Querencia Final

   I woke up to the sound of my alarm on my phone. It was 3:30 a.m. My friend Libby and I filled our water bottles and packed a light breakfast for later. Our friend Kristi's grey truck came up my driveway and we hopped in. It was still dark outside. We got to the start of the trail at 4:30 a.m. When we started up the trail, we found that it was really nice. It was quiet and a little cold. It was 5:00 a.m. when we got to the first pillbox. We took out our breakfast and ate while we waited for the sun to come up. It was July 28, 2015 when we hiked up the Lanikai Pillbox trail to see the sunrise.
   When I got to the top, I could see all the way down to the ocean. It was very peaceful. On the top of the first pillbox, it felt like the whole world was on pause. I felt safe even though at any moment, I could have fallen off the pillbox and down the side of the mountain. I wanted to stay there forever. I did not have to worry about school starting, memorizing cello music, or getting down the dance for a performance.
   I knew I would have to go back home soon. The sun was up and the pillbox was more crowded. It was not as peaceful as when I first got up there. We headed back down, Libby, Kristi, Chamberlain, and I, and went back home in Kristi's black truck. I went straight to sleep when I got back home. But I could not stop thinking about how I felt up on that pillbox. I want to go back again. Waking up at 3:00 a.m. is worth it when you go to a place where you do not have to worry about anything.
   Now that school started, I don't have a lot of time to go hiking. I haven't been back to my querencia since the summer but it is still a special place to me. If I could, I would spend all my time there. Pillbox is different from other places. It is peaceful when you are up there. You have a perfect view of the ocean below and you can hear the waves crashing on the shore. When you go to the first pillbox to see the sunrise, there is a beautiful view of two islands in the ocean and the sun rises right between them. You can not get that view or the same peacefulness anywhere else.
   When I am on the pillbox, I can relax and take time get rid of all the stress. It helps me calm down if I am stressed out or scared. Although this is a hike, I don't feel tired when I get to the pillbox. I feel full of energy and ready to take on whatever life throws at me. This helps me when I go back home because going home means chores, homework, and many other things that have to be done. My Querencia might be a public place for anyone to go to but when I get up there, it seems like I am the only one there. I feel safe, relaxed, and stress free.

Picture Frame Paragraphs: Rhysa & Kaylee

   Every year I count down the days till Christmas. The days seem like months as I wait for the day to come. The nights are colder so I make myself a warm hot chocolate. It has whipped cream and marshmallows on top in my favorite mug. When I take my first sip the hot chocolate warms my body as it goes down my throat. The hot chocolate has the right amount of sweetness to it. It's not too sweet and not too watered down. On a chilly winter night it tastes just right. With my hot chocolate in my hand, I snuggle in my blanket and watch Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel.
   I wake up to the sound of my alarm clock. It is 6:45 a.m. on Christmas morning. I am ready to open all my presents. Running up the stairs, the excitement builds up as I shout "Wake up!" Everyone makes their way to the bright sparkling Christmas tree in the living room. I walk into the room and instantly smell the scent of pine trees and chocolate chip cookies. As I grab my first present, rip open the nicely wrapped paper. When all the paper is off and scattered on the ground I reached into the box and felt something soft and silky. I pulled out a beautiful dress that I've wanted for years. A wave of happiness washed though me as I hugged my mom. "Merry Christmas," my parents shouted.

Querencia

   I woke up to the sound of my alarm on my phone. It was 3:30 a.m. Libby and I filled our water bottles and packed a light breakfast for later. Kristi's grey truck came up my driveway and we hopped in. It was still dark outside. We got to the start of the trail at 4:30 a.m. When we started up the trail, we found that it was really nice. It was quiet and a little cold. It was 5:00 a.m. when we got to the first pillbox. We took out our breakfast and ate while we waited for the sun to come up. It was July 28, 2015 when we hiked up the Lanikai Pillbox trail to see the sunrise.

   When I got to the top, I could see all the way down to the ocean. It was very peaceful. On the top of the first pillbox, it felt like the whole world was on pause. I felt safe even though at any moment, I could have fallen off the pillbox and down the side of the mountain. I wanted to stay there forever. I did not have to worry about school starting, memorizing cello music, or getting down the dance for a performance.

   I knew I would have to go back home soon. The sun was up and the pillbox was more crowded. It was not as peaceful as when I first got up there. We headed back down, Libby, Kristi, Chamberlain, and I, and went back home in Kristi's black truck. I went straight to sleep when I got back home. But I could not stop thinking about how I felt up on that pillbox. I want to go back again. Waking up at 3:00 a.m. is worth it when you go to a place where you do not have to worry about anything.

   Although I haven't been back to my Querencia since that summer morning the feeling is still fresh in my mind. There is a lot of stress and work now that school started. But if one morning I could go back and not have to worry about school or anything else, I'd come back home ready to take on whatever life throws at me. My Querencia might be a public place for anyone to go to but when I get up there, it seems like I am the only one there. I feel safe, relaxed, and stress free.

Special Place

   When I open the door to a place that is stress free, I walk onto the path of the Lanikai Pillbox hike. It is still dark outside and it is around four in the morning. I am with my friend Amber. We start to walk up the hills and we get to a spot where we can see down to the ocean. There are houses and a few cars are driving on the road. We can see the two islands in the ocean. We walk all the way up to the first pillbox and we sit at the edge. We take out the food that we brought for our breakfast and start to eat. We talk about school and what we should do when we get back down. We talk for another half hour and then we see it. The sun starts to come up behind the horizon. We have to squint our eyes because the sun is in our eyes. We take a few pictures to remember the hike and then we head back down. But when we get back to the start of the trail, it is also the end of my stay at my special place. Then I am back to my house with all the stress, chores, and homework. But this time, I am ready to finish all my homework and finish all my chores.