Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Dear Daddy,
I pray that today you are shown just how important and special you truly are.  God has molded you into an amazing man after His heart!  I'm very proud to call you Daddy :)

For the past 17 years you have been my hero, my confidant, and my best friend.  Who would have thought that Father's Day 2016 I would be celebrating you all the way in West Africa?!

Enjoy your day Daddy!!!!!

I love you and miss you very much!

Love,
Ali <3

A sneak peak

I absolutely love when I have the opportunity to take people's pictures ... even if it's in my own family lol ;)

My mom and dad needed someone to take their pictures before they went on a nice date for their 15th anniversary .... so I told them I would snap the few pictures.

Here's a picture from the bunch (the rest will come this Thursday [Lord-willing])!

Trips, trips, trips, & more trips

Trips.  Our family has taken so many trips lately, it is unbelievable!  Just kidding...I've enjoyed it tremendously!  As usual...here are some pictures!  Enjoy ;D

For Momma's b-day we went to Virginia Beach:

(The first five were taken at the Living Museum)

 I love sea turtles

 Momma & Daddy

 RJ...sorry this picture is somewhat blurry....he wouldn't stop moving long enough for me to take a decent one :P

 I just liked the way this one turned out!

At the beach:

The walk to the shore....

 Looking at....

 ....this dead guy

I love the beach!!

 The sun-set....{sigh}

 These chairs were awesome!!

Not sure what these were exactly...I will have to look it up

 ...

Visiting family in Iowa:

 Me and Charlie Black...my grandpa's Cockapoo

I really want a Cockapoo :D

 Papa let Sydney drive the Bad boy buggie...

 ...she got a little carried away :P

Papa also let me ride the 4-wheeler...so I gave Sydney a ride, since she isn't old enough to drive it yet!

 B.F.F.L 

Best Friends For Life

 Sydney Rheyanne...

I cannot believe she is almost 12...WOW!

Thanks to all who left the sweet comments while I've been away!  They were very much appreciated :D

Love from,

Alisha

xoxox

My favorite music : part 4

The first time I heard this song, I started to tear up.  My mom is the one who told me about Jesus and she's the one who taught me to sing (however...I don't sing as beautiful as her...in fact I can't sing to save my life)!  My mom means so much to me...love you Momma!

Love from,
Alisha
xoxoxox

Birthday blessings

Surprises...I absolutely love surprises!  Now I will admit, I may try to find out what it is, but I love the feeling you get when you are getting closer to finding out what it is :D  April 5th I celebrated my 18th birthday, which was the most memorable day of my life!  I hope you all enjoy all the pictures I've posted :P

April 3: We went to church, and had the most incredible service ever!  Preacher felt led to allow everyone give testimony of what the Lord has been doing in their lives.  Our unintended revival service was 2 hours and 15 minutes of nothing but lifting the Lord up in praises and thanksgiving.  At the end, everyone was crying, hugging each other, telling them how much they loved the other person.  While my friend played "Amazing Grace" during the altar call, I became a blood-bought child of the LORD!

April 4: I spent all day cleaning my very messy room...Mom said it needed to be done before the next day.  After that, Momma, lil' D, Sydney and I went to the mall after picking Ian up from school.  While we were there, we three ladies got our Bibles inscribed.  Then we went to Bath & Body Works...Ian loved it there (the only reason he loved it, was because he was able to put on some of the cologne Momma bought for Daddy).  Then Sydney and I were dropped off at the library, we were asked to do the puppet show :D  When that was over, it was back home to finish up my room!

Now it's time for the pictures to speak for themselves :D  Enjoy!!

 Yes...this lil' man was wearing my sunglasses :P

 Sydney...she is such a beautiful young lady!

Me, Sydney, and lil' D on our way to Pigeon Forge, TN

(for those of you wondering...we had no clue where we were going)

We finally arrived in Pigeon Forge...the three of us were so surprised.  We were even more surprised when we turned into the parking lot of the....

Dixie Stampede...that's right my parents had bought tickets to this awesome dinner theater!!

