Well, I promised a post, so here it is!
The Retreat was
great, by all means, and we had a really good time. The teaching was excellent, and my favorite was one by the Botkin Sisters entitled "Adventurous Femininity", where they made it clear that femininity isn't just sitting around knitting and doing really girly things, though it does include some of that - it's what you need to be doing to help your dad, whether that's doing something like ranching, carpentry, etc., just as examples - but doing it in a
feminine way. I thought it was very good. =)
Anyway, we had lots of fun, and went to the Butterfly Center everyday to goof off for a while. On one trip, there was a bus load of Chinese tourists, and since I was holding a butterfly in my hand, they all crowded around me and where taking pictures, and this one girl asked if she could hold it, so I slid it onto her finger, and she asked me to take a picture. Here it is! Doesn't she look thrilled? =D
We got to go bike-riding only a couple of times, sadly, because Saturday it was raining, and I had my "horror story" experience. Long story short, there was a tornado only three miles from the gardens, and we were supposed to meet some friends at the Butterfly Center. We didn't know about the warning, and we were going to bike over there. A little ways from the hotel, we decided that it probably wasn't a good idea because it was beginning to rain. Back to the hotel we raced, and by the time we got there, it was
pouring. (When I say pouring, I mean "coming
in sheets-of-rain pouring!) We got in the car and drove over there, and just as we got there, our friends were getting out, so I asked dad to let me out and I'd run in with them while he parked the car. It was still pouring, but I jumped out and ran in anyway. By the time we got in there, we were soaked, so my friend and I went to the bathroom and were drying off with paper towels, when we heard this roaring noise. I thought it was one of those loud AC unites, so I didn't pay attention. (It was loud; there were several people in the bathroom.) Then in the background, I hear
someone say "It's hailing!" My friend and I, in the confusion that followed, ran from the bathroom to find that there were golf-ball sized hail literally pouring from the sky. The roof on the building is made of Plexiglas, so you can imagine what it sounded like! (It was DEAFENING!) Everyone was running around, some slightly panicked because of the tornado warning, running to the windows (don't ask me why!), and trying to call on their cell phones. It was then that I realized that dad wasn't in the building! I pulled out my cell
phone and dialed his number, and didn't hear a ring or anything. I looked at it and it said "Calling", so I kept listening (or trying to, anyway...), and then heard a "beep" - I looked. It read, "Disconnected".
Lovely. I tell you it was something right out of a movie! THEN - get this - the power went out. It was only for a minute, but it seemed to read my thoughts.... >.>
Anyway, dad got in alright, but it was kinda scary!
We went to the Azalea Bowl, the Horticultural Center, where I found this cute Japanese Oak tree, and the lake, where I captured a picture of some ducks swimming. :) It was really nice! We had a really, really great time. I enjoyed it!
The High Tea was really nice, though we got some poor service this time.
-.- Other than that, it was fun. We got our picture taken, and are still waiting for the results of that in the mail.
I made some new friends this year, as well as saw old ones. My three wonderful friends, Jasmine,, Dionne and Bethany, along with their little sister Jessica, came again this year, so I was really happy to see them!
And of course, the Double Trouble twins that I adore, Sydney and Genesis (I may have the names backwards! 0.0), were there again as well.
And now for my new friends -
This is Faith. She's absolutely hilarious and makes me smile. I'm hoping to keep in touch with this dear girl!
This is Taylor. We started chatting between breaks, and found we have a lot in common!
I don't have individual photos of the rest of us, but I do have this one big group photo:
In the back row wearing the purple shirt is Kirstine (I hope I spelled her name right!), and then in the front wearing the floral dress is Lisa, two new friends!
And this is ANOTHER Hannah! (I met about 6!)
I also got my picture taken with Doug Phillips, Elizabeth and Anna Sofia Botkin, and Liberty Phillips. We all got to chat for a while, which was great!
To close up the trip, we stopped at a Baskin Robbins, and I got Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream. =) It was reeeally good. ^.^
So, we had a great time. I'd put more photos up, but I did make this slide show for you guys to see! The photos are all mine, and the music is "In Hope of Spring" by David Nevue. (I LOVE this one!) Anyway, here's the show - I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks, Dad!
Always Fighting,
-Han
