Welcome to the world of Pinterest...

I have just discovered Pinterest, a wonderful online world of creativity, pictures, and of course, pins! :)

You have probably heard of Pinterest, but if you haven't, let me give you a brief summary: Pinterest is a website where you can "pin" different interests that you have and place the pins on your "board"; it is kind of like a bulletin board type of thing, and it is pretty cool. 

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from Pinterest...

I love this! This is like my dream come true! A book, a cup of hot tea, sitting in front of the window on a dreary day...yes, please!

  

                                                         
                                                           And then come the shoes...

                                                                 

I really want these shoes...though this picture reveals a little too much of the model's legs, in my opinion. *sigh* Why must really cute heels be tainted by immodesty?

               

                    I also found this quote about acting on Pinterest that I thought was so true and funny!

                                        

Have a wonderful Tuesday...and Happy Pinning! :)

                          

 
                                   

The Actual Alley

Hey, blog readers!
I know that I have already sort of done this same thing on another page on this blog, but after reading these blog posts, I wanted to do one of my own!

Here goes...

I am...Alley. If you know me, you know that I am a social girl who loves to talk and interact with people. If you don't personally know me, than that's basically who I am. :)

I want...to spend more time studying God's Word, learn how to knit, and to possess a lifetime supply of Girl Scout cookies. :) 

I have...Christmas pj bottoms that I wear year-round.

I keep...letters, cards, and notes from my family and friends.

I wish I could...be loving, patient, gentle, and kind all the time.

I hate...abortions; it is taking the life of a living, breathing, human being. To quote Horton from the movie Horton Hears a Who: "A person's a person; no matter how small."                                                         

I fear...the death of someone I love.

I hear...my mom talking, doors opening and closing, but other than that, it is actually pretty quiet around here. Wow.

I don't think...that diet drinks taste very good.

I regret...when I am impatient.

Fierce hunter Alley is on the loose!

I love...Jesus Christ, my family, friends, and hanging out with my family and friends                   

I am not...a math whiz.

I dance...I don't dance.

I sing...all the time. In the shower, while doing schoolwork, while cleaning, while...okay, you get the picture.

I never...garden.

I rarely...cry

I cry when...I am overwhelmed or extremely sad.

I am not always...creative.

I hate that... Christians have been/still are persecuted and killed for their belief in God.

I am confused about...(sometimes) my future.

I need...to spend more time in prayer.

I should...get off the computer.

Dresden's Art & Random Pictures

Since I know you all love posts with pictures, I have returned again with some more pictures to share. :)

-Earlier this week, Liam finished The Lord of The Rings for the 2nd time! I applaud him greatly, because I think that it would be extremely difficult to read a book like that. Maybe one of my goals for 2013 should be to step out of my comfort zone and read The Lord of the Rings....

However, I hope to read The Hobbit very soon, after I finish the book I am currently reading. (I don't do well with simultaneous reading.)  Anyhow, here is Liam with his "precioussss" book! (get it?!) ;)

Sorry, bad quality, I know. Yikes!

-Yesterday, Dresden brought this picture that she had drawn over to where I was sitting and showed it to me.
She is kind of into cartoon type art lately, and I think that Dresden did an awesome job for a six-year-old!

You might have to tilt your head to see this better. PS: as the top of the picture implies, she gave it to me!

-Earlier yesterday morning, I found this picture, also from the art collection of Dresden, on the kitchen table. I may be slightly prejudiced, but isn't this great?! I mean, I could never have drawn this! Ever!

I love the "Hellos". :)

-This morning, Dresden volunteered to show me how to draw the cartoon person (the picture before last) that she had drawn. After much coaching from Dresden, I managed to draw this:

It may not be the best, but I am pretty proud of my work. ;)

Then, we preceded to cut out our artwork and color it.

I love the idea that Dresden had of drawing an ear and then drawing an earring hanging from it! What can I say; I'm a girly-girl!  (Is that how you spell it?)

As you probably guessed, the first one is mine. *sighs* I guess I do not have as much talent in art as I thought I did; my little sister put me to shame!

It was fun to be able to just spend some one-on-one time with Dresden, especially since that doesn't happen too often. It's funny; used to, I would be the one to teach Dresden how to draw, and now that she has crafted her talent, she is now teaching me, her elder sister of almost seven years, to draw! But that's okay. I am glad that she is so artistic and is able to teach me something new, when usually I'm the one teaching her!

-And, because I have talked about the other two, we can't forget Megan, now can we? 

"Smile, Megan!"

 Have a happy Saturday!!!

These are a few of my favorite things....

                                   Coffee.                                                    

Yes, I like coffee... ;)

    

Fresh-out-of-the-oven, warm, cookies.

Megan's smiles.

 

Shoes!

  Heels, flats, flip-flops, and sneakers. Give me a shoe, I'm happy. :)

                                          Friendships.
                                                         they are truly a blessing from God.

                                                                
                                             Babies.
                                                     I am a sucker for a sweet little baby.

   Awwww....how sweet is this?!

