Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a place so amazing that it warrants more than a glance over the edge. It is a spectacle so incredible that if you venture below it's rim - the experience will forever change your perspective of the world you live in.


My little sister, Lauren, just climbed the Grand Canyon. She had been training for this 11 hour hike for several months, and now she has completed her course. This next week she will also be white water rafting down the Snake River, and hiking several more difficult trails. She will be returning back home again on Friday night. I can not wait for her get back home. Although we may get on each other's nerves every once in a while, she means so very much to me and I wish I could have taken this trip with her. All my life I have hated sharing a room, I just wanted to have my very own room and have a little privacy. Now these past 7 days, I have had all the privacy I could possibly want- I have my own room, and I have both Lauren's closet and mine to choose from every day. Yet, I have found myself counting down the days till I can share my room with Lauren, counting down the days till I can hear her yell at me for wearing her shirt. I really miss my little sis, and I can not wait to hear all her exciting stories from her trip.

My Big Sister's Graduation

On May 14th I watched my big sister graduate from college. It seems like just yesterday that we were going school shopping together, picking out cute lunch pales, notebooks and back packs. Now she is officially done..no more tests or quizzes for her. I am going to miss having her in school with me. I am so used to depending and relying on her. From the time I was in kindergarten, Nicole has been there looking out for me and protecting me from the "mean" kids in school. As I watched Nicole walk across the platform I thought back to all the wonderful times we have shared together. As I watch her tassel move from one side to the next, my eyes were filled with tears. Although Nicole does not know exactly what her future holds; I know that God has something amazing for her. And I am so excited to see what lies in store for her.

Sweet Sixteen

I cannot believe it my little sister, is really not so little any more. Today she turned 16 year old. It seems like just yesterday that we were getting up early in the morning so we could play with our Barbies. It seems like just yesterday that we were playing with our doll houses- fighting over who would be able to play with our favorite doll, Sarah. And it seems like just yesterday that we were playing college. Yes, we were strange children; we played college. That was always one of my favorites. We would pull out our briefcases, head into the bathroom- which was our dorm room. We then would work on "homework" all through the day. Now, my little playmate is sixteen! I have always been told that time flies by. But I guess I never really believed, that is until now. Now, I am able to look back over my past 18 years of life, and realize how fast life does go by. Sometimes I think it might be nice to go back to those fun, care free days. Those days when Lauren and I would work together to get all our chores done in 30 min, so we could have the rest of the day to just play together. Now, we are both so busy. I am in college, dating, and working. While she is involved in teens, sports, and other various high school activities. But every once in a while I love to think back to those "good ol' days". Then I like to think ahead. I imagine her as the FUN aunt. I can only imagine her... such a fun and energetic mother. I like to think of us visiting each other from miles away. But as for now I am going to make the most of the time I have with my little sister. I love her so very much! Happy Sweet Sixteenth Lauren.