The Life and Happenings of a Tween Christian Girl

Blast to the Past!

2011-04-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

Are there times where you just wish you could travel back in time? I have those feelings all the time! So I thought of a fun idea- Blast to the Past week!

For one week, my blog will turn into a 50's, 30's, etc. theme with a new design, a new music player filled with popular music from that time,"big news" reports from that time, historical fiction and biography ideas to read, and much more! But where should we go in our little time machine? You choose!

Medieval Era

Kings, castles, daring young princesses, evil queens, knights, adventure, myths, legends..shall you enter the world of the fascinating Middle Ages? (middle ages freak here! XD)

late 1800's-Down South

Big dresses, ringlet hair, bonnets and bows, sweet and sassy African-American girls, jumpin' rope, streets a' walkin, parasols, cube ice trucks, summer days....come a'dear, sit for spell!

1910

Things are growing bigger and getting faster, inventions , silent movies, triumphs, Women's fights for voting, ice cream shops, Charlie Chaplin, big hair bows, tea parties, immigrants, the Titanic, automobiles....would you come along for the ride?

1930's-Great Depression

Financial issues were hard, and America seemed to be failing. But did we give up? No. The 30's are a time of hot summer days, feedsack dresses, makin' do, Shirley Temple, Little Orphan Annie, bob haircuts, chicken coops, tap dancing, airplanes, and most of all, perseverance and courage. (I love this decade XD)

1940's

It's 1944, the world is at war. Uncle Sam wants YOU! Victory gardens, black and white cartoons, sewing bees, pitching in, tap dancing, patriotism, radio shows, Little Orphan Annie, war times, metal and can food drives, pride for the Red, White, and Blue, honor, and bravery. (I also love this decade XD)

1950's

5, 6, 7 o'clock, 8 o'clock, we're gonna rock, around the clock tonight!

Sock hops, poodle skirts, burgers, drive-ins, milkshakes, neon, records, cartoons, grease, high blonde ponytails, roller skates....(I LOVE THE 50'S!)

1970's

Hippies, peace, flower power, disco, more women's rights, bell-bottom jeans, telephones, Elvis Pressley, being groovy, The Beetles....Give me the low down and come on down!

1980's

Wacky hair, funky styles, neon colors, Michael Jackson, stereos, Rainbow Brite (and all those other 80's cartoons), pacman, the rubix cube....Gag me with a spoon!

Well there you go! :) Vote below or on the poll to the right :)

Voting ends in two weeks.

Happy Easter!!!

2011-04-27T13:04:00.000-07:00

HAPPY EASTER, or as they'd say in Ethiopia, MELKEM FASIKA! Yes, it's a little late, but we should be celebrating Jesus' Resurrection EVERY DAY.

God always wants the best for us,
But in Eden we sinned; we really blew it.
We disobeyed God’s direct decree;
We separated from Him, and we knew it.

You’d think we’d learn to behave ourselves,
But through all time, we just kept doing it;
Piling wrong on top of wrong,
Our punishment—we kept accruing it.

Jesus came and changed all that;
He paid the price for all our sins;
When we repent and believe in Him,
We change, and a better life begins.

Easter stands for a second chance
For us to choose to put things right;
If we repent, and really believe,
Our record is polished clean and bright.

When Jesus rose from the dead back then,
He guaranteed our eternal life,
Reunited with God in heaven,
Free from tears and fears and strife.

Easter ensures paradise
For all of us, for you and me;
We’re reconciled to our Lord and King
For now and all eternity.
-By Joanna Fuchs

Thank you Jesus.

To view the story of Easter, click HERE.

Good Friday

2011-04-22T17:55:00.000-07:00

Do you know what happened about 1800 years ago today?

Your sins were taken away.

Jesus paid the price for you.

Jesus shed His own perfect blood so that you might spend eternity in heaven with Him.

He gave His life for cheaters, liars, sinners, deceivers, criminals, murderers, and thieves.

He gave His life for YOU.

He was stripped and beaten.

Hung on the cross.

Buried in a grave.

But the story doesn't end there....

3 days later, He rose again, and forever, death was conquered. Jesus had won.

Tag! And Sick at Home

2011-04-11T10:24:00.001-07:00

Yech! I'm sick at home on this nice Monday afternoon. Stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, drowsiness. Not sick enough to lie in bed all day, but not feeling well enough to spend 8 hours at school, either. Well, at least I got my SAT tests done and feel pretty good about it :)

Anyway, I was thinking of starting a tag! Yay! I was tagged by someone and meant to post it, but I lost the tag. :( So, I thought of starting my own! :D

The Five Senses Tag!

At this very moment, write about what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.

Then, if you could only have 3 senses, which 3 would you pick and why?

I'll go first ;)

What I see at the moment.....my computer screen, my big window with a trash-pick-up truck going by, and a blue sky :)

What I hear at the moment....my sister and her friend talking, me typing

What I taste at the moment....the taste of cinnamon Life cereal still in my mouth

What I smell at the moment...whatever my sister and her friend are eating right now

What I feel at the moment....the smooth keyboard and my soft pajamas :)

If you could only live with 3 senses, which 3 would you pick and why?

I would have to go with HEARING, TASTE, and FEEL. I would need to hear music and my friends and family's voices, and someone talking to me. I would want to taste my food and feel warmth of a blanket and the cool water of the pool in the summer. But it would be hard to live without seeing or smelling; I'm not sure I could do it. Thank you Lord for giving me all five of my senses!

"I praise you, O Lord, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

Now, you have to tag 5 friends!!!

I tag.....

Hannie @ Irish Girl

Leanna @ LoopdeLoop

Kanani @ Kanani's Sunny Spot

Abbzy @ Waddling and Walking All the Way

Hannah @ Hannah, Herself

Yay!!!! Heehee!

