Reflections

     2016 has been a challenging and joy-filled learning experience. I'm still practicing and mastering new habits and I have a long way to go. Although I'm still a loud-mouth and procrastinator, this year (particularly, this semester) has been quieter and more productive than my previous years in high school. Realizing that I connect dots better while thinking out loud to my mother has grown a brand new understanding of how my brain works and why I do things the way I do them. Studying scripture and prayer has brought me through several trials and I'm so thankful for the work the Lord is accomplishing.

     Here is a taste of my favorite opportunities and moments from this year.

A Louisianan Holiday! Oh my, what fun I had experiencing my first major solo trip to be with dear friends. Getting to celebrate my birthday, the new year, and Jess's birthday last December and into January was an exciting start to 2016! I will never forget that special trip.

Reading so many great books in the last half of school early this year. 1984, The Great Gatsby, Uncle Tom's Cabin, A Tale of Two Cities, and How Should We Then Live? to name but a few.

Something that may seem small to others was a peaceful day on Concordia University Campus, sitting on the huge hill steps with my friend Cheryl. The grass was green, the sun was bright, it was quiet, and the day after Cheryl's birthday. We sat there and talked about writing. We shared our worlds with each other. It was a special moment.

Qualifying for the National Invitational Tournament Of Champions in Team Policy with my debate partner, Thomas. I cannot tell you how thrilled we were. The hard work paid off.

Qualifying for NITOC again. In Parliamentary debate. With Cheryl. HOW? I don't know how.

Going to Nitoc in MI. Speaking with and alongside some of my best friends. My favorite debate memory from Nitoc 2016 will always be our last TP round. We hit Ira Hoel and Abigail Chen, an amazing and humble team. Mr. Trefethan was our judge. The clash, the words that flew into the air, they were crisp, and strong. I felt like live sparks were flying around us. They were great debaters. I'll never forget that round. I was sweating afterward, yet had chills. I never felt that way before. I'll never forget it.

From NITOC we drove on to my school's end of the year reunion party which was another highlight.  I met so many classmates and connected with kindred spirits-we had tremendous fun!

In July we found a beautiful Belgian Shepard on the side of the road. He was a grown pup, hungry, and covered in ticks. We kept him contained and got him de-ticked, eventually. My brother named him Thor and he was a bundle of love. After having him all summer and for a short time into the school year, he was hit by a car in front of our house. We loved him to pieces and took care of him. He had a good life here.

Later in the summer, I had a camp at my house. Carter won the award for farthest traveled(what a privilege for us that she could make it). She was in the states already, visiting family, but she lives all the way in Qatar. Next we had the Dunlaps from LA staying with us, and Christy from down south, and Cheryl and her sisters from up north. Being able to spend time with my far flung friends was a super special occasion. Having a mud fight, tubing down a canal, hiking, and talking late into the night, were just a few of the lovely adventures we had together.

Soon after, I headed to Christy's for our annual summer "sister" exchange. My turn to spend a week in the city. It was a restful time to recoup after the amazing and busy summer events. Of course we went thrifting and I bought too many books. We also spent an afternoon bumming the beach. Until the beach bummed me with a sunburn that seems to be personal hatred between me and southern CA sun. We took care of adorable fluffy cats and (I died) jogged around the super gigantic city park only six times (later Christy ran in a marathon). We enjoyed Rita's.  Quality time with my friend Christy refreshes my soul. Always and forever, Christy summers will be a favorite memory.

Two twin lovelies got to ride the train down to my house and spend a few days enjoying the fields and watching cows give birth.  We danced to music, tried on funny faces, and spent another afternoon on the "river" where we discovered a vole? mouse? an adorable furry creature who lived on the bank. I love these girls. Nothing is so great as finding people who don't mind your quirkiness.

