Nov. 9, 2009 - Sorry for neglecting you so long!!!
Hello Everyone!
I have shamefully neglected this blog all summer and into the school year and for that I apologize. I have been dreadfully busy. I had wonderful summer at camp. The people were so wonderful up there. I think I will be telling stories from that first summer at camp for years to come! God is so good!
School has been going well. It seems like every year school gets harder and harder which is especially true this year. This semester I am talking Biblical Greek. Although it is a challenge it is very rewarding. I love being able to begin to read the Bible in the original! :)
Also I have become involved in Bible Quizzing this year. We have to memorize 1st and 2nd Corinthians. It is so wonderful to be memorizing God's Word! I am amazed at how much scripture my brain can soak up and keep it there!!! :) My team has been doing very well so far this year and I am hoping we will continue this trend! Maybe I will post more pictures soon! :) (but don't count on it!)
I hope everyone is doing well! God bless!
~Jess
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Jun. 25, 2009 - Camp pictures.....A little late due to the internet we have!
Hello everyone!
Sorry I haven't answered your comments or posted sooner. The internet has been very unreliable lately so I haven't had a chance to post.
Camp was awesome! It was a lot of work but a lot of fun at the same time. We had a smaller group of kids this week and they were a lot of fun. I am going back again on Saturday for another six days so I might have more pictures after I come back.
Also be sure to check out my sister's blog during the weekend to see what her experience as a camper at different camp was like.
Here was the view of the lake. It was so pretty up there!
Here is a view of the swimming area. I spent most of my breaks there in the water. The rafts made swimming especially fun. The smaller raft was my favorite because when you got a bunch of people on it you could tip it and tip people off. 
This is my roommate with one of the campers on her shoulders.
This is another one of the girls........she was hula dancing........this girl was so much fun especially in the water.
These three girls are sisters. The one on the right was so affectionate. Right from the start she was coming up and giving people hugs.
This was one of the boys that I swam with..........but partly because the water was so cold he didn't come in very much.
She is getting her face painted. 
This little girl had a birthday during camp. So we gave her cabin cupcakes for lunch as a dessert. She was so cute when she came up to the kitchen counter and told us it was her birthday.
Thanks for reading!
~Jess
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Jun. 15, 2009 - Just one more post before I leave.......
I have such an awesome family!
And here is a miniature foal that came to Drill Team a couple weeks ago.
Isn't she cute!?
Have a wonderful week guys!
Thanks for reading!
~Jess
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Jun. 15, 2009 - Camp is tomorrow!!!
Hello Everyone!
Tomorrow is the day! The day that will officially start my summer. The day that I will head off to camp for the week. I will be at camp for 7 consecutive weeks this summer working as a kitchen assistant in a camp that ministers to inner city kids. I am really looking forward to it!
I will try to take pictures to show you but I am so bad at that sort of thing so don't get your hopes up!
Please pray that I will have a serving attitude while there and that my time with go well.
Hopefully I will post something more interesting next time.....
Thanks for reading
~Jess
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May. 27, 2009 - Weird Egg
I walked into our dark barn and walked over to the feed bucket where I knew some eggs were hiding. I reached my hand in and felt something slimy. It felt like the egg I soaked in vinegar and the shell had come off. Quickly I pulled my hand back. Ick! As I hurried over to turn on the light I imagined that I had touched a reptile egg. I walked back to the feed box and looked in. In the bucket were not one but two eggs with out a shell and as I pick them up I saw that they were connected by a tube made out of a thin membrane. I hurried it to show Mom and the others. They were amazed! We all wondered how in the world a chicken laid this egg! Now we have seen everything! We have seen little eggs, we have seen eggs that are to big to fit in the carton, we have seen eggs with out a shell, we have cracked an egg open to find a underdeveloped chick inside.....and now we have found a connected egg! I wonder what we will find next?
Thanks for reading
~Jess
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May. 26, 2009 - Random Rambles
Hello everyone!
How is everyone doing? Excited to finish school?
I am really bummed because I am really behind on biology and I am afraid that I won't even get it done during the summer!!!! Just pray that I can be diligent on that!
