People

People fascinate me. No, really, they do. Everyone's just so different from each other...one minute, you think you know someone, and then the next you don't. There's always something to learn-a secret, something about their childhood, something they don't even realize themselves.
I strive to hear the little things about a person's life, because it's always interesting to me. Why do you do this? What do you think about this? How was your childhood experience? Is that honestly how you feel, right now?
And when I'm lucky enough to get a response, to be allowed into part of a person's thoughts and mind, it's amazing. I can then compare and contrast people, find running trends, discover how a person may do this, and another the complete opposite due to, maybe, their background or how they were raised. When I do get the information, it's fun just processing it.
I get even more excited when someone different enters my life. Someone people generally cast out of the world because they're "slow", "don't fit in", "weird", "stupid", etc. Because these people seem to have the most interesting back-story and the most interesting set of emotions out of all the kids I meet. Sure, they may be problem kids-but really, they're the most intriguing. I often find myself wondering, "Why does so-and-so act that way? What happened in his/her childhood that changed who he/she became?"
My brother tells me that maybe my career when I grow up will have to do with helping the mentally-handicapped people, because he sees my interest in them when I always happen to find a book about them. I read a book once called, "One Child", by a women named Torey Hayden, and although it wasn't a book about a mentally-ill child, it was about a child who needed some series help. The child had already burned another child alive (I don't remember if the kid died or not) at the age of six years old, acted like a total animal, had absolutely no control, and, overall, was a complete mess. If I recall correctly, she was going to be put into one of those insane hospitals if something wasn't done about her quickly. By the end of the book, however, the child did a complete 180-her teacher Torey showed her love and kindness, and the child was able to learn from her and grow. Oh, and did I mention that this is a true story? (By the way, I'd love this book for Christmas, family members who may be reading this!)
If this isn't a sign in itself that I may head off this road later on in my working life, you can also look at the friends I seem to gather around. I hang out with the kids that're social outcasts, weird, or both. I think this is because I like coming into their lives and helping them out. It probably also helps that I've been labeled as a social outcast myself in many cases, due to the fact that I hang with those that are different and because I don't try to be popular. Oh, and it helps that I was a weird little child. :P
Anyway, it's late over here, and I think this is enough of a piece of me to keep you all satisfied for a while. I'll have to write about how school's going soon. Later!
~Kathy

Ode to Summer

Sad days are upon me...school is starting back up.
This means not only homework, but being around people all day, which isn't one of my highlights, being an introvert at heart an' all.
However, it's not all bad. It gives me a chance to be a light within the darkness-and that's where my heart's set these days. I just want to be the different, godly one, and the public school is the perfect place to shine my little light. It'll be fun to see where this new school year takes me. :)

Anywho, this journal entry will probably be the last one of the summer, and so, it is destined to be about my summer. This break has been full of joy in the form of vacations with my family, marching band, and growing in my faith in Christ. I've had a great break, and even though I don't feel ready to go back to school this year, I know I'll live. xD
My first vacation this summer was up at Salida, Colorado, where my family and I went to southern Colorado to just get away. We went to the Great Sand Dunes, saw some falls, and overall had a great time.

The very next day after this little trip, Dad took me hiking where we nearly got lost, but enjoyed all the nature!

My kitty enjoyed being photographed...Okay, so maybe not. xD

Cooking crazed omelets became a sort-of hobby for me for breakfast... (And so did days spent at my grandparents' home cooking with my grandmother) :)

 

Family friends were often a part of our summer lives...

Photography became a major past-time for me...!

Rootbeer

The "Hybrid"

Our trip to Yellowstone took place...!

Marian and I

Walks around a nearby lake with my brother and Dad occurred from time to time...

My family and I went up Mt. Evans...!

...And got stuck in traffic on the way home :P

Then about a month later, we went up the mountain again, but with my cousins! And we did other cool things, too!

 I met the craziest squirrel I have ever met in my entire life (his name is Nut xD)

Nutty want some birdseed?

Too bad! (yes, he is in the picture...Rootbeer's teaching him a lesson :D)

Rootbeer somehow became even cuter...!

Oh, duh! Marching band too! Although this is a picture of me and my friend during our last concert of last year...oh well :P

Me and my friend, 'Lexis

And there's been so much more that's happened this summer, I couldn't write about it all! I'll definitely miss this summer; it's been full of fun. But, I guess all good things must come to an end sometime...

Goodbye summer. See you when the bees take flight, when the flowers bloom, and when the rains come again. I'll be waiting.
~Kathy