Senior Year!!!

Foundation Routine

2012-01-25T19:46:00.000-08:00

Here is my must requested foundation routine.
I have had requests for a room tour, hair tutorial, and guy interviews (LOL) so how does that sound?
Enjoy!

My Hair is Black!!

2012-01-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

So this is HILARIOUS!!!!

Watch the vid and tell me what you think!

Senior Photoshoot!!!!

2012-01-09T15:14:00.000-08:00

Here are the pictures that my mom took for me at my "Senior photoshoot" lol, but we used a photographer for the printed photos. I was able to get permission from the general manager at the Country Club I work at to use the grounds as background and I was very happy with the way they turned out. So enjoy!!!!....

We didn't really like the solida green background too much...

I call this my "movie still". :-D

Now I need each one of you to vote on your three favorite. They are just numbered in the order they are in already. Good Luck!!

Senior Pictures (maybe)

2011-12-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

Ok...so here is a picture I am thinking about using as (1) one of my senior pictures....what do you guys think? Do we like it or should we have a better backdrop. LOL.

Summer Review: 2011

2011-11-22T23:28:00.000-08:00

This is all gonna be very random...just kind of how it pops in my head....

It started with my 17th Birthday....which was the same day as Easter!

My, totally awesome, friend Kayla and I made 2 music videos...which I think were really cool. ;-)

Of course...my Junior Prom...to which i took my handsome brother "Bubba"

You know....I have grown up so much in the past 6 months I can't even believe....I look back and wonder how I ever thought some of my "reasons" were good! LOL. Yeash! God has blessed me with amazing relationships with both my parents and my siblings.

Having so much fun getting to know all of my graduation pals

Truth Project....Probably the best thing I have ever invested my time into! It's a Christian worldview class that is phenom....I could share my "weekly learnings" with you guys if you would like.

I have also enjoyed doing lots of photography this year....isn't my mother just beautiful...she's also a great mom!

My da of course...is AWESOME!! Funny, kind, sweet, tough, and so devoted it's mind boggling. LOL

Awwww....Laura's 7th b-day...it makes me cry when I think about it.....I remember when I used to walk her around our living room for hours and sing to her so she would go to sleep. She was so small and beautiful and now....she's growing up to be even more beautiful inside and out.

Talk about some handsome brothers....sorry ladies they are all mine....well until they get a little older and they realize that I am not the most beautiful girl they have ever seen. :) They are real sweeties.

God has been good to me.

Basketball + Buddies = The Tri-pod (only the tri-pod gets that)

I'm a little crazy ok? Nothin wrong with that.

The highschool baseball team....a great experience for my brother (Bubba). He made some really great friends.

Taeven Schad....just a friend of course. ;-)

Our trip to Indiana! We didn't actually travel like this but we did going from the hotel to Walmart...what can I say...everybody loves the "Monasmithm-mobile"

Awww....Kayla.....she's is such a good friend.

A family on one of Bubba's baseball teams blessed me with the opportunity to do an "internship/job" in her florist shop! It was such an amazing experience and I now know little tips and tricks to the flower business.

Gabe....I have enjoyed picking on him this summer....he's totally awesome and a great friend too...well of course he is he is Kayla's brother!!!!!!!

Still a 100% cowgirl

As long as I got camo, boots, and my jeans I can go on living.

County Fair bull riding

Front row at 2 concerts...it's bound to be a great experience.

Diamond Rio

Lee Brice (Coolest guy ever)...that's because he reminds me of my dad a LOT!!!

Florida....that was the BEST family beach vacation ever!!....well it's kind of the only family beach vacation ever.

Aunt Martha...the coolest grat aunt in the world...let me tell you I found a friend in her!

Naturally she's my friend...she let me ride in her red convertible mustang

Farm Festival

Bubba's 16th B-day Party

Jonny...becoming quite the little athlete

Still the best thing I have ever invested my time in....Truth Project

My dream job; volunteer work.

I tell you what I am so blessed it is unreal! I have more then I could possibly wish for...and yet God still keeps showering blessings on me everyday.

So many things happened this summer; good and bad...but if I learned anything it is that God is in control and when you try so hard to make a plan for yourself you miss the perfect plan that God has for you and trust me....it's better than yours, AND that He works everything out for good no matter how bad or hard it seems.

I am almost 18 getting ready to graduate highschool and even though it's such an exciting thing....it's so serious too! Although I won't be leaving the house I just know it will be different and I can barely wait to see what God's plan is for me and which doors he opens and which doors he closes.

It's so hard sometimes to submit to the fact that God has a better plan than you and our pride would give everything up until it comes down to the very ones we love. I beg of each one of you that relatiosnhips are the #1 thing in life...because when you have nothing else the ones you loved and those that love you will make the world so beautiful.

I don't mean to be such a downer but I needed to share that! Pray for everyone and don't jump to conclusion because you have no idea what's in somene else's heart. Keep dreaming and loving God with all your heart!!

WOW! That speech sounded like I am going away...Trust me I am not going anywhere....well with the time I am putting in between posts it may seem like I temporaraly drop off the face of the earth. LOL.

P.S. One more thing....I have a new job that I love sooo much! God has blessed me in so many ways and this is just of them and I know that he put me there for a reason and I will just be "me" and keep shinin' for Jesus!

Love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!

Volunteerin' for the Widows Day!! ;-)

2011-11-12T12:53:00.000-08:00

My youth group went out this morning to 2 widows' homes and did yard work, trimmed bushes, and just talked to them showing them how much we care about them! It was really a lot of fun...not just the totally awesome group (which FYI excludes Taeven and Matt) lol but also the satisfaction that you not only read it in the Bible but put it into action. volunteer
   "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27
   After a good couple hours of work we all headed to the Christian restaurant of choice: Chick-fil-A!!!! We had free shake coupons so that was fun! I put on a show for everyone with the new song I learned to sing and play on the guitar "Stuck Like Glue" by Sugarland! They loved it!
   Once we got back to the church i played a little fiddle for everyone! I just love music, it makes me smile!
It was funny, apparently I have quite a few readers that read my blog and they were doing a great job at soliciting it for free! ;-) thanks guys!

Also last night was my second graduation meeting! It was fine I guess....after the meeting was fun though because most the graduation group went bowling together for 2 hours! I met a few new people and each month I get more and more excited for making my scrapbook, my yearbook page, and picking a theme and decor for my table! I am also starting to get ideas together for my graduation party! I can barely wait I am like the happiest girl in the world!!!! I am so incredibly happy even though I only got 2 1/2 hrs of sleep last night! I still have so much energy which is good because I am now heading off to work!
Love you guys!!!

The Girl Power Squad

...And the not so powerful squad! LOL (Keynen, ?, ?)

...*Sigh*....and the unfortunately even less powerful squad! JK. (Taeven, ? , Matt)

Now that's power!

Boss Men!

Our new grandma! (Verma)

Our entire crew... well almost!

Hair Tutorial!!

2011-11-10T23:08:00.000-08:00

Sorry it has taken me soooo very long life has been big lately and I am finally getting to this, which I forget I love so much!! With my new job, graduation, and everything that makes my life so wonderful and beautiful I have just been making great memories lately! Here is the hair tutorial i promised you guys. Please comment and let me know what you want next!!

Also I have a few big posts I am looking forward to writing for you all!

What would you like to see more of? Pictures and life stuff or discussions of sort? Let me know and Ill do my best!
Enjoy my video!

Fall Make-Up Video

2011-10-21T12:48:00.001-07:00

Senior Year!!! part 1

2011-10-09T21:54:00.000-07:00

Sooo I am gonna go out on a limb here and say that maybe....nobody really thought our latest music video was that great? LOL. I mean you all are sooo good at commenting and telling me what you think that I was sorely dissipointed. LOL. JK. Even if you thought it was soooo dumb say so otherwise they will stay that way. LOL.

So yeah I am gonna post the rest of my summer pics and then the start of many more to come senior photos and start commenting on any that you think I should use as my "senior photo" or I should use in my scrapbook!

Our Farm Festival 2011

Dennis Ronastaj

Zoya Ronastaj

Kayla McKinnon

One of Laura's boyfriends (Gabe)

Her other boyfriend (Sean)

Bubba's 16th b-day party!!

Here is the beginning of my Senior Year...yay me!!!!

Some of the seniors are doing the Truth Project together. It's totally awesome

(Sam VerMeer, me, Luke Denner, Megan Andrews, Garret Floyd, and Jordan Weller)

Pretty awesome tats right? Just kidding...just marker. We perticularly liked Sam's flower? So tough right?

Great minds think alike I'd say!!!

Tons more pictures to come!!

Graduation is May 26th 2012!!!!

Fashion Video

2011-09-28T10:35:00.001-07:00

Disclaimor: I forgot to mention that I meant to say "sassy" instead of "sexy" I don't dress to look sexy! Ooopsies!

Another Music Video

2011-09-18T09:59:00.001-07:00

Family in Florida

2011-09-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Here are the long awaited pics of our family trip to Florida!!!

Mom's childhood friend, Terry

this little girl just was my total favorite at the beach she was there with her little brother and dad every morning and she reminded me of "Annie" so much it was ridiculous; she was fearless (let me tell you) and everything was funny, ad she was ornery, and it was everything her father could do to keep up with her!!! I loved her sooo much!