Speaking of school, I have been going through the Civil War in history. This study has been very eye opening for me because I have been able to study both sides of the war, North and South. When I was little I thought that the North was the "good guys" and the South were the "bad guys" but now that I have studied it a little bit, I have a different view of the war. I have realized that both sides had a good and bad side to the situation. The South had slaves and the North had horrible factory conditions. Also the Civil War didn't start out as a war to free the slaves. It started out as a war to bring the South back into the Union because they had seceded. But then Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves only because it would help the war effort. There were also great leaders on both sides, Robert E. Lee and Abraham Lincoln, Stonewall Jackson and George McClellan. The Civil War is a wonderful time period to research and to look into objectively, not really taking a side but learning from the leaders and the events they have left behind for us to learn about.
Ashely still hasn't had her chicks. It will be three weeks tomorrow but there is still no sign of their cute little bodies.
Camp is three weeks from today!!! I am so excited!!! I will try to take pictures but I am horrible at that.....so be prepared for anything! Could you pray that I would be a good testimony and an encouragement this summer as I am there?
I got this really cool e-mail today that told a story about a boy who had an assignment to write about what heaven is like. Then after he wrote it and said it was the best he had written but then he died after a car wreck not a long time after. I thought the story he wrote was really moving even though I am sure many of you might have read it before I wanted to share it.
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room.
There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with
small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list
titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which
stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction,
had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first
to catch my attention was one that read 'Girls I have liked.' I opened it
and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to
realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without
being told, I knew exactly where I was.
This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my
life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in
a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity,
coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files
and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a
sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to
see if anyone was watching.
A file named 'Friends' was next to one marked 'Friends I have betrayed.'
The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird 'Books I Have
Read,' 'Lies I Have Told,' 'Comfort I have Given,' 'Jokes I Have Laughed
at .' Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: 'Things I've yelled
at my brothers.' Others I couldn't laugh at: 'Things I Have Done in My
Anger', 'Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents..' I never
ceased to be surprised by the contents.
Often there were many more cards than I expected.. Sometimes fewer than
I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived.
Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these
thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth.
Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked 'TV Shows I have watched', I realized
the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly,
and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I
shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast
time I knew that file represented.
When I came to a file marked 'Lustful Thoughts,' I felt a chill run
through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test
its size and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content.
I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost
animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must
ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy
them!' In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter
now. I had to empty it and burn the cards.... But as I took it at one
end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single
card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as
strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless,
I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall,
I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.
And then I saw it.. The title bore 'People I Have Shared the Gospel
With.' The handle was brighter than those around it, seemed newer,
almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than
three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it
contained on one hand.
And then the tears came.. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt.
They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and
cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all.
The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must
ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But
then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.
No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly
as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to
watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at
His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own.
He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read
every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He
looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't
anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands, and I
began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He
could have said so many things.. But He didn't say a word. He just cried
with me.
Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end
of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name
over mine on each card. 'No!' I shouted rushing to Him. All I
could find to say was 'No, no,' as I pulled the card from Him. His
name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so
rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was
written with His blood. He gently took the card back.. He smiled a sad
smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand
how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard
Him close the last file and walk back to my side.
He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, 'It is finished.' I stood
up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door.
There were still cards to be written.
'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. '-Phil. 4:13
'For God so loved the world that He gaveHis only son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.' John 3:16
If you feel the same way forward it so the love of Jesus will touch their
lives also... My 'People I shared the gospel with'
file just got bigger, how about yours?
Thanks for reading!!
Have a wonderful Tuesday!!
~Jess
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May. 15, 2009 - Hello!
Hi everyone,
I am sorry that I neglected you guys so shamefully. So many things have happened since I have written last. First, it has gotten very warm out. It is so nice to be outside! I just love spring. It is my favorite season, there are so many beginnings during this time of the year! Next our little bantam chicken, Ashley, is sitting on 9 eggs! We are hoping that we will be able to get some chicks out of this sitting!
Well, have a wonderful weekend!!!
~Jess
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Apr. 20, 2009 - A tag from Patchwork Angel! Oh wait it is a meme.......I don't know what that means.
Patchwork Angel tagged me!
