Sisters.... :)

Laughing... with you :P

Hope you are all enjoying your week!

Emma

First Debate Tournament!!!

The first debate tournament of the debate season was last Saturday (November 19th) and was a practice tourney. Practice tournaments are one of the great blessings bestowed upon debaters and speech-ers alike by NCFCA. They provided a low-tension environment in which you can debut your case or speech and see how it floats. I competed in one speech event (Original Interpretation- a speech category that allows you to write your own story and present it) and Team Policy debate. 

My speech, which was on my dad's childhood, was the only one in the category. Meaning that I was competing against... myself. And guess what?? I WON!!!!!! :P Just kidding. Since I was the only one competing in that event, they didn't rank me, but I did get a number of very helpful comments on my ballots. Presenting my speech has become a lot more fun than it was at the beginning of the season, when I hardly knew my script, because now I know it really well and (unless I have a mind blank) I can work more with my actions and capturing the audience with the presentation itself instead of simply focusing on remember what on earth I was supposed to say. Of course, it still needs a lot of work but it certainly is coming along. 

We did fairly well in debate. My partner and I won our Affirmative round, but ended the tournament by coming to the conclusion that our Negative... needs work :) Out the three rounds that day, we only won our Affirmative, which could be disappointing but "Chin up, and keep moving", right? :)

My sister was able to take some pictures, which you can see on her blog (the link is on the side bar "An Armful of Roses") but since she was judging most of the time, there aren't a whole lot.... But you can see pictures of my debate partner and several others whom I classify as my "debate homies"... I'm kidding. I don't really classify anyone as that, but if I did, that's what the lovely people in those pictures would be called. 

Anyway... there is not a whole lot to ramble on about at the moment, so I hope you all are enjoying your fall/winter (although here, it's almost too warm to warrant either of those titles), and have a wonderful week!

Emma

Drivers Ed = DONE!!!!!

Last Thursday was my last day of Drivers Education! We took our 200 question final and then were home free! I came out with a respectable grade and a new perspective of the High school. The enormous brick structure that has hitherto simply been a landmark for me ("you mean the ice cream place by the High school?) now has memories and faces attached to it. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be done and out, but at least now I can associate reminiscences of 'the days of Drivers Ed' and the people who shared that... well... unique experience with me :) After Mom took me to go get my grade on Friday afternoon (They didn't give it to us on Thursday after class, so we had to go back on Friday to pick up our grade at the school office), she took me driving in the empty parking lot at our local baseball stadium. I have driven the van that we affectionately refer to as "The Tank"(the name says a lot about it's smooth ride and how responsive the controls are :), but I'd never driven the new-ish van that we call "The Mommy-mobile". All the controls on it are quite a bit more responsive than "The Tank" :) I have to say that my Mother must have nerves of steel. After I had made a turn, i was really concerned that the steering wheel was upside down. I tried to correct that fact, but then "10-2" became "8-4", and I ended up on a median. And in the midst of trying to figure out the brake I about gave both of us whip-lash. But I rarely had to touch the gas; a fact that, I think, made both of us happy :) I came away from it with sweaty palms, cramps in my legs from being too tense and the prediction that I will like driving, but for now I'll just keep observing... at least for a little bit :)

I know I've said several times already that fall is here, but those were just false alarms... now it's really here! The leaves are changing on so many of the trees and it's cold enough (at least in the mornings) for sweaters and socks. Fall is definitely my favorite of the four seasons. Not that I don't like the others seasons, but I like fall in a different way. I guess before I try to explain why that is, I should think a little more about it :) Ever done that before? Where you start in on an attempt to explain something and end up finding yourself talking about something radically different from where you started? I do that too often. I get caught up in my pocket full of fifty-cent words and forget that the words in between that are supposed to be connecting,  aren't... connecting. Or even worse are the times when I'm going through the list of adverbs and adjectives that I love to use and scattering them in and around and normal everyday conversation, but when I glance at the face of my victim, I see a look of vacancy in their eyes that can only mean, "You've lost me". While part of me wants to be proud of the fact that I'm capable of losing someone by using an impressive list of words, the other part of  me is frustrated with myself that I tend to talk in a manner that is to some extent, incoherent to those who are not inside my head observing my thought process... which would be most people (if they are inside my head,  I think I should be concerned). Anyway, that is something I need to work on; slowing down and realizing that not everybody follows the rabbit trails inside my head.

I hope that you are all enjoying this wonderful fall season!

Emma

Drivers Ed!!!

Hello Everybody!

I had my first day of Drivers Ed today. A good friend of mine is taking it with me, which makes it not as daunting as it might other wise be. My Sister dropped me off at the local high school (I couldn't have been more relieved when I realized she was going to walk in with me and find out where I was supposed to be!). There are about 30 kids in the class, although chances are high there will be a lot less by the end of the class. The teacher stated right after the role call that he was going to try to get the class as small as possible and that he had been told to kick out as many kids as he could. I've been told that home schoolers don't tend to get kicked out of class (although I know some people who have managed to break that record) but all the same... it makes you a little nervous :) I met a really sweet home school girl before class while we were waiting in the office for someone to show us the class room. Both she and her mom were really delightful and I am looking forward to getting to know her more over the course of the class.