To top off the summer, I spent two days up north again, with the other lovelies, the "sisters". We gazed in awe at crazy technology and tried not to squeal during the movie on National Parks in the Imax theater. Zoffe, Cheryl's sister, had a birthday so we rode china horses and flew on giant swings the next day. Then to House of Fruit for dinner (and found the second adorable mouse of the summer, scurrying in and out of a crack in the cement outside the building).
                                                                      a picture

I ordered all my books for school somewhere early in the midst of this, and they kept arriving throughout so I couldn't help but grow more and more excited because WE ARE READING THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV, THE ILIAD, AND THE CITY OF GOD. What could be better than that?

The school year started, and debate and speech along with it. Both my partner and I are extremely busy with classes and homework, so how we got our case together and evidence is beyond me. I was incredibly thankful to be partnered with Yzzi. He is kind, inclusive, smart, and though it's probably to our chagrin that we both get distracted easily, we listen to each other and we are both in this to learn. We received a checkmark at our second debate tournament. This pleases me but we have lots of work to do.  We're really excited, but not stressing about NITOC as NITOC isn't the goal. Learning and growth is the goal.

Half of my Great Conversations class and Dostoevsky Literature class books have been read. So far my top picks for each class: The Iliad and Notes from the House of the Dead. The Iliad is (contrary to popular belief, not about the Trojan War at all) about the wrath of Achilleus (Achilles), how he was avenged, and how common grace was displayed. Notes from the House of the Dead is about Feodor Dostoevsky's five years in a Labor Camp in Omsk, Siberia. Because he was an aristocrat (although a very poor, lower class aristocrat) the majority of the prisoners (who were serfs) didn't accept him into their "brotherhood of prisoners". This book dives deep into human nature, differing personalities, the inherent value of human beings, and a different perspective on prison. It is a book that everyone should read. GO READ THEM.

In late October we found a precious family of mini pincer & Chihuahua mix dogs.  They were completely black/dark brown, a father and three pups (the mom had been hit). We took them in and they have become the Coco Pup Family. The two male pups died from Parvo, but Cecily Coco and Coco Papa remain, and absolutely love meeting visitors.  Although we are partial to big dogs, the Coco Family have found a place in our hearts.
 
This just about brings us up to speed. There are so many other memorable, special, and noteworthy occasions that happened this year, but these are the ones that really stand out to me.

One final account. This one is for all you city slickers... just kidding, we weren't expecting this either.

     On Wednesday, the 21st, a wild ranch steer showed up like a ghost out of the fog on our farm. He had a pretty recent brand, thus after some calls that didn't prove fruitful my dad called the branding inspector's office to inquire. No one was very familiar with the brand, but they put the word out that a cow was found and eventually a cowboy came calling.  A few of his animals had escaped through a cut down fence(crime scene) in the foothills and wandered off. After identifying the livestock as his via photos, cowboy came down the hill on Monday to pick up his unruly beast. This wild steer (who had recently been immigrated from Idaho) had wandered over a hill, across a canal, crossed two major highways, and traveled five miles due west to be with the gals on our farm. To boot, he did this on one of the foggiest nights we've had this winter, without causing an accident or becoming hamburger. I do not think this man was prepared to wrangle a steer on a dairy farm. It is the wet season, thus a whole lot of manure mud going on. It took my father, uncle, brother, the cowboy, Sergio, Juan, and even my mom and I(and alot of time and patience) to lock this steer in an alley and corner him into the trailer. This sounds simple. It wasn't. He got loose multiple times, would shove up in between the cows locked in their stanchions, trying to hide from his pursuers, slid in the mud (and spattered every one of us), kicking at anyone behind him, glaring and backing away from (or practically running over) anyone who was foolish enough to get in front of him. Did I mention he was about half the size of our gentle Holsteins? He was bright red with long, wooly hair, and as soon as we got him into the trailer he let us know just how much he appreciated us ruining his good time with the girls(wouldn't stop kicking the door.) It was quite the experience.

     I have a much greater respect for cowpokes now. I don't know how they keep it all together with cows wandering over thousands of acres of hills and rocks and manage to keep them healthy, alive, and accounted for.

That was our excitement for the end of the year. I hope 2017 proves to be just as rich and full as 2016.  Full of growth in wisdom, stature and favor with God and mankind.~Luke 2:52

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  ~2 Corinthians 5:17