12.20.13- Sharing

I would like to keep sharing with Mrs. Harvath's class because they are nice people and I would like to keep sharing.

12.19.13- R and E

I shared Navigating Early for my R &E.

12.16.13- Year-Round School Evidence

My claim: I don't think students should go to a year-round school because it limits their chances to experience the real world.

My evidence:

Instead of extending the school year, educators should concentrate more on improving the quality of time now being spend in school.  Until the quality of time spent in schools is raised, increasing the number of days will not do much good.

Certainly stress created by conflicting schedules will not enhance relationships in school or at home.  Because it appears that social benefits are not guaranteed by a change in the school calendar either, year-round education is not a good idea.

More time in year round school gives students less time to earn money to spend or save for college. They cannot maintain a steady job, so they may be forced to work during the school year, which will lower grades overall. 

Summer time allows children to grow and mature, which may ultimately give them a new outlook for the upcoming school year and provide them with the chance for a fresh start.

summer can also provide children with educational opportunities that they may not get while in school, such as enjoying a summer reading program at the public library, learning to swim, attending a summer camp, or visiting faraway historic sites on vacation.  

Conclusion: We shouldn't take summer away from children. We should let them enjoy being children for as long as possible.

My link: 

http://compclass.us/yre/my_view.html

12.12.13- 'At-Home' Writing

I'm at school. Notttt at home. but thats okay because im supposed to be here anyway. its called truancy. i dont feel like using punctuation because im using my keyboard and its faster to not use these ' or CAPITOLS or anything but its okay because this isnt meant to be perfect anyway. im next to nia say hi nia hi and kylee is drawing on her test (a momument) and its really detailed wow. \0/ i feel like this zzzzz im tired and so is everyone else here. we had a late start to our schedule is all messed up and now im in academic lab and i just took a ss test. it was easy. 

anyway, five minutes are up and i gtg adios🙋🐬🌺🌈⭐️☀️💸

12.11.13- Argument Paragraph Pre-Writing

1. Free Write

a. I think year-round school is not a good idea, because I think the kids should be the ones to make the decision if they want to go to year-round or not. The adults don't go to school, and they don't experience our workload and lifestyle with school involved. We know when we've reached the limit, so we should have a say.

b. I believe year-round school is a bad idea.

c. I think the aspect of us missing out on other things in life, like travelling and the people around us, is one of the things that affect my opinion the most. We never have a right say in our life for at least the first 18 years. I think it's unfair and just not right that we have our daily life chosen for us. I also don't like that school is overly tiring and we never seem run out of work. 

d. I don't attend year-round school, but I think you would have to commit a lot to the lifestyle and school. I think you would be able to learn just as much if you were able to travel the world and learn from more people than just your everyday teachers. 

e. I don't know anyone who goes to year-round school. 

2. Make a Claim

I don't think students should go to a year-round school because it doesn't give them a chance to experience the real world beyond the classroom.

3. Narrow Your Claim

I 6don't think students should go to a year-round school because it doesn't give them a chance to experience the real world beyond the classroom.

12.9.13- At-Home Writing

This is my at home writing. (The title says so.) so I don't really have much to say, except that I had tech issues last night so I posting this now. Yup....

Spelling city isn't working, THE LICENSE NEEDS TO BE UPDATED. I don't know what I'm gonna do, but I got words like quintessential and Kylee got words like tiger. Grace got words like SPOON. Yes, SPOON. AND QUINTESSENCE. WHAT.

Anyway, I've gotta go. Done complaining. It's not like these words are hard anyway. Quintessence. Bye.

12.9.13- Year-Round School Paragraph

Year-round is not a good idea for students. When you are in school year-round, it can feel endless because you never get a full break. Even the year-round clock gives more chances for students to lose their knowledge, because with the multiple 3 week breaks (sometimes longer or shorter) students sometimes forget what they learned before. Even with this, they are the same academically because both the regular summer schedule and the year-round schedule require students to attend school for at least 180 days.

