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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Love Letters

Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day. There was perfect weather, a slight breeze and almost no humidity. The day was so gorgeous we decided to take advantage of the opportunity and have school in the park. As I walked through the bright green grass and took a deep breath of fresh air it reminded me of God's love. It makes me think of couples where the guy sends the girl a dozen roses or a sweet note. Just little reminders of how much he loves her. The best part is that God loves us so much more! That he is constantly trying to remind us of his love for us. How he reminded me of his love by giving me a perfect day to do school work in. By making the weather wonderful and giving my family and I a big, beautiful park to live next to. The littlest thing, the tiniest enjoyment or pleasure, he will give it to us as a reminder of his love. When I wake up early, totally refreshed and am able to sit and have a wonderful prayer time. When I step outside and the weather is great, it is all God's goodness. Everything he does for us is out of love. We have a father who loves us so much that he gave his only son. He loves us so much that he allows us to have perfect days to love him back. Praise Him!!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse

Friday, September 24, 2010

Even the smallest thing....

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Just the other day my family and I had the opportunity to visit the insectarium which we are now members of. I must say I was excited to go, I love all sorts of museums and I was excited to visit this one. I was so impressed by everything there, from hissing cockroaches to majestic butterflies it was all very interesting. It was so cool to see all of these bugs, in all different sizes, colors and shapes, each so different and unique. I think it is so cool how we live in such a diverse earth. With crazy bugs and millions of humans. Everything serves a unique purpose that God so carefully planned out. Each makes our world so diverse and wonderful. It amazed me to "see" a bug that was so small a thousand could fit on a dot. To see how a squishy green caterpillar turns into a small brown moth. I don't want to go on forever about insects but I just want to share in my awe. The awe of what an awesome and grand God we have. A god so huge he cares for the smallest of things. It just really blessed me to be able to appreciate God in such a different way. To see him as the God of all creation in a new light.
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse



Tuesday, September 21, 2010

7th in heaven

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Yesterday I was so blessed to go to big woods. Intake 2010 has begun with 24 missionaries on fire to do God's will. There are 16 kids there from two families and 3 single girls and one single guy. It really blessed me to see a new season of missionaries ready to go and follow where God plans to lead them. Big woods is crazy now, with this new intake and various other full time missionaries on base but craziness isn't always a bad thing :).
The reason we went down there is so that my mom could go to a doctor's appointment. I had told ya'll about my mom's pregnancy. Last week we found out that she had been pregnant for twins and one had definitely not made it. Today we found out that the other baby hadn't made it either. It is so sad, we are all grieving together and looking for God's will amidst the situation. I feel God's grace surrounding us and I know that he loves us all so much. I also know that he loves all of my baby siblings in heaven, which now there are seven of. I ask you all to pray for my family, especially my mom right now. It would bless me so much to know that there are other people out there praying for us. You all are in my prayers. God Bless.
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse

Friday, September 17, 2010

Slideshow

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I have made a slideshow of a bunch of my pictures from this year, please enjoy. God bless!



Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

A tornado and a rosary

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Just the other day my friends and I sat comfortably on a bed watching a movie when my Mommee came in and told us to turn it off. We closed my computer and headed to the hallway where my family was gathering. She told us that there was a tornado warning in our area and that we would all have to sit in the hall together just until it passed. We grabbed a sleeping bag and a basket of rosaries and settled down in the hallway, the centermost point of the house. Soon all of the people on premiss had been called for and gathered and we started a rosary. I must admit I was scared, not to the point that I believed that t I was going to die, although the thought did cross my mind. We sat together and as we prayed I thought of what would happen if by some crazy chance I would die. Was I ready to die? Not really, I thought of so many things I could have done better. I knew I most probably would not die because of a tornado but if I had then what would have happened? It made me realize the importance of being constantly prepared. Who knows when I will die? But the important thing is to always have my soul prepared for when it is my time to go. The rosary blessed me alot, knowing that Mary was there with us, praying for us. After it cleared everything went back to normal but the experience stuck with me. I pray that I can always be prepared for what is unexpected to me.
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Sand Soccer

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
My family and I just got back from a wonderful two day vacation to the beach! It was so great, I really had such a good time and really enjoyed the time I had with my family. One day that I was there me, my sister, my brother and my step-dad all decided to play a game of sand soccer. We threw flip flops on the sand to create the goals and then divided up the teams, Me, my brother and sister against Kevin, My step-dad. He made our goal smaller than his and also gave us first kick on the ball. We had a goalie, my wonderful sister who happens to be terrified of soccer balls, and even made the rule no goals above the waist. Kevin scored, then again, then again. We were running helplessly towards his unguarded goal and he would swoop in and score again. The sad part is that he was going so easy on us and eventually made a rule saying he could only kick with his right foot, and yet we were losing. It was hysterical, I fell rolling in the sand as Kevin stopped and let us have yet another short break. It made me think of something I heard recently, we are like little kids helping God bake cookies. It gives us so much delight and yet he doesn't really need our help he just lets us because he loves us so much and finds so much delight in us. Playing sand soccer 3 to 1 with Kevin restricting himself to make it fair made me think of that. We are so little in comparison and yet we can delight so much in God and with God because he loves us so much. Just to let ya'll know we did win 9 to 8 but it was only because Kevin let us :). God Bless!!!!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Pictures at last!

Dear brothers and sisters and Christ,
I finally uploaded the pictures from my summer camps! I am sorry it took so long to get them to you but here they are!


This is the sign with the wonderful theme of Faith Camp! It was so blessed it makes me happy to just look back at those huge bright letters I helped paint :)


This is all of us gathered to eat a delicious meal prepared by the moms in the kitchen, yummy!


My uncle John Paul, who is also the leader of Faith camp, rocking out on the guitar to praise God!


Me and a bunch of other staff at our New Orleans themed Cafe night.


The theme picture of my week at Covecrest in Georgia.


The absolutely beautiful scenery of the lake with the crucifix at the far end, a view I was glad to delight in all of the days I was there.


A bunch of fellow campers from the parish they let me join in eating our last meal together.


The picturesque little chapel that I was so happy to have access to!

Well there they are :). Once again, sorry about the wait. God Bless!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse