Smarties

Ok, so I'm not really doing an entire post like you might think on Smarties the candy. (Though they are quite good and therefore do deserve a moment of recognition since this post appears to be named after them.)


I am talking about just one person or "smartie" (and I mean that in a good way not in a Jr. High name calling way).

Today I came from an all day seminar that my company sent me to to learn more about some of the laws that I work worth on a daily basis as a Benefits Administrator in the HR department. After finishing this 7+ hour seminar I received a "certificate of continued education" for completion in the one day training. But really should a receive such a honor for doing absolutely nothing? (I mean I simply wrote down what the instructor said and he even gave everyone the answers to the tests/exercises after each completed section).

So no, the "Smartie" here is definitely not me. The "Smartie" that I want to recognize is non other then my Mom.


Just a few weeks ago my mom completed her Masters program in teaching. There was blood, sweat, and tears involved in the process I'm sure if you were to ask her; and plenty of tests and papers that she was not given the answers to. However, on top of working full time as a teacher she plunged in and decided to become a student herself once again. She even gave up her longed for summer days of freedom to work on homework and lots of papers...now that is dedication. It has all paid off however and now she is the proud recipient of a Masters degree. What a great mom I have who has shown, and continue to show, a great dedication to all she is involved in and a great work ethic.

CONGRATULATIONS MOM! You truly are the "Smartie" here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA !

Unbelievable that Anna, whom I call my little sister (since she is my younger sister), is turning 20 today. I am so lucky to have her in my family and so very proud of all her hard work and dedication to the things that she is involved in. Her dedication to school and hard work ethic are a good example to me. She is a great sister and often makes me laugh.

I wish you lived closer Anna so we could spend time with you and celebrate with you in person on special days like today. We miss you and hope your birthday is special.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

3 Years and counting

Today Tyler and I celebrated our 3 year Anniversary. Hard to believe that it has already been 3 years. We have lots of friends and family who have gotten married the past few months and even more getting married in the next few months. It all brings back great memories of our wedding day.

What is even harder for me to believe is that I have lived up here in AK now for 3 years and 3 months, man the years go by fast. But I'm ready for my 4th winter and for many more great years with Tyler.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TY


Where Tyler and I got engaged



Our Wedding Sept. 3, 2005


Summer 2007


A few months ago in Africa 2008

Birthday Reflections

So today being my birhtday and all I thought I would share a short (and very limited) photo history of the past years. One more year down and one more year closer to 30 (scary)...though I have to say I must still be young since I am excited to turn a year older and don't mind sharing my age with those who ask.

(At home either watching TV or something...sweet hair ribbon/bow huh?)

(some time in highschool)

(First day at Master's College)

(Before Tyler and I were married)

(Last summer)

(Me today...this picture looks a little awkward 'casue it was a self portrait...best i could do...mostly so my Fam can sort of see my new hair)

Bath (not the kind in your home) and London

Well we can’t leave out the second half of our summer travels. After leaving South Africa we took a direct flight over to London. We arrived in London in the late morning and then waited around for our bus to arrive which would take us to Bath where Jessi lives. (there is actually a street in bath named after me)

We spend the first day in Bath seeing the sights. We got to see Bath Abby, which was beautiful. The stain glass windows were breathtaking and the ceilings were extremly high and all the walls and pillers and the ceiling were intricately carved and decorated. We then maundered around the rest of the town, looked at an antique map shop (they had some great old maps...i would love to have maps on the wall in one room in my home some day), walked outside the Roman Baths, and visited the Royal Crescent (which was a must see for me since Johnny Depp owns one of the houses there. Who doesn’t want to be somewhere that Johnny Depp lives right?) Then what better way to celebrate having just walked by a Hollywood stars home then to see a movie, so we did (only Johnny Depp was not in the movie that we saw)



















The next morning we saw Bath Spa University, Jessi's second home. Her classes were actually held in an old castle like watch tower. We got to climb up a somewhat dark, cool, dusty, spiderweb filled (therefore probably spider infested, though i didn't see any spiders) windy stair case to the roof and see out over all of Bath Spa's campus.
After all this walking around we were hunger so we had a great lunch at a pub near by where I got fish n’ chips (which was actually a whole half filet of fish breaded in one piece...by it was fabulous.) as we waited for our bus to arrive to take us back to town.

