Day 7: Five things you couldn't possibly live without.

1. My Bible
2. My family (does that count as 10?) 
3. Books
4. Paper and Pens (I count that as one because I only write with paper, I don't make paper airplanes so I have to have both)
5. Sweet Tea!  I love it!  I'm Southern! 

Wordless Wednesday...make that Thursday

A good reminder of what that night was like.

Day 6: A moment you wish you could relive.

The moment I knew that I had a second little brother.

We had decided to keep it a secret until the kids were able to visit the hospital.  Daddy wasn't supposed to tell us when he got home.  He was on the phone when he walked in the door and the first thing he said was.  "I don't know what we'll name him."  What??? !!!  I had a second little brother.

Note: Michael Joseph didn't get his name until he was almost 2 days old!  :)  We were expecting a girl!

Day 5: A favorite quote.

When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.

George Washington Carver

Day 4: A favorite television program.

1. The Duggar Family episodes
2. The Andy Griffith Show (just the Black and White ones though!) :)

Jessica

Day 3: A favorite book.

Okay, this is even harder than the Favorite Movie!!!  I LOVE to read, I read all the time.

Besides, how can you have a favorite book?

1. Crown and Covenant Series by Douglas Bond
2. Through the Years Together by Castleberry Family
3. The Courtship Series by the Castleberrys
4. Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris

Day 2: A favorite movie.

Wow!  This is a hard one!  I think I'll list my top 5 favorite films -

1. The Widow's Might
2. The Sarah Plain and Tall Series
3. The newest Emma
4. That Darn Cat
5. The Love Comes Softly Series

Well, I also like Bleak House and North and South.  See what I mean?  I can't pick!!! :)

Day 1: A favorite song.

Wow!  This is a hard one to start out on.  Mainly because I love music and I love to sing. (Note: that doesn't mean I do it well... but I love to sing)  I also love to play songs on my violin. 


Erin always tells me that I know the words to the hymns and songs and she knows the tune.  Sad, but true!


So, here is my favorite SONG... because hymns are to hard to do.  How can you pick a favorite hymn?  I mean come on!!!


Okay, fine... I'll include one of my most favorite hymns! 

Song: Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears

On the first day on January,
Eighteen ninety-two,
They opened Ellis Island and they let
The people through.
And the first to cross the treshold
Of that isle of hope and tears,
Was Annie Moore from Ireland
Who was all of fifteen years.

CHORUS:

Isle of hope, isle of tears,
Isle of freedom, isle of fears,
But it's not the isle you left behind.
That isle of hunger, isle of pain,
Isle you'll never see again
But the isle of home is always on your mind.

In a little bag she carried
All her past and history,
And her dreams for the future
In the land of liberty.
And courage is the passport
When your old world disappears
But there's no future in the past
When you're fifteen years

Chorus

When they closed down Ellis Island
In nineteen fourty-three,
Seventeen million people
Had come there for sanctuary.
And in Springtime when I came here
And I stepped onto it's piers,
I thought of how it must have been
When you're fifteen years.

Chorus

Hymn: It Is Well

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

This hymn was writ­ten af­ter two ma­jor trau­mas in Spaf­ford’s life. The first was the great Chi­ca­go Fire of Oc­to­ber 1871, which ru­ined him fi­nan­cial­ly (he had been a weal­thy bus­i­ness­man). Short­ly af­ter, while cross­ing the At­lan­tic, all four of Spaf­ford’s daugh­ters died in a col­li­sion with an­o­ther ship. Spaf­ford’s wife Anna sur­vived and sent him the now fa­mous tel­e­gram, “Saved alone.” Sev­er­al weeks lat­er, as Spaf­ford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daugh­ters died, the Ho­ly Spir­it in­spired these words. They speak to the eter­nal hope that all be­liev­ers have, no mat­ter what pain and grief be­fall them on earth.

Taken from Cyberhymnal

Well, see you tomorrow!

30 days of 31

For the month of October, I will be doing this 30 day challenge.  I will take off on October 29th because on that day, I will turn 18.... 

Join me tomorrow for a fun month!

Day 1: A favorite song.

Day 2: A favorite movie.

Day 3: A favorite book.

Day 4: A favorite television program.

Day 5: A favorite quote.

Day 6: A moment you wish you could relive.

Day 7: Five things you couldn't possibly live without.

Day 8: A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life.

Day 9: A photo you took.

Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago.

Day 11: A photo of you taken recently.

Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding(or was played).

Day 13: A guilty pleasure.

Day 14: A vacation you would like to take.

Day 15: A person you admire.

Day 16: A song that makes you cry.

Day 17: An art piece.

Day 18: A time when you felt passionate and alive.

Day 19: A talent of yours.

Day 20: A hobby of yours.

Day 21: Something you know you do differently than most people.

Day 22: A website.

Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered.

