Train Trip to Calfornia

My family and I our taking a summer vacation to California. Even though it cost a little more than flying we decided to take a train rather than a plane.

Day 1

7:30 pm
We left for the station. Our pastor and his wife drove us to Kansas City fro evening chuch. On the way we stopped at a Custard place called Sheridian's. I got a Grasshopper, which is vanilla custard mixed with mint, oreos, and chocolate chips.
9:45 pm
Arrive in Kansas City at Union station.in isn't suppose to arrive for a 40 minutes so we wonder around, use the restroom, make a smashed penny. Soon we gather all our luggage up and head to the waiting room.
10:10 pm
Train arrives and we wait as people get off. Suddenly there is a call for us to board and we have to runwn to the platform. My mom, Chosen, and I shared a room. The beds were all own down and it was a tight squeeze as we gt ready for bed.
10:30 pm
The train begins to move. Chosen is excited as it is his first trip on a train (at least the first he can remember.) We call Glory and Melody who are in the next car sharing a room. Their beds are just being put down.
11:15 pm
The lights go off and soon I fall asleep.

Day 2

6:45 am
Wake up and wake Chosen up. Mom has already left so we change and get ready for breakfast.
7:00 am
We are in the dinning car. I ordered french toast. The server's name is Sam and as he says, " Everyone's favorite dinning car server."
8:00 am
Not feeling very good because I get motion sickness so just lay in bed. We are going through Kansas and soon enter Colorado and gain a hour.
10:00 am
We have decided to have lunch at 1:30. Since we gained an hour it sees forever away. I am counting down the hours.
11:30 am
We go through a long tunnel. Can't see the tunnel walls, so Chosen and I pull out our flashlights and use the.
1:00 pm
They call for 1 o'clock luches and y stoach is growling. I have been working summer school and there we eat lunch at 11 am. To My body its already      2 pm.
1:30 pm
Finally its lunc time! I order the Special which is a potato in Chili. Server's name is Andrea.
3:00 pm
In the lounge car with my sisters enjoying the views. Suddenly a boy nae Frank coes up and sits down with us. He was very nice but obviously liked someone. We played cards together and he won every time.
4:00 pm
Stop in Alberque, New Mexico. There are Native American vendors selling handade items. I bought a necklace from a Naveoh women
5:00 pm
Went back to the room to relax until dinner. Ended up in Glory and Melody's car to just chill.
7:26 pm
They call us to dinner a little early. I sit with Glory and Melody at the 'Trouble Table' according to Sam. I had a steak with mashed potatos, salad, mxed vegetables, and a roll. For dessert there is cheesecake. Sam accidently brought us an extra cheesecake so we gave it to a goup of girls sitting at the table across from us.
9:00 pm
Packing all my stuff up so I don't have to in the morning.
9:15 pm
Are car attendant, Angela, comes to put down our beds. As soon as she is done I crawl up to my bunk and fall asleep.

Day 3

6:45
During the night we gain another hour. I am awake but don't want to get up and go to breakfast.
7:15
My mom comes back from breakfast and says I need to go eat. I order Oatmeal, with fruit and toast. I am sitting with a couple from San Jose and a man from the bay area.We talk a lot about why we are riding the train.

Summer School

In Missouri there is a program that Highschool students can join, it's called A+. If you complete all the requierments the state will pay your tuition for your first two years to any community college in the state. To be elligble you must maintain a 2.5 GPA, do 50 hours of tutoring, and be signed up for it for 3 years.

I am in this program so over the summer I A+ tutored a first grade review summer school class. We did a little bit of math but we mainly worked on reading and comprehension with the kids.  I spent about 4 and a half hours four days a week tutoring. There were 2 sessions the first was one and a half hours long and the second was two hours long. The second session always went smoother because we already knew what didn't work well with the first session, so we didn't do it again, and we lunch.

It was a lot of fun and since I need to complete 4 more hours I will probably do it again next year.  

'A World Shaken'

On May 22, 2011 a F5 tornado touched down on Joplin, Missouri which is an hour away from where I live. My family was not affected by this natural disaster, but many of my friends were. I have written this poem for all who were affected by this recent tornado.


A world shaken as a town is torn apart
Only a twenty minute warning before the destruction did start.



Unrecognizable the buildings that once stood there
Where the tornado touched ground the trees are stripped bare.



Through the ruble survivors do walk
Soon joined by fellow Americans to clear up their block.
The tornado was huge 3/4th of a mile wide
classified as an F5.



Days, weeks, month, years we may spend
But as we rebuild Joplin we must remember this tragedy is not their end.




Please keep Joplin Missouri in your prayers.

Defintion of Grace

grace

/grās/

–noun

1.

elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.

2.

a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.

3.

favor or good will.

4.

a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior: It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school.

5.

mercy; clemency; pardon: an act of grace.

6.

favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.

7.

an allowance of time after a debt or bill has become payable granted to the debtor before suit can be brought against him or her or a penalty applied: The life insurance premium is due today, but we have 31 days' grace before the policy lapses. Compare grace period.

8.

Theology .

a.

the freely given, unmerited favor and love of god.

b.

the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.

c.

a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.

d.

Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.

9.

moral strength: the grace to perform a duty.

10.

a short prayer before or after a meal, in which a blessing is asked and thanks are given.

 

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/grace