It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

As Christmas day approaches it's easy to get caught up in shopping, decorating, etc. It's also easy to forget about the true meaning behind Christmas. I know that I am just as guilty of staying busy all through the season as anybody else. I make a wish list, buy presents, decorate the tree, attend Christmas parties, and I start to focus on the material part of it. But presents and parties are what man has added to this day. The real meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have to realize that the gifts we give can never amount to the gift that Jesus already gave to us; eternal life with our creator, God, by offering His life. So, as the season progresses I encourage you to put down the presents, sit back and reflect upon what Jesus did for you and to read the account of his birth that you can find in the Bible.

Good Books

There are many sayings concerning books including "Don't judge a book by its cover.", "Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book.", "A good book has no ending.", and "The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it." While these quotes tell us some about good books they don't help you know how to find one. Well, I know from experience that a good book is hard to find. There are millions of books. There are classics and new best sellers. But how do you know which book will make a good read? I know that I read books based on suggestions or reviews so I have decided to compile my own little list of favorites. I hope that you'll decide to pick one up, read it and enjoy it.

Classics:
A classic book is an older book that despite its age hasn't lost any of its meaning. Here are a few classics I recommend.
*The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. Not only are these books filled with magic, mystery and adventure but they are backed with a Christian allegory telling of the struggles of a Christian with temptation and sin. Tolkien is also accredited with basically creating the whole Sci-Fi genre.
*Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
*Call of the Wild by Jack London
*The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

Modern Greats:
A modern great is a book that I believe will one day be a classic but is too recent to be.
*The Circle Series (Green, Black, Red, White) by Ted Dekker. The Circle series about a young man named Thomas. You follow Thomas from our planet to "Other Earth" and back. It's a tale of love and forgiveness that is filled with action and power. You could begin the series as I did and read the books in the order they were written in (Black, Red, White, Green) or you could start with book Zero and read the books in the order the author now intends them to be read in (Green, Black, Red, White). You decide because these books truly do form a circle.
*The Oath by Frank E. Peretti
*The Noticer by Andy Andrews
*A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

Miscellaneous:
Any other good books I could think of.
*The Paradise Novels (Showdown, Saint, Sinner) by Ted Dekker
*This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti
*The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
*Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
*Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
*Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
*The Phantom Stallion series (24 books) by Terri Farley
*The Summer Hill Secrets series by Beverly Lewis
*The Left Behind series by Tim LaHay and Jerry B. Jenkins

Giving Thanks

With the holidays kicking off tomorrow I thought this post would be appropriate. Seeing as Thanksgiving is tomorrow I would like to share a few of the things that I'm thankful for. I'm thankful for my savior, Jesus, who died for me. I'm thankful that I live in a free country where I'm free to worship God. I'm thankful for my family and friends whom I love and who love me. I'm thankful for where I live and that I have a home and food to eat. I'm thankful for a good many things and this lists just a few of those things. I think that our thankfulness shouldn't stop or start with Thanksgiving. But rather we should be thankful every day of the year. We really have been given alot. just think about it... If you're reading this you have a computer or at least access to a computer. So there's a start for your thankful list. So, be thankful, have a happy Thanksgiving, etcetera.

New People and Friends

I know just how hard it can be to make new friends. Everyone tends to gravitate toward who they know, myself included. As a shy kind of person I find it difficult to thrust myself into a group of new people, so I tend to stay on the fringes of a crowd and observe.

For example, I'm at a bit of a disadvantage with youth at church. A lot of the people in my youth group know each other from school. Everyone is friendly, but when the "greeting time" is over people go sit with others that they know. I do that, too. And most of the time that works okay. But sometimes the two people that I know are not there and I find myself sitting alone or beside one of the adult leaders. When this happens I think, "I really wish that someone would invite me to sit with them."

I admit that I'm a part of the problem. I'm shy. So, instead of meeting new people I'm stickin' with my friends. We should follow Jesus' example and love the "insiders" and the "outsiders". We should be focusing on Christ and living our ways according to His plan. And because the two greatest commandments both involve love (loving God first and your neighbors second) I believe that that it what I should be doing. Because I know how hard it is for me to include myself in someone else's conversation and how hard it is to find someone to sit with. When I see the "new kid" walk in I should invite them to sit with me and include them in my conversation. I'm going to try to do this. How about you?

Green by Ted Dekker

Do you know what over a million people, including myself, have been waiting for? Green-- The beginning and the end of the famed Circle Series by Ted Dekker. With high expectations, I began reading. As with the other Circle books I was on the edge of my seat from the start. Ted Dekker's writing style really brought the characters alive in my mind. Green is the birth and fulfillment of a great story that spans two realities about love, forgiveness, redemption, second chances, war, peace, Elyon, and a man named Thomas Hunter. With all of its twists and turns I'm sure that You'll be reading late into the night like I was.

TIME: Great Discoveries

Besides the obvious faults that a creationist can find with a book like TIME: Great Discoveries, I really enjoyed this book. The information that it provides and the wide range of topics that it covers from all kinds of geographical locations is great just as the title implies. From mummies in Egypt to Yellowstone Nation Park. The photos are always in the right place to perfectly illustrate the meaning of the words. I do have one warning to readers. If you purchase this, some of the pictures are graphic and could be disturbing to younger children. These include the illustrations in the "mummy" and "bog people" sections.

Getting Older

I happened to be inspired to write this due to my recent birthday. I'm going to skip the details about my party, and instead I'm going to talk more about what I have learned by growing older. I admit that I'm not too terribly old and because of that I don't have nearly as much experience and wisdom as other people. Despite this I do want to express my own thoughts on the subject of aging anyways. We all are growing older. That is a fact that the majority of us fight against. Or maybe we are fighting the symptoms of getting older. We dye hair, try our best to erase wrinkles, etc. I'm not sure exactly why we do it. I am pretty sure that our dislike of getting older has to do with living in a fallen world. Maybe our fear of death or the inevitable is what drives us to such lengths. Let's go back to the beginning, when God had first created the world and everything in it. There was no death or dying so I assume that we didn't age either. Then Adam and Eve sinned and we were cast out of the garden and death began. I'm guessing that aging and the effects of aging started then, too. Perhaps covering gray hairs and wrinkles is another way that we try to bring ourselves back to Eden. A way to cheat death. Or a way to lie to ourselves about dying. But I know that I no longer have to fear death. Because my savior conquered death! It no longer has power over me or anyone else who follows Jesus! I have already died to this world and I live again. Oh death where is your sting? My God died and rose again. Death had no hold over Him! Because He loved us He died for us so that we could have hope, be made whole again, be right with our creator, and go to heaven instead of hell. So, I don't care if I age. It's what's going to happen and I'm okay with that because I know the ending of my story. I may not know how I'll get there but I know that however I arrive whether old or young I know the end. We win. Jesus prevails and so we prevail. Whatever happens in my lifetime I must remember my purpose so that I don't get distracted by petty thing of this world. Our purpose as Christ followers is to bring glory to God in all that we do and to bring as many people to Christ as we can. So remember this and do not fear growing older or death unless you don't have a relationship with my best friend, Jesus. If you don't know him personally then I encourage you to send me an email so we can talk about Jesus and what he's done for you and me. If you would like to talk more about the stuff that I touched on here then email me at: homeschooled_horse_lover@yahoo.com

Hope: Lessons From A Hummingbird

Unfortunately, I really couldn’t identify with William M. Cuccia’s book, Hope: Lessons from a Hummingbird. However, I did learned many facts about hummingbirds. Cuccia used those facts to draw parallels about life and living. Many points of the story are good, especially the point made about redemption. Cuccia suffered from rage and depression which was destroying his marriage. He and his wife rescued a hummingbird and by learning lessons from a hummingbird, God brought healing and hope. I really don’t like to find fault in a book, but I must point out a few of the book’s downsides. The writing, though heartfelt I’m sure, sometimes came across as hokey. William Cuccia repeated himself often and because of this I had a hard time enjoying the book. His ideals and faith, to me, seemed somewhat shallow. He talks about being a normal guy and I agree that we are all pretty normal, but God takes normal people and transforms them into extraordinary vessels for His work. Cuccia didn’t seem to reflect that in his book.

A Trip To Callaway Gardens

My parents and I went to Callaway Gardens last Saturday. IT was my first time ever going to the gardens and my dad's also. My mom had gone when she was a little girl. We had so much fun exploring the gardens and being inspired by the natural and artificial beauty in the gardens. We went to the birds of prey show and I learned lots of things that I had never known about some of God's most interesting winged creations. Like how the owls' eyes are not spheres but are light bulb shaped and that we see the smallest part of their eyes. That is why they can't move their eyes and they have to move their heads instead. Another fact about owls' is that their ears are not symmetrical. One ear is higher on its head than the other. This gives the owl a kind of surround sound. We also participated in a scavenger hunt in the backyard habitat part of the gardens. The backyard habitat is full of fun facts about how to create your own certified backyard habitat for wildlife and I learned about the 4 things that make up a good habitat. Food, water, cover, and a place to raise young. Another thing that we did was go and see the vegetable garden there. In the garden we told time by a human sun dial, potted a parsley plant that I got to take home, and did a leaf pounding. The thing that I think was the most fun though was going to the butterfly atrium. The butterfly atrium is a big glass building that they keep at about 98 degrees. It's filled with all kinds of tropical butterflies and everything a butterfly could ever want. You get to walk with the butterflies and sometimes a butterfly will land on you. You could also watch all kinds of butterflies hatch out of their chrysalises in another part of the building. I really enjoyed the entire experience and I recommend going if you want a fun way to come closer to God's creations.

And The Winner of Letters From Beth's First Book Giveaway Is...

Emily!

Congratulations, Emily, for winning a free copy of A Million Miles In A Thousand Years by Donald Miller.

Thanks to all of my contestants for participating in Letters From Beth's first book giveaway! Be sure to keep your eye out for future giveaways and other fun stuff here on my blog!

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

Donald Miller’s book is great for writers and readers alike. As an aspiring writer, I found his insight very helpful. Not only do his writings refer to writing better stories on paper but he also talks about how he wrote a better story for himself and how you can too. Follow Don on his character transformation journey as he edits his life for the big screen and ends up editing his life for real. And we learn with him what makes a story and a life meaningful. As a Christian, I found Don’s writings of life as a story and God as the author of all of our stories and lives refreshing. I am sure that you will be moved as I was by his book.

P.S. Comment on this post and include your name and email address in the body of the comment to enter in a drawing for a free copy of this book on Saturday. Good luck and spread the word. (By the way, when you include your name you will be automatically subscribed to receive email updates from my blog. You will receive a confirmation email and are free to accept or decline.)

The County Fair

My dad and I went to the fair last night. It's become a tradition that we go every year. The strange thing about county fairs is they can be characterized by five things you normally try to avoid. One, Screaming. Two, Manure. Three, Grease. Four, Ex-cons (or current ones). Five, Dishonesty. I for one enjoy the fair either despite or possibly because of these things. I don't like to ride the rides they have so, instead I watch other poor souls climb aboard the death traps. We usually stand far enough away not to be sprayed with puke or carnage. I always look for the "Oh Crud" moment. First you see everyone excited and happy in line. Then and they take their seats and are strapped in by the con- I mean machine operator their excitement begins to wane and the were happy conversations turn to nervous chatter. And the moment before the operator throws the switch their faces turn a shade or two lighter and there is no more talking unless they're begging to get off (On one ride we watched this teenager at the last moment cried out that she wanted her mom but it was too late and the machine began its course.). On the ride everyone screams, believes that the car they're in is going to fly off the tracks, and I'm sure a few have found Jesus on one of those terrifying rides. I stand contentedly on the ground through all of this and smile and wave to the survivors as they disembark. But now we shall move on. The manure from the show cows and pony ride ponies doesn't really bother me because I have horses and I guess I've built up an immunity to the smell but I listed it because I know that it must bother some people. You can smell the grease from a half a mile away. It may be hazard to your health and come from the unknown but the greasy, fried things they stuff down your throat at the fair are worth the risk I suppose. A corn dog and french fries are about the healthiest main course you can find. And if you have a "hankering" for anything battered and deep fried (Or if you wish to have heart attack with every bite) you can find the food for you at the fair. The list includes deep fried candy bars, dough, cheese cake, and even the butter is battered and fried. I won't talk about the convicts any more. And I will not talk about the freak shows because I don't go through those. Just seeing the posters for the people and animals they display (or in my opinion exploit) make me sad and sick to my stomach. Have you ever noticed that almost no one ever wins the games at the fair? I'll point out one in particular that is especially crooked. The basket ball hoop game. The hoop is the key to the charade. It's not a round, regulation hoop. It's oval in shape. But when you see it from the angle they place you at it appears to be totally normal. It is not impossible to score you just have to be alot more acurate. It must be a "nothing but net" shot. I admit that I still enjoy the fair but mostly because of its more understated activities like looking at the exhibits, 4-H petting zoo, looking at all of the winning fair entries, and watching the cattle or sheep shows. I hope that you have a great time the next time you're at the fair and tell me what your favorite fair food is!

As I Walk By The Lake In My Dreams - a Poem

Yesterday afternoon I was tired so, I took a nap in the living room and I had a dream. Because of my over active imagination matched with being cooped up inside due to the rain means that I read and write alot more than usual and so, my dream ended up being turned into a poem. I hope that you enjoy reading is as I enjoyed participating in the dream and writing it down.

