My dear friend, and mentor, Mrs. Bonnie Opper passed away on Saturday at Karmanos Hospital in Detroit, MI. Mrs. Opper will always be remembered as someone who, in a word, who was selfless. She would take time out of her busy day to check on you and help you if needed anything. She is the perfect example of what leaving a Godly legacy looks like.
I remember the first time I met Mrs. Opper. We were at Science Camp in 2004 or 2005. She took all of us young learners under her wing, and with the help of Miss Dawn, we learned all about trees, animals, and mud. Thankfully, Caleb and I had the same fear of snakes. So when Mr. T put a huge snake on the table in front of us. Caleb and I stood on our chairs and demanded to be taken out of the room. Mrs. Opper quickly took us out and let us roam around the yard with the farm animals until that presentation was over with.
May 2009, right before she was diagnosed with cancer, Mrs. Opper helped me with my prom dress. Ok...THAT was an understatement of the year. Mrs. Opper reconstructed my prom dress minutes before we were supposed to leave! There was a minor problem with my strap. I was just going to ignore it. But no! Mrs. Opper, while making dinner, watching a neighbors dog, getting the car ready, taking Callie and Caleb somewhere, finding batteries for the camera, and worrying about whether we would get there on time, took the extra time to find me a safety pin. Not just any safety pin. She sent Caleb, Callie and Mr. Opper searching for the "perfect" safety pin. When they arrived back, Mrs. Opper declined the safety pin, saying it was "too big." I was fine with whatever! But because Mrs. Opper searched her house for the perfect safety pin, my dress fit like a dream. I will never forget that day because I remember thinking, "Holy cow! How is she doing all of this and worrying about something so insignificant? It's only a safety pin!" Looking around the church yesterday, I saw so many old and new faces. I couldn't help but wonder... at my funeral, will I have this many people there? I sure hope so. Because Mrs. Opper was one loved woman by all around her.
We love and miss you Mrs. Opper. We'll meet you at the third tree to the right.
Be a Blessing.
My prayers for the Opper family:Mr. Opper- That through this horrid and unimaginable time, he would learn to solely rely upon God's strength and love. Also for the many challenges they will all face in the upcoming years.Cassandra- That she does well on her exams and everyone at SAU will be kind and understanding towards her. And to keep following God like she always has. Caleb- To finish out his senior year of high school strong, just like Mrs. Opper would have wanted and to never stop chasing God's desires for him.Callie- To keep growing closer to Christ every single day. And for future schooling plans.
I know I haven't posted in awhile. And thank you to Hannah Joy Edwards for reminding me of what a joy it is to "blog." Thank you, Hannah and thank you to the entire Opper family who have been such lights in such a dark world.
Over and OutG
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Summah Twenty-Ten.
"How was your summer?! Great! How about yours!?"
The typical back-to-school question.
How it bothers me! Because only 24 hours before, we were blissfully soaking up the last rays from the sun...and the summer!
But alas, what goes around comes around...even school. As we start this school year though, I am reminded constantly that this is my last year of high school... ever. (eeeks!) I am also reminded that next year I will be going to college. And like a lot of other students, I'm not sure what I would like to do with my entire life!!
But I am sure of a few things!
1) My life will be devoted to Christ. In everything I say, think, and do! That is my ultimate goal!
2) (Anything after that seems so trivial! But...) I would love to do something in the business realm. I love learning new things about business and all that goes on in a company!
3) I would love to adopt chicas/chicos!
4) Volleyball is my sport. Nothing will ever take it's place! Eventually, I would love to maybe coach a team when I'm older.
5) Marriage...hmmm. Working on that one. I'll let all you followers know if it comes along :]
6) I want to travel. A lot. I love traveling. Before I am 25 I would like to go to these places:
* Europe
* Australia
* Mexico
* Spain
* Ireland
* China
* California (been there twice...and loooved it!)
7) I would love to keep in touch with a select group of my friends from High school/Barakel/Maranatha.
