Becky and I have been though a lot over the years....but after going through some tough things we both finally realized that living across the street from each other and having brothers that were best friends we knew that either we were going to have to hate each other or love each other. I don't think we really picked one or the other it just happened.......and for the past few years we have became very close best friends and sisters.
There is not a day that goes by that I am not thankful to God for giving us the Kelly family not only as neighbors but great friends.
Becky and I have had the best memories...I think we could grow old just talking about them. I love you Becky and look forward to all the great years ahead of us. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us!!! ;)

Love your big sis,
Lizzy Ruth

Here we couldn't find anything to do (amazing, huh?) so we got Anna to take pictures of us. :-) Since we don't have enough pictures of us already. This is only one of the many pictures we took that day. :-)

Yep! That's us! Becs and Liz

Scary!!

WOW!Great match!

Katie, Lizzy, and Becky
Lizzy being normal!
This was to the towards the end of the game night and it was getting late and just about everyone was getting hyper, Lizzy here is trying to act cool. (Trying) :-)





This is at one of the game nights we have usually once a month. We just came inside from playing volleyball and everyone is really high! :-) Enjoy!

Lizzy found out that it was our volleyball coach's birthday, instead of cake and ice cream Lizzy had a much better idea. Now our coach is no ordinary person....she is well.....just simply amazing. She is tons of fun and has taught us so much, we all love her very much. And always look forward to our sport practice. So Lizzy knew we needed a "special" way to say "happy birthday"...and we did just that. Shaving cream and cold water balloons. It was a lot of fun to plan and even better to do. After VB pratice Lizzy and I ran out and talked to Coach Brito while the others got the stuff ready. Lizzy and I got it all over ourselves as well but it worth it. :)
We love you Coach Brito!!!!
Lizzy and Coach Brito after the fight. :)

Most of our volleyball group.....missing a few players.
Spencer attempting to look cool trying to hit the ball.

John looking cool and serving.

Listening to coach tell us how to play better and harder. :)
Here we are doing warm-ups (by the way the dim-mist on the picture is the humility:-))

So here we go to Texas! Lizzy and I had been looking forward to this trip since our brothers left for ALERT almost 3 months ago. And the time had flown by; the time was finally here to go to Texas!! We started off with Uncle Dave and Aunt Kathy (Mr. and Mrs. Carnley), Anna, Lizzy and I in the Carnley’s van. And Dad, Mom, John, Luke, David, and Josh in our van. About half way we changed it up, and had Dad, David, John, Lizzy, and I in one van and everyone else in the other van. We decided to play “password” which recently became one of our favorite games. As usual it was David and John on a team and Lizzy and I. It had already been tradition that we would never end the game if Lizzy and I were winning so from the beginning we always knew David and John would come out on top but that didn’t matter it was still just fun to play. One time the “password” was editor it was David’s turn to go he said ‘writer’ John guessed ‘author’ that was wrong. Then Lizzy said ‘correctioner’. John about had a heart attack saying that ‘correctioner’ was not a word and that Liz had made it up. Lizzy and John went back and forth about it then finally they agreed that since Liz had made up a word John could too on his next turn. But it was still my turn to guess the “password” I guessed editor and got 9 points for our team. (FYI according to dictionary.com correctioner is actually a word.) When it was John’s turn the “password” was ‘sober’ and he made up the word ‘undrunk’ of course David got that one right. We went back and forth till it got dark and we couldn’t see anymore. We finally got there, it took forever to sign in and unpack but once we did David, John, Lizzy, Josh, Luke, and I went off to go find a volleyball net to play some vb. It was dark and the only people who knew anything about the ALERT campus was David and Lizzy. Lizzy got us to the inside gym but it was set up for the ceremony for the next day so we couldn’t use that one. Finally we got to the outside net and played volleyball for a few hours. Later that night the Reckners and Shoemaker families arrived. They next day we played more volleyball and games.

Finally it was time to see our brothers, we were pretty excited. After we watched them do drills and the skills that they had learned over the time away from home we watched a video of their journey and listened to them sing and recite 1 Peter. Then it was time to receive them, it was a happy and sad reunion. We were all very happy to see them and I know they were glad to see us. Later that night we played more volleyball till around 11:00 p.m. then went back to the rooms and talked for a few hours and listened to Matthew and Tyler talked about their experience at ALERT. They had some pretty good stories. But during this time Richard Shoemaker decided that he was going to TRY and make Lizzy eat a banana. He knew how much she hates them. The banana was pretty gross….it was mushy and brown. He put the gross banana on a spoon and set it on a table right in front of her. After teasing her for about an hour, the time came to finally make her eat it. Lizzy and I were laying on one of the couches when Richard came over with the banana, I grabbed Liz cuz I thought it would be pretty cool to make her eat it. Lizzy fought and fought she was determined not to let that banana get into her mouth and even with me holding her and Richard trying to make her eat it, because of course we didn't want to hurt her. :-) It was still fun to tease her about it though. A little while later, around

Dearest Sunshine,

We haven't known each other for many years as some have, nor since birth as others; but our friendship is already a thing I cherish most in life. I love all of the traits that the Lord has given to you...even the ridiculous ones, which I'm afraid I have been infected with. :)
What do I like about you?

-Your a nerd. Which makes us 2 of a kind.
-Your creative. And creativity is awesome.
-Your not afraid to be who you are...or afraid of any other thing, for that matter.
-Though you always steal my Coke, you always let me steal yours, too.
-You like what you like, and if others don't like what you like or think your weird for liking it...too bad for them. Your gonna like it anyway.
-Your not overly sensitive.
-You love your friends enough to tell them when they're in the wrong.
-You love your friends enough to tell them sorry when you were in the wrong, though you very rarely have to do that. :)
-You love your siblings and aren't afraid to show it.
-You love the Lord with all your heart, and love to share His word, too.
-You think I'm weird...I take that as a compliment.
-Your my Sunshine. Shining your light on me, making me grow up nice and sweet.
-Your you. And that's what I like about you most.

Dear Cookie Dough,

Okay, I may be the last person to post on your blog, but that’s just because I have made it extra special, just for you! :-)

Today, as I was cleaning the house and thinking of what I can write to you on this blog, I have K-Love playing in the background. I was wiping the counters in the kitchen as the song “These Are the Words I Would Say” by Sidewalk Prophets came on. As I listened to it, I couldn’t help but smile, because everything they were saying were the things I wanted to tell you, to encourage you in your 16th year! So….here are the ‘words I would say’…

(Revision – Our Way! :-))

12 in the morning

And I'm finished cleaning,

So I picked up a pen and a page,

And I started writing,

Just what I'd say,

If we were face to face,

I'd tell you just what you mean to me,

I'd tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,

I sensed you were hurting,

And I felt your pain in my heart,

I want to tell you,

That I'd keep on praying.

God will hold you where you are,

I know, cause I've already been there,

So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,

Never give up hope,

You're going to do great things,

I already know,

God's got His hand on you so,

Don't live life in fear,

Forgive and forget,

But don't forget why you're here,

Take your time and pray,

These are the words I would say!”

I changed a few words to fit our friendship and the “words I would say”. I think this song can be added to the other song that is “Our Song”. It made me think of you as I sang along with the Sidewalk Prophets. So, even though I am taking this from a song, it still comes from my heart, to yours. Be strong in the Lord, and trust Him ALWAYS!

I cherish every memory I have of our friendship: it is so very special to me. I pray that we can double our years of friendship and be even stronger sisters in Christ. Friends are those who stick with you always, and I will ALWAYS be there for you. May God bless your years ahead and may He lead you in His perfect Path for you!

Love
Your
Chocolate Chip