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

Yet another great Breagy "quote"

Has anyone noticed (or is it just me) that we seem to have a lot of crazy quotables and such going on at our house recently? The other recent ones are on the family blog; if you have not read them yet, you HAVE to. They're great, imho. This one that I am about to post is by a very unlikely candidate- my wonderful father ;)

In my "stocking" this year (our family uses cowboy boots), I got a face mask that you apply. I put it on two days ago and looked quite ridiculous... the mask was green. I was told that I looked like the Phantom from Phantom of the Opera, Megamind from Megamind, and Data from Star Trek. Anyway, with the face mask still on, I decided to call Maybelline New York, as I had been having problems with their mascara. So, I said to Dad, "Hey Dad; I'm going to call Maybelline, the makeup company, now- is that alright with you?" He said "Why? Can you not get that off?" pointing to my face mask, with a rather horrified expression. I must admit, that was the last thing that I thought he was going to say ;)