Calling ALL Homeschoolers! A Homeschooling Meme just for us!
Here are the rules:
- Answer all 10 questions! Then,
- Tag 3 or more other homeschoolers!
1) How long have you been homeschooled?
Since I was born....I am always learning.....
2) What grade are you in?
10th
3) What is your favorite subject(s) in your homeschool?
Latin, History, Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey.
4) What is your least favorite subject(s) in your homeschool?
I would probably have to say math right now because it takes a long time!
5) What is a current/previous homeschooling challenge you've faced?
Getting my transcript ready so I can do PSCEO and take Greek!
6) What are you looking forward to over the coming year?
Camp! Camp! Camp!
7) Name three things you like doing in the summer with your family.
Go camping. Riding the horses. SOCCER!!!!!!!!!!!! (the real football!)
8) What other activities do you enjoy, such as sports, hobbies, etc.?
quilting, reading, riding, SOCCER!!!!!!!!, skateboarding, ice skating, running
9) Are you taking a foreign language? Are you going to in the future? Which one?
I have been taking Latin for 2 years and planning to take another year of it. Also if the Lord wills I will take Greek next term!!!!!! (I know, I know I am weird....but you wouldn't believe how interesting dead languages are esp. ones that are the base languages for the Bible!)
10) Where do you homeschool? (Kitchen table, livingroom, etc.)
Everywhere! In my room, at the computer, on the floor, in the kitchen, outside, in the car, in the basement, in the living room, on the couch.I tag......everyone who reads this and is homeschooled!!!!!!
Thanks for reading!!!
~Jess
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Apr. 18, 2009 - The Tale of the Not So Naughty Sewing Machine!
The tale I am about to relate is unlike my other sewing machine tale in two ways. One it isn't sad and two it will be rather short and to the point.
Last Friday I got the fabric for the last block to finish my quilt (you know the one that had a hole in it) and I also got a quilt back that I had made as a sample for the shop!
So while my parents were on a date and my sisters and brother were who knows where in the house and yard doing something (I am such a good babysitter aren't I.....not even knowing the whereabouts of my own siblings!) I dived into the process of finishing the quilt top. First I cut out the multiple borders that were going to be put on. Then I cut out my block. As I sat down to start sewing....I was hoping that my sewing machine would work. It did *sigh* for the most part at least. It was still clunking a little but after I changed the needle it went much smoothly. I finished the block that night and the next morning (Saturday). I started on the borders. I was enjoying myself immensely. I had something to listen to, my sewing machine was working properly and I was almost done with a quilt that I had been working on for a year. I stopped for lunch when I finished my first set of borders.
And here is the one I brought home from the shop!
~Jess
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Apr. 15, 2009 - Diabetes Demonstration
When my brother J.J. was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in December of 2007 it started our family on a journey. A journey to learn as much as we could about the disease so we could take care of my brother in the best way possible.
With all this knowledge about the disease it has made my mom passionate about educating others about what we go through every day. So when I signed up to do a demonstration at our local 4-H club she had a perfect topic for me. Type 1 Diabetes! I was a little reluctant at first. I had a topic already in mind, osmosis. But because I knew more about Type 1 than I did osmosis, I eventually decided to change my topic.
I studied and got my topics and props already. I practiced the demonstration several times but no matter how much I prepared I still was nervous!
When it was time to go we got into our suburban and drove to the meeting. We got through the meeting and then it was time for the demonstrations! I was hoping that I was going to be last but off course I was first (that always happens 
)
I walked up to the front and set out all of my props and started talking. You wouldn't believe how I was shaking! That is one thing I hate about public speaking! First I told the audience a little bit what the disease, and how there were two types of diabetes Type 1 and Type 2. Then I jumped into causes and how we don't really don't know what the cause is. Next I explained the increasing rate. (That was my favorite part because I could see a mom's face start to turn sad) After that I explained the symptoms and how you couldn't get diagnosed unless you had a blood test. I told them that J.J. was going to get his blood checked and if I could have a couple volunteers to get their blood checked. No one volunteered. Then I started talking about how my brother gets his fingers poked 8-10 times a day and he was only 6! Then there was some takers.....a brother and sister volunteered. I checked the brother and Mom checked the sister. The funny thing was they had the exact same reading from 2 different meters!
After the volunteers sat down Mom told me that J.J. was 69! So I explained told the audience what the number was and that he was low and when he was low he gets sugar. After that I explained why we need to give him insulin and how we administer it.....I showed them a pump and syringe.
Then I could put my things away and sit down! I was so glad that it was over! But I was also glad that went through with the demonstration and did it. It was a great experience and hopefully a little bit more people know more about this dreadful disease!
Thanks for reading!
~Jess
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Apr. 13, 2009 - I have been tagged! So I guess that means that I am it.....hee hee...you had better watch out!!!!
How old are you? 16
When were you born? March
What color is your hair? Brown
Is your hair short or long? Long
What color is your eyes? Blue
How tall are you? about 5'3" to 5'4" I really haven't measured myself in awhile all I know is that I am taller than my mom and shorter than Hannah.
How long have you been on HSB? Almost one year!!!
Do you like HSB? Yes but I think some things could be made a little bit easier.
What's your favorite series? hm... the Left Behind series, the Lord of the Rings, The Inheritance Cycle, I know there is a lot more but I am just supposed to say my favorites.
Action movies, Drama Movies or sad movies? Action!!!!!! Less drama the better......that way I don't start hiding under blankets and yelling at the screen!
What did you do yesterday? I went to church, watched the video streaming from the sermon at Marshill(you guys really missed something there!!! You should have seen all of the people they baptized!)......then I just hung out kind of caught up on e-mail and then watched "Amazing Race" with my family!
What's your favorite song right now? "The Call" from the Prince Caspian soundtrack.
What's your favorite Artist right now? Probably Nicole Nordeman (I know I probably didn't spell her name right!
What song do you have in your mind right now? The Call.....probably because I am listening to it right now!!!!!!
Who are you going to tag? Anyone who wants it!!!! Ha Ha Tag you're it!!! I love this game!
~Jess
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Apr. 10, 2009 - The Phone Call
It was a normal spring day. The sun was shining and the my brother and sisters had ridden the horses over to a neighbor's house to play for the afternoon.
I had been reading and had gone into another room to do something when music started blaring from our phone. Now our phone has a very distinct ring my dad had programed a couple of our favorite songs into it and when it rings after playing a few bars of music, it will say the name of who ever is showing up on the caller ID. Today it started playing the music and then it said our neighbors' last name (the very neighbors my siblings were playing at).
I thought "Oh no, they 're calling because they want to eat over or something....and Mom will say no because she has dinner pretty much made already"
I walked into the living room where Mom was standing holding the phone.
"Go tell Dad to get the trailer. He's going to have to get Jet. They said that he can't walk."
Immediately my heart sunk.
"O.k." I said as I started toward the door.
As I ran out to where Dad was my mind was racing with the worst possible scenario. Jet broke his leg and we can't afford to pay the bills to fix that so we are going to have to put him down. I envisioned him laying on the ground unable to get up.
Dad was coming around the corner of the barn on his Case tractor with the garden tractor.
"Turn it off!" I yelled, making a turning motion as if I was turning a key.
"Why?"
"Just turn it off! Because Jet got hurt and you are going to have to get the trailer and pick him up!"
He turn off the tractor. I turned and started running toward the house. I ran to my room, grabbed a pair of socks. Then ran to the garage to get my boots. I brought my boots inside and as I was lacing them up, Mom said "Maybe its just a sprain or a torn ligament or something"
I said what I feared the most.
"I am afraid he broke his leg and then we will have to put him down"
As I said that suddenly it seemed more real and tangible. It was like because I said what I feared, it would happen. Reality hit me, so to speak. I really didn't want to put this horse down, but I was willing if that was what God willed.
I ran outside. Dad was in the garage that is connected to our barn. "Go drive the suburban over to the trailer" he called to me.
"Are the keys in it?" I asked
"No, you are going to have to drive with your fingernails"
I took that phrase to mean that the keys were in there. I was surprised that he could still joke at a time like this.