My beautiful great aunt, mom, and I our first ladies night out; Shopping!!!

My dream car: red covertible mustang

Hangin' out at the pool just with the fam

So there you have it! We had a lot of fun and saw lots of neat fish and stuff whene we were on the pier! A huge stingray was my favorite although it made shiver! LOL

I am terrified of the ocean! Honestly, it is beautiful but I can't get over my fear! when I get in the water past my waist I have to jump around because I do not want to touch anything or see anything, I am terrified of everything about it except the water.

We saw jellyfish and other interesting fish and although I was terrified, I made it a challenge to get over my fear and really? was anything gonna really happen? So I walked out really deep with the rest of my family and I was doing fine until......I stepped on a crab and it chomped my foot and yeah, no more. The challenge was over and I stayed close to the shore. LOL. Even my little sister wasn't scarred!! ;-)

That is the ONLY thing in the entire world that I am soooo afraid of. LOL. It was beautiful though

We had soo much fun and made some wonderful memories!!!

Oh!! one more thing....so we got the most beautiful tans while we were there and guess what? Yes on the way home we started to peel and lost 90% of it!! Not cool, I worked so hard on it! LOL

Guess What!?!

2011-09-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

So, I have been thinking, well actually to be honest I have been thinking about how I shouldn't think so much. LOL.

I mean really being a teenager is so complicated and guess what I heard? It only gets worse as you get older. LOL. Super duper, I know!!!
You know like what does God have in mind for my life? Is this the right path to take after higschool? Questions, questions; and yes we always try to answer them! Why we always try to answer them will always remain a mystery to me because we never actually figure anything out. I mean we come up with elaborate plans that sound fool proof and yes,,,in the end we are back to where we started only looking like fools. So our plan didn't work...again!

You you know, as I grow in years and in Christ I realize something more and more and I have now created my very own quote that I live by: "If something is God's will, it will happen." Seriously, and I believe that with all my heart!!

In everything you do, say, and everyone you know, it applies to your entire life even down to the very clothing items that we purchase...which is important to us girls. ;-)
You know when you go shopping and you find a shirt or pair of shoes or anything like that that you just love and are convinced that you cannot live without...BUT...there is something inside of you that just says that it's more than you want to spend. Well guess what!!?? I have earth breaking news you...oh yeah, they will eventually put it on sale or mark it down to clearance and guess what, then it's yours and you feel like you paid a fair price. Sometimes you know when something is right, but you can never be too careful, when you fell or hear that little voice inside your head that says, "IDK..." maybe you should give it some time.

Job interviews, casting for shows and productions, auditions, and everything else; God's will is perfect and he wants to bless you every chance he gets and it if is mean to be that you get that part or sing that song, or go here or there, it's going to happen because nothing can get in the way of God's perfect plan.

In relationships too, God has someone for each and every one of us, unless we are otherwise called, and he is going to bring that special someone along at just the right time when you are ready and He knows that it;s the right time and you know no matter what stupid and embarrassing thin you saw (and trust me that speaks to me. LOL) or all the embarrassing stupid that you do. Whether you move, or they move, you lose a phone number or anything life threatening like that (LOL) nothing is too big for God and I think that sometimes we forget that because we want everything to move so fast. Just sit back and give Him some time and stop always trying to i it yourselves because, like I always hear from my parents, when you are soooo distracted and busy trying to come up with a plan and fix it yourself you will completely miss what blessings God had for you in the first place.

So take a breather and take some time to just actually believe in His power and the blessings that He has promised each and every one of us AND really, "if something is God's will, it will happen."

"Therefore I say unto you, what things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you shall have them. "
Mark 11:24

Photography: My mom and I

2011-09-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

County Fair 2011!

2011-09-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

Okay sooo....yeah so if you haven't noticed I've been gone a long time with just everyday summer activities and then of course our awesome trip to Florida beginning of August! I am getting ready to start school this Tuesday and I am actually really excited! LOL ;-)
So I have toooons of stuff to tell you guys about and pictures to show you so I am going to just post about one thing at a time. haha!
So here are the pics of the country fair 2011!.....

I have no idea who these people are but this little girl wanted to get close sooo bad so her dad brought her up and...well I just thought it was an adorable picture!

These are pics of Diamond Rio

Harley, Abby, and I just having fun!

Okay I am going to do a review on my experience with seeing Lee Brice in concert AND meeting with him backstage:

First off I am not a crazed fan of Lee Brice; I really like his song Love Like Crazy and a few others but not like I would do anything to meet him and see him in concert though I knew it would be enjoyable.

So before the concert actually started and they were setting up this guy in the picture below was just sitting in the "audience chairs" lookin at the stage and he loved it when Harley, Abby, several others friends, and I said hi and just started introducing ourselves and asking him about his music and the band etc. (Okay so right there is a thumbs up for the ability to bring yourself "low enough" to talk to "regular" people. LOL

Well, as the night went on and the meet and greet was about to start we got to "meet and greet" him and just hang out for a few minutes, ask questions, get things signed, etc. He (Lee Brice) was very nice, personable, and just down to earth.

Harley had guitar he wanted signed and Lee was asking some questions that neither of them knew the answer to so he invited Harley to go with him into his bus and ask his "guitar man" some things about his guitar and then he gave him an autographed portrait too.

The concert was amazing of course! He loves his fans and you can tell that he knows that he would not be where he is if it weren't for those loyal fans that are always there to listen to him play.

And last but not least, after his concert Ronnie Milsap was gonna perform for at least an hour so the band picked up and got into some comfy clothes and then went and sat with the rest of the audience for Ronnie's concert! I thought it was really neat because he acted just like a normal person...like all of them should. I have to say also that after seeing Billy Currington in concert (which I was sorely disappointed in) I was expecting the same thing and I was extra critical but Lee Brice and his whole entire band did a wonderful job at just remembering that they are normal people with an awesome job!!

So yeah thought I would share that!!

Also Ronnie Milsap was really great and I actually got to personally talk to him for about 25 minutes before his concert and it's really neat to see how he related to me and he had no idea what I looked like, how old I was nothing and besides listening to his engaging story of how he got his start he also offered a lot of encouragement to me as a musician as well!

So there you have it; Country Fair 2011!

Our vacation to Florida coming up next!

July Favorites Video

2011-08-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

Cute Video: Would You Rather Tag!

2011-07-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

I would luv it if you all made a video or did a post on this tag!!

Hair Tutorial

2011-07-20T19:51:00.000-07:00

My First Music Video & Farm Pics!!

2011-06-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all! It's been awhile I know...;-( I been working a lot and also just busy with baseball that seems to be all we are ever doing. LOL. It's fun though!

So I finally got to go visit my grandparents at the farm for like the first time this summer! It was a lot of fun and of course I got a lot of great pics! I am so thankful that I can at least have somewhere to visit that isn't citified! LOL.

There are a lot of new babies and a new horse! The country is amazing!!!

So I filmed and directed my first music video a week ago! It was so much fun and Kayla (my friend) did a great job at acting out her part! i hadn't figured out exactly how to do a vocal recordig so I could actually sing the song, but now I do so the next video (unless it is sung by a guy) I will actually be singing!!

Also something that is really exciting is that my church is going to start having me play the fiddle for praise and worship! I am so excited and I think I am also going to do 1 fiddle contest this summer!

Enjoy!!!

Floral Photography/New Job!!

2011-06-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share something really really exciting with you guys!! I have a new job that is way more girly and my kind of job. So many of you know that I loooove flowers especially roses and of course crafty stuff and being creative. So I needed to quit Kohl's because I just think that it had something to do with my seizure and I want to stay healthy because I want to have 9 kids and stay alive to raise them! LOL. So anyways, I decided that was the best way and then prayed that God would bring something else along! He came through as usual!

One of the mom's on the Knights team owns a florist shoppe and they design baskets, bouquets, they do preservation, etc. So I now get to work there and make bows and create beautiful designs as well as serve as their representative and salesman!! I am really excited about that!

The other awesome thing about my new job so far is that all the old flowers I get to take home! So here are some pictures I took of the flowers I got to take home!!

Here is the link to their business. http://www.elegantpetalsfloral.com/ for the fresh flowers and gifts

http://www.elegant-petals.com/ for preservation.

I didn't get the Lavender from there I have a nice plant at my house and I needed to trim it so I got lots of lavender leaves and also the flowers which I am drying as well. It smells wonderful!!!

All the flowers I get I hang them along my wall in my bedroom and let them dry because my goal is to have them all the way around! I might even use them for my wedding, who knows

Change Me?

2011-06-10T00:25:00.000-07:00

So I wanted to share something with you guys real quick...well actually it's probably not going to be real quick!
So many of you read the post I did about that dream I had and how it encouraged me to keep saving my first kiss for my wedding day...if you haven't then you better because it's awesome!
Anyways, God has seemed to speak to me a lot through dreams ever since I was really little and they always left a huge impression on me AND I always seemed to remember them almost word for word and yes, some don't believe that I could remember that dream so well but I did...

