My word! It has been a really long time since I blogged here last! I've been pretty busy, though I hate using that excuse. ;) In truth, I've been spending more of my online time on www.homeschoolalumni.org and www.facebook.com. Also, I started a writing blog at Blogger: http://scribendiHM.blogspot.com . So I'v been blogging at that quite regularly. :D

Anyways, I just thought I'd pop in and say hello to all my HSB friends!! How have you all been?? Please drop me a note and tell me what's been going on in your lives!!!

Love, Hannah

So most people go to Colorado for the mountains, or the other great natural wonder’s of the beautiful country God created out there. I can totally understand that, and I might really enjoy doing just that someday if I can figure out how to breathe at 7000 feet above sea level. ;)

 

However…that is not why I went.

 

Many people go to reunions; family reunions, class reunions. But not many people trek across the country to a reunion where they are meeting people they have never met before.

 

That…is the reason I went to Colorado.

 

I attended the Homeschool Alumni 2009 National Reunion. Over 200 other homeschool graduates from across the nation and continent gathered at the foot of the Rocky Mountains for four days.

 

Words fail to describe the amazing awesomeness I encountered there (too many to name…you know who you are! ;) ). I mean, seriously, how do you explain 200 plus people of various ages and walks of life getting together because they were homeschooled? More so, how do you explain the energetic, shining atmosphere that radiates from such a gathering? It’s nearly impossible. It is something you have to experience, and not just experience, but love dearly. To just say “We had fun” doesn’t cover it. In the words of the great Michael McBride, “We came. We saw. We danced.”

 

It was unbelievable. 

 

So what did I do there? Weeeeeeeeeellllllllllll. :D

 

In a nut shell, I shook hands, talked, hugged, smiled, laughed, ate incredible food, talked, laughed, walked about sixty-trillion miles (okay, maybe not that many), danced for a total of about 6 hours (approx. 3.5 hours ECD, 2.5 hours Swing), attempted the learn Irish step dancing (note I said attempted), played Ultimate Frisbee, talked, laughed, stayed up too late, made the most amazing friends, admired the mountains, talked, laughed, was in a skit, listened/sang to some great praise and worship music, talked, laughed…(we call it socialization. ;) ).

 

Yeah…but who wants nutshells??

 

Since it would take me a really long time to write out a full account of the Reunion, and probably very few of you would actually get through it if I did…I’m going to do a Highlights/Lowlights post.

 

Yeah. It’s probably going to be long anyways. :P

 

But without further ado, please enjoy this transcription of The Reunion from my perspective.

 

August 13-16, 2009

The Ponderosa Christian Conference Center and Camp

Larkspur, Colorado

 

HIGHLIGHT: Flying in an airplane for the first time. My brother Gordie and I flew from Cleveland to Denver Thursday morning. It was incredible! We were absolutely in marvel at how much wide open space there was as we headed further and further west.

 

HIGHLIGHT: Meeting a bunch of other HSAers at the Big Fountain That Wasn’t Working. Piling our luggage in the middle of the floor. Sarah Aly, Kim, Kris and Gabe Godin and I all sat on the floor (hogging up a good portion of the space, even after Kim moved a plant.) and played Crazy Eights and Rummy. It was a good way to pass the time. :)

HIGHLIGHT: Getting to the camp!!!! The Ponderosa is so beautiful and heaps of fun. After we went into registration and got out shirts and autograph books, the fun officially began…

 

HIGHLIGHT: Meeting all the great people who’d come from near and far…people whom I’d seen/known online for a long time…people I’d met earlier in the year and was so glad to see again (Mark, Susan, Carrie, Kim, Mike… ;) )…and brand new people too! Totally amazing.

 

LOWLIGHT: Dragging my heavy bags to the Cherry lodge girls’ dorm…which happened to be on the top of the biggest hill in the camp. And then of course walking back up said really big hill any time I needed something up there. Oy…But hey, it was a nice dorm, so I guess it was worth the hike.

 

HIGHLIGHT: Meeting more of my friends…

 

Brief Interruption: Okay, just so you know, the People at the Reunion was the best part of the Reunion. In fact, when asked to go on a hike by my brother, I informed him that I would rather stay where the largest group of people was going to be. After all, that IS why I went there! :) SO…perty near everything you read here will be about the peoples. I love da peoples. :D

 

HIGHLIGHT: The opening ceremony. Enthusiastically counting down the seconds till the official start of the Reunion!

 

HIGHLIGHT: Supper…okay, ALL the food there all weekend long was totally, completely, absharootly, fantabulously, scrumpdillyious!!!

 

HIGHLIGHT: Playing “Do you love your neighbor?” with Gordie’s and my team. That was the first time I’d gotten to play, and I had a blast.

 

HIGHLIGHT: Hanging out around the bonfire in the Allison Pavilion (aka, the “Bear Claw” :rawr:). Listening to Gordie and Mike Godin talk guns ;)

 

HIGHLIGHT: Going to bed. Okay, that’s a weird highlight, but actually, by 11:30pm, I was ready to sleep! My roommate, Susie, was SO kind in letting me sleep on the bottom bunk!!! I went to sleep nearly right away, and slept awesomely. :)

 

HIGHLIGHT: Me and Susie both waking up earlier than we had planned! It was nice to be the first one in the shower.

 

Really Cool Moment: After getting all cleaned up, I walked outside to find Linnae and some of the other girls hanging out. They pointed to a spot in the grass about 30 yards from our dorm, and there was a mule deer fawn! Soon, the fawn lept off right past us, following it’s muley mother! Come to find out, Gordie had been waiting for me to come out of the dorm, and had spotted the muley doe…so he took off his shoes and socks and stalked it!! Got pretty close too!

 

HIGHLIGHT: Breakfast!!!!! Getting up at 6am+breakfast at 8am=really hungry bellies.

 

Fun Point: Amusing whoever was at my table with the “flipping forks into cups” trick. :)

 

HIGHLIGHT: Amazing Praise and Worship session with Mr. Jim K.!!!!!! Wow. I could seriously do that, like, everyday! The energy in that room was incredible.

 

HIGHLIGHT: Sitting with some of “the Crickets” and doing a chat on a napkin. You guys are a hoot. :D

 

Super Fun Highlight: After lunch a bunch of us headed to a field behind the baseball diamond to play Ultimate Frisbee! That was great fun! I didn’t do a whole lot more than just run around looking clueless and trying to block the only person shorter than me on the other team (Dania). I did get to throw the Frisbee once, but I think I just did so bad, that they didn’t throw it to me again. :P That’s okay though. It was a hoot anyways.

 

Humorous Bit: While Josiah was explaining the rules of Ultimate, Kim and I were standing, trying to pay attention, but talking and visiting more, when all of a sudden, Kim reaches down and picks something leafy looking. She rubs it, sniffs it and squeals, “Ooh! Smell this! It smells really good! Just rub it and smell it!” So I did, and it smelled amazing!! I picked some too, and Kim laughed, “We are such girls,” she said. Indeed we are! :)

 

HIGHLIGHT: So after the team I was on won :grin:, Gordie and I headed over to the ECD lesson. It was already going on, so I jumped in head first. Thank you Marcos, for jumping in with me so I wasn’t left partner-less. :D

 

HIGHLIGHT: The session with Kevin Swanson. Absolutely dynamic! What a great and inspiring teacher he is.

 

HIGHEST OF HIGHLIGHTS: English Country Dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had been waiting for this for-ever!!! After supper and hanging out for a little while, everyone got cleaned up and dressed up, and headed to the Chapel. It was incredible seeing a good number of us in period costume (and yes, those who weren’t in costume looked real snazzy too!). :)

We danced about 15 dances, all wonderful!! Thank you, all my awesome dance partners! I have to say I think Virginia Reel was my favorite this time… :spinspinspinspin: :) :) :then spin some more, just for the fun of it...thank you Jared!:

After ECD ended and some of the people waltzed, Laura played a Postie’s Jig for us. I had no idea what I was doing, so I danced with Mike Godin, who also had no idea what he was doing. Worked out good. ;) Once we caught on, it was quite fun though!

 

LOWLIGHT: The dance ended. We had to go to bed. :(

 

HIGHLIGHT: Saturday morning began with breakfast, praise and worship/hymn sing (Gordie wanted to go to the hymn sing that day, so we did), and then the amazing session with Eric and Leslie Ludy! I had never heard them speak before, so that was indeed a treat. They were so very inspiring and really hit on some down to earth points.

 

Awesomeness Highlight: LUNCH. :mrgreen:

 

HIGHLIGHT (second only to ECD): Swing Dancing!!!!!!!!! I actually initiated and coordinated getting a group together for a few hours of Swing dancing. It was superbly fun! I attempted to teach, but flopped, so Ian Diamond came to my rescue and taught everyone (including a very thankful me!) some tricks of the trade. I’m hoping everyone else had as much of a blast as I did!!! Thank you, my great and amazing dancing partners!!! :)

After everyone was kind of getting tired of Swing, and the crowd started to dwindle, we threw in Marie’s Wedding and did a round of that. :yay:  And then Julie taught us some Irish step dancing. I did not catch on very well. :P So she and a few others ended up doing some sweet stepping to “The Little Beggarman” and I made Gordie do a (rather short) polka with me.

:sigh: Great fun we had. :D

 

HIGHLIGHT: After the swing dancing ended, Gordie and I ran over to catch the very end of the Entrepreneurs Expo. I bought some HSA swag and a Twintastic Tote!!!

 

HIGHLIGHT: After that, Carrie and I finished up some stuff for our skit, listened to Kim, Gabe and Mark jam for a few minutes, and when we had finally gotten all of our props gathered, Carrie went wandering and I ran over to catch the end of the Roundtable discussions. Very interesting stuff! Maybe I shall have to go to the whole thing next year. :P Unless I am in the Talent show again… ;)

 

SUPER GREAT HIGHLIGHT:  The Talent Show!!!!! Goodness gracious what a time! All the acts were amazing, and it was incredible fun to actually be in one. :) Thank you everyone for laughing at Carrie’s and my skit…I was rather worried it wouldn’t be funny, like I wanted. :D I’m looking forward to hearing the whole thing on HSAIR.  Everyone did such a good job, from the announcers, to the acts, to the sound and lighting people! I hope it was enough of hit to do again next year, because if (Lord willing) I am able to make it, I already have an idea for something. ;)

 

HIGHLIGHT that would have been better had I been more awake: After the Talent Show, Gordie and I ran over to the Lobby with Marcos and found a quiet area downstairs to sit and do a little Bible study. Unfortunately, I was running on about two brain cells, and although I had a million thoughts running through my head, I couldn’t put any of them into words the way I wanted. So Marcos talked (and nearly put me to sleep…he’s got one of those very comforting voices), I listened, and Gordie, being a bit more awake than me, asked a few questions. It was very good and interesting…but Marcos, I’m sorry I wasn’t more into it!

 

HIGHLIGHT: The Step Party Ladies. ;) Yes, I was exhausted, but no, I couldn’t resist staying up with some of the girls in my dorm. About 5 of us stayed up till almost 3am talking! We started by the little kitchen, then moved to the stairs leading to the 2^nd floor, then finally to the carpeted landing at the top of the stairs. The final place was deemed the most comfortable. Our eyes were slamming shut, and we kept several girls awake with our chattering, but none of us wanted to go to bed!

As a result, I slept in slightly, and Susie had to wake me up! What an awesome roommate I got…did I mention she let me sleep on the bottom bunk? ;)

 

LOWLIGHT: Loosing my nametag. :(

 

HIGHLIGHT: Another amazing Praise and Worship session. :)

 

HIGHLIGHT: Having my nametag returned to me!!! Thanks to whoever found it!

