Home again

It was so wonderful to spend a long weekend away at Virginia Beach! It was in the 50's and the 60's the whole time we were there, but I didn't mind at all. It was beautiful!

I always love how fluffy the clouds are over the ocean on overcast days.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express again, I love it there. They have a huge pool and hot tub, and Mmm breakfast with bacon. ^_^
We were on the 8th floor in our hotel this time...which none of us were comfortable with....we tend to enjoy being on the 3rd or 4th floor, that way the ocean doesn't seem so...small?
( I don't know... is it possible for the ocean to look small? Haha)

I finished "The Final Storm" by Wayne Thomas Batson while I was there. I can't say that it finished the way I was hoping it would. I was thoroughly disappointed at first with the way Wayne finished the book, but as an allegory I guess it had to end that way.

One evening I went down to the lobby and finished replying to the two penpal letters I brought with me. It was so dark over the ocean, but the boardwalk was illuminated by several lampposts. While I sat there working on writing letters, I didn't see anyone walk past for an evening stroll. It was nice to spend sometime in the lobby when no one was there. It was eerie silent in the lobby and the only other person was a worker behind the front desk and my sister working on math homework for college.

The next morning we woke up to papers posted all over the hotel about a race taking place that morning and that our street would be closed until 10am. Sure enough, starting just before we went down for breakfast, we watched several people run by. Some were in Halloween costumes, which I found kind of funny. Some of the costumes made me laugh. One guy was crazy enough to wear nothing but a speedo in the cold temperatures. He was dressed as Captain America with a cape, but was missing the remainder of his apparel besides his speedo.
There were several others! There was a couple that dressed up, the lady was Peter Pan and the man was Tinkerbell- in a dress in all!

 

There were so many runners! It was fun to watch them run by in costumes, knowing that some were just in the race to have fun.

 

The gender-switch Peter Pan and Tinkerbell!

 

Can you guess who the people in the boat are?

I'll give you a hint, it's based on a show....

You got it! Duck Dynasty!

There were so many cargo ships that passed by our view of the ocean each day. I was always wondering where on earth they were going, and where they had been. I wouldn't mind a year full of nothing but traveling on the sea, but I always get a vision in my mind of huge waves and dark clouds threatening to topple a ship over. Then I snuggle farther down in my bed and decide that I'm content with staying on land.

It still doesn't stop me from wondering what life is like for those that travel by sea, or how far it is to reach the horizon, or how long it takes to be directly under those huge, fluffy clouds.

On Saturday Britney took me out for a photoshoot on the beach. She didn't want any pictures, which I was slightly disappointed at, but agreed. While I was out by the water, a boy around my age wearing a cowboy hat rode by on a horse. "Good day ma'am." He said with a tilt of his hat. I couldn't help swooning a little. And also being slightly embarrassed. I was in a dress! Goodness....I never wear dresses. I smiled back, but I was more intent on watching his horse. He was riding a horse on the beach! Have I ever mentioned how much I want to do that?

 

I made this my profile picture on facebook....and exactly 50 people liked it.

Whaa....? That's my highest record so far! Haha

 

I'm reading "The Curse of the Spider King" in this shot. I just started it on the ride back home.

It's also by Wayne Thomas Batson. I haven't quite decided if I like it just yet...

 

Dad took us to a restaurant called "Outback" for supper the second evening we were at Virginia Beach.

He let me order a side of four crab legs! I was so thrilled. I haven't had crabs since early summer.

Yummy, tasty, crabses, hobbiteses!

On our final morning there, we watched the sunrise over the ocean. It was absolutely gorgeous. We were all really going to miss the ocean, but we were all ready to come back home. I appreciated the escape. I had been needing to get away so badly lately.

Now, back into my daily routine of school and homework and school and studying and school and bible study and school and socialization.

And reading when I can, writing when I can, enjoying life when I can, and hopefully squeezing in time for drawing when I can...time doesn't allow for that currently. I hoping I can adjust something's so there's time for that  again.

 

Until next time! Bon voyage!

