute FAVORITES! I really don't care for Rudolf at ALL but I love the other characters! The misfit toys, the abominable snow man, Cornelius!

This is one of our family favorites. We have to watch this every year...together! If you are looking for a family movie, recommended!

I love the Grinch! It is an every year must!

Day 4- Budget Friendly

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

This is a toughy!I am not an expert. I am not even a novice. This is not my speciality simply because I am not in a position to be planning a budget friendly Christmas. I am not the one "planning" it. I don't have my own house and stuff so it isn't something that I have to do...if that makes sense.

But, I do like to save a dime or 3 so I can give a few of the ways I do.

Coupons - Even now...it is most important. Coupon.com is a great source for coupons of ALL kinds!!! It takes a little work but it pays off in the end. Look in the paper for the Moneyclip, or valpak, or P&G clippers. All are full of different coupons. Some are for carpet cleaning, or re roofing, of paving companies, BUT a lot are for food, and personal items.

Catch sales! - Look out for when things are one sale. Don't be a last minuter...!!! Waiting makes things expensive...end of story! Plan out early. Look for when things are on sale. Take advantage of Black Friday. Look for clearance. etc.

End of the year - Great way to save on decorations...Go December 26 - January whenever for GREAT deals on decorations! No one wants last year's decorations! =) NOT! I am all for it especially when you can find strings of light for 50% off and boxes of ornaments for $1 a piece! Craziness!

Make it - I have found that making sometimes...SOMETIMES saves money...sometimes it doesn't but it is also more meaningful.

Enjoy! Feliz Navidad!

Day 3 - The most meaningful gift

**Don't really know why it didn't post yesterday!**

Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received

At the risk of sounding sappy, radical, crazy, whatever you want to peg me as, I can confidently say that the best gift I have ever received is the one that my Father gave me. Not that my parents have not given me good gifts. They have. They have been extremely generous and lavishing when it came to gifts and they have been wonderful but the one my Father gave to me by far trumps them all.

You see when I was still dead in my transgressions He gave me life in Christ because of His great love for me. (Eph. 2:4) He gave His one and only Son (John 3:16) to be fully human in every way to be an atonement for my sin. (Heb. 2:17) It was NOTHING I did to "get" it but God's gift to me. (Eph. 2:8-10)

There is nothing I could "do" or "be" to receive His great love. I did not do anything. That is the most meaningful gift I have ever received.

Day 2 - Black Friday and a Birthday!

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Seems kinda pointless to post this now but with the way stores have sales every waking moment I guess it could come in handy at some point!

Let's see! Black Friday Shopping! I am NOT one of the crazies up at some unknown hour to get the MEGA sales. But, I do, however, enjoy getting a good deal on something. I also like to plan ahead. So, here is my strategy.

-Write lists. Decide who I am buying for. What I might want to get them.

-Take a look! Look though the sales paper and see what is on sale where. Compare. Decide if it is really a good deal to go to that particular store and get that particular item, or if it is not that big of a savings.

-Plan a route. Choose the path of least resistance. I don't live in a Huge city but the area I live in is heavy on the traffic, especially this day. Plan out what places first and what places can wait (sales only last until so and so time).

I am not a parent so the BIG things that are heavily advertised such as electronics, or clothing is not really on my radar. I am searching for more of the obscure or not so frequently sought after items, such as DVD's, books, and smaller gift items. For example: I didn't even plan on heading to Walmart this black Friday but ended up going with my family that evening...like after 6...to pick up a few things. Not intending to buy anything I came across a middle-aisle display of scrambled toys with various hand-written price tags. After digging a few minutes I found a 10 count pack of hot wheels cars for a grand total of $5. Yes, you read that right! So monkey has a very nice present coming his way! Just to give those of you who don't know what pricing is like on those cars an idea. Individually they can cost anywhere from $.80 - $1 a piece. In packs of 5 they can cost anywhere from $6-$8 depending on styles and kinds. So a 10 pack for $5 is pretty good!

I also keep a basket in my closet for any good deals I may come across while I'm out. Last year after Christmas I went to Pier One's 70% off sale. I picked up 10 - 15 bracelets that were on sale for a $1-$2 a piece. They have been great to pull out when there is a need for a gift at any point. So be on the look out for the "handouts" as I call them. Good way to put up for the future so you are not scrambling last minute!

This post has a double meaning! I want to make sure I add a very Happy Birthday to my oldest sister! We are 7 years apart and other than the first few years of my life that really hasn't made that much of a difference.

Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day! I love you and I am so thankful that we have "lived" together the last few months! I love being with you and Bubby even when the days are long and trying! I know my monkey enjoys it! Praying the Lord's blessings over you and the year to come! May God bless you 10 fold how you bless those around you!

Day 1 - TRADITIONS!

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions

We have a lot of things we do...not sure if that is considered "traditions" or not but here it goes!

Celebrating Jesus

We do one of two things on alternate years to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

-One year we will do Advent. Starting 4 Sundays from Christmas as a family we get together each Sunday night/afternoon to light a candle and read Scripture that corresponds with the day of Advent we are on.

-The following year we will do Jesse Tree. Beginning usually at the start of December each of us girls are assigned an account in scripture to portray artistically some how. Starting from Creation and going all the way to Jesus' birth.When we were younger we would meet together each night to show the ornament we had made and get our assignments for the next day. Now that we have gotten older and schedules don't lend themselves to nightly meetings we meet usually on the weekends to go through the Bible account.

Decorating

Usually the weekend following Thanksgiving begins our Christmas celebration. This is typically when we put up the tree and decorate the house. Our dad ALWAYS hangs the lights. ALWAYS! There are no other options! =) Then mom passes out all the ornaments and we hang them on the tree. Every year mom has bought or made us an ornament. She does this so we will have some ornaments to take with us when we get married and have a tree of our own. So as she is passing them out she hands our ornaments to us and let's us hang them.

Gift Giving

With 5 girls it was far too easy to go cheap on Christmas gifts. Not that the gifts are what it is about but when mom is trying to help us pay for the gifts it can get pretty expensive even just to do 1 small cheapo for each other. So, when we were younger we decided to draw names. At the beginning of the fall we put all our names in a pot and draw one. We each buy for the sister on the paper. This allows for a much more meaningful gift. We are able to think about it and plan it. Not just buy something.

Christmas Morning

When we were younger it was a lot more crucial that we begin this morning at like 5:30...now that we are getting older we realize the importance of waiting...maybe! Still having a 10 year old living in the house makes for a reality check that Christmas morning is still very much of an exciting day and it calls for a prior to the sunrise wake up call! We open our stockings first and then gifts. For years...and I mean years mom has made the same Christmas breakfast. Egg casserole. I would not have it any other way! =) After gifts we chow down on some Christmas breakfast and then we usually chill. It is typically not planned out. We don't have to go anywhere. We don't have an agenda.

I am sure I will think of some traditions but for now I will leave you with, Kala Christouyenna!

On the first day of Christmas...

In this house Christmas starts at about 6:00 a.m. Black Friday morning. No one knows why. No one planned for it to happen that way. It just is. Almost immediately after that last bite of turkey is passed our lips we whip out the lights and candy canes so fast it will make your head spin! Friday is usually spent with mom out shopping for all the list items prepared for that day. Saturday begins the d-e-c-o-r-a-t-i-n-g! Yeah baby! Then it is a smooth sail to Christmas day just a matter of days away!




So for this year I have decided to do a bit of celebrating here! I also thought it would be a fun way to meet some of the bloggers out there! =) So my friends I introduce you to...

For some reason my "of" disappeared so ta-da! This is what happens! Gotta love technology!

Now, I know that I have promised to do the 30 days blog challenge, and post about my sister's 16th bash, and I need to finish posting about Peru. I will get to that I promise! But, with the way all those events backed up to my trip which slid full speed ahead into Thanksgiving and now Christmas I thought I would post about the things applicable to this season and move on with blogging about those things when I need some ideas! =)

So, here is what is on the menu (which I may have spun a little bit my way)!

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions
Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks
Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received
Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season
Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special
Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want? We all have family/friends reading our blogs...so let them know!)
Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)
Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays
Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe
Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Carols
Day 11: New Year Resolutions
Day 12: Show us your decorations (indoor/outside)

I may even try a linky! Oooh! I am getting ambitious now! =) So come along with me as we celebrate the season of my Savior's birth! The first installment will be here tomorrow!