More pictures from the Dixie Stampede:

Me and Momma...I don't know why people say we look alike :P

The host of that night's show

The show really got Syd's attention...it was full of horses.  In case you were wondering, Sydney is a true horse fanatic :P

What we had for dinner...it was yummy!

The end of the show...the song Dolly Parton sung was beautiful

Outside of the Dixie Stampede:

 Me and my hero...I love him so much!

We wore our church sweatshirts while we were in Pigeon Forge.  It is truly amazing at how people respond to somebody wearing a long skirt and scripture on their back.

The next day was just as exciting as the day before!  We all went to Wonder Works (which sort of like a children's museum) and then we went to Marble Slab Creamery!

We went to IHop for breakfast...

...well, everyone except for me...I had lunch :P

Yes...this house is indeed upside down...you aren't just seeing things :P

 I love this girl!  And no, it may seem like she's choking me, but she was just giving me a hug around the neck :P  No choking was allowed on my 18th bday!

 All of us tried out the bed of nails...Daddy, Momma, Sydney and lil' D said it hurt.  It didn't hurt...even my friend said that it felt uncomfortable to him, I agree!

 CREEPY... :P

 Lil' D loved the bubble room...as you can tell :P

 And after this outing...our sweet indulgence :D

Mine was birthday cake ice cream (appropriate for the occasion) with Heath Bar and Reeses Pieces

If you haven't been to Marble Slab Creamery before, I encourage you to go...it is yummy!

Well...there you have it...as you can see my 18th birthday was fabulous :D

Love from,
Alisha

xoxoxox

I will never be the same

I grew up going to church, and like most children, I knew the song “Jesus Loves Me” – I even went to a Christian daycare.  Although I had grown up hearing about God and Jesus, I didn't know that I was a sinner damned to Hell.  My mother became a Christian in 1997, but as a new Christian she didn't know exactly how to live out her faith (God was slowly working on her).

When I was eight years old, my mother led both me and my dad to the Lord.  I truly believe that I became a part of the family of God that night.  However, as a young child, I believed that the Christian walk was going to be a bed of roses.  I have always had an evangelistic heart – I began witnessing to everyone (I was even sent to the principles office for witnessing on the playground).  At eight and a half years old I gave a piece of my heart to my good friend, only to have him break my childish heart a few days later.

At nine years old, God led me to trusting Him with my heart.  December 27, 2009 I vowed to remain pure until the Lord brought the right man into my life.  I went to all of my friends and told them about the decision I had made.  Instead of encouragement, I heard “Alisha you're crazy!”, but I didn't let that phase me.  I kept on keeping my heart pure – and still am.

When I was thirteen, the Christian walk became an extremely bumpy path for me.  We had been living in TX for a year, when my parents told me that I wasn't able to go to the young group until I was fourteen.  I got mad at God and my parents, and decided that I could live my life better without God.  Finally fourteen rolled around and I was able to go to the youth group.  One night, the pastor's son asked me out on a date.  Out of spite for my parents, and without hesitation, I told him “yes”.  Surprised to hear that I had accepted, he told me that it was an April Fools joke, which really bothered me.  God was trying to pull me closer to Him by giving me an uneasy feeling about this youth group.  Heeding this feeling, I stopped going, and thankfully God led us to a different church.

At the age of fifteen, I got myself into some trouble and even contemplated hurting myself.  I was choosing to follow the crowd, and not follow the Word of God.  I was allowing my past mistakes to control me.  I was in a secret relationship, listened to music that wasn't glorifying to God, talking like the world, and simply not living my faith out.  

When I turned sixteen, I couldn't hide my miserable life any longer.  I told my parents what I had been doing, and they were extremely disappointed in me.  Hearing them say “We're extremely disappointed in you” was heartbreaking, but it caused me to think of how I had disappointed my Heavenly Father.  I had walked around calling myself a Christian, while living like the rest of the world.  My parents prayed with me, asking God to change my heart, and if I wasn't truly saved – to save me.  I knew I was truly saved, but I wanted life done with me in the driver's seat.

From then on, I really dove into the Word and started getting my life back on track.  I still made silly mistakes, but I finally realized that I had victory over them!  I realized that they didn't have to consume me, and that I didn't have to beat myself up over them.  I knew that I didn't have to let my past control me, and that I had been forgiven.