I fell asleep only to awake
And find myself walking down the shore of a lake

A dragon then rises from his stream bed
Water like jewels his back does shed

I begin to turn away as reality calls me from the scene
When a pair of sea turtles intervene

Flapping their flippers they fly
Their green coloring I happen to spy

One after the other
They flew over my shoulder

The leader gives me a wink and I waved
A spot in my heart this dream land has saved

TIME For Kids: President Obama

I was pleasantly surprised by TIME For Kids: President Obama. As someone who is not infatuated with President Obama I was afraid that the book would sing his praises on every page and have little to no facts. I was happy when I began reading and found that the book was full of so many wonderful facts and pictures. The images go perfectly with what the book is saying and the book features tons of fun facts about President Obama. It also talks about his family, his daily schedule, the jobs that come with the presidency, past presidents, the White House, important people in Washington, and lots of other things besides. This is a great book for children and adults! I'm sure everyone who reads this will learn something new!

A Bit Of My Politics

I admit that, as people, President Obama and I would probably get along pretty well. I could see my family inviting his over for dinner or the other way around. I'm sure that he is a loving husband and caring father and I admire his accomplishments. It's when it comes to politics and morals that I begin to have problems with Obama. I abhor the fact that abortions are legal at all. And don't even try to give me the whole "choice" speech! Who gives the baby (that is what it is, a human being with rights from the very beginning,) the choice to live? I would love to give Obama the benefit of the doubt and say that he makes the choice to support this horrible practice because of ignorance but, I'm afraid that's not the case. I feel that he knows but chooses to disrespect the most basic of human rights which is the right to life. So, to put this in the strongest of terms: Barack Husein Obama has the blood of thousands of innocent children on his hands. When he dies he will have to answer to God (whether he believes he exists or not) for these murders. And if he happens to accept Jesus into his heart to save him he will reach heaven and have to face all the children who never got the chance to live on earth. I also find it hard to believe that Obama's health care reform plan will solve anything. He is preaching change when this exact (or close to exact) same plan has been placed in other countries and failed. What kind of change is that? (I don't think the the old saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try and try again." really applies to this.) Once again I would like to be able to blame this lack of insight on ignorance but again I don't think that is the case. Obama is a man with a plan -or agenda- and is very intelligent. In a way I respect him for his cunning and use of strategy. He is a masterful illusionist, well trained in the art of slight of hand. Always keeping his audience watching one political move (typically of little consequence) at the same time he pushes his next big object on the agenda. With the right mindset Obama would have made a wonderful president. He is already well educated, admirable, intelligent, a great speaker, and very convincing. But, in my opinion he's not putting those gifts to the best use. It seems that he does all of this with selfish motives; fame, power, etc. (Really it would be tough not to run for president without having those at least in the back of your mind.) Now, just imagine if he decided to give all of the glory to God, if he used the Bible to help make his choices, prayed to God to know what to say, and humbled himself enough to give it all over to Christ. How amazing would that be to have a humble, caring president who was concerned not just for himself, his agenda, and his own popularity, but a president who cared what God thought first and cared more about others than himself? I have only covered a tenth of what I would have liked to cover and not in as much detail as I want to provide, but I hope that this will help others understand my point of view. By the way, I would like to mention that I wrote this without once calling Obama or his supporters names or making a big deal out of race. I will end this without name calling but now I will mention race. I'm not even going to go back to his half white heritage but I would like to point out that we are all really one race and we are all equal. The human race is made up of many beautiful colors, shades, and variations. And the last time that I checked the most important parts of a person were their mind and soul and those are not affected by the amount of melanin in your skin.
Once again I welcome you to comment though there are some regulations. All comments are moderated and if they include foul language, name calling, etc. your comment will not be published.

Music

I love music, though probably not with the passion that some people I know do. In this department of expression I have varying tastes. Even though most if not all of my music falls under the "Christian" genre the styles can be very different. From the bubbly techno of Owl City to the rock sound of Skillet to the punk pop of Hawk Nelson and many other artists and bands between. But what does God have to say about music? the Bible actually has a lot to say about music in specific and there are also other verses to help us with our choice of music. Exodus 15:2 says, "The LORD is my strength and my song..." Plus seeing as god made us to love him and glorify him shouldn't the music we make and listen to do the same? When I', shopping for music I find it helpful to keep Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things." Are the lyrics I'm listening to telling me the truth? Are they noble? Is listening to is the right thing to do? Is the sound of it lovely? Is it admirable? Is it excellent and praiseworthy in the eyes of the LORD? I am personally trying to hold all of my music choices to such a standard. I'm not putting down other peoples styles of music. I am just saying that in my opinion the old saying "You are what you eat." applies to music. If I subject my mind and emotions to "angry" or "sad" music for the majority of the time it will begin to effect my emotions. Soon I'll be angrier or more sad inside and I don't want that to happen to me. When I listen to music I want it to be singing praises to God, lifting my spirits, or causing me to dwell on God's beautiful creation. A last thought to remember is that God loves the music we make. He loves the individuality and creativity that he instilled in us. So, we should use it. He has given us plenty of inspiration (for examples please see: The account of creation, other books of the Bible, Psalms, stars, eyes, skin, bones, the way the human brain works, animals, spiders, grass, flowers, etc.) Go and use the gifts that God has given you and see what great things will happen. I encourage you to comment, add to this, criticize this post, or share personal experiences related to this by commenting.

Fearless by Max Lucado

Fearless is an easy read because of Max Lucado's writing style. The best way to describe how he writes is by saying that he writes the way you would think he would talk to you in person. Everything is brought together and explained well. Not only are the words placed just so. There is actually truth behind the words (which is getting continually harder to find these days). Everything that Max Lucado covers in his book is real stuff. Each chapter addresses a different real fear that we face and how we can use scripture to combat those fears and defeat them. After reading Fearless I am moved to make changes in my life that will help me fear less and rely more on God for the courage He provides.

Faces In The Fire by T.L. Hines

Faces In The Fire by T.L. Hines is a thrilling suspense novel with a story of restoration. It is well written in a unique narrative style and with an equally unique storyline. T.L. Hines takes you through the life journeys of four seemingly unrelated characters. Their lives are all connected and bettered by two supernatural common denominators, a catfish and a list of numbers. At first glance, even the numbered chapters don't seem to relate because they're jumbled and in the wrong sequence. However, in the end, everything is masterfully brought together. Faces In The Fire is a book that I really enjoyed and recommend.

