15 Years, 7 Months...Start of sophomore year!

More to come...

A few things happened at church this month.  We did the Blessing of the Backpacks, but I decided not to go up in front.  It was too childish for me.  We also said good-bye to Pastor Caleb.  He has been such a great addition to our pastoral staff and I was really hoping he would become our full time pastor.  I wish him the best of luck in his new church.

I started Sophomore year and I think I am ready to do the more challenging classes.  I am taking a block class for English and Social Studies credit that I will be taking the AP test to gain college credit.  I love the teachers in that class.  I was excited that they gave me homework!  Mom and Dad both went to Back to School night and met most of my teachers. I had picture retakes because the ones I had taken before school were not the best smile since my mouth was still partially paralyzed.

I went with Mom to Mizzou's Black and Gold scrimmage.  I am so excited for their season!  Mom took me to another game, as we have season tickets again!  We went to the MU game versus Lindenwood with Missouri Juniors.  It was nice to see everyone again, but I think we are all tired.  I'm still a little hesitant to start club.  Good thing I am loving high school volleyball!  We had a volleyball pool party at Taylor's house and it was so much fun!  We played a hide and seek game in the dark and laughed so hard.  Grace and I hid in someone's car, and we also ran through the yard and I tripped and rolled over the posts for the volleyball net.  More laughter!

Before we even really started our season, we did several fundraisers for the team.  We did a pancake fundraiser at the school and my family came to support it.  We also did an Andy's fundraiser and Tristn, Audrey, and I stood outside to hand out the fliers.  We did the calendar fundraiser again, as well as selling Shakespeare's pizzas.  I'm tired of asking for money, and didn't do the club fundraiser that happened at the same time.

Battle volleyball has been great this year!  I think we are going to have a great team! We played against a couple of alumni and our coaches in the Call to Battle.  It was so much fun and really funny. In the Jamboree, we won in two sets each to Fatima and California.  We also won the next 4 games: Eldon at home (3-1), Tolton away (3-0), Boonville at home (3-0), and Hallsville away (3-0). I was actually named player of the game for the Hallsville game and got interviewed by the Columbia Missourian! We also played in the Hickman tournament (Papa Ron, Linda, and Mom were my spectators.) We took second in pool play because we started off a little slow: Fatima (1-1), Tolton (2-0), Greenridge (2-0), and DeSoto (1-1).  We got to play and beat Hickman in bracket (2-1), lost to Oak Grove (1-2), and took third overall when we beat DeSoto (2-0.) I can't wait to see what our team can do the rest of the season!

Our family celebrated Corrine's 16th birthday at their house, which means my turn is next!  School hosted a Back to School Bash and I decided to go.  I had so much fun just being goofy and hanging out with my friends.  I met Deyton, who takes our volleyball pictures for the yearbook and we had a great time together.  We won matching fanny packs and I just enjoyed being myself.  I went dress shopping with Lila in Jeff City with her grandma and bought a dress there and one in Columbia.  I already have my dress shopping done for homecoming and court warming!

15 1/2 Years Old...Volleyball camps and sickness and healing

I was glad to have Nationals behind me and to start going to volleyball camps and for high school practices to start.  I went to the Mizzou volleyball camp with Kaya and we were roommates.  We accidentally got put with two other girls, but it got worked out.  We ended up becoming good friends with Sophie and Bella, who are definitely going DI.  Battle volleyball also went to the MU team camp this year.  It was super hot in the non-air conditioned gym, but it was a lot of fun.  I got to play libero!  My foot held out at both camps until the end of each day.  At the second camp (tournament), I was on the sideline and a girl from another court crashed into my back.  My foot and back were done for the day, right when mom got there to watch.   Our team also participated in the Licking tournament.  I got to play libero again!  We didn't play great the first day and actually lost to Hallsville (Dad's school.)  We played great the second day and ended up losing to Jefferson City (Ali and Landrie's team) to take 2nd overall!  We also played a scrimmage against Mexico, but it was mostly JV that played. Battle High School hosted a youth camp and I got to test my skills at "coaching" again.

Tristn and I went with our moms to Kansas City for the Prep Dig Showcase.  It was something I had been looking forward to for a long time and wanted to get some exposure.  It was an interesting experience and I'm glad I did it.  I skipped Saturday of VBS so I only got a minor role in the skit that I usually do.

After the first MU camp, we found out Dad got Covid, most likely from Nationals.  Mom and I both ended up getting it and feeling really crappy and exhausted for a week.  Luckily I was able to recover in between volleyball camps.  I went for my check up with Dr. Bohon.  She said my foot was maintaining, but recommended only playing over other day to reduce the load on my sesmoid bones to prevent a fracture.  That would result in a season ending cast.  I am starting physical therapy this month.  

I also had my wisdom teeth removed.  I was mostly scared about the IV, but I did ok.  Mom said I was really funny when I woke up.  I kept talking about them playing a Taylor Swift song, compared myself to Kim Kardashian, and was very sad that I didn't get to keep my teeth.  I entertained my friends when I called them on the way home.  Mom stopped to get a Tropical Smoothie for me and I got very mad at the lady who parked next to us because she was "looking at me!"  My stitches came out pretty early and it took a while for me to smile normally, but I think I have healed pretty well.

We also noticed that Twist was not doing well.  He lost 3 pounds over the last year and started projectile vomiting.  His blood work was normal, so we took him to get an ultrasound.  That vet said that his small intestines were not working and he thought it might be blocked.  Dr. Rose did exploratory surgery on him the next day and didn't find anything.  He did take a couple of biopsies of his lymph nodes and was concerned he may not make it through the night.  He was very frail and would hide from us.  Somehow a few days later, he started eating and getting more energy!  His biopsies turned out to be normal, so we don't even know what happened.  He is back to his old self!

I also got to open my very own checking account!  It feels good to have a place to put the money I am making.  I got to watch Chase once this month in between everything.  Our family volunteered at the Food Bank again.  I really enjoy doing that.  I went to see Twisters with Lucy and Lila.

After all this, I was "peopled out!"  I didn't even want to see John on a day that I had off.  We decided to break up because we weren't making time for each other.  I wasn't all that upset about it.  Mom and Dad went back to work, which means school is shortly behind.  Nana Arden brought lunch for us a couple of days.

We had our high school try-outs and I made the team and will be playing libero!  I'm so excited for the season!

I went to the MU volleyball camp and found a puppy!

Kaya, my roommate!

Getting my first checking account

Poor Twisty!

We got to play Ali's team in the final at the Licking Tournament!!!

Battle Spartans

I wouldn't want to be seen in public with this hair net!

Getting caught tickling Emily