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!

Perfect Day to Finally Relax

Today's weather was perfect to go outside and read while cuddled up in a cozy, oversized sweater.

This week has been so extremely stressful. Biology has been killing me.... And I just finished the second week of homework. Which means we're hardly even into the year of school at CBA yet.
Thankfully, it's not killing only me...I was messaging one of my friends the other day and he said that Biology was killing him- without me having to say anything about it being overwhelming first! I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds it hard.

We have a quiz every single week. And we have midterms each semester and finals each semester.
Which is probably what public school students go through as well. So I'm just thankful I've never had to deal with a quiz every single week up until this point.

It wouldn't be so hard....if the words I'm trying to remember were even slightly pronounceable.

That's why I was so grateful for today... minus my other school work, today was wonderful and an autumn coolness had struck the air all the sudden, making me go outside to finally relax and read a book I haven't been able to pick up all week because of studying. (I think my hard work in studying might have paid off though...I have a pretty good feeling that I aced that quiz.)

I really can't stand how being back in school suffocates your free time to be able to get lost in a good book. One reason why I should really appreciate summer for giving me that time.

There's two books coming out soon by some of my favorite authors! I had them on my Christmas list, but I told my mom today that I don't think I can wait that long! I have a small amount of money I've been putting back that's going towards a kayak, but a small set back won't hurt.  One of them is coming out next week, and the second one is about two weeks behind the first.

Also, I recently joined an online group for postcard swapping. The goal is to collect all 50 states! You accomplish this by commenting on a post of a state that you need and sending them a postcard when they private message you their address, and then you'll receive a card in return!
I have ten at the moment, so I'm off to a very good start! So far I have: Nebraska,  New Jersey, North Carolina, California, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Washington, and Canada ( which doesn't really count as a state- but it's still fun to have!)

Which reminds me! I got four items in the mail today! Three postcards and a penpal letter from New Hampshire.
Have I ever told you how much I love opening the mail box and finding something for me inside?

I also joined another group for penpals. I signed up for 5 and then decided to sign up for 2 more. I have Kayla in Alaska, Kayla in Florida, Jayla in Texas, Sarah in Indiana, Mackenzie in Louisiana, Lindsay in Kentucky, and Leah in Florida. I've only heard back from two of them so far. That's why I signed up for so many! Most of them tend to not work out, and even if they do, it may not be long term, and I love long term penpals.

-Stephanie

A day in Chambersburg, P.A.

I just couldn't wait until October 5th to do another painting...so I signed up for one happening earlier, Rachel wasn't able to make it to this painting class, but it was still lots of fun.
I like to do my paintings standing up, so it can get pretty tiring after a while, but lunch break is at the perfect point when you're just about to fall over. Mom, dad and Britney brought me lunch from Wendy's and I ate in the van. The classroom was full this time, last time there were only three people painting. Mom was going to walk me in so she could see my painting half way through, but I wasn't very proud of it at that point, so I told her that she would have to see it later once I went back and fixed a couple things.
And after two more hours, my painting had transformed and it was a little better than I expected.
Mrs.Powell was actually saying that this painting was not good for beginners. I've only done one other painting....so I think I'm still considered a beginner.
Here it is!

I'm excited for the next painting! It's a winter scene with mountains in the background!

 

After 5 exhausting hours of painting, I put my painting in the van and got to walk around Hobby Lobby for the first time. That store has everything!

I got a box of 50 notecards and a pack of three wax seal sticks this time. But next time I'm definitely going to be purchasing some of their adorable charms and make jewelry out of them!

I got 50 notecards because of  my penpals!  I have lots of cute cards already at home, but they're so cute that I never use them!

 

I loved the route we took to get home... last time we took the highway, but dad drove us a little further into P.A. and through Gettysburg, it was absolutely fascinating.

And the scenery!   Oh my, mountains were on either side of us, and they were so close, I felt like I could reach out my hand and touch them. Some clouds were drifting so low that they touched the mountains, it was such a breathtaking view.

 

 

-Stephanie

How to make a new Friend

Making new friends has been hard for me my whole life, and most of the time I think it would be easier if people came to me first, but lately I've been stepping out of my comfort zone and talking to some new middle schoolers at CBA. So here's some simple rules I find to making a new friend.

Make the effort- In order to make new friends, you have to make the effort to introduce yourself.

Listen-Be interested in what your friend is talking about, even if you aren't.

Keep in touch- I've lost contact with many good friends over the years that I regret losing contact with. If you want to be friends and stay friends, make a hard effort to keep in touch.

Surprise them- To be a good friend, remember their birthday, a small gift or a birthday card is enough to show that you care and they always appreciate it.

These are only four steps in being a good friend, but I think they cover the basics!

-Stephanie