I'm going on an adventure...

Forget the part about not updating my blog all summer... I'm going on an adventure!

I probably am a little bit excited (and for the people that know me know that hardly ever happens). And I, in my fervent haste to pack I'm  probably going to forget the essentials, but my camera is ready and  maybe quite possibly on my return I'll post a few pictures.


Every year my family takes a break from everything and spends a week in Cades Cove located in the Smokey Mountains. There's no electricity, showers, or cell phone reception, but we manage and actually enjoy it immensely. We enjoy spending time with some of our greatest friends and close family, cooking and eating delicious foods, playing entertaining board games, hiking across (mostly just up) mountains, and of course seeing the beautiful scenery.

I can't wait until we get there! I best go finish packing...

So... it's been several weeks since I've last posted on here. The past few weeks have been crazily hectic and our calendar has been stuffed with softball tourneys, graduations, piano competitions, piano recitals, orchestra rehearsals, and the occasional Psych episode.

A few weekends ago, the Emmanuel Softball Team won the Panhandle Christian Conference Championship (undefeated too!). This is our oh-so-photogenic team preparing for our official championship pictures...

Ah... getting ready...

 

This is a little bit better...

 

And I guess we're done...

 

 

The championship game was a nail biter. We were down five points going into the final inning, but our team battled back to tie up the score. Several extra-innings later, our extremely talented #8 hit a RBI double to score in the final winning point.

 

 

 

I would have pictures of Mary's college graduation, but in my haste to get my camera before we left I forgot the memory card. Ooops...

 

 

 

 

Mama forced me attend the ECS Sports Banquet... here are the pictures all my Mama's friends requested...

 

Hipster glasses... (and no, I didn't wear them to the actual banquet)

 

 

In the end, (I sorta forgot to take pictures) I won offensive player of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

Recitals!!! Whoop-Whoop to all my talented siblings...

 

 

Olivia played exceptionally well (and then fell asleep later)...

 

Gideon lookin' sharp...

 

 



 

Rebekah rockin' the Beethoven...

 

The recital was awesome (especially Emmie's jazz)!

 

 

 

And even though it ain't Throwback Thursday...



(left to right) Me, Beka, and Grace Ann from way back when...

 

 

 

Mini Roadtrip!!!

 

 

This past weekend, two of my sisters and I abandoned Mama and Daddy, along with our many younger siblings, and went on a mini road trip to Pensacola to visit our sister in college!!!

 

Traffic, gas stations, frequent Sonic trips (making sure we hit the Happy Hour time schedule), and rest areas (due to the Sonic stops) made up a large portion of our trip. We went thrift store shopping, ate Chinese, played Wallyball, gossiped, and squeezed in as many other things we could in our tiny, little weekend.

 

 

 

 

Traffic...

 

 

 At Sonic waiting for our drinks...

 



Prepping for a night of bowling...

 

 

Bowling...

 

 

Rebekah's roll (she came in last place, by the way)...

 

Chillin' with the Hipster glasses...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All things considered, it was a great trip.

 

P.S. I bought this really awesome red leather chair at a thrift store, but it didn't fit in the car... I'll officially get it in a couple of weeks, so I'll post pictures of it then.

 



The world has horrible motives. I'm sure you all heard about yesterday's bombings at the Boston Marathon. But I don't think you've heard about a man by the name of Dr. Gosnell, probably because the mainstream media hasn't even thought about giving his horrendous crimes a mere glance.

Dr. Gosnell, an abortion doctor located in Philadelphia, is on trial for the murder of eight. In reality, he has killed many more than that. His clinic, dubbed the "House of Horrors, killed a unknown of babies illegally, but hundreds, if not thousands, legally.

Yesterday, after hearing about the recent bombing, I watched The Blaze's Glenn Beck show hoping they would have some information concerning the bombings. I found out the facts I wanted, but decided to watch the second segment of the show too: the part about Gosnell. His crimes- unbelievable. The premise behind his practice- sickening. His value for life- nonexistent.