He's got the whole world in His hands

2011-04-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

Last night we experienced a pretty severe storm- complete with wind, hail, and lighting. And it hit us when I was home alone.

The morning and early afternoon was warm weather, white clouds rolling across a beautiful blue sky, and sunshine. A perfect day for being outdoors. So when I constantly heard the "beeep...beeep....beeeeep" weather warnings on the radio, I switched the channels, not worrying about anything. I assumed it was just a test or for a different county. Today was a beautiful day. Windy, but beautiful. Nothing could go wrong.

But whenever you assume that, something goes wrong. ;)

My church had a Women's Run to raise awareness of Human Trafficking in other countries like India, Africa, etc, where girls from 2 to 30 years old were sold for their bodies. It's really sad, but my mom friend made an incredible display to show what Human Trafficking is and how we can help (more on that later) I donated $10 myself and got a bag handmade by a girl in India XD All in all it was a fun morning and right after we headed over to get ready, organize, and price things for a HUGE garage sale we are having to raise money for the adoption. A bunch of people are donating items. The garage sale is being held at a friends house, so after the race we went to price and organize things before the actual sale next week.

I had my first violin lessons at 2:30 (ALSO more on that later!) so my sister and I had to leave earlier than everyone else. My sister drove me to my lessons then back home, dropped me off, and left me home alone because she had to go babysit. I was obviously fine with staying home alone, I do a lot, but something sickened me about the sky brewing overhead. Minutes after she left, the sky began to look just a bit like this....

Those skies are never fun to see....orange-y or green-ish skies usually mean an ugly storm is on its way. Suddenly, as the wind began to pick up, I knew the sunny day was not going to last.

I decided to call my mom and let her know. The house where the garage sale was taking place and my mom and dad and brother and family friends were busy organizing. But the house is about 20 minutes away, and I thought it might be a good idea to call. My mom said they'd be leaving soon and it would be okay, because a "storm" had already hit them and passed quickly. The sky started to look like this as I put the phone down, and it was pretty window.

I heard thunder but no rain or lightning. But pretty soon....plink,plink,plink....

and light rays began to flash across the sky. Not fun.

I decided to get off of the computer I was on, actually beginning to post something I never finished, and headed upstairs to my room. I tried to avoid looking out the window as I cuddled up in a blanket and watched TV and texted my friend to "keep me company". I also had my mom on the other line, on speaker, and occasionally a random someone over at our friends' house, like their little boys or my brother, would come and talk to me. XD Call me a baby for keeping my mom on the line, but the storm was pretty bad and I just felt safe having them "right there". Especially cause they were so far away. But when I described to them the scene outside, they got in their cars to drive home.

15 minutes had passed and the storm was getting really bad. And I was about to panic when.... CluckONK CluckONK CluckONK.....

hail stones tapped at my window.

I picked up the phone and called my mom right away. How were they going to get home? Was the storm bad over there? I was pretty nervous. The wind threw the hailstones against the windows, and all I heard over the TV was CluckONK CluckONK CluckONK....it got fast....ONKcluckonkaONKcluckonkaONKcluckonka....I told them about the hail, and my dad was surprised. "It's really hailing? Are you sure?" he asked. Nobody expected this to come out of a nice day, and it almost never hails here. "I'm totally sure!!!!" The tiny balls of ice bounced up and down outside. "I'm scared." I admitted. This is the first time it had stormed in a long time, and even longer when it was bad like this. And I had never been home alone during any storm. I used to be petrified of storms, I'm not anymore, but sometimes the old fear seeps through.

Amazingly, my brother and dad seemed fascinated by the hail. They thought it was COOL that it was hailing, and they encouraged me to collect some pieces when the storm grew down, if it did any before they got there. I laughed to myself and realized hail WAS pretty cool. I had strong windows, a sturdy home, God watching over me (you bet I was praying XD). When I felt perfectly safe, I went downstairs and made a microwave dinner and waited for them to come home. And this was neat-the more I felt safe, the better the storm got. It was passing over. When my parents got home, it was drizzling, and I showed my dad and brother the hailstones I managed to salvage when I ran out on my back porch to collect some. The biggest was the size of a large grape!

I believe God calmed down the storm for them to safely get home. Because as soon as we were all comfortable and my parents congratulated me for staying strong, the storm came back in a fury. Almost twice as worse.

It was so bad I couldn't look outside. Basketballs were rolling away and the trees were bent almost to the ground. I winced and hid myself away. You could go anywhere in the house and the heavy rain and awful hailstones pounded against the windows and doors-it was an awful sound. And we had a new worry-my sister.

She was a new driver. 16. My mom called her up and told her she wasn't allowed to drive. But anyway, she and the kids were stuck at Chili's waiting for the storm to pass (the kids she were babysitting are also close family friends and their mom had given my sister money to go out to eat if they wanted).

My mom made my brother and I go into a window-less bathroom and stay. A tornado warning/watch was happening now. So we prayed and hoped everyone would be safe.

We didn't need to worry. It's like the song we used to sing in sunday school, "He's got the wind and the rain, in His hands, He's got the wind and the rain, in His hands, He's got the wind and the rain, in His hands, He's got the whole world in His hands."

The storm began to calm down finally, this time for real. We retrieved anything that had blown from our yard and cleared the driveway. My sister got home safely. It is true, He's got the whole world in His hands.

New button!

2011-04-04T15:49:00.000-07:00

Hooray! I got a button! Now you can add my button to your site to tell others about my blog!

I made my button on MyBannerMaker.com. It's cool, but my friend Hannah (blog: irishgirl) and a blog I really like, Libri, have really cool buttons! Does anyone know how to make those? Heehee!

Do you have a button? Tell me! I'd be glad to add any buttons to my site. You can check out the ones I have so far on the sidebar at right ----------------->

Just click the button to visit the site!

If you'd like to add my button, copy and paste the code listed under my button, also at right.

