Congrats Kylie!

Today Kylie graduated from High School. =)

I've been to my share of graduations and I must say this one was the best I've been to - The two soloists were amazing, the transitions smooth, the venue perfect (great seats and temp controlled), and the most important part...the speech was incredible. I actually teared.



Kylie looked beautiful...these are only half of the lei's that she was given. :) She is quite loved.


After the ceremony, on the way to lunch.


Josh and I with the graduate, in all her lei glory.

Going on 9.

This past weekend Josh and I trekked up to the Venice Spring Retreat. After a sickening bout of car sickness we made it to one of the most gorgeous cabins I have ever seen. Some of the memories:
1. O Captain, my Captain - note him in the pic above.
2. Catching up with Beth
3. Hitoshi and Sandy (enough said)
4. The Slides with HS: Can I say that was terrifying? oh yes, and a shout out to Pat, for the best ride up the hill EVER. you slay me Mendoza!
5. small group with the 7thers.
6. the GIANT bunks
7. Robbie's games - dunk that head in the sauna!
8. Denise, for being there to help take care of A.
I wish we could have stayed for the whole weekend, but we feel blessed with the time we were able to go. There is a special feel with this group of youth; they love to have fun, they're gentle, easily amused, and love God. I know God is forming and shaping them into something beautiful.

Florida

This past weekend mom, Carol, A, and I packed up and headed to Florida for yet another family wedding. It was quite the whirlwind weekend. Florida is beautiful. The sand is so white and so fine, the people so relaxed, the mood so slow, and the houses so amazing.

It was great to see family too. It's funny how you never really keep in touch with relatives, but because you're family there's an immediate bond when you see one another. It was great catching up and celebrating with Luke and Amanda on their nuptials.

The traveling crew...trying to figure out what to order from Sonic. :p

The Clan, minus dad, jeremy and TK

Dancing away... White weddings are funfunfun. Everyone loves to celebrate and dance and participate in everything!

Amanda & Luke with Auntie Jo

The Willis Women: Jo, Gram, mom, and Trish


Looking forward to the next one.

If You've Ever Wondered As I Have Wondered...

This must sum it up.

Max Wanger i heart you.

I found this from my new fav photographer's blog:

"30.
ever since i turned 25, i've told everyone that i was basically 30. it's true, once you turn 25, you round up. i've been "30" for a while now, but it was officially made official on wednesday. this picture below, is me at 11:59pm on the night before my birthday. essentially it was my last moment as a 29 year-old. my last moment as a young man. yes, i was technically born around noon, but really, who cares. at midnight, i waved bye-bye to my youth."

hello people, i've been saying this for YEARS now. i heart you max wanger.

(Don't worry, for those of you who were holding your breath wondering, he has yet to make the Erwin M., Josh, Gary, dad category of complete AMAZINGNESS.)

check out his work here.

(Disclaimer: that list was in no particular order.)

Marion Yumori

Yesterday was Marion's funeral.

I truly believe she was one of the most faithful people I have ever met. I took her Crown Financial Bible Class, I listened to her speak several times, I heard many stories from Randy, I heard many more stories yesterday.

In Hebrews there is a section that talks about faith. They mention notable people in the bible who were faithful; Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Samson, David, and more. And this is what is said of them:

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:13-16

Because of Marion's overflow of faith, God is not ashamed to be her God and has prepared a place for her.

Marion, thank you for your legacy of faith.

Romans 8:26-27

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."