Usually on these lists people have skydiving...
not me.
8) Go on a long term missions trip...Africa, anyone? (At least a month long.)
9) Work at Barakel. Being a YAP. Maybe a counselor?
10) Become a greaatttt photographer and win a few prizes :]
Anywho. That was a random bucket list!
This Senior Year is gonna be great :]
Over and Out
G
Thursday, June 17, 2010
What time is it? SUMMERTIME!
Lyrics... because I know you want them :]
It's summertime, woot! What time is it?
The time of our lives
Anticipation
What time is it?
Summertime
School's out, scream and shout!
Anywho!
I haven't posted a blogthingy since late March, so I'm going to try and give ya'll a readers digest version of the last 3 months :] Yah buddy!
I've been working a ton! It's the bomb, I love my job so much!
I'm not sure how to set this up... I'll do it by my favorite things each month:
April-
1st-Esthers birthday party AND Summer got home from Florida that day... that was a good day!
2nd- Hannah Edwards (Stephanie and Christie's awesome cousin came to visit, and I finally met her!), and I saw the Last Song!
8th-9th-Visited Spring Arbor... amazing school!
10th-Seussical! I wish I could have seen it 50 times. It was phenom!
14th-Surprise 17th Birthday Party! Mom took 10 of my closest friends and myself to see CARRIE UNDERWOOD and CRAIG MORGAN! Yeee-haw!
16th-Prom! Carissa, Stephanie, and Christine came over at the hotel and we got readyyyy! *JUST KEEP CURLING!*
17th-Dead tired from Prom. This was also the day my car got a flat tire, dads car died, and we (my dad, asher and myself) had to walk back to the hotel. THANKFULLY, a bus came and helped us out, Ugh! After looking like hobos on the street, Mrs. Edwards graciously picked me up from the hotel and took me to Tiffanys 16th birthday party!
18th-Destination Unknown at church, and DAY BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY!
19th-Birthday day! Went to Olive Garden for lunch, hung out (quite bored actually, twas sad!) then went out to TW for a 6 hour drama practice :P
22nd-SUPPOSED to go to Grove City College with Carli, Summer, Katherine, and Stephanie, but there was a conflict with work :(
24th- Michael Duffy's surprise party! He was SO shocked. SO funny! After that, Liza and I scooted over to Gen J
25th-Another LONG drama practice!
26th- Soccer game, boo yah.
28th-Ortho appointment
30th- Soccer game, boo AND A yah
May-
1-Cassandra and I went to go see Sarah Palin. She's amazing! Then off to the Bowmans for a surprise party for Elaine!
2- Another drama practice...shocked!
3- Liza was busy, so I babysat the Elfrings, and then went to drama practice
4- Soccer game
6-9- DRAMA PERFORMANCES OF LITTLE WOMEN :] They went very well! Annalisa and I even made up our own scene!
8- Cast Party! Boo yah!
11- Soccer game
12- Manicure date with Summer... oh the fat asain babies in baskets... :]
14-15- INCH conference where my mom spoke, and I helped out :)
17-BRACES OFF MY FACE DAY!
18- Soccer game
19- Second part of ortho. OFFICIALLY NAKED TEETH!
21-23- Set Apart Femininity at Barakel. What an amazing weekend filled with such GREAT truths about our generation! I'm officially obsessed with Eric and Leslie Ludy!
25- Last day of TW!! YAYAHAYAHAYH! Soccer game, Iron Man 2 with lots of friends!
28- Graduation Day for all of my coolbeanawesomesauce friends. Kristina Johnsen and Colleen Hochs open houses! Stayed at Colleens house til 11 or so playing volleyball with lots of friends, and Tim from Maranatha!
*I lost my phone up at Barakel, which is where my life schedule is... BUT I did find it after three weeks of having it go missing! So I don't have any of the stuff from Late May-3 days ago... sorry! :(
I will try to remember things that have happened in the last 3 weeks, but in the mean time...bear with me! :]
So this is pretty much it...
Not too exciting or over the top....just my life and all of its happenings :]
Peace out, yo.
G
Monday, March 29, 2010
Officially moved.
We are officially in the hotel that I hope we will be staying at for awhile. It rocks. I have no idea when we will be moving into our new house, it's still a complete disaster!
A general overview of what's been going on---
*Moving
*Exams last week
*Drama production of Little Women coming up!
*Work
*Youth Group
*I FOUND MY WORLDVIEW BOOK THAT I HAD LOST!!!
*Kickboxing
*Soccer
*Teenworks
*Going to movies
*Visiting colleges
*Maybe getting my braces off?(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We'll see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
*Staying at my grandma and grandpas house a lot :]
*St. Pattys Day Party
*DU
*Biffles Birthday
*Taylor Swift concert! With Gloriana and Kellie Pickler! Woop woop!
So yeppers. I've gotta get going, Teeworks in the morning, I really don't want to go though :/ I'm so wiped out! :/
Over and Out
G
A general overview of what's been going on---
*Moving
*Exams last week
*Drama production of Little Women coming up!
*Work
*Youth Group
*I FOUND MY WORLDVIEW BOOK THAT I HAD LOST!!!
*Kickboxing
*Soccer
*Teenworks
*Going to movies
*Visiting colleges
*Maybe getting my braces off?(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We'll see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
*Staying at my grandma and grandpas house a lot :]
*St. Pattys Day Party
*DU
*Biffles Birthday
*Taylor Swift concert! With Gloriana and Kellie Pickler! Woop woop!
So yeppers. I've gotta get going, Teeworks in the morning, I really don't want to go though :/ I'm so wiped out! :/
Over and Out
G
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
8 DaYs!
Only 8 more days until I go to Florida to visit my awwwwmazing friend, Summer! : ]
I'm twice as excited about this trip because my family and I were supposed to go to Florida in February, but our flight was cancelled! It was horrible! We had to drive back home.... and unpack all of our clothes! :(
I got my first infraction on Tuesday. It was sad. I didn't hand in and "assignment" that I thought wasn't mandatory! Oh well. Life goes on. : ] If that's the worst possible thing I do in my highschool career, I think I'll make it.
I had quite the, uh... mistake with my orthodontist. I went to him on Monday and they told me that I had been wearing my stinkin rubberbands the INCORRECT way for an ENTIRE year. I sat there. Tears came. Then anger came. After quite a lot of debating, and forceful arguing, I will be having my last appointment on March 31st and get my braces off April 1st. Just in time for Prom : ]
Anywhooo. I have committed a crime. A felony almost! I tp'd a car. It was fun! Katherine and Annalisa helped, too! : ] Just as we were finishing up, "Hands" came over and was like, "Wow, I'm just glad it's not me!" (I got his license plate number memorized now, so we can do his next week! Oh what fun!!!)
BE HAPPY PEOPLE! IT'S ALMOST SPRING!!! : ] yyayayaya!
Over and Out
G
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
I'm twice as excited about this trip because my family and I were supposed to go to Florida in February, but our flight was cancelled! It was horrible! We had to drive back home.... and unpack all of our clothes! :(
I got my first infraction on Tuesday. It was sad. I didn't hand in and "assignment" that I thought wasn't mandatory! Oh well. Life goes on. : ] If that's the worst possible thing I do in my highschool career, I think I'll make it.
I had quite the, uh... mistake with my orthodontist. I went to him on Monday and they told me that I had been wearing my stinkin rubberbands the INCORRECT way for an ENTIRE year. I sat there. Tears came. Then anger came. After quite a lot of debating, and forceful arguing, I will be having my last appointment on March 31st and get my braces off April 1st. Just in time for Prom : ]
Anywhooo. I have committed a crime. A felony almost! I tp'd a car. It was fun! Katherine and Annalisa helped, too! : ] Just as we were finishing up, "Hands" came over and was like, "Wow, I'm just glad it's not me!" (I got his license plate number memorized now, so we can do his next week! Oh what fun!!!)