12.3.13- Books Read

We had a discussion about gay and lesbian rights and then we worked on our read lists. You can find mine here:

http://joberts13.wikis.birmingham.k12.mi.us/Helen%27s+Digital+Reader%27s+Notebook

12.2.13- Facts and Opinions

We did a worksheet on facts and opinions.

11.26.13- TYM By Langston Hughes

Today in class we answered questions about the poem "Thank you m'am" by Langston Hughes.

11.25.13- Gratitude Poem

What am I grateful for?

I am grateful for my family

They make me happy

I am grateful for my friends

They make my life exciting

I am grateful for the food I eat

I consider it a treat

I am grateful for snow

It transforms the world into a wonderland

I am grateful for music

It gives my life a soundtrack

I am grateful for my shelter

It keeps me safe and warm

I am grateful for my voice

It lets me talk a lot

I am grateful for my friend Kylee

Because she is super smiley

I am grateful for my cousin Kiri

She is always very cheery

I am grateful to explore

It gives me something more

I am grateful for color

It makes my life bright

I am grateful for Thanksgiving

It gives me a chance to give. :)

11.21.13- 30 Second Video

Today I made a thirty second video about my reaction if someone said they didn't like me.

11.18.13- My Performance Piece

My finished digital story:

http://youtu.be/guAEozUzvjI

My finished story:

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year. I remember coming to LOMC before, and I definitely remembered my first year. On my very first day, I remember that it was a hot, sunny day, almost the exact opposite of the weather today. I was also much more nervous. When I got out of the car, the entire camp was so much bigger than I thought. With a huge field, forest, and pond, I knew that I was in for an interesting surprise.

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud. Great. Just great.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in an attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by it, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic tables were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. She was in the middle of a circle of brightly colored picnic tables.

"Look at this." Kiri said, smiling. When I looked around, I saw that each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names. It was a myriad of bright colors and last-minute additions, with splatter paint and mixed-up names placed in every nook and cranny of the tables. 

"Do you recognize any of them?" I asked. I saw that some were from the year before, but a lot of them were from this year.

"Some of them," Kiri replied. "But there's a lot of new ones, too."

Emma walked over. "Hey you guys, look at the sky!"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow that looked like a mix of paint across the sky. 

"It's so pretty!" Kiri's voice sounded like it was smiling.

I looked back at the sky. The rainbow was still there, and it remained there for the rest of the day. Even the sun was a shining penny in the sky. We had started the day with a gloomy, wet rain, and we had ended it with a beautiful sunset.

11.15.13- iMovie

11.14.13- Criterion Test and iMovie Pics

I took a test on Criterion: And I also worked on my performance piece pictures.

https://prev-criterion.ets.org/student/

And I also worked on my performance piece pictures.

11.13.13- Book Fair

I went to the Book Fair.

11.12.13- iMovie

11.11.13- Performance Piece

I searched for pictures and recorded. 

11.8.13- Performance Piece Work

I worked on my digital story by recording and finding pictures and music for the video.

11.7.13- From Sad to Sunny

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year. I remember coming to LOMC before, and I definitely remembered my first year. On my very first day, I remember that it was a hot, sunny day, almost the exact opposite of the weather today. I was also much more nervous. When I got out of the car, the entire camp was so much bigger than I thought. With a huge field, forest, and pond, I knew that I was in for an interesting surprise.

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud. Great. Just great.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in an attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by it, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic tables were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. She was in the middle of a circle of brightly colored picnic tables.

"Look at this." Kiri said, smiling. When I looked around, I saw that each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names. It was a myriad of bright colors and last-minute additions, with splatter paint and mixed-up names placed in every nook and cranny of the tables. 

"Do you recognize any of them?" I asked. I saw that some were from the year before, but a lot of them were from this year.

"Some of them," Kiri replied. "But there's a lot of new ones, too."

Emma walked over. "Hey you guys, look at the sky!"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow that looked like a mix of paint across the sky. 

"It's so pretty!" Kiri's voice sounded like it was smiling.