My Horseback Prayer

Every time I find myself on the back of a horse I realize how blessed I am. I'm thankful and I am suddenly filled with prayer. My prayers usually begin by thanking God for the horse I'm riding, the opportunities He has given me, and for His wonderful creation. If you want to see a really great example of God's handiwork take a look at a horse. I'm filled with awe by the fact that I can even touch -let alone ride- a horse. A horse is 800 to 1200 pounds of muscle. But look closer and you will see that they balance themselves perfectly on four comparatively tiny and delicate legs which are founded on amazing hooves. The fact that God allows us to have dominion over such majestic creatures is awesome. When I ride bareback and can feel the muscles rippling as we ride and I feel the wind in my hair I think about just how cool the relationship between me and my horse is. You could also look at the unbroken horse and compare it to yourself. You are the horse and Jesus is the trainer. The trainer goes to the auctions and sees a distrusting and abused horse in the barn. One buyer wants to buy the horse for slaughter to make a quick buck but the trainer decides he'll buy that horse whatever the price to give him the opportunity to choose life rather than death. He bids and bids and pays all he has. When the trainer goes to get the horse from the field the horse runs away. Once caught the horse fights to get away but the trainer is strong and doesn't let go. The trainer takes the horse to the ring and lunges him (runs the horse in circles basically). At first the horse is looking out of the ring and searching for a way out but the gate is closed and only the trainer can open it. The horse begins to soften and relax. He is growing accustomed to the trainers presence and feels safer around him because he doesn't attack or hurt him but instead is speaking soothing words. The horse lowers his head and opens and closes his mouth to show his submission. He's ready to cooperate. The trainer says, "whoa" and lets the horse stop and invites him closer. The horse follows willingly. The trainer introduces the saddle and bridle and explains that they are to be the horse's burden and guidance. The trainer places the saddle on the horse's back and the bit in his mouth. The horse thinks they're strange but decides that the trainer knows best. The trainer gets on and they begin their relationship. The trainer opens the gate and together they begin the journey towards his father's house.

Tea Party Rally Saturday, September the 12th

My father is chartering a bus in Walton county to go to the march on Washington. "Help us tell Congress, the President & the bureaucrats in Washington that we want our country back. They work for us, not the other way around. We are tired of the 'march toward socialism,' the out-of-control spending & the total disregard for our Constitution!!" The bus will leave Loganville at about 1:00pm 9/11 and will return to Loganvill the following Sunday afternoon. The total estimated cost for your seat on the bus and a 2 nights stay (double occupancy) at the Marriott Residence Inn is $295. You will be responsible for your meals and snacks. To reserve your seat on the bus contact: Charlie Eavenson 770-815-6028 or charlie@homegoldrealty.com

About You (Yes, You) If You're Reading This

Well, I've been researching how to draw more readers to my blog and I've learned a few things about you (my audience) that I didn't know. One thing is that out of all the people that read my blog only 1% will comment. That makes the rest of you "lurkers". If you're the kind of person who reads and observes but doesn't participate then you're a "lurker". Now if you beg to differ then I challenge you to comment. So, I've got less reader then I'd like and out of the ones I've got 99% of you don't make yourselves known. What do you have to say for yourselves? (hint, hint, you're supposed to comment now). Another thing about y'all is that you don't subscribe. That means that you're missing out on stuff. This part doesn't effect me as much as it effects you though. One more thing that I've learned is that maybe I should offer you a chance to participate more. Comment here and tell me what subjects you would like to have posted and I am going to start posting polls regularly so that I can hear your input more often. Also, I'd appreciate it that if you enjoy my blog and you blog that you add my blog to your "Blogs I read" section (Like I've done for the blogs I read) and if you twitter make one tweet about my blog. I love your encouraging words and comments and really hope to grow my blog into something the Lord can use.
Thanks,
Beth

Things To Look Forward To

Well, I've got a whole bunch of things lined up for my blog in the coming weeks. I have at least 6 book reviews, 1 interview with an author, and many other exciting things besides. The coming up books include Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado which I am reading now, Faces In The Fire by T.L. Hines, Bang The Keys: Four Steps To A Lifelong Writing Practice by Jill Dearman, TIME! For Kids- President Obama: A Day In The Life Of Our Leader, TIME! Great Discoveries: Explorations That Changed History, and Hope: Lessons From A Hummingbird. I have a date set for an interview over the phone with Boots Hensel the author of The Zoopendous Surprize. Be looking forward to this and more in September!

Death, Loss, Life, Family, and Funerals

This week my grandmother passed away at the age of 89. Mrs. Glenda Eavenson lived her life well and although her mind wasn't always as good as used to be in the later years that I knew her I knew her as an active community centered woman who loved God. For her love of God I am thankful because I know that I will see her again in heaven and that as corny as it sounds she really is in a better place now. Dealing with the loss of a loved one is difficult and I will always miss her. Over the years I realized that I had a lot in common with her including 4-H. She was a county extension agent for many years and a life long teacher (including teaching the fifth grade). But even in the midst of death I have been able to glimpse new life. My grandmamma died on Thursday and my 7 year-old niece's birthday was Friday. My niece and nephew's birthday party was on Saturday and the funeral on Sunday. So I was able to celebrate two young lives and one finished life. I hate that the reason we all came together was to mourn the loss of life but getting to see the majority of my dad's side of the family was nice. One of the strangest things in life is the way we treat death. One of the wierdest things about death is the funeral. The funeral isn't so much for the dead but for those of us left behind. And even though it's for us we make it so that we're all as uncomfortable as possible and as awkward as all get out. I do admit that out of all the funerals I've ever attended my grandmother's was one of the best as far as funerals go. The service and the preaching were both very well done and nice. At my funeral I have a few requirements in order for you to attened. Those requirements will include: you cannot wear black. You must wear blue, pink, purple, yellow, orange, or green. Also, you must pick out only my favorite songs to play and not "funeral hymns" those songs could be Fireflies by Owl City, Automatic by Stellar Kart, and Comatose by Skillet. And most importantly... I want my funeral to take place before I die. You want to know why? Because everyone that you haven't seen in years show up once your dead. So, when I'm up there in years I'll call a pastor and a funeral director and I'll pretend that I'm dead and the pastor and funeral director will be in on it and they'll help me plan my funeral. Then everyone will show up and sit in the church all solemn like and I'll pop out of the casket, thank them all for coming, and explain why I'm not dead. Well, that is all I have to say for now.

The Zoopendous Surprise written by Boots Hensel and illustrated by Andrea Gabriel

The Zoopendous Surprise is a delightful book, sure to capture the imagination of any child. Boots Hensel, the author, is creative with her use of words but she makes it so that the words are easily understood by the children who are reading or being read to.
My nieces and nephew love the use of vibrant colors in the illustrations by Andrea Gabriel. The animals were lifelike enough that they really looked like good representatives of their real life counterparts but they are still animated and interesting for the children to look at.
What makes the book even better is that it is based on something that actually happened. It is written in loving memory of the author’s daughter, Courtney, who was the keeper and caregiver of the real live Mary and Ellen who live at the Little Rock Zoo. I’m not going to tell you the plot because it’s a surprise but you and your kids are sure to love it! It provides just enough suspense to keep even the youngest kids involved in the story.

Coming Up...

