Camp

So much has happened since I last blogged! I went to camp 3 weeks ago and I can honestly say that it was one of the best weeks of my life! This was the first time that I have spent more than 1 night apart from Sus and it was hard. I kept looking for her to share an inside joke, to have an impromptu dance party, or to get hyper with me. I realized how proud of her I am, I could not stop talking about the great things she has done and the amazing person that she is. I missed her so much it hurt!

I am so lucky to have made incredible friends who made me welcome and safe imediatly. They make me laugh so much! We were able to openly discuss our faith and struggles which was a new experience for me. I am naturally very private and I spend a lot of time thinking about things in my head and never talk about them. We laughed, cried, danced, sang, talked, danced and grew together. I love them all so much!
We also had amazing counselors, I love them! One of them it turns out is the sister of somebody who moved to our parish this summer. It is a small Orthodox world. I learned so much from all of them. 

I really grew so much in my faith, it is crazy that it is even possible in a week. I am really not sure how to put into words how spectacular the whole experience was for me. I have been trying the since I left and I just can't.
That's all for now!
Glory to God for All Things
Cecilia <3

Its been a while!

After drama camp performance

Summer has come at last! The last few weeks have been very busy! I finished most of my school, I still have somethings to do over the summer.
We went to two weddings, an Orthodox wedding and a Catholic wedding, it was interesting to go to such different ceremonies so close together. They were both beautiful, fun, and filled with dancing!
We also attended multiple graduation parties and receptions they were lots of fun! So many of my friends graduated this year and I am so proud of them. I can't wait to see what will be next for them.
Last week was drama camp it was full of laughter, fun, acting, and exhaustion. I was in a play about an elevator that gets stuck with a very odd assortment of people.

Cast character picture

I also took the SAT again on Saturday, I think it went pretty well and the worst section had a misprint so they are not scoring it so that is good.
This week I don't really have much to do. It is the first really warm week we have had this summer so I am planning to spend a lot of time at the pool. I also intend to read lots, I finished a book yesterday and began a new one last night. I also really need to start memorize Shakespeare camp lines. I am playing the 1st half of Boyet and I am excited!
Other things that are happening this week include helping one of my bestest friends family move. They have been searching for 2ish years for a house and they finally found one that will be perfect for them.
Sus began her summer internship last week. It is going well I think. But it is really boring at home all day without her.
In 2 weeks I am going to St Mary's Church camp. I am excited and nervous, I have never done anything like this. I am hoping that I will make friends with other Orthodox teens. There is a great shortage of us in the midwest!!
In other news I am officially going to Idaho in July to visit and help my Aunt with her two boys. I am very very excited for that! When I was 10 I got to go spend 2 weeks with her in Virginia and it is definitely one of my favorite memories!
Glory to God For All Things
Cecilia <3

Dinner dance!

A couple Saturdays ago we had our annual high school dinner dance it was a blast! There was a mystery dinner, games, ballroom dance, and line dances. We went to Nicole's house to get ready and we spend 3 1/2 hours doing everybody hair. I left with at least 80 pins in my hair it was nuts! It was lots of fun! Here are some of my favorite pictures!

 

The dinner dance was on the same day as the ACT which made for a very long day. 

Those two things were the major event of the last few weeks. But I have been studying lots, babysitting quite a bit, preparing for the SAT which I take on Saturday. We had our last day of sunday school last week. I am sad and also grateful. It is a blessing for me to be able to teach but also very tiring and I will be grateful to have a break. Sunday was also the feast day of the Myrrh Bearing Women which is always a special day for me because my patron saint, Mary Magdelene, is one of them along with my twins name saint, Saint Susannah.                                                                                                         

Glory to God For All Things. 

Cecilia <3

Pascha!

So today has been the first day I have had time to sit down and blog in a while! We had Pascha last week and it was beautiful as always. I love the joyous singing of the easter hymn "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death be death and to those in the tomb granting life. " We got to spend a lot of time in church during holy week which I am very grateful for.
During holy week we also had our HOSA State leadership conference. It was a great experience as always with interesting lectures, tours, and keynote speakers. Our chapter did very well and many of us qualified for nationals which are in California this year. I took first place in my human growth and development knowledge test. I have placed second the previous 2 years so it was nice to move up the list.
I have been doing lots of prep for the ACT on Saturday and I am hoping to do well on that. Other than that I haven't really been doing anything other than keeping up with my regular school work.
Glory to God For All Things
Cecilia <3

Happy Birthday Bia!

One of my bestest friend's birthday was this week. We have known each other since I was in 2nd grade and she was in 1st. We both remember the day we met and we have been inseparable friends ever since. I am so proud of her and lucky to have her in my life. Today is Holy Thursday in the western Church. Holy Thursday is her favorite day of the whole year so I always think of her on this day. I love you Bia!

Glory to God for All Things

Cecilia <3

St Patrick's Day

St Patrick's Day is always fun at our house. We are mostly Irish with lots of other things mixed in and we love St Patrick! So tonight as usual we had a nice dinner with soda bread, mashed potatoes and other yummy things. We listened to various sorts of Irish/celtic music and had lots of fun.

St Brigid is another Irish saint I love

Also today I had an interesting car adventure! One of the radiator hoses split which led to me driving down the interstate blowing white smoke. I pulled over and called dad and he came to look at it and bring us home. Luckily it was an quick and easy fix and I was only 10 miles from home.

Glory to God For All Things
Cecilia <3

Happy Day

Yesterday was one of the happiest days I have had in a while! I had a mildly good piano lesson and then we went to church. There was a chrismation (similar to confirmation) of a woman who has been coming to church for just under a year. It was truly beautiful! She was glowing and beaming and never looked happier. I am so grateful that I got to be there for her special moment. It reminded me of the day my family was received into the Church, one of the happiest days of my life!
After church Mom, Sus, and I went out to eat indian food! YUM!!!!! Then we went shopping and enjoyed ourselves tons! Then we drove home in my freezing car!
Because we had been gone all afternoon Sus had not checked her email all day. When she got home she checked her email and saw that she was accepted to the very competitive biomedical research internship. I am so happy and thrilled for her. It is such an exciting opportunity that will shape her future! Congrats Sus!!!!!!! <3
Glory to God For All Things
Cecilia <3