Happy Anniversary Dad & Mom!

Yesterday, we celebrated my parents' 35th wedding anniversary. We gathered at my sister's house and had lunch. I thought it would be cool to show you what they looked like 35 years ago and how they look 35 years later. I took a picture of their wedding photo, so I apologize for the poor quality.

Happy 35th Anniversary...may you have many more!

Michigan Vacation

This past week I had the opportunity to go to Michigan for a time of relaxation and seeing family. My parents and I drove the several hour trip on Wednesday evening. On Thursday, my mom and I went to a one-day women's conference. While I waited for my mom to finish in the restroom, a lady approached me commenting on my shirt. She asked if I had been to China and I said yes. She had recently been there too. She told me she had seen the same shirt and wanted to buy it but hadn't yet. I told her that my mom said that people will think that I bought the shirt because of the olympics. The lady said, "Don't worry about it; who cares!" (I had bought it because I had been to China.) Then mom and I went and found seats. After a great time of worship and special music by two sisters, the hostess began to introduce the speaker, Joanna Weaver, author of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. As the introduction went on, I thought..."I wonder if the speaker is the same lady I just talked to?" As the speaker walked onto the stage, I leaned over and told my mom "that's the same lady that asked me about my shirt!" She is very funny and encouraging. We have a lot in common and I was able to relate to her a LOT!

The next day, several members of my extended family went to an amusement park. My aunt and I hung out most of the day together. A couple of my cousins discovered that it is quite the audio experience to ride next to me on roller coasters! Yes, I am terrified of heights, but I love roller coasters! I think that I may finally be getting my full voice back today!Saturday, was the family reunion. This year's theme was a Hawaiian Luau. As you may see in the following pictures, we had a lot of fun and some of us...ok...maybe most of us...have a crazy side! At the end of the day, several of us have made it a tradition to walk out to the light house at dusk to view a neighboring town's fireworks from the pier. We witnessed this wonderful sunset as well as a huge coal ship.

I had also went to the lake on Friday night and captured this sunset.

Question

I have updated the birthday photos on the previous blog entry. I have also tryed many times to upload the duck video onto blogger without success. I have added it to YouTube. Does anyone know how to embed the YouTube video into my blog entry? If so, please help. In the meantime, if you would like to see the video, you may view it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmxpUUbfuRY .

Time to catch up...

I have been having issues with downloading the duck video, we will see if it works today. I also have been so busy that I have not posted in awhile about all the activity in my life. First, I spent an afternoon with dad and we went and saw some artwork in a nearby town. We also came across a beautiful yard and the lady gave me permission to take pictures of her flowers.

This piece was created by my middle school science teacher...

I spent independence day with one of my very good friends and her family. She is in town for a short while before going back to the state she lives in. We had a dinner and then went to the fireworks in a nearby town. The firework show was one of the best that I have ever seen! We had front row seats...well sort of...we were so close to where they were being shot off that we literally had to lay flat on our backs in order to see them! My friend's sister was babysitting for four little girls and we went back to their house and played Apples to Apples jr with them before they went to bed and while my friend and I waited for the firework traffic to lighten. The next morning her mom made us a really nice brunch. When her dad got home from his morning meeting, she told him that it was my half birthday. Being the corny personality that he can be he sang me his "half-birthday" song. (He really thinks that half-birthdays are great.)

July 10th, was the birthday party for my niece. We had a nice time playing games, eating (a cook-out!), and opening presents...ok we had fun watching as she had a blast opening them. She made out like a bandit thanks to a special cousin in her life. It was great to see her beam when she opened up her present from me...her very own REAL camera! Okay, so I knew she loves to take pictures but I was worried that maybe she wouldn't go for it since it was my old one. She loved it though. I did make sure to have new batteries and some film for her.

My niece asked me to curl her hair...I spent over an hour curling it and it only stayed curled for about a half hour! (Yes, I did use hairspray; her hair just does not hold curls :I )

The next day, I picked my niece up to watch her while her parents went to work. We went to Chick-fil-A for lunch. Since we made cow masks, we were able to get a free entree that day.Then we went to my house and made home-made thank you cards to send to everyone. Of course, what is a trip to my house without playing games!?! We made an afternoon of it playing Clue, UNO, Skip-bo, Rumicube, etc.

This week, another friend of mine and I met at the local park and had a picnic lunch and enjoyed the nice weather and flowers. I forgot to take my camera with me, so naturally I took a walk the next day and snapped a few pictures.

I am still looking for a full-time job. I have lost count of how many applications I have sent out. Please continue to pray that I will find one soon. Thanks.