To visit MyBannerMaker to make your own button, click HERE.

Thank you!!!!

You Can Help

2011-04-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father is this: caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." James 1:27

As most of you know, my family is currently working on adopting two children from Ethiopia. This is something we have been praying about for a loooooooong time. In fact, the first time I heard I might be getting a little Chinese baby sister (we've come a long way), I was 8 or 9, and my parents had been praying even before then. Now I'm 12, and we are smack dab in the middle of bringing our babies home. The fundaiser era. Adopting isn't cheap....around 37,000 and more. We've been praying that God will provide the money so that we can adopt, and I believe God is working in our lives right now.

"I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." John 14:6

We are getting many people to donate furniture and items to have a huge yard sale fundrasier! I'm really excited. I also had a plan to help not only our children that we are adopting but the other children in the orphanage who are still waiting for their forever families. I could bring a big cardboard box to school and ask people to donate old toys. It would add up quick, and they could be distributed to the children at the orphanages to show we care about them.

I would like to ask you to help us with the adoption. The first way and most important thing you can do is PRAY. Please keep us in all your prayers.

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 8:20

The second way is one we are really excited about. Do you like coffee, or do you know someone who would? Check THIS out!!!!!

This was my FB post a few weeks ago.....

ARE YOU A COFFEE LOVER??? Help support my family's Ethiopian Adoption to bring my new 2 siblings home! All you need to do is press on the link below and buy a bag of coffee out of each bag sold $5.00 goes straight toward bringing them home! PLEASE HELP US!!

!http://www.justlovecoffee.com/orphansofgod

There it is! We have partnered with Just Love Coffee and now, you can purchase great coffee in which the proceeds will go straight to bringing my siblings home!

Thank you so, so much!!!!!!

April Fools Day Fun!

2011-04-01T19:46:00.000-07:00

Everyone looks forward to April 1....the day of jokes and tricks! According to the internet, nobody really knows how this day began, but they sure know how to celebrate it! Here are some April Fools Day jokes that really caught my eye. Unfortunately, I was extremely busy today and couldn't try any of them out. Did you have a chance to pull one of these off-the-wall pranks?

1. Have a bro or sis who uses Microsoft Word a lot? Open the program and click on “Autocorrect” under the “Tools” tab. Change the settings so that funny words like “bric-a-brack” or “collywobbles” appear when he or she types a common word, like “the” or “and.” You can also make it so that every time your sibling types his or her name, “Captain Cool Beans” or an equally embarrassing moniker comes up. (You can also do this trick on a phone). XD

2. Stick a straw into a jelly donut and suck out the filling, gently pressing the donut to get most of the jelly out. Remove the first straw and insert another in the same spot. Put a squirt bottle up to the open end of the straw and squeeze the ketchup or mustard in, again using your hands to move the filling around if necessary. (If needed, turkey basters or syringes may be used in place of the first straw.) We did something similar to this last year, filling my brother's cupcake with salt XD

3. Order Chinese take out and sneak off with one of the fortune cookies. Use tweezers to remove the paper fortune and on a piece of similarly sized white paper write “Help, I’m trapped in a fortune cookie factory.” Place it back in the cookie. Covertly put the cookie on your dining companion’s plate and watch him or her freak out when they break it open and read the fortune. I'd love to try this one!!!!

4. Find an old bottle of nail polish that you don't want anymore. Unscrew the cap and set it sideways on a piece of waxed paper, letting the contents flow out into a puddle. When it dries completely, peel it off of the paper. Now you can put it anywhere and trick someone into thinking there is spilled nail polish. Works best on something your victim cherishes or on one of their important documents! I actually did this once, it's so much fun!!!! You can also do this trick with a cup of ice cream, which is what I did it with!

Have a great April Fool's Day! What pranks did you pull?

Wednesday Journal :)

2011-03-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

Yeah yah yeah, I haven't done it in a few weeks, sorry about that!!!!!!!! Enjoy!

Date: March 30, 2011

Starting time: 2:14 PM

Mood: Bubbly

Outside my window: Gray Sky, Drizzling rain, trees that still don't have leaves. Our Spring Break hasn't been very spring-like the last couple of days.

I’m thinking: Abby and I are having a sleepover tonight!!!!!!!

I'm excited for: the sleepover AND going to the nursery tonight. :)

I’m reading: we are actually going to the library TOMORROW to get new books; right now I'm not reading one

I’m listening to: the jingle of keys and the door opening as my dad leaves to go to a meeting.

I smell: the fresh rain smell as the door opens

I’m wearing: pajamas. Yes, its 2:19 and I haven't changed yet XD it's just one of those days!

Something I did today: my dad made a HUGE breakfast with homemade french toast, bacon, fruit, mini donuts, etc. Special!!!!!!! Yum!

Yesterday: I GOT A VIOLIN! YAY! My mom's friend gave me her old one and my dad fixed it up (the bridge was broken and the strings were out of tune). I'm going to start taking lessons really soon!

Something I'm doing tomorrow: going to the library and hanging out with Abby :)

I’m hungry for: I'm pretty full at the moment :)

I love: my friends!

This week my goal is: make a new photostory for my Picasa. I haven't made one in a while -_-

Did I meet last week’s goal: yes! In fact I had a really good devotion last night :)

Prayer Request: Adoption, a new post coming soon about how YOU can help us!

Ending time: 2:26 PM

THIS WEEK'S PICTURE:

My friends and I had lots of fortune cookies on Friday at my school's International Lunch! Yum they are delicious and the fortunes make us laugh XD

SPRING BREAK!

2011-03-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

YAHOO! Spring Break, here we come!

One full week and two weekends dedicated to the pre-summertime BLAST!