I looked back at the sky. The rainbow was still there, and it remained there for the rest of the day. Even the sun was a shining penny in the sky. We had started the day with a gloomy, wet rain, and we had ended it with a beautiful sunset.

11.6.13- Digital Story Work

*today I searched for pictures for my story and recorded so I can make it a digital story.*

Here's my youtube channel where I will post the finished digital story:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm38JeGey_oR36sPkDIpkDQ

Here's the latest version of my story:

http://helendevine.blogspot.com/2013/10/102913-from-sad-to-sunny.html

11.4.13- Digital Story Work

*today I searched for pictures for my story and recorded so I can make it a digital story.*

Here's my youtube channel where I will post the finished digital story:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm38JeGey_oR36sPkDIpkDQ

Here's the latest version of my story:

http://helendevine.blogspot.com/2013/10/102913-from-sad-to-sunny.html

11.1.13- The Doorbell

"Trick or treat!" I chorused. It was Halloween, and it was pouring. Rain dripped through the leaves, and every so often, there was a quick but freezing wind that blew though the streets. So basically, I was cold. I was entirely soaked, and my hair was tangled and dripping. Just a small price to pay for the amount of candy my street was handing out. There was almost nobody trick or treating because of the weather, so every house was desperately trying to get rid of their candy into my bag. But then, I skipped up the uneven bricks to a small one story house with some pumpkins. Even though the outside light wasn't on, their house was decorated and their indoor lights were on. 

I walked up to the brick house and looked for the doorbell. When I didn't find one, I knocked on the door and waited patiently. When a small, frail old lady opened the door, I did my part and chimed, "Trick or treat!" I smiled at the lady. "Happy Halloween!" 

She looked annoyed. She walked over to her bowl of candy and practically spat at me, "Does the doorbell work?!" 

I stood there, silent until I found my voice a few seconds later. "Um, I didn't see it. I'm sorry?" I questioned, still slightly smiling in an attempt to change her mood. 

She raised her eyebrows in a very rude manner at me. "Oh, you didn't see it? Hmm, let me check if it still works." She then leaned over her doorframe and looked around for the almost nonexistent doorbell. It was the exact same color as the bricks in her house and there was moss covering every part but the button. To add to that, she hadn't turned on her outdoor light, so there was no possible way I would be able to see it. She then spotted her doorbell, leaned over, and hit the button. A distant bell rung through her house.

"Oh, it does work!" She said in distant fake wonder. "Hmm."

I was speechless. 'Rude,' I thought, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. She then handed me a piece of candy and practically slammed the door in my face.

"Well Happy Halloween to you too," I muttered quietly while stepping down the walkway. "Well, at least now I have an interesting story to tell."

10.31.31- HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 🎃<--- jack o lantern :)

Hope you have a happy Halloween!!! 

*today I searched for pictures for my story so I can make it a digital story.*

Here's my youtube channel where I will post the finished digital story:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm38JeGey_oR36sPkDIpkDQ

Here's the latest version of my story:

http://helendevine.blogspot.com/2013/10/102913-from-sad-to-sunny.html

10.30.13- *None*

*I didn't write today because we were in the Media Center and we had a mini lesson.*

10.29.13- From sad to Sunny

From Sad to Sunny *i revised today*

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year. I remember coming to LOMC before, and I definitely remembered my first year. On my very first day, I remember that it was a hot, sunny day, almost the exact opposite of the weather today. I was also much more nervous. When I got out of the car, the entire camp was so much bigger than I thought. With a huge field, forest, and pond, I knew that I was in for a interesting surprise.

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud. Great. Just great.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in a attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by it, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic table were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. She was in the middle of a circle of brightly colored picnic tables.

"Look at this." Kiri said, smiling. When I looked around, I saw that each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names. It was a myriad of bright colors and last-minute additions, with splatter paint and mixed-up names placed in every nook and cranny of the tables. 

"Do you recognize any of them?" I asked. I saw that some were from the year before, but a lot of them were from this year.