BE HAPPY PEOPLE! IT'S ALMOST SPRING!!! : ] yyayayaya!
Over and Out
G
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
Friday, February 26, 2010
New Year, New Trials, Friends,.... House? I think so.
HAPPY NEWWW YEARRR! Well. I'm almost 2 months late on that one, my bad! : ]
Trials... Oh boy. On October 19th 2009 my mom had a terrible accident. I don't want to go into too much detail on here, so I"ll give you guys the Readers Digest version. My mom and my little brother went on a hiking trip at Lake Lansing North (by our new house, but I'll talk about that later). Liza, Ava and I were at volleyball at the time, and my dad was at work. When volleyball ended I got a call from my dad saying mom was going to the hospital because she had an accident in the woods. My first thought? "Oh boy mom, she decided to go all nature girl on us..... she should ask for persmission next time" Thinking it wasn't that big of a deal. Upon our arrival at the hospital, we waited for a good 30 minutes with my dad. We went around the corner for only 30 seconds, during that short time, the ambulance pulled up. As the girls and my dad sprinted around the corner we saw my mom being unloaded.... God is so good because we only saw the back of her head in the stretcher.
I remember (and hope to forget) the nurse running up to us and very nervously urging us to go into a private room. Inside the room there were two couches and two chairs, and about 20 boxes of tissues. As soon as I realized why the tissues were there, I (along with Liza and Ava)started bursting into tears. Moments later, a very official looking doctor came in (with more tissue may I add) and asked to see my dad outside.... privately. At this point, I was actually afraid for my mom's life. I pray that I will never be in that kind of situation again.
When the doctor came in, he also brought my brother (who was with my mom the entire time, mind you). I regret what Liza, Ava and I did when he came in. We ignored him. Not purposefully, but because we were so upset and we were so scared what the doctor was saying to my dad just outside the door. I finally realized Asher's existence in the room, and I just remember thinking, "What has my little brother seen? Why does his face look so out of this world scared/nervous/scary?" (I'm actually tearing up a little bit right now as I write this because it's so fresh in my mind)
All of this happened so quickly. My dad went back with the doctor, running full speed. (My dad isn't a runner, so not only was it a shock within itself. But it scared us silly that something really bad was happening behind the doors that we couldn't go past.) A few minutes later, a nurse came over and gave me a walky-talky so I could talk to my mom. The conversation was short and dismal. All I remember was both of us crying, and me repeatedly sobbing, "Please don't go, please!" Then my dad got on the line, and told us that we needed to go home, and that he would be spending the night at the hospital. That is what we were left with. Four kids crying in the hospital lobby and not even knowing what was going on. When we came back out to my car, both of the front doors were wide open. Scared much? Yes. Petrified with fear? Much better definition of that emotion. All three ducklings were behind me, and I just charged forward and went right into the car, looked around, and nothing was gone. Do you know what I had in that car!? I had a GPS, a camera, purses, necklaces (not gold, but special to me!), shoes, and my wallet!! Yet another thing that God saved us from! : ) PLUS, when I took a right out of the hospital, some yahoooo driver nearly took us out. It was REALLY bad!
I fail at Reader's Digest versions.
In the woods, my mom tripped on her walking stick and the stick went through her eyelid, and right into the tiny space between the bridge of your nose and your eyeball. It missed her actualy eyeball by a slice of a millimeter. It also stopped short by that same amount to her brain. If it had have touched her brain she would have died in those woods with my little brother. It broke her eyesocket, her nose, and SO many other things in that tiny area. I will refrain from the horrifying details of those two hours she was in the woods and the whole ambulance mishap! I'm actually going to fastforward about 2 weeks. She was in the hospital for 2+ weeks. She could see with that eye when it happened, before her surgery, and after surgery. Because the doctor did not check in on her, the pressure in her eye almost made it explode, so that had to do an emergency surgery right in her bed without any meds and cut her actual eye open and most of her face to try and save it, but it was too late. The pressure was too much, and when that happened, it pinched the optic nerve behind the eyeball, blinding her in that eye.
