Sorry this is late....

    But I wanted to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!...yeah, almost a week late, I know. Sorry. Original plan was to do it on Thanksgiving (go figure :)). But my plans are not always God's plans, and long story short...ran out of time.
    You all are so special to me, and I wanted to let you know that you all are something that I am very thankful for. Not just on a holiday set apart for giving thanks, but every other day as well. Your friendships mean so much to me, and even though we're hundreds and thousands of miles apart, I think of you constantly.
    A lot has happened over the past 6 months (let alone the past 2 years!), and it has made me cherish the friendships that I made with you all, all the more.
    Hope that all of your Thanksgiving's were wonderful and full of friends and family. Love you all!
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you" - Philippians 1:3
-Evey

From the Land of Flat-Pancake-Ness!

Yes, this is Sophia. =)

I never realized just how flat IL was, until I went to my most beloved CO...!

I digress.

Really I would like to say an Official Blog, "Hullo!", to all of you dear gels. +)

To Emily, Bethany, Lindsay, and Whitney: I say, it has been Utterly Jolly getting to see you, since November, 2010! =D I want to see you again, in the very near future!

And to Anna, Evelyn, Rachael, Mary-Liz, and Baylie: I say, we must meet Very Soon; or else, come November, I shall not have seen you for two-overly-long years!! =(

Actually, I have just been struck by a thought.

It's brilliant.

Team Two Reunion?? =]

I'm so glad that Evey has revived the posting habit!

Here are several semi-updated pictures from yours truly's life. =}

Evin just turned 1, a week and a half ago ... !!

D'you remember when I did the post about his birth?

Now he's over 365 days old ... *shakes the head*

I spent three Happy Weeks with him, and his parents, in July and August. =D

heehee

In case the word has not reached you, I'm rather transfixed with All Things British. =}

Here are some pictures, that my photographer sister did, for part of my senior photographs. =)

Navy and Mustard, I tell ya ... not to mention Dickens and Vintage Bicycles. ;)

Happy Times <3

Love and miss you all tremendously!

Pip-pip,

Phia



It has been WAY too long!

       Wow, so while reading the blog, I've noticed it's been a long time since anyone has posted anything. I don't know if anyone is even still checking the blog...but I am, so I know there's at least 1 checking. :) So, I thought I would give you all a quick (ha!) update on what's been happening in my life (in the hopes that y'all will reciprocate ;P). You have permission to skip the following paragraph (because it is really long (it's about what's I've been up to in the last 8+ months)) ;).

       So in November, I was in a play (Taming of the Shrew (not my favorite play, but made some great friends)) and getting ready for Christmastime.

December blew in out of no where and was filled with Celtic Christmas (Christmas concert my band does), regular Christmas activities, and Camelot. Camelot is a musical about King Arthur...a very long musical. Anyway, I helped backstage with my sisters and mom....and got very little sleep that month. Many adventures came out of it, and God taught me a lot. I also learned a lot about myself during that month. I wish I could share it all with you, but it would take way too long. :) Just know that God let me grow a lot during that month. :)

January was filled with recuperating from December and getting ready for JUBALation's (the band I'm in) first concert ever! Also I got signed up to graduate (yay!) and worked on school (ugh;)).

February had auditions for a dinner theatre (which I didn't get into, then did get into (long story)), JUBALation stuff, and school stuff. I honestly don't remember much of that month because I was moving from one thing to another. :D

March was insanity, but SO much fun! I auditioned for another play (Catacombs) while going to Mon-Thur rehearsals for the dinner theatre. Not to mention an awesome weekend mini-reunion with a lot of my dad's side of the family...a weekend to remember. :D I got into Catacombs, and with the dinner theatre, Catacombs, and JUBALation I was kept busy enough. Not to mention school and regular life in between :)

April became insanity because the dinner theatre started their performances, Catacombs kicked into high gear, and JUBALation had our very first concert (which was a total blast! :D). Also I GRADUATED!!!! I was/am super happy, I now have a signed diploma. :D

May was filled with a Catacombs (both rehearsals and starting performances), diner theatre, Senior Open House, and life. So much happened in this month, it's better if I stop there. :)