I drove the suburban over and by obeying Dad's directions backed the vehicle up to the trailer. Dad hooked everything up and while he was doing that I saw Mom coming towards us. She was wearing two different shoes. Apparently in her rush she couldn't find a matching pair.
"Sarah just called and asked if Dad had left yet. She said that he was walking" She told me as I leaned out the window.
Dad straighten up and came over.
"Does that mean I don't need to go over there?"
"I think we probably should so he doesn't strain himself more" I said.
"Yeah....you probably should" Mom said. Mom is the animal doctor in our house, with her degree in animal science she usually has the last word in decisions like this.
I scooted over and Dad got in the car. He put the vehicle into drive and we got on the road.
It took us about 2-3 minutes to get to their house. Dad drove into their back yard and turned around. As he was doing this I looked around for Jet. Ah...there he was. He didn't look to bad.
As soon as Dad stopped I was out of the car and running toward Jet.
"Which foot was it?" I asked I came up.
"The black one" they said.
I ran my hand down his leg and felt the leg near the fetlock. It didn't look to bad maybe a little swollen and he had a little cut on the back.
I felt relief wash over me. I had overreacted. No. I hadn't overreacted. I did just as was expected of me. I just over assumed.
"How did it happen?" I asked
"We tied Jet and Addie to a long rope and Jet got tangled up and freaked out" they said.
"Oh...that's why" I said. I had learned from tying Addie to a long line and she getting hurt just about the same manner as Jet that it wasn't a good idea.
"You can't tie the horses to a long line like that....the ponies are trained and can untangle themselves but the horses can't" I said.
We got Jet and the ponies loaded up with some trouble. Because there wasn't any more room for another horse Sarah started riding Addie home.
We got home without any accidents. We unloaded our cargo and I put some Wound Kot on Jet's scraped ankle.
I was so glad that nothing serious had happened to Jet. Maybe God sent this little incident to show me to not take the horses for granted.
So hopefully I have learned my lesson and become more thankful for the horses!
Thanks for reading!
~Jess
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Apr. 8, 2009 - The Tale of the Naughty Sewing Machine
"I hate sewing" I muttered as I got up from my uncooperative sewing machine. Normally that phrase would never come out of my mouth. My feelings for the craft are totally opposite. I enjoy sewing pieces of fabric together and making them into something beautiful whether it be a quilt or a garment. But at that moment I was extremely frustrated. My sewing machine just wasn't working. It kept making a noise as if the needle was hitting something as it went down. Eventually the needle broke. Ugh it was so frustrating. I want to finish what I am doing!
It was then I decided to quit. For the night at least. Maybe tomorrow would be better.
This wasn't the first time I had to quit because of machine troubles. I had to quit almost every time I had tried to work with it for the last month or so. We had even sent it to get repaired but it just wasn't working right. My feelings toward it had changed from a happy feeling when I sat down at the machine to a feeling of nervousness and fear of what might happen when my foot hit the pedal.
The next day my feelings toward sewing and the feared sewing machine had changed somewhat. I felt optimistic and willing to try to tackle the machine and project again where just the night before I was so frustrated and tired that I didn't want to sew ever again!
I sat down at the sewing machine and brushed it out to make sure I got that needle point out and then put the bobbin in again. Then I sewed on a scrap piece of fabric. So far so good. Nothing was clunking yet.
I started sewing on my project. Everything went fine. Yay!!!!
I started to see the light at the stopping point I had set for this project. I was on my last seam....then clunk....no!!!!.....I kept going. It wasn't a bad clunk. Yet at least. It kept clunking. I kept sewing. There it's done.
~Jess
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Apr. 6, 2009 - Sliding Down, Down, Down Twirling in a Yellow Slide
A year ago our grandpa bought us the materials to make a really nice swing set and jungle gym. It had almost everything we wanted in a jungle gym, 3 swings, a tire swing, monkey bars, a pole and a slide. But we had also wanted a yellow twirly slide. Grandpa couldn't get it at the time but last month when we were at his house he told us that he was getting us a slide!
We had forgotten that we wanted a slide. We were content with our already wonderful play set. It was a surprise to hear that we would get a twirly slide. We began to get excited and began to ask when it would arrive.
