CW9- Here’s the Most I Can Do

Write four descriptive paragraphs, each representing different experiences of four unique visitors to a specific setting. Choose your setting first, such as a classroom, a church, a zoo, etc. Then choose your four visitors, such as a child, a celebrity, a mom, a janitor, etc.

Oh great. There he is again! Coming to a halt, my eyes narrowed at the figure slumped against the side of my store glass window. The old man’s head jerked up awkwardly at the noise of my footsteps. We stared at one another for a moment and I thrust my clenched hands deep into my coat pocket and started forward at a brisk walk. I have had enough of this guy! He knows to stay away or I’d call the police. As I crossed the road to the sidewalk in front my store he scrambled to pick up his tin can and scattered blankets.

Look, I thought I told you clearly the first time to stay away from my store! My heightened tones rang clear through the morning air. Or did you lose your memory like your house and job? It’s hard enough trying to keep my business running without some lazy old man begging all the money away from people who were going to spend it here!

S-s-sorry sir, didn’t mean ye no offense, stuttered the old man shivering as his breath came in steaming puffs.

I looked his tattered clothes up and down. So why did you come here again?

I was jest told to wait ‘ere by a young f-f-fella las’ night. Said he wanted to help me b-but he’d left his money in his car so he told me he’d be back in a jiff if I’d sit here and wait. Well I waited a long while, so long seems I must ‘ave fell ‘sleep!

Well he obviously thought you didn’t need free money handed to you, I leered making no effort to hide the smirk spreading across my features. Can’t you get a job and earn an honest living like the rest of us?

Well sir I’m tryin’—

Pssh! Yeah your sure are tryin’ hard, out here day after day doing the same thing, I sneered while fumbling for the music store key in my pocket. My son got himself a great job downtown just last week and you still here saying you can’t find one, well I don’t buy it.

Cling Cling. The chimes went off as the door opened. Now get going before business starts to pick up and don’t come back here unless you’ve earned enough money to be interested in buying an instrument. Hey, maybe playing one will even help you earn some better cash eh?

Chuckling I closed the door behind me and set my bag on the counter, then walked to the window. The hunched figure of the old man hobbled slowly down the street just as the dim street lamps shut off in the early pink rays of sunshine that were breaking through the hazy cityscape of Cincinnati.

 

Hurry up Kate! We are going to miss it if we don’t start walking right now!

Ok ok I’m coming!

Agitated, I paced the lavish foyer fuming to myself. Girls! What is she possibly doing up there! How can they stand staying in front of a mirror for three hours! She—

Thunk thunk thunk. Her footsteps started down the wooden staircase and brought her blue jacket, brown boots and long auburn hair into view. She skipped down the last three steps and plopped down in front of me. Any impatience I felt a second ago was thrown out of the window as I gazed in her sparkling blue eyes under long lashes thick with mascara.

Eh hem… Well let’s get going shall we! I opened the door and made a magnificent bow to escort her out. She started laughing

Oh my gosh you are so corny! She took my hand and pulled me out onto the street where I twirled her once around and then led the way downtown.

 

 

J15- Tattybogle

What is your favorite childhood book, series, and/or author? What book would you read over and over? What book would you hope to share with your children one day?

Pending……

J14-

In your opinion, what is the value of regular journaling, if any? What is your favorite way to journal? How often? Do you think you will maintain your writing blog when class is over?

 

Pending……

J13-

Have you ever been in a wedding? What do you like about weddings? Tell about a special memory if you have one. Or what would you like for your wedding to be like some day?

 

Pending…..

J12- Charades

Describe your favorite Christmas memory. What do you like about the holiday? Does your family have any special traditions? Anything you don’t like?

Pending….

J11- Run! Run as fast as you can!

Describe a difficult conversation with someone. Only give as much detail as you are comfortable with. What made it so difficult? What would have made it better? What is the secret to good communication or great conversation?

If truth be told, I cannot remember any tough or extremely awkward conversations that I’ve had with anyone. It may just be that my poor memory has decided to discard the event but I think the real reason lies within my personality. As my pastor described to me not long ago, there are three categories into which people are placed depending on how they react to problems. You are a fighter, a flighter, or a fainter. People in the first category like to confront problems head on and face their fears sternly. Flighters see a problem and run the other way; they hate confrontation and try to forget about it. Lastly, fainters are paralyzed by fear and problems; they simply cannot handle the stress and they breakdown.

I, myself, best fit into the category of a flighter as I do not like dealing with problems, I’d rather forget they existed and move on to something more enjoyable. This mindset has spread to every aspect of my social life as well. When I’m hosting a party, I am not happy unless everyone else is; I worry about things going wrong during a presentation. When someone asks me to hold their baby and she starts crying I tense up which only makes things worse, when lots of work piles up, instead on pushing through it, I will walk away and try to occupy my mind with something I enjoy, or if someone is about to bring up something sensitive or awkward in a conversation I quickly change the subject, hoping they’ll forget about it and there’ll be smiles all around. Having a flight mindset has made it hard to confront obstacles in my life and though it all seems a daunting task at times, the Lord had always been there to see me through. And now that I’m older and more mature, it has become a lot easier to have those hard conversations every once in a while.

 

 

J10- Umm…Will you sign my notebook?

