School, Football, Life :)

Sawatdee ka!
Life has been interesting lately! I have been working on a lot of photos lately, for the Beacon and for http://www.jenniophotography.blogspot.com/. I have been leading some dance practices as well as finishing with my RUSH choreography and watching my dancers on stage. I also have been working a lot of ambassador hours. Last week I applied to be a Spring Service Project leader for the trip to the Netherlands. I was interviewed yesterday and I don't know when I will find out. I suppose whatever happens is in God's plan!
One other thing that has happened lately is Kyle is honored with being in the Semi-Finals of the Draddy award! The link to more information on that is here: http://www.nwcraiders.com/football/2008/news/3444.
I think of Carl and I think of Theresa every day. I see Carl it seems every day in little things. The clouds actually, pretty clouds, when I see them I know he is there. I miss him. Uncle Loren (Kyle's Dad's brother) made a beautiful shaddow box to hold the bobber and string that Kyle proposed with. I have it hanging up in my apartment and whenever anyone comes by they always ask about it. Its fun to share my love for my Uncle and my engagement story with others through the shaddow box.
Our wedding date is set for sure now! Save the date! Friday, June 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Be there or be square! Kyle's football service project trip to Italy is set for right after graduation! Woot Woot!
I'm sorry I don't get around to blogging often, but I do try. I love you all and you are all in my prayers!

Tim and Kyle after the Dana game, Kyle is getting quite scruffy, I know...

The Captains leading the team onto the field before the Dana game

The captains and their fiance's. Tim Naiman and Kim Klein, Kyle and me, Nathan Jansen and Kayse Thornton, Cody Van Sloten and Tirzah Peterson.

Kyle and I after the Dana game.

Kyle and one of his runs. He scored 3 touchdowns at this game!

End of Summer/ Beginning of Sr. Year

Hey! Sawatdee ka! (Thai for hello)

The rest of our trip to Boone was great! We spent time camping, even though we were very ill equipped. When we left for our trip I think we were so much more preoccupied with the town/apartments/job/school that we didn't think to pack some of the necessities for camping. The few things we did have were, a tent, two sleeping bags, an air mattress with no air pump, a lantern with no propane tank, pillows, a flashlight from Kyle's car, and ourselves. We had no matches to make a fire, no marshmallows, no hot dogs, nothing. It was just a tad bit embarrassing :)

Kyle was able to speak with the head of his department (Travis), the strength and conditioning coach, and the football coach. Through that I also got a connection with the guy who is in charge of sports photography! We had driven between 1200 and 1300 miles to get there and that made him move up on the acceptance list hopefully because Travis thought it showed how devoted Kyle actually was to wanting to go to App State U. Only 15 people get accepted to his program, so we really need a lot of prayers, this school is on the very tip top of Kyle's list and would be a dream for him to go to.

As school started I was asked to be head captain of the dance team! We also found out that the football trip will be going to Japan! They haven't set the date yet, but their is also a chance that they will be spending a couple days in HAWAII! They will be doing some habitat for humanity there. I can't begin to tell you how jealous I am of this whole Hawaii thing I am. I have not been to two states in the U.S.... Alabama and Hawaii... But I am still very excited for him!

For now Kyle has football all the time, and I have Rush all the time. Those alone keep us very busy. I am also the Photo Editor for the Beacon (our campus newspaper) and I am on the Ambassador staff. I like to keep myself occupied I guess!

Well, until next time, Kyle and I wish you the best!

in His grip

jenni la raine (and Kyle)

