Lindsay Anderson

For each Christmas since Chad and I were little, our families met up in Henley Beach, Florida for Christmas. What this meant is that my family would fly to Florida from Denver, and Chad's from Los Angeles. From 12/23-12/27, all of us would congregate at Chad and his family's large beach house, and spend Christmas there. Truth be told it is one of my top favorite traditions of all time.

I have always been a person who loves school and gets good grades. I enjoy school extra-curricular activities like being on the school's varsity men's football and basketball teams. On a different note, I have amazing classmates, all of whom happen to be good friends of my best friends and me. Finally, I have two of the most amazing best friends that I could ever ask for I have secretly been in love with one of them for the longest time). Like I said, I love school. Today, I especially love it, and here is why. Porter's senior retreat starts today. This means that my best friends, our amazing classmates, and some of the amazing senior teachers will be going to a camp and participating in fun, skill building, and trust activities. We leave for camp at 7:45 am and return tomorrow at 1:00 pm. With this said, I am truly excited about this trip

Dear Journal, There are many perks to being a senior at Porter. One of them is the SENIORS ONLY lock in on the first Friday of the school year. Tonight happens to be that night. With this said, let me tell you a little bit about what tonight will bring for my best friends and me. Tonight, we will be hanging out and spending the night in Porter with our five other classmates, and having the time of our lives dancing, doing karaoke, watching movies, playing fun games, etc. Two of the plethora of amazing high school teachers are going to be the chaperones. With this said, I am so excited about this that I can barely stand it -Beverly

Dear Journal, This week was my first week back to homeschool after being in the hospital for over a year. My long time, awesome, and amazing tutor, Alicia, is also my homeschool teacher. Even though both of us were happy to be back in the swing of things (Me being out of the hospital and being back at home), it was also an adjustment for us. For example, she resumed coming Monday- Thursday from 8 am- noon, instead of two to three days a week. Even though I am very tired, I am also very happy. It feels good to be back in the swing of things. Even though I am happy about this, there is another reason about why I am very happy. Earlier this week, Adam had told me that he wanted to take me out to bowling and dinner tonight to celebrate the completion of my first week back at homeschool. Immediately, I had said yes Even though I know that this is not a date, I do not care After all, I am up to spending time with my long time secret love interest and best friend anytime -Addison

Today is my first day at Dreier Academy. Am I nervous? Yes. Am I excited? Definitely Today is the first day that I will be attending an actual school, and I am so excited Not only does school take place from 8-12 each day (Periods 1-4 on Mondays and Wednesdays, and 5-8 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sport practices and or study hall takes place on periods 4 and 8.), but the school days are Monday- Thursday On a different note, I am looking forward to making new friends. I know that it will take time, and that is okay with me. Even though I know that this year will come with new challenges, that is more than okay with me After all, I am looking forward to a great year

"How do you think that Caralee is feeling?" I asked Aunt Caroline and Uncle Carter. "Do you think she is nervous?""Knowing our daughter, she is more excited than nervous." Uncle Carter said. "After all, she has been anticipating this night for a long time." As Mom, Dad, Aunt Caroline, Uncle Carter, and I sat in our seats and waited for the concert to begin, I could not help but feel excited and proud for Caralee. Just like many other artists, Caralee had been chosen to sing in this year's annual televised Christmas Concert that was held in Orlando. In the music world, that is a big deal. As I continue to think about Caralee, the lights dim, and the presenter comes onto the stage. Here we go, I think to myself, as everyone, including myself, stood up and clapped.

I don't know if I can go through with this, Beverly thought, as she and her Dad waited in the parlor for Pastor Bree to get them. I am not ready to say goodbye. Last week, Beverly and her mother had been involved in a car crash with a drunk driver. Even though the drunk driver had survived, Beverly's Mom had not been so lucky. Tears filling her eyes, Beverly, like many, many times over this past week, wished that she could have taken her Mom's place. After all, it was unbearable for Beverly living with out her Mom. Moments later, Beverly felt her Dad's arms wrap around her." It's okay, sweetheart." Mr. Black whispered. "I'm here." Immediately, Bree turned around, wrapped her arms around her father, and started to sob.