Have you ever met someone famous? Tell the story. OR what famous person would you like to meet and why?

“Famous?” When I hear this one word my mind starts streaming through a series of images staging a high heeled brazen figure stepping out of a shiny sports car where she walks out onto a long red carpet amidst an army of paparazzi fighting to get the best pictures of her; their cameras flashing nonstop until the figure has gone from sight. No privacy, being tailed or guarded every day, constantly under pressure of the camera, and knowing that every decision you take or any mistake you make will be broadcasted throughout the country for all to see has, to say the least, never been the kind of life that I have ever envied. Of course, there are a lot of other people who are still considered “famous” but do not have near the amount of attention; people who are well known among a certain crowd but do not have the title “world famous”.  It was someone like this with whom I had an unexpected encounter.

Last spring, my mom, younger sister, and I made the 5 hour trek up to South Carolina for an annual home school convention. My sister and I were signed up to be teen track which had us scheduled for several classes which focused on world views, defending the faith, and apologetics, which is the branch of theology concerned with the defense of proof of Christianity. These classes were held during the day and then scheduled later that night we had tickets to go see the Christian comedian Tim Hawkins. Well after the second class that day, when we were all heading for lunch, the hall was blocked off by a large crowd buzzing with excitement. Curious, we asked a lady what the commotion was all about and she smiled telling us that Tim Hawkins was making an appearance to give out autographs.

Well, I would have been content to know that much and move along but mom didn’t want to pass up an opportunity like this and so I got nominated to wait in line for an autograph while they went to grab our lunch. So about twenty minutes later, I had finally made it to the top of the line with only two people ahead of me and it was just then I realized that everyone else in line was holding a Tim Hawkins DVD to get signed and I hadn’t purchased one.  So what do I do? I couldn’t just give up my spot I’d been holding for half an hour to go and purchase one and I didn’t want to just leave and look like I had chickened out or something! So as this battle raged on in my head I suddenly found myself standing face to face with the curly haired individual, whom I had been standing in line to see, expectantly waiting with a permanent marker his right hand.

“Umm…Hi,” I ventured.

“Hi to you as well,” he answered brightly. “Uh… How can I help you today?” He asked indicating his pen toward my empty hands.

“Well…You see- uh…” I stuttered, thinking hard. “Oh!” I said, holding up one finger as I dug through my book bag. “Could you sign my notebook?” I asked, smiling, while I held out my cheap, spiral bound notebook I had bought from the dollar store.

“Oh yeah,” he started laughing. “This is great stuff! Of course, this will really be worth something someday,” he chuckled.

I smiled and thanked him as he handed back my notebook, still laughing, and set off to appease the loud growl inside my stomach evidently pink cheeked.

 

 

J9-

Rewrite an event from your life from a different point of view. The event can be positive or negative, life-changing or mundane. For example, write about that argument with mom from her perspective. Or write about a church service from your pastor’s perspective or God’s perspective. Discuss any new insights this assignment gives you.

 

Pending……..

CW7- Do You Know Him?

Rewrite a well known Bible story, using modern day characters, setting, dialogue, etc

 

“Thanks Zach! Alright, now we just have to get the last one out of the van and we’re  done.”

“Oh my gosh! Ok, but you get it because that’s the last one I’m doing! My back is killing me.”

Zach heaved the cardboard box onto the overloaded bed and then plopped into the nearest beanbag grunting. Though exhausted, he was glad to be here helping his best friend get settled into his new house just a block down from his own. He had been so excited when he’d heard that Josh would be moving to his neighborhood and had come running down the street to be the first to greet them first as they pulled up in the moving van. A smile tugged at his lips as he remembered the day Josh had told him the he and his family was leaving the country because his dad was in the mission field. He had been horrified at the thought of never seeing Josh again but time went on and high school came with new friends. A sudden vibrate from his front jeans pocket brought his senses back to the present. He lazily took the phone out and pressed the touch screen to answer.

“Hello?”

“Hey? Zach? I’ve got dinner out on the table and your dads home so be here in the next   five minutes! Got it?”

“Alright aright! I’ll be there in a sec.”

He put the phone back in his pocket and started down the stairs stopping again as Josh came into view with the last box. He let Josh around him to put the box down and grasped his shoulder.  “Hey, my mom just called and she’s got to have me home so I’ll see ya at school tomorrow!”

“Well ok, see you then! I hope we have a few classes together,” Josh said nervously.

“Don’t worry it’ll be great! High school isn’t that bad once you get used to it.”

Turning again he went down the stairs and back outside for the night.

******

            “Phew! Made it!” Zach exclaimed between painful gulps of air just as the bell rang over the intercom.

“Oh my gosh!” The girl behind him exaggerated, “You didn’t run all the way again did you?”

“Mom couldn’t…  drive… Late… for work…” He gasped.

She sniggered and sat down behind him. As he was catching his breath he overheard a bit of the conversation that was going on beside him.

“Yeah! I mean have you seen him?” The guy whispered. “He looks like a parrot or something with at least eighteen different neon colors on. Ha!”

“Oh! That new kid? Yeah he looks really… well… foreign… Poor guy! I feel so bad for him,” said the girl, her voice thick with fake sympathy.

Zach caught his breath and listened closer.

