When I was a child...

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11

Do you have any fond childhood memories? I'm sure some people have more memories than others. I can't remember anything before age 5 or so. Maybe that has something to do with the concussion I had at age 12. But who knows...

I can remember that Elmo is my favorite Sesame Street character....

and I love Barney...and hide-and-go-seek has always been my favorite game. I had a quite few dolls, but if they had really been alive, I'm sure they would have starved or froze, because I didn't dress and feed them too often. My sister mandy and I played with our toy horses and barbies instead of dolls. We made a little town in our closet, with a hospital, store, houses, stables, everything you'd need to play town! We never took it down, left it up until I was too old to play with it anymore, about age 11 or so. Now my little sister naya plays with the horses. Some of them have missing legs from having been left out on the floor and stepped on. I remember my horse's name, ginger, and that our dog ate the barbie's pants.

I don't have barbies or toy horses anymore, and I don't watch seasame street anymore, well, not very often. But I still love hide-and-go-seek! I think I learned a lot from elmo, and he and I share a love of goldfish!

CALL 911!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Twice in a year.... I, Alyssa, little old me, is the reason for an emergency call. At 5am or so (i was too busy fighting to breathe to look at the clock, plus i didn't have my glasses) the ambulance came to take me to the hospital. I was having the worst asthma attack ever. It was not really scary, Brian and Pete were very nice. In fact, later my mom talked to Brian I think, and he said he'd been to our house before cuz his kid's friends used to live here. As soon as they gave me the stuff to breathe in, my lungs started to relax. When I was being rolled into my room, a nurse said she loved my socks, and I said thanks I made them myself. :D She said, boy those are so nice, you could sell them. It was like having "day ja vou" sorry I can't even spell the word, and neither can spell check. lol It was day ja vou because just yesterday the nurse at the doctors said she would buy my socks! Is it just because my socks are so awesome, or do nurses really like cool socks? (because the hospital grey socks are very ugly.)
So anyway... I was at the ER for 6 hours before I finally got to go home after having 2 breathing treatments, one for a whole hour. I can't remember how many times the doctors used the stethoscope on my back to listen to my lungs breathe in, breathe out, deep breath in, and out.... Then I had to pee in a cup, and have an xray, and have 4 tubes of blood taken, and have an IV. I was soooo ready to leave! It was like being let home from prison after all those wires were taken off of me, and that annoying beeping machine no long alerted me when my oxygen level was low, or the blood pressure cuff automatically went off every half hour. Leaving was another thing, I wasn't wearing shoes and my mom didn't think of bringing me any, and I was still legally blind because I forgot my glasses too. So my mom got me some very ugly grey hospital socks, and I walked to the van in those.

So anyways.... If you're wondering what the first time I called 911 was... well... that was for the firefighters, but that's another story... lol

Heather Ann Snyder

Heather Ann Snyder
September 25 1992 – August 25 2009


I walked downstairs Wednesday morning ready to eat breakfast. My mom asks me who Heather is, and I say she’s my friend. My mom was looking on facebook and saw a post my friend Andrea had posted, that her friend Heather Snyder was dead. I couldn’t believe it. I just stood there, couldn’t think, couldn’t say anything, I just wanted to know, how? A car accident, loaded truck hits them at the highway intersection. The crash occurred about 2:30 at the intersection of the Lafayette Highway and Highway 18. Yamhill, Oregon. She had just started driving a few months ago and she was very excited about getting her 1990 Toyota Camry. Her dad was riding in the passenger seat, and was not killed; he was flown to the hospital.

I had never met her in person. I planned on meeting her one day at summer camp or GYC, but I never made it. She lived hundreds of miles away, but she has been such an encouragement to me over the past several years. When she wrote her first letter to me, she was 13.
She was 16 years old when she died. In exactly a month she would have been 17. A happy, healthy, hard-working, beautiful Christian girl, why did this happen? Only God knows. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Heather played piano and flute and sang. She had an email newsletter she wrote and sent to her friends. In it she had bible study, prayer and poems. Every month she sent it out, and it always touched my heart, whatever she wrote always seemed to be just what I needed to hear that day. I saw Jesus in her. She went on a mission trip this Spring to Cosa Rica with YD. She wrote to me that her family was possibly planning another mission trip this fall or winter. She baked bread and did a concert with her sister Sarah to raise money for her trip. Her sister Sarah is 14, so please pray for her, and her parents. Especially her father, who is in the hospital, I haven’t had any updates yet.

