Reflections on a Birthday

I suppose this is the first 'pearl' I've written about in a while...surprisingly I've had a lot of fluid opinions flowing through my head, and they've organized themselves into words without difficulty. Today however, I've decided to dedicate a post to my birthday and everyone that helped to make it special. 

My Locker After Period One

As many of you know, this past Thursday I celebrated my sixteenth birthday.

In my family, it's tradition to take the week before your birthdate and celebrate each day leading up to your birthday as your "Birthday Week." This year was no exception. 

Amongst the business of our differing schedules, my family still found wonderful ways to make my birthday an important event, with different flowers each day, special meals and little present all leading up to April 3rd. 

On my birthday I woke up to find the kitchen decorated beautifully with pink streamers, purple balloons and several other things that had come as a result of my sisters' creativity. For breakfast, I ate a delicious display of waffles and bacon, with raspberries and whipped cream, and afterwards I took part in a dance party with my sisters before rushing off to chapel. 

My school day was full of amazing surprises from all of my friends, including incredible locker decorations, a disco ball, a tiara and presents galore! It was a wonderful day that was finished off with an even better dinner at a local pub and a very interesting game of pool. 

That night I opened a few presents from my sisters and watched a movie, while catching up on the night's homework. (Oh, the benefits of having a mid-week birthday...)

The next night my family treated me to a scrumptious supper at the Syndicate in Grimsby: a creamy mango chicken soup, eight ounces of rare steak accompanied by potatoes, followed by a creamy crème brûlée. Mmm.  

Saturday was spent in complete preparation for the family party that would take place the following day. I prepared ribs and sweet and sour meatballs to go along with several other decadent dishes, and by the end of the day everyone was exhausted. 

Sunday was wonderful! My family came from all over the place to celebrate my sixteenth birthday with me, and all in all we had a lot of fun. My birthday cake was extravagantly created by my little sister, who had put months of effort into sketching and designing the dessert. My reaction, when I discovered it was entirely musically themed, was priceless. The three layer chocolate cake with both dark and light chocolate ganache was delectable...especially when paired with espresso! 

Taken by Holly 

I'd like to thank everyone that was involved in my birthday-both my family and my friends. 

From surprises, to smiles, treats, and cards that made me cry, you all pitched in to make my 'Birthday Week' something special, and it means a lot to me. It's because of your love and your hard work that I can honestly say I had the most amazing birthday ever! That is...until next year!   

Thank you. 

Snow Day! A Pearl

     Friday was officially my first snow day since I started school and I figured...even though it's not entirely a big deal, that I would write about it for fun...mostly I just want to post a few pictures. 

     I spent the majority of the day inside the house, believe it or not, doing homework, writing and jamming on my guitar and piano until Emmah asked me to join her outside for some fun. I hate cold, but I decided I wanted to take some pictures down at the park as this was the first Canadian snow storm we've had in years. It wasn't a very smart decision, but the outfit I wore outside consisted of jeans, a sweatshirt, crocheted headband, cowl and, since I don't have any snow boots of my own, my sister's zebra rain boots with no socks. In other words, I could have worn a bikini and been warmer. 

     On my first step off the porch I sunk into a giant snowbank, letting out a screech that echoed off of the court. After trudging around the side of the house, Emmah and I continued to trek across the street and down the hill of the park where we were confronted by a chilling wind that froze my cheeks. Emmah, dressed up in appropriate attire, jumped from snow mound to snow mound, hiding behind blanketed evergreens and letting out her usual cries of joy while I froze my fingers off taking pictures of the winter wonderland...I realized then that it was a bad idea to forget my mittens at the house. 

     It took no more then ten minutes before I was frozen half solid, couldn't feel my fingers, and decided that I had to go to the bathroom. Emmah was full of nothing but giggles as I asked her to please come back to the house with me so that I could put proper boots and mitts on. The stupidity of my clothing decisions had both me and my little sister laughing for quite some time, but the best, most hilarious part of the day took place after I changed. Once I was warm and dry again Emmah taught me how to take part in her very own invented activity; sledboarding. 

     I'd seen her do it before, but there had never been very much snow so I never thought it was very much fun. On Friday however, there was more than enough to do it properly and prove me wrong. Sledboarding is Emmah's idea of snowboarding with a twist. She takes her green, plastic sled, props it up on top of a hill, stands on it and then tilts so that she can slide down the mound. Of course, the hills aren't very big, but she has the art of it mastered and can even dance while she does it...while Hollly and I seem to fall almost every single time! Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun and I suggest that you try it sometime! 

