Destination: Nationals

As most of you know, I love to write.  They are sort of bad, inconsistent, and weird stories, but I love to write.  I have recently been working on a story I call Destination: Nationals, My NCFCA Diary (my thoughts about speech and debate tournaments).  It's more me fuming about my frustrations, rounds, and interactions; it's just a way for me to get my words out.  I never even dreamed about qualifying for Nationals until I was a senior, three years in the future.  I wanted this book to be about perseverance, sticking with competition and finally, some rewards.  Nationals was one of my "what you want to be when you grow up" goals.  It was on my bucket list, one of my life dreams, and something I would always strive for.  Well, ladies and gentleman, I qualified for the NCFCA National Championship yesterday at the Regional tournament.  I still can't believe it.  I was so overwhelmed at the time, I started crying.  I honestly don't remember much about what happened.  I was so thankful.  Thankful for God's grace and the opportunities He has blessed me with, my family and the endless support and love they've given to me, and my speech coach and all of the times she's worked with me.  I am pumped for NATS and can't WAIT to compete!!!

These kids.  So talented, so skilled, so awesome.

My fellow Open Interpers who also qualified for Nationals

My club.  These kids are so talented and it's truly an honor to be an Omaha Knight.  Congratulations to all of you!!!  

Nationals is June 11-17 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Join me in rooting for Region V!!!

LTC and Orchestra Concert pictures

So, as most of you know, every year around Easter our family goes to Kansas City to a convention called Leadership Training for Christ.  We are involved in activities that we have been practicing for a semester and then we perform them at the convention.  Activities are things like song leading, Bible reading, sermon, speech, puppets, choruses, Bible quiz, powerpoint, Bible bowl, sign language, art, drama, ect.  This was also my sister Hannah's last year to participate, as it is for 3-12th graders.  It was a blast!!!

You get a bag with your name on it, including T-shirts, snacks, name tags, and schedules in the bags

Bible Quiz

Small Chorus

Large Chorus

This was my puppet team

Orchestra concert!!! 

(It was SUPER hot this year in that church where we performed.  Like, I was sweating the WHOLE time.  Hopefully next time it will be cooler!!!)

What Have I Been Doing?

Holding Babies

Speech and Debating

Eating Ice Cream sandwiches

Speaking and Debating

Visiting horses

Speech and Debate Tournaments

Enjoying this BEAUTIFUL quilt from one of Grandma's friends

Recovering from Speech and Debate tournaments

And fan-girling about this NEW AWESOME MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Did I mention I have one more Speech and Debate tournament in KC that happens to be two weeks from today?!?!  And LTC will be this weekend, also our orchestra concert!! 😳 #life

Have a great week, y'all!!!!

Hooray for Hobbits

Hey all!!!  This is a post about all things Middle-Earth because today was the best day in the history of Middle-Earth.  Today, my blog is starring Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, or as we lovingly refer to them: Merry and Pippin.

These two.  I can't even!!!

Things you should know about these two hobbits:
Merry is a deep thinker and mischievous soul.  He lives in Buckland which is over the hill and across the water.  I think this is a pretty good/accurate description of Mr. Merry

Merry had the privilege of being in the service of King Theoden, Ruler of Rohan.  Also, he rode to war with the Rohirrim and saved the Lady of Rohan's (Eowyn's) life.  He was faithful to his lord, until the end; a true hobbit.

Pippin adores second breakfasts and is considered a 'carefree' hobbit.  He lives in the shire and doesn't think twice about living anywhere else.  (Again, an okay description of our fun-loving hobbit)

Pippin also had the privilege of being in the service of Lord Denethor, Steward of Gondor.  Taking it all lightheartedly, Pippin defended his master and saved the life of Faramir, Denethor's only heir.  Pippin acted bravely; just like a hobbit.


My favorite thing about these two is they are total opposites, but they're best friends; completely different, but loyal to each other.  That's really what life is all about; learning how to interact with all sorts of different people in all kinds of environments.  Merry and Pippin display this perfectly in their journey with The Fellowship.  They are perfect representations of how we should act in our everyday lives.

Loyal

Courageous

Dependable

Hilarious

Let's end with some of the last words King of Gondor (Aragorn) says regarding our small subjects:
"Though your people have had little fame in the legends of the great, they will now have more renown than any wide realms that are no more."

Hooray for hobbits.

→Check out my friend's posts about this special day:

↪Hanna-Hooray for Hobbits: Frodo Baggins

↪Cerra-Hooray for Hobbits: Samwise Gamgee

↪Savannah-Writing Lessons from The Lord of the Rings

Speak Truth in Your Heart Girls Conference

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Ya'll should have been there!!!  😊

Hannah

Girl, you're beautiful, talented, sweet, and the best big sister anyone could ask for.  Most important, you love God and want to serve Him with your whole life.  Thank you for always putting up with me, watching movies with me, and encouraging me.  I love you!!! 💗

Happy 18th Birthday, Big Sis!!! 

Snippet

As requested:

Beauty from Ashes

I swallowed hard.  He withdrew a couple paces from me and seemed to be getting a bearing on our location.  I took a deep breath, and regained some confidence.  I didn't know whether saying anything would help, but it was worth a try.  "Who are you??"  (Don't get me wrong.  I had many more questions; but I came to the conclusion that if I asked that first, it would lead me to all the others.  Of course, I didn't want to overwhelm him.)  At first, I thought he didn't hear me or he was ignoring me.  Then again, he could be pondering for just the right words.  Or he could be reaching for something...like the pistol concealed behind his dark apparel.  I took another deep breath, but it didn't calm my nerves, as I had hoped.  Finally he whirled around, and I almost screamed from the sudden movement.  I could see his eyes now: cold, menacing, vivid, blue eyes.  Like the color of the summer sky; Bilbo's sword, Sting; and Neptune's blue storm.  He was looking at me as if he could see my life, thoughts, and emotions.  I tried to stay calm, but I ended up feeling nervous and weak.  I don't know how long he stared at me, until I heard him whisper, "Death."

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