the girl in June

the girl singing on a three-day youth choir/orchestra trip with church. . . 

the girl welcoming berry season. . .

the girl basking in sunlight and vivid green. . .

the girl observing puppies who were fascinated by rain. . . 

the girl experiencing the first Helen Keller ballet dress rehearsal. . . 

the girl attempting to cross-train. . .

the girl admiring weeds. . . 

the girl celebrating Father's Day and a dad who would always hold her hand. . .  

the girl attending a King Tut exhibit and managing to only take pictures of a non-ancient, yet rather enchanting post office sign. . .

the girl studying ACT prep books and finding dramatic music. . .

(the girl with a back-up calculator taking the ACT a third and final time. . . )

the girl driving away feeling accomplished and worn out. . .

The girl babysitting. . . 

the girl breaking in new shoes. . .

the girl camping with her delightful dance friends. . .

the girl sipping Izzes with her family. . . 

the girl attending a baseball game and coming away with a free (XL) t-shirt. . .

the girl feeling cultured one afternoon while eating crepes at a lovely cafe and adventuring through a labyrinth at the art museum. . .

the girl enjoying June. 

Ready? :: February

Hello! I'm so happy to be dipping my toes back into blogging waters. I've found myself on an accidental blog hiatus. This past weekend, however, I went through pictures and am now ready to share a bit of what has been occupying my time. In the interest of not writing the longest post ever, I've divided the three months into three posts. Logical, right? :) Here's a look at my February. . . 

The above picture shows a couple of my history textbooks along with the focus of my extra time: ACT prep. I took that rather momentous test toward the beginning of the month, right after attending. . . 

Storling Dance Theater's production of Underground. I had also enjoyed seeing it a couple of years ago, yet found plenty to appreciate a second time. Besides, not only were the story and choreography there to be admired, but also the added pleasure of seeing a dear graduate from my homeschool ballet group dance one of the lead roles. Such fun going as a group to see her perform! 

Back at our dance studio normal dance classes still took place, with choreography for our production of Helen Keller picking up speed. I even found a quiet moment in an empty room to take this slightly impressionistic picture. Trying to achieve balance. . . 

Even when occasions like Valentine's Day come around the bend and knock my schedule around a bit. Speaking of knocking, I loved seeing this sweet wreath while I was knocking the front door of some friends...

Friends, in fact, for whom I get to babysit. I also happen to love this little girl and her attempts to play with the kitty.  

Another fun babysitting opportunity popped up for Middle Sister and me in the form of providing childcare at a local church. We attended a blur of color and activity in the nursery while parents attended a brief seminar in the sanctuary. 

I did some Bible studying myself at my church youth group's Disciple Now weekend. It was a time of great teaching and community, including Micah 6:8, mint tea, and hiding in a closet we nicknamed "Narnia" during Underground Church. 

The next weekend included a different delightful event, a dear friend's 16th birthday party. Hooray for my first time playing laser tag and for an incredibly fun array of socks!

With it still being winter, we definitely needed to be wearing socks. The temperatures stayed low and the ground maintained a blanket of white. 

With us still having puppies, instrument practices often gained audiences.  

 And homework times included cuddly (sometimes calm, frequently rather crazy:) company too. 

Thus transpired February. Next up, March...

What happens?

When your PopPop has MS

and takes a tumble

through the hospital 

and into a rehab center? 

When your Gramma has Dementia

and will stay with you 

for 2-4 weeks 

while he recovers? 

When it's week four of school 

and you have 

six-month-old puppies 

in ninety-degree heat? 

Walk the pups around the block 

Wonder why the leaves are already changing colors

Make tea, trying all three chai kinds in the drawer

Read on the patio swing in the shade, tea in hand and pups at play

Visit PopPop

Write 

Breathe thanks that solving the equation isn't up to you.

getting older, growing up

Lately, I've been seeing a theme of getting older and growing up. . .

• The puppies are over 20 weeks old. They have officially been with us more than half their lives.

• I've been driving. To Bible study. To church youth events. To dance. It's handy, but still gives me a slightly strange feeling.  

• I've begun my junior year of high school. I'm doing pre-calculus, world history and literature, chemistry, and do I really just have two years left of high school?! 

• I finished reading The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr. It is about a girl who spends the book trying to recognize herself as the protagonist of her story. Interesting to see her growth. 

• I am currently reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. One of it's main characters is a French girl, Paloma, who doesn't see any reason to become an adult. 

I've been thinking about the relationship between getting older and growing up. They go hand in hand, but I don't think they are synonymous. I think getting older occurs because of the physical consequences of time, where as growing up occurs through the mental maturity resulting in wisdom.

If those definitions are valid, I agree with the little French girl. There is no point in becoming an adult if it means simply getting older.

I'll happily get older, however, if I also grow up.


(hoping I don't lose any wisdom when all four of my wisdom teeth are removed this weekend. . . :) 

ACTing

I have been caught by a cold,
That laid siege to my head.
I combatted it with liquid and sleep,
But it wouldn't be held back.

I was thankful not to have
A ballet rehearsal scheduled yesterday.
However, something I had anticipated
Was on the calendar for this morning.  

Today was my ACT test date; 
A chance to learn,
An occasion to gain experience,
A time to be self-possessed.

As it doesn't require spinning,
Or running, or singing,
I awoke early this morning
To gear up for the test.

I had been studying this past week
In an official prep book.
I had learned the format and rules,
What could and couldn't be brought.

I had permitted pencils, a calculator,

I.D., and granola bar ready. 

I also grabbed tissues and a water bottle, 

Hoping they too would be allowed.

My dad made breakfast for me, 

Then drove me to the high school. 

We walked through the west doors,

And I checked in at the proper room. 

Taking a seat at my assigned desk,
I saw how things really worked.
Much more was allowed in the test room
Than my book had outlined.

Still, my dad had to be outside the door.
I wanted to stay with him as long as possible,
Though all the other kids came alone.
Some days I feel quite old, just not today.

I fingered the tissues in my pocket,
Remembered the Dad with me always.
I read the vibrant posters on the walls,
Trying to encourage learning.

I took the ACT test.
I loved the learning.
I gained knowledge for next time.
I tried to act self-possessed.

After all, the way you act
Is the way you become,
Since on the stage of life,
heart and costume will eventually be one.

Blessed acting to you~ Megan

Picturing September

Here's what I've been up to. . . .

 school work 

 accomplishing my first experiment using a microscope

enjoying a wonderful weekend with my cousins, including a walk on the trail behind their house

discovering a spectacular set of stairs on that same trail

learning that our ballet performance next summer will be based on the book The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (image via Amazon)

painting

admiring Camille's dry erase board art (I'm not sure where the robot and aliens came from. . . usually pink with princesses is the theme of choice) 

admiring sunflowers on the side of the road. . . I decided a blurry picture of them was better than none

taking a guitar class with my dad

 reading a lot of books for literature

practicing for a piano competition

And that translates into. . . .

These five weeks have managed to be very full! I'm hoping blogging will do some of the filling this month! ~Megan