Philippines!

About seven years ago, a thirteen year old girl went with her parents to the Philippines.

That was me!

We went for Jeff's wedding.

The memory still is at the top of my "greatest adventures!"

I loved every aspect of that trip....
The traveling.
The food.
The people who asked to take my picture... being a blonde was pretty fun!
Jeff and Red.
The beauty!
The warmth.....

I recently found my journal from that trip.

I laughed until I cried when I first read it.
I was so focused on food.... tsk tsk....

The only thing I am changing is the spelling and punctuation.... It was a atrocious!


Saturday, August 20, 2005

I am on my second flight to the Philippines. The first flight was a very small plane. 
We waited six hours in the Seattle airport. It was very relaxing and we ate a fantastic lunch at the Bagel Factory (Turkey and cheese on crescent.) and I had the yummiest frappuccino ever (caramel frappuccino - blended.)

Right now I am in the air flying in a big (HUGE) airplane, flying through a cloud, watching the sun set. When we reach the airport the Uslaners will be waiting for us. Then at 1:30am we will be flying away on a 22 hour flight.

I just spilled my juice on my white pants!

Sunday, August 22, 2005

We had a delightful flight last night. As soon as we sat down in the plane, I fell asleep (it was 1:30am). 
I slept right through dinner which I would not have been able to eat it anyways (The Uslaners took us to Subway and boy was that steak sandwich with cheese and all the toppings, plus a small root beer, good!). 


Anyways, I slept until about 5 the next morning, then watched movies while working latch hook rug.

Oh my goodness, the Singapore airlines are simply divine. Our stewardess is simply GORGEOUS (I got a picture of her!!!!!)!

When we first got started on our flight, our stewardess served us HOT (I mean HOT!!!) wash clothes to wash our face with (Boy, does it feel good!).

This morning when I first woke up they served us an apple and a bag of Frito's.
The Frito's I put in my carry-on, but the apple was PERFECT!

They also served us:
Brunch: Dish of fruit, bun and butter, rice crispys and milk (there was a sweet old couple beside me and dad, and they gave us there's because they didn't want them.), and omelet, sausage, orange juice, and coffee ( Dad lets me have it whenever I want!).

Lunch: Teriyaki  chicken, veggie dish, bun, potatoes, and ice cream bar. -COFFEE!

I just got pen mark all over my pants (I think they are about totaled for this trip.)

We are landing in MANILA!

I was a unique child..... can you tell?

Remembering that trip brings back SO many memories of the fun we had with Jeff.

I miss him all over again. 

The wedding was on a beautiful island called, Boracay! 

It is on my bucket list to go back to that island someday...

At the wedding.....

Ahhhhh...... Such great memories!

Sisters, Sisters...

"There were never such devoted sisters."

For as long as I can remember... I have had the same two best friends. 
There have been other dear friends, other "kindred spirits;" but only two that hold the life long record of my very "best friends."
These two would be my very dear sisters, Johanna and Beth.


There is also my latest "best friend," Marian. She is growing up so fast. Although she is almost ten years younger than me. She is also one of my "best friends."

Recently I found a "best friend" scrap book that she had done a while back. She put me as her "best friend." It meant the world to me.

 

"Those who've seen us, know that not a thing could come between us"

As devoted sisters we have lost many nights of sleep while talking about great issues of life... as well as just the trivial happenings. We can be serious and in an instant cause people to seriously doubt our sanity. 

They have been there through the rough times just as they have been there for the great times.  I remember so many times through the turmoil of "growing up" where my sisters were the ones pulling me along!

"Never had to have a chaperone, no sir, I'm there to keep my eye on her"

Having Beth get married was the most exciting thing in the world... and the craziest. 
There are loads of books for people planning on getting married... but you can't find one for the sisters. 
We had spent plenty of time planning our weddings and talking about when our "princes" would come. 
Nothing prepared us for when he actually did come. 

All our lives we had done most everything together. Now she was going to take a  giant leap into the vast un-known... alone.  It was much harder than I expected.

Beth made the perfect bride and put to shame all of those myths about "bratty brides." 

"Lord, help the mister who comes between me and my sister."

After the shock wore off... I was able to see that Jeffrey wasn't such a bad fellow after all. . 

Now he is completely and totally the big brother I have always wished for

"Caring, sharing, every little thing that we are wearing. ....She wore the dress, and I stayed home"

When I was trying frantically to decide what to wear to the audition  (It  really did matter!) of  "Cinderella," it was Jo who gave me the skirt that I still believe was the reason I got the part.
 Now that is an awesome sister! 

"Three different faces, but in tight places, we think and we act as one"

I will never be sure how or when it happened that we became the way we are today, we definitely had our hard times... but we are sisters.  I don't know where I would be without them....but I know it would be scary. 

I wouldn't trade my sisters for anything in the world! They mean so much to me!
I love you girls!

"You can kid the world.  But not your sister. " ~Charlotte Gray

I smile because you are my sister, I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it! Author Unknown

What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it?  ~Jenny DeVries

How do people make it through life without a sister?  ~Sara Corpening

A sister is a forever friend.  ~Author Unknown

Our roots say we're sisters, our hearts say we're friends.  ~Author Unknown

Sister to sister we will always be,
A couple of nuts off the family tree.
~Author Unknown

To the Memories...

I wonder what type of old lady I will be someday. I can picture myself sitting with a cup of tea (Because I will always drink tea!) reminiscing the life of my youth.

I wonder what I will remember...

It may be the late night laughing episodes, water fights, or family times together. In the midst of all of my wacky memories, will always be those special times with the Lord and memories of God's guidance and unconditional love. There will be many memories packed into my old brain... many that are still yet to come.

As I look into the future ahead of me, it reminds me that I will not always be in this comfortable place that I sit in now. Only God knows where I will be in these next years of my life.

Back to my old lady thought... I do believe that there will be a few things in my life that my mind will always hold onto! A few memories that are too dear to my heart to ever be forgotten!

Life has a way of sending curves you were not expecting. In this last year, more has changed than I ever expected or dreamed.

Thankfully.... God is faithful! He has led and loved through it all! He will continue to hold me throughout the life that He has planned for me!

A few highlights from the year!

Taking FIRST in our volleyball tournament!

My best friend/sister's wedding!

.

Becoming Cinderella for a couple of months!

Emily Rose Bickish! Making me into an aunt!

Latte's! They are a huge part of my life!

Here's to the memories!

Insanity Doesn't Run in my Family... it Literally Gallops!

My family is absolutely crazy and amazingly wonderful! Living in a home with seven kids gives an automatic guarantee that you will never be bored.

These are a few things I love about my family!

* I love the way my little siblings laugh at my ridiculous sense of humor.

* I love that brothers will not let me go to sleep without a goodnight kiss!

* I love the way my jaw aches when Marian gives me a "whopper kiss!"

* I love the way people look at me when I say that I have six other siblings!

* I love the memories of piling on the end of mom and dad's bed talking about anything we please.

* I love the fact that my mom and sisters are my dearest friends.

* I love the way my dad is always there to protect, love, and hug me!

* I love going to the beach and having my brothers get yelled at by the life-guard....over and over again!

* I love the fact that my parents are the fan-club for each one of us!

* I love our early morning family devotions... Dad preaching to his own little church!

* I love the way everything my parents taught me, pointed to Christ!

* I love the memories that we have made together... big and small, I will always cherish them!

We may be crazy and psychotic at times.... but I am so thankful for my family and the incredible support and love they have given me! No matter where I am or what I am doing, I will always treasure my family and the craziness that we share!