I live where it's pretty warm even in the early spring. It really been up-and-down this week (80º one day and down to 60º the next) but the weather forecasts that our spring break will be a summery one! :)

Things I hope to accomplish over spring break:

1. Go back to the Crisis Assistance Shelter and help out for a day or two

2. Write a LOT

3. Get some good ideas and help to for a fundraiser for the adoption

4. Read my Bible every day (I'm still working on this, and because I have no school or homework, there is no possible excuse for not doing my daily devotion)

5. Go see a movie :) Heehee!

6. Spend time with friends and bestie :)

I would be outside right now, but it's been raining all morning, and I'm still in my pajamas when, on a school day, I would almost be out of school. XD

I slept in until noon this morning and going to bed late, but that's what spring break's about, right? Haha.

I've been crazy working on my book, a novel I have been working on since JUNE OF LAST YEAR. And I haven't taken any breaks for longer than a couple weeks. I'm on the 3rd draft but I'm more busy working on my characters. Pretty much every character MENTIONED in my story has a background. I have to write it out. If they are an orphan, how did their parents die? If they are an evil or sad character, what makes them this way? Which family member do they look like most? What do they most dislike about themselves? What is their full name? Dothey like it?What is their favorite food? If they had three wishes, what would the wishes be? I like to call this Getting Down to Character. LOL. I want to know my fictional characters so well, that I could take a test on them and score 100%, and have all the answers to the random questions. I need to know my characters as if they were real people. I need to make them believable. So really, now, I am working 20% on the actual book and 80% on my characters and backgrounds and the history of Curtland, the kingdom my novel is set in (it's a middle-ages story). I even work on the native Curtish tongue language phrases, holidays celebrated there, wars that were won and lost, and even make up the National Anthem, etc. It's not even that these are needed in the book, I just need to know the kingdom so well that it makes it easier to write about.

The best part of writing about a fictional land is that I get to make up the research :)

That's all for now!

Book review :)

2011-03-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading a GREAT book, "Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems", a biography. It was just wonderful. For those of you who don't know, Amy Carmichael was an Irish woman and an amazing Christian woman who was called to mission work at a very young age. She was a missionary to Japan, but better known for her work in India-rescuing hundreds of temple children.

"Temple Children", I believe, still goes on today in India. It's when a Hindu gives up her child to the temple to be used as a prostitute or slave in exchange to have some favor with the Hindu gods. The girls were used as prostitutes and other slave purposes and were often locked up for months, never being permitted to go outside. And then, even as young as age 7, they were "married" to a god.

Yes, I know what your thinking, SCARY! India was one of the most foul places for a girl to grow up, and still is.

Amy Carmichael had an amazing Christian attitude and brought HUNDREDS of girls into her home, but that wasn't her only work. She was devoted to Christ and His word, and never stopped praising Him even in her darkest days. She is just like the "real" Elsie Dinsmore! I suggest you to pick up any biography of her at your library or bookstore, but the author of the edition I read, which is pictured above, does as a wonderful job at telling the amazing story of not only Amy's life but the lives of the many children she rescued. I especially loved Arulei. She was a pre-Hindu child and also has an amazing story. It's very inspiring! Amy Carmichael is one of the many people I can't WAIT to meet in heaven!!!! I've always wanted to be a missionary, but after reading this book, I've felt a more connection to becoming one, and I especially grew close to India. I've always loved little Indian kids and want to adopt an Indian girl one day. I would like to be like Amy and rescue those precious children. Hold on, little babies, we're coming!!!!

You've Gotta S-M-I-L-E

2011-03-21T15:56:00.000-07:00

If something may upset you
Don't ever let it get you down
Don't wear a frown!

Be a crooner, not a groaner, never kick
Here's a spelling lesson that will do the trick:

You've got to S-M-I-L-E
To be H-A-Double-P-Y
Keep it in mind when you're blue
It's easy to spell and just as easy to do
You gotta S-M-I-L-E
It's gonna help considerably.
Just keep your chin up and give it a try
And you'll find silver lined clouds in the sky
You've gotta S-M-I-L-E
To be H-A-Double-P-Y!

This is one of my favorite Shirley Temple songs. The lyrics are so true and the music is cheerful and happy. She surely brought this message to the audience in the 1930's who were drowning in the the middle of the Great Depression. They were living in a terrible time, but they made the best of it and always found a reason to smile. That's why, if I could travel to any time era, one of my top choices would definitely be during the Depression. Who wouldn't want to put on a feedsack dress and go sell eggs door to door and later chill out with your friends and go see a Shirley Temple film? Ok, so it was a lot worse than we can imagine, but like I said: they always found a reason to smile. They were natural optimists.

Don't read this and tell me YOU don't have a reason to smile. You have thousands. Here are some to get you started:

1. Well, you are sitting at a computer under a roof of a nice house. That's something. ;)

2. Jesus Christ died for you and death has lost its power, and you are Jesus's child. (MAIN ONE)

3. You ate some food today, didn't you?

4. You probably went to school. You may hate school, but if you lived in a slum and couldn't go to school, believe me, you'd want to go more than anything.

5. If your reading this, you have the ability to read and write. Some people can't, and that seems hard for us to understand. You can also see the computer screen, you have eyes!

6. Spring is here and SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE!!!! I like school, but SUMMER is, well, SUMMER!

This list could go on and on and on and on and on and on and on!

But, what about those in Japan? The earthquake and the tsunami stripped them. The death toll was around 10,000. Many are homeless, widowed, orphaned, injured.......what do they have to smile about? That's what I'm challenging you to do. Make a list of 10 things YOU can smile about, and 10 things people in Japan can smile about. Then, pray and thank God for all your blessings, and ask Him to comfort and save those in Japan. The list my be tough, but I know you can do it!

New Siggy and New Look!

2011-03-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I got a new signature! Check it out!

I made it to match my new blue website! Claire, my friend, designed it for me :) I'm going to re-add some more things like my sidebar and music player. What do you think? Or do you like to old one better?