So first I want to start off by saying that lately after turning 17 I have grown up a lot, in several different areas, but the one I want to talk about now are the things I get to do now, that I didn't before. Now granted, nothing drastic, but important enough to make an impression on me.
So I have met some really awesome and great kids at youth group this past winter and gotten to know them actually really well and they are just a great bunch of kids. After getting my license I have been able to go to their houses and to different parties they have had and such. Now I never go to bad parties, just like pool parties and other such things.
So recently I went to a pool party and for the first time got to wear a bikini and yes, I had planned on wearing one the whole time I was in Florida on the beach (2 weeks) in August, as you know if you watched my videos, but I decided to go ahead and wear one on Thursday.
I have never really had an issue with wanting to fit in or wanting to be and look like somebody else, I am very confident in who I am and my style, personality, etc.

So we swam all day, had a bbq, watched a movie, and then swam some more!! I had a lot of fun but, I had another dream last night....yes really I did.

My Dream:
In my dream I was 17 like now, and a guy was asking my dad if he could date/court me with the intention of some day getting married. My dad said yes and we walked and talked for a long while. The guy told me that he thought I was THE most amazing girl he had every met in his entire life and went on to explain.
He said I was different and mature; I didn't waste my time acting foolish like all the other giddy teenage girls. Everything I did brought glory to God and it was very clear that that was my intention....yeah that's it. (I actually know the guy in the dream which didn't help things. LOL)

My Realization:
My biggest dream in life is to marry a good Christian guy that will be a good husband and a great father because I really truly want to have like 9 kids. I want to homeschool and I want to have a family. But you know what, let's think about this for a minute...I want a guy that is responsible and mature, that doesn't waste his time and act like a typical teenage boy..so do you think that a guy like that would pick a girl like me? I have to give what I want in return.
I just thought that it was so ironic that God, out of all the ways to bring it to my attention, showed me through a compliment, IN A DREAM!!! He knows what means the most to me and it hit home.

Some of you might be thinking that I have over thought things and that I worry about it too much, but who I marry and the family I raise, and the way I come across to other people means a LOT to me and it's worth giving up everything for, even when sometimes I don't want to.
When I hang out with my friends I don't act any different around them as I do when my parents ARE around. I am the same me all the time. Yes, I do have a good heart and I don't act like a "typical" teenager, BUT here's the catch see...when I look/dress and act just like them, a stranger or even a friend for that matter isn't gonna take the time to consider where my heart might be. They are gonna see me, the way my friends are acting, and think that I am no different then the girl next door (no offense to the girl next door LOL). It says in the Bible that, "a companion of fools suffers harm," and to "avoid all appearances of evil," and "a man is know by his friends." I don't want to be like every other teenager and never have wanted to be, but I feel like I have started to become like them.
My exact words to my mom, "I feel so worldly and I don't like the way it feels." I started crying when I said that. There is no harm in maybe having lunch or going shopping here and there, but I don't want to put myself in a setting where it looks negative on my end.
My friends are awesome, but "hangin out" and parties just isn't gonna be my thing anymore and yes, I am not wearing a bikini to the beach now. You know if I really want to look different and set apart then that is the time to do because EVERYONE wears a bikini to the beach. Plus I have a really cute modest bathing suit anyways.

So there you go. I got a little off track and I didn't like it at all. I want to be set apart and different and that's what I am doing again. I want to Shine for Jesus!!!!!!!! I wanted to tell you guys because I think it's important that we aren't always telling people what is right and wrong but also remembering to share the things that we struggle with and nobody is perfect. I prefer to be an open book so no one puts me on a pedastle.
Please give me your thoughts, I'd love to hear them.

Part 2: The Players

2011-06-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

So here is the promised part 2 with the pictures of all the talented players we saw play in the National Homeschool Baseball Tournament! All your boys should be in here and I hope you enjoy the pictures!!

Indiana: The Best Trip Ever Part 1!!!

2011-06-01T23:22:00.000-07:00

Let me just start off by saying that I haven't had as much fun as I had on my trip to Ft. Wayne Indiana then I have had in a very long time!!! How about I start off by telling you why we were there. ;-)

My brother is on a homeschool highschool baseball team and they have the National Homeschool Baseball Tournament in Ft. Wayne Indiana every year. So all the families took their boys down there for 5 days.

We all got to stay on a Christian college campus that was beautiful!! The families dorms were very roomy and although you had to bring your own...well..everything even toilet paper, I believe every one of us had a lot of fun....although it didn't start out that way...

Early (8am) Tuesday morning the 6 of us (dad had to work) set out on our grand adventure to drive 7 hours 1-way in a very cramped van. We had to stop and pick up another player (Sean) and his mom (Kelly) because they were riding with us.

Although the trip seemed like forever, as you can see by the pictures we had plenty of fun!

Did I mention that it rained the whole way there?

So on top of it raining on the way there, it rained all day on Wednesday and mostly Thursday. So needless to say games were cancelled, but thanks to the magnificent student center we spent much of our time playing pool, Foosball, and ping pong! It was fantastic!!!!

The players and coaches/teams stayed in a separate dorm section while the families stayed right across the parking lot. Each morning, because of the general lounge area the families ate breakfast together and much of the dinners as well. It was so much fun to wake up to all the homeschool families preparing breakfast for their kiddos. ;-) What can I say, little things excite me!!

Because of the cancellation of games, all the families also went to Crazy Pins, a place where there was unlimited bowling, bumper carts, put-put, etc. It was so much fun!!

This is only part 1 because this post only contains pictures of families, fans, and fun!!!

I want to also give a few shout-outs!!

1, I was able to get to know my friend Kayla a little better and let me just tell you she is awesome!!!

2, I just want to say that I think the Schad family is totally remarkable. Their kids are awesome, their baseball players are talented, and they just seem to be perfect, though of course I would never think that.

Now enough with my chatting, let's get to the part everyone really enjoys...pictures.

Taven Schad and his dad Carl, I believe

My friend Kayla

A Cupp boy (you have to read the story at the end)

The long 7-hour trip

Sean and Bubba seem to be enjoying themselves

Kelly kept mom with great company

Most the kiddos there

Adorable little Naomi

Yeah, so they needed a ride and it was the best we could do!!! Don't worry though we didn't have to go far!

Kalya's sister Laura

Kayla's brother...oops forgot his name.

Just had to take a quick snapshot of this beautiful landscaping on the campus

I luuuuuuuv Iris'

I love my new camera, this is right off the camera no photoshop or anything

Staying occupied at a baseball game

I think this would make a great background. I took this with my camera too!

Everyone found a friend!

Yes, so here it is, the picture of pictures. Savor it and remember it, because as humiliating as it is for me you will probably never see another picture where I am not wearing makeup!! JK. Really though!

So that picture of the Cupp boys is the younger brother of Jeff Cupp a really nice guy my mom and I met while we were down there. I just thought I'd take a few pictures of his brother for him. LOL.

Pictures and Videos!!!!

2011-05-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

There isn't really a theme to this post, I just wanted to share some pictures with you guys because it's been a long time. Here in Missouri it has finally started to warm up and summer seems to be just over the horizon.

I have recently put quite a few more videos on YouTube so if you want to see those you can click the link here.

I recently just (this is kind of crazy) got home from the hospital after having a violent seizure at work which I fell and got a concusion. Phew!! I am doing fine now but on doctors orders not to drive or work for two weeks. No playing basketball or anything; it's definitely a real bummer. LOL. I am enjoying spending time with my family though.

Also in august I am so excited because we are going on my dream vacation to the beach in Florida!! I am soooo excited and can barely wait. Please leave a comment or send me a message if you have any suggestion on things that are a must have for the beach.

Enjoy Pictures!!!

Gabe came and stayed with us for 3 days. He's on bubba's baseball team and we all had a lot of fun. These are really good pictures of him!

This is the famous basketball hoop where I spend a lot of my fun time

Crazy, Cute, Little, Neighbour Girl!

Lucy (the little girl i babysit)

A couple of the new friends I made at my prom. They are totally awesome!!!

Baseball Pictures

I still can't get over how cute she is!!

My Dad chatting with one of Bubba's other baseball coaches that played for the pro baseball team; Angels

We all enjoyed his company! LOL

This is Corrie, the basketball hoop we hang out at belongs to him. We have to make sure he is

happy. LOL. Just kidding. Chris is the other guy that is the same age as me and he was taking the picture and was too shy to let me take a picture, so I have yet to have a picture of him. I am determined though so you better beware Chris! LOL. We are very excited for school to be done with.

I think that sums it up. Hope you enjoyed my pictures!!! Check out my YouTube Videos and let me know what you think.

Prom 2011

2011-05-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

So there you have it! My 2011 Prom pictures. I went with my totally awesome brother, Bubba, and a friend of mine, Christine. We all had a great time and I got to know lots of great people and danced the whole entire time. I love dancing; I dance all the time so prom is right up my alley.
We also met a group of really nice kids there whos house we went to afterwards for a bonfire and snacks. They are totally awesome!!
The food was also really great, it wasn't cheap food. It was expensive, catered, deliciousness.
You also recieved a pair of sunglasses (not exactly sure where that fits in with the theme, but they were still cool) and lots of color!!
SoI hope you enjoyed my pictures (taken with my new photography camera) and if any of you have prom pictures PLEASE let me know. I will have a youtube video up soon too of prom.

