Fruit!

While I am oh so happy to be home, there is one thing that I am really missing!

Picking fruit off of trees whenever I wanted to. Mangoes, bananas, papaya, soursop, apples.... ah, I think I ate at LEAST one of each every single day.

To The Graduating Class of 2010,

If there were ever a time to dare, to make a difference, to embark on something worth doing...It is now. Not for any grand cause, necessarily - but for something that tugs at your heart, something that is worth your aspiration, something that is your dream. You owe it to yourself to make your days count. Have fun. Dig deep. Stretch.

Dream big.
Know, though, that things worth doing seldom come easy. There will be times when you want to turn around, pack it up and call it quits...Those times tell you that you are pushing yourself and that you are not afraid to learn by trying.

Persist.
Because with an idea,determination and the right tools, you can do great things. Let your instincts, your intellect, and your heart guide you.

Trust.
Believe in the incredible power of the human mind, of doing something that makes a difference, of working hard, of laughing and hoping, of lasting friends, of all the things that will cross your path.

Find Beauty.
Beauty is everywhere. Just open your eyes! The "simple" things of this earth will slowly become not so "simple" anymore.

LOVE.
Love deeply... with a sincere love. A love that is never ceasing, rather always constant. A love that is not judgemental, rather compassionate and seeks to understand. A love that KNOWS NO BOUNDS!

Determine Priorities.
Jesus. May He always have full reign of our lives.

The lockers are cleaned out, the books turned it... Next year, the start of something new brings the hope of something great. Anything is possible... There is only one you, and you will pass this way but once.

So live this life! And live it well.

Oh, how I love each and every one of you.
~Alyssa

Remembering.

I'm just thinking back to times when life was simple. The days when nothing else in life mattered besides having Jesus in my heart, family to love, friends to lean on and plenty of hope for a beautiful future. Those were the days when life was easy, and I'm convinced it's necessary to get back there before I can officially move forward.


SO... today I am remembering. Talking to Jesus about how grateful I am for every single piece of my life... but especially the simple times.

....

I wonder sometimes why God allows me to go through what I go through.

But I cling to this~ He is being glorified.

Friends, Food, Laughter... and of course a little Audrey :)

Last night was SO fun. 8 girls, one house... TONS of craziness. We got there at 6, put our stuff in the girlie room, and looked around. Modern paintings, sleek decor, comfy atmosphere... beauty. We ate dinner~ soup, salad, bread. Lots of bread. We ate on a converted door that was made into a table. No joke. Huge table! We cleaned up, then spontaneously decided to play a game. Guesstures, it is! Two teams of four, one completely dominating the other! We played three rounds, and still weren't sick of it... but decided we needed some dessert. We learned to talk in an African language on the way to the kitchen, and even did some tribal dances ;) We had peanut butter pie for dessert. Ummm, heaven is the only word worthy of describing that pie. Then, the movie marathon began. We got all ready for bed (pj's on, teeth brushed, beds ready), and settled it. Ten Things I Hate About You was first on the list. L and I were asleep within ten minutes. The lights were out, and I had a blankie, I couldn't help it! Next thing I knew, lights were on... first movie over, Gilmore Girls in! I'm all for a little GG, so I decided to stay up... until I got tired twenty minutes later and fell back asleep. In that twenty minutes, I accomplished alot! K and I ate a box of Mike and Ike's... and even contemplated making some more bread. Bread notion was declined. hahahaha. Slept through the night, and all woke up to Baby meowing at the door. We let him in, and put on Breakfast at Tiffany's. AUDREY HEPBURN. I needn't say anymore. we ate chocolate chip pancakes and strawberries, and laughed some more... then headed home.

I love you, girls! thanks for the great conversation.

Some good, some better.

I think every day is a good day, some are just better than others.

This week was "better", today was just good. Today I had to search for the beauty, and I got stung a few times too. On the bright side, these past few days I've seen beauty in every corner, and no pain.


Get me through these last few days with dignity, Jesus.

Reality.

Reality is quickly sinking in to my little brain. I have 20 days left with the people I love. 7 of those days will be spent on a tropical island, and then we will come home and graduate. We'll say hi every now and then on FB, but other than that, June 1st is goodbye to kids that I have known for years. Same classes, same teachers, same lunch-time routine. For years. I spend more time with them than I do my own family. I have been so blessed to be surrounded by these people. I am cherishing every.single.moment and will not look back and say I wasted this time. No, this time will be spend making memories and rejoicing together in the fact that... wow, we just completed 14 years of school. Only four more to go!

HUZZAH!