When I saw the theme for this week's I <3 Faces challenge,: “Sun Flare”, this picture just popped into my head! :) I love the Sun Flare coming down on her. Isn't Hannah such a pretty girly? I sure love that Dahling!

©AmandaDixon2009

Today I am Thankful For...

21.  41,685 words (bigger post on this later)

22. The sound of Christmas music drifting up the stairs in November.

23. My MP3 player.

24. A great choir concert.

25. Ale 8 1

26. Fellowship filled Sundays

27.  The feeling of the holidays already installing itself within me

28. Crispy hash browns

29. My attic bedroom

30. Old quilts

What Are You Thankful For?

Life has been good lately, some disappointments, but good things came out of it =). I'm not gonna tell you about the disappointment though because it's in the past now, and we still had a great time.

Thursday, all went good =), but later that night my older sister and I went to a clinic and got out H1N1 shot. I guess I'm glad I got it, but I haven't had a shot in years, so I forgot what it felt like. Now I officially don't like shots, I'm not scared of them, I just don't like the thought and the feel of them in your arm. So yes, I got the shot, but the weird thing about it was I could still feel the needle in my arm after he took it out. Weird eh? Later, my arm just felt a little bit stiff and uncomfortable for a bit. But once it hit for me to go to bed that's when the pain started. I couldn't sleep on my left side, and I have to switch sides with I sleep. But since I couldn't, my whole body became irritated. Then my arm started to become REALLY sore. It felt like the muscle was tensing and straining at the same time! So that night I didn't have a great sleep, I woke up at 6 in the morning because of it...... I hope this doesn't scare you out of getting it! I think that if you are planning to get it, you still should! It will be a little painful for a few days, but it's worth it =)! Just make sure you don't touch it, or lift your arm too high! Also, make sure you take Advil, it really helps sooth the pain! But I promised myself when I got it, I won't let it keep me from doing the things I want to do and the things I love.

Friday, IT WAS AWESOME! In the morning I had my piano/vocal lesson, I mostly did vocal though because I wasn't sure if I could play because I would have to lift my arm. So I decided to just do vocal that day, but them the teacher wanted me to try to play the duet my sister and I are learning, so I did. It went fine! I didn't have to lift my arm at all because the notes that I had to play were all in one spot. At 12 my sister, my mom, and I left to pick up our friend, and then we headed off on our 30 min. drive to location where my sister, my friend, and I were going to play laser tag with our school friends! IT WAS AWESOME! That was the first time I ever played laser tag! I got 14th place the first round, and then 4th place on my team the second round! It was great! I was so happy to see my brothers and sister in Christ again! I haven't seen them since last month! So after the laser tag game, lost of us went to the mall afterwards and had lunch and just hung out and talked! It was great! I was sad we had to leave so soon though, I really wished we could have hung out longer, it felt like the day just few by in seconds, but it was like 4 hours at least... But yes! It was great! We drove our friend back home, which took us about an hour because the traffic was so bad. But when we finally got back into our hometown we dropped off our friend and bought some McDonald cheese burgers and fries.... That was a great day! I love my brothers and sisters in Christ SO MUCH! They mean so much to me =)! I hope to see them again soon! BUT YES I WILL! Know why? Well, in about 2-3 weeks, my big brother in Christ may be staying over at our house for a movie night, and then the next day we are going to be going to my biological big sister's dance recital! Then 3 days later our school has planned a Christmas party! I'M SO EXCITED FOR IT! I'm still debating whether to sing or play piano or something for the Christmas party, but I'm also thinking not too... I dunno! Anywho, I better go! Got some school to get done before tonight, I think my family and I may be having pizza and watching a movie or something later so I should get some stuff done before then.

Hope you all have a Great Week!

      Katie

Don't forget to visit www.homeschoolblogger.com/lovelanguageleadership.
Visit my Flickr at www.flickr.com/ellynsphotography

Thanks everyone for all the happy birthday comments! I was thrilled...:D My birthday was wonderful and busy...getting ready for my trip. 2 of my cousins and grandma came over for cake and ice cream then when they left I packed my bags and hit the sack...

My trip to South Dakota was wonderful! We left on Sunday (the 15th)...we left around 8 am my time, and got to Mitchell, SD at about midnight their time. :) We got up early the net morning and drove to Chamberlain and stopped at this little restaurant called Al's Oasis. :)
We arrived in Rapid City that afternoon, talked with my dad's partner (I'm calling him Mr. W from now on) for a bit, then went to lunch. We hadn't taken showers or anything that morning because we were going to clean up AT the hotel before my dad's meeting at 4. We got up to our hotel room, tried to flush the toilet and it didn't flush. TO make a long story short, the water was turned OFF! So I just threw my hair back, put on some makeup and perfume, and we left...

Here is the view of part of Rapid City from our hotel room. 

 And our hotel room...mines the one with all the bags on it lol

So. After his meeting we went to this restaurant called Sanford's Grub and Pub. It was...interesting. Like a bunch of junk hanging on the walls and used to decorating, etc.. By junk I mean old hub caps for these half walls, old license plates, things like that. Ok so for the scary part. There were these tables and chairs for 2 people, and the chairs were shaped like HANDS! Yes, like human hands. Ok so take one of yuor hands, cup it, and spread your fingers apart. That's what they looked like. POST A COMMENT IF YOU DID THIS.

Tuesday morning we had yet ANOTHER meeting. But first we went down to breakfast to meet another one of my dad's partners, Andrea, who is British and flew in from London the night before. How he got a British partner, I do not know.

We had another meeting that afternoon at this coffee shop called Alternative Fuel. It was really nice! And the best part about it was that they played Christian music! You know like tobyMac, Francessca Batistelli, etc. Very nice. Oh and the people are so nice also! I mean I wasn't even part of anything but these people (the guys and girl my dad has these meetings with) made me feel it!! lol

Wednesday morning we neaded off with Mr. W to this teeny weeny town called Timber Lake in SD to go to the place where the new businesses are going. They have 518 people. :) We stayed in the basement of a church that my dad's partner (not Mr. W) re-did to make it a little hotel. We (my dad, mr. W and I) each had our own room so that was cooL!! lol

On Thursday it was basically a meeting all day long. Pretty boring. Luckily though I had my cell phone and my sister had my mom's cell phone so we were texting...:) And the signal out there is HORRIBLE! It runs your phone battery down like REALLY quick. If you want to be able to use it for anything that day, you'll only be able to use it once for a short period of time. But I brought my charger in with me. :D

Pic of the Lodge...

Thursday evening we went to Mr. W's cousin's house for dinner. He has 2 girls who are 7 and 5, and a baby boy who is like 3 months old. It was nice there, because it wasn't restaurant food. :) lol

So Friday we headed back home...it was like an 18-20 hour drive...but we made it...ALL THE WAY HOME! We arrived at 3 am on Saturday morning though. :P lol I was sleeping a lot of the time when it was late  until my dad stopped to get gas and he brought me a Starbuck's frappe...then I was awake. :) And texting my friend...lol it was like midnight her time!

Since I've been home, I've just read and read and read. I've been reading Sarah's book...:) Except today we did go Thanksgiving shopping.
Well my sisters and parents are BUGGING me to get off now and make dessert. idk what I'm going to make.
Thanks again everyone for all the happy birthday comments!!!
~Ellyn

Random picture of my cat Rusty laying on my bed this morning...he's so CUTE!!!!