A Barn Raising. Part Two.

I forgot to post yesterday because we were pretty busy. Early in the day I cleaned house so that it would be ready for our company. While I was doing that mom, dad and Jack measured and marked where the holes should be. Later, my uncle and cousin arrived and that's when we really started working. Dad and Jack dug holes with the two-man auger and my cousin and I cleaned the holes out with post hole diggers. So, needless to say, my shoulders are sore. Today the building inspector is coming to inspect the holes and after that we're going to put the posts up. I think that today the barn might really start looking like a barn.

A Barn Raising. Part One.

I'm not quite sure how many parts this will have because this is a huge undertaking. We really started building the barn three years ago when we had the concrete pad poured, but we haven't done much since then. Yesterday is when we really made progress. We had lumber and dirt delivered and we had a bobcat come and make the surrounding ground level with the concrete. Today, while dad and Jack cut out places in the concrete to put the posts in, the rest of our family watched. While we weren't watching we were doing odd jobs like turning the hose on and off, bringing lemon ade to the workers, opening and closing gates, and fetching tools. Tomorrow my uncle and cousin are coming. Hopefully the work will go faster. On the scedule for tommorrow we have: digging post holes and having fun!   

An Old Story

Yesterday I found some of my old writings while cleaning my room. This is the first part of a short story that I had started but never finished. I've done a little editing and I've made it a little more like my current style (because my style has changed a bit in the last year or so). It's just a fantasy story full of frivolity. Enjoy!

In another village nestled in the middle of another country many years ago, a memorable thing happened. Philington Sprousenhimer came upon an unsuspicious can as he was snipe hunting on the town's main highway (which was more like a dirt path) as he did on every other snipe hunting day. Philington snatched up the can because he was a recycling kind of person. His interest grew when he realized that the can was unopened. Unfortunately, he could not read the label for all the dirt, but our dear Philington was undaunted. He whipped out his handkerchief and rubbed the can vigorously. Eventually the words became visible. "Fresh Genie in a Can," Philington read aloud. Turning the can, he read the directions. "Step one: read label. Step two: Llama had a Little Goat (a very popular children's song at the time). Step three: read step four. Step four: remove and eat label. Step five: open can and enjoy.” Philington deliberated for a while. He weighed the dangers of eating a dirty label and, even worse, having Llama had a Little Goat stuck in his mind forever. Philington was so lost in thought that he passed his own house and walked right into his neighbor's. After noticing his mistake, he scurried out of the door unnoticed. "Well, here goes nothing," he mumbled before singing Llama had a Little Goat and then choking down the nasty label. Once he arrived at his own house Philington began searching for a can opener. After a little while he grabbed the can opener triumphantly. Philington opened the can. You won't believe what popped out!

... ... ...

You'll have to wait until next week to find out what happens!

A Snapshot

Several people I know are taking one picture a day for an entire year. I love the idea! Except... photography is not really my thing, but writing is! So, I thought to myself, "what if I write a snapshot a day?" So, that is exactly what I am going to do! I'm not sure what I'll write each day... maybe a journal about my day, maybe a short story or a poem. But that's all part of the appeal! I must admit that knowing that I have to write something everyday is a bit daunting, but what great adventures aren't at first glance?

The Falling Away by T.L. Hines

I’ve read several books by Hines and have loved every one of them. This one is no different. The Falling Away is a supernatural thriller about a crippled veteran ironically named Dylan Runs Ahead. Whether he realizes it or not, Dylan has been running all of his life. He’s been running from the reservation, from his past, from his future, and from his destiny. Quinn and Li are about to make him face all of the demons that Dylan’s been running from. The writing, as always, is superb. It all flows perfectly and you’re hooked after just a few words. One of my favorite things about the book is the fact that Hines gives you the background story on his characters and that really brings them to life. The plot is original and takes many twists and turns. If you like a supernatural thriller with lifelike characters and a captivating writing style then this book is for you.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker

Ted Dekker really takes you for a ride in Immanuel's Veins! Immanuel's Veins is a redemptive romance where it all comes down to wooing the Bride. The characters are well developed and easy to relate to. The whole story is laid out so well that it really is believable. Good and evil materialize in Toma, one of Catherine the Great's best and most loyal warriors, and Vlad, a mysterious Russian royal. Amidst all of the revelry, wine and love bites there is a desperate battle raging for Lucine's love. It was invigorating and inspiring to read a story that hits so close to home for all of us who share a fallen spiritual history, but now live redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