License, Interview, Class Ring and 17th Birthday

2011-04-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

Wow, don't I have a ton of totally awesome things to share with you guys. I know it has been awhile but I have good excuses. LOL
1: First of all I finally have my drivers license. I took the test a week and a half ago and passed it first time. I got the actual license immediately afterwards and amazingly enough the picture was actually really pretty. the last two pictures on my permits were terrible and everyone else always complains that theirs is too.
Right after I got my license my uncle needed some help putting in a cedar fence about 15 minutes away and mom was busy and so we thought we couldn't go but it dawned on me that I could drive myself. So my brother Nick and I went there for a couple hours and got home just in time to go to a baseball game.
Since then I drop my brother off here and there at ball practice, etc.

2:I got my class ring about a month ago. I will upload pictures below. My birthday month is April so I got a diamond and one side is the rodeo symbol with "Christ" above it and the other side is a fiddle with "Ashley" above it. Around the stone is says, veritus, familia, dues, "faith, family, God" I really like it and it fits perfectly.

3: Okay so i got my license and I have to pay for insurance so I need to get a job. I applied at Kohls two days before my 17th birthday (you can't work there until you are 17) which was the 24th and they called me in for an interview today!!! I am so excited! It's only like 15 minutes from our house in a very nice and safe location and actually across the street from a Christian homeschooling family we know so it couldn't get any better. So please pray for me as I go there at 2:30 tomorrow! *sigh*

4: Prom is only 2 days away and I finally have everything I need for it. I actually got a different dress so I'll attach the link of my new videos below so you can see it.

5: My 17th Birthday was totally awesome. It was also on Easter morning so I spent my morning (6am-12pm) at my church doing a skit for all three services. I enjoyed it. The service was really awesome and you could really just feel the presence of Jesus there.
I got several wonderful things for my birthday. My aunt and uncle got me the most beautiful jewelry set ever!! I love it!
My grandparents got me a beautiful quill pen and ink set with matching parchment paper to write on.
My mom and dad got me a cellphone case (for my new cellphone) and a Nikon photography camera with the extra large lens. I am enjoying it so so so much and it's totally effortless to get crystal clear photos.
Thanks to those also that commented on my mom's facebook with all your sweet comments. You all are so encouraging.

So today I just hung out with my family, recorded a video, and played basketball with the most awesome neighbour guys ever! I think I was laughing the whole entire time!!!

Here is the video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brO-M0ea5Po

If you want to check out my other videos you can click this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/homeschoolbeauty

Award!!

2011-04-09T21:49:00.000-07:00

So I haven't done an award/tag in a very long time, but I thought I would do a few here and there as they come up! So here's the first one:

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who awarded you

2. Write seven things about yourself

3. Pass it on to seven other bloggers

4. Tell the seven about there award

Here it goes...

1. I am scarred and excited about growing up finally! LOL. I have wanted to grow up so long and have responsibilities, such and such. Now that I am getting my license, a job, leading praise and worship, etc., I am not so sure if being a kid was so bad. I am very happy to be growing up, but still I am used to always tagging along with my family and never having to do my own thing, now that I am growing up I am developing my own convictions, tastes, ideas, and responsibilities.

2. I honestly think I have brain damage!!! I am serious, I forget things like you can't believe or I won't realize the most obvious things for the longest time. My dear grandmother tells me again and again it is just because I am still young and I will grown out of it, but I am becoming afraid that I won't! Haha. * Read the funny story after I finish the award.*
3. I am starting the process of writing my very first song on piano and eventually adding guitar and violin. I can't go into details because it is a surprise for someone, but I have to kick butt because I have to get it done soon.

4. I am going to grow my hair out for 3 years straight!! (an occasional trim; and that only means 1/2'')

5. I LOVE YOUTUBE!!

6. I am so excited to swim this summer!

7. I am soooo excited for Prom I can barely contain myself!! ;-)

___________________________________________________________

And the seven people I'm going to award...this is always so hard because I hate just choosing 7 people. So comment and you are awarded!!

*Here's that funny story (I forgot to write it)
Yesterday my mom and I went shopping and we had to stop at a grocery store to pick up some stuff.
They had some Organic/Natural Chocolate covered cashews for $2 so I got some as a treat. Well for some reason I had it in my mind that they were almonds even though I had read the label a million times. On the way home I was eating them marveling at the fact that they were shaped just like cashews and they were huge! LOL. No joke, I was totally being honest.
Later when we got home and I had my dad try them, I told them
"It's crazy they are huge and shaped just like cashews but they are almonds."
My mom just kind of gave me a look/grin because she thought I was joking around, but I was serious and so she said they were cashews and I didn't believe her until I got the bag and read the label again word for word. They were cashews!!!
I do stuff like that all the time. I walk upstairs and immediately forget what I was up there for!! I put things in clever places so I know I can't lose it and then forget that clever place. It's so crazy. I have to do something about it otherwise my kids will be in great danger. I might just forget I have kids. LOL.

New Videos!

2011-04-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

Okay so I have new videos on YouTube!! Here are the links!
http://youtu.be/Z8-yCxqhFmc
http://youtu.be/XFx-ysZi8uM

New Blog!!!

2011-04-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I hope you like the makeover I gave my blog? I really like it and am excited to try a new one for Summer time.
Thought I would let you all know that I now have a blog up called, Homeschool Beauty. I just started it, but I think all you girls will really enjoy it.
Here is the link: homeschoolbeauty.blogspot.com

Let me know what you think

Prom Dress and Other Exciting News!!!

2011-04-04T14:39:00.000-07:00

I have all kinds of wonderful things to tell you today!
First of all I really wanted to go to a prom this year (I am a Junior) but because I am a homeschooler they usually don't have things like that but through our homeschool group put together one and there were like 200 kids last year. I am so excited!! It's going to be good because it's a very controlled environment with a few extra rules just because of the conservativeness of Christians and homeschoolers. It is April 28th and I am so excited! Here is a link I did (I will post as soon as it uploads) on the dress and shoes I am wearing so you can get a sneak peak, but you can't see it on until April 28th!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSj7cQCfC98

Secondly, this month, April 24th, I am turning 17!!! I can barely wait!! My birthday falls on Easter so I will be at church all day doing an opening Easter drama. I am really excited about that. I am memorizing my lines already.

I get my retainers off next week and then i only have to wear them at night. That is so awesome I can barely wait!!!

I am auditioning for White Christmas in May so hope that goes well. I was in Sound of Music 2 years ago so I should get in again, but I am hoping to get one of the sisters this time.

Now for the really exciting thing!!! I don't know if I mentioned or not that I had expressed interest at my church to join the praise and worship team on Sundays. Well anyways, no on got back to me and I just figured that they were busy and had a lot of on their minds.
"Pastor Joe" called me a week ago and asked if I was interested in leading the Praise and Worship team on Sunday nights! I was so excited and shocked! I couldn't believe it. Of course I accepted!
After he left the sudden realization of what i had just committed to hit me! LOL. I have done anything like this before and certainly not for Praise and Worship and not to mention that I only knew 2 songs 1 of which was praise and worship material. So needless to say i was in a slight panic of what to do and play. There was also nobody else that could play with me so I had to play alone. LOL.
I perfected Blessings by Laurastory and then had to learn a brand new song called This little Light of Mine by Addison Road all by ear (no music notes) and have it perfect by Sunday night! (3 days) I worked really hard and i got both songs down so that was really awesome. Everyone enjoyed it (it seemed like anyway) and now this is a new week with for focus, organization, and time so I am really feeling good about it.
Pray for me because it's a whole new place that I am entering and this summer is going to get very busy for me with the Broadway performance of White Christmas, PT, I am getting a job, and not to mention just summer in itself. I am kind of sad because I am probably going to miss close to all of my brothers' baseball games and never before has that happened.
I am definitely entering a new stage of life. All my childhood I wanted to grow up so bad so i could do whatever I wanted and I though I wouldn't have responsibilities...Boy was I wrong! Maybe you can do whatever you want but you have a ton more responsibilities and your priorities change from just being a kid and hanging out to preparing to be a wife and mother and also growing in the Lord.
It's a little bit scary but I am a daredevil and so I am just charging right in! LOL.

Hopefully you all enjoyed hearing about all that!
Have a wonderful week!

P.S. I am getting my license too really soon!!

A Dream

2011-03-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

The story I am about to tell is quite amazing and yet mysterious in a way. There are details left unveiled and yet some that still live vividly in my mind. You may think it quite irrelevant or uninteresting, but it touched me in a way I will probably never forget.

Let’s start with an introduction;

Kyle: An amazing guy. He lived in the mysterious shed/house where we all so often chose to hang out. He was a star in disguise, unknown by everyone but John, Jake, and I. He was cursed with a family that disapproved of the very breath he breathed. He was a steadfast Christian and handsome as a prince in a fairytale.

John and Jake: Twin brothers and recorders of Kyle’s commercials.

Me: Let’s just say I was totally in love with Kyle and he was with me (though I didn’t know that yet) and so I tagged along, being trusted with the secret of the century. I was also the clever mind that helped keep his secret a secret.

