Becoming Virtuous

A blog sharing my thoughts on life and what God is teaching me

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  • I’m back! For a little while at least! ; )

    I got back from the Father/Son retreat late Tuesday afternoon.  It was a lot of fun, though extremely tiring.  When I got back, I was so tired, I could’ve cried.  I only got about 5 hours of sleep each night.  This was through no fault of my own.  I would jolt awake an hour or two before I was supposed to and wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep until the alarm was about to go off. ::rolls eyes:: ; )  But other than a sad lack of sleep, the retreat was awesome!

    Since my father is on the CHEC committee, and our family is good friends with the family running the retreat, we were lucky enough to go up early and help set up. ; )  So we woke up at 5 a.m., picked up the family we were driving up at 7 a.m. and got to Crooked Creek at ten till 9 a.m.  The funny thing is, we were the absolute first people from our group up there.  We even beat the people who told us to get up there early! ; )  However, the extra time beforehand was very nice as we got a chance to walk around the facilities before getting to work.  (Something us girls were very thankful for because after the retreat started, we’d be very limited on the places we could go.)  However, we got (or I guess I should say I) had a bit of a scare.  On examining the hot tub, we found that it was closed!!  Now this was completely tragical!  The hot tub makes a huge contribution on my nightly visit to help my legs to not hurt too much the next day.  The thought of not being able to rest my feet in it’s warmth made me feel melancholy.  I wasn’t sure if I could face the week without it!! (j/k)  My brother asked me, “So when you said that you were excited about the retreat, you were really excited about the hot tub?” ; )  But it all turned out okay.  One of Crooked Creek’s staff told us that we could take the tarp off when we went down there at night, as long as we covered it back up.  The tarp was only on because it was rather chilly up there, so they were trapping the heat in when it wasn’t in use.

    Speaking of the hot tub, there was a rather comical event that happened on one trip to the hot tub.  This particular evening, we started for the hot tub a little later than usual.  We had to stop off at the Bull Moose (the dining hall) real quick to drop something off.

    Upon completing this errand, we headed for the front doors.  However, when we arrived at the doors, three girls came rushing in!  They had been at the hot tub when the guys had let out of session so the girls had high tailed it out of there.  (We weren’t allowed to fraternize with the guys or bring attention to ourselves.  The organizations running the retreat wanted this to be a true retreat without the guys having to worry about guarding their thoughts.)  We found out from the girls recently in the hot tub that they had left in such haste that they hadn’t really covered up the hot tub properly.  So we knew we had to go back down anyways, but, through logic we figured out that the hot tub was supposed to be closed right now anyways, so there shouldn’t be any guys down there, which meant we could still go soak our tired feet in the hot tub.  It was decided we would wait for a lull in the crowd streaming from the Avalanche (the conference room) and would sneak down to our destination.

    All of us slunk out of the side door and tramped through the unlighted grass towards our objective.  We hadn’t gone very far when a group of guys came out of the Avalanche.  In a panic we all stopped in our tracks.  By now we had reached a more lighted area.  We gathered in a circle trying to act normal. ; )  After they passed we continued on, now laughing at ourselves and how weird we must have looked trying not to stand out. ; )  We got onto the sidewalk and a bunch of fathers and sons were walking in and around the snack bar.  The same trying to act like nothing was happening occurred about two more times.  I could barely hold in my laughter!  Now, it was raining out, and it had started to lightning, so we knew we wouldn’t be going in any water tonight.  So our trying to act inconspicuous (LOL) was abandoned and we ran to the hot tub, covered it the rest of the way and raced for the safety of our dorms.  It was quite the adventurous and hilarious experience!  One other interesting part of this episode was discovered the next morning.

    I was a server, taking the cooked meals to my tables where it was eaten family style.  Because of this, I was able to talk with my father a bit during the meals.  As usual, I went over to my dad at breakfast.  He told me that a bear had found the trash can outside their cabin the night before.  Now, the side door we had exited through was in close proximity to this cabin, trash can and therefore bear.  Who knows where that bear was during our escapade!! ; )  Thank the Lord, no one was hurt from this intruder, and we didn’t see him at all.  Of course the knowledge of this new danger to our adventure, apart from the lightning, only added to the comical-ness of it all!  Quite the memory making experience!

    I’ll write more accounts of my time at the Father/Son retreat later. ; )

    ~Tee-Kaye

    P.S.  My family heads out for Family Camp early Monday morning.  Boy, we have been busy this summer!

    P.P.S. I got my top braces glued on my teeth two years ago today.  Hopefully they’ll be coming off soon!!

  • See ya!

