A most lovely Birthday Party

This past weekend, Megan, Anna and Jake came down for a joint Birthday party for Jake and me (our Birthdays are less than a month apart). We had SO much fun- we played games, watched Foyle's War and played airsoft. Here are some pics of airsoft, we took a few of playing games, which I might post later, but for now, here are the airsoft pics.

Crossing the creek to get to our battlefield (Notice Stephen in the background trying to pick the log up and flip Jake into the creek... it didn't work)

Afterward, we posed for a few pics.

We were trying to do a kind of "Men/Women in Black" theme, hence the black clothes

I look like I'm trying to scale the wall, I didn't know that the others just barely put their fingers over the wall... oh well

This shot was SO much fun to do... I only wish that the guns were loaded :D

I love this pic; it was candid, but sometimes those are the best

I think that this has to be my favorite of them all.

Thank you Megan for taking the pictures!

Pillows and Owls and Driver's License (Oh my!)

Do these things have anything in common? Of course they do! They are all things that I received for my Birthday (OK, I didn't get a real owl, but I'll get to that in a minute).

These are some pillows that my lovely sisters made for me.

This one was made by Shea; It says "She is too fond of Books and it has addled her brain"- L. M. Alcott

Does this apply to me? *crickets chirping* :) Ok. Moving on.

This one was made by Claire; it says "I cannot live without books"- T. Jefferson

Another pillow, also made by Claire.

You might be wondering why there is an owl on the pillow. Well, ever since I was really little, I have always loved owls. I don't know why, I just have. One of my favorite books when I was younger was "Owl Babies"

Sam gave me this owl box filled with animal cookies. I give animal cookies to my goats for a treat, so when Sam gave this to me, he said "Here, it has something for your goats in it" :)

annnnnnnnd... DRUMROLL PLEASE!!!

I RECEIVED MY DRIVER'S LICENSE!!!!!!

At first, I thought that it would be weird driving by myself, but when I actually did, it wasn't weird. I love that I can now help the family by running errands for them and have already done so.

(I was SUPER excited the day that I passed the test, hence the goofy face in the picture)

GA Conference

This morning, Dad, Stephen and I hopped in the car to drive down to GA to go to a week-long conference put on by Dr. Joe Morecraft's church. The conference is about Historical Theology from the early Church to the 20th century. I drove the whole way (trying to get in some more hours before I get my Driver's License soon...), which was about 6 hours. We had a lot of fun in the car; Stephen and Dad had me laughing tons ;)

NOTE: We are NOT moving in any of these pics, I promise ;D

An extremely goofy shot, but that kind of goes without saying...I hope...

YEAH!!!!!!!!!

I GOT MY BRACES OFF YESTERDAY!!!!!!!! If you can't tell, I am really excited. Now I can eat normal food!

Me about ten minutes after getting my braces off.

(yeah, yeah, I know it's a cheesy smile)

While in WF, I had a surprise 16th birthday party with some of my good friends, planned by my wonderful mother. Thank you so much, mom!! I have never had a surprise party before, so this was really fun. We had a lovely lunch, then went antique shopping which was followed by a stop in the coffee shop. Then Mom, Dad and I went to eat at the Angus Barn, as a celebration for getting my braces off and for my birthday meal. It was so good; I haven't had steak in two years (because of my braces)!!

Here we all are at lunch, with the exception of Claudia, who came later.

L to R: Megan, Heidi, Cori, Me (with NO braces!!)

It was a GREAT & AWESOME day ;)

One More Poem ;)

What shall I wish thee?
Treasures of earth?
Songs in the springtime,
Pleasures and mirth?
Flowers on thy pathway,
Skies ever clear?
Would this ensure thee
A Happy New Year?

What shall I wish thee?
What can be found
Bringing thee sunshine
All the year round?
Where is the treasure,
Lasting and dear,
That shall ensure thee
A Happy New Year?

Faith that increaseth,
Walking in light;
Hope that aboundeth,
Happy and bright;
Love that is perfect,
Casting out fear;
These shall ensure thee
A Happy New Year.

Peace in the Savior,
Rest at His feet,
Smile of His countenance
Radiant and sweet,
Joy in His presence!
Christ ever near!
This will ensure thee
A Happy New Year!

–Frances Ridley Havergal

And Yet Another Great Poem

Dear Lord, as this new year is born
I give it to Thy hand,
Content to walk by faith what paths
I cannot understand.

Whatever coming days may bring
Of bitter loss, or gain,
Or every crown of happiness;
Should sorrow come, or pain,

Or, Lord, if all unknown to me
Thine angel hovers near
To bear me to that farther shore
Before another year,

It matters not—my hand in Thine,
Thy light upon my face,
Thy boundless strength when I am weak,
Thy love and saving grace!

I only ask, loose not my hand,
Grip fast my soul, and be
My guiding light upon the path
Till, blind no more, I see!

--Martha Snell Nicholson

Another Great New Year's Poem

Dear Master for this coming year
Just one request I bring:
I do not pray for happiness,
Or any earthly thing—
I do not ask to understand
The way Thou leadest me,
But this I ask: Teach me to do
The thing that pleaseth Thee.

I want to know Thy guiding voice,
To walk with Thee each day.
Dear Master make me swift to hear
And ready to obey.
And thus the year I now begin
A happy year will be—
If I am seeking just to do
The thing that pleaseth Thee.

--Unknown Author

A New Year's Poem

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

-Frances R. Havergal