Well, as I told a friend in an email, I think I am fighting a losing battle! For those who know, today my awesome big bro is leaving for a 10 week mission trip and I am feeling like I might just die. Okay, not that bad but I can't imagine life without my truest, bestest :), and overall, favorite friend! 

So, Brother, I love you and will miss you immensely but know that this is part of God's plan for you as you grow up into man-hood. Know that I am praying for you and will always be there if you need to unload over the phone. 

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

As I thought about this verse I know that Jesus Christ, my propitiation, is my closest friend and can always help me through a time like this, even though it is only 10 weeks. ( Which seems like a long time :) I know it is just a little selfish to want to hold him back but I just have to trust God. He created my brother, he can most definitely take care of him. This will be a great thing for him to experience and God will grow him through it, and that's important. 

Love you brother and be safe! We covet prayers for him as he travels!


Ps. Wow. This is post 60! 

Today was just packed full of things to do. After work we set to mulching the front flower-bed and I thought it would make a nice post. LJ just loved helping move the wheelbarrow and shoveling. BJ and Dad did the polishing touches of smoothing out and washing the sidewalk off. Here are the pictures of the job and the finished product.

After the work was done. I thought that I’d get some pictures of the flowers that are blooming and just ramble. Here is what I came up with. Some of these are unedited. Straight from the camera to you. Others... well. They are slightly edited. ;)

One of my personal favorite self portraits... :)

This ant was very determined to not let me get his picture. Well... after much stress I finally got him! :)

Tomorrow is another big work day. The mower at work is finally fixed so we have been mowing like crazy! Thankfully we have the vacuum running otherwise we could almost sell some hay! :)

By God's Grace, I Am Still In the Race!

Well as you can guess from the title, today, by God’s boundless grace, I am 16! What a joy my sixteen years on this earth have been. I am so thankful for my mom and dad being willing to raise me up in the, “ admonition of the Lord”! I truly have a wonderful family who I know will always be there for me. Thank you Dad, Mom, BJ, and LJ for always loving me ( not liking but loving, because I know, there have been times that I have not been likable. :) and always being there. I love you all and THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I also have an absolute wonderful God and I am so thankful that sixteen years ago he began creating me and molding me into his image. I am thankful that He has, and always will, love me, despite my unworthiness, and sent his only precious son to die, yes, die, for me so that I might live a life freed from the bondages of sin. While salvation does bring heaven, it also removes sin’s power in my life and I am so thankful that he has made it possible to live that victorious life! THANK YOU LORD!

Well, as for my plans for today, I wanted to do some kind of a construction project with LJ and BJ like a birdhouse. However, I got a call last night and the mower at work is fixed! YEAH! So, today I am going to work. What a reality birthday! I am so excited that the mower is fixed so I will not complain! Birthday and all! Tonight then I am going to have a Bible study with some young guys and their dads of which I have discovered that I need to work on planning just a wee bit.... such as not waiting until the day before the event to invite. :)

Well, I must run. I am off to work shortly! Maybe I'll put together a post of pics later!

Ps. To anyone who left a comment I have responded I believe! Whether on my blog or another. :)

Last Friday night we had the best time. We had our end-of-the-year program and what fun... We had a concert and a Shakespeare play, ( The Merchant of Venice ) I played my arrangement of Come Thou Fount and was Shylock in the play! I was told though that I was not allowed carry my role into real life! What a shame... what a shame. :)

The Video of Come Thou Fount is at the bottom... I am still learning how to work with video's on here. :)

Anyway, here are some pictures of the performances and play. J and I did Ash Grove, J on the Hammered Dulcimer and I was on the Classical Guitar. It went well but you can’t hear me on the recording.... I guess my mic wasn’t loud enough! :) I guess that I just won't upload the video for this one.... If you want it I'll put it up... you just can't hear the guitar.

It is very hard to believe that another year is done yet, it is true. Well... we aren’t quite done but two weeks aren’t that long.

Here are some of the pictures. One is of me on the guitar and then on the piano and then there is the court scene pic and lastly is the actors. What a crazy group! :)

I want to take a moment to thank all the teachers, Mrs. Sam, As our Shakespeare teacher you were just amazing with us kids and the way our play worked out, it was because you helped us do it! Thank you! Ms. Suzie, Speech class was such fun this year. Thank you for working with us and making it as fun as speech can be! Thank you! Ms. Carol, writing is never anybody’s favorite class yet you made that enjoyable too! Thank you! Ms. Marci, Art was fun this year! I know that I have always struggled through art yet you helped me along and I really enjoyed it! Thanks! Tim and Sam, PE was a blast as well and I think that Dodgeball should most definitely a part of next year’s PE class! :) Thanks!

I think I covered just about everyone... oh yes.... To my mom, Thank you for forbearing yet one more year and being there for me. You are my favorite teacher ever and I love you! THANK YOU MOM!

Enjoy the videos and have a great day!

Well... I tired to upload the video but it is a really big file. 117 MB to be exact so I will post it later for you all! Have a great night!

Due to the perfect weather condition yesterday, I took a walk out in the woods with LJ for a photo shoot. Sadly, I didn’t have a tripod ( of which I seem to need really bad.... I guess I shake to much :) and a lot of the almost perfect photo’s didn’t turn out but the one’s that did turn out are really nice! I thought I’d share the green with you all! Also, there are some pictures from random days. 

I praise the Lord for the wonderful weather that He has given us even if it is a little dreary and grey. It still has some beauty to me! 

Today at work, I stepped into the garage to fill the mower up with gas, I heard this little, but very loud meow! Now... those of you who know, cats aren’t my favorite animal... I am more of a dog person but since I started working I’ve started appreciate cats. This afternoon was the killer for any prejudice. I turned my head in surprise as I see this little, 3 ( or 4... not sure ) week old kitten come running up to me! I have to admit.. I saw this little one and I fell over. IT WAS SSSOOO CUTE! Now... I know what some of you are thinking.... WHAT? ARE YOU MAD? I am afraid my friend, yes... I am. I think that this picture should clear all minds.

ISN’T IT CUTE!

Next to my hand, how little!

I am amazed at God’s miraculous creation. How amazing are you God!

Your works are amazing oh Lord! How marvelous is your name!