    I figured I should try and get on here and write something a little less depressing than my prior post. ; )  (For an update on my family, the rest of my family seems to be doing well.  Or at least they’re hiding it well.  I’m still hurt, and I feel betrayed.)

    Anyways, I don’t think that I’m going to finish my dress in time.  So I’m going to try and get it done before Family Camp.  We’ll see if I get it done!

    I’m so excited to be heading out to the Father/Son Retreat tomorrow.  I love this chance I get to go serve.  Also, I’m looking forward to the sweet fellowship with all of the like-minded girls.  I always come back from the retreat so encouraged in my faith and convictions.  The work really seems like nothing when surrounded by so many friends.  I really think that we have more fun than the guys attending the retreat do! ; )

    Well, I’m being called to supper.  I’ll see ya (or write, I guess) when I get back!

    ~Tee-Kaye

    P.S. I would appreciate your prayers for the retreat.  That it will go off smoothly, the speakers will arrive on time and without incidence, and that God would move through this retreat and change many hearts.

  • The End

    It’s over.  My Dad gave us the news this morning during family worship.  The girl we were planning to adopt has decided she doesn’t want to be adopted.  My siblings and myself were very shocked and deeply hurt.  I’d like to ask for your prayer for my family, that this hurt will heal.  Also for this young lady that God would convict her.  Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t want you to pray for her because she has dared to hurt us.  No indeed.  But because she is not truly rejecting us, but she is rejecting God.

    This past Sunday, my parents sat down with her and explained to her the vision this family has and the direction we are going.  How, the boys are being trained to be the providers, priests, prophets and protectors of their families, and the girls are being trained to be helpmeet’s to their husbands.  It didn’t take her long after that to decide that she didn’t want to join in this vision.  She wants to instead continue in government “education” so as to go to college and pursue a career.

    My parents fear that her faith is not very strong if there at all.  They fear that it might just be show.  For it seems she is like the seed thrown on rocky soil that the birds came and ate up.  Another fact is, she is in a rather bad situation in the government school.  She has been abused, and she has been put through things that make you weep to think of anything like that happening to anyone.  The fact is, she desperately needs to get out of this situation, and it seemed that God was using us to help her.  But now she has run back to the arms of the state.  Little does she know what a terrible mistake she is making.

    So it seems this chapter has closed.  It is rather unlikely that she will ever seek us out again to adopt her.  We do hope though that God will take hold of her heart and convict her, and that someday, she may still be raised by a strong Christian family.

    The thing is, this all seemed so perfect, like it was God’s will.  So many things happened by seemingly “coincidence.”  She would have been adopted a year ago by a former foster family of hers, that is a non-christian family, but they had moved into a smaller home less than a month before this young girl’s grandma became sick.  If this had happened, we never would have heard of her.  Furthermore, we “happened” to be visiting Reformation Church the one and only Sunday it was announced that her desire was to be adopted by a Christian homeschool family.  God placed it on all our hearts to adopt her, even those of us who adoption had never crossed their minds favorably before.  Her caseworker and guardian ad lidum were so thrilled that we were interested in her.

    But then, my parents fingerprints were sent back twice, so it pushed back the time of her coming in.  So it seems that God must have another plan for us.  This must have been God’s push to get us certified to adopt so we can help someone else. (Boy, I sure hope I didn’t suffer through CPR class for no reason! ; ) )  We know that God has a plan and a purpose for everything, so we just need to trust Him.

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • Long time no see!

    Wow, it’s been a little while since I’ve done anything on here.  Sorry about that.

    It has now been a week and two days since the fair ended.  Hallelujah!! ; )  Just kidding.  It was difficult, but it was quite fun as well.  Out of eight days that I could be there, I was there seven. ; )  Since I was in 4-H I had a wristband and didn’t have to pay each time to get in thankfully.  On Saturday, there was quite a funny episode.

    I was dropped off at the fair to spend time with and help my friend.  I met her father who was manning his at one the entrances.  He said I could look for her in the poultry barn.  So I walk over to the nice cool air conditioned building to find my friend.  But, I couldn’t find her anywhere.  I walked all up and down the aisles in the barn, then headed over to the 4-H displays to see if possibly she was there.  She was once again no where to be seen.  I did however meet up with her younger brother who was also searching for her.  We decided to join forces and look for her together.  He decided we should look outside.  (An important fact you should know for the rest of my story.  It was close to 100 degrees outside.)

    We went to the 4-H horse show.  She’s not there.  We head over to the tractor pull.  She’s not there.  Maybe she’s at the rodeo, so we walk all the way to the other side of the grounds.  She’s not there either.  Maybe she’s at the Muttin’ Bustin’.  We took a shortcut through the building and headed for the Muttin’ Bustin’ arena.  She wasn’t there either, but we found some other friends from church there.  My “escort” stopped off to spend time with them and I headed back for the poultry barn.  (All that I just recounted took about 30 to 45 minutes.)

