Hello There. :)

Hi!
 -Because I don't have anything of much importance to talk about, I'm going to share a few photos I've found on
 Pinterest, the awesome online world that can literally suck you into it for hours at a time. :D

When I saw this, it struck me as really funny, and I couldn't stop laughing!

 

Keely, when I saw this, I thought of you!

 

I better stop now, or I'll go crazy! Can you tell that I love Pinterest? ;)

-These are videos of Megan when she was about a year  old that I found a few weeks ago...oh, where did the time go?  (please, please ignore my very high pitched voice...I was ten, okay?!)

-And here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure. :)

Megan is such a good mommy

"Liam, DON'T get water on the camera, or you're going to regret it!"

sweet girl

Have a...umm...marvelous Monday! (I was trying to go with the whole start-with-the-same-letter-as-the-day-of-the-week-thing) :)

Pics & Stuff

-Here are a few more pictures of me from the little photo shoot I mentioned in my last post.

All photo credit goes to my friend, Keely !

I guess she caught me off guard! :)

-I feel like I have been out of the loop a little lately when it comes to things like blogging, email, etc. My life has sort of been busy, with family visiting from out of town, trips to and from from the Hospice House to visit Uncle John, book clubs, schoolwork, going out to eat with the family from out of town, etc., etc. Not that it hasn't been fun, but...I think I am sort of ready to get back to normal, to return to my daily routine. It's kind of amazing how much just one week of non-normalcy can sort of mess with you.
For instance, I slept in so late this morning that I can't even put it on here, I'm so embarrassed about it. :) Point proven.

-On another, totally different note, I just recently started using Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. My mom bought her for me, and I have to say that I don't hate her, just strongly dislike her at times.  :)
It is challenging to learn a different way of typing when you are my age and have already gotten used to your own system of hunting-and-pecking.
But Ms. Beacon, I will graduate from your typing course, and with flying colors, too! :)

You know you're weird when...you take the sample pictures on your computer and post them on your blog. :D

-Early yesterday morning, Uncle John left this sinful world and went to to be with his Heavenly Father.

I am more happy than sad because I know that he is no longer trapped in his body with Alzheimer's, no longer hurting, no longer a sinner. Instead, he is perfect and in the presence of God.  It makes me feel very much connected to Heaven and what it will be like when I arrive there. It makes me think of this song.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." ~John 3:16 (ESV)

That is such a great promise!

Just Some Quick Things...

-Yesterday, I got to spend some time with my friend Keely and her brothers and sisters, which was so much fun!

Keely and I also had a lot of fun dressing up a little and taking a few pictures. (yeah, it was kind of a lot of pictures.)
 Here are two of the many shots of me from our little photo shoot. Keely did an awesome job on all of the photo editing!

Thanks so much, Keely! Awesome photos!

-Another thing that happened yesterday: I became an official, honorary Memory Master! *squeals with excitement.*
I have been working a lot with Liam on the CC material the past few weeks, and I picked up on a lot of things. So, I decided I would try to get Memory Master, mostly to see if I could do it! And I did!

Anyway, I am very excited about achieving the thing I have been working so hard for the past month or so!
Liam is also a Memory Master--way to go, Liam! Dresden also has completed all of her Scripture testing, so she is a Scripture Master, I guess! :)  I am a very proud big sister.

 -Uncle John is still hanging on. My family and and I have all been at the Hospice House a lot over the past few days, talking, laughing, sharing memories of Uncle John. Please continue to pray for our family during this time. Thanks so much!

 Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Uncle John.

Please keep my great-aunt, second cousins, and the rest of my family in your prayers, as my great-uncle is currently in hospice care and only has about two or three more days to live, if even that. It is always very hard to lose a loved one, and it is hard to know what to say, think, or do.

Uncle John has not been himself at all the past few years. I miss the Uncle John I used to know, the one who played with me, the one who was funny and sweet. I am sad he is leaving, but I am so glad that he will no longer have to be confused, suffering, and not himself.