As she, Bea, their dance team, and dance teacher made their way to the NRG Arena, Beverly thought about what was about to occur. This morning was the 2019 Texas State Dance Competition, and Beverly could not help but feel excited. Not only would Beverly competing in the solo division, but she, her best friend, and teammates would be competing in the group division. More than anything, Beverly wanted her team to win the group division. After all, the team that won that would be competing at Nationals in Maui in May. Like I said, Beverly, Bea and their teammates wanted this win more than anything.

As the fireworks made their debut in the sky and over Henley Beach's main beach, a different kind of fireworks were occurring on the balcony of my parent's and my beach house. That's right Bentley and I were sharing our first kiss For such a long time, I had only dreamt of kissing Bentley. Now, my dream was coming true

Waking up in my bed, I take in my surroundings. I am not in Minnesota, but in Henley Beach, Florida. I am not in my home, but in my family's large beach house. It is not snowing or bitter cold here, but sunny and warm. Finally, I am here with my parents, my amazing and beautiful best friend (aka my longtime secret love interest), and her parents celebrating Christmas. Truth be told, life could not be better.

A few weeks ago, Addison's best friend and secret love interest, Adam, had asked her to be his date to his, Andrea, and Andrew's high school's Christmas Ball tonight. Immediately, Addison had said yes After all, she had only dreamt of going on a date with him. A few weeks later, her dream was finally coming true.

Lying in bed, I open my eyes and look around the room. I am not in my room. I am in my good friend, Meggie's, sleeping in the other twin bed that is in her room. I am in my boyfriend's and his family's mansion, spending Thanksgiving with them. My parents are also visiting, too. Sitting up in my bed, I stretch and smile.

When I woke up this morning, I was looking forward to spending the first day o of spring break with my wonderful and amazing girlfriend and our best friend this afternoon. Never had I imagined Bea's family and my family from Beverly's Dad saying that Beverly and her mom had been in a severe car crash involving a drunk driver. Second, I had never imagined the fact that Beverly's Mom had died in the car crash. Even though I am thankful that Beverly made it out with just a black eye, some wounds (The doctors wounds required some stitches) and a broken wrist, my heart hurts for her. As my parents, Bea's parents, Bea, and I wait in the waiting room, Bea leans her head on my shoulder and begins to cry. Immediately, I put my arm around my best friend. Before any of us knew what was happening, the doctor comes into the room and informs us that Beverly is awake and that we can see her now.

Dear Journal, Back in September, I joined my church's youth choir (My best friends happen to be in the choir with me). Three and a half months later, I am singing a solo at the 5:00 Christmas Eve service that my choir is leading. Tonight, I will be singing " The Night Before Christmas" by Amy Grant. It happens to be one of my favorite Christmas songs of all time. Even though I am both nervous and excited, I have full confidence that I am going to do great tonight -Beverly

Today is Valentine's Day, the day of love. Usually, it is not a big deal to me, but this year it is. Not only do I have someone special to celebrate with, but we will also be celebrating it with our best friends. With this said, my awesome and amazing boyfriend, Adam, our best friends, Andrew and Andrea are going on a group date. The group date will contain the four of us. I am so excited that I can barely contain myself

As Adam and Addison made their way to Adam's mansion, they could not help but feel excited. Tonight was Andrew's annual New Year's Eve Bash. These parties had a reputation for being fun and awesome, and had always exceeded expectation. Not only was there dancing and great food, there were also fun activities, like karaoke and games, too. Like I said, these parties were awesome and exceeded expectations every year. Before Adam and Addison could talk anymore about the party, they were arriving at Andrew's family's mansion.

This morning, seventeen year old Miriam Davis had slept in. While her parents and the English's had gotten up Miriam had decided to sleep in. Not only was she tired, but she had also needed her rest for today's activities. At around 10:00, Miriam had woken up to wrap her presents for her boyfriend, good friend, their parents and her parents. Thirty minutes later, she had everyone's presents wrapped. Getting up off of the floor, Miriam put on her robe, and headed down-stairs. After all, everyone was waiting for her.

As she, Mason, and their families sat together and listened to the sermon, Miriam and Mason held hands. At the same moment and time, they gently squeezed the other's hands. This made the other one feel happy because it proved to them once more that they were actually together during the most magical time of the year.

As the limo escorted her and her parents to Orlando International Airport to pick up the English's, Miriam Davis could not help but feel excited While the Davis' had spent Thanksgiving with the English's, the English's will be spending Christmas with them. They will be staying with the Davis' from today until the twenty sixth. Truth be told, it was an awesome situation