Boone, North Carolina

Hey!
Today was an awesome day! We made it out to Boone after two days of traveling last night! Today Kyle and I went to get a tour of the school and we loved it! It is such a beautiful campus nestled in the mountains! WOW!!! Now only 15 people get into this grad school a year so it is really competitive. I am pretty sure Kyle has a 1up now for actually driving all the way out here and meeting with the Head of the department, the Strength and Conditioning coach and the head football coach, but we still need your prayers! This college would be perfect to help Kyle fulfill his dream of becoming a strength and conditioning coach. All other grad schools don't have the specific major that he needs. We could also use your prayers that if he does get in, that he gets the GA position, AND that I can find a job. Supposedly its really hard to get a job out here!
When we were on the tour today we walked by some yellow snap dragons. They made me think of Carl and Theresa and family, I had to try real hard not to cry. It made me think that Carl was watching over me right then and there.
Tomorrow we are going to check out apartments and maybe hike up Grandfather mountain. I will have lots of pictures for you all when we get back! I hope all is well with all of you!
Loves and Misses
in His grip
jenni la raine (and kyle ;) )

Uncle Carl

Hey all!
It has sure been a trying week. I lost an Uncle and a dear friend. His name is Carl Stephen Sybesma. He loved eagles, flowers, his farm, pond, and especially his wife and 4 children along with 8 grand children. His wife's name is Theresa and his children are Stephanie, Travis, Chad and Kelly. He was proceded in death by his father John Sybesma, his mom Jeannette Sybesma, his father-in-law John Anderson, and his daughter Kelly Soo Sybesma.
Carl was such a good friend to me. I took photos for him, hung out at his house, planted flowers with him, and fished at his pond with him. Most of the time though we just chatted in his house. When I found out he was sick I was devestated. He told me to raise my kids in a Christian home and to love them with all his heart like he loves his kids. He also told me that no one could ever replace Kelly, but I was as good as a daughter to him.
About two weeks ago the cancer took over. Carl got extremely ill and we found out he would not make it. I saw him one last time in the hospital. He wasn't able to speak or even respond. I could tell he was in a lot of pain. I am a person who can talk anyone's ears off, but sitting there with Carl, holding his hand, I was speechless. I told him that I loved him and just sat there in silence with him. I could tell there were others waiting to see him, so I said goodbye and got up to leave and he squeezed my hand as if he didn't want me to go. So I didn't. I stayed there and he squeezed my hand again, he opened one of his eyes and I told him that I would raise my kids in a Christian home, and that I would try and love them even a small percentage as he loves his kids.
Carl was a great man, I love him, I will miss him, but most of all, he has changed my life forever.

July 23, 2009: The Excitement Begins!

Hey all!
This summer has been very exciting! I studied abroad in Thailand, Kyle and I got engaged, Kyle has a sweet internship at LeMars PT, and I've been designing a wedding! Or... choreographing one if you will :) I kind of have a photographer booked. I have the site for the ceremony and reception booked, the caterer booked, etc. One of the most exciting things is that I bought my wedding dress this weekend! We got it at a real fun store for a real fun price! 75% off!! Woot woot! I went wedding dress shopping with my sister Heidi (and Maid of Honor) and the first dress I tried on at the first place we went to was the one! We tried on many others but none of them could compete, this one is just so me! (if any of you have any idea what that means.) I tried to find this dress online, but I can't find it anywhere, so hopefully no one that I know will get the exact same thing :)
Two weeks from now (August 3rd) Kyle and I will be road tripping out to North Carolina to visit his favorite grad school, which is Appalachian state, its in Boone, NC and way up in the mountains close to Sugar and Grandfather mountain! Kyle will look at the school while I am roaming for possible job opportunities, later we will check out appartments and hopefully pick one! There are a lot because its such a huge college town. The town has 15,000 people in it when school isn't in session and 30,000 when it is!
This should be an exciting trip for us and I will update you more on any more news!
Pray for Uncle Carl, Aunt Theresa and family as this is a very trying time. Pray for a miracle, I hear God is still handing those out these days :)
in His grip
Jenni La Raine
(and Kyle :) )

Recent Photos

Kyle and I after Beth's Wedding... 11 Months till our wedding! (Date depending on the football trip in the spring) (June 12, 2009)

Kyle and Grandma Ochsner at Beth's Wedding in Covenant
My Family at Johny Carinos for Mom and Dad's 30th Wedding Anniversary
Kyle and My new motorcycle! Its not much but I think its pretty! Oh wait.. no its... cool.
Heidi and I

The Ring

I believe Kyle did a phenomenal job!