My book reviewing has been profitable in many ways (though non of those include making money). One way is that it helps fund my book addiction. I am addicted to reading books like other people are addicted to coffee or twitter. This year alone I've read over 30 books. Now the typically outdated library books (although I admit that I love classics and older volumes) are not the only ones I can afford (because they're free). For all the books I review I receive a free advance copy of the book. The two most prominent books whose reviews should come soon are: Fearless by: Max Lucado. Fearless is being released in September and my review should be posted around the first of the month. the second is The Holy Bullet And the review will be written as soon as the book is received and read. I also have a few children's books lined up to come. Stay posted for more reviews by a Book-aholic.

Waiting

God must be trying to explain something about patience and waiting this last week and a half or so. I've been eagerly expecting a couple of review books. Some for as long as two weeks now and so far none have come. For the first week as soon as my mom got home I would run and get the mail and spend the afternoon waiting for the UPS or FEDEX truck to come but no books arrived either way and if ever I went away from the house as soon as I would get home I would grab the mail and check the front porch for any packages. But still none have come. If you know me then you know that by this time my patience has run out and I occasionally grumble about yonder publishing house or the carelessness of the shipping companies. (I am not known for patience but rather for my lack there of. Even though I am typically a quiet person I have a relatively short fuse.) If you didn't know that about me then you know me a little better now. So, I am finally starting to cool off and I'm beginning to see this as an opportunity to exercise, strengthen, and lengthen my patience when waiting. Now to wait and wait and wait and try to do so without a single complaint.

Career Possibilities

So, I'm exploring the many career possibilities that require the use of word building skill. The world of writing has long been my niche. I hope to one day get my name in print one way or another. Working with words is a wondrous hobby that I would like to turn into my dream job. This year I've been expanding my horizons (excuse the cliche) in many ways including starting this blog, expanding my audience (which is a task I am still busy with and probably will be busy with forever), and most recently I have been reviewing for various publishing and publicity companies. This endeavour has given me a glimpse into the publishing aspect of writing and shown me that I might even enjoy being an editor and reading manuscripts or owning and running my own publishing house. While I still love to write (and here I will hint to you that I am working on a story that is proving to be my most promising book attempt so far) I might also enjoy other areas of the writing realm.

The Forest Guard

I love the Circle Series by: Ted Dekker and I am so excited that he is coming out with the fourth book, Green which is being released on September first of this year. Because I am so excited I have joined the promotional team for this book dubbed The Forest Guard. That name is derived from the books. So far thanks to all of my willing friends who have already signed up as a recruit to receive more info on this fantastic book I have made Lieutenant status. This means that I will get my name printed in Ted's next book under the Lieutenant section. But with your help I can earn more points (I need 645 points and I get 100 points per recruit) I can achieve Captain status and I will have my name printed under Captain and I will receive a free advanced copy of Green. But besides helping me I think that these are some awesome books that God is using to bring the plan of salvation to people who may never know it besides from these books. So, sign up and become a recruit by either clicking on the badge below or going to this address: http://teddekker.com/readgreen and when you do be sure to use my forest guard number: 7223 or else I won't get the points. Hurry up and join!

~Elyon's Strength

Read and Share Toddler Bible stories retold by: Gwen Ellis and illustrated by: Steve Smallman

When I first received the Read and Share Toddler Bible, I admit that I was a little skeptical as to whether or not it could hold my almost-three-year-old nephew’s attention. Those fears were put to rest after reading to him and showing him the vibrant illustrations. He enjoyed looking at the book and listened while being entertained. After we popped in the DVD, I knew I would have little to no trouble holding his attention.
My favorite things about the Read and Share Toddler Bible are the illustrations because they’re so colorful and depict so well what the stories are saying. My nephew found the pictures for creation the most interesting. The narration is put in words that are easily understood by toddlers and do not outweigh the pictures. Even though it is put in such simple words, I don’t think that it lost any of its Biblical accuracy.
The DVD is great! My almost-three-year-old nephew, my three and a half year-old niece and my other nephew, who is four going on five, all enjoyed watching the DVD and were captivated by the lively animated characters.
As a whole, I think that this is a wonderful way to share the accounts from the Bible with toddlers and, more importantly, the love of God and his son, Jesus Christ. I know that my nephew will enjoy this for a long time to come.

Why I Think Facebook is Strange

I admit I use and enjoy Facebook. I'll even go so far as to say I use it more than I should. But during all of this use I have decided there are some strange and silly things about Facebook.

1) The name. Why would I own a book of faces? And even if I did why would it be on the Internet? (Especially when Facebook is not set up in any way resembling a book.)
2) The apps. Some of the applications I find just plain stupid. These useless time-wasters include Bumper stickers. There are no cars to place them on so why in the world do I want to spend my time sending and receiving these? All of the "super poke" apps/ hugging/smile at you apps/ food fight apps/ etc. Really? Why? It's pretty self explanatory why I dislike these. One reason is because I would never do two of these things to (most of) my friends in real life and for the rest because I would like a real hug or smile better.
3) The poke button. Again, why? I would not poke (most of) you in real life so I find this unnecessary. And for the few of you I would poke (you know who you are) I get a lot more enjoyment out of it in person.
4) The "Top Friends". I think that only hurt could come of this really. Mostly because even when you have over a hundred friends you could make people feel bad when they aren't included.
5) When people post that they're bored. If I read another status that says, "I'm bored. Text me," I will simply explode. If you're bored and reading this I have some suggestions to dispell your boredom. Read a book. I even have a list of a few you might enjoy. Email me if this appeals to you. Go outside. Vitamine D is good for you and so is fresh air and exercise.

But to be fair I will now post five things I like about Facebook.

1) I like that we can upload and share pictures so easily.
2) I like the chat. Because it's faster than email or messaging and because you don't have to have the same email provider to chat.
3) I like the status. I like being able to show what I'm doing and to be able to keep up with family and friends that I might not be able to keep up with otherwise.
4) I love flair. 'nuff said.
5) I enjoy taking some of the quizes.

So say yay or nay. Feel free to comment, add or subtract to what I've posted all who read this.

The Noticer by: Andy Andrews

The Noticer, by Andy Andrews, is a well written, inspirational story that everyone can relate to, identify with and enjoy.
When you enter The Noticer, you will be inspired because it teaches that we miss lots of things and don’t always view situations in life the way they really are. But it also gives hope for change. It encourages you to do a 180 and forge ahead with a new perspective and an eye for noticing things that might normally be overlooked.
Andy Andrews draws in his reader immediately with his writing in a way that brings the words together in a seamless, flowing fashion and makes the book an easy read.
As you follow the characters’ journeys, it’s easy to relate because their situations and problems are so real. One reason that the book is so good is because mysterious Jones is always there to present workable solutions that the characters and the reader would miss otherwise. All of these things come together perfectly to form a great plot.
After reading The Noticer, I am moved to stop worrying which is a problem that one of the characters faced in the book. I’m sure that after reading The Noticer you will be able to see some of your own faults and be called to do something about them.
Read The Noticer and prepare yourself to be captivated and changed!

