The Smokiest Mountains

This was a trip that was close to my heart for many different reasons, the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee helped guide and adventure that was once in a life time opportunity type of thing.  I have always been a girl at home in the wild and here I got to go hiking and explore new places.  We stayed at the base of the Smokey Mountains and visited many new things.  It was refreshing to go into stores and hear Christian music playing and it was amazing to live in a country type setting.

The air was clear and nature was all around us.  For me and my youngest brother this was the best trip of our lives and for my middle brother it was probably the worst.  He isn't seen in most pictures and none of the ones I have posted with this post.   We crossed rivers and climbed mountains on this trip.  I got to spend a lot of time with my dad and youngest brother in the wilderness and we didn't get lost.  Hiking up the mountains the air would get thine, but I felt like I was getting closer to God this way.  We could look out and see the area around and witness all that He has created.

Our fun did not end with hiking and exploring the town at the base, but for the fist time ever my family went white water rafting.  Much to my surprise we did not lose anyone on the trip.  My youngest brother did almost fall out at one point but the rest of us, thankfully, never fell out.  It was an experience that I suggest everyone to do with people you know because it takes a lot of team work to keep the raft floating and right side up.

Life Lesson #14: When you are on family vacations in what seems like the middle of no where things will go wrong and you just got to stay calm and not fall off your rocker.

Turtles Take Ocean City

In May during the year 2011 I started on another journey with a great group of friends.  Many people would find it strange that I was a girl scout all the way through.  As we got older the more traveling we wanted to do.  It only seemed normal that an athlete like myself had to be partially injured on this trip.

We were all about taking pictures, making memories, and long walks on the boardwalk that meant by the end of the trip my ankle was as sore as anything would be after a few days of that.  Upon our arrival to Ocean City we walked around the hotel and immediately noted the beach right in our backyard.  As we gathered our camera's and flip flops we each started the short journey to the beautiful ocean and sandy beach.

Forgetful as I am I forgot about the ace bandage around my left ankle attempting to scream at me "I can't get wet."  As we got to the edge of the road and the beginning of the tiny specks of sand we each removed our shoes.  It was then that I realized that I wasn't allowed to get the wrap dirty or wet.  I decided to be lazy and use one of my good friends to noble down to the beach on my other foot that worked a little better at the time.  The image was captured while the memory was logged into my brain.   

We were all close minus the one girl standing off in the distance.  She stayed behind on most of our adventures.  As we stayed up all night one of the days we were there the light on the boardwalk light the way for most of the night.  I drank a mountain dew flavored energy drink and realized that was the craziest thing and energetic person could do to themselves.  I also watch a drunk couple almost drown in the ocean...but that's another story for another day.

Life Lesson #13: Energy drinks (even in a small quantity) are not good for you, and neither is trying to swim while drunk.

Field Trip Over Night in the Capital

Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States of America. It is a very historical place for the nation and it only seemed right that while studying U.S. History you would take a class trip their. At my high school during your sophomore year you go on a three day and two night trip to the capital. Back when I was just starting out as a freshman our school was so new the class sizes where much smaller, also there was only one grade above us at the time. For cost purposes we went on the trip along with the sophomore class. It was a fun trip that helped bring the history I was learning all year to life.

As the trip was drawing near the plans were being finalized for what museums we would visit and the order of the monuments we wanted to visit. As an athlete sometimes injuries come unexpectedly. Right before the trip I had sprained my ankle during a Saturday track meet, when someone came in my lane making me stop short. I was nervous that it wouldn't heal I had a week and a half to try. I was back practicing Monday and felt great for the whole week. That next saturday I felt good enough to run the 400m hurdles. I started off in first place then fell on the third and ninth hurdle. I did more damage to my ankle and created scars on my legs that I can see to this day four years later.

I know only had four days to heal and I was in worse condition that originally. Being the stubborn girl I am I proved I could walk around the city and be fine. I was required to walk around with the Ace wrap around my ankle. The wrap was so thick that I couldn't fit it in a regular shoe meaning my only option was flip flops. My teachers called me crazy and my coach knew she couldn't stop me from going. In the pictures I'll be wearing flip flops with an Ace bandage. My feet did hurt after the trip, but I just put ice on it while at the hotel and used pain meds during the day. My teacher made frequent stops to make sure I sat down every chance I got. It seemed silly at first but as the days went on the pain was rising.


After our bus arrived at our hotel excitement grew within us. We checked in and all went to our assigned rooms. I got to room with my best friend and two other girls in my class that I was close with. It was lat afternoon and we didn't have anything on the schedule so everyone was doing their own thing. Many of us went down to the pool to get a quick swim in before we had to get dinner. As the day came to a close our teachers folds us that lights out was a 10:30 little did we know was that none of would be able to sleep. I had the great pleasure of being next door to a chaperone room with my teacher staying in this one. We were forced a little sooner than everyone else to go to bed.


At 7:30 the next morning we were required to be at breakfast ready to go. We ate as much as we could from the hotel buffet. Once everyone was finished we started touring the city at 8:15.  We walked from place to place and historical building to historical building. We visited so much in one day our brains where filled with knowledge and images from the past. It all seemed so interesting and when we came upon a huge group of people praying in the middle of a park we had to check it out.  Turns out we were there the same time that people from all different nations come to that park to pray for the world and all it's inhabitants. They were honored to be in the company of young people (as they called us) who love the Lord.



We went to George Washington's house and could see the Washington monument in the distance. We visited Arlington National Cemetery and payed our respects at the tomb of the unknown soldier. We visited the Supreme court and sat in on a small public meeting while there. We watched as the sun set behind the Lincoln Memorial ending our second day. Our trip back was about another hour worth of walking and my teacher refused to let me with my ankle walk it all the way back and one of my classmates with a heart condition. At first I wanted to walk back with my classmates but the forced me into the yellow taxi cab, while the rest of the students and chaperones walked back. We drove for 10 minutes and arrived back at the hotel. We waited in the lobby and my teacher decided to buy us each ice cream from the hotel store. As we waited we talked more history and all that we had learned.

On the third and final day we packed up and got ready to leave we visited a few more place quickly before we left. The botanical gardens was on the top on my list along with the air and space museum apart of the Smithsonian. It was sad to have to leave behind all the history and return to life at home. On the drive back we ran into a nasty thunder storm that ended with two double rainbows. Most people would say that a historical field trip as a freshman in high school would be horrible but my teacher knew how to make fun in learning.

Life Lesson #12: I maybe one person and be smaller than the government buildings, but my voice can be heard if I try hard enough.