    I got into the poultry barn, but still didn’t see my friend.  However, I did find her older brother.  He said my friend was looking for me and he had seen here about a half hour ago.  He kindly offered to help me search.  So, we headed to the 4-H horse show.  She wasn’t there.  We went to the tractor pull.  She wasn’t there.  Talk about deja vu!  I was doing the exact same route with the same results that I did with her younger brother with her older brother now. ; )  Anyways, he thought she might be at the concert.  I mentioned that I had been by there earlier and didn’t think it’d be something she would listen to. ; )  We went to check it out anyways.  Whilst walking past, the singer hit a (strange sounding to me ; )) note and my friend’s brother laughed.  “Yeah, I don’t think they’d be listening to that either.”  I smiled.  What do you know, my friend wasn’t listening. ; )  On we trekked, now heading in the direction of the Muttin’ Bustin’ once more.

    Thankfully, this time, we found her mom sitting on a log.  Upon arriving she said, “Oh!  She just went inside to look for you!”  We knew my friend would be coming back so we waited.  Before long, here she came winding through the tents.  The whole ordeal lasted about an hour and a half.  With me walking around outside in nearly 100 degree weather!  I hoped that I would at least have a sun burn to show for all that I had to go through, but at the end of the day, I was just as white as ever.  ; )

    After finding my friend we had a great time.  I got to watch the 4-H auction, and my friend auctioned off three of her ducks for a handsome price.  All in all, it was a good day!  ; )

    Now the fair is over, and four of my five projects are going to the State Fair.  Also, my brother’s project is going, as well as two of my sister’s three.

    Another interesting happening was with a competition in the Open Class.  Our county has a special competition for a cookie jar that you make that has to do with that year’s fair theme.  My mom and my friend’s mom both entered cookie jars.  Now, there was a lot of anticipation to see who would win.  But, when the judge finished, she decided she couldn’t decided between the two.  So it ended in a tie!  We will never know who won!  I suppose it’s better that way.  ; )  (Of course, I’m partial to my own mother’s.)

    So, besides the fact that the fireworks on Friday set fire to the field, and my friend winning Round Robin (the highest honor for a livestock competitor), that was really all there was exciting about the fair.  Now, we are waiting in anticipation for the Father Son Retreat, and also seeing who can keep their 4-H bands on the longest. ; )  Me, in my craziness, have decided that I’m going to complete a dress (that has a collar) before then so I may wear it to the retreat.  We’ll see if I finish in time! ; )

    I guess that’s it for now!

    Oh!  Except for the fact that, I heard that there is still room to sign up for the retreat!  I strongly urge everyone to go that possibly can.  I’ve seen many lives changed because of this special retreat.  For more information go to this link.  http://www.chec.org/  Hope to see you there!

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • Moving right along

    The time for the county fair (next week), keeps looming closer and closer, whether I want it to or not.  And each day passes by whether I finished everything I wanted to or not.  The fair starts on Monday, and I still have so much that needs to be done.  I’ll admit, it is largely due to my laziness and lack of working faithfully throughout the year, so I’m trying to make up for a years worth of lost time in one week.  So, 4-H is really all that has happened this week.

    Except for one very scary thing.  I went to the orthodontist yesterday.  They were planning on putting brackets on my twelve year molars so they could try to align them.  Unfortunately, they haven’t really moved in six months.  My orthodontist decided that they have waited long enough for my twelve year molars to come in (for goodness sake, their only about several years behind!), so he wants me to see an oral surgeon.  He wants the surgeon to take the gums off of my molars, and since they’re in there anyways (and I’ll already be in pain) they’ll take out my wisdom teeth as well.  Oh joy! (<- sarcasm)  Needless to say, I’m not too fond of the idea.  They surgery will probably happen in the next month or so.  I would appreciate prayer for courage.

    That’s really all for now.  I need to get back to 4-H stuff.

  • July 4th: Independence Day

    On this day, over two hundred years ago, our forefathers took a stand.  They decided that their God-given unalienable rights had been violated long enough, and they were ready to risk everything that they had to take back their liberties and rights.

    They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their Sacred Honor.  Many of them lost everything they had for the cause of freedom.  Most of them lost their lives, fortunes, and Sacred Honor.  But was it worth it?  After that war ended, there began the greatest country that has ever been.  One that was founded on Christian principles, and was run by amazing, brave people, who’s Lord and Master was God.  Because these men were brave, and took a perilous stand when the odds were overwhelmingly against them, the Colonies were given their independence from England.

