Posted by Posted in adventures, Family, Fun Stuff, holidays, journal entries, me, memorys, Nature and the Outdoors

Journal Entries- My Birthday!

Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 16 years old. I sometimes can’t believe I am that old but I like the sound of both 15 and 16 so I am still happy. 🙂

I had a really fun time yesterday so I will reveal what I did in this journal entry blog post.

When I woke up I had my devotions like usual. I had been reading in Isaiah but I took a break from that and read Phillipians because that is one of my favorite books of the Bible and you always do your favorite things on your birthday, right?

We had breakfast together (my dad and Jace took off work) and looked at my baby book. I always love looking at that. It is fun to see our family when I was born, my little brother Jace (almost two at the time of my birth) is SO cute! I opened gifts and then we all got ready and dressed for the day.

We headed out on the road to Stone Mountain about 9:30 a.m. We arrived there at about 10:45 a.m. I like to go hiking on my birthday because it is something I love to do but we don’t get to do a lot. We had never been to Stone Mountin before so we were all looking forward to it.

I decided we should do the Stone Mountain Loop Trail. It was 4.5 miles but we probably hiked about 5 miles in all because you had to hike .3 miles to get to the trailhead.

Stone Mountain Summit

Stone Mountain Summit

It was very pretty. Not too long before we started there was this HUGE stone slab that we stopped at and just hung out and explored and ate lunch at. It was cool. We hiked up some more (up and up and up) until we reached the Stone Mountain Summit. It was 2,305 altitude! It was sooo high up!

The view from Stone Mountain summit

The view from Stone Mountain summit

We saw lots of Hawks (maybe 100?) circling in the air right about our height. It was cool that we were the same height as the birds. Also the mountains around us were about equal with us. We were high up. After experiencing that awe inspiring work of God we continued.

This next leg of the journey was through the forest so it got cool and damp in there. We went down lots of steps and we were all very glad that we were not going up the steps! It was about 1.5 miles between each attraction. We stopped at a “comfort station” (a wet bench) and had granola bars and apples. Then we got to the Hutchinson Homestead. It was pretty cool. There was an old barn, cabin, corn crib, outhouse, garden, smokehouse and more. You know me… I love the pioneer/frontier times!

Hutchinson Homestead

Hutchinson Homestead

After that the trail went through a field and then into the forest again. There were a lot of gurgling brooks on the side of the trail and we soon came to the source! The Stone Mountain Waterfall! It was a huge slab of stone with sheets of water just careening down it! William, Celia and I went to the bottom of it and watched it for a bit. The trail then went up the waterfall so there were lots of stairs. Lots and lots and lots.

Stone Mountain waterfall

Stone Mountain waterfall

There wasn’t too much more. After the waterfall there was only less than half a mile to go. We went back to the car and headed back to Statesville where we stopped for dinner at Crackerbarrel. It was a really good time as a family. Very precious.

We went to a friends house for dessert. We played Risk and had ice cream sundaes and brownies. Then we came home and since we were all very tired went to bed soon after.

I stayed up and looked at my baby book one last time and then I went to bed. I had a great day! Thanks to all who made it special! I look forward to see what God will do in me this next year!

-Priscilla Joy

Posted by Posted in adventures, Family, journal entries

Journal Entries- Road Trip to Texas

Before I start telling you what we did I will tell you about what we went to Texas for.

Basically, my big brother Jace has been doing a program called College Plus! since he was 14. In those three years he developed a relationship with his coach, took amazing courses like Comparitive Worldviews, Signature Leadership 1 and 2 and study skills, and tested out of college with CLEP tests. He has gotten involved with CP community, become a CP ambassador and made great friends.

This last week was the student conference called CPE3 in a town near San Antonio. There was a graduation for all students who will/have graduated in 2015. My brother finished his college the week before he left and though he still has to apply for graduation he is done with all his college work! Jace has a BA in History now. He is 17. Yeah. (!!!!!) 🙂

Our family wouldn’t miss his graduation for the world so we decided to take a crazy trip to Texas and support him in this huge milestone. Below I have my journal entries for all of the days of our trip so read below and see what our trip was like!