With that said, let’s move on…

It was a reoccurring thing we had; Kyle, the twins, and I: we met at Kyle’s house, cleverly involved his family (which consisted of one set of grandparents, mom, dad, and big sister) in conversation and skipped off to the shed where we all congregated in a tiny corner and slipped through the floor to do what we did best…commercials. I don’t recall the commercials exactly, though I do remember his parents withholding approval of them which makes me deduce that they were a good of some sort.

We entered the room via the ceiling and dropped to the floor. There was a giant TV which played all recorded material, trophies and awards, and of course a bathroom with a giant mirror where a frequently visited to re-gloss my lips. We never spent much time in there, our greatest fear would be that his family would come looking for us and would see us come out of the floor, which inevitably would raise a few questions.

Time went on, commercials were made, and our friendships grew closer and more trusting. The quite ironic thing was that the whole world knew about the commercials except his family which I cleverly kept from being broadcasted on their TV until one fateful day.

Apparently my cleverness had run out. One morning while watching the news, Kyle’s newest commercial came on the air. There was no mistaking him, he was handsome beyond all imagination and had the smile and charm of an angel. His parents were infuriated, although we tried to convince them that they were mistaken.

The next moments, of time I can’t recall the time; some moments seemed long yet short and some seemed short yet long, regardless though they were the hardest moments of my life…

One day I showed up at Kyle’s house to find him sitting on the “judgment couch” we called it and looking slightly startled and frightful. I was about to ask him if he was ready when he gave me a disturbing glance, forbidding me from speaking. He motioned for me to sit beside him and so I did. He explained in my ear that his parents were questioning him, searching his rooms and were relentlessly refusing to engage in conversation. All our previous plans were not working so this time we had to improvise.

His mother, evil as she was, walked side by side with his father; they made a wonderfully evil team. They paced back and forth, wall to wall, until suddenly they had to run back to the house for something I can’t recall. Kyle had told me that as soon as they left the room I was to go through the floor making sure to have a camera. Ever since I knew Kyle, I went through that tiny corner and thoughtlessly pulled up 3 inches of carpet and slipped through. I didn’t think of how or why but I did. As I began to squeeze through the floor a sudden fear struck me, I can’t fit through here! I was 5’4” and 120lbs. 3 inches was not enough space. But how had I done it the many years before? Kyle told me I had to go otherwise we’d get caught. He said that as you put yourself through you turn to ashes allowing yourself to go through only to reform again and enter the room. It was a crazy thing though I didn’t have time to think it through and I plunged myself through the small hole and found myself in his room.

He entered 5 seconds later just in time as his parents were coming back. Today it was my job to film the commercial. I didn’t have the twin’s camera or their equipment. I had a digital camera that took generic videos and a spotlight. I had to make do; we only had 5 minutes, one shot, and a digital camera. I took the memory card out (once again my cleverness) to use the internal memory that way when I put the card back in no one could find the video if they searched through it. It was a brilliant but uncertain plan.

We shot it and scurried our way back up through the floor and we met John and Jake motioning fearfully for us to get situated because his family was on their way towards the shed. Kyle disappeared leaving John, Jake, me, and strangely enough a new girl, a friend of Jake I guess.

I walked out of the back bedroom confused. Kyle was gone and now John had left to pose as a visiting friend of mine as a distraction. For what or whom I did not know. Perhaps you can answer that question.

As his parents entered the shed they yelled in anger when they saw Kyle was gone. I went into the back bedroom pretending not to notice. I walked out acting surprised to find them so angry and asked them what was wrong.

“Where is Kyle and what do you do and where do you go in here?” they screamed.

I wasn’t sure what to do; I was frozen in fear, should I tell them about the secret room? Surely they would see it and understand. I was at a loss for words.

Bear with me; everything seemed like a blur for a moment as I was horribly confused.

They demanded to see my camera, which I gladly gave them since the card was in. I blurted out that we were all entering a secret room beneath the earth via the corner of the shed. With 3 inches of carpet pulled up you turn to ashes passing through and reforming. The room was silent. His family was surprised and confused as was all my friends. They couldn’t believe I had told the secret. I was scared though I felt an ironic peace inside, yet still wondering where Kyle had gone. Was he still in the room?

After a painfully long break of silence his father replied,

“You are insane girl, Janice (his wife) they are trying to murder us. No one can turn to ashes and reform entering a secret room unknown and unseen to all other mankind except these kids. Tell us where Kyle is now!!”

I didn’t know what to do, I felt like slipping through the floor and completely forgetting what just happened. I wanted to cry, but the look on Jake’s face told me I was somehow protecting Kyle. I am not sure if he even knew where Kyle was or what he was doing but I pulled myself together and for about 2 seconds tried to think of a plan. I had failed, I couldn’t think of anything at all, time was running out and his family’s anger only grew worse.

All of a sudden the “new girl” stood up and looked out the window, exclaiming,

“Look Ashley, you have a visitor.”

I was so confused, but somehow between the time of ½ -1 second she explained it was John and I was to walk out there pretending to greet a friend. The plan seemed pointless, why would they tell me to go see a visiting friend? How would that distract Kyle’s parents? Amazingly enough, they looked out the window and saw the white car which contained my “friend” and they sat down and began to wait for my return. I was scared, confused, and still wondering where Kyle was as I was shoved out the door.

I walked to the car which seemed like miles and miles of frightened lonely walking. I was scared for me…for Kyle.

I reached the car to find John who immediately involved me in conversation so it would come across as I was talking to a friend. To my dismay Kyle’s parents weren’t the only ones they were trying to distract. I saw Kyle try to secretly slip by from his car to the garage where the airplanes were kept. I immediately saw him, and no matter who was watching or what John said I ran as fast as I could run and stopped him on his way to enter a vehicle that apparently was preparing to take him away to a place where he would be safe. I was crushed… he had prepared to leave without a word. Not even a goodbye or a thank you. I felt angry, yet I wanted to just take him in my arms and cry. But what I did was totally different.

“Kyle!” I yelled. “Where are you going?”

“I have to leave, Ashley, I am not safe here.”

“Why would you leave without even telling me or even saying goodbye?”

“I didn’t want you to know where I was going so you wouldn’t have to hide too. I wanted to keep you safe; it isn’t fair that you have to carry the burden of my secret too.” He said with regret and a tear.

“Kyle! I chose to do this for you and I never look back. I enjoyed every minute we spent keeping everything a secret.”

It was silent; he had stopped getting into the vehicle and just looked at me for a moment. Our eyes met and I blurted out,

“Take me with you Kyle. You can’t go by yourself; all your friends are here. You don’t know anyone where you are going and…and I love you” Had I really just said that? “Let’s go together, start a new life, get married, don’t you want to, and don’t you love me too?” I couldn’t believe I had said those things; I was never that bold in my whole entire life!

“Yes I do, and I have always wanted you but how do I ask? What about your parents, will they let you leave?”

“They don’t need to know, nobody does. Let’s just go.”

“How do I know this is what I should do?” He asked me sort of lost like.

I ran up, wrapped my arms around him and kissed him! I didn’t know another way to show how “right” this was.

For a while after that, nothing made since. We ran from the car, through the field and into his family’s house. Holding hands we ran through, beating his infuriated family off of us and out the front door. Our friends looked on in confusion and sympathy, though I am sure they all knew it could only end this way.

We ran out the front door only to find ourselves running through a church sanctuary with hundreds of people. They were watching in amazement, some in shock. Some even attempted to stop us for somehow they knew we were running off. We left the church only to find ourselves running through a park filled with friends and family, one being my mother. My stomach filled with butterflies at the thought she would see us holding hands and stop us, but somehow for some reason she watched us pass right by.

We left the park and ran through a hallway filled with people trying to forcefully stop us, including his family. We tore our way through mobs of angry people. We kicked, punched, and bit anyone that got in our way. We were determined and nothing could stop us.

We left the angry hallway and found ourselves at my father’s workplace. I was startled, the last place I wanted to be running with a guy, holding hands, and with butterflies in my stomach once again hoping and praying that he wouldn’t stop us, for mom and dad were the only ones who had the power to stop us. We passed him without so much as a glance or a look of disapproval. I was elated and saw the double glass doors that led to the vehicle that would take us away forever.

We swung open the doors and found ourselves opening the door of our getaway car. We had done it! Despite all odds we fought off friend and foe. We were on our way to…well actually I wasn’t sure where, but we were on our way and we were together. We sat side by side in the back of the vehicle; we were overjoyed.

As I looked back I saw my mom, my dad, and my brothers and sister standing by those double glass doors waving goodbye. I couldn’t see it and perhaps it wasn’t so, but I felt their loving and disappointed tears falling down the faces that had loved and cared for me since birth.

Reality hit me; I had given away my first kiss and ran off with Kyle without even saying goodbye to MY family. My family loved Kyle and thought the world of him, but why hadn’t I told them.

I told myself that they would understand and that when we got married and settled down I would write and explain it all. But would it really be that easy?

“Stop,” I yelled to the driver!

He stopped the vehicle and tears began to violently roll down my face. I so wished that I could play that moment all over again. Why had I acted so irrationally and kissed him? It was my dream as a little girl to save my first kiss for my wedding day, but I had acted on impulse and now I regretted it. The feeling was so real, I had disappointed my parents once again, and let my emotions take me away. I was ashamed.