“Well he’s not that foreign. Kid told me he had grown up here. But get this!  He walked   in this morning and was singing like this old hymn and then he broke up those people who were smoking and stared preaching about the Bible and holy stuff.”

“He was singing a hymn? Wow, that’s weird, is the kid’s dad like a preacher or something?” Laughed a brunet girl hunched close to the little circle of people.

“Another Christian who probably thinks he’s better than everyone else.”

“His name is Josh.” Zach said, speaking louder than he meant too.

The group turned around to face him.

“You know the new weird kid,” questioned Shatell, who was a head taller and much broader than Zach when standing?

“I…Well…uh.. No!” Zack invented. “I don’t really know him, just his name. He just moved back from Peru I think,” he said quickly changing the subject.

“What was he doing over there you think?”

“Umm… His family was ministering over there I think.”

Shatell started laughing and his group joined in. Zach’s ears went red and he turned to face the front as the teacher called for silence and everyone found their seats.

******

During the lunch break, as he was trying to find a seat, he saw Josh sitting by himself at the other end of the cafeteria. He stopped in midstride to stare at the odd spectacle. What on earth is he wearing, thought Zach in dis-belief? How could his friend come to high school in a rainbow zigzag patterned poncho and baggy pants of the color red? Remembering to breathe again after the initial first shock of the scene, he sought out some of his other friends. He quickly started eating noting at the same time that a trip to the mall or even to Goodwill with Josh was on top priority as soon as the bell rang today.

 

After lunch ended and his tray was put back on the rack someone tapped him on the shoulder.

“Hey,” said Josh as he came up beside Zach. “Where were you?”

“What you mean,” Zach said quickly glancing over at his friends nearest to the door.

“Well, I wanted to sit with you today so we could talk.”

“Oh. Well we’ll have to talk later. I’m going to be late for my next class ok?”

Zach pushed his way out of the door into the hall to catch up with his friends from third period leaving Josh looking confused back in the cafeteria.

“Is that new kid your friend?”

“What? No!” Zach exclaimed as he caught up with them.

“Then why was he talking to you?”

“I don’t know! He must have me mixed up with someone else,” Zach muttered heatedly.

“Whatever…”

Zach dropped his eyes and zoned out of the conversation, feeling the heavy pound of his heart beat guiltily against his chest.

******

            As the last class ended and the hall filled as usual, Zach made his way to his locker. Putting his books in order, he heard, just behind his locker door, yet another gossip group talking and laughing about Josh “The preaching parrot.” Hoping not to be caught in the middle of this conversation he closed the locker door and turned for the main exit.

“Hey there he is! Hey Zach!” shouted Brandon.

Stopping abruptly with clenched fists he turned slowly back around to the group of amused faces.

“Yeah?”

“You know that new kid? Josh?” Brandon’s smile grew as he continued. “He said you guys had been friends for a long time and you actually wrote friend letters to him while he was  in Peru. Is that true?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Well he said he was going to your house today to hang out,” said Brandon, laughing now.

“Well he lied then because I’ve never even met the guy! I don’t even know who you’re talking about!”

“Well maybe you two can straighten that out.” The girl beside Brandon smirked. “Ha ha! He’s standing right behind you.”

Zach heart stopped. He spun around to see Josh’s shaded figure standing stock still a little ways down the hall. The bright blue eyes locked with his and Zack saw the hurt he had caused fall through a single tear that slid slowly down his friends cheek. Zack opened his mouthed to speak, to say something, trying somehow to take back all of what had happened, but no sound came out of his mouth. Josh nodded at him and turned to the door without a word just as the bell rang.

******

This modernized Bible story I chose to write was when Peter denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. Hope you enjoyed it!

CW6- Eragon

Write a rhyming, narrative poem, retelling any well known story. Ten verses minimum; no max. It could be a Bible story, a children’s story (like Winnie the Pooh), a classic (like King Arthur), or a popular novel series (like Harry Potter).

Eragon

Durza, a shade, the most evil of creatures,

Bore crimson eyes and hair among his human-like features.

But dark spirits consumed him and never could they part,

Unless he was killed with a stab through the heart.

 

 

On a dark moonless night, hidden deep in the forest,

He led a secret ambush ordered by king Galbatorix.

Waiting with the Urgals he controlled with fear,

He grinned as he saw the three elves draw nearer.

 

His group shot two in the chest but the last one got free.

“After her!” he yelled. “She’s the one that I need!”

Trapped by a ring of fire she, at last, was cornered.

Lifting the stone high, she sent it away with one word.

 

 

All had seemed lost, but many leagues away,

A boy of fifteen closely followed the tracks of his prey.

He jumped as the blue stone appeared in a flash like a knife,

But Eragon took it not knowing it would alter the course of his life.

 

He looked to trade it for his family was poor,

But no one would have it and he soon was ignored.

Then that night he awoke to a very loud squeak,

Noises were coming from the stone first a tap, then a creak.

 

 

With one violent wobble, a head popped out.

Intense blue eyes peered at him from the top of its snout.

Its thrashing body broke the egg and it gave a huge yawn.

Open-mouthed Eragon beheld the newly hatched dragon.

 

From his cousin and uncle he hid her in the woods,

Scared that she would be harmed if they misunderstood.

There he raised her and then chose her a name,

They both knew it was right when Saphira came.