Day 1- Mooresville, NC
Today was a day of packing up, our Grandpa came down from Ashevelle to hitch a ride with us. We got our van inspected, packed food, clothing, books and car activities.

image

All my books. 🙂 From top to bottom:
The Bible, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, my journal, Kingdom’s Reign by Chuck Black, Beautiful Girlhood by Karen Andreola, The Light and Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel, William Penn by Janet and Geoff Benge, Beorn the Proud by Madeline Polland, Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien, William Penn (Landmark), Math-U-See Algebra 1 Test booklet, Exploring Creation with Biology by Dr. Jay Wile, my knitting and binoculars. Yeah its a lot.

We had a good trip but it was mostly driving so not much to tell. 🙂 That night was a little uncomfortable but I got a good few hours of sleep.

Day 2- somewhere in Louisiana
Early today, we drove into Texas, stopped at a rest stop, ate muffins, etc. We made very good time and made it to San Antonio, TX around 8:30 am. Everyone trooped out and we headed to the Alamo. The Alamo! What beautiful, brave history there. We bought postcards and really enjoyed that time.

Then we headed to the river walk. It was very pretty. We stopped and had some nacho chips which were really good. There was a guy filming a movie so we walked in the background and made goofy faces. 🙂 There were lots of pigeons, ducks and sparrows.

We checked into our hotel, did some swimming and went out to this authentic Texas burger place with some friends. Then we watched some TV (a rare experience) and crashed.

Day 3- San Antonio, TX
We woke up and had Texas shaped waffles for breakfast. We checked out of the hotel and met the same friends for a short hike at Comanche Lookout. There was a historic watchtower and a quarry for the kids to play in. We picnicked with them at a park and then hung out at the library before grabbing dinner at Chick-fil-A and getting ready for the graduation.

We found the resort and went in. Everyone was so nice. I got to meet Dewey Novotny, my Navigate teacher. It was a really special evening with worship a message from Mr. Novotny, the turning of the tassels and an ice cream social afterward. Lots of pictures were taken and we got to meet Eddy again.

Me and my college graduate brother!

Me and my college graduate brother!

After that, we headed home and there is not much to say because it was just sleeping, driving and reading.

Day 4- somewhere on the way home, Louisiana? Alambama?
More driving, sleeping and reading.

Day 5- Charlotte, NC
After picking up Jace from the airport we headed to Asheville, NC and spent the day resting and recovering at my grandparent’s house. My sister and I went shopping with my grandma but other than that we just hung out. We headed home that night and got to sleep in our own beds! Aaaah.

Well, that is the short journal entrie. If I see you in person I can tell you more but now I have to go.

Priscilla

Posted by Posted in adventures, gospel and outreach, Home, journal entries, Living for God, memorys, Mexico, missions, Rancho3M

Journal Entries- Mission Trip to Mexico- Day 8

So here is my last installment of journal entries from Mexico. Hope you enjoy!

Our last day there we had a prolonged devotion at breakast and we sang “10,000 Reasons” as a group.

After our breakfast, we packed up the vans and cleaned the dorms and kitchen.

Some of us ran to the Mexican convenience store and got Mexican coke and authentic Mexican candy. It was spicy, sweet, tangy and sour all in one. How does that happen?

Next, the kids got up and we spent the rest of the morning hanging out with them. I played some last soccer with Chuy, Manuel and Aline.

Soon, the call came to pack up in the vans and then well there was lots of hugs and more hugs and even more hugs and goodbyes. Goodbyes are so hard.

The rest is history, I guess. Drive out of the Ranch trying not to cry. Go to the airport. Unpack the vans and say goodbye to the team you worked alongside all week and split up to get to our flights.

We arrived at our gate, and took a flight to Dallas TX and then after a layover we flew to Charlotte, NC. I am not a city girl, but I must say it was pretty to see all the ligts of Charlotte, since we landed at night.

I said goodbye to the team I had flown with (yeah, this was a day of goodbyes) and went down the escalator to see my family.