But I had ran off with a good man, one that I knew would love me and provide for me and children someday with all his heart. I was running off with a guy my parents thought the world of, that can’t be so wrong. As long as we got married as soon as we got to where we were going, there was nothing wrong with it; God could surely not withhold his blessing from us for such a trifling thing. Think about the circumstances, did we really have a choice?

I had a decision to make….

As the battle inside me raged on, I woke up to find myself at home in my warm and comfortable bed. It had only been a dream.

Regardless of the unreality of being a dream I couldn’t believe how real the feelings were.

How my stomach got butterflies when running past my parents, or wishing that I could do the moment over again. Never in my life have I had a dream that felt so real. I can’t even begin to describe them.

When I was in the vehicle on my way, looking back I felt completely devastated, regretful, and ashamed. I had acted on impulse and given up my dream. If I said what I felt, I would have begged God to play that moment over again so I could do it right. I had made a decision that I would regret for the rest of my life. I cried my heart out; I had a tough decision to make.

Although the story is completely “fictional” I believe that the feelings I had in the vehicle is what it will really be like if I don’t save my first kiss. Perhaps I will already be engaged, BUT I will have made a decision I will think about and regret for the rest of my life.

Free Blog Makeovers!!!

2011-03-22T18:48:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to tell you all that if any of you are not exactly sure how to use the new template designer and get new backgrounds that fit your template, I know how and I would love to do it for you. Kind of like a blog makeover.
Maybe you want to start a blog but don't know where or maybe you don't know how to upload pictures. I know how to do all that and I really enjoy it! So, if any of you really want a "blog makeover" I would love to do it. (Free of charge of course.)
Just leave a comment and let me know.

God Bless!!!

Family Pictures/Giant Hamburgers

2011-03-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am finally posting pictures of our family this past week. My aunt, uncle, and their family came down from Oklahoma for a whole week!! we spent everyday with them! It was so much fun! We really miss them already. They are just really awesome!

We did lost of fun things while they were here. I just love my aunts and uncles so much. they mean the whole world to me.

Here are the pictures: Enjoy!!!

First I want to give you the link to the Christian song on YouTube that I am working on learning to sing and play on the guitar. I have to do it all by ear because it's new and no one has music out yet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ

Aidan

Joshua (The youngest grandchild right now)

Aidan and "Sho-Sho" (Aidan calls my mom [his aunt] sho-sho.)

Never in my life have I seen a little boy love his soo much!! He doesn't even like it when my mom hugs my dad! It's hilarious but also the sweetest thing I have ever seen.

My cousin, Jessica, and I. She got to spend the night twice and we got to hang out a lot. I lover her so much. She is such a sweet girl! I can't believe the remarkable young lady she has become and neither would you!

My crazy aunts!!! Jenny (Left) Tina (right)

Now these pictures are really something! My uncle (in the picture) is a great cook and he came up with these delicious hamburgers and homemade french fries that he just had to make for us while we were here. They were huge, and he wouldn't let you not finish them. You have to pack it full of food and you had to finish it all.

Joshua

My uncle Chris decided to go for a triple!! I can't believe he ate it all!!

Here are the ingredients for the hamburgers:

bottom bun
french fries
hamburger
American cheese
sausage
bacon
pepper jack cheese
sauteed peppers and onions in butter and ranch dressing
lettuce
tomato
ketchup, mayo, and mustard

If you didn't put enough french fries on your bottom bun chuck made you go back and try again. It was so much fun. After you made your hamburger you had to stuff the rest of your plate with more french fries and you had to eat it all. I did it, but it was extremely painful. LOL.

My uncle ate his triple. The whole thing

See the pain I am talking about?

Shopping

All the cousins/grandkids

Jordan giving Aidan a hug

Jenny and Tina

Lily and Laura

Jordan

Another pained victim. LOL.

Be Careful...Bloomers

2011-03-10T19:33:00.000-08:00

This is kind of an "add-on" to the last post I did so you will want to read it below, but I wanted to mention this because it's really important. Some of you may have already thought of this but I thought I would say something as well.
I think 90% of the girls reading this blog are old enough to read this, but in respect to the parents of younger children I will word it in a way where if you already know what I am talking about you will understand.
Have you ever heard the word "bloomers."
Ever since I was a little girl my parents always made me wear shorts or leggings (bloomers) underneath everything but jeans. Shorts, skirts, dresses, and even pajamas. At the time I just thought it was a rule but now as I get older I realize the importance of them.
Why do we as Christian and Homeschooled girls dress modestly? We do it to keep sacred the "gifts" that we save for our husbands one day right? We are not cheap and not up for display. Our bodies are sacred and only meant for one person alone.
We wear longer skirts because it doesn't reveal so much right? We wear tank tops and t-shirts underneath low tops to prevent from revealing so much right? Well, what good is it if you wear skirts and dresses to be modest and someone can look up your skirt/dress and see more than you wanted them too?
There are preverted and sinful people everywhere, hiding behind good, Christian, and sometimes familiar faces. Don't underestimate the sinful nature of anyone, man or women! Anyone is capable of any sin no matter how good they seem to be or how often they go to church! I hate to talk about it, but it's so important. Anyone, anywhere, anytime, can be doing anything so protect yourself...and your children.
No matter how young or how old you are please consider this. Little girls are becoming innocent unsuspecting prey and unfortunately it doesn't end pretty.
Consider wear shorts or leggings under all skirts, dresses, and sometimes even shorts depending on the way they fit.
Thought I would share that, it has been on my mind lately. I still wear shorts under everything that you can see up in and I am sure I have dissipointed many guys, but I am not cheap or up for display and my body is sacred and going to be saved for one man alone.
Tell me what you think.
God Bless

Modesty?

2011-03-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I have been wondering what makes the girls I know make skirts their standard of modesty. It doesn't bother me, but I wonder what it is they heard, read, or believe that helped them make that decision.
So I want EVERYONE that reads this post to post on their blogs or leave a comment why the wear what they wear. I am curious as to what everyone wills say. If you are a guy, I want you to give your opinion on what you think is modest, what isn't, and why.
So good luck!

I will give you a look into my background and how I grew up;

My uncles, my grandparents, and my family (which only consisted of my oldest brother and I), all on my mom's side, lived in a 1 bedroom house on a ranch in Colorado. From there we moved to Arkansas. We made all kinds of matching jumpers (My grandma, mom, and I), and that's all we wore, partially because we had hardly any money and also because at the time we thought it was "right" to wear dresses.
As time went on, and I grew up my mom decided that you didn't have to wear skirts and dresses to be a christian or to be modest and she slowly began to migrate to wearing jeans and t-shirts. At the time I was probably 4 and I remember clear as day getting so upset with my mom because I thought she was being immodest wearing jeans and that "it says in the Bible that women should not dress like men." I was very young but I remember it. That's how I was raised, that women should wear dresses and skirts because it was "lady like" and modest.
    My grandmother and my mom started to wear jeans. But they had talked to their husbands and they agreed that wearing dresses and head coverings isn't important to them. Sure they expect modesty to some extent, but not dresses, skirts, and head coverings.
   Now I am almost 17 and, of course I wear jeans, but I also enjoy wearing skirts and dresses. I am modest most of the time, and if I am not my mom just points it out so I can go "fix it". LOL. I am not a very "observant" person and I often forget and miss things. I also am very "filled out" if you know what I mean and so I have to be extra careful. ;-)

   I, as my own person with my own convictions, I believe that what's right for me right now is that I can go to heaven, be a Christian, and be modest and not have to wear skirts and dresses all the time. The most important thing to me is the motive behind the clothing. Why are you wearing that today? And I also have a VERY intelligent mother that is always looking out for me. I hope I get to be more like her when I am older otherwise I am afraid my children will be in real danger. LOL. JK.
Anyways, so I feel I can wear jeans and shorts, and tank tops, and still be modest. Some girls may cringe at the thought of wearing shorts, but my whole family is in agreement with me that it is perfectly fine for ME.
You have to make that decision based on what God is telling you.

No More Braces!!!

2011-02-22T18:22:00.000-08:00

I am definitely due for an update on here. I am finally nearing the end of my school year; 1 week left! This week has been full of tests, exams, and finals. It's crazy but the excitement keeps me going.

Bubba has already started baseball practice and his games will start in a month or so. We are all getting really excited about it.

I have recently joined the Youth Group at my church right up the road. That has been a lot of fun so far and I definitely enjoy hearing about the Lord. They play a few games and then we all gather together for about 1 -1 1/2 hours of Bible stuff. There are some great kids there.

I have picked up piano lessons with a dear family friend again. I am really excited but getting used to practicing all the time (consistently) and preparing for a lesson every week. My little sister (6) has also started now. She is one of the brightest 6 year-old I know. She picks things up like that!

On Fridays we have been doing English Country Dancing with a group of homeshool families. That has been a blast!!! I have met lots of wonderful new families and also reconnecting with some old ones. This Friday (sadly) is the last week so we are having a ball. I can barely wait to dress up and dance!! I will be post pictures of what I wear. I am really excited about it! It's a new dress and a new look. LOL.

