Starky is one of the graduates form NCA. She is so full of life and laughter. If you need a hug, Starky is the person to ask. She had a party on Saturday and invited us to attend. Cake, country music, volleyball, trampoline, water balloons – the works.
Happy Graduation Starky – have a blast at college and make sure to keep an ear to God at all times.
Friday night, May 30th, the seniors at NCA graduated. Jared and I have only been leading PowerKidz for the past three years, so I didn’t watch these seniors grow up – but I still cried during everyone’s speech – I don’t have any idea what I will be like when the kids from PowerKidz actually graduate. In the fall, I took pictures of the NCA Class of 2008.
And the beginning of the rest of their lives …
Welcome to the “real world” …
I love watching graduation at NCA – the prayer time during graduation always moves me so much and lets me know that the decision of having our kids – someday – go there is the right one.
Congrats again graduates.
Jared and I are friends with a GREAT couple – who also share the J and D combination. Jared and Dave went to the same high school and have known eachother for a long time. Our friendship began one night in Wal*mart when we ran into Dave and he told us that he was getting married to an amazing girl Jenna. They needed a wedding photographer – what luck. :). They came over and looked at my portfolio and said – let’s do it. They were married December of 2006 and we quickly became great friends. They had a sweet baby boy in November and shortly after that Dave went to Afghanistan with the Army. Dave and Jenna are quite younger than us – yet I look up to them and admire them quite a bit. Jenna is being a wonderful mommy while Dave is serving our country. They are focused on God and His direction in their lives. Their love for God, eachother, their child, and this country is incredible. Dave is home on leave for 2 weeks and they wanted some family photos.
Here is a photo from their wedding …
And last night …
This one is an outtake but I couldn’t resist …
He is quite possibly the cutest baby ever.
Yankees fans ??
Thank you Dave for serving our country.
Please pray for Dave, Jenna, and their little one – along with all the soldiers and their families.
Jared got to hold Micah while Jenna & Dave had their pictures taken. He was amazed at how good he was, how cute he is, and especially how heavy he is. He told Jenna she must have arms of steel.
We are blessed with GREAT friends and the reminder of what a MIGHTY God we serve.
Thank you Dave and Jenna.
I have mentioned before that on Wednesday nights Jared and I lead the PowerKidz group at our church. This week we talked about the “Rack, Shack, and Benny” bible lesson and related it to present day peer pressure. We talked about how God has made each one of us for a purpose and loves us dearly. We talked about what to do when people pick on you or tease you. Having grown up with the last name Trout – I have some experience with that one. We talked about how God has given us morals to live by and we need to stand up for what we believe in. The days that your friends think you aren’t “cool” – which I am finding is truly becoming a 90’s word – are going to come and go. God will always think you are #1 in His book. Usually we only have about 10 to 13 kids – with 1 or 2 being boys – but this past week we had NINE girls. I think Jared may have felt out of his element but we made it. It is amazing to me the differences that boys and girls go through with peer pressures. Boys tend to pick on the girls more but the girls tend to be more concerned with who is doing what and what clothes are in or out. We had a great night of discussion with the kids.
Before the lesson, Mara – or PM – had them play a marshmallow building game.
It was messy, sticky, and loads of fun.
Later, we decided to make our own tower of sorts.
It didn’t last long, just like the marshmallows.
The craziness of the Trout family and friends. Derek and Jessica got back from their honeymoon on Hawaii on Saturday and my parents held a reception for them in PA.
My grampa made this for the newlyweds.
We got a little carried away with clean up.
This coming Monday I will turn 27. I can’t believe that’s possible. A little girl I know will turn 7 the day before my birthday. Saturday there was an early birthday celebration for her.
I bought my digital camera in May of 2007. Right now I am at 13,928. Granted I get carried away at times, but still.
The first week I got my camera I photographed some girls from church in the side yard. They were the 31st through 60th pictures logged on my camera. After nearly 14,000 more, I had them lay in the same spot to capture them one year later.
May of 2007.
Nearly May of 2008.
May of 2007.
Nearly May of 2008.
May of 2007.
Nearly May of 2008.
