This week I was in DC for the National Abstinence Grantees Conference hosted by the Dept of Health and Human Services. It was a conference for all programs in the country that have benefited from the CBAE Grant (Community Based Abstinence Educ.). This conference is necessary for networking, training, and (this year) for assistance in sustainability. That means.....how to continue when the government says your program isn't worthwhile.

The abstinence programs teach, inspire, and encourage our young people to have healthy relationships, value their bodies, and question the myth of "safe sex". Our current administration has decided to discontinue, ALL funds for abstinence education. I have much to say in regards to this and may even continue writing about it on here but that's not the purpose for my post today.


As most know, the very last session of a conference is usually the one most people skip out on. They are tired, overwhelmed, burned-out from the week and decide to shop, sleep, or head home early rather than finish out the meetings. Well, we had the largest turnout ever for the final session and I want to share with you why.


Alex Jordan and Brett Harris.


These twin, 21 year-olds founded the Rebelution, an online organization they describe as a "teenage rebellion against low expectations." Through this, the twins encourage young people to "be exemplary in all areas of life" rather than treat the teen years as a "vacation from responsibility." Alex and Brett also wrote Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion against Low Expectations and are the main speakers for their Rebelution Tour conferences.


I've added their blog to my favorites and encourage you to pass it on to young people you know. While you are at it pick up their book Do Hard Things. These young men stirred my excitement for challenging our youth. Teens want to do more, (and they can!) but our pop culture tells them it's not cool, realistic or worthwhile.

I must add their speech also reminded me that I'm not too old to do more!

Birthday Thoughts

Today I celebrate my birthday. I don't know if everyone does this, but birthdays cause me to be somber and reflective. I tend to think about where I've been and where I'm going, really taking in all that the day really means.

I won't bore you with the details. But as we drove to church this morning I told Joel that Aaron used to say to me "Leah, you're really getting old". I would remind him that he would ALWAYS be older than me. But today I'm older than Aaron ever was. Passing away at the age of 35 he never saw his 36th birthday. I stop and think of all who mean so much to me and wonder if they really know how much they've impacted my life. Have I done enough to impact theirs? Have I served my Lord as deeply and passionately as I should. Would He tell me "Well done thy good and faithful servant"?

Have you taken the time to think about that?

January 9th

We celebrated what would have been Aaron's 38th birthday together as a family at the cemetary. It was a bitter cold day but the sun made it bearable (and more cheerful). We couldn't drive up the hill because it was still snow and ice covered so we all walked. We brought balloons, pie (Aaron's preference over cake) and an ice cream cake.


Can you tell it was very cold? I think it was 28 degrees. Standing (adults) are Adam, Amy, Mother, me, and Daddy. Standing and kneeling are the kids: Olivia, Rachel, Ryan and Zachary. Raegan was at basketball with Joel and Steve was home with the babies.

We sang happy birthday to him and enjoyed the cake together. I think I speak for everyone when I say "the day was good for the soul."

Happy birthday in Heaven dear brother you are still missed so much,

Big Snow

The big snow storm that hit the Northeast before Christmas was so beautiful. It was the first DEEP snow that we've had in years! I think the last one I can remember was when I was in college at Clarion back in 19??. Yeah, right, like I'm going to say the year!

This was the snow on the back deck, that strange shape in the corner is a potted mum that I never took in after Thanksgiving.


Anyways, when all was said and done we measured 26"! It was definately a ton of fun and it lasted long enough to give us a white Christmas.

Miley Cyrus

The flu hit our house this week when Raegan was sent home from school on Tuesday with a fever and headache. By Wednesday morning we were pretty sure it may be H1N1. I called her Dr. and they said no reason to bring her in but because of her respiratory problems this time of year (she's on a Flexhaler, Inhaler, & Singulair -- druggie!) they wanted her to start Tami flu. We picked it up that afternoon but hadn't started it because by Wednesday evening she was feeling much better. However, the word on the street is that with this H1N1 they are sick a couple days then feel better and then they are hit with the secondary infection. Well, to avoid that we started the Tami flu. [As a side note if you are lucky enough to get Tami flu it is VERY expensive! We do not have prescription coverage so we pay all meds -- this one is $140 bucks a bottle and it's not a big bottle!!!]

Now I will do anything to keep my child from getting deathly sick but I also had ulterior motives in this decision. You see I had purchased tickets to a Miley Cyrus concert in State College, PA and I really didn't want them to go to waste. What would you do?! By Thursday morning Raegan woke me at 6 am and begged to go to school. I think she thought she could only go to the concert if she was well enough to go to school. She rested the rest of the morning and then we headed for Penn State at 2 pm.

We were there before the doors opened!
Raegan & MarysolYou can see that Raegan wasn't feeling 100% but she never let it show

Marysol and her mom Esther. They are the ones
that found out about the concert and called us.

We didn't think we had the best seating - nosebleed section!! But we soon found out that they actually WERE the best. We could see everything, even some of the behind the stage stuff.

The opening song - she had just broken out of that plastic,

bubble looking thing on the left.

It's actually Miley Cyrus!

Miley singing some ocean song - didn't recognize it.

There were some great visual effects. This is part of the song FLY.

Same song, she is flying over the crowd.

The girls groovin' out!

Miley playing the piano

She did a "tribute" to the song I Love Rock n Roll"
and they took her over the crowd on this motorcycle

Not exactly front row seats but what a great view of it all!

The last song.

The girls had a great time but look at those tired eyes!

We had a 3 1/2 hour ride home to go but the girls didn't mind! We also had to find our way out of State College - rahr, we did it!

Happy Halloween!

Okay, so I'm only seven days late on posting the Halloween pictures - that's not bad for me!!

As usual, Mimi made the costumes for Raegan and her twin cousins. She continues to amaze us all with her sewing and crafting abilities. The kids are still "in to" Mimi making their costumes but we aren't sure how much longer that will last. For now we enjoy seeing what characters each Halloween brings about.

This year Raegan decided on Super Girl.

Jansen was a robot and Isaiah was "Harry Potter" - it was a perfect look for him! Notice their bags always match their outfit as well - this ain't Lillian Vernon!

There are several neighbors that enjoy scaring all the kids in the neighborhood. This year our next door neighbor disguised himself as one of their bushes and jumped out at the kids! It was a riot but I think we had some very frightened little ones! Can you see him?

Here he is up close.

The weather cooperated with us somewhat - it didn't rain BUT it was very windy and cold. We had a great time but we were anxious to get back to the warm house and have pizza with friends.

Look at the treasures Super Girl "rescued" from the bag guys.

No taffy or caramel -- braces will be off soon!

October 5th, 2009

This view of Evitts Mountain was taken on the anniversary of Aaron's death. I traveled around to visit my family members and stopped at the cemetery. This view from Aaron's burial site is breathtaking year round but the colors that were beginning to transform the mountain side were especially picturesque.

The flag not far from Aaron's site was flapping crisply in the air.

Mother and Daddy, you diligently keep up the ground and the decorations at his grave site. I'm so glad you are right there to care for it. When I am able to travel out there to visit, it is comforting to see it so well cared for.

View of the valley where the C-130 approached the burial site. The memory of that moment still gives me chills - it was immensely overwhelming.

For some of you this may not seem quite appropriate for my blog but for other family members that aren't close by, I think it helps to remain close and connected to Aaron and where he was put to rest. We all know he is NOT there but rather with our Lord and Saviour in Heaven. The site, however, and all of its surroundings allow us to pray, cry, grieve, and even celebrate Aaron's life & death and how the Lord has used it for His glory.