     Nothing says family like some quality time snow shovelling, and so to finish off the night, that's exactly what we did. Afterwards, we decided to drive to the movie store, and while out we picked up some pizza for a fun night on the couch. It's short and simple to conclude with this, but all in all it was a  very cool day...literally!

Battling Writer's Block...One Blessing at a Time...Both a Pearl and a Point

     It's another day that I'm sitting directly in front of my computer, staring emptily at a blank post page writing...or at least trying to. For the past week I've been in this situation, a new post started every day, Lord willing I'll finish and publish one of them! I'm a terrible liar, so I'll confess that I have eight, if not more, posts in my drafts box that are waiting for their moment to shine. Whether that time will ever come I have no idea, hopefully it will, but before it does I need to battle this writer's block that's got me at a red light in my creative intersection.

     I came to the conclusion that of the two ways I know how to defeat writer's block, it would be best to take action on one of them. Either A.) Take a break and come back to the post in a week. Or B.) Write something entirely new and simple. My obvious decision, since me and writing are inseparable, was B. I then found myself on the question of "What is the simplest thing to write?" The answer I was searching for was simple as I found it in everything around me.

     Please bear with me as I take a stab at writer's block and attempt to list all of the things I'm thankful for. As it is an endless list, I've tried to make it a relatively normal length for everyone's sake.

1.) Number one on my list is an obvious one, but the amount of thankfulness I have towards and for it can never be stretched enough. I am thankful for my family who, through everything that I say and do will never stop loving and supporting me. All of you make me laugh and smile on a daily basis and can always somehow perk me up when I'm feeling sad. There is never an end to the fun we have, and you also pay for things which saves me money, so I'm thankful for that too!

2.) Secondly I'm thankful for my friends, of which there are quite a few. I can't honestly say how happy I am to have you in my life. From making me laugh, to eating lunch with me at school, and encouraging me that my scissor splits aren't really as bad as I think they are. Even just making my overall miserable day lighter and worth waking up to. Thank you!

3.) I'm sure some people thought I might never say this one, but it's true. I'm thankful for my school in which every day is exciting and incredible. So much so, that I look forward to Mondays so that I can be back with all of the amazing people, learning something new. For teachers who inspire and encourage me, the people that are never elitist, and the SLD that is always there, I can't ever be thankful enough. I'm always learning, always laughing, always growing and always improving someway or another.

4.) I'm thankful for my dance school. The two of you teachers are incredible and inspirational to me. You make me want to pursue dance every time I find it difficult, help me every time I ask and always are willing to eat my cookies...even though there's a chance they might taste terrible.You stuff each class full of both an intense workout and smiles so that we're not afraid to try and risk falling on our faces...because it has happened. ;) 

5.)  For number five and my last one, I'd like to thank God. When I look at everything that precedes this, I realize that there is no way, no how that any of this could have even been possible without you behind me to keep pushing me forward when I feel like I'm ready to quit. Out of difficult situations you have shown me solutions. Out of first time meetings you have created beautiful friendships. Out of a love for movement you have given me the freedom to express myself and so much more! You have backed me up and given me everything I need and more to survive. Without you, none of this would have been existent, so I believe that the least I can do is acknowledge that. Thank you. For everything you've done and will do, there is no end to my gratefulness.

The Flight of Time...A Point

Six months. 
Twenty-six weeks.
One hundred and eighty-two days.
Four thousand, three hundred and eighty-two hours.
Two hundred, sixty-two thousand, nine hundred and seventy-four minutes.  
fifteen million, seven hundred and sixty-eight thousand seconds. 

     Time is a wonder. So much of it, but so little at the same time. Why do hundreds of trillions of minutes soar past us so quickly? Already today marks the half year time stretch since my last birthday, yet I remember everything as if it was yesterday. Finishing dance class and getting hugs and birthday wishes from everyone before putting on my dress and going for dinner. Six months since I sat at the Italian restaurant and tried to decide over a dish for my dinner. Six months since my little sister surprised me with a copy of The Hunger Games and I was exploding with astonishment and happiness. Six months since I sat on my Aunt's couch and opened what is now my favourite hoodie. It's incredible how long ago it is already.