 

Weeks later they came for him, who were these strangers?

Saphira saw their intensions and spared eragon from the dangers.

The Ra’azac they were called, with their actions unpredictable,

Had inhuman speed, strength, and toxic breath to make them invincible.

 

 

Unable to warn his Uncle from the killing Ra’azac,

He swore revenge and began to plan his attack.

Brom, the storyteller from the village stopped their haste.

“You both wouldn’t last a day!” He said to their face.

 

Brom confessed that he knew of the dragons and riders.

“My knowledge could save you. Let me be the provider;”

Though reluctant eragon finally agreed for his company,

Together he was sure they would shape the fates of many.

 

As they hid in a clearing Brom revealed a Riders Sword.

Zarroc which meant misery, the blade, for Morzan, had been forged.

Brom gave it to Eragon, for him it was of greater need.

Brom picked his own sword up and swung with unerring speed.

 

 

Eragon grew suspicious of Brom’s true indentity.

Could a storyteller have a master swordsman’s ability?

Also his knowledge! Even the elders can’t match his detail.

But these thoughts he kept secret for without training he would fail.

 

Day and night, they trained and traveled on the road,

Coming upon the town of Yazuac, in it they strode.

The building windows were shut and not a sound was made.

Scattered were the corpses the Urgals had killed during their raid.

 

 

From behind they were attacked and before he could turn around,

A giant fist smote him out of his saddle onto the ground.

Backed into a corner with a feeling in his head like a ringer,

Out of instinct he shot an arrow and yelled, “Brisingr!”

 

The magic left him drained but it did the job.

The Urgal was killed though his head continued to throb.

Saphira found him, rage boiled in her heart,

“To the ones who caused this I will tear them apart!”

 

 

“But who is they? The Urgals, Ra’azac, or King Galbatorix himself?

Once my uncle is avenged we’ll seek help from the varden, dwarves and elves.

We must train and work with our lives to end Galbatorix’s reign.

Only then can we stop all of these evil things from happening.”

 

Saphira roared in agreement as he raised his hand.

Together they vowed to bring peace to the land.

They now knew what it meant to be Dragon and Rider he was sure.

Leaving his ruined past behind him Eragon embraced his destined future.

 

 

CW5- Brer Rabbit and the Carrot Patch

Write your own Brer Rabbit story. Use animals as your main characters. The idea is to create conflict and a surprise ending, using colloquialism and humor.

               Brer Rabbit had a favorite carrot patch that a nearby farmer tended. Whenever he’d fancy a snack, it was just a short ways away over a little creek and up an old dirt path through the woods. Well one summer evening he was just a hippity hoppin’ his way up the path after cleanin out his den from the morning shower, when he heard a low growl and the sound of dead grass been tromped on right around the corner where the carrot patch was. Coming to a halt behind a thick bush, he stuck his head through the branches and peeked to see what was makin all the commotion. Old Brer Blacktooth, the large, black, guard dog, was marchin’ jest ’round the edge of the patch grumblin’ in snarls, making himself quite a frightnin’ sight to any a person, his long tail jest a waggin’ behind him.

                “Hmm… Seems to me like the ol man farmer has wised up bout me snitchin’ those carrots,” thought Brer Rabbit, “And here he’s put out a fine puzzle indeed.”

               He sat back low against the briar bush, brooding on a plan, when Brer Fox came slinking down the same path some further ways down. Jest as Brer Fox turned the corner, he saw the Rabbit sitting there all on his own. He stopped to take a quick look around to make sure that the rabbit was quite alone. Then gathering up his wits, he grinned an evil grin and started walking slowly toward the unsuspecting Brer Rabbit.

               “Well now isn’t this nice,” he leered. “You know, you was jest the one I was lookin’ for Brer Rabbit!”

               Brer Rabbit snapped his head around surprised, but keepin his senses, he pretended not to hear the fox very well.  Speakin’ in his most pleasant voice he said, “Sorry Brer Fox what was that you said?”

               Brer Fox’s grin faded. Surely he was speakin’ loud enough? Yes, the rabbit must be so scared he jest wasn’t paying attention. Confident, he tried again in a louder voice, “I’ve jest been lookin’ for you and to wanted to ask you over to my place for supper! My wife’s putting on a great pot of ‘er best rabet stew!” He stared hard at Brer Rabbit but instead of bein’ scared, the rabbit looked confused.

               “You must speak louder Brer Fox! Say¸ are you losin’ your voice?

               Getting mad now, for he had jest had a long talk with Sis Cow, Brer Fox started yelling. “Actually Brer Rabbit it must be going bad on your end! I’ve been jest fine and dandy till now and I think you must be jest hard of hearin today!

                From the other side of the bushes, Old Brer Blacktooth perked up his head at the raised voices. He crouched down and snuck to the edge of the bush and lay low, waitin’ to pounce on an intruder.

               Brer Rabbit smiled. “Come now Brer Fox, with my big ears I can’t be the problem. Why don’t you jest come closer so we can talk. I like a talk to be short and simple and this one’s been lasting long enough wouldn’t you say?”

