Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Birthday Girl!!!!

Hey everyone, it's my baby sister's birthday today! She's 22!!!! Send her some love!

Sissy:

you are beautiful, fun-loving and an AMAZING mom! I love being your sister and I can't tell you how proud I am of you for allowing God to help you grow and mature as a woman and as a mom. Elijah is one blessed little boy to have you for his mommy! So hot and stylish! And full of love! Thank you for being such a treasured friend in my life, for laughing about things that only you and I think are funny and for understanding me in a unique way that only sisters can. I can't wait to see you next month! Carrie Underwood and So You Think You Can Dance, here we come! Happy happy birthday, Baby Sis! You are loved by your family, by Shawn, by your son and by God. I'm proud of you, I love you, I will always be there for you and I support you 100%. All my love, Alie






Monday, August 18, 2008

I'll see you again, Gramma...

As many of you know, my Grandma Raye (my dad's mom) went to be with Jesus on July 29th. I was blessed to be able to go home a couple weeks ago and make it in time to see my grandma one last time to tell her how much I loved her and thank her for being such a wonderful grandma. Those final moments I was able to spend with her will always be precious to me. And we, her family, were with her at her bedside singing and praying when the time came, which is exactly what she wanted. This last weekend, Steven and I were in California with my family to attend her memorial. What a beautiful service! It was a celebration of her life here on earth and a homegoing for her since she is now in Heaven with Jesus. It was wonderful to hear her be publicly honored for her servant's heart and the love of Jesus that she displayed to everyone she came in contact with. I am extremely proud to be her granddaughter and I am grateful for the spiritual inheritance and legacy that she has left for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
I love you so much, Grandma, and I am so excited that I get to see you again in Heaven some day. I can't wait to ask you all the questions I never got to ask and hear all the stories I never got to hear. You were one amazing woman who loved Jesus with all her heart and only wanted to please Him. You truly did just that. And now you see Him face to face. How beautiful! I will always miss you until I get to see you again, but I'm glad that you are out of pain and you have that new body you've been wanting. Just like the song at your memorial, you're dancing with the angels now in the very presence of Jesus.
One of my favorite memories of my grandma is a funny one. It's from my wedding day. We had just finished taking pictures out at the golf course where my reception would be and it was just about time to head to the church for the wedding ceremony when we couldn't find either of my grandmas. Then all of a sudden, my Grandma Raye comes tearing around in a golf cart that she had hijacked somehow. By this time, my grandma didn't have the best eyesite either, and my other grandma is sitting in the passenger seat of the cart with a look of complete terror on her face. It was absolutely hilarious to see my Grandma Raye driving like a dare devil all over the course with her dress hiked up enough to show her knee-high nylons. It's a memory I'll cherish forever... I love you, Grandma and I'll see you again.


Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Cutest Nephew Ever!!!

Is he ridiculously adorable or what???