Winter break is just around the corner, what are you looking forward to most of all?  Honestly, I am looking forward to the holidays, and getting to sleep in!  I cannot wait to sleep in for 3 weeks straight!!!  Anyways, those are the main things, so let me explain why.
     I can't wait for Christmas because every Christmas Eve, we go to my grandparents house to celebrate with my dad's side of the family, then we got to midnight mass!  It is awesome!  Plus, our pastor is really really cool, so it's fun to go.  Then on Christmas day, we go to my grandparents to celebrate Christmas with my mom's side of the family.  However, we get to sleep in and open our gifts from each other that morning before we go.
     I also cannot wait for New Year's!!!  Every year, we have a few friends over, and we stay up all night watching the "Rocking New Year's Eve" show.  We also usually play a game of poker or two. Then we sleep in and make a big ol' nice breakfast.  So, we are pretty busy during the holidays.  Plus, I get to sleep in EVERY morning!  These are the things I am most excited for.

     Did you know that Japan borrowed a lot of ideas from China and Korea?  Well, yes they did.  Now today I am going to talk about what I think the most important idea that they borrowed was.  Honestly, I think that the most important idea that they borrowed was cultural things and language.  Here is why.
     For one thing, Japan didn't have an official language, so many people--mostly the wealthy--learned how the speak Chinese.  This helped them communicate better; I think that this helped a lot.  Another thing is culture and religion.  They learned the beliefs of Confucianism, Buddhism, and several others from the Chinese and Koreans.  These all helped the society it many different ways.

I was pulling the weeds as I heard a sound like thunder coming towards my direction.  I looked towards the sound and realized there are thousands of horsemen armed on the horizon.  I suddenly become frozen with fear as if this is all just a dream.  I then identify the people coming right at me---it's the Mongols!  I am still in shock, but I am able to make it across the field into the storage room when they pass by.  The ground starts shaking terribly, and I feel my hands and legs shaking along with the floor.  I cannot believe what is happening.
     As the ground starts to rumble less and less, I can feel the Mongols traveling further away from me.  I fear for what the will do this time they have come.  The idea of them ruling our country terrorizes me and sends me into a world of thought--and fear.  They have been in control for a while now, but I hear that one specific rebellion group is plotting against them, so the Chinese can be in control of our world again.  The thought of a chinese emperor excites me.  I suddenly get a reality check when I feel the ground start to shake again.  I realize they are looking for someone and hide in the shadows of the room.  I am scared stiff, and seem to not be able to think.  What should I do now--I wonder.