Happy Birthday Nicole!

Today is my sister Nicole Elizabeth's birthday. This young lady is so very special to me, and I am proud to be called her little sister.  Nicole and I fought so much through my elementary years, primarily because I was six years younger than her, and therefore my maturity level was way lower. However, even though we bickered and fought I never loved her any less.  I remember on many occasions being in junior-high and her coming to my class and dropping off a candy bar and note.  Maybe it seemed insignificant and meaningless to her, but to me it meant that my big sister took time out of her day and thought of me.  

As I grow older and now am in my freshman year of college, my sister and I have grown closer.  This young lady has been an incredible example to me and a great role model.  Different things came into her life and I would watch, I am sure without her realizing, but she never got discouraged or grew impatient. She continued to be faithful to God so confident that He was in control and would take care of her, and He did and still is.  I am so thankful for her amazing testimony to me.  

Not only is Nicole a great example and sister but she is talented in so many ways.  Brooke and I often joke that Nicole is capable of doing anything, from cooking to decorating, she is fantastic! She also is so brilliant, and gorgeous to say the least!  I know God has great plans for my sister!

Happy Birthday Nicole, I love you so very much! 

Fun Times

One night this past week my sisters and I made dinner together, which is always a blast.  Most of the time it takes us a little longer to prepare the meal because we are too busy goofing off, and singing crazy songs together. Never the less we did end up up making some very fine Parmesan Chicken. :)

Brooke posing with the noodles!

Not sure what I was doing!

Nicole cooking the Parmesan chicken. 

Yummy chicken fully cooked! 

Brooke and Nicole: Brooke has many different poses she likes to play around with! 

We love cooking! 

The finished product. . . delicious! 

I was also able to go get a manicure with my sisters.  

"She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she’s the reason you wish you were an only child."

Busy Busy Busy!!!

 This past month has been beyond busy, and I know that is not really a good excuse for not updating my blog, but I truly have been preoccupied with many other activities and now in the middle of mid-terms.  

First off I was able to share Valentine's Day with a special friend of mine. :)  We enjoyed eating divine pizza, and getting to know each other better.

Than 3 days later the college students headed to Angola, Indiana to go tobogganing. To tell the truth I wasn't so sure I wanted to get on a toboggan when I saw exactly what all tobogganing entailed.  I thought to myself "Great. . . it's like riding a roller coaster except. . except no seat belts!. . .Wasn't there something wrong there?"    Well obviously I did make it out alive, and I did go down twice!  It was loads of fun and one of those thrilling experiences so much in a way that you screamed ridiculously just for kicks the whole way down.  The night was very enjoyable, and I had a fantastic time! 

Guys getting ready for take off! :)

This past Friday was our church's annual Wrestle-O-Rama night, which is always a huge event.  The college students split up into teams (green, blue, and orange) and take orders and try to persuade church members ,teenagers, and children to buy food from their team.  I was obviously on the Green Team, and my team did end up winning.   

After hustling around the gym for quite some time  taking orders and delivering food, I found time to actually sit and watch the auctioning off of great desserts, and fun tables put together for the academy classes to purchase.

Jack and Nicole 

Well that just about wraps up my month, I promise to post sooner next time! 

A Favorite!!

I am sure you all have had that moment when you hear, maybe a moving piano piece, or an emotional speech, when that sudden chill runs down your back and goosebumps rise up, sending a shiver, that might even make your heart skip a beat.  That moment when you are in such awe, and sometimes tears fill your eyes, and you are thrilled in a way, and it causes you to sit back and really think.  

I say all that to say that moment happened to me in my church Sunday night when a group got up and sang "Finally Home".  The words are so gripping, and visual.  The chorus is personally my favorite! 

(Verse 1)

"When engulfed by the terror
Of tempestuous sea
Unknown waves before you roll
At the end of doubt and peril is eternity
Though fear and conflict seize your soul 

(Verse 2)
When surrounded by the blackness
Of the darkest night
O how lonely death can be
At the end of this long tunnel
Is a shining light
For death is swallowed up in victory

(Chorus)But just think of stepping on shore
And finding it heaven
Of touching a hand and finding it God's
Of breathing new air and finding it celestial
Of waking up in glory and finding it home

A Package from Utah!