Every Picture Has a Story

2011-03-09T19:28:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've heard that before. Many illustrators paint or draw pictures using the book for which they are illustrating to use as a guide. Basically, use the book to make the picture. But, what I like to do, is use the picture to make the story.

Which is why I love to look at classical paintings, especially by Mary Cassat, my favorite artist. Why?

1. She's a girl.

2. I love kids and I love art. Her paintings express both!

I just love any paintings of children, because when I see one, a story of that person runs through my head. Ok, you all know Mona Lisa. Something weird about me: I don't see her as an adult or whatever, I see her as a child, like as if she was a child, and that smile is just there because, well, let's let Buddy the Elf explain it: "I love to smile. I always smile. Smiling's my favorite". We never have a reason to stop smiling. Look at what God's done in your life!!! :)

I thought I'd do that spontaniously (sp?) with three random paintings of little girls. Little girls are one of my top 5 favorite subjects :)

'Ani leaned over her big sister's shoulder, eagerly trying to get a glimpse of the book that Marta held so tightly in her grasp. "Read it more, Marta. More." Ani pleaded. Marta yawned and turned the old, browned page and kept reading. Ani was, rather an annoyance to Marta but ever since Ma died, Ani looked up to her big sister and treated her like a mother.

Marta sighed. The fire crackled and the light outside was far past sundown, and she was growing tired. But she had to stay awake with Ani until Pa got home.

"You ought to go to school, Ani," Marta said, "And learn to read yourself. I've enjoyed reading to you, but I'm so tired."

Ani grumbled. "Maaaaaaarta! But it's the good part!" she whined.

Marta yawned and leaned back. "One more page. Then when you go to bed tonight you can dream about what happens next..................'

I've never actually done this before...I'm writing from a 2 year old's point of view!!!... 'Charlotte held tight to her mother. Every day the world changed, it was always something new. One day her brother Klaus brought home a spangled puppy he'd found in the streets. Another day water poured down from the sky all say and Mommy cooked porridge. But one thing never changed, her Mommy. She was the place Charlotte could run to when she was scared, cry on when she was upset, and hug on when she was happy. Mommy was the best. Charlotte's friends' mommies were not as good as hers. Mommy didn't change when the days got hectic and confusing, and Charlotte loved her mommy with all her heart. But she didn't even know how much her mommy loved her.' Now that I've written this....it's like Charlotte's relationship with her mother is just like a Christian's relationship with Jesus. Don't you think so?

In this picture it looks like the little girl is pouting, or is thinking about something sad. Her lower lip is slightly stuck out as if she was on the verge of crying and she's huddled up against the wall, strongly clutching the violin....'Virginia held her knees, clutching her little violin. She struggled to keep the hot tears from chugging down her face. Studying the flowers in the brass pot, she thought hard about her aunt. She suddenly decided she would NOT talk to Aunt Gloria until she gave Virginia what she wanted. Aunt Gloria, whom Virginia had lived with ever since her parent's death, thought spending so much time on a little violin was improper for even a 7 year old girl. She thought those hours of playing and practicing, those creaky noises, should be replaced with knowledge of cooking and cleaning. To Aunt Gloria, Virginia's head was full of nonsense. But to Virginia, Aunt Gloria's head was stuffed with stuff that was even more nonsense-r. And today, oh today Aunt Gloria really made Virginia mad. Aunt Gloria wouldn't let Virginia buy a peppermint stick. Virginia even had her own coin to buy it with, but Aunt Gloria refused to fill Virginia with that "nonsense power" sugar. As soon as Virginia had gotten home, she ran from Aunt Gloria and picked up her violin to play it. It's what she did when she was happy, sad, mad, tired, or excited. Aunt Gloria made her stop playing. This is what made Virginia really mad. Aunt Gloria took the music away from her ears. Ok, sorry to end that one on a depressing note, but after all, this is a pouting little child.

Ta-da!!! What did you think? What was your favorite story? Which one sounds most interesting to be made into a book??? ;)

Wednesday Journal :)

2011-03-09T14:32:00.000-08:00

Date: March 9, 2011

Starting time: 5:33 PM

Mood: Excited!

Outside my window: Gray sky and wet roads.

I’m thinking: about going to church tonight!

I'm excited for: TODAY WAS OUR LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR THE WHOLE WEEK! How cool is that? 4 day weekend here I come!!!

I’m reading: Both Shirley Temple's autobiography and Babysitters Club :

I’m listening to: people talking and the keyboard clicking

I smell: just the sweet normal smell of my home

I’m wearing: I think I'm wearing the same thing I wore three Wednesdays ago! LOL!

Something I did today: Made a project at school; it rocked. :)

Yesterday: Painted light bulbs green :)

Something I'm doing tomorrow: just hanging out :) nothing in particular

I’m hungry for: the dinner at church tonight :) Tortelini, one of my favorite foods

I love: my life :)

This week my goal is: the same as last week: to read my Bible every day :)

Did I meet last week’s goal: Kinda sorta, which is why it is again my goal for this week :)

Prayer Request: Adoption, there's some weird court stuff going on in Ethiopia and the adoption process could take longer, and its especially hard for those who are getting their baby any month now and they are stuck. Please just pray it can get sorted out and people will be able to bring their babies home!!!!

Ending time: 5:46 PM

THIS WEEK'S PICTURE:

This is an add for a children's clothes line in Korea.....that little baby girl modeling the clothes is insanely adorable!!!!

Bye for now, Madeline

One more thing....

2011-03-02T13:35:00.001-08:00

...I will try to do Wednesday Journal tonight, but if I forget or not able to, I'll do it tomorrow :)

BRACES!

2011-03-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

GUESS WHAT? I got braces this morning!!!!!!! Yep! They are pretty sore right now, but I've been taking Ibprofen to help it. I know that some of you don't have braces yet, so I thought I'd share with you my experience so you will know what to expect! ;)

First of all, have a really cool orthadontist! It's made for kids and teens! There's always cool music, places to play video games, a movie playing, etc. and u get to watch tv while you get your teeth done!

