Thursday, May 27, 2010

Graduation Open House


The Lord blessed my special day with nice warm, windy day (the wind may have not seemed like a blessing, but with the downpour that we had in the morning, it was needed to dry out the grass)!

At 4:00 sharp the guest started to arrive


We did have a short program, and yes, I did have to give a speech...


...in which I was able to thank my amazing family!!! I also shared briefly what Lord has been teaching me about His love...maybe I will save that for a different post:)


My sis-in-law sang a breath taking piece "How Deep the Father's Love"


She was accompanied by my amazing piano teacher, Mr. Hess and his daughter...


...Staci!!


There was also a brief sharing time in which my Pastor shared....


...a couple of my brothers
(Dan and Bethany even recorded a special something for me...and it was played over the speakers!! How special is that?!?)

...my dear sister

As well as; Betsy, Alatheia, Mrs. Larsen, Bekah R. and Uncle Doug. It was fun to hear the stories that they recalled...they brought back such sweet memories...mostly at least *smile*! What a blessing they all have been in my life!


Finally...the moment had arrived when I received my high school diploma and a special 'charge' from my Dad.

My Grandpa then prayed for me! I have been so blessed with my Grandparents, and having my Grandpa pray for me, at my graduation, has been something that I have looked forward to for a long time!

My Grandpa's other half! They have been married for 52 years! What a testimony.

It was a great turnout...our yard was full of people!


And of course....a post wouldn't be complete without a picture of my baby:)

Uncle Doug and Yelena

My favorite "co-aunt" and nieces!!

There was lots of activities going on...

...a party just isn't the same without a good game of speed volley ball!!


Pictures are compliments of Elisabeth Ulmer and the Grady's!

"I say to myself, the Lord is my portion: therefore I will wait for Him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him: to the one who seeks Him..."
Lam 3:24-25

He is with me!

Lately I have been reading through Psalms. It has been more wonderful than I could've imagined! And I hope you will be encouraged...I know I was!

Psalm 46:7 "The Lord Almighty is with us..."
Just think on that for a while.

It says earlier in the chapter that He is "our refuge and strength...", our "help in trouble."

As I was reading, that thought alone was enough to meditate on...but I continued on to the next Psalm for the day; Psalm 76. It describes God as "resplendent with light, and more majestic then mountains...," it goes on to say that at His rebuke "both horse and chariot are stilled," He is feared by the kings of the earth. Going back to chapter 46 it tells us that the earth melts at the sound of His voice, "He makes wars cease...He breaks the bow and shatters the spear". What utterly awesome power!!

And then it struck me. That the God described above is with me.

The same Almighty Ruler of the entire earth is with me.

In light of that Psalm 46:2 takes on a whole new meaning, and makes a lot more sense. "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea..." Why should we not fear? Because "the Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."

"Be still, and know that I am God;"


Friday, May 21, 2010

Graduation prep!

Preparation for my graduation has meant long to-do-lists on the white board! Some of the tasks are fun, like arranging napkins, planning the ceremony etc. but some of the others haven't been quite as thrilling...but they still need to be done:)

What better idea could there be then to call up a couple friends to come help?!?


Chopping fruit:)
Thank you Betsy, Hannah, Rachel and Tootsie for coming to help!!!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

The glory of Aunthood...


...is bragging on your nieces!


Now you can't tell me that she isn't just the cutest little thing!!!!!

A quote for you to think on


"Although we don't sin when we look forward to marriage, we might be guilty of poor stewardship of our singleness when we allow a desire for something God obviously doesn't have for us yet to rob us of our ability to enjoy and appreciate what He has given us."
~Joshua Harris

Friday, May 14, 2010


Happy 23rd Birthday Josh!


If you know Josh, or spent time with him at all, you would quickly find out that being with him meant an adventure of some kind:) He lives life to the fullest, no holding back!


Josh, your openness to God and allowing Him to complete His work in you has touched my life and many others! Keep on, keeping on!

I thank God that He gave me you as a brother! I love you!


"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Peter 1:5-8

Monday, May 10, 2010

Something for you to read:)

I took an English class a couple years ago...and this was one of my favorite essays:) It is also an interesting, and true experience that really did happen *smile* Enjoy!