Fast forward to now. Through this trial I have learned more about the human eye than I ever cared to know, got to know what an amazing, strong, beautiful, and Godly woman my mom is, and I also learned that I will never ever be a doctor. My mom is just now (4 months after the accident) starting to drive, I'll update you when she's out and about :)
////////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
FrIeNdS! I am a people person. I like meeting new homies. I've met a lot of great people in 2010! I went to SpringHill and met a ton of people from GL and South that were prettttyyyy cool! Last night actually I went to a Bible Study with my friend Sarah, and I met two new girls that were wayyy cool and got to re-connect with two that I hadn't seen in a LONG time! It was so great! I've also really enjoyed making friends in YG because when we first started going to Graham, I didn't know anyone there, and I always felt like the odd duck. SO, to finalize the friend part... GO FRIENDS!
This year has been pretty awesome! To add on top of that, we're MOVING! After a five year struggle of selling our house, we finally sold it! We actually bought a house closer to life with 36 acres the first day it was on the market! Thankfully, we just happend to sell our house 1 month later after that purchase! We have to be moved out of our house by March 31st 2010! We also have to redo most of the new house because it was a repo so we are going to be living in a mess for awhile! (I'll keep ya updated on that one:)) If you guys have room ideas for colors or anything, let me know because I neeeeed helllppppp! :)
Psalm 13:5 "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."
Over and out
~G~
Trials... Oh boy. On October 19th 2009 my mom had a terrible accident. I don't want to go into too much detail on here, so I"ll give you guys the Readers Digest version. My mom and my little brother went on a hiking trip at Lake Lansing North (by our new house, but I'll talk about that later). Liza, Ava and I were at volleyball at the time, and my dad was at work. When volleyball ended I got a call from my dad saying mom was going to the hospital because she had an accident in the woods. My first thought? "Oh boy mom, she decided to go all nature girl on us..... she should ask for persmission next time" Thinking it wasn't that big of a deal. Upon our arrival at the hospital, we waited for a good 30 minutes with my dad. We went around the corner for only 30 seconds, during that short time, the ambulance pulled up. As the girls and my dad sprinted around the corner we saw my mom being unloaded.... God is so good because we only saw the back of her head in the stretcher.
I remember (and hope to forget) the nurse running up to us and very nervously urging us to go into a private room. Inside the room there were two couches and two chairs, and about 20 boxes of tissues. As soon as I realized why the tissues were there, I (along with Liza and Ava)started bursting into tears. Moments later, a very official looking doctor came in (with more tissue may I add) and asked to see my dad outside.... privately. At this point, I was actually afraid for my mom's life. I pray that I will never be in that kind of situation again.
When the doctor came in, he also brought my brother (who was with my mom the entire time, mind you). I regret what Liza, Ava and I did when he came in. We ignored him. Not purposefully, but because we were so upset and we were so scared what the doctor was saying to my dad just outside the door. I finally realized Asher's existence in the room, and I just remember thinking, "What has my little brother seen? Why does his face look so out of this world scared/nervous/scary?" (I'm actually tearing up a little bit right now as I write this because it's so fresh in my mind)
All of this happened so quickly. My dad went back with the doctor, running full speed. (My dad isn't a runner, so not only was it a shock within itself. But it scared us silly that something really bad was happening behind the doors that we couldn't go past.) A few minutes later, a nurse came over and gave me a walky-talky so I could talk to my mom. The conversation was short and dismal. All I remember was both of us crying, and me repeatedly sobbing, "Please don't go, please!" Then my dad got on the line, and told us that we needed to go home, and that he would be spending the night at the hospital. That is what we were left with. Four kids crying in the hospital lobby and not even knowing what was going on. When we came back out to my car, both of the front doors were wide open. Scared much? Yes. Petrified with fear? Much better definition of that emotion. All three ducklings were behind me, and I just charged forward and went right into the car, looked around, and nothing was gone. Do you know what I had in that car!? I had a GPS, a camera, purses, necklaces (not gold, but special to me!), shoes, and my wallet!! Yet another thing that God saved us from! : ) PLUS, when I took a right out of the hospital, some yahoooo driver nearly took us out. It was REALLY bad!