-Stephanie

Anticipation for a long weekend away.

My excitement for going away is starting to go ecstatic!

“I just need some time in a beautiful place to clear my head.”

After volleyball is finished on Thursday we're coming straight home so I can change out of my volleyball uniform and then we're traveling through the night to Virginia Beach for a long weekend away.

Vacation has been a luxury we've had to miss out on this year because of Mandie's very expensive radiation treatments and her hot spot treatment on her bum later in the spring. We love our dog so so much, so none of us were going to complain about no vacation this year, especially if the choice was between a few days away, or her. It wasn't even a moment's thought and we knew vacation would just not happen this year. So, funds have been slightly stressed lately, but Mandie is paid off! We used my college fund, that way we wouldn't have to worry about growing interest rates to pay off if we used a loan.

Anyway, all of that is besides the point! We're going away for a long weekend and I'm very excited!

I've been sick for the past three days, so I'm going to skip Bible Study tonight, that way I don't pass on whatever I have to them. Even though I was sick mainly over the weekend, I'm knocked back a little on my Biology homework. And I haven't packed at all for this weekend.

So instead of going to Bible Study tonight, I'm going to finish up most of my biology homework, leaving practically only studying for tomorrow (another quiz this Thursday). And I'll get most of my things together for this weekend.

It's going to be a cold weekend at the beach, but I won't complain! I love Virginia Beach, and the hotel we're staying at is my home away from home. They have a splendid pool and hot tub.

I'm hoping Britney will give me a photoshoot on the beach. I've had one before, but I was wearing my winter coat....so they didn't have quite the look I was searching for...haha. I'm thinking of going during the heat of the day and maybe wearing my long maroon dress I got recently, but haven't worn anywhere yet.

I'll probably finish up the Final Storm by Wayne Thomas Batson on the ride there on Thursday night. So what ever shall I read while I'm there?

I'm tending to go out of my Rick Riordan phase. But I couldn't resist purchasing his latest book. I have to see how this series ends! And I had to buy it because one cannot have a incomplete collection of books! (I have the first three of this series on my shelf). I don't know though. Maybe his next series will be better? He wants to do Norse/ Viking mythology next. It will be worth checking out, I believe.

Thanks to Wayne Thomas Batson, I've been inspired to write a story for the first time in years. His way of writing is simple, and inspired me to try again.

I don't have any goals for this story. If it gets up to 30 pages, then hurrah!

I have a plot...I'm just working on "thickening the plot" and then I'll start my story.

I have some excerpts I've written that I'll throw into the final story and I now realize that adding chapters to my story will help extremely. When I'm stuck, and don't know where else to go, there can be a semi-cliff hanger at the end of each chapter. I'm not sure if that makes much sense? Haha.

I should really get back to finishing up my lab write up for Biology....hmmm....

I'll write another post after I get back from my weekend away!

-Stephanie

 

 

 

The pitter and patter on the rooftop

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

-James 1:12

The rain has put me in one of those reflect and depressed moods again today.

I have been put through so many trials lately. And I feel like a punching bag; like the air is being kicked out of me, like I'm floating, helplessly with my stomach turning and my head throbbing.

Highschool is hard. School has been a challenge this year, and relationships have split apart, some for the better and some for the worst.

My Tuesday night bible study is getting really hard to attend. It's confusing me. One person in my group keeps bringing in questions that make no sense, things that she shouldn't even be questioning. I need to fight to pray for her....she has a different denomination than me, so it's hard for us to get on the same page sometimes and come to an agreement. The thing about this bible study is that they pull stuff out of nowhere and I just want to ask almost every week "Where does it say that in the Bible?" (We're studying Genesis) The leader had a slide last week that said "And God said it was good." And added underneath that "Or was it?" Okay. First off, you're a leader and you should know that you don't question God's word! That's a huge no no. UGH. I just. I think I need to pull myself away, either that, or I should be leading this thing. What do you think?

I'm rambling again. I'm trying to think of good things to say, but the stress in my life is coming out instead...