"Some of them," Kiri replied. "But there's a lot of new ones, too."

Emma walked over. "Hey you guys, look at the sky!"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow that looked like a mix of paint across the sky. 

"It's so pretty!" Kiri's voice sounded like it was smiling.

I looked back at the sky. The rainbow was still there, and it remained there for the rest of the day. Even the sun was a shining penny in the sky. We had started the day with a gloomy, wet rain, and we had ended it with a beautiful sunset.

10.28.13- From Sad to Sunny

From Sad to Sunny

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year. I remember coming to LOMC before, and I definitely remembered my first year. On my very first day, I remember that it was a hot, sunny day, almost the exact opposite of the weather today. I was also much more nervous. When I got out of the car, the entire camp was so much bigger than I thought. With a huge field, forest, and pond, I knew that I was in for a interesting surprise.

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud. Great. Just great.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in a attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by it, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic table were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. She was in the middle of a circle of brightly colored picnic tables.

"Look at this." Kiri said, smiling. When I looked around, I saw that each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names. It was a myriad of bright colors and last-minute additions, with splatter paint and mixed-up names placed in every nook and cranny of the tables. 

"Do you recognize any of them?" I asked. I saw that some were from the year before, but a lot of them were from this year.

"Some of them," Kiri replied. "But there's a lot of new ones, too."

Emma walked over. "Hey you guys, look at the sky!"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow that looked like a mix of paint across the sky. 

"It's so pretty!" Kiri's voice sounded like it was smiling.

I looked back at the sky. The rainbow was still there, and it remained there for the rest of the day. Even the sun was a shining penny in the sky. We had started the day with a gloomy, wet rain, and we had ended it with a beautiful sunset.

10.25.13- From Sad to Sunny

From Sad to Sunny

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year. 

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud. Great. Just great.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in a attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by it, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic table were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. She was in the middle of a circle of brightly colored picnic tables.

"Look at this." Kiri said, smiling. When I looked around, I saw that each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names. It was a myriad of bright colors and last-minute additions, with splatter paint and mixed-up names placed in every nook and cranny of the tables. 4g t

"Do you recognize any of them?" I asked. I saw that some were from the year before, but a lot of them were from this year.

"Some of them," Kiri replied. "But there's a lot of new ones, too."

Emma walked over. "Hey you guys, look at the sky!"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow that looked like a mix of paint across the sky. 

"It's so pretty!" Kiri's voice sounded like it was smiling.

I looked back at the sky. The rainbow was still there, and it remained there for the rest of the day. Even the sun was a shining penny in the sky. We had started the day with a gloomy, wet rain, and we had ended it with a beautiful sunset.

10.24.13- From Sad to Sunny

From Sad to Sunny

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year.

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud. Great. Just great.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in a attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by it, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic table were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. She was in the middle of a circle of brightly colored picnic tables.

"Look at this." Kiri said, smiling. When I looked around, I saw that each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names. It was a myriad of bright colors and last-minute additions, with splatter paint and mixed-up names placed in every nook and cranny of the tables. 

"Do you recognize any of them?" I asked. I saw that some were from the year before, but a lot of them were from this year.

"Some of them," Kiri replied. "But there's a lot of new ones, too."

Emma walked over. "Hey you guys, look at the sky!"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow that looked like a mix of paint across the sky. 

"It's so pretty!" Kiri's voice sounded like it was smiling.

I looked back at the sky. The rainbow was still there, and it remained there for the rest of the day. Even the sun was a shining penny in the sky. We had started the day with a gloomy, wet rain, and we had ended it with a beautiful sunset.

10.23.13

From Sad to Sunny

From Sad to Sunny

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year.

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud. Great. Just great.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in a attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by it, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic table were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. She was in the middle of a circle of brightly colored picnic tables.

"Look at this." Kiri said, smiling. When I looked around, I saw that each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names. It was a myriad of bright colors and last-minute additions, with splatter paint and mixed-up names placed in every nook and cranny of the tables. 

