My Last Back to High School-August is Gone Already?

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I know it's not the start of school anymore, or the end of August, but October is already here!  That shows you what school does to me.  There is little free time to do this, but I upload pictures to add details to later!

Dual-enrollment is a blessing in SO many ways. I don't have to put up with the morning traffic. Our road situation around school is chaos as it is, but the beginning of school is so many times worse. This line of cars extended nearly a mile. That is not an exaggeration; I've run it with my gps watch.

Mom moved around her office to a new position, and it had her staying out super late the first couple weeks leaving Dad and me on our own for dinner. I really enjoyed cooking for myself a lot though! This meal here is sweet potato with the sweet spices, peas, beets, chia seeds, and fish on top with some seasonings.
I have also been eating tons of hamburgers this year!  Mom likes huge white buns, but I like wheat and just enough to cover the size of the patty, so I usually just use bread.  My burger trimmings: spinach, pickles, ketchup, mustard, sliced beets, red pepper flakes, jalapenos, onion, chili powder are pictured on this one, but I also use other things when we have them on hand.  Those include tomato, collard greens, tater tots when mom makes them, and many other things I can get creative with!

Back to school means I get to create binder covers and stuff!  I love having the opportunities to express myself!  These are some of my favorite pictures of quotes, thoughts, and fun times from the summer and two verses that I had recently found especially encouraging.

As seniors, we go back and forth from the typical "senioritis" outfits of tshirts and sweats when we aren't feeling it, but we get the urge to dress up sometimes, too.  We didn't plan to all three be dressy this day, but since we did, and we're seniors, we had to commemorate it.  We are determined to make this the best year yet.  In my opinion, it's a success so far.  I love this picture of my two best friends and me, but I love them and their friendship more.

I'm not a big selfie-snapper, but I have taken some lately, again to help me commemorate!  Mom also never gets to see me until I get home after cross country, so she enjoys it when I send her pictures during the day.  I also enjoy color coordination, ya know!  Especially my green and purple up there, all the way to the eye shadow.

The first couple weeks, they don't have everything together at school (But do they ever?), so peer tutors get pushed to the backburner.  I'm okay with that though; it gave me more time to work before class started!  Katlyn and I both have peer tutoring and dual enrollment, so we got to hang out in the library until our classes got assigned. 

I love how The Feed has so many deals!  Their marketing ideas really work on me.  When there is something free, it encourages me to buy something.  You don't always have to make a purchase to get their free stuff, but I usually do anyways.  Mom is also more willing to buy things online when I have special promotions.

The photo on the right features some of my recent purchases, the favorites being the waffle and wafels!   What I like about them:  taste, (obviously); fancy brands (I love exploring new things); originally from a different country? (cool); "slopeside" (skiing is my hobby); can you really go wrong with dark chocolate, maple, or a waffle?  (NO)

 

Everything on the right cost me $0.00.  Yep.  A Camelbak, Bonk Breaker Chews, and two bars all for zero dollars.  If I had bought these in a store somewhere, the free stuff would have been more than the items I paid for here.

I love being on the yearbook staff.  It gives me even more chances to prepare for my future, be involved with the school and community, and be around people and things that I love.

Here are some things that could fall into the #KenziesCreations category.

As the caption says, "homemade 'ice cream'" that I blend up from various combinations of protein powders, milk cubes, pudding, yogurt, fruit to pack an extra punch to my desserts

A new fresh fruit I decided to try-papaya.  I had no idea they looked like this.  Tip:  don't eat the peel.  It is disgusting!

Remember my post about my cross country girls all being beans?  Well, I love beans.  Double entendre intended.  Twice.  I also eat beans on a daily basis.

There's another bowl with some things I love to eat.  More beans!  Boiled cabbage has also been added to my list of favorites.

On the right is actually not a homemade meal, but from Akita!  Shrimp, chicken, broccoli, Sriracha, and some hot sauce that accidentally lit my mouth on fire.  If I say it's hot, you know it's hot.

 
I've tried many new food items during this time, but these are the only two that I had uploaded pictures for, so I'll share them!  Edy's is one of my top grocery store ice cream brands, and I recently decided to give French Silk a try!  It has a great chocolate and kinda-coffee flavor, as well as vanilla, and dark chocolate chunks!
Target is where I found the 18 Rabbits granola.  The brand is cute and healthy, and especially tasty!  Another reason I like it-they do good.  Every purchase helps feed hungry children.

