The Birds and the BEES

Yesterday, our family went to a beekeepers house. We went with our cousins that live across the field. The man's name was Skip, and he has been keeping bees since he was a little boy, maybe 6 yrs. old (his Dad kept bees). He reminded me of David Kline (I mentioned him in one of my earlier posts.) We started of by talking about what we knew about bees, which is a big subject for him. He told us that last year he didn't get any honey because a disease swept through the hives. He was down to 4 hives last year and now because of swarming he has 12! Swarming is when the Queen Bee starts to slow down in her egg laying that half of the swarm leave the nest. They stay on a tree limb for 1 hr.- 3 or 4 days until they find a place to make a hive. He catches them and then he has another hive. Another cool thing that he told us that when the bees flap their wings with a little bit of water on them they make an air conditioner and in the winter they use their body heat, so that the hive stays about 92 degrees all year round. If your ever lookin to start bees thistles make the best honey! When we looked in the bee hives we got to see a started honey combs. Before we were able to look in the hives he got a smoker going, because the smoke helps to calm the bees. When he pulled out the file we could start to see where the foundation of the file but you could see their comb building up too. Then we got to see a comb that was filled with honey and capped. But if the queen bee has been busy then you can see larva and eggs. and sometime they have a cap on them too. The Queen lays starting in the middle and work to the out side. We got to see a queen ahe is longer and a tad fatter. We also got tto see a drone which is just fat and doesn't have a stinger! After looking at a couple different hives and asking questions and getting great answers, we finished up and headed to the house and was surprised with Lemonade and Graham Crackers. It was really fun!

OH yeah and we saw a barn swallow for the bird part.

Explorer Week with 7th Grade (EMHS)

Here is a picture of some of the kids and me at Jefferson Rock in Harper's Ferry.

This past week my dad and I went on Explorer Week with EMHS's 7th grade. My dad was driving the bus for them so I could come for his payment. I knew almost all the girls in the class from soccer and long-time (since 4 or 5 yrs. old) relationships. We went on the C & O Canal Trail to Harper's Ferry, Virginia. That was fun, but it was raining the whole time we were riding and at Harper's Ferry. So that took a lot of fun out of it. After that we went to the 4H center we would be staying for the next 2 days in Front Royal. I got to bunk with some of my best friends, Sylvia, Abby, Bailey and Sylvia's mom Lynette. When we got there everybody took a shower because we were soaked and covered in mud! It was very refreshing! Since it was rainy we had to move some things around. That night we had a talent show which was very fun to watch (hint: I didn't do anything) there was numerous people who played piano. Sylvia was one of them and did awesome. Sara and Kathryn played the piano as well (2 other girls I know from Weavers.) There was a improvisation skit that was pretty cool. One group did the game show A Minute to Win It. Then we watched a movie or play games till 10:30 and had to get to bed to rest up for a day in D.C.. The next day we kinda woke up at 7:00 had breakfast and headed to Washington D.C.. We went to a couple of museums and eat lunch at the old post office then went up to the top of the tower there. Which was really cool! After we got back on the bus and headed back. We played a game of capture the flag that people cheated in so wasnt as great as I thought. The next day we had a relaxed morning and then went to see the play Harvey at Wayside Theater. It was about a man who made big impacts on peoples live with his imaginary rabbit, I will let that speak for itself. Then we got lunch that the school payed for. WE went back to the 4-H center and then went on a hike. We headed home after that. I had a blast!

The Play.....Song of Life

Well, it is finally over! This last Sunday our church put on the play "Song of Life." I am not really much of an actor, so I offered to help with the costumes and props and stuff like that. Emily was in it...... she was a Israelite, a Woman and an Angel. The play was only for Jr. High and up, so any Elementary School kids couldn't be in it. Every Sunday for the past 5 or 6 weeks I went to church at 3pm and usually left at about roughly 8 or 9pm. Plus 2 or 3 other times to just figure out some behind the scenes stuff. ( I end up staying to 10pm to my pleasure I love staying up late.) Jill the director, who is also our Sunday school teacher, was very fun to work with and I had a lot of fun. It was defiantly a lot of work, but I had fun with it. I like that kind of thing because you have a part in the play that is crucial, but you don't have to be up in front of people. We had a lot of good actors in the play........ God and Satan had big parts and did amazing with their parts. In the end everything went very smoothly and ya know some little errors, but that will always happen. We gave Jill flowers and a gift certificate to Red Lobster. Thanks for everyone who came to it (Millers and G-ma and G-pa H..)

