Entry #1: 5/28/17 My Dad. I chose to take one picture a day of each of my seven family members for seven days, and take one day to focus on each member and tell how they have affected my life. The pictures I take are without them knowing that I am even taking pictures. My dad is a role model to all. He works hard, is loving, caring, and everything in between. He has done so much for me and my sisters. My dad is funny, knows how to cook, and because he has 5 daughters, he also took up some skills like painting finger nails (and he's not half bad either). I can come to my dad for anything. I mostly come to him for guidance through certain events in my life. He's been there for me since I can remember. The fact that I work hard and enjoy doing what I am doing is because of him. My dad inspired me to take up running as my sport. He is 44 years old and still can outrun most younger people. He is insane. My dad will run a solid 50 miles a week! He trains me, helps me through the tough courses, and keeps inspiring me to be the best runner that I can be. So if you see a tall man running lightning speed down hendersonville road or the parkway, that is most likely my dad. I just have to say that my dad is one of the greatest people you will ever meet. Though he looks intimidating and just a little bit scary (only because of his tattoos), he is so nice and caring and that is what everyone loves about him.
Entry #2: 5/29/17 Hayden If you've ever wondered what a bunch of joy and happiness in your life feels like, having Hayden in your life feels like that. Now, I'm sure your thinking that a little 3 year old girl couldn't possibly give you as much joy as other things in life. Well, that's where your wrong. Hayden is not just an ordinary 3 year old toddler. She's the most innocent, funny, optimistic girl in the world. She LIVES like there is no tomorrow. She KNOWS that certain things happen for a reason. I'm sure you are thinking how could a 3 year old entail this knowledge about life. We'll Hayden is smart. At the end of the day, she helps me learn more about myself than what I had known before. I compare her to a firecracker. Hayden is sassy and wonderful. She is always exciting and brings something new into every day. She makes everyone around her happy to be living. She teaches me to not take every day for granted and to be as happy as I can be 24/7. Everyone that is around Hayden will look at life in a new way because one interaction with her will make you see life that way.
Entry #3: 5/30/17 Gracie You know when parents say they don't have a favorite child, well, my parents definitely do, and that would be Gracie. Oh where do I even begin. If I had to describe Gracie in one word, it would be stubborn. Very very stubborn. Gracie keeps my family and I on our toes. She always has something going on in her life that she tells every single one of us about. A new boy she likes, middle school drama with her friends, or if she beat the guys at basketball in P.E. Gracie talks non-stop. And I mean non-stop. She's the definition of a "chatty Cathy" Gracie is my mini me. My twin. My very first best friend. She is starting 9th grade next year which is hard to believe. Gracie is strong and independent, but she also gets caught up in the school drama... but don't we all get into that at some point? Gracie reminds us everyday that we can have a good laugh even if it's about the stupidest thing. She is happy and cheerful (which explains why she is a cheerleader). I enjoy helping her with boy problems and giving her advice for school and how to manage her drama born friends. But I also like watching her make mistakes and grow. Gracie will make a mistake and immediately learn from it which is another great thing about her. So basically she is me. We're opposites but we're also twins. We look so much alike that it's insane.
Entry #4: 5/31/17 Maggie Ever have that annoying friend or sibling that hums or sings constantly and is over dramatic about everything? Well, that would be Maggie. A sassy, dramatic, over the top 11 year old. When I say drama queen, I mean BIG TIME DRAMA QUEEN who over emphasizes on everything. Maggie is into acting, making slim, "playing" teacher, and soccer. Maggie is one of the most independent girls I have ever seen. She does not care what anyone thinks of her. She is also the most outgoing out of all of my sisters, which is probably why she has so many friends. If I had to compare Maggie to one person, it would be Ashley Tisdale (aka Sharpay Evans). They have the exact same personalities, they both love pink, and sing everywhere they go. Maggie keeps my family sane. She brings balance, no matter how annoying she can be. We enjoy her off pitched, made up songs and watching her play soccer, which she is very good at by the way. She can talk to and calm down anyone in my family. She also is the one that breaks up the fights between my sisters. Maggie is kinda like an anchor, she holds our family in place and doesn't let us get too far off course. Maggie learns from everyone is my family. She learned how to cook from my dad and learned how to critique food from my step mom. Maggie is very smart and witty but she is also very responsible for someone at 11 years old. She is like the second mom of the family and keeps everyone in check.
