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

What about dating?

Everyday we are overcome by friends, family, books, media, etc about dating or boyfriend/girlfriend relationships. After a while it, honestly to tell the truth, gets quite annoying! So I ask, is dating biblical? Actually lets go a step further, are we putting ourselves in danger?
Lets start with, is dating biblical? No it isn't, no where in scripture does it say, "Be pure in all you do, but go ahead and say yes to the first guy who asks you out." Instead it tells us in Song of Songs 2:7, "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." In 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 it tells us to treat others with absolute purity.

Now lets go to, are we putting ourselves in danger? Well yeah we are, in the book called Before You Meet Prince Charming the author Sarah Mally tells young girls that dating and the relationships that come along with the dating are practice for divorce. Our society is basically teaching us how to divorce. This is what she means by this:
Tyler really likes Michaela, they go to the same Christian school, church, they even live two blocks away from each other. Soon Tyler starts giving Michaela some unnecessary attention, he starts winking at her, putting his arm around her... just plain flirting. Michaela just loves the attention he's giving her, so she takes it all. Soon before Tyler and Michaela know it they are inseparable, they do everything together, and they start dating. What Michaela doesn't know is Tyler already has a girlfriend. Then one day when Michaela walks into the school building she spots Tyler out of the corner of her eye with his first girlfriend. Later that day Tyler comes up to her and tells her very nicely that their relationship has to come to an end.

Do you see how dating and the relationships lead up to the young adult "divorce"? Today in the marriage life, if one is doing something the other doesn't like they usually want a divorce. In a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship if one doesn't want to continue the relationship they "divorce" at a young age.

I'm not trying to be your conscience, but I just felt like I really needed to blog about this topic. I'm sorry if I sounded like I was trying to tell any of that you need to stop dating. But I'll be praying that the Lord used this post to touch your heart in anyway.
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Feel free to leave a comment I would really like to here what you have to say about this topic!

In His unfailing love,
Ali Ann

March 2010 Reading List

Jim Elliot - this man was a man who was called by God to be a missionary in Ecuador. This book tells about his senior year in high school up to the time of his last breath. It really puts in perspective how dangerous missions can be, but that didn't stop Jim and his friends. Will Jim and his friends see their loved ones again? Will they reach the lives of the people in Ecuador? This is an awesome biography (I'm not one who is all about biographies). I highly recommend this book for all ages.

Do Hard Things - Alex and Brett tell you that just because you are called a teenager, you are expected to basically stun the world and meet even higher expectations. This is a must read, I highly recommend this book. What does the world expect from us teenagers? Are we really expected to do much less than the pioneer children were? This book tells us what the world expects out of kids our age. And what God expects out of kids our age. This book is very appropriate for the teen ages.

Woman of the Forest - this fiction book is another really good book. This book is about a teenage boy who is really lost spiritually and always in some sort of trouble when he is around his friends. When his parents decide to change they are living their lives, the young boy decides home isn't the place he wants to be. Soon he finds himself lost and with a strange woman with a bunch of secrets, in the middle of nowhere. Will he ever get back home, or will he be stuck with the crazy old woman forever. This book is an awesome Christian book as well, it is appropriate for all ages.

I'm currently reading:

Home-making by J.R. Miller

Anne Frank: the diary of a young girl

Trial and Triumph by Richard m. Hannula

My 15th birthday

Saturday and Monday my family and I celebrated my fifteenth birthday, my parents and sister made this birthday a really special birthday. This is how my birthday went:

Saturday my mom and dad took Sydney and I out to eat at Blake's Cafe, after dinner we headed for a place called Austin's Park. While we were there we played Laser Tag, we rode the Go-Karts, and the bumper boats. After the park closed we went to Sonic and got a late night sweetie.

Since I turned fifteen my mom and dad decided I was old enough to watch Passion of the Christ. So Sunday night we watched and, I think I was still a little to young to see this movie (it shook me up a little too much).

Then yesterday we just had a family party. On our way to go have some lunch my friends called and wished me a happy birthday. We had Burger King for lunch and then went to Austin for the day. When we got home mom made Bacon wrapped Scallops with confetti rice, and baked beans. Then for dessert we had cake (made by the Wal-mart bakery) and mint chocolate chip ice cream. Then I opened the gift my sister got me, she had gotten me a scrapbook and scrap-booking accessories, and a shower wrap. And my dad had bought me some white Carnations for my birthday.

Like I say EVERY year: "This is the best birthday ever!"

We will be leaving for Iowa next Monday so when I get back I'll post pictures because my birthday will be expanding while we are on our trip. I'll post some pictures when we get back :)

In His unfailing love,

Ali Ann

What to do at nearly fifteen

1. Wear dad's size eleven and a half size shoe, so you can mow the back lawn.
2. Throw the ball for your 11 year old Golden Retriever when you're trying to mow the lawn.
3. Try to hug your mom after you've just mowed the lawn, but she tries to tell you politely that you REALLY need a shower.
4. Play tag with your sister in the backyard.
5. Chase the cat so you can hold her, even though you know it makes her VERY MAD!
6. Get wonderful grades on your math!
7. Practice the Entertainer and River Flows in You on the piano because those two songs are your piano recital songs.
8. Bug your dad to take you to Sea World or even driving.
9. Get your AWANA Cubbies leader roll pin.
10. Look out the front door and seeing a beautiful Dogwood in full bloom.
11. Have to wait another year to get your Driver's Permit.
12. E-mail your friend who lives 1000 miles away.
13. Plan your fifteenth birthday party.
14. Give your dad a hug when he comes home from work.
15. Thank God for your beautiful, special, and blessed life here on earth.

Another Stray!

Yesterday we tried to adopt a cute miniature poodle who we named Simon. The reason I say tried, is because he was very aggressive plus he bolted when my dad opened our garage door. But other than that he was absolutely positively adorable! Here are some pictures I thought I'd share with you all.

This is the little guy - Simon.

He was watching Syd, who had pizza :)

Just absolutely adorable puppy love :)

It's a shame he was aggressive and ran away, but Sydney and I enjoyed him TREMENDOUSLY! By the way we had to shave him because it was almost as if he had dreadlocks matted into his fur. So when he ran away from us he wasn't so cute, he was honestly UGLY!!

In His unfailing love,

Ali Ann