               Furious at the stubborn rabbit, Brer Fox snarled and stomped toward Brer Rabbit wanting nothing more than to pull him up by those over-large ears and drag him all the way to that boiling pot of stew. But jest as he stormed into the clearing, he heard the deepest bark which made every one of his hairs nearly jump off his hide. He looked just in time to see the biggest black dog he’d ever laid eyes on bounding over at him with all the fury of a hornet after a ruined nest.

               Brer Rabbit, he jest laughed and laughed, rolling about among the briers, after the sight of Brer Fox’s face and the way he tripped all over himself trying to get up that slippery hill. Also, wondering why Old Brer Blacktooth would think that a fox, of all creatures, would surely be one guilty of stealin all those carrots. Brer Rabbit chuckled to himself as he walked back from the patch, munchin’ a fresh carrot, “And a nice talk it was too! Short and simple, jest as I like it!”

CW4- The Monkey’s Painting

Write your own fable. Use animals as your characters. Choose the lesson you want to teach first, and then write your story.

 

High up in the trees a monkey swung from branch to branch enjoying the warm sunny day.  He was just swinging over a path when he heard the chattering of a small crowd.  He stopped and dropped down on the road to see what the commotion was about. Walking into the center, he saw a rabbit painting a scene of little birds on a branch, around him the group eagerly watched the progress and talked admirably about the rabbit. The monkey, jealous for the attention, strode up behind the rabbit and looked at the painting.

  “Ha!” The monkey laughed. “Oh please, that is nothing!”

The crowed turned to look at him and he went on. “I mean look at it. The color is off; the branch is too big, the whole thing is wrong!”

The rabbit got up and handed the monkey the paints and brushes and said, “Well!  Then you must be a master of the arts! Please go on and show us how to do it right.”

Keeping his pride the monkey took the paints and sat down. “I will,” he scoffed.

He looked at the paper and started. Not knowing what to do, as he painted the colors mixed and turned into a black blob.

The crowd laughed and called out mockingly to him. Oh yes! The master of the arts indeed, you should be crowned king of art for your great works.

-Criticizing is easy, art is difficult.

CW3- To Glorify Thy Name

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus uses a metaphor to describe what Christians should be like. Choose a new metaphor and write your own modernized version of this verse, similar to The Message Bible.

 

In the verse Matthew 5:14, Jesus gives a metaphor of salt and light to show the Christians their job in the world. Salt brings flavor to bland food making it enjoyable, while, people will look to light so that they may see and make sense of the world around them. These two jobs play very big roles in life but all the small jobs that are given to us, if done for Christ, also make a huge impact on everyone the fruit of your labor touches. So no matter how small, how dirty, how pointless the task seems, work at it for the Lord and men will see Christ through you. With that said here are a few metaphors I was able to come up with!

You are the Swiffer Dusters of the world. Dust and germs stick in every crack and cranny, accumulating to daunting amounts. You alone are best suited for this job! So sweep up the dust and grim of this world, then, so that men may see the lengths at which you clean even the hardest to reach places, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

 

You are the magnetosphere of the world. Harmful particles and solar winds attack the earth and attempt to poison all life living there. Your job is vital for life to continue on earth.  So surround the earth and draw all that pollutes the earth away, so that men may see clearly, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

J8- What Do You See?

Well it’s mid-semester here at TPS and we think its high time for some reflection and a break! So which Creative Writing assignment have we enjoyed the most and why? Also, do you have a favorite or least favorite Journal entry this year, why or why not?

Taking once glance at this painting it simply seems to depict swans on the water in a canyon landscape. With that abrupt conclusion I walked away, besides I didn’t think the colors were pleasing to look at and it seemed that pieces of the landscape were too messy. I went on for two years before I was asked to look at this painting again.

“What do you see here?”

“Swans on a weird lake,” I sighed.

“Is that it?”

Slightly surprised I stuttered, “Well, yeah… I… Oh, wait a second.”

Suddenly I noticed the girl in the canyon and other hidden images in the landscape. I told my teacher what I saw.

Still she asked, “Is that all?”

Looking very closely I finally saw that, there in the middle, the swans’ reflection in the water were actually elephants!   With this new insight the picture was suddenly interesting and I had a new appreciation for the artists’ talent.

During this past week, I have thought a lot about which of my assignments I have liked best. The condensed novel poem was probably what I enjoyed writing the most because of the new challenge and my love for writing poetry. This poem is not my best work but is simply what I have enjoyed writing the most so far this year.

If I were to stand in front of a mirror, everybody will see the same reflection but they all might have different opinions about the appearance. Some will like the reflection and some will not. The same goes for my writing. Read each story, essay, or poem and find what you like and what you don’t like. Though everyone may not like my writing, hopefully, one can see the results of long, hard work and creativity flow freely through each piece and leave with a new appreciation as I did with Salvador Dali’s painting. Look below the surface or get a different perspective, because you will always find something new and interesting.

So what do you see?

 

 

1.    tara incognito says:

December 1, 2011 at 8:35 pm (Edit)

“Some will like the reflection and some will not.” I loved that. Really, I loved the whole last paragraph. Fantastic work

J7- Limitless

Do you have a favorite Bible story? What is it and why?

Words of an incomprehensible language were spoken to the void and the emptiness was no more. So powerfully these words were voiced that the entire universe was called into being and stretched across a fathomless expanse of space. Billions upon billions of galaxies were intricately designed and spread out, each one made up of thousands of solar systems that are,  in turn, filled with thousands of giant stars, comets, satellites, asteroids, and planets that are constantly in motion and always changing.