She never forgot to send me a birthday card. On my 14th birthday, her card read:
Dear Alyssa, happy birthday! Thank you for being my friend! I’m looking forward to seeing you in heaven someday. May God always bless you, and give you many more happy years to live for Him! Have a Fantastic Birthday! With love and prayers, Heather Snyder
Little did she know, just 3 short years later, she would be sleeping in Jesus. Now the next thing she will see is Jesus and all the angels, and her friends and all the faithful Christians will meet them in the air.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; …be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Rev 2:10 ~ on an letter written Jan 31 2009

God does not want us to be afraid of death. Because Jesus died on the cross, we have the hope of eternal life. We need to remember to live for Jesus everyday, because you never know when your time on this earth will be over.

Heaven, our Home
April 06
When Jesus comes to take us home,
We’ll hear the trumpet sound.
The angels will appear and then
We will be heaven bound.

We’ll fly to heaven, our new home,
Where we will live always
In heaven we will never sin
We’ll walk in Jesus’ ways

There we will meet family and friends
Whom we had thought were lost.
And we’ll find that our labors here
Have well been worth the cost.

We’ll live in beautiful mansions
God has prepared for us.
And best of all we’ll see our King,
Our Savior, Jesus.


“The Battle”
January 09
As we go about our lives from day to day,
A battle’s raging over you and me.
Two forces strive to gain our loyalty.
And who wins it is up to us to say.

By the little choices that we make we may
Determine who will win us ultimately.
On Satan’s side is sin and misery;
On Jesus’ side the everlasting day

The battle has been fought, the victory won.
The blood has been shed and the price is paid
All that’s left is for you to choose your side.
The devil wants you on his losing one.
But Jesus says, “Choose me. You’ll be repaid.
You are my child; it was for you I died.”
~Heather Snyder

Anticipating Trouble Doubles Burdens.--

We are in a world of suffering. Difficulty, trial, and sorrow await us all along the way to the heavenly home. But there are many who make life's burdens doubly heavy by continually anticipating trouble. If they meet with adversity or disappointment, they think that everything is going to ruin, that theirs is the hardest lot of all, that they are surely coming to want. Thus they bring wretchedness upon themselves and cast a shadow upon all around them. Life itself becomes a burden to them. {2MCP 459.1}
But it need not be thus. It will cost a determined effort to change the current of their thought. But the change can be made. Their happiness, both for this life and for the life to come, depends upon their fixing their minds upon cheerful things. Let them look away from the dark picture, which is imaginary, to the benefits which God has strewn in their pathway, and beyond these to the unseen and eternal.--MH 247, 248 (1905). {2MCP 459.2}

Iowa

Mary and I had a blast! She took me to see the biggest windmill in the US. I got to drive her four-wheeler. I got to help out with the chores and baling hay. And we went to the fair to see the bus races and combine demolition derby. Oh and her sheep Billy who is 400 lbs. ot stuck in a mud hole one night so the next morning we went to find him and boy was he stuck! I got muddy from head to toe! :p not to mention poor Billy who was a white ram but now he's black. But Mary probably gave him a bath by now. I got to ride Thunder her very spirited horse around the corral. That was fun even though i must admit I was a little saddle sore afterwards. :) Oh and my boots gave me blisters. It was lots of fun spending a week there, but I don't think I am cut out to be a farm girl.

Trip to Minnesota pictures

Well since I haven't blogged in awhile I thought it was about time to put up some pictures from my trip. :)

Curtis (thats my bf), Alyssa (thats me), Mary (thats my friend from Iowa)
An impromptu shot of curty, hope u dont mind! :p

rabbit

courtney, my best girl friend! we went camping... in their yard, but it was lots of fun!

benjamin all dressed up

Luke

Jonathan

a note from Iowa

I am in Iowa right now experiencing farm life!!! I'm staying at my friend Mary's house. I'll be back home tuesday to tell you all about it. God Bless. And please pray for my mom.