I miss you, Uncle John. See you in Heaven.

Jesus Loves Me.

A few weeks ago, Dresden made these slips of paper for everyone in my family.

How true, yet so easy to forget.

 We know in our heads that Jesus loves us, but when do we really think about that? Jesus loves me.

My mom used to sing this song to me all the time when I was little, and now she sings it to Megan and Dresden a lot. I know this song by heart, especially the chorus.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

 Jesus loves me. Wow.

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

~John 15:13 (ESV)

These Days...

Hi. :)
If you guessed that this post is another picture post, you are right! And I bet you're probably thinking, man! When is Alley going to stop posting tons of pictures and actually start writing about something?!
 And my answer is...what can I say? I love pictures! And just be patient: eventually, I will write about something and share my thoughts as well as my photos. :D
But don't worry;I will keep it brief...

Liam, attempting to act dramatic. :)

He couldn't keep a straight face any longer...

Liam! This was supposed to be a silly picture! Why did you smile normally and make me look dumb? :D

Only with you, Liam...I love you!

Megan wanted to take a picture of herself. :)

The three girls on Easter.

What are ya'll up to these days? I have been keeping busy with...

 schoolwork,

  eating chocolate and candy,

 Pinterest,

enjoying God's creation,

drinking hot tea,

and, of course, taking pictures of everything. :)

The same flower as the one three pictures back. It changed so much from Saturday evening to Tuesday afternoon!

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of His hands." 

~Psalm 19:1

Have a great Tuesday.

Easter Festivities and Pictures

The sign on our front door.

Yes, I'm back.  And yes, I am going to be sharing some of the Easter festivities going on at my house right now, as well as a few pictures. And by a few, I mean a lot. :)

-Yesterday evening, my mom took us to a park that she discovered recently that is really close to our house. It was a beautiful evening and I took a lot of pictures, as you will soon see.

Yo, peace, man!

Aha! I caught you, bird!

:D

They forget that the camera has really good zoom and that I can be as silent as a mouse and as quick as a deer and have been known to hide behind trees and bushes, camera poised and ready, waiting for the perfect shot. And...I got them. *evil chuckle*

frolicking through the lush meadow...

"Fine! If you smile for the camera and cooperate, then I'll take a silly picture."

-I watched The Passion with my parents, brother, and grandparents last night. And wow. It made me really think about why Jesus did what He did and how much He loves me in a way I had never thought about before. Seeing how the people treated Him; mocking Him, spitting on Him, and digging a crown of thorns into His scalp was so painful and hard to watch.
And then when Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do", I cried because He was asking God to please, please forgive those who were crucifying Him when we so often do not want to forgive the ones who hurt us.
It was an extremely hard movie to watch, but it sort of wakes you up, makes you think about what really happened that day. We are so used to the children's story book version of the crucifixion of Christ that we sometimes forget how awful and yet wonderful at the same time it was. I recommend The Passion for all Christians to see; it is very thought provoking.

 -In the middle of the night last night, some teenagers apparently thought it would be fun to egg our house. Needless to say, we were not thrilled, especially my mom. *sigh* And my question is: why? Why is that fun?


-This morning, we went to the office of the apartments where our grandparents live because there was an Easter egg hunt there. They served coffee, doughnuts, juice, candy, and cupcakes. Liam, Dresden, and Megan had a lot of fun running around frantically, looking for Easter eggs. It was fun to watch them. I, being too old for the hunt, mostly just observed and ate. :)
I didn't bring the camera, so there are no pictures of that part of our weekend.

 -Earlier today the annual Coloring of the Eggs took place. :)

What is with the peace thing all of a sudden, Liam?!

-We have a white, cardboard cross that we have put in our yard in the days leading up to Easter for two years now.

Before Easter, the cross looks like this:

On Easter morning, which would be tomorrow, we turn the cross around so that it faces the street, and it reads:

How true!
 It is so great to be able to say these happy words: He is Risen!
Happy Easter!