::My Sisters and I::

::My Sisters and I::

Part One

An Introduction

It's incredible that I'm actually writing this out ... I've toyed with the idea for the better part of this year; but up to this point, it hadn't gone beyond the Realm of Good Intentions. ;) So, YAY, I'm finally doing it! 

Also, I have no idea how many posts this will end up being; however, for the sake of saving your eyesight, I have decided to break it up. :) It'll come in two different series; the first will be about my sisters and the second regarding my brothers. 

[Okie-doke, here's some introduction to the introduction. ;) 

For those of you who don't know my family, there are eight of us. My parents met while working for a ministry and five years later they were married. Dad continued to work for the ministry, and for the first 11 years of their marriage they lived in a town about five minutes away. For the past 13 1/2 years we've lived on campus as a family and have really loved it! 

I have five siblings; three sisters and two brothers. Evangeline (Evy, 23) is the oldest; Olivia (22) is second; Andrew (20) is third; I'm fourth (Sophia, 19); Erik (17) is fifth; and Heidi (13) is our baby. :)

All of us siblings are very close, and I consider each one of them my best friends. <3]

Now, on to the main introduction. ;)
So, basically I'm typing this out for those of you who have experienced or who are going to experience the beginning-relationship-phase/engagement-phase/marriage-phase and parenthood-phase of a sibling (be it sister or brother.) Because, while, for the most part, these phases are a large majority of smiles, roses, fun and chocolates (Reese's pieces for those of us who are allergic to chocolate ;), there will come points when toes will get {accidentally} stepped on, feelings will be {unintentionally}ignored and our relationships will have the potential to be strengthened or weakened. God has taught me so much through several of my siblings relationships (refer to previously mentioned phases), and He put it on my heart to share some of those lessons. It's my desire and prayer that you will be blessed and edified!

And thus begins the blog series of ...

::My Siblings and I::

I am tremendously excited to share with y'all and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do {also, we can hope that having stated my goal to have this as a series, my blogging frequency will recover ;}!

Cheerio!

Phia

P.S. As a note, if there is anything you would like to add or share about the topic of the posts, please feel welcome to share in a comment - I feel like it would be good and beneficial for this to be an interactive discussion, instead of just a monologue from yours truly! ;P I would love to hear thoughts from you and things that God has taught you through your family's and friend's relationships. :]

{This post needed a picture ... so here's a Merry Christmas of cuteness!}

Vintage, Dickens, and Mustard = ...

... My Happy Things. =)


Since you've been so terribly patient, here is the promised viewing of said shoot.
Many and much thanks to Evangeline Renee, my stupendous sister!

So, I have this thing for vintage {particularly bicycles} annnnd works by Charles Dickens =)

and also, the color mustard ... the very word inspires

 

 

 

When one experiences all three ... words fail.

Evy totally knows how to make me smile ... and laugh.

Come to think of it ...

Evy knows how to make me do a great many things. =]

 

 

{doubly epic about my Dickens books - I purchased them in Colorado! =O}

 

 

 

 

 

Happy July to each of you, dear readers!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
God has greatly blessed America -  America, bless God. <3

{Evy did a different post of the same shoot here =}

Pip-pip,
Phia

Post Script 
Merely a side note =] The shortness of this post is explained by the fact that -
 *whispers*
- I'm not here {again =P}!
This was actually being typed Friday the 29th, the eve of my departure.
Thus, preoccupied with thoughts of packing, my creativity and levels of concentration are/were not being particularly helpful. ;)
I am entirely thankful for this sched-ualing system, provided by Blogger!
... now off to packing my happy-travelling luggages. =]

"And the Glory of Children ...

... are their fathers."
~Proverbs 17:6 b

This is inexcusably overdue.
My first thinking was to do a post the week of his birt{h}day; however, when that came and left, my next thinking was to do said post the week of Father's Day, right?
That having come and gone, I last minute-like decided to do his post - today! =)

My dearest Daddy celebrated his birtday in April!
And this is a tribute to him ... <3

he likes to take us places.
and we like it when we're taken =)

{brookfield zoo - 2008}

he is our spiritual leader <3

{family devotions}

he gave me his smiley-dimples =}

{2010}

where my love of hunting originates
{shoot, bang ... ;}

{northern minnesota - 2011}

his first daughter-walk down the aisle <3

{tim&evy's wedding - 2010}

first time being 'grandpa fred' =)

"Children's children are the crown of old men..."
;)

{e's work - for the next four =}

 

 

 

a pretty swell duo =]

I'm so grateful for a father who is:
godly
loving
sensitive
discerning
understanding
funny
disciplined
benevolent
{ ... }

Who is my:
protector
teacher
'pastor' ;)
friend
mentor
fellow language scholar
coach

Who:
baptized me
disciplined me in love
inspired me to play piano
taught me to love the Bible
taught me how to hunt
taught me how to drive
handed me my diploma
{ ... }

Who has:
<3 my heart <3

{2008}
i love my daddy <3 


Happy Birtday =)

Pip-pip,
Phia

Remembering the Peak

Sunrise hitting the Peak
{starting early is a huge perk =}

It was so good of Cousin Terri to guide us part way =)

I love sunrises and sunsets; however, I think I'll play favorites and say that I am more inspired and energized when I witness the sun greeting the day...and seeing it come up over the mountains was glorious. <3

Merely a suggestion when climbing mountains: Pack light. ;P

And also, Take pictures.

Heidel and her mad rock-lifting skills. She's a champ.

Walking sticks - they'll add a year onto your life. 

Good Morning 

My Mountain 

Erik :: Fellow Climber of the Peak

Another one of my 'dreams' has been to climb a mountain, and partake of CLIFF bars for snacks. ;}

Barr Camp = 1/2 way!

A rest for weary pilgrims ...

I could scarcely take it all in <3

Perhaps we shall expect Christmas in July ...

My Mountain Climbing Chum =]

A good point at which to commence the yodeling - no joke ;)

Rugged Terrain <3

"Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain ...

... for purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with
brotherhood from sea to shining sea!"

It's difficult to distinguish; but, there's a rainbow - (of course I was already breathing irregularly, at 14,110 ft. above sea level) - and it seriously took my breath away. <3

It took us 9 hours to climb it (yes, we are very much amateurs =), 

and 1/2 an hour to drive down ... 

Thanks for climbing with me, little brother. <3

A rather significant "thanks awfully!" to Dad and Mum for their consent; to Terri for letting us use her walking sticks, inspiring us, and guiding us half-way; to Mum for preparing our provisions; and to my Heavenly Father for being our strength, and for creating - Mountains. <3

Pip-pip,

Phia

Post Script ~ Thanks to those of you who were keeping us in your thoughts and prayers during the Journey to the Heart! 

(This phrase has taken on an added dimension) 

God moved mountains. <3 

I am eager to share with you soon-ish. =)