A Review: February 2018

On with my 2018, February!

Service Projects Every Year, at my alma mater the juniors and seniors got two weeks off of school to serve the community. This past year I served at an elementary school. While I was serving, I became great friends with my other classmates. We would all help out with classes throughout the day, but we began each day with a cold walk around the school. I'd often help with art class and make marker watercolor paintings (for when you don't trust people with paint) with the kids. The next week I'd go to music with my friend and while I did learn how a beat works, I had to endure 45 minutes of recorder torture. In the classes they'd have books (duh) and I enjoyed exploring all of them like "Lily and the Purple Plastic Purse." During those two weeks the school fun run was also on, so everyday there were grade meetings where they did the “Castle Quest!” cheer, which was funny! The two weeks ended with the Fun Run and the teachers buying us lunch! I loved getting to know the teachers during the two weeks because we'd talk and be like almost equals! my friends and I also had a fabulous time! We'd play pretend basketball, drive together, and laugh during lunch! I definitely took away more compassion and how to work with people easily.

 Wyoming My family and I went to an admitted students day in Wyoming! Our way up there was crazy! It took eight hours for a two hour trip due to traffic and snow! At 10pm in the snowy and windy Wyoming passes, we saw two semi trucks pass each other and the trucks were like a foot away from each other! It was crazy! Lots of trucks were pulled over to wait. But, it was fine, there were even awkward ice breakers. Then, we left and made sure to take the toll way home.

A neon purple cross at a small chapel by a bakery.

 Gunnison

This past year, I got to go to Gunnison! I had one day back from Wyoming where I saw a hockey game and then I was on my way! The drive up included incredible views and fresh air! We stopped at a gas station by Southpark and my dad saw his friend who lives by us, a whole 2 hours away and unplanned! The best part of the drive up there was Monarch Mountain (Fast and Furious 7 was partially filmed there)! It was snowy and at times we could only see white (which made it extra fun!), so we drove slowly, but it was so pretty. I would put my hand outside and it was freezing, so I couldn't keep it out there long, I loved it! Then, we entered Gunnison! Once we arrived we stopped by my aunt’s house at 2:54ish. Then, arrived at my great aunt’s funeral at 2:57ish. Lots of time to spare! The funeral was a nice service that included a eulogy, a message about people who are stars that light the way, and people sharing memories of her (it was a small crowd, so very intimate). The reception was held in the basement of the Baptist Church. During the reception, my dad really enjoyed talking to the pastor about how he ended up in Gunnison, out of all places...I think he was called by God. After the funeral and stopping by my aunt's, my dad and I got lunch at Mario’s and went to our hotel. That evening we went to mass which was nice because Catholic Church's feature many of the same things and it's comforting. It was a cute tiny church and I liked the priest, he wore big purple tinted glasses, like he was in the 70’s or something. Later that night, my dad and I went to my aunt’s house again and had dinner. The dog ratio is always crazy there! It’s usually 10 people to 7 dogs. We watched old videos of my grandfather. He was standing on a raft without a helmet, just smoking his cigarette down the river; rivers that aren’t even open to raft any more as they are too dangerous. The next morning, we had breakfast at my aunt’s and headed to the retirement home where my grandma lives. We just sat with her and my cousins. It was fun driving out of there because my dad and I flipped off my cousins behind me which was a reference to one of the memories shared the day before about an uncle driving down the street flipped off. It was funny. Then, we went back home. On the drive back, Monarch was still snowy, but not as white, it was nice to see so much snow because we didn’t get much down the mountain. We also stopped at the bigfoot museum in Bailey! It was interesting! They had a binder of bigfoot sightings people wrote and a giant sasquatch! Worth the $3, highly recommend! Then, we stopped for pictures and drove home! It was fun!

On our way down we stopped to photograph Monarch. You can see the glory of it and the storms brewing above.

On the way down we saw a big statue of a mother, maybe the Virgin Mary, off of 285. At that statue people have experienced Jesus!   

A beautiful scene from our way up Monarch Mountain. God is so present there! 

Trees on our way down

Another beautiful snowy scene up on Monarch! 

At points on Monarch we couldn't see very far ahead which is scary, but also kind of fun!

Skiers trek through the snow on the side of the road. 

Lent

       This past Valentine's Day was also Lent! So, I had a ball at mass! Everyone in mass dress, so fun! I think I got a demerit that day because I wore jeans that day. Yeah, the beginning of a three demerit streak in two weeks, yikes, but #yolo.

On Wednesdays we wear Ashes!

Turpentine is Kinda Fine
         Also, during February I got synthetic turpentine in my eye. I was in oil painting and oil painting requires turpentine and linseed oil. While, I was painting a small drop flew into my eye. I wasn't totally sure, but after a little I thought I should make sure. So, I went to the nurse's and had my eyes flushed. Then, I had to wear my googles and paint shirt to class, yay.

 Swim Banquet

The swim banquet came to celebrate everyone and all of the fun we had together like breakfast races, early mornings, dance parties, locker surprises, mice, and more! I was kind of shocked because it was the first year I hadn’t received a Barbie award which is a silly award. But, that’s okay I took pictures and got a blanket!

One of my friends and our Chanel hand sign because we were always in "C" league.

February was a wonderful month filled with very fun memories and everyday being the best of my life! God Bless!