What goes around comes around!

He almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road,but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So hepulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was stillsputtering when he approached her.
Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stoppedto help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn'tlook safe; he looked poor and hungry.
He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold.He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put inyou.
He said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the carwhere it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson."
Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was badenough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put thejack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to changethe tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.
As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window andbegan to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis andwas only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough forcoming to her aid.
Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk The lady asked how much sheowed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She alreadyimagined all the awful things that could have happened had he notstopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not ajob to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows therewere plenty, who had given him a hand in the past He had lived hiswhole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any otherway.
He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next timeshe saw someone who needed help, she could give that person theassistance they needed, and Bryan added, "And think of me."
He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a coldand depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home,disappearing into the twilight.
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in tograb a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the lastleg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outsidewere two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. Thewaitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair Shehad a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole daycouldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight monthspregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude.The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so givingto a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan .
After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill,but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by thetime the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the ladycould be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin.
There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: "Youdon't owe me anything. I havebeen there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not letthis chain of love end with you."
Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people toserve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night whenshe got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking aboutthemoney and what the lady had written. How could the lady have knownhow much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month,it was going to be hard....
She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next toher, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low,"Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson."
There is an old saying "What goes around comes around." Today, I sentyou this story, and I'm asking you to pass it on .. Let this lightshine.
Good friends are like stars....You don't always see them, but you knowthey are always there. .

July

Wow the summer is going by wayyy too fast! I have been picking blueberries all week and so far have picked $123 worth. Just 12 days until I fly out to MN, I am soooo excited! This Friday we're having a garage sale. Our garage is such a mess right now!! lol we still haven't finished unpacking totally from the move, and I doubt we ever really will, anytime soon. hehe I had a fun time at the beach (it's a lake, not the ocean) and it was fun. I don't burn very easily, but I did get a little red hehe. This might be my last post for the month. So God Bless and I will see you again!

You are Everything To Somebody ....

Right now at this very minute-----------
someone is very proud of you
someone is thinking of you
someone cares about you
someone misses you
someone wants to talk to you
someone wants to be with you
someone hopes you aren't in trouble
someone is thankful for the support you have provided
someone wants to hold your hand
someone hopes everything turns out all right
someone wants you to be happy
someone wants you to find them
someone is celebrating your successes
someone wants to give you a gift
someone think you ARE a gift
someone wants to hug you
someone loves you
someone wants to lavish you with small gifts
someone admires your strength
someone is thinking of you and smiling
someone wants to be your shoulder to cry on
someone wants to go out with you and have a lot of fun
someone thinks the world of you
someone wants to protect you
someone would do anything for you
someone wants to be forgiven
someone is grateful for your forgiveness
someone wants to laugh with you about old times
someone remembers you and wishes you were there
someone needs to know that your love is unconditional
somebody values your advice
someone wants to tell you how much they care
someone wants to stay up watching old movies with you
someone wants to share their dreams with you
someone wants to hold you in their arms
someone wants YOU to hold them in your arms
someone treasures your spirit
someone wishes they could STOP time because of you
someone can't wait to see you
someone wishes that things didn't have to change
someone loves you for who you are
someone loves the way you make them feel
someone wants to be with you
someone hears a song that reminds them of you
someone wants you to know they are there for you
someone is glad that you're their friend
someone wants to be your friend
someone stayed up all night thinking about you
someone is alive because of you
someone is wishing that you would notice them
someone wants to get to know you better
someone believes that you are their soul mate
someone wants to be near you
someone misses your guidance and advice
someone values your guidance and advice
someone has faith in you
someone trusts you
someone needs you to send them this letter
someone needs your support
someone needs you to have faith in them
someone needs you to let them be your friend
someone will cry when they read this
I'm thinking of you

Bible Camp

PVYBC was such a blessing to me! I am so glad I got to go. I met so many new friends and got to see old ones too. It was so cool to have my two friends named melissa in my unit! :D

Everyone at camp had to memorize Hebrews 8. I memorized the first three verses anyway... I'll have to work on the rest lol. The speakers messages were all amazing. And my teachers were awesome. I loved all my classes!