Ok...so, when I first got there, the person doing my teeth (a really nice lady who happened to have braces too ) they gave my teeth a quick cleaning then put this little thing in my mouth (like you know when u get pictures taken of your teeth and they put this thing in your mouth to spread out your lips?) Well this made it really easy to put on the brackets. First she put on the glue with a teeny little brush then applied the brackets with a little tool (didn't hurt at all, in fact, I couldn't feel it.) She did this with all my teeth except the back ones. Then she took out the thing and ut glue on my back teeth. The back teeth need special little cap things so my actual orthadontist Dr.Starr (whose also very nice) came and put them on. I accidently hit the glue with my tongue a few times and it was like BLEH. The lady was like, "Yummy, right?" LOL. Then after those were on I got to go swish my mouth. This whole thing took like 45 minutes. Then I came back and they shone this little laser light device thing on each tooth for 10 seconds to set the glue. That was okay but it took a little bit Then they thread the wires through the braces and cut them. Then,

the lady showed me how to put rubber bands in. Not the kind that are threaded through your teeth that are colored, but the kind that hook on to your brackets in the back to help your jaw.

Then she showed me how to brush and floss the proper way. It was great! Then she gave me a whole kit to take home---some pamplets, a little instruction thingy to show me how to brush my teeth with braces, toothpaste, flossing, rubber bands, wax, etc. They even gave me a free t-shirt! And get this---you know those electric, Sonicare toothbrushes with different heads and pieces? They gave me one for FREE! How cool is that? I don't have the colors yet as I have a newer kind of braces- they look the same, but the wires are in a little differently. Next time, though, I may be able to choose a color! I love pink and green! Or brown and pink! Or, a really pretty sky blue color! What do you think? So for those out there expecting braces- don't be afraid! It's SUPER easy, expect that evil tasting glue ;) Haha!

Wednesday (or Thursday) Journal

2011-02-24T14:15:00.000-08:00

I'm a day behind on Wednesday Journal, so this week's journal is a Thursday one :)

Date: February 24, 2011

Starting time: 5:17 PM

Mood: Content

Outside my window: Cloudy sky and cars going by

I’m thinking: about my book I'm writing.

I’m reading: The 6th book in Babysitters Club! Ha!

I’m listening to: the keyboard and people talking

I smell: my mom cooking dinner

I’m wearing: Jeans, fuzzy socks, green long sleeved shirt, and brown sweater top thing over it, and a white ribbon in my hair

Something I did today: Got to school late because I had an appointment, and when I got there everyone was in chapel and I thought it was almost over so I sat outside the classroom and read. Hence...THOUGHT. I ended up reading for like an hour and finishing the book XD

Yesterday: couldn't go to church so I watched a lot of Toddlers and Tiaras! I hate those mothers and against what they do (its a show about little girls and pageants) but I can't help watch it, and some of the girls, like Mia, are edible-y cute, and some, like Mackenzie, are hilarious. My mom sometimes watches it with me :)

Something I'm doing tomorrow: There's a daddy-daughter sweetheart dance at our school and I'm going! I got my dress the other day....its a pretty blue and black and it has a bubble skirt! It has like a little shawl thingy that goes over it. I'm going to curl my hair and put a blue flower clip in it! My mom and I shopped for all the stuff the other day XD

I’m hungry for: whatever my moms making for dinner, cause it smells GOOD!

I want: a little girl I babysit might come over tomorrow to my house to "play with me" and I hope she does cause I love her!

I love: that we have no homework tonight.

This week my goal is: to read my Bible every day :)

Did I meet last week’s goal: yep, within 15 minutes of making the post

Prayer Request: Adoption, plus some unspokens!

TTYL!

Movie Review~Ramona and Beezus

2011-02-21T15:58:00.000-08:00

Hey! Today I saw "Ramona and Beezus", a movie of sisterhood based on the books by Beverley Cleary.

I am a very big Ramona Quimby fan, having read all her books twice and knowing all there is to know about her. So I was pretty worried about the movie. I mean, when I heard it was coming out, I was EXTREMELY excited! I wanted to see it right away, but of course, that was like a year or two before it came out.

I kind of got worried when I saw the stills and actors. I didn't like who was chosen to play Ramona and Beezus. I had never before heard of Joey King and didn't think she was very "Ramona" at all and I wasn't sure if Selena Gomez could really pull off the role of Beezus. When I saw the preview, I was like, "Oh no. What have they done to Ramona?" I mean, it looked very cheesy and so not my beloved book character. I look back and question why I thought that, because this movie was TERRIFICAL!

Joey King was adorable and was an ideal Ramona. Selena Gomez played a great Beezus, better than I expected.

The movie was only briefly based on the book, and had its own storyline. It was almost like....a bunch of different plots put into one movie.

The actors and actresses did a great job. This movie is great for any age and is a great family, ESPECIALLY sister movie. My brother watched it with me and enjoyed it just as much as I did. Whether you grew up with Ramona Quimby or not, this movie is sure to please.

The Babysitters Club

2011-02-19T15:47:00.000-08:00

Would you recognize these girls...............................

...who have starred in over 210 books by Ann M. Martin, not including the spin-off series and additional books that were widely popular in the 80's and came back in popularity over 20 years later.......

.....and had a movie and TV series also created, not to mention numerous series of dolls?

These girls are none other than the Babysitters Club! Kristy, Mary-Anne, Claudia, Stacey, Dawn, and more star in over 210 books, from "Kristy's Great Idea" to "Graduation Day" and many in between. There's not only babysitting but drama, boys (in the later books, lol), friendship troubles, parents, and so much more.