Jesus Lives by Sarah Young

Jesus Lives by Sarah Young is an awesome devotional book. It is uniquely written, is Biblically based, and talks about topics that can really be applied to your life. Sarah Young wrote this book in a writing style that I have never seen before. Each of the one hundred and eighty devotions is written as if from Jesus to us. Every devotion is based on the Bible, (which is important because we all need to be feeding on the word every day), and she includes several verses that apply to each topic. My favorite thing about this book is that all of the topics really do apply to my life. The topics include: Adversity, Control, Depending on Him, Desiring Him, Endurance, His Faithfulness, Fear, The Future, Heaven, Grace, Prayer, and Renewing your mind. One of the devotions that I found to be really true is the one on fear. “Fearfulness is a form of bondage. … People are born into a world in spiritual bondage, including bondage to fear. Because you inhabit both a fallen world and a fallen body, it isn’t easy to break free from fearfulness. However, the spirit of adoption can help you in this struggle, enabling you to see yourself as you truly are: a much-loved child of God!” Isn’t that true? Through these devotions (and many more) Sarah Young addresses real questions and problems that you and I face in our everyday lives. As a result of tackling these real life issues, spending time in God’s word and in prayer you grow in your relationship in Jesus.

My Family

My sister-in-law recommended that I blog about my family so that is exactly what I'm doing.

I must admit that my family is far from normal, but that is one of the reasons that I love my family so much! In my immediate family I am the youngest of three. My brother is 18 years older than me and lives in Florida with his wife and (who I mentioned earlier and who gives great advice.) and three children (who are all adorable!). My sister is 16 years older than me and lives next door (approximately 80 steps from my front porch to her back door.) with her husband and six children. Two of her children are biological, one is adopted from Russia and three are adopted from Ukraine and have been here just a little over three months. Despite the fact that they have only been here for a little while we all love them like they've been here forever! My parents are wonderful! And because they are older (but by no means old!!!) they have given me a unique perspective. I have an appreciation for the little things (as cliché as that may sound.). I notice the trees as they bud and bloom and I marvel at the magnificent array of colors displayed on the trees in the fall all because my mom and dad point them out to me. My mom homeschooled my brother and my sister and now she homeschools me (yes, I do have friends. No, I don't wear floor length denim skirts.) and I love being homeschooled! This is just a "bare bones" account of my immediate family (and one that I hope does them justice.) and I plan on writing more about the family members already mentioned and telling about the rest of my family soon.

Ella's Escapades

This is the tale of Ella, the miniature schnauzer:

One day Ella was minding her own business, just sniffing around like all dogs do when happened upon a piece of ABC (Already Been Chewed) gum. So, Ella decides to chew the bright pink gum because it smells so good and looks so strange. Little did she know just how sticky gum is. When the gum was tangled in the fur around her mouth and even stuck to her paws she came to me. I had to hold in my laughter at the sight of her because she had gotten herself into quite a mess. I snatched her up and marched her to my mom. I was planning on shaving all of her fur of, but mom said she could get the gum out with peanut butter. Ella thought that was a great idea and had the best time licking the peanut butter off once we had gotten all of the gum out of her fur. Just a few hours later Ella asked to go out in the back yard and so I let her out. Ella was just minding her own business again when this time she found BBQ sauce and grease all over the grass under the grill. Jack had been grilling and apparently the grease trap is missing so all of the grease ended up on the ground. It was a long time before I realized Ella hadn't returned. I went out and called for her and then I came back in thinking someone must have already let her in. I still couldn't find her so I went outside again and soon I found her. She was covered in grease with her white fur stained brown. She was sticky and smelled like BBQ. We quickly gave her a bath and had her all nice and clean. We thought that we had seen the end of our troubles with Ella at least for the day, but no, apparently the combination of peanut butter and grease had wreaked havoc on her stomach and she threw up. After cleaning that up we went to bed. In the morning I let Ella out into the back yard like I always do and Ella came back covered in grease again! So, after another bath I am hoping that I have seen the end of Ella's escapades.

To My Wonderful Parents

I have always known that I am lucky to have parents who love me so much and who love each other and who love the Lord but it really touched me for my mom to tell me just how much they loved me. She was telling me how long they waited for me and how excited they were when I came into the world. So, Mom and Dad, I just wanted to say thank you for everything that you do. For loving me unconditionally, for loving each other, for loving the Lord, and for raising me with Godly values. I know that I can be rebellious, argumentative, and generally difficult to be around at times and I want to thank you for putting up with me during those times and for gently correcting me. I thank you for encouraging my love of animals, nature, reading, and writing. You will probably never know how much it means to me to have your approval and support. Thank you for being quick to forgive and slow to anger. You are both such great role models for me. Mom, I want to have your patient and encouraging heart. Dad, I want your prayerful spirit and love and compassion for people in need. I just wanted to let you and everyone else know how much you both mean to me.

Love,
~Beth