June we finished up Catacombs (great sadness). Also, I got to go zip lining with my Apo (Grandma) in Durango. I had a blast! :D Also, I got to do some hot air ballooning, which made me uberly happy! (And yes uberly is a word in my dictionary ;)). Aside from that, I started to enjoy the summer. :)

We are now in July...an awesome month! ;) And yes, I am biased because it's the month I was born in. :D

VBS is going on this week and I am having so much fun leading the games. And as I am getting ready to turn 18 in a few short days, I am so unbelievably thankful to God for the life that He has given me. So that is my schedule for the last 8 months. Now about what's really been happening in my spiritual life.

The Catacombs graduating class! :D

      In these past few months, God has taught me so much, it'll take forever to tell it all to you. (Let me tell you, midnight-moonlight talks with God can last for hours...easily. :D) So I'll just give you the highlights. Most of these will most likely be a "no kidding" type of stuff to you guys, but although I've "known" all these lessons, I didn't know them, you know? (If you are following this, props to you. :D)

1. He has a perfect plan, and if I'm willing to trust Him with His plan (and not mine), it works out soooo much better.

2. Family is important, but it's not the most important thing ever.

3. He has a major sense of humor.

4. He will test me.

5. This world is not perfect. And this world will try and pull me away from God.

I could honestly go on, but I should probably stop before this post becomes a novel. :D

So, if you've made it to the end of this post, thanks. If you understood any of this, good for you! If you were able to understand all of this MAJOR props to you! You're now officially as crazy as I am ;D.

I love you and miss you all like crazy!

~Evey

Merry Christmas!! (and profuse apologies)

Hey all you lovely ladies!
This is Baylie.....ya know, the girl that has pretty much dropped off the planet (at least as far as this blog is concerned). :0) I can't believe I've gone this long without popping in to say hello...so sorry! But anyway, rest assured that I am alive and well (and still residing on the planet)!
Welllllll, let's see if I can catch you all up to speed with what's been going on with me......
This past summer was fairly relaxed.....just work and catching up on school. Speaking of edumacation, I'll be graduating in the spring!!! Yay! :0) As to what I'll be doing after that, I'm not exactly sure. Some possible opportunities have come my way, but I'm still in the "thinking and praying about" process.
How have all my sister friends been doing? I miss all of you terribly. I can't believe it's now been OVER a year since EXCEL!! Too crazy.
Currently, I am gearing up for Christmas (that's right, I'm STILL working on getting gifts together. I know. I'm terrible.) I hope you all are having a very merry Christmas season! Wouldn't it be fun some time to have a Team 2 Christmas party?! Maybe someday!
Until then, Merry Christmas to all of you! May you all be filled with the joy of the Lord as you celebrate the birth of our amazing Redeemer.
Lots of love,
Baylie

A Journey of Love

On October 24, 2011 shortly after 5:00 pm (Hawaiian time) my dear Aunty Mary passed away due to cancer. Although I am extremely sad that she's gone and I will miss her terribly, I know where she is and am happy for her. Her life was one of hardships and sorrows (just like anyone's), but also, one of love, joy, and peace as well. She lived the Bible verse 1 Cor. 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Everytime I saw her, she had a smile on her face, love in her heart, and faith in her soul. She and her sister (who's my Apo (Grandmother)) were always laughing each time they were together. Aunty Mary's love for everyone and anyone was contagious. It didn't matter who you were, what your story was, or what car you drove, she would accept you with the same amount of love that she showed to anyone else...and that was a lot. :)

I hope and pray that I will be able to follow in her footsteps.

I'll miss you and always love you Aunty Mary!

-Evelyn

Greetings from Anna

Hey everyone, I guess the blog still isn't agreeing with Anna, so here's the post she asked me to put up.

Dear friends,It has been a whole year, and Imust say I’m sorry for not being very good at all about staying in touch withyou all. You are truly special to me and I would never want to take back thememories we shared together. It sounds like all your lives are so busy and Ihope and pray God is blessing you all through the things you are doing.

