I'm Old!

Yesterday I was asked two college related questions by different people. The 1st question was, "Are you going to be staying in the dorm, or are you going to have an apartment?" My answer was, "I'm still in high school. I live with my parents."

The 2nd question was, "Are you going away to college?" The 2nd question was fine with me, because I had just registered to vote and they needed to know where I'd be during the election. Yes, I registered to vote! I thought that old people vote, not young people like myself!

Monday I started my last year of high school!!!! December 19th is the day I want to finish up all my subjects.

A Tribute to my Family-by Ki

Since my family is gone, I thought I'd write about my wonderful family.

Benjamin Edward- It's been 10 years this week since we found out you had died, your birth, planning the funeral, and the visitation. The summer of 1998 was the brief fun time we had you. I think you tired your poor mom out. Your sisters enjoyed picking out maternity clothes for Mommy. During the 1996 Olympics, Mommy picked out the name she would give her son, if she ever had one. You were given the simplified version of Benjamin Edward Nathan Joseph Allan Matthew Isaac.
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, Blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:29b

Je- You are my best friend on earth. I've never known life without knowing you. I don't remember ever fighting like most siblings do; that's probably due to Mommy's prayers that we would get along. When you're gone I miss you, and when you come home there is joy. Life is much more fun when you are with me.

Mommy-The lady who is so much like me. You have taken care of me for almost 18 years. For years you have driven me to my different activities, now I get to drive you around a little bit. You have encouraged me, sympathized with me, challenged me, and have been my friend for many years.

Daddy-The one who delivered me. You have faithfully worked at your job and been involved in many church activities. Once you took me to a cemetery, just for fun (I love cemeteries). You are the one who bought me my vanity. Also, you have made chocolate for our ice cream for years. Every night you read to us. Thank you!

This Week

Since I failed to post last week, please see below for that post. But now for this week's happenings.



About every evening this week we have been watching the Olympics on our black-and-white TV, which we can receive all sorts of channels on. This week has been pretty normal for me- a bit of school, working around the house, and playing piano. Thursday the ladies went shopping in the afternoon. For supper we had pizza from Papa Murphy's. Yesterday, my cold which started Thursday, hit me hard and I laid around and didn't do much. Also yesterday, Mommy and Je stained our deck, and I was able to help them a little bit. Today everyone except me, went to the family reunion on my mom's side. I rested, watched Olympics, cleaned the bathrooms, did some laundry, etc.

A Week without Parents-August 3rd to 8th

Sunday morning, August 3rd Daddy and Mommy left for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Je and I went to church.

On Monday we loafed around, because we had a late Sunday night. Basically we did household tasks and trimmed the shrubs at our house.

Tuesday was a big day for me. I went to piano lessons, and then went grocery shopping for the first time all by myself. Tuesday afternoon Je and I cleaned the house and finished watching a movie we had started Sunday. That evening we went out for ice cream, walked together, and played Dutch Blitz until 10:30 at night. Wednesday, we made a fancy torte together. In the early morning we mixed the ingredients and cooked the torte.

Unfortunately, I had a tough time getting it to come out of the pans. But we put the filling and frosting on, and the torte looked better. Wednesday afternoon we watched some of the video No Time for Sergeants and I mowed the lawn. In the evening we went out to eat at Taco Bell and Culver's. I spent just over a dollar for supper and dessert (the ice cream at Culver's was free). Our parents have taught us to be frugal.

Thursday, we finished cleaning the house and finished No Time for Sergeants. Then in the evening we had sisters over for dinner, a sleepover and watching videos. We had a good time together. Friday night was spent adjusting to having parents again.

Coast Guard City USA - Grand Haven, MI

For the past week, Grand Haven has been celebrating their annual week of honoring the Coast Guard. This year as a family we were able to make it out to tour three Coast Guard ships- the Mackinaw, the Biscayne Bay, and the Samuel Risley which is a Canadian Coast Guard ship. Also the ladies went to a book sale at the craft show. Then today we all went to the Grand Parade, which truly is grand. We sat with some friends and had a great time. Check out the blog of some of the youngsters we sat with. We forgot our camera, so we don't have any pictures. But here's a couple of picture from last year: The same band was at the parade this year, and they're my favorite part of the entire parade.

Although it has nothing to do with Coast Guard, Wednesday we went blueberry picking and picked 3 bucket fulls.

I guess I failed to publish this last week. Sorry.-Ka

What a Week!

Last week Daddy and Mommy celebrated their 25th Anniversary early, by attending a Friends of Israel Prophecy Conference in Winona Lake, Indiana. Both of them enjoyed the sessions and it seems like they learned a lot and made some friends while they were there. In fact, tonight Mommy even wrote to a friend she made from Maryland. They had a very nice hotel room with a fireplace, refrigerator, whirlpool, and stove top. According to them they couldn't ask for a better hotel room, it was so nice. While our parents were gone, Je and I stayed home and had a great time together. Monday, we went out to eat at Pizza Hut together and then went grocery shopping. Tuesday, I played the piano downtown, then we got ice cream cones and walked downtown for 1/2 hour. After that I had piano lessons, and then we came home and cleaned the house. Wednesday, we mopped the linoleum and while it dried we took a nice walk along our local beach. Je also worked in the morning and evening at her job. When she worked I (normally) watched teaching videos for my class in Courtship. Wednesday night I went to church and then went to the grocery store for the 1st time all by myself! Thursday, we spent all day-from opening to closing- at Michigan Adventure with our friends the A. Family. Mostly we went on rides with the A. girls and left their parents to do their own thing. After Michigan Adventure we brought Taco Bell back to the A's oldest girl's house, and then we 4 girls watched the Andy Griffith Show and a silent movie. Eventually we went to bed. In the morning, we watched The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. About 11 o'clock Je and I came back home. Daddy and Mommy arrived home about 5 o'clock on Friday.

We planned my senior trip today. I wanted the whole family to come along with me. The place is kinda a dream come true for me.

Interviews and Piano playing.

The summer continues to be busy at our house. Je had a job interview last Friday, and she had a second interview at the same place yesterday. Monday she'll find out whether she gets the job or not. Je worked about 33 hours at the library this week. So we haven't seen her much at all. Yesterday she left before 8 because she had her interview before work and came home after 6. Next week Je plans to be home more. We all miss her terribly while she is gone.

For me this week has been filled with piano playing. Sunday, I played for the church service, and then Tuesday I had piano lessons. Wednesday, was my weekly 1/2 hour playing downtown, and then Thursday my teacher had a piano recital where I played a duet with a friend and The Chrysanthemum by Scott Joplin. I enjoyed the piano recital a lot and I was happy with how my piano pieces turned out. The last time I had a piano recital I played out of Alfred Level 3, which means it was a really long time ago. We forgot our camera, so sadly we don't have any pictures. I haven't worked on school this week, because I've been busy working on reading for the summer reading contest at our local library. But I finished reading for it, so now I plan to settle down and do lots of school, especially next week.

Yesterday I finished making a top to go with a skirt I recently made, and Wednesday, we went shopping and I bought material to make a jumper. Every Friday we try to sew if possible. Here is a picture of the skirt and shirt I made: I liked the picture without my head best.