Thanks

1. health over all
2. family that supports and loves me.
3. friends that come in all ages and kinds.
4. the ability to worship the God who gave me breath and life.
5. the opportunity to come before the Father in other languages.
6. Warm water to take a shower comfortably...
7. ...the ability to take showers numerous times a week (that's not a typo)
8. more than 2 changes of clothing.
9. enough clothing for the different and varying seasons.
10. a job that I enjoy.
11. other than a few minor set backs the ability to do with my money what I need/want to do.
12. provisions for my recent trip to Peru.
13. Godly ladies as mentioned in 1 Timothy 5.
14. peace that passes ALL understanding that come from my Jesus in storms I may encounter.
15. salvation from eternal pain and suffering and deliverance to eternal fellowship with my Savior.
16. a car that runs.
17. the presence of all 4 grandparents and both parents.
18. the relationships given as an example to me through my parents, sister and brother-in-law, and other friends.
19. sight to enjoy the visual beauty of God's world.
20. hearing to listen to the sounds the Father made.
21. clean water to drink upon desire.
22. a healthy start to life.
23. a teen hood filled with Godly wisdom and very few bad decisions.
24. technology that connects me with friends that live thousands of miles away.
25. books that open a world to learning.
26. a roof over my head.
27. a ceiling fan.
28. shoes that don't have holes.
29. washing machines
30. indoor plumbing
31. laughter.
32. growth
33. wood stoves
34. electricity
35. a bed.
36. the ability to wear what I would like without being arrested for showing ankles, wrists, or my face.
37. living near the ocean, the mountains, and historical sites.
38. tooth brush
39. make up (yes, I am that shallow)
40. the comfort in knowing that anyone I "loose" this side of heaven will once again be with me in the presence of the Father.
41. forgiveness

The list is forever growing...but for now I will leave with this. Happy Thanksgiving! May it be blessed! Remember to be thankful in whatever circumstances you are in!

Beginning to miss this

Man, it has been a week! It is hard for me to believe I have been home almost a week. This week went by faster than the week I was away! Weird! Usually it's the other way around! Oh well!

Life back home has been exciting. I landed in the States Sunday morning after flying all night, arrived home around 3 that afternoon, and started work Monday morning...NO in between time! Everyone I tell that to about freaks when they realized what I did! Yea, I did too! =) All in all though it really hasn't been that big of a deal. In some aspects it was nice to just get back to it so there wasn't a whole lot of "what now" moments.

Two of my team members came home with some intestinal bug. Not sure what it is but they were knocked out! Kind of kept me on my toes for a day or two until I was convinced I was ok! One of them was my roomie, food sharing, close proximity, friend...yikes! But, here it is Saturday night and I have been clear! PTL! It was a GREAT trip, and when I say this it might sound like it wasn't. But, I was SO ready to be home by Sunday a.m. that I did not want to go anywhere for a while. Now that I have had a few days of being home I am starting to miss it. I am not ready to get back on a plane but please tell me you can look at that picture and not want to be there? Trust me, it is worse when you have seen it in person! Pictures just can not do the work of my God justice!

My pastor asked me to share a bit of what God taught me about Himself tomorrow in church. If you know me you know that this is NOT my thing but I do it anyway! You'd think I would be used to it by now! =) God showed me that in my weakness HE is strong. That is my inadequacies HE is made known. That in my doubts HE is made sure. I went on a Dental mission trip with a group of Spanish speakers...not even lying. I went into this unsure of how I was going to be used. I was not medically trained. I can not speak Spanish well. I am not a great speaker. My sister wrote me a note to open while I was on the trip and her verse of encouragement was this-

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

1 Timothy 4:12-14

I have heard the first part a million times. It still struck a cord that I should not let anyone think little of me because of my age or the fact that I was not trained medically or linguistically. But, it was the second part that I really had to get a hold of. That I do have gifts that the Father gave me. It is my job to use them and not forsake/neglect them. That I had to work at whatever job I had been given to the best of my ability.

Later I was reminded of what I had been challenged with when I said that I would not be able to do something. The lady I was talking to stopped me where I was and said, "the verse said NO one look down upon you because of your youth. No one! That means you can't either."

So, there is no telling what I am going to say in church. I think through it a million times but in the moment I will most likely say something completely different! But, that was one of the main things the Father showed me!

Diri-what?

Whew! In some aspects it seems like a whirlwind of a week and in other way I feel like it has been a lifetime at least since I have even dreamed of blogging! I can not believe my Peru trip is over. It seems like yesterday I was signing up!

Over all it was an amazing week! These two ladies made the week about 10x more enjoyable to than if they had not been there! Here is where the title comes in. The one of my right is from Japan and speaks Japanese, English, and Spanish fluently! The one of my left is from Puerto Rico and speaks English and Spanish fluently! Needless to say I was the odd ball here! =) Miss Japan challenged me to memorize a verse in Spanish. Went well and we kept going! We ended up only memorizing 4 by the end of the week but hey, 4 is better than 0 and it's a start! =) The first verse we memorized was Luke 9:23. The first word is 'Dirigiéndose.' For the LIFE of me I could not say the word! I finally mastered it!...kinda!I experienced things that I never have before. I learned things taught be some people who surprised me. I loved being back and wouldn't trade this past week for anything.

