School Days

            Here it comes- Big as freight train, loud like a stagecoach. Coming around the corner….. School! No, no! It can’t be time yet. I’m not ready! Summer is slipping away. So many things I still want to do-

1.      Hang out with friends more.

2.      Have more sleepovers.

3.      Ride my horse more. I didn’t even get out for one trail ride this summer! I am ashamed!

4.      Write additional blog posts, including one about my road trip to Ohio.

5.      Get super fit. Ha!

6.      Get a tan. Ha!

7.      Write more poems.

8.      Write more in general. I have so many great ideas.

9.      Read some the novels I have collected in a box. It’s a BIG box.

If anyone wonders why I don’t respond to their comments or posts, school is the reason why. The summer went by so fast.

List if things I did manage to get done-

1.      I read a lot. I finished a few classic books like. “The Promise” (sequel to Chiam Potok’s “The  Chosen”), “Wuthering Heights”, and “A Doll’s House”.

Then for good measure I read a couple recently published fictional books, “Full Disclosure” and I am almost finished with “Mozart’s Last Aria”.

2.      I did get to hang out with my friends some.

3.      Watched “Sherlock”.

4.      Watched my sister perform in one of her plays after working so hard.

5.      Watched two of my other friends perform a difficult classical play and pull it off with elegance and poise.

6.      Sang in front of a group twice with my closest friends. (I still haven’t recovered from stage fright)

7.      Learned a lot about myself and how I respond to difficult situations. Always a good thing, right?

8.      Discovered some new interests in myself that might lead to a career or volunteer work.

9.      I traveled a lot and saw family members that I never met.

10.  Took lots of pictures.

11.  Thought about my friends whenever I went on my trip(s).

12.  Discovered that I love the Everly Brothers even more than I thought. :)

13.  Went to an extra special friend’s birthday party.

Hope everyone had a good summer and I wish you luck with the upcoming school year and all your academic endeavors!

Friends Poem

Friends

Friends remind me of,

Two rare, bright tropical flowers,

Shinning with talent and open hearts,

Sweet music pulses through their veins,

They have helped complete my dream.

My pulse elevates with the excitement,

Of adventures and laughter to come.

Each memory sweet with acceptance and love,

Surrounds my atmosphere with diamonds.

Friends remind me of,

Well- meaning nicknames,

So as I almost forget how to spell my own.

Humor not wasted,

Warmth in greeting not withheld,

With gleaming smiles.

I can throw back my head in laughter,

While embarrassment does not sting.

I can throw away judgment,

I can embrace the day.

Friends remind me of,

Cozy evenings,

When we mention crushes,

Flushed faces in the twilight,

Though no one will tell.

Quiet sweetness and pleasant agreement,

On school and movies.

Music and dance sound wonderful,

With dear people so close by,

I can bare blistered toes,

As long as they are beside me.

Friends remind me of,

When we first met,

Something good and lasting,

Came right around the corner,

I made two most endearing,

Friends instead of one.

Turmoil may come,

Yet I feel delight knowing,

I have a great group of friends,

Around me.

By- Cameo H.

Dedicated to all my home school friends and others- I may be moving again, I may have said goodbye to some of you already this year, but you haven’t lost me. I will always keep in touch. I may make other friends, but making new ones doesn’t mean I forget the ones I already have and love. I am so privileged to know such a wonderful group of girls and guys. You all have made my life more joyful. It took me a long time to make friends, now I have the best friends a person could ask for!

I look forward to the new start I have been blessed with. It will be different, but different experiences help us grow. Yet, I never dreamed I would become so attached to what I have here. And this poem barely touches what everyone has given me by just being friends!

Distance doesn’t stop good friendships…….

Stars

    Recently, I have taken to listening to classical music on Pandora while I study. Typically, I am someone that uses music to relax and unwind after doing school work. Additionally, I have been forced to work in a more noisy environment and find it easier to tune everything out this way. However, as long as the music doesn’t have words or pertain to my favorite doo-wop song I seem to be okay. I also won’t listen to any music when taking a test or reading through a text.

    After a long, stressful drive through the rain we decided to stop at a hotel on the way to our newest home. My heart was heavy as I knew that I wouldn’t be coming back for a while. So, I decided to connect to hotel wi-fi and start a lesson online. I automatically plugged in and listened to Pandora. While working through a lesson a familiar tune buzzed into my ears. At first, I ignored it, working on the tedious lesson. However, the more I zoned out, the more I began to recognize the sweet tune. The fantastic violin version of “Counting Stars” flooded my senses. I was overwhelmed. Immediately my mood fell quite as I remembered a pleasant evening at a kitchen island, knowing that I was leaving behind some of the best treasures in the world. 

  They all sparkle… Just like stars……

  The tears fell......They sparkle......

  Just like stars...... 

Moving STUFF

            Five minutes ago I thought I we were close to completing the moving process.

            
            Five minutes ago I happened to be wrong.

             
           30 minutes ago we had the whole garage cleaned. That was a glimmer of hope.

           
           Two days ago I maintained the false impression I had everything out of my room. Wrong.

           
            Four days ago I thought maybe we were close to the end of moving.

             
            A week later I am passed out on the couch and can barely move. 

     Something in my subconscious absolutely refuses to look at a box of junk. The muscles in my arms scream in terror if I decide I need to move a box in order to get to another item. I really enjoyed helping my friends when they needed assistance moving. It felt so productive compared to what I was doing.

           
      Although I have moved very few times in my life, this recent endeavor (moving to the neighbor’s house) proved emotionally, physically, and mentally challenging. However, it offered an amazing revelation. I now understand why the Lord said NOT to store up treasures on earth. Not only does this remain as a warning that one’s things might fall apart or end up stolen or destroyed; I believe it offers another facet. Perhaps He was also cautioning us about the fact that when people move- The stuff has to come. No matter where one goes the baggage comes and the more a person acquires, the more items will need to find a place in the new house. Material things often burden life, dragging items around from one place to another exhausts a person.

           
       In spite of this, I understand that some objects a person has to keep. For example, valuable papers, heirlooms, clothes, a good dress or suit, favorite jewelry pieces, reference books, etc. However, if one has not hugged or washed that teddy bear in a few years, read a certain book twice and have not opened it since, got a new saddle pad only to keep the old one-Everything screams time for change!

             
       Although I still struggle with parting with my things, I am learning to love garage sales. I want to sell my used books online. If I do not wear the shirt more than once it has to go. I do not have time to pursue further guitar lessons. The music can go for now, give it to someone who needs it and will make use of their talent.

Well, I think I have rambled on a bit, but I have learned some good lessons. Time spent with people remains so much better then telling a packed box one’s woes. Never hesitate to throw stuff out!

I'm Still Alive

  Okay, so, if anyone cares- I am still alive and did not drop off the face of the earth or anything. I have been mega busy. Although I have several posts in the works and have ideas for others my life has offered no opportunity for any blogging and once school starts I will be lucky if I can breath.

  Anyway, I will be updating everyone soon and coming out with some posts about my summer travels and recent experiences as soon as things settle down. Is the suspense driving anyone nuts? Just kidding.

  When school starts I probably won't be able to much blogging, but it will offer a nice break from academic papers.

 Great things to come, I promise.


Cameo