Friendship

Recently I've been thinking about how blessed I am to have the friends that I do. But really I thinking about one very, VERY special friend... my little sister.

She will be a friend that will always be there for me. My friendship with her will last a lifetime, and I recently been so worried about the choices in the friends I've made now, when I actually have a best friend by my side everyday.

Siblings are such a blessing and we need to take the time and enjoy the time we have with them. Instead of being worried about the next time we get to hang out with our friends from church or from school. It's okay to have good friends to hang out with, but those friends we meet at church or at school won't always be there for us when we're older. My mom has told my sister and I this many times in the past few years, and it's so true, there are friends that I used to ALWAYS play with when I was younger, and I don't even see them anymore. The only true friend you will ever have lives in the same house as you, you may even share a room with her, and she is the one that constantly wants to do everything that you want to do.

Sydney, you are the greatest friend and little sister I could ever have, I love you so much!

In His unfailing love,

Ali Ann

Our Trip to Iowa

Last month we went to Iowa for my older sister's wedding, and while we where there we visited family and friends. Just thought I'd share the pictures with y'all.

We were at a rest stop in Joplin, Missouri, and boy is the grass different than the grass here in Texas :)

Our friends have chickens and my sister LOVED to get the eggs (my friend was overjoyed to know that while we were there, she didn't have to get the eggs).

This is our grandma, grandpa had to get some farm equipment so we went along.

This is grandpa, he loves to farm :)

Friendship is just the most amazing thing, these three just get along so well. Plus they all have the same personalities.

Speaking of the same personalities... she and I are SO MUCH ALIKE, it's amazing, and sometimes scares the both of us :)

This is my beautiful sister and her Prince Charming

The trip was REALLY fun and we had a wonderful time with family and friends, and got a WHOLE LOT of pictures :) I hope y'all enjoyed the pictures, special thanks to my mom she took the wedding pictures.

In His unfailing love,

Ali Ann

"Teenager" an unfair modern label - part 2

Four months ago I talked about the term teenager as a label, because people have such low expectations from us. This time I'll be talking about taking a stand for what you believe.

When I say take a stand, that doesn't mean stand up out of your chair, it means taking a stand for the glory of God. Don't take a stand to please men, but to please the King of Kings. Have you ever made a hard decision? The one thing about huge decisions is you really need to think about the choice you need to make. Will the choice you make please God or will it please men? Maybe this story about taking a stand will help you.

Katie is a young girl trying to live her life for Christ, but since she goes to a Public Christian School it is very hard for her to make the right decisions most of the time. As she was walking toward the school cafeteria she heard all kinds of gossip (mostly about the latest relationships). As she took a seat next to her best friend Carly. Carly started talking about the new girl in the eighth grade and how she won't even date. Carly asked for Katie's opinion on what she thought about the new girls decision. Katie was trapped, she knew that God tells us in the Bible not to gossip, but she also really wanted to give her opinion on this topic. She tried her best to change the subject, but it wouldn't work. Carly was insistent on getting an answer from Katie. So Katie told Carly that not going out on a date was such a wonderful idea, and with her answer she got up, took her tray, and sat next to the new girl. Soon Carly found out that Katie believed the same way the new girl believed in, and started mistreating Katie, by spreading rumors about her through the school. Right then Katie decided to associate with the new girl.

Katie took a stand for what she believed, she knew that #1 not only her parents, but God would not a prove of her talking about the new girl in a disrespectful way. #2 Katie believed in staying absolutely pure for the right man God had for her. Why she didn't speak about her decision with her so called friends, well she was scared.

Taking a stand may sound scary, but with out you even knowing, it may affect the lives of many, or it may not. Taking a stand is what this world needs from us young adults, especially in the world we live in today. Don't do the expected, do the UNEXPECTED :)

Join me in taking a stand and doing the unexpected!

In His unfailing love,

Ali Ann

P.S. Sorry I didn't post part 2 four months ago.

Mom's Banana Bread

I thought I'd share this recipe with y'all, it is so yummy! I hope you and your family enjoy this recipe as much as we do :)

Cream together:

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup sugar

Add:

• 2 beaten eggs
• 3 well mashed ripe bananas
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. soda

Beat well. Bake in small square cake pan at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or loaf pan for 1 hour. Or you can cook it for 30 minutes for a 9 x 12 pan.

Again I hope you and your family enjoy this recipe :D

In His unfailing love,

Ali Ann