My Past Weekend

I'm afraid I've had a touch of writer's block over the past few weeks. However, I would love to share some pictures with you. I went to a retreat over the weekend and I was very blessed to meet some wonderful new friends and listen to very encouraging sermons. The topic was apologetics and defending the faith. I was challenged to speak more boldly for Christ instead of being a lukewarm Christian. Overall it was a great weekend.

Enjoy the pics!

The view from where I was staying.

Some great people =)

Fun group game-Apples to Apples!

Pretty, isn't it?


Playing foosball. So much fun!

My awesome roomates. And guess what-the first two also share my name! It got a little confusing! Especially when we would call for each other.

'Tis the Season...

I guess I'm a little overdue for a post. To start with, I am officially done for the semester! I had my last exam tonight (and it was hard) but now it's all over. I thought I'd share some pictures of what's been going on this month. Christmas is my favorite holiday, so I've been having so much fun buying presents (I have them wrapped or put in bags already!), listening to Christmas music, and watching Christmas movies.

What are some of your favorite Christmas films? If you look back in my archives from December 2007, I made a post about some of my favorite Christmas movies. I could probably add a couple new ones to my list, but my top favorites are It's a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, The Bishop's Wife, and the Nativity Story. And Neesie, I'm sorry I fell asleep watching that at your house the other night! After seeing most of In the Good Old Summertime last week, I'd have to say that is becoming another favorite of mine. Well, here are some pictures.

Matt, Rachel, and Melissa at my grandma's house on Thanksgiving. Isn't her tree pretty?

Melissa waiting for us to decide on which Christmas tree we should pick.

Matt and Ryan
In front of our Christmas tree!

My Dad cutting it down.

Now the fun part...decorating it. Matt and I are always the last ones decorating the tree- we love doing it!

The finished product.


Our Christmas village

This is our Christmas picture for 2008.

My brother and I went to a fun brunch at Bev's house

My friend, Neesie (and Bev's younger sister), is turning 16 soon, so I went to her party over the weekend. The theme was from It's a Wonderful Life. It was very cute!

Laura came for the party too. Yay for friends!

Happy Birthday Neesie!

Friends and Birthdays

Yesterday I took my little friend, Nicki, out for her birthday. She's 10 now!

Nicki loved the carousel ride in the mall.

After we went out to eat, I surprised her by taking her to Build-A-Bear workshop!

Before her panda was stuffed.

Awww, she loves her panda.

Making a wish for her new furry friend.
Somebody's happy. =)

He's all stuffed now! Nicki called him Joseph.

Next stop: the Hallmark store. Nicki loves those Webkinz animals, so we picked up a leopord one.

Looking at the pretty fountain by the coffee shop in the mall (and throwing 2 little pennies in- I wonder what she wished for?). The lights at the bottom make the water change colors.

We tried a bunch of photoshoots together...these two are my favorites.

Happy Birthday Nicki!