In one particular solar system, the earth was formed and perfectly distanced from the sun and other planets to stay on a steady track around the sun giving all the intricacies of the seasons. He assigned the hours for sunlight and darkness each day, carved out the deep trenches on the ocean floor, rose the land to become dry masses above the sea, and filled the earth with roaring rivers to water the land each day. Up from the barren dirt He flourished the land with exotic plants that varied over distance and from the hills, He made each animal unique to its kind, breathed the breath of life into its nostrils, and spread them across the spans of the earth and the heights of the sky.

As I thought about which Bible passage I enjoy reading the most, only one came to mind. Because of my love for nature, animals, and apologetics studies, I decided with the account of Genesis. The very first moments in which the world and universe took early form has always been the most fascinating, most mind boggling account in the Bible for me. I love studying about the vastness and incredible details that God put into every piece of His Creation because it always brings a renewed sense of awe and respect for God’s complex handiwork. For example, the cell is the smallest and simplest life form that man has learned of and still, it takes years and years, if not a life time, to even BEGIN to understand its extremely complex functions. Yet there are trillions of these complex cells in one human body which is less than the smallest speck on the whole of the universe. That is what I love most; no matter how close up or far away you study God’s creation there are always limitless things to discover.

J6- Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

This week we were to share our favorite poem and explain our reason for choosing it.

Poetry is the colors of the blind; the letters of music. It is the beauty of words expressed differently through each person, giving a clear insight to the mind and thoughts of the individual. Being an artist, I see poetry as a form of art where endless masterpieces can arise from a single medium; words. Yet, from that one medium I could invoke happiness, fear, passion, sorrow, laughter, tension, peace, I could show you how my mind interprets my surroundings and experiences,

“Tensed” by artist unknown

I could let you see the world through my eyes and you could feel the rush of emotion that I have experienced once upon a time. Poetry is an artistic way of communicating all the five senses along with other perception such as balance, feelings, emotions, and once the reader’s own sensory perceptions are aroused, then you know that poetry has reached its destination.

I have a great love for nature and the beauty and complexity of creation; therefore, through most of my poetry I give the reader glimpses of the busy new life in the spring, the excited air of change that comes with the golden evenings in autumn, or the still and silence of a frozen forest during mid-winter. My favorite thing about Robert Frost’s poetry is the simple yet rich imagery that take place in a single instant. Those small precious moments when life would stand still are sometime the most treasured memories we have. Reminiscing, my favorite childhood moments will flash in brief images, baking cookies in my grandmother’s kitchen, splashing in a creek with my cousins, or placing the last decoration on the Christmas tree, they continue to fly past. To capture a single dear moment and to translate it into words is a gift that Frost had and is what I admire most about his writing. Robert Frost’s poem “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” is my favorite poem of his.  On the surface, this poem is one of simplicity. The man and horse stops by some woods on a snowy evening. He or she takes in the lovely scene in near-silence, is tempted to stay longer, but acknowledges the pull of obligations and the considerable distance yet to be traveled before he or she can rest for the night.

Part of what is irrational about the woods is their attraction. They are restful, seductive, lovely, dark, and deep—like deep sleep, like oblivion. Snow falls in downy flakes, like a blanket to lie under and be covered by. But to rest too long while snow falls could cause the man to lose his way and the poem describes the temptation the man struggles with to sit and watch the beauty while his responsibilities are forgotten—to succumb to a mood for a while. It is the rich imagery and internal struggle between desire and responsibilities in this small moment that makes this one of my favorite poems.

 

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep

J5- Lost

I had a difficult dilemma deciding how to describe this journal discussion about a difficult situation in which I couldn’t discern my escape. In other words, we were to write about getting stuck without a plan B! Read on to clear up any confusion you may still have…

I’m sure every kid has a story from their childhood similar to the one I am about to tell you. For me it started one night during dinner about ten years ago, when my parents announced that they were taking my little sister and I to the biggest county fair in Leesburg. As a six year old girl, I went ecstatic and was so giddy with anticipation that the night soon stretched into an eternity.  And, though I was sure the stopped every time I looked away , it finally struck 7:30 and as soon as the first warm rays of mornings sunlight hit my face, I hopped right out of bed, found my outfit and once I tucked in my shirt, pulled on my polka-dot rain boots, and zipped up my pretty pink jacket, we were ready to be off!

It didn’t take too long to arrive at the fairgrounds and find our parking spot when I shouted to everyone in car announcing that the giant Ferris wheel had indeed been spotted. After jumping up and down on mommy’s feet and dragging daddy through the ticket entrance, our entire day was heaped with eye-popping sights and experiences which involved spinning rides, flashy dancers, laughing banjo players, deep fried and candy coated snacks, and, of course, the most highly anticipated Ferris wheel ride! The whole morning and half the evening had flown by in a blur before I found out what time it was. I was living up the best moments of my short life when my mom leaned down to tell me, in an exhausted ramble, that we were leaving. My bubble of happiness popped like a dart through a balloon. What? I screamed inside my head, No! I don’t wanna go yet; there’s still so much I haven’t seen! Oblivious to my apparent outrage at this news, however, my parents never once asked me if I was alright with this decision! But if I was going to be overruled, I figured that I should at least get a toy from one of those colorful booths to compensate for me being excluded in the decision.