Entry #5: 6/1/17 Kendra I met Kendra when I was 6 years old. She was the complete opposite of me. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and she was interested in activities that we're the complete opposite from the things that I was interested in. Yet somehow, we became best friends instantly. I have known Kendra for 10 years. That's 10 years of talking about boy problems, school, what clothing we were gonna wear that day, what movie we wanted to watch, opinions on our friends, what activities we wanted to do, what trail we were gonna go hike on. It's 10 years that have shaped my life and 10 years that I will never forget. Kendra now goes to Reynolds High School and is a volleyball player. She has new friends and a boyfriend so were not as close as we used to be. In middle school, Kendra and I went through a "phase" where we didn't talk to each other about our problems or anything for that matter. In fact, we hated each other. We were both jealous of each other and what each of us had going on in our lives. We didn't connect on anything in middle school. But before high school my dad had a sit down with us and talked to us about how we were going to NEED each other in high school. We were going to NEED each other to talk to. To talk about our problems and that we were going to NEED someone there when no one else is going to be there. So we now talk to each other about basically everything and could not thank my dad enough for helping us get through the "phase" we were in. Kendra is smart, funny, and beautiful inside and out and I would not want anyone else to be my step sister and friend. I know she will always end up being there for me.
Entry #6: 6/2/17 Janet Not a lot of people can say that they actually have a second mom. I am sure that you have heard the expression "she's my second mom," and it is either a best friends mom or something like that. But I have a second mom. Her name is Janet Clayton and after my Parents divorce, she brought so much love and light into my dads life. She looks after my sisters and I. She treats us like her own daughters. She cooks (& she's a crazy good cook), cleans, and looks after us. These are all things that she doesn't really have to do or feel obligated to do. Janet is caring and sweet. She makes my day better. When she smiles, I smile. She has been married to my dad for 7 years now and ever since she has brought so much into my family. I look up to Janet. I could only hope to be half the women that she is today. Thank you Janet for everything you have done for me:)
Entry #7: 6/3/17 Dudley and Pippa Have you ever heard the saying a dog is a girls best friend? Well, this statement is very true. Though my dogs are not humans, they still bring a ton of joy and happiness into my life. My first dog dies about five years ago and since then, we got my English, fat, Labrador named Pippa. We named Pippa after princess Kate's younger sister Pippa because they are English. Pippa is now 4 years old and barks at basically anything. We got Dudley about a month ago and he is now about 5 months old. It was kind of a shock because after we got Pippa, my dad said "No more dogs!" But I think my step mom convinced him to let us get Dudley. I am not really sure what kind of dog he is because my parents never really told me. But he is so tiny and cute and will just put a smile on your face every time your around him. Pippa is dumb and i think is a little "off," which isn't a bad thing. Dudley likes to pick a fight with Pippa, but because he is so small he knows he will lose. My dogs make me and my family happy and they bring us closer together. So a dog really is a girls best friend.
Entry #8: 6/4/17 The Whole Family "One Big Happy Family!" That is what we are. We are crazy, complicated, loving, all in one. I do not know where I would be without my family today. They support me through everything and they always try to be there for me. Doing this challenge helped me realize that family really is inseparable, no matter how crazy life get's, they will ALWAYS be there for you. Family really is one of the most important things in life and people should not take anything that their family does for granted. All of the family vacations, recitals, and even family dinners should not be taken for granted. I am thankful for my family everyday and I wouldn't change a thing about our crazy lives.
Entry #9: 6/5/17 My Second Family For my final entry, I wanted to take the time to talk about the other people in my life who influence me and who have helped me become the person I am today. These people can also be referred to as my best friends. They are all funny, smart, beautiful human beings. They help me through the tough times and are there when I need someone to complain too. They are the people I go to when I need someone to cry to, or rant about something, and they are always there to listen. They support me in everything and they always have my back:) So thank you, my best friends for being there, influencing me, and helping throughout life, because I have NO CLUE where I would be without you.