"Do you recognize any of them?" I asked. I saw that some were from the year before, but a lot of them were from this year.

"Some of them," Kiri replied. "But there's a lot of new ones, too."

Emma walked over. "Hey you guys, look at the sky!"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow that looked like a mix of paint across the sky. 

"It's so pretty!" Kiri's voice sounded like it was smiling.

I looked back at the sky. The rainbow was still there, and it remained there for the rest of the day. Even the sun was a shining penny in the sky. We had started the day with a gloomy, wet rain, and we had ended it with a beautiful sunset.

10.22.13- From Sad to Sunny

From Sad to Sunny

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year.

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud. Great. Just great.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in a attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by it, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic table were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. She was in the middle of a circle of brightly colored picnic tables.

"Look at this." Kiri said, smiling. When I looked around, I saw that each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names. It was a myriad of bright colors and last-minute additions, with splatter paint and mixed-up names placed in every nook and cranny of the tables. 

"Do you recognize any of them?" I asked. I saw that some were from the year before, but a lot of them were from this year.

"Some of them," Kiri replied. "But there's a lot of new ones, too."

Emma walked over. "Hey you guys, look at the sky!"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow that looked like a mix of paint across the sky. 

"It's so pretty!" Kiri's voice sounded like it was smiling.

I looked back at the sky. The rainbow was still there, and it remained there for the rest of the day. Even the sun was a shining penny in the sky. We had started the day with a gloomy, wet rain, and we had ended it with a beautiful sunset.

10.21.13- From Sad to Sunny

From Sad to Sunny

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year.

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud. Great. Just great.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in a attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by it, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic table were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. She was in the middle of a circle of brightly colored picnic tables.

"Look at this." Kiri said, smiling. When I looked around, I saw that each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names. It was a myriad of bright colors and last-minute additions, with splatter paint and mixed-up names placed in every nook and cranny of the tables. 

"Do you recognize any of them?" I asked. I saw that some were from the year before, but a lot of them were from this year.

"Some of them," Kiri replied. "But there's a lot of new ones, too."

Emma walked over. "Hey you guys, look at the sky!"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow that looked like a mix of paint across the sky. 

"It's so pretty!" Kiri's voice sounded like it was smiling.

I looked back at the sky. The rainbow was still there, and it remained there for the rest of the day. Even the sun was a shining penny in the sky. We had started the day with a gloomy, wet rain, and we had ended it with a beautiful sunset.

10.18.13- From Sad to Sunny

From Sad to Sunny

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year.

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud. Great. Just great.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in a attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by it, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic table were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. She was in the middle of a circle of brightly colored picnic tables.

"Look at this." Kiri said, smiling. When I looked around, I saw that each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names. It was a myriad of bright colors and last minute additions, with splatter paint and mixed-up names placed in every nook and cranny of the tables. 

"Do you recognize any of them?" I asked. I saw that some were from the year before, but a lot of them were from this year.

"Some of them," Kiri replied. "But there's a lot of new ones, too."

Emma walked over. "Hey you guys, look at the sky!"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow that looked like a mix of paint across the sky. 

"It's so pretty!" Kiri's voice sounded like it was smiling.

I looked back at the sky. The rainbow was still there, and it remained there for the rest of the day. Even the sun was a shining penny in the sky. We had started the day with a gloomy, wet rain, and we had ended it with a beautiful sunset.

10.17.13

What is the most important message you heard from Joey Nowak during our video call?

I think that the fact that he said you have to start small and just do your best, then you'll get farther. Rather than complain, he did his work and he made it. So that's a lesson. If you start young and share your work, then if you work and not complain, then you'll make it. Even if you don't, at least you can say you tried.

10.14.13- From sad to sunny

All of my work from today was deleted. I'll post it along with tomorrow's.

10.11.13- From Sad to Sunny

From Sad to Sunny

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year.