    However, let’s fast forward to present times again.  What is going on today?  Let’s first look at the list of grievances committed by the King of England against the Colonies.

    He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
    He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
    He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
    He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
    He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
    He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
    He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
    He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
    He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
    He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
    He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
    He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
    He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
    For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
    For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
    For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
    For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
    For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
    For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
    For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
    For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
    For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
    He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
    He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
    He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
    He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
    He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

    As you read those, did it occur to you just how many of those are being committed against us today from our own government?

    For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent

    Need I say anything about this one? 😉

    For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

    Though it may not be overseas, do any of you remember the unfortunate homeschool family in Colorado that was abused by the authorities?  It was all over a pretended offence of child neglection.

    He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

    What about all those new offices that are appointed only, and not voted on by the people?

    For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

    What about the lack of capital punishment?  The Bible, which our country was founded on, says an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, life for a life.

    He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution

    What about all the judges turning to other constitutions besides our own to govern their decisions?

    He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States

    Roe v. Wade?

    Need I go on?  In the past two hundred years, we have let our government slip into doing the same offenses for which we left England!  Yet what do we do?  Most of the U.S. citizens don’t even realize what’s going on, and even if they did, would they even care?  The few of us who realize just how much trouble our country is in, seems to be too small a number to make a difference.

    Today we lack the George Washington’s, John Hanncock’s, John Adam’s, Benjamin Franklin’s, Paul Revere’s, and the other countless men of yesteryear’s who were willing to take a stand and risk everything they had for a just cause.  Even when the odds were overwhelmingly against them.  What has happened to them?  Where have they gone?

    I strongly urge you to read the Declaration of Independence.  And I pray that it makes you weep over what we as a nation have given up.

  • The Star Spangled Banner

    By Francis Scott Key 1814

    Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light

    What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?

    Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,

    O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

    And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

    Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

    Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

    O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

     

    On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

    Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,

    What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,

    As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

    Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,

    In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

    ‘Tis the star-spangled banner!  Oh long may it wave

    O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

     

    And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

    That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,

    A home and a country should leave us no more!

    Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.

    No refuge could save the hireling and slave

    From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

    And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

    O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

     

    Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

    Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!

    Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land

    Praise the Power that hath made a preserved us a nation.

    Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

    And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”

    And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

    O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

  • Still busy

    The title pretty much sums it all up.  We finished dance camp last week, and we won’t have anymore major going’s on til the county fair.

    Speaking of the county fair, we still have a lot to do concerning that.  In two weeks.  I think I will finish the bulk of my sewing for it today though, and most of what I need to do is the record books.  Apart from headache causing and time consuming, they shouldn’t be too bad. 😉

    In other news, we are praying and hoping that we will have the girl we are wanting to adopt in our home soon.  Mom and Dad got all the paperwork in, so now we are just waiting for the background checks to be completed.  They were told that getting those done could and probably will take up to three months.  There are many people who are trying to help us not be too optimistic and are telling us that there is no way that we will have her here by her birthday (July 17).  But we serve a big God.  If he wants her to be here by then, she will be here.  If he wants us to wait, then that is what will happen.  We are praying that it is His will to work a miracle and get her here soon.  If ya’ll feel called to pray for us, we would greatly appreciate it! 😉

    I would also like to ask for some prayer.  A few of the many changes that come with getting a roommate for the first time have started to hit.  I abhor changes.  The slightest change can make me cry.  Mom moved my furniture around in my room a couple of days ago, and I came close to throwing a fit.  I had a really stinky attitude.  I’m such a selfish person.  I know that I need to learn stretch myself and accept these changes.  So, if you feel called to pray that I grow up, I would appreciate it. 😉

    I suppose that’s all for now.

    Have a blessed Independence Day!

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • Help! I’m overwhelmed!

    Even though it is officially summer, the work doesn’t end with the school season.  I’m starting to get overwhelmed with everything I need to get done in the next few months.

    The general events going on this summer that I’ll have to work around are; a week long dance camp starting next Monday, the 4-H County Fair in July, helping at the Father/Son Retreat and going to Family Camp both in August.  Those are just the things I can think of off the top of my head.

    In between these activities I need to clean my room, start on my Apologetics cards, start researching our policy on China, find material for my speeches next year (an HI, a Duo, and possibly a Persuasive and a DI), finishing my five projects for 4-H (this includes doing all five record books, making a bunch of pies, baking lots of bread, sewing a dress, and making a skirt then decorating somehow so it will count for Decorate Your Duds.  I’m grateful Mom is letting me drop two others because of the lack of time), making a movie of Nationals, uploading speeches from Nationals onto YouTube, do more more sewing, I’ll probably have to finish my science, and practice violin and singing.