I just have a few announcements andthoughts to share with you, my sisters: First CONGRATULATIONS to theFredricksons on the new baby…how are you all enjoying him? You all will bereally excited to know that I’m going to be having yet another niece/nephewtoo…Can’t wait. :) Then the brother just older than me is getting married in January and. BothMerrie and I are going to be brides maids so it is very exciting to be more inthe loop with planning things.

I do ask though that you all wouldpray that the Lord would grant me the strength to be content with Him, because,because this brother is the one older than me, I have been struggling withcontentment with the God given blessing of being single.

The main reason for this letter, isI really want to know how God is using you all to fulfill your “Life PurposePlanning” stuff, or if He has you on a different path, what is it?

I feel God has called me to helpthe girls in our church and church youth group who are being pulled in by theworld due to the drama of it. My hope is to encourage their growth in the Lordand that they would learn to love their families more. So It all started offreally slow, but back in May the Lord prompted me befriend and help a girl whois one of the more out-going ones in the youth group. She isn’t really a“troubled” girl but I know how important it is even when you have many friendsto have a few support team friends who you can tell things to in confidence.The two of us started getting together weekly and she is such a joy. We havebeen reading through “His Princess” and already finished Ps. 119 and are nowworking on finding the women of the Bible who we can mottle our lives around sowe have chosen Ruth for starters.

The Lord has shown me that when we do His will to serve others, and are following contentedly in the His paths,his indescribable joy follows and sustains. “Oh the Joy that fills my soul.”And also; it is all about the Lord and He is only using me as a tool to sit andlisten and help these girls.

These girls in my church are rightat that age where the decisions they are making are walking the fine linebetween establishing independent attitudes while still keeping their familyrelationships strong, Please pray for this ministry.

As I said, I would Love to hear howthe Lord is using all of you to help and change other.

Fellow sister and friend,

Eraser

Balloon Fiesta!...and other news :)

Greetings my fellow Coruscaters!
As it has been quite some time since I have posted anything, I shall give an update on my life...so this will either be a very short post, or a very long one. :)

My summer was going to be quite uneventful, until my oldest sister got kicked by a horse. She is doing much better now and her strength is almost completely back. Thanks for all your prayers! My summer ended all too suddenly and then it was back to school *heavy sigh*. But from September 30 to October 9 I got a break from school. "Why?" you ask. Because of the most wonderful time of the year...Balloon Fiesta!!!!!!!!!!!!
Allow me to explain the Balloon Fiesta to you.

Beginning the first Saturday of October, Balloonists come from all over the world (obviously bringing their Hot Air Balloons with them) and fly in Albuquerque, NM for 9 days...the Balloonists that live in Albuquerque (ABQ for short) do something called ABQ Aloft the Friday prior, upon which they set-up and take off from elementary schools. So for 10 days straight I woke up long before the sun did (with the exception of the 2nd...I got to sleep in until 7am as it was a Sunday and I went to church). My uncle Stephen owns and pilots an hot air balloon, and he flew in the Fiesta. He also (as crazily wonderful as he is) wakes up 2 hours earlier to make waffles for all the volunteers, pilots, and crew members of Fiesta. Earlier this year he got hit by a car while riding his bicycle home and his left knee has been recovering ever since. So I came up with the brilliant idea that I would go with him at 4 in the morning to help make waffles in hopes that I could possibly keep him from damaging his knee all the more. There were more, really good and logical reasons to why I thought this, but as of late, I cannot remember them. So I woke up at 3am, got to bed at 10pm (if I was lucky) and so the week went...you can assume by now that by the end of Fiesta I was tired...no, exhausted. But so was the rest of our crew that came out at 5:30 to set up a balloon. So you may ask, was it all worth it? All you need to do is to come to a Balloon Fiesta to know that it is completely and utterly worth it! :)
Yes, I am still sleep deprived, but I would not trade those 10 days for anything. Watching 700+ balloons launch from one field is just so awe-inspiring, that I don't think words could ever express. So, how to wrap this up? I am really tired, but it was completely worth it. I love Balloon Fiesta! :D
So this, in short, is what has been happening in my life. If my post seems slightly disjointed, I blame it on the sleep deprivation. ;)
Miss you all tons! - Evey




















My Uncle's Balloon "Twist of Fate"