 

LOWISH HIGHLIGHT: The Closing Ceremony. It was great, but very sad, because I knew it was the end and I was going to have to say goodbye.

 

HIGHLIGHT: The sound guys played some rather rocking music, just for background sound, after the ceremony, and it had a nice beat to it. So Jared, me and Gordie did some synchronized bopping to it, complete with hand moves and laughter. ;)  Awesome.

 

HIGHLIGHT: The last meal. :sigh: Gordie and I sat at a table with all the Godins and a couple others. I ate fast, because our carpool to the airport left early.

 

HIGHISH LOWLIGHT: Saying goodbye. I missed saying goodbye to so many people! But I hugged and shook hands with as many people as I could as we ran out the door, and then ran back up to say goodbye to and hug Allison and Jared, who happened to be outside the dining hall, while Gordie went to find our luggage and our ride. :sad:

 

HIGHLIGHT: The ride to the airport was a blast! We rode with Laura, Robert, Nicole and Benjamin, with Mr. Lisinski as our great driver. Gordie entertained us with Jack Sparrow imitations for much of the ride.

 

LOWLIGHT: We had to part ways with our fellow carpool people almost as soon as we stepped in the airport, which was very sad.

 

So then, for the next few hours, after getting through security and feeling like we’d just stepped into a den of wolves after spending four days in heaven, Gordie and I sat in the terminal and read our autograph books. I hugged mine and read it over and over. :) We ate some food, shared memories, and lamented.

 

HIGHLIGHT: About twenty minutes or so before we boarded the plane, the Nagle brothers showed up! We were very happy to know they’d be on the same plane as us! It really made the trip home a lot easier knowing there were a couple of HSAers nearby. They ended up being a few seats behind us, so we didn’t get to chat. But it was still good.

 

We arrived in Cleveland around midnight, found Mom and Dad waiting for us, said goodbye to John and Tim, and began the 2 hour trip back home.

 

 

Truly, that was only the end of the beginning. I know that much goodness with come from the sadness of having to say goodbye to such dear friends, because it really isn’t goodbye…it’s only farewell for now.

 

I left out soooooo very much…so many little moments and memories that keep popping up in my head and making me smile…but this post is way long enough and I’d probably loose a good amount of people’s interest if I kept going. :P

 

So there you have it. My full and incomplete record of my wonderous experience at the 2009 Homeschool Alumni National Reunion.

 

Lord willin’, I am SO going next year!!!!

 