Anyway... that's my little update on life.

Someone I know was asking me why I hardly ever posted on here... the answer is that my life isn't nearly interesting enough to post more frequently :) Actually, that's not entirely true. I suppose that if I wanted to, I could find something of interest in my life to inform you of... if I wanted to... :) Maybe I should try to post more often...

Emma

New Project

Hello!

A couple of weeks ago, my Mom, CM and I were helping a family from our old church who were hosting a yard sale. As we were hauling boxes down from their attic, I noticed an old trunk sitting in the middle of the furniture that was for sale on the front lawn. Because I'm my fathers daughter, antiques and trunks are two of my favorite things. And when it looks like I've found those two things put together in one glorious conglomeration and fabulousness, I get pretty stoked. Mrs G---- wouldn't hear of me buying it though, and insisted on giving it to me.

When CM and I were carrying it to the car, we noticed this on the lid:

Since, unfortunately, you can't read it I'll just tell you what it says:

Estate of James S. Topham

Washington D.C.

November 15 1913

Specifications No. 1198

Washington D.C.

the top of the trunk

the front of the trunk

the handles here are broken.... not sure how to fix that, but "where there's a will there's a way"... most of the time :)

A different angle of the front :)

the tray here is removable

I couldn't really make out what this said...

Anyway... I'm super excited about this. We have several antique trunks upstairs that we use for storage, but I've never really had one that was mine. I'm wanting to make this looks extra-nice, and when it does, you guys should see pictures up here.

Hope you all are enjoying the remains of this lovely summer!

God Bless!

Emma

I'm Back!!!!!

I'm Back!!!!!!!!

Worldview Academy's phrase motto is that "This will be the best week of your life". I can honestly say that it definitely has been the best week of my life. The Speakers and their topics really stretched me in my walk with the Lord and how I looked at my worldview.

On Wednesday, we went out into the bus station in down town WS, and, armed with a sheet of "guideline questions" we went evangelizing. While I've certainly talked to unbelievers before, I'd never really talked to any one as lost as the people we approached in that hour at the buss stop. The goal of the conversation was supposed to be to open the persons eyes to the fact that, as sinners and imperfect humans, it is impossible to enter into an eternal life with God without the grace of Christ. But my heart really broke as I began to realize that the people we were talking to had no idea of the great sin within their heart, or maybe they did but were afraid to admit it.

One of the focuses of camp was to teach the principles of Christlike leadership:

1) Meekness-Power under control.

2) Integrity- The quality of being whole or undivided

3) Vision- Seeing God's presence, power and plan despite obstacles

4) Attitude- Responding like Christ

One of the pillars that struck me was the first one, meekness. What struck me was that when meekness practiced, it does not necessarily mean the forfeit leadership, or walking away from responsibility, it is simply keeping power under control, so that the power does not become overbearing or domineering.

I do hope to go back next year and glean more from this valuable experience.

It is nice to be home though. Although it is a weird change going from a fast paced lecture packed, and action packed week, to the slower paced summer vacation life of home.

If you all could pray that I would stick with what I've learned and that I wouldn't lose sight of the principles that were taught.

I would really encourage you all to at least look into Worldview as an option for your summer next year. It is an experience that will most likely change your life and and week that you'll never forget. I know that sounds like a sales gimmick, but as I'm not affiliated with WVA, I think I can do that :)

Hope you all are having a wonderful mid-summer week!

Emma

First Day of Summer

Today was the first day of summer. I has just reach a (rather warm for here) 94 degrees.

That's the hottest it's been all year so far. We had some wonderful rain here for a couple of days in row that cooled things off considerably, but the rain has stopped and there is not even a single wispy cloud in the bright blue sky.

My brothers left on Sunday to go work at a camp own in Georgia for a week. Yesterday, Liam texted mom to let her know that he thought he'd broken his foot and wanted to know how he could tell if it was indeed broken or just really badly sprained. Dad called down and was able to tell, from what Liam told him of the incident and about what his foot was looking like at the moment, that it was just a bad sprain. When we heard last, he was hopping around camp on crutches. If y'all could be praying that it would heal quickly and wouldn't impede him too much for too long.

Both of my brothers will be back before the week's out, and Flynn will head back down next Sunday or Monday, but Liam will be staying. At least we'll have one brother back! :)

18 days till I leave for WVA!!!!!!!!

So excited about it!!!!!!! Worked all winter and spring to raise the money and a few weeks ago paid in full with the satisfaction of knowing that every sent of the tuition was my own money. It so interesting how that simple knowledge can be so satisfying, isn't it?

Have a great first day of summer!
Emma