Jessi's home is a quaint little palce. Perfect size for her but a little cozy with three of us and all our luggage...but hey we're family so we didn't mind. After a few night at her place we headed out with Jessi to see the surrounding cities. We headed out to Ireland (i'm saving that for my next post however 'cause that was my favorite) and then over to London.

Only having one day in London made our site seeing jam packed. I did feel fairly comfortable on the underground after only one day, since we were getting on and off it about every hour. More cities should have transit like the London Underground it made commuting rather easy and simple. We managed to fit in some site seeing highlights like, the British Musium (the size of that place is unbelievable you need a whole week to see everything in the musium), Big Bend, Buckingham Palace and of course a show.
























When I pictued getting to see a show in London I thought of all the classics like Les Miserables, Phantom of the Operah, or Sound of Music. But in order to intice Tyler to see a show with us we had to be creative. So we saw "We will Rock you" a show based on the music of Queen. Now I was a little sceptical at first but boy was it awesome. It really did "rock".
Though the story line could use a little help the music made the whole show. I was suprised at how much I enjoyed it, but who doesn't like Queen's musice right?

The trip was everything we had hoped for, though way to short. It wet my appitite to go back again some day and get to spend more time seeing the sights and more shows.

Home again, Home agian

Tyler and I have finally come back home to AK. After being gone for over 2 weeks we are glad to be back home and back into a normal routine.
Our world wide excursion was phenomenal. The whole trip could not have gone better. We had a wonderful time ministering in South Africa and a great vacation visiting Jessi in the UK.

I don't know where to begin to tell of our time. So how about the beginning -- SOUTH AFRICA! With a team of 7 from Chapel by the Sea we headed over to South Africa to put together some Children's Missions Festival for about 10 days with James and Ella Embree (full time missionaries in South Africa).

The highlights of the Africa trip:

1. Getting to be in South Africa (this was my first time anywhere south of the equator)
2. Eating Curry Chicken almost every day
3. Meeting believers who live on the other end of the world from us and feeling at home with them as we share the commonality of our savior.
4. Playing and teaching Children every day (though sometimes very exhausting it was a blessing each day to work with the kids)
5. Seeing God move in the hearts of over 100 children and bringing them to salvation and impressing on several children the desire to pursue missions in their own lives as they grow older.
6. Getting to watch Tyler race a Cheetah
7. petting a baby Jaguar
8. Eating Giraffe for the first time (and actually it was surprisingly really good)
9. Having tea or coffee several times a day everywhere we went
10. Experience and seeing firsthand the greatest hospitality I have every experienced.

This shot list only begins to tell you of what we experienced while over in South Africa. Our biggest priority while over there was to encourage and help the Embree's in their ministry and it was a success. The Children's Missions Festivals went smoothly and as planned and Tyler was able to help polish up the Embree's Ministry update video for them.The Lord was truly working through our team and in the churches that we ministered to while we were there. It was amazing to see how well our team worked together.


This is a picture of Marlon and I. He is 3 years old and I got to teach him and the other preschoolers on the last two festival days. He was one of two orphan children that were there. I wish i could have brought him home with me. By the end of the festival he was calling me mom instead of Auntie Laura and always reaching out to be picked up when i was in the room.

A little note about the Hospitality that i mentioned in my list. I have never seen such generosity from anyone before. Every house we went to in Africa was an amazing experience. One night Tyler and I stayed with the pastor's family in Pretoria and the Pastor and his wife (pictured below with their 2 children) give up their room for Tyler and I to sleep in while they slept on the floor in their living room. There was no way that we would change their mind about giving us their room. I was blown away by their generosity.
I have tons of other stories and way more pictures then I can share. The short slide show below will give you a glimpse of the highlights of our full time in Africa. This short Mission trip gave me a new excitement to look at full time missions with Tyler and it reminded me of how Great our God truly is.

"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you" Psalm 9:10

World Traveling

Well Tyler and I head out to South Africa tonight. We will be working with a missionary family, the Embrees, which our church supports in South Africa for a few weeks with a team of 6 other people. While there we will be running some children's ministry programs and encouraging/supporting the Embrees.

Our travels don't stop there however, from South Africa Tyler and I head out to London to visit Jessi, Tyelr's older sister, for 5 days. After London we fly to LA to visit my Grandparents for one day (and i get to see my mom who will be down there at the same time) and then it's back home to Anchorage.

Please remember to keep us in your prayers as we minister in South Africa and for travel safety as our team flies down and as Tyler and I depart for the second half of our trip.
Come back to see pictures and updates on our trip when we return.

See ya'll in 3 weeks!