Canoeing class was so much fun! At the end of the week we went to a river and went downstream a few miles. I took pictures with my waterproof camera. But I won't get them developed for awhile... because I didn't use the film up yet.

Woodworking was my favorite class! Kevin taught the class. Brianna and Chantel made a peg board thing. I made a box. Danica made a stool. David made a tool box.

For Health Evangelism we went to a supermarket on Sabbath and gave people back massages, blood pressure and blood sugar tests. I was in the blood sugar test group and got my finger pricked like 5 times for practicing. It was so cool! My blood sugar was 96 one day and the next i think it was 122. FBS (fasting blood sugar, 12 hours after eating) should be 70-90. 2 hours after eating it should be 150-170. I guess I didn't eat enough... idk lol I have a little sore throat now... I should go have some breakfast I guess. God Bless!!!

summer of being 17

I finished 10th grade for the year, except for English. :( oh well... I just have to get it done like before next year... Got $93 today for my paycheck for last week. Went clothes shopping with my family. Got some nice things to wear to summer camp. Had a good lunch at Wegmans with my family. Wow Summer camp starts in just 5 days!!! Then in July I'm off to Minnesota and Iowa to visit some really good friends! All I really have to say about life right now is... God is Good!

Pennsylvania

Just a glimpse of a run-down farm down a back road in Eastern PA.

So many babies...

God is so good! There are so many babies being born recently! I haven't met any yet in person; but I know 5 babies parents, and two are related to me. I have two 2nd cousins born earlier this year, both girls. Our Chiropractor had a son a few weeks ago. My geometry teacher had a baby girl about a week ago. And I just found out that the old head deacon of our church who moved out to Indiana to be a youth pastor had his 3 child, a boy. I wish I had the yarn and the time to knit them all a blanket! ~~Alyssa

Handmade Knitted Dishcloths, $3 ea.

I am selling my handmade knitted cotton dishcloths for $3 ea. (suggested donation). It's for a fundraiser for my summer camp.

I will take requests on the colors. These are all the colors I have at the moment though. I am gonna look for some cotton yarn online or you can give me the yarn you want to be knitted.

BMA graduation 2009

We [me & my mom & sister] went to the graduation at BMA today. The speach was great! The music was wonderful too! It was good to see some friends I haden't seen in awhile. I can hardly wait until my own graduation! It's so exciting! Enjoy the pics... :D

korah [class 08], mandy & lloyd [class 08]
me, cynthia [class 2010], korah

korah, esther & mandy

Jake

Esther

Take Time

Take time to stop and smell the roses!

Cygnets [baby swans]

I went on a walk with my mom today and took these pictures. There are 3 little baby swans [cygnets] with their mother on our neighbors pond. Aren't they adorable? I am just wondering WHY thay are called cygnets and not swanlings? Why aren't goslings called Goose-lings? I mean seriously, Ducklings are the only sensible named ones! But anyway, I leave you with my thoughts and these pictures. Enjoy!

mom swan finding food

what a pretty picture!

Dad keeping an eye out for foxes and other things that might want to eat his babies!

Dad coming to say "hi" to us.

PVYBC

I can hardly wait for summer! I am getting really excited about going to PVYBC [Piedmont Valley Youth Bible Camp]. It starts June 14 and lasts a week. I am gonna take Woodworking, Canoeing and Health Evangelism. I can't wait to see old friends and make new ones! :D

NJ Family Camp Meeting

We were only there for Sabbath, but I had a great day! We hung out with some old friends and made some new friends too. I wish I could have participated in the music, oh well, maybe next year.

may

I can hardly believe it's already may! So yeah, I have been denying the fact that it's been May for 12 days and it's finally sinking in.
Life has been pretty good lately. Got 3 zebra danio fish. cleaned my room. started selling my knitted dishcloths for $3 ea. Earned about $40 so far. Can't wait to go to camp! Summer is so close, yet so far away, because of all the schoolwork I gotta do. Well I gotta go get a bite to eat and then we're off to Adventurers! (thats a kids club thing at church, I'm helping my mom with the kiddies, we're gonna make pet rocks).