Saint by: Ted Dekker

Saint is a book that will hold your attention from the very beginning!
Saint is written in classic Dekker form. Its many twists and turns keep you guessing the whole way through. I ended up reading the book in only two sittings because I couldn't bare to put it down.
Saint did have a good bit of violence and just a couple of cuss words. That said, Saint also has its redeeming christian tone. Saint is a battle of good verses evil in a little less than a typical way. Mixing in the supernatural with the possible is another way that Ted keeps the reader hooked.
Once you pick up Saint you'll have a hard time putting it down again!

Reviewing

I'm planning on starting to post reviews on my blog. The first one I'm hoping to have finished and posted by tonight is of a relatively new book by one of my favorite authors. I'm hoping to be able to start reviewing and posting my reviews on a regular basis soon.

Refuge Week-- Part 2

Refuge Week-- Part 2: The refugees and the boys and girls club:

Days 3 and 5:
These were probably my favorite days. We got to spend both days all day long with refugee children whose parents had to leave their home country because of threats made on their lives. We went to this lady's house who is kind enough to lend Reach The Nations (The group that does this on a regular basis and who we volunteered to do this through) her field. We went to the back of her property and there is a huge hole in the fence. After climbing through the hole you find yourself in an apartment complex. We were told that almost all if not all of the residents of this neighborhood are refugees. We walked down the streets carrying soccer balls and asking if the children would like to "play on the field". Though most of the kids don't speak English they all knew what that meant. By the time we were done walking through the apartments everyone had a child or two holding their hand or one riding on their shoulders. Once on the field we played soccer and did face painting both days and on the second day we brought jump ropes, a slip-n-slide, bubbles, and other neat outdoor games. I got to meet and talk to a couple of the Asian girls. They spoke English pretty well and they loved to face paint all of the youth! It all started when Ehdena told me she loved me and that she wanted to paint "I love you" on my arm along with a flower. As you can imagine it didn't stop there. They soon had all of the youth volunteers that would stand or sit still long enough painted up and down their arms, legs, face, or all 3. Afterwards we all joked that it always started with "I love you and a flower" because that was always the first thing they painted.

Day 4:
Day four was probably the most relaxed day of the week. We whent and played water games and did VBS at the Monroe Boys and Girls Club and fixed lunch for them and then we whent to Stone Mountain to play frisbee and watch the laser show.

And then we whent home on day five and spent the next day trying to recover all of the sleep we missed. It was the most rewarding and selfless youth camp I have ever taken part of and I hope we get to do it all again next year!

Pictures of Refuge Week

REFUGE WEEK-- Part 1

It was a last minute kind of thing when I joined my church's youth group on this 5 day local missions project. I will try to fit as many of the details and some of the pictures I took during the week into 2 parts. I may fail but that is the general idea.

But before I tell you about the missions we did I would like to mention where we stayed and a few other important details:
Lucern Baptist in Stone Mountain, Georgia was kind enough to let our 30 and some odd students stay at their church. We also had some great adult leaders who planned and organized this whole thing and although I don't want to name anyone for the fear of leaving someone out I would like for all those who helped out to be recognized and all of those who read this to know how grateful I am for their hard work and this opportunity and I believe that all the other students feel the same way. So, thanks. You know who you are and you're awesome!

And now... This is REFUGE WEEK-- Part 1-- The homeless:
For the first 2 days we spent our time working with a group called "7 Bridges" which reaches out to homeless people all over Atlanta by sharing the love of Jesus in many ways. Be it a hug, a sack lunch, a prayer, or helping people onto the road of recovery. We spent of time with them making and handing out sack lunches under bridges and on street corners in metro Atlanta and praying over every person who would take a meal. Also on those days we spent the afternoons preparing and serving meals, giving small gifts, doing manicures and pedicures, and playing with the children at a women's shelter operated by the same 7 Bridges organization called "The Garden".

Part 2 is to come soon and hopefully with pictures of the week.

4th of July, etc.

The Fourth Of July:
The 4th was awesome! Not only is it cool to be able to celebrate the 233rd birthday of my country, but it's great to be able to do that with your family. Even though a good bit of my extended family were not able to come over to my house to celebrate we still had a pretty large gathering. We swam, cooked out on the grill, learned how to make a Betsey Ross 5 pointed star in 1 snip, and other fun things. Later I went with my cousin and her family to go watch fireworks at the horse park and then we went to McDonald's.

Ella's Trip To The Vet:
Yesterday we had to take Ella to the vet and it turns out that she has an infected anal gland that ruptured. Then the vet cleaned it and gave us medicine for her to take every day and if it doesn't heal on its own they will remove it. But the vet said that it's not a dangerous surgery and that either way Ella will be alright.

Putting Together The Pieces:
For the last week or so I've been working on puzzles. I finished one that I had started long ago which was very exciting. It is called "Indian Maiden" and is a picture of a young native American girl and a wolf with a very beautiful nature background. And guess what! It was only missing 3 pieces out of 550! I am kind of amazed that there weren't more pieces gone. Now I'm working on a glow in the dark puzzle that is nearly twice the size of the first one. It is a snowy Christmas scene with a one horse open sleigh, children laughing, houses with lights all aglow, and a man made out of snow. After a lot of work my mom and I finally finish the border. I can't wait to finish it!

"My Stand" a poem by me.

I wrote this poem after Reading the book Saint by Ted Dekker.

Here I make my stand
This is my line drawn in the sand

You preach tolerance
Until you notice our existence

Every path is equal you say
Until it comes to Jesus' way

You call us close minded
Because we believe that the only way is narrow and few shall find it

You think him dead
We know he lives instead

His gift is for all
In comparison the price is small

You complain that we are exclusive
When really it is you who is being reclusive

You scream that the light brings only pain
That the darkness is to blame is plain

the darkness covers up all of those offensive wrinkles you claim
I know that this only gives you time to relish that which should bring you shame

Welcome the light
Dispel the night

He can free your soul
He wants to make you whole

You thank me and say:
"Now I have seen the way and never will I stray"

I have given my argument a hundred tries
I lose many but open others eyes

For these reasons I cannot be silent
Because soon I will have used up all of the days I was lent

It's not perfect but it's something that says something that I hope you understand.

A slide show: Our "homestead"

This is a short slide show I put together that has pictures of our "homestead in the making" including pictures of (but not limited to): The garden, the chicken pen, the honey bees, etc.
I'll try to add more pictures and slide shows regularly of all kinds of things we do here on the "farm" and more.