 

 

 

Cracker Barrel is a great place to shop for holiday and unique gifts!  They got the fall stuff out just in time for my traveling to start, so luckily I'll get to browse the store more often.  Snoopy had a section on the shelves, too!

They also have lots of coffee mugs, and these caught my eye, immediately followed by my heart...and a few dollars!  I was actually super surprised that the Halloween mugs were so cheap, so I couldn't pass it up.  I also didn't have any Halloween mugs yet, so it was a great purchase in my opinion.  I got the Frankenstein monster!

We usually go to El Sazon for all of our family meals out now, but occasionally we do Cracker Barrel, too!

When we went to Waterville for our team picnic, I accidentally wore the exact same outfit that I wore a couple years ago.  I staged the picture on the right, though, so I could laugh at myself.  That's what happens when you're me!  You never grow out of your clothes!

(Yes I am aware that I am wearing half tights this year, but I was wearing the short pink spandex before I changed into drier clothes.)

My mom loves Chick-fil-a's new frosted lemonades, so I took her one to work one day!  Since she had been staying so late working hard with basically no time to even snack, I felt that was not good, and brought her a treat...and a glimpse of me to brighten her day!  Haha..I also sent her this picture one morning hoping that she would smile a little more.

What a wonderful flavor coordination for National Potato Day!  Sweet potato cranberry cookies, sweet potato cereal, sweet potato oatmeal raisin cookies, and a real sweet potato, of course!

 Simple cookies and ice cream (or frozen yogurt or pudding) are a great combination for a protein dessert after a long day!  Especially if it's a Lenny and Larry's cookie.

 

My Panther Creek races are now over!  I am actually sad.  Yes, it's the toughest course, but I love it.  We almost always have hot, sunny, weather, and it just feels so good to race here at "home."  I will miss this place.  This is a timehop collage from some good memories from previous years. 

Feeling free crossing that finish

Quintin and me both holding the course record

Emily and me being goofy with our new pink shirts

This post will start and end with cars!  I didn't plan it that way, but that's what happened.  DoSomething.org is a new site that I've become involved with lately, joining in some of their campaigns to share with others to make a difference in this world.  This one on the left is for no texting and driving.  If you wear thumb socks, you can't text.  And they look cute.  (I actually don't wear them, but they sit in my room as a reminder.  Practice what you preach!)

 

Some great window stickers! 

Some of my favorite things:  traveling, moose, Colorado, and Peanuts

This one made me smile so much!  I sent it to Katlyn because of her pet chickens.  The bottom one also brought a smile to our faces because it is such a simple and sweet reminder to chill out because God has His plan.

This is what it's all about!

Live a life that can be a light to anyone who sees you!  Like this for example.  I have no idea who these people are, besides they were parked near me.  However, they put a bright spot of encouragement in my day, and they weren't even there. 

You never know who, where, or how you may impact someone's life.

 

 

 

 

God's Beautiful Power

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While we were gone to the beach, we had fantastic weather!  It only rained once, and it didn't even mess up our plans.  That is a huge blessing to get to enjoy over 2 weeks of perfect beach weather.  We had all the sunshine, heat, and humidity we could handle.  One night there was a lightning storm.  All lightning.  No thunder.  It was amazing!  It was constant lightning with no noise!  We stood out on the balcony and watched it for a really long time.  I thought this was an awesome demonstration of God's power.  He is the one who controls the weather, something powerful, and so unpredictable to us. I believe that is one thing He uses to show us that we are not in control; He is.  We can't know what will happen or how it will happen.  He is in total control, and His plan is amazing.

The golf night was a late night, and I was exhausted. I cherish my sleep, but I got in bed after midnight!  It was worth it though. If Dad had not wanted to stay longer and practice putting, I wouldn't have gotten to experience this amazing lightning storm.  It was truly amazing and made me watch in awe of how powerful our God is. He makes beautiful things happen that we can't understand so that He can demonstrate that awesome power.


This also led me to look up some verses about lightning and brought to mind a song by the Newsboys!  Here's some of what I found.

"The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning."  Psalm 29:7

Light light light up the sky
You light up the sky
To show me You are with me
I I I can't deny
No I can't deny that You are right here with me
You've opened my eyes
So I can see You all around me
Light light light up the sky
You light up the sky to show me
That You are with me

"See how He scatters His lightning about Him, bathing the depths of the seas.  This is the way He governs the nations and provides food in abundance.  He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike tis mark.  His thunder announces the coming storm..."  Job 36:30-32

"When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.  He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses."  Jeremiah 51:16

Saved by Snow Days

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This winter was a dud...until mid January.  After a drought, when it finally rains, it pours, right?  Or when it snows it's a blizzard, in this case. 