Be Thankful...........

This is something my Dad got from somewhere and hung it up in our school room so, I thought I might share it with you.

"Be thankful...... for the mess to clean after a party because it means you have been surrounded by friends."

"Be thankful....... for the clothes you wear that fit a little to snug because it means you have enough to eat"

"Be thankful........ for the lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, gutters that need fixing because it means you have a home."

"Be thankful....... for the spot you find at the end of the parking lot because it means you are able to walk."

"Be thankful........ for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means your loved ones are close by."

"Be thankful........ for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hour because it means that you are alive."

I you are a kid like me make your own (because most of these refer to adults) like this one.....

Be thankful....... for the clothes that disappear from your closet because you know your sister (brother doesnt fit this one that well) is having fun somewhere and she feels beautiful.

Make your own and write them on the comments.

Be thankful.... for the...............................because it means...........................

On The Job

This soccer season my Dad is coaching the EMHS JV girls soccer team. This year since I am getting homeschooled he asked me to be his manager. Yesterday, was my first day on the job. Even though he coachs the JV team he has 6th, 7th and 8th graders on his team and that is it. So some of my friends are on the team mostly 7th graders. I also get 5o$ to help out. Well I'll tell you what I have to do...... I have to fill waterbottles, get balls and pennies. Then at the practice I fill in if there is not enough players (which I think is not so pretty) and put cones up and shag balls. I like to do this because I am around people and I fell like I am useful!

Reading for Lent at Church! AHHHH

For lent the Jr. and Sr. youth group have to read a reader's theater each Sunday and guess what I have to do it this Sunday. Well, I am not exactly excited about it, okay so I really, really don't like to speak in front of people at ALL! So I am kinda flipping out about it. And I just found out a couple days ago that I have double the parts, because my youth pastor couldn't find anyone else to do it (there was 4 parts) . My friend Kayla is doing the other part. My dad gave me some pointers so I am working on it. Emily and my parents think I will be good, but I really don't think I will. I have no idea what makes me think I'm not a good speaker, maybe because I started off a bad reader and I don't like being in front of people although, I can sing or play an instrument. I am not sure about it. This is what the Readers Theater.........

Kayla: Abram knew the darkness. Carcasses, birds of prey, childlessness, smoking fire pots and flaming torches.

Me: David knew the darkness. Evildoers seeking to devour his flesh. Armies encamped around him. False witnesses slandering his name.

Kayla: Jesus knew the darkness. Rulers seeking death. Knowledge of what was coming. An unwilling brood refusing the safety of his wingspan.

Me: We know the darkness. Worshiping our bellies, we revel in what is shameful; we think only of ourselves

All: And this darkness is deep and terrifying

Kayla: But God covenanted with Abram: "Your descendants shall be like the stars in the sky, and I shall give you this great land, from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates."

Me: And God sheltered David: "I will conceal you under the cover of my tent and hide you in the days of trouble."

Kayla: And God loves Jesus: "This is my beloved son. With him I am well pleased."

Me: And God transforms us: "Leave your shame. I will empower you to become more like me-glorious!"

Doesn't seem that hard, but I hope I don't become a nervous wreak! Please pray for me!

Winter Jam and an Awesome Weekend

The concert was so AWESOME!!!!!!!! Me and Emily got to have friends over to go to a concert in Charlottesville. I took my lifelong friend Sylvia and Emily brought her friend Kiara. We went with our youth group. We left at about 3:00 and got to Charlottesville at 4:00 and the doors opened at around 4:45. The line was really long when we got there, but our smart youth pastor cut in line. It took about 10 minutes to get to our seats once the doors opened. Plus we got really good seats, we were lucky, because once the concert started the whole John Paul Jones Arena was filled up! It was really fun to have Sylvia there! The groups playing were like Third Day, Newsboys, Newsong, 10th Avenue North, and some ones that were new. I liked Third Day the best. Everyone was dancing and clapping and singing so by the end everyone was whopped! Then Sylvia and Kiara spent the night and went to church with us! We had about an hour or 2 to rest after they left before play practice. I'm not in the play, but I am in charge of the costumes and props! I didn't do much except prompted people during the practice, but after I got all the costumes and props together and ended up staying until 7:00 when it was supposed to end at 5:30, but I like doing that kind of stuff so it was fun! And now I am really tired, but that is okay, because I was doing things I liked doing.