Graduation

  Though I finished school over a month ago, my official graduation ceremony was this past Friday. On Wednesday, Gram and Pap traveled down and brought me a big surprise - Courtney, Cassie, and Dee Dee Bryant! They completely took me by surprise! I never suspected a thing! {and they had fun laughing at my gullibility!}

{playing Scattergories}

 It was great to have them here! I think it helped get my mind off the ceremony, and it was nice to have extra help getting the house ready for the reception!

{dipping pretzels in white chocolate and coating with sprinkles}

{we played a lot of volleyball while they were here. I think this picture was
actually taken a little after 7 on the morning they had to leave. Yes, we
were on a volleyball craze!}

{practicing a song we girls are going to sing together at their
church when we are up there on Mother's Day}

Getting the house ready...

I'm all for edible decorations!

{we had extra time before we had to leave for the church, so we took a couple pictures!}

At church, before the ceremony, we played a slideshow of pictures of my life since kindergarten. It really helped everyone feel relaxed and informal. {I actually didn't get nervous until Pomp and Circumstance started!}

The Ceremony:

{Pastor Webb, Pap, Dad}

{Mrs. Hutchins played for us}

Pastor Webb opened the ceremony and led  "Trust and Obey" as a congregational hymn. Pap prayed and gave a short charge (Well, it was supposed to be short, but he went over his six minutes! LOL).

{and of course, I had to give a speech}

{Nathan, Bethany, and Daniel sang "My Life, Lord, is Yours to Control"}

{Dad preached...}

{... and presented the diploma}

{All that trouble just for a piece of paper!! LOL}

The reception:

{Mom made the cake}

{thank you, Anna, for taking pictures!}

After most people finished eating, I opened my gifts. There were so many cards, we decided just to do gifts now and I could open cards later. I won't go through and list everything I was given, but I got some very special gifts that really surprised me.









Thank you to all those who made that night special for me!!

Yes, I am still alive...

I was told that I need to just post something, so that at least everyone knows I'm still alive! So, I am alive and posting once again! =)

I think all of you know, but in case anyone doesn't: I was privileged to take a two-week missions trip/senior trip to England in March. I stayed with the Rooney family (missionaries in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire), who we met (five?) years ago when they came to our church on deputation. (We had them over to our house several times, and became good friends with them).

I was quite excited, as you can imagine, to be able to make this trip. A great experience, to be sure. It was also my first time flying! {Which was absolutely awesome!!! =D}

Waiting at the airport... We got there plenty early, just to be safe

Mom and I have put together a scrapbook with my pictures from this trip, so for the sake of not being repetitive, I'm just putting a few pictures on here. {I say "a few," but it's hard to pick just a few!}

The Old Hall: a medieval manor house in Gainsborough that we were able to tour

main hall in the Old Hall

The front gardens reminded me of a Jane Austen movie  =)

{Left to right} Lawrence, William, Olivia, Rosalyn, Victoria, and Me

"Tea Time!"
{in the Old Hall cafe}

We girls {Rosalyn, Me, Olivia, Victoria} sang "Does Jesus Care" on Sunday

Olivia and I played a flute duet {Grace Greater than our Sin}

The Trent River in Gainsborough

Liv and I

We got ice cream cones in Blyton...

... and played ping pong while we were there!

On Tuesday, we went out to the Gainsborough Market, sang hymns, played instruments, passed out tracts, and an evangelist preached on a street corner.

Us kids playing Dutch Blitz with the Vanderhurks (a couple who had
come to help us in the market)

We visited Epworth, where the Wesleys are from: 

The Rectory and gardens

{Priscilla, Florrie,
 Henry, William
Rosalyn, Olivia, Ellissia}

Olivia, Ellissia, me, and Rosalyn

The day we toured London was long and tiring, but fun and definitely worth it! =)  We visited Trafalgar Square:

the Metropolitan Tabernacle:

Westminster Abbey:

Buckingham Palace!!

Rosalyn and I got a picture with the bobby =)

cramming into a phone booth =D

Big Ben:

this man was playing "Danny Boy" on the bridge over to Big Ben

The Tower Bridge:

and the London Eye! The Rooneys had a couple coupons for it, so some of us older kids were able to ride!

the view was spectacular

It was certainly two weeks that I greatly enjoyed and will never forget! Thanks so much for your hospitality, Rooney family!