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud. Great. Just great.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in a attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by it, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic table were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. She was in the middle of a circle of brightly colored picnic tables.

"Look at this." Kiri said, smiling. When I looked around, I saw that each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names.

Emma walked over. "Look at the sky!"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow that looked like a mix of paint across the sky. 

"It's so pretty!" Kiri's voice sounded like it was smiling.

I looked back at the sky. The rainbow was still there, and it remained there for the rest of the day. Even the sun was a shining penny in the sky. We had started the day with a gloomy, wet rain, and we had ended it with a beautiful sunset.

10.10.13- From Sad to Sunny

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year.

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud. Great. Just great.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in a attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by the freezing wind, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic table were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. 

"Look at these tables." Kiri said, smiling. Picnic tables were placed all over the barn. Each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names.

Emma walked over. "Whoa, those are pretty. But have you looked outside?"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow that looked like a mix of paint across the sky. 

"It's so pretty!" Kiri's voice sounded like it was smiling.

I looked back at the sky. The rainbow was still there, and it remained there for the rest of the day. Even the sun was a shining penny in the sky. We had started the day with a gloomy, wet rain, and we had ended it with a beautiful sunset.

10.9.13- Small Moment #1 Editing

"Seriously? It's raining?" My cousin Kiri complained.

She was right. It was pouring. The raindrops leaked down the window and the entire car was freezing. If you looked down at the road, you could see that there were puddles scattered along the ground and the car splashed through them easily.

Kiri's dad tried to calm her down, but she wasn't having it. I agreed with her though, it was a pretty terrible day for rain.

Today was the first day of camp at LOMC. Emma started at LOMC, then Kiri joined her, and about three summers later I started going. It was my third year.

Of course, it had to rain on the day we got dropped off and had to deal with all our stuff. Plus, there was dirt and dust everywhere, and now it was mud.

Suddenly, we took a sharp turn onto a side dirt road with a wooden sign that read LOMC in big gold letters. The sign was soaked. The ground was soaked. Everything was soaked. The second you stepped out into this weather you were sure to be soaked and freezing in 5 seconds flat. 

"We're here!" Kiri's dad said cheerfully while we pulled up the short dirt road. Emma, Kiri and I were definitely excited to be there, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal. 

The car pulled into a parking space and shut off. Now all we could hear was the bitter rain pelting the windows.

"Is anybody else cold?" I asked. Kiri and Emma both agreed, but Kiri's dad seemed optimistic. Great.

"Okay, lets check you in first and we'll come back to get your things," he said, already stepping out of the car in a attempt to get us to follow. We all groaned. Although at the same time we agreed silently that we might as well just go.

The second I stepped out of the car I was immediately pulled by the freezing wind. I was not only being practically blown away by the freezing wind, but the rain was worse than it seemed from the safety of the car. The second you felt a raindrop, it almost numbed you. And the rain wasn't just falling, it was being whipped into your face by the wind like a tornado.

Emma jumped out of the car and she reacted just as I expected.

"I'm FREEZING!" She shivered. "Lets go to the pole barn! At least there won't be as much rain!"

The pole barn was a huge barn with open walls and a roof supported by wooden poles. Picnic table were placed along the inside, and that's where we had to go to check in. We all ran through the rain to the pole barn, where Kiri's dad began the long process of checking us in. 

"Helen! Emma!" Kiri called from the side of the barn. "Look over here!" 

"Where?" I said, shivering. 

Kiri laughed. "C'mon!" 

I walked over to where my cousin was standing. 

"Look at these tables." Kiri said, smiling. Picnic tables were placed all over the barn. Each of them were uniquely painted with patterns and names.

Emma walked over. "Whoa, those are pretty. But have you looked outside?"

Kiri and I turned to look out. "What about it?"

Emma laughed. "It stopped raining! And look at that rainbow!"

She was right. It had stopped raining, and now the entire world sparkled with the raindrops. There was a vivid rainbow across the sky with shining colors and a beautiful sky. 

"Well," I said. "I guess it's not so bad anymore."