This past Thursday I was so pumped to hear I had received a package in the mail. Now this is not just any package, but this is a journal  from a very dear friend of mine in Utah, Tiff. This package was named L.A.T.I.N. by Tiff and I. Now what those letters stand for, will go down to the grave with only us. ;) This journal was started around 3 years ago. Tiffany and her family moved away when I was going into the 7th grade and her into the 6th grade.  This was a very hard goodbye for the both of us.  We had been the best of friends for what seemed - forever. I was so scared to enter junior high without her. Who would be there to hold my hand when others girls treated me unfairly, who would sit by me at lunch as we giggled and whispered about the day's events, who would I share my deepest secrets with, how would I ever find another friend who understood me as well I did myself?   Many tears were shed, but we promised we would continue to stay in contact, and we did. Letters, emails, phone calls, and as we got older it turned into texting, and Google chatting. However, this book is what truly keeps us together. One of us keeps this journal for a month or two and that person writes and places pictures inside of what is going on in their lives. 

The infamous journal: L.A.T.I.N.

My visit to Utah in August 2008.

I had so much fun exploring Utah with Tiff and her family! 

We look so innocent! :) (don't you just love my braces?)

Than in July 2010 Tiff and her youth group went to Chicago, so I was happy to meet them up there. 

We had a fantastic time catching up with one another. 

The most recent time she was here was for my high school graduation on 

May 19, 2011.

Tiff and I may be miles apart, but we will always have a bond that no one may understand.  We are always able to pick up right where we left off.  She has been a great friend and been there for me during the hard, and happy times. Now she will be graduating this May from high school, and I will be finishing my freshman year of college.We have both grown up so much and I can't wait to see how the Lord will use her. 

  I Love you Tiff and miss you! 

Volleyball Marathon '12

I just got through experiencing my first volleyball marathon, and it was filled with many great memories, sleep deprivation, and lots of board games. To be honest I think I actually played volleyball approximately one hour out of the 20 that I was there throughout the week.

Much of the adventuresome past week was spent cheering my team on, and in great agony and turmoil over the heavy competition. Well. . . maybe not that exaggerated but I did sit on the bleachers all cozily wrapped in my blanket. ;) Pepsi (also Coke when the 2 liter of Pepsi was gone, which is nothing compared to the thirst quenching Pepsi)  Doritos, sour patches, lifesaver gummies, games, and good friends are all you need for an amazing week!! After reminiscing and looking over the pictures; I realized that I did not capture one picture playing volleyball, let alone in the gym, but at some point I did  find my way to the gym, promise. . . ;)

Hope you enjoy the pictures, and I hope that my next three volleyball marathons will be as enjoyable as this one! =)

 Imaginiff:one of my favorites!

 A must: PEPSI!!

 Yummy goodies!

 Personalities do come out in this fun game of Catch Phrase.

It's the little things in life. . .

It's the little and maybe insignificant things to others that make me smile, and burst with excitement.

This past week, I received a package, not any package, but the package that held my sharp, black, teal,and white Nike shoes.  When it comes to tennis shoes I am loyal to Nike.  And when I spotted these shoes in the store... it was love at first sight!  The problem was, they did not have my size, which isn't unusual since my feet are quite mammoth like, literally. So I ordered them, and this past week received them. I was so pumped when I received a text at work that simply said "ur tennis shoes r here." I got them just in time  for this week of straight 96 hours of volleyball...(more pics to come).

The second thing I received this week was a desk organizer tray. My sister, Nicole, helped me fill this tray up with:  sticky notes, paper clips, markers, rubber bands, laptop cleaning cloths, more different types of paper clips, etc. . . I was told recently by a friend that I would be easy to shop for. Just buy a gift card to Office Max, or Staples, and I would be in my glory.  This is a very true statement, I am so very proud of my desk organizer.

The third thing that is a must to put on here, is simply... Pepsi. I never really liked pop, and when I drank it, it was always Coke, and only Coke. But several months ago I was introduced to Pepsi by a friend, and now I am proud to be a Pepsi lover, despite what people may say. ;)

Those are just a few things that simply put a smile on my face. :)