I fail at Reader's Digest versions.
In the woods, my mom tripped on her walking stick and the stick went through her eyelid, and right into the tiny space between the bridge of your nose and your eyeball. It missed her actualy eyeball by a slice of a millimeter. It also stopped short by that same amount to her brain. If it had have touched her brain she would have died in those woods with my little brother. It broke her eyesocket, her nose, and SO many other things in that tiny area. I will refrain from the horrifying details of those two hours she was in the woods and the whole ambulance mishap! I'm actually going to fastforward about 2 weeks. She was in the hospital for 2+ weeks. She could see with that eye when it happened, before her surgery, and after surgery. Because the doctor did not check in on her, the pressure in her eye almost made it explode, so that had to do an emergency surgery right in her bed without any meds and cut her actual eye open and most of her face to try and save it, but it was too late. The pressure was too much, and when that happened, it pinched the optic nerve behind the eyeball, blinding her in that eye.
Fast forward to now. Through this trial I have learned more about the human eye than I ever cared to know, got to know what an amazing, strong, beautiful, and Godly woman my mom is, and I also learned that I will never ever be a doctor. My mom is just now (4 months after the accident) starting to drive, I'll update you when she's out and about :)
////////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
FrIeNdS! I am a people person. I like meeting new homies. I've met a lot of great people in 2010! I went to SpringHill and met a ton of people from GL and South that were prettttyyyy cool! Last night actually I went to a Bible Study with my friend Sarah, and I met two new girls that were wayyy cool and got to re-connect with two that I hadn't seen in a LONG time! It was so great! I've also really enjoyed making friends in YG because when we first started going to Graham, I didn't know anyone there, and I always felt like the odd duck. SO, to finalize the friend part... GO FRIENDS!
This year has been pretty awesome! To add on top of that, we're MOVING! After a five year struggle of selling our house, we finally sold it! We actually bought a house closer to life with 36 acres the first day it was on the market! Thankfully, we just happend to sell our house 1 month later after that purchase! We have to be moved out of our house by March 31st 2010! We also have to redo most of the new house because it was a repo so we are going to be living in a mess for awhile! (I'll keep ya updated on that one:)) If you guys have room ideas for colors or anything, let me know because I neeeeed helllppppp! :)
Psalm 13:5 "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."
Over and out
~G~
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Lovely.
Ugh. I hate it when you realize that life isn't going so hot. :/ that time would be now.
* my parents have barely spoken to each other in the past WEEK or so
* i keep messing up friendships/relationships
* school is within the next month
* financial junk
* people without jobs
* we can't handle Brennan anymore. it's just too much. for everyone in my family.
* and some other crud.
UGH. I'm just so frustrated. My mom is just layering on the drama and I just flat out told her to knock it off. She is seriously acting like a thirteen year old. But my dad is so insensitive. He doesn't get what's going on. And guess where it all started, yeah.... Brennan. Ugh. I'm just so mad/sad/confused/upset/ and plain old bummed out. I think I'm gonna go drive around know... who knows where I'll end up! :]
* my parents have barely spoken to each other in the past WEEK or so
* i keep messing up friendships/relationships
* school is within the next month
* financial junk
* people without jobs
* we can't handle Brennan anymore. it's just too much. for everyone in my family.
* and some other crud.
UGH. I'm just so frustrated. My mom is just layering on the drama and I just flat out told her to knock it off. She is seriously acting like a thirteen year old. But my dad is so insensitive. He doesn't get what's going on. And guess where it all started, yeah.... Brennan. Ugh. I'm just so mad/sad/confused/upset/ and plain old bummed out. I think I'm gonna go drive around know... who knows where I'll end up! :]
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