His practice of killing babies alive. Breathing. Crying. Alive. Babies. Casually snipping the backs of their necks. Breathing. Living. Thriving. Babies. Keeping the fetal remains. Fully developed feet soaked in vinegar, stored in bottles. Full babies were found frozen. Other horrors still waiting to be uncovered.

That evil man didn't destroy tissue. He didn't help women make a "personal choice". That evil man murdered babies.

Are titles really necessary?

This week has been adventurous. And hectic. And painful.

Yesterday, my family went down to Florida. We didn't go for the beach; we went for a sister. Not as exciting- but just as fun. We walked (or in my case hobbled) around her collage campus. We went out to eat, shopped in thrift stores, took a "quick" stop at Walmart, and unfortunately a quick stop at a store called World Market (I loved that store and wish we stayed longer). We finished the day attending her orchestra concert which was amazing.

Two days before that, I tore my meniscus in my knee (note the hobbling from above). Mud + momentum + gravity equals painful softball injuries...

Before that- a lot of softball. Not just for me, but all my many younger siblings are involved in the sport in some way too.

I was planning to write more, but I don't want to. Tootles.

Barefoot with Briars

Yesterday after church, my sisters and a friend hid Easter eggs for our younger siblings to hunt. Of course, I was barefoot. Our yard was full of stickers and briars just waiting to lodge themselves into some unfortunate person's soles. That person was me. Hopefully, I got them all out. My resolve to be barefoot was being tested.



For softball I wear metal cleats. Basically, it's just tennis shoes with metal spikes attached to the bottom. While running around the bases, I kicked my ankle. Blood got all over my socks.  This isn't the first time an episode like this has happened. Once again, being barefoot is the way to go.


I hope all you guys had a wonderful and blessed Resurrection Day!

Political Profile

Since I am kinda on "Spring Break" (quotations added because I don't think homeschoolers ever get a real "break"), I actually managed to get the time to update my new blog. I don't think I'll ever again get the opportunity to update it on consecutive days- so please, take the time to enjoy this remarkable occasion.

Yesterday, I mentioned the fact that I was "passionate" about politics. Honestly, I believe that to be an understatement. I'm political. I have opinions that I'm not afraid to share (i.e. debate and argue about till I'm blue in the face). I have ideas, plans, and ambitions that I'm not embarrassed to vocalize.

I listen to conservative talk radio. I read the liberal minded papers. I watch both conservative and liberal news stations. I read both Op-Eds. I try to be surrounded by both sides of the argument so that I can form an unopinionated opinion (if that's even possible).

My views, honestly, are simple. I'm pro-life, pro-gun, and pro-family. Abortion is murder, Second amendment is sacred, and  Traditional Marriage is the only acceptable form of union. I'm socially and fiscally conservative. I believe in term limits and the right to work. And above all, I believe that without God, our nation will surely fail.

To some people, politics can be boring- but to me, it's not.

If you have any questions about my beliefs (I'm implying that I love to debate) feel free to ask.



P.S. When I first started to write this blog post, I realized I was wearing Sperry's. I immediately removed them from my feet when I noticed. I'm such a hypocrite. ;)

Barefoot and Boisterous:

Pardon my manners, but shoes and I don't agree. I'd rather walk on hot coals barefoot than in grassy meadows while wearing stilettos. As for the boisterous part, I don't honestly think I am. It is merely included so that my blog may flourish with a bit of alliteration added.

Considering the obvious fact that I have never before had a blog, I am probably doing everything wrong. I would like to, however, mention in my first posting a few notable facts.

1) I am very passionate about politics.

2) I am an avid fast-pitch softball player.

3) My wardrobe tends to be darker colors (i.e. I love brown)

4) I don't like shoes with the exceptions of Converses.

5) I don't want to bore you, so I shall stop here for now.