    So maybe you can see a little how I’m feeling overwhelmed right now.  In fact, I’m so scared of this task ahead of me, I’ve taken the high road and am acting lazy instead. (I’m being sarcastic.  I am being lazy right now, but I know I need to stop.)

    I guess I should stop posting about how much work I have to do and actually doing.  Excuse me, I need to go take a crash course on sewing a zipper on a dress.

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • Back from Nats

    Hey ya’ll!  I’ve arrived safely back home!  Boy, am I glad to be back!

    Nats went okay.  I got to see a lot of speeches, and taped a lot as well.  11 video tapes worth to be exact! 😉  I unfortunately did not break, and I don’t think I did my best with my speech.  My mom says that I looked almost bored with it.  On my ballots I got three 4th’s, one 5th, and five 5th & below’s.  I got one really funny ballot.  It said, “Content lacked in entertainment value.  Good delivery.”  LOL!  I laughed so hard when I read that ballot!  I remember seeing that judge scowling at me the entire time I gave my speech!  But that ballot didn’t hurt me any worse, so I can easily laugh at it.  😉

    I think my biggest problem was that I didn’t practice it at all before the tourney.  I had all of the words and general actions memorized, but I had forgotten over the long waiting period all of the specific movements I had come up with earlier in the year.  When I look back over the year, the tournament I did best at, which was Centennial, I had gone to a tournament a week before, and I had practiced a lot, and had laid awake at night thinking of movements to add.  But I never practiced after that, and I steadily did worse.  So I’ve resolved that next year, I will practice a lot more, at the very least a few days before the tournament.  Even if it is only rehearsing it in my head.  I think I’ll make sure that I tape myself every tournament and watch it so I can know what to change, and won’t forget things I did that I liked.

    As far as in between rounds goes, I was sorely missing my speech club.  Though there were a few people that talked to me every so often, there was no one that I really hung out with.  I am proud of myself however, for starting many a conversation with people that I didn’t know.  For those of you who know me, you will understand the importance of this accomplishment.  For those of you who don’t, I’m extremely afraid of talking to people that I don’t know.  I even hate calling friends on the phone, for fear that I dial the wrong number.  So I was quite proud of my boldness.  But I still missed my true friends.  The ones that I didn’t have to try hard to get them to talk to me.  Who understand my weirdness, who know how to comfort and support me and how to get me to laugh so I can forget my troubles.

    I am grateful though to the few people that would start up conversations with me when they saw me.  They were very sweet.  I’m also very grateful to God for one person in particular.

    After the award ceremony, there was an after party at a place called Vulcan Park.  This facility was on top of a hill, it had a museum, a pretty big lawn, and a three story tall tower with a humongous statue on top.  The view from the tower was stunning.  Alabama is very pretty.  Anyways, there was a paved area where they had speakers set up and was used as a dance floor.  Soon after the dancing started, I met a family of three girls and I taught one of them how to do the basic swing step.  When the song ended, I went with them up to the top of the tower.  After this, I hung out with them for the rest of the evening.  One of the girls and I danced together and talked about Pride and Prejudice and other similar topics.  At one point, they played a waltz, and she came up with idea that we Duo dance.  So we didn’t touch, or look at each other, and waltz around the floor.  It was very fun.  I enjoyed myself so much, and I am very thankful that God brought us together.  We exchanged e-mail addresses, so hopefully we’ll stay in touch.

    Through the whole tournament, we shared a rental car with another mother and her son.  They were a very sweet family.  I had heard many times from my debate partner about how cool this family was, but before now I hadn’t had the chance to get to know them.  So I am also very grateful for the chance to do just that.

    So, I suppose, over all, it wasn’t a bad week.  I believe I learned a lot from watching the debates and speeches and I made some new friends.  We even had a funny incident.  We had just picked up the rental car and left the airport when it happened.  My mom pushed a button on the rear view mirror and this car alarm started to go off inside the car!  Then there was a ringing noise, then the sound of a phone being picked up and someone answered, “Hello, I’m so-and-so from OnStar, how can I help?” My mom, “How do I turn this off!!!”  “First ma’am, is there an emergency in the car?”  “No, I just accidentally pushed a button, how do I turn it off?”  “I can take care of that, goodbye.”  LOL!!!  Though frightening at first, we laughed heartily about it later, and was the subject of a couple jokes.  I am happy to report, we never had a reason to call OnStar again! 😉

    Well, I believe that is all I have to say for now.

    ~Tee-Kaye