hello
I hope your new year is off to a wonderful start
And I hope to talk about 2015 soon
But right now I am looking back at this past year. . .
2014 :: sensing, learning, adventuring :: here I try to unfold the months that left me full
January :: grandparents move for the second time in two months :: snowy weather hits with a hint of sub-zero temperatures :: shell pink fountain pen ink :: piano practice with Beethoven :: Gramma's dementia/beginning Alzheimer's shows stronger :: choreography begins for the Helen Keller ballet :: self-defense class in good company :: driving and babysitting more than usual :: epsom salt baths
February :: snow week :: weird day of 60 degree weather :: ACT take 2 :: celebrate temporary freedom from practice tests by reading The Fault in Our Stars :: winter of the peanut butter cookies :: special feature of Swan Lake at the movie theater :: first laser tag experience (leave eager to return) :: family considers moving neighborhoods, looks at a couple of houses :: fun dancing to "It is Well With my Soul" in church youth talent show
March :: research colleges while half-watching the Academy Awards :: purchase black dress for the homeschool winter dance that comes in handy for a variety of other events throughout the year :: open my own checking account :: the pups turn #1 :: learn lots of lifts for the ballet :: play the wonderful board game Spy Alley :: Third Day/Skillet concert with my favorite Third Day enthusiast :: adventures with Whole Thirty eating :: watch (and love) the movie About Time
April :: complete Tabernacle project at Bible study :: day trip to Omaha to see play of The Screwtape Letters (excellent!) :: house painted with a fresh coat of beige and dark brown trim :: surprise sprinkling of snow :: placement test at local community college complete with logarithms and an anticlimactic fire drill :: especially busy week with two college visits and a piano recital on top of normal activities :: sit through four-hour-long opera at local movie theater
May :: ballet run-throughs begin :: listen to friend play the violin beautifully in a philharmonic performance :: college visit at my parents' Alma Mater :: grad parties for good friends :: grocery store run with my sisters (my first time accomplishing this feat I had long imagined:) :: decide against moving, opting instead to finish the basement :: fall out of a leap—thankful ankle bruises were the worst consequence :: savor Croute Appenzell at Andre's
June :: begins with a bang—Middle Sister and I spend weekend on church youth choir trip and Youngest Sister at church kids retreat :: ballet dress rehearsals begin :: get a round brush stuck in my hair (I don't recommend it) :: finish reading Soul Keeping by John Ortberg (I do recommend it:) :: plentiful rain makes for green world :: ACT practice and final test time :: first experience becoming addicted to an app—achieve 2048 tile after a bit too much practice at that game :: Pilates :: camping with dance friends :: art museum visit
July :: picnic while seeing Shakespeare in the Park perform A Winter's Tale :: cleaning out basement :: refreshing visit to Anthropologie :: new waffle iron allows for cashew-based waffle making :: thoroughly enjoyable discussion-based Bible study :: Helen Keller ballet! preparations with costumes, make-up, and dances, then show week with three performances—such a joy to dance Helen's stunning story :: read Son by Lois Lowry, the satisfying last book in The Giver quartet
August :: experience first official interview :: become a member of the teen advisory group at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art :: substitute teach in 3rd grade Sunday school class with my dad—kids' conversation turns to Frozen and quiets once my dad teases that the sequel will be called "Thawed" :: basement officially begins to be finished :: ALASKA! (posts here, here, and here) :: home to attend the first homeschool graduation meeting :: knit lace shawl :: Youngest Sister gets her first pair of pointe shoes
September :: transition from piano lessons to guitar lessons—keep practicing both, get to know music better as a whole :: senior year in full swing :: observe the ever-delightful Joyce DiDonato give a master class :: cook chicken, egg drop soup, and fried rice for a Tuesday dinner :: drive myself the mildly long distance to a teen advisory group meeting :: Dallas trip over long weekend—squeeze in a couple of college visits, a couple of museum visits, and a baseball game
October :: enjoy watching more hometown baseball games :: apple picking and nature walking :: write and edit application essays :: senior pictures taken by a sweet mother/daughter duo :: explore contact improv in lyrical dance class :: substitute teach in ballet and beginning pointe :: decide on paint colors for the basement :: 80's themed homeschool fall dance with a bunch of fun friends :: begin reading War and Peace :: "Blue October" climaxes as the Royals sweep into the World Series, make it to game seven, and end with an almost-there loss—so much excitement!
November :: events at the Nelson— help plan teen bonfire and volunteer for TedxYouth@KC :: visit day at a college that included high tea :: prepare audition materials for a dance program and learn a lot from the process :: night out attending symphony concert with my dad :: [finally] visit new Ikea :: guitar teacher says versatile line, "There are no wrong notes, only wrong resolutions." :: stop by tea shop with my mom, come home with Sencha Claus green and power chai :: refill fountain pen after leaving it alone for a few months :: listen to 3.14 hours of War and Peace while baking 2 pies (I do love pi and good stories:)
December :: listen to Youngest Sister play beautifully in her first cello recital :: annual babysitting of two boys and a little girl—thankful for the opportunity to watch them grow :: puppy girl attempts to jump from my bed to the yarn on my dresser (is she part cat?!) :: memory care unit Christmas party with Gramma :: finish reading War and Peace on 12/13/14—rather momentous! :: watch The Theory of Everything (especially fun to see as a physics enthusiast:) :: hit by the flu, out for a few days :: youth choir Christmas presentation :: ping pong tournament :: turn #18 with ice skating, bubble tea, and raspberry cake
September :: transition from piano lessons to guitar lessons—keep practicing both, get to know music better as a whole :: senior year in full swing :: observe the ever-delightful Joyce DiDonato give a master class :: cook chicken, egg drop soup, and fried rice for a Tuesday dinner :: drive myself the mildly long distance to a teen advisory group meeting :: Dallas trip over long weekend—squeeze in a couple of college visits, a couple of museum visits, and a baseball game
October :: enjoy watching more hometown baseball games :: apple picking and nature walking :: write and edit application essays :: senior pictures taken by a sweet mother/daughter duo :: explore contact improv in lyrical dance class :: substitute teach in ballet and beginning pointe :: decide on paint colors for the basement :: 80's themed homeschool fall dance with a bunch of fun friends :: begin reading War and Peace :: "Blue October" climaxes as the Royals sweep into the World Series, make it to game seven, and end with an almost-there loss—so much excitement!
November :: events at the Nelson— help plan teen bonfire and volunteer for TedxYouth@KC :: visit day at a college that included high tea :: prepare audition materials for a dance program and learn a lot from the process :: night out attending symphony concert with my dad :: [finally] visit new Ikea :: guitar teacher says versatile line, "There are no wrong notes, only wrong resolutions." :: stop by tea shop with my mom, come home with Sencha Claus green and power chai :: refill fountain pen after leaving it alone for a few months :: listen to 3.14 hours of War and Peace while baking 2 pies (I do love pi and good stories:)
December :: listen to Youngest Sister play beautifully in her first cello recital :: annual babysitting of two boys and a little girl—thankful for the opportunity to watch them grow :: puppy girl attempts to jump from my bed to the yarn on my dresser (is she part cat?!) :: memory care unit Christmas party with Gramma :: finish reading War and Peace on 12/13/14—rather momentous! :: watch The Theory of Everything (especially fun to see as a physics enthusiast:) :: hit by the flu, out for a few days :: youth choir Christmas presentation :: ping pong tournament :: turn #18 with ice skating, bubble tea, and raspberry cake
Thankful for every word,
picture,
& moment
That made this year shine.
picture,
& moment
That made this year shine.