(not actually me)

Mom had told me to stay close to her, but I knew exactly which toy I wanted and thought it must be ok to just find out where it was so that I could show her; besides, I would just be a gone a second. Running past several huge stands I found it; the booth which held the beautiful, sparkly butterfly beanies. Memorizing its location, I hurried back to where mom had been helping my younger sister in the bathroom but as I came around the corner I found that the stroller had vanished.

Stopping in mid-stride, my jaw dropped open and I searched frantically for something that looked familiar to me. Tears of horror and panic leaked out my eyes as I bolted through the legs of strangers trying to find which ones belonged to my parents. Lost and alone, the fair, which had only moments ago been loads of fun, had suddenly become scarier than my worst nightmare. It was a nightmare from which I couldn’t wake up and I didn’t know how to help my situation, all I could do was sit alone and cry.  But what I didn’t know is that from a little ways away, my mom and dad where there watching over me. Though I still say it was a cruel thing to do, they had definitely taught me a hard lesson on the consequences of disobedience which has stuck with me ever since.

J4- His Hearts

“Well… the results have just come back… That little place on your leg is an infection called CA-MRSA.”  The doctor looked at me with a serious expression. “This is a Staph infection,” he continued, “which, if left untreated, could be deadly if it enters your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs, or heart.”

“Deadly?” I repeated.

“Only if it is not treated! Now, this kind of Staph that you carry is resistant to most antibiotics that normally used to treat staph, but your infection is small and with a higher dose, it should heal up. Ok?”

“Um… Ok,” I answered nervously.

“Alright then good!” he said standing up. Now we’ll just take you back to the operating room to drain the infection and clean it so that it won’t spread any further.”

These words flooded back through my memory as I lay flat, staring out of the big hospital window on the other wall. The late evening light cast a dim, orange glow on the sterile features of the small room. I turned over and smiled, remembering the events during the past few days. So much had happened to me emotionally, physically, and spiritually in such a short amount of time it was hard to believe that it ever happened. My eyes closed as I wandered back to the thoughts that had gone through my mind the moment I had first heard those terrifying words of my test results…

What?! Go to the operating room?  Right now?  Panic shot through my body like a dart. I thought this was just a spider bit! Nothing serious!

This is what the infection on my knee resembled

Seeing the worry etched on my face, the doctor gave me a slight smile which he might have intended to be encouraging but my fear increased nonetheless. Concluding that I had no intension of moving my body from where it stood safely rooted next to the chair, he let out a sigh and came over and gave my back a small push, leading me down the immaculate tiled hallway. The sounds of scuffling feet, chattering nurses, and the constant beeps of monitors echoed strangely in my ears as if I were in a dream.

Staring the trailing white coat of the bulky man in front of me my thoughts ran wild, obliterating all other noise, this must be serious to admit me in the emergency room so soon. Will the operation hurt?… What if something goes wrong and I lose the use of my leg!…  MRSA can be deadly if it goes too far and the redness has already spread to the size of my fist!…  How long will I be here?…  What if–

“Right in here,” said the doctor pointing to a small room.  “That’s it… If you will sit right here we’ll go ahead and give you the anesthetic.”

He left the room while I plopped down on the stiff surgical chair letting out a shaky sigh. After a few moments I heard the approaching footsteps growing louder which, to my mind, sounded like doom charging toward me while I stood confused on how to attack the enemy. My own body had become the enemy and I was at the mercy of others.

In that moment I called out, “Oh lord, you hear my anxious thoughts! Give me your peace to overcome this!”

 

“Do not be afraid.”

I frowned. “It’s so hard…”

“I give you strength.”

I took a deep breath. “Then be with me here now.”

“I’m always with you…”

“Well Mrs. Sands we’re ready if you are.”

My attention snapped back to the room as I looked at the doctor carrying a large pointed needle. My eyes widened but I nodded. Lying back on the chair, he adjusted the height and prepared the instruments while I started hard at the ceiling focusing on the piece of dust that clung to it, just waiting…

The operation hurt at first but after a moment the pain receded and was over in a matter of minutes. I was then escorted to a small room and hooked up to the monitors while other nurses took my blood pressure and stuck more needles and tubes in my arms to control pain and fight the infection.

“Aww!” exclaimed a nurse who was adjusting one of my bandages. “Look, right there,” she pointed. “There’s a little heart.”

I looked down and sure enough, in the crease on my clear bandage, a little drop of blood had formed a perfect heart. As the day wore on, more hearts began to pop up. One was found on my leg where a splotch of irritated skin was in the shape of a heart, another was a rip in a bandage, a stain on my shirt, and chip in the table. They kept catching my attention and I nearly laughed with joy when I thought of why they were here surrounding me.

All of these hearts pointed back to that moment in the operating room when God assured me that he loved me and would never leave me. God states, “Do not be afraid”, 365 times throughout the bible. It is a commandment not a suggestion and it accounts for every day and every situation as I have learned through my hospital experience.

A Light on the Matter

Well here it is! Though whatever “it” is will really be up to you readers out there!  Anyway… Welcome to my First EVER creative writing blog and, I must say, I’m so glad to spend the year getting to know all of you through much translating and deciphering of the strange things you will post throughout the year!

