For My Sister

Dear Hobbes,

     Where could I even begin? Maybe I'll start by saying that you are beautiful, inside and out. You have such a caring, and compassionate heart that overflows to everyone who comes in contact with your lovely smile, and I will never be the same because of it. You constantly inspire me, with your driven, hard working, never-give-up, attitude, and I am so very proud of the lady you are becoming. 

But most of all, I love the way you love Jesus, and how He shines through your words and actions.
Never, never stop.
"Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who's confidence is in Him." - Jeremiah 17:7
My life experience may not yet be complete, but I know that this is true, even if nothing else is. 

A lot has been thrown in your way over the years, especially the last few, and I know that "hard" doesn't cover it. But He has a beautiful plan for your life, that He made just for you, and He's not done yet.
"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 

"No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly." 
- J. R. R. Tolkien 

As I look at myself, and see the person I'm becoming, it's amazing to see all the things in me that have changed because of you; the things that no one else could change.  When I want to give up, or break down, you often give me just the push I need, and I will always be grateful for that.

Having you as my sister is hands down, one of the best things that has ever happened to me. All the laughter, all the adventure, all the late nights, even all the tears has made every second worth it, and I wouldn't take any of it back. 

Just because the past has been difficult, doesn't mean that the future will be easy, but I know that you are very well equipped for the task. Always know that you are loved, and not alone.
"Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future that only He can see." - Corrie Ten Boom

"Sometimes me think, 'What is friend?' and then me say, 'Friend is someone to share the last cookie with." 
- The Cookie Monster
And you will never have to ask me twice if I want a cookie. ;) Happy, Happy, Happy sweet 16, my darling sister!
I love you more than I know how to say!  

London

After Ireland, the next big trip we made was a whole day spent in London!
It was so fun to see a bunch of the major landmarks that are so often on tv.

 We go up really early and headed to the train station! It only took about an hour to get there. The trains are awesome!

First stop, Big Ben! It is actually attached to the Parliament building, and not just by itself, which I didn't know before.

Ice cream on the way to the palace!

At Buckingham Palace!

We got to see the changing of the guard, and it was really cool to be there! They had a band that played a medley of songs from Les Miserables! The only problem was that there were sooo many people that we really couldn't see anything, except what we got by holding our cameras over our heads!

We got to take a tour of Westminster Abby and it was really beautiful!

Tower Bridge!

This was at the Baker Street underground station! We got to to to the 221b Baker Street Sherlock Holmes museum! They had a house that was made to look like what Sherlock Holmes's house would have looked like, and there was a nice gift shop!

What's London without some rain? The problem is that it always just drizzles, it never pours, so everything is always just damp. It's not the fun kind of rain. We were doing our best to keep the cameras dry!

Then we went to Piccadilly Circus, which is what you think of when you think of shopping in London. It was really fun to just walk around, and there were signs all over for the different West End musicals, which of course made my heart happy.

Then is was a mad dash back to the train station in time to catch our train, and we made it with only six minutes to spare! Huge city with so many fun things to see and do! I can't wait to go back!

Ireland Pt. 3

We stopped at several different beaches to enjoy the view, and to just enjoy playing in the sand. If it had been warmer, it could have been Florida!

Dinner, after a hard day of sight seeing and laughing!

Me with my "twin!"

Speed shopping for souvenirs! 

Fun times in the car, with the iPods. Take your pick, anything from Lecrae to One Direction. :)

At the airport, modeling our new shirts!

Well, after a week galavanting around what has to be one of the most awesome countries ever, I can honestly say that as cool as it was, it's not where you go, but who's by your side that counts.

Best vacation ever.

Ireland Pt. 2

One day that we were traveling to our next destination, and we pulled over for lunch and went mountain climbing! It was really fun, and we went up until there was a fence, and we couldn't go any further.

When we got up about half way, there was a giant pond/small lake! (However you want to look at it.) It was so beautiful!

You could see forever, and it was really fun!

Then when we went back down, we got some ice cream!

All of the scenery was amazing and just looked like a backdrop or a green screen.

All the sunshine was glorious, of course, shades and all!

"Happiness is not a station to arrive at, but a manner of traveling."

To be continued...

Ireland Pt. 1

Some people go to Florida for spring break, and others go to Ireland!
It's finally time to catch up on pictures!

Exploring Blake Castle!

We spent a week of spring break exploring and making a loop around southern Ireland!

Enjoying the glorious sunshine!

It was sunny almost the whole time, which the locals said is unheard of. Ireland is supposed to be even more rainy than England.

Blake Castle

Hands down, the best vacation I have ever been on! We got to see so many cool things, and it is so hard to choose which pictures to post!

But as always, the best part, was just being together.

Church in the middle of nowhere.

All of the castles, and old churches over here don't even seem real. You just expect to see Robin Hood, or Arthur and Merlin walk around a corner at any moment!

Even though it is still so early in the year, there are flowers everywhere because it doesn't get cold enough for the ground to freeze.

There are cows and sheep all over Ireland, and while England has them, they are far less in number.

The Cliffs of Moher

The cliffs were amazing! These pictures don't even come close to showing you what it really looks like. 

It was super windy, and a little cold, but so worth it!

To be continued...

Bath and Oxford

Yes, I know. I am far behind on posts. But that just means you get more pictures in less time!

Me at the train station.

Everyone here travels by train, all the time! They will even put their kids on a train by themselves. They take the train and the bus, even more than they drive themselves. 

Inside Bath Abby

As you can see, the Bath Abby, is really beautiful! There was a group practicing for a concert that night, so we got to hear them play Bach on violins, and cellos, and mandolins! It was really cool!

We walked all around that part of Bath, and it was so pretty! It was really interesting to see all of the modern stores, in the old stone buildings. It looked like something out of Jane Austen, except with stores like Banana Republic! 

Bodleian Library, Oxford

Next we went to Oxford! We were able to tour a part of the Bodleian Library, and it so so awesome, but we couldn't take pictures inside. The whole inside smelled like old books!

Me and Sam waiting at the bus stop.

When we were there we got to ride on the top of the double decker buses!

Me and Melissa on the bus.

We got to walk all around and see the shops, and the awesome buildings and we got to see THE lamp post that inspired Lewis for the Narnia books! 

Sam and I with the lamp post!

At the train station, on the way home!

More posts and pictures soon!