I saw William and Dad first, they were at the bottom of the esalator and then farther back there was Mom, Celia, Jace and surprise! my best friend Abigail!

And now there were hello and welcome back hugs for once.

We dropped Abigail back off at her house and went home. To bed.

It was an amazing experience and I can’t wait to do it again! (hopefully)

your one and only,
Priscilla

Posted by Posted in adventures, gospel and outreach, journal entries, Living for God, memorys, Mexico, missions, Rancho3M

Journal Entries- Mission Trip to Mexico- Day 7

The week is coming to end. It is sad for some, exciting for some but the whole team is tired. But today is not a day of rest, it is finishing project day. There is a shed to finish, curtains to make, and trees to plant. We did not stain today but instead used the time to help finish projects.

At first, I helped with the curtain crew, doing the dreaded task of turning the sewing from inside out to right side out. After that, there wasn’t much more I could do so I moved to helping the tree planting team. I helped with that most of the day.

Planting trees in Mexico is not just sticking the tree in the ground. You have to mix up a special recipe of dirt which includes manure, ash and straw. Then you have to put equal amounts of the dirt mixture and water in the holes before putting the tree in. Once the tree is in, you fill in the hole with water and the dirt mixture. Then you build a type of wall around it with dirt and then you flood the inside. Then you rake around the wall to make it look nice. 🙂

We planted pistachio trees and I hope to see them growing strong when I go next year. 🙂

We took a break from planting for a quick lunch and then went straight back to work. We planted around 50 trees that day.

I had to leave mid afternoon to help with games. We did the same games as on Thursday and Daniel translated for us again.

After games, I planted trees again until dinner. After dinner, we served ice cream to the kids and gave them paracord bracelets that our team had made in our spare time.

Then our team took a hike to the “cross”, which is basically a cross erected onto a mountain near the Ranch. You can hike up to it and watch the sunrise or sunset. We stayed up for the sunset. The older kids came with us and we had a blast.

When we came back, the teens from our team and the Ranch played hide and seek in the dark.

After a while, we went inside and got into bed.

It was a long hard day of work but we had a LOT of fun! Serving the Lord is the best! 🙂

I can’t believe that tomorrow we leave. 🙁 Lots of the kids don’t want me to go. One of my little friends said “No, you are staying with me” and another kid wanted to have me pack him in my backpack. Sniff…sniff, I miss them.

your one and only,
Priscilla

Posted by Posted in adventures, gospel and outreach, journal entries, Living for God, memorys, Mexico, missions, Rancho3M

Journal Entries- Mission Trip to Mexico- Day 6

Another beautiful sunrise and devotion filled early morning. After breakfast, we got to work.

So today, Lauren and I were the only one who were staining. We both got a lot done though. This would be our last day of helping with that as you will find out tomorrow. But that is okay because other teams throughout the summer would be able to finish the project. Lauren had lunch duty so I cleaned up everything before heading in for lunch.

That afternoon, after siesta, I went and set up for games with Mikayla. Today we played a ladder/number race game and a game called Steal the Bacon. Daniel, missionary kid at Rancho3M translated today.

We stopped work and games a little early today so we could get ready for the staff dinner. We put on “Sunday clothes” (skirts and nicer shirts) and hung out with the kids until dinner was ready. I got one of the older girls to braid my hair. They LOVE doing hair! It was really pretty.

Before the staff dinner, I tried to call my family, but it was pretty stormy and the connection wasn’t the best so I couldn’t talk for long.

At the staff dinner, we had an authentic Mexican meal, including chili reino, Mexican rice, mole (I think that was what it was called), enchiladas, and peach cobbler for desert (peach cobbler provided by the Americans 🙂 ). It was really good. After dinner, Pancho and Valeria shared their testimonies. SO touching. There were several generations of Rancho3M staff there, which was pretty cool to see.

After that, we went back to our dorms, showered and went to bed. That night I knew, that I would miss Rancho3M terribly. I do.

Well, stay updated to catch the last two days of my trip and a sneak peek of what a school day looks like for us. Since we have started school, you should see regular posts, so stay tuned for more!

Your one and only,
Priscilla