Doctor Philip J. Calman was sweating. Worse than that he was in trouble, big trouble. He took fast corners and came in on constant short stops to keep from knocking over obstacles and others traveling the hospital hallway. He wiped a damp rag across his forehead. He had only just received the news. They were shocking. Stunning. Jaw dropping. His mind was going a million things at once.
"Entschuldegunze Bitte!" he shouted, continuing on down the hall.
The nurses and patients began to move out of his way.
Dr. Calman was a well known doctor in Germany. He had studdied medicine and health care and many other medical things for over fifty years, and had excelled from the start. his passion for the well being of people and the care for health had driven him through colleges, universities, and academies for a long time. Many teachers and doctors and scientists had taken great notice of his talent. All of his youth years were spent engrossing himself in the art of the medical field, and not a single one was wasted for so much as a minute. He had a goal, and he was one of few who had achieved it. His entire life was given to people who needed ones like him. But nothing could have prepared him for what he'd been told, or what he was about to be told.
He arrived at the place where he recieved the call from Dr. Eichmann. It was a high security ER station, specifically designed to hold patients that were 'Out of control' or 'dangerous'. Normally they didn't use it, since they always had the man power and the strength to keep frantic patients in good behavior. But things always tend to get worse.
He arrived at the sealed door leading to the HSER.
He swiped a security clearance card through a box on the side of the door.
It beeped, accepting him in, and the doors slid aside.
He went down two halls, searching for the observitory room.
Once again he had to swipe another card to get in.
the room was large and had a five inch thick bullet proof glass window that stretched the entire length.
Like the others, the room was white, and had various monitors and tables laying about it.
Dr. Calman spotted the three German doctors standing in front of the glass.
One of them turned to him, and gestured him forward.
"Wir habe eine-"
Calman held up his hand.
"English, if you please"
"We have a bad situation" Dr. Eichmann said.
The man was rather short for a German, and much reminded him of Einstein, what with his long gray hair and mustache.
His facial features looked very troubled.
Calman looked through the window. What he saw cut him to the heart.
"What's wrong with him?" he asked.
"We don't know" Eichmann answered, "we can't stabilize him, nor can we even get close enough to get ahold of him. He seems to have taken to rational behavior. Biting, clawing, kicking. He's basically out of his mind."
Calman could tell that much. He watched as what looked like a young boy of only 15 was practically throwing himself all over the room, screaming and knashing his teeth at the four male nurses who surrounded him, attempting to get him into a straight jacket.
"Is it rabies?" Calman asked.
"No, we managed to get a blood sample, and have found many questions without answers. He's been this way nonstop, and we found that those whom he had bitten, are in the same condition. Erratic. we have found that he came in only a few minutes ago, and was brought from the east side of Berlin. His mother said he had been in a strange sickness for a day or two, which she had mistaken for Influenza. After he had attacked several people. She brought him here in hopes of us controlling him."
"Did you identify the sample?"
"Yes we have"
Eichmann pulled a piece of paper from his pocket.
Calman looked it over.
He read the text, but one major word caught his eye. He had heard of many things like it before, but had never expected it to happen like this, not here.
He stared at the text.
T600.
Code name: Demon Juice
"You said there are more in the same condition?"
"Ja, ten at least"
"Keep them contained, and wear protective masks and clothing whenever you're around them"
"What?"
"We don't know what this stuff can do. But it looks like it spreads quickly."
At that Calman turned and headed for the door. He had to notify poison control. They could not let Berlin fall to this.

Doctor Philip J. Calman was sweating. Worse than that he was in trouble, big trouble. He took fast corners and came in on constant short stops to keep from knocking over obstacles and others traveling the hospital hallway. He wiped a damp rag across his forehead. He had only just received the news. They were shocking. Stunning. Jaw dropping. His mind was going a million things at once.
"Entschuldegunze Bitte!" he shouted, continuing on down the hall.
The nurses and patients began to move out of his way.
Dr. Calman was a well known doctor in Germany. He had studdied medicine and health care and many other medical things for over fifty years, and had excelled from the start. his passion for the well being of people and the care for health had driven him through colleges, universities, and academies for a long time. Many teachers and doctors and scientists had taken great notice of his talent. All of his youth years were spent engrossing himself in the art of the medical field, and not a single one was wasted for so much as a minute. He had a goal, and he was one of few who had achieved it. His entire life was given to people who needed ones like him. But nothing could have prepared him for what he'd been told, or what he was about to be told.
He arrived at the place where he recieved the call from Dr. Eichmann. It was a high security ER station, specifically designed to hold patients that were 'Out of control' or 'dangerous'. Normally they didn't use it, since they always had the man power and the strength to keep frantic patients in good behavior. But things always tend to get worse.
He arrived at the sealed door leading to the HSER.
He swiped a security clearance card through a box on the side of the door.
It beeped, accepting him in, and the doors slid aside.
He went down two halls, searching for the observitory room.
Once again he had to swipe another card to get in.
the room was large and had a five inch thick bullet proof glass window that stretched the entire length.
Like the others, the room was white, and had various monitors and tables laying about it.
Dr. Calman spotted the three German doctors standing in front of the glass.
One of them turned to him, and gestured him forward.
"Wir habe eine-"
Calman held up his hand.
"English, if you please"
"We have a bad situation" Dr. Eichmann said.
The man was rather short for a German, and much reminded him of Einstein, what with his long gray hair and mustache.
His facial features looked very troubled.
Calman looked through the window. What he saw cut him to the heart.
"What's wrong with him?" he asked.
"We don't know" Eichmann answered, "we can't stabilize him, nor can we even get close enough to get ahold of him. He seems to have taken to rational behavior. Biting, clawing, kicking. He's basically out of his mind."
Calman could tell that much. He watched as what looked like a young boy of only 15 was practically throwing himself all over the room, screaming and knashing his teeth at the four male nurses who surrounded him, attempting to get him into a straight jacket.
"Is it rabies?" Calman asked.
"No, we managed to get a blood sample, and have found many questions without answers. He's been this way nonstop, and we found that those whom he had bitten, are in the same condition. Erratic. we have found that he came in only a few minutes ago, and was brought from the east side of Berlin. His mother said he had been in a strange sickness for a day or two, which she had mistaken for Influenza. After he had attacked several people. She brought him here in hopes of us controlling him."
"Did you identify the sample?"
"Yes we have"
Eichmann pulled a piece of paper from his pocket.
Calman looked it over.
He read the text, but one major word caught his eye. He had heard of many things like it before, but had never expected it to happen like this, not here.
He stared at the text.
T600.
Code name: Demon Juice
"You said there are more in the same condition?"
"Ja, ten at least"
"Keep them contained, and wear protective masks and clothing whenever you're around them"
"What?"
"We don't know what this stuff can do. But it looks like it spreads quickly."
At that Calman turned and headed for the door. He had to notify poison control. They could not let Berlin fall to this.