                                                                          Hugs.

                                                                                                                                  

               

                                                       Dancing in the rain.

                             Okay, this is an action, not a thing....but who cares?

                                                                      Puppies.  

Now, who could say "no" to these little faces?

    

                                                                       Music.

                                                                         

                                                  Books.

                                   
                                               

                                                                      Color!

                                             

                                               Bubbles! 

                                             Yes...Bubbles!  :) 

                                                                  

                                            Laughter.   

                                              

 
                                                   

                                              Flowers.

                                                                      

Happiness vs. Joy

I read  this devotional about the difference between joy and happiness, and I couldn't have said it better myself!

This devotional also reminded me of a story...

The hymn "It Is Well with My Soul" is one of my very favorite hymns. And there is a history behind it that has always made me sort of want to cry.

It was written by a man named Horatio Spafford. Spafford wrote this well-known hymn during a very tragic period in his life.

In 1873, Spafford and his family planned to take a trip to England as a family holiday. Spafford was delayed because of business, so he sent his wife and four children ahead of him on a ship called, "Ville De Harve".  While this ship was crossing the Atlantic Ocean, it was hit by an iron sailing vessel, and 226 people lost their lives, including all of Spafford's four daughters. Only Spafford's wife survived.
Anna Spafford telegram-ed her husband when she arrived in England, beginning with, "Saved alone."

After receiving the telegram, Spafford then sailed to England to be with his wife. It is said that on that journey, he wrote "It Is Well with My Soul".

Here are the lyrics to this beautiful, very true, song:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul. 

(Refrain:)

It is well (it is well).
With my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul. 

Though Satan buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed his own blood for my soul.

(Refrain)

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought! 
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 

(Refrain)

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pain shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

(Refrain)

And Lord, haste the day, when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

(Refrain)


Horatio Spafford had joy, even in the midst of the great loss he had suffered. Happiness is just a feeling that can disappear in an instant, but if you truly have joy in Christ, it will remain with you forever, no matter what storms you are facing in your life.

Oh yeah! These are definitley going on my Favorite Quotes list!

                                                             I do this all the time! :)

        

Monday.

Ahhh. Monday, you are here at last.

I love Mondays. They mean friends, laughter, craziness, and music. In other words, our Classical Conversations group meets on Monday.

And this Monday, my friend Rachel and I got to babysit little chicks! One of the families in our CC group live out in the country, and they brought their new chicks for Show-and-Tell time; they were adorable.  

Aren't they darling?!

 Rachel and the chicks! (please excuse the awful glare; these pics were taken from my iPod, and so they are not the best quality!)

And....well, I just had to post this! :) Lily found my iPod.....

I also had a great time hanging out with my friend Keely and some other friends as well; God has truly blessed me with awesome friends!


We are home now and as I am writing this post, I am hearing raindrops hitting the window. I LOVE that sound! If I don't have to go anywhere, that is! Now if you'll excuse me, dear Reader, I am going to go curl up under a blanket with a book and maybe some hot tea....

I hope that ya'll are having a great Monday, too!

My siblings

Okay, as anyone who knows me knows, I sometimes clash a little bit with my siblings. And by a little bit, I mean a lot.
But, I love them. A lot. They are the people that I never have to say goodbye to, the people that have seen me when I am sick, tired, grumpy, silly, happy, nervous, sad, mad, and crazy. The people who look up to me and love me for who I am.

                                                                          Dresden

 Dresden. You are a sweet, caring, funny, stubborn, silly, creative girl! You have always looked up to and wanted to be like me. And even though we fight, almost daily, I love you so much and cannot imagine my life without you in it! I love you, sweet Dresden. 

                                                                              Megan

Megan. Oh, Megan, how do I describe you?!  You are the baby. You are the one that reminds me so much of myself at that age. You are the one who makes us all laugh with your singing, dancing, little stories, and funny voices. You are the dramatic, sweet, and sassy one. You add a lot of....spice, I like to call it, into my life. You are so unique, cute, and special. I love you, Megan.

                                                                            Liam

Oh, Liam! Where do I even begin? You are....

• funny

• sweet (in your own way)

• loyal

• goofy

• crazy

• the one who has been with me the longest

• the one who laughs with me

• the one who is willing to be stupid with me

• the one I fight with

• the one who talks in a British accent when you are frustrated/being sarcastic  (I'm not kidding; he does!)

• the one who thinks that passing gas is one of the funniest thing EVER. :)

• the one who makes up ridiculous songs

• the one whose smile, laugh, and sense of humor I can't resist

• the one who competes in chugging contests with me. :)

• the one who, when you were younger, let me play house with you, dress you up, and pretend you were my baby girl, Veronica

• one of my best friends

Liam, you and I have always been together. When we were younger, our names were almost like one, AlleyandLiam. :)
I love you, Liam. A lot. And even though you don't say it often, I know you love me, too.

 I am so thankful to God for putting these three very special people into my life. Sometimes I don't know what I would do without them....

I love you guys, and I hope you never forget that!