These books start off with four best friends, Kristy Thomas, the sporty and tomboyish leader of the gang, Mary-Anne Spier, the shy girl with a big spirit, Claudia Kishi, the Japanese-American girl who loves art and funky stuff, and Stacey, the new girl from New York City with a big secret. They all have one thing in common: babysitting and loving little kids, so the girls form a group called the Babysitters Club, which is actually more than just a club- it's a business! Whether you like babysitting or not, you will for sure find a good time and make a friend or two (or seven) and enter the fictional world of Stoneybrook, CT.

While the series has 131 books, there are numerous spin off series, such as "BSC Super Specials", "The BSC Mystery Series", "BSC=Friends Forever", "BSC=Friends Forever Super Specials", "BSC Little Sister" (starring Kristy's little stepsister, Karen).

One spin-off that I found especially interesting was the Portrait Collections Series. Each book is an "autobiography" of each BSC member (minus Mallory and Jessi).

Still not interested to read BSC? Maybe these exciting titles will make you curious:

Kristy's Worst Idea - The club appears to be falling apart and things only get worse when a favorite client is hurt while Kristy is babysitting. Is this the end of the BSC? (#100)

Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls - The baby-sitters receive mysterious phone calls while babysitting, and Claudia is sure it's Stoneybrook's Phantom Caller, a sneaky jewel thief. At the end, they discover that the mysterious caller is far from being the Phantom Caller. (#2)

Stacey's Emergency - During a visit to New York, Stacey's diabetes lands her in hospital. Will she be okay? (#43)

The Fire at Mary Anne's House - Mary Anne's house catches on fire. (#131)

Stacey's Movie - Stacey's making a movie and must decide between it and her friendship with the BSC members. (#130)

Mallory and the Mystery Diary - Mallory finds an old diary that contains a mystery that involves a painting. (#29)

I am on book 4 right now! PERSONAL GOAL BEFORE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE: To finish entire series of BSC book!!! :)

Wanna visit the Baby-sitter's Club website? Click HERE!

Wednesday Journal :)

2011-02-16T13:42:00.000-08:00

Time for my first official Wednesday journal! In other words, Tween Girl's Daybook. You may have heard about it on other sites! Here I go ;)

Date: January 16, 2011

Starting time: 4:48 PM

Mood: Cheery

Outside my window: Blue-gray sky, horses...

I’m thinking: what to put for these questions! XD

I’m reading: The third book in "The Babysitters Club" series. They are awesome!!!!!! My favorite character is Mary-Anne, and my second favorite is Kristy. :) I'll do a review soon on the first book maybe!

I’m listening to: my mom and dad's conversation about some group at church LOL. Also, big banging noises. We are having stonework done in our living room and it is LOUD and DUSTY and all our furniture is stuffed in our closed-off front room. We have to walk around with slippers because the floor is so dusty. Blahhhhh. Oh well, it will be all gone by the time I get home from school tomorrow.

I’m wearing: Lots of layers! My jeans, black long sleeve shirt, purple thing over it, and a white jean jacket. Plus my gray knee hight socks. I LOVE knee highs!!!!! I was wearing converse, but they are beside of me on the ground.

Something I did today: Preformed a dance-and-sing Lean on Me at school for the lower school. We were in groups of two and did different motions and dances while singing "Lean on Me"/

Yesterday: School. LOL. I also signed up for an ACSI Language Arts competition thing....info later. LOL

I’m sad: I'm not sad at all!

I’m hungry for: chicken!!!! LOL I don't know why XD

I want: to see my wittle "fwends" at nursery (I help out every Wednesday night and Sunday morning) and my BFF who also helps me.

I love: little kids ;)

This week my goal is: to finish the book I'm reading. Aw what the heck, it'll be done before I go to sleep tonight!

Did I meet last week’s goal: Didn’t have one

Prayer Request: My family is seriously deep in the adoption process. The social workers have visited, the papers have been sent in, it’s officialy official that in less than a year I could have an Ethiopian little sister or brother. I am SOOOO excited I can hardly explain; we’ve been at this for years and now it’s finally happening. But my parents and family need much prayer now as they are making some very important decisions- like whether we want to request a boy or a girl, or if it’s possible that we can afford TWO, which we would love to do but is very expensive. Thank you so much for your prayers!!!!

:) I'm off to church!

Witnessing and helping- one bag lunch at time. PART 1

2011-02-08T17:13:00.000-08:00

NOTE: THIS IS A LONG POST SO IM MAKING 2 PARTS TO IT. ENJOY!

Hey guys!!! So today, my class helped out at a homeless shelter and assistance ministry. Our goal was to make bag lunches and serve them to those who came- those who may have slept on the street the previous night or don't have running water or power in their home. And today we hoped to share our privaleges- and the love of Jesus-to these people.

The bus ride was like any- bumpy and filled with voices and laughter. We don't drive a bus to school, so a bus is a fun thing. The girls and I did plenty clapping/group games. here's one that I especially enjoyed that I hadn't heard of before.

"Little Sally Walker, walker down the street. Didn't know what to do so she stopped and looked at you, she said: 'hey girl, do your thing, do your thing, and switch' " there was whole game that went along with it.

When we got to the crisis center, there was a poor man digging in a trash can, and a bundled up child beside of him. It was a sad sight, but thankfully people wouldn't have to dig for their lunch today. Some girls shrunk in their seat. "I'm scared."

I can understand, but at the same time I didn't. Sometimes homeless men can appear scary, but I didn't think so.