In a little over a week it arrived! It came in a big box and we had to grab the dolly from the garage so the delivery man could push the box up to our garage.
It sat in our garage for a couple days then on Sunday (yesterday) Dad and my siblings put it together and mounted it on our play set.
Since it was put up yesterday we have been going up and down the slide. It is so fun. And tiring. (for me at least)
Here are some pictures of our fun.
Here is Allison......
Here he comes!
I don't know why he was pointing up....I guess I was just snapping pictures and caught it!
Here he was saying "Goodbye Wooton" before he went down!
~Jess
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Apr. 1, 2009 - April Fools!
It seems like the weather is playing an April Fools joke on us here where I live. Here it is the first day of April, its supposed to be sunny and warm enough to play outside but it isn't. When I woke up this morning it was dreary out and everything was covered with a layer of snow!
But one good thing about it snowing in April is the fact that the snow is perfect for making snowmen......well if you make them in the right place that is!
Later this morning as I was getting ready to go upstairs for breakfast, I heard shouting. I looked out my window. I didn't see anything so I went on with what I was doing. Then I heard another shout. I glanced out my window again. There I saw my brother, J.J. and my sister, Hannah rolling a large snowball, toward my window.
They set the snowball against my window and went back for another.
They were going to build a snowman right against my window!
The snow won't probably last very long...it is already melting!!!
Thanks for reading!
~Jess
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Mar. 30, 2009 - Chicago!
Many people love big cities. They love the many people, the many stores and the convenience of everything right at their fingertips. I on the other hand prefer wide open spaces with an abundance of nature and wildlife nearby.
So when my Nana, told me that she was taking me and my cousin to Chicago I was excited but not totally sure that I would like the big city. I kept remembering how when I was little I went to Chicago with my family and how I was so happy to get home to my normal sized house and yard, away from the tight spaces and the tall buildings.
But I found out that I had nothing to be unsure of. I absolutely loved my trip!
The first night we were there, we went out to dinner and then we went to the Hancock Building. It had 94 floors!!!! The elevator went up so fast that I got dizzy! But the view from the 94th floor was amazing. The whole city was lit up and you could see a long way. The outskirts of town were shining with light and the sky was covered with a golden haze.
Of course like usual I didn't get a picture.
The next day we walked to the Newberry Library so we could meet a friend of my Nana's who had a museum pass for the Art museum. When Kim got there after going through the new exhibit she took us up into the library. Now this library is no ordinary library. It is filled with books, scrolls, and documents from history. Kim after we got our library cards told us to look in the card catalog and on the computers for something we would want to look at. I had no idea about what I wanted to look up, so I just walked through the many rows of drawers and pulled out a drawer here and there and looked through the cards. After awhile I remember that I really like the president John Quincy Adams. I walked over to the A's and looked up his name but I really didn't find anything I wanted to look at.
I walked over to the computers where my cousin, Shelbi and Kim were looking at the computers there. After finding out that I hadn't found anything Kim showed me the things she had found. She had written the items on yellow slips of paper with the call number.
She had found letters written by Thomas Jefferson, an original map of the Louisiana purchase before it was purchased and some other items.
I decided to look at the letters and the map. Then Shelbi found some letters written by John Quincy Adams and a speech by him.
Then we walked up to the fourth floor where the reading rooms were. We walked in to a room that was separated into 3 parts. The first part contained a desk where a woman of Asian heritage was standing. Behind her there were two rooms with walls of glass. In the rooms were tables and at some of the tables men and women were sitting looking at books and papers, resting on large pieces of felt or a small shelf.
We gave slips of paper that told which item we wanted to look at first to the lady. She gave us rules to read and told us that they would bring the item as soon at possible.
After ten minutes they brought the first item in. The letters written by Thomas Jefferson! It was awesome to see the original letters that Jefferson actually wrote over two hundred years ago. I couldn't read it very well, the script being so different from what I was used to reading and most of the letters I just skimed the lines but when Kim read some of them and found a wonderful quote I tried to read them. It was so cool to read the actual words! I have often read quotes from him and other founding fathers of our country but I have never read the original documents. I was holding an actual piece of history!