This is someone I met while we were there. We have worked with her mom for 3 years now and she is a strong believer. Sandra just recently prayed to receive Christ. I witnessed her baptism and her 7 month old son's dedication!

I guess you could say a piece of my heart is still there!

I will do a real post later including pictures from the trip! For now this will have to do!

I'm going to be busy!

Man am I going to be busy when I get home! I have SO much to update on (with pictures!) and not enough time! We have had a busy few weeks with harvest festivals, M's 16th birthday party, church retreat, etc! To wrap it all up I leave in 3 days for Peru...so, I suppose posting will wait until I get home!

I am getting SO excited! I started laying some stuff out yesterday and every time I think of something else I go grab it and throw it on the pile! I am also getting semi-nervous! This is the first trip I will take not being in high school with all my friends and without a single family member. There is a close'ish family friend going so that makes it a little better but I am here to tell you, I will be missing this girl! We went together last year so not having her there is going to be super weird! I have a feeling that a million things are going to spark a memory in me and I am going to want to tell her and not be able to! *sniff sniff*

But, I know that God has me going and her not for a reason. I am confident that God will use me simply because I will be "alone." Having her with me is my preference but, it may just be a comfort zone that God needs to break me of...maybe I just need to appreciate her more! =) We will see!

I have to be at church at 7 on Saturday so I may or may not post until later! Until, thanks everyone for your prayers! I am so ready to go!

love this guy!

I have to brag on this guy for a minute! He pretty much is the greatest and I don't need to be convinced but I wanted to rest of everyone to see it!Go here to see his latest accomplishment!
How great is that!?

1 Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

16

Party pics will come soon! I promise! Tonight I am headed to the mountains with my church family for out annual church retreat. This has to be posted so it will be quick.

Today this turns 16.

For me it is a mixed emotion kind of day. She is my first little sister and it scares the pants off me that she is 16! I remember 16. I thought I had it all together...I was 16, fyi! *rolls eyes and places hands on hip after mastering the perfect "z" snap!* Now, she is here.

We are very, very different if so very many ways. She has the voice, the personality, the volume! She counts no one as an enemy until she has been decided that they indeed are not her friend. Since she was little, age really didn't seem to matter. Whatever age she was turning she was always going on 30. Drama is her middle name...has been, always will be! =) I don't believe a situation would be complete without her proclaiming to the world the "unfairness" and depressive state we are all in, "I'm just saying!" A phone is most usually found in her had and an ear bug is most often found in her ear. Her music preference comes in waves and one day Hawk Nelson hung the moon and the next Reliant K is all that! She is loud, spontaneous, a liver of life to the fullest, a romantic notion filled dreamer, kind of girl. The weight of the world can wear her down but the mention of fun cuts the strings in an instant. She has a heart for others. She loves kids. She went on her first real mission trip this summer and I have not seen her so pumped ever!

She is being beautifully shaped into the wonderful child of the King made to serve Him in her life though and through. I am excited to see what God has in store for her. I can't imagine life without her and I can barely imagine what God could be making for her in her life.

Happy Birthday Madalee! I hope you have a wonderful, wonderful birthday!

The next few days! *picture overload*

One more rainy morning spent on Babyland! Cabbage Patch Doll central! I thought it would be some reasonably priced, large variety of "adoptable" dolls. I was wrong...this was a MUSEUM of ALL the dolls EVER made...I am talking $200 - $300 dolls that have been named after or for things of persons! CRAZY! But, fun! At least for Lina and myself. This was our childhood and for a doll lover like me I was loving it!
Both Lina and I landed a doll in the end ($23, NOT $300!) and we went home happy that we had gone but I am not raving about needing to go! =)

At the exit there were TONS of signed pictures of celebrities to the cabbage patch creator. This one we found and Bean loved! She is a Star Wars fan!

Agree!

Happy Jewelry!

uh, yup!

I loved taking pictures of all the country, hand made, things!

Told you, common theme!

The river that was everywhere! Super fun and really cool!

Antique Shop!

Chatahoochee Village Shops!

An old covered bridge...I can't remember the name!

God's promise that the rain will never destroy the whole earth again!

LOVE it!