Inside we walked to a room where we played a game called the "Decision Game" or the "Choice Game" or whatever you want to call it. We paired up in groups of two and I was with my dad who was volunteering. The game was a sheet of paper and we were given a pack of smarties which had 15 pieces of candy in each packet. There were 8 categories on the paper- Housing, Healthcare, Food, Shopping, Technology, Laundry, Transportation, and Extra money. Then each category branched out to three decisions for one month- basically there was low (costs 1 candy), middle (costs two candies), and high (3 candies). The high one was like how most people live, and the middle one was how poorer people live, and the low one was how the people whom we were serving lived. For example, for housing, it would be: "Low: 1 bedroom apartment with one bathroom/stove but no refrigerator, Middle: 2 bedroom apartment with1 bathroom, stove and refrigerator, High: 2 bedroom, 2 bath house/stove refrigerator, dish washer, garage and yard". In the game we had to decide which things were most important, etc using our smarties. It was actually tough- you think you'd know what you'd put down, but it really got everyone thinking. Then our instructor said, "Someone had to visit the hospital emergency room in your family. It costs you 4 candies!" Then we have to take it away 4 and so on. Then the lady told us about how these people live, really beyond what we've ever experienced. There was a pink building beside of where we were, and she told us 400 homeless women and children slept there with no where else to go the previous night. :( This was all downtown.

Then it was lunch making time! We got the opportunity to not only serve these people but make their lunches. We formed a few assembly lines (My friend and I got the best part-putting the sandwiches together!) We made bolonga and cheese sandwiches with chips and fruit. We ran out of meat for a minute and some people got un-grilled cheese sandwiches. It was kind of sad, but really, these people would see no difference. What they would see is a 6th grade class caring about them.

When we were done making lunches, we had 5 grocery carts just full of bagged lunches. It was a great accomplishment and we couldn't wait to hand them out.

We waited quietly in the hall as the lady told everyone to be seated and that their food was coming. It was so sweet. She had told us that lunches were treats to these people. Wow. And we throw away our sandwiches with one bite taken out of it because we are "not in the mood" for PB&J.

We walked in and were amazed. The set-up was sort of like a miniature food court like you'd see at a mall, but obviously, no food stands. And we thought we were serving mostly adults, and we were, but there were lots of children. The center had a school somewhere for homeless children, so most of the kids were preschool age of under. It was heartbreaking to know what we would bring them might be there only meal. We started handing them out, and I remember a bright little hispanic girl going ecstatic over chips she found in her bag, it was like 100 dollars. Some people asked for more than one bag so they could bring them for their family, and so we gave them how ever many bags they needed (there were plenty extra). A little family sat close together contently eating their sandwiches. Some people helped us hand the rest out. And it was as plain as day they were very thankful.

PART 2 SOON!

Want to play the Choice Game? I found one online similar to the one we played. Print some out and challenge your family!!!! Click HERE!

FROM, MADDIE

Monday monday monday....

2011-02-07T15:37:00.000-08:00

Monday...ahh...the start of the week....Monday morning as I see it is a morning everyone hates- you have to go either back to work or school, and its a morning where everything's rushed. This morning I tried to make my monday morning a pleasing one.

I go to a private school so my parents have to drive my brother, sister and I to school each morning. We wake up at about 6:50 ~ 7:00 to have enough time to get ready, eat breakfast, and go. These last couple weeks I have been slow and late in the mornings and felt very rushed, so today I tried something new.

I set my alarm on my phone for 6:20 AM. Early, yes, but if I went to bed at a reasonable time, I would still be getting good rest. It would be hard and I would know I would despise hearing that duhduhduhDUHduhduh..dahdahdah... the sound of the alarm clock on my phone is probably one of my least favorite sounds in the world. And there's no way to change it, at least from what I know.

So to restrain myself from rolling over sleepily and shutting off the alarm, I put my phone across the room.

To my surprise, I didn't regret it (for the first 5 minutes) as much as I thought I would. I looked forward to not having to rush. I looked forward to taking my time.

And it worked. I was up and awake at 6:30, clothes on, bed made, going downstairs to make my breakfast and a steaming cup of hot tea. And I had 20 minutes or so of leisure time before leaving. I think I'll be trying this tomorrow morning. :)

Tomorrow at school we will be doing community service by serving the homeless and hungry at a shelter. I'm looking forward to it, I hope we really change some hearts and show Jesus!!!!

Signing off for now,

Madeline :)

Hey!

2011-02-06T15:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new blog! Let me introduce moi...
My name is Madeline! I'm a 12 year old Christian girl who loves to write!!! If you ask me, I believe I was born in the wrong era. I reading, WRITING, drawing, sewing and crafts, photography, cheerleading, babysitting, and watching Shirley Temple movies. :) I am a Christian and Jesus Christ is my ultimate savior!
On this blog I'm basically be posting daily stuff, some fun recipes or stuff to do here and there, some of my writing, and just..my life! I always have tried writing journals, but I never could keep to it! Maybe I'll have better luck with this blog. :) Here's some fun facts about me:

1. My favorite subject to draw is people, recently anime! The characters are so much fun to draw!

2. I've been writingand making up stories since I was in kindergarten*.

***definition of writing in kindergarten: helplessly scribbling misspelled words in weird orders on pages then stapling them together. They take a while to interpret (LOL).

3. I was OBSESSED with Lilo & Stitch when I was little. I had a big stitch stuffed animal that I carried around with me EVERYWHERE.

4. I love panda bears! They are my very favorite animal!

5. My favorite disney princess is Snow White.

6. Past halloween costumes:

•Lion

•Black Cat (I think...)

•Snow White

•Madeline (little french girl, you know? I also had her doll, movies, books, etc.)

•Stitch (a costume that was probably meant for a boy, LOL, but there were no Lilo costumes, and I like I said, I was obsessed with them.)

•Princess Leia (little brother was Luke Skywalker)

•Prairie girl (initially Kirsten the American girl doll, but everyone guessed I was Laura Ingalls, so I just gave up and nodded when they guessed.)

•Gangster Girl (this was a fun one, and my brother got the corresponding boy gangster costume)

•Ketchup (my friend was supposed to be mustard, but she bailed out.)

•Candy Corn girl (this past halloween, I loved this one!)

I shall be posting soon!!!!!!!!