      I've been going to high school for one month exactly as of tomorrow, but in reality it only feels like two weeks. Already we are eleven months away from summer and only a little less than three months away from Christmas. Why time? Why are you going so fast? Stop for a little while won't you? 

     People have asked me, after reading one of my first blog entries, why it is that I cry on Christmas. It's true, every Christmas Eve for the past few years has brought me to tears. This is the reason. I cry because time has slipped so easily through my fingers, it has gone away forever with no way or hope of ever getting it back. It's slowly, day by day, minute by minute, becoming a little farther out of my grasp and disappearing from my view. I can go through my life smoothly, shallowly and without concern but every once in awhile it hits me like a rock again, how far I am in life and how much I've been missing. 

     It makes me upset and truly, scared to think that each day is all I have. I wish so badly that I could freeze where I am now and live in it forever, where there is no tragedy, heartbreak or hardship. Where all of my relationships are good and everything is perfect. Coming into September was extremely hard for me because I was terrified that I would lose every good thing that had happened over the summer-friendships that had become one hundred percent better than they already were.

     But looking back, I see that all of the worrying was pointless. If anything, the friendships have become even stronger and the good things have grown into positive experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life. Yes, time does fly past us and no amount of wishing or begging can slow it down, this is sad. But the one thing we can do to make it last, is live to the fullest in every single moment. As hard as it is, forgetting tomorrow, putting aside next week and thinking only about the present minute, that's what we should do. No matter what happens today or any other time in the future, take what you're doing right now and rejoice in it because it's a beautiful gift from God, no matter how short it is. 

Florida...A Pearl

     It's been forever, but I'm finally blogging about our vacation to Florida. I think I go through bursts where all the ideas rush to the front of my head and I just want to blog all day long, Then, usually for months after, I write nothing even though exciting stuff is happening all the time!

     To work on keeping things short. I'm going to try and blog about our vacation in 500 words and I'm staying away from point form. Here we go!

     We left Canada on a Saturday morning to drive to Pittsburgh where my brother lives. We would be driving down with him and his wife. Sunday morning, after my brother finished church, we piled into two cars and began our eighteen hour escapade. If you know me well, it probably won't surprise you that all I packed to entertain myself was a notebook, a pen and a novel. The ten hours the first day were beautiful, as we drove through West Virginia and Virginia, I loved the mountains. Around ten o'clock that night we stayed the night in Columbia, South Carolina. The next day we drove the rest of the trip and stopped for roadside peaches just inside Florida. Around six that evening we reached the cottage on Anna Maria Island. What a surprise it was to find trees blown over and streets flooded. We'd caught the tail of Tropical Storm Debby.

     The first few days were spent at the beach across the street, collecting shells. The positive side to the storm was that it washed up all kinds of things. If we weren't too tired, we'd get up at six, before high tide and collect all kinds of stuff, then spend the days at the beach and wash off at the pool later on. After day one, even with sunscreen, we were burnt to crisps. Slowly, the murky water started to go back to it's clear blue, it stopped raining and got hotter. Every day I wore a dress and my hair in a waterfall braid. I called it my beach look. My brother caught two catfish that we ate for dinner, they were delicious. The Friday after we arrived we were joined by my older sister, who flew down for the weekend just so we could have a real family vacation. The first in eight years.


     That was probably the best part of the trip, when the most stuff happened. We went out for dinner a couple times. My brother took us fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and while I was catching little fish-whose names I only remember sounding like Tracker Jacker-Adam caught a baby hammerhead shark. He was actually adorable, although it was creepy that he was swimming just a few feet in front of us. We also saw a manatee twenty feet from shore along with some dolphin's while we watched the sun set on the sand. I found a bunch of baby clams in tide pools and my older siblings swam out to the sandbar. Then we bought a few souvenirs. I love when we're all together because that's when we all laugh the most. 

     My sister went home and we stayed until the following Thursday. July 4th was our last night and we went out to the beach to watch the sunset. After it got dark fireworks were exploding in every direction literally above our heads. We didn't know where to look next. They were exquisite. The next morning we were on our way back home. Finally we pulled into the driveway of my brother's house and that night, collapsed into our beds. The next afternoon we drove back home and unpacked everything. That night I fell asleep really fast. I hadn't slept in my bed in two weeks. Yes, we would miss Florida, but it was good to be home.


Total: 558 words. A little over, but it's worth it.