 

-Stephanie

 

 

Remembering...

This is a picture of me and my friend's dog, Pippy.

 

I stayed up at Rachel's house for a short weekend during the Summer.

 

I'm really missing her right about now.

 

We're in Yearbook at CBA together, but other than that, we don't have much time to catch up this year.

 

*sigh*

 

Youth group is getting harder and harder to attend.

 

It's so awkward for me to stand there without anyone to talk to or laugh with.

 

My mom and dad keep telling me to make some new friends.

 

Which is much easier said than done.

 

I'm getting a stronger and stronger feeling that I just don't belong here anymore.

 

All my friends are at CBA.

 

That means, I only get to see friends once a week.

 

And nobody's ever home anymore.

 

I've been home alone countless times lately.

 

And there's talk of Britney going away for college, instead of just staying at our community college.

 

It's hard to get a grip on to that thought.

 

That my childhood is over with her.

 

I can't dream hard enough right now that we lived on a farm in Pennsylvania and I could just go outside and ride on my very own horse.

 

It just brings a feeling of freedom to me.

 

Who knows....I may just feel like this because it's a dark, rainy day here in Maryland.

 

But I think there's a little bit more to it than that.

 

-Stephanie

Latest painting!

This is my latest painting! The paint is still very wet, so when I took the picture it came out with a strange texture. But here's what it looks like anyway!

I think this one is my absolute favorite so far. I love the clouds, the trees and the mountain. The mountain was harder than I expected, but I conquered it!

This painting class took about 6 hours this time instead of 5. The class room was full with students again, and a lot of them were not happy with their painting, so Mrs. Powell had to help everyone. I always felt so bad because when she came up to me she would say "Nice work, Stephnie!" (She pronounces my name Stephnie, forgetting the 'a' it's actually a cute way of pronouncing my name...)

And after my painting was done, she had diamond dust, so if you wanted, she would sprinkle some in the snow, trees, and the roof of the cabin to make the snow really sparkle.

I'm still trying to debate if I should just leave my painting alone, or if I should add a little yellowish/ orange window light in the side of the cabin to make it look like somebody's home, especially since there's smoke coming out the chimney.

Sadly, mom and dad are requesting that this be my last painting until after Christmas. So I can pick back up painting in January. I understand though. These last three months of the year get rather busy and we  can't really spare a whole day just for a painting class, especially a Saturday.


After my painting class was over  I went over to the jewelry section and got seahorse charms and turtle charms for earrings, some black and white polka dot washi tape, some red and white baker's twine, a 90 cent necklace from clearance and another box of 50 cards.
Hobby Lobby is just the best craft store ever! Even if I can't take another painting class until after Christmas, I hope we can shop at Hobby Lobby one more time before Christmas.

I finished reading The Door Within book 2 on the way back home. I'm excited to start the last one!
I think those books are officially on my Christmas list now.

I'm currently doing a swap with a lady in Ireland. It was originally going to be a small currency swap with Ireland euros and I'd send her a couple American coins and a dollar bill.
Now she's sending me a postcard and some pictures (or a lot of  pictures) of Ireland around where she lives! I think this the most fun swap by far.

I have 20 states now, only 30 more to go! I'm also swapping with Scotland! I always wanted to go there. Who knew postcards where so fun?

Yearbook is going great so far. Rachel and I are sharing the Yearbook Signing Party spread, plus we need to sell ads, and work on mugs soon, and I need to look through the photos on the jump drive that Mrs.Branham trusted me with on Thursday.

Next Thursday is Biology midterms. Woohoo. Joy. There's 61 questions. And we have to remember to bring our vocabulary notecards, or we get 10 points off our midterm.

And volleyball was fantastic! Mrs.Woo picked four team captains on Thursday. Lauren, Hannah, Kaylee, and Stephanie.
What....wait? Did she just.....did she just say MY name?
That's right! I was shocked too! After so many years of watching other girls get picked, my name was finally called. I'm so happy right now!

-Stephanie

UPDATE! I posted this painting on facebook and it got 70 likes!