Happiness -Vs- Joy

"Happy" is a feeling, an emotion that rises and falls based on the things of this world. We should therefore not seek happiness. Happiness is the worlds perverted view of joy. The joy that comes with knowing the Lord is not based on worldly things. Thus it does not end even when happiness wanes. You may cry though you are joyful. Because sorrow can come into your life and yet the joy remains. Joy can be compared to background music. Even when it seem like the noise of life drowns out the voice of God and the Joy that comes with him if you stop and listen they've both always been there. So, I conclude that life should not be based on the pursuit of happiness, but should be spent in the pursuit of God, through whom we receive joy and peace.

The First Fruits of Our Garden and The Honey Bees

This past week we "harvested" the "first fruits" of our garden and checked in on the "queen" bees.
We collected several straight necked squash, one grape tomato, and several handfuls of green beans. I am so excited that our garden is starting to pay off! There is still a lot of work left to be done from now until the "harvesting" is done. The grass must be kept at bay, water the troops, and squish (or drown as my mother prefers) the enemy bugs!
The honey bees have been very busy! They had almost filled up the first big "super" we gave them so we put together the second ones for them. I got to paint them white and then decorate. It was so much fun! I hope they like the artwork on all four sides of their new home expansion.

A slide show: The garden

My Occupation

I was inspired to write this paragraph when I was taking a quiz and got to this question (or one like it): "What is your current occupation?" And, of course, being myself, I had to offer some serious consideration before answering. I said student then, although I now understand that that is only half of our God-given résumé.

This is what I later felt compelled to write:

We all have two jobs; as a student and as a teacher. From the day we are born to the day we die, we continue to learn and to set some kind of example. It's our choice whether we remember our lessons or forget them, whether we set a good example or a bad one.

Summer Plans: Update

This weekend, my Mema is coming to spend Friday and Saturday with us. Friday we are going to try to go see the movie "UP", a 3D animated movie. Saturday, we will probably swim and just hangout.
One weekend this summer, I think we are going to Helen, Ga. That will be fun! We'll stay either in a tent or in a cabin or in a camper at a camp ground sort of place we where we have a membership. I would like to go tubing if we go.
Mom and I are planning on having a letterboxing day. For more information on letterboxing go to www.letterboxing.org. We're going to try to put together and hide a letterbox of our own sometime, too.
On a day-to-day basis, I'm going to be swimming, riding, reading, gardening, and blogging.
It's summer already and we've already used up so much of it! I continue to look forward to all the fun things I have planned!

Ebaying

I love to buy and sell things on Ebay and right now I'm sorting through, taking pictures of, and listing books to sell on Ebay for mom. I usually only sell horse stuff like the cowboy style rope halters I make.
If you're in the market for spiritual books, self help books, a book on ADD or a few Bible study books, just let me know and I'll direct you to the proper Ebay listings. I've listed books that range from Nancy Drew to How Now Shall We Live, Deliver Us From Evil to Give and Take, or any other random assortment of books that happened to wander into our possesion at one time and no longer serve their purposes of entertainment or guidance in our home . There are so many books and other items to sift through, photograph and list I may soon be "Driven to Distraction"!

Gardening on a Summer Saturday

Today I have spent some time in the garden tending to our plants. I am amazed at how fast the plants are growing! They speak so plainly of their Creator that I can't believe that anyone who has looked at, worked with, or studied plants can deny the fact that there is a great God who created all of this.
I was overjoyed to find several apple sized watermallons growing on their vines! And the straight necked squash are getting bigger every day! And the beans! I have been so fascinated at watching them climb up the trellis of string that we made! We will soon be so over run with tomatoes we won't know what to do with them! We have peppers of all kinds that are growing so quickly! And soon we will have between 200 and 400 ears of corn!
I can hardly wait for the fruits (and vegetables) of our labor to be ready!

The Great Butler Family Campout

Over Memorial Day weekend my mom's side of the family gathered in droves to my house. Imagine 13 tents, 43 and some odd number of people, 9 children under the age of 6, and 3 days of almost nonstop rain.
We had a really great time despite the rain and mud. We swam when there was a sunny moment between clouds, we watched a movie outside using a projector, most everyone slept in a tent the first night and only 3 people slept outside the second night, my brother, Clay who came up with his family from Florida, built a fire every night, we enjoyed hanging out together, and eating together (including BBQ).
All these things made this a campout/in to remember!

Summer Plans

For me there are 2 more weeks of school and then I'm free!
My day to day plans for the summer include riding my horse, swimming, gardening, and hanging out with friends and family.
Also, this summer, I would like to include some fun activities like going letterboxing. To find out what letterboxing is, go to: www.letterboxing.com. I want to visit Helen, GA, Calloway Gardens, and other neat places. We'll do no real traveling, as far as I know, but I think we'll have fun all the same!

Gardening, Swimming and Schoolwork Oh My!

Over The Weekend:
We worked in the garden. My dad and I went to the local hardware store and bought a wonderful variety of vegetable seeds and plants, along with some watermelon plants. We planted them in our raised beds and, as soon as we were finished, it began to rain. I am still carefully tending my seedlings indoors and I can't wait until they are ready to be transplanted outside! I am definitely looking forward to this year's harvest!
Also, this weekend I rode Joker and had lots of fun! We walked, trotted and cantered, did figure eights and did other things to help us both get back into shape for this summer. I was hoping to ride again yesterday and today but my round pen is a mess from all the rain we've had. So, I look forward to long, blissful rides this summer!

Today:
I took the first plunge into the pool this year! Measuring in a icy 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the pool water was a little cooler than I prefer. (We have decided that the best temperature is 85 degrees.) I slowly made my way deeper until I could swim some laps width-wise in the shallow end. This was just a tiny taste of the fun yet to come and I can't wait for more!

For The Next 17 Weekdays:
I have 17 weekdays left until school is finished and summer is here! Until the end of that assigned time, I will be working extremely hard to finish up this year's work. After that I am free!

All of these things are making me look forward to this summer which appears that it may be one of the best summers ever!

Bowling and Laser Tag

Yesterday I went bowling and to play laser tag with 4-H. This trip was our reward for collecting toiletries as a service project for F.I.S.H. (Faith. In. Serving. Humanity.) It was my job and my friend Kristin's job to collect soap. Kristin beat everyone at bowling and I came in second in laser tag with the highest accuracy at 100%! We were going to get something to eat at the bowling alley but we only had the time (and money. Those prices were ridiculous.) for sodas. I think we all had a lot of fun!

Dog Adoptions on Saturday

Saturday I volunteered with my friend Kristin (who fosters dogs) with dog adoptions at our local feed store. There was a yard sale, a vaccination and micro chipping clinic, W.A.G. (Walton. Animal. Guide.) had a booth where they had a raffle, someone sold baked goods, and a country radio station came and broad casted. It was a great day. Kristin got 2 of her foster dogs adopted, Pound Puppies and Kittens (the rescue group that Kristin and her family Foster for) raised over $3,000.