Soon after my companions got their items. One of them was an old scroll of Esther. The scroll was incased in a carved metal cylinder. The scroll was made of animal skin was written in Hebrew and the edges were cut out into shapes of birds and flowers. It was beautiful!
Shelbi looked at a hand written music score and Kim looked at a book filled with all kind of different paper from Japan. I was even able to read letters written by John Quincy Adams but alas we had to leave before we could look at everything we wanted. It was getting late and we hadn't eaten lunch and we needed to go to the Art Museum.
Kim drove us to the Art Museum and we went through selected exhibits. We looked at minitiure rooms from different periods of time, strolled through a room filled with black and white photgraphs that depicted many famous people which included, Helen Keller, Elizabeth Taylor and Muhamand Ali, then we walked through the Edvard Munch Exhibit, that was a little depressing. This artist painted a lot of painting about death and sorrow and sadness and love so I was kind glad to get out of that exhibit.
Then we took a bus to our hotel to change clothes for the play. We were going to the play "Our Town". A play about the daily life in a town in the early 1900s. They used very little props just tables and chairs and ladders. The audience had to imagine what the actors were doing and the scenery around them. The best thing about the play was the fact that David Schwimmer (he has been in the t.v. show "Friends" and Madagasgar 2) was in it! It was so cool to be so close to a famous actor!
After the play we went to go get ice cream then we walked back to the hotel.
The next day we packed up and put our bags in the car......then we went shopping!!!!
I don't usually go shopping so it was very interesting to see all the name brand clothing stores that I would never think of buying from unless they had a BIG sale!
After we were done shopping and grabbed a lunch we left Chicago and hit the road.
Shelbi and I had a lot of fun in the car. We read books, took pictures of ourselves and listened to Nana tell stories. It was so nice to be with them and talk with them and to get to know them better. I don't see them often because we live in different states so it was nice to be with them for a couple days.
Sorry but I didn't take any good postable pictures. I know I am a slacker.
But thanks for reading!
~Jess
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Mar. 23, 2009 - A Tag and Some Random Craft Pictures
How old is your dad`s oldest brother`s oldest child? She's 15
What did you get your oldest brother/sister for his/her birthday? I don't have an older brother or sister. Though I have wanted an older brother before.
Did you brush your hair this morning? Yes
When you open your eyes in the morning what do you see? I have no idea.......
Have you ever given to locks of love? No...but I have always wanted to.
What size shoe do you wear? 8 or 9
What is the last letter in your name? A
Are you wearing finger nail polish? No
I tag anyone who wants it!!!
I thought you guys might want to see some random pictures of my family and projects and just random stuff!
Here is the Coin Quilt I made for a lady at church who is having a baby girl.
Here is Allison....the subject of my last post......
Here I caught him stretching.......
Here are our swings........
Here is a picture of Sharon's (my boss) bag that she made.
I had to cut kits for it that day....that's why there are a bunch of bolts in front of it.
Well I had better wrap this up.......I can't think any more I am so tired.
Thanks for reading!
Jess
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Mar. 20, 2009 - Am I adopted?
Hannah feeling bored and at a loss for activities walked into Allison's room.
"Allison, I regret to inform you that I have been chosen to tell you that you're adopted"
"No I am not"
"Yes you are!"
"Yeah but I have pictures of when I was a baby" Allison replied getting a little frustrated at this point.
"Yeah we got you when you were a baby"
"Then why do we have pictures of when I was in the hospital?"
"We have pictures of you when we brought you to the hospital to make sure you weren't sick"
"Then why do we have pictures of Mommy in bed at the hospital with me?"
"Because Mommy had just miscarried a baby.....so we went to orphanage to get a baby"
"No you didn't"
"Yeah we did, I can get the papers to prove it"
"Then show them to me" said Allison half believing her now.
"Well....Mom and Dad won't let me show them to you until tomorrow" said Hannah trying to get out this awful joke that she had played on her little sister.
Hannah was saved by J.J.,their six year old brother, who had come to tell them that it was time for dinner.
They rush to the kitchen hungry and a little excited after their previous, heated conversation. There Mom, Sarah and Jess are in the kitchen putting the last finishing touches on their evening meal, spaghetti.