Last night I had a talent show for our homeschool group. That was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it. I played my fiddle; Boil Them Cabbage Down!! I, once again, really got the audience involved. They loved it. I just love seeing people enjoy something so much. My little sister and I are working on a duet (vocal and guitar) to do next year. I will hopefully have some videos soon.

I wanted to share something with you guys that I really enjoy doing and have done since I was 11 years-old:

Getting married and having children is "The" dream of my life. I have only thought about that since I was a very little girl. I currently work on building up my hopechest with all sorts of things that I can use as a wife and mother.

In my hopechest is a little pencil box just big enough to hold a folded piece of paper. It contains papers since I was 11 years-old of names that I liked for my children. I would write out a long list of names that I liked or were in my family for both girls and boys and then I would write first and middle names, sign and date them, and then add them to my little box.

Over the past 6 years i have done it about 8 times and I enjoy looking through them and reading the names I liked and how they have changed. Some have never changed and some I have decided i don't like anymore. I usually change girls names as times go by, but there is one that has stood the test of time (for both a boy and a girl) and stayed my favorite.

I would like you to do the same. You probably don't realize that joy it brings when you can look back and read the things you used to like or the ones you still do. Think about it, that's one less thing you don't have to worry about when you are going to have a baby! Give me a (1) favorite boys name and (1) girls name. Here are mine:

Boy: Zachariah Thomas (Zachariah is a name I have always loved for a boy. It makes me think of a strong and dependable boy. Thomas is my great uncle's name and the my dad's dad that died when he was 3 years-old)

Girl: Lily Isabelle (Lily is just a beautiful name that I have always loved and then my aunt used it for my cousin (whom I adore). Isabelle was my great-grandmother's name on my dad's side.

I can't wait to hear yours!!!

P.S. Another thing that I do is write Journals. Now you may say that almost every girl does that, But...I am writing them to my future daughter who will one day also be a teenager and will struggle with the same things and feelings that I did when I was young. I know how it feels to wonder if your mom really remembers what is was like to be a teenage girl, and sometimes to feel that you are the only "bad" person in the world that is struggling.

Not only will it help my daughter realize that I really do kno what's best but it will also help me remember what is was like and what I felt when certain things happen. Everyone feels called to do something different, but you may think about it.

This is our Beligian Millie. I saddled her up and rode her for a little while. We ran a little bit but she rocks from side to side when she runs and it's slightly difficult to stay on. LOL. It was fun though. She is SUCH a sweetie.

Duke.

Ruby; my baby. Isn't she pretty? We rode together a lot on Sunday.

She's so Pretty

Decorations on our greenhouse

There is a family that just bought the property behind our farm. We were excited but needless to say slightly nervous beause they are pretty close. God blessed us with a very nice homeschool family!! It was so amazing.

B.F.F.

Little girls gathering eggs

Getting ready for my homeschool group's talent show. I did really well (even though there is no placing) and it was a lot of fun! There were some really talented people there.

Before Braces! :-(

After Braces!!! Yeah me! LOL

Writer and Photographer/ Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

2011-01-31T12:00:00.000-08:00

I wanted to tell all of you that I applied and joined the staff of Inspired Magazine as a writer and photographer. I am absolutely thrilled and I hope you all will check out the first issue which comes out April 1st. It's totally free and all you do is click the link on my sidebar and on the homepage underneath subscribe enter your email and it will update you when a new issue is released.
It's Christian Teen Girl's magazine that will come out monthly and have a variety from recipes and projects to testimonies and short stories. Please show your support and check it out I think you will enjoy it. Hopefully one day we can take it to print and send it out to millions of teen girls around the world.

Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe:

1 1/2 c. Flour
1/2 tsp. Baking soda
1 tsp. Baking powder
2 sticks butter (softened)
1c. Sugar
1c. Brown sugar
2 eggs
1c. peanut Btr.
2 tsp. vanilla
1 bag of Reeses Peanut Btr. Chips

Cream butter and sugars.
Add eggs, vanilla, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix Thoroughly.
Add peanut butter. Mix well.
Add flour.
Add Chips.

Roll into medium balls and press a "criss-cross" with a fork.

Bake @ 375 degrees until edges slightly brown.

Alternative Energy and Building Class Pictures!!

2011-01-21T12:12:00.000-08:00

I apologize for getting to this quite a bit later than I had expected. I enjoyed the class immensely!! There were some things that I would never consider but some things were quite intriguing and interesting!
Here are the pictures and I will explain each one. We went to three homes that were all built different ways with different materials and use alternative energy. It was definitely interesting!

The first and host house that we went to was the "normal" one of all the three. It was built of used wood still in good shape that would have normally just been dumped. It was a light oak color and very inviting. I am a huge fan of homes with a wooden interior. They used all solar energy, and had batteries to store it. They had many south facing (big) windows with eaves. It was a very nice home.

They used a small wood heater for the entire house. They turn on their fans and that circulates heat throughout the house on a regular basis. Most of the rooms are open above the doors so heat can be circulated freely. )Did you know that during the winter your fans should be turning "counter-clockwise" so it suck "up" heat, throws it down the walls, and the heat rises and start the process over again. Their wood heater is for a smaller house, but because they are good at circulating it they can use quite a bit smaller one, thus reducing their use of energy

Here is the outside of their home. If you notice there on the roof, that is where the solar energy goes through a type of maze and is ready for use.

The second house we went to was built of "cordwood" It was very artistic. The older gentlemen that built and lives there was an extraordinary man and his story of perseverance was outstanding! I commend him!

The house was round with an almost solid stone column in the center.

The door was very outstanding as well

This picture you see below is what the roof looked like

He also used alternative energy somewhat, but the one thing he did do differently is he has a composting toilet. Very interesting to those who don't have a problem with emptying it out, I will give no further details. ;-)

Set in to the stone column across from the bathroom is the shower/bathtub. Note that the wood heater was at the very bottom on the stone column which kept the shower/tub heated at all times when heat was in use.

Although these kitchen cabinets weren't homemade, they were very beautiful

Their wood cookstove.

His dining room table is homemade from a single cut of a solid sycamore tree right here in Missouri

The house also contained a full basement. The stairs that led down were free-standing very artistic as well.

The 3rd and final home was made of straw and plaster. The picture below is of an outbuilding they are in the process of building. This is also to show what their house is like before all the layers of plaster.

There house was also round and made completely of straw and many layers of plaster.

The floor was solid and made of Adobe dirt and coated in linseed oil and one other thing which made for a very strong smell that health wise could be negative I believe. It was also very hard on feet to stand on it for a small length of time.

This home also possessed a composting toilet...

  So there you have it! Notes and pictures of all three homes and the differences between them. They were all built by couples/families that had no experience in building or alternative energy. They knew something they wanted and they did it. Way to GO!!!
   One thing I forgot to mention was that the husband of the first house has a diesel car that runs off of veggie oil. Absolutely fantastic, though he did confess it is a lot of work to strain, thin, and keep at a constant temp.
   I hope you all enjoyed learning a little about some alternative ways of living and hopefully something inspired you. I do believe these things are important and each individual has a certain level they he/she is willing to go to, but anything and everything helps.

_____________________________________________

Keep Shinin' for Jesus!

Pictures Finally

2011-01-06T16:33:00.000-08:00

Laura's Bed

I ran out of hat racks! LOL

Pictures of my room

Goofy Girls

We opened our Christmas gifts at 12:01 am Christmas morning. It was a blast!

Slightly tired.

No Excuses!

2011-01-05T12:02:00.000-08:00

I have been so busy yet enjoying life extremely! I will be done with with 10th grade at the end of February! I will immediately start 11th grade over the summer but this time I won't have to double up on schoolwork, I can just take it easy and try to retain some of it. LOL.
  I get my braces off in february also. I so excited I cant even explain it. I owe my happiness and beautiful smile to my awesome parents who paid for them and also to my awesome orthodontist who couldn't have done a better job. I will post before and after pictures once I get them off.
  I had a very wonderful Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years!! It was actually almost 70 degrees on New Year's Eve, though we had lots of tornadoes because of the drop from 70-20's. It was nice while it lasted. We were also blessed with a beautifully white Christmas. It was only about 2 1/2" but enough to make it beautiful!
  We also enjoyed playing basketball and hangin' out with our friends almost every day during our Christmas break. That was awesome guys! ;-)
   Now that we are back on schedule I am once again packin' in a ton of schoolwork, chores, and believe it or not Bubba has already started baseball practices. Thankfully all the practices are indoor. He is doing very well, and if he makes the varsity team we have an opportunity to go to Florida in the Spring! I hope it works out, I have always wanted to go to the beach.
   I got a hair cut just recently. I really like it! I also got cowboy boots and a riding helmet for Christmas! I was so excited!
   I have been not only busy but I wanted to take a break from being on the computer and checking email. Now I will start to post more regularly and do more with this. I want to put more Youtube Videos up, take lots of pictures, and do some fun stuff!
   I hope your life has been as extraordinary as mine. I would love to hear all about it! I will have some pictures up very soon.
  Keep Shining for Jesus!

Big Family!

