Rebecca - Your sister is very pretty! That is great that she is so strong in her faith! I think that is wonderful!!! And, yes, you don't see many 16 year olds (or 30 year olds for that matter), so strong in their faith! That is amazing and wonderful!!!

Regarding the "stick with her church friends".......well, when I was growing up, my family was BIG in our church and I became friends with the pastors daughter (who was my age). Let me just say, SHE WAS WILD!!! Even when we were younger, she was always doing something that I just could not believe anyone would do, especially one of my friends and one so "faithful". As we got older, she got worse! I mean, that girl partied with everyone and everything....got arrested in high school for drugs, was with other several other men the week of her wedding, divorced and married not soon after, etc. It is crazy how some people are.......I guess, she was never really faithful, but she could have fooled any adult (at church or anywhere else).

Also, four of my daughters "good friends" (well, once were) are big in our church (then church)....their parents are big in the church as well. Not all of them, but a few of them are the biggest smart-mouths, biggest trouble makers and gossipers, and biggest flirts you have ever seen! I don't know if they think this is okay, if their parents approve of this behaviour or what!

It is crazy, because growing up in a small town church, we were all "different". God was more important, we knew HE was watching everything we did and heard everything we said........maybe some kids these days don't understand that.....maybe some kids these days feel that since their parents are big in the church, it somehow entitles them to act a different way, and that it is okay for them to do it, but not for others.........strange!

I just wanted to share those experiences.........there are good friends no matter if they are in church or not....some are out there, just waiting to be found.......and those friends can be brought into the church too. (I'm not saying anything bad about anyone, just voicing my experiences).

In other words.......you need to watch all her daughters friends, no matter who they are or what they do. Most girls know a true friend, they feel it in their hearts.....even at such a young and uncertain age........most know, they just need a parent there to guide them in the right direction when asked for help.