All the pretty lights

Those November Days

A year abroad

Recently I started thinking about possibly going abroad for next year! I'm so excited, but nervous too. It's a whole year away from everyone, in a foreign country, not knowing the language, standing out, absolutely terrified! However at the same time, it is completely thrilling and an unbelievable possibility. I would attend school there while living with three different host families. I am not able to decide where I go, I did however get to list 10 of my top preferences. I have Taiwan, than Finland, than Norway, the rest were second choice options. I'm would really love to go to Taiwan, it would be so exotic and new and I might be able to learn some Mandarin. I would happily go anywhere else though, regardless of the destination it would be an amazing experience. The application process has been, long, hard, and complicated but it is finally over..... now it's on to writing essays, interviews and planning power points. Each month I have rotary meetings where I go and meet kids that are here from other countries, and kids that are planning on going abroad next year like me. Most of them are juniors planning on going their senior year, there are also some sophomores like me that are planning to go their junior year. Next month are interviews with my parents, I'm so nervous! To be able to go you have to be accepted into the program, which I'm told isn't so hard but that makes the process even more jumpy! Now I'm just focusing on schoolwork for the rest of the year, and our trip to Maui in a few weeks! <3

Isabel's Homecoming!

Rockin the panda hat <3

We went streamer crazy!

Candace, running on the highway to put signs up!

Panda Hat? Yes!

Mosquitoes SUCK

Surprise!

Amazing Decorations

Candace and Ethan

We All Love You Belle!!!

Cupcakes my grandma and I made!

Memories

Have you ever just sat down and looked through every photograph from your early childhood. From when you were two years old until your current age? It certainly is mind boggling. All the things you tried, all the things you gave up, the friends you had, the outfit you wore? You can't change anything! It's just stuck there in those photographs forever. Burn them, but you know they're still there. Throw them away, they hang in the back of your mind. It's something to think about for the future, those memories, actions, moments, words, conversations, decisions looks, smiles, hugs, and friendships will always be there for eternity. Lovely...........

Spooks, Crayons, and Recovery

Belle's continuing her recovery process, and figuring more things out daily. Of all the suckiness of being in a hospital, what seems to make her the most blue is the fact that she can't go trick or treating. I mean what kid doesn't take pleasure in dressing up in a terrifying costume and knocking on doors they've never knocked on before to ask for candy. Haunted school buses, graveyards, ghosts, terror, it really gives you chills. Don't get me wrong, I participated in this
"holiday" for years but looking back it now greatly confuses me. Alas, Isabel is definetly looking forward to the hospital trick or treating and her friends bringing her candy. This year, I am dressing as..... A Crayon!! I mean I can't find anything scary or nauseating about a crayon, except the consumption of them...... rethinking.

Hospital ~ 1 Week

Isabel is pretty much herself again. As I breathe a sigh of relief I can't help but think, what would our family have done without all of our friends? I realize now they're more like family than friends. Driving my brother and I to and from the hospital and driving all the way from North Carolina! They truly are family, my grandparents as well, staying with us while my parents stay at the hospital with my sister. I am truly grateful for having each and every one of them in my life, and I love them all. Finally were seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Isabel went outside today and got some sunlight! It's so amazing to see her cheery personality coming back over time.

Hospital Day Five

Days at the hospital blur together. It's the waiting, the anxiety that really gets to me and causes to me break down. She is improving though, very slowly but surely and it really brings hope to everyone. Yesterday she talked! This doesn't seem like a huge deal but it really is! It's funny though because when we get all excited when she says "hi" she acts like were all crazy. I don't know if the reality of it all has really sunk in yet, but each day she's remembering more and more. Each smile, laugh, and word makes us so happy because we know she's getting better and will soon be herself again. Today is my fifth hospital day, but let me just say it feels like it's been a year. It's so hard seeing her like this but I know she will recover and be our day brightening Isabel again.

You never think about something tragic and terrible happening to someone you love. You never picture them laying in a hospital bed, unable to talk to you, smile, or move. Yesterday my little sister was admitted at children's hospital after having a seizure. She can't recognize me, or talk to me and i've found it's so hard to think about the way things used to be before this. Just yesterday she was talking and laughing! It's just not fair. The sweetest little girl in the world, is laying in the ICU and we don't know if she's going to fully recover. I'm scared, sad, and confused. I love Isabel more than anything in the world and I think I didn't realize how much our sisterhood ment until now. I don't have a sister to talk to and I have NEVER in my life been more afraid and nervous. I'm not a religous person, but if anyone reads this please pray for my sister.

My somewhat exaggerated horse experience

I rode a horse

Well, I did it! I rode a horse... for a maximum of five minutes. It was terrifying, and i've decided I am not a horse person. When I got to the barn, I was nervous but I was excited as well. Than the instructor brought our "Pal", a clearly UNSTABLE and OLD horse. I'm serious this horse could not stand still, and the horse back riding instructor said he was like 80 years old! As if I wasn't already scared enough. So I got onto the horse all nice and easy, than he began walking and sneezing and walking and sneezing. I got to a point where I was terrified, not having fun, and feeling like I was about to fall off. My horse experience was not the best one, and I have decided my contact with any other horse will simply be petting them.

Caris!

http://www.wimp.com/speaktypography

Those golden lights that brighten the Earth each Autumn, are really just dead leaves. Ironic.

Yellow Springs, OH and Visiting Miami University

Friends!

Michigan

As the summer comes to an end, we decided to take one last family vacation. Last year we went to the same place near a town called Ludington. We stayed by Lake Michigan, which we were all excited about... than the water ended up being cold! The long walks on the sandy beaches were still nice, and watching the sunset fall over the lake was absolutely beautiful. The first days the there we had beach days. Eventually tip toeing into the frigid water than floating in a tube the whole time. Isabel and I did take pleasure in being crashed ashore by the seemingly small waves. Since were not use to large bodies of water, they seemed big to us! Another day we drove an hour and a half away to hike on the Sleeping bear sand dunes. We were going to hike 3.5 miles to Lake Michigan, which seemed like no big deal. In reality it felt like 1,000 miles through the desert with a winter coat on and burning feet. It was terrible! when we finally got to the lake, I couldn't take my feet out of the water to walk back. We did however bring a smooth lake rock back as proof of our accomplishment. We had day trips in Ludington, where we once found a really nice coffee shop in addition to finding the library. This was a wonderful, relaxing end of the summer.

Trip to Michagan

Playing Frisbee on the the beach

A historic moment, mom actually got in the water!

Hike on the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes

Walks on the beach