How are you all? It's been a while since I talked to my HSB friends! A lot has been going on...

I've been really busy with puppies. :) We got one litter all sold and off to new homes, and we now have on four week old litter for sale. You can see pictures here: www.freewebs.com/summitkennels

I spend a lot of my internet time on HSA. If you've never heard of it, PLEASE check it out!!! It is an amazing place!! www.homeschoolalumni.org

I also just joined Facebook. I'm liking it a lot more than I thought I would. :) If you'd like me to add you on there, let me know...I do have a couple rules though: I don't add guys unless I've met them or know them personally, and I don't accept blind friend requests from girls, I would prefer to know you a little bit. :) Thanks!

Last weekend I got to go to Heritage Days here in the town I live close to, and it was great! Book sale, parade, historical encampment, and English Country Dancing!!! Had a lot of fun!

And one thing I am really excited about is that I will be going to Tennessee with my dad and two of my brothers! We are going down there this coming Sunday through Wednesday (26-29) for a Homeschool Alumni get together!!! I am soooo happy!

I also got a Regency dress. It is navy blue. And so gorgeous. I am really excited about getting to dance in it at the TN gathering!

Well, that's about it for now. Talk to you all later!

Love, Hannah

YLCF is giving away a copy of Pajama School, a book filled with stories from a homeschool graduate. http://ylcf.org/2009/07/pajama-school/ You need this book! =D

Hey people!
I know what you're thinking....I haven't posted in a loooooong time, but here I am!
I know it my blog can get kind of boring with any later updates, so if anyone's out there, please leave a comment!

Forerunner

My fellow HSAers, Amber and Angela Covington, are doing a giveaway in their business!

Here's the link:  http://twintasticcreations.blogspot.com/

Pass it on!!

Hey, sorry it took me so long to get this up! But at last, here is my video slideshow of pictures we got when the Jost family was here.

I'm sorry the pictures and music aren't so good. The music was recorded by my brother Charlie holding the microphone up  to the speakers of his computer while playing the end of "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" (I believe the song is called "The Call"...very nice farewell song for friends, that and  "The Parting Glass" by the High Kings... ;) ).

So here you are!!! Enjoy!!

EDIT: Sorry the video wasn't coming up! Technical dificulties... :P

Try this link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/video/video.php?v=91703348421

if this doesn't work:

What books do you believe are essential to being a well-rounded individual? I'm looking for everything from devotionals, to classical literature, to political, to scientific books. Basically, anything that develops your character or makes you think. This is a kind of summer reading list that will probably take several summers to complete. It is only through daily reading that you refresh your mind sufficiently to speak wisely. [Chinese Proverb]