Day 24: A movie no one would expect you to love.

Day 25: A recipe.

Day 26: A childhood memory.

Day 27: A physical feature you love.

Day 28: A scar you have and it's story.

Day 29: Hopes, dreams and plans you have for the next 365 days.

Day 30: A motto or philosophy.

The Month of September!!!!

I haven't posted in a while because we have had such a busy September, but here are some highlights from the month!

We went to the zoo, and climbed on tractors!

Ryan had a birthday and got a new Bible!

Ryan had a birthday and Michael stole his gifts. 

Two very cute twin sisters came to the party. 

One cute boy dressed up in the sweatshirt everyone in the family has worn. 

Too precious.  This photo was taken right before he was crowned king!

Aravis has gotten really big and loves the cat house Daddy made for her. 

We visited the TN aquarium and had so much fun.  I love Michael's face in this photo. 

Too cute!!!!

Are my eyes large enough?

They dressed up for the rain. 

I don't know what they're doing. 

This little boy has stolen my heart.  Is he no so cute?

Sarah pictures herself a fair maiden pondering life.  I love her freckles!!!!

Centuries Apart

I was trying to wait to post this photo, but I couldn't!!!!!   Please meet the Cast and Crew of the 2011 Production ~ Centuries Apart!!!!!

Much thanks to Rachel, Erin, Emily, Ryan, Jamie, Sarah, Kathryn, Nathaniel, Emily, Jonathan, JoHannah, Nathan and Joel!!!!

We appreciate the time and effort you guys and gals sacrificed and the talent you added to the film. 

And here is the trailer for the film... If you want to see the whole thing... let me know!!!!

Centuries Apart from Plants and Pillars Film Festival on Vimeo.

Film Festival Blog...

Dear Friends, I have an exciting announcement!!!!

I got the photos of the Film Festival from the photographer!!!! This has allowed me to start posting photos and trailers of the films on the Film Festival blog.

Please go there and take a look. There will be a photo of everyone, eventually, except for the 3 out of state entrants.

Go Here!!!!!!  Film Festival Blog!!!!

Wissmann Family Sings!

Preparing!

Ryan made these nametags for everyone.
His says, "Ryan Pritchett volunteer at the 2011 Plants and Pillars Film Festival"

You should always get a drink before a big event!!!!

100 programs to hand out.  She was also supposed to check off people as they came in, but... everyone arrived at 5:34 and it got to crazy!!!!

Take time to hug!

The setup!!!

We'll make them all sit here!

Before

After.  I love the kid in the aisle.
photography by bo schultz

You plug this in here and that in there. 

You turn the lights on... how?

Ryan!!!

Faithfulness

Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.

Matthew 25:23

We love you Ryan!  Happy 12th Birthday!

They Are Coming!!!!

Please don't go away!!!

 
I have more posts on the Festival that are not ready yet. The main photographer doesn't have the photos ready yet, and I am having some trouble getting the trailers uploaded...

But stay with us!!! Keep watching!!! The posts are coming!!!

Just for Fun!

I couldn't stop laughing at this movie!!! Watch it and enjoy!

He Said It...

In the midst of planning and recovering from the Film Festival,  I have to make sure that I take time to remember and jot down the memories that still come in our day to day life.  I have to make sure that I journal them so I can hang onto them.

All of my siblings have called me "Gaga" as the grew up.  Don't ask me why.  I have not the faintest idea why.  Jessica to me sounds nothing like Gaga, but I seem to be mistaken on that one.



All of them have been the same.

But... then it happens... the sadness... at one point...

I cease to be Gaga and I become Jessica once again.  One by one all of them have joined the ranks of kids growing up and have discovered how to actually say their oldest sister's name.  Except Michael.  He still calls me Gaga.  I am nothing else.




Until now...


August 18th will be forever etched in memory...

The day of the Second Plants and Pillars Film Festival

and the day my little baby brother called me by my given name.  He said, "Thank you Jessica for the Film Festival."

That little man has a huge vocabulary.  I tell Mommy his vocabulary is larger than he is.  But until that moment, he had never said Jessica.

He hasn't said it since, but I know it's coming.  One precious day I'll be typing here trying to remember what his little voice sounded like when it said, "Gaga, help me please"  or "Gaga, do this for me."

The days will slip by and all to soon I'll be calling him on the phone and listening to him talk.  He'll tell me what he has been doing all day and what he's doing tomorrow.  He'll be 15 and I'll be 30.



One day it'll be over and I'll never hear it again.  My kids will call me Mommy.

Michael, maybe you can call me Gaga once again on my wedding day.  :)  I love you buddy!

Jessica or Gaga

Trailer: Do Your Ears Hang Low?

Do Your Ears Hang Low? from Plants and Pillars Film Festival on Vimeo.

Mommy and Daddy

21 Years of Love!!!

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.