(Not sure why format is all spread out like this...but oh well:)



“Does anyone know CPR?” Eldora’s clear urgent voice rang out above the din

of my sister’s screams. It was Tuesday afternoon and I was in the hot upstairs room

of Eldora’s house. Eldora, my painting teacher, is a sweet elderly lady whose cheerful

spirit and step-by-step guidance made painting a pleasure. Every Tuesday I would go

with my sister and five other friends to Eldora’s little white house in Blair. We would walk as slow as we could (without attracting notice) through her living room to look and gaze in wonder that simple white china could be transformed into gorgeous flowers that seemed to nod their heads in

the breeze and animals looking at us through playful painted eyes would wonder why we

weren’t spending time with them. As we tromped upstairs with all our boxes and

supplies none of dreamed that today would be a day that we would never forget.


As I started to unpack my stuff, brushes, oil, paint and other supplies I looked

over and saw the pieces that I was working on. I had started on Sunflowers last week

with Ellie. Ellie is such fun to work with. She always has a smile on her pretty face,

and a laugh that would make even the sternest person smile. As I glanced about the

room, my eye fell on Lydia her younger sister. She looked up at me and gave me a

smile and a cheerful “hi”. Grace was sitting next her, busily wiping out what she had

just painted, something that often fit into her style of painting. “Grace,” I said with a

grin “your palette is so messy and you know Eldora said not to use Q-tips to wipe off

your paint.” “I’m not using them,” she replied looking guilty as she slipped them to the trash

can at her feet (which had a little pile of q-tips already there) “plus a messy palette

means I’m a good painter.” This was greeted with a laugh all about the room. We

continued to talk, laugh, tease, paint and (some of us) wipe out till the day flew by.


I finished putting the last touches on my painting and placed it on the tray to go

downstairs, then grabbed a big folder filled with The China Painter magazines and sat

down to look at it. Alatheia was sitting next to me painting, and would occasionally

add a remark about a picture she liked. She was the artist among us. Her paintings

were always beautiful and filled with life. “Oh, that one’s cute” she said, but I wasn’t

listening. My head hit the table with a resounding thud, and the folder went crashing

to the floor. Immediately everyone looked my way. Mrs. Larsen, Alatheia’s mother

who thought I had just made a mistake looked over from across the room and

remarked, “Oh it can’t be that bad, Anna.” I didn’t respond. Worry printed itself across

Alatheia’s face. She took a hold of me to lift me up, but I was dead weight. She tried to

pull me up and I whammed against the back of my chair head back, arms out and just

the whites of my eyes showing.


Mrs. Larsen leapt out of her seat and raced around the table, like a dog was a her heels. My sister Esther took one glance at me, thought I was dead and fell to the floor sobbing. “Does anybody know CPR?” Eldora’s clear urgent voice rang out as Esther’s screams rent the air. “Grace, go get the phone and call 991,” she said trying gain control of the panic that was rising. Grace immediately rushed downstairs screaming with Lydia hard on her heels. “Call 911,” Lydia yelled as she and Grace raced up and down the stairs in sheer panic. Alatheia, not knowing

what else to do, dropped to the floor to quiet my sister’s screams, which were getting

louder as the moments flew. “Anna, can you hear me?” Mrs. Larsen fought to

maintain a steady voice. Her words fell on deaf ears. “Anna,” she said more urgently.


Ellie just sat where she was, trying to gain control of her thoughts and remember the

steps to CPR. “Anna,” Mrs. Larsen said again. Somewhere in the back of my mind,

seemingly coming from a distance, I heard Mrs. Larsen’s steady controlled voice and

Esther’s panicked one, both slowly bringing me back to existence. “What happened,”

I mumbled rubbing my right eye which was still smarting from the blow it received

when it met the table. “You just passed out and scared us out of our wits,” someone

said behind me. “Put your head between your knees,” Eldora said her voice not as

controlled as it used to be. My face started pouring out sweat like rain as I did her

bidding. “Is... is she alive?” Esther said not believing the obvious, for the picture of

me lying there was still fresh before her. “I’m fine,” I said shaking uncontrollably and

very confused. “Good,” said Eldora, “let’s just get you downstairs.” After getting

seated in a comfortable chair downstairs with a glass of cold water, Grace told me

everything that happened. They had all my sympathy, for Grace’s face told me that that

was one of the most frightening things that had happened to her and everybody else

that was present.


Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day...


...to an AMAZING Mother!!



Thank you for your example of a one who sincerely loves the Lord with all you heart, soul, mind and strength!!

I love you so much!!!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Yelena Joy


What a lil' sweetie!!



My precious little niece, Yelena Joy