I know things like this are a little cheesy but I think it might be a good way for me to reflect on my year.
In the spring I placed 1st in my event at the SDHOSA state conference. It was my third time placing at the conference but my first time placing 1st. I also had my last few Quiz Bowls with the team that I had played with since middle school. Then I finished my junior year of high school! This was exciting and also kind of scary, a theme of this year!
A couple weeks after school ended Sus started her summer internship working on breast cancer research and the same day was the first day of drama camp for me. This seems like a small thing, but for us, well me at least, this was huge. This was our first experience doing things completely separate from each other for an extended amount of time.
Then a week after that I went to Camp and quite frankly I was terrified! No communication to or from home, no one I knew, and no twin! But really it was so great, I loved every second!
Then I came home had a few days break and began Shakespeare camp which was as great and tiring as always.
The next week I went to Idaho for 3 weeks! This was my favorite part of the whole summer. I stayed with my aunt and uncle and 2 young cousins. I got to spend so much time with my aunt, who has lived far away as long as I can remember, meet my youngest cousin for the 1st time and get to know his older brother who was 2 and a 1/2 when I was there. I miss them lots and I am trying to figure out how I can go back next summer.
I came back from Idaho and spent a lot of time at home till school started which kinda drove me crazy but I needed a break.
I got to go see Sus present her research poster and I have never been so proud ever. She worked so hard and loved every second! I got to meet her boss and the student she worked with which was exciting because she talked about them everyday.
Right before I started school a got a job nannying for a family with 4 kids. They live on a farm and we have had lots of adventures. I love it, it has been such a wonderful experience for me.
I started my senior year of high school! I can't even believe that! It is so crazy and scary, preparing for my next step is so intimidating!!!! I am taking Calculus at the public school and I love calculus! I am crazy, I admit it. :) I am also taking Russian Lit and I have really enjoyed that. Most recently we read Crime and Punishment. I have also spent a lot of time working on college application stuff. It is not the most interesting process ever and plenty stressful.
One of my favorite things that started again this fall is I am continuing to teach the preschool/kindergarten Sunday school class at church. I love it, I love the kids, getting to know them, and teaching them the faith as best I can. Not teaching and seeing these kids once a week is going to be a hard thing when I am in college next fall.
On Labor Day weekend we had our homeschool groups annual family camp. Quite probably that will be my last one for a while and it was awesome! But it also made me sad, It was my first "last" in high school and I really haven't got that many.
On November 2nd I turned 18, and yes before you think that of course Sus turned 18 too, I am an adult officially and that sounds more exciting then it is. We had a great family Christmas, yummy food, lots of naps, family, and gifts. Our house looked very festive and I am resisting taking it all down.
It has been a great year!
Glory to God for All Things,
Cecilia <3
Today is this beautiful woman's birthday. I am so beyond grateful to have her in my life. She is one of my best friends, my support through everything, and my wonderful mom. Thank-you for teaching me how to be a strong, intelligent, caring, giving, hard-working, faithful, self-sacrificing and loving woman. Thank-you for giving me all the wonderful opportunities you have. May God grant you many many years! Best Mom <3
I came back from Idaho and spent a lot of time at home till school started which kinda drove me crazy but I needed a break. 
This evening I was searching for some hymns that we have sung at church at I felt inspired to write. Because we are a small parish we do not have a choir. We have chanters and occasionally some people gather to sing a hymn for a feast and it is truly a blessing! But as I was skimming youtube it occurred to me how beautiful these hymns were. Of course they are beautiful but I have never really noticed. I am a convert to Orthodoxy, as I have mentioned in previous posts, and in our old episcopal parish we sang lots and lots of western style hymns so when we first started attending our Greek parish the music was truly one of the hardest transitions for me. It sounded foreign and odd to my ear. I never thought that I could enjoy it in the same way. But tonight listening to O Virgin Pure I was filled with a peace and joy. I don't think I enjoy the hymns of the Church the same way I enjoy western hymns but that is okay. They are beautiful prayers in their own way and I love them. If you would like to hear the hymn I mentioned above here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkqZbFQb0O0