"Jess, I told Allison that she was adopted and she believed me" said Hannah.
"Really?" said Jess busily working on preparing dinner.
"What did you say?"
"I told her that 'I regret to inform you that I have been chosen to tell you that you are adopted'"
Mom amused started to laugh. Everyone started teasing Allison and asking her questions about how she could believe Hannah. Mom laughing told Hannah that she was really bad.
This continued throughout dinner. The family teasingly asking questions about the "adoption" and Allison frustrated tried to defend her integrity. At one point Allison said, "If I was adopted you wouldn't know my birthday because I wouldn't tell you"
This brought an amused response from the rest of the family.
"Allison we would have other ways of finding out your birthday" Dad told her.
"Yeah we could look it up in your papers" put in Sarah.
The rest of the evening went by smoothly with only a few scattered jokes about Allison being adopted at least until Bible Study.
Dad was asking his children questions about Christians being God's children. They had been going through 1 Peter and this week they were focusing especially on 1Peter 2:4-12. Usually after asking a question and getting a variety of answers from his children he would tell them the correct answer. This particular question was no exception.
He asked "What does it mean that we are God's people?"
Again he got a variety of answers. Some were right and some were also correct but not all of the way right and one unnamed person didn't even know.
So he told them that God adopts Christians into His family.
At this juncture Sarah who was coloring with Allison at the kitchen counter, leans over and whispers, "So you really are adopted!"
This brought a chorus of laughter from the rest of the family. But what Sarah said is very true. We are adopted. Not by an earthly mother and father but by God. Christians are especially chosen by God to be His children. That makes me feel special and loved. I certainly don't deserve His mercy and kindness but He gives it to me anyway. Now that's love.
The story that you have just read is a true story in fact it happened just this evening.
Thanks for reading.
~Jess
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Mar. 16, 2009 - Awards!!!!!!!
Thanks Willow, 1Aspiringlily
Patchwork Angel
for your awesome awards!!!!
This one is from 1AspiringLily 
And this one is from WillowI award AnAmericanGirl, and Alizona
And this one is from Patchwork Angel !I award.....NaeNut and hbfroggy
Thanks for reading! I will post something more interesting next time!!!
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Mar. 13, 2009 - Camp!!!!
Last year I was a junior counselor. I got to be a big sister to 6 little girls who were so much fun to get to know and love. But as a counselor my duties didn't stop there. I was assigned to help with dishes, crafts and games at certain times of the day. I loved helping with the dishes. It was so much fun to hang out with other counselors assigned to the shift (which happened to be after lunch) and wash dishes! This camp had a dishwasher that washed dishes in a matter of minutes!!!! It was so fun to operate that thing!!!!!
I was sad to leave at the end of the week and was looking forward to next year where I would probably go through the same routine. But a couple months ago my mom told me that a lady from church asked if I would be interested in helping in the kitchen next summer at a camp she works at. I was thrilled at the idea!!!! I had so much fun last year at camp that I thought it would be fun to work in the kitchen full time!!!!!
So after about a month of thinking and praying and getting hours cut on my other job my dad said we could tell the lady....(her name is Diane) that I was interested!!!! After talking to her and e-mailing the previous person who had the job....I learned that it will be a lot harder and challenging than I expected.
I have to be in the kitchen by 7 a.m. then I will be cooking all morning and into the afternoon. I get a couple hours of break in the middle of the afternoon then it is time to cook dinner when I will be in the kitchen until 7 p.m. in the evening. I will be doing this for most of the summer......there are seven weeks of camp spread throughout the summer, starting in the middle of June and ending the first week of September.
Even though it will be tiring and hard I am still willing to go through with it. I am looking forward to learning new things and meeting new people.
I am also looking forward to feed the stomachs of these kids while everyone else feeds their spiritual stomachs!
I am a little scared of being gone so much without my family and being out of their lives a lot. But I think it will be a good learning experience for me.
So I am just warning you in advance that this summer I will not be posting very much because I will be very busy so be lenient with me........
Here's a picture of me and my friend in our camp shirts!!!!
Thanks for reading!!!
~Jess
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