Alyssa

So Alyssa is one of the best people on the planet. She is always cheerful and rarely complains. She is smart, diligent, and loves her family. She goes regularly to serve with her Mom helping clean her grandparents' house. She loves parents and seeks to honor them with her actions. She excels in school, violin, and also plays a nasty game of basketball. She also is the highly sought after babysitter of many adorable children. And yet above all of these admirable things the most laudable of all is the way she seeks to honor God in all areas of her life. What a friend she has been to me and to so many girls. She is such a commendable example to those younger and older than herself. Her family is blessed to have a sister and daughter like her. Alyssa, what a true friend you have been to me. I thank the Lord often for you and wanted to wish you a wonderful fifteenth year! Love you and happy happy happy birthday! ---Laura

      ps...  a picture is coming as soon as i locate one

Alyssa,
Happy Birthday friend! Love you and hope you have a wonderful day.

Doing good

Thanks for all the prayers. I'm almost back to normal, except I still can't eat too much and thus I'm a little tired. God has once again revealed His faithfulness to me, and I'm amazed at how good and kind He is. I know He was so involved in every little detail and caused the surgeon to be able to say it went perfectly! Also a huge thanks to my Mom. She has served me day and night, making sure I was as comfortable as could be. And now she still is helping make my food and getting me special drinks and smoothies. I love her so much. I'm grateful to God for giving me the best Mom ever. 

Summer Favorites

Just a few of my favorite things...
---Our Gorgeous Enormous Sycamore in the front yard in the pouring rain
---Flip Flops
---Beach days: friends + the beach= fun fun fun
---Busch Gardens: It never ever gets old or boring to me
---Swimming at Reaghan's Pool
---Popsicles: basically there's no limit to how many you can have in our house
---Summer Basketball: Playing no matter what time of year is always fun and the same goes for cheering on the boys' team
---Having free time to spend with friends and family
---Shopping days with the sisters at Lynnhaven from 2-8: Lengthy and Wonderful
---Weddings: So much fun to dress up and celebrate with good friends
---Sunday Morning Worship: Something's a bit different in the summer
---Mickey D'S $1 Hot fudge Sundaes
---Parties and Cookouts
---And best of all... Absolutely NO SCHOOL!
And now once again fall is almost here and there are so many great things I'm looking forward to about it also. Totally different from summer, yet so much the same. Spending time with family and friends is always great, no matter what time of year it happens to be. Life is good.