 TWO WEEKS PEOPLE

We were out of school for over two weeks.  You have no idea how happy that made me (and my mom).  We were in desperate need of a break from school.  Dad even got several days off from work, too!  It was like Christmas break all over again, but better!

The extra time off gave me the chance to relax a little bit, sleep extra, cook, get creative, be a bit spontaneous, and learn lots of lessons!  God really got me motivated about things. For example, I shared some stuff that I had learned and that was on my heart, if you want to go back and check it out.

 

I also looked up some Bible verses as I was in awe of this amazing and beautiful snow that God sent us.  Our weather is so unpredictable and things like this have been coming so unexpectedly lately, and I say it is God showing us that we are not in control and we "do not know what will happen tomorrow (James 4:14)" 

 

"He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes."  Psalm 147:16

 

"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding.  He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,'...so that all men He has made may know His work.."  Job 37:5-7

This is what I loved most about this snow season.

I laughed when I saw this picture on instagram and shared it with a couple friends, because that's basically what we do, especially when we are out of school.

 

Exhibit A.



I wanted to make these look especially pretty.  Kodiak Cakes also has a pretty box for their pancake and waffle mix.  The m&m guy, well, he's not pretty, but he tastes good.

My snowman looked a little deformed, but I did my best!  Redi Whip is tough to shape!

I was inspired by the pancakes I made almost this exact time the year before on a snow day, pumpkin-flavored and snowflake-shaped!

Here are a few more concoctions from the blizzard break:  almond coconut, strawberry banana, and I honestly don't remember what those last ones are...kinda looks like chocolate or blueberries!  What I was more concerned about in that picture was all the Peanuts stuff.  I was eating on my snowy Snoopy plate, drinking from my snowy Snoopy Christmas mug, and got to finally use my Snoopy Snow day coloring book that Chantal and Cherie had given me!

 No, this is not a pancake.  I can cook other things besides breakfast!  This was a new dinner I made with lots of vegetables, an apple, eggs, and chicken stir fry.  Coconut oil is my favorite kind to use when anything has to use oil!

After a while, we just expected school to be cancelled indefinitely.  Some people went out and started doing crazy things!  One day that was relatively warm and sunny, some teachers had gone into school to get some things done, and some of West High's administration made a little video for us to have some fun with yet another school closing announcement.

That tree belongs in Whoville.

I was really focused on being creative and living these snow days to the fullest!  Just going with what God gave me each day because we may never get another snow like this in my school years!  I wrote this silly little poem and took it around to some of my neighbors when I went for an afternoon fun run.

I had to get some classic ice sickle snapshots. 

Out TV's cable box upstairs got all messed up when the power went out, so we moved our dinner spot downstairs for a few nights.  It was actually pretty fun to mix things up!  One night our power went out, and I woke up to the house about 50 degrees...my hands and feet started to go numb..yikes!

When it gets too frigid outside, Mom caves and lets her favorite family member come inside. 

She's queen.

She also took over my bed 24/7.  If I wasn't in it, and as soon as I was back in it at night, there she would come and walk all over me to find a comfy spot. 

(Left-when I wasn't in it.  Right-before bed)

(Left-in the morning.  See, she had every part of the day covered.)

After a few days, she even started bonding with Dad!  He's always been more of a dog person, and Sophie has never really been drawn to him either, but I guess she realized that Dad is a good seat cushion, too! 

My bed is her bed.  I just wish that I could sleep half as much as she does.

However, my food is not her food!  I know it smells good, but once she took a bite, she probably wouldn't like beef, beans, corn, veggies, and hot sauces and spices!  She does her best to get into our food every chance she gets.

I went for a few runs when the temperatures hit their "highs" for the day.  It was just so pretty, I had to get out there!  Running in the snow isn't too hard if you watch where you step.  The soft stuff may be a little slower, but it's not slick!  The same old route seems totally different with a weather and scenery change.

I had been saving all my color coordinating neon socks, hat, shirt, and tights (stripes), for snow, and I finally got to use it!  The neon compared to the white literally glowed!

We tried to have track practice a couple days...one worked out pretty well other than the fact that there was no sun to give any warm so we all froze to (not quite) death.  The next time was sunny, but the snow was so deep, we could hardly run or even see the track at all!  It was a fun experience, though, and I'm glad we got out there!  In the end, it's really all about making "..the most of every opportunity..(Colossians 4:5)"