And with that, ends Vacation

    So I woke up, got breakfast and started a book. Somewhere in the middle of  that I answered a phone call from the U.S. Border Patrol they were asking about someone from Canada coming to visit us, etc. I wasn't really sure what i should do, trust them, answer the questions, so I had my dad call them back. Unfortunately, Fransis (Frans-wa) the Help Exchanger has not come yet. We haven't had any calls either...I really hope it all works out.
   I ran the 4-H idea by my dad and he's all for it! He says a milking goat would probably be easier to handle, though. Of which I am not at all opposed! We've raised goats for many years, this is actually our first year without any- Full Circle Farm is down to just chickens at this point. Originally I wanted to go hiking, but my dad, Bernie, and I took a lovely walk out back of our house, bush-whacking through the woods we came across many a wondrous thing. There is an old trout hatchery down our back hill that I never knew about! It led us to a gravel quarry in back of our Town Dump (Transfer Station, to be politically correct). 
    I made live-burgers for the first time, using the new food processor my Dad received for Christmas. He was amazed at how good they were (my family is completely opposed to me going raw in any way, shape, or form). And a long movie entitled 'War Horse' at the theater with some friends ended my Christmas Vacation. Still a Sophomore in High School, I am obliged to follow the rules and attend school. I don't mind being a student- I just hate the homework.  Oh well, I guess it could be much worse. Between friends, family, home life, coaches, and supportive coaches, I am incredibly lucky.
     Ever heard of Regina Spektor? She is an amazing musician and has a way with words...look her up sometime :]

Cleaning, Coping, and Church

     I use to dread going to church when I was younger. Not only did I not know any of the kids in my Sunday School class, i hated sitting through an hour of listening to an old man talk about this thing we call Christianity. I didn't understand any of it, i would pass the time cracking jokes with my sister and drawing on the bulletins, stealing the pens from my mother's purse stuffed under the row of chairs in front of us. 
   What I looked foreword to was the Fellowship. Nothing beats store-bought cream puffs (which, by the way, we just happened to have today!). Cookies & fruit, along with juice and coffee. I am always grateful of how involved out family is in the Community. between the Church, grange, and school, we have gotten to know some great cooks. A word of advice: never pass up the oppertunity to go to a potluck, you'll never be let down...at least not in this town.
    Full Circle Farm, my home, is involved in a unique operation called 'Help Exchange'. Kind of like WOOFing, people from all over the world contact you for a place to stay and food to eat. In turn, they work for 5 or 6 hours a day at your home, farm, store; what have you. We have been so fortunate to have had wonderful people come so far this past summer and into the fall. Tomorrow a man from France will appear on our doorstep (if all goes according to plan, anyway). We have been cleaning up a storm (even my dad, *gasp). It is never a bad thing, though. Having other people come to your house is sure a motivator. No doubt there'll be plenty of projects for him.
   My latest idea is starting a 4-H project. I have many friends who are in the program, and I know it offers great opportunity for scholarship, learning, and meeting new people with an interest in farming. I want a milking cow, just one. Maybe a pregnant one of which I can help raise the calf and milk?  First things first, though- the fences must be fixed! Looks like I'll be needing some help of my own....

There are 2 hours before the clock strikes Midnight...

     That means 120 minutes until it is a new year. 2012, to be precise. I know I'm only fifteen but I still have to ask, "Where does the time go?" I do not know the answer.  So, I started my blog today. 'Following Through', it is entitled. I hope it will help me do exactly that.  I'm not lost. I simply am not found or, in better terms, I have not yet found what I need. And yet, my chance is waiting for me. In one hour and 50 minutes I can fall asleep with a smile and a list of Resolutions.
    This is where I ask myself what is truly important. I do not need to loos large amounts of weight, or cut down on my T.V. hours. I don't watch television except for the occational Castle episode with my parents. Should I go Raw? Definately possible...not to probable, though. Sometimes I feel like I am above my peers. I recgionize myself as 'more mature' and act differently around them, like I always know more. I will try my darndest to stop myself from that. 
    Why did this tradition start, anyway? I think humans just need good reasons to be human. Our intelligence can not figure out everything, sometimes it's us (and not the computers) that need to be refreshed. Today I built a Gingerbread House with my friend Kenya. She is absolutely amazing. A Type 1 Diabetic like myself, she is homeschooled and lives on a farm with her family. We spent 6 hours in her farmstand whipping, stirring, eating, decorating, and talking. Boy, she loves to tell stories. She remembers conversations so precisely, it's amazing. It's hard for me to even remember what I ate for dinner yesterday, let alone what book report I had in the Fourth Grade.  I love visiting her house, helping with chores, eating the wonderful food. 
   I believe it is interesting people that bring interesting happenings. Withough these memorable experiences, we would all have quite dull lives... don't ever let someone keep you from having fun. Happy New Year!; ¡Feliz Año Nueve!