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

Just a fun day & how our life WITHOUT God!

Just the past few days I have taken a whole bunch of pictures and thought I'd do a photo post! Hope you enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed taking them :)

This is our dog when she's in real deep thought (she's mostly thinking about the milk bones in the cabinet).

Sydney & I after our makeover.

Valentine's Day I received flowers from dad :)

It finally snowed!

We went to the University and fed the ducks.

Dad, Sydney, & I went to the annual Father, Daughter Dance, we all had a wonderful time.

I just had to add this one! The city puts this decoration up every Christmas season, and takes it down EVERY EASTER!

Without God our week would be:

Sinday, Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday, Fightday & Shatterday!

Please pass this on if your not ashamed of our loving God. Remember WITHOUT God makes one WEAK!

In His unfailing love,

Ali Ann

"Teenager" an unfair modern label - part 1

Where did the word teenager really come from? What do people expect from teenagers?

I have lately asked myself these questions about teenagers and what is really expected from me, besides preparing for my Prince Charming. So I started reading the book Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris, I'd thought I'd share what I've learned from the book so far.

I'm sure you all have heard someone in your family say, "Oh she's (or he's) a teenager, she (or he) will be fine." I know I've heard it, from my own family (extended), and from afar. People in our society think that since we're teenagers we're old enough to do what ever we want to do, but the word teenager doesn't mean anything, it is simply just a term. As I was reading I came across a pop quiz that I had no clue what the answer was. Thought I'd test you and see if you can guess the answer.

The first documented use of the word teenager was:

(a) Tyndale's first edition English New Testament in 1526.

(b) Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in 1623.

(c) Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac in 1739.

(d) Theodore Roosevelt's Strenuous Life speech in 1899.

(e) A Reader's Digest issue in 1941.

(f) Alex and Brett made it up for their book.

(This quiz was taken from the book Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris)

The answer in (e). It' hard for me to believe that the term teenager has been around for about seventy years. I read on interested to see where they were going with the quiz. Then I came across the verse below:

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

1 Corinthians 13 : 11

Notice the verse doesn't say:

"but then I became a teenager and I looked like an adult, I sounded like an adult, but I still acted like a child."

This astounded me, I had never taken into account that when the Bible talks to the younger adults, it just mentions youth. The Bible doesn't mention the word teenager.

As I kept reading I came across a schedule that preteens and younger teens (10 -14) are supposed to follow.

• Make your bed every day.
• be able to take a message on the phone
• clean your room every week (with help from mom and dad)

Then Brett and Alex gave a list that the older teens (15 +) are supposed to follow.

• do a daily chore [ just one], like taking out the trash
• make sure the gas gauge stays above a quarter of a tank
• clean your room every week (with no help from mom and dad)

(these lists were taken from the book Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris)

Teenager is a word that our society created because the society we live in today doesn't expect much out of teenagers, they tell us to grow-up, but still act like a kid. I look back to the days when my great, great grandparents were my age. They were supposed to watch their younger siblings, cook dinner when their mother was away, the men were able to find a job at the age thirteen, and they were allowed to get married at thirteen or fourteen! That's because their society expected more from the youth back in those days. Today in our society people would look at me like I was some kind of freak, if I were to get married at thirteen or fourteen.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that our society has labeled the youth unfairly, and that they have stopped expecting a whole lot from us.

I absolutely recommend this book, it is VERY appropriate.

In His everlasting love,

Ali

I cannot believe it!

As I told you last year, my dad had found a vacant lot with a bunch of roads and started teaching me how to drive a manual, then the city closed it up and put in a major highway. Well this year I may be behind the wheel again, but I wont be driving on a bunch of vacant roads, I may be driving to church, the store, etc.

Here in Texas you have to be fifteen to get your Learner's Permit, so last year when I turned fourteen my mom and dad decided to let me get a head start and picked up the Driver's Handbook so I could start studying. Yeah well that didn't work out so well, because once I started reading Chapter one I threw the book behind my back and said, "forget about it, I'll just wait 'til 2010 to read it then." I kept my word, but now I have two months and I'm only on Chapter five (which happens to be the longest chapter IN THE WORLD!)
So with the encouragement from my parents I am planning on getting my permit exactly on my fifteenth birthday, unless I fail the test.

I guess to sum this all up I'm really excited for April to come so I can take the test!

~made 2 praise~

A give-away

Just thought I'd let you know that Practically Pink is hosting another give-away. This event ends on the 22nd and she will announce the winner on the 23rd.

With Emily's permission here are some pics so you can see what the award is.

This scarf is perfect for this time of year! Don't miss the chance to receive this beautiful

prize. Visit http://practicallypink.blogspot.com/ for the information on how to enter.

~made 2 praise~

A new year update

We had a GREAT Christmas and are having a Blessed new year. Just thought I would share some of the things we did.

We went to Sea World, visited Shamu Clause and friends, and rode as many rides as we could :)

We went geocaching (this geocache was actually up in the tree).

Sydney was in a Christmas program at our church.

We had an awesome Christmas (our parents said it was going to be a small Christmas).

I received new clothes & penguin slippers + GLASSES!!!

I hope you all had a Blessed Christmas and a wonderful new year. Happy 2010!!!!

~made 2 praise~