I hope you are as inspired by the light of my creativity as much as I am with all of yours.  Enjoy… the light through my eyes…..

J3- Light on the matter

Here in America, luxuries of infinite amounts are presented to us each day. Businesses thrive on selling upgrades for things that we use in our everyday lives whether it is vehicle upgrades, new iPod versions, or the new latest and greatest household product.  Though we only need a small fraction of the possessions we own just the thought of losing something like the easy flick of a switch to provide light in a house seems daunting as it has become so familiar. Losing electric lighting would affect my daily life a lot.

During the night, the candlelight would have limited range only allowing me to see a few feet in front of me and the flickering flame would cast eerie shadows around the room that constantly move and jump around.  When I move around the room or house, I would have to take the candle with me leaving only one arm to work with making tasks harder until I put the candle to rest on a table.

In a matter of safety, with electric lighting the energy was contained in an outlet, through cords, and in the light bulb keeping the harmful electrical currents safely away, however, with the open flame of the candle, my mind would always need to be aware in case the flame should catch onto something and burn down the house destroying everything.  Likewise, I would also need to have certain supplies within my reach: a match (should the flame go out), another candle (when the previous one melts), and water or a water source ( to douse the flame should it catch fire).

Many advantages come with candles and though electricity has enhanced our modern lighting ability, candles have not lost their uniqueness in our modern world.  Throughout the week, my day require more thought, such as where I would have been able to use both my hands and see clearly up the stairs, I would now have to make three trips up to bring a book, my guitar, and a glass of water to my room!  Using candles would be a neat experience for a while and I could certainly live without electric lighting but I would miss the advantages and easiness of luxury that I knew was available to me.

J2- Designer Fig Leaves

This week our assignment was to read Psalm 119 and write about which verse spoke to us the most and why. The particular verse that I chose for this journal parallels alongside a revelation that the Lord shared with me during a tough turning point in my life.

I was recently praying and asking God for self discipline to overcome some bad habits which were causing me a lot of pain and He answered me very clearly saying, “But seek first Thy kingdom, and all these things will be given unto you.”  A few days later, while reading in Luke the Lord really opened my eyes to His word. God laid open my faults and showed me how they were blocking Him from being first in my life. One of the points He made, I read again in Psalms this week…

 

³⁶ “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.”  Psalm 119:36 (NIV)

When reading verse 36, it reminded me of a big distraction that the Lord convicted my heart of.  I had just come back from hanging out with my friends at a high school football game and I was absorbed with the thoughts and wants of everyone I had been with; the mall trip on Thursday, those new boots that she had, yeah I really want one of those jackets too! 

Buying clothes in moderation isn’t a bad thing and since I had raised my own money I never saw a single problem with it, besides I was always very careful with my budget and never spent rashly. But the Lord showed me His point of view on the matter, making me realize the hours I wasted searching for the best buy and worrying about what everyone else thought of my appearance.  I was worried more about clothes than I was of taking time to seek Gods word. In other words, clothes were my god.

In Luke chapter 12, verses 22-34, Jesus basically told his disciples not to worry about anything in life; or with what we shall clothe over our bodies. “For God takes care of even the raven and how much more valuable are we than birds! O you of little faith, do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink and do not worry over any earthly possessions. For the pagan world runs after such things, and your father knows that you need them.”

God knows all my needs and He has promised to meet every one of them, what else is worth worrying about? He asked me to give up my worries over what my peers might think about my appearance and seek Him first and only then will all of these things will be added unto you along with His blessing. After all what is it to gain the whole Earth and after a lifetime only to have it all return to the dust of the ground; it is futile.

Every time I get caught up in the desire for the latest, un-needed clothes, which can seem so important, I like to keep in mind that we’re, as Lecrae Moore puts it, just buying designer fig leaves.

CW8- A Glimpse at Last

I have seen a glimpse at last

Of life anew as winter’s passed.

The cold and chilling December breeze

Has laid bare the limbs of trees.

Though the land appeared to die,

It’s been lured only into a lullaby.

A slow voice whispers as it creeps,

Till all the forest has fallen asleep.

Frozen ice has covered all

And like a blanket silence falls.

And though for many months it holds,

The grasp of winter grows tired and old.

Like a victorious army the sun breaks through.

“Wake up,” she shouts. “There’s much to do!”

April rain rolls in lightning and thunder

To rouse the land from its’ deep slumber.

Rays of sunshine warm the shrubs and grass

And memories of winter melt and quickly pass.

Flowers burst up from the ground,

Birds fill the air with beautiful sounds,

Sunlight dances on soaring wings,

And new life grows in leaps and springs.

The fragrance consumes the countryside

And deep within me a joy resides.

For me spring is a season long awaited

To enjoy the breathtaking nature God has created.

  By Leah Sands

CW2- Peace I Leave With You

Listen, O Lord, to my plea for peace,

Every hour keep my soul calm.

Always I search for that quiet place with You,

Hearing your voice brings me comfort.

Still waters and green pastures You lead me to rest.

Always I will display Your patience in my own life.

Never shall I be satisfied in the temptations of earth,

Dreaming in temporary things does not comfort me for long.

Seeking your word keeps my soul serene.