Planting Seeds

My little flower seeds that I planted nearly a week ago have started sprouting. I was so excited when I saw the 5 little sprouts poking out! Just last night as I was watering them I wondered when they would start spouting. Now I'm 1 step closer to planting my garden!

Hobby Farming

Between my familiy and my sister's, we own 10 acres. Recently we decided to put the land to good use by building a chicken run (because we have finally gotten tired of cleaning chicken poop off the porch.), planting a garden and getting honey bees. We have owned chickens for about 3 years and we currently have 6 chickens and 6 chicks. The run has been a 2 week project so far. All is ready except for the door which is lacking a handle and hinges. The garden has been taking a little longer. We are going to plant in raised bed squares. We already have five 4'x4' square frames built and plan to make more. Seeds have been planted and are being tended indoors until the beds are ready. We have purchased, put together and painted 2 bee hives. Today we took them to the bee man's house. He is going to pick up a swarm of bees later this week and give them to us for free. He also gave us a tutorial about beekeeping and the life going on inside the hive.
It feels like this will turn out to be the perfect country spring out here at "Windy Hill Farms" as I look forward to fresh eggs, delicious produce and sweet honey.

Under The Weather

For the last week and a half I've been sick. That time included helping out with dog adoptions at PetSmart and Easter. I had a pretty good Easter under the circumstances. We had 29 people come over for lunch and/or dinner. We all played games and hung out and it was alot of fun when I wasn't coughing.

Pony Rides

Yesterday I got to finally ride Joker, my horse, after about month without riding. I haven't been able to ride because it's been raining so much and then I went to Florida. My sister,(who lives next door and has 3 children), came over with her children and 3 of their friends for pony rides. So, they helped me brush Joker and RedRock and then they went in for lunch while I saddled and rode Joker to calm him down (and because it's fun). I rode him for about 45 minutes to an hour and then the kids came down and I gave 6 long pony rides. I had fun and I know the kids did, too. Joker was happy for the change and attention, I think. I'm hoping to ride again today if it doesn't rain too much.

There and Back Again

I went to Florida to visit my brother and his family and to celebrate my niece's birthday. Her birthday is actually on Easter Sunday, but they had her party early so that everyone could come. We went to the pool every day, took a trip to the mall, visited the beach after dark, and basically just partied. Another highlight of the trip was playing the XBox 360 with my cousin, Laurie who went with us. We played virtual table tennis and I must admit that I was awesome. Then the next day we ventured to the neighborhood's game house by the pool and tried our hand at real ping-pong. And I regret to announce that we were horrible.
All in all the trip was totally and completely (to be redundant) awesome!

Plans for Spring Break

Woo-hoo! It's spring break!
Now I'm trying to decide what to do with it. I really only have today (Monday), Tuesday and Wednesday because on Thursday we are going down to FL to see my brother and his family (I can't wait!). Today is my dad's birthday so tonight we'll have cake and ice-cream. And this afternoon my mom and I are going to the library, then to wal-mart (for a present and birthday supplies) and then who knows what we might do. So, that leaves me Tuesday and Wednesday to plan for. At the moment I don't know what to do, but I'll write again when I decide.

To the Dentist!

Today I had a tooth check-up appointment at a new dentist office. First there was the one hour long trip there. Once there I had paper work to fill out, x-rays to get done, and a tooth cleaning. I also found out that I have two cavities. No one likes cavities and I am no exception. This means two more trips to the dentist, having my mouth "Novocained" (twice), and an orthodontist consultation free of charge. On the bright side: while sitting in the waiting room before and after my check-up I read a good bit of my book and while getting my teeth done I got to watch "The Little Rascals". In total I spent a little more than four hours (Including the trip there and back.) of my life at the dentist's.
But now at least I can smile in peace.

Uneventful

I had a very uneventful day. I don't mean that I didn't have fun, just that there were no major, life changing, earth shattering, history making things going on today.
Here are the things that took up the majority of my day besides feeding and taking care of my pets and the regular every day things. I did school work. Today was a test day (I finish every work book for every subject ((Math, Science, Word Building, English, and Social Studies)) every 3 weeks. At the end of that time I take a test on each subject.) I did really well. Then I sat in front of the T.V. for a while. Later I logged on to the computer to check my email, Face Book, eBay, and what not and when I got bored I went outside. I went walking for 30 minutes and recorded it on the "Walk Georgia" website (A program that records all your activities and then turns minutes to miles and you virtually travel across Georgia and you learn facts about every county you "travel" to. ((Google it and join! Let's see how far we make it!)) I have liked it so far, although I've only been doing it for two days.) After that I came inside and sat down to read some of "The Fellowship Of The Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien. I've made it about half way through and have been enjoying it greatly. (By the way Frodo is in terrible danger where I left him.)
That's about all that I have done that is at all interesting.
Well, I suppose I've said all there is to say about this subject. TTYL.

Horse Judging!

Well, today we had the first Horse Judging practice!
In Horse Judging you learn about the physical ideals of different horse breeds (for halter classes) and performance perfection, faults, manuvers, styles, and scoring (for riding). At the Begining of May we have competition and put our knowledge to the test. This is my 2nd year of participating in Horse Judging and my last year of being a junior 4-h'er.
We didn't have the bigest group we've ever had (It was only Leah and I) but we still had fun! Because we were in such a small group we did "Hippology Slides". When you do this you view about 20-25 pictures with questions attatched and you answer them in order and at the end see how many you got right.
This Monday at the next "Young Riders" 4-h meeting leah and I are going to each give a set of reasons (Reasons are your placing of a class of horses and your reasons for placing the horses that way. At competition we give about 4 sets of reasons and judge about 8 different classes.) We hope to draw a significantly larger group to the next meeting.

It Snowed!

Yesterday and today we had snow! It's not very normal for my home to receive snow much less this time of year! We were all very excited when it began and thought we would be lucky for a light powdering. We were very surprised when we ended up with about 3-to-4 inches! I took lots of pictures of my horses, my dog, and my home covered in snow!I walked up and down our dirt road and all through our pasture. As I did, I was inspired by the cold, ice and snow to write words that I thought more appropriate for the tune "Dashing Through The Snow."
Here is my ballad:

Hiking through the snow
I’ve a long, long way to go
My hands are getting numb
I’m afraid I’ll lose my thumb
Chance I’ll get frost bite
It’s sure to be cold tonight
Hot chocolate on my mind
My body I hope they find
I’m lost out in the snow
My legs are sure to go
My jacket needs to grow
I’m not an Eskimo
No coverage on my cell
Direction I can’t tell
I think I’m gonna’ fall
I am not very tall
These thoughts you’re sure to share
If you yourself are there
Hiking through the snow
With a very long way to go

I never was actually lost, I just thought up and sang the first few lines while I walked around and continued until I ran out of things to rhyme.
Enjoy!