2010-12-07T12:04:00.000-08:00

Just recently we had this family over for dinner. They have 10 kids!! All the older ones play instruments and they brought it with them and we all got to play christmas music together. It was a blast!
they were a very nice family, and I believe they are doing a good job at raising that many children. Even though they are a huge blessing, keep them in your prayers because 10 children is still a lot of work. But definitely hats off to them! It would be a neat thing to have a family that big. The funny thing is, the mom is an only child and the dad has 1 sister but they aren't having any kids. So they pretty much made up for everyone else. LOL.
I especially enjoyed the company of the two eldest girls. They seemed very sweet and I am looking forward to seeing them again in the near future.

   I am so excited for the Christmas ball this year! Though I have a dilemma; I am not sure if I just want to wear a pretty dress or if I want to dress old-fashioned. See if I dress up I am going to stay in character and talk according to the costume I wear, but if i just wanted to be normal...why be normal, everybody does that! LOL. I just don't know if i want to be dressed fancy or not. It's such a hard choice and it's this Saturday! Oh well, God will show in time the best thing to wear.

   I hope you all are enjoying yourselves this Christmas season and I hope you will continue to.

  God Bless and continue to shine for Jesus!

Christmas Pictures

2010-12-01T12:48:00.000-08:00

These are our Christmas pictures for 2010! Hope you like them!
Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!

Friends!

2010-11-09T11:01:00.000-08:00

I played homeschool soccer for about 4 years. I met a lot of really awesome people, both guys and girls and some of them I still keep in touch with.

(L-R: Melody, Me, Abi, Rachel, ?)

Rachel, Abi, and I after going to a baseball game together.

I have had and still have a lot of friends but the ones that have never failed me and always been there are my family and especially my oldest brother Chris. He's awesome!

Girls I met from Broadway on the Driveway, we went to Meet Me in St. Louis at the Muny.

Broadway on the Driveway was a ton of fun. I enjoyed getting to know a lot of girls at the same time as I was practicing voice and acting.

Of course melody and I

Definitely the best thing that has ever happened to me!

I love these little ones ( I have more in AR)

Marisa, Totally awesome!!!!!

I don't what your thinking, but we never had a whole lot of fun! LOL.

Did we?

My family once again

L: Chloe R: Lexi

Kerry and I. She occupanied me to my first fiddle contest. Thanks!

Gasconade County Fair!

Harley, did way more for me this past summer than he will ever know. His family also made a huge commitment so he could play with me at my fiddle contests

Hey, friends can come in all shaped and sizes

One of the newest additions to my best friends list

She has been one of my best friends for any years. Love you Abi

I have had many really good friends over the years and I still have many of them. Any more it seems that everyone is too busy to get together. But I just wanted to take the time to show you pictures of all my precious friends. I don't have pictures of all of them, but as I see them I will take lots of pictures for you.

Summer 2010

2010-11-06T12:38:00.000-07:00

Life is Good!

My Horse!!

2010-11-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

  I just wanted to let you all know the exciting news! I finally the proud owner of my very own horse! Unfortunately I don't have pictures yet, we just brought her to the farm, but I should in a few days.
We are not sure yet exactly what breed she is, but she looks like a miniature thoroughbred. She gorgeous ad even more so will she be in the summer. She is dark brown with a black mane and probably only 10-12 hands high. She is 6 years-old and just the most beautiful thing ever. She is pretty small but that's what i need for a started horse. She is so gently and completely broke. She has never been bred, so maybe next year I'll breed her to a small paint or something. Her gait is very smooth and although she is 1/2 size, she is very muscular and strong. Right now I am looking for tack. (Saddle and bridle)
  Once again, as soon as I let God take control and pick the right time, it happened. LOL. Maybe someday I will learn!
   Wish me luck!!

  BTW: Her name is Ruby

YouTube Videos

2010-10-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

I finally have my youtube videos up! Enjoy! Here are the direct links.
The name of the first one was not my idea, it was inspired by friends of mine. LOL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWzjkhR8GQ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wEOryu75l0

Talent Show and Photography!

2010-10-14T16:38:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures!!! I finally got done with the Celebrations of Nations International Idol Competition at the Rolla college. That was a lot of fun and as you can see, I dressed a little different this time to spice it up! I had so much fun and it actually was interesting. The parade had all different sort of stuff including camels and a chinese dragon! It was really cool!

Laura and I were going somwhere, i can't remember and so we decided to match on what we were wearing. I took some pictures and we had a lot of fun.

Now I am going to an old Fashioned Christmas ball this December and I can't decided what I am going to wear so here are the pictures and they are also on my sidebar where you can also cast your vote on which one I should wear! (In a few minutes) Have Fun!!!

Also, I wanted to just let some of you know that know me and know that I have high standards of purity and rules for dating. Harley, the guy who has played guitar with me, is strictly a friend and nothing more. I don't think that I have been careful enough it making that clear, and I am sorry to anyone that may have thought it different. I have not intention of dating anyone until I am at least 18 years old and ready to get married and take care of a family. So just to clear it up, we are strictly friends and nothing more. I do owe it to him that I couldn't have done it alone. Thank you harley and your family for the huge commitment you made and continue to make.

Pictures

2010-10-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

I know it's been way too long since I have posted, I have been so busy but thankfully I have finally started to settle down. I am so excited that the Holidays are coming up now and I am done with all fiddle stuff as far as I know.

On Saturday I just got done with a talent show at a college that I made. (You had to try-out) That was alot of fun, but unfortuantely I didn't get a whole lot of pictures of what I was wearing. It was really sweet!!!

Now I am at my grandparent's farm enjoyed the BEAUTIFUL fall weather! It's so amazing here when we actually get a fall!

Hope everyone has been doing well.

God Bless!

Hot Air Balloons and College Talent Show!

2010-09-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

I have finally gotten my pictures to load up and now I can tell you all about them. I have certainly been very blessed lately. I have not only enjoyed myself immensely but I have also met a lot of very nice people and God has opened some very interesting possibilities. We have been doing lots of contests as you know but we have also have gotten a few "gigs" and dabbled in talent shows. We just recently auditioned for an International Idol Contest in Rolla, Mo at the college. We did the auditions and made it! It was so exciting!! Harley and I are both looking forward to that. The show is October 9th at the college. We were asked to play for a country party middle of October, we are playing for our neighborhood party October 2nd, we have the talent show October 9th, and then next year is a whole other story. LOL.

Now that I am not taking lessons twice a week every week, I have taken the guitar back up. Harley and I sing country music too, so eventually I want to be able to not only sing with him but also play the guitar. I also want to eventually back him up on his banjo. LOL. I don't know what his dad will think of that! LOL. JK. Maybe we can share.

But as of right now, I am learning new songs every day and doing school like CRAZY! I want to graduate a year earlier and then do some extra stuff in Biology, maybe a Christian Online College Course. I am looking into the Online Patrick Henry College. The things I love most are Ancient World History and Biology. It ROCKS!!!! So I have been doing double the assignments including an elective language course so I can finish at the end of February, and totally finish school by March of 2012. Even though it is a huge amount of work, I just take careful notes and I enjoy it so much.

An interesting possibility that has come up is a girl that Harley goes to school with...(let's see if I get the story right.)...her mom is best friends with a guy on the board and they are going to hopefully get us a show there at the Country Jubilee in Branson, Mo. We would probably do a show once a month and let's just say the pay check would be nice. LOL.

But anyways, this weekend we are probably going to hang out at the farm, Harley may come and hang out and we may learn some new songs together, we will have to see. Then on Sunday Bubba has baseball tryouts.

Next weekend we are going to watch Harley do a band march, then we are going to a Purina Dog Show, THEN we are gong to set up mics and etc., for the party in our neighborhood. LOL. We are really excited about that! Then the next day we are going to a church reunion.

Beautiful scenery outside my bedroom window.

We were stuck in traffic for a very long time after the race, so I got bored and started taking pictures, these were the only good ones.

This is the Hot-air balloon race that Missouri has every year. It's a lot of work.

The girls were so excited about their new bunny ears.

He wasn't completely thrilled with his new bunny ears. LOL

another auditioner

Having fun with his uncles Harley

auditioning for International Idol Competition

Aidan looking at pictures of himself. He sure got a kick out of it!

Pictures

Grandma and Aidan

Our Hermann Show! We Really Enjoyed it!

Little Cowgirl

9/11

2010-09-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a few minutes to dedicate this post to the brave men and women who did their best to keep us safe during 9/11. They did all the could and many of them lost their lives and even thought we would would like to thanks them in person we can show our appreciation by respecting them and other in our every day lives. I would also like to thank all the veterans that are out there. No matter what you did you sacrificed so much so we could be here today enjoying ourselves at whatever we are doing. We can live happily and look forward to another day. It's because of you that I can confidently say that I am free.

For those of you who are not veterans please take the time to thank every soldier or veteran you see. I think we take for granted what they do for us more then we ought to.

It takes a lot of bravery and strength to live that life. Thank you all very much! Please take the time to listen to the national anthem tomorrow! Make sure you stop in respect, take your hat off, and put your hand on your heart. Don't be those men and women who almost don't even notice that it's being played.

There is debate on the why and the who of the accident, but regardless of who or why, innocent lives were lost because of it and men and women jumped in there to help no matter what the cost and did their best to rescue. They were Grandfathers, Fathers, Brothers, Husbands, Boyfriends, whatever. They put everything on the line for people they didn't even know. They showed true devotion and love.

God Bless and enjoy your weekend!!