When we moved to Virginia, we started to attend a small Baptist church.  Two nights before my eighteenth birthday, the pastor felt the Spirit leading him to allow the congregation to give praises, thanksgiving, apologize to people – it was a wonderful impromptu revival service.  Four nights ago (April 3, 2013) I surrendered my life to God.  That night I realized the following:

Yes I became a Child of God at eight years old – and was baptized two months later.  I had made mistakes that I regret (even to this day).  What I was missing in my walk with God was complete surrender!  I needed to get out of the driver seat and allow God to take the wheel of my life.  Until I surrendered control, my life wouldn't be in line to God's will.

Now at the age of eighteen, I am so thankful that I have not only given Him full control, but I have given Him my dreams/desires.  Once I surrendered my dreams/desires to God, He has opened doors for me that I honestly never thought would be opened (oh me of little faith).

While I regret the mistakes I made in my past, I know God will use them to touch other peoples lives.  I am thankful that while I decided to live life my way, I never lost sight of what my Savior did for me!

2012 memories // a recap of last years blessings

Hello m' friends! {big smile}  Looking through pictures back in 2012, I'm absolutely thankful for such a brilliant year that 2012 was.  I learned so much, many memories were made, I was encouraged by many people, not to mention my amazing readers started reading this blog {wink}, and list could keep on going!  With all that said, here is a post full of memories from 2012...you don't have to read all of it!


January 2012

top three pics: enjoying ourselves at a nature reserve // Sydney learned the danger of knives at 10 //
me playing for offertory at our old church // snagging a Geo-cache

February 2012

top three pics: enjoying the Co-op tubing trip // family game night - featuring Jenga // enjoying sister time in the snow // moving into the house we live in currently

March 2012

doing school on warm spring days // capturing God's handwork // playing in the sand //

bread day // two bottom middle pics: young ladies youth sleepover // God's promise to us

April 2012

My favorite month...why?  Oh maybe because on the fifth I celebrate my bday, because on the 17th (o f 2011) I gave my heart to Jesus...or maybe because last year the church we used to attend did a dinner theater, IDK.  Why it's my favorite month will always remain a mystery :P

My bday:

getting started to start the mystery party // a deep conversation between Tanya Bunsoff and Chantella Soule // me blowing out the fire that was on the table LOL // the whole gang goofing 'round // see teens can cooperate ;D // my awesome bday cake...yep that's right...this April yours truly will be 18 (and I should get my license sometime before or after that)

Dinner Theater:

 me and Mom before the play started // stop taking pictures Dad! // "Polly Hunter and Dora Lee Grit" // Me and Katie (she's 13 and 5'8") // "Mr. & Mrs. Reginald Northcutt" // Me and "Fester"

May 2012

Along with Mothers Day, and Mom's birthday, we (Sydney and I) had a sister sleepover.  Us four girls had a Nerf war...and is was the awesome-est war ever!  (oh and if awesome-est isn't a word...it is now :P)

Prepared to start :D

getting ready for a fantabulous Nerf war

having our garden prepped // Toby enjoyed our garden just as much as we did // Sydney played in the fresh dirt // little tomato plants // Enjoying our gift from Grandma // going to the park // making silly faces for Mom

June 2012

Grabbing a Geo-cache called the "Rubber Chicken"

"A camping we will go..."

July 2012

Going on a family hike

making funny faces at Foam-henge

        the whole family at Foam-henge

August 2012

Rollerblading in the family skating rink

Summer puppet show

       County fair

September 2012

Bible quizzing 

Veggie Tales: God Made You Special

October 2012

Family dinner at Cici's Pizza (I absolutely love Cici's)

Holding a Dusky at Pet Smart

getting one last pic of Mr. Gilly

November 2012

going to a football game with our friends


more football pictures

 this is as close as we got to snow - frost :P

December 2012

 getting my ears pierced again!

allowing Morgan to do my hair...I'm going to miss her! 

Meeting this awesome girl (Morgan)...she is a really good friend!

 

